"Ball two!" called the umpire.
"Oh, say! That was all right!" grumbled the Roxley catcher. "What do you want?"
"Too far out," returned the umpire sharply, and then added: "Play ball!"
The next one was a straight drive, and Sam swung at it with all the strength and skill he possessed.
Crack! The ashen stick hit the leather, and the sphere went sailing far down into center field.
"Go it, Rover, go it!"
"Come on in, Orben!"
Paul Orben, who had been the player to reach second, was already streaking up to third, and by the time Sam reached first Paul was legging it for the home plate.
"Throw that ball up here! Throw that ball up!" yelled the second baseman to the center fielder, who was still chasing after the bouncing leather.
Then amid a cloud of dust Paul slid in over the home plate while Sam, having reached second, was legging it rapidly for third. Up came the ball from the field to second, and then to third, but before it got there the youngest Rover was safely clutching the bag.