CHAPTER XVII
A TRY-OUT
It was so early in the school year that opportunities for talking over the new boys had of necessity been limited. The fact that Walter had a new roommate who was somewhat “green” had been noticed and smilingly commented upon, but what he was able to do in the school life was unknown. Indeed, with the exception of two or three of Walter’s closest friends, to whom he had enthusiastically described Dan’s success as a pitcher, the matter had not been referred to.
As the football team claimed the chief interest of the school at this time there were only a few besides the two scrub nines present when the game began, a fact for which Dan was deeply thankful.
“Your agricultural friend is as strong as an ox and he has a good swing with his bat, but he hasn’t any more idea of team work than he has of trout-fishing in Mars,” Ned in a low voice had said to Walter as the latter passed him to take his position as short-stop. “We’ll see now what he can do.”
“Yes; you keep your eyes open,” retorted Walter confidently. Dan caught the ball which Walter threw him and then in turn began to throw it about the diamond. He had not had an opportunity to warm up and several weeks had elapsed since he had had a ball in his hand. To most of the players, the game was only a “scrub” anyway, but to Dan, as no one realized more fully than he, there were larger issues at stake. His quiet manner, however, was unchanged and only Walter was aware how eager his friend was to do well.
The opposing batter now advanced to the plate and Dan caught the ball, settled back in the pitcher’s box, swung his arm once or twice, and then pitched the ball. His action was not graceful and the ball was not swift.
The batter struck at it, but failed to hit it, although the failure apparently was due to his own weakness. A straight swift ball produced a second strike, and then in accordance with the signals and plan of action to which Ned and Dan had agreed before they assumed their positions in the field, the pitcher sent in his “pet,” a form of delivery to which Moulton had devoted much time and pains.
The ball sped swiftly as it left Dan’s hands and though it came fairly over the plate the batter stepped back as if in fear of being hit.
“Here, you timid creature, why don’t you strike at a good ball when you get it?” demanded Ned sharply of the batter.