No doubt the very rapidity of the play unsettled him, so that he failed to send the ball exactly where it would have cut the runner off. Paul had to reach out after it, and then tag the sliding runner.
“Safe!” shouted the umpire, who was there on the spot to see.
Meanwhile Paul had tossed the ball back to Shadduck, for there was danger of Snodgrass coming down from second while all this was going on; in fact, he had to be driven back with threatening gestures.
With two men on bases and two out, the inning still had possibilities, and loud waxed the exultant cries of the Bellport rooters as they sang their school song and made a great demonstration.
“Got him up in a balloon! He’s ascending, all right, boys! Give him another push, Tony!”
Banghardt stepped up full of confidence, and faced the pitcher with determination in his eye. Just two minutes later he dropped his bat and trotted out toward center, for the umpire had said that three balls which sailed past him were along the strike order—and the umpire belonged to Bellport, too, so that there could be little doubt but what he was right.
So the eighth began with Columbia still one run to the good, and Bellport just as positive as ever that they could not only make the lone tally necessary to tie, but add a few more for good measure.
Comfort, Lanky Wallace and Billings tried to accomplish something while they remained for a fleeting space of time on deck, but Coddling seemed to have taken a new lease of life, and they were unable to connect with a single one of his elusive benders.
Frank shut his teeth hard as he went into the box in turn. He was not given to weakening, despite all that the envious Lef had declared; and his arm felt just as good at that minute as in the second inning.
All Smiths looked alike to him, judging from the way he struck the two brothers out, one after the other.