Dick "made up" the ball with extra care, then let it go. It looked like a chest-high ball as it came, and was so slow that Hi threw back his bat to slam it.
"A home run on this!" thought Hi exultantly.
From the sides of the field came a mocking laugh, for the ball had dropped, leaving Hi pounding wildly at the air.
"Strike one!" called Ben Tozier, slipping a pebble to his other hand.
Dick smiled quietly as the ball came back to him. Greg signaled for an outshoot. But Dick "made up" the ball and imitated his delivery of the throw before.
"I'll get down and get it, this time!" flashed Martin resentfully.
He did, only to find himself no nearer the ball than before.
"Strike two!"
Tittering came from the sides now, also some applause. The spectators had just begun to understand that Dick Prescott was pitching better ball.
"Ball one!"
Hi felt a bit better for a moment. Then: