“Great Scotland! I’ve lost my gum,” were his first words on being helped to his feet. “Anybody got a chew?”
“A barrel full, if you want them!” yelled the delighted Scouts, dancing about the boy who had hit out a home run with bases full.
The next batter, Walter Lonsdale, struck out. Then the town team went to bat for its last chance. The score now stood thus:
Eagles: seven. Hamptons: six
Rob resumed his place in the pitcher’s box. Higgins struck out. But Jared got his base on balls. Maybe Rob was overconfident. Conners came next. Two strikes had been called on him, when Rob, like a flash, hurled the ball to first. With neatness and expedition Jared was put out.
Incidentally, Conners had been so rattled by Rob’s pitching that, when the latter threw to first, Conners frantically struck at an imaginary ball, causing a roar of laughter. This disconcerted him so badly that he missed the next ball and struck out.
The Scouts had indeed snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. The game was theirs but by so narrow a margin that they hardly liked to think about it.
In an instant the crowd broke all boundaries and surged about the victorious Eagles.
“Three cheers for Home-run Tubby!” yelled somebody.
In a flash the fat youth was hoisted on half a dozen shoulders. Then began a triumphal march around the field to the music of Andy Bowles’ bugle, which he had suddenly produced from some mysterious hiding place.