There was no chance to prove whether it would or not, for Jim steadied down and kept the ball within his comrade’s reach. For perhaps ten minutes more they tried out their assortment of curves and slants. Suddenly a look of alarm came into Jim’s face.
“Look out, Joe!” he yelled. “Look out! Jump! Quick!”
The words had barely left his lips when, with a terrific crash a pile of lumber came tumbling down from the scaffold directly on the spot where Joe had been standing.
[CHAPTER II]
CROOKED WORK
Quick as a panther, Joe had leaped at his friend’s shout of warning.
Not so quickly, however, as wholly to escape injury. Two of the falling boards struck him a glancing blow on legs and arms and threw him to the ground.
Jim was at his side in a second and pulled him to his feet.
“Are you hurt, Joe?” he cried, frantic with alarm.