“Knock a home run,” declared Dutch, and he faced the pitcher with a grim air. He didn’t do that, but he did rap out a single, and got to first. Then came Phil Clinton, who made a sacrifice bunt. That is, it was intended for that, but the pitcher fumbled it, and was delayed in getting it to first. Then the throw was so wild that the Fairview first baseman had to take his foot off the bag to get it, and, meanwhile Phil was legging it for the bag for all he was worth, while Dutch went on to second.
“Batter’s out!” howled the umpire, though it seemed to all the Randall players that Phil was safe. Tom protested hotly at the decision, but it stood, and, though it looked as if there would be trouble, Mr. Leighton calmed things down.
“Only one gone,” he said, “and Holly Cross is up next. He’ll bring in Dutch, and score himself.”
Holly sent out a beautiful hit to center field, and there was a chorus of joyful cries.
“Go on! Go on!”
“Make a home run!”
“Come on in, Dutch, you old ice wagon!”
Dutch legged it from second to third, and started home, but the ball, which the center fielder had managed to get sooner than had been expected, looked dangerous to Dutch, and he ran back to third, after being halfway home. Holly was safe on second, and amid a storm of encouraging yells Dan Woodhouse got up.
“Now a home run, Kindlings!” called the crowd, and then Bean and his cohorts began singing: “We’ve Got ’em on the Run Now.”