"Come home!" his friends shouted. "Come, for all you're worth!"
And Gay came.
"Look out for your skirt!" somebody shouted; "it's slipping down."
Gay reached frantically for the unloosened skirt, but it dropped below his grasp, caught him at the knees, and tripped him while he was at full speed. He fell heavily on his right side, and lay there motionless.
"Get up!" the boys shouted. "They're sending the ball home."
"Home! home!" cried centre, clapping his hands encouragingly.
By this time Gay was on his feet, and the dress skirt was on the ground.
"Here," centre cried, continuing to clap his hands; "we'll put her out as easy as rolling off a log!"
The ball came whizzing through the air; Gay made a dash forward; centre made a bad fumble, and Gay touched the plate, but his face was strangely white.