The next delivery looked like the last, but it swung in at the right moment and the umpire called: “Strike! Two and two!” Dolph gave the signal and then held his hands wide apart.
“Now, then, right over the plate, Sammy!” he called. “He can’t hit it!”
Peters smiled craftily. If Dolph asked for one over the plate it meant that the ball would be a wide one, he argued. He was all ready for it in case it should be good, of course, only he wasn’t going to be fooled as easily as that!
“Strike! He’s out!”
“What?” Peters stared open-mouthed at Mr. Shay. “It was over my shoulder! Gee, that’s a roast!”
But the batsman’s protest was drowned by the roar of joy from the Boarders.
“Two down!” called Dolph.
“Two gone!” yelled Ted.
“Next man!” cried little Smythe, smiting fist into mitt. Sam beckoned the fielders in as Milton Wales stepped to the plate. Wales was a heavy hitter and Sam’s show of confidence in calling the fielders in made Wales scowl. Sam smiled at him sarcastically as he rubbed the ball on his trousers.