“Oh, get another stone and play ball!” cried Sammie Small. “Do you want us to stay here all night? I want a chance to bat!”
“All right,” agreed Tommy Tiptop. “Go ahead, I’m ready. This stone will do,” and he picked up a small flat one and put it down in front of him, tapping his bat on it to show that the game might begin.
“Pitch him a curve now, Dan! Pitch him a curve!” cried Sammie from his position as catcher.
“Get out! He can’t curve ’em!” retorted Patsie.
“I can’t, eh? I’ll show you!” cried Dan, and he sent in a swift one. It came straight for Tommy, who quickly turned his back, and received the ball on his shoulder.
“Ouch! You did that on purpose, Dan Danforth!” yelled the small batsman.
“I did not! You got right in the way of it. If you had stood still, it would have curved right around you.”
“Oh, go on!”
“Take your base, anyhow, Tommy,” advised Patsie. “That’s the rule; when you’re hit you take your base. I’ll bring you in,” and he grabbed up the bat that Tommy cast aside as he started for the stone which marked first base. Tommy rubbed his shoulder as he trotted along.
“Did I hurt you much?” asked Dan, a little sorry for the way the ball had slipped. “I didn’t mean to.”