There was no further delay, and the pitcher shot the ball over the plate. Tom, true to his promise, “killed” the ball, sending a scorching liner between second and third that netted him two bases. Fred sacrificed him to third by laying a beautiful bunt down on the first base line. Morley hit the ball a resounding crack, but it went straight to the second baseman, who made a great stop and nipped Tom as he came rushing in to the plate. A long fly to centre field ended the inning, and gloom settled down on the boys from Rally Hall.
“Seven goose eggs in a row,” groaned Billy Burton.
“Never mind,” said Fred cheerily, as he picked up his glove. “We’re getting on to his curves now. Did you see how we belted him in that inning? No pop-up flies, but good solid welts. The breaks in the luck were against us but they won’t be always.”
As though to back up his words of cheer, the sun at that instant broke through the clouds and the field was flooded with light.
“Hurrah!” yelled Teddy, throwing up his hat. “It isn’t going to rain after all.”
“Those were only wind clouds,” exulted Melvin.
“It is the sun of Austerlitz,” quoted Tom.
“It’s a good omen anyway,” declared Ned. “Buckle down to your work now, boys, and play like tigers.”
And they did. Fred promptly struck the first man out on three pitched balls. The second popped up a high foul, which Tom gathered in after a long run. The third man up dribbled a slow one to the box and Fred quickly snapped the ball over to first for an out.
“Short and sweet, that inning,” commented Slim Haley.