Turning abruptly, he made a wild dive to regain the third sack. A volley of cries rang in his ears.
"Get back!"
"Hold your base!"
"Slide—slide!"
Obeying the instructions of his friends, Wiles threw himself at full length on the yellow, dusty line.
But before he was within a foot of the goal the ball streaked over his head, Fred Benson's hand dropped on his forearm, and the only sound which Joe heard clearly was the voice of the umpire yelling:
"Runner out at third!"
"A mighty pretty piece of work," commented Mr. Rupert Barry.
"A Jim dandy!" cried "Uncle" Steve, hilariously. "Regular major league work, I call it."
"I knew they would turn out all right!" exclaimed Captain Bunderley, his eyes shining with satisfaction. "I never lost faith in 'em—never!"