"Why, boss, thet ball's all right. What you hollerin' about?"
"Sure that ball's all right," replied Daddy. "It's a fine ball. An' we want a chanst to hit it! See?"
Bo flared up and tried to bluster, but Daddy cut him short.
"Give us our innin'—let us git a whack at that ball, or I'll run you off Madden's Hill."
Bo suddenly looked a little pale and sick.
"Course youse can git a whack at it," he said, in a weak attempt to be natural and dignified.
Daddy tossed the ball to Harris, and as he hobbled off the field he heard Bo calling out low and cautiously to his players. Then Daddy was certain he had discovered a trick. He called his players around him.
"This game ain't over yet. It ain't any more'n begun. I'll tell you what. Last innin' Bo's umpire switched balls on us. That ball was lively. An' they tried to switch back on me. But nix! We're goin' to git a chanst to hit that lively ball, An' they're goin' to git a dose of their own medicine. Now, you dead ones—come back to life! Show me some hittin' an' runnin'."
"Daddy, you mean they run in a trick on us?" demanded Lane, with flashing eyes.
"Funny about Natchez's strong finishes!" replied Daddy, coolly, as he eyed his angry players.