Part 26 (1/2)

Paul Orben, who had been the player to reach second, was already streaking up to third, and by the time Sam reached first Paul was legging it for the home plate.

”Throw that ball up here! Throw that ball up!” yelled the second baseman to the center fielder, who was still chasing after the bouncing leather.

Then amid a cloud of dust Paul slid in over the home plate while Sam, having reached second, was legging it rapidly for third. Up came the ball from the field to second, and then to third, but before it got there the youngest Rover was safely clutching the bag.

”Whoop! Hurrah! That's the way to do it! One run in and another on the way.”

”Keep it up, Brill! You've struck your winning streak!”

”Oh, dear! I do hope Sam can bring that run in!” came from Grace.

”It might have been a home run if he had only run a little faster,”

remarked Chester Waltham.

”Faster!” retorted Tom, quickly. ”Why, he legged it like greased lightning! Most players would have gotten only two bags out of that hit.”

Following this batting came another out, but then the next man up managed to reach first, and amid a wild cheering on the part of the Brillites, and a loud tooting of horns, Sam rushed over the home plate.

”Hurrah! Hurrah! Another run!”

”That makes the score four to five!”

”Keep up the good work, Brill!”

But that was the end of the run getting for the time being. Then Roxley came to the bat, and amid the most intense feeling Jack Dudley managed to pitch out three men in succession and the score went up on the board: Brill 4--Roxley 5.

”Now, fellows, this is our last chance,” said Bob, as the team came in for the ninth inning. ”Remember, one run will tie the score and two runs may win the game. Now every man up on the job.”

The first batter for Brill in the ninth inning was plainly nervous. He let two good b.a.l.l.s go by and thereby had two strikes called on him. Then he made a wild pa.s.s at the next ball, knocking a short foul which the first baseman for Roxley gathered in by a sensational running leap.

”One man gone! One man gone!” chanted the Roxley followers. ”Now, then, get the other two.”

”Take your time, boys, take your time,” cried Bob. ”Make them give you just what you want.”

This advice was heeded, and as a result the next man got to first and on another one-base hit managed to reach third. Then came a one-bag drive that brought in a run and took the man on first to second.

”Hurrah! Hurrah! That ties the score!”

”Keep it up, Brill! Bring in all the runs you can!”

Following the bringing in of the tying run, there came some field play between the pitcher and the bas.e.m.e.n, and as a result the man who had reached first was called out trying to steal second. In the mean time the other runner tried to steal home, but had to stay on third.

”Be careful, boys, be careful,” pleaded Bob, and then a few seconds later came another base hit which brought in another run.

”Good! Good! That's the way to do it, Brill!”

”That makes the score six to five in favor of Brill!”

”Bring in half a dozen more while you are at it!”

”Hold them down. Don't let them get another run,” pleaded the captain of Roxley's nine to his men.