Page:The spirit of the leader (IA spiritofleader00heyl).pdf/194

 "Bunt it is," he ordered; "and the first fellow who fails to run it out goes out of the game. Who's up? You, Peters. See how fast you can get down to first."

Peters bunted the second ball. The Hastings pitcher came in on a wild run and fumbled. Twice he clutched at the sphere and twice it eluded him. When he got it at last the catcher was praying to him to "Hold it" and Peters was panting and gasping safely on first.

The next boy bunted the first pitch. This time the catcher and the third baseman started for the ball, and the third baseman stumbled and fell. The catcher became badly rattled, and though he got his hands on the leather he did not know what to do with it. The shortstop, who had been guarding third, lost his head and came running in to advise the catcher. And Peters, seeing third unguarded, made a wild dash for the deserted bag and made it.

The Hastings infielders began to quarrel among themselves. The Northfield runner on first edged off, found himself unnoticed, and began to walk toward second. He was half-way to his goal when the Hastings first baseman woke up.

"Second, second!" he screamed.

The catcher, startled, threw. There was nobody there to take the throw, and the ball rolled