“’Old hon!” said Billy. “We ain’t done yet, don’t y’ hunderstand!” Never in his life had Buckhart been more anxious for a hit. The very fact that he was so keenly anxious caused him to be deceived on the third strike by Ware, and he swung at a bad one. When he realized what had happened the Texan hurled down his bat in chagrin. Fairport now had her last opportunity at bat, but her best hitters were easy for Merriwell, who was in his finest form. They were quickly retired, and the home team came to the bench. Dick was the first hitter. “Tap it out, captain,” urged Black, “and I will sacrifice you to second.” Merriwell made no reply, but walked to the plate and dropped a clean hit over the infield. On the instant the cadets were all up, cheering madly. Black “made good” and cleverly sacrificed Dick to second. “They are working hard for a run, Jack, my boy!” laughed Roberts, “but they will never get it off you! This game ends one to nothing!” “Dern my picter!” cried Obediah Tubbs. “I wisht I thought it!” But when Bradley failed to touch the ball in three efforts, and was out, all knew the situation was more than serious for Fardale. The hopes of the cadets now centred on Flint. Dave cracked a fierce one along the ground at Roberts. The captain of the visiting team made a dive for it, got his hands on it, but did not stop it cleanly. In fact, it got through him a distance of four or five feet before he could pick it up. Flint was on first and Merriwell had safely reached third. “Darrell!” was the shout, as Hal walked out. He was almost deathly pale, but his hands were firm as iron as they gripped the bat. His pallor was no more intense than Chester Arlington’s, who stood watching him near the grand stand. Hal let the first ball pass, although it was straight over. He did it that Flint might get down to second, and Dave improved the opportunity. Warren made a bluff of throwing to Crockett, but simply returned the ball to Ware. “A clean hit wins this game, Arlington,” said Mel Fraser. “And this is Darrell’s time to throw Merriwell down,” returned Chester. “He will do it, too.” When Hal swung and missed the next ball Chester was more confident than ever that the result he predicted would follow. With two balls and two strikes called Hal went after one of Ware’s high straight ones. He met it full and fair and drove it on a line into the outfield. No fielder could reach it, and pandemonium followed, for Merriwell and Flint came home, and Darrell had won the game with a handsome two-bagger. When the shouting cadets poured onto the field and made a rush toward the players they found Dick Merriwell at Darrell’s side. Dick was patting Hal on the shoulder and softly saying in his ear: “Well done, old man! You redeemed yourself nobly to-day!” CHAPTER XXII. AN INQUISITIVE STRANGER.