Three men were out, and the Great Northern had not scored in the first inning. Although they were surprised by the result, the players trotted onto the field, laughing and joking. There were three pitchers with the team, and they had decided to use their weakest man in the box, for they were sure he would be good enough to hold the cadets down. The next surprise came when Gardner bunted the second ball pitched and scudded down to first with such speed that he reached the bag safely. “Dear me, isn’t that too bad!” cried Ted Smart, as the Fardale cheer died away. “That’s the tut-tut-tut-time you fuf-fuf-fuf-fooled him!” laughed Chip Jolliby, prancing about on the coach line back of first base. Barron Black, the second hitter, finally picked out a good one and sacrificed himself in driving Gardner down to second. With one man out, Dave Flint came up. Flint was beyond question one of the finest batters on the Fardale team. He seldom lifted a ball into the air, and his line drives were generally safety placed. On this occasion he selected an outcurve that was on the outer corner and lined it into right field. With a good lead off second, Gardner literally flew over third and came home on the throw to the plate. This throw enabled Flint to reach second. “That doesn’t amount to anything,” declared the captain of the visitors. “We can give you a dozen runs and then beat you out.” “’Ow remarkable!” drawled Billy Bradley. “’Ow hextremely confident you hare!” Dick was directing the game by signals from the bench, having a bat in his hands, which he held in various ways understood by all the players. At the same time he was talking to Arlington. “You’re getting the support,” he said. “If they back you up that way you will make those fellows hustle to win this game. They are overconfident now and think they can take it anyhow. The time for us to get a start is right away.” “But they are hitters!” retorted Chester. “By George! I did my best to fool those fellows and they got at the ball!” Dick nodded. “They know how to hit, all right,” he admitted. “It depends a great deal on your success in keeping them from hitting safely at critical times. I want you to win this game, Arlington, and I sincerely hope you do.” Billy Bradley was the batter, but his hit to right bounded straight into the fielder’s hands, and he was thrown out at first. At the same time Flint was held on third by the catcher. Chip Jolliby now strode out, and Factor, the pitcher, paused to laugh at him. “Where did this chalk mark come from?” chuckled Factor. “Bet you have to stand twice in a place to cast a shadow.” “You’re awful fuf-fuf-fuf-funny!” chattered Chip. “Just you pup-pup-pup-pitch the ball, and perhaps you won’t fuf-fuf-fuf-feel so fuf-fuf-fuf-funny!” “Try this,” invited Factor, as he sent in a high one. Jolliby caught it on the end of the bat and drove it over the infield, bringing Flint home.