The time for the game to start came at last, and the clang of a bell called the visitors to their bench, while the locals took the field. Then one of the umpires, with a megaphone, announced: “Battrees to-day: For Deering, Curley and Coffin. For Hatfield, Jewett and Yapp.” At this there was a murmur from those who had wished to see the new man pitch. Elgin, hearing this murmur and understanding, laughed to himself. Chick Collins, the Deers’ right fielder, was the first man to face Jewett, and, as Collins had the reputation of being a man who “waited it out” and made a pitcher put them over, Jewett started in by cutting the pan with the first ball delivered. To his surprise, Chick did not take one; instead, he met that straight ball on the trade-mark, and cracked it safely into right, which caused the little bunch of Deering fans to give a howl of joy. “That’s the stuff!” sounded the voice of Peter McLaughlin. “He won’t last an inning at that rate. Go to him, Truly!” Hen Truly, familiarly known as “Yours Truly,” followed Collins to the plate, fully instructed by Kennedy. Jewett, a bit nervous, threw three times to first to hold the runner close. Then he wasted two while Truly waited and grinned. Having put the twirler in a hole the batter signaled to Collins that he would bunt the next ball pitched, and the runner was off for second with the swing of Jewett’s arm. Truly dropped a bunt in front of the plate, and stretched himself for first. Jewett fell over himself trying to field the ball, and the attempted sacrifice was turned into a scratch hit when his throw reached first a second too late. “Where’s your new pitcher?” cried Landlord McLaughlin. “You better put him in right away.” Bristol remained apparently unmoved upon the bench; but Jewett, glancing toward his manager, knew that he was on the verge of getting the hook. Joe Digg was the next hitter――Digg, the formidable, who still had the highest batting average among the visitors. Jewett feared Digg; yet to pass him now would fill the corners, with no one down, and Hallett, a man almost as dangerous, followed. In this dilemma, wabbling in the effort to get his pins under him, the Buccaneer flinger sought to coax Digg into reaching.