Ralph had accepted the ball from his catcher, and held it gripped in his hand as he took a step back into his box. Naturally his attention was directed toward the spot, where he saw a tremendous commotion had started, with men and boys swarming back. “A fight! A fight!” was the first cry that passed around to the grandstand, and hundreds immediately stood up to see, their interest in the game for the moment forgotten. But they immediately discovered that it must be something else that had caused this stampede, for the runners appeared to be frightened. What could it be? Frank shouted to Police Chief Hogg, and the latter started on the run for the scene of disturbance. Every man, woman and child was now standing up and craning necks to find out the truth. They saw people running, women showing symptoms of terror, and even men trying to put space between themselves and some mysterious danger. Then a shout went up, for upon the field had suddenly appeared a bull, showing symptoms of anger, and evidently in a mood to launch himself at the crowd, many of the ladies wearing gaily-colored garments that appeared to arouse the fighting spirit of the animal. Some of the boys of Columbia recognized the bull as one belonging to a farmer who owned the property adjoining the athletic field on the right, and back of the grandstand. A high fence shut off this pasture, but perhaps some of the boards may have fallen down. At any rate, there was the bull trotting straight toward the diamond, with hundreds of frantic people going into a panic. “He wants to toss a few over! Give the bull a chance!” shouted a funny fellow from the safety of the grandstand; but had he been out there on the field doubtless he would ere this have been taking to his heels, like the majority of the alarmed spectators. Frank immediately suspected that some thoughtless scamp who loved a prank without counting the cost may have coaxed the bull to the opening made in the fence, by waving a red handkerchief, and then dodging when he had accomplished his purpose. “Get bats, fellows; we’ve got to chase him back to cover!” he shouted, suiting his action to his words. Other players also snatched up some of the war clubs, and thus armed they bore down on the object of their solicitude. Meanwhile the bull had trotted straight for Ralph in the box. It looked as though the animal meant to follow up the advice of the joker in the grandstand, and ascertain whether he could knock the pitcher out of the box. Ralph stood his ground. Indeed, he hardly knew what to do, such was the tremendous clamor all around him. “Soak him one, you!” howled a fellow who stood on the top seat of the bleachers, and waved his arms. It was so easy to tell another what to do just then, especially when in an apparently safe place himself. “Yes, hit him in the eye, Ralph! Here’s your chance to win your own game!” “Shoo the bully old boy away! He’s interfering, with our game!”