“Strike one” and “ball two” and “ball three” followed in order, the batter apparently making no attempt to hit. “Look out thar, Dan’l!” shouted Silas. “Watch that fellow; don’t ye let him fool ye!” “Careful, Dan,” suggested Walter in a low voice. The batter, however, awkwardly struck the ball and a high foul resulted, the catcher succeeding, after a long run, in reaching and holding it. “Hi! That’s one out! Put that down in yer book or ye may forget it!” roared Silas to the scorer. “I guess those Benson fellows feel a little homesick! Don’t be too hard on ’em, Dan! Jes’ let ’em knock a ball t’ th’ city fellow ye’ve got for short-stop.” Walter’s cheeks flushed slightly as a laugh from the crowd greeted the suggestion of Silas, but he did not glance in the direction of the noisy harness-maker. The next batter “fanned” and Silas gave vent to his glee in renewed calls upon the Benson nine to “shut up shop.” When the third man faced Dan and he too “fanned” out, even Walter began to share in the excitement that prevailed in the Rodman contingent. “Dan, you’ve struck out five of the six men that have faced you,” he said warmly as he walked beside his friend from the diamond. “Luck, I guess,” said Dan dryly. “Then it’s mighty good luck, that’s all I can say,” laughed Walter. “The game is young yet,” Dan remarked quietly. “So it is, but that doesn’t change the fact that in the first two innings the Bensons haven’t got but one man as far as first or that you have struck out five of the six who have faced you.” It was plain that Dan did not desire to talk and Walter too was soon silent, watching the batters. The first man up received his base on balls, the second batter made a hit and in the throw-in the runner gained third, while the batter, by a burst of speed, succeeded in reaching second amid great applause. “Get up, Dan. Tell them to try a double steal!” suggested Walter eagerly. “What’s that?” “They can work a squeeze play if they want to.” “A double steal?” “No; a squeeze play.” “Why, it’s a――――” Dan stopped abruptly as Silas at that moment came toward the two boys. CHAPTER VII A DISPUTE “Tell him to get off the field,” said Walter in a low voice as he saw the stout harness-maker approaching. “Tell ye what, Dan,” roared Silas, “ye’re jest givin’ Benson somethin’ t’ think on. Our boys are jest knockin’ th’ cover right off th’ ball.” “That doesn’t look like it,” responded Dan quietly as the Rodman batter hit a little fly to the short-stop, who turned quickly and caught one of the runners. It was the first occasion for a shout from the followers of the Benson nine and the applause was as noisy as it was prolonged. Two boys, one with a pitchfork in his hand, jumped down from their seat in a farm wagon which they had driven to a place not far from third base. “Hello, Si!” shouted one of the boys. “We’re goin’ t’ give you fellows a dose you’ll never forget.”