Smith, stout, stolid, manifestly possessed of great strength, advanced laughingly to the plate and keenly watched Dan. He struck viciously at the first ball and a long foul followed. He lunged at the next ball, but it seemed to dodge his bat. He looked again at the pitcher, grasped his bat more firmly, and then swung quickly at the ball which Dan sent in with his utmost strength. “Strike!” called Samson, then turning to the catcher, who had dropped the ball, he said, “What’s the trouble, Ned? Can’t you hold him?” “Go ahead,” replied Ned grimly, bracing himself. Again the ball came swiftly, but Smith once more failed to hit, and when Dan repeated his experiment with Hodge by sending a slow ball and the batter struck at it long before it reached him Smith good-naturedly exclaimed as he threw down his bat, “No use, fellows. You can’t find the ball.” Gus Kiggins now walked to the plate. Without knowing who was facing him, Dan felt that there was opposition keen and strong expressed in the face of the player. The interest of all in the little group of spectators was aroused now, and Walter, whose delight at Dan’s feat in striking out the two heavy hitters of the school nine was unconcealed, was watching the young pitcher with increasing eagerness. If Gus Kiggins could be struck out too! “Dan,” he said in a low voice, “give Gus a low drop. He can’t hit a low ball.” Without betraying whether or not he had heard the suggestion, Dan looked keenly at the batter and then sent in a sudden and terrifically swift ball that crossed the plate before Gus had fairly drawn back his bat. The ball was quickly returned by Ned, and again, with his sudden quick swing, Dan threw the ball before Gus was fully aware. “Two strikes!” called Samson in a low voice. “You’re doing nobly!” laughed Hodge as he watched the batter. “Look out for that third strike! The ball has a habit of stopping somewhere up in the air and waiting for you to strike at it before it decides to come on.” “I’ll wait for it,” retorted Kiggins and a moment later he lunged heavily at the ball which Dan threw with terrific speed. “Three strikes! You’re out,” declared Samson. “That’s enough,” said Dan as he dropped the ball and started from the field. “Give us another round. You caught us off our guard,” called Kiggins. Without a protest, Dan once more picked up the ball, called to Ned to take his position behind the bat, and prepared to resume his work. Again in order the three players faced the new boy, but with the exception of a high foul which Hodge raised, not one was able to hit the ball.