Fardale field was a pandemonium. Grand stand and bleachers alike were crazy with excitement. The band, unheard, blared forth amid the din. Men shouted and shrieked for the score to be tied, begged Merry to crack out another homer, hit each other over the head, and threatened to smash the stands with their frenzied stamping.
With suddenness that was almost appalling, the din died away as Villum Kess was seen walking out to the plate. The rooters held their breath.
“That settles it,” groaned a man near Colonel Gunn’s box. “That dunderhead will be the first out—it’s all over.”
“Confound your impertinence, sir!” roared the irate colonel, twisting about and threatening the fan with personal violence. “It’s not—ah—all over till the last man has—ah—gone down!”
Then he turned and sent another roar at the field.
“Get a hit! Get a hit!”
The crowd took up the swinging words. “Get a hit! Get a hit!” rose the thunder of many voices, pierced by the shrill yells of the Clipper fans, who implored Green to “Hold ’em down!”
[296]
Then Kess stepped into the box, and instantly the silence fell anew.
“Yaw!” squawked the Dutch lad, his voice sounding distinctly all over the field. “Didn’t I toldt you I vos goin’ to dood it! You vos a skinch, so hellup me!”
“You’ll get skinned, all right,” yelled Olcott. “Let the Dutchman hit it, old man! He’s easy!”
“Shut oop mit your mouth!” retorted Villum, turning angrily.
As he did so, Green unwound and the sphere came down like a bullet. Villum tried to strike, but overreached himself and fell forward, sitting on the plate.
“Vot der matter vos?” he inquired blankly. “Vhere vos der pall?”
“Get up or you’ll have another strike called,” said Olcott.
Villum scrambled to his feet. His actions disgusted the excited crowd, however, and a storm of objurgation began to rain upon him.
“Take him out! Send in a ball player!”
“Get the hook! Get the hook!”
“By Yimini, you shoot oop!” roared Villum, waving his bat at the grand stand. “How vos I to hear der pall coming vhen you vos making such a yelling?”
Green smiled and once more put the ball across while Villum was glaring at the crowd. He whirled around as the ball plunked home.
[297]
“Vot vos dot?”
“Strike—two!” called the umpire.
“Vell, by shinks!” gasped Villum angrily. “You vos der advantage oof me dake, yes, no?”
“Watch out,” advised Olcott, with a wide grin. “Here it comes again.”
Villum spat on his hands, pounded the plate, and settled down. Even the nonchalant Green was laughing, but his laugh ended suddenly.
For, as the ball came glinting down, Villum gathered together, swung mightily, and connected!
“He’s done it!” shrieked the fans, coming to their feet with a howl.
The ball went sizzling along the ground to Craven, while Villum Kess labored toward first. The third baseman was so astonished at his hit that when he scooped up the ball he fumbled it. Then he picked it up again and whipped it to first.
“Look oudt!” yelled Villum. “I vos coming!”
He came, too, in an unheralded slide. Smith, the semipro, had probably never seen any one slide for first before in all his life. He was so startled at the action that he missed the ball, which went past him.
Instantly Villum gained his feet and plunged toward second, repeating his bull-head effort of the fourth inning. While Smith chased the ball the crowd began to yell encouragement at him, remembering that he had scored the first tally.
[298]
On reaching second, Villum took a look over his shoulder and started for third. Smith had gained the ball, and was sending it across the diamond to Craven, but none the less he pounded on, head down and elbows working.
He was only halfway from second when Craven picked up the ball and started for him with a grin. Villum never slacked up, despite the frantic yells that were directed at him. Just as Craven reached out to tag him, however, he stumbled over his own foot and fell like a shot, headfirst.
He struck squarely against Craven’s knees. The latter’s hand was distinctly seen to fly out, while the ball dropped and rolled away. Out of the whirling arms and legs emerged Villum, bounced to third, and turned toward home.
“I toldt you I vos a home run got!” he bellowed.
This time, however, this amazing luck seemed to have deserted him. Craven rolled over and got the ball, and quickly snapped it home. Olcott stepped out to get it, flinging aside his mask, and a groan swelled out f............