Gibson is bound to get a safe hit." "He is pretty sure to, and that is right." Merriwell knew that Nort Gibson was the heaviest and surest batter on the Harvard team, but he had been watching the fellow all through the game, trying to "get his alley." He had seen Gibson light on a drop and smash it fiercely, and then he had seen him get a safe hit off a rise, while an outcurve did not fool him at all, as he would bang it if it came over the plate or let it alone when it went outside.
Frank's mind was made up, and he had resolved to give Gibson everything in close to his fingers.

Then, if he did hit it, he was not liable to knock it very far.
The first ball Merriwell delivered looked like a pretty one, and Gibson went after it.

It was an inshoot, and the batter afterward declared it grazed his knuckles as it passed.
"One strike!" called the umpire.
"What's this! what's this!" exclaimed Collingwood, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

"What did he do, anyway ?" "Fooled the batter with a high inshoot," replied Pierson.
"Well, he doesn't seem to be so very rattled after all." "Can't tell yet.

He did all right that time, but Gibson has two more chances.