Then pulling the leather down out of the air, he leaped back to first.

He was holding the ball in his left hand when Prendergast, breathing fast, hopped at the bag.
"Runner out!" called Umpire Foley.

Prendergast stamped back, with a look of huge disgust.

And now Gridley came in at the bat.
"It's no use! We're whipped!" That was the comment everywhere as Gridley came in from the field prepared for a last effort.
Gridley's first and second men went bad---the first struck out, and the second knocked a foul bit that was caught.
"Greg, you've got to go to bat next," whispered Dick to Holmes, just a moment before.

"Oh, _don't_ you strike out.