"All right," he agreed, "come 'n, where'll we play?"

"Here," said Fatty, "this big rock'll be home-plate, and that one over
there by the chestnut tree 'first.' An' we'll choose up sides--first
choosin'!"

Then Dicky, who insisted on being the other captain, picked up the bat
and threw it with the handle uppermost to Fatty, who caught it around
the middle. Then Dicky clasped his fingers around the bat just above
Fatty's hand; then Fatty put his left hand above Dicky's right; and
Dicky his left hand next; and so on until their fingers almost reached
the handle of the bat. There was just a little space left. If Fatty
could squeeze his plump fingers in between Dicky's and the top he
would win, and he could have first choice of the best players for his
side. But his fingers were much too fat.

"Your pinky's over," said Dicky, and Reddy Toms picked up a flat stone
and scraped it over the top of the bat, and Fatty howled and let go.

So it was Dicky's turn to choose, and Marmaduke waited breathlessly.
He hoped that he would be chosen first, second anyway. He ought to be,
for wasn't it his ball they were going to play with!

But--

"I'll take Reddy," said Dicky;

"Sammy," said Fatty;