"Strike one!" called Sammy, who was catching.

Marmaduke swung at the next one too wildly.

"Strike two!"

And then, sad to tell,--

"Strike three!"

He was out--no doubt about it!

"Aw!" exclaimed Dicky, "what'd I tell you--you ought to be fired."

Marmaduke felt very much ashamed as he took his place out in the field
again, with the score thirty-six to thirty against them.

Just then the Toyman and Jehosophat came up the road on their way back
from Sawyer's Mill, and the Toyman stopped his horses to watch the
game for a minute. Marmaduke gritted his teeth and clenched his hands.
He would have to do well now when they were looking on.

Before he knew it, two of the other team were out. Then, all of a
sudden, he heard a loud crack. Looking up, he saw the ball sailing
through the air. It wasn't sailing towards Dicky or Skinny. It was
coming straight in his direction!

He formed his hands in the shape of a cup and waited. He was going to
hold that ball--if it ever got there. And, sure enough, it fell in his