toward the home plate. It was a desperate chance in a desperate game, for
the Lakeville players were cool and experienced hands, and Ned was almost
certain to be put out. However, he had chanced it. It was too late to go
back now. He was running straight for home, as though there was no such
thing as a baseman with a ball close behind him, waiting for a good
chance to throw to the catcher and put him out.

Right at the catcher Ned ran. The third baseman drew back his arm to
throw the ball. The catcher put out his hands to grasp it. Then Ned
jumped up into the air, springing as high as he could.

This disconcerted the aim of the third baseman and he had to throw higher
than he intended, to get the ball over Ned's head.

It was what Ned intended that happened.

The catcher was obliged to jump to reach the whizzing ball. He just
missed it, the leather sphere grazing the tips of his fingers. Then it
flew over his head, while there sounded a groan from the Lakeville
supporters. The game was a High School victory.

An instant later Ned had passed the chagrined catcher and had touched the
home plate, while the High School boys stood up on the bleachers and made
themselves hoarse with cheers. Joining them came the shrill cries of the
girls of Darewell, quite a throng of whom had come to see the game.

"Good, Ned!" cried Bart, as he ran up to grasp his chum by the hand.

"That's the stuff!" exclaimed Fenn Masterson. "I knew you could do it,
Ned!"