t spare Ready. Jack missed the first two balls, being
unable to hold them, although he did not let them get past him. Both
were strikes, and again Badger tried to "work" the batter, though he did
not slacken his speed. Frank was anxious, for he expected to see the
freshman catcher let one of those hot ones pass him. Nothing of the kind
happened, and, after trying two balls, Buck used a sharp rise and struck
the man out.

The college men on the bleachers rose up and howled, but Frank Merriwell
was gloomy at heart, though his lips smiled.

"Badger is doing well," he told himself; "but Ready cannot hold him. I'm
afraid the handicap is too great. Oh, for Bart Hodge just now!"

The first half of the first inning was over, but Hartford had made three
runs.

CHAPTER VI.

READY STEADY.

Merriwell saw that Ready could not catch for Buck Badger. There was such
an utter absence of anything like team-work that there seemed to be
little hope that the game could be won by Merriwell's nine if the
battery was not changed. Badger could pitch like a wonder at times, but
he rattled Ready, who, as a rule, and in regard to other matters, was as
steady as a clock. Ready simply could not do himself justice with Badger
in the box. He felt it as well as Merriwell, but he doggedly continued,
determined at all events to do his best. Ready was a fellow of infinite
pluck, and usually a fellow of infinite confidence. He would have had
confidence now, but there was not a thing to build his confidence on.

Merriwell's nine scored four times before it was forced again into the
field. Frank sent Badger into the box again, after talking with him
awhile.

"You rattle Ready, some way!" Frank told him. "Throw those in curves
more, and work in your dropped balls when you can. They get your out
curves."

Then, before playing again, he had a few words with Ready.

The first man at the bat got a hit, while the next man took first on
balls. The next man at the bat knocked a fly into the hands of Danny
Griswold, who was playing short-stop, and the base-runners came back to
their places.

Then the men on bases tried to make a double steal, which was partially
successful. The fellow on second reached third, but the runner behind
him was cut off at second by a throw from Ready. Jack should have thrown
to third, but he did not. He threw low to second, and Diamond got it on
the bound, touching the runner as that individual was making a desperate