Late that Friday afternoon Ginger4 was an unobtrusive unit in a group of five who lolled on the campus sward where a big elm cast an oasis6 of shade in a sun-smitten Sahara. It was very hot and very still, and the deserted9 dormitories seemed to have dropped asleep for the summer. Conversation had been desultory10, but all of the morrow’s game. Now Captain Hal said smilingly, but with an undertone of earnestness: “Babe, it’s too bad you didn’t save that homer for to-morrow.”
“There’s another where that came from,” replied Babe.
[200]
“Not a chance,” said Dave. “They’ll walk you every time you come up.”
“I don’t believe,” answered Babe. “You see, I haven’t been hitting much, and they’ll think that was just an accident.”
“Brainy guys, then,” murmured Dave, pillowing his head more comfortably on one of Babe’s ample legs.
“Is that so, fresh?” Babe pressed the heel of a big hand sternly on Dave’s classic nose and elicited11 a groan12 of protest. “If they’ll put the old pill where I can reach it, Dave, it’s going to travel.”
“Sure, all you want is a straight one across your chest. That’s not much to ask, eh? Seems like they might do you a slight favor like that, what? Then, if it happens you can swing that old bridge timber of yours around in time, you’ll maybe get a hit!”
“‘Bridge timber!’” chuckled13 Hal. “That’s a new one!” Ginger, sitting slightly apart, grinned. Babe grinned, too.
“The old bridge timber did the trick yesterday, just the same.” Then he laughed reflectively. “Ginger was all broke up over that. He’s been after me to use one of those toothpicks, like the rest of you, and when he saw that homer he just dug his face in the dust.”
“Ginger’s dead right,” said Joe Kenton. “You’d hit three times as often if you used a light bat.”
[201]
“Sure,” agreed Dave.
“Do you fellows think so, too?” demanded Ginger eagerly.
“Of course,” replied Joe. “You’ve got the right dope, Ginger.”
“Well, you can’t tell, I guess,” murmured Ginger. It was one thing for him to criticize the ways of his hero, and quite another thing to listen to some one else doing it!
“Keep your orbs15 on your Uncle Babe to-morrow, Ginger,” laughed the big fellow. “I’m going to show you unbelievers just what the old bat can do.”
“I—I hope you will,” muttered Ginger. “I’d like to see it.”
“You will,” answered Babe confidently. “You sure will, son, you sure will. To-morrow about this time you’ll be apologizing to me and the old bat for all the harsh words you’ve spoken, Ginger. Sack cloth and ashes for you to-morrow, son!”
“I wished I was going to be there,” said Ginger longingly16. “It’ll be the first game I’ve missed since I took hold.”
“Mean to say you’re not going along?” demanded Hal, while the rest stared in surprise.
“Can’t, Cap.” Ginger shook his red head regretfully.
[202]
“Why not?” asked Babe. “Who says so?”
“Mister Naylor. He says he can’t afford to pay my fare. Course, I’d pay my own fare, only my—my dividends17 ain’t been comin’ in very regular lately—”
“Well, I’ll be blowed!” ejaculated Dave. “The old miser18! Going to do us out of our mascot19 for a paltry20 five or six dollars! What’s it cost to get down there and back, Hal?”
“Five—something. You can’t blame Bert much, though. We haven’t begun to make expenses this spring, and Bert’s the guy that’s got to make the alibis21. Still, it wouldn’t hurt much to loosen up on a fiver.”
“I’ll say it wouldn’t,” declared Joe. “Look here, you know, you chaps, we’ve got to have Ginger! Gee22, we’d get licked as sure as shooting without our mascot! Let’s dig!”
“Keep your hands out of your pockets, you guys,” directed Babe. “Ginger and I are pals23, and I look after his finances. You be at the train promptly24 at nine-eighteen, son, and bring your rabbit’s foot along. Something tells me we’re going to need it.”
“I ain’t got any rabbit’s foot,” muttered Ginger, flushed, joyous25, embarrassed, “but I—I got a lucky dime26.”
“Bring it, kid, bring it!” begged Dave.
The league grounds in the city were neutral[203] territory, without a doubt; and they were also very nearly deserted territory when the game started the next day. There was a small and devoted27 clump28 of Holman’s supporters back of third base and a scarcely larger company of Munson cohorts back of first. And there were some six hundred representatives of the general public scattered29 hither and yon about the rambling30 stands. It was not an inspiring scene. There was no band, there was but little cheering, there were few pennants31. The general public munched32 peanuts and, still neutral, lolled in its seat and yawned throughout four dismal33 innings. It seemed that the teams were as depressed34 and indifferent as the bulk of the spectators. The afternoon was scorchingly, breathlessly hot, and to move from bench to plate started perspiration35 from every pore.
On the toss-up Holman’s had won the slight advantage of last innings, and so Munson went to bat first. Dave, starting for the Light Green, held the enemy hitless until the second and scoreless until the fourth. He didn’t have much trouble doing it, either, for Munson was listless and without ambition. For the Blue-and-Gold, Nelson, a left-hander also, went to the mound36. Cross, Munson’s best twirler, had worked in both previous games, whereas Dave had not worked since Wednesday, and some advantage was believed to accrue37 to Holman’s from those circumstances. And yet, if Munson failed to[204] hit Dave, so Holman’s as lamentably38 failed to punish the Blue-and-Gold’s substitute twirler. Nelson traveled scathless to the last of the fourth, but one pass and a scratch hit being scored against him. It was that fourth inning that captured the somnolent39 gaze of the spectators and interrupted the steady crunching40 of peanuts.
Munson’s first man up fanned, but the next ambitiously reached for a wide one of Dave’s, got it on the end of his bat and sent it arching into right field, four inches inside the foul41 line and out of reach of either Tom or Mac. Encouraged, the next batsman hit straight down the second base alley42, and suddenly there were men on first and third and but one out! The neutrals in the stands began to take sides, and, naturally, rooted for the team that had started going and was promising43 to give them something for their money. The old ball park woke up from its slumbers44 and comparative animation45 reigned46. Also, there was much noise from the Munson section and the Munson coachers and the Munson bench. Dave cinched his belt a notch47 and woke up, too. But the next batsman was a good waiter and nothing Dave pitched suited the umpire behind the plate. Most unexpectedly, as things happen in baseball, the three bases were occupied! Moreover, the earnest-faced chap now facing Dave was Munson’s clean-up man!
[205]
To pass him, mused48 Babe, would force in a run and still leave but one out. On the other hand, if he hit safely two tallies49 would come across; maybe more. He must, therefore, be induced to knock out a fly, even if it was a long one. In response to Babe’s signals Dave kept them low. The first offering was a strike. The next two were balls. The fourth delivery was fouled50 into the first base stand. The next was a hair-breadth too low and made the tally51 2 and 3. Dave had to pitch it over now, but with luck he could still work the batsman for an out. And he did, for the long fly arched down into Purves’ waiting hands. The man on third raced home after the catch and beat the ball to the plate by yards. But there were two gone now and Holman’s breathed easier. To the next man Dave issued the first pass and again the bases were filled. But that ended the drama, for the Munson second baseman went out, Norwin to Wentworth.
Holman’s went after that one run lead in her half of the fourth and evened the score. Ted3 Purves flied out to center, Wentworth reached first on shortstop’s error, Joe Kenton sacrificed with a slow bunt along first base line and, with Tom on second, Mac slammed out a two-bagger into center. But that one tally was all that could be had, for Bud Thomas’ liner went smack52 into shortstop’s glove.
Dave got through the fifth without much trouble,[206] only four men facing him. Nelson wobbled a bit more, but also escaped injury, Babe fanning for the second time, Dave flying out to first and Hal Norwin knocking a weak grounder to Nelson. In the sixth inning both pitchers became unsteady and only sharp fielding saved them. In the seventh Dave steadied down and fanned the first two aspirants53. Then came a double over second base and the Munson supporters yelled hopefully. But the next man perished on a foul to Babe. The last half of the seventh witnessed the retirement54 of Nelson, warmly applauded by both sides, after he had been hit for a double and had passed two men. Cross, with but one down, made Dave send up a pop fly to second baseman and then crawled out of a tight hole when Captain Norwin’s grounder was handled perfectly55 by third baseman and Mac was nailed at the plate.
Dave was threatened with disaster in the first of the eighth when, having hit the first of the enemy and sent him, nursing his elbow, to first, he passed the next opponent. A clever bunt filled the bags and things looked black for the Light Green. The succeeding play, however, resulted in an out at the plate, and then a speedy double, Norwin to Kenton to Wentworth, pulled the fat out of the fire. In the last of that inning Captain Hal, Ted Purves and Tom Wentworth went out in order, Hal third baseman to first, and the others on strikes. And, still[207] 1 to 1, the deciding game went into the final inning.
Dave pitched real ball in that inning. Munson tried all she knew how to break through. With one down, a victim to Dave’s puzzling delivery, the Munson third baseman succeeded in dropping a Texas Leaguer behind Tom Wentworth. A minute later Babe’s hurried peg56 to second went just too wide to nip a steal. A pinch hitter took a hand then for the Blue-and-Gold, swung at a deceptive57 drop, knocked a foul back of third, slanted58 two more into the stand, let two balls pass him and at last hit safely to short left. Then, with two on, Fortune favored the Light Green. The Munson catcher landed against Dave’s first delivery—he had tried to sneak59 over a straight, fast one—and sent it smashing across the infield, rising as it went. The runners dashed away. Joe Kenton hurled60 himself high into the air and to the right, shot up a hand and speared the ball. Only the fact that when he came down he landed, or so it appeared, directly on the back of his neck, deprived him of a double play. By the time he had recovered himself and shot the ball to third base the runner there was safe. But there were two gone, now, and Holman’s set herself desperately61 to ward5 off defeat. The runner on third, instigated62 by a coach with a voice like a load of furniture falling downstairs, cut wierd didoes on the base path, kicking up the dust, starting at top speed for the plate[208] only to twirl and scuttle63 back to the bag, dancing and gyrating. None of these antics appeared to affect Dave, however. He observed the dervish-like enemy tolerantly and calmly and pitched to the batter64, working slowly and carefully, digesting Babe’s signals for a long moment before each wind-up. He tried a slow one that settled slowly toward the dust as it crossed the plate and was adjudged a ball. He shot a high one across the outer corner and netted a strike. He followed with a curve, waist-high, and heard it called a ball. Babe rewarded the umpire with a look of amazed pity.
“It looked good,” he confided65 to Dave cheeringly. “Let’s have it again. Come on, Dave!” But Babe’s words were belied66 by the signal hidden under the big mitten7, and what followed was so palpably a straight ball in the groove67 that the batter swung smartly—and missed badly.
“Two and two!” proclaimed the official.
“Nice work, Dave!” shouted Babe. “That’s pitching, boy! One more now!”
Babe’s voice was almost drowned by the strident cries of the coachers. Even the Munson bench was howling advice and encouragement. The runner on third was for an instant still, under the conditions a suspicious circumstance and suggesting a dash for the plate on the next pitch. Dave glanced unconcernedly[209] toward the last station, studied Babe’s signal, hesitated, shook his head. Babe signaled anew. Dave nodded. All this was merely to give the batsman something to think about besides his job of hitting the ball on the nose, for Dave seldom refused Babe’s signals, and when he did he didn’t shake his head at them but walked toward the plate and held a whispered conference with the catcher. The incident worried the coach a mite68, too, and he had half a mind to cancel his signal for an attempted steal from third. But he didn’t, and as Dave’s hand holding the ball went back the runner shot for the plate.
Dave didn’t hurry his delivery, although the form of the scuttling69 runner was plain to his sight as his arm shot forward. The ball went true to its goal, the batter started to swing and changed his mind, the ball thudded into Babe’s mitten and the umpire swung an arm outward and backward.
“He’s out!” The runner from third slid into the base in a cloud of yellow dust, his performance a wasted effort.
In the stand the little group of Holman’s rooters stood and yelled themselves red of face, and between the plate and the Holman’s bench a youth pushed a cap to the back of his very red head and spun70 ecstatically on one heel.
[210]
Ginger had kept his emotions sternly in check throughout eight and a half innings, presenting a cheerful, untroubled countenance71 to the world, performing his duties with all his accustomed masterly efficiency. But now relief demanded expression, and he spun on a worn heel and was inarticulately joyful72. Then he was at Babe’s side, hand outstretched for mask and mitt8, saying casually73:
“Atta-boy, Babe! ’At’s holding ’em!”
Babe grinned as he unbuckled the strap74 of his protector. “Get a good grip on your lucky dime, Ginger, and root for the old bridge timber!” said Babe.
Ginger looked startled. Gee, Babe was right, though! Joe Kenton was up, and then came Mac, Bud, and Babe. Ginger hoped hard that the needed run wouldn’t depend on Babe, for Babe had faced the enemy three times and had failed on each occasion to hit. More than that, it was Cross who was now pitching, and only yesterday morning Babe had acknowledged that never yet, this year or any other, had Cross allowed him a bingle. For Cross knew Babe’s weakness and didn’t have to have the catcher tell him to keep them low and inside.
“Batter up!” called the umpire impatiently, and Joe, who had been listening with bent75 head to Coach Cousins’ instructions, straightened and walked to the plate very jauntily76.
[211]
“You got one comin’ to you, Joe,” said Ginger, as he rescued the bat relinquished77 by the left fielder. “Bust it on the nose!”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
pitchers
|
|
| 大水罐( pitcher的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
strenuous
|
|
| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
ted
|
|
| vt.翻晒，撒，撒开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
ginger
|
|
| n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
ward
|
|
| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
oasis
|
|
| n.（沙漠中的）绿洲，宜人的地方 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
mitten
|
|
| n.连指手套，露指手套 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
mitt
|
|
| n.棒球手套，拳击手套，无指手套；vt.铐住，握手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
desultory
|
|
| adj.散漫的，无方法的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
elicited
|
|
| 引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
groan
|
|
| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
chuckled
|
|
| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
dome
|
|
| n.圆屋顶，拱顶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
orbs
|
|
| abbr.off-reservation boarding school 在校寄宿学校n.球，天体，圆形物( orb的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
longingly
|
|
| adv. 渴望地 热望地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
dividends
|
|
| 红利( dividend的名词复数 )； 股息； 被除数； （足球彩票的）彩金 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
miser
|
|
| n.守财奴，吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
mascot
|
|
| n.福神，吉祥的东西 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
paltry
|
|
| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
alibis
|
|
| 某人在别处的证据( alibi的名词复数 )； 不在犯罪现场的证人； 借口； 托辞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
gee
|
|
| n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
pals
|
|
| n.朋友( pal的名词复数 )；老兄；小子；（对男子的不友好的称呼）家伙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
joyous
|
|
| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
dime
|
|
| n.（指美国、加拿大的钱币）一角 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
clump
|
|
| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
rambling
|
|
| adj.[建]凌乱的，杂乱的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
pennants
|
|
| n.校旗( pennant的名词复数 )；锦标旗；长三角旗；信号旗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
munched
|
|
| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
dismal
|
|
| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
depressed
|
|
| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
perspiration
|
|
| n.汗水；出汗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
mound
|
|
| n.土墩，堤，小山；v.筑堤，用土堆防卫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
accrue
|
|
| v.(利息等)增大，增多 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
lamentably
|
|
| adv.哀伤地，拙劣地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
somnolent
|
|
| adj.想睡的，催眠的；adv.瞌睡地；昏昏欲睡地；使人瞌睡地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
crunching
|
|
| v.嘎吱嘎吱地咬嚼( crunch的现在分词 )；嘎吱作响；（快速大量地）处理信息；数字捣弄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
foul
|
|
| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
alley
|
|
| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
promising
|
|
| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
slumbers
|
|
| 睡眠，安眠( slumber的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
animation
|
|
| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
reigned
|
|
| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
notch
|
|
| n.(V字形)槽口，缺口，等级 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
mused
|
|
| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
tallies
|
|
| n.账( tally的名词复数 )；符合；（计数的）签；标签v.计算，清点( tally的第三人称单数 )；加标签（或标记）于；（使）符合；（使）吻合 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
fouled
|
|
| v.使污秽( foul的过去式和过去分词 )；弄脏；击球出界；（通常用废物）弄脏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
tally
|
|
| n.计数器，记分，一致，测量；vt.计算，记录，使一致；vi.计算，记分，一致 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
smack
|
|
| vt.拍，打，掴；咂嘴；vi.含有…意味；n.拍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
aspirants
|
|
| n.有志向或渴望获得…的人( aspirant的名词复数 )v.渴望的，有抱负的，追求名誉或地位的( aspirant的第三人称单数 )；有志向或渴望获得…的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
retirement
|
|
| n.退休，退职 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
peg
|
|
| n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
deceptive
|
|
| adj.骗人的，造成假象的，靠不住的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
slanted
|
|
| 有偏见的； 倾斜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
sneak
|
|
| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
hurled
|
|
| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
desperately
|
|
| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
instigated
|
|
| v.使（某事物）开始或发生，鼓动( instigate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
scuttle
|
|
| v.急赶，疾走，逃避；n.天窗；舷窗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
batter
|
|
| v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
confided
|
|
| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
belied
|
|
| v.掩饰( belie的过去式和过去分词 )；证明（或显示）…为虚假；辜负；就…扯谎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
groove
|
|
| n.沟，槽；凹线，（刻出的）线条，习惯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
mite
|
|
| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
scuttling
|
|
| n.船底穿孔，打开通海阀（沉船用）v.使船沉没( scuttle的现在分词 )；快跑，急走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
spun
|
|
| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
joyful
|
|
| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
casually
|
|
| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
strap
|
|
| n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
jauntily
|
|
| adv.心满意足地；洋洋得意地；高兴地；活泼地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
relinquished
|
|
| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |