For a wonder, Carter guessed it, and reached out for it---but missed.
"Strike two!" followed almost immediately from the placid's umpire's lips.
Everyone who hoped for the Army was trembling now.
Dan Dalzell did some urgent signaling.

In response, Darrin took an extra hard twist around the leather, unwound, unbent and let go.
_Crack_! Batter's luck, and nothing else! "Carter, Carter, Carter!" broke loose from the mouths of half a thousand gray-clad cadets, and the late anxious batter was sprinting for all there was in him.
Just to right of center field, and past, went the ball---a good old two-bagger for any player that could run.
From third Dick came in at a good jog, but he did not exert himself.
He had seen how long it must take to get the ball in circulation.
As for Holmes, he hit a faster pace.

He turned on steam, just barely touching third as he turned with no thought of letting up this side of the home plate.
Lanton made third---he had to, for Carter was bent on kicking the second bag in time.
Had there been another full second to spare Carter would have made it.

But Navy center field judged that it would be far easier to put Carter out than to play that trick on Lanton, since the latter had but ninety feet to run, anyway.
So Carter was out, but Lanton was hanging at third, crazy with eagerness to get in.
It all hung on Lanton now.

If he got across the home plate in time enough it would give the Army the lead by one run.