Then the Yale crowd broke into an original song, the words of which were: 

“Oh, hammer it out, Old Eli, Old Eli,
As you always have, you know;
For it’s sure that we’re all behind you, behind you,
And we will cheer you as you go. 
We’re in the game to stay, my lads, my lads,
We will win it easily, too;
So give three cheers for old ’Umpty-eight—­
Three cheers for the boys in blue! 
Breka Co ax, Co ax, Co ax! 
Breka Co ax, Co ax, Co ax! 
O—­up!  O—­up! 
Parabaloo—­
Yale!  Yale!  Yale! 
’Rah! ’rah! ’rah! 
Yale!”

The enthusiasm which this created was immense, and the next man walked up to the plate filled with determination.  However, Old Put was shrewd enough to know the man might be too eager, and so he gave the signal for him to take one anyway.

Coulter was decidedly nervous, as was apparent to everybody, and it seemed that there was a chance of getting him badly rattled.  That was exactly what the Yale crowd was doing its best to accomplish.

Merriwell crept away from first for a long lead, but it was not easy to get, as Coulter drove him back with sharp throws each time.  Then Blossom came near being caught napping off second, but was given “safe” on a close decision.

Suddenly Coulter delivered, and the batter obeyed Old Put and did not offer, although it was right over the heart of the plate.

“One strike!” was called.

Now came the time for the attempted double steal that Frank had suggested.  Putnam decided to try it on, and he signaled for it.  At the same time he signaled the batter to make a swing to bother the catcher, but not to touch the ball.

Frank pretended to cling close to first, but he was watching for Coulter’s slightest preliminary motion in the way of delivery.  It came, and Old Put yelled from the coach line, where he had replaced Griswold: 

“Gear!”

Frank got a beautiful start, and Blossom made a break for third.  If Blossom had secured a lead equal to Merriwell’s he would have made third easily.  As it was, the catcher snapped the ball down with a short-arm throw, and Blossom was caught by a foot.

Then it was Harvard’s turn, and the Cambridge lads made the most of it.  A great roar went up, and the crimson seemed to be fluttering everywhere.

“Har-vard!  Har-vard!  Har-vard!  ’Rah! ’rah! ’rah!  ’Rah! ’rah! ’rah!  ’Rah! ’rah! ’rah!  Harvard!”

One strike and one ball had been called on the batter, and Merriwell was on second, with one man out.  Yale was still longing vainly for scores.  It began to look as if they would still be held down, and Coulter was regaining his confidence.

Frank was aware that something sensational must be done to keep Coulter on the string.  He longed for an opportunity to steal third, but knew he would receive a severe call down from Old Put if he failed.  Still he was ready to try if he found the opportunity.