This was the last ball of the over, and, as the ball was now to be
delivered from the other wicket, Compton took the place of long-leg.
The third ball was overpitched to leg, and Wright, who, like most
country players, hit freely to leg, turned half, and caught this ball
exactly right, and sent it whizzing for five.
But the very force of the stroke was fatal to him; the ball went at
first bound right into Compton's hands, who instantly flung it back,
like a catapult, at Wright's wicket.
Wright, having hit for five, and being unable to see what had become of
the ball, started to run, as a matter of course.
But the other batsman, seeing the ball go right into long-leg's hands
like a bullet, cried, "Back!"
Wright turned, and would have got back to his wicket if the ball had
required handling by the wicket-keeper; but, by a mixture of skill with
luck, it came right at the wicket. Seeing which, the wicket-keeper very
judiciously let it alone, and it carried off the bails just half a
second before Mr. Wright grounded his bat.
"How's that, umpire?" cried the wicket-keeper.
"Out!" said the Staveleigh umpire, who judged at that end.
Up went the ball into the air, amid great excitement of the natives.
Ruperta, carried away by the general enthusiasm, nodded all sparkling
to Compton, and that made his heart beat and his soul aspire.
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