After the postman had gone back to the pavilion, the scores were level with only two wickets to fall. Then the Major bowled a fast half – volley on the leg – stump. The sexton hit it fair and square in the middle of the bat and it flashed like a thunderbolt, waist – high, straight at the youth in the blue jumper.

The youth sprang backwards out of its way and fell over on his back. Immediately behind him stood the mighty Boone. There was no escape for him. The ball struck him in the midriff (stomach) like a red hot cannon ball upon a Spanish sailing ship and with the sound of a drumstick upon an insufficiently stretched drum.

With a curse, Boone clasped his hand to his stomach and found that the ball was in his hands. He threw it down angrily and massaged the injured spot. Hence he did not reciprocate cordially when Donald congratulated him.

‘Midriff’ refers to the belly of Boone. The ball is likened to a red – hot cannon ball that hit a Spanish ship. ‘An insufficiently stretched drum’ refers to Boone’s big belly.Thus, the whole description is a comical caricature of Boone, and the ‘hit’ that he received in the belly, like the one given here, contributes to the element of humour.