FRANK 
 
 MEREIWELL 
 
 IN CAMP 
 
 5URT L 
 STAN DISH
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 IN MEMORY OF 
 EDWIN CORLE 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 JEAN CORLE
 
 The match burned brighter. Frank Merriwell remained perfectly motionless. 
 He could have been seen had either of the two village lads looked in his 
 direction. Page 245.
 
 FRANK MERRIWELL 
 IN CAMP 
 
 BURT L STANDISH 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 Frank Merriwell's School Days," "Frank Merriwell's Chums," 
 
 "Frank Merriwell's Foes," "Frank Merriwell's 
 
 Trip West," etc. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA 
 
 DAVID McKAY, PUBLISHER 
 
 604-8 SOUTH WASHINGTON SQUARE
 
 Copyright, 1898 and 1904 
 By STREET & SMITH 
 
 Frank MerriweU in Camp
 
 FRANK MERRIWELL IN GAMP. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 AN INSULT IN CAMP. 
 
 "There !" grunted Bruce Browning, as he lay back and 
 looked at the white roof of the tent. "I do hope we are 
 settled at last. I feel like piling onto that bed and taking a 
 good snooze." 
 
 "But you can't do it, my boy !" declared Frank Mem- 
 well. 
 
 "Can't? Why not?" 
 
 "This is a cadet encampment." 
 
 "What of that? We're not cadets." 
 
 "But we must conform to certain rules, as long as we 
 have been given the courtesy of a tent. It would de- 
 moralize the whole camp if we were to laze round on the 
 beds so that the cadets could look in and see us." 
 
 "That's so," nodded Bart Hodge, who was taking care 
 that everything was in perfect order. 
 
 "My gracious," gasped Bruce. "Do you mean to tell 
 me that I can't be comfortable here that I am to be robbed 
 of my regular afternoon nap?" 
 
 "There will be no daytime naps taken in this tent," 
 declared Frank. "Not before tattoo sounds at night can 
 you think of retiring, and at reveille you'll have to turn 
 out." 
 
 "Oh, say ! I don't think much of that ! What are we 
 here for ? That won't be any fun." 
 
 2035361
 
 6 An Insult in Camp. 
 
 "We are here for fun, but we must look out and obey 
 the rules of the camp if we wish to remain here." 
 
 "Oh, come, Merry ! What sort of stuff are you giving 
 us! While we were in the academy you did nothing but 
 break rules and turn things bottom side up." 
 
 "But I took good care not to be caught at it," smiled 
 Merry. "If I had been caught, we should have received a 
 polite invitation to cut our visit short." 
 
 "That's right, Browning," nodded Hodge. 
 
 "If I don't get my regular nap I shall waste away and 
 become very ill," sighed Bruce. 
 
 "It'll be a good thing if you waste away somewhat," 
 declared Frank. "You can stand lots of wasting." 
 
 "But I will sleep ! I'll close the tent and " 
 
 "Not on your life ! Both ends of the tent must be kept 
 open and hooked back during certain hours, and you will 
 not be allowed to close it." 
 
 "But what can I do? I know ! I'll go over to Snodd's 
 and get a nap there. That's the stuff ! Then you chaps 
 will not be able to disturb me with your senseless pranks 
 and jokes." 
 
 "That will be first rate," chuckled Frank. "Already 
 Belinda, the farmer's gentle daughter, the sylph-like crea- 
 ture who tips the beam at two hundred and twenty-three 
 pounds, is beginning to let up on me and waste her affec- 
 tions on you. She'll think she has you on the string, and 
 she'll think you are coming there to see her." 
 
 Browning groaned. 
 
 "This is tough," he declared. "It doesn't seem to me 
 that we are going to have much fun in camp." 
 
 "Oh, wait," advised Bart. "There are rules to be 
 obeyed in the daytime, but when night comes " 
 
 "Unless things have changed, there will be rackets ga- 
 lore/' finished Frank.
 
 An Insult in Camp. 7 
 
 "But it is pretty tough on a fellow to racket around all 
 night and not get a chance to sleep in the daytime." 
 
 "You'll get used to it. Let's go out and look the camp 
 over." 
 
 The boys followed Frank from the tent, which was set 
 a little apart from the others. Browning knew very little 
 of cadet life, but Merriwell and Hodge felt quite at home 
 there. 
 
 "You see the tents are arranged in four rows so that 
 they make three streets," explained Frank. "These streets 
 are known as A, B and C. The plebes are in the last row, 
 which faces on C Street. The yearlings won't do a thing 
 with them to-night !" 
 
 "They are like the sophs and freshmen at Yale, eh?" 
 
 "Sure. At West Point the yearlings have very little 
 chance to get at the plebes after going into camp, as the 
 entire camp is lighted by gas jets. Here it is different. 
 Gas is not obtainable, and an attempt to introduce kerosene 
 lamps resulted disastrously to the lamps, which were 
 smashed night after night. Under cover of darkness the 
 yearlings get in their work, and the plebes suffer." 
 
 As they strolled along the streets they glanced into the 
 tents, where everything was in the most perfect order. 
 In every tent the bedding was piled in a uniform and pre- 
 cise manner, the clothing was hung in a regular order, 
 the guns were in the racks, barrels to the front, accoutre- 
 ments and forage caps were hung on certain hooks, and 
 any one tent, outside and in, looked almost precisely like 
 every other tent. 
 
 Within some of the cadets were polishing rifles, brush- 
 ing clothing, or putting on the last finishing touches in the 
 work of getting things in order. 
 
 The cadets at Fardale were, as a rule, a wild lot, for 
 many of them had been sent there by parents who could 
 not handle them at home, and who hoped the discipline
 
 8 An Insult in Camp. 
 
 they would receive at a military school would tone them 
 down somewhat. Expulsion from Fardale was a last re- 
 sort applied to a cadet who could not be handled. 
 
 Frank Merriwell had in former years been a pupil at 
 Fardale Military Academy, along with his intimate friend, 
 Bart Hodge. 
 
 But now Frank was a student at Yale College and had 
 been for two years. 
 
 It was vacation time at Yale, and Frank had thought it 
 would be fun to go down to Fardale and visit the old school 
 once more, and meet many old friends. 
 
 He had taken Bart Hodge with him and also Bruce 
 Browning Bruce, who was so fat, lazy and good-na- 
 tured. More of Merriwell's chums were to follow later. 
 
 As had often happened before, Frank had gotten into 
 trouble almost at the start, before he even arrived at Far- 
 dale. On the train he had met another former pupil at 
 Fardale, Rupert Reynolds. Rupert was making life a 
 burden to a girl on the train named May Blossom. Frank 
 had interfered, and in the end had had a bitter quarrel 
 with Reynolds. 
 
 Reynolds could not forgive, and he hired a prize-fighter 
 named Spike McKay to attack Frank. There was a fight 
 at the railroad station, and our hero came in on top by 
 breaking McKay's wrist. 
 
 Frank had had considerable sport at the academy with 
 two of the professors, Gunn and Jenks. He had been 
 almost caught and had smoothed over matters with diffi- 
 culty. He was glad when it was announced that the acad- 
 emy cadets would go out for their annual encampment. 
 
 As old pupils, Frank and Bart were asked to go with 
 the cadets, and they begged that Bruce Browning might 
 also be included in the arrangement. As Frank had 
 money, and was willing to pay liberally, matters were
 
 An Insult in Camp. 9 
 
 easily arranged, and now we find them in camp as al- 
 ready described. 
 
 As the Yale lads were walking along, Bart suddenly 
 exclaimed : 
 
 "Hello ! There is a particular friend of ours, Merry." 
 
 "Where?" asked Frank. 
 
 "Over there with Casper Somers and those cadets in 
 front of the corner tent." 
 
 "Eh? A friend?" grunted Browning. "Why, it 
 
 "Rupert Reynolds," said Frank. "Yes, he is a par- 
 ticular friend nit !" 
 
 "How does he happen to be here in camp?" asked 
 Bruce. 
 
 "He was a cadet here once, and so he did not have 
 much trouble in obtaining admission." 
 
 "I wonder why he is talking to Somers like that?" 
 speculated Hodge. "Those fellows with Somers are his 
 particular chums. I believe something is in the wind." 
 
 "What do you mean by that ?" 
 
 "I don't know just what I mean," confessed Bart; 
 "but I do know I don't like the appearance of Cadet Corp. 
 Somers. -He strikes me like a sneak." 
 
 "He has treated us very civilly." 
 
 "Because it was necessary, but I think he is envious of 
 you, Merry. I've heard that he has tried to be popular 
 here, but has failed. He is envious because you won such 
 popularity when you were a cadet." 
 
 "Nonsense!" laughed Frank. "That would be very 
 foolish, as I am no longer a cadet here. Don't try to make 
 Corp. Somers out a fool, old man." 
 
 "Oh, I'm not going to say anything more about it," said 
 Bart, rather sulkily; "but I think you will find him out. 
 Look see how quick those fellows stopped talking I They 
 saw us coming."
 
 io An Insult in Camp. 
 
 It was true that the group had ceased to talk and were 
 watching the three Yale lads. There was a sneer on the 
 face of Rupert Reynolds, and, as Frank and his friends 
 came near, Rupert was heard to say: 
 
 "Think of the crust! Just because two of them have 
 been cadets here, they come back and hang around, so 
 Old Gunn is forced to provide them with quarters, even 
 though it is against the rules of the academy. Such a 
 thing would not be tolerated in any other military school 
 in the country. It's a disgrace and an outrage." 
 
 "Well, hang his insolence!" cried Hodge, furiously. 
 "I'll drive his words down his throat!" 
 
 With clinched hands, he would have rushed at Rey- 
 nolds, but Frank caught him and stopped him, saying 
 quietly and firmly: 
 
 "Steady, Hodge! It won't do. Remember where we 
 are. If we were to get into a row here, we'd be turned out 
 of camp in disgrace." 
 
 "That's right," panted Bart; "but I'd give ten dollars 
 to punch him!" 
 
 Frank stepped forward and faced Rupert, speaking 
 calmly and distinctly : 
 
 "I presume, Mr. Reynolds, your sneering and insolent 
 remarks were intended for our ears. You chose your 
 opportunity to utter them when you knew you were safe, 
 as we would not dare give you the thrashing here that you 
 deserve. That was very brave of you ! However, the in- 
 sult will not be forgotten." 
 
 "That's all right!" snarled Rupert, his face black and 
 his voice quivering with passion. "You think you can 
 frighten me because you are three to my one, but you are 
 mistaken. You will find I have plenty of friends. I am 
 not afraid of any one of you, or the whole of you '" 
 
 Browning yawned in a tired fashion.
 
 An Insult in Camp. n 
 
 "Don't talk to him, Merry," he said, wearily. "He 
 makes me sick. He snaps like a puppy dog, and he has 
 just about as much courage." 
 
 Then the three Yale lads strolled on, leaving Rupert 
 to fume and vow to make them "sorry."
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 REYNOLDS' LITTLE GAME. 
 
 Reynolds made a movement as if he would rush after 
 Merriwell and his companions, but Casper Somers caught 
 his arm and restrained him, saying sharply : 
 
 "Stop ! You can't do that here !" 
 
 "Yes, I can!" grated the furious fellow. "I am not a 
 cadet." 
 
 "But I am, and you are here by means of a permit to 
 see me. Do you want to get me into trouble ?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "Then let up. There is plenty of time if you want to 
 get at Frank Merriwell. You say you will do him up. 
 That's all right, but you can't do it here." 
 
 Rupert cooled down a little and looked at Casper. What 
 he read in the face of the cadet quieted him still more, and 
 he forced a strained laugh. 
 
 "What you say goes, old man," he declared. "I'll wait 
 for another opportunity. It's not likely I'd be given a fair 
 show, anyhow, for they are three to one, and, if I have 
 any friends in camp, my friends could not take sides 
 with me." 
 
 "That is sense," said Casper. "Go on with what you 
 were telling us when those chaps came along." 
 
 "You say you heard him making sport of the school 
 in town?" questioned Rob Warren, one of the cadets in 
 the small group. 
 
 "Yes," nodded Somers. "He was comparing the acad- 
 emy here with other military schools. He said the cadets 
 here were a lot of dunces, who were too thick-witted to 
 learn anything, or were young ruffians who could not be
 
 Reynolds' Little Game. \j 
 
 handled at home and were sent here by the parents who 
 wished to get rid of them for a time." 
 
 "But he was a cadet here himself once," said another 
 of the group. 
 
 "He was laughing about that, but he boasted that he 
 had not remained here four years." 
 
 "Why is he here now?" 
 
 "To have sport at your expense. Hasn't he been up 
 to any of his practical jokes?" 
 
 "Oh, yes, he raised the old Nick with the professors the 
 very first day he was here and came near getting Jenks 
 fired." 
 
 "Anything else?" 
 
 "Sure. He has been full of pranks. He has made sport 
 for the entire academy." 
 
 "Without being caught at it, I'll wager." 
 
 "Usually he has seemed to be the one to straighten, 
 matters out after they were in a ridiculous muddle." 
 
 "That's it !" cried Rupert. "It's just like him. He lets 
 all the blame fall on somebody else, while he pretends to 
 be the peacemaker. That's the kind of a sneak Frank 
 Merciwell is. If you want such a fellow among you, why 
 keep him here and hang around him, and show him respect 
 and friendship; but I'll guarantee that he will get you 
 into scrapes enough. I'll guarantee that more than one 
 of you will be expelled if you have anything to do with 
 his pranks and jokes, as he calls them, while he will not 
 be suspected. He used to have a way of getting the best 
 of fellows who did not bow down and worship him. He 
 pretended not to hold a grudge against anybody, no matter 
 what they did to him, but he disgraced a dozen fellows 
 in school and caused the expulsion of several who were 
 entirely innocent of any wrongdoing. I know this is true. 
 It may seem surprising that a fellow like him could be so 
 popular, but he always had a slick way of turning the
 
 14 Reynolds' Little Game. 
 
 blame off onto somebody else when he did anything 
 against the rules, and then he would pretend to be very 
 sorry and all that kind of rot. He fooled almost every- 
 body." 
 
 It was plain that some of the cadets believed, while 
 others could not think it possible that a fellow so popular 
 as Frank Merriwell could have done such things. Rupert 
 was working to injure Merry, and he made an effort to 
 appear honest and sincere in everything he said. 
 
 "I would not trouble myself to come here and tell you 
 this if it wasn't that I have a love for the old academy, 
 and I hate to see any of the fellows here get into trouble 
 through friendship for Merriwell. He was never able 
 to harm me while I was a cadet here, but I know and can 
 prove that he disgraced others." 
 
 "What others?" asked Rob Warren. "Name some of 
 them." 
 
 "Leslie Gage was one. Gage beat Merriwell at poker 
 and did it honestly. That made Merriwell furious, al- 
 though he pretended to joke over it. He swore he would 
 fix Gage, and he did. He put up a job that made it seem 
 that Gage cheated at cards, and Leslie, poor fellow, was 
 disgraced and heartbroken. I have heard that he went 
 crazy after leaving Fardale." 
 
 "Do you know he did not cheat?" asked Somers. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "How do you know?" 
 
 "One of the fellows who stood in with Merriwell and 
 helped carry out the trick told of it afterward boasted 
 of it after he and Merriwell left Fardale." 
 
 "Who was that fellow?" 
 
 "Bart Hodge." 
 
 "How was the trick done?" 
 
 "Hodge marked the cards, and Gage was accused of 
 doing that. Hodge reached under the table at a time
 
 Reynolds' Little Game. 15 
 
 when no one was observing him, and fixed a table 'hold- 
 out' directly in front of Leslie. There were four cards 
 in the hold-out. When Gage got a big hand and was rak- 
 ing off the pot, Merriwell jumped on him, showed the 
 cards were marked and exposed the hold-out. Gage pro- 
 tested his innocence, but he did not have a show. He 
 was forced to leave the academy." 
 
 "Would Hodge do such a thing as that?" asked War- 
 ren. 
 
 "Would he? He'd do anything Merriwell told him to 
 do. Look up his record. You will find that when he en- 
 tered the academy he was scorned and despised by every- 
 body, Merriwell included. He was into all kinds of mean 
 and dirty games. He tried to ruin Merriwell at the start, 
 but after a time they patched it up and became friends. 
 Merriwell found he could use Hodge for his dirty work, 
 and Hodge found he was so unpopular that he must do 
 something to gain standing. As Merriwell was popular, 
 Hodge saw an opportunity to get on all right by being 
 friendly with him. If it hadn't been for Merriwell, Hodge 
 would have been driven out of the school by the cadets. 
 As it was, no one understood how it happened that they, 
 who had been such bitter enemies, became such close 
 friends of a sudden. When he had left Fardale, Hodge let 
 the cat out of the bag by talking too much. He showed 
 how he had assisted Merriwell by doing his dirty work, and 
 Merriwell had aided him by giving him a standing in the 
 school." 
 
 The cadets looked from one to another. Was it possible 
 that Frank Merriwell, of whom they had heard so much 
 and always in praise, was such a treacherous scoundrel ? 
 
 "If this is true," said Bob Warren, "we don't want this 
 fellow Merriwell here in camp." 
 
 "Nor his stool-pigeon, Hodge !" cried Casper Somers. 
 
 "I should think you might see it is truel" exclaimed
 
 1 6 Reynolds' Little Game. 
 
 Rupert. "Has he been caught in any of his tricks since 
 he came here this time ?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "You bet not ! Leslie Gage was not the only fellow 
 who got it in the neck because he did not play the syco- 
 phant to Merriwell ; Wat Snell was another. Snell tried 
 to be independent and not toady to Merriwell. That 
 made Merriwell angry, and he laid a plot that put Wat 
 in disgrace. He was full of those dirty tricks. Look up 
 his record, and you will find he triumphed over everybody 
 who did not knuckle down to him. If you are stuck on 
 that sort of a fellow and wish to have him here and do 
 him honor, I am not going to say another word. I have 
 had my say, now you can do as you like. That's all." 
 
 He saw his words had made the impression he desired, 
 and now he turned to walk away. Somers walked aside 
 with him. 
 
 "Is this stuff you have told about Merriwell on the 
 level?" asked the cadet. 
 
 "You bet it is !" nodded Rupert. 
 
 "I thought perhaps " 
 
 "You thought I was trying to do Merriwell because I 
 dislike him ?" 
 
 "Well, I didn't know." 
 
 "You were wrong. I do hate him, else I would not 
 have said a word about him, but all I told you of him is 
 true. He seeks power, and he will not tolerate anything 
 like independence in anybody he thinks should bow down 
 to him. He is slick and takes pains not to get into trouble 
 himself, but he gets somebody else to do his dirty work." 
 
 "Do you know," said Somers, slowly, "I have disliked 
 him all along?" 
 
 "I heard you say you were not stuck on him. That's 
 how I happened to come to you and tell you the kind of a 
 fellow he really is."
 
 Reynolds' Little Game. 17 
 
 "It made me sore on him before I ever saw him to hear 
 the fellows praising him," declared Casper. "You know 
 I have been rather popular here, but " 
 
 He stopped suddenly, as if fearing he was saying too 
 much. 
 
 "I know," nodded Rupert. "I heard of your popu- 
 larity." 
 
 This was true, and Reynolds had fancied he saw an op- 
 portunity to arouse Somers against Frank Merriwell. He 
 had improved that opportunity to the best of his judg- 
 ment. 
 
 Rupert could read human nature well enough to learn 
 without being told that Casper was envious of Frank. 
 He believed he could arouse the cadet corporal against 
 Merry. Then if Somers were to expose some of Merri- 
 well's pranks to the proper authorities, the Yale lads 
 might be politely requested to pack up and get out of the 
 camp. That would give Reynolds a chance to sneer at 
 them. 
 
 "Of course, if Merriwell is such a fine fellow, as almost 
 everybody says he is, I am going to keep still," said Cas- 
 per; "but if he is a hypocrite and a sneak, I am looking 
 for a good opportunity to show him up." 
 
 "If you keep your eyes open, you'll find the opportunity 
 all right. When it comes, poke it to him." 
 
 "I will." 
 
 "In the meantime, I may get a dab at him. He'll find 
 he stirred up the wrong chap when he meddled with my 
 business and broke the wrist of my friend, McKay." 
 
 "How is McKay?" 
 
 "Doing as well as possible, poor fellow ! He swears he 
 will eat Merriwell when his wrist gets well." 
 
 "This Merriwell is a terrible fighter. You had better 
 let him alone. A fellow who can break the wrist of a 
 prize-fighter like Spike McKay is dangerous."
 
 i8 Reynolds' Little Game. 
 
 "Rot! McKay says it was an accident." 
 
 "But I have heard that it was a trick with which Merri- 
 \vell is perfectly familiar." 
 
 "Is that so?" 
 
 "Yes. He says he did not want to do it, but McKay 
 was a professional pugilist and h 1 . was forced to resort to 
 some such trick or be knocked out." 
 
 "I'll have to tell Spike of this. It will make him feel 
 real kind toward Frank Merriwell!" 
 
 After a few more words, Rupert left Casper and has- 
 tened out of the camp. On his way he passed the Yale 
 tent, and saw the three college lads inside, chatting and 
 laughing. 
 
 "Oh, I hate you all !" he muttered. "And I am going 
 to make it warm for you while you stay in Fardale."
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 ON THE PARADE GROUND. 
 
 "Reynolds is up to something," declared Hodge, as the 
 three Yale lads continued their stroll. 
 
 "What do you mean?" asked Frank. 
 
 "He is plotting something. That's how he happened to 
 be with Somers." 
 
 "You do not like Cadet Somers. What have you against 
 him?" 
 
 "I can't tell just why I don't like him, but I did take 
 a dislike to him instantly the first time I saw him. I 
 think he hates you, Merry." 
 
 "Hates me?" cried Frank, astonished. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 "Well, you are the popular man in camp just now, and 
 he doesn't like that. He has been very popular, and it 
 galls him to know all the cadets are talking about you." 
 
 "I have seen no signs of this." 
 
 "Perhaps not." 
 
 "Have you noticed anything of the sort, Browning?" 
 asked Merry. 
 
 "No," yawned Bruce, wearily. "I haven't been looking 
 for anything of the sort." 
 
 "I have seen it," hotly declared Bart ; "and it has made 
 me bo: 1 ! I have felt all along that he would like to get 
 in a foul blow at Merry. Now, after seeing him with 
 Reynolds, I am sure I am right. Take my advice, Frank, 
 and look out for Casper Somers." 
 
 "All right," smiled Frank; "but I think you'll find it 
 all folly. I don't believe Somers will bother me,"
 
 20 On the Parade Ground. 
 
 Finally they returned to their tent, where they were 
 when Rupert passed on his way out of the camp. 
 
 "There he goes !" muttered Hodge. "I've had one crack 
 at him, but I'd like to get another." 
 
 Frank laughed, and Rupert turned and scowled blackly 
 toward the tent. 
 
 "If he fools round May Blossom any more I'm going to 
 give it to him !" declared Bart. "He must let her alone." 
 
 "Huah !" grunted Browning. "Didn't know you chaps 
 were going to be fooling round the girls half your time 
 after coming here. Here's Hodge, he's never seemed to 
 worry much about the girls, but last night I heard him 
 making this sound in his sleep." 
 
 Bruce imitated the sound of kissing and repeated it 
 several times. 
 
 "After he'd done it fifteen or twenty times I was get- 
 ting tired and going to kick him, when, of a sudden, he 
 took to talking. I didn't catch just what he said, but I 
 did hear him say 'dear,' 'sweet,' 'May,' and " 
 
 Bart leaped up, his face crimson. 
 
 "You are lying, you big villain !" he exclaimed. 
 
 "I'll swear " 
 
 "I don't care ! Never talked in my sleep in all my life. 
 Now, you shut up ! If you go to telling such stuff about 
 me I'll murder you !" 
 
 Browning chuckled heartily, not at all alarmed by Bart's 
 threat, while Frank smiled, well knowing that the big fel- 
 low had touched Hodge on a tender spot, for the latter 
 was beginning to show a strong liking for May Blossom. 
 
 "That name Blossom must have some attraction for 
 him," said Frank. "You know he was rather fond of Sila 
 Blossom's sister, Bessie, while we were in Philadelphia 
 last year, and " 
 
 "That will do, Frank 1" interrupted Bart. ' 4 Even you
 
 On the Parade Ground. 21 
 
 can carry this thing too far! Reynolds has put me in 
 an ugly mood, so don't brad me up any more." 
 
 Bart could not endure jollying, so Frank let up on him. 
 A little later they all went out to the parade ground to 
 watch the cadets drill. 
 
 It was the first drill after pitching camp. Lieut. Gor- 
 don, the military instructor of the academy, was watching 
 it from a distance, but the cadet officers were taking full 
 charge of the evolutions. 
 
 The young cadets looked very trim and soldier-like in 
 the neat, well-fitting uniforms, and they passed through the 
 evolutions with an accuracy and precision of movement 
 that showed them to be well drilled for lads of their age. 
 Of course, a real West Pointer would have found fault 
 with them, but Frank and Bart, who had been cadets there, 
 were pleased, and Bruce declared it first-class. 
 
 While the three Yale lads were watching the drill, of a 
 sudden Bart caught hold of Frank's arm, exclaiming: 
 
 "Look here ! Who is this coming now ?" 
 
 Down the road from the direction of Farmer Snodd's 
 place came a small jackass with very long ears. The ani- 
 mal was covering ground as fast as was possible with its 
 short legs. On its back was perched a boy, who was urg- 
 ing it on with a stick. The boy was dressed in a cadet 
 uniform, which seemed several sizes too small for him, 
 as his arms were out of the sleeves of the jacket halfway 
 to his elbows, and his trousers were too short by several 
 inches. Even the cap that was perched on his head was 
 too small. 
 
 "Some fellow has been off on French leave," said 
 Bruce, "and he is hurrying to get back." 
 
 But there was something familiar in the appearance of 
 the boy on the back of the little jackass. Frank and Bart 
 stared at him in amazement. The cadet officers turned to
 
 22 On the Parade Ground. 
 
 look at him as he came straight toward the maneuvering 
 line. 
 
 The cadets remained perfectly still and motionless, not 
 one of them turning his head or his eyes from the front, 
 although some of them must have been consumed with 
 curiosity to know what was happening. 
 
 Straight toward the line of cadets plunged the little 
 jackass, bearing on its back the odd-looking boy. As boy 
 and beast came nearer, the former stopped urging it for- 
 ward and suddenly began to saw on the reins. 
 
 But the jackass appeared to have been goaded to des- 
 peration, for it kept right on, regardless of the efforts of 
 its rider. The harder the boy yanked and pulled and 
 sawed, the faster the little animal seemed to run. 
 
 The boy on the back of the jackass began to get scared. 
 He shouted at the beast to stop, and then, seeing all his 
 efforts were useless, he howled at the cadets : 
 
 "Mine Gott in Himmel! Get der way out for me, or 
 you will run me ofer! Look oudt! Somepody stop me 
 pefore I run away mit dhis shackmules ! Hellup ! hellup !" 
 
 "It's Hans!" 
 
 "Great Scott !" 
 
 "That Dutch lunatic !" 
 
 These exclamations came from Frank, Bart and Bruce ; 
 but almost immediately Frank said : 
 
 "Hans is it possible ?" 
 
 "Don't look like Hans," burst from Hodge. "Not fat 
 enough." 
 
 "Not fat at all," said Frank. "It can't be " 
 
 Again the boy on the back of the charging jackass 
 screamed : 
 
 "Stop myself! Safe me pefore you vas a dead man !" 
 
 Straight at the line of cadets went the animal that bore 
 the boy, but not a cadet moved. There did not seem to 
 be so much as the twinkle of an eyelash. As an exhibition
 
 On the Parade Ground. 23 
 
 of nerve and discipline it was surprising in a lot of harum- 
 scarum youngsters such as attended Fardale Academy. 
 
 Frank started to leap forward with the intention of 
 stopping the runaway jackass, but of a sudden the little 
 animal stopped of its own accord, and its rider went sailing 
 over its head, striking on his stomach on the ground. 
 
 "It is Hans !" came from Hodge, who saw him fairly. 
 
 Yes, it was Hans Dunnerwust, a Dutch boy, who had 
 once been a pupil at Fardale with Frank, and who had 
 accompanied them on the trip across the continent a year 
 before. He was changed in a most astonishing manner, 
 having lost so much flesh that he looked thin and emaci- 
 ated. 
 
 The moment he struck the ground he turned his head 
 to look at the jackass. At the same instant the little ani- 
 mal wheeled and let its heels fly in the direction of the 
 head of its late rider. 
 
 The Dutch boy dodged. 
 
 "Hee-haw ! hee-haw !" burst from the jackass, as if the 
 small animal were laughing. 
 
 Twinkle, twinkle went its heels, as it continued to 
 kick with surprising vigor. 
 
 "Hellup!" howled Hans. "I peen cool enough alretty 
 if dot shackmules don'd fan me his heels mit some more! 
 Somepody took me avay pefore he gets hurt!" 
 
 It was a comical spectacle, and the three Yale lads 
 laughed heartily. 
 
 "Vot makes me laugh ad you?" cried Hans, angrily. 
 "You don'd like dot uf you peen in mein places ! I vas in 
 danger uf your life !" 
 
 "Hee-haw ! hee-haw !" brayed the jackass. 
 
 "Shimminy Gristmas ! und dot shackmules peen laughin* 
 too alretty yet!" came from the bewildered Dutch boy. 
 "Stop him kickin' from ! Somepody shoot tre quick und 
 safe mein lifel"
 
 24 On the Parade Ground. 
 
 Frank approached the jackass, but the little animal lay 
 back its long ears, showed its teeth and glared at him sav- 
 agely, so he stopped, still laughing, saying: 
 
 "Now is your time to get out of the way, Hans. Crawl, 
 crawl." 
 
 The boy on the ground took the advice and crept swiftly 
 away from the vicinity of the animal's heels. 
 
 Cadet Corp. Somers, flushed with anger, came up, 
 hurriedly. 
 
 "What is the meaning of this disgraceful scene?" he 
 harshly demanded. "Who is this intruder?" 
 
 He pointed at Hans, who had arisen to his feet. Dun- 
 nerwust made a military salute, and replied : 
 
 "I peen a gadet dot academy to once a time on, und 
 don'd you forgot myself." 
 
 "You a cadet here?" came incredulously from Somers. 
 "Ridiculous 1" 
 
 "I told you der truth, und you can profe it." 
 
 "This seems to be one of your jokes, Mr. Merriwell," 
 said Somers. "It shall be investigated, sir." 
 
 "Come avhay off!" cried Hans. "Dhis don'd peen 
 no shoke! You vos mistooken yourseluf. I shust 
 come here to visit der academy, und I make der ride 
 from der railroadt sdation like Bill Sheridan took dot 
 ride from Vinchester. Only ven I got retty to stop, der 
 shackmules kept on, und ven I pelief he never vould sdop, 
 he sdop und I kept on. Yah, dot peen der vay mit id. 
 Now you understand him, maybe." 
 
 "Oh, yes, I understand it !" came harshly from Somers. 
 "I consider it a very poor joke. It was an attempt to break 
 up the drill and make what Mr. Merriwell calls fun, I pre- 
 sume. I trust Lieut. Gordon witnessed it all. We'll see 
 if we can't put an end to these affairs." 
 
 "Corp. Somers," said Frank, with a graceful salute, "I
 
 On the Parade Ground. 25 
 
 assure you, sir, you are entirely mistaken. I had nothing 
 to do with the appearance of Mr. Dunnerwust, and " 
 
 "An investigation will determine the truth of your 
 words, sir," said Somers, with a sneer. "It may likewise 
 throw a little light on several things that have happened 
 since your arrival on a visit to the academy." 
 
 Frank understood that this was a threat to expose him 
 in his practical jokes and disgrace him in the eyes of the 
 authorities, so that he would be requested to cut his visit 
 short. He remembered the words of Hodge respecting 
 Somers, remembered that Somers had been talking with 
 Rupert Reynolds, and remembered that Reynolds had said 
 that he had plenty of friends. 
 
 Casper Somers was one of Reynold's friends. Frank 
 became convinced of that in a moment. He saw that 
 he had aroused the antagonism of the cadet corporal, and 
 that Somers was a fellow who, having declared himself, 
 might become dangerous and annoying. 
 
 But Merry knew that he stood well with Lieut. Gordan 
 and the professors, and he did not believe Somers would 
 be able to accomplish his purpose easily. So he smiled 
 on Casper with an air that was almost pitying, saying: 
 
 "Very well, sir; you are at liberty to tell whatever you 
 know, but I warn you to be careful not to make an error 
 in your statements. It will look as if you are maliciously 
 trying to hurt me." 
 
 Casper turned disdainfully from Frank and scowled at 
 Hans. 
 
 "As for you, sir!" he said, "take your jackass and 
 get off the parade ground as soon as possible. Then there 
 will be two jackasses less here. And we could spare three 
 more." 
 
 "Veil, why don'd you gone along yourseluf?" inquired 
 Hans, with an innocent air, and the Yale lads smiled.
 
 26 On the Parade Ground. 
 
 Somers looked as if he longed to punch the Dutch lad, 
 but he restrained himself. 
 
 Hans approached the jackass. The animal was stand- 
 ing with its head down, looking very mild and harmless. 
 
 "Now, don't you gone to tried none of dot funny pusi- 
 ness," advised the Dutch boy, as he warily edged up to 
 the creature. "Uf you do, I pet you zwei tollars I kick 
 uf you der backing out der first time you got!" 
 
 The jackass seemed quite docile, permitting Hans to 
 capture it and lead it away. 
 
 "Oh, dese peen all right," chuckled Dunnerwust. "I 
 peen goin' to took der shackmules up to Misder Snodd's, 
 und den I vill come pack und exblain yourseluf. Yawl 
 Ta, ta, Vrankie. You don'd had dime to shook hants mit 
 me now, but you vill britty soon right avay queek." 
 
 Away he went with the jackass following him meekly, 
 like a clever dog. 
 
 Cadet Corp. Somers watched him a few moments, and 
 then turned and resumed his duties in carrying out the 
 drill. 
 
 "Come, fellows," said Frank, smiling. "We'll walk up 
 the road toward Snodd's, and meet Hans as he is coming 
 back. I think we have seen enough of this drill." 
 
 The Yale lads left the parade ground.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THREE GIRLS AT SNODD'S. 
 
 Bart Hodge was literally "seething" with anger. 
 
 "What do you think of Cadet Corp. Somers now, Merri- 
 well?" he asked. 
 
 "It begins to look as if you were right about the fel- 
 low," admitted Frank. 
 
 "Right! Of course I was! He thinks he has an op- 
 portunity, and now he will try to injure us, the puppy 1" 
 
 "Oh, what's the use to bother about him," yawned 
 Bruce. "All he can do won't amount to anything." 
 
 "Don't be so sure of that. It will be just like him to 
 blow on us for any innocent pranks we may have been 
 concerned in. What if he should tell of that racket be- 
 tween Prof. Gunn and Prof. Jenks?" 
 
 "What can he tell? He can't prove that Merry had 
 anything to do with that affair further than to aid Old 
 Gunn in washing the ink and mucilage off his face and 
 head after the scrap was over." 
 
 "It is known well enough to every cadet in the academy 
 that Frank brought the racket about somehow." 
 
 "But they don't know how, and they can't prove any- 
 thing, so that will not count. Somers will have to peach 
 about something else." 
 
 "He'll swear this business a short time ago was a put- 
 up job to break up the parade." 
 
 "Let him prove it." 
 
 Frank nodded. 
 
 "Yes," he said, "let him prove it, if he makes such a 
 charge. We did not know Dunnerwust was coming, and 
 the whole thing was as much a surprise to us as to any-
 
 28 Three Girls at Snodd's. 
 
 body. Oh, I don't worry about Mr. Somers. He is quite 
 harmless." 
 
 "You have been harmed lots of times by fellows you 
 considered harmless, Merry," said Hodge. 
 
 "Well, we are not going to worry over anything while 
 we are in Fardale. We came here for sport, and sport 
 is what we'll have. What astonishes me is this sudden 
 and remarkable appearance of Hans." 
 
 "You didn't know he was coming?" 
 
 "No. Haven't heard a word from him. He must have 
 received my letter." 
 
 "And he didn't do a thing but appear in his old cadet 
 uniform," said Bart. 
 
 "But he must have been training down," grunted the 
 Yale man. "Why, he's really thin, and he was round as 
 a pumpkin the last time we saw him." 
 
 "I believe he has been ill," said Frank. 
 
 Ahead of them Hans was leading the little jackass up 
 the road. He was hurrying the animal as much as possi- 
 ble, and was not looking round. It was his object to get 
 rid of the creature as soon as possible and return to the 
 camp. 
 
 The Yale men followed slowly after leaving the 
 academy grounds, and Hans reached Snodd's far in ad- 
 vance of them. 
 
 It happened that Inza Burrage, Frank's girl friend, and 
 May Blossom were visiting Belinda Snodd that day by 
 special invitation. Belinda had urged them to come, as 
 her father and mother were going away on a visit, and 
 they could have a jolly time. The farmer's daughter was 
 planning a surprise party for the Yale lads, who took 
 their meals at Snodd's, although they occupied a tent in 
 the cadet camp. 
 
 In the years since the boys had been cadets at the 
 academy Belinda had developed into a "bouncer," weigh-
 
 Three Girls at Snodd's. 29 
 
 ing more than two hundred pounds. Finding that Inza 
 Burrage was in town and that Frank Merriwell still seemed 
 to care more for Inza than anyone else, and Bart was 
 giving much attention to May Blossom, Belinda resolved 
 to capture the affections of Bruce Browning, and she 
 straightway began to lay traps and snares for him, making 
 his life miserable. 
 
 On this occasion she thought it would be "jolly" to 
 have Inza and May as guests, as they would take up the 
 attention of Frank and Bart and leave Bruce to her. 
 
 The girls did not arrive during the forenoon, much to 
 Belinda's disappointment; but they came after dinner, 
 when the Yale lads had returned to camp. 
 
 "Landy sakes !" cried the farmer's daughter, as she em- 
 braced and kissed them. "I don't know but you was goin' 
 to disappoint me. Why didn't you come before ?" 
 
 "We meant to," said Inza, "but " 
 
 "It's too bad!" declared Belinda. "If you'd came an 
 hour sooner you'd found them here." 
 
 "Them?" 
 
 "Who?" 
 
 "Why, Mr. Merriwell, Mr. Hodge and Mr. Browning. 
 You know they eat here, though they stop down to the 
 academy. They're the only boarders we have, too. Of 
 course they'll be back to supper." 
 
 "And we'll stay to supper, won't we, May?" laughed 
 Inza. 
 
 "Yes," said May, blushing prettily. 
 
 "And then they will have to see you back to the village 
 in the evening, and I'll go along to fill out the company," 
 declared Belinda. "That's going to be just perfectly 
 lovely." 
 
 "I'd never dare go to the village alone after supper," 
 said May.
 
 30 Three Girls at Snodd's. 
 
 "No, she hardly dared come here in the middle of the 
 day," said Inza. 
 
 "Goodness me !" cried Belinda, in surprise. "Why was 
 that?" 
 
 "They were watching us those horrid fellows who 
 have given us so much trouble," said May. 
 
 "Oh, you mean that Rupert Reynolds and his toady, 
 Win Harding?" 
 
 "Yes. We started to come before dinner, but they 
 followed us out of the village, and we cut back by an- 
 other street. Somehow they knew where we were coming 
 and were watching for us." 
 
 "And I am so afraid of them !" exclaimed May. 
 
 "But I am not !" declared Inza, proudly. "Let them 
 touch me if they dare!" 
 
 She tossed her dark head, her eyes flashing and her lips 
 pressed together. Belinda gasped, for never before had 
 she dreamed that Inza was so handsome. Now she began 
 to understand how it was that this girl was so much ad- 
 mired by Frank Merriwell. 
 
 "Well, girls," said Belinda, "you are here now, and 
 we'll have a real lovely time to-night. Mr. Merriwell 
 plays the guitar and sings the best songs. He knows all 
 the latest songs. Mr. Hodge knows the college songs, 
 and he can sing, too." 
 
 "How about Mr. Browning?" asked Inza, her face 
 changing to a smile. 
 
 "Him?" said Belinda, hanging her head and looking 
 confused. "Oh, he don't sing much." 
 
 "What does he do?" 
 
 "Oh, he he sleeps. He's the greatest feller to sleep I 
 ever saw." 
 
 While the girls were chatting May, who had been sitting 
 by the window, suddenly sprang up with a cry of alarm,
 
 Three Girls at Snodd's. 31 
 
 her face turning pale, and ran into the middle of the 
 room." 
 
 "What is it, dear?" asked Inza. 
 
 "Out there in front of the house!" gasped May. 
 "Don't don't go near the window! They'll see you!'* 
 
 She held Inza back, but Belinda bounced over to the 
 window and looked out. 
 
 "Who is there?" asked Inza. 
 
 "Rupert Reynolds and Win Harding !" 
 
 "They won't get in here!" declared Belinda, as she 
 bounded out of the room and hastened to lock the doors. 
 
 From behind the shades the girls watched Reynolds and 
 Harding pass the house and go down the road toward the 
 academy. Great was their relief when the young rascals 
 did not attempt to enter. 
 
 "Perhaps they do not know we are here," said May, 
 her voice unsteady. "I am sure they would have stopped 
 if they did." 
 
 "Well, we'd tried to give them a hot reception if they 
 had stopped," said Belinda, with her hands clinched and 
 resting on her hips, her arms akimbo. 
 
 It was some time before May recovered from the alarm, 
 but after a while the girls forgot the two lads whom they 
 feared so much, and began to enjoy themselves talking of 
 old times. They laughed and gossiped, girl fashion, and 
 were happy. 
 
 The clatter of hoofs attracted their attention, and they 
 caught a glimpse of a boy in cadet uniform who went 
 tearing down the road astride the little jackass, but none 
 of them suspected it was Hans Dunnerwust, whom they 
 all knew. 
 
 Back of the house were some tall trees and a hammock 
 and rustic seat. They went out beneath the trees, but 
 barely were they settled there when they were startled by
 
 32 Three Girls at Snodd's. 
 
 the appearance of Reynolds and Harding, who coolly 
 sauntered round the corner, lifted their hats and cried: 
 
 "Hello, girls!" 
 
 May started to her feet with a cry of alarm. Inza also 
 sprang up, but she uttered no cry, and she faced Reynolds 
 and Harding defiantly, without showing fear. 
 
 "Goodness' gracious !" gasped Belinda. "Here they 
 are !" 
 
 "Don't be alarmed, young ladies," said Reynolds, com- 
 ing forward with his prettiest smile. "We will not harm 
 you." 
 
 "Surely not," declared Harding. "There is no reason 
 why you should be afraid of us." 
 
 "Afraid of you !" exclaimed Inza, scornfully. "We are 
 not afraid of such creatures as you !" 
 
 But May was trembling, and her face was pale. Some- 
 how Rupert filled her with terror. 
 
 Belinda, seeing how agitated May was, sought to re- 
 assure her. 
 
 "They won't dare touch us. There are three of us. 
 They may annoy us some, but there is nothing to be 
 afraid of." 
 
 "I have been afraid of Rupert Reynolds ever since he 
 came upon me suddenly one night and grabbed me," whis- 
 pered May, shrinking close to the farmer's daughter. "He 
 is so strong and rough !" 
 
 "If he puts a hand on you here he'll get something he 
 won't like!" came stoutly from Belinda. 
 
 Reynolds and his Fardale chum put on their prettiest 
 manners. 
 
 "It's a lovely afternoon, girls," said Rupert. "We 
 thought we would call and chat with you a while." 
 
 "You're not welcome !" flashed Inza. 
 
 "Really, Miss Spitfire," laughed Rupert. "Then we will 
 make ourselves welcome."
 
 Three Girls at Snodd's. 33 
 
 "You had better get out !" exclaimed Belinda. "If you 
 don't I'll I'll call pa." 
 
 "Oh, indeed I" came tauntingly from Rupert. "I fear 
 you will damage your voice before you make him hear 
 you." 
 
 "That's right," grinned Harding. "We happen to know 
 the old man and woman are not at home, for we saw 
 them going away." 
 
 "Don't call my pa and ma 'old man and woman !' " burst 
 forth Belinda. "If you do if you do " 
 
 "I presume you will do something very desperate, Miss 
 Two Hundred," came roughly from the lips of the village 
 boy. "We're not here to see you, so you had better 
 close up." 
 
 "Fine young gentlemen, aren't they?" said Inza, scorn- 
 fully. "Their language shows that." 
 
 "Now, don't be foolish, girls," said Reynolds, trying to 
 calm them. "Sit down in the hammock and on the bench, 
 and we will chat a while. You do not know us very well, 
 and that is why you fancy you do not like us." 
 
 "We know enough of you," declared Inza. 
 
 "Too much !" put in Belinda. "Win Harding is known 
 to everybody in Fardale. He is a leader of the tough 
 crowd in the village, and if his father hadn't settled, he'd 
 gone to jail for breaking into Jim Frost's store and open- 
 ing the money drawer. That's the kind of a fellow he 
 is, and " 
 
 "You talk too much for your health !" snarled Harding, 
 stepping toward her quickly. 
 
 In a moment Inza stepped before the farmer's daughter, 
 throwing up one hand with a gesture of command. 
 
 "Stop right where you are, sir !" rang out her clear voice. 
 "Don't dare touch her! If you do not like to hear the 
 truth about yourself, you had better go away." 
 
 "It is not the truth, Miss Burrage," declared Harding,
 
 34 Three Girls at Snodd's. 
 
 who had taken a great fancy to Inza, and would have 
 given almost anything to stand well in her eyes. "It's a 
 lie! It was started to injure me. I know it did seem 
 as if I broke into old Frost's store, but why should I do 
 that ? My father is one of the richest men in Fardale, and 
 I always have plenty of money. Look here!" 
 
 He took a roll of bills out of his pocket and showed 
 them in a way that indicated his belief that the girls would 
 think more of him if they were aware he carried so much 
 with him. 
 
 "I always have plenty of money," he went on, "and I 
 can give any young lady a good time if I want to. I 
 can buy her nice presents, take her to drive with good 
 teams, and do lots of things. After you get to know me 
 better, you will like me." 
 
 "I know you too well already. The fact that you may 
 have a pocketful of money now does not make you any 
 more attractive in my eyes. I doubt if you got it hon- 
 estly." 
 
 "They say he plays cards and cheats," put in Belinda, 
 while Harding glared at her as if longing to choke her. 
 
 "All lies," he asserted. "Never played a game of cards 
 in my life. Reynolds knows I can't tell one card from 
 another." 
 
 Inza laughed scornfully. 
 
 "Now you are trying to make yourself out too good, 
 sir," she said. "It isn't a crime to play cards." 
 
 "That's so," nodded Reynolds, "and I have been trying 
 to teach Win how to play some of the games. I never 
 play for money, but I do enjoy a quiet game for fun. 
 What say, girls, if we bring out a table here under the trees 
 and have a game of euchre ?" 
 
 "No! We do not want to have anything to do with 
 you! If you will not go away, we shall go into the 
 house."
 
 Three Girls at Snodd's. 35 
 
 "Let's all go into the house, then. Old Snodd is 
 away, and Belinda can bring up some of his cider. We'll 
 pay for it. I have heard lots about his cider, and I 
 always wanted to try some." 
 
 "You'll always want!" snapped Belinda. "You can't 
 get none, so get out !" 
 
 But the boys were not to be driven away thus. They 
 were determined to stay and seek to make an impression 
 on the girls. Reynolds approached May, who shrank 
 closer to Belinda. 
 
 "Miss Blossom," he said, as suavely as possible, "I am 
 awfully sorry you have received a wrong impression of 
 me. It's too bad. You are a peach of a girl, and I al- 
 ways was dead stuck on you. If you will sit down in the 
 hammock and talk a while with me, I think you'll find I 
 am a different fellow quite from what you thought. Please 
 do. There is no harm in it." 
 
 "I don't want to," said May, faintly. 
 
 "She isn't dead stuck on you, if you are on her," said 
 Belinda. "All she asks of you is that you keep your 
 distance." 
 
 "If you will refrain from putting in your oar where 
 it does not belong, Miss Snodd, I'll be much obliged," 
 said Rupert, his face flushing with anger. 
 
 "Well, I won't refrain so there! Come girls, let's 
 go into the house and leave them out here." 
 
 She started, with her arm about May, but Rupert 
 caught hold of the latter, and May uttered a cry of pain 
 and fear. 
 
 In a moment Inza flew at him, and, with surprising 
 strength, snatched his hand away, pushing him back- 
 ward. 
 
 "You coward!" she cried. "This is the kind of a 
 gentleman you are! Don't dare touch her again!"
 
 36 Three Girls at Snodd's. 
 
 Rupert was surprised, for all that he knew Inza was a 
 girl of spirit and nerve. He turned to Harding, saying: 
 
 "I'm glad you like this one best! I shouldn't fancy 
 the task of trying to tame such a cat." 
 
 The girls held a hurried whispered consultation, but 
 their glances toward the house betrayed their plan. 
 
 "Oh, you can't run in and shut the door before we can 
 follow!" said Harding, as he blocked the way. "It's no 
 use to try that." 
 
 "What do you fancy you are doing?" demanded Inza. 
 "If you were shrewd, you would know you are simply 
 making us despise you all the more by your conduct." 
 
 "Never mind. You run away from us all the time, and 
 now we have you where you can't run away, so we are 
 going to jolly you some, if nothing else. After this you 
 can't treat us any worse than you have before." 
 
 "Tell you what, Rupe," said Harding, desperately, 
 "let's have the satisfaction of kissing them, anyway. 
 Then we can taunt Merriwell and Hodge about it." 
 
 "That's right." 
 
 "If either Mr. Merriwell or Mr. Hodge were here 
 now, you'd sneak away like the cowards you are !" flashed 
 Inza. 
 
 "Well, neither of them are here, and let me tell you 
 they will have their troubles before they leave Fardale. 
 They are not the only pebbles on the beach." 
 
 "They will make you regret it if you do not leave im- 
 mediately, without giving us any further trouble," said 
 Inza. 
 
 "Oh, we've been watching this house too long to get 
 an opportunity to see you to drive us away like that," said 
 Harding. "They won't be here for two hours yet, 
 
 and " 
 
 ^ "Meanwhile, we'll have a real jolly time," laughed Rey-
 
 Three Girls at Snodd's. 37 
 
 nolds. "Oh, come on, girls, and sit down. Look out for 
 her, Harding! I'll take care of this one!" 
 
 Then, as Win Harding kept Inza away, Rupert again 
 seized May. 
 
 "Help!" cried May, faintly, struggling in his arms. 
 
 "Now, I will have that kiss !" cried Rupert, holding her 
 close and bending to press his lips on hers. "No one can 
 stop me now !" 
 
 "Dot peen where you made a mistook mit yourseluf," 
 exclaimed a voice, and then Rupert was given a crack 
 under the ear that made him see stars. 
 
 Hans Dunnerwust had appeared on the scene, having led 
 the little jackass round the corner of the house.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 EGGS-CITEMENT. 
 
 Belinda caught May as Rupert released her, and then 
 Hans swung at Reynolds again, but missed him entirely, 
 for the fellow ducked quickly. 
 
 "Oh, you vos a dodger, ain'd id !" shouted Hans. "Veil, 
 der next dime I vos goin' to hit you right vere I missed 
 you dot dime. Yaw!" 
 
 Then Hans attempted to sail into Rupert in a business- 
 like manner, and Reynolds was so dazed by the first blow 
 that he cried out to his companion: 
 
 "Here, Harding; give it to him!" 
 
 Win Harding made a spring for Hans, caught him by 
 the back of the neck, kicked his feet from beneath him, 
 and flung him to the ground, where the Dutch boy struck 
 in a sitting posture. 
 
 "Shimminy Gristmas !" gasped Hans. "Dot near knock 
 uf me der prains oudt! Dot don'd peen no fair shows I 
 vos gifin' you ven you poth shump on me at one dimes. I 
 nefer peen no great scrappers, but I vill fight der poth uf 
 you von ad a dime all togedder. Uf you took turns mit 
 me I might last longer, ain'd it." 
 
 He tried to get up, but Harding gave him a savage kick 
 that rolled him over and over and drove the breath out 
 of his body. 
 
 "Kick him, Rupe !" grated the village ruffian. "Kick the 
 stuffing out of the fool !" 
 
 "That's what we'll do !" grated Reynolds, as he sprang 
 at Hans, and gave the Dutch lad a kick. 
 
 The girls screamed at the sight. May covered her face 
 with her hands and nearly fainted.
 
 Eggs-citement. 39 
 
 "Oh, you villains !" cried Inza. "You brutal ruffians !" 
 
 But that did not stop them. Rupert had been struck, 
 and he was beside himself with fury. Again and again 
 he kicked the fallen Dutch boy. 
 
 "Oh, dunder und blitzens!" gasped Hans. "Vot you 
 took me for a voot pall! Oh, murder! Dot vos a rib 
 proke dot dime! Dot vos anodder! Ow wow! Mein 
 
 pack ! Don'd kick me in der same blace more as sefen 
 
 Oh oh! Hellup!" 
 
 It seemed as if Reynolds and Harding were determined 
 to kick him into unconsciousness. Their faces were flam- 
 ing with rage, and they followed him up as he rolled over 
 and over till he was almost beneath the sleepy-looking 
 little jackass. 
 
 Then something happened. The donkey awoke and 
 seemed to be struck with a sudden desire to do some kick- 
 ing himself, for he wheeled and let his heels fly. 
 
 Harding tried to get out of the way, but he was struck 
 and knocked down. 
 
 "Hee-haw !" brayed the triumphant little animal. 
 
 Just then the three Yale lads came round the corner and 
 paused in astonishment at the spectacle. 
 
 "Great Scott!" cried Frank Merriwell. "What does 
 this mean?" 
 
 The girls saw them and cried to them for help. In an- 
 other moment Frank was at Inza's side, hurriedly asking 
 her to explain, which she did in a very few words. 
 
 Reynolds seemed on the point of taking to flight, and 
 then he tried to assist his companion, who was groaning 
 on the ground. Before he could get Harding up the Yale 
 lads pounced upon them and made them captives. 
 
 Reynolds attempted to fight, but he found himself 
 powerless in the muscular hands of Browning, who held 
 him with little effort. All the fight had been taken out of 
 Harding by the donkey's heels.
 
 40 Eggs-citement. 
 
 Hans had crawled to his feet and was feeling of him- 
 self as if doubtful as to his injuries. 
 
 "So these chaps have been annoying you, girls?" said 
 Frank. "And they kicked Hans?" 
 
 "Yaw," nodded the Dutch boy. "Uf they don'd near 
 kick me to death, you don't know me!" 
 
 "I rather think they need a lesson," said Merry ; "and 
 we will try to give them one." 
 
 "What can we do to them?" asked Hodge, savagely. 
 "They ought to be shot !" 
 
 "Bring them round to the barn, boys," said Frank, 
 laughing oddly. "You hadn't better come, girls." 
 
 May was alarmed. 
 
 "Oh, don't hurt them!" she cried. "Please don't do 
 anything like that!" 
 
 "Don't worry," assured Merry; "we won't harm them, 
 but we will give them a dose they'll not forget very soon." 
 
 Then the two furious captives were forced to march 
 round to the barn. On the way Browning asked : 
 
 "What are you going to do to them, Merriwell ?" 
 
 "Oh, we'll have an eggs-citing time with them," 
 chuckled Frank. "It may teach them better manners. 
 Anyway, it may be an eggs-periment worth trying." 
 
 "Eggs-cellent !" said the giant, catching on in a mo- 
 ment. "I understand eggs-actly." 
 
 Wondering what punishment they were to receive and 
 quivering with fear, the captured rascals were taken into 
 the barn, where they were tied to two stout posts in a 
 standing position. 
 
 "You had better be careful!" said Reynolds, panting 
 for breath. "You'll be sorry for this !" 
 
 'That's right," put in Harding. "My father is a rich 
 man, and he'll make you suffer!" 
 
 "Oh, we'll take chances on that after what you have 
 done," said Merry. "Your attack on Dunnerwust was
 
 Eggs-citement. 41 
 
 enough t put you in jail for a while if we cared to push 
 the matter, but we're going to let Hans square the ac- 
 count." 
 
 "How vos dot ?" asked the Dutch boy, who accompanied 
 them. "Vot vos I goin' to done mit them ?" 
 
 "You are going to have fun with them," declared Frank. 
 "Just keep watch to see that they don't get away. We'll 
 be back in a minute." 
 
 Then, accompanied by Bart and Bruce, he began to 
 search through the barn. Ten minutes later the three boys 
 returned with their hats piled full of eggs. 
 
 "Some of this hen fruit is a trifle mellow," laughed 
 Merry. "I found a nest of stale ones. They can be used 
 to put on the finishing touches." 
 
 Then he told Hans to take the eggs and use them to 
 throw at the two living targets which were tied to the 
 posts. 
 
 When the Dutch boy realized what he was to do, he had 
 a fit of laughing and nearly strangled. 
 
 "Oh, shimminy Gristmas !" he gurgled. "Uf dot don'd 
 beat der deck. I don'd done a thing to dem vellers ! Id 
 peen goin' to be a recular bicnic !" 
 
 "Don't you dare do it !" panted Harding, struggling to 
 break away. "I'll kill you, if you do 1" 
 
 "Don'd got excited," advised Hans. "I peen goin' to 
 haf you all vrescoed ofer mit yaller britty queek." 
 
 Hans took off his coat, spat on his hands, picked up an 
 egg and let it fly. The Dutch boy could throw fairly 
 well, and his first shot was a good one, for the egg struck 
 the bosom of Harding's shirt and spattered in all direc- 
 tions. 
 
 Dunnerwust enjoyed his task thoroughly, and the Yale 
 lads laughed in a manner that showed their satisfaction. 
 Hans worked like a beaver, and he did not miss many 
 times.
 
 42 Eggs-citement. 
 
 Spat ! spat ! spat ! went the eggs, and soon the captives 
 were a sight to behold. In vain they begged. Frank 
 Merriwell assured them that they were getting off easy. 
 In vain they threatened. The boys laughed at their 
 threats. 
 
 Frank reserved the "mellow" eggs for the final ones. 
 The first one struck Reynolds, and the odor that followed 
 its breaking nearly drove the Yale lads out of the barn. 
 
 "Hurry, Hans," urged Browning, "or we'll not be 
 able to stay to see the fun out." 
 
 Hans hurried, and soon all the eggs were used, and the 
 two rascals were covered with a sticky yellow mass that 
 was not pleasant to see. Then they were set free, and 
 permitted to depart, after listening to a few warning word* 
 from Merriwell.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 HANS EXPLAINS. 
 
 "This isn't a taste to what you will get if you ever bother 
 those young ladies again," declared Frank, sternly. 
 
 Rupert tried to glare at him, but he presented such a 
 ludicrous spectacle that Hans shouted with laughter. 
 
 "Laugh, hang you !" snarled the former Fardale cadet. 
 "I have it in for you ! You'll wish you'd never seen me 1" 
 
 Harding said nothing. He did not even try to glare. 
 It seemed that he was utterly overcome by the smell of 
 the eggs. He seemed weak and scarcely able to stand. 
 
 "Save your threats," advised Frank. "No one is afraid 
 of you, and you will make the mistake of your life if you 
 try to get revenge. Next time it will not be eggs it will 
 be tar and feathers !" 
 
 "That's right," nodded Browning. "And I'll help put 
 on the coat." 
 
 "You are getting off easy," declared Hodge, who was 
 determined to have his say. "If I had been the one to say 
 what you deserved, I should have seen that you were 
 stripped and flogged." 
 
 "Oh, you would!" grated Rupert. "Well, we won't 
 forget that ! We will " 
 
 "You will get out now and get out in a hurry," cut in 
 Frank. "The sight of you is sickening, and the odor is 
 enough to kill anyone. Git !" 
 
 "Git !" echoed Browning. 
 
 "Git!" cried Bart Hodge. 
 
 "Yah," said Hans, still grinning; "took yourseluf avay 
 alretty pefore some more eggs throw me at you. Oh, you 
 vos two peautiful poys 1 You vos beaches I Ta, ta, sweet-
 
 44 Hans Explains. 
 
 nesses ! Von't der kirls laugh ven dey seen you gone past 
 der house ! Oh, my !" 
 
 Harding staggered away and made for the pump, which 
 stood in the yard. He seized the handle and started the 
 water, making haste to try to wash some of that filthy 
 mass from his face. Rupert joined him, and the two 
 washed at the pump. 
 
 Hodge was for driving them away and not giving them 
 a chance to wash any of the stuff off, but Frank seemed 
 to relent in a measure, and urged that they be allowed to 
 get the stuff off their faces and hands. As soon as the 
 fellows had done this, however, they were not permitted to 
 clean their clothes, but were driven away from the pump. 
 
 When Reynolds reached the road he suddenly stooped, 
 picked up a rock and sent it whistling straight at Merri- 
 well. If Frank had not leaped aside he must have 
 been hit. 
 
 In a twinkling Bart had a stone in each hand, shouting : 
 
 "We can play that trick, too! Let's stone them out of 
 sight, fellows !" 
 
 But Frank caught his hand and would not permit him 
 to throw a stone at the unfortunate young rascals. 
 
 "Let them go," he advised. "We have done enough 
 to them for this time." 
 
 The girls were looking out of the windows, and they 
 had been wondering what was taking place in the barn. 
 
 "Oh, what do you suppose they will do to Reynolds and 
 Harding?" May had asked, in great alarm. "How will 
 they punish them?" 
 
 "As they deserve, without doubt," answered Inza, satis- 
 faction expressed on her face. 
 
 "Oh, I hope they won't do anything terrible !" faltered 
 May, in distress. 
 
 "I hope they will give the fellows a good thrashing !"
 
 Hans Explains. 45 
 
 cried Inza, her eyes flashing and nostrils dilating. "It's 
 what they deserve!" 
 
 "It is what they deserve," agreed Belinda. 
 
 "But I'm afraid they won't get it," said Inza. 
 
 "Won't? Why?" 
 
 "Because Frank Merriwell is there." 
 
 "Why? He " 
 
 "I don't believe he will agree to anything like that." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 "Simply because Reynolds and Harding are captives. 
 He will feel that it would be wrong to thrash them. But 
 it would be just right! Frank is too easy in some cases. 
 That's what I do not like about him. He lets up too quick, 
 and his enemies are liable to think he is soft. If Reynolds 
 and Harding received their just deserts to-day, they would 
 be afraid of Frank and the boys afterward, and so they 
 would not dare molest us again." 
 
 "Oh, they did not harm us !" said May, quickly. "Ru- 
 pert didn't know he was hurting my arm when he took 
 hold of it so roughly." 
 
 "You are softer than Frank Merriwell !" exclaimed Inza, 
 with a mingling of laughter and scorn. "He acted like a 
 ruffian toward you. But that was not all! Think how 
 they kicked that poor Dutch boy when he was helpless on 
 the ground ! That is what makes my blood boil !" 
 
 "Do you know, Inza," said May, "I believe I remem- 
 ber that Dutch boy. He used to be a cadet at the acad- 
 emy. You know him, too. His name is Dunnerwust." 
 
 "Gracious!" cried Inza. "Not Hans Dunnerwust?" 
 
 "I taink so." 
 
 "Impossible 1" 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 "Oh, I saw much of Hans last summer, and he was 
 very fleshy then. This boy was thin."
 
 46 Hans Explains. 
 
 "I may be wrong," admitted May ; "but I think it was 
 the Dutch boy who was a cadet here once." 
 
 "He had on a uniform." 
 
 "But there is no such cadet in the academy now," de- 
 clared Belinda. "He was a stranger. I remember Hans 
 Dunnerwust, but I did not recognize him." 
 
 "If it is Hans, he has changed remarkably," said Inza. 
 
 Then the girls listened to hear any sounds that might 
 come from the barn. If they were expecting to hear cries 
 of pain, they were disappointed; but, after a time, they 
 did hear shouts of laughter. 
 
 "They seem to be having a jolly time out there," said 
 Belinda, in surprise. 
 
 "I'll risk something that Frank Merriwell is playing 
 one of his practical jokes on Reynolds and Harding," Inza 
 cried. "It is like him, but I should think he would realize 
 that this is not a matter to be joked over." 
 
 The girls watched, and after a time saw the two un- 
 fortunate rascals come from the front barn door, simply 
 pasted over with smashed eggs. They saw Frank, Bart, 
 Bruce and Hans appear in the open door, and stand, hands 
 in pockets, watching the discomfited fellows, laughing 
 heartily at the spectacle. 
 
 Inza fell to laughing, as did Belinda, but May turned 
 away, as if sickened by the spectacle. 
 
 "Oh," said Inza, "I know Frank thought of that for 
 a method of punishment ! It was better than whipping 
 them ! It must have been sport !" 
 
 "Don't know but I would have enjoyed throwing some 
 of them eggs myself," said Belinda. 
 
 "But they are letting them wash at the pump 1" ex- 
 claimed Inza. "Why are they permitting that?" 
 
 After a few moments the Yale boys and Hans came 
 from the barn and drove the others away. 
 
 When it was all over, and Reynolds and Harding had
 
 Hans Explains. 47 
 
 disappeared up the road, the girls came out of the house, 
 although May did not seem quite recovered from what 
 she had passed through. Inza and Belinda were laughing. 
 
 "I hardly think they will dare to bother you again, 
 girls," said Frank. "We gave them proper warning. 
 Next time it is to be tar and feathers." 
 
 "It was so lucky you came just as you did!" cried Inza. 
 "Why, they had been cruelly kicking this poor fellow who 
 tried to defend us from them, and " 
 
 "Yaw," nodded Dunnerwust; "I feel me all ofer mit 
 der toe-prints their feet uf alretty still. I pelief some- 
 dimes I haf sefendeen ur dwenty ribs proke. How you 
 vas, Miss Purrage?" 
 
 Inza was astonished. 
 
 "Hans !" she exclaimed. "Is it possible ?" 
 
 "Yaw, id peen me. Don'd you knew myself?" 
 
 "No, I did not know you. Why, it is remarkable how 
 you have changed. You must have been ill." 
 
 "Nix. I haf peen in Prooklyn." 
 
 "Brooklyn?" 
 
 "Yaw, Prooklyn, New Yorks." 
 
 "But you are so thin ! How did being in Brooklyn make 
 you so?" 
 
 "I peen ad work in a Prooklyn restaurant, und I nearly 
 starfe to death. Dot peen vot's der madder mit me. Uf 
 I staid there anodder veek, you vos a goner. I toldt mein- 
 seluf dot shust in dime, und got me oudt uf him." 
 
 All looked at Hans incredulous, but the Dutch boy 
 seemed in earnest. He really appeared too slow-witted to 
 think of manufacturing such a yarn as a joke. 
 
 "But you should have been able to get enough to eat 
 in a restaurant, Hans," said Browning. 
 
 "Berhaps you don'd understooded der kindt uf a res- 
 taurant I peen indo, Pruce." 
 
 "Perhaps not. What kind was it ?"
 
 48 Hans Explains. 
 
 "Von uf der quick lunch ged-ub-und-swoller-your-grub- 
 in-a-hurry kind. Efrey tay they haf der same oldt stuff 
 der pill uf fare on peans, hash, jackflaps. Britty soon I 
 got tired uf dot sduff. Mein stomach he don'd seem to 
 took to dot sduff. I don'd ead id so much as I did at der 
 first. Und after dot I ead it some more less than I did 
 at dot time. After I ead I vos britty near starfed. Id 
 keep gottin' vorse efray tay, und I peen growin' thinner 
 and thinner. Ad virst I peen bleased ven I lose some uf 
 mein heftiness, but mein clothes they don'd fitted me to 
 them, und I kept on more in dot vay till I vos so plamed 
 thin dot der brobrietor vouldn't haf me in der front der 
 restaurant uf as I drife avay drade. Dot peen der trute 
 how I got so slender dot I haf to standt dwice der same 
 blace in pefore I make a shadder. Yaw." 
 
 Frank and Bruce laughed. The idea that Hans grew 
 thin working in a restaurant was really ludicrous, but the 
 Dutch boy told the story with such simplicity that no one 
 could think he had invented it. 
 
 "Did you get my letter, Hans?" asked Frank. 
 
 "Nefer got dot letter, Vrankie." 
 
 "Then how do you happen to be here?" 
 
 "Id peen dis vay: One tay I seen somepody der res- 
 taurant in dot look like he haf seen me pefore. Ven I 
 look ad dot veller der second dime, I seen it peen Efram 
 Gallup." 
 
 "Ephraim Gallup?" 
 
 "Yaw. I peen dickled to bieces, und I slap him der pack 
 on, und I say, 'How you vos, Efy, ain'd id? Ven he 
 seen who I vos, he said he vos bleased to seen me. I had 
 a talks mit him, und he toldt me he haf a ledder from you, 
 und dot you vos goin' to Vardale, und you invited him to 
 come. He say you write in dot ledder dot you haf writed 
 to me, but I don'd got dot ledder. Efy say he haf some 
 pusiness, und den he vos comin' to Vardale. Vale, you
 
 Hans Explains. 49 
 
 pet me my life I made der mind uf me ub britty queek 
 dot I peen goin' to Vardale. Here I vos, poys. Dot 
 vos all." 
 
 "Where is Ephrain ?" 
 
 "I don'd knew dot. Oxpect he vill be along britty 
 soon." 
 
 "We are liable to have the most of the old crowd here 
 before many days," said Frank. "It will be jolly." 
 
 The little donkey Hans had hired in town was found 
 calmly feeding back of the house, and was taken care of 
 by Hans. The Dutch boy had thought to make a sensa- 
 tion at the academy by appearing in his old cadet uniform 
 and mounted on a "fiery steed." The only steed he could 
 secure was the donkey, but he had created a sensation 
 just the same. 
 
 Bart and May occupied the hammock back of the house, 
 while Frank and Inza sat on the rustic seat and chatted. 
 The girls soon forgot their recent unpleasant adventure, 
 and all were jolly. 
 
 All but Belinda. Bruce seemed entirely blind to her 
 charms. She did all she could to win his attention, but 
 he sought a shady spot beneath the trees and proceeded 
 to go to sleep. 
 
 But Hans was on hand, and he was very attentive to 
 the farmer's daughter. 
 
 "Pelinda," he said, "you peen better lookin' than you 
 used to vos und you alvays vos a daisy." 
 
 "Oh, you stop your flattery !" giggled Belinda, coyly. 
 
 "Dot don'd peen no vlattery," murmured the Dutch 
 boy, earnestly. "I toldt you der druth. You haf der most 
 peautiful raven-plue eyes, der most peautiful brick-colored, 
 goldten hair, und your cheeks peen shust so fat und red 
 dot I vant to eated them, unud your nose haf der sweet- 
 est bob-up curfe at der end, und your mouth vos so larch 
 dot I vant to took plenty uf dime to pegin ad der east cor-
 
 5o Hans Explains. 
 
 ner und kiss id all der vay roundt to der blace where id 
 stops der odder side uf your face on. Yaw !" 
 
 Belinda was not certain at first whether Hans was mak- 
 ing sport of her or not, but the Dutch lad persisted with 
 the utmost earnestness, and it was not long before he won 
 her fickle young heart in such a way that she forgot Bruce 
 Browning for the time. 
 
 As for Hans, he was really smitten with Belinda, and 
 he continued to make love to her in earnest. 
 
 "Oh, Pelinda !" he said, "uf I didn't vork dot Prooklyn 
 restaurant in, I peen aple to holdt you mein knees on, und 
 dot vould be der sveetest moment uf your life." 
 
 "But now," giggled Belinda, "I can hold you on my knee 
 easier than you can hold me on yours." 
 
 She was sitting on a chair beneath the trees, and Hans 
 was bending over her. Laughingly she reached up and 
 pulled him down on her lap, whereupon the chair gave way 
 with a crash, and both sprawled on the ground. 
 
 Belinda utter a wild shriek and clasped her arms about 
 Hans' neck, nearly smothering him, from which position 
 of peril he was rescued by Frank, who, with Inza, had 
 been watching with no small amusement the progress of 
 the flirtation between the Dutch lad and the farmer's 
 daughter.
 
 CHAPTER VU 
 
 A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE. 
 
 The first night in camp proved to be a lively one for the 
 boys in the Yale tent. The yearlings were anxious for 
 taps, for the real fun could not begin till the camp had 
 quieted down. 
 
 An extra heavy guard was placed on duty, and it was 
 known that such cadets as were caught "deviling" would 
 be severely punished. But no one imagined that such 
 pranks could be entirely stopped. 
 
 With the sounding of taps every light was extinguished. 
 Then the time began to creep away. 
 
 Hans Dunnerwust had been permitted to stay in camp, 
 as there was room for him in the Yale tent. He had been 
 given permission by Lieut. Gordan. 
 
 Not one of the Yale lads fancied they would be molested, 
 but Frank felt that there would be sport in camp before 
 morning. 
 
 The sentries began to call the hours. 
 
 "Eleven o'clock, and a-l-l-'-s well." 
 
 The call passed round the camp. Frank was not asleep, 
 and he felt sure there would be a stir before twelve. 
 
 Hans was snoring, Bart was breathing heavily, while 
 Bruce was beginning to "puff and blow." 
 
 It seemed as if, with the exception of the sentries and 
 Frank himself, the entire camp was sleeping. 
 
 Another hour passed, to Merriwell's surprise, and still 
 there was no outbreak. What did it mean ? Was it possi- 
 ble things had changed since he was a cadet there ? 
 
 "Twelve o'clock, and a-l-l-'-s well." 
 
 Frank heard the call of the sentries through his dreams,
 
 52 A Mysterious Disappearance. 
 
 for he had begun to doze. Sleep pressed down upon him. 
 It was to be a quiet night, and there was nothing to keep 
 one awake. 
 
 Then, when Frank had fallen soundly asleep, the very 
 thing happened to him that had happened the first nighi 
 he ever spent in camp at Fardale. 
 
 Something jerked him out of bed, he was rolled in a 
 blanket, and then away he went by the heels, the blanket 
 smothering his cries if he uttered any. 
 
 But he seemed to hear a voice shout : 
 
 "Hellup ! hellup ! Dunder und blitzens. I vos caughted 
 der feet uf me py, und I " 
 
 That was all he heard, but he knew Hans had uttered 
 the cry, and he realized that the Dutch boy was in a 
 scrape. 
 
 Not only was Merriwell astonished by this adventure, 
 but he was delighted, for all of his rough handling. It 
 seemed that again he was a plebe at the academy, and was 
 being "tobogganed." Bump, bump, bump, went his head, 
 but he took care not to get his tongue caught between his 
 teeth and let things go without struggling, knowing it 
 must come to an end some time. 
 
 "Corporal of the guard !" 
 
 The cry came from the sentry nearest the Yale tent, and 
 the corporal came down from the guard tent on the jump. 
 
 Around the camp Merry was dragged, and then he was 
 suddenly dropped. He struggled out of his blanket after 
 a time. He was rather dazed and covered with dust, but 
 he sat on the ground and laughed heartily. He was found 
 thus laughing by the corporal of the guard and the officers 
 who were searching. 
 
 "Mr. Merriwell!" exclaimed the corporal, in astonish- 
 ment, as the light was flashed in Frank's face. "Why, I 
 thought it must be one of the plebes. This is an outrage on 
 our visitors I"
 
 A Mysterious Disappearance. 53 
 
 They were astonished to see Frank laughing thus, and 
 asked what he was laughing about. 
 
 "Why, it's a regular lark 1" he declared. "Think of be- 
 ing tobogganed at Fardale again. It makes me feel at 
 home." 
 
 "The scoundrels who did this shall be punished se- 
 verely," promised the corporal. 
 
 "Don't punish them on my account," said Frank. "I 
 don't mind a little joke like this." 
 
 Back to the tent they escorted him. Bruce Browning 
 was there, and he was furious. 
 
 "What in blazes is the meaning of this, Merriwell?" 
 lie demanded. "I was sound asleep when somebody got 
 something hitched to my feet and yanked me out of bed. 
 Then I was dragged about a quarter of a mile before I 
 broke away." 
 
 "Ha ! ha ! ha !" laughed Frank. "So they gave you the 
 same dose I received. Well, this is a racket!" 
 
 "I don't see anything laughable about it," said the big 
 fellow, in disgust. "I'll be lame for a week." 
 
 "It's a jolly way the cadets have of initiating us into the 
 pleasures of life in a military school encampment. That 
 is all, old fellow. You don't want to mind that." 
 
 "Perhaps not, but I do mind it. It's too steep. I can't 
 stand it !" 
 
 "You'll have to. Where is Hodge ?" 
 
 At that moment Bart was escorted to the tent by an 
 officer. He looked battered, dirty and disgusted. 
 
 "This is too much like old times!" he exclaimed. "I 
 like fun, but " 
 
 "You like to have the joke on the other fellow, that's 
 what's the matter with you," said Merriwell. 
 
 "Cadets should not perpetrate jokes on visitors," said one 
 of the officers, but Frank fancied that it was difficult for 
 him to preserve his dignity.
 
 54 A Mysterious Disappearance. 
 
 "Where is Hans?" asked Frank. "He was the only 
 person I heard make an outcry." 
 
 "He must be near," said the corporal, and then he gave 
 an order for an investigation of the camp, but Frank fan- 
 cied he had waited long enough to give the perpetrators 
 of the joke time to get back to their beds. 
 
 Of course, such an inspection was unsatisfactory. Every 
 cadet seemed to be in bed, with the exception of those 
 who were on duty. More remarkable was the fact that 
 nearly everyone seemed to have slept straight through the 
 uproar. 
 
 As the minutes passed, Frank began to wonder more 
 and more what had become of Hans. If the Dutch lad 
 was anywhere within the limits of the camp, it was strange 
 he was not found or did not return to the tent. 
 
 A special search was made for him. The camp was 
 scoured from one end to the other, but not a trace of Hans 
 was to be found. He seemed to have disappeared as com- 
 pletely as if the ground had swallowed him. The sentries 
 declared it was certain he had not left the camp, and yet 
 he was not to be discovered within its limits. 
 
 This was a mystery. Browning and Hodge turned to 
 Merriwell for the solution, but Frank was not able to 
 solve it immediately. He seemed no less puzzled than the 
 others. 
 
 "He must be somewhere in the camp," said the corporal 
 of the guard. "We will find him." 
 
 But he was not able to do so. 
 
 Lieut. Gordan was aroused. The cadets were mustered 
 out, and the roll was called. 
 
 Every cadet answered promptly to his name. 
 
 It was plain enough that no one in camp had carried 
 Hans so far away that he was not able to get back. 
 
 Then it must be that the frightened Dutch lad had fled 
 from the camp and was afraid to return.
 
 A Mysterious Disappearance. 55 
 
 The guards were questioned, and they claimed that such 
 a thing was not possible. Double guard had been mounted 
 all round the camp, and they claimed that no living human 
 being could have passed outside its boundaries without 
 being challenged. Every man on guard duty declared no 
 person had passed. 
 
 That being the case, Hans must be hiding somewhere in 
 the camp. 
 
 Frank would not believe this. He said it was not like 
 Dunnerwust to be so frightened by a simple "toboggan- 
 ing" that he would hide. He had been hazed when he 
 was a cadet at the academy. Besides, where could he 
 hide? 
 
 Again the camp was searched, and this time it was done 
 so thoroughly that no one could suspect the Dutch boy 
 still remained within its limits. 
 
 "He got outside somehow," declared Frank. "And 
 there is where we will have to look for him." 
 
 "You shall have six men to assist you," said Lieut. Gor- 
 dan, and then he proceeded to select the cadets for the ser- 
 vice, naming five, and then placing Cadet Corp. Somers 
 in charge of them. 
 
 Frank's first thought was to object to this, but he quickly 
 changed his mind and said nothing, save to thank Lieut. 
 Gordan for his kindness. 
 
 The six cadets and the three Yale lads marched out of 
 the camp to begin the search. 
 
 Frank thought it possible Hans had fled straight to 
 Snodd's and sought refuge there, so the searchers went 
 to the farmhouse first. To the surprise of all, Snodd was 
 awake and up. Barely had they entered his yard before 
 he flung up a window and demanded to know what was 
 up and what they wanted. 
 
 Frank explained that Dunnerwust was missing, and 
 they were searching for him. They had come there think-
 
 56 A Mysterious Disappearance. 
 
 ing they might find him. But Snodd said he had seen 
 nothing of the Dutch boy. 
 
 " 'Bout a hour and a half ago," he added, "there was 
 a lot of fellers went down the road toward the Cove. They 
 stopped out in front of the house an' talked. That was 
 what woke me up, an' I ain't bin to bed sence. I didn't 
 know what sort of business they was up to, an' I've bin 
 watchin' for them to come back." 
 
 That was interesting information. Frank felt that he 
 would like to know more about the party that went toward 
 the Cove. 
 
 "How many of them were there?" he asked. 
 
 "Couldn't jest tell," answered the farmer; "but I should 
 say five or six." 
 
 "They came from the direction of the village ?" 
 
 "Yep." 
 
 "Did you hear any of their talk ?" 
 
 "Nop. They was a-jabberin', but I couldn't under- 
 stand what they was sayin*. I think they was some of 
 them harum-scarum village chaps, an' I bet they was up 
 to some sort of monkey shines." 
 
 This was all John Snodd could tell them, and it was 
 quite enough to set Frank to thinking. 
 
 As soon as they turned from the farmer's house and 
 the man had closed the window, Casper Somers said: 
 
 "Old Snodd has rats in his garret. Don't believe he saw 
 anybody go down the road. We didn't see anything of 
 them when we came up." 
 
 "That is true," agreed Frank, who was determined to 
 use Cadet Somers exactly as if nothing unpleasant had 
 happened on the parade ground the previous day. "But 
 we would not have been liable to see them." 
 
 "Why not, sir?" 
 
 "If those village fellows were out for a racket in this
 
 A Mysterious Disappearance. 57 
 
 vicinity, it is probable they heard us coming and concealed 
 themselves." 
 
 "Perhaps so; but I tell you old Snodd has rats in his 
 garret. "He is liable to tell any sort of story." 
 
 "I know him quite well, and I have not detected him in 
 a falsehood." 
 
 "That's remarkable; but some folks say he believes all 
 he says, even when he is drawing the long bow. I'll wager 
 something he never saw anybody going down the road to- 
 ward the Cove as he described." 
 
 "What would be his object in telling such a yarn ?" 
 
 "Give it up. He never seems to have any object, but 
 he fabricates just the same."
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 TAD JONES. 
 
 A consultation was held. Casper declared his belief that 
 Hans would be found somewhere very near the academy. 
 He said that, without doubt, the Dutch boy had been so 
 frightened by the shaking up he had received that he had 
 found some way to slip out of camp, and did not dare re- 
 turn. 
 
 Frank and his friends were not satisfied that this was 
 what had happened to the Dutch boy. Hodge said that 
 Hans had been well hazed in the days when he was a cadet 
 at the academy so is was not at all probable that a "tobog- 
 gan ride" would frighten him so much. 
 
 But not one of them offered an explanation of the re- 
 markable vanishing of Hans. 
 
 "He may have rushed to those woods over to the south- 
 west of Black Bluff," said Casper. "If he did not leave 
 in this direction, it is almost certain he went that way." 
 
 "Will you send three of your men to search along the 
 shore and look into the old boathouse, Mr. Somers?" said 
 Frank. "Let them join us later over by the woods." 
 
 Casper gave the order immediately, sending three of 
 the cadets to search the territory spoken of by Frank. 
 
 Then the rest of the party went down the road again, 
 passed round the cadet encampment and made for the 
 woods near Black Bluff. 
 
 On the way Frank drew Bart aside and softly asked : 
 
 "What do you think, Hodge?" 
 
 "You are letting Somers run this search," growled Bart, 
 bitterly. "I haven't anything to say." 
 
 "Don't be foolish ! I listened to Somers' suggestion be-
 
 Tad Jones. 59 
 
 cause I want him to think I am easily fooled. He may 
 trap himself by some word or act." 
 
 "Then you imagine " 
 
 "That he may have had something to do with this dis- 
 appearance yes." 
 
 "Jove, Frank!" breathed Bart, excitedly. "I thought 
 that all along, but I didn't say so for fear you'd think me 
 foolish. It's a part of his game. He's making us kick up 
 as much trouble as possible, or seem to kick it up, so 
 we'll be fired out of the camp. If he reported the little 
 affair on the parade ground, he did not receive much satis- 
 faction, for it has not been mentioned to us, and Hans was 
 permitted to stop in camp. That aroused him to desperate 
 measures. He means to throw us down hard, Frank. 
 You are the one he is aiming at." 
 
 "But this vanishing of Hans " 
 
 "We'll find him all right after a time." 
 
 "Cadets could not have carried him so very far away, 
 for all were on hand to answer at roll call." 
 
 "If not cadets, then " 
 
 "The little party John Snodd saw coming down the 
 road." 
 
 "You think just what?" 
 
 "Those fellows had something to do with the disappear- 
 ance of Hans Dunnerwust." 
 
 "But they could not get into camp they could not pass 
 the sentries. You know that." 
 
 "They didn't have to." 
 
 "Eh? Not if they carried Hans off? Why not?" 
 
 "He was brought out and delivered to them." , 
 
 Bart gave a spring into the air and grabbed Frank tKe 
 moment his feet touched the ground again. 
 
 "Right!" he hissed in Merriwell's ear. "You have 
 struck it! That explains the mystery. It was a put-ufl
 
 60 Tad Jones. 
 
 job to deliver Dutchy to them, and it was carried out all 
 right." 
 
 "They carried him away." 
 
 "Sure. That gave the ones who made the capture 
 plenty of time to get back and answer at roll call. But 
 who of the village boys would be in this sort of a game?" 
 
 "Who but Win Harding, the leader of the village 
 toughs; and, of course, Rupert Reynolds was with them, 
 for he is even a greater rascal than Harding." 
 
 "If Hans has fallen into the hands of those fellows, I 
 pity him!" gasped Hodge, grinding his teeth. "They'll 
 give it to him !" 
 
 "Poor Hans !" 
 
 "We must find him !" grated Hodge. 
 
 "If he has been carried off in that manner, it is not 
 likely we'll be able to find him." 
 
 "So you remember Reynolds' threat ? He vowed to get 
 even with Hans." 
 
 "If he harms that boy " 
 
 Prank cut himself short, but that simply added to the 
 threatening significance of his words. 
 
 "It is not likely those fellows will not be disguised," 
 said Bart. "They will have their faces covered, so that 
 Hans will not know them. He'll not be able to swear to 
 their identity." 
 
 At the moment, seeing Frank and Bart talking together 
 in the rear, Somers fell back, and it became evident that 
 he was trying to catch some of their words. 
 
 "The whelp!" hissed Bart. "I have it in for that fel- 
 low ! If I ever get a hold on him, I'll squeeze him I'll 
 crowd him just as far as possible !" 
 
 Hodge's dislike for Cadet Somers was turning to posi- 
 tive hatred. There was not much of forgiveness in Bart's 
 nature.
 
 Tad Jones. 61 
 
 " 'Sh !" warned Frank. "He is trying to hear what we 
 are saying." 
 
 "I know it ! The sneak !" 
 
 Then they fell to talking loud enough for Somers to 
 hear, expressing a hope that the Dutch boy might be found 
 very soon. The cadet corporal turned and said : 
 
 "The lower end of this strip of woods is not very wide, 
 and it is open, like a picnic grove. We'll spread out some 
 and go through it. We may find him that way." 
 
 This suggestion was accepted, although Bart and Frank 
 felt certain such a search would be productive of no result. 
 If Somers knew where Hans was taken, it was not likely 
 that he had led them toward the locality. 
 
 So they spread out as directed and passed through the 
 woods, now and then calling to Hans and to each other. 
 The farther side of the strip was reached and they had 
 found nothing. Then they came together for another con- 
 sultation, and right there they met with another startling 
 surprise. 
 
 But two cadets were with them. One of the three had 
 vanished ! 
 
 That one was Cadet Corporal Somers ! 
 
 They called to him repeatedly, but received no answer to 
 their cries. 
 
 The two remaining cadets seemed scared. 
 
 "Jingoes!" gasped one. "This business is too much 
 for me!" 
 
 "Me, too!" said the other. "I'll expect to find myself 
 caught up and whisked away. We can do nothing without 
 a leader, anyway, so we may as well return to camp and 
 report." 
 
 Browning seemed about to oppose this, but Frank 
 stopped him, and the cadets were permitted to depart. 
 They hastened away, saying they would bring twenty men 
 to search the woods.
 
 62 Tad Jones. 
 
 "Let them go," said Frank. "We don't need them ill 
 this search. They are no good, anyway." 
 
 "What in the world does this business mean?" asked 
 Browning, who was awake at last. "It is rather mys- 
 terious." 
 
 "It's a trick to leave us adrift here !" grated Hodge. 
 "As soon as he fancied he had us on the wrong scent, that 
 fellow Somers deserted us." 
 
 "What can we do?" asked Brucce, helplessly. 
 
 "Continue the search," said Frank, grimly. "It may 
 be like hunting for a needle in a haystack, but we'll hunt. 
 It's not likely we'll find Hans around here, so come on." 
 
 They followed him, but had not gone far before a figure 
 seemed to arise from the ground before them, and a voice 
 called : 
 
 "Frank Merriwell, are you there?" 
 
 "Here," answered Frank, instantly. "What do you 
 want ?" 
 
 "Want to see you." 
 
 "Look out for a trap look out for a trick!" panted 
 Hodge, catching Frank's arm. "Perhaps this is a part 
 of the game." 
 
 "That's right," growled Browning. "But if he tries 
 anything funny, he'll never get away !" 
 
 The big college lad was thoroughly aroused. 
 
 "Can I speak with you, Mr. Merriwell?" asked the 
 stranger. 
 
 "Certainly," said Frank, and then, with Bruce and Bart 
 on each side, he advanced to meet the unknown. 
 
 "How-de-do, Mr. Merriwell," said the one who had 
 appeared before them. "I don't suppose you remem- 
 ber me?" 
 
 In the darkness he seemed like a tall, awkward boy of 
 sixteen or seventeen. 
 
 "Can't say that I do," confessed Frank.
 
 Tad Jones. 63 
 
 'Tm Tad Jones." 
 
 "Jones Tad Jones? Somehow the name seems famil* 
 iar, but I can't seem to place you." 
 
 "Why, I'm the pop-corn boy." 
 
 "Pop-corn boy? What " 
 
 "That is, I was the pop-corn boy the first time you came 
 to Fardale. I was at the station, and another fellow by 
 the name of Hodge upset my basket of corn and kicked my; 
 dog. You took my part." 
 
 "And you are the same boy ?" 
 
 "Sure." 
 
 "Why, you were a little fellow then ! You have grown 
 like a weed. You are almost as tall as I." 
 
 "I think it's the same boy, Merry," said Hodge. "I can 
 see there is something familiar about him." 
 
 "What can I do for you," asked Frank. 
 
 "I'm here to do something for you," said Tad Jones. 
 "You was my friend a long time ago, and now I'm goin* 
 to try to do something to square up with you. I know 
 what you want to know." 
 
 "What is that?' ' 
 
 "Where the feller that's missin' the Dutch boy has 
 been taken."
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE RESCUE. 
 
 Instantly Frank sprang forward and caught the arm of 
 fTad Jones, crying : 
 
 "You know where to find Hans Dunnerwust ?" 
 
 "You bet!" 
 
 "How do you know ?" 
 
 "I ought to I was one of the crowd that carried 
 him off." 
 
 "The dickens you were !" 
 
 "I was. Didn't know he was one of your friends then, 
 though. Didn't know at first who was to be carried off. 
 Harding got up the party, and he said it was just a little 
 lark no harm in it. He had a friend, Reynolds, who 
 used to be a cadet, and we was to come over here and have 
 some fun with a plebe. That's what we thought. Rey- 
 nolds said the yearlings would turn the plebe over to us, 
 and we could have sport with him." 
 
 "So that is it! Well, we had it all figured out. We 
 reckoned that Reynolds and Harding were in the game. 
 How many of them were there all together ?" 
 
 "Six, with me." 
 
 "How did you get hold of Dunnerwust?" 
 
 "He was passed out to us by the cadets. The guards 
 turned their backs and did not see what was going on. 
 We grabbed him and hustled away." 
 
 "I thought that was the trick," said Frank. "But how 
 do you happen to be here now ?" 
 
 "When we got him to the old hut in the woods the blan- 
 ket was took off his head, and Reynolds and Harding saw 
 \vho he was. Then they was hoppin' mad, and I found out
 
 The Rescue. 65 
 
 for the first time just what sort of a game they was up to, 
 for they was mad because the Dutchman wasn't you, Mr. 
 Merriwell." 
 
 "Jingoes !" exclaimed Frank. "So the game was to kid- 
 nap me, and a mistake was made! Well, this is inter- 
 esting !" 
 
 "I should say so," came from Browning. 
 
 "Reynolds swore like fury," continued Tad Jones. 
 "Then he said he'd give it to the feller they had. Both he 
 and Harding was so mad it seemed as if they wanted to 
 kill the Dutchman. I was scared, and I got out in a hurry. 
 I heard you callin' in the woods up there, and so I stopped 
 here. As you was comin' along, I thought I knew youi; 
 voice, and that's why I spoke." 
 
 "You know just where they have taken Hans?" 
 
 "Sure." 
 
 "Then lead us there in a hurry." 
 
 "That's right 1" panted Hodge. "All we want is to gel 
 at that gang !" 
 
 "But they are five to your three. I won't dare let 'em 
 know I had anything to do with this, though I ran away* 
 They'd kill me !" ' t 
 
 "If they were ten to our three it would make no differ"; 
 ence," came from Frank. "We'll rescue Hans !' !' j 
 
 "We will !" growled Browning. "Oh, I am aching fofi 
 a good, old-fashioned fight ! Hurry up !" 
 
 Tad Jones took the lead. They passed the southern end 
 of the strip of woods in which they had searched and went 
 beyond to another dark and swampy section, where tall 
 trees grew, covered with clinging vines, and one needed to 
 know the way perfectly to get along at all. It was plain 
 to the Yale lads that they could not have penetrated the 
 swamp without a guide. 
 
 After a time they saw a gleam of light in advance, and 
 Tad Jones told them the old hut was there.
 
 66 The Rescue. 
 
 "I ain't goin' any nearer," he said. "I don't propose to 
 have Win Harding see me !" 
 
 "Come on !" whispered Frank. 
 
 "Lead on!" hissed Bart. 
 
 They advanced. As they came nearer, they saw the 
 light was shining from a broken window of the old hut. 
 They heard the sound of voices. Frank halted one mo- 
 ment, and in that moment came a loud cry of pain, and 
 OHans was heard to scream : 
 
 "Murter ! Oh, shimminy Gristmas ! don't kildt me 
 tieat!" 
 
 Like a tiger Frank Merriwell leaped forward, with Bart 
 and Bruce following closely. Like a fury he hurled him- 
 self against the door of the hut and burst into the room. 
 
 What Frank saw made his blood leap like fire through 
 his veins. Hans Dunnerwust was stripped to the waist 
 and tied with his face against the wall, while, in a posi- 
 tion to strike, with a long switch lifted, was a person who 
 wore a mask over his face. 
 
 With a shout of rage Frank leaped at the throat of the 
 fellow with the switch, and they grappled in fierce combat. 
 There proved to be five persons in the room besides Hans, 
 and one of them wore a cadet uniform, with a corporal's 
 chevrons on his sleeves. His face was hidden by a hand- 
 kerchief. 
 
 Bart and Bruce sailed into the gang. Bart was an in- 
 furiated animal; Bruce was a gladiator The big fellow 
 began to swing his huge fists, and down went whoever was 
 struck by them. 
 
 The fight did not last long. The torch which served 
 to light the room was dashed to the floor and trampled out, 
 casting the place into blank darkness. For some mo- 
 ments the struggle continued, but ended suddenly. 
 
 Frank called to his friends, and they answered. A 
 match was lighted, and it showed that Hans' captors had
 
 The Rescue. 67 
 
 taken flight. The torch was lighted, and the unlucky 
 Dutch boy was set at liberty. 
 
 "Dank der goot Lort you habbened to found me shust 
 as I did !" he cried. "I vos peen switched mit der pack on 
 dirty dimes, und I shust got der virst one. Id britty near 
 cutted der pack uf me in two bieces ! Yaw !" 
 
 "It's a shame those fellows all escaped," said Frank. 
 "If we could have captured one of them, we'd made him 
 tell the names of the whole gang." 
 
 "Tad Jones will tell." 
 
 "But he doesn't know the name of the fellow in the 
 cadet uniform, for that fellow was not here when he 
 skipped." 
 
 "Did you see the chevrons?" panted Hodge. 
 
 "Yes. Of course, that chap was the one we lost over in 
 the other strip of woods. He came here to take part in 
 the fun. But I don't know how we will prove that. At 
 the same time, I think we can fix him so he will keep still 
 in the future." 
 
 Then they returned to camp. 
 
 On the following day, at the first opportunity, Frank 
 Merriwell called Corp. Somers aside, and said : 
 
 "Just one word with you. There is a limit, and it has 
 been reached. I know just what you had to do with the 
 affair last night, but I have no desire to injure you and I 
 shall not push you. But you want to understand that the 
 limit is reached." 
 
 "Mr. Merriwell," said Somers, looking rather pale, "I 
 trust you do not accuse me of " 
 
 "I accuse you of nothing. I say I know just what you 
 had to do with the affair, and I can expose you, if I 
 choose. Dunnerwust was not injured, save for a red 
 streak where he was struck the first time, and I prefer to
 
 68 The Rescue. 
 
 let the matter drop rather than create a scandal in the 
 school and cause the expulsion of the ones concerned in the 
 outrage. I did not come here to make a disturbance, but to 
 have a pleasant time. As for Reynolds, Harding and their 
 friends, I have them foul, and I may not show them so 
 much mercy. That is all." 
 
 Without another word he whirled on his heel and walked 
 away. 
 
 Cadet Corp. Somers began to feel that he was lucky 
 to get off so easily. 
 
 Frank found that he could not punish Harding and 
 Reynolds without bringing Tad Jones into the affair, and 
 Tad begged him not to do that, for he lived in a house that 
 belonged to Win's father, and Mr. Harding would be sure 
 to turn his folks out of doors. 
 
 So Merry held his hand for the time, but he let Hard- 
 ing and Reynolds know that above their heads a sword was 
 suspended by a single hair.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 A BEAUTIFUL SHOT. 
 
 Click-click. 
 
 "Thirty-seven," counted the marker, sliding up another 
 button on Bart Hodge's string. 
 
 "Go it !" laughed Frank. "Thirteen more wins the 
 game." 
 
 He was sitting in a comfortable chair, cue in hand, 
 watching with interest the skillful manner in which Hodge 
 juggled with the billiard balls. 
 
 "Look avay oudt, Vrankie," advised Hans, who was gaz- 
 ing with astonishment at the wonderful work of Hodge. 
 "Py shimminy ! I don'd seen vere you got dhis game into 
 ad all." 
 
 "You might as well put up your cue, Merry," grunted 
 Bruce. "Hodge will run off fifty without stopping." 
 
 "Perhaps not," smiled Frank. "It's hard to tell about 
 those things. He may slip up when such a thing seems 
 least likely." 
 
 "What if he does ? Look at the start he has. You can't 
 hope to win this game." 
 
 "Not unless I should run it out the first play." 
 
 "I don't believe you could do that." 
 
 "I might." 
 
 As Frank said this, somebody laughed derisively among 
 the spectators who were watching the game, which was 
 taking place in the billiard room of the Fardale Social 
 Association. 
 
 Frank looked round quickly, to see who had laughed, 
 but did not discover the person among the several club 
 members who were watching the game.
 
 70 A Beautiful Shot. 
 
 "It's plain somebody thinks I have very little show to 
 do that trick, even if I have an opportunity," he said. 
 "Well, that may be right. I am not in practice." 
 
 "Could you if you were ?" asked a voice, and the dandy 
 of the town stepped forward, his hands in the pockets of 
 his trousers. 
 
 This was Edward Clair, known as "Elegant Ed" in the 
 town, as he was a swell dresser, from the patent leathers 
 on his feet to the silk hat on his head. 
 
 Clair was one of the finest billiard players in Fardale. 
 In fact, he was an expert at all sorts of games of chance 
 and skill, and it was known that he used his skill to fleece 
 of their money those who were not his match, but who 
 dared to bet money on themselves. 
 
 Elegant Ed did not do much gambling in Fardale, for 
 his skill was too well known there, and there were no op- 
 ponents worth fleecing, as he considered them; but he 
 frequently left home and was away several days or several 
 weeks, as it might happen, and he always returned well 
 supplied with money. It was said that he went away to 
 some of the large cities, where he could get into any sort 
 of a game he desired. 
 
 For all that he had this reputation, Ed Clair was not 
 an outcast in Fardale society. He came of one of the best 
 families in the place, and one of his ancestors was the 
 founder of the town. His mother was honored and re- 
 spected by all who knew her, and she was able to hold him 
 up to a great extent. 
 
 It is a remarkable fact that a fellow who is known to be 
 something of a rake, but never has been caught in anything 
 bad, and is polished and gentlemanly in his manners, often 
 seems very popular in a country village. Young men and 
 boys admire him, and young ladies and girls smile on him 
 and flutter around him as a moth flutters around a flame. 
 It is a false popularity, for let him be called to account for
 
 A Beautiful Shot. 71 
 
 some of his acts and the whole truth become publicly 
 known and the very ones who have hovered near him the 
 most are the first to shun him and condemn him. The mo- 
 ment this happens, the moment he begins to see his former 
 friends turning their backs on him, he grows desperate and 
 reckless. It is all out at last, everybody knows what he 
 is, so why should he try to hide the facts longer. In anger 
 he makes his acts still more reprehensible, and down the 
 hill he goes with amazing swiftness, while not a hand 
 seems outstretched to save him. Should such a hand be 
 held out to him, it is more than probable he will reject the 
 proffered assistance with such scorn and indignation that 
 no second attempt will be made to check his downward 
 career. And it does not take long to reach the bottom of 
 the hill. 
 
 Merry looked Elegant Ed over and took an immediate 
 dislike to him, but was polite enough to answer his ques- 
 tion, still smiling: 
 
 "I don't know as I could win this game if I had an op- 
 portunity, but I should try. You know they say Try was 
 never beaten.' " 
 
 "Oh, I didn't know but you thought yourself a billiard 
 player," said Ed, in an offensive way. "Sometimes such 
 fellows find their way in here." 
 
 Hodge had been studying a shot, and now, with the ut- 
 most care, making it easily and gracefully. 
 
 "If you had taken three cushions instead of two, you 
 would have left yourself a set-up," said Clair. "Now the 
 balls are split. It looked to me like a scratch shot, any- 
 way." 
 
 Bart wheeled like a panther on the dandy of the town, 
 his eyes flashing and his face dark. 
 
 "Are you in this game?" he asked, harshly. "If you 
 are not, I'll thank you to keep still while I am playing, sir !"
 
 72 A Beautiful Shot. 
 
 Ed was surprised, but he laughed, although a flush came 
 to his face. 
 
 "Touchy," he said. "I beg your pardon. Didn't sup- 
 pose you were so easily disturbed. Never will make a bil- 
 liard player unless you can control your temper." 
 
 Then he took out a gold-mounted cigarette case, ex- 
 tracted a cigarette, rolled it in his hands, pulled a little 
 tobacco from one end, and lighted it with a wax match, 
 taken from an elaborate and costly match safe, that was 
 hitched to one end of his double watch chain. 
 
 Hodge waited a few seconds to cool down after his flash 
 of anger, for he realized that his nerves were quivering, 
 but when he attempted the next shot he missed cleanly, 
 much to his disgust. As he stepped back from the table 
 he gave Clair a look of anger, which caused the fellow to 
 laugh and show his white teeth. 
 
 Merriwell chalked his cue and prepared to play. Hodge 
 had left the balls in a bad position, and he considered which 
 was the better of two ways to play. 
 
 "He is studying over that," murmured Clair to a man 
 near him. "I'll bet he'll miss it cleanly." 
 
 Frank heard the words distinctly, but he smiled as pleas- 
 antly as if he had received a compliment, while he turned 
 to Ed, observing: 
 
 "You haven't seen me play yet, so you should not form 
 such a hasty conclusion. Not only will I not miss the shot, 
 but I'll gather the balls on the farther rail two-thirds of 
 the way down for a set-up next time." 
 
 "Whew !" whistled Ed, lifting his eyebrows. "You have 
 nerve to think you can do that. You must be an expert in 
 disguise." 
 
 "Vale, you vill found oudt britty quickness he vos a 
 derror," said Hans, confidently. 
 
 "I am no expert, and I do not pretend to be anything
 
 A Beautiful Shot. 73 
 
 more than an amateur," said Merry, as placidly as ever. 
 "But that shot is simple. I shall play on the red, striking 
 it hard enough to drive it across the table and back again ; 
 then, after taking three cushions, the cue ball will strike 
 the spot-white on this side, about a quarter full, which will 
 place it close to the rail within four inches of the red. The 
 cue ball having plenty of English, will rebound to this 
 cushion, and that will send it down the table a little over 
 two-thirds of the distance. It should stop within six inches 
 of this spot." 
 
 Frank pointed to the spot on the lower end of the table. 
 
 Clair whistled again, and then burst into hearty, derisive 
 laughter. 
 
 "Hear the boy ! !" he cried. "Why the champion him- 
 self would not think of calling a shot that way ! He'd 
 know better, for he'd realize that the chances were more 
 than a hundred to one that he could not make it with 
 accurate perfection so as to place the balls at indicated 
 points on the table. Wait a minute, and we'll have a good 
 laugh at the expense of this young gentleman with the 
 colossal gall." 
 
 Hodge had taken a chair, but now he leaped to his feet, 
 crying : 
 
 "I'll bet you ten dollars Merriwell makes that shot just 
 as he has named it. Put up, or shut up !" 
 
 "You are excited," said Clair. "I don't wish to rob 
 you." 
 
 "Here is my money !" exclaimed Hodge. "Put up, or 
 shut up!" 
 
 "Really, I " 
 
 "Then keep still if you have not the nerve to back up 
 your talk !" 
 
 "If you really insist on making me a present of ten dol- 
 lars I presume I shall be forced to take it. It seems too
 
 74 A Beautiful Shot. 
 
 bad. If I should take it, I'd have to give it back to you 
 to keep you from breaking your heart over it." 
 
 "If you win it, you will keep it, sir !" snarled Bart, who 
 seemed angry enough to fly at Clair. "But you won't win. 
 All I ask of you is to keep your mouth closed after this 
 shot." 
 
 The money was staked, and then Merriwell again ex- 
 plained what he proposed to do, so there could be no mis- 
 understanding. 
 
 There was some excitement in that room, for this was 
 different from the quiet little games played there usually. 
 All gathered in a good position to watch the shot. 
 
 When everything was ready, Frank stepped up to the 
 table, assumed an easy position for cueing, and made the 
 stroke with what seemed to be extreme carelessness. 
 
 The moment he struck the ball two-thirds of those look- 
 ing on felt sure he had lost, for it did not seem that he had 
 used sufficient force. But Frank was playing with a 
 twenty-ounce cue, and he had played on the top of the cue 
 ball with all the English he could command. 
 
 Across the table spun the red, returning at an angle that 
 caused it to stop just where Merriwell had said it would, 
 not two inches from the rail. 
 
 But it was the cue ball that all eyes watched. Up the 
 table it went, rebounding from the first cushion with a 
 whirling motion. 
 
 "Missed by six inches!" exclaimed some one. 
 
 But Clair, who understood more thoroughly the effect 
 of English, saw instantly that Merriwell would make the 
 shot, although he still doubted if the balls would stop in 
 the positions indicated. It was wonderful how the cue 
 ball rolled with so little force behind it. When it touched 
 the second cushion it gave a jump for the third. Round 
 behind the spot-white it came, striking- it precisely as 
 Frank had said it would when it left the third cushion*
 
 A Beautiful Shot. 75 
 
 Down the table rolled the spot-white, touched the rail 
 gently, and lodged beside the red, about four inches away. 
 The cue ball rebounded to the cushion, still with that 
 twisting motion, came off instantly, rolled gently down the 
 table, and stopped within one inch of the spot !
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 FINE WORK. 
 
 A burst of hearty applause and cries of admiration came 
 from the witnesses. Elegant Ed applauded with the 
 others, his face wreathed in smiles. 
 
 "Beautifully done," he admitted, when the noise had sub- 
 sided. "It is not possible to call that a scratch, but, of 
 course, there was a great element of chance in it. Had 
 the cue ball struck the spot-white any way different than 
 it did,' the set-up named could not have come. When a 
 player takes three cushions and then strikes a ball pre- 
 cisely as he had said he would, he is doing great work." 
 
 "Oh, dot peen nottings ad all vor Vrankie !" cried Hans 
 Dunnerwust, enthusiastically. "He vos a lulu ! Yaw !" 
 
 Hodge took the money he had won, and, grinning an- 
 grily at Clair, thrust it into his pocket. 
 
 Bruce Browning looked satisfied, but not at all sur- 
 prised. His manner seemed to indicate that he had seen 
 nothing more than he expected to see. 
 
 "I have noticed," murmured Elegant Ed, blowing out 
 the smoke he had inhaled and letting a little escape from 
 his mouth as he spoke, so that a bit of smoke came with 
 each word "I have noticed that the fellow who can make 
 those pyrotechnic shots round the table is seldom a good 
 billiard player. He likes to show his skill in going round 
 the table, and so he will not hold the balls together. Cer- 
 tainly I do not know as that is the rule, but it has held 
 good as far as my observation goes." 
 
 Frank knew the dandy of the town was talking for his 
 benefit, but it did not ruffle him in the least. Having gath- 
 ered the balls, he proceeded to hold them on the rail, while
 
 'Fine Work. 77 
 
 he worked them up the table, making shot after shot with a 
 delicacy of touch and an accuracy that surprised even Bart 
 Hodge, who had seen him play before. 
 
 A mere touch of the tip of the cue against the cue ball 
 seemed enough to enable Frank to give it just the motion 
 he wanted, and the cue ball always struck the other balls 
 so they followed each other along, rolling together in a 
 marvelous manner. 
 
 It was not long before the spectators began to realize that 
 the handsome lad at the table was cool as ice and wonder- 
 fully skillful. The manner in which he held the object 
 balls together seemed magical, and, although the excite- 
 ment was intense, scarcely the sound of a breath could be 
 heard in that room. The clicking of the balls and Frank's 
 quiet steps as he walked round the table were the only 
 sounds to disturb the almost oppressive silence. 
 
 From ten points, Frank ran deliberately up to twenty, 
 then to thirty, and, without betraying the least nervousness 
 or acting as if he were making an unusual run, he started 
 after forty. 
 
 By this time he had carried the balls up into the corner, 
 where he was holding them. At the thirty-third shot, how- 
 ever, he split the object balls, so they lay more than a 
 foot apart, apparently with no possible prospect of keeping 
 them longer in that corner. 
 
 Elegant Ed laughed. 
 
 "I knew it must come sooner or later," he observed. 
 
 Merriwell chalked his cue, studying the position of the 
 balls, a quiet smile on his face. 
 
 "I rather think I shall be able to hold them in that cor- 
 ner a while longer," he said. 
 
 Again the dandy of the town laughed. 
 
 "If you try it, I rather fancy you will find you have 
 bitten off more than you can chew. The proper shot is to 
 hit the spot ball first and drive both spot and red over to
 
 78 Fine Work. 
 
 this cushion. Then you may be able to run them down the 
 rail and gather them in a corner at the lower end of the 
 table." 
 
 He said this in a manner that was the essence of in- 
 solence, but Frank did not seem to mind him at all, al- 
 though Bart Hodge turned ashen with anger, finding it 
 hard to remain silent. 
 
 "Thank you for your kindness," said Merry, pleasantly, 
 at the same time giving his words a bit of a sting; "but 
 I'll endeavor to show you that there is a way to hold the 
 balls in that corner. There are more ways than one to 
 make this shot, and no man knows it all." 
 
 "Some boys think they know it all," said Ed, lighting 
 a fresh cigarette. "How are you going to hold them in the 
 corner ?" 
 
 "I shall hit the red first, with force enough to drive it 
 round the table so it will return to the same corner." 
 
 "That's all right; but you can't make that shot without 
 hitting the spot ball so hard that it will be driven out of 
 the corner." 
 
 "We'll see." 
 
 Frank made the shot with care, and yet with seeming 
 carelessness. The red spun down the table, came rolling 
 gently back and stopped in the corner where Frank wished 
 to keep it. 
 
 In the meantime, for all the apparent force with which 
 the cue ball had struck the red, all the force in Merriwell's 
 ball seemed taken away by the one it hit. It rolled over 
 a few times in a reluctant manner, brushed the spot ball 
 gently, and lay still. 
 
 When it was over, the balls lay gathered in the corner 
 where Merry wished to hold them. 
 
 There was a burst of applause, for all present realized 
 that Frank had caused the cue ball to strike the red so 
 that die latter took all its force, which made it possible for
 
 Fine Work. 79 
 
 the white to roll down and brush the spot without dis- 
 turbing it and brought the red round the table to position. 
 
 "Vot you dinks?" shouted the Dutch lad. "Dot Merri- 
 vell vos a shuggler ! You seen him shuggle mit der palls, 
 eh? Vale, he done dot all der dime ven you don'd ox- 
 bected him to. Yaw !" 
 
 Bart Hodge laughed, looking straight at Clair, and that 
 laugh was full of ridicule. 
 
 Big Bruce Browning sleepily murmured : 
 
 "That was too easy! Give him something hard, and 
 he'll show you what he can do." 
 
 "You are having great luck," said Elegant Ed, still 
 seeming quite as much unruffled as Frank. 
 
 "I fail to see where the luck comes in," laughed Merry. 
 
 "Why, that was a luck shot. If you had struck the red 
 ball a hair differently your ball would have stopped dead 
 and the red would not have taken the cushions right to 
 come back into that corner." 
 
 "But I did not strike it a hair differently, and I told you 
 what I would do, so I do not understand where the luck 
 comes in." 
 
 "Oh, there was no skill in that shot, Merriwell !" growled 
 Hodge, glaring at Clair. "You're a blacksmith ! You 
 could shut your eyes and do just as well !" And then he 
 added : "I mean you could shut your eyes and do just as 
 well as the individual who is criticising you." 
 
 Ed breathed out a thin cloud of smoke and looked at 
 Bart with a smile. 
 
 "Growls like a dog over a bone," he said, as if murmur- 
 ing to himself. "Thinks he is savage. Very amusing 
 very." 
 
 Bart was furious enough to fly at the dandy of the 
 town, but a look from Frank restrained him. He relapsed 
 into silence, although he continued to glare at Ele- 
 gant Ed.
 
 80 Fine Work. 
 
 Frank went on with the game, holding the balls in the 
 corner. He reached forty and had them anchored. It 
 seemed absolutely certain that he would run the game out 
 without disturbing them. 
 
 Bart Hodge ceased to glare at Clair, and began to look 
 satisfied, even though he was being beaten. Hans Dun- 
 nerwust was grinning all over his face, which was growing 
 fat once more, since he had escaped from the horrors of a 
 Brooklyn restaurant. A look of lazy pleasure overspread 
 Browning's countenance. 
 
 Elegant Ed continued to smoke, lighting cigarette after 
 cigarette. He seemed waiting for an opportunity to say 
 something, but it did not look as if he would find the op- 
 portunity to say what he desired. 
 
 Forty-five, forty-six, forty-seven, forty-eight hello! 
 something happened. The balls rolled bad, having broken 
 from anchor in the corner. Forty-nine Frank made it ! 
 One more was needed to finish the game. 
 
 One more was wanted, but the balls were on a line on the 
 tipper rail, with the spot-white and the red packed into 
 the corner.
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 A WAGER. 
 
 This seemed to be the opportunity for which Ed Clair 
 fiad been waiting. He flung aside his cigarette, laughed 
 and said : 
 
 "It's too bad !" 
 
 Frank chalked his cue. 
 
 "Too bad !" Ed repeated. "Another point would have 
 won the game." 
 
 "Another point will win the game," said Merry. 
 
 "But not on this run." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 "You can't make it." 
 
 "Nor you !" cried Hodge, leaping to his feet. "I'll bet 
 you ten dollars you can't I'll bet you anything you like. 
 I'll bet fifty dollars, if you want to !" 
 
 "Sit down ; you're excited," smiled Clair, with a gesture 
 of ridicule. "I didn't say I could make it. It can be done, 
 but it is not a sure shot." 
 
 "It must be made cushion first," said Frank. 
 
 "Of course. You must go directly down the table for 
 it, coming back almost as straight as you can. As all the 
 balls are frozen to the cushion, a variation of a quarter of 
 an inch will ruin the shot. You must strike both at the 
 same time if you want to make it." 
 
 "Thank you for your kind advice," said Frank. "As 
 you observed a short time ago, some persons think they 
 know it all. I fancy there is another and a better way to 
 make the shot." 
 
 "What ? Well, that is a joke ! Why, it's the only way ! 
 You must take the cushion first."
 
 82 A Wager. 
 
 "Yes, but you say go directly down the table and come 
 directly back. That is the part of the arrangement I do 
 not agree to." 
 
 "But it can't be played differently. There is no chance 
 to get under your ball for good and effective English, and 
 even if there were, English is useless on such a shot." 
 
 "I am going round the table with plenty of English, tak- 
 ing the side cushion first," said Frank. 
 
 Elegant Ed laughed heartily. 
 
 "Now you will make yourself ridiculous," he said. 
 "Don't try it. Play the shot in a sensible manner, and you 
 will stand a show of getting it. As you propose to play it, 
 you have no show at all." 
 
 "Well, then, I'll play it the way there is no show." 
 
 Frank had chalked his cue with the greatest care. A 
 miscue now would ruin everything. He stood on his tip- 
 toes at the end of the table and made the shot, striking the 
 cushion on the side near the balls. Then it was seen that 
 he had found a way to give the cue ball a most astonishing 
 amount of English. It whirled off the cushion, flew to the 
 end of the table, cut across the corner and came spinning 
 "back with a rotary motion. At first it seemed that it 
 would not strike within a foot of the balls in the corner, 
 but the whirling motion kept carrying it nearer and nearer 
 to a line for the corner. 
 
 At last it passed the line it must strike the cushion 
 against which it had been played at the outset. 
 
 Bart sat down, feeling wonderfully disappointed. He 
 had hoped Frank would make the shot, and now 
 
 There was a great burst of applause a great shout. 
 The cue ball had struck the side cushion close to the cor- 
 ner, but struck it so close that when it came off from the 
 cushion it hit both object balls, and Frank had made the 
 shot successfully.
 
 A Wager. 83 
 
 Frank smiled as calmly as if he had not believed any 
 other result possible. 
 
 For the first time Elegant Ed showed a trace of chagrin. 
 He gnawed at his light mustache, but did not join in the 
 applause. When all was quiet, he said : 
 
 "That was merely a chance shot. The best billiard play- 
 ers would not have played it that way." I 
 
 "Perhaps not," admitted Frank; "but I am simply an 
 amateur. I do not play billiards much." 
 
 "I presume not," came from Ed, in a manner that 
 plainly expresed disbelief of Merriwell's words. "Still you 
 seem to have an idea that you know something about the 
 game." 
 
 "He knows enough about the game to beat anybody in 
 this town 1" flared Hodge. 
 
 "Really !" laughed Clair. 
 
 "Yes, really !" blazed Hodge. 
 
 "Because he beat you, you mustn't think he can wipe up 
 the earth with everybody, my boy. He is not the only shirt 
 in the laundry ; he can be done up." 
 
 "Not by anybody in Fardale." 
 
 "Oh, I don't know !" 
 
 "Well, I do know!" 
 
 Hodge was boiling with anger. There was something 
 about Ed Clair that aroused him to a high pitch of rage. 
 He felt an intense longing to strike the clean, handsome 
 fellow in the face, but this desire he crushed down. 
 
 Browning, seeing how excited Hodge was getting, 
 sought to restrain him, but Bart ordered the big fellow to 
 "shut up," and walked nearer to the dandy of the town. 
 
 "Where is the chap who can beat Merriwell at bil- 
 liards ?" Hodge asked. 
 
 "He is not very far away," said Elegant Ed. 
 
 Hodge was certain Clair meant himself, and Bart did 
 not believe the fellow could beat Merriwell.
 
 84 A Wager. 
 
 "Bring him out," said Hodge. "I want to see this re- 
 markable person. I'd like to make some talk to him." 
 
 "You can talk to me." 
 
 "Oh, you are the one! Well, talk about crust! You 
 have nerve to let, and that is right !" 
 
 "I did not say I am the one. I said you might make 
 your talk to me. I will back my man." 
 
 Still Hodge was confident that Ed meant himself. Bart 
 fancied the fellow was afraid Hodge would take alarm if 
 he came out openly. 
 
 "I'll bet fifty dollars there is not a man in this town 
 who can beat Frank Merriwell at a game of billiards!" 
 cried Hodge. 
 
 "If you will permit certain restrictions, I think I will 
 take that bet," came quietly from Elegant Ed. 
 
 "Do you want odds?" laughed Hodge, derisively. 
 
 "Hardly. I see I made a mistake in thinking Mr. Merri- 
 well would be unable to hold the balls together. He has a 
 way of packing them up against the cushion and keeping 
 them there. He can anchor them in a corner. But that 
 is the old-fashioned way of playing billiards. No billiard 
 player plays that way now." 
 
 "What are you driving at?" 
 
 "If my man plays Mr. Merriwell, it must be a balk-line 
 game." 
 
 "Is that it?" 
 
 "Exactly." 
 
 Bart looked at Frank, who smiled, reassuringly. In- 
 stantly Hodge said: 
 
 "What sort of a balk line ? Merriwell does not claim to 
 be a professional, so I don't suppose you will call for a 
 fourteen-inch line ?" 
 
 "Oh, no ; an eight-inch line, to keep him from hugging 
 the object balls to the rail will be quite satisfactory." 
 
 Again Bart looked at Frank, and again Frank smiled.
 
 A Wager. 85 
 
 "That is satisfactory to me," said Hodge. "Now bring 
 out your man." 
 
 "Don't be in such a rush. I believe you offered to bet 
 fifty dollars there is not a man in town who can beat Mr. 
 Merriwell ?" 
 
 "Sure." 
 
 "Now, fifty points is no game. With the luck he has, 
 Mr. Merriwell might make that in a single run. Let's call 
 the game two hundred points." 
 
 "Agreed." 
 
 "Now we will put up our money. I shall be satisfied to 
 put it in the hands of Mr. Rose, a gentleman who is well 
 known in this town, as he is our leading druggist." 
 
 It happened that Hodge and Merriwell had been in- 
 troduced to Mr. Rose, and they agreed to him as a stake- 
 holder, so the money was posted. When this was done, 
 Hodge said : 
 
 "Now, Mr. Ed Qair, take off your coat and get into 
 the game. You will have to hustle if you win." 
 
 "My boy, you are always in a wonderful hurry. I will 
 bring in my man in ten or fifteen minutes. Don't permit 
 yourself to become too impatient." 
 
 Then he left the clubroom. 
 
 A little more than ten minutes passed, and then Claif 
 
 aimed. He was accompanied by a well-dressed person 
 <ho had the appearance of a youth of eighteen or twenty, 
 but exclamations of surprise came from everyone when 
 they saw the latter. 
 
 His face was hidden by a mask ! 
 
 "Gentlemen," said Elegant Ed, with a smiling bow, 
 "here is my man." 
 
 Silence followed. 
 
 The masked unknown looked round the room. At last 
 his eyes rested on the face of Frank Merriwell, and they 
 seemed to gleam strangely through the twin holes in the
 
 86 A Wager. 
 
 black mask. Somehow Frank fancied he had seen those 
 eyes before. 
 
 Hodge was astounded, for up to the entrance of the 
 two, he had continued to believe that Elegant Ed meant 
 to play with Frank. He had not dreamed the dandy 
 thought of ringing in another person. 
 
 "What kind of a game is this ?" grunted Bruce Brown- 
 ing, at last. "I smell something crooked." 
 
 "So do I !" shouted Hodge, leaping to his feet. "Who 
 is this person who hides his face?" 
 
 "For the present, gentlemen, he shall be known as Un- 
 known," said Clair. "That will be sufficient." 
 
 "Not on your life!" cried Bart. "I did not bet that 
 Frank could win against a professional." 
 
 "You became so excited at last that you bet he could 
 win over anybody in this town. If I saw fit, and there was 
 a professional handy, I might ring him in ; but I have no 
 idea of doing anything of the sort. This man here is an 
 amateur; I give you my word on that. He never took 
 part in a match for money in all his life. This will be the 
 first time money ever was wagered on him. Am I right, 
 Unknown?" 
 
 The mask bowed, but did not speak. 
 
 "If Mr. Hodge is frightened " began Ed; but Bart 
 
 cut him short. 
 
 "All I ask is a square deal!" 
 
 "You are getting that." 
 
 "Why should he hide his face?" 
 
 "It is not necessary to give his reason for doing so. Per- 
 haps it is for the purpose of concealing his emotions dur- 
 ing the game. It may be that he has a talking face and it 
 gives him away." 
 
 "That hardly goes down." 
 
 "All right. Jhink what you like. Here is my man.
 
 A Wager. 87 
 
 You shall have the pleasure of seeing his face after the 
 game is over. That should be sufficient for you." 
 
 "In case he beats me," said Frank, "he must show his 
 face before the money is paid over. If he is a professional, 
 the bet is off." 
 
 To this Elegant Ed readily agreed. 
 
 ; Then they set about making the balk lines, which took 
 considerable time, but was arranged at last. 
 
 Not a word was spoken by the masked contestant, al- 
 though he watched the preparations with interest. He 
 seemed to trust everything to Clair, excepting the selec- 
 tion of the cue that he would use. He approached the 
 general cue rack and looked the cues over, whereupon Ed 
 unlocked his cue from the private rack and handed it to 
 him, saying : 
 
 "Here is the best cue in the room. It's eighteen-ounced, 
 and beautifully balanced, with a perfect tip that holds 
 chalk, so there is no danger of a miscue." 
 
 The mysterious player took the cue, looked it over, bal- 
 anced it with one hand, and then with both hands, ex- 
 amined the tip, balancing it again, then passed it back to 
 Clair, shaking his head. 
 
 "What !" cried Ed. "Don't want it?" 
 
 Another shake of the head. 
 
 "Why, what is the matter with it?" 
 
 The mask pointed to the number near the butt 18. 
 
 "That? Why, that is just the right weight." 
 
 Another shake of the head, and then the stranger once 
 more began looking over the cues in the general cue rack. 
 He took them out one after another, sighted along them to 
 see if they were straight, balanced them, and put them 
 back. It did not seem that he would find a cue to suit him. 
 
 At last, however, he came to a twenty-one-ounce cue 
 that was in pretty good condition. He examined it some 
 time, tried the tip with his finger-nail, then found some
 
 88 A Wager. 
 
 sand-paper and went to work on it. He spent five minutes 
 on that tip, and it was as near perfect as it could be when 
 he stopped. 
 
 At last everything was ready. The masked player took 
 off his coat. He wore a fancy shirt with red figures in it. 
 Indeed, his dress from his feet up was "loud." A huge 
 gold chain was strung across his vest, and diamonds twin- 
 kled from two rings and from the scarfpin he wore. His 
 natty straw hat had a crimson-and-black band around it. 
 
 Frank and the unknown prepared to "string," which 
 means to roll the balls down the table and back, the one 
 stopping nearer the end from which they started to have 
 the first shot. 
 
 Gently and prettily the balls went down the table to- 
 gether, came slowly rolling back together. Slower and 
 slower they rolled till they came up softly to the cushion 
 at the upper end of the table and both "froze" to the 
 cushion ! 
 
 Immediately Frank and his opponent prepared to 
 "string" again. They did so, and once more the balls 
 "froze" to the cushion ! 
 
 Then there was a stir, for the spectators realized that 
 here was a struggle for advantage at the very outset before 
 the game was begun. 
 
 A third time they rolled, and this time Frank's ball 
 struck the cushion and stopped about two inches away. 
 His opponent's ivory did not freeze, but it was not an 
 inch from the cushion, and he had the first shot. 
 
 Elegant Ed laughed with satisfaction, but that laugh 
 did not seem to ruffle Frank he did not seem to hear it. 
 
 Frank had the white, while the mask had the spot-white. 
 Merry spotted his ball, and, again chalking his cue, Clair's 
 player made the starting shot. 
 
 It was a beauty. He struck the red on the lower spot in 
 such a manner that it was driven against the corner cush-
 
 A Wager. 89 
 
 ions and came a third of the way back up the board, where 
 it stopped. The cue ball took but one cushion at the lower 
 end, came back up the table, striking a side cushion three- 
 quarters of the way up, whirling off with the gentle Eng- 
 lish, striking the cushion at the upper end, and coming 
 down behind the white ball so the latter was driven down 
 to join the red, making a "cluster" shot of the very first 
 one, which was a most remarkable feat, although thor- 
 oughly practical. 
 
 Frank, who had taken a seat, looked on with languid in- 
 terest, but Browning repressed a whistle of surprise with 
 no little difficulty. Hans was heard to mutter : 
 
 "Shimminy Gristmas !" 
 
 Hodge looked on with something like a sullen expres- 
 sion of confidence on his face. He believed Frank could 
 win with ease, and it would take considerable to shake his 
 faith. 
 
 Elegant Ed smiled as a murmur of applause ran around 
 the room. 
 
 The spectators were asking themselves who the masked 
 player could be. None of them seemed to know him, a 
 fact which Frank Merriwell noted. 
 
 The mask went on with his play. It was remarkable 
 how well he handled the balls, keeping first one and then 
 the other inside the balk line, with its opposite outside. He 
 ran them down the table astride the line, played with them 
 in the corner so they still kept on opposite sides to the line, 
 drove them round the table, and gathered them again, split 
 them the length^ of the table, and drew the cue ball that 
 distance with marvelous ease, making the shot and gather- 
 ing them again, and then held them together once more 
 to continue the run. 
 
 Frank began to realize that the stranger was a won- 
 der, for, restricted by the balk line, he ran off thirty-nine,
 
 90 A Wager. 
 
 which was something to be proud of, being far ahead of 
 the average of some professional players. 
 
 The balls were left in a fairly easy position for the first 
 shot, but Merry saw that to make that shot the easiest way 
 was to split the balls and leave a hard one for the next. 
 After a moment, he resolved to attempt to gather them, 
 even though it was not such an easy way to get the shot. 
 With the greatest care he did so and missed !
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE GAME OF BILLIARDS. 
 
 Elegant Ed laughed. 
 
 "Too bad," he said, with mock sympathy. "That was sc 
 easy, too! You will have to do better than this, Mr. 
 Merriwell, or my Unknown will win hands down." 
 
 "If he beats me, he wins the money, that is all," said 
 Frank, quite unruffled. "One of us must lose." 
 
 "I am glad to see you take it so coolly," observed Clair ; 
 "you will not feel so bad when it's all over." 
 
 Hans could not keep still, and he cried : 
 
 "You vait a leedle myself! Maype you velt britty pad 
 somedime ven id vas all ofer, ain'd it !" 
 
 Clair gave the Dutch boy a contemptuous stare, but 
 said nothing. He was again smoking cigarettes. 
 
 The masked player resumed his work at the table. 
 
 He was cool and methodical, and he continued to make 
 points with ease, running up to a total of fifty-three before 
 he stopped. 
 
 "There," cried Elegant Ed, intensely satisfied, "that is 
 more than a fourth of the game. It's a start you'll not be 
 able to overcome, Mr. Merriwell." 
 
 "I hope you are not right about that," said Frank, as he 
 chalked up and got ready to play. 
 
 At the very outset Merry had a difficult shot. He was 
 forced to go round the table twice for it, but he did so 
 with ease, making the shot. 
 
 "That's a starter," said Hodge. "Now keep it up." 
 
 But the balls were left in bad positions, and, in trying 
 to get them together, Frank lost the very next shot. 
 
 Clair did not laugh this time, but he said :
 
 92 The Game of Billiards. 
 
 "That settles it ! When Unknown is finished next time, 
 you will not be able to catch him in a week. You might 
 as well throw up the sponge now." 
 
 It was Merriwell's turn to laugh. 
 
 "That is rather amusing," he said. "Why, you will find 
 there is lots of time in this game for your man to be beaten. 
 I have had hard luck to start out with." 
 
 "Of course you are not rattled !" 
 
 "Not in the least, sir." 
 
 "It looks like it." 
 
 "Don't talk to him, Frank !" cried Bart. "He is trying 
 to rattle you now ! That is a fine way to win ! It's a 
 boy's trick !" 
 
 "You are touchy, my friend," purred Ed. 
 
 "Don't call me your friend 1" snapped Bart. "I am not 
 your friend !" 
 
 Hodge's show of temper was prejudicing the spectators 
 against him. Already they were filled with admiration 
 for the masked player, and now they were hoping he 
 would win, with the exception of Merriwell's personal 
 friends. 
 
 Frank saw that Bart had turned sympathy against him- 
 self, and he gave Hodge a warning look. 
 
 "I shouldn't think you would have many friends," said 
 Clair, in a soft, contemptuous way. 
 
 Hodge was silent. 
 
 The wearer of the mask played again, but he ran only 
 nine, making sixty-two points in all. 
 
 "That is a lead of sixty-one," said Clair. "It's enough 
 to win two such games as this." 
 
 But Frank settled down to business and Began to make 
 a run. He showed his skill in keeping the object balls 
 together, and the points piled up steadily and swiftly. 
 
 Ten were made, then twenty, then thirty, and still he 
 held the object balls together and worked them from oppo-
 
 The Game of Billiards. 93 
 
 site sides of the balk line. The interest deepened. Forty 
 points were made, and, after chalking up, Frank started 
 out in a fair way to reach fifty. 
 
 Now Hodge had his turn at laughing. There was not 
 much music in that laugh; it was harsh and full of 
 triumph. 
 
 "The aspect of affairs seems to be changing somewhat," 
 he said. "The lead of your Unknown is going to pieces 
 as fast as possible. It will be nothing in a few minutes." 
 "Don't get gay so quick," said Clair, scornfully. "Mr. 
 Merriwell has not overtaken Rol er Unknown. My 
 man has lots of leeway." 
 
 "He won't have in a short time." 
 
 "I am glad to see Mr. Merriwell bracing up. Unknown 
 will do better. He never plays his game till he is pressed." 
 "He'll have an opportunity to show what he can do when 
 he plays his game." 
 
 "Dot vos righd!" cried Hans. "Vrankie don'd peert 
 liable to nefer stob. Yaw !" 
 
 Among the spectators Frank had observed Rupert Rey- 
 nolds, who had entered shortly after the game began, 
 but was keeping back amid the spectators. Win Harding 
 was also there. 
 
 With Reynolds had entered another youth nearly Ru- 
 pert's age, a fellow with a foxy face and eyes set near 
 together. He wore a plaid suit and carried a cane with 
 a gold handle, while his soft hat was set rakishly over 
 his ear. 
 
 At the very first glance Frank fancied 'he had seen that 
 fellow before, but he was too busy to give him attention 
 just then. Still, he could not forget that foxy face. 
 Where had he seen it? 
 
 Just as Frank was attempting the forty-ninth shot fie 
 remembered where and when he had seen the face of the
 
 94 The Game of Billiards. 
 
 fellow with Reynolds, and he started, uttering an excla- 
 mation. 
 
 He missed the shot. 
 
 "That whittles down the lead of your man," said Hodge, 
 speaking to Clair. 
 
 "That will prove a stimulant for him, that's all," de- 
 clared Ed. 
 
 But Frank was looking round for the person of whom 
 he was thinking. He saw him in a corner with Reynolds, 
 the two talking in low tones and watching the game. 
 
 "It is that fellow !" thought Frank. "I saw him last in 
 foreign lands, but we were cadets here, and he has come 
 back. Another of my old foes is on hand." 
 
 Then he went over to Bart and softly said: 
 
 "Wat Snell is here." 
 
 "What?" cried Hodge, astonished. 
 
 Frank's hand was pressed over the mouth of the 
 astounded Bart. 
 
 "He is here in the room with Reynolds," said Merry, 
 quietly. "Don't let them see you looking round for 
 them." 
 
 "That cur!" grated Bart. "Of all the fellows in the 
 academy, I disliked him the most. He always was a 
 sneak." 
 
 "Reynolds and Harding are keeping pretty still since I 
 dropped on Cadet Somers for the attempt to flog Hans 
 with a whip. They haven't made a move since that time." 
 
 "For that very reason it is best to look out for them. 
 When they do make a move, something may fall. They 
 will lay their plans well the next time, and Hans will not 
 be taken by mistake for you and kidnaped." 
 
 "Snell will not be much aid to them. He is too much 
 of a sneak to be dangerous." 
 
 "Being so much a sneak, he is all the more dangerous, 
 for he will do their dirty work."
 
 The Game of Billiards. 95 
 
 "It's strange the fellow should be here now." 
 
 "Well, I have an unsettled score with him, and I may 
 get an opportunity to square accounts." said Hodge. 
 
 While Frank and Bart were talking, Elegant Ed's 
 Unknown was playing, and he was running off the points 
 with a certainty that was little short of marvelous. He 
 did not make a big run, however, for he stopped at eighty- 
 four. 
 
 Frank followed him, and made twenty points. 
 
 The Unknown carried his score up to one hundred and 
 three, while Frank stopped at seventy-five. 
 
 "He is gaining on you again," smiled Elegant Ed, speak- 
 ing to Merry. "You do not seem to be in his class." 
 
 "Appearances are often deceptive, you know," retorted 
 Frank, placidly. 
 
 Then it was his turn to smile, for the mask missed the 
 next shot entirely, but Frank repressed all signs of satis- 
 faction and ran fourteen points, stopping fourteen points 
 behind his opponent. 
 
 "You hang on as if you had a show at the game," said 
 Clair. 
 
 "Oh, I shall hang on till it's all over," said Merry, sit- 
 ting down. 
 
 The Unknown made thirty-three easily, and then missed 
 an easy point, leaving the balls bunched. 
 
 "That is just the kind of a leave I have been waiting 
 for," laughed Merriwell. "It is beautiful!" 
 
 "Make a hundred this time, old man!" urged Hodge. 
 "You can do it !" 
 
 "A hundred !" cried Clair, derisively. "If he makes ten 
 he will do a good job 1" 
 
 Frank started in with the determination of making a 
 long run, but slipped on his eighth shot, to the supreme
 
 96 The Game of Billiards. 
 
 satisfaction of Elegant Ed, who advised his man to run 
 the game out right there. 
 
 It seemed that the masked player meant to do so. He 
 ran point after point, making the most brilliant shots with 
 ease and grace. He toyed with the balls, he held them 
 together, he sent them flying around the table, he made 
 beautiful follows and beautiful draws, he made several 
 fine masse shots, and when the smoke had cleared away 
 and he had finished, the score was found to stand one hun- 
 dred and seventy-seven to ninety-seven. 
 
 "It's all over now," said Ed Clair. "What's the use to 
 try any longer. My man will run it out next time." 
 
 "Still I think I'll try," said Frank, quietly, still smiling. 
 "No man knows what may happen." 
 
 "Any man here knows what won't happen. You won't 
 catch Unknown." 
 
 "It is barely possible I may not." 
 
 "Barely possible ! Well, I like that !" 
 
 Bart was silent, and his face showed disappointment, for 
 all that he tried to conceal it. He had hoped Frank would 
 do better, and he felt that it was too late to recover lost 
 ground. The masked player had the winning lead. 
 
 "But I'll see his face before he gets one cent of that 
 money !" thought Hodge. "I'll know if Clair has rung in 
 a professional on us." 
 
 Frank resumed playing as calmly as if it was at the 
 outset of the game. It was plain that he was not in the 
 least disturbed by the position in which he found himself. 
 If his opponent won, he would still remain cool and un- 
 ruffled. He did not feel at all desperate, but he was deter- 
 mined to play his very best. He also was determined to 
 see the face of his opponent before the money was paid 
 over. 
 
 At one hundred and twenty-four Frank missed.
 
 The Game of Billiards. 97 
 
 "That ends it 1" cried Elegant Ed. 
 
 But it didn't. The Unknown ran eleven and stopped. 
 
 "Now, Merriwell!" grunted Bruce Browning. "Catch 
 him! Do your best! It's your last chance." 
 
 Frank did not seem at all rattled, but he made just two 
 points, and then he missed what should have been easy. 
 
 If Merriwell was disgusted with himself he did not show 
 it when he sat down. He laughed over it as if it were a 
 good joke. He felt that the game was lost, but it was 
 useless to feel bad about it. 
 
 Glair's man needed exactly twelve points, and that was 
 an easy run. 
 
 The spectators applauded him as he prepared to shoot. 
 Frank saw that the most of the men in the room wished the 
 mask to win, and he knew this state of affairs had been 
 brought about by Hodge's show of temper. 
 
 The Unknown played with ease and confidence. It was 
 plain he felt that he had the game in his fingers, and he 
 was not at all worried. He made his shots gracefully. 
 
 Already Elegant Ed was telling that he knew all along 
 that he had a snap. Everybody seemed to feel that "the 
 agony was over." 
 
 The Unknown had but three more shots to make. He 
 did a fancy shot, calling a kiss, and made it. 
 
 The witnesses applauded, Merriwell joining in the ap- 
 plause. 
 
 From beneath the mask came the sound of a quiet laugh. 
 The player seemed to feel that he had everything in his 
 hands. 
 
 Another difficult shot was called and made. 
 
 The balls were left where there was an easy shot, but 
 the player preferred to take a more difficult chance and 
 give an exhibition of his skill. He took it and 
 
 Missed !
 
 98 The Game of Billiards. 
 
 Bart Hodge came near uttering a shout of satisfaction, 
 but choked back the outburst. 
 
 "It's all right, old man," said Elegant Ed, laughing. 
 "Merriwell has seventy-four to make, and he can't do 
 that in five chances. .You will go out next time sure."
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 WHO WON. 
 
 Of a sudden, deep down within him, a feeling of con- 
 fidence seized Frank Merriwell. He started playing, feel- 
 ing that he would not stop till he had run the game out. 
 He did not force this feeling on himself, but it seemed to 
 take possession of him without any desire of his own. His 
 judgment was perfect. Difficult shots came swift and 
 thick, but he made them all with such ease that everyone 
 but himself was astonished. He was not astonished him- 
 self, for he felt that he could not miss. 
 
 After a while, Elegant Ed ceased to laugh and talk and 
 began to watch Frank, who was up to one hundred and 
 sixty. 
 
 "A scratch !" he sneered, as Frank made a particularly 
 difficult bounce shot, having played directly on a ball that 
 was frozen to the cushion. 
 
 It was not a scratch, but Merry did not take the trouble 
 to say so. He was playing for that game, and he would 
 not pause to banter words with Clair. 
 
 "Mr. Merriwell would not make so many if he were 
 forced to call his shots," said Ed, insinuatingly. 
 
 Thereupon Frank began immediately to call his shots 
 and make them with the same confident ease. 
 
 Seeing this, Ed resorted to the plan of sneering at the 
 shots as they were called off. 
 
 "Nobody but a Verdant Green would think of playing 
 that shot in such a manner," he said more than once. "It 
 is ridiculous perfectly foolish!" 
 
 But Frank played it as he called it each time and 
 made it.
 
 ioo Who Won. 
 
 Now, it happened that Clair was beginning to lose the 
 sympathy of the spectators, who could not fail to see that 
 he was trying to rattle Frank. Merriwell was winning 
 their admiration by the manner in which he was playing 
 in the face of almost positive defeat. 
 
 "It's the Yale spirit !" thought Hodge, exultantly. "It's 
 Old Eli's last-ditch style of playing and it will win 
 out, too!" 
 
 Bart's confidence grew with each shot. 
 
 As Frank crept up toward one hundred and eighty the 
 masked Unknown began to get restless. When one hun- 
 dred and eighty was passed and Frank kept right on, the 
 fellow grew very nervous. He clutched his cue and glared 
 at Merry through the twin holes in his black mask. 
 
 One hundred and ninety was reached, and the excite- 
 ment in that room was intense. 
 
 After chalking carefully, Frank started on the last ten. 
 He took no foolish chances, but played just as his best 
 judgment directed. 
 
 Reynolds and Snell were watching the game with great 
 interest, both looking disgusted over Frank's success in 
 the face of what had seemed a certain defeat. 
 
 Bart Hodge, without being aware of it, was actually 
 praying. He was choked with hope and overcome by 
 terror. Not that he cared so much for the fifty dollars, 
 for he would have given all the money at stake could he 
 have made certain Frank would win. 
 
 Nearer and nearer toward the two hundred mark crept 
 Merriwell. Elegant Ed had ceased to banter, seeing it 
 made no difference with the playing of the Yale lad. He 
 stood with folded arms, pretending to smile sneeringly as 
 he looked on. Now and then he gnawed at his short 
 mustache with his white teeth. 
 
 At last Frank had but one point to go; he had tied his 
 opponent And, strangely enough, the balls sat almost
 
 Who Won. 101 
 
 exactly as they had when the mask reached that stage of 
 the game. 
 
 Frank considered. One way he could make the shot 
 easily, but his opponent had not deigned to take it that way. 
 If he were to make the shot by attempting to do it as the 
 Unknown had done, it would be a double victory. After 
 carefully looking it over, he chalked up and tried the shot 
 just as the masked player had attempted it. 
 
 There was a gasp of surprise, and then stillness. 
 
 Round the table flew the balls, and they came together 
 at last. The shot was made the game was won! 
 
 For some moments there was silence in that room, and 
 then came such a burst of applause from the admiring 
 spectators as had not been heard previous to that moment. 
 
 Frank had won the game when it seemed lost beyond 
 winning, and he was the hero of the moment. 
 
 Hans gave a whoop of delight, flinging his cap up to 
 the ceiling and shouting: 
 
 "Didn't you toldt me so ! Oh, dot poy vos a corker, und 
 don'd you forgot dot ! He peats der vorld !" 
 
 Bart hastened to congratulate Frank and shake hi 
 hand. 
 
 Elegant Ed looked disgusted. 
 
 It happened that at that moment no one was watching 
 the defeated player. What emotions were depicted by the 
 face behind the mask it is impossible to say, but he clutched 
 his heavy cue as if longing to break it, and trembled all 
 over. 
 
 All at once, with a smothered curse, the Unknown raised 
 that cue and brought the butt of it down upon the head 
 of the victor, stretching Frank upon the floor. 
 
 Then, before a hand could check him, he leaped toward 
 the open door of the room. 
 
 In the doorway appeared a tall, awkward-looking youth, 
 who seemed to be looking for some person.
 
 102 Who Won. 
 
 It was Ephraim Gallup, already mentioned as another of 
 Frank Merriwell's Fardale friends ! 
 
 Hodge saw Gallup, recognized him, and shouted : 
 
 "Stop that fellow, Ephraim 1" 
 
 "I'll do it, b'gosh !" said the boy from Vermont, as he 
 reached out his long arms to clasp the Unknown. 
 
 Like a cat the wearer of the mask darted under Eph- 
 raim's arm, giving Gallup a dig in the ribs that rounded 
 him up for a moment. 
 
 "After him !" screamed Hodge, flinging the country boy 
 aside and springing through the door. 
 
 There was a rush in pursuit, while Bruce was left bend- 
 ing over Frank, who was stretched on the floor. 
 
 Bart reached the head of the stairs in time to see tke 
 Unknown go bounding down, taking the whole flight at 
 three springs. 
 
 Hodge followed in a fashion no less reckless. 
 
 "You shan't get away !" he grated. 
 
 Bart felt a fierce desire to capture the fellow and choke 
 him to death. He was thoroughly infuriated by the 
 cowardly manner in which Merry had been struck down. 
 
 There was a door at the foot of the flight of stairs. The 
 fugitive flung it open, slammed it shut. It closed in 
 Bart's face, but Hodge did not reach for the knob. In- 
 stead of that, he flung himself against that door and burst 
 it open in a moment. 
 
 A second later he was out on the street. He was in 
 time to see the wearer of the mask slash with a knife at 
 the strap which hitched a saddled and bridled horse to 
 the stone post in front of the building. That slash severed 
 the strap. The horse snorted and reared, but the desperate 
 fugitive made one wild leap that carried him into the 
 saddle. 
 
 At that moment Hodge was so close that he tried to 
 catch the fellow's leg to tear him from the horse. The
 
 Who Won. 103 
 
 animal leaped away with a snort of terror, however, and 
 Bart missed his clutch. 
 
 As the horse made that leap, the fugitive turned in the 
 saddle, snarling: 
 
 "Take that 1" 
 
 He flung the open knife straight at Hodge. 
 
 Bart had no time to dodge, and the knife struck him in 
 the center of the breast. Backward he staggered, with a 
 cry, but did not fall. 
 
 Fortunately the knife struck him handle first, and it fell 
 with a ringing sound to the sidewalk. 
 
 Outside the club there had been several startled wit- 
 nesses of this scene, one of them being a tall man who 
 wore a badge conspicuously on the breast of his coat. 
 This man sprang forward, shouting to the escaping assail- 
 ant of Frank Merriwell : 
 
 "Hey, hang you ! That's my hoss ! What be you 
 doin' ?" 
 
 But the fugitive gave no heed, tearing along the street 
 of the town at a speed that astonished all who saw him, 
 As he wore a mask over his face and was riding so swiftly, 
 the citizens took him for a daring footpad, and they were 
 filled with consternation. 
 
 Out of the club poured excited men and youths, and 
 there was a scene of confusion in front of the building. 
 
 Hodge recovered in a moment and whirled toward the 
 man who had claimed the horse. One glance showed Bart 
 that the man was the deputy sheriff of the town. In a 
 moment Hodge had the officer by the arm. 
 
 "After that fellow!" he snarled. "Capture him some 
 way ! He has killed Frank Merriwell !" 
 
 "Who is Frank Merriwell ?" blankly asked the sheriff. 
 
 "Don't stop to ask questions ! He has killed somebody, 
 and he is escaping on your horse ! Hunt him down ! Take 
 him dead or alive ! Don't lose a moment I"
 
 104 Who Won. 
 
 Others gathered round and added to the confusion of 
 the moment with the babel of their voices. It was such a 
 moment of excitement as Fardale had not witnessed for 
 a long time. 
 
 "Fools !" raved Hodge. "You are wasting time, and he 
 is escaping ! Follow him ! Hunt him down ! I'll be with 
 you directly!" 
 
 "Come on!" roared the sheriff. "Let everybody that 
 can, git hosses and join in the hunt! We'll have him in 
 short order." 
 
 "Not if he sticks to that hoss of your'n," said another 
 man. "That hoss is a wonder, and it's goin' to take a good 
 critter to catch him." 
 
 But there was a general rush for means of pursuit. Two 
 men sprang into the carriage and dashed away after the 
 fugitive, hoping to keep track of him till others on 
 horseback could take up the hunt. In a short time 
 twenty men were pursuing the fleeing Unknown. 
 
 Bart would have found some means of pursuit, but he 
 thought it possible Frank was not dead, and he wished to 
 be at the side of his friend when Merry breathed his 
 last. 
 
 Hodge did not think it possible Frank had escaped with 
 anything less than a broken skull, for he remembered how 
 the Unknown had selected the heaviest cue he could find. 
 A blow on the head with the butt of such a weapon meant 
 sure death, so Bart imagined. 
 
 Up the stairs he bounded and dashed into the billiard 
 room. Then he halted, uttering a gasp of amazement. 
 
 Frank was seated on a chair, to which he had been 
 lifted by Browning. His face was pale and there was 
 blood on his cheek. Bruce and Ephraim were trying to 
 stanch the flow of blood with a handkerchief, while Hans 
 looked on in helpless agony, wringing his hands.. 
 
 This was not what Hodge had expected to see. Hope
 
 Who Won. 105 
 
 flew into his heart like a joyous bird. With a shout of 
 delight, he rushed forward. 
 
 "Merry!" he cried, "are you badly hurt?" 
 
 Frank smiled faintly. 
 
 "Oh, I saw a few stars," he said; "but I'm still in the 
 ring." 
 
 "Your head I thought you were killed !" 
 
 "Suppose I should have been had the fellow struck me 
 fairly, but it was a glancing blow, and " 
 
 "Go for a doctor, Bart," said Browning. 
 
 At that moment, having heard what had happened, a 
 doctor came hurriedly into the room. He was followed by 
 a crowd of curious ones who wished to see the injured 
 lad, but the door was closed, and all who were not club 
 members were excluded. 
 
 The doctor made an examination of Frank's wound, 
 and Merry's friends listened anxiously for the verdict. 
 
 "Well," said the physician, smiling cheerfully, "you 
 will have a sore head for a few days, but you will come 
 out all right, young man." 
 
 "Hurrah !" shouted Hodge. 
 
 Others took up the cheer, and the people who had gath- 
 ered out on the street soon knew that Merry had not been 
 injured seriously. 
 
 "Now," said Bart, "as you are all right, Merry, I ana 
 going to leave you." 
 
 "What are you going to do?" 
 
 "Help hunt that fellow down. The sheriff and twenty 
 men are after him. We'll catch him and bring him back. 
 He shall pay the penalty for his dastardly attempt." 
 
 Then Hodge rushed from the room.
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 STILL ANOTHER FOE. 
 
 The doctor fixed up the wound in Frank's scalp, cutting 
 away some of the hair about it in order to get at it. Frank 
 chatted with his friends and did not wince once as several 
 stitches were taken in the gash. 
 
 "You seem to have plenty of nerve, young man," said 
 the physician, with open admiration. 
 
 "Dot peen vot made him vin dot game uf peelyards," 
 grinned Hans, who was standing with his hands thrust 
 deep into his pockets and his round eyes fastened on 
 Merry's face. "Dot poy peen a vender, toctor. Yaw!" 
 
 "Who was this rascal that struck you, sir?" asked the 
 doctor. 
 
 "I do not know." 
 
 "Don't know?" 
 
 "No, sir." 
 
 "And you played a game of billiards with him ?" 
 
 "Yes, but he was masked, and I did not see his face 
 at all." 
 
 Then Frank explained about Bart's bet with Elegant 
 Ed, and what followed. The doctor listened with great 
 interest. 
 
 "This is very interesting, and most remarkable!" he 
 exclaimed. "It sounds almost too much like a story to be 
 really true. I knew nothing about it before. Was sitting 
 in my office when a fellow ran in and told me to come 
 here at once, as somebody had his head split open. I 
 caught up this case and came in a hurry. 
 
 "I play a little myself, and I sometimes play with Ed
 
 Still Another Foe. 107 
 
 Clair. Of course he gives me odds. But I know every 
 billiard player in this town, and I do not know one that 
 answers the description you have given of this Unknown. 
 I do not believe that fellow belongs in Fardale." 
 
 "No one seemed to know him," said Frank. 
 
 "Then he must be some fellow Clair picked up on his 
 last trip away from home. He's just back. Of course 
 Clair knows him. Where is Ed?" 
 
 "Here." 
 
 Into the room coolly sauntered Elegant Ed, a cigarette 
 held in his lips. 
 
 "Were you wishing to see me, doc ?" asked the dandy of 
 the town, in a most familiar way. 
 
 The doctor frowned a bit and flushed, but said : 
 
 ' 'Yes. We were speaking of your friend, the Unknown. 
 It seems that the fellow committed a most dastardly as- 
 sault on this young gentleman." 
 
 "For which I am very sorry," declared Ed, with a low 
 bow, "and I ask Mr. Merriwell's pardon for my connection 
 with the affair. I give him my assurance that I did not 
 dream it would have such a termination. Really, I do not 
 understand the meaning of it now, for I was the one who 
 lost money on the game, and it was I who should have 
 been angry. Why my man should do such a thing is more 
 than I can understand. I was so astounded by his act 
 that I found myself unable to act for some time. As soon 
 as I could, I ran out in pursuit of him, and I have done my 
 best to aid in his capture by putting my own horse at 
 the service of Hawkings, the sheriff. Again I assure Mr. 
 Merriwell of my sincere regret, and trust he will hold me 
 blameless." 
 
 All this was said very smoothly and suavely, but Frank, 
 who was watching the fellow closely, fancied that Ed was
 
 io8 Still Another Foe. 
 
 not sincere. However, Merry would not be a cad, and he 
 returned : 
 
 "If you are blameless in this affair, I shall not think of 
 holding you to account in any way." 
 
 "Thank you," bowed Ed, and it seemed that there was a 
 touch of mockery in his manner. 
 
 "But you know the fellow who struck me." 
 
 "Certainly." 
 
 "Tell me his name, that I may know him when next 
 we meet. I have a serious account to settle with him." 
 
 Ed hesitated, and then answered: 
 
 "His name is Charles Garland." 
 
 "Charles Garland," repeated Frank. "1 he name is one 
 I never heard before. It is remarkable that Charles Gar- 
 land should wish to hide his face from me, and should 
 strike me down with a cue after I had beaten him." 
 
 "Yaw," gurgled Hans, "dot peen very beculiar." 
 
 Browning grunted in an expressive mannar, but did 
 not utter a word. 
 
 "I can't understand it," declared Frank. "Can you ex- 
 plain it, sir ? Why did Charles Garland wear a mask when 
 he came here to play a game of billiards with me?" 
 
 "You have asked me a question I am unable to answer," 
 said Ed. 
 
 "It is strange you can't answer it. He was your man. 
 You brought him here ; you backed him." 
 
 "True." 
 I "How did you happen to do that?" 
 
 "Because I had played billiards with him." 
 
 "You had played with him, and so you put him " 
 
 "Against you that is it. He beat me. I believed him 
 a better player than myself. For that reason I bet oo 
 him, brought him here, and had him play with you." 
 
 "That does not explain why he wore a mask,"
 
 Still Another Foe. 109 
 
 "I know it." 
 
 "Explain that." 
 
 "I cannot." 
 
 "Why not?" 
 
 "Because I do not know his reason for wearing the 
 mask. I found him in his room at the hotel, and told 
 him what I wanted him to do. He asked the name of the 
 person he was to play against, and I told him that. Im- 
 mediately he brought out the mask, and said he would 
 wear it during the game. When I asked him why he 
 should do that, he laughed and said it was for a sensa- 
 tion. He said he would beat you easily, and you would 
 think him a professional who wished to hide his face. 
 Then, when you demanded to see his face after the game, 
 he would take off the mask and laugh at you." 
 
 "Dot peen der dime dot poy got himseluf left," chuckled 
 Hans. "He had to laugh der odder side uf mein mouth 
 oudt uf. Yaw !" 
 
 Elegant Ed had made his explanation, and Frank was 
 forced to accept it. Again Ed protested that he could 
 not understand why his man had lost his head and struck 
 Frank down in such a brutal manner. Again he professed 
 sorrow and regret because of the hasty act of the angry 
 Unknown. Again Frank observed something like mock- 
 ery in his manner. 
 
 The wound on Frank's head was dressed, and a band- 
 age was tied about his head. Then the doctor told him 
 that he must not think of returning to the camp at the 
 academy and remaining in a tent for several nights. He 
 must get a room at the hotel and take care of himself, so he 
 would not get cold in the wound. 
 
 Frank did not fancy stopping at the hotel. He had not 
 come to Fardale to stop in a hotel. But he was obliged to 
 listen to the doctor, and so, when he left the club, he went
 
 no Still Another Foe. 
 
 down the street to the hotel, accompanied by Hans and 
 Bruce, and followed by a motley throng of villagers. 
 
 Frank entered the office and walked up to the desk. The 
 clerk was there. 
 
 "Is there a person by the name of Charles Garland stop- 
 ping in this hotel?" asked Merry. 
 
 "No, sir, there is not," answered the clerk. 
 
 "Has such a person been stopping here?" 
 
 "No, sir." 
 
 Then Frank registered and was given a room, after 
 making arrangements to stop there till such a time as the 
 doctor should permit him to return to tent life. 
 
 Bruce and Hans accompanied Merry to his room, which 
 happened to be large and comfortable, in the front of the 
 house. 
 
 "There !" exclaimed Merry, as he dropped into an easy- 
 chair ; "I am glad to sit down, for I feel awfully weak, and 
 my head is throbbing with a frightful pain." 
 
 His face was white and drawn. Bruce was startled by 
 the change that had come over him so suddenly. 
 
 "Why, you were smiling a short time ago!" he cried. 
 "I did not think you had been hurt so bad." 
 
 "I was smiling because I did not wish anyone to know 
 how badly I felt. I didn't want my enemies to have the 
 pleasure of laughing over it." 
 
 "Do you consider this Elegant Ed an enemy?" 
 
 "I don't know why he should be, but still he may be. I 
 feel sure his Unknown is an enemy." 
 
 "And Clair did not tell you the truth about the fellow's 
 name ?" 
 
 "No, there is no such person as Charles Garland 
 stopping here. Clair lied to shield the fellow." 
 
 "I do not believe his Unknown was stopping at the 
 hotel at all."
 
 Still Another Foe. in 
 
 "It is possible he was not. I saw mockery in Clair's 
 face all the while he was talking so smoothly." 
 
 "Look avay oudt for him, Merry," advised Hans, 
 wisely. 
 
 "I shall do that," said Frank. "I beat him out of money 
 by winning that game, and he may desire revenge." 
 
 "But the appearance of Wat Snell was remarkable 1" 
 said Bruce. "Why, Frank, it seems that all your old foes 
 are gathering here." 
 
 "A few of them are showing up, that is a fact. Snell 
 is dangerous only as a sneak, but some of the others will 
 bear watching. Reynolds has been pretty quiet for a 
 time. He is liable to break out again." 
 
 "If he does " 
 
 "If he does not let me alone now, I shall have no mercy 
 on him. If I get him where I can squeeze him, I shall 
 squeeze." 
 
 "Dot peen pusiness!" cried Hans. "You don'd plame 
 me vor dot a pit. If you had der chance I vould skweeze 
 heem shust like do. Yaw !" 
 
 "Bruce," said Frank, "you will have to explain my ab- 
 sence from camp. Prof. Jenks is sure to be asking for me. 
 Don't tell him I was hurt much. Bart will return here, 
 and " 
 
 There was a knock on the door. 
 
 "Perhaps that is news of the fellow's capture!" ex- 
 claimed Frank, getting up quickly and going to the door. 
 
 He flung the door open, and just outside in the corridor 
 stood a young fellow in his shirt sleeves, a handsome 
 meerschaum pipe in his mouth. The door on the oppo- 
 site side of the corridor was open, and it was evident the 
 room there was the one occupied by the person in the 
 corridor. As Frank appeared, this individual said: 
 
 "Excuse me for disturbing you, but I happened to 
 want a smoke, don't you know, and when I had filled my
 
 112 Still Another Foe. 
 
 pipe, I found there were no matches in The Old 
 
 Nick!" 
 
 "I should say so !" exclaimed Frank, as the other started 
 back in evident amazement. 
 
 Frank Merriwell and Rolf Harlow were face to face !
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 FAILURE OF THE PURSUIT. 
 
 Rolf Harlow was one of Merriwcll's bitterest foes. 
 Harlow was a gambler and adventurer. He had been 
 forced to leave Harvard because he had cheated at cards 
 and been exposed, whereupon he came to New Haven and 
 sought prey among the Yale men, being introduced to them 
 by a student named Harris. 
 
 Harris and Harlow formed a combination, and for a 
 time it proved very profitable; but they drew in among 
 their victims some of Merriwell's friends, and Frank ex- 
 posed their game, which forced. Harlow to give up some 
 of his winnings and get out of the city. 
 
 Harlow swore vengeance, and on several occasions he 
 had found opportunities to strike at Frank. In each in- 
 stance, however, he got the worst of it, and Merry had 
 seen and heard nothing of him for months. 
 
 Now they were face to face in the hotel at Fardale. 
 
 "I don't think I care for a match," muttered Harlow, 
 as he retreated into his room and closed the door with a 
 slam. 
 
 "Well, this beats the dickens!" exclaimed Frank, clos- 
 ing his door and turning to his companions. 
 
 "Who id vos?" asked Hans. 
 
 "Rolf Harlow. You remember him, Browning?" 
 
 "I should remark!" grunted the big fellow. "Is that 
 cur here ?" 
 
 "Sure, and he seemed as much surprised to see me as 
 I did to see him." 
 
 "Merriwell, this beats everything! Your enemies arc 
 flocking in here ! It means something."
 
 H4 Failure of the Pursuit. 
 
 "It means lively times. "I shall keep my eyes open fon 
 squalls." 
 
 "I don't think you had better remain here alone in this 
 hotel." 
 
 Frank laughed. 
 
 "Ridiculous ! Have I ever showed fear of my ene- 
 mies ?" 
 
 "But you are wounded and weak." 
 
 "A little rap on the coco that's nothing. I'll be all 
 right to-morrow. Just now I feel like lying down and 
 resting. I don't suppose my head will let me sleep. It 
 is my time for taking my afternoon ride, and Murphy will 
 have Nightshade waiting for me. Go round to the 
 stable, Bruce, and tell him I can't ride to-day." 
 
 Frank showed a desire to be alone. He did not even 
 want to talk over the appearance of Rolf Harlow. Bruce 
 saw this, and soon he and Hans took their departure. 
 
 Browning went to the livery stable and told the hostler 
 that Frank would not ride that day. 
 
 When Bruce and Hans left the stable, two lads came out 
 of one of the stalls. 
 
 They were Wat Snell and Win Harding. 
 
 "So Merriwell will not ride!" chuckled Snell. "That 
 was a sweet crack he got on the nut. I don't believe he 
 will feel like riding for a few days to come." 
 
 "It was a terrible blow," said Harding. "I was afraid 
 he was killed." 
 
 "I'd been glad of it if he had been !" snarled Snell. "Oh, 
 how I hate that fellow ! I hate him !" 
 
 "Well, I haven't any reason to love him," said Harding. 
 "It seems that there are others, too." 
 
 "Where is the horse he rides?" asked Snell. 
 
 Harding took him to a stall and showed him a hand- 
 some black gelding. 
 
 "There tie is," said Win, "and he is a dandy."
 
 Failure of the Pursuit 115 
 
 "Spirited?" 
 
 "I should say so ! He is full of fire." 
 
 "Hard to handle ?" 
 
 "Has been ; but Merriwell handles him well and is mak- 
 ing him one of the best saddle horses in the stable. Murphy 
 says he is getting Nightshade broken and being paid for 
 the use of him at the same time." 
 
 For some time Wat stood looking the black horse over. 
 At last a savage, crafty look came into his face, and he 
 grinned. 
 
 "What pleases you?" asked Harding. 
 
 "My thoughts," was the answer. 
 
 "What were you thinking?" 
 
 "Nothing much, only that Frank Merriwell might take 
 a swift ride some day. I want you to fix it up with 
 Murphy so he'll think me a fine fellow. Does he ever take 
 a drink?" 
 
 "It's his worst fault." 
 
 "Gets full?" 
 
 "Sometimes." 
 
 "That's just right. Just take me out where we can 
 get some stuff. I want to work Mr. Murphy a little." 
 
 The two left the stable and made their way to the hotel. 
 Just as they reached the hotel a number of the pursuers 
 of the masked Unknown were seen coming down the 
 street. The sheriff was with them, riding his own horse 
 and leading the animal on which he had given pursuit. 
 , In front of the hotel a crowd gathered to hear the re- 
 port. The sheriff looked disgusted as he came up. Some- 
 body cried : 
 
 "Where's your prisoner, Hawkings?" 
 
 "What prisoner?" growled the officer. "I ain't had 
 no prisoner." 
 
 "The one you went after." 
 
 "Oh, he got away somehow."
 
 1 16 Failure of the Pursuit. 
 
 "You didn't follow him very far." 
 
 "Didn't have to. Found my hoss down at the cross- 
 roads at Newton's. Critter who took him was gone, jest 
 as if he'd vanished into the air." 
 
 "Couldn't you find a trace of him?" 
 
 "Nary trace. Questioned everybody we saw. Folks 
 back along the road saw my hoss, but they all agreed 
 there wasn't any rider on it. They thought it was runnin* 
 away from me." 
 
 "That's strange." 
 
 "I should remark. Seems like there wasn't anybody 
 on the critter's back when it left the village, but if you'll 
 tell me where the darned feller who took him went to, 
 I'll be much obliged." 
 
 No one was able to tell him, and Fardale found a new 
 feature of the mystery to discuss. 
 
 Nearly an hour after the others, Bart Hodge returned 
 into the town. He had stuck to the search longer, but 
 with no better result than the others. He gave up his 
 horse, and hastened to see Frank. 
 
 Merry was on the bed in his room, but was not sleep- 
 ing. Hodge dropped into a chair, uttering an exclama- 
 tion of disgust. 
 
 "The whelp got away, Frank!" he exclaimed. "He 
 didn't ride clean out of town, either." 
 
 "How is that ?" asked Merry, wearily. 
 
 "Oh, he slipped off the horse before the outskirts were 
 reached, sent the animal flying, and concealed himself so 
 not one of us saw him. He is right here in town now." 
 
 "Well, if he is a real enemy of mine, I shall hear from 
 him again." 
 
 "Well, you can bet you will hear from him again, old 
 manl"
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 SNELL'S DOWNFALL. 
 
 Despite the injury to his head, Frank passed a quiet 
 night and was feeling much better in the morning. 
 
 Hodge visited him early and was delighted to find 
 Merry somewhat like himself. 
 
 "Why, you seem to be doing finely, old man !" he cried. 
 
 "I'll me all right in a day or two," declared Frank. "My 
 head is awfully sore, but it has ceased aching, and that is 
 a relief." 
 
 "You are lucky that it wasn't split open. The butt of 
 that cue was heavy enough to do the trick." 
 
 "And that fellow must have struck hard enough." 
 
 "He did. I saw him swing, but was not near enough 
 to save you. They haven't found a trace of him. If he 
 had killed you, I don't suppose they would have caught 
 him !" 
 
 "Let him go. As I said last night, if he is an enemy 
 of mine, I shall hear from him again." 
 
 "What is this about Rolf Harlow being here? You did 
 not say anything about it, but Browning told me." 
 
 "He is here." 
 . "In this hotel?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Well, he is a good man to look out for. He does not 
 love you much." 
 
 "Not a bit. I came near jailing him for his hand in the 
 little affair at Blue Cove last summer, and he will never 
 forget that. I was surprised to see him, but he seemed 
 more surprised than I. When he recognized me, he nearly 
 fell down."
 
 n8 Snell's Downfall. 
 
 "Have you seen him since?" 
 
 "No, for I have not been out of this room. Had my 
 supper brought here last night. I did not feel like stirring 
 about much of any." 
 
 "Well, Harlow wants to keep pretty quiet," said Hodge. 
 "There are two or three little matters hanging over his 
 head, and it would not take much to jug him." 
 
 "What do the people say about the affair that took 
 place yesterday?" 
 
 "They condemn the Unknown, and not a few of them 
 jump on Elegant Ed pretty hard. You have all the 
 sympathy." 
 
 Frank smiled. 
 
 "The wind has changed," he murmured. "At one time, 
 while we were playing that game, the sympathy of the 
 spectators was with Glair's man." 
 
 "That wasn't strange. Clair stands well in town, for 
 all of his reputation. There was a mystery about the 
 masked fellow that aroused interest in him, and he seemed 
 to be beating you without an effort. That was why sym- 
 pathy was with him." 
 
 Frank wished to say that the real reason was because 
 Bart had displayed so much temper, but he refrained, not 
 wishing to hurt the feelings of his friend. 
 
 "But you did win out in beautiful style!" Bart cried. 
 "That run would have made a professional gasp. And 
 then you captured the whole thing by finishing with the 
 very shot the other fellow missed. It was great. You 
 had the sympathy of the crowd when the game was fin- 
 ished." 
 
 "Which goes to illustrate how fickle a crowd generally 
 is. I have seen many instances of this fickleness." 
 
 The boys chatted for some time, and then Bart de- 
 parted.
 
 Snell's Downfall. 119 
 
 Frank took a late breakfast, after which the doctor came 
 to see him and looked at the wound. 
 
 "I think you'll be all right before long, young man," he 
 said. "How are you feeling?" 
 
 "First rate this morning, doctor." 
 
 "Well, keep quiet to-day. Don't exert yourself enough 
 to send the blood to your head. I'll wash the wound again 
 to-night. Oh, yes ! you'll do finely ! You are all right." 
 
 Frank was permitted to read a certain length of time, 
 and that was some satisfaction to him, for he always liked 
 to have a book in his hand when he was sitting still. 
 
 About the middle of the forenoon cards came up to 
 Frank telling him Inza Burrage and May Blossom were 
 in the ladies' parlor. 
 
 Inza and May had called to learn how Frank was and 
 offer sympathy. They were left alone in the parlor while 
 their cards were taken up to Merry. 
 
 Barely had the boy departed with their cards when into 
 the parlor walked Wat Snell. 
 
 "Ah!" said Snell, in his soft, oily way; "delighted, I 
 assure you. I thought I recognized you when you 
 came in." 
 
 Both girls stared at him in surprise, for neither remem- 
 bered having seen him before. 
 
 Snell had been warned by Harding that it was best to 
 keep away from the girls, as they had given Harding and 
 Reynolds the "marble heart," but, overflowing with self- 
 conceit, the fellow fancied he would be able to make an 
 impression on them, and so he hastened to them in the 
 parlor. 
 
 "Of course you remember me !" said Snell. "It wouldn't 
 be possible for you to forget me." 
 
 May drew a bit closer to Inza, who coldly said : 
 
 "I do not think we have the honor of your acquaint- 
 ance, sir."
 
 I2O Snell's Downfall. 
 
 "Oh, yes, you have yes, you have," said Snell, hur- 
 riedly. "You both know me." 
 
 "I think you are mistaken." 
 
 "Not in the least, Miss Burrage. You see, I know you. 
 Ha ! ha ! And I know Miss Blossom. Ha ! ha !" 
 
 "I do not presume you found it very difficult to learn 
 our names." 
 
 "You do me an injustice you wrong me. Why, is it 
 possible you have forgotten me? I am Watson Snell." 
 
 The girls looked at each other, and then Inza said : 
 
 "We do not know a Watson Snell, so now it is certain 
 you have made a mistake." 
 
 Snell had announced his name as if that would settle 
 it. He seemed to expect them to start and utter exclama- 
 tions of delight. His face fell with disappointment and 
 chagrin as he heard Inza's cool words. 
 
 "Is it possible?" he slowly said. "Why, you knew me 
 well enough once when I was a cadet here at the academy. 
 I feel greatly mortified at having been forgotten so soon." 
 
 "It seems to me that I do remember him," murmured 
 May. Then she added, in a whisper : 
 
 "And I never liked him. I think he was one of Mr. 
 Merriwell's enemies." 
 
 "Of course you remember me!" exclaimed Wat, relief 
 and satisfaction showing on his foxy face. "We were well 
 acquainted then. I am delighted to see you now. Back 
 visiting Fardale, don't you know. My father is in Japan. 
 He's rich. He's making wads of money in tea. Oh, the 
 old man is a long-headed old duffer. And he'll leave me 
 all his dust when he shuffles off. I'll have money to burn. 
 Have lots of it now. I like to burn it, too. Girls, I'll 
 take you out driving, and I'll " 
 
 "You will oblige us by leaving the room, sir!" came 
 sharply from Inza's lips, as she and May started to their
 
 SnelPs Downfall. 121 
 
 feet, Snexl having pressed close upon them. "We do not 
 desire your company !" 
 
 "Eh!" said Wat, again surprised. "Oh, come, now! 
 That's all foolishness. I am the best fellow you ever saw. 
 Far better than that cad Merriwell. I have more money 
 than he, and " 
 
 "You insult us by seeming to think that you can buy 
 our friendship with your money. We do not care if you 
 have two million dollars and Frank Merriwell has not a 
 cent ! He is a man, and you " 
 
 Inza stopped short, fearing to say any more. 
 
 Snell looked angry, and then attempted to bully them. 
 
 "Sit down," he ordered, insolently. "I want to talk 
 to you. I tell you to sit down !" 
 
 "We refuse !" 
 
 Inza's arm was about May, who was trembling violently 
 and pressing close to her. Inza's eyes were flashing and 
 her face full of scorn. 
 
 "You had better sit down here and hear what I have to 
 say," came from Snell. "You can't get away till I have 
 said what I want to." 
 
 "Mr. Merriwell " 
 
 "Is laid up in his room with a nice cracked skull. He 
 is in no shape to bother anybody now, and he won't bother 
 anybody for several days to come, so you need not look to 
 him for aid." 
 
 "There is where you make a mistake, Snell !" said a 
 stern voice behind the insulting fellow. 
 
 Snell recognized that voice, and, with a gasp of fear, 
 tried to turn about quickly. Before he could turn, Frank 
 Merriwell's hands grasped him by the collar, gave him 
 a swing, and he was fairly carried out of the room. 
 
 The parlor opened upon the front hall. On the op- 
 posite side of the hall was a door that opened into the 
 office. This door was open, and several persons in the
 
 122 Snell's Downfall. 
 
 office were astonished to see Wat Snell come flying from 
 the parlor, his hair almost lifting his hat from his head, 
 his face convulsed with fear, while he was propelled by a 
 determined-looking youth who wore a bandage about his 
 head and who had him gripped by the collar and a con- 
 venient portion of his fashionable trousers. 
 
 "Snell," said Frank, as he hustled the fellow to the front 
 door, "you chose a very inopportune time to molest those 
 young ladies. This is gentle treatment compared to what 
 you will receive if you bother them again." 
 
 Then Wat was sent shooting out of the door with such 
 violence that he fairly pitched down the steps and could 
 not recover his equilibrium, whereupon he reeled across 
 the sidewalk and plunged headlong into the dust.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 SNELL PLOTS REVENGE. 
 
 Snell arose and picked up his hat. He was covered witK 
 dirt and was very furious. A number of the villagers 
 had seen his sudden ejectment from the hotel, and, while 
 they wondered not a little thereat, they were filled with 
 merriment and laughed openly. 
 
 The angry youth knew they were laughing at the lu- 
 dicrous spectacle he presented, and that made him all the 
 more furious. He picked his hat up from the dust, glared 
 at the laughing citizens, and viciously grated : 
 
 "Laugh, you confounded idiots ! You don't know any 
 better! You are all a lot of jays !" 
 
 Then, seized by sudden and almost uncontrollable fury 
 at the author of his downfall, he wheeled about and shook 
 his fist at the hotel, snarling : 
 
 "That shall cost you dear, Mr. Merriwell ! I'll fix you 1 
 You won't escape with a simple crack on the head ! I'll 
 fix you!" 
 
 Frank had not paused at the door, but coolly returned 
 to the girls in the parlor, saying : 
 
 "I beg your pardon, young ladies, for the scene, but it 
 seemed the proper thing to do under the circumstances." 
 
 Inza laughed merrily. 
 
 "Oh, Frank !" she cried, "if you could have seen the 
 look on his face when he heard you speak and felt you 
 grasp him ! It was the most comical expression of fear !" 
 
 "I hope you did not hurt him?" said May, always 
 tender-hearted and thoughtful of even her enemies. 
 
 "Not in the .least, Miss Blossom," smiled Merry. "I 
 simply hastened his departure somewhat."
 
 124 Snell Plots Revenge. 
 
 "But you do not seem to be hurt so badly yourself," 
 said Inza, seriously. "We didn't suppose you were able to 
 do anything like that, and " 
 
 "Well," said Merry, still smiling, "I believe the doctor 
 did warn me to refrain from violent exercise, but there 
 are such things as excusable circumstances. In this case, 
 I quite forgot that I had been tapped on the head at all." 
 
 "How are you, Frank?" asked Inza. "We heard " 
 
 "Oh, yes !" cried May ; "we heard you had been hurt, 
 oh, so badly!" 
 
 "That was a mistake. I was struck on the head, but 
 it was a glancing blow a mere nothing. I shall be all 
 right in a very few days." 
 
 "But we heard your head had been cut open," spoke 
 Inza. 
 
 "How they do exaggerate such things in a country vil- 
 lage!" laughed Frank. "Why, it was a mere nothing- 
 the slightest sort of a wound." 
 
 "Yet you say the doctor told you to refrain from vio- 
 lent exercise," broke in May. "Why should he do that 
 if the injury is so slight ?" 
 
 "Oh, ah er he may be a crank," said Merry, con- 
 fused. "He he seemed to think I had been exercising 
 too much lately." 
 
 Inza smiled knowingly. Frank could not deceive her, 
 and she understood that he had been injured far more 
 seriously than he wished to confess. They sat down and 
 talked. 
 
 "It's too bad we will not get our ride together to- 
 morrow, Frank," said Inza. "I have been thinking of 
 that so much." 
 
 "Perhaps we may be able to take it." 
 
 "Oh, not to-morrow ! You must obey the doctor, even 
 if he is whimsical. But we may have it " 
 
 "Friday how will that do?"
 
 Snell Plots Revenge. 125 
 
 A bit of shadow came to Inza's face. 
 
 "Friday is my unlucky day," she said; "but I have an 
 engagement for Saturday, and I don't think I can go the 
 first of next week." 
 
 "Then we must make it Friday. You are not super- 
 stitious, Inza?" 
 
 "I am afraid I am some," she confessed. "All the un- 
 lucky things have happened to me Friday. I am afraid of 
 the day, and I have gotten into the habit of keeping still 
 and doing almost nothing every Friday." 
 
 Frank laughed merrily, jollying her a little on her fool- 
 ish fears. 
 
 "My dear girl," he said, "you will make a hoodoo day 
 for your whole life if you give in to this notion. It will 
 be a day of horror for you constantly. You must refuse 
 to take any stock in such a silly superstition; you must 
 not regard Friday any differently than any other day." 
 
 "If you but knew all the things that happened to me 
 on that day, you would see that I have a reason to 
 fear it." 
 
 "If so many bad things have happened, then, it's all the 
 more reason why you should not allow the superstition to 
 get a hold on you. Come, hereafter we'll see that some 
 of the pleasant things happen Friday. We will begin 
 with next Friday, too. You and I will ride out together, 
 then, and I am sure that will be very pleasant for me." 
 
 She gave him a quick look with her dark eyes. He was 
 regarding her steadily, wondering at her fear of a certain 
 day in the week, for she had ever seemed so self-reliant 
 and fearless. Her eyes drooped before his, and she mur- 
 mured : 
 
 "Well, Frank, if you wish it, we will ride next Friday." 
 
 Thus it was settled. They remained with him some- 
 what less than an hour, and he felt much better when they 
 departed.
 
 126 Snell Plots Revenge. 
 
 After his overthrow, Snell betook himself to the livery 
 stable, there to hide from the villagers, who were laughing 
 at his plight. Once inside the stable, he hastily felt of 
 his hip pocket, and an expression of satisfaction came over 
 his face. 
 
 "It's all right," he said. "I was afraid it was lost or 
 broken. I'll need a good pull from it after this cursed 
 affair. I want something to steady my nerves." 
 
 Slipping into a stall, he took a flat bottle from his pocket 
 and proceeded to drink from it. It was filled with whisky, 
 and Snell took a stiff drink. 
 
 "Ah!" he said, gasping for breath. "That's terrible 
 stuff! It needs watering it's too strong. Nothing is too 
 strong for me as I feel now. I could drink fire !" 
 
 "So could Oi, me b'y!" exclaimed a voice that had a 
 broad brogue, and Murphy, the hostler, appeared, looking 
 into the stall. "It's not a drap Oi've had fer an hour, an' 
 me neck is so dry it squeaks. Give me jist a nip av thot, 
 will yez?" 
 
 "Sure, Mike!" cried Snell, with pretended heartiness. 
 "Take all of it, if you like ! You are welcome to it. Here 
 you go! Drink hearty." 
 
 "Thin may ye live to ate the hen thot scratches over yer 
 grave," said Murphy, huskily, grasping the bottle and fas- 
 tening his lips to the nozzle. 
 
 Scarcely a bit did he leave in it when he had finished, 
 and Wat saw by his condition that he had been drinking 
 heavily before. 
 
 "It's roight proime ould shtuff thot is," declared the 
 hostler. "Oi loike th' whisky thot scratches all th' way 
 down yer goozle. Thin ye know ye're not drinkin' milk. 
 Wan-half th' whisky they sell in this country is ounly fit 
 fer tathing babies." 
 
 In a little while Murphy became too full to attend to
 
 Snell Plots Revenge. 127 
 
 his duties properly, whereupon Snell, although he did not 
 fancy the task, took hold and did the work for the hostler. 
 
 "It's a roight foine broth av a b'y ye are," declared the 
 hostler. "It's not minny lads would do th' same fer me, 
 an' Oi won't fergit it. Oi'm jist a troifle out av joint, but 
 Oi'll come round all roight afther a little." 
 
 "You are all right, Murphy," said Wat, familiarly. 
 "Keep still. I'll give you a lift any time. Do you ever 
 let that black horse to anybody but Frank Merriwell ?" 
 
 "Oh, yis ; but Mr. Merriwell has had him almost ivery 
 day before he was afther gettin' hurted. Poor Merriwell ! 
 It's a roight foine lad he is !" 
 
 "He is all of that," said Snell. "I think a great deal of 
 him. I'd like to see him ride. They say he rides well." 
 
 "Well, is it ? Oi should say thot ! It's a foine soight to 
 see him on thot crayther a-gallopin' along th' strate." 
 
 "Let me know when he is going to ride next time, will 
 you ? I want to see him start off." 
 
 "Oi will thot. Oi'll let yez know forninsthand." 
 
 "Don't forget it, Murphy." 
 
 "Niver. Oi'd not think av forgettin' such a real foine 
 young gint as yersilf fer th' soight av me two oies." 
 
 Snell turned away. There was a look of satisfaction on 
 his face, and he muttered : 
 
 "All I want is a hand in the saddling of that horse when 
 Mr. Frank Merriwell is going to ride! It will be that 
 fellow's last ridel"
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE MYSTERY SOLVED. 
 
 Friday, at the appointed time, Inza met Frank at the 
 hotel. 
 
 "I have ordered the horses," he said. "A handsome 
 white one for you, and Nightshade for me." 
 
 Then, noticing a displeased look on her face, he quickly 
 asked : 
 
 "What is the matter ?" 
 
 "Oh, nothing," she answered, "only I detest white 
 horses." 
 
 "This is the next best horse in the stable to the one I 
 am going to have." 
 
 She bit her lip. 
 
 "So you are going to give me the second best and take 
 the best yourself ! Well, I must say " 
 
 "There is a good reason," he hastily interrupted, seeing 
 she was -.growing angry, for a flush was mounting to her 
 cheeks. "Nightshade is the horse I will ride, and he is 
 considered rather dangerous. He is a very spirited 
 animal." 
 
 "I have ridden spirited horses. I don't know as I care 
 to ride to-day." 
 
 "Don't be foolish, Inza. You shall have the black horse 
 if you want him, and I will take the white one. I will send 
 round an order to change the saddles." 
 
 Frank did so without delay, and the horses were brought 
 round after a little, with the lady's saddle on the black one. 
 
 Wat Snell was watching from a distance, and he was 
 astonished when he saw what change had been made. He 
 had filled Murphy with whisky till the hostler was so drunk 
 that he was ready to do anything, and then had bribed the
 
 The Mystery Solved. 129 
 
 fellow to place a tack beneath the saddle of the black horse, 
 SQ that it would be driven into the animal when he was 
 mounted. 
 
 "It's nothing but a joke," he had assured the hostler. 
 "I'll give you twenty-five dollars to do it." 
 
 And the hostler had agreed. 
 
 Now, on seeing the change of saddles, Snell was star- 
 tled and disgusted. 
 
 "My scheme has failed !" he muttered, angrily. "The 
 saddles have been changed, and I don't believe Murphy 
 had wits enough to fix the tack on the white horse." 
 
 He saw Frank assist Inza to mount, and then, as the 
 girl reached the saddle of the black horse, a startling thing 
 happened. With a snort of pain, the animal reared, pawed 
 the air with his forward feet, came down, kicked, bucked 
 and dashed away. 
 
 Inza retained her seat in a remarkable manner througfi 
 all this. Frank sprang to grasp the animal, but was too 
 late. With frantic haste he mounted the white horse and 
 started in pursuit. 
 
 A curse of fear and dismay escaped Snell. * 
 
 "The drunken fool !" he grated. "Murphy changed the 
 tack. He was bound to earn his twenty-five dollars by put- 
 ,ting it under the saddle of the black horse and he has 
 earned it !" 
 
 At a distance down the street Rolf Harlow saw the 
 black horse rear, kick and buck. He realized that Inza 
 Burrage was in danger, and right then and there he fan- 
 cied had come his opportunity to do a heroic act and make 
 himself "solid" in Fardale. So as the horse came tearing 
 down the street, he rushed out to stop it. 
 
 Harlow tried to catch the animal by the bit. He made 
 a spring at the creature's head, but was knocked down in a 
 twinkling. He was struck by the feet of the black horse, 
 the creature seeming frantic with fear or pain.
 
 130 The Mystery Solved. 
 
 On tore the horse, bearing the girl on its back, and Har- 
 low lay prone and motionless in the dust of the street. 
 
 Frank had mounted the white horse, and he thundered 
 down the road in pursuit of the runaway, carefully avoid- 
 ing Rolf. 
 
 The amazed and startled citizens ran out into the street 
 and watched the runaway and the pursuer till both passed 
 out of sight. 
 
 Harlow was picked up and carried into the hotel. The 
 doctor was at his side in a short time, and it was found 
 that two of his ribs had been broken. It was feared that 
 he had also sustained some internal injuries that might 
 prove fatal. 
 
 In the meantime Frank was doing his best to overtake 
 and stop the horse that was running away with Inza. He 
 was filled with admiration by the superb manner in which 
 the girl rode, but his heart quivered with fear at her 
 danger. 
 
 It was a furious race. Out of the village they went, 
 along the country roads they tore. 
 
 Frank could not see the face of the girl on the black 
 horse, but he knew it must be white with fear. He could 
 not understand why the animal seemed frantic with fear 
 or pain. 
 
 But he remembered how Inza had said that Friday was 
 her unlucky day, and his heart smote him. He blamed 
 himself for urging her to ride that day. Not once did the 
 generous fellow think of blaming her for insisting on 
 changing mounts. 
 
 At last it seemed that he was gaining on her. He was 
 near enough to call to her, and he told her to cling fast, 
 promising that he would save her. 
 
 All at once the black horse sheered from the roads and 
 took to the fields, heading straight toward the distant river. 
 Inza seemed quite unable to guide the animal.
 
 The Mystery Solved. 131 
 
 He called for her to rein the horse about, but the crea- 
 ture had the bit in its teeth, and would not respond. 
 
 Frantically Frank urged on the white horse, praying to 
 overtake Inza before the river was reached. 
 
 He could not do it. His heart sank as he saw the river 
 a short distance ahead. He realized that at that point there 
 were high banks and bluffs. He shuddered at the danger. 
 
 The black horse seemed blind with pain. Straight to- 
 ward one of the high bluffs he plunged straight over it he 
 went, carrying the girl with him. 
 
 And, in mad pursuit, Frank followed, riding the white 
 horse over the bluff. 
 
 As the white horse leaped, Frank caught a glimpse of 
 Inza and the black gelding in the river below. There was 
 a rush of air past his ears, a splash, and he was in the 
 river. 
 
 No longer did he cling to the white horse, but he let the 
 creature go, left it to its fate. He saw Inza's head come 
 above the surface of the water, and he made a plunge 
 for her. 
 
 He reached her, held her fast, sustained her, and fought 
 his way to the shore with her. Reaching a point where 
 the bank was sloping, he caught a bush, held fast, dragged 
 himself and Inza from the water, and found, when they 
 were safe, that neither of them were injured. 
 
 Wat Snell was furious when an old farmer brought 
 Frank and Inza back to town, and it was reported that 
 Merriwell had done a heroic act in saving the girl. 
 
 "Just his cursed luck !" grated Snell. "Everything turns 
 in his favor. I thought to injure him, and that drunken 
 fool of a hostler bungled the job." 
 
 Both horses were recovered, and Snell was shrewd 
 enough to unsaddle the black and remove the tack that 
 might have betrayed the plot. It was not known why the 
 horse acted so strangely the moment Inza was in the saddle.
 
 132 The Mystery Solved. 
 
 Harlow's injuries were severe, and it was feared they 
 might prove fatal. Frank felt sorry for the fellow, for 
 Harlow had seemed to do a brave act in trying to stop the 
 horse. 
 
 But, on the following morning, Hodge came bursting; 
 into Frank's room, wildly excited. 
 
 "What do you think?" he cried. "It's all out now! 
 We know who thumped you on the head, Merry !" 
 
 "Is that so?" asked Merry, with interest. "Who 
 did it?" 
 
 "Harlow !" 
 
 "Impossible !" 
 
 "It's a fact." 
 
 "How do you know ?" 
 
 "He gave it away." 
 
 "When?" 
 
 "Last night. He was out of his head, you know a little 
 daffy. He kept raving, and the watchers heard the whole 
 story. He told how he played billiards with you, how 
 he struck you, how he fled, how he jumped from the horse 
 almost before it was out of the village, and how he cut back 
 to the hotel, where he saw you when you were given a 
 room." 
 
 "By Jove ! that is wonderful ! Do you know, I sus- 
 pected the fellow, but it did not seem possible. Clair must 
 have met him and brought him to town. It is clear enough 
 now." 
 
 "Yes," said Hodge, grimly, "it is clear enough, and you 
 can jail him if he recovers." 
 
 "I shall not." 
 
 "What?" 
 
 "If he recovers, I shall not molest him. I think he has 
 received punishment enough. All I ask is that he will let 
 me alone in the future." 
 
 "He won't 1" said Hodge.
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 HANS KICKS A FOOTBALL. 
 
 "Hurro!" 
 
 "Lookout!" 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 "A wild man!" 
 
 "It's mesilf , b'ys ! Hurro !" 
 
 Through the underbrush came crashing an excited and 
 delighted-looking Irish lad. He burst like a whirlwind 
 into the little glade where three tents were pitched. 
 
 In the midst of the glade Ephraim Gallup was cooking 
 coffee on the coals of a smoldering fire. Frank, Bruce, 
 Bart and Hans had been sitting or lying about in posi- 
 tions of comfort and repose, while they watched the coffee- 
 making. 
 
 At the first wild shout that came from the thickest por- 
 tion of the woods they started up. As they caught a 
 glimpse of a human being that came furiously lunging 
 toward them, they leaped to their feet, with exclamations 
 of alarm. 
 
 Then into the glade came a youth whose clothing had 
 been torn by the thick underbrush, whose appearance was 
 one of general disorder, whose face glowed with delight, 
 and who wildly waved his cap and cheered till the woods 
 rang. 
 
 "It's Barney Barney Mulloy !" cried Frank. 
 
 "Roight, me darlint !" cried the new arrival, as he leaped, 
 forward and grasped Merry's hand, which he wrung with 
 savage delight. "It's mesilf, big as loife an' twoice as 
 nacheral! Begobs ! it's a soight fer sore oies ye are, 
 Frankie !"
 
 134 Hans Kicks a Football. 
 
 He danced and pranced as he clung to Frank's hand. 
 He cheered again. In many ways he showed his inex- 
 pressible pleasure. 
 
 "Look ad here, Irish," said Hans, waddling up to the 
 newcomer, "you act like I vos grazy. Vot vos der madder 
 mit me, ain'd id ?" 
 
 "Hillo, ye Dutch chaze!" shouted Barney Mulloy, for 
 the newcomer was, indeed, Frank Merriwell's Irish friend. 
 "Is this yersilf Oi see? Begorra, Oi'd know yez by th' 
 smell !" 
 
 "Vash is dot ?" gasped Hans, in astonished anger. "Vot 
 you meant to toldt me? Uf you don'd smell as goot as me, 
 you vos a liar S" 
 
 "Oh, it's nothing but chaze ye smill av, an' wan boight 
 av thot will perfume yer brith fer a wake. It's tickled Oi 
 am to see yez." 
 
 "Vale, I don'd know apoudt dot," said the Dutch lad, 
 resentfully, hesitating about accepting the proffered hand. 
 "You vos insulted py me alretty, und I don'd like dot." 
 
 "Is it an insult ye take it fer? To th' Quid B'y wid 
 yez!" 
 
 Then Barney shook hands with Bart, Bruce and Eph- 
 raim, seeming delighted to see them all. 
 
 "What made you come crashing through the bushes?" 
 asked Frank. "Why didn't you come by the path ?" 
 
 "Couldn't shtop, me b'y," answered Barney. "Oi saw 
 yer shmoke, an' Oi made a straight break fer it. Jack 
 troied to folly me, but he couldn't kapc up at all, at all." 
 
 "Jack? Who is Jack?" 
 
 "Jack Doiamond." 
 
 "What?" Frank almost shouted. "Jack here?" 
 
 "Sure, lad. We both came in on th' soame train. Here 
 is th' spalpane." 
 
 Out through the thick bushes another lad pushed Bis 
 way and entered the glade, a look of disgust on his hand-
 
 Hans Kicks a Football. 135 
 
 some face. He was carrying a football under his arm, and 
 this he flung at Barney the moment he appeared. 
 
 "Confound you ! take care of your old football 1" he 
 cried. "When you saw the smoke, you dropped the thing 
 and ran like a frightened rabbit. You'd lost it if it hadn't 
 been for me." 
 
 "Thank yez, Jack," grinned Barney, as he picked up the 
 ball. 
 
 "And it's a nice way you took to get here," Diamond 
 went on. "Why, I'm a total wreck from trying to follow 
 you through that jungle. How are you, Frank ! Howdy, 
 fellows !" 
 
 The Virginian shook hands with all of them, beginning 
 with Merry. His dark face cleared somewhat, but he had 
 not entirely recovered from his journey through the thick 
 brush. 
 
 As Jack shook hands with Hans, the Dutch boy said, in 
 a hoarse stage whisper : 
 
 "You had petter took dot Irish veller right avay queek. 
 I vos insulted mit him, und ven I vos insulted, you vos a 
 tangerous man. I don'd stood no insults vrom an Irish- 
 man vot haf a face dot looks exactly like a squash pie. I 
 vos allretty to caldt him oudt und shot him der lifer in." 
 
 At this Barney crowed like a rooster, ending with a 
 chuckling laugh. 
 
 "Shust you kept dot up!" muttered Hans. "I don'd 
 stood id more as zwei hundret years !" 
 
 "Well, Jack," said Frank, "you didn't let me know you 
 were coming to-day, or we'd been at the station to meet 
 you." 
 
 "I intended to give you a surprise," said Diamond ; "but 
 Barney ruined the effect I wanted to produce." 
 
 "Begorra! Oi forgot all about thot surproise we 
 planned to give th' b'ys," confessed the Irish lad.
 
 136 Hans Kicks a Football. 
 
 "But I thought you fellows were camping with the 
 cadets, Merry," said Diamond. 
 
 "We were," said Merry ; "but we decided to get out of 
 camp for certain reasons and have a camp of our own. 
 You see, it was not possible for us to take all of our friends 
 right into the cadet camp to stop. We came here to Wild- 
 flower Dell, which is not very far from the academy, and 
 this is to be a genuine Yale camp. Here we can do as we 
 like, and we will not be forced to conform to the rules and 
 regulations of the cadet camp. We can have as much 
 sport as we like, and be as free as the birds. What do you 
 think of that ?" 
 
 "I like it. I was sorry when I heard you had a tent in 
 the academy camp. Of course, we went there, where we 
 expected to find you. We inquired of a cadet, who said 
 you had been forced to leave the camp because of your 
 actions while there." 
 
 Frank flushed. 
 
 "Indeed!" he exclaimed. "This is quite interesting! 
 Who told you that ?" 
 
 "Don't know what his name was, but he wore chevrons." 
 
 "Describe him." 
 
 Diamond did so. 
 
 "Corp. Somers !" exclaimed Frank and Bart together. 
 
 "I thought it was that fellow !" growled Bart. "He told 
 you a lie, Jack ; we left the camp voluntarily. Lieut. Gor- 
 don, who has charge of the encampment, asked us to re- 
 main. This Somers has a grudge against Merry hates 
 him. You know how popular Merry is at college. Well, 
 he was just as popular here when he was a cadet, and he 
 has been popular since we came here for this visit. Somers 
 is jealous, and he has tried in different ways to injure 
 Frank." 
 
 "I heard in town that Merriwell was nearly killed by 
 an old enemy,"
 
 Hans Kicks a Football. 137 
 
 "I was given a pretty good rap on the head by our for- 
 mer friend, Rolf Harlow," smiled Frank. 
 
 "Rolf Harlow ?" Diamond almost shouted. "Why, that 
 fellow is he " 
 
 "Here yes." 
 
 "How does that happen?" 
 
 "Oh, he fell in with a local gambler and sharp who wa& 
 away on a tour, and the Fardale man brought him back 
 here. I beat him at a game of billiards " 
 
 "You did? I'm astonished that you should play with 
 him!" 
 
 "Didn't know him. He was brought in as an unknown, 
 and his face was hidden by a mask. When I beat him, he 
 let me have it over the head with the butt of a heavy cue, 
 and then made a run for it. He got away, but afterwards 
 he was hurt by a runaway horse, so that two of his ribs 
 were broken and he didn't know but he would die, so he 
 confessed that he struck me. He's in bed now, and won't 
 get out for some weeks to come, while I am all right, and 
 my head is practically well." 
 
 "It's no use for them to buck against you, Merriwell," 
 declared the Virginian. "When they do so, they get left. 
 Boys, I am glad to be here. I'll have my baggage brought 
 over from the station, and we'll enjoy life here." 
 
 "Hurro ! we will thot !" shouted Barney, dropping his 
 football and giving it a kick that sent it spinning into the 
 air and away into the bushes. "It's ixercoise Oi nadel 
 Thot's whoy Oi brought th' football. Hurro !" 
 
 "It's lucky you kicked it that way," said Hodge. "It 
 would have gone into the stream if you had kicked it the 
 other." 
 
 "You will lose it if you're not careful," said Frank. "It 
 may be you have lost it now." 
 
 "Oi reckon Oi can foind it," laughed the Irish lad, as he 
 plunged into the bushes.
 
 138 Hans Kicks a Football. 
 
 The campers talked a few moments, while Ephraim con- 
 tinued to look after the coffee and prepare for a meal. 
 Barney could be heard plunging about in the bushes and 
 grumbling. 
 
 "He don'd found dot footpall," said Hans. "I peen 
 goin' to found dot, und I vill hid it so he don'd stop hund- 
 ing righd avay alretty soon. Yaw." 
 
 Hans thought that would be a good joke, and so he 
 slipped into the bushes as quietly as possible to search for 
 the ball. The Dutch lad was too clumsy to be very still, 
 and it was not long before Barney espied him through the 
 brush. 
 
 "Pwhat are yez doin', ye Dutch chaze?" asked Barney. 
 
 "Oh, nottings," answered Hans, evasively. "You don'd 
 pelief you vos der only pird der pushes in, hey?" 
 
 "Well, don't yez be afther throyin' anny av yer funny 
 business on me, or ye'll be sorry fer thot, me b'y." 
 
 "You go fell on myself!" returned Hans, contemptu- 
 ously. "You vos a pig pag uf vind." 
 
 "Ye're another ! Don't ye be afther touchin' me football 
 av ye foind it." 
 
 "Vale, uf I found dot vootpalls, you pet me your life I 
 don'd done nottings to him ! Yaw !" 
 
 Hans was aroused. All at once, in the midst of the 
 bushes, he saw an oval oblong mass that brought a chuckle 
 of satisfaction from his lips. He started toward it. 
 
 Hans' sudden movement attracted Barney's attention. 
 Peering through the bushes, he saw the object toward 
 which Hans had started. 
 
 "Hey!" he cried. "Let thot football alone, ye Dutch 
 chaze!" 
 
 "Oh, you gone to plazes !" flung back Hans, springing 
 forward and giving a hard kick at the object, which was 
 hanging amid the bushes about three feet from the ground.
 
 Hans Kicks a Football. 139 
 
 To the Dutch boy's astonishment, he kicked one-half the 
 object away cleanly. 
 
 "Dunder und blitzens !" he gasped. "Vot kindt ud a 
 
 vootpalls vos Wow! Murterl Fire! I vos shot! 
 
 Hellup ! Ye-e-e-ow !" 
 
 Out from the "football" darted a lot of little humming 
 things. They saw Hans, and they flew at him. 
 
 He had kicked a hornet's nest !
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 A HOT TIME IN CAMP. 
 
 "Hellup! Fire! Turn der hose on ! Murterl Whoop! 
 Yow ! Gid avay ! Oh-oh !" 
 
 Wild howls of astonishment and pain burst from the 
 Dutch lad. He made a plunge through the bushes to es- 
 cape, but fell down and thrashed about furiously. The 
 angry hornets came out in a cloud. They charged on him. 
 
 "Safe me !" screamed Hans. "I vos killed alretty !" 
 
 He scrambled to his feet and tore through the bushes, 
 bursting out into the little glade where the tents were 
 pitched. He was striking right and left, and acting like 
 a person suddenly gone crazy. 
 
 At first the boys could not understand what had hap- 
 pened, but, as Hans went tearing across the glade with the 
 wild springs of a frightened hare, they saw the cloud of 
 tiny objects following after him. 
 
 Some of the hornets espied the other boys and flew at 
 them, so they were forced to retreat precipitately into the 
 tents. 
 
 Hans fell down, rolled over, roared, screamed, sprang 
 up, shot out of the glade, plunged toward the brook and 
 hurled himself into the water with a despairing wail. 
 
 Peering from the tents, the boys saw him make frantic 
 haste to get his head under the water, which he kicked up 
 about him in a cloud. The brook was shallow, but Hans 
 was able to get part of his person beneath the surface, and 
 the splashing water soon drove off the hornets. 
 
 "Waal, gol darned if that don't remind me of old times 
 on the farm !" laughed Ephraim Gallup. "I've skedaddled
 
 A Hot Time in Camp. 141 
 
 more'n once with a hull nest of white-tail hornets tearin' 
 along arter me." 
 
 "Look at Hans !" said Hodge. "He's holding his head 
 under now. Didn't suppose he could hold his breath so 
 long." 
 
 "He doesn't seem to be kicking so hard," observed 
 Bruce. "He's almost stopped." 
 
 "Boys," shouted Frank, "he's drowning !" 
 
 Out of the tent he leaped and away he dashed to the 
 brook. He clutched the Dutch lad by the back of his coat 
 and dragged him out of the water. The unfortunate fel- 
 low was gasping and strangling, plainly nearly drowned, 
 but he made a frantic attempt to crawl back into the water. 
 
 "Stop it !" cried Frank. "The hornets are gone !" 
 
 "Hey?" gurgled Hans. 
 
 "They're gone. You're all right now." 
 
 "Oh, yaw, I peen all right now !" snorted Hans, blowing 
 water from his mouth and nose. "I vos stinged py more 
 as ninedeen hundret und sefendeen blaces! Oh, yaw. I 
 vus all righd! Who vos I laughin' ad?" he snarled glar- 
 ing at Ephraim, who could not repress his chuckles. 
 "Maype you seen a shoke somevere, don'd id ? You don'd 
 knew so much as I did vourteen years ago! You vos a 
 plooming idiot ! Dot's vot's der madder mit me !" 
 
 Hans was a sight. His face and hands were beginning 
 to swell, and it was plain that the hornets had been merci- 
 less in their attack upon him. 
 
 "How in thunder did it happen?" asked Ephraim, by 
 way of quieting the wrath of the Dutch lad. 
 
 The question was a mistake, as the Vermonter quickly 
 discovered. 
 
 "Dot feetpall done id!" roared Hans. "Uf id hadn't 
 peen vor dot feetpall I vould peen all righd ! Vere vos dot 
 Parney Mulloy? I vant to seen heem und haf refenge 
 pefore I vos dead. Shown me to dot Parney Mulloys I"
 
 142 A Hot Time in Camp. 
 
 Barney came out of the woods, with the football under 
 his arm. 
 
 "Bergorra 1 Oi've got it," he cried. 
 
 "Yaw !" snorted Hans, sitting up and struggling to his 
 feet. "So haf I ! I haf id in more as sefendeen hundret 
 blaces ! Oxcuse me vile you preak my neck !" 
 
 Then he ran at Barney as fiercely as he could in his 
 water-soaked and exhausted condition. Barney simply 
 stepped aside and let the raging Dutch lad pass. Hans 
 was not able to stop, although he made a desperate attempt 
 to do so and turn round. He caught one of his toes behind 
 the heel of his other foot, and seemed to bound into the 
 air as he tripped himself up. 
 
 Hans struck fairly in the midst of the ashes and coals of 
 the smoldering camp fire. Brands, ashes, cinders, coals, 
 coffeepot and coffee flew in all directions. 
 
 Over and over the Dutch lad rolled. When he finally 
 stopped and sat up, he was a spectacle. Ashes and cin- 
 ders covered his face, hands and clothing. He was so wet 
 that everything he had touched clung to him. 
 
 Poor Hans ! For all of his misfortunes, it was not 
 strange that his companions fairly screamed with laughter. 
 Hodge and Jack Diamond, who seldom laughed at any- 
 thing, were forced to laugh at this. Frank clung to his 
 sides ; Ephraim pressed his hands to his stomach, doubled 
 up and bellowed with laughter; Bruce dropped down 
 limply, haw-hawing; and Barney Mulloy went into con- 
 vulsions. 
 
 Hans sat still and rubbed some of the dirt and ashes out 
 of his eyes. That is, he sat still for some moments, and 
 then, as some live coals burned through the seat of his 
 trousers, despite their wetness, he gave a squeal and shot 
 up into the air as if fired from a spring-gun, clutching 
 wildly at the place where the coals had done their work, 
 and yelling:
 
 A Hot Time in Camp. 145 
 
 "More hornets ! Took um avay ! Wow-wow 1" 
 
 As soon as his feet touched the ground, he nearly twisted 
 himself out of shape trying to look beneath his coat-tails. 
 
 Ephraim Gallup collapsed. 
 
 "Haw ! haw ! haw !" he bellowed. "B'gosh ! this is too 
 much ! I wish I was to hum on the farm ! I can't stan' 
 this ! Haw ! haw ! haw ! It makes me sore all over to larf 
 in this way ! I won't git over this for a week ! Haw ! 
 haw ! haw t" 
 
 "Oh, yaw !" snorted Hans ! "dees peen der funniest 
 thing you nefer seen 1 You vos a plamed idiot ! You keep 
 avay mein funerals vrom ! Uf you come to dot, I vill ged 
 der coffin oudt und smash you in der nose !" 
 
 Restraining his merriment with difficulty, Frank ap- 
 proached the unfortunate lad, saying: 
 
 "Come, Hans, you must get these clothes off and wash 
 up, so we can see how badly you are stung." 
 
 "Keeb avay und led me alone !" squawked Hans. "I 
 peen goin' to die shust as I vos, und I don'd need no more 
 hellup apoud dot 1" 
 
 Then he lay down on the ground and groaned. 
 
 Directed by Frank, the boys removed Hans' clothing 
 and washed the dirt and ashes off him. They found he 
 was stung severely about the face and neck. 
 
 "What have we for that?" asked Merry. "Something 
 ought to be done right away to take the poison out, and 
 the village is too far away to go there to the drug store. 
 Is there any tobacco in the crowd ?" 
 
 "Faith, Oi have some shmokin' tobaccy," answered Bar- 
 ney. "It's a poipe Oi shmoke whin Oi shmoke at all, 
 at all." 
 
 "That will do, but it must be chewed in the mouth to fit 
 it for application to these swellings. Who will volunteer 
 to the sacrifice ?"
 
 144 A Hot Time in Camp. 
 
 "Gosh ! I'd do it," said Ephraim, "but it makes me so 
 sick I can't see when I put the stuff into my maouth." 
 
 "It must be done right away to stop the pain of these 
 stings," said Merry, sharply." 
 
 "Vill id stob dot pain?" asked Haas, weakly, between 
 his groans. 
 
 "It will as soon as it draws the poison out." 
 
 "Vere vos der tobacco? I peen goin' to done der chaw- 
 ing meinseluf . Gif id to me !" 
 
 And so, wrapped in a blanket, the Dutch boy did the 
 chewing, and the tobacco was applied and bound onto the 
 swelling as well as possible, as fast as it was prepared. 
 
 After a while Hans stopped chewing and began to groan 
 worse than before. 
 
 "Oh, say!" he gasped, "I peen seasick! Id don'd make 
 a bit of tifferences how I die now 1" 
 
 Poor Hans !
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 IMPS OF THE FOREST. 
 
 "Many years have passed since I strolled by the river, 
 
 Arm in arm, with sweetheart Mary by my side, 
 It was there I tried to tell her that I loved her, 
 
 It was there I begged of her to be my bride. 
 Long years have passed since I strolled through the churchyard, 
 
 She is sleeping there, my angel Mary dear, 
 I loved her, but she thought I didn't mean it, 
 
 Still I'd gire my future were she only here. 
 
 "Oh, the moonlight's fair to-night along the Wabash! 
 
 From the fields there comes the breath of new-mown hay, 
 Through the sycamores the candle lights are gleaming, 
 On the banks of the Wabash, far away." 
 
 It was evening, and a glorious moon was flooding Wild- 
 flower Dell with light. The perfume of roses and the 
 sweet scent of the summer woods filled the air. The little 
 brook purled along its bed, glinting like changing silver in 
 the white light. 
 
 Frank was singing a popular song, and his musical voice 
 was so full of tenderness and feeling that the eyes of more 
 than one of his companions became misty. There was one 
 who knew of whom he was thinking at that moment. To 
 Hodge, Frank had confessed that he longed to see Elsie 
 Bellwood again. Where she was he knew not. Capt. 
 Bellwood had taken her away to sea with him, and it was 
 possible she might never come back. 
 
 Merry accompanied himself on the guitar, which he 
 played expertly. Finishing the song, he let his fingers 
 wander over the strings, bringing forth soft, sad music. 
 
 There was a sob behind him, and he looked around at a 
 figure stretched on some blankets.
 
 146 Imps of the Forest. 
 
 "What is the matter, Hans?" he asked. 
 
 "Oh, nottink, only I vas vishing I hat peen on der panks 
 of dot Vawbash far avay pefore I efer seen dot feetpall." 
 
 This answer seemed to break the sad spell that had fallen 
 on the boys, and they laughed. 
 
 Frank put aside the guitar, saying : 
 
 "I am getting into the dumps. Wish something would 
 turn up." 
 
 From a distance came a peculiar whistle that trilled 
 through the woods. 
 
 "It's Davis!" exclaimed Merry, with satisfaction. 
 "Perhaps something is going to turn up." 
 
 Then he answered the signal. 
 
 A short time later a lad in the uniform of a cadet came 
 into the glade. 
 
 "Hello, fellows I" he cheerfully called. "All up at this 
 hour? Why, it's late." 
 
 "We haven't been back from the village long," explained 
 Frank, "and we didn't feel like turning in right away, as 
 it is such a glorious night." 
 
 "It's altogether too glorious!" burst from the cadet. 
 ""Confound that moon ! I'd like to hang something over it ! 
 I heard the singing, and I knew it was your voice, Mr. 
 Merriwell. I haven't forgotten the sound of that voice 
 since the days when I was your fag." 
 
 "You were my fag once on a time, weren't you?" 
 laughed Frank. "I believe I took you away from Bas- 
 comb, the bully." 
 
 "-For which I was sincerely thankful. I was rather soft 
 in those days, and Bascomb nearly frightened me to death." 
 
 "And I nearly frightened him to death. In fact, I be- 
 lieve he would have drowned himself if you hadn't proved 
 your heroism by pulling him out of the river at the risk 
 of your own life."
 
 Imps of the Forest. 147 
 
 "The only Bascomb we have in school now is Somers," 
 said Davis. "He tries to make everybody bow down at his 
 feet, but he can't force all of us to do it. We are going 
 to give one of his friends a warm little time this evening." 
 
 "Who is going to do so ?" 
 
 "The Jolly Dogs of Fardale. I believe you belonged to 
 the order when you were in the academy." 
 
 "I should say so!" exclaimed Frank. "Many are the 
 rackets we have had in the old boathouse." 
 
 "There will be a little racket there to-night. Will you 
 come along with your friends? I have been sent here to 
 invite you." 
 
 "Will I !" cried Frank, in delight. "I should guess yes 1" 
 
 "And the others?" 
 
 "Who wants to go?" asked Merry. 
 
 "Oxcuse me," came from Hans. "I don'd peen in gon- 
 dition to done dot. I vould peen delighted, vor I remem- 
 ber der dime I sunged 'Bui For Der Shore' dot poathouse 
 in. Dot peen a varm efenin', or you vos a liar. I vill staid 
 here und took care der camp of." 
 
 All the rest of the boys expressed a willingness to ac- 
 company Davis. 
 
 "I think we'll be able to provide disguises for you all," 
 said Fred. "We have a secret place for stowing away our 
 rigs and implements. We have lots more stuff than we 
 used to own." 
 
 "But I don't see how you can get out of camp such a 
 night as this," said Hodge. 
 
 "Oh, it happens that the right men are on guard duty," 
 laughed Davis. "Everything will be dead quiet in camp 
 to-night, so there is very little danger of tent inspection." 
 
 "But you are taking many chances." 
 
 "That's all right. There are enough of us in this, SO
 
 148 Imps of the Forest. 
 
 the faculty will not dare turn anybody out if we are de- 
 tected. The Jolly Dogs have some power in the academy." 
 
 "Does Somers belong to the Jolly Dogs ?" asked Frank. 
 
 "I should say not! Why, that fellow actually got 
 through his plebe year without being hazed. How such a 
 chap could do that is a wonder to everybody now, but he 
 did. Not being hazed by the Dogs, of course he could not 
 be initiated. He knows there is such an organization, but 
 he has said that he was against it. Now that a friend of 
 his from his town, a fellow by the name of Beebe Ross, has 
 entered the academy, Somers has given out that he will 
 break up the Jolly Dogs if they haze Ross. For that rea- 
 son we are going to haze Ross. If Mr. Somers tries to 
 break us up, he'll discover he has undertaken a big job." 
 
 "Well, we are ready to go," said Frank. 
 
 "It isn't any use to hurry," explained Davis. "I was 
 sent out to invite you, while the boys are getting ready. 
 They'll have to slip out of camp one at a time, and it will 
 take an hour for them to get outside. Let's have some 
 music and singing before we start." 
 
 Of course, the boys were willing and ready to do any- 
 thing to entertain and please Davis. Merriwell tuned up 
 the guitar again, and sang a rollicking college song, in 
 which all joined, except Davis and Dunnerwust. 
 
 Davis applauded. 
 
 "That's fine !" he cried. "Give us another, boys !" 
 
 So they sang another, and yet another. The time 
 slipped away faster than they dreamed. 
 
 "What was that song you were singing as I approached 
 the camp ?" asked Fred of Merry. "Away in the woods I 
 thought it the most beautiful thing I ever heard." 
 
 "It is a beautiful song," said Frank. "The title is, 'On 
 the Banks of the Wabash.' " 
 
 "The Wabash !" exclaimed Davis. "A beautiful river !
 
 Imps of the Forest. 149 
 
 I am from Indiana, you know, and my home is not far 
 from the Wabash. I have seen it a hundred times. Sing 
 the song, Mr. Merriwell I" 
 So Frank sang : 
 
 "Round my Indiana homestead wave the cornfields, 
 
 In the distance loom the woodlands clear and cool, 
 Oftentimes my thoughts revert to scenes of childhood, 
 
 Where I first received my lessons nature's school; 
 But one thing is missing in the picture, 
 
 Without her face it seems so incomplete, 
 I long to see my mother in the doorway, 
 
 As she stood years ago her boy to greet. 
 
 "Oh, the moonlight's fair to-night along the Wabash ! 
 
 From the fields there comes the breath of new-mown hay, 
 Through the sycamores the candle lights are gleaming, 
 On the banks of the Wabash, far away." 
 
 Davis was affected to tears, for the song brought him 
 thoughts of his mother at home. He was her only boy, 
 and it was with untold misgivings she had permitted him 
 to leave her side to attend school. 
 
 When the song was finished the boys sat there in silence, 
 some of them gazing up at the white face of the moon, 
 some staring down at the ground. 
 
 The echoes died out in the woods, from which came the 
 soft perfume of the summer night. The wold rises in the 
 Dell seemed motionless and listening. The insects of the 
 forest were silent. A great hush was over all. 
 
 Suddenly there was a slight rustling sound. It was a 
 breath in the treetops. The leaves seemed whispering to 
 each other as if telling some strange secret. 
 
 There was a rustling not of the leaves. First it came 
 from one side of the Dell and then from another ; then it 
 was heard on every side. 
 
 Out from the dark shadows beneath the trees glided an 
 uncanny figure. At first it looked like a huge goat walk-
 
 i$o Imps of the Forest. 
 
 ing on its hind legs. It had a flute made of reeds, but it 
 did net play. There were horns on its head. 
 
 Frank Merriwell rubbed his eyes and stared. 
 
 "Ye gods !" he gasped. "What is this ?" 
 
 "It's Pan himself!" whispered Diamond. "You have 
 called him from the forest by your playing and singing." 
 
 But Pan was not alone. With almost noiseless tread, 
 other fantastic figures glided into the glade. There were 
 gnomes, monsters, imps and all sorts of queer creatures. 
 Most prominent among them was Mephistopheles, in flam- 
 ing scarlet, carrying a huge barbed fork. 
 
 "Jeeroosalum !" gurgled Ephraim Gallup. "It's the Old 
 Nick hisself , and all his imps !" 
 
 "Sure as fate!" grunted Bruce Browning, trying to 
 cover the fact that he was startled. "We are taken !" 
 
 The fiend in scarlet waved his hand, and then, with a 
 wild shout, all the imps rushed forward and surrounded 
 Frank Merriwell and his friends.
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 OUT FOR SPORT. 
 
 "Oxcuse me !" gasped Hans Dunnerwust. "I vasn't ad 
 home!" 
 
 Then he hastily pulled a blanket over his head. 
 
 The imps of the forest stopped in a circle and each one 
 pointed at Merriwell or one of his friends. In a hoarse, 
 croaking chorus, they cried : 
 
 "We have come for you !" 
 
 "Jest tell them that you saw me, and express my re- 
 grets," gurgled Ephraim Gallup. "Gol darned if I don't 
 wish I was to hum on the farm \" 
 
 Frank was on his feet. He made a profound bow. 
 
 "As long as you have come, you may as well make your- 
 selves at home," he said. 
 
 "Mr. Merriwell and gentlemen of the Yale camp," said 
 Fred Davis, "these are the Jolly Dogs of Fardale." 
 
 "Hey ?" exclaimed Gallup, in astonishment. "You don't 
 
 mean to say that Why, gol darn it ! so they be ! Ha ! 
 
 haw ! Really gave me a jump at fust ! Ha ! haw !" 
 
 Hans poked his head out from beneath the blanket, in- 
 quiring in a stage whisper : 
 
 "Vos they disappeared alretty yet ?" 
 
 When he saw they had not, he ducked back again in a 
 hurry. 
 
 Frank made a peculiar sign, saying a strange word, 
 whereupon the imps all crossed their arms on the breast 
 and bowed low, saying in chorus : 
 
 "We greet you, brother." 
 
 Hodge sprang to his feet, made the same sign, and re- 
 peated the word. 
 
 "We greet you, brother," bowed the imps.
 
 152 Out for Sport. 
 
 "Darn my turnips ef I ain't in this !" cried Ephraim. "I 
 was run through the mill when I went to the academy." 
 
 Then he gave the sign, said the word, and was saluted. 
 
 "Oxcuse me," said Hans, again poking his head from be- 
 neath the blanket. "I misundertook yourselufs vor some- 
 pody elses. I don'd peen britty veil." 
 
 "We are outsiders," said Diamond, as he and Browning 
 stood up ; "but we have heard of the Jolly Dogs, and it is 
 a delight to meet you, although you did give us a start by 
 the manner of your appearance." 
 
 "Ha ! ha ! ha 1" laughed the strange band, in a sharp and 
 sudden chorus, so sharp and so sudden that Jack started 
 despite himself. 
 
 "Gentlemen," said Davis, "this is the Royal Fiend. The 
 Jolly Dogs do his bidding." 
 
 Mephisto bowed low, then motioned to his followers, 
 who joined hands and executed a wild dance about the 
 Dell, with Merry and his friends in the center of the ring. 
 
 It was a grotesque spectacle that the moonlight re- 
 vealed. It really seemed that the imps of the forest had 
 surrounded and made captives of the campers. 
 
 All at once they began to sing : 
 
 "We are the Jolly Dogs the Jolly Dogs, 
 
 Jolly, jolly, jolly! 
 We are a band of imps a band of imps, 
 
 Jolly, jolly, jolly! 
 With us Old Folly jogs Old Folly jogs, 
 
 Folly, folly, folly! 
 But Folly never limps he neTer limps. 
 
 "So sing we all right merrily, 
 
 We're gay and free gay and free; 
 We greet our friends so cheerily, 
 As you can see you can see." 
 
 The finish of the dance was wilder and more grotesque 
 than its beginning. The rompers went into all sorts of
 
 Out for Sport. 153 
 
 contortions, cutting strange figures in the air with their 
 feet and hands, bending backward, sideways, leaping into 
 the air, pounding the ground with their feet, ending by 
 breaking and turning handsprings, cartwheels and somer- 
 saults. 
 
 Then, at a cry from the Royal Fiend, they came up all 
 standing and attentive. 
 
 "Bravo !" cried Frank Merriwell, clapping his hands. 
 
 The others who had witnessed this strange spectacle ap- 
 plauded. Frank turned to say something to Fred Davis, 
 but, to his surprise, found Fred had disappeared. 
 
 "You are now at our mercy," said the Royal Fiend, 
 with a flourish of his fork and a jab at Ephraim, who 
 dodged and uttered a gasp of alarm. "We can feed you to 
 the demons of darkness, or we can spare you. If one of 
 you is tired of life, let him speak the word and he shall be 
 frozen to death over a cold fire." 
 
 No one spoke. 
 
 "That is good," said the Fiend, in deep tones, which 
 plainly were assumed. "If you are prepared to witness and 
 enjoy the horrible spectacle of a human being in the throes 
 of dissolution or some other old thing, all you have to do is 
 say so." 
 
 "So 1" cried Frank Merriwell, quickly. The others took 
 their cue from him and said, "So." 
 
 "It is well," bowed the Royal Fiend. "But you must 
 swear never to reveal what you behold this night you 
 must swear it on penalty of having every hair on your head 
 driven in out of sight with a ten-pound hammer made of 
 swans'-down. Do you swear?" 
 
 "We swear," said Frank, and the others repeated. 
 
 "Ha ! ha !" laughed the Fiend. 
 
 "Ho ! ho !" laughed the imps. 
 
 "Prepare to follow," commanded the leader of the Jolly 
 Dogs.
 
 154 Out for Sport. 
 
 Through the woods the boys from the Yale camp were 
 escorted by the hilarious, dancing imps. They came out 
 and crossed the field, and Frank knew from the course they 
 were taking that they were on their way to the old boat- 
 house where so many hazings had taken place. 
 
 They reached the main road that led down to the acad- 
 emy. At a distance, amid the tall trees, the buildings 
 could be seen, and out on the open plain, distinctly shown 
 by the clear moonlight, were the white tents of the en- 
 camped cadets. 
 
 As the night roisterers reached the highway and paused 
 to look down upon the camp, they distinctly heard the cry 
 repeated from sentry to sentry: 
 
 "Twelve o'clock, and all is well." 
 
 It went the rounds of the camp. 
 
 "Ha ! ha !" laughed the Royal Fiend, in derision. 
 
 "Ho ! ho !" laughed his followers, in soft mockery. 
 
 "It seems like old times, b'gosh!" muttered Ephraini 
 Gallup, in Frank's ear. 
 
 "That's what !" nodded Merry. "I've had the greatest 
 sport of my life here, and now " 
 
 "Times seem to be ruther lively sence yeou struck here 
 this time," grinned the boy from Vermont. 
 
 "Yes, rather lively," admitted Merry. 
 
 They slipped across the road and struck into the fields 
 beyond. 
 
 Little did they dream that they were watched I Little 
 did they suspect what eyes were on them ! 
 
 Behind some rocks near the road, lying flat on the 
 ground, were two lads who had at one time been cadets at 
 the academy. 
 
 They were Rupert Reynolds and Wat Snell. 
 
 When the last of the Jolly Dogs and the lads from the 
 Yale camp had entered the field beyond the road, Reynolds 
 ventured to lift his head and gasp:
 
 Out for Sport. 155 
 
 "Well, hang me !" 
 
 "Didn't I tell you something was up !" hissed Snell, tri- 
 umphantly. "I haven't been playing the spy these last 
 two days for nothing. I knew the cadets had a racket on 
 for to-night." 
 
 "You beat all in finding out about other folks' business," 
 admitted Reynolds. "Your eyes and ears seem to see and 
 hear everything that's not intended for them." 
 
 "Oh, I find out a few things," said Snell, proudly. "I'm 
 rather rapid in that line. Did you see who was with those 
 chaps in disguise?" 
 
 "Sure." 
 
 "Merriwell and his gang." 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "They were not prisoners, either." 
 
 "Of course not. Merriwell belonged to the Dogs when 
 he was here at the academy." 
 
 "They are going to the boathouse." 
 
 "Right. They are bent on a high old time. Now, look 
 here ! I've got an idea ! I believe they are going to haze 
 somebody, and, if that is the case, I know who that some- 
 body is." 
 
 "Couldn't haze anybody to-night. Couldn't get a fellow 
 out of camp." 
 
 "How did they get out of camp themselves ? The moon 
 was up at nine, and they must have left after taps. It's 
 plain enough the sentinels closed their eyes. If those fel- 
 lows were determined to haze a chap they would get him 
 out of camp if they were forced to chloroform him and 
 carry him out while he was senseless. That is, they would 
 do it if they are anything like the Jolly Dogs of the old 
 days." 
 
 "I believe you belonged to them once," said Snell. 
 
 "I did."
 
 156 Out for Sport. 
 
 "But they turned you out, didn't they?" asked Wat, with 
 a chuckle. 
 
 "It was all a mistake," declared Rupert. "They thought 
 I blowed on them, and so I was dropped." 
 
 "Of course you were innocent?" 
 
 "Of course, and I have hated the Jolly Dogs of Fardale 
 ever since. The sight of them just now made my blood 
 boil, although there may not be one of the old members 
 belonging. Merriwell and his gang are with them, just 
 the same, and that is enough." 
 
 "You do not like Frank Merriwell any more than I do, 
 it seems." 
 
 "Say, Snell, I hate that fellow I can't tell how I hate 
 him. I'm no angel, I admit that, but it seems that Merri- 
 well has been the cause of showing up my worst side to the 
 public generally. I don't suppose I am any worse than 
 two-thirds of the fellows who go to school down there, but 
 when I was a cadet, every time I did a thing that was not 
 exactly according to the rules and requirements of the 
 academy it was Merriwell who exposed me. I hated him 
 then ; but, since coming to Fardale this time, I have learned 
 to hate him ten times as much. He has humiliated me in 
 such a manner that I have thought I could kill him with 
 satisfaction. But I don't want to kill him ; I want to hum- 
 ble him in the dust as he has humbled me! And I 
 will, too!" 
 
 "That's the stuff !" nodded Wat, well satisfied. "I don't 
 like that chap any more than you do. He has done several 
 things to me. But what I can't understand is why every 
 time I aim a blow at him it seems to rebound and strike me 
 in some way." 
 
 "You have a much better opportunity now to do him a 
 dirty turn." 
 
 "In what way ?"
 
 Out for Sport. 157 
 
 "A short time ago I told you I believed I knew the chap 
 the Jolly Dogs are going to haze. You remember it ?" 
 
 "Yes. What fellow did you mean ?" 
 
 "A fellow by the name of Ross. A plebe, but a friend 
 of Somers." 
 
 "WhoisSomers?" 
 
 "He's a cadet-corporal, and he doesn't like Merriwell. 
 He was popular before Merriwell showed up, but he is 
 tired of the manner in which the cadets hang round Merri- 
 well whenever the fellow appears at the academy. All he 
 is waiting for is an opportunity to get in on Merriwell." 
 
 "Well." 
 
 "He will give a load of rhino to catch Merriwell and his 
 gang with the Jolly Dogs who were hazing a plebe. It 
 would be a crusher for Merriwell, as he would be debarred 
 from the academy and the grounds." 
 
 "That's right." 
 
 "Then all we have to do is to find a way to let Cadet 
 Corp. Somers know what is going on. We must get word 
 directly to him." 
 
 "How can it be done?" 
 
 Snell was not very resourceful. 
 
 "A fake telegram is just the thing. It will go! I have 
 some blanks and envelopes in my pocket. Swiped them 
 from the office here. Always carry a fountain pen. We'll 
 have to find a place to write. You burn matches, while ^ 
 write a message to Somers. Then we will take it down to 
 the camp and swear it is a matter of life and death, so it 
 will be delivered to him at once. Great scheme !" 
 
 "Great scheme !" echoed Snell, delightedly. 
 
 They proceeded to carry it out.
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 THE END OF A HAZING* 
 
 "Let us all unite in love, 
 While Old Gunn's asleep above; 
 Let us all unite in love, 
 And give these plebes a gentle shove. 
 
 *'In the neck, in the neck they will get it, 
 In the neck, in the neck, where it fits; 
 If you laugh when they squeal, you will hit it, 
 For they'll get it in the neck, where it fits." 
 
 It was the old hazing song of the Jolly Dogs, and it made 
 the boathouse ring. The entire band, including Frank 
 and his friends, now in disguise like the others, was gath- 
 ered there. 
 
 The interior of the boathouse had been altered somewhat 
 since Merriwell's days at the academy. Improvements 
 had been made, among which was the enlargement of the 
 fireplace, so that it was now a huge affair, with a grate 
 over which a man might be held without difficulty. 
 
 It seemed that the cadets were filled with joy at the op- 
 portunity to throw off the restrictions of their life at the 
 school and hilarious with the satisfaction of being able to 
 do exactly as they pleased. They continued to perform all 
 sorts of wild capers. 
 
 In a small, dark closet of the boathouse the three plebes 
 to be hazed were confined. They could hear the wild 
 chorus of the Jolly Dogs, and it was quite certain they 
 trembled in anticipation of what they must go through. 
 
 Near the walls of the room containing the fireplace ran 
 a single line of benches. As yet no fire had been built.
 
 The End of a Hazing. 159 
 
 The room was lighted by small electric lights, causing 
 Frank to wonder how the current was supplied. 
 
 After the song, the Royal Fiend in scarlet stepped out 
 into the middle of the room, lifted his hand, and instantly 
 all were silent, as if suddenly stricken dumb. The sudden 
 change from the riotous tumult of a moment before to such 
 silence was more startling than a heavy clap of thunder 
 could have been. 
 
 Not a word did the scarlet leader say, but he gave his 
 long arms a sweep and pointed to the benches. 
 
 Immediately the disguised hazers began to retreat to the 
 benches and sit down. Frank and his friends did the same. 
 
 When all were seated, they produced a strange and un- 
 canny spectacle. Of a sudden, they looked like anything 
 but a jolly band. Even a clown among them seems ghostly 
 and repulsive. 
 
 The Royal Fiend seemed satisfied. 
 
 "The hour of doom has arrived," he said, in the same 
 deep tones which Frank knew must be assumed. "The 
 lambs shall be led forth to the slaughter." 
 
 Again he lifted his hands, and at the sign two assistants, 
 dressed just alike, wearing half-masks and high, pointed 
 caps, with long ears like those of a donkey, came forward 
 and stood on either side of the leader. 
 
 Then the Fiend spoke again : 
 
 "Let the Power of Darkness descend." 
 
 Immediately there was a strange humming sound that 
 seemed to come from overhead, and the lights grew dim. 
 Dimmer and dimmer became the lights, while the hum- 
 ming, which seemed like something rushing through the 
 air, continued. The Royal Fiend and his assistants re- 
 mained motionless as darkness closed about them. At 
 length it was entirely dark, and the humming ceased. 
 
 Hodge was at Merriwell's side.
 
 160 The End of a Hazing. 
 
 "Know what that humming was, old man ?" he asked, in 
 a whisper. 
 
 "Yes," answered Merry. "It was the dimmer used on 
 the lights to cause them to go out slowly." 
 
 "Silence !" 
 
 The voice of the Royal Fiend came through the dark- 
 ness. 
 
 "Bring forth the first victim !" 
 
 There was a sound of soft footfalls, the squeak of a 
 swinging door, a sudden cry, and then it was plain that a 
 person was dragged into the room. 
 
 "Ouch! Don't! You hurt!" 
 
 An unsteady voice uttered the words. Evidently the 
 nerves of the victim were rather unsteady. 
 
 All at once, through the room rang a shriek so wild and 
 uncanny that it was quite enough to cause the hair to rise 
 on anybody's head. There was an unearthly sound 
 about it. 
 
 Then came the voice of the Royal Fiend ! 
 
 "Wretched plebe, behold the last victim the last wretch 
 who stood in your place !" 
 
 Again the shriek, and then there was a rattling sound as 
 of bones, followed by a sudden glow of light that advanced 
 across the room. In the midst of that light a human skele- 
 ton seemed to stalk, the bones rattling at every step. 
 
 The light was sufficient to show the plebe, still held by 
 the Fiend's assistants, and shaking like one with the ague. 
 
 Near Frank Merriwell, Ephraim Gallup's teeth began to 
 chatter. 
 
 "Gug-gug-gol darned ef I don't wish I was to hum on 
 the fuf-fuf-fuf-farm !" he breathed. 
 
 The plebe cowered as the skeleton came nearer. All at 
 once the skeleton lifted one hand and pointed a finger at 
 the plebe. A hollow voice seemed to issue from those flesh- 
 less jaws :
 
 The End of a Hazing. 161 
 
 "As I am, so ye shall be!" 
 
 Click ! the ghostly thing vanished, and the room was 
 again plunged in darkness. 
 
 "That trick was well done," thought Frank. 
 
 He was not given much time to wonder how it was done. 
 There was a sudden hiss in the air and another glare of 
 light. 
 
 Down through the air came a squirming serpent of fire, 
 apparently with its eyes fastened on the helpless plebe. 
 The plebe cowered and gasped. With another hiss the 
 serpent shot at him, wound itself about his body, and 
 seemed to twitch him up into the air, so that he was lifted 
 five feet above the floor and swung there. 
 
 The plebe gave a howl of fear and tore at the fiery thing. 
 He succeeded in tearing it off, and it disappeared in a mo- 
 ment, but he still remained suspended in the darkness, 
 swinging to and fro. 
 
 In fact, it was not the fiery serpent that had snatched him 
 up. A belt had been fastened about his waist, and into that 
 belt a hook of iron was attached, so that the plebe had been 
 lifted by the aid of a pulley and tackle. 
 
 "Darn my skin 1" gasped Ephraim Gallup. "They never 
 used to do such things as this when I was here ! Skiller- 
 tons and snakes of fire and them things is pritty hot stuff !" 
 
 "Silence!" came the hoarse voice of the Royal Fiend. 
 "The wretched plebe is now suspended above the bottom- 
 less pit. If the thread that holds him should break, he'd 
 never stop falling." 
 
 Snap ! the rope parted. 
 
 There was a shriek as the plebe shot downward. Then 
 followed a splash, as if he had struck in water. 
 
 All at once the lights came on with their full glare. 
 
 It was seen that a great trapdoor in the floor had been 
 lifted up, so that when the suspended plebe fell, he dropped 
 directly into a tank of icy water.
 
 1 62 The End of a Hazing. 
 
 With a boat hook the assistants of the Royal Fiend 
 dragged the plebe from the tank. When they pulled him 
 out and closed the door, the poor fellow looked like a 
 drowned rat. He was limp and almost senseless. 
 
 Then the Jolly Dogs gathered about him, teasing and 
 pestering him in various ways. 
 
 "Are you cold ?" snarled the Royal Fiend, glaring at the 
 unhappy victim. 
 
 "Y-y-y-yes," stammered the poor chap, his teeth chat- 
 tering, "awful cuc-cuc-cold !" 
 
 "Start the fire !" roared the Scarlet One. "We'll have to 
 warm him up. Can't anybody be cold around where we 
 are. Start up the fire !" 
 
 There was something about this order that made the 
 teeth of the plebe chatter more than ever. 
 
 Then two of the Jolly Dogs were heard speaking to- 
 gether in low tones. One of them said : 
 
 "I don't believe in this part of the business. You re- 
 member the poor chap we burned so severely that he died 
 after he went home?" 
 
 "Oh, yes, I remember him," nodded the other. "That 
 was a very sad affair. They say he died in awful agony. 
 But this chap is wet enough, so there is not much danger 
 that his clothes will take fire. If they do, we can drop him 
 in the tank again." 
 
 "But he is bound to be burned more or less." 
 
 "Of course. The Royal Fiend will not think of letting 
 him off without burning him so he will remember this 
 jolly little time this evening." 
 
 "I think the Royal Fiend carries the thing too far." 
 
 Strangely enough, although the frightened plebe heard 
 this plainly, and although the Royal Fiend had seemed to 
 hear everything spoken previously, the latter did not ap- 
 pear to hear this conversation. 
 
 The knees of the poor plebe began to buckle beneath his
 
 The End of a Hazing. 163 
 
 weight. Why, these hideously disguised chaps were really 
 young devils ! This was not fun ; it was brutality. It was 
 carrying the thing too far. 
 
 In the grate was piled a lot of oil-saturated wood and 
 shavings. A match applied to the shavings caused a flare 
 of fire to shoot upward. 
 
 Snap! the lights were turned off, and the room was 
 lighted by the fire, which flared and roared. 
 
 Beebe Ross, the unfortunate plebe, shrank back before 
 this hot blaze. He looked around, as if longing to make 
 an attempt to break away. 
 
 Surely it would be impossible to be held very near that 
 blaze without being burned. 
 
 "Ah-ha !" snarled the fiend in scarlet, with apparent sat- 
 isfaction. "A ruddy blaze a royal blaze ! That's the sort 
 of a fire to roast a half-baked plebe 1 Soon, ye Jolly Dogs, 
 your nostrils shall be filled with the delightful odor of 
 cooking meat." 
 
 The plebe grew sick. Were these the Jolly Dogs of 
 Fardale ? or had he fallen into the clutches of a gang of 
 real fiends from the infernal regions? 
 
 Suddenly a weak feeling of rage assailed him. He beat 
 the air with his fists, and gurgled : 
 
 "You shall suffer for this outrage ! I want you to un- 
 derstand I have friends ! Casper Somers is my friend, and 
 he will " 
 
 "Silence !" thundered Mephisto. "Wretch, do you dare 
 speak thus to us ? Seize him !" 
 
 The order was obeyed by the two assistants with the 
 half-masks and long ears. They clutched the plebe by the 
 arms and held him fast, despite his feeble struggles. 
 
 "Hold him steady !" roared the Royal Fiend, apparently 
 making ready to plunge the huge fork into the victim, who 
 was paralyzed with terror. "We'll soon have him toasting 
 on the coals !"
 
 1 64 The End of a Hazing. 
 
 The plebe screamed and then 
 
 Bang ! bang ! bang ! 
 
 Heavy blows were falling on the boathouse door. It 
 trembled beneath them. The consternation of the Jolly 
 Dogs was apparent in a moment. 
 
 Smash ! Crash ! Slam ! 
 
 The door was battered down it crashed inward before 
 the blows ! 
 
 And then the flaring light of the fire showed the open- 
 ing filled with cadets, with leveled bayoneted muskets at 
 their shoulders ! Those muskets were pointed straight at 
 the roisterers within the old boathouse ! 
 
 "Surrender !" shouted the triumphant voice of the leader. 
 "You are trapped!" 
 
 It was Cadet Corp. Somers !
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 THE BURNING BOATHOUSE. 
 
 Trapped ! 
 
 Indeed it seemed that the Jolly Dogs were caught. Con- 
 sternation reigned among them. 
 
 "The back door!" 
 
 It opened upon the float, and the float was surrounded 
 by water; but that made no difference to the Jolly Dogs 
 just then. All were willing to take a bath if they could 
 escape. 
 
 There was a surging rush for the back door. 
 
 They did not reach it. 
 
 Slam ! open flew the back door. 
 
 "Halt!" 
 
 The opening was blocked with cadets. Another array 
 of bayoneted muskets was before the Jolly Dogs ! 
 
 The Jolly Dogs did not feel very jolly just then ! 
 
 "Gug-gug-gug-great gosh!" exclaimed Ephraim Gal- 
 lup, catching hold of Merriwell's arm. "This is an awful 
 scrape !" 
 
 "It is somewhat tart," came coolly from beneath Frank's 
 mask. "We seem to be in for it." 
 
 "It's bad !" came fiercely from Hodge. "It's going to 
 be tough for us to be caught with these fellows." 
 
 "But we are caught sure as shooting," said Diamond. 
 
 Browning was silent. 
 
 "It's no use, you cannot get away," rang out the tri- 
 umphant voice of Cadet Corp. Somers. "We have you 
 right here, and this will break up the Jolly Dogs, and cause 
 some of their friends to leave Fardale in a hurry." 
 
 "He means us 1" muttered Hodge.
 
 1 66 The Burning Boathouse. 
 
 "And he's right, b'gosh !" came from Ephraim. 
 
 Frank and his friends were far cooler than the rest of the 
 party trapped thus in the old boathouse. When they real- 
 ized the punishment that was before them, the disgrace, 
 the probable expulsion of some of them, the Jolly Dogs 
 were frantic. 
 
 "Charge them !" screamed one. 
 
 "No use !" came from another. "We can't run against 
 those bayonets ! No use !" 
 
 "That's right," flung back Somers; "it's no use. I told 
 you that. We have you trapped." 
 
 "Put out the fire !" screamed one of the hazers. "Where 
 is the fire extinguisher?" 
 
 He caught up a can of something and dashed it into the 
 fire. Instantly there was a terrific explosion. Fire flew 
 all over the boathouse. The disguised cadets were thrown 
 down and piled upon each other, while a rain of fire came 
 down upon them. There were shrieks and howls. Pande- 
 monium broke loose. 
 
 The boathouse interior seemed to burst into a glare of 
 flame. It was burning in a score of places, and the Jolly 
 Dogs were in the midst of the flames. 
 
 They scrambled to their feet, some of them with their 
 clothes on fire. Nothing could stop them. Bayonets had 
 no terrors for them. With shrieks and howls they rushed 
 for the doors. The cadets outside had been scarcely less 
 startled and alarmed. They did not try to stop the ones 
 fleeing from the burning boathouse. 
 
 Some of the Jolly Dogs went out upon the float, the tide 
 being in, and plunged into the water to extinguish the 
 flames which had seized upon them. Some escaped by the 
 other door and were like frantic furies. They,tore through 
 the cadets and fled into the night. 
 
 "Stop them!" screamed Casper Somers. "Don't let 
 them get away 1 We must capture them I"
 
 The Burning Boathouse. 167 
 
 A huge figure came shooting out of the doorway, struck 
 Casper, sent him flying through the air. Casper came to 
 the ground with a thud, and was stunned, so that he no 
 longer urged the cadets to stop the escaping hazers. 
 
 Now, among those same cadets who had been forced 
 to assist in the attempted capture of the Jolly Dogs were 
 members of the fantastic organization. They were given 
 no opportunity to warn those in the boathouse of their 
 coming; but, now there was a chance, they did not lose 
 the opportunity to assist them in escaping. 
 
 By the time Casper Somers recovered sufficiently to get 
 upon his feet every one of the Jolly Dogs was out of the 
 boathouse, and not one of them had been captured. 
 
 Then another figure came staggering out through the 
 doorway, his clothing afire in one place. The cadets 
 grasped him and beat out the fire with their hands. 
 
 "It's Ross !" shouted Somers. "Are you hurt ?" 
 
 "Guess not much," gasped the plebe; "but the other 
 fellows are in there !" 
 
 "The other fellows?" 
 
 "Yes in there !" 
 
 "You are wrong. They're all out." 
 
 "Not much!" 
 
 "What do you mean? You were the last one left in the 
 place. The fellows who were hazing you are all out." 
 
 "Don't mean them. I mean Henning and Ricker." 
 
 "They are plebes !" exclaimed a cadet. "It must be they 
 were two of the plebes those fellows were hazing." 
 
 "Right," gasped Ross. 
 
 "And they are in there now?" shouted Casper Somers, 
 in horror, for the interior of the boathouse seemed a sea 
 of fire. "Where are they ?" 
 
 'Fastened in a closet. They can't get out I They will 
 j burned to death !"
 
 1 68 The Burning Boathouse. 
 
 "They will, sure !" shouted several cadets, and all seemed 
 overcome with horror. 
 
 "Somebody must make an attempt to save them !" 
 shouted Casper Somers. "Who will go in there and try to 
 rescue them?" 
 
 "I will!" 
 
 A fellow in a fantastic rig, his face covered by a mask, 
 suddenly appeared before the door. 
 
 It was one of the Jolly Dogs ! 
 
 But one instant did he hesitate, and then he bounded 
 in at the doorway, and rushed forward, seeming sur- 
 rounded by fire. Smoke shut down and obscured him from 
 view. 
 
 "Who was that?" asked a voice. 
 
 "It was Frank Merriwell !" answered another. "I rec- 
 ognized him by the sound of his voice."
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 A MAD ACT AND REMORSE. 
 
 "Frank Merriwell!" muttered Casper Somers. "Was 
 that Frank Merriwell?" 
 
 "Sure as fate !" cried a voice at his elbow. 
 
 "And he's gone to his death!" said a cadet, his voice 
 quivering. "He'll never come out of there alive !" 
 
 "It was a brave act a brave act !" 
 
 "Frank Merriwell!" grated Somers; "and he went in 
 there ! A brave act ! Do they think I dare not go where 
 Merriwell goes!" 
 
 Then, of a sudden, he leaped forward, and sprang into 
 the boathouse. 
 
 "Stop him !" he heard the cry. 
 
 "Ha! they see me!" he thought. "Now they know I 
 dare go anywhere that Frank Merriwell goes ! I'll get out 
 some way, and I will be as much of a hero as Merriwell is." 
 
 It was this thought alone that forced him forward into 
 the frightful smoke and heat. He was desperate, made so 
 by the thought that Frank might succeed in rescuing the 
 two plebes and so cover himself with glory. 
 
 Casper rushed forward swiftly. He knew something of 
 the interior of the old boathouse, and he located the posi- 
 tion of the closet in which the plebes had been confined. 
 
 The closet was, properly, a small storeroom. 
 
 The fire scorched and stung him, smoke filled his mouth 
 and nostrils, but he trie'd not to suck it down into his lungs. 
 
 He reached the storeroom door. Frank Merriwell was 
 there, and he had torn the door open. 
 
 The two plebes, Henning and Ricker, came staggering 
 out. Frank caught hold of them and gave them a push
 
 170 A Mad Act and Remorse. 
 
 toward the back door. One of them fell, while the other 
 rushed toward the door. 
 
 Merriwell stooped over the fallen plebe to lift him. He 
 had not seen Somers. 
 
 At that moment a fiend of fury entered Somers' heart. 
 He saw that Frank would lift the plebe and fling him over 
 his shoulder, that he would carry the fellow out to the open 
 air, that he would be cheered as he appeared. 
 
 "Curse him I" thought Casper. "It is his luck ! Well, I 
 think I'll stop that business right here !" 
 
 He leaped at Frank, for now he was sure it was Frank, 
 the latter having flung aside his mask. He struck Merry, 
 who was stooping over the fallen plebe. Casper hit Frank 
 behind the ear, knocking him clean over the plebe. 
 
 Then Somers caught up the plebe. He seemed to have 
 wonderful strength at that moment. With the fellow in 
 his arms, he hurried through the smoke and heat toward 
 the door. He did not try to get out the back way, but re- 
 treated to the door by which he had entered. 
 
 The fire reached out to grasp him. Long fingers of 
 flame seemed to point at him accusingly. Glaring faces 
 leered at him in mockery. 
 
 The cadet did not stop to think. He felt that he must 
 reach the open air quickly or perish. He was strangling, 
 and his strength was giving out. 
 
 Where was the door ? Fire seemed all around him. He 
 could not find the door. He seemed cut off from escape. 
 
 "I must find it I must !" 
 
 That was his thought. 
 
 Then came another. 
 
 "I'm trapped in this burning boathouse !" 
 
 Horror and despair seized upon him. He clung to the 
 plebe in a mechanical manner without knowing that he was 
 doing so. Now the fiery faces were grinning at him on 
 all sides, and he fancied that the demons of the flames had
 
 A Mad Act and Remorse. 171 
 
 hemmed him in and were keeping him from finding the 
 door. They tried to clutch him with their red fingers. 
 Black hands of smoke reached for him. 
 
 Must he die there in that place ? Must he perish in such 
 a terrible manner simply because Frank Merriwell had 
 rushed in there and he had felt it was necessary that he 
 should follow? 
 
 Something seemed to tell him that was not the reason 
 why he could not find the door. He had struck Frank 
 Merriwell down and left him lying in the midst of the 
 flames and smoke. This was his punishment this was 
 retribution. It had overtaken him swiftly. 
 
 These and a thousand other thoughts seemed to flash 
 through his head. But a very few moments passed, al- 
 though to him it seemed hours. He wondered that the 
 building should burn so slowly. Then he fancied he knew 
 the reason for it. The fire demons were holding back that 
 he might be properly tortured and punished for his crime. 
 
 Crime ! For the first time the thought came to him that 
 it might be a crime. He had not intended it as such, but 
 he had struck Frank a fearful blow enough to stun him. 
 Merriwell had been knocked across the plebe, and Somers 
 had not seen him make a move to get up. Casper had left 
 him there. 
 
 "That's why I can't find the door !" thought the remorse- 
 stricken fellow. "I have killed him, for he is' being burned 
 to death ! And I am burning with him !" 
 
 He screamed huskily, and then, gurgling, gasping, 
 strangling, but still clinging to the plebe, he suddenly fell 
 out through the open doorway. 
 
 Cadets rushed forward and lifted them both. They were 
 carried from the vicinity of the burning boathouse. 
 
 The clothing of neither Somers nor the plebe was on 
 fire, but both were overcome by smoke. They lay on the
 
 172 A Mad Act and Remorse. 
 
 ground, coughing and strangling, suffering tortures with 
 every breath drawn into their lungs. 
 
 After a time Casper began to breathe easier, although he 
 felt that his face and hands were smarting. 
 
 Admiring friends had gathered about him. They were 
 doing all they could for him. They were asking anxiously 
 how he felt. 
 
 "It was a brave thing to do ! You saved Ricker's life, 
 Mr. Somers !" cried a cadet. 
 
 "We had given you up," declared another ; "but we were 
 watching for you when you appeared." 
 
 "Where is Merriwell?" asked a third. "He went in 
 ahead of you." 
 
 Casper sat up suddenly. 
 
 "Stand back !" he commanded, huskily "stand back so 
 I can see the fire !" 
 
 They stood aside to enable him to look at the boat- 
 house. It was a mass of flames. 
 
 "Heavens !" gasped Somers. "If anybody is in there 
 now he's done for !" 
 
 "Sure as fate," said a cadet. "Where is Merriwell ?" 
 
 "Didn't he come out?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "Make sure of it !" cried Casper, desperately. "It must 
 be that he came out. You did not see him, that is all. 
 Somebody must have seen him." 
 
 "Somebody must have seen him if he came out at all/' 
 agreed the cadet. 
 
 "Make sure ask everybody !" 
 
 The order was obeyed. The cadets passed the question, 
 while Casper sat in horrified suspense and waited, hope 
 dying to fear. 
 
 "He did not escape !" his seared lips muttered. "He is 
 in there now in that sea of fire ! I am the cause of it ! 
 I killed him! Oh, mercy!"
 
 A Mad Act and Remorse. 173 
 
 Casper covered his face with his hands. He trembled 
 all over, and the horror that grasped his heart was sicken- 
 ing. He feared to uncover his face lest his companions 
 should see the proof of his guilt written there. 
 
 He clung to the last thread of hope. He longed to hear 
 some one tell him that Frank had escaped. 
 
 "Oh," he muttered, "it didn't seem that I struck him so 
 hard I" 
 
 He knew he had struck Frank a fearful blow, but he was 
 trying to lighten his load of guilt in some way. 
 
 After a little time, rage seized upon him. 
 
 "Oh, curse that fellow !" he thought. "See what he has 
 brought me to! Before he came here I stood at the top 
 in the academy. I had good reasons for striking him ! I 
 did not mean to knock him down and leave him there I 
 did not think of that ! It was all an accident. He should 
 have escaped. Why didn't the fool get up and crawl out 
 after I struck him ? What made him lay there and burn ? 
 I'm not to blame ?" 
 
 But he knew that he was to blame, and he could not con- 
 vince himself that he was not. 
 
 "Why don't they come and tell me he is alive?" 
 
 The glare of the burning boathouse shone far out on the 
 waters of the cove. The light was seen at a distance, and 
 people were hurrying to the spot. Even from the village 
 some were coming. 
 
 The cadets regarded the destruction of the building with 
 sorrow. Many a hilarious time had been held in that boat- 
 house. No more would the Jolly Dogs meet there. In 
 fact, when all the truth was known of the events of this 
 night, it was doubtful if the Jolly Dogs would meet any- 
 where. The faculty would have a matter to take hold of 
 with a firm hand. 
 
 Somers took his hands from his face and looked at the 
 burning building. Again he saw those flaring faces peer-
 
 174 A Mad Act and Remorse. 
 
 ing at him. It seemed that all the others must see them. 
 The demons were pointing at him. They seemed to say : 
 
 "There he is! There he is!" 
 
 Then, from out of the heart of the fire a dark mass rose 
 slowly. Somers gasped and stared at it. It was a human 
 body in a recumbent position. 
 
 "Mr. Somers, no one seems to have seen Frank Merri- 
 well leave the boathouse." 
 
 A cadet at Casper's side was speaking. 
 
 With trembling hand, Somers pointed at the black figure 
 that was floating upward in the midst of the flames. 
 
 "There he is," he screamed. 
 
 Then he toppled over in a dead faint.
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 HAUNTING FEARS. 
 
 The boathouse burned down. It had been a landmark 
 on the shore of the cove, but it was utterly destroyed. 
 
 But when it was reported that Frank Merriwell had per- 
 ished in the boathouse, regret at the loss of the building was 
 overcome by horror at the loss of a human life. 
 
 The cadets huddled together and talked about Merriwell. 
 They repeated stories of his wonderful doings in the past. 
 They declared he was one of the finest fellows who ever 
 breathed ; some of them wept ; all seemed overcome by the 
 tragedy. 
 
 Frank's friends appeared. None of them wore the dis- 
 guises given them by the Jolly Dogs. They stood together, 
 speaking in low tones and staring at the smoldering and 
 glowing ruins of the boathouse. They seemed quite over- 
 come, although none of them shed tears. 
 
 When Casper Somers was brought out of his swoon he 
 groaned : 
 
 "Why didn't I die in there with him !" 
 
 This the cadets considered remarkable, as it was known 
 that Casper had never liked Frank very well. It softened 
 the hearts of some toward Somers, for he must be a fine 
 fellow who could feel such grief over the death of one he 
 disliked. 
 
 "You did your duty!" said a cadet "You brought out 
 Ricker, and that was a heroic act !" 
 
 Casper groaned again. 
 
 So they thought him a hero, and he was a wretch with 
 the blood of murdered Frank Merriwell on his hands ! 
 
 But they must never know. Safety lay in silence. What
 
 176 Haunting Fears. 
 
 living person could point a finger at him and say, "You 
 killed Frank Merriwell?" 
 
 He would bury the horrible secret in his heart he would 
 try to forget. Forget! The word was a mockery. He 
 knew he could not forget, even though he told himself over 
 and over that he must and would. 
 
 Something whispered that he would be haunted all his 
 life by the memory of that terrible deed. He had hated 
 Frank Merriwell living, now he feared him dead. Merri- 
 well would give him no rest. He felt that Frank's spirit 
 would pursue him. 
 
 Somers tried to make himself feel that he was the one 
 injured, and that Merriwell had met with a fate which he 
 deserved, but he could not succeed. 
 
 The surgeon from the academy appeared and attended to 
 those who had been injured. He bandaged Somers' hands. 
 He placed something cooling on Casper's face, and then 
 tied it about with strips of cloth till nothing but Casper's 
 mouth and eyes could be seen. 
 
 "They tell me you did a most heroic thing, Mr. Somers/' 
 said the surgeon. "They say you brought out a cadet at 
 the peril of your own life." 
 
 Somers was silent. He did not feel that he could trust 
 his voice. 
 
 "But the other poor fellow who went in there," con- 
 tinued the surgeon, "they say he perished in the fire. It is 
 a frightful thing, and I fear it will prove a serious matter 
 in the academy. Of course, there will be a thorough in- 
 vestigation." 
 
 Somers writhed a bit. Why should he fear an investiga- 
 tion? He asked himself that question. The only ones to 
 fear the investigation were the members of the Jolly Dogs 
 who had been hazing three plebes in the boathouse. 
 
 Then came upon him a horrible fear that he could not 
 keep his secret that he would betray himself in some man-
 
 Haunting Fears. 177 
 
 ner. Sometimes he talked in his sleep. He might tell 
 everything then. It would be natural, for he knew the 
 memory of his deed would haunt him would prey upon 
 his mind. Then he thought that he would not dare to 
 sleep where anyone could hear him if he did talk. In that 
 case, he must get away from the academy. 
 
 For a moment that thought was a relief. He would 
 leave Fardale without delay. 
 
 But he knew he was injured. How severe his injuries 
 were he could not tell. He might be confined to the hos- 
 pital unless he ran away at once. 
 
 Somers had almost decided that he would run away 
 when another fear assailed him. Such an act would arouse 
 suspicion. It would be asked why he had left in such a 
 manner. The surgeon had spoken of an investigation. It 
 was possible an investigation might reveal his guilt in 
 some way. 
 
 Never was a human being more tortured than he as all 
 these wild thoughts flitted through his mind. At least, 
 Somers himself thought so. 
 
 Frank Merriwell's bones would be found amid the 
 ruins. He scarcely dared look toward the glowing coals 
 for fear of seeing them there. 
 
 The pain of his burns he scarcely noticed. There was a 
 pain in his heart that blotted out everything else. 
 
 All at once he clutched the surgeon by the arm, asking 
 hoarsely : 
 
 "Shall I be disfigured? How badly am I burned? 
 Shall I bear the marks after I get well ?" 
 
 Vain of his good looks, the thought that he might be 
 disfigured gave the wretched lad another pang. If he was 
 disfigured, Frank Merriwell would be to blame. He 
 would not have gone into the burning building had Frank 
 stayed out. But he had seen Frank dash to the rescue of 
 the imprisoned plebes, and, rather than have it said that
 
 1 78 Haunting Fears. 
 
 the fellow he hated had dared face a danger from which 
 he shrank, he followed. 
 
 He had not received the burns going in; he was sure 
 of that. When coming out, after having struck Merriwell 
 down, the fire had hemmed him in and blistered his face 
 and hands. It seemed that the flames had tried to wreak 
 vengeance upon him for his act. 
 
 Tremblingly Casper waited for the surgeon's answer. 
 
 "I can't tell about that now," was the reply; "but I do 
 not think you are burned severely enough to mark you for 
 life. Your hair is singed off and your face scorched, but 
 this application will prevent blistering to a certain extent. 
 As soon as we reach the hospital, I'll put on something 
 better." 
 
 Casper drew a breath of relief. 
 
 "I advise you to go to the hospital as soon as possible," 
 said the surgeon. 
 
 He felt that he would go at once. He wished to get 
 away from the vicinity of the tragedy. 
 
 Casper had been surrounded by sympathizing friends, all 
 of whom were anxious about his condition. They ex- 
 pressed satisfaction and delight on learning that his in- 
 juries were no worse. They would have shaken his hand, 
 but both his hands were bandaged. They praised him 
 for his heroism, but to him their praise seemed like 
 mockery. 
 
 "I must get away from them," he told himself. 
 
 And so, when all were looking for human bones amid 
 the ruins, he started to slip away. He was stopped by a 
 hand that fell on his arm. 
 
 In his ear a voice said : 
 
 "Stop!" 
 
 With a gasp, Casper whirled about and faced the one 
 who had stopped him. 
 
 "Rickerl"
 
 Haunting Fears. 179 
 
 The name came from his lips in a gush of relief. He 
 had feared something he had feared he knew not what. 
 
 It was Ricker, the plebe he had brought out of the 
 burning house in his arms ; but, to his astonishment, Ricker 
 did not seem harmed at all. 
 
 "You," said Somers "weren't you burned at all?" 
 
 "Not much," answered Ricker. 
 
 Casper could not understand that. Why had the fire 
 burned him and spared the plebe he was carrying in his 
 arms ? Had it been because he was a guilty wretch ? 
 
 Then Somers grew angry with Ricker for escaping so 
 easily. Why should a plebe escape and he be burned? 
 He began to snarl at Ricker, talking incoherently. 
 
 "Excuse me, Mr. Somers," said the plebe. "You are 
 hurt. You do not know what you are saying." 
 
 That stopped Casper instantly. He felt that he was 
 talking wildly, and he was afraid he would say something 
 that would betray him. That was the one horrible haunt- 
 ing fear that gripped and squeezed his quivering heart. 
 
 "What do you want of me?" he huskily growled. 
 
 Of course Ricker wanted to thank him for saving his 
 life; Casper felt sure of that. 
 
 But that was not what Ricker wanted. 
 
 "What happened to Mr. Merriwell?" asked the plebe, 
 looking straight at Somers. "I saw him go down as if 
 something struck him, and he did not get up. I was so 
 scared that I did not have any strength. What happened 
 to him?" 
 
 Casper cowered with a gasping cry. He seemed about 
 to sink to the ground. Ricker caught hold of him and held 
 him up. 
 
 "What happened to him ?" 
 
 Huskily, faintly Somers repeated the question. 
 
 "I beg your pardon for asking you now," said the plebe. 
 "I did not know it affected you so."
 
 180 Haunting Fears. 
 
 Somers braced up. 
 
 "I'm all right," he savagely declared. "I was weak for 
 a moment, that's all. Why do you ask me about about 
 Merriwell?" 
 
 "I thought you must have seen what happened." 
 
 The cadet corporal wondered what Ricker had seen 
 what he knew what he suspected. He remembered that 
 the plebe had been face downward on the floor when the 
 fatal blow was struck. Could it be that he suspected foul 
 play? 
 
 The thought made Casper tremble. Revelation might 
 follow suspicion. But he must bluff it out, weak and 
 wavering though he was. 
 
 "What do you mean ?" he harshly demanded. "Do you 
 insinuate I mean do you think I did wrong in leaving 
 Merriwell ? I couldn't bring you both out ! I nearly lost 
 my life trying to save you ! If I'd let you alone, you might 
 have roasted, and I might have escaped without a burn. 
 And now you come about with your infernal questions 1 
 You look at me as if I am guilty because I didn't save 
 Merriwell, too ! What right have you to look at me that 
 way? Stop it! Don't ask too many questions! I saved 
 your life. Don't forget that. What do you want to do- 
 do you want to make trouble?" 
 
 Ricker was bewildered more than ever. Why should 
 Somers become so excited over a simple question ? Why 
 should he act and talk so strangely? 
 
 "I don't want to make any trouble, but it seemed strange 
 to me that Frank Merriwell should fall down so suddenly 
 and fail to get up. It couldn't be that he was overcome 
 by smoke in such a sudden manner. It seemed that some 
 falling object, a timber, perhaps, struck him down." 
 
 Casper grasped eagerly at this. 
 
 "That was it that was it!" he panted. "Something 
 fell and struck him on the head."
 
 Haunting Fears. 181 
 
 "What was it t ' 
 
 "How should I know ?" snarled the cadet corporal. "I 
 didn't have time to stop and see." 
 
 "Oh, of course not!" 
 
 "Then why do you ask? I had all I could do to get 
 you out. Don't forget that. I'd helped Merriwell if I 
 could. I didn't suppose he was hurt much. I can't talk 
 about it now. Don't talk about it yourself. It won't do. 
 Remember that I saved you, and do as I tell you. Keep 
 still." 
 
 He would have hastened away, but one of his friends 
 came up and began to talk to him. 
 
 Bewildered and wondering, Ricker turned aside. Why 
 had Somers kept repeating that he had saved his life? 
 Why had Somers seemed to fear that he would talk ? Why 
 had Somers ordered him to keep still? 
 
 "That fellow is half crazed by what has happened," 
 Ricker decided. "That is what ails him. He is not re- 
 sponsible for anything he says now." 
 
 Somers was worried by what had just happened. He 
 wondered if he had not talked too much already. 
 
 Casper showed that he did not wish to talk with his 
 friends. They thought it was because he had been burned 
 in the fire. Many of them kept telling him over and over 
 what a brave thing he had done. 
 
 "If only you had saved Merriwell, too," said one. 
 
 "I am no more than human," said Casper. "I couldn't 
 bring both those fellows out. I thought Merriwell was 
 able to take care of himself." 
 
 Then it was that some of Merriwell's friends joined the 
 party. Casper saw them coming and felt like taking to 
 his heels, but knew that would betray the real cowardice 
 of his heart. At last, he read himself aright, and he 
 knew he was a coward. Up to that hour he had fancied 
 that there was the making of a hero in him. The events
 
 1 82 Haunting Fears. 
 
 of that hour had caused him to seem heroic in other 
 eyes, but in his heart he knew he was a pitiful coward. 
 
 It was strange that Merriwell's friends did not seem 
 grief-stricken. They were very sober, but not one of 
 them was shedding tears. He could not understand that, 
 for certain it was that all of them entertained a strong 
 affection for the lad who had perished in the flames. 
 
 Bruce forced his way in among the cadets till he was 
 face to face with Somers. Then it was that Casper was 
 glad because his face was hidden by bandages, for it 
 would not betray him now. His eyes alone might give him 
 away. 
 
 "You were the last to see Mr. Merriwell, were you not, 
 Mr. Somers ?" questioned Browning, in a cold and formal 
 manner. 
 
 Casper felt that it was best to reply and appear as 
 natural as possible, so he answered : 
 
 "I presume I was, sir." 
 
 "Where was he at that time?" 
 
 "In the burning boathouse." 
 
 "What was he doing?" 
 
 "Lying on the floor." 
 
 "Overcome by smoke?" 
 
 "I don't know." 
 
 "Then you don't know what happened to him after he 
 went in there?" 
 
 "All I know is that he opened the storeroom and let 
 out the two plebes who were confined in there." 
 
 Casper's voice was not quite steady, but he did his 
 best to steady it. He longed to refuse to answer the 
 questions of Frank Merriwell's Yale chum, but did not 
 dare to do so. 
 
 "Did you see him open the storeroom door ?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Then you saw him before he had fallen to the floor ?"
 
 Haunting Fears. 183 
 
 "Of course!" 
 
 "What did he do when he had opened the door ?" 
 
 "Started the plebes toward the back of the building. 
 One of them fell." 
 
 "What happened then?" 
 
 "I don't know." 
 
 "Eh? How is that?" 
 
 Browning's eyes seemed to bore Somers through and 
 through. 
 
 "I did not see what happened. The smoke got into 
 my eyes. Next I saw was somebody on the floor. I 
 picked the fellow up and made a break to get out with 
 him. I got out, but came near burning in there. That's 
 all." 
 
 "All ? Why, you said you saw Merriwell lying on the 
 floor." 
 
 "So I did after I picked the other chap up. At least, 
 I suppose it was Merriwell now. Didn't know who it 
 was then." 
 
 "Don't you think Merriwell was knocked down by 
 something?" asked Bruce, slowly, his eyes still boring 
 Casper. 
 
 "How do I know !" snarled the cadet. "I didn't see." 
 
 "Don't get excited. Answer my questions calmly. That 
 is all I wish of you." 
 
 "Why should I answer your questions? I am not on 
 trial !" 
 
 "Not now," said Bruce, significantly ; "but you may be 
 later."
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 CASPER'S DESPAIR. 
 
 Casper's friends interfered. 
 
 "Look here !" said one of them, glaring at the big Yale 
 man, "what are you trying to do? Can't you see this 
 terrible affair has broken Mr. Somers all up? He should 
 be in hospital this minute. Later he will be able to tell 
 you all about it." 
 
 Browning bowed, coolly. 
 
 "He may have to," he said. 
 
 Casper shivered. 
 
 The cadets began to look at Bruce in a threatening man- 
 ner and mutter among themselves. In their eyes Somers 
 was a hero, but the big college man talked as if Casper 
 was guilty of something. 
 
 Browning seemed willing to let the matter drop then 
 and there, for the time being, at least. 
 
 But now Casper knew he was suspected by Merriwell's 
 friends, and it added to his fears. Over and over he told 
 himself that they could not prove anything, but that did 
 not quiet the tumult in his fear-shaken heart. In his ear 
 a voice seemed to whisper that the whole black truth must 
 come out. 
 
 Somers watched his opportunity and slipped away from 
 the others. He was in a tempest of doubt and indecision. 
 At one moment he thought he would stay and face it out, 
 at another he was on the point of running away imme- 
 diately. To accept the latter alternative he knew would 
 seem like an admission of guilt, but it seemed impossible 
 for him to stay and face what he felt must come. 
 
 Anyway, he decided to return to the academy. If he ran
 
 Casper's Despair. 185 
 
 away, there were some things he wanted. All must be in 
 a state of confusion at the academy and the camp, and he 
 could get in and out without being stopped if he moved 
 quickly. 
 
 As he was hurrying along, he suddenly stopped, a low 
 exclamation breaking from his lips. 
 
 At a little distance a person was advancing toward him. 
 The moon was hanging low, but its light fell full on the 
 face of the advancing one. 
 
 At first Somers thought himself deceived by imagina- 
 tion, but he quickly decided that it was no trick of his 
 imagination. He could see the figure plainly in the white 
 moonlight, and there was something familiar about it. 
 
 Somers began to tremble and his teeth chattered. He 
 could not believe the evidence of his eyes, which seemed 
 to bulge from his head as he stared. 
 
 "It can't be!" he whispered. 
 
 The figure came straight toward him, walking delib- 
 erately and without haste. If its feet made any sound 
 it was murrled by the grass. 
 
 More and more distinctly Casper saw the face in the 
 moonlight. He knew that figure, he knew that face. His 
 heart was frozen with an icy chill. 
 
 "Frank Merriwell !" he half groaned. 
 
 Without a word, the figure continued to advance. 
 
 "It's his ghost !" screamed Casper, and then he took to 
 his heels, runping as if the Evil One pursued. 
 
 As Casper fled, he kept looking over his shoulder to see 
 if he was pursued by the ghostly form. It gave him some 
 relief when he could see nothing more of the "thing." 
 
 "I'm haunted ! I'm haunted !" 
 
 That thought kept running through Casper's head. He 
 had not believed in ghosts, or had pretended he did not 
 believe in them, but now all that was changed. He did
 
 1 86 Casper's Despair. 
 
 not doubt that he had seen the ghost of the lad he had 
 murdered. 
 
 And he felt that he must see it again and again. That 
 it must follow him like Nemesis, that it would drive him to 
 his death, that nothing could "lay" it he was convinced. 
 
 He ran on and on, panting at first, then gasping, then 
 breathing hoarsely. Several times, as he turned his head 
 to look back over his shoulder, he stumbled and fell heavily, 
 but he always scrambled up as quickly as possible and fled 
 onward. 
 
 Even as he ran he began to see unpleasant visions of 
 the life he had led. He had always thought himself as 
 good as other fellows, but now all the mean and con- 
 temptible things he ever did rose up before him in ac- 
 cusation. He remembered the first real mean act of his 
 life, and how ashamed of himself he had been, how he 
 had vowed over and over that never, never, never would he 
 do another thing like that. But he forgot the vow, and 
 he saw that the first crooked act had paved the way for all 
 the crookedness that followed. He saw that the next 
 mean action had not troubled his conscience so much, and 
 soon he had been able to do almost anything without a 
 qualm. 
 
 He had smothered his conscience, but had not slain it. 
 Now it had leaped into life again and was pointing out all 
 the unpleasant things of his life. 
 
 Casper saw how that first crooked act had led to the last 
 vile deed in the burning boathouse. He could see how, 
 step by step, he had advanced down the road that leads 
 to destruction. Then it was he bitterly regretted that he 
 had not kept his vow when he first swore never to do 
 another thing he was ashamed of never in all his life. 
 
 In many instances he had given rein to his passions and 
 his desire for revenge for some fancied wrong. He had 
 caused the expulsion of a cadet from Fardale for an act
 
 Casper's Despair. 187 
 
 of which the cadet was utterly innocent. Casper had 
 brought about the cadet's disgrace because the fellow 
 promised to become something of a rival. 
 
 Never had he tolerated anyone who looked like a dan- 
 gerous rival. Always had he found a way to crush them 
 till he met Frank Merriwell. 
 
 And now he had crushed Frank and stained his own 
 hands with blood ! 
 
 He wondered how it was he had been able to deceive 
 nearly everyone, so that he had been regarded as a fine 
 fellow all the while that h'e was doing those crooked things. 
 He had been crafty. Even now he was regarded as a hero, 
 for, had he not rescued Ricker, the plebe, from the burn- 
 ing building? 
 
 For a moment this thought filled him with exultation, 
 and then came another thought that crushed him. Not 
 everyone regarded him as a hero. Ricker had questioned 
 him about Frank Merriwell's fall, and Merriwell's friends 
 had regarded him with suspicion. 
 
 But the most crushing thing of all was the knowledge 
 that he was haunted by Merriwell's ghost. He might bluff 
 down suspicion that could not be backed by proof, but he 
 could not run away from a "spook." 
 
 These thoughts had passed through his head as he ran. 
 From panting and gasping, he had begun to breathe 
 heavily, hoarsely. At last, he fell down quite played, and 
 he did not have strength to drag himself to his feet. 
 
 For some time he lay thus, starting occasionally and 
 looking all around, expecting to see the ghostly form com- 
 ing toward him again. 
 
 But the night was calm and peaceful, and the moon 
 was low in the west. It did not seem possible that such 
 tragic events could have happened on such a beautiful 
 night, and he began to wonder if it was not all a frightful
 
 1 88 Casper's Despair. 
 
 nightmare. He prayed that it was and that he might 
 awaken to find himself innocent. 
 
 Suddenly there came to his ears a murmur of voices, and 
 he started up to find two persons close at hand. In the 
 moonlight he recognized them. They saw him and came 
 forward. 
 
 "He may be hurt," said one. "I saw him fall 
 heavily." 
 
 "He was running like a frightened deer," said the 
 other. 
 
 "Who is it?" 
 
 They paused and stared down at him. In a moment he 
 began to get upon his feet, doing so with some difficulty. 
 He swayed as he stood before them. 
 
 "I know you !" he huskily said. "Look at me, Rupert 
 Reynolds and Wat Snell ! I am burned, disfigured for life, 
 and you brought me to it !" 
 
 "He is crazy !" said Snell, shrinking behind Reynolds. 
 
 *'No, I am not!" said Casper. "I am telling you the 
 truth. If you had not brought word of the meeting of the 
 Jolly Dogs if you had not told me Frank Merriwell was 
 with them and urged me to capture him in the act of hazing 
 a cadet, I should not be burned like this and he might be 
 alive now ! I am not the only one who is guilty ! You 
 are guilty with me !" 
 
 "It's Somers, and he is raving crazy !" said Rupert, 
 amazed. 
 
 "What does he mean by saying Merriwell might be 
 alive ?" asked Snell, timidly. 
 
 "He is dead!" screamed Casper. "He was burned 
 to death in the old boathouse !" 
 
 "Now it's certain he is crazy !" exclaimed Rupert. 
 
 "Yes," nodded Wat, "for we saw Merriwell not more 
 than fifteen minutes ago, and he was very much alive." 
 
 "Saw him?" cried Somers. "Where?"
 
 Casper's Despair. 189 
 
 "Coming from Snodd's and going*toward the fire." 
 
 "It was his ghost you saw!" cried Casper. "You are 
 haunted, too ! He will follow us all our lives 1 I would 
 rather die and have it over 1" 
 
 Then he became so wild that Reynolds was somewhat 
 afraid of him, and Snell kept at a distance. All at once, 
 uttering wild cries, he dashed away once more, running 
 like a deer. 
 
 "Crazy as he can be," said Rupert. "We must report 
 it. He may do himself some injury." 
 
 "Let him; what do we care?" retorted Snell. "Let's 
 get back to the village, Rupe. Things have gone against 
 us again in our attempt to down Frank Merriwell, and I 
 don't care about being seen around here. The Old Nick 
 himself could not harm Merriwell !" 
 
 "Somers thinks he is dead." 
 
 "But we know better. We thought it was Merriwell 
 who went up toward Snodd's, but he seemed to be drip- 
 ping wet, and we followed. It was Merriwell, and he 
 changed his clothes there, where he is keeping a trunk 
 and much of his stuff, for we saw him going back toward 
 the fire." 
 
 "Why should Somers fancy the fellow is dead?" 
 
 "Ask me something easy! Come on, let's make a 
 break for the village. I don't want Merriwell and his 
 friends to get their eyes on me. They might suspect I had 
 a hand in this affair." 
 
 "That's so," admitted Reynolds. "I guess Somers will 
 turn up all right, so we'll go back to the village."
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 OPENING THE WAY. 
 
 When Somers was missed it was supposed he had gone 
 back to the academy to get into hospital as soon as possi- 
 ble, although it seemed remarkable that he should have 
 slipped away alone. 
 
 As all were ready to leave the ruins, save a few who 
 were to remain and look for the bones of the lad supposed 
 to be burned, no small amount of excitement and aston- 
 ishment was created by the appearance of a youth who 
 calmly joined the party. It was Frank himself! 
 
 When they realized that he was alive and had not been 
 burned a mighty cheer went up. They crowded about 
 him, all eager to shake his hand. They asked him a thou- 
 sand questions. 
 
 He explained simply that he had escaped by the back 
 door, finding the float deserted, had plunged into the wa- 
 ter, swam ashore and gone to John Snodd's to change his 
 clothes. 
 
 He did not say a word about his encounter with Somers 
 in the burning boathouse, and he did not tell that he had 
 met Browning after his escape and related everything to 
 the big fellow. 
 
 "You were more fortunate than Mr. Somers," said one 
 of the cadets, when the excitement had subsided some- 
 what. "He was badly burned, but he brought Ricker, a 
 plebe, out of the building. It was necessary to cover his 
 face and hands with bandages. He's gone to the hos- 
 pital." 
 
 "Perhaps not," said Frank. "I met him as I was coming 
 from Snodd's,"
 
 Opening the Way. 191 
 
 "Why, that's singular ! We supposed he went directly 
 to the academy. Did you speak with him ?" 
 
 "No. The moment he caught sight of me he stopped, 
 stood still a bit, and then gave a scream and ran." 
 
 "He was frightened by your appearance, for he thought 
 you had burned to death in the boathouse. It's too bad I 
 He is burned so that he may become crazed." 
 
 "Perhaps he was, and that was how he happened to be 
 going toward Snodd's," said another. 
 
 Then there was no small alarm about Somers. Several 
 cadets were sent to the academy in a hurry to see if he 
 had appeared there, and the others followed. 
 
 "You scared the fellow nearly to death, Merry," 
 chuckled Browning, in Frank's ear. "He felt sure he had 
 killed you. It's ten to one he will not be found at the 
 academy. I believe he has run away." 
 
 "Let's follow and find out." 
 
 So Frank and his Yale chums and comrades followed 
 the cadets. 
 
 Before the academy grounds were reached two of the 
 cadets sent forward came panting back. They reported 
 that Casper Somers had not been seen at the academy or 
 the camp. 
 
 Then a search for Casper began. He had not been 
 seen at Snodd's, and the opinion that he had become 
 crazed by his injuries spread swiftly. It was thought he 
 had wandered away into the woods or fields. 
 
 All the rest of the night the search for Casper con- 
 tinued, Frank and his friends searching with the others. 
 
 At last, at dawn, Merriwell and Browning, finding 
 themselves near their own camp, resolved to see how Hans 
 was getting along. 
 
 They found the Dutch boy building a fire. 
 
 "Vale, how you vos, Vrankie?" he cried, satisfaction 
 showing on his swollen face as his eyes beheld Merriwell.
 
 192 Opening the Way. 
 
 "I didn'd knew but you vos a goner. Dot veller kept mut- 
 tering somedings apout Vrank Merrivell pein' purnt." 
 
 "Eh?" exclaimed Frank. "What fellow?" 
 
 " 'Sh !" cautioned Hans. "He peen in dot tent sleebing." 
 
 He pointed at one of the tents. 
 
 "He bretty near scared der life uf me oudt ven he came 
 sdaggerin' mit der camp indo," explained the Dutch lad. 
 "Ad virst I dink he vos a chost mit his vace und hants 
 all ofer mit pandages. But he took a dumble down mit his 
 vace on, uns I dake him indo der tent und dake care of 
 him." 
 
 Frank leaped forward, tore open the front of the tent 
 and looked in. 
 
 "It's Somers !" he exclaimed, with satisfaction. 
 
 Yes, Somers was there, asleep on a bed of boughs and 
 blankets. He moaned as Frank entered and bent over 
 him. 
 
 "I didn't mean to do it!" came faintly from his lips. 
 "I'm sorry now I'm sorry ! But he is dead, and I killed 
 him! Oh-h-h!" 
 
 His mutterings ended with a long, low moan that 
 touched Frank's heart in a tender spot. 
 
 "He is getting his punishment now," said Browning, 
 from the opening of the tent. 
 
 "He has had punishment enough," came softly from 
 Frank's lips. "Bruce, report to the academy in a hurry. 
 Make a hustle once in your life. Somers is in a bad way. 
 He may die. I'll stay here by his side. When he awakes, 
 I will quiet him by assuring him that I am living." 
 
 Browning grumbled, not fancying the job of tramping to 
 the academy, but he did not think of rebelling. So he 
 left Frank at the side of the enemy who that night had 
 come so near robbing him of his life. 
 
 "Poor fellow !" tenderly muttered Merriwell, as he lis- 
 tened to the dream talk of the injured cadet.
 
 Opening the Way. 193 
 
 After a time Casper awoke and saw Frank there. He 
 did not shriek and try to escape, although a great horror 
 showed in his eyes. 
 
 "You are watching to see me die !" he faintly whispered. 
 "You have come for me ! Must I die now ?" 
 
 "No, Somers, you'll come round all right," said Frank. 
 "I am no ghost I am Frank Merriwell in the flesh." 
 
 "Impossible !" 
 
 "I am telling you the truth. I escaped from the boat- 
 house by the back door, jumped from the float, and swam 
 ashore. I was not seen by any of the cadets, so they 
 thought I had perished in the fire. I was not even burned 
 much." 
 
 It was some time before Somers could realize this was 
 true. When he did realize it,, he wept for joy. 
 
 "I thought I had killed you!" he sobbed. "I thought 
 the crime of murder was on my soul ! Oh, I am so glad 
 you escaped! I don't care what you do to me now! I 
 am ready to be punished ! I am so glad ! Do anything 
 you like with me! It'll be what I deserve!" 
 
 "I forgive you !" said Frank, earnestly, "and I give you 
 my pledge to keep secret that you struck me down in the 
 boathouse." 
 
 Slowly Somers was led to believe that Frank really 
 meant it. At first he could not think such a thing possi- 
 ble, but Merriwell's earnestness convinced him. Then, 
 sobbing more than before, he said : 
 
 "Frank Merriwell, you shall not regret this ! I sweas 
 to you that I will be a different fellow from this time on ! 
 You have shown me the way. God bless you !" 
 
 It may be added here that Frank kept his pledge, and 
 Somers kept his. Frank sealed the lips of his friends who 
 knew what had happened in the burning boathouse, while 
 Somers buried his past and began a new life with his re- 
 ^overy from his injuries.
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 THE ROAD TO THE HARBOR. 
 
 The Cove, near Fardale Academy, was not a good har- 
 bor for vessels. Fardale village lay somewhat more than 
 a mile from the academy. Fardale harbor was half a 
 mile to the south of the village, which was not located on 
 the coast directly, but lay back from the water. Fardale 
 was not much of a seaport, the railroad securing the heav- 
 iest part of the freighting. 
 
 "The Harbor" was the name given the small collection 
 of wretched houses in the vicinity of the two wharves. 
 The families living at The Harbor were of the poor class, 
 and it was said that the most of them were none too 
 honest. 
 
 Inza Burrage had an artistic temperament and an 
 eye for the picturesque. To her there had ever been some- 
 thing intensely fascinating and picturesque about The 
 Harbor and inhabitants thereof, nearly all of whom fished 
 more or less. 
 
 It was a pleasure to Inza to visit The Harbor, watch 
 the boats and vessels and the unkempt but at a distance 
 attractive fishermen. 
 
 "If I could paint !" she exclaimed a hundred times. 
 "What pictures could be made of this place and the 
 people !" 
 
 As she could not paint, she resolved to have some 
 pictures of the place anyway, and so she purchased a 
 small camera. As soon as she secured the camera, she 
 was eager to "snap" anything and everything at The 
 Harbor. 
 
 It was a pleasant afternoon when Inza, accompanied by
 
 The Road to the Harbor! 195 
 
 May Blossom, started out for The Harbor, taking the 
 little camera along. They chatted away enthusiastically, 
 as young girls will. Their talk was mainly of plates, and 
 lens, and films, and developing, and such matters as in- 
 terest amateur photographers, for May was developing 
 no small amount of enthusiasm on the subject, although the 
 real knowledge of both concerning the art was rather 
 limited. 
 
 At the first point where they could obtain a good view 
 of The Harbor they paused and Inza went into raptures 
 over the scene. 
 
 "Isn't it just perfectly lovely !" she cried. 
 
 "Yes," nodded May, "it is pretty, but it would be pret- 
 tier if it were not for that little huddle of shanties down 
 there." 
 
 "Oh, goodness !" exclaimed Inza, in fine disdain. "Why, 
 that is what finishes out the picture! That is the very 
 thing that gives it its real value." 
 
 May looked doubtful. 
 
 "It may be," she admitted; "but it seems like a blot 
 to me. I love nature, but " 
 
 "So do I. If those huts down there were fine houses 
 it would ruin the picture, but those shanties are so pictur- 
 esque ! And the fishermen are such jaunty, dirty, care- 
 less fellows! Look at that old vessel coming into the 
 harbor now. Let's hurry down where I can get a picture 
 of her as she swings into the wharf, for she is not going 
 to anchor out in the harbor." 
 
 Down the road ran the two girls, laughing merrily. The 
 afternoon was bright and sunny, and their hearts were 
 full of sunshine, too. 
 
 "If Elsie were here she would enjoy this !" panted Inza. 
 "She was always so much interested in The Harbor and 
 the old vessels that used to come in here. I suppose it
 
 196 The Road to the Harbor. 
 
 was because her father was a sea captain. She was quite 
 a sailor herself." 
 
 "Elsie ?" said May. "You mean Elsie Bellwood ?" 
 
 "Of course. You remember her? You know her fa- 
 ther's vessel was wrecked over in the Cove on Tiger 
 Tooth Ledge, and the academy boys formed a life-saving 
 crew, headed by Frank Merriwell, and saved Elsie and all 
 the sailors." 
 
 "Oh, yes, I remember all about it," said May, as they 
 slacked up a little from their running ; "but I thought you 
 didn't like Elsie." 
 
 "Thought I didn't like her?" cried Inza, astonished. 
 "Why, I took her home, and she stayed with me while she 
 Was in Fardale." 
 
 "I know that, but " 
 
 "But what?" 
 
 May was confused, and she seemed to be troubled to 
 find words to express herself. After a time she stam- 
 mered : 
 
 "Why, she she was so so friendly with with Frank, 
 you know. All the girls said she was trying to cut you 
 out." 
 
 Inza's eyes flashed, but she tossed her head and 
 laughed. 
 
 "Is that it? And you thought I did not like her be- 
 cause she was friendly with Frank Merriwell ? My good- 
 ness ! What do you take me for ? excuse the slang ! 
 Couldn't help it, you know." 
 
 "Why," said May, "aren't you jealous of a girl who tries 
 to cut you out ? I think I would be." 
 
 "Well, there is a difference in girls," said Inza, some- 
 what slowly. "Besides that, Elsie did not try to cut me 
 out." 
 
 "She didn't?" 
 
 "No."
 
 The Road to the Harbor. 197 
 
 "I heard so." 
 
 "Don't doubt it." 
 
 "But Frank Frank, he " 
 
 "He was smitten by Elsie's sweet face, blue eyes and 
 golden hair," acknowledged Inza. 
 
 "What about Elsie wasn't she smitten on Frank?" 
 
 "Yes, but she wasn't to blame for that! I think a girl 
 would be silly who didn't get stuck on him ! So there ! 
 She didn't try to cut me out. Instead of that, she tried 
 to keep away from him. Oh, Elsie has the most honest 
 little heart! One night she told me how much she liked 
 Frank, and how mean she felt. But she said she could 
 not help it, and she cried over it half the night. I told 
 her to get him if she could. I told her the field was 
 open, and I would withdraw if she won him." 
 
 "My!" cried May. "That's not much like you! I 
 shouldn't think such a thing of you!" 
 
 Inza laughed shortly. 
 
 "Just because I am quick-tempered sometimes, it seems 
 to you that I must have felt like tearing her to pieces? 
 Well," slowly, "I did feel a little that way at first, but 
 when I saw how honest she was and how bad she really 
 felt about it, my heart softened, and I threw the field 
 open to her. I did not mean to let her win him without 
 a struggle, but I resolved to keep still and let her have 
 him if she got him." 
 
 "But she couldn't get him !" 
 
 "I don't know about that. She didn't try." 
 
 "Oh, is that it?" 
 
 "Yes. She hurried her father away from Fardale as 
 soon as possible, and she told me she'd never see him 
 again." 
 
 "Well, she must be different from most girls !" 
 
 "She is."
 
 198 The Road to the ; Harbor. 
 
 "And she never wrote to him never tried to have 
 anything to do with him afterward?" 
 
 "Never till they met again by accident down in Florida. 
 He saved her from a frightful danger down there, and 
 they fell awfully in love with each other. He made her 
 promise to write, and she did so a few times." 
 
 "Oh, I thought she would !" cried May, triumphantly. 
 "I didn't think she could keep her promise to you !" 
 
 "But she wrote and told me all about it," smiled Inza, 
 with equal triumph. 
 
 "She did?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "And you answered her letter ? Gracious ! What did 
 you say to her?" 
 
 "Told her to go in and win if she could ! I tell you, I 
 don't want a fellow that thinks more of another girl than 
 he does of me. If I had such a fellow, and I suspected it, 
 I'd fire him over quick." 
 
 "And she didn't succeed in winning him from you 
 that is plain enough." 
 
 "Well," said Inza, doubtfully, "that may seem plain 
 enough to you, but there is nothing certain about it. Don't 
 ever breathe a word of what I tell you ! I'm afraid Frank 
 thinks more of her to-day than he does of me." 
 
 "Gracious goodness !" 
 
 May was astonished. She looked at Inza to see if the 
 girl was joking, but Inza was perfectly in earnest. 
 
 "When I am with Frank," said Inza, "he seems to 
 forget Elsie. But I am not deceived. When he is with 
 her, I am forgotten. Now, what I would like is to settle 
 which of us has the stronger pull with him. More slang ! 
 Got so it slips out when I don't notice." 
 
 "The stronger pull?" came from May. "How would 
 you put it to test?" 
 
 "If Elsie were here in Fardale now, we'd see who could
 
 The Road to the Harbor. 199 
 
 win him. I'd make her do her best to get him away from 
 me. If she succeeded, all right; if I succeeded, I'd make 
 her promise never to have anything to do with him again 
 in any way even to speak to him, if she could help it." 
 
 "And what if she won?" gasped May. "Would you 
 would you " 
 
 "Make a similar pledge yes ! And I'd keep it, too 1" 
 
 May looked at Inza in wonder. 
 
 "But you would hate her?" 
 
 "Not in the least! I wouldn't permit myself to hate 
 her." 
 
 "Well, you would hate Frank Merriwell?" 
 
 "Never! Sometimes I may seem angry with him, and 
 all that, but I do not forget that he has saved my life more 
 than once. I do not forget how he threw himself in front 
 of a mad dog to protect me, and fought the beist bare- 
 handed till Farmer Snodd shot the rabid creature !" 
 
 "Oh, I remember that !" cried May. "I saw it ! It was 
 terrible !" 
 
 "It was a most heroic act! He just wrapped hi-s coat 
 round his arm, and when the jaws of the dog set into that 
 coat, the creature's teeth did not reach his flesh. Then 
 he held the frothing, snarling creature by the throat till 
 John Snodd came up and fired both barrels of his gun into 
 the dog." 
 
 "And I fainted when I saw Frank fall down with the 
 dead dog on top of him !" cried May. "How everybody 
 praised him for that!" 
 
 "Then you remember how he saved me from death in 
 front of the express at the crossing in Fardale?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "That was not all, either. He rescued me from ruffians 
 in New Orleans, and saved the lives of myself and my 
 father in London, when a lighted bomb was thrown right 
 into the room where we were. He picked it up, all smok-
 
 aoo The Road to the Harbor. 
 
 ing as it was, and flung it out of the window again. It 
 exploded before it struck in the street." 
 
 May gave a little scream. 
 
 "Oh, he doesn't fear anything!" came proudly from 
 Inza. "And he helped me escape from a horrid odious 
 old Englishman that my father wanted me to marry. 
 Think I could hate him? Oh, no! No matter what 
 happened to separate us, I should not hate Frank Merri- 
 well." 
 
 They came to the first of the fishermen's huts. May 
 happened to turn about and look back. A gasp of sur- 
 prise and fear escaped her lips, and she clutched Inza's 
 arm. 
 
 "We are followed !" she exclaimed. 
 
 "Followed?" said Inza, quickly. "By whom?" 
 
 She looked back and saw two persons coming swiftly 
 down the road, as if seeking to overtake them. 
 
 "One is Rupert Reynolds !" said May, tremblingly. "I 
 would know him anywhere ! Will he never let me alone !" 
 
 "And the other is Ed Clair/' said Inza. "I used to 
 know him when we lived here, but he was a young man 
 then, and I was a small girl. They call him Elegant Ed, 
 and say he is a gambler. He and Reynolds hitch up well 
 together." 
 
 "Oh, can't we get away from them somewhere ! They 
 frighten me so! And this is such a place! Now that 
 we are out of the village, they will try to force their at- 
 tentions upon us." 
 
 "Let them try it!" flashed Inza. "I am not afraid of 
 them, and they will get into trouble if they do not let us 
 alone!"
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 THE GIRL ON THE VESSEL, 
 
 The girls were panting when they reached the old wharf 
 toward which the vessel was heading. May looked around 
 and then, pressing her trembling hands together, cried : 
 
 "There is no place to hide here !" 
 
 "Hide!" came scornfully from the lips of the dark- 
 haired girl. "Why should we hide ? Think I would hide 
 from those fellows? Not much!" 
 
 "What can we do?" 
 
 "Mind our own business and pay no attention to them 
 if they come here." 
 
 "They are coming!" 
 
 "Let 'em come. If they bother us we'll call on some 
 of the fishermen." 
 
 "Oh, but all the fishermen look like ruffians !" 
 
 "Just the same, I don't believe they would keep still and 
 let those fellows trouble us." 
 
 May was not reassured, but she sat down on some lum- 
 ber, while Inza prepared to take a picture of the schooner 
 as she swung in to the wharf. 
 
 Down came one of the vessel's sails with a rattling of 
 trucks, and Inza uttered a cry of disappointment. 
 
 "That's real mean !" she said. "Why, I was just going 
 to snap her. I wanted to take her with all her sails up." 
 
 The sailors could be seen at work on the deck of the 
 schooner. A man with a white beard was directing their 
 movements. 
 
 "Hurry up, Inza.," said May, "and you will be able to 
 get a picture before any more sails come down."
 
 202 The Girl on the Vessel. 
 
 "Yes, hurry up, my dear," said a laughing, musical 
 voice. "She will get too near if you don't." 
 
 Both girls looked up. Peering over the pile of lum- 
 ber was Elegant Ed. He lifted his hat with a show of 
 great politeness. 
 
 Just then Rupert Reynolds appeared by Ed's side, and 
 he also smiled and lifted his hat, a straw affair with a 
 dashy ribbon around it for a band. 
 
 "Ah, there !" he chirped, in a manner that was extremely 
 offensive. 
 
 "Stay there !" Inza instantly flung back. 
 
 Elegant Ed laughed, while Rupert scowled a bit, 
 saying : 
 
 "Oh, my! isn't she pert!" 
 
 "Oh, Inza !" said May, rising, "let's go away 1" 
 
 "Keep still," said Inza. "If they trouble us, I know 
 of some chaps who will just whip the life out of them. 
 (We'll only have to tell Frank Merriwell." 
 
 Reynolds gave an exclamation of scorn. 
 
 "Oh, you'll find Frank Merriwell is not so many ! He 
 doesn't run the universe ! He has his gang with him, we 
 know, but there are a few fellows in Fardale village who 
 would like to get at him and his gang. All we want is 
 a good opportunity. We are just looking for it, and " 
 
 Elegant Ed cut Rupert short, saying something to him 
 in a low tone, and then turned to the g*irls. 
 
 "We are not here to trouble you, young ladies, but to 
 protect you." 
 
 "We don't need your protection, sir !" flung back Inza. 
 
 "Oh, you don't know about that !" said Clair, quickly. 
 "The Harbor is not a safe place for girls like you to visit 
 alone." 
 
 "Fudge !" 
 
 "It is true," protested Ed. "These fishermen are pretty
 
 The Girl on the Vessel. 20} 
 
 rude at times, and there is no telling what notion they 
 might get into their heads." 
 
 "That's right," nodded Reynolds, hastening to support 
 the statement of his companion, with the view of alarm- 
 ing the girls, if possible. "We saw you coming down this 
 way, and Mr. Clair said it was our duty to come along and 
 look out for you, so we " 
 
 Elegant Ed cut him short again. 
 
 "I was surprised to see you coming here," he said, in 
 his polished way, his voice being soft and musical. "Mr. 
 Reynolds tells me you come here often, and come alone. 
 You do not realize your danger. Why, a man disap- 
 peared here this last spring, and well, he disappeared, 
 that's all." 
 
 "He was murdered," put in Reynolds, before the dandy 
 of Fardale could check him. 
 
 May screamed a little, but Inza simply said : 
 
 "I know all about that. The man was drunk and got 
 into a quarrel. You cannot frighten us into accepting 
 you as protectors by telling us that story. So yon may as 
 well go right away and let us alone. If we need protec- 
 tion, I am sure we would prefer the protection of these 
 fishermen." 
 
 Then she turned to May, saying firmly: 
 
 "Don't speak to them don't look at them. We will not 
 have anything to do with them. If they trouble us, we'll 
 tell some of those sailors when the vessel comes in here 
 to the wharf, and the sailors will throw them overboard." 
 
 May's fears were not quieted, but she turned from the 
 fellows who had followed them, and tried to give them 
 no further attention. 
 
 Clair and Reynolds held a hurried consultation in low- 
 spoken words, and then came round the pile of lumber. 
 They came near the girls, but pretended to be greatly in-
 
 204 The Girl on the Vessel. 
 
 terested in the approaching vessel. Clair was heard to 
 say: 
 
 "It's rather hard to be misunderstood in such a manner, 
 but we will stay here and look out for them. They are 
 young, and some of these low ruffians may bother them. 
 All we can do is keep watch of them." 
 
 Inza's lip curled, and she flashed a derisive look toward 
 the backs of the gambler and his young companion. 
 
 "That's a bluff, May, to make us think we really are in 
 danger," she said. "They think we will relent when we 
 see how ready they are to protect us, even though we have 
 given them the throw down." 
 
 "I am sorry we came to-day!" murmured May. 
 
 "I'm not ! I am going to take a picture of that vessel 
 now. It is my last chance. Then we will go around Phe 
 Harbor and get some more pictures." 
 
 "They will follow us." 
 
 "Then I shall speak to some of the fishermen, and I 
 rather think they will be taken care of." 
 
 Inza was on the point of taking a picture, having focused 
 her camera, when a girl appeared on deck and came for- 
 ward. 
 
 "Jove!" exclaimed Clair. "There is a little peach o 
 the vessel!" 
 
 "That's right," agreed Reynolds. "She's just my kind 
 pink cheeks and golden hair. Bet she has blue eyes! 
 She is a peach!" 
 
 Inza looked up and glanced toward the vessel. The girl 
 had reached the forward starboard rail and was gazing to- 
 ward the wharf. 
 
 "My!" cried Inza Burrage, nearly dropping her 
 camera. 
 
 "What is it?" asked May. 
 
 "Look!" came excitedly from the dark-haired girl. 
 "That girl there on the vessel 1"
 
 The Girl on the Vessel. 205 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Know her?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "I do ! I am sure I can't be mistaken ! It is as true 
 as I live, it is Elsie Bellwood !" 
 
 "Elsie Bellwood !" 
 
 May gasped the name, and then she clapped her hands 
 and began to dance. 
 
 "It is ! It is !" she cried. "You are right, Inza !" 
 
 In another moment Inza had put down the camera, all 
 thought of getting a picture having vanished) and was ex- 
 citedly fluttering her handkerchief. 
 
 "Elsie!" she cried, her voice ringing over the water. 
 "Elsie ! Elsie !" 
 
 Then the girl on the schooner suddenly grew excited. 
 She tore off her hat and fluttered it above her golden head, 
 dancing and laughing. 
 
 "It is Elsie it is !" came from Inza. "She recognizes 
 me ! See how glad she is ! That old man with the white 
 beard is Capt. Bellwood! That is his vessel! To think 
 of her coming here just as we were speaking of her! 
 It's just perfectly lovely!" 
 
 Inza's delight was not assumed. She was overjoyed to 
 see Elsie again. 
 
 Ant. Elsie was so delighted that she leaned away out 
 over the rail to call : 
 
 "Is that you, Inza Burrage? Can it be you?" 
 
 "Yes, Elsie yes !" Inza cried in turn. "Oh, I'm so glad 
 to see you ! Oh, Elsie Bellwood !" 
 
 She felt like cheering like a boy. She even started to 
 cheer, but the cheer was suddenly stopped by a cry of 
 horror. 
 
 For, leaning over the rail, Elsie Bellwood lost her bal- 
 ance, and, with a scream, fell overboard. She struck the 
 water with a splash and disappeared below the surface.
 
 206 The Girl on the Vessel. 
 
 May Blossom shrieked and covered her face with her 
 hands, while Inza seemed stricken dumb. 
 
 "Ye gods !" burst from Reynolds. "The little peach is 
 overboard ! Where's there a boat, Clair ? We must pull 
 her out!" 
 
 But Ed Clair did not wait for a boat. He flung aside 
 his silk hat and cane, he tore off his coat, and then he 
 leaped headlong from the wharf, diving into the water. 
 
 Ed came up quickly and swam off toward the vessel, 
 upon the deck of which the sailors were running about, 
 snouting hoarsely to one another. 
 
 Clair was a fine swimmer, and, despite his clothing, he 
 made good progress through the water. He was watching 
 for the golden head of the unfortunate girl to appear above 
 the water. 
 
 It came up, and Elsie cried out, chokingly, then it dis- 
 appeared. But Ed Clair went toward the spot where he 
 had seen the girl's head for a moment, and he swam with 
 all his strength. 
 
 When Elsie rose to the surface the second time, the 
 dandy was near, and he made a lunge for her, caught hold 
 of her, held her up, beginning to talk to her in a re- 
 assuring manner. 
 
 "Don't struggle," he said. "Be quiet, and I will save 
 you. They are letting down a boat from the schooner. 
 They will have us out of the water in a moment." 
 
 On the wharf Rupert Reynolds was grinding his teeth 
 and cursing. 
 
 "Look at the fellow!" he muttered, savagely. "He 
 thought to jump in there and save her that way, and it's 
 ten to one she will be all broken up over him. I remem- 
 ber something about Elsie Bellwood. All the boys were 
 crazy over her. She is the prettiest girl I ever saw, but 
 she didn't even look at me when she was here before. I
 
 The Girl on the Vessel. 207 
 
 suppose it was because I didn't form one of the gang that 
 saved her from the wreck. 
 
 "And here I have lost a splendid chance to make myself 
 solid with her ! I lost it because I did not want to spoil 
 my clothes ; but Clair didn't seem to care a hang about his 
 clothes. He's the most reckless fellow I ever saw, any- 
 way. Doesn't seem to care for anything. I don't believe 
 he is afraid of Frank Merriwell, even !" 
 
 Reynolds muttered the final words as if it were the 
 very acme of courage not to fear Merriwell. 
 
 In silence Inza watched Ed Clair swim out and get 
 hold of the girl in the water. May was on her knees, her 
 clasped hands and moving lips telling that she was praying. 
 
 Clair talked to Elsie, holding her off and keeping her 
 from clutching him. He saw the boat let down from the 
 vessel and manned, he saw it come toward them, and he 
 was well satisfied with himself and what he had done. 
 
 "This Merriwell is not the only pebble on the beach," 
 he thought. "There are others who can do a thing or 
 two." 
 
 As the boat came near, he cried : 
 
 "Steady, my hearties don't run us down ! Never mind 
 me ; take the young lady out first. I can swim ashore all 
 right. I swim around with my clothes on almost every 
 day. It's a little way I have. Can't bother to take off my 
 togs when I want a bath." 
 
 "Well, you're a cool one!" said one of the sailors, as 
 Elsie was lifted into the boat. 
 
 "I'm a trifle cooler than I was before I jumped in," said 
 Clair. "Going to take me into the boat ? All right ; but 
 you needn't bother. I can take care of myself." 
 
 "Lift him in," directed the shaking voice of old Capt. 
 Bellwood, who was holding his child in his arms. "Lift in 
 the young man who saved the life of my darling ! I want 
 to see him I want to thank him !"
 
 The Girl on the Vessel. 
 
 "Never mind the thanks, cap'n," laughed Ed, as he 
 was dragged dripping into the boat. "I am more than re- 
 paid by the pleasure of having rescued such a charming 
 young lady as your daughter seems to be." 
 
 There was a breath too much of flattery in his words 
 and manner, but the old captain was ready enough to over- 
 look that. 
 
 "You shall come aboard, sir," he said, "where you shall 
 dry your clothes and have a nip of something *o warm 
 you." 
 
 "Ah!" exclaimed Ed; "if you have some real good 
 stuff, skipper, I shan't mind taking a nip. The water was 
 cold, to be sure." 
 
 So he was taken on board the schooner, and Elsie Bell- 
 wood, rescued from one danger, had fallen into still greater 
 peril.
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 GIRL FRIENDS MEET. 
 
 "Capt. Bellwood," said Elegant Ed, as he sat in the 
 cabin of the schooner, "there is nothing like a little ad- 
 venture now and then to break the 'monotony of life. I 
 was delighted with the opportunity to rescue from the 
 water a beautiful girl like your daughter, for certainly she 
 is one of the most beautiful girls it has ever been my for- 
 tune to see." 
 
 "And she is as good as she is beautiful," declared the old 
 skipper, his eyes glowing. "She is the light of my old 
 age ! If harm should come to her, it would kill me !" 
 
 He placed glasses on the table and took a black bottle 
 from a locker. 
 
 "This is Jamaica rum," he said. "Here, Jim," calling 
 the cabin boy, "bring some hot water from the galley." 
 
 "Yes, sir," said Jim, skurrying away and quickly re- 
 turning with hot water. 
 
 "A hot toddy is what you need, young man," declared 
 the captain, as he mixed the drink. "It will warm you." 
 
 The schooner was making fast to the wharf, and Ru- 
 pert Reynolds came on board, bringing Clair's hat, coat 
 and cane. He came right down into the captain's cabin, 
 without waiting for an invitation. 
 
 "Friend of mine, Mr. Reynolds, Capt. Bellwood," said 
 the dandy of Fardale. "Perhaps he would like a nip." 
 
 "Eh?" said the captain. "He's rather young. I don't 
 believe in giving liquor to youngsters." 
 
 "Oh, he's old enough," laughed Clair. "It's all right, 
 captain; give him something, and I will be responsible." 
 
 "Well, if you say it's all right," said Justin Bellwood, re- 
 luctantly, "I'll give him a drink, but it doesn't seem right."
 
 210 Girl Friends Meet. 
 
 "The old fool !" muttered Rupert, behind the skipper's 
 back. 
 
 Reynolds was not in a very good humor, having lost an 
 opportunity to do something that would make him seem 
 heroic. He was sour toward Clair, but dared not show it. 
 
 Elegant Ed was in a jolly mood. He joked and told 
 stories till he had the skipper laughing heartily, and Capt. 
 Bellwood thought the young man who had rescued his 
 daughter was a very fine fellow. 
 
 Rupert kept still and watched Qair sullenly and jeal- 
 ously. He could see that Ed was doing his best to get 
 into the good graces of Capt. Bellwood, and was succeed- 
 ing finely. 
 
 After a time Reynolds became tired of it and urged 
 Clair to go back to town; but Ed was not ready to go 
 then, and told him so. Then Rupert said he was going, 
 and left. 
 
 "That fellow is too slick !" muttered Reynolds, as he 
 went ashore. "He has the old skipper on the string, and 
 he'll make Capt. Bellwood think him the finest fellow in 
 the world. He is working to cut some ice with the cap- 
 tain's daughter, and it's ten to one he succeeds." 
 
 Considering himself a "masher," it incensed Rupert 
 to have his companion get ahead of him in such a manner. 
 ATRupert had said, Elsie was "just his kind," for he ad- 
 mired any pretty girl with blue eyes and golden hair. 
 
 Inza and May were waiting on the wharf to see Elsie. 
 When Rupert came off, they longed to ask him about her, 
 but would not do so. They saw him leave the wharf and 
 take the road toward the village. 
 
 "I am going on board that vessel, May," declared Inza, 
 for the tenth time. "Come along. What is the use to be 
 afraid. It's Capt. Bellwood's vessel, and those sailors 
 won't harm us." 
 
 One of the men heard her words, and said :
 
 Girl Friends Meet. 211 
 
 "Lord love ye, miss, of course we wouldn't hurt ye! 
 Come right on board. I'll help ye." 
 
 May's timidity was overcome at last, and the girls were 
 assisted on board the schooner. The sailor showed them 
 the captain's cabin, explaining that Elsie had a room that 
 opened into that cabin. 
 
 Rather timidly the girls descended the stairs, but the 
 old skipper welcomed them and invited them in. 
 
 "Don't you know me, Capt. Bellwood?" asked Inza. 
 
 "Why, seems to me you do look natural," said the old 
 salt ; "but I don't seem to locate ye." 
 
 "I am the girl Elsie stopped with in Fardale that time 
 when your vessel was wrecked on Tiger Tooth. I am Inza 
 Burrage." 
 
 "Well, well, well!" cried the old man, bluffly, as he 
 caught hold of her hands. "It's powerful glad I am to 
 clap my peepers on ye ag'in ! You're handsomer than 
 ever. Elsie's always talking about ye. She thinks more 
 of you than any other gal in the whole world. Won't she 
 be pleased ! Well, well, well !" 
 
 "How is she?" 
 
 "All right, thanks to this young gentleman. She's been 
 changing her clothes, but she ought to have them changed 
 by this time, and " 
 
 The door to Elsie's room opened, and Elsie herself came 
 out with a rush and a glad cry. The two girls flew into 
 each other's arms, embraced, kissed, laughed and cried, 
 as girls will. 
 
 Elegant Ed smiled and stroked his light mustache as he 
 looked on, while Capt. Bellwood's eyes sparkled with the 
 pleasure he felt. 
 
 May and Elsie look a turn at greeting each other effu- 
 sively, and the girls jabbered away excitedly, all three of 
 them trying to talk at once. 
 
 "Bless their innocent hearts !" said Capt. Bellwood.
 
 212 Girl Friends Meet. 
 
 "They're all peaches," thought Ed Clair; "but there is 
 something about the old fellow's daughter that makes me 
 like her better than the others. I am going to capture the 
 little daisy, too!" 
 
 And so, while he was getting on the best of terms with 
 Capt. Bellvvood, he was plotting in his heart to do the old 
 man the greatest injury possible. 
 
 Elsie and Inza had so many things to talk about that 
 they could not seem to think of much of anything at all. 
 Over and over they repeated that they had so many things 
 to say, and still they did not seem to say any of them. 
 
 At last, however, Inza cried : 
 
 "Oh, Elsie you can't guess who is in Fardale I know 
 you can't !" 
 
 "Then I shall not try." said the captain's daughter. 
 
 She had a sweet face, and her laughter was like the 
 softest ripple of music. Her eyes were those of an inno- 
 cent child. 
 
 Clair noted all those things, and he thought how easy 
 it would be to make her believe he was wildly infatuated 
 with her. 
 
 "She will drop into the net easily," he thought. 
 
 "Just guess once," urged Inza. 
 
 So Elsie guessed. 
 
 "Wrong !" cried Inza, laughing. "I know you couldn't 
 guess, and still it is some one you know very well some 
 one you think a great deal of." 
 
 "Tell me!" urged Elsie, eagerly, "do tell me, Inza. 
 Who is it?" 
 
 "Frank Merriwell !" 
 
 Elsie gave a little smothered cry, her bosom rose and 
 fell with excitement, and her face flushed with delight. 
 The look in her eyes was one of untold surprise and 
 pleasure. 
 
 "Frank!" she said, softly; "Frank Merriwell?"
 
 Girl Friends Meet. 213 
 
 "Yes," nodded Inza, just the least trace of a shadow 
 coming to her heart as she noted the intensity of Elsie's 
 delight. "He is here with some of the old academy boys 
 and some college fellows from Yale. They are camping 
 not far from the academy." 
 
 Ed Clair was noting everything, and his teeth came 
 together with a click as he beheld Elsie's show of pleasure 
 on learning of Frank's presence in Fardale. 
 
 "So she, too, knows that fellow !" thought the dandy. 
 "Well, this Merriwell seems to have the inside track, but 
 he may be outwitted. He can't hold both of those girls." 
 
 That thought rilled him with satisfaction, and it was im- 
 mediately followed by another: 
 
 "Perhaps the appearance of this girl with the golden 
 hair may be a good thing. If it's worked right, the two 
 girls might be played against him so that he would lose 
 his hold on both of them." 
 
 His brain teemed with plots to bring about that result. 
 
 After a little Elsie's face clouded, all the look of joy 
 seeming to go out of it. In her frank way, she said : 
 
 "I don't know that Frank will be pleased to see me, 
 Inza." 
 
 Inza started, showing astonishment. 
 
 "Why, how is that?" she asked. 
 
 "He he did not answer the last letters I wrote him," 
 declared Elsie. 
 
 "Then he never received them !" came quickly from 
 Inza. "I am sure of that. Had he received them, he 
 would have answered them." 
 
 "You may be right," said Elsie, with an air of relief. 
 
 But it was plain her childish, innocent heart was full of 
 doubts. 
 
 "Give me the opportunity, and I will convince her that 
 Frank Merriwell doesn't care a snap for her," thought Ed 
 Clair. "She will be easy."
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 GREATEST SURPRISE OF ALL. 
 
 Elegant Ed did not let any grass grow under his feet, 
 for he felt that he must move quickly if he got ahead of 
 Frank Merriwell. One thing he feared was that Inza 
 would say something against him to Elsie, and so to pre- 
 vent that as far as possible he did not give her any im- 
 mediate opportunity. 
 
 Inza told Elsie there was to be a show in Fardale that 
 evening, and urged her to come over and go with her. 
 May could not go. She did not tell Elsie that she had 
 been invited to go with Frank, as she wished to hold that 
 back as a surprise. She felt that Frank would be delighted 
 to take them both. She knew him well enough to feel 
 perfectly safe in inviting Elsie. 
 
 Elsie promised to come over to the village and attend 
 the show. She set the time when she would come over. 
 
 Then Clair offered to send for a team to take Inza and 
 May back to the village, but they declined the favor. 
 He had shown such promptness in rescuing Elsie that they 
 were somewhat softened toward him, but still there was 
 nothing like a feeling of friendship toward him. 
 
 Inza resolved that at another time she would tell Elsie 
 just what kind of a fellow Elegant Ed was, but for the 
 present she held her peace. 
 
 Clair remained with Capt. Bellwood until after Inza and 
 May had departed. Then he took leave of the old skipper 
 and his pretty daughter. 
 
 By that time, under the warming influence of hot toddy, 
 Capt. Bellwood was a trifle mellow. He wrung Elegant 
 Ed's hand, saying, with bluff sincerity :
 
 Greatest Surprise of All. 215 
 
 "Young man, you will be welcome on board my vessel 
 any time. I shall not forget what you have done to-day, 
 and you may feel certain of that. Elsie will not forget it 
 either, will ye, gal?" 
 
 "Most certainly not," was the smiling answer. "Mr. 
 Clair will be welcome here as long as we remain in 
 port." 
 
 "Thank you," bowed Ed. "I shall avail myself of your 
 kindness, for I often come over to The Harbor. The 
 scenery over here is attractive, you know, and I admire 
 beautiful scenery and beautiful girls," he added, looking 
 straight into Elsie's eyes. 
 
 Something in that look brought a flush to her cheeks, 
 and she felt repulsed for a moment. Then, inwardly, she 
 rebuked herself for it. Surely he was a splendid fellow, 
 for, he had saved her life. And he was handsome; no 
 one could deny that. 
 
 He took her hand as he bade her good-night. The hand 
 he held was warm, and plump, and soft. It was a shapely 
 hand, and he gave it a slight pressure that added to the 
 color of her cheeks. 
 
 "Good-night," he said, again. And then, as if struck 
 by a sudden thought, he added : "I am going to take my 
 team out directly after supper. I should be delighted to 
 take you over to Miss Burrage's. May I come for you?" 
 
 Elsie hesitated, but her father quickly said : 
 
 "Why, certain. If it won't be too much trouble, you 
 may take her over." 
 
 "No trouble at all," said Clair. "I will be on hand." 
 
 He left The Harbor whistling, his silk hat set jauntily 
 on his head, twirling his cane. He felt well satisfied with 
 himself, despite the fact that his clothing was still wet. 
 
 "I have laid my pipes well," he told himself. "Now, I 
 must not make a slip. I rather think I can carry this
 
 216 Greatest Surprise of All. 
 
 thing through all right. Ha ! ha ! ha ! Mr. Frank Merri- 
 well, you are slick with the girls, but there are others." 
 
 At the appointed time that evening he drove over to 
 The Harbor with a handsome turnout and a span. He 
 was dressed in a manner that was decidedly "swell," for 
 he was bound to add to the impression he fancied he had 
 made with Elsie. 
 
 "If the old cove wants to come over with us, there won't 
 be any room," chuckled Ed. "Of course I didn't count 
 on him." 
 
 But he met Capt. Bellwood on the way to the village. 
 The captain greeted him heartily, and told him Elsie 
 would be waiting for him. 
 
 So it happened that Ed Clair brought Elsie Bellwood 
 into Fardale village. To his surprise, she was not only 
 dressed in a tasty manner, but her clothes were stylish 
 and up-to-date. He was well satisfied as he handed her 
 into the carriage, for he saw that no one could guy him 
 about the sort of a girl he was driving with. 
 
 "It's too bad to make you all this trouble," said Elsie. 
 
 "It's a pleasure, Miss Bellwood," declared Ed, in his 
 most fetching manner. 
 
 "You are very kind." 
 
 Then he talked to her in a manner that had won the 
 admiration of many girls before her. She looked up at him 
 with her innocent blue eyes, and he longed to hug her and 
 kiss her right away, but held himself in restraint, as he 
 knew it would not do to go too fast. 
 
 "There is plenty of time before the show begins," he 
 said. "Shall we not drive about the village a little? Of 
 course you wish to look it over, and this will give you a 
 splendid opportunity." 
 
 "But Inza wUl be waiting for me." 
 
 "She will not expect you so soon. Don't you worry, I'll 
 get you to Inza in good season."
 
 Greatest Surprise of All. 217 
 
 Somehow Elsie did not feel that it would be best to 
 let him take her about the village, but he talked to her in 
 such a persuasive manner that she could not say no. Be- 
 sides, he had risked his life for her, and she did not wish 
 to seem ungrateful. 
 
 So they drove about Fardale. The young fellows who 
 knew Ed, stared at them and wondered who the "new 
 peach" was. 
 
 Frank and Bart Hodge had decided to attend the show 
 that evening, and they came into the village together. 
 Frank was going to take Inza. Both lads were in good 
 spirits as they entered the village. They were talking over 
 their rather lively adventures since coming to Fardale. 
 
 "There is no telling what will happen next, old man," 
 said Frank, laughing. "I expected we would have a 
 warm time here, but so far it has been almost too warm." 
 
 "Your enemies seem to have struck the warmest end 
 of it," said Hodge. "Somers, for instance, was well 
 warmed." 
 
 "Poor fellow!" said Frank. "He came near getting 
 cooked for good." 
 
 "Served him right!" growled Bart. "He thought he 
 had cooked you. He got some of his own medicine, 
 that's all." 
 
 "But he is repentant enough now." 
 
 "Rot ! He was scared into it, for he thought you were 
 a ghost and were haunting him. Likely as not, were he to 
 get on his feet before you leave town, he would try to do 
 you another dirty turn." 
 
 "I don't believe it, Bart," came earnestly from Frank. 
 "Anyhow, I am not the fellow to jump on a foe that is 
 down, and so Somers is safe. They think he is a hero at 
 the academy." 
 
 "Talk about surprises !" exclaimed Bart. "You are the 
 biggest surprise I ever struck! You surprise me right
 
 218 Greatest Surprise of All. 
 
 along. I can't understand a fellow who is ready to for- 
 give his enemies. I can't forgive like that." 
 
 "With Harlow and Somers out of the ring, things are 
 apt to be quieter here. I rather think the surprises are 
 over, Bart." 
 
 At that moment Elegant Ed drove round a corner and 
 came along the street. Elsie was at his side. Frank saw 
 her, caught his breath, and almost staggered. 
 
 "Great Scott!" he gasped. 
 
 "What is it?" asked Bart. 
 
 "In the carriage " 
 
 "EdClair?" 
 
 No the girl with him ! Do you know her, Bart ? Are 
 my eyes deceiving me? It can't be possible?" 
 
 "Why," said Bart, scarcely less astonished, "I believe 
 it is Elsie Bellwood." 
 
 By that time the carriage was opposite them. Elsie saw 
 Frank and Bart. Her face lighted with pleasure, and she 
 bowed. 
 
 But neither of the boys bowed. They stared at her 
 dumbly, and the carriage passed on. 
 
 Frank turned to look after the turnout. 
 
 "I feel faint!" he exclaimed. "Hold me up, Bart, be- 
 fore I fall on my head ! Elsie Bellwood here with that 
 fellow! Say, am I dreaming?" 
 
 "Not a bit of it," declared Hodge. "That was Elsie 
 Bellwood. She bowed to us." 
 
 "She did, and I was too dazed to return the bow. How 
 in the world does it happen that she is in with Ed Clair? 
 Will you answer that question, old man ?" 
 
 "I can't." 
 
 "Talk about surprises I" cried Frank. "This is the great- 
 est one of all!"
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 FRANK IS REPULSED. 
 
 Frank was dumfounded. His head was in a whirl. He 
 watched the turnout till it disappeared. Once Elsie turned 
 to look back. 
 
 "As Elsie is here, Inza must know all about it," he 
 said. "I'll find out what it means as soon as I can see 
 her." 
 
 "But that she should be riding- with Ed Clairl" said 
 Bart, scowling. "That was what upset me !" 
 
 "And it upset me ! Elsie with that fellow ! It can't be 
 she knows what he is ! If she does " 
 
 He stopped short, and was silent some moments. Fi- 
 nally he said : 
 
 "Bart, I am going to see Inza as soon as possible. Will 
 see you again after the show. By that time I ought to 
 be able to explain it to you." 
 
 The boys separated. 
 
 As Frank was on his way to keep his appointment with 
 Inza a hundred wild fancies filled his head. Elsie had 
 not written to him for some time. She -had promised to 
 write, but had not kept her word. He had thought it 
 strange, but fancied she might be at sea on a long voyage 
 with her father. Now she was here in Fardale, and she 
 was with Ed Gair, the gambler. 
 
 A great fear began to tug at Frank's heart. Gair was 
 a handsome and fascinating fellow, and he often left Far- 
 dale and was away for weeks or months. It was said that 
 he went away to gamble. Had he, while on one of those 
 expeditions, met and become acquainted with Elsie? Had 
 he fascinated her so she had fallen in love with him ? If
 
 220 Frank Is Repulsed. 
 
 so, Frank felt that Elsie, the Elsie who was so dear to 
 him, was lost. 
 
 That thought filled him with the most poignant anguish. 
 He began to feel frantic in his desire to tear her from Ed 
 Clair. Never, perhaps, till that moment had he realized 
 how dear she was to him. The thought that she might 
 be lost to him forever brought to his heart a realizing 
 sense of this. 
 
 His brain was in a whirl. He felt like rushing to the 
 livery stable, hiring a fast horse, and pursuing Clair ^nd 
 Elsie. His good sense told him such an act would be 
 folly. 
 
 But the knowledge of her possible danger checked him. 
 If she did not know what sort of a fellow Ed Clair was, 
 she should know at once. 
 
 If she did know 
 
 He did not wish to think of that. He did not wish to 
 think that, knowing Clair was a gambler, Elsie was sitting 
 at his side as he drove that spanking span through Far- 
 dale. Yet it seemed possible. It seemed that Clair might 
 have met her while away from Fardale the last time and 
 she had come to the town by appointment. 
 
 Even if this were true, Frank felt like taking her from 
 the fellow. 
 
 "She is mine !" he told himself over and over, without 
 realizing what he was saying. "No other girl has ever 
 been the same to me not even Inza ! He has no right to 
 take her from me ! I'll take her away by force, if neces- 
 sary !" 
 
 Frank was desperate then. His eyes were open at 
 last, and he knew that Elsie Bellwood was everything in 
 the world to him. 
 
 He hastened on to meet Inza. 
 
 In the meantime, after passing Merriwell and Hodge, 
 Qair had turned to the girl at his side, and he saw that
 
 Frank Is Repulsed. 221 
 
 she was pressing one hand over her heart, while her face 
 had grown pale, and there was a look of pain on her 
 face. 
 
 "What is the matter, Miss Bell wood?" he asked. 
 
 "I am not feeling well," she answered, slowly. "I do 
 not think I will go to the show to-night. If you will take 
 me back to the vessel " 
 
 "Oh, surely, you will not go back now ! Miss Burrage 
 will wait for you. Perhaps Mr. Merriwell will be with 
 her. He is with her the most of the time. People here 
 say they will get married sometime if you do not cut 
 her out." 
 
 Elsie's lips were pressed together, but she did not 
 speak. Ed went on : 
 
 "They say you might have cut her out one time, but 
 that she has the real right to him. They are gossips. You 
 know how it is in a village like this. They want some- 
 thing to talk about. Why, they even said that, although 
 she befriended you and took you into her own home, you 
 came near cutting her out. I don't believe you would do 
 anything like that, but gossips will be gossips." 
 
 Elsie tried to force a smile, but it was a sad failure. 
 
 "It doesn't look as if there is much danger that I will 
 cut her out," she said. "Didn't you see how contemptu- 
 ously he stared at me, and he did not even return my 
 bow ?" 
 
 "I didn't notice/' lied Clair. 
 
 "Now, I know he did not answer my letters because he 
 did not wish to," she murmured. 
 
 In her heart she was thinking: 
 
 "I have been a foolish girl ! I let him see how much I 
 cared for him, and he has come to regard me with con- 
 tempt. If I had not let him know !" 
 
 She was tortured that moment as only a girl with a 
 sensitive nature and a tender, loving heart may be.
 
 222 Frank Is Repulsed. 
 
 "The best way to win some fellows is to show them you 
 do not care a snap for them,'' said Clair. 
 
 He talked smoothly to her. At first she was certain she 
 would not go to the show. She even insisted that she 
 would return to the vessel. He told her how lonely it 
 would be over at The Harbor, as, of course, nearly all the 
 sailors were ashore and in town. 
 
 Back near the post office they saw Capt. Bellwood. Ed 
 drew up, and the skipper came out to the carriage. Then 
 Ed got in his work. He told the captain how Elsie wished 
 to go back to the vessel, ending by inviting Elsie and her 
 father to accompany him to the show. 
 
 "We'll have a private box," he said. "Fardale has just 
 built a new opera house, and it has boxes. What do you 
 say, captain?" 
 
 "Why, of course, we'll go," said the skipper. "I don't 
 get many opportunities to see a good show. And Elsie 
 needs something to liven her up. She's been sad for a 
 month. Now, not a word, gal we'll go." 
 
 Elsie was used to his commanding ways, and she sub- 
 mitted, although she did not wish to go. 
 
 Thus it came about that Capt. Bellwood, his daughter 
 and Ed Clair occupied one of the private boxes. 
 
 Elsie did not go to see Inza, fearing to meet Frank 
 Merriwell. 
 
 She did not feel that she could meet him then. 
 
 Elsie sat back in the box as the audience gathered in 
 the little opera house. She had a position where she 
 could see nearly everyone who entered, and yet was not 
 out m the full glare of the lights. She watched anxiously. 
 
 The orchestra was playing the overture before the ones 
 for whom Elsie watched entered. Frank and Inza came in 
 together. They had seats near the center of the hall, 
 well down toward the stage. Elsie drew back, but con- 
 tinued to watch them, her heart throbbing in her bosom.
 
 Frank Is Repulsed. 22} 
 
 Frank and Inza were talking earnestly. Both looked 
 worried and restless. Trie most of the time Elsie watched 
 Frank. She saw he was the same handsome, manly-look- 
 ing fellow she had admired so much. 
 
 Ed Clair sat in the shadow, also. He congratulated 
 himself on the way things were going. 
 
 "I'll play the two girls against each other and win the 
 one I want," he told himself. 
 
 He talked to Elsie, but she did not seem to hear much 
 that he said. When she did hear, she made replies in a 
 mechanical manner. Capt. Bellwood had not seen Frank 
 Merriwell enter. He was listening to the orchestra. 
 
 "Pritty good music," he said, nodding his satisfaction. 
 "We don't get a chance to hear music like that often, do 
 we, Elsie? This is a real treat for me." 
 
 The curtain went up and the show began ; but still Elsie 
 watched Frank and Inza. She had no interest in what 
 was taking place on the stage. 
 
 After a time Inza saw her there in the box. At first 
 it seemed that Inza could not believe it, but, after a little, 
 she called Frank's attention. Elsie had drawn back still 
 farther, but Frank saw her, and his face flushed, while a 
 look of relief came over it. From his position he could 
 see Elsie and her father, but did not see Clair. 
 
 Inza said something to Frank. She seemed to be tell- 
 ing him to do something. Straightway, he got up, passed 
 to the back of the hall, and then came down to the side 
 door that opened into the box. 
 
 Ed Clair had been anticipating the move, and he met 
 Frank at the door. Merry was surprised, for he had not 
 expected to see Elegant Ed there. He asked for Miss 
 Bellwood. 
 
 "This is a private box," said Clair, haughtily. 
 
 Then he closed the door in Merriwell's face.
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 MERRIWECL STRIKES. 
 
 Elsie knew Frank had called at the box and had been 
 refused admittance by Clair. She was both glad and 
 sorry. For the first time in her life there was in her heart 
 something like a feeling of resentment toward Frank. 
 
 Over and over she told herself he might have answered 
 her letters, at least, even though he had decided at last that 
 he thought the more of Inza. 
 
 Qair changed his seat after Merriwell's repulse. He 
 changed to a position where he could see Frank and Frank 
 could see him. He felt that he had given Merriwell a 
 body blow, and he was determined to enjoy his triumph. 
 
 Frank went back quietly and took his .seat at Inza's 
 side. She questioned him eagerly, but it was plain that 
 he put her off for the time. 
 
 Before the end of the first act five of Merriwell's friends 
 entered the opera house and found seats together. They 
 were Bruce, Jack Diamond, Ephraim, Barney and Hans. 
 Not far from them sat Bart Hodge. 
 
 "Merriwell's gang is here," thought Ed Clair. "It's a 
 queer collection of characters that hang around him." 
 
 When the curtain had descended at the close of the first 
 act Frank was seen speaking earnestly to the girl at his 
 side. As he talked to her she became excited, and she 
 often looked toward the box occupied by Capt. Bellwood, 
 his daughter and the dandy of the town. 
 
 Elegant Ed observed this, and he chatted and laughed 
 with Elsie. Elsie did not feel much like laughing, but she 
 forced the smiles to her lips, resolved that Frank should 
 not know how he had hurt her.
 
 Merriwell Strikes. 225 
 
 When she learned how Frank had been repulsed, Inza 
 wanted to go to the box herself, but Merry advised her 
 against it. 
 
 "It would not be the proper thing, under the circum- 
 stances," he said. 
 
 "Bother on the proper thing!" exclaimed the girl, 
 warmly. "I must see Elsie and tell her what sort of fel- 
 low Ed Clair is. I should have told her to-day, but 
 I did not find the opportunity. Now I am sorry I did 
 not make one." 
 
 "You must not go to that box," said Frank. "I should 
 not have done so had I seen Clair there ; but I thought the 
 box was occupied alone by Capt. Bellwood and Elsie, 
 which made me feel that I would be welcome." 
 
 "Then I will send a message." 
 
 "You may send a message by one of the ushers." 
 
 Frank took a notebook from his pocket, and Inza wrote 
 on one of the pages, which was afterward torn out. 
 
 "DEAR ELSIE : You are in danger ! Must see you im- 
 mediately after the play is over. Shall wait for you at the 
 door. Do not show this, and say nothing about it. I 
 will explain everything when I meet you. Don't fail me, 
 Elsie ! INZA." 
 
 This note was sent by one of the ushers to the box. The 
 usher was instructed to deliver it to no one but the girl 
 in the box herself, and he promised that he would not. 
 
 Frank and Inza watched. They saw Clair disappear 
 from the front of the box, and he was gone some time. 
 Pretty soon he came back and sat down. He was laugh- 
 ing triumphantly. 
 
 "Elsie did not go to the door!" whispered Inza, 
 excitedly. 
 
 "No," said Frank, simply. 
 
 "What do you supose it means ?"
 
 226 Merriwell Strikes. 
 
 "That your message will not roach her. Clair has 
 blocked it. See, he is laughing at us." 
 
 "What's that he has in his hand? Is it can it be " 
 
 "The message ? It's likely. Here comes the usher." 
 
 The usher approached, his face crimson with confu- 
 sion. 
 
 "I beg your pardon," he said. "I am not to blame. I 
 told Mr. Clair that the note was to be delivered to the 
 girl herself. He offered to give it to her, but I would 
 not let him have it. All at once, he snatched it from my 
 hand and closed the door in my face." 
 
 Frank's teeth came together with a click. 
 
 "Very well," he said, and the usher walked away. 
 
 Inza was growing more and more excited and angry. 
 
 "What can we do?" she kept asking over and over. 
 
 "Wait till after the play," advised Frank, quietly. "Mr. 
 Ed Clair is fast reaching the end of his rope. He must 
 be foolish to think he can keep the truth from Elsie." 
 
 They saw the fellow coolly read the note and then tear 
 it into small pieces before their eyes and fling the pieces 
 to the floor. He sat near Elsie and continued to chat 
 with her and laugh. 
 
 Frank's blood was well warmed by this time, but, out- 
 wardly, he was as cool as ice. He had resolved to get the 
 best of Elegant Ed that very night. He felt that Clair 
 was maligning him, and he was right. 
 
 The dandy of the town had called the attention of Capt. 
 Bellwood to Frank and Inza. As first the old man's face 
 flushed with pleasure on seeing Merry. 
 
 "A fine lad !" he declared. "I know him well." 
 
 "He is a fine-looking fellow," bowed Clair. "It's too 
 bad that he is such a masher." 
 
 The old salt wrinkled his face and looked doubtful. 
 
 ""He is young," he said. "Young fellows are liable to
 
 Merriwell Strikes. 227 
 
 be chasing the gals more or less. I know I did in my 
 day." 
 
 "But he boasts of his conquests. He shows the letters 
 he receives from the girls who are stuck on him." 
 
 "Ah, now, now !" protested Capt. Bellwood ; "that can't 
 be true. I do not think Frank Merriwell would be that 
 foolish. I know him well, I tell you. He has been a 
 passenger with me on one of my vessels. He is a frank, 
 open fellow, but I don't think he would do a thing like 
 that. No, no, sir !" 
 
 "I can bring a dozen persons in this village who will 
 tell you that he has read the letters received from girls. 
 Among those letters was one from Miss Bellwood, too." 
 
 This was a bold stroke for Ed. He was determined to 
 get in his work right away. If he could arouse the captain 
 so that Frank and Elsie would be kept apart a few days, 
 that was all he asked. 
 
 Justin Bellwood looked astonished. 
 
 "Hum ! hum !" he coughed. "I believe you did write 
 to him, Elsie? You asked me about it, and I gave you 
 permission." 
 
 Elsie's face was pale, but she said nothing. She did 
 not wish to believe that Frank had shown any of her 
 letters and laughed over them, but he had acted strangely 
 in not answering them, and she was in doubt. She fell 
 like telling Clair that she did not believe what he was say- 
 ing, but she remembered how he had rescued her thai 
 day, and she thought it would not be right to speak sc 
 plainly. 
 
 "If there are love passages in the letters," said Clair, "he 
 always calls particular attention to them and ridicules thi 
 girls as soft." 
 
 The pale face of the captain's daughter flushed then, 
 for she knew she had spoken freely in some of her let- 
 ters to Frank, and it humiliated her to think he might hav
 
 228 Merriwell Strikes. 
 
 laughed at her frankness and ridiculed her as "soft." 
 She was sure there had been a time when Frank cared 
 for her, but he was a "college man" now, and, without 
 doubt, he had met many aristocratic girls of wealthy par- 
 ents, so that Elsie, the captain's daughter, seemed of little 
 account to him save as a companion for some idle hour. 
 
 These thoughts hurt her, but she feared they were true. 
 
 "Well, gal," said the old skipper, "I hope you ain't been 
 foolish enough to write him anything he could have sport 
 over. He seems to be pretty well satisfied with the gal 
 he has there, and so you better keep away from him." 
 
 That was all he said, but Elsie felt that her father had 
 forbidden her to have anything to do with Frank. 
 
 "It's needless to caution me," she thought. "He would 
 not even recognize me on the street. I am nothing but 
 the daughter of a poor sea captain, and he is a Yale man. 
 That's what's the matter !" 
 
 She took very little interest in the play, although she 
 pretended to do so at times. It was plain she was wearied 
 with it all, and longed to be away, but Capt. Bellwood en- 
 joyed it, and he would not leave till it was over, although 
 urged to do so by both Elsie and Ed Clair. 
 
 Clair wished to leave the hall in advance of the crowd, 
 and he secretly cursed Capt. Bellwood for his obstinacy. 
 
 At last the play was over. The curtain descended on 
 the last act, and the orchestra played "Home, Sweet 
 Home," while the audience streamed out of the opera 
 house. 
 
 There was but one entrance and exit, for which Merri- 
 well was thankful. At the door Frank and Inza took a 
 position where they could see the spectators as they passed. 
 
 "You must speak to her, Inza," said Frank. "She must 
 be told the truth to-night." 
 
 Pretty soon Capt. Bellwood, Elsie and Ed Clair came
 
 Merriwell Strikes. 229 
 
 along. Immediately Inza hastened to the side of her girl 
 friend, crying: 
 
 "Oh, Elsie, I must see you a moment! I wish to speak 
 with you." 
 
 A muttered imprecation escaped Clair, and, with a 
 sudden impulse, he reached out to stop Inza, rudely grasp- 
 ing her by the wrist. She uttered a cry of pain. 
 
 The next moment there was the sound of a hard blow 
 and a fall. 
 
 Frank had promptly knocked Elegant Ed down !
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 A PITCHED BATTLE. 
 
 There was a sudden surge of the people who were pass- 
 ing out of the building. Women screamed. Some tried 
 to stop on the stairs, but others forced them down and 
 out. Nearly all had left the building before this. 
 
 Clair's rude act had caused Frank to act quite as swiftly. 
 He had struck the fellow a heavy blow, and the dandy of 
 the town dropped like a log. 
 
 But Elegant Ed was not knocked out. He quickly 
 scrambled up, his face flaming with passion. 
 
 Frank had said to Inza: 
 
 "Take Elsie away take her home with you! There 
 will be a riot here! Get her away at once, or you may 
 get hurt, both of you." 
 
 "Oh, Frank!" exclaimed Inza; "all the town fellows 
 will stand in with him! You will be killed! You are 
 alone !" 
 
 "Not much!" exclaimed a voice, and Bart Hodge ap- 
 peared at Frank's side. "Don't worry about him, Miss 
 Burrage. All of our party is at hand. We'll stand by 
 Merry." 
 
 "Shiver my timbers!" began Capt. Bellwood. "What 
 is the meaning of this ?" 
 
 "Don't stop to ask questions," said Frank. "Take care 
 of Miss Elsie. This is no place for her." 
 
 As Ed got upon his feet, he gave a sharp, shrill whistle. 
 It was answered by several whistles outside the hall, and 
 there was a clatter of feet on the stairs. 
 
 "They're coming !" breathed Hodge, his eyes glittering,
 
 A Pitched Battle. 231 
 
 and his dark cheeks flushed. "We're in for a scrap, 
 Merry !" 
 
 "Yes, they are coming !" snarled Elegant Ed, "and you 
 are in for the worst licking you ever received !" 
 
 "Oh, I don't know!" laughed Merriwell. "You can't 
 tell about that." 
 
 Realizing there was danger, Capt. Bellwood hurried 
 down the stairs with Inza and Elsie. 
 
 The eyes of Frank and Bart met. Then they uttered 
 the old Yale yell the slogan that had called the sons of 
 Old Eli to battle on many a field. 
 
 Up the stairs came several of the young desperadoes 
 of the town. Clair was ready to direct them. 
 
 "At those chaps !" he shouted, pointing at Merriwell and 
 Hodge. "They jumped on me! Give it to them!" 
 
 With a yell, Glair's gang went at Frank and Bart. 
 
 "Back to back !" exclaimed Frank. "We must fight that 
 way till the boys come." 
 
 Back to back they placed themselves and met the onset 
 of Elegant Ed's gang. For a few moments it seemed 
 that they would be swept off their feet. 
 
 Then there was another rush of feet on the stairs. 
 
 "Hurro ! it's comin' we are !" roared the voice of Mulloy. 
 
 "Gosh all hemlock!" sounded the voice of Gallup. 
 "Saounds like there was a fight up there !" 
 
 "Yaw!" puffed the Dutch boy. "There peen drouble 
 ahead uf us, or you vos a liar !" 
 
 Not a word from the others of the party, but Browning 
 and Diamond were on hand and were the first ones to 
 reach the gang trying to beat down Merriwell and Hodge. 
 
 "Sail in, fellows !" shouted Frank. "We need you !" 
 
 Then there was a wild battle there at the head of the 
 stairs. The whole mass swung round and went plung- 
 ing down the stairs to the bottom, and the fight continued 
 out onto the street.
 
 232 A Pitched Battle. 
 
 "Don't let Merriwell and his gang get away!" cried 
 Ed Clair, directing his friends. "Do 'em up, boys do 
 'em up!" 
 
 "That's the chap I want to get at !" muttered Frank, who 
 Was engaged with one of the big toughs of the town. 
 "Knock him out, and it will come pretty near ending the 
 fight." 
 
 He watched his chance and gave the big fellow a punch 
 in the wind that doubled him up, then cracked him be- 
 hind the ear and knocked him over. 
 
 A large crowd of spectators had gathered in front of 
 the opera house to watch the fight. Some were crying 
 for the sheriff, but Bill Hawkins did not happen to be 
 on hand, and the pitched battle continued with unabated 
 fury. 
 
 Frank plunged through the thickest of it, hurling the 
 fighters right and left, regardless of friend or foe, in his 
 search for Elegant Ed. Merriwell's heart was full of 
 rage toward the gambler. 
 
 At last he came face to face with Clair. He seized 
 him by the shoulder, laughing triumphantly. It was the 
 same old dangerous laugh that came from his lips when 
 he was most aroused. 
 
 "You are the party I want !" he cried. 
 
 "Hang you!" snarled the dandy, whirling swiftly and 
 striking Frank. 
 
 Merry staggered under the blow, but he laughed 
 again. 
 
 "That was pretty good for you," he said; "but here 
 is something better!" 
 
 Then he knocked Qair down for the second time that 
 night, and bent over him, saying: 
 
 "Get up ! get up ! I don't want to hit you when you are 
 down, but I am going to spoil your good looks for a short 
 time ! I am going to give you some pretty black eyes."
 
 A Pitched Battle. 233 
 
 Panting, furious, blind with rage, Clair leaped up. 
 Merriwell's next blow failed to reach him, and he rushed 
 at Frank. 
 
 "You'll not get out of this with a whole bone in your 
 body !" fumed Ed. "My crowd will eat you and your 
 gang ! We are two to your one !" 
 
 "If you were four to our one, you would not be so 
 many," returned Frank. "But, whatever else happens, I 
 am going to give you what you deserve." 
 
 "Right!" thundered the voice of Bruce Browning, in 
 Frank's ear ; "give it to the duffer, Merry !" 
 
 Then the big college man sailed into the battle again, his 
 huge fists falling on the heads of Clair's gang, knocking 
 them right and left. Browning was a terrific fighter when 
 aroused, and he was beginning to wake up. 
 
 Diamond and Hodge were fighting silently and doing 
 their best. Ephraim Gallup was slashing about with his 
 long arms and whooping at the top of his voice : 
 
 "Wake up, snakes ! Gol darned if this ain't more fun 
 than diggin' 'taturs ! We-ow ! Who hit me on the ear ? 
 Show me the feller that punched me on my hearin* organ ! 
 I'll do him good ! Stop hittin' behind my back ! It's no 
 fair kickin' unless I kick fust !" 
 
 And "kick fust" he did in more cases than one. His 
 big feet were like battering-rams, and they lifted some of 
 the town boys right up into the air. 
 
 Barney Mulloy was in his glory. 
 
 "Hurio!" he bellowed. "It's a roight toight bit av a 
 schrap this is! It's warmin' me blood! Take thot, ye 
 spalpane! Begorra, did ye iwer see thim come up so 
 plisantly loike an' take their medicine !" 
 
 Then he was struck a blow that knocked him down, but 
 he bounded up like a rubber ball, giving another cheer and 
 sailing into the fight with redoubled fury. 
 
 Hans Dunnerwust was down the most of the time. He
 
 234 A Pitched Battle. 
 
 rolled about under the feet of the fighters and tripped 
 them up. 
 
 "Stob steppin' your feet me onto !" he squawked. "Uf 
 you don't got oudt my vay uf you vill tread me all ofer. 
 Wow ! Oxcuse yourseluf vor steppin' der schmall of my 
 pack in! You vill gif myseluf der kidney gomblaint uf 
 I don'd look oudt !" 
 
 Somehow he managed to get hold of the legs of the town 
 boys, and he tripped them up one after another. In this 
 manner he was far more effective than he could have been 
 on his feet. 
 
 In the meantime, Frank was clinging to Ed Clair and 
 giving him a thorough whipping. Again and again Ed 
 called for help, but Bruce Browning and Jack Diamond 
 kept off those who tried to render him assistance till, at last, 
 he was knocked out completely. 
 
 The fall of Clair seemed to take the heart out of the 
 gang. Some one shouted that Hawkins was coming, and 
 then there was a scattering. To the surprise of Frank and 
 his friends, of a sudden they found themselves left alone 
 and the fight was over. 
 
 Never before in the history of Fardale had Elegant 
 Ed's crowd been defeated in a pitched battle. The vil- 
 lagers themselves were slow to believe such a thing had 
 taken place, although not a few of them were glad of it. 
 
 Frank and his friends went directly to the hotel to get 
 patched up. They had not escaped unmarked. 
 
 Indeed, when they were where the light revealed the 
 true condition, it was seen that Barney and Bart, two of 
 the fiercest fighters, had been bruised and cut severely, 
 while Hans was covered with dust and blood, and Eph- 
 raim's coat had been stripped from his back. 
 
 "But we done th' spalpanes up, b'ys, hurro!" shouted 
 Barney, as he leaped into the air and cracked his heels to- 
 gether three times before touching the floor again. "It
 
 A Pitched Battle. 235 
 
 made me think av old toimes in Oireland. Begobs ! it wur 
 loike a rale Oirish fair !" 
 
 "Vale, I didn'd seen nottings fair apout id," declared 
 Hans. "Somepody got me down der groundt on, und der 
 whole kerpoodle valked all ofer me more as safendeen hun- 
 dret dimes !" 
 
 "Gol darned ef I didn't kainden wish I was to hum on 
 the farm !" admitted Ephraim Gallup. "That is, I wished 
 that till I got good an' mad arter some critter chunked me 
 on the jaw. Then I jest slashed right into the skirmish, 
 an' the way I lammed some of them fellers was a caution, 
 b'gosh!" 
 
 Frank hired a room at the hotel, so that they might have 
 a chance to wash up in privacy. When all of them were in 
 that room they talked over the battle as they bathed and 
 straightened themselves up. Frank sent out for arnica and 
 court-plaster. 
 
 "Do you know if Inza and Elsie left together ?" he asked 
 of Bart. 
 
 "I believe they did." 
 
 "It would have been like Inza had she remained to see 
 how the fight came out. Elsie may have been so fright- 
 ened that Inza was obliged to go away with her." 
 
 Frank resolved to hasten as soon as possible to the place 
 where Inza was stopping while in Fardale and find out if 
 the girls were safe. He had received two thumps that left 
 bruises, but he bathed them with arnica, brushed his 
 clothes, and started out fearlessly, not even telling anyone 
 where he was going. 
 
 The fight had produced a tumult of excitement in the 
 village, and knots of villagers were gathered on the street 
 talking it over. Frank avoided all of them, and went 
 directly to the house where Inza was visiting. 
 
 A ring at the doorbell brought Inza there herself. She 
 gave a cry of joy and threw her arms about Frank's neck.
 
 236 A Pitched Battle. 
 
 "Oh, I am giad you are all right !" she exclaimed. "But 
 I felt sure you would come out all right." 
 
 "Yes, I am all right," said he, "thanks to the fact that 
 my friends were on hand to stand by me. Some of the 
 boys were scarred up, but we done up Clair and his gang." 
 
 "Good ! It's what they deserved." 
 
 "I suppose you have told Elsie all about him ?" 
 
 "Yes, I told her and her father everything. They were 
 astonished, of course, but were glad to know the truth. 
 Capt. Bellwood says he will look out for Clair." 
 
 "Where are they now Elsie and her father?" 
 
 "They started for The Harbor about ten minutes ago." 
 
 Frank looked worried. 
 
 "I wanted to see them," he said. "I meant to take the 
 boys and escort them over." 
 
 "Oh, I don't suppose there is any danger. Capt. Bell- 
 wood can look out for Elsie." 
 
 "Capt. Bellwood is not as young as he might be." 
 
 Inza showed alarm. 
 
 "Do you think " she began. 
 
 "It's not likely anything will happen to them," said 
 Frank; "but I should have felt better had they been pro- 
 tected." 
 
 Then, with a hasty adieu to Inza, he hurried back toward 
 the hotel. 
 
 Inza was disappointed by Frank's call. He had not 
 seemed like himself, and he had hurried to get away as 
 soon as he learned Elsie was not there. 
 
 "It was Elsie he came to see," she told herself. 
 
 She felt her cheeks flush, and in her heart an arrow of 
 jealousy rankled. For long years she and Elsie had been 
 friendly rivals, but now she felt that the time had come 
 when Frank should choose between them. It must be 
 that he cared more for one than for the other, and he 
 should say which one.
 
 A Pitched Battle. 237 
 
 The more she thought about it the firmer this idea be- 
 came fixed in her mind. Frank's great concern over Elsie's 
 safety worried her, and still she would have thought less 
 of him had he not shown concern. 
 
 "If she wins him, I will still remain her friend," de- 
 clared Inza, although the thought was distressing. "I am 
 not going to be foolish and hate her. She is ^ sweet girl, 
 and she has not tried to win him from me. If I were to 
 ask her to do so, she would drop him at once and never 
 have anything to do with him. She would think it her 
 duty." 
 
 But, instead of asking such a thing of Elsie, Inza felt 
 that she would urge the captain's daughter to win Frank if 
 she could. 
 
 "I don't want him if he cares more for her than he does 
 for me," she told herself.
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 FOUL P:AY. 
 
 Frank hastened back to the hotel. Outside the door 
 some young men were talking. One of them said : 
 
 "Wonder where Clair and his gang has gone ?" 
 
 "Why?" asked another. 
 
 "Saw them about ten minutes ago striking out on the 
 road toward The Harbor. Can't be they are looking for 
 Merriwell's crowd, for them fellers are right here in the 
 hotel." 
 
 Frank shot into the hotel, he bounded up the stairs, he 
 burst into the room he had hired. 
 
 "Boys," he panted, "there may be more trouble to- 
 night !" 
 
 "Oxcuse me vile I get mine seluf der bed under !" cried 
 Hans, in alarm. 
 
 "What do you mean ?" asked Hodge, who had patched 
 up his wounds. "More trouble how ?" 
 
 "Capt. Bellwood and Elsie started out for The Harbor 
 a short time ago. I have just learned that Ed Clair and his 
 gang followed them." 
 
 There were exclamations from all sides. 
 
 "How many of you are with me to take the road to The 
 Harbor at once ?" asked Frank. 
 
 Every man expressed his readiness, even to Hans. 
 
 "Then get ready and come on," directed Frank. 
 
 Outside of Fardale is was dark, for the sky was over- 
 cast. The road to The Harbor lay through the blackness. 
 Along that road the Kttle party made its way as swiftly 
 as possible. Few words were spoken. When it was neces- 
 sary to speak, low tones were used.
 
 Foul Play. 239 
 
 Frank led the party. His ears were open, and he 
 seemed to be waiting for something, he knew not what. 
 
 More than two-thirds the distance to The Harbor had 
 been covered. Down the road in the collection of huts one 
 or two lights gleamed a dim red. There were lights on 
 Capt. Bellwood's schooner at the wharf, and other lights 
 on the vessels laying off. 
 
 Of a sudden, Frank's foot struck against something 
 over which he stumbled, falling on his hands and knees. 
 There was a groan. 
 
 "What's the matter?" asked Hodge, quickly. "Are you 
 hurt, Merry?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "But we heard you groan." 
 
 "I did not groan." 
 
 "We heard a groan." 
 
 "There is somebody in the road," said Frank, huskily, a 
 great fear assailing him. "I fell over his body. Strike a 
 match quick ! quick I" 
 
 Jack Diamond hastened to obey, for the sound of Frank's 
 voice told him haste was needed, even though the words 
 had not been so urgent. He scratched the match. It 
 flickered, flared, and then puff! a breath of wind blew 
 it out. 
 
 But that one brief flare of light had shown the staring 
 lads a dark figure stretched prone in the dust of the road. 
 
 Diamond uttered a cry, and then felt for another match ; 
 but he was thrust aside by Barney Mulloy, who said : 
 
 "It's a poor Oirishmon ye'd make, me b'y, av ye can't 
 loight a match in this bit av wind. Oi can loight wan in 
 a gale. It's aisy enough whin ye know th' thrick." 
 
 Then he struck a match, shaded it with his hands till it 
 burned up brightly, and then opened his hands so the light 
 fell full on the prostrate figure in the road. 
 
 It was Ctpt. Justin Bellwoodl
 
 240 Foul Play. 
 
 "Foul play!" cried Frank, pointing to a stain of blood on 
 the old man's hair. 
 
 "He is dead!" 
 
 "He's been murdered !" 
 
 "It's the divvil's own wurruk !" 
 
 These exclamations came from Frank's companions as 
 they stared down at the old man lying so still in the dust of 
 the road, his white hair dyed crimson with blood. 
 
 For a moment Frank Merriwell was unnerved. It was 
 not the sight of Justin Bellwood lying there so much as it 
 was another thought that took the heart from him. 
 
 Where was Elsie ? 
 
 She was not there, and, without doubt, she had been car- 
 ried away kidnaped! 
 
 The match dropped from Barney Mulloy's nerveless fin- 
 gers and turned to a tiny glowing ember in the dust. The 
 darkness seemed a hundred times more intense, and the 
 horror of the boys who fancied themselves in the presence 
 of death was great. 
 
 Then another groan was heard. It aroused Merry, who 
 immediately said : 
 
 "Strike another match, Barney. The captain still lives. 
 We must see how bad he is hurt." 
 
 Barney's shaking fingers found a second match and he 
 struck it, kneeling in the dust beside the prostrate figure. 
 Frank was kneeling also, and, as soon as the light ad- 
 mitted, he examined the wound on Capt. Bellwood's head. 
 
 "Not much of a cut," he said. "He was struck down 
 from behind, and, if his skull is not fractured, he may 
 come round all right. The blow robbed him of his senses." 
 
 "What kin we do, Frank ?" asked Ephraim Gallup, help- 
 lessly, 
 
 "You strike back to the village for a doctor, and be lively 
 about it," Merriwell directed. "The rest of us will carry 
 the captain to hii vessel, which lays at the wharf down
 
 Foul Play. 241 
 
 yonder. Bring a doctor, Ephraim. Tell him it is a case 
 of life or death." 
 
 "I'll do it, b'gosh !" exclaimed the boy from Vermont, 
 as he scurried away in the darkness, setting out on a run 
 for the village. 
 
 Capt. Bellwood was lifted and carried down to his ves- 
 sel. Frank was holding himself well in check, although 
 his heart was full of despair and fury at the thought of 
 Elsie's peril. 
 
 "Where do you suppose she is, Merry?" asked Hodge, 
 seeming to read Frank's thoughts. 
 
 "Heaven knows !" came helplessly from Merry's lips. 
 
 "Ed Clair has " 
 
 "If he harms a hair on her head I'll have his life!'* 
 panted Frank Merriwell. "If he harms her I will kill 
 him as true as there is a Heaven above us !" 
 
 Never before had Bart heard Frank take such an oath, 
 and he realized that Merry really meant it. Should harm 
 come to Elsie, Frank would seek Elegant Ed, thirsting for 
 his blood. 
 
 Hodge did not wonder, for he had known for a long 
 time that Frank thought the world of Elsie. He had seen 
 Merry hold himself in restraint when all sorts of injuries 
 had been heaped upon him, but now, if the girl he loved 
 was harmed, he would be like a raging tiger. 
 
 "He'll keep his word!" thought Bart. "He will kill 
 Clair!" 
 
 Hodge knew the hour had come when all the passions 
 Frank had held in check so long might break forth like a 
 conflagration. Bart had realized that Frank possessed 
 these passions, but held them in check by wonderful will 
 power, and now his sympathy was fully with Merry. 
 
 The vessel was reached and Capt. Bellwood was taken 
 aboard and carried into his cabin, where he was placed io
 
 242 Foul Play. 
 
 a bunk. The wound on his head was not bleeding much, 
 and he was breathing regularly. 
 
 Frank called for water, and bathed the old skipper's 
 head and face. After a little, the captain opened his eyes 
 and stared about in a dazed way. 
 
 "Captain," said Frank, softly holding his voice as stead- 
 ily as possible, "how do you feel ?" 
 
 "Eh?" said Justin Bellwood, hazily. "What's the mat- 
 ter?" 
 
 He spoke with some difficulty, his tongue seeming thick 
 and unwieldy in his mouth. 
 
 "You were hurt, captain. How did it happen ?" 
 
 "Hurt? I don't know. My head " 
 
 He lifted a hand feebly to his head, and then paused, ap- 
 parently trying to collect his thoughts. 
 
 All at once, he started up in the bunk, crying : 
 
 "My little gal!" 
 
 "Yes, yes!" said Frank, steadying him. "Where is 
 she?" 
 
 "Where is she ? God knows ! Ain't she here ?" 
 
 "She is not here, captain. We found you in the road 
 and brought you here. We did not find her ! We found 
 no trace of her." 
 
 For some moments Capt. Bellwood raved like a madman. 
 
 "The devils!" he cried. "They have carried her away! 
 Oh, my poor little gal !" 
 
 "Who did it?" demanded Frank. "Be calm, captain. 
 Tell us who did it, so that we can save her." 
 
 It was with the utmost difficulty that Merriwell could 
 make an outward showing of calmness himself. His face 
 was deathly pale, and his eyes were blazing with a wild 
 light. He was eager to hear what tlie distracted father 
 could tell. 
 
 "I don't know who did it !" groaned Capt. Bellwood. "I 
 could not see them in the darkness."
 
 Foul Play. 243 
 
 "How did it happen ?" 
 
 "We were coming to the vessel. Oh, my poor Elsie !'* 
 
 "Yes, yes you were coming to the vessel. Go on." 
 
 "We heard footsteps behind us. A number of persons 
 were coming on the run. Almost before we knew it they 
 were right upon us." 
 
 "Go cm ! Go on !" 
 
 "I drew Elsie out of the way to let them pass, but they 
 stopped and surrounded us. One of them grabbed my gal. 
 I struck him down, old man though I am." 
 
 "What happened then ?" 
 
 "Then it seemed as if the heavens fell on my head. I 
 saw a blinding burst of light, and next I was here. My 
 poor Elsie !" 
 
 It was all Capt. Bellwood could tell. He had not seen 
 one of his assailants to recognize him, and he did not know 
 whither Elsie had been taken. 
 
 Frank was certain Elegant Ed and his gang were the 
 culprits, but the thought that he could not follow them up 
 at once, filled him with such despair as he had never before 
 known. He felt like destroying anything and everything 
 within his reach. For once his nerves were beyond his 
 control. 
 
 Without a word he sprang up the stairs, reached the 
 deck, and rushed ashore. Before anyone could stop him 
 or ask him a question, he had vanished in the darkness. 
 
 It seemed to Frank that he must rush forth and find 
 Elsie somehow, and yet he fully realized his utter helpless- 
 ness. On the morrow he could have Clair and his gang 
 arrested, but he could not wait till to-morrow. Time was 
 precious. 
 
 "Oh, God ! Lead me to her !" 
 
 The words came from his lips, although scarcely was he 
 aware that ke uttered them. He ran on through the dark-
 
 244 Foul 
 
 ness till he stumbled and fell somewhere beside the road 
 that ran through The Harbor. 
 
 Frank sat up, benumbed, dazed, despairing. His utter 
 helplessness seemed to crush him, and he felt that his 
 strength had gone from him. All his life he had held him- 
 self so well in control that the outburst of that hour had 
 seemed to burn the heart out of him as a single flash burns 
 the powder in a pan. 
 
 For some moments he sat there, trying to collect his 
 thoughts. There were footsteps approaching, the murmur 
 of voices came nearer. Two persons were making their 
 way into the fishermen's settlement from the village. 
 
 "It's a bold lark," said one. 
 
 "Almost too bold," came from the other. 
 
 "Hope the old skipper ain't hurt much." 
 
 "Dick says he only tapped him hard enough to knocB 
 him silly for a little while." 
 
 In a single instant all the energy and life came back 
 to Frank Merriwell. He listened, hushing his breathing 
 and the tumultuous beating of his heart in which a new 
 hope was born. 
 
 For a moment the two fellows stopped near where Frank 
 crouched. One asked the other for a chew of tobacco, and 
 the plug was dropped in passing from hand to hand. Then 
 they struck a match to search for it, and the flare of light 
 threatened to betray the youth who knew the rescue of 
 Elsie Bellwood that night depended on what he should 
 hear from the lips of these two members of Elegant Ed's 
 gang.
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 A DARING RESCU-E. 
 
 The match burned brighter. Frank Merriwell remained 
 perfectly motionless. He could have been seen had either 
 of the two village lads looked in his direction. 
 
 "Here she is!" 
 
 The tobacco was found and the match was dropped. 
 
 The danger of discovery was past. "How is Ed goin' to 
 work his game ?" asked one. "He won't dare hold the girl 
 till mornin', for the whole of Fardale will be on the hunt 
 for her by that time." 
 
 "He don't mean to do that. He's goin' to rescue her be- 
 fore long." 
 
 "Rescue her?" 
 
 "Yep. That's his trick to make himself stand solid 
 with her and her old dad. She don't know he had anything 
 to do with the kidnapin', and he ain't ever goin' to let 
 her know." 
 
 Now Frank Merriwell was listening, determined not to 
 miss a word. 
 
 "Ed's always up to some dare-devil thing, but he run 
 against a snag in Frank Merriwell. Ginger! but Merri- 
 well's crowd is tough! I'm well marked to pay for the 
 part I took in that scrap. I don't see what Ed's puttin' 
 himself to so much trouble for." 
 
 "For the reason that he wants to get ahead of this Merri- 
 well. The girl is stuck on Merriwell, but thinks Merriwell 
 is stuck on that other girl with the black hair and eyes. 
 Now, if Ed, after rescuing her from drowning to-day, can 
 save her from a gang of ruffians who kidnaped her, he 
 ought to be pretty solid with the little peach. See ? All
 
 246 A Daring Rescue. 
 
 the fellers wear masks, so she can't identify us when she 
 sees us ag'in. We have her down in Old Green's hut. 
 After we keep her there a while, Ed breaks in, puts us all 
 to flight, and saves her. If she don't glue to him after that 
 she ain't so soft as I think most gals are." 
 
 "The plan's all right, if nobody don't git into trouble 
 carryin' it out." 
 
 "Well, Ed pays us to take the chances." 
 
 "No fellers came down from the village arter Mem- 
 well's gang ?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 "And they're all on the vessel ?" 
 
 "Sure." 
 
 "Well, there ain't no use to watch the road longer. Let's 
 go down and see the gal." 
 
 Frank Merriwell tore off his shoes as they walked away, 
 and, in his stockinged feet he followed them with the foot- 
 steps of a creeping cat. 
 
 "Oh, I'll take a hand in this little game !" was the ex- 
 ultant cry of his heart. "Go on ! Lead me to her !" 
 
 He felt that he could cope with a score of foes in defense 
 of Elsie his Elsie. From deepest despair his soul had 
 swung back to hope and determination. 
 
 With the skill of an Indian trailer he followed the two 
 through the darkness. They passed through the fishers' 
 settlement, and, some distance beyond, they came to a 
 wretched hut that stood by itself not far from the shore. 
 
 Outside the door of this hut the village ruffians paused to 
 turn their coats and hide their faces with masks. Then 
 they gave a signal knock and were admitted. 
 
 Frank slipped up quickly. Listening at the door, he 
 heard voices within. Then he passed round the hut and 
 came to a window that was heavily curtained on the inside, 
 so that not a single ray of right shone out. Once more he 
 heard voices.
 
 A Daring Rescue. 247 
 
 "Don't be so skeered, little gal," said a muffled voice that 
 seemed disguised. "You won't be killed." 
 
 Then Frank's heart went into his throat with a bound, 
 for he heard Elsie's trembling voice pleading with them 
 entreating them to let her go. 
 
 Instantly Frank felt about. On the ground almost be- 
 neath the window he found a broken clam hoe. 
 
 He did not hesitate, and he did not go for aid. He felt 
 that his place was at Elsie's side, and he swung the clam 
 hoe. 
 
 Smash ! Crash ! Jingle ! 
 
 In a moment he had smashed in the window. In another 
 moment, having torn down the blanket suspended before it, 
 he went through the opening at a single bound. 
 
 Coming thus suddenly from darkness into light, he was 
 blinded temporarily, and, as he straightened up, he 
 blinked like an owl, realizing that he was face to face with 
 the whole of Ed Clair's gang. 
 
 "Frank!" 
 
 A scream of joy from Elsie. She broke away from a 
 big fellow who was holding her on a chair and rushed into 
 his arms. 
 
 "Elsie, my darling!" 
 
 He held her clasped to his bosom, half fainting as she 
 clung there. 
 
 It was a genuine sensation and a powerful tableau. Be- 
 fore him, astounded by his remarkable entrance, was the 
 gang of kidnapers, all of them disguised and masked. 
 
 It is possible that, at first, some of them had fancied 
 Frank was Ed Clair, but when he was fairly within the hut 
 and had straightened up before them, they realized the mis- 
 take. 
 
 "It's Merriwell !" 
 
 Several uttered the cry. 
 
 For some moments they seemed to hesitate on the point
 
 248 A Daring Rescue. 
 
 of flinging open the door and taking to their heels. It was 
 plain they expected Frank's friends to follow him through 
 the broken window. 
 
 Seeing he was not followed by his companions, they be- 
 gan to gather courage. The big fellow who had been hold- 
 ing Elsie in a chair and talking to her, roared : 
 
 "At the fool, fellers ! Now's our chance to hammer the 
 life out of him !" 
 
 The disguised toughs seemed on the verge of rushing at 
 Merry. 
 
 Frank swung Elsie round onto his left arm, and with his 
 right hand he lifted the broken clam hoe. 
 
 "Come on !" he challenged, his eyes blazing "come on ! 
 I'll agree to drive these tines into a few of you ! Some of 
 you will be taken out here on stretchers ! Come on !" 
 
 It seemed that he was eager for them to attack him, and 
 that caused them to hesitate again. Surely, if he struck 
 one of them on the head with the broken clam hoe the tines 
 would pierce the brain of the one struck. And he would 
 not hesitate to strike, they were sure of that. 
 
 "You fool !" roared the big fellow. "You have run your 
 head into a trap ! Do you think you'll ever get out of here 
 without being hammered within an inch of your life ?" 
 
 "There are not enough of you to do the trick !" flung 
 back Merriwell. "You dirty loafers ! You wretched ruf- 
 fians ! Come at me ! All I want is a good excuse to lay 
 some of you out for planting !" 
 
 He was fierce enough just then. Had there been a hun- 
 dred men at his back, he could not have faced them any 
 more boldly. He had found Elsie, and he had saved her. 
 He gloried in that thought. 
 
 Elegant Ed was not on hand to urge his tools to the at- 
 tack. He was making ready for the fake rescue he had 
 planned, and when he was fully ready to carry it out, he 
 ;would find Frank Merriwell had outwitted him.
 
 A Daring Rescue. 249 
 
 Elsie's strength came back when she saw how brave and 
 fearless Frank was. Surely he must have friends near. 
 
 The disguised toughs thought the same. They could not 
 believe he would dare smash in the window and face them 
 thus, armed with nothing save a broken clam hoe, unless 
 his friends were within call. 
 
 "They're here at The Harbor," declared one, and Frank 
 recognized the voice as one of the two fellows who had 
 come down the road. "We saw them come." 
 
 "They may be outside that very window, waiting for us 
 to attack him," spoke another. "Perhaps they've got guns 
 and are ready to shoot when we try to touch him. Mebbe 
 that's why he is so eager for us to try it." 
 
 That filled many of them with fear. They tried to peer 
 out into the darkness, and one of them declared he could 
 see something moving out there. 
 
 Then Frank, who was a skillful ventriloquist, seized his 
 opportunity. Outside the window a voice seemed to cry: 
 
 "Hurro ! We hiv th' spalpanes ! Come on, b'ys !" 
 
 "Yaw !" an answering voice seemed to say. "Surround 
 der houses alretty quick right avay! Don'd let anypody 
 escape !" 
 
 That was quite enough. With cries of fear, the young 
 ruffians tore open the door and fought among themselves 
 to be the first to get out. Away into the darkness they 
 fled, and they did not stop till they were far from the spot. 
 
 And, in a very short time, Elsie Bellwood was in her 
 father's arms.
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 FRANK'S CHOICE. 
 
 On tKe following day Elegant Ed was not to be found 
 in Fardale. He had disappeared, and with him had gone 
 the two young toughs Frank had followed to the place 
 where Elsie was held captive. 
 
 It was plain Clair feared the outcome of his desperate 
 and reckless venture to make himself appear a hero in 
 Elsie Bellwood's eyes. He had failed, had been defeated 
 by Frank, and straightway he decamped, fearing arrest 
 and investigation. 
 
 Fortunately, Capt. Bellwood was not seriously harmed. 
 iWhen his child was restored to him he seemed to recover 
 in a most amazing manner. But he was bitter against 
 Clair, and swore it would not be well with the dashing 
 young scoundrel if they ever met again. 
 
 The captain praised Frank for his daring. Over and 
 over Elsie told how Frank seemed to come flying through 
 the broken window to her rescue ; how he boldly faced the 
 whole crowd of young ruffians ; how single-handed he had 
 saved her. 
 
 The whole of Fardale rang with the story. It was a 
 sensation for the little town that had been given several 
 sensations since Frank's appearance there as a visitor. 
 Merry was regarded as something of a marvel. The vil- 
 lage boys followed him when he appeared in town, staring 
 at him, and telling each other that he was a "jim-hickey." 
 
 Frank was not pleased with so much notoriety. He did 
 not strut and pose, and he blushed like a girl when anyone 
 praised him to his face. Open praise made him feel like
 
 Frank's Choice. 251 
 
 running away. He told his chums that he would be driven 
 out of the town if "the thing kept up." 
 
 Merriwell's exploit was no surprise to his comrades. 
 Anything he might do would not seem remarkable to them. 
 But, among themselves, they discussed his exploit, and 
 agreed that not one fellow in a thousand would have dared 
 face the toughs single-handed, nor would have succeeded 
 in rescuing Elsie had he dared. 
 
 Elsie was invited and urged to come into the village and 
 stop a few days with Inza. She finally consented. 
 
 The girls did not seem to tire of talking about the kid- 
 naping and Frank's daring rescue. 
 
 "Elsie," said Inza, with unusual gravity, "no fellow 
 would have done that for a girl he did not care more for 
 than all the world." 
 
 Elsie blushed and shook her head. 
 
 "It was not that, Inza !" she quickly exclaimed. "You 
 know Frank is not like any other fellow." 
 
 "And I know you are very dear to him, Elsie. I am not 
 blind." 
 
 "Oh, but you are the one he cares more for than anyone 
 else." 
 
 "I doubt that," came firmly from Inza. "Frank likes 
 
 me, and I think him noble and all that, but but 
 
 Well, Elsie, to be plain, he can't be dead stuck on both of 
 us. There!" 
 
 Then she laughed merrily, but Elsie fancied the laughter 
 was forced. 
 
 "Even if he were stuck on us both," Inza went on, "this 
 is not Utah, and we are not Mormons. He must choose 
 between us." 
 
 A look of deep concern came to Elsie Bell wood's pretty 
 face. Again she shook her head. 
 
 "I have no right to ask that," she said. "You knew him 
 first. I would not come between you for worlds."
 
 252 Frank's Choice. 
 
 "Haven't a doubt of it," smiled the dark-haired girl; 
 "but there are things one can't help, and, if Frank cares 
 more for you than he does for me, I want to know it. It 
 wouldn't do a bit of good for you to take yourself out of 
 the way and leave the field to me, for he would continue to 
 care for you just the same." 
 
 The girls were silent, and there was a troubled look on 
 Elsie's face. The problem before them frightened her. 
 
 Not so with Inza. She was determined the problem 
 should be solved, but she knew it would not do for them 
 to go to Frank and tell him to choose between them. That 
 would seem immodest. 
 
 "I am not going to stay in Fardale long, Inza," said 
 Elsie. "In a few days I shall be gone, and Frank will for- 
 get me, as he did before." 
 
 "You foolish girl !" cried Inza. "He did not forget you." 
 
 "But my letters " 
 
 "Letters miscarry sometimes. Frank did not receive 
 your letters. Once I wrote to him and he did not answer. 
 I grew angry and did not write again. Afterward I knew 
 he never received my letter." 
 
 "But, Inza, if he should choose between us if he should 
 plainly prefer one of us " 
 
 "What then?" 
 
 "Wouldn't it break our friendship?" 
 
 "Look here, Elsie Bellwood, let's make an agreement 
 now. Let's swear to be friends always and forever, no 
 matter what happens. We can't both of us have Frank. 
 Perhaps some time when we are older and and married 
 perhaps we may want to visit each other. Are we going 
 to be foolish and never do so just because both of us could 
 not get the same fellow ?" 
 
 Inza was very grave, and Elsie was equally so. They 
 pledged themselves then and there always to be friends, no 
 matter what might happen.
 
 Frank's Choice. 253 
 
 Back of Fardale village less than a mile lay a small lake. 
 It was the same upon which Frank and Paul Rains had 
 once raced for life when Inza and May Blossom broke 
 through the ice while skating there winters before. 
 
 There were water lilies on the lake, and so, one after- 
 noon, Inza and Elsie went there to gather some. They 
 procured a small boat and rowed about on the lake. 
 
 They had not been there long before Inza saw two lads 
 rowing up from the lower end of the lake. She recognized 
 them at a distance as Frank Merriwell and Bart Hodge. 
 
 A sudden thought seemed to come to the dark-haired 
 girl. 
 
 "Can you swim, Elsie !" she asked. 
 
 "Not much," was the answer. "I tried to learn lasi 
 summer, but did not succeed very well." 
 
 "But you can swim a little ?" 
 
 "Oh, a very little." 
 
 "Do you think you could keep afloat a minute ?" 
 
 "Possibly I might. Why do you ask ?" 
 
 "Oh, I just wanted to know," answered Inza, evasively. 
 
 Elsie soon saw the other boat approaching, and called 
 Inza's attention to it. 
 
 "Don't seem to notice them at all," said Inza. "There 
 are some lovely lilies. Let's be gathering them." 
 
 So they rowed toward the lilies, while Frank and Bart 
 rowed nearer, sending their light boat along with regular 
 and powerful strokes. Both lads were splendid rowers. 
 They had removed coats and vests, and seemed to be 
 stripped down for work. It was plain they enjoyed rowing. 
 
 At last, when the boys were quite near, Inza leaned fa* 
 out of the boat to reach for a lily. She touched it, but the 
 boat suddenly tipped and began to take in water. Both 
 girls screamed, and, in another second, the boat capsized 
 and they were in the water.
 
 254 Frank's Choice. 
 
 The boys heard them scream and turned to see wliat had 
 happened. 
 
 "Jupiter !" gasped Bart. "They've upset !" 
 
 Without a word, Frank leaped up and plunged over- 
 board. He was a splendid swimmer, and the imperiled 
 girls were not far away. Both seemed to be struggling 
 helplessly. 
 
 "I'll save them both, if possible !" he thought. 
 
 But he was determined to save one of them, anyhow. 
 Elsie's pale face was turned pleadingly toward him, her 
 eyes filled with fear and entreaty. 
 
 A few strong strokes brought Frank to her side. He 
 caught hold of her, speaking to her soothingly, and assur- 
 ing her that she was all right. 
 
 As soon as he did this, Inza Burrage suddenly began to 
 swim toward the capsized boat. She caught hold of the 
 stern and held herself up, crying : 
 
 "I am all right ! Help them out first, Mr. Hodge." 
 
 Bart obeyed her so far as Elsie was concerned. He 
 whirled the boat about and backed it up so that, aided by 
 Frank, he lifted Elsie in over the stern. 
 
 "Take Inza in now," said Frank, immediately turning 
 and swimming to where the other girl was clinging to the 
 capsized boat. 
 
 Bart backed his boat down to the place, and Inza was 
 helped in beside Elsie. She laughed as she was lifted from 
 the water. 
 
 Then Frank came in over the bow, and took his turn at 
 laughing. 
 
 "Just a summer bath," he said. "It really doesn't amount 
 to anything, although it's too bad for you girls to get wet 
 like this." 
 
 Inza was thinking that it amounted to far more than he 
 dreamed. There was a pain hi her heart, but she was hid- 
 ing it successfully.
 
 Frank's Choice. 255 
 
 The girls sat together on the stern seat, and the boys 
 rowed them ashore. 
 
 "How in the world did it happen, Inza?" asked Elsie. 
 "You reached for a lily, and " 
 
 "And reached too far," smiled Inza. "I capsized the 
 boat." 
 
 She did not add that she capsized it purposely, but sucK 
 was the case. However, she did whisper in Elsie's ear : 
 
 "I said he should choose between us, and he has. When 
 we were both in peril, he hastened to save you first, dear. 
 You are his choice !" 
 
 "Don't be so sure," murmured Elsie, yet she could not 
 hide the look of pleasure that came into her face. 
 
 It was not long after this that all had an opportunity of 
 drying their clothing, and then they went out on the lake 
 together and had a good time for two hours. 
 
 And here we must, for the present, leave our hero. 
 There were still many adventures in store for him, some 
 of which will be related in the next volume of this series. 
 But all went well now, for Elegant Ed kept out of sight, 
 and so, too, did Rupert Reynolds, Wat Snell and Win 
 Harding. 
 
 "They are afraid of Frank," declared Bart. "They 
 know Merry is a very tiger when aroused." 
 
 "It's the old Yale spirit," put in Bruce Browning. 
 "When it once gets into a fellow's veins he can't help but 
 be a hero." 
 
 And all agreed with the big fellow. 
 
 THE END.
 
 "BEST OF ALL BOYS' BOOKS "} 
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 Frank Merriwell Stories 
 
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 Frank Merriwell's School Days Frank Merriwell's Skill 
 
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 Frank Merriwell Down South Frank Merriwell's Loyalty 
 
 Frank Merriwell's Bravery Frank Merriwell's Reward 
 
 Frank Merriwell's Races Frank Merriwell's Faith 
 Frank Merriwell's Hunting Tour Frank Merriwell's Victories 
 
 Frank Merriwell's Sports Afield Frank Merriwell's Power 
 
 Frank Merriwell at Yale Frank Merriwell's Set-Back 
 
 Frank Merriwell's Courage Frank Merriwell'g False Friend , 
 
 Frank Merriwell's Daring Frank Merriwell's Brother 
 
 Illustrated, cloth binding, 5O cents per volume 
 
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