"Of course we didn't mean to kill him, but the knife is out of order and it slipped by accident.

We haven't time to fix it properly, but there are only about nine chances out of ten that it will fall again." "Oh, you fellows shall pay for this!" feebly gasped Diamond.
Despite himself, although he knew how unlikely such a thing was, he could not help wondering if a terrible accident had really happened.

If not, where was Merriwell.

He looked around, but saw nothing of Frank, who was keeping in the background.
And then, when his nerves had been quite unstrung, the knife fell, the ice and warm water were applied, and Diamond could not choke back the cry of horror that forced itself from his lips.
A roar of laughter broke from the masked students.
When Diamond was lifted to his feet he was almost too weak to stand.

He clinched his teeth, vowing over and over to himself that he would find a way to square accounts.
"If it takes me a year, I'll find out who the leaders in this affair are, and they shall suffer for it!" he thought.
"Give him a chance to see the others put through the mill," said Mephisto, and Diamond's hands were released.
The Virginian looked around, seeming irresolute for a moment.