"Merriwell has put on a big front, and succeeded in making everybody believe he is a terror, but the time has come to cook his goose.

Give him a good licking, and he will not be so high and mighty.

His popularity will mighty soon begin to wane." "You do not seem to love him." "Not much! The cad has called me down on parade several times." "Me, too." "I'd like to get a grip on him that would disgrace him and cause his dismissal." "You are not the first fellow who has thought that way, but, somehow, the cad has the luck to get out of every trap set for him, and he turns the tables on anybody who tries to trap him." "He can't be that lucky always." "I should hope not." "Shall I act for you ?" Bascomb hesitated.

Something told him that Frank could fight quite as well with his bare fists as he could box with gloves.

But how could he retreat?
If he did not meet Merriwell he would be regarded with scorn by every one, and, like Wat Snell, who had refused to meet Bart Hodge, be ostracised in the school.
"Davis ought to fight me first," he muttered.
"Oh, hang that plebe!" cried Reynolds, contemptuously.