CHAPTER XXXIII.A NEW COMPACT.
They were forced to agree to the terms, though Snodgrass did so with such bitterness in his heart as he had never before known. Merry saw the fellow look at him with a glance of unspeakable hatred, and he knew Snodgrass would be his enemy from that day.
“I know you are bound the freshmen shall win,” muttered Ben, “and that’s one reason why you are going to force me to leave the sophomore crew. With me in the boat there was less chance for your crew to come in ahead.”
“Conceit is not lacking in your make-up, Snodgrass,” said Merry, unable to repress his amusement. “You seem to fancy yourself the biggest part of the crew.”
“You can’t deny that I’ve told you the truth!” hissed the sophomore, showing his teeth.
“I wouldn’t take the trouble to deny anything so ridiculous. Arnold, if he’d let cigarettes and drink alone, might be a better man than you to-day, yet he has to get out of the freshman boat.”
“To let in some friend of yours.”
“I have two friends among the freshmen—two particular friends, I mean. They are Starbright and Dashleigh, and both of them are already in the boat.I demand that you fellows get out because you are both crooked and unworthy to battle for the honor of your classes. That’s what I think of you.”
“I’m not going to say what I think of you,” muttered Ben.
“Perhaps it is just as well for you that you do not,” came meaningly from Merry’s lips. “As I stood behind that door listening to your talk here, I felt like jumping in and giving you both the thrashing you deserved; but I decided not to put my hands on you, and I do not wish to go back on that resolution. However, Snodgrass, if you were to become too insulting, I might forget myself and give you a little jolting.”
“You’re a bully!”
“Is that so? As a rule, I believe bullies seek to have the odds in their favor. I didn’t count on that when I entered here.”
“You entered because Arnold had discovered you were behind the door.”
“In a certain degree that is true. Yet I was ready to come in just then, having heard enough to put me onto your game. With Arnold out of the freshman boat, there will be no chance for such a fluke as was planned. With you out of the sophomore boat, you will win no unmerited glory.”
Snodgrass ground his teeth in fury. For the time his ambition to make the varsity was dished. But, thank goodness! Merriwell would not be in Yale next year, and then he would have his chance once more. With Merriwell away he would make the crew—hewas confident of it. Surely he had reason enough to hate Merriwell, for had not Frank kept him from forging to the front?
But Merry, who had so many friends, was not afraid of making an enemy. The man who fears to make an enemy is not worthy to have friends. The man who fears to make an enemy seldom has friends who are stanch and true.
In a just cause Merry had never failed to make enemies, and he had made many of them in the past; but about him there was a particular something that finally won those enemies over to friends, even when he seemed careless, or undesirous of such a result.
“Now, as you both understand the terms on which I remain silent concerning this business,” said Frank, “I’ll bid you good night. I shall expect you to hand in your resignations by noon to-morrow.”
With clenched teeth, Snodgrass half-started, as if to leap at Frank’s back, Merry having turned carelessly away. But Frank, without so much as turning his head to glance back, said:
“Don’t try it, Snodgrass! I shall do you harm if you do!”
Then the muscles of the sophomore relaxed, and he settled back on his chair, glaring till the door had closed behind Frank.
For some moments the detected rascals were silent. Then Arnold ventured to look at the chin of his companion. That chin frightened him.
Snodgrass was a tempest of fury. He raved atArnold and reviled him. He raved at himself. Then he fell to expressing himself concerning Frank Merriwell, and his words were lurid in the extreme.
Arnold, to tell the truth, felt glad to escape thus easily. One thing he dreaded was exposure and disgrace, and he had feared that was to follow Merriwell’s discovery. Snodgrass seemed to understand the relief of his companion, and he snarled:
“Well, you can pay up now, and pay up in a hurry! I want my money, and you’ll have to fork over.”
“But I can’t, and you know it!”
“I’ve got your paper, and your grandmother will have to pay.”
Arnold was frightened.
“Don’t force me to the wall, Snodgrass!” he implored. “She’ll take me out of college! I don’t believe she’ll pay you, anyhow. Give me time, and I’ll find a way to pay you. You must give me time, old man!”
“Time! time! time! You can’t pay if I do give you time, and you know it! I know it! I’ve known it all along!”
“You’ve known it?”
“Of course I have!”
“Yet you let me have the money! You did it to get me in a trap!”
“Well, perhaps I did. I wanted to make use of you. Now you are no earthly use to me, and I want my money.”
“Wait,” urged Arnold shakingly. “Don’t say I’m no use to you. You can’t tell yet.”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you going to give up? Are yougoinggoingto let Merriwell triumph over you?”
“No; by thunder, no!”
“I thought not. But we’ve both got to obey his command, or get it in the neck. I’m a freshman, but he is coaching the freshmen, and I hate him. Therefore, I don’t want them to win.”
“It would hit him hard if they failed!” panted Snodgrass.
“Sure thing,” nodded Arnold, lowering his voice to a whisper. “We can’t make any plans here, old man, but I believe in getting back at him, and I’ll help you do it.”
“How can it be done?”
“Don’t know yet; but we ought to be able to find a way. We must keep the freshmen from winning, somehow.”
The face of Snodgrass took on a look of vindictive resolve.
“That’s right!” he grated. “The freshmen shall not win now! It will hurt Merriwell if they fail! We will prevent them, Arnold.”
“If I help you, will you cancel the account against me?”
“In case we succeed—yes.”
“Then shake on it!”
They shook hands over the table.