undly
strapped by his father, who had sincerely hoped one of the professors
would propose to Nancy and take her away without delay.

Just how the rival professors had escaped was not known, but, if
possible, the coldness between them was more pronounced than ever. The
feud seemed of a deadly nature, and some of the boys declared that
Jenks and Scotch were certain to fight a duel over Nancy sooner or
later.

The following Saturday was fine, and that afternoon large numbers of
the boys from the academy sought the village pond, where the skating
was excellent.

By mid-afternoon there were between two and three hundred skaters on
the long pond, while half as many spectators were gathered on the shore.

It was a lively and pleasant scene. Inza Burrage was there, with her
chosen companion, May Blossom. Inza was a beautiful skater, and so was
much sought as a companion by the boys. Three times did Frank approach
her to ask her to skate with him, and each time he saw her carried off
by some one else.

She was in a coquettish mood that day, and her merry laughter as she
skated away each time proved rather tantalizing to Frank, who finally
muttered:

"All right; two can play at that game."

It was almost, if not quite, May Blossom's first attempt at skating,
and, although she was doing very well, her company was not in such
demand as that of Inza.

Seeing May alone, Frank immediately skated to her side, and he was soon
doing his best to instruct her in the correct handling of her feet.
They seemed quite absorbed in each other's company, and not even Inza's
ringing laugh, as she sped past with Paul Rains, caused either of them
to glance up.

At first Inza had not minded Frank's attentions to May, but, as time
slipped away, and they still clung together, laughing, chatting, and
minding no one else, she began to grow uneasy.

"Oh, she can have him, if she wants him!" muttered Inza, her cheeks
beginning to burn. "There are any amount of other fellows."

That was quite true, but, in her heart, she knew full well that there
was no other fellow she cared so much for as she did for Frank
Merriwell.

From this moment she ceased to enjoy herself, and she could not keep
from watching Frank and May, although she tried to do so. She grew
petulant, and those who were in her company found her surprisingly
crisp and disagreeable.

Whenever she could, she skated past Frank and May, and she always
laughed as she did so, bu