asked Wat, excitedly.

"Yes," said Leslie; "we will give him a good drubbing."

Instantly Frank placed Inza to one side, and boldly faced the two young
rascals.

"I don't believe you both can whip me, the way I feel just now," he
cried. "I think I can give you more fight than you want, so just sail
right in."

They hesitated. There was something about Merriwell's look and bearing
that seemed to warn them against attacking him. To Wat Snell it
suddenly seemed quite probable that Frank would prove more than a match
for both of them.

"There are ladies present," he said, hastily. "We cannot fight in the
presence of ladies."

"Very thoughtful!" came scornfully from Frank's lips. "Possibly the
ladies will step aside long enough for us to settle this little matter."

"Oh, don't fight with them, Frank!" pleaded Inza. "There are two of
them, and----"

"That is not enough. I am good for two such sneaking scoundrels as
they are! Don't worry about me."

"Hear the blowhard!" sneered Snell.

Frank seemed on the point of springing toward him, and Wat hastily
dodged behind Leslie, saying:

"Give it to him, Les, if he wants to fight!"

This showed how much Gage could depend on Snell in a scrimmage, and the
former instantly decided that it was not best to try to get revenge on
Merriwell just then.

"There will be no fighting here," he said, loftily, "but I shall not
forget Merriwell's blow, and he shall pay dearly for it. I will make
him wish he had not been so free with his fist."

"As for you, Miss Spitfire," turning to Inza, "you must feel proud to
have a friend in a fellow of his class! Do not forget what I told you
about him and----"

"Silence, sir!" cried Inza, contemptuously. "You had better go away at
once. I wouldn't believe such a contemptible creature as you under any
circumstances!"

"All right, all right," growled Gage, scowling blackly. "You will find
out in time that I told the truth. This is not the end of this matter.
Come, Wat, let's go. If I stay any longer, I'll have to whip Merriwell
before all of the present company."

So the delectable pair moved away together, and Gage's revengeful heart
was made still more bitter by the ringing laugh of scorn Inza Burrage
sent after them.

CHAPTER XII.

THE SNARE IS BROKEN.

When Frank parted from Inza that afternoon, he had made a free and full
confession of his fault. She had listened with pained surprise, almost
with incredul