delivered himself, Rattleton turned away.

At this moment Frank entered the gymnasium to take his regular exercise.
He was accompanied by Jack Diamond, who had been seen with Merriwell
very often of late.

Immediately the group of sophomores decided that one of their number
should ask Merriwell point-blank if a change to the English methods was
contemplated. The choice fell on Bandy Robinson, who did not relish his
job much.

Robinson approached Frank with no little hesitation, and something about
his manner seemed to betray his object, for Merriwell read his
thoughts.

"Go back," directed Frank, grimly--"go back and tell them that they will
find out all they want to know by waiting."

Then he entered one of the dressing-rooms, and Robinson retreated,
muttering:

"It's no use--Merriwell seems to know just what a person is thinking
about. He is one of the jolliest fellows in the world, and, at the same
time, when he takes a fancy, one of the most unapproachable."

CHAPTER XII.

THE CHALLENGE.

Merriwell and Diamond entered a dressing-room together. The moment the
door closed behind them, Frank laughed shortly.

"I'll wager that I hit the nail on the head that time," he said. "The
moment I saw that knot of fellows talking so excitedly I decided they
were speculating concerning the change on the crew, and my eyes told me
they had deputized Robinson to question me, so I did not give him the
chance."

"The dropping of Flemming and your acceptance in his place has created a
stir," said Jack. "It is generally thought that you will ruin everything
with your English ideas."

"That shows how little they know me," smiled Merriwell, as he threw off
his coat. "I almost fancy it is generally believed that I go in for
English methods simply because they are English."

"You fancy rightly, Merry. The majority of the fellows believe that."

A cloud came to Frank's face.

"I do not care to be misunderstood to such an extent," he said. "I am no
Anglomaniac; I am American to the bone. I have traveled some, and I
prefer this country above all other countries on the face of the earth.
I was at Oxford long enough to witness the races and make an
investigation of their methods. I believe that in the matter of rowing
the English are more advanced than the Americans. This is not strange,
for they have been at it longer. Now, although I claim to be thoroughly
American, I try not to be narrow and pig-headed. Simply beca