nt.
See the fellow stand there with that lordly air as if he had actually
accomplished something. I will take all of that out of him! This is
catch as we can, and I will break his back!"

"Injure his back in some way, and he will not be able to hold the place
that belongs to you on the crew."

"That is right!" panted Flemming, his eyes glittering and his teeth
showing. "A fellow with a sprained back is no good at an oar. Why,
Thornton, my boy! Merriwell has played right into my hands! He has given
me the very opportunity I most desire, and I'll be a chump if I neglect
it! If he is not taken to his room on a stretcher, it will be necessary
for some of his friends to aid him. I know a hug that will take the
stiffness out of his spine and make him lame for a month!"

"Give it to him!" fluttered Tom, with returning confidence. "Fix the cad
this time so he will not be able to wrestle any more!"

"I will, rest assured of that. This is my opportunity. In five minutes
the starch will be taken out of him."

Flemming was confident, far more confident than he would have been had
he dreamed that Merriwell had turned him in the air and brought him
underneath in the first fall.

In his mind he saw Merriwell groaning on the ground, saw him assisted to
his room, saw him helpless in bed and attended by a physician.

But what gave Flemming the greatest satisfaction was the vision of
Collingwood humbly asking him to again resume his place on the crew--the
place now given to Frank Merriwell.

It seemed remarkable to Fred that he had not planned to engage the lad
he hated in a wrestling match, and so injure him in such a manner that
he would be unable to row on the crew.

But no less remarkable, it seemed, was the fact that he had been
challenged to wrestle by Merriwell, and thus given the opportunity he
most ardently desired.

The only thing that marred his satisfaction at that moment was that
Merriwell had, apparently by accident, seemed to have acquired the honor
of having thrown him in the first struggle.

"Gentlemen," said Heffiner, "are you ready?"

The antagonists stepped forward and signified their readiness. The
spectators fell back.

"This time it is catch as you can," said Yale's famous pitcher. "Any
kind of a hold is fair. Is that understood?"

"It is," nodded Merriwell.

"Certainly," bowed Flemming, giving Frank a scornful look.

"Very well, gentlemen. Prepare to clinch. Ready--go!"

CHAPTER XIV.