on board amid renewed
cheering, and the trip up the river began.

It was a triumphant procession. All along the line the _Clyde_, which
was decorated with blue, was received with cheers and shrieking
whistles. Men waved hats and flags, pretty girls fluttered handkerchiefs
and pennants, squads of students gave the Yale cheer at intervals, and
two scores of boats, crowded with students and friends, accompanied the
boat that carried the victorious crew. The jubilant Yale men sang songs
of victory and cheered till their throats ached and they were hoarse.

On board the _Clyde_ were Jack Diamond and Harry Rattleton. When
Merriwell was lifted to the deck he found himself clasped in Harry's
arms, and the dear fellow laughed and cried as he hugged his roommate to
his breast.

"I never dought you'd threw it--I mean I never thought you'd do it!"
cried Harry, brokenly. "I thought that hand would knock you out sure.
How could you do it, Merry, old boy? It must have been awful! I saw you
keel over when the line was crossed, but you never havered a
ware--wavered a hair till the race was over."

Frank smiled a bit.

"A fellow can do almost anything if he sets his determination on it," he
said. "But I came near not having the opportunity to try."

"How was that?"

"Collingwood found out about my hand. I am afraid you said something
about it, Harry."

"Not a word, save to Diamond, and not to him till after the race began."

"Well, Coll found it out some way, and he came near laying me off for
Flemming, who was on hand."

"And now I understand a few things I heard this morning," broke in
Diamond. "Emery and Parker were offering to bet that Flemming would row
to-day."

"How much did you fake 'em tor--I mean take 'em for?" cried Harry.

"I didn't know but some of the men had given out or something, so I did
not take them at all. I did not imagine for a moment that they thought
Flemming was going to row in Merry's place."

Collingwood came up. He was bundled from his ears to his heels.
Merriwell was in a sweater and coat.

"How's your hand, old man?" asked Bob, his eyes gleaming.

"Oh, it is giving me a jolly time!" grinned Frank, grimly. "It isn't
doing a thing."

"Mr. Merriwell," said Collingwood, earnestly, "I want to tell you
frankly that to-day you made the greatest display of pure grit that it
has ever been my fortune to witness. I did not believe it possible you
could hold out through the race with that hand, an