Frank Merriwell's Athletes Part 44

"It is great sport," he said. "I feel well satisfied for my trouble in visiting Taos."

"You feel satisfied now," said Swiftwing, in a peculiar manner. "You may not be so well satisfied when you depart."

Frank was puzzled by this remark.

"I wonder what he means by that," he muttered, as the Indian walked away.

"Begobs! Oi think he m'anes we'll be beaten at iverything ilse we thry,"

nodded Barney.

But Frank fancied that was not just what the Indian had meant.

The boys found the Indian who had charge of their clothes, and soon they were in sweaters.

Whirling Bear sought the party, and, standing with his hands on his hips, eying them insolently, he said:

"What white boy think he want to wrastle?"

"Gol darn his eyes!" muttered Ephraim, who did not like the appearance of the Indian. "I'd like ter thump him betwixt ther eyes!"

"What white boy dare to wrastle with Whirling Bear?" asked the Indian.

With a spring the impulsive Irish lad landed before the insolent redskin.

"It's mesilf that'll thry yez a whirrul!" he cried.

"You?" said Whirling Bear, contemptuously. "You no wrastle! Go 'way!"

That, as he afterward confessed, made the Irish boy "hot." He told Whirling Bear he could stand him on his head in a minute.

"All right," said the Indian, with a wicked gleam in his black eyes.

"You strip off and try. Come."

Immediately Barney began to "peel."

"Look out for him," warned Frank, a.s.sisting the Irish lad to get out of his sweater. "He is treacherous, and he dislikes all whites. I can see that. He may try to injure you seriously."

"Oi'll kape me oie on th' spalpane, Frankie. Av he gits th' bist av me it's a smart chap he is."

In a short time the Irish lad was ready.

The challenge had been heard, and there was a rush of the spectators to witness the wrestling match.

A ring was formed, and the crowd was kept back by some of the spectators who appointed themselves for that purpose.

Soon all were ready, and, at opposite sides of the ring, the white boy and the Indian crouched, their hands on their knees, watching each other like hawks.

Suddenly, as if moved by the same impulse, they rushed at each other and grappled.

Both obtained good holds, and a terrific struggle began.

Barney knew considerable about the science of wrestling, and he immediately discovered that the Indian was not a novice.

As soon as holds were secured Whirling Bear leaned heavily to the left and pinned Barney's right arm close to the elbow, at once causing the Irish lad trouble.

Barney tried to straighten the Indian, but saw that Whirling Bear fancied he had an advantage and was determined to hold it.

Now the Irish lad knew that, for all that the redskin was bothering him by this trick, Whirling Bear could not be firm in such a position, and it would not be difficult to throw him if the trick came right.

Barney knew that a wrestler who leans to the left always lays himself open to the cross-b.u.t.tock, and he immediately began to work to use that trip on his opponent.

In order to work the cross-b.u.t.tock successfully it is necessary to have a hold that is loose at first and yet firm and then to move with the utmost rapidity. The least hitch or false move may prove fatal to the aggressor.

As the Indian and the Irish lad strained and squirmed and sought to trip each other, Barney worked his hold looser and looser, all the while watching for the opportunity he sought, although pretending to be working for something else.

The crowd watched the movements of the contestants with the greatest interest.

Dan Carver was on hand, and, after a moment, he offered to bet even money that the Irish boy would take the first fall. He was able to get up a small amount, and then, hands in pockets, he calmly regarded the contest.

Barney was tempted once or twice to try the trip, but was not quite satisfied with his opportunity. If he tried and failed, the Indian might throw him heavily by sharply jerking him backward.

Twice Whirling Bear jerked Barney forward to get him off his guard and then tried the inside click, but failed to throw the st.u.r.dy Irish youth.

This seemed to anger the redskin, for it was plain he had looked on the white boys with no small contempt, and had antic.i.p.ated securing an easy victory.

Furiously he went at Barney, and this gave the white boy the very opportunity he sought.

Quick as thought Barney turned his left side toward his opponent, got his hip partly beneath him, and then, with a rapid movement, crossed both his legs and lifted him from the ground.

Down went Whirling Bear, with Barney uppermost!

It was a pretty fall, and it awoke the admiration of the spectators so that they cheered the Irish lad heartily.

Barney sprang up, but the Indian arose almost as swiftly, and, before any one realized it, the struggle was on again.

This time Whirling Bear was fiercer than before. The muscles stood out on his bare limbs and back, while the cords of his neck were drawn taut and there were knots in his forehead. The look on his face was not pleasant to see. He looked as if he longed to murder the Irish lad.

Frank was watching every movement closely. He was well pleased with Barney's success, but it seemed that the Indian had been taken by surprise, and it was doubtful if the Irish boy could repeat the trick.

Barney tried the backheel trip, and his failure to throw Whirling Bear nearly resulted in his own downfall.

Next Barney attempted the hip stroke, but that was another failure, and Whirling Bear now seemed like a cat on his feet.

All the while Barney was forced to look out for various trips and heaves which the Indian attempted in rapid succession.

Some one offered to bet Carver even that the Indian took the second fall, and the sport shook his head.

"I knew the Irishman was going to surprise him at the start," he said.