Frank Merriwell's Champions Part 14

"I am ergoin' ter slip in an' put these on yer table, 'ca'se I hav' heern that grand folks like 'em, an' leeve this letter 'bout dad, 'ca'se I thot mebbe ez how you uns would want ter knowl. He hez knocked a hole in his ole still, an' is ergoin'

ter leeve these mountings, he sez, an' try ter be 'spectable. So good-by. I node frum the fust thet you warnt no revnoo.

"Frum your fr'end furever,

"_Nell Thornton._"

"She's an all-right girl," said Bruce, after a pause, "even if she is rather awkward."

"Bedad, we had better be gittin' out av the mountains before some more shootin' takes place," put in Barney.

"That's right," came from Harry. "One shot like that is enough."

But the boys lingered for several days, and during that time their newly made friends did all possible to make the stay a pleasant one.

"We won't forget you Yale boys!" cried one, on parting. "Let us hear from you, by all means."

"Ve vill," said Hans. "Put don't neffer oxbect me to kill some more piks py mineselluf again alretty!"

There was a gay time at the parting, for a crowd had come to see them off as far as the railroad station.

It had been decided to make their way eastward to the Potomac River, for Diamond wanted to show his friends that beautiful stream of water.

"I've sailed on the Potomac many times when at home," said the Virginian. "And I want to give you boys a sail, too."

"All right-anything to take it easy," sighed Bruce. "That mountain climbing was work enough to last a month."

The ride in the train was enjoyed by all, and as they pa.s.sed eastward, mile after mile, Diamond pointed out many objects of interest.

At last they reached the station to which their wheels had been sent, and here they left the train.

"There is an easy road along here," said Jack. "I know you will all delight in a spin."

Bruce groaned.

"More work-and just as I was getting so comfortably settled in that car seat, too."

"Oh, brace up, Bruce!" cried Frank, cheerfully. "You've done well ever since we left New York. Don't collapse on the last lap."

"All right; I'll brace up," sighed the big fellow, and followed the others.

Toots had seen to it that the bicycles were polished to the last degree, so that they shone like silver in the bright sunshine.

For over an hour the crowd spun along over the road.

Then unlucky Hans ran into a hollow, throwing himself over the handle bars and twisting one of the pedals of his machine.

Luckily, there was a repair shop not very far off, and to this they took their way, where a machinist went to work on the wheel without delay.

While the others were waiting for Hans' bicycle to be mended, Diamond called Frank to one side.

"Come down to the river with me," he said. "I want to show you a particularly fine view."

"How far?" asked Frank.

"Only about half a mile."

"All right, I'll go with you."

And the two set off, never dreaming of the tremendous surprise in store for them.

CHAPTER XI-A TRAITOR AND A SPY

"Steady! steady!" roared a commanding voice. "Stroke, keep at it, and pick it up quicker on the beginning."

The eight oarsmen in the boat were doing their level best, their oars flashing in the sunlight as they came dripping from the water to disappear again, sending the light craft flying along.

On the sh.o.r.e, which at this point was a high bank, the coach watched them as they skimmed past, and shouted his commands.

"Drive your legs at it, four! What are you in the boat for? Carry it through all the way. Up, now! Long swing! Great Scott! don't think you've got to break your neck to recover because you pull hard on the stroke."

He was a young fellow with a beardless face that plainly indicated his firm conviction that what he did not know was not worth finding out. His lips were red and full, and his entire bearing plainly betokened unlimited self-conceit.

He was dressed in a flannel outing suit, and wore a straw hat, about which was a bright red ribbon. His necktie, also, was bright red. On his feet were well-polished russet shoes. There was a diamond in his tie, and diamonds set in the rings on his fingers.

It seemed at a glance that this lad had "money to burn." His swell appearance was enough to make almost any ordinary boy regard him with envy and admiration. And his manner would impress an ordinary boy with his astonishing knowledge and importance in the world.

"Oh, say!" he shouted; "what do you chaps think you are doing? Feel for the water. Be delicate and gentle when you are coming forward. This is not a question of bull strength. If it was, a crew of longsh.o.r.emen and freight handlers could row all around you."

Not a word from the st.u.r.dy, sun-browned young fellows in the boat. They were there to obey, and to stand such abuse as this insolent, overbearing coach saw fit to heap upon them.

"Great Scott!" cried the coach, once more. "You chaps make me sick! Will you never get onto yourselves? There you go, five! Can't you see what you're doing? You're pulling out, and you are wasting the end of your stroke. You are finishing ahead of four every time. It would take a club to beat anything into your head! Vast, turn around, c.o.xswain."

Then this important person fell back a step, and spoke to another lad, who was concealed by some bushes, from which he was peering at the crew in the boat.

"A lot of lubbers," said the coach, contemptuously. "You fellows needn't worry about them. You'll show them clear water from the start."

These words were uttered in a low tone, so they could not be heard by the rowers.

The boy hidden in the bushes laughed softly.

"You are playing them for suckers, all right, Harlow," he said; "but it does seem to me that they are improving under your coaching. Look out and not make them so good that they will stand a show of winning over A.

A. C."

"If they didn't improve, they wouldn't keep me as coach," returned the other; "but I'll knock the stuffing out of them at the last moment by advising the removal of a good man and the subst.i.tution of a poor one. I want them to have enough confidence in me by that time so they will do exactly as I say."