Frank Merriwell's Champions Part 26

Since his defeat in the attempt to bar the Yale Combine from the race, Addison had sulked and held himself aloof, refusing to speak to Frank and his friends, whom he p.r.o.nounced "a lot of plebes, not fit a.s.sociates for any gentleman."

Addison's friends had seen him sulky before, and Spencer advised them to let him alone, saying he would get over it after a while if he was not troubled.

CHAPTER XVII-THE EIGHT-OAR Sh.e.l.l

After their work on the river, the boys enjoyed themselves lolling about in hammocks, playing tennis and strolling and talking with the pretty girls they found at the Cove.

The girls seemed to take readily to the newcomers, which added to Addison's hostility, as a young lady on whom he had bestowed a great deal of attention was quickly appropriated by Bart Hodge.

It was a remarkable thing that, although Bart was a serious fellow, with a rather moody face, he was a great favorite with the girls. There was some sort of magnetism about him that attracted them.

Rattleton, on the other hand, although he could crack jokes and keep a party shouting with laughter, did not seem to have much success with the opposite s.e.x. They all p.r.o.nounced him a splendid fellow, but it was seldom one cared to take a stroll with him or swing with him in a hammock on the hotel veranda of a moonlight evening.

Frank and Jack often were seen taking the path that led over to the little hollow in which stood the home of Capt. Barnaby.

Elsie Bellwood was there, and no other girl could make an impression on Merriwell, although not a few of them tried.

Frank had introduced Diamond to Kate Spencer, and Jack was smitten with her immediately. It proved to be a case of mutual admiration, for Elsie told Frank that Kate had "raved" over Jack the night after her first meeting with him.

"Frank," said Jack, as they were returning to the hotel the evening of his first meeting with Kate, "I believe Blue Cove is the place for me. I could stay here the rest of my life."

Merriwell chuckled softly.

"How long have you felt that way?" he asked.

"Oh, I don't know. But this, Merriwell, is Old Virginia, and I am on my native soil. I feel like myself once more."

"I am glad of that," declared Merriwell, "for you were like anything but yourself by the time we reached California. I never saw anything make such a change in a fellow as that trip across the continent did in you.

You began to grumble a little by the time we had pa.s.sed through Jersey, and you grew worse and worse till San Francisco was reached. By that time there was no getting along with you in peace. But when we turned toward the East again, you grumbled less and less till Virginia was reached. When you knew you were in Virginia once more, you were so supremely happy that it was utterly impossible to ruffle your temper.

Even Ward Hammond and his gang did not seem to stir you up as you would have been ordinarily. And now-now-- What do you think of Kate Spencer, old fellow?"

"She's a darling!"

Frank had sprung the question so suddenly that the answer came from Jack before the latter realized what he was saying. When Frank shouted with laughter, Jack felt the hot blood rush to his face, but he doggedly said:

"She is that! Laugh if you want to! I don't care!"

"It's plain it's not so much Blue Cove as what you have found at Blue Cove that is attracting you and making you feel as if you could stay here the rest of your life."

"I don't know but you are right," confessed Jack, honestly.

"Well, I don't blame you," declared Frank. "Kate is a fine girl-not quite like Elsie, but a fine girl, all the same."

While Frank and his friends were enjoying themselves and getting ready for the race, Blue Cove was keeping up a hot correspondence with Alexandria, the club of the latter place having protested against admitting the Yale Combine to the race.

Blue Cove insisted, and the mail bore letters each way. At last Dobbs, who as secretary was carrying on the correspondence with Alexandria, plainly hinted that the eight of the latter club could row in a three-cornered race or not at all.

That brought a proposal from Alexandria that the Yale Combine be admitted with the understanding that it was to row for honors only. If it won over both Blue Cove and Alexandria, it was not to claim the championship of the Potomac. In that case, the championship remained with Blue Cove. But if Alexandria led at the finish, the championship was to go to the latter place.

This was more liberal than the boys of Blue Cove had expected, and they readily accepted the terms, so that an agreement was made without delay.

From this proposal from Alexandria, however, it was plain she expected to win over both her rivals. Otherwise she would not have been so liberal.

"She'll have to hustle if she does that trick," said Frank, when he had heard of the final settlement of terms, to which he had acceded readily enough, as he and his friends were out for the sport of the race, and did not wish to carry away the t.i.tle of champions.

"Marruk me worrud," said Barney Mulloy, "it's some sort av a thrick Alixandry is up to, ur it's nivver a bit she'd make such a proposal.

Look out fer her!"

One thing in connection with the regular training for the race proved somewhat unpleasant for all the boys. They possessed hearty appet.i.tes, and Merriwell laid down a course of diet to which he insisted that they should adhere. For Browning and Dunnerwust, this was particularly hard, as each possessed an enormous appet.i.te, and was in the habit of satisfying it to the fullest extent whenever possible.

"When I have a chill, I can't eat, and when I don't have a chill, Merry won't let me eat," grumbled the big fellow. "Sport! Is that what you call it? Well, when I get back to Old Yale I'll forever forswear taking part in anything that resembles sport."

"Yaw," grunted Hans, in deep disgust, "dese may pe fun vor me, put don't you pelief me! Mein stomach veels shust like a raw tog could ead me. You don'd peen vell ven mein stomach veels dot vay, eh, Prowning?"

"Say, yeou fellers make me tired, b'gosh!" burst forth Ephraim. "I ruther guess I've got jest as big appert.i.te as any other critter livin', but I don't growl an' kick all ther time. It ain't goin' ter be forever."

"You don'd know apout dot," squawked Hans, growing excited. "Ven you peen done dese race mit, maypie Vrankie got someding else indo you.

Firginia peen a long tistance py Yale Goallege. I veel shust like takin'

a drain und valkin' all der vay to New York."

"Yeou make yerselves miserbul by thinkin' an' talkin' about it so much.

Why don't ye try ter fergit it?"

"I don'd peen unaple to done dot. Dot eadin' d.i.n.ks apout me all der dime. Id peen awful ven you felt your packpone efry dime you put your handt mein stomach on."

The Dutch boy finished with a lugubrious groan, which was faintly echoed by Bruce, while Ephraim went away laughing.

Each day Dunnerwust seemed to grow more wild-eyed and desperate. Frank had given strict orders at the hotel, so it was impossible for any of his crew to get food between meals, and only certain kinds of food could be found on the table at regular meals.

Hans became so ravenous that he was seen to stand glaring at a cow for an hour at a time, his mouth watering as he tried to estimate how many steaks could be obtained from her; and he often went across the Cove to the house of a settler who kept pigs. When asked why he stood staring at the pigs so much, he answered:

"I peen tried to vigger oudt how much bork und peans dose bigs vould made uf dey peen gooked dot vay. I veel shust like one uf dose bigs could ead der whole uf me. Id vos dreatful ven you haf dot gone veeling py der mittle my stomach uf. Dunder und blitzens! uf I don'd got nottings to ead britty soon, you vill starf to death!"

The owner of the pigs became suspicious of the Dutch lad, and fearing Hans would try to steal one of the animals, he drove him away.

Three days before the time set for the great race, there was a "hop" at the little hotel. The dining-room floor had been cleared and polished, and an orchestra of musicians formed from the musical lads of Blue Cove Academy.

It was a happy night for Blue Cove. All the young folks stopping in the vicinity a.s.sembled at the hotel, and when the music struck up, the floor quickly swarmed with smiling lads and pretty la.s.sies.

Elsie Bellwood was there, and of course Frank claimed her for the first waltz. As they glided over the floor to the soothing strains of music, Elsie felt that were she to live thousands of years, never could she be happier than she was at that moment. Frank's strong arm was about her, her hand was in his, and she gave herself up to his guiding will on the floor, as she had sometimes dreamed of giving herself up to be guided by him through life.

Never had Elsie waltzed so well before, and never had Frank waltzed better, so it was not strange that they attracted attention and were universally admired.

Next to Frank and Elsie, the most graceful dancers on the floor were Bart Hodge and his partner, the pretty girl whom Anson Addison so much admired.