Zenas Gunn strutted like a peac.o.c.k. He seemed to feel that he it was who had accomplished the feat of baffling the girl's pursuers. For a time he put aside his fear of further trouble over the affair, jogged along at her side and talked fluently with her in the language she could best understand.

They left the plateau by way of the marble gate and hastened to descend.

"Trust us, my dear child," said the professor.

"I do," she declared, smiling on him in a manner that made him throw out his chest still further. "But, oh, I fear Tyrus and Maro! They are determined that I shall never see Charlee again."

"Hum! hem! How long have you known this Charlie?"

"It is not long. He is the most beautiful man in all the world!"

"You should have seen me when I was younger," said Zenas. "I beg your pardon, but I do not think we have learned your name?"

"It is Flavia."

"Beautiful name," declared the professor. "Look out, my child, do not stumble there."

"There is no danger that I will stumble, but you--"

"Oh, I'm as frisky as a young colt! Didn't you see me put Tyrus to the bad a while ago? Don't worry about me."

"The old boy is getting along some!" observed Brad, speaking to d.i.c.k, as they followed Zenas and the girl. "It takes a young girl to wake him up and make him lively."

There was a shadow on Merriwell's face.

"It was our duty to protect the girl," he said; "but now it would be an absolute relief if we knew where to find this Englishman, Cavendish.

There is going to be a great rumpus over this, and we may find ourselves in a pickle because we took the part of this maid of Athens."

"The Maid of Athens!" exclaimed Brad. "That's the t.i.tle for her! It fits her. By the great Panhandle! if it wasn't for Nadia Budthorne--"

d.i.c.k laughed.

"Brad, you're smashed! She has a fellow-Cavendish. And that is not mentioning Maro."

"Hang Maro! He doesn't count any whatever."

"But Cavendish does."

"He's lost in the shuffle."

"Well, there is Nadia, and you--"

"She's all right!" exclaimed Brad sincerely; "but she isn't here, and I opine I've got a right to admire the Maid of Athens some."

"But no right to make love to her."

"No danger of that, pard," grinned the Texan. "I never did cut much ice with the girls. You always were the one, and it's a wonder to me that this girl didn't forget Charlee the moment she placed her sky-blue eyes on you."

"Oh, that will about do!" laughed d.i.c.k. "You're forever imagining that girls are struck on me, when the fact is that they are not, and--"

"How about Doris Templeton?"

"Mere friendship."

"Is that so? How about June Arlington?"

"Friendship just the same."

"Well, then, how about--"

"That will do! Don't try to make me out a chap with a dozen girls!"

The Texan chuckled.

"Don't you get gay with me," he advised. "I can come back at you good and plenty."

By this time they were well down toward the base of the Acropolis.

Suddenly Flavia uttered a wild cry of joy, broke from Professor Gunn and ran toward two men who were approaching.

One of the two was a very young man, with a delicate mustache on his lip, while the other was middle-aged, florid and puffy, carrying a heavy cane. The younger man had seen Flavia the moment she discovered him, and he sprang toward her, his hands outstretched.

"Galloping jack rabbits!" exclaimed Buckhart. "Whatever does this yere mean?"

"It means," said d.i.c.k, with satisfaction, "that we'll not have to search all over Athens for Charlee."

"I'm almost sorry," declared Brad, with a comical twist of his face.

"She didn't have time to discover how much superior I am to Charlee."

Professor Gunn looked both relieved and disappointed. He had feared they would get into serious trouble, yet now he was disappointed by the appearance of the Englishmen.

For Englishmen they were, beyond question. The elder man had the appearance of a man of the world, given to special delight in the good things of life. He surveyed the boys and the professor with mild curiosity. His eyes were rather bleary and blood-shotten.

At first Flavia was too overjoyed to make an explanation, but finally, in a confused torrent of words, she told what had taken place on the plateau of the Acropolis.

The face of the young Englishman brightened as he began to understand how she happened to be escorted by Professor Gunn and the boys.

"So you went there thinking you might meet me, Flavia?" he said. "It was on my way to view those ruins that I first met you, and you remembered.

I fancied you might, don't you know, and that is why I am here now. I found you had been removed from your home, and I could not trace you. It is pure chance, but, by Jove! luck is with us."

Then he turned to the Americans.

"Gentlemen," he said, "my name is Cavendish-Charles Cavendish, son of Sir Henry Giles Cavendish, of Grantham. This is a particular friend of our family, Sir Augustus Camberwell. I wish to thank you most heartily and sincerely for your brave defense of Flavia. Permit me to shake hands with you all."

"Yes," said Sir Augustus, "very gallant, really. Just like you queer Americans. Never stop to inquire into an affair where a woman is concerned. Always go in and stand by the woman. Splendid sentiment, but dangerous."

Sir Augustus now turned his attention to Flavia, at whom he gazed in a manner that d.i.c.k did not fancy.