"Sail right in!" he cried, as he got on his feet. "I'm all reddy. Whar be yeou frum, anyhaow?"

"I am from Virginia, one of the finest States in the Union," answered Diamond.

"An' I'm from Vermont, ther finest State in ther Union," flung back Gallup, "Vermont kin lick Virginny four times aout of four, an' don't yer fergit it!"

This was too much for Jack to stand. He got up quickly, his dark face having grown pale with anger.

"We'll see about that, you Yankee clown!" he hissed. "We'll settle it right here!"

The affair had suddenly a.s.sumed a very serious aspect, and Frank sprang to his feet, quickly stepping between them, saying as he did so:

"Here, you fellows! I am ashamed of you both! Stop it!"

"Git out of the way, Frank!" cried the Yankee boy. "If he wants ter fight, I'm all reddy, b'gosh!"

"Don't interfere, Merriwell!" exclaimed the Southern lad. "I must teach this insolent chap a lesson."

"There will be no fighting here," said Frank, his face stern and his air commanding. "I forbid it!"

"He called me a clown!" burst from Ephraim.

"He insulted me!" grated Diamond.

"Let him take it back, darn him!"

"Let him apologize, confound him!"

"I tell you to drop it!" said Frank, firmly. "What sort of chaps are you that you can't get along together and overlook trifles? I am ashamed of you fellows!"

The manner in which Frank said this brought a flush of resentment to Diamond's cheeks. He drew himself up to his fullest height, and coldly said:

"Very well, sir; you will have no further cause to be ashamed of me. I will not give you the opportunity."

"What do you mean?"

"That I see you are beginning to get down on me lately, since you have met your old friends from Fardale, and I will not trouble you any more.

I will withdraw from the party and take the next train for the East."

Frank looked astonished.

"It can't be that you are in earnest, Jack?" he said.

"I am."

"I can't believe it! You know I am not down on you. I do not get down on any one in such a way. I have proved to you in the past that I am your friend. I have not changed in the least. It was no more than natural that I should be overjoyed to see my old chums, but their appearance has not caused me to change toward you in the least."

Jack looked sulky.

"That's easy enough to say," he muttered.

Those words brought the color to Merriwell's face.

"Jack Diamond!" he cried, and his voice rang out clear and cutting, "did you ever know me to lie?"

"No, but this is a case where--"

"Do you wish to insult me? It can't be that you do, Jack! Your words were thoughtlessly spoken. I know it. You have not been well of late, and that is why you are unlike your old self."

"If I have changed so much, it is best that I should get out, and I will do it. I didn't mean to insult you, Merriwell, and I take back anything that seemed like an insult. I never knew you to lie, and I do not believe you could be forced to tell an untruth."

Instantly Frank seized Jack's hand.

"I knew you didn't mean it, old fellow!" he cried, his face lighting up with a sunny smile, as he gave the hand of the Virginian a warm pressure. "We have come to know each other too well for you to think such a thing of me."

"It's natural that you should think a great deal of your old friends,"

said Jack, unsteadily; "and I was a fool to notice anything. I think there is something the matter with me, and I believe it will be better for all concerned if I get out of the party right away."

"Nonsense, old fellow!"

"But I can't get along with Gallup."

"You can if you'll try."

"It's no use. I'm going home."

"All right," said Frank, slowly; "that spoils the scheme I had in my mind. It ruins my plans, and will mean the breaking up of the whole party."

"I don't see how that comes about."

"Never mind; it's no use to talk about it, if your mind is made up. It's too bad, that's all!"

Jack wavered.

"Won't you tell me what your plan was?" he asked.

"It was a scheme for a trip back East, in which we could have any amount of sport. But what's the use? You are going, and that spoils everything."

Diamond looked conscience-stricken, but he was proud, and he disliked to yield. However, his curiosity was aroused, and he urged Frank to divulge his scheme.

"I'll do it if you'll shake hands with Gallup and promise to stick by the party. I am sure Ephraim will shake hands."

"Why, 'course I will!" cried the Vermonter, cheerfully. "I ain't no darn fool ter git my back humped up inter ther air an' keep it there till it gits crooked like a camel's jest 'cause I think I'm spitin' somebody.

Shake? Why, sartin'!"

Then, before Jack could realize it, the quaint down Easter had him by the hand and was working his arm up and down as if it were a pump handle.