a great many of the
cadets were peering from the windows, some of them grinning with
delight.

Snell shook his fist at Hodge's back, blustering:

"This is all right--all right, sir! It is not necessary for me to
fight you; you are not on the same level with me."

"No," muttered the dark-haired boy, grimly, "I have never sunk as low
as that."

The room occupied by Merriwell and Hodge was not on that side of the
building, so Frank, who was studying, had not witnessed the encounter
between his roommate and Snell.

Fortunately, also, the blow had not been seen by any one but cadets, so
it was not liable to come to Professor Gunn's knowledge, unless Wat
told of it himself.

Bart found Frank in their room, and Merriwell looked up as the
dark-haired boy entered with a quick, nervous step.

"Hello!" he cried, in surprise. "What's happened? Your face is dark
as a thunder-cloud, and you look as if you could eat iron."

"Well, I feel as if I wouldn't have any trouble in chewing up a few
pounds of iron," replied Bart. "By Jove! old man, I never realized
till a few minutes ago how narrow was my escape from being a most
contemptible scoundrel!"

"How is that?"

"I was taken for a thief!" grated Bart, his white teeth clicking.
"Yes, sir, taken for a thief!"

"It must have been by somebody who does not know you very well."

"That's where you are wrong. It was by somebody who knows me far too
well. That is why I feel that my escape from being a scoundrel was a
narrow one."

Had he not seen that Bart was so serious and thoroughly in earnest,
Frank must have smiled.

"Give us the particulars," he urged. "What did you do when you were
taken for a thief?"

"Knocked the cad down!" snarled Bart, smashing his clinched right hand
into the open palm of his left.

"That was very proper," assured Merriwell. "You did nicely, my son."

"But I do not feel any the less humiliated. If I had not given him
reason to approach me in such a manner, he would not have ventured."

Then Bart related the particulars of his adventure with Snell.

"So, so!" muttered Frank. "That rascal is in this affair. The man in
black has chosen a good tool."

"That man is determined to have your ring."

"I should say so. He has been to Professor Gunn and represented that
the ring belonged to him." And then Frank took his turn to tell what
he had learned from the head professor.

"Well, I never!" cried Bart, as Frank finished. "Why,