the scoundrel
has the cheek of a brass monkey! He is dangerous, Frank."

"I believe you."

"If I were in your place, I would swear out a warrant for his arrest,
and send an officer after him."

"I may be forced to do so."

"And I advise you to keep your eye on Wat Snell."

"I will do that."

"In the meantime, let me take the ring long enough to make an enlarged
drawing of those lines, so that you will have the map, if it is a map,
even if you lose the ring. You know my ability to copy with pen and
ink anything I see. My father wants me to become a civil engineer, and
so I am taking a course to suit him; but, when I leave Fardale, I mean
to go to an art school, and find out if I am not cut out for an artist."

"How can you make a drawing of the lines?"

"Why, I will place the ring under a microscope, and then it will not be
difficult. You know I can be very accurate when I try."

"Yes, I know it, and I will think of your plan. I am inclined to
believe it is a good one. Whether I should lose the ring or not, I'd
like to have a copy of that map to study."

"I'll find time to do the job to-morrow, if Old Gunn will permit us to
use the microscope again."

On the following day, however, Bart found no opportunity to make the
drawing.

Frank watched for the man in black, who had said he would call on
Professor Gunn again; but the mysterious man did not put in an
appearance, and Merriwell waited his time.

Wat Snell was forced to endure no end of ridicule from his companions,
as it was the rule at Fardale that a student who had received a blow or
an insult must challenge the one who gave it. If he did not do so, he
was regarded as a coward, and his life in school from that time was
certain to be far from pleasant.

In his heart Snell was an arrant coward, and he knew that Hodge was
really longing for a challenge. Wat felt sure that he would receive a
severe drubbing at the hands of the dark-haired boy whom he had
angered, and the thoughts of such punishment filled his soul with
horror.

"I can't fight him--it's no use, I can't!" he told himself over and
over. "He is a turn-coat, anyway! He did not pretend to be so
conscientious till after he got thick with Merriwell. Oh, Merriwell is
really the one who is at the bottom of all the trouble I have had in
this school, and I hate him worse than I do Hodge.

"I'd like to get hold of that ring. Jupiter! seventy-five dollars is a
price to pay for an old