here in the interest of
my friend, Mr. Bascomb."

"I presumed as much," came quietly from Frank's lips.

"You have openly insulted Mr. Bascomb, and he demands an immediate
apology."

Frank whistled.

"Is that all?" he exclaimed, with a queer twist of his face and a
twinkle in his eyes.

"You will find this a very serious matter, sir," said Reynolds, with an
assumption of great dignity.

"Mr. Bascomb may also find it serious."

"Will you apologize?"

"You may tell Mr. Bascomb that I will apologize to him when he is man
enough to apologize to Fred Davis, and publicly acknowledge that he
treated the little plebe in an unmanly and bullying manner."

Reynolds made a scornful gesture.

"Mr. Bascomb will not do anything of the kind!"

"Very well; I shall not apologize to him."

"Then you must fight him."

"I will do so with the greatest of pleasure."

"Oh, you won't find much fun in it," sneered Reynolds. "It isn't going
to be that kind of a fight. Bascomb is thirsting for your life. It
was with the greatest difficulty I persuaded him not to challenge you
to fight a duel with deadly weapons. He said he would take
satisfaction in meeting you in an affair of honor where he could run a
blade through your body or perforate you with a bullet."

Frank whistled again.

"Why, he has become very courageous since he took to bullying boys! He
is really bloodthirsty."

"He is determined to square accounts with you, sir. He says you have
been boning military at his expense for some time, just to show your
authority."

"Which he knows is absolutely false," Frank flashed back. "I have
reprimanded him when compelled to do so by his utter disregard of what
is right."

"That may be your opinion; Mr. Bascomb thinks differently. He demands
that this fight take place without delay."

"The sooner the better."

"What do you say to making the time immediately after dark?"

"I am agreeable."

"As Lieutenant Gordan has been watching the old boathouse of late, it
will be necessary to have the fight take place elsewhere."

"All right."

"It may be stopped if it is anywhere in this vicinity."

"Yes."

"Black Bluff is but a mile away."

"That's all."

"Why not go there?"

"The place is satisfactory to me."

"Then it is settled. Be on hand with your second as soon as possible
after dark."

"I will."

Reynolds walked away with his head held very high and his neck very
stiff.

Of course, the boys ha