d been expecting Frank would receive a challenge,
and no small number had been watching the two lads. Immediately on
Rupert's departure, Frank's friends came swarming around him, asking
scores of questions.

"Pwhat did th' b'y want wid yez, Frankie?" asked Barney Mulloy, eagerly.

"Oh, not much," smiled Frank, who did not believe in letting the entire
gathering know exactly what had happened and what was going to take
place. "He informed me that Bascomb demands an apology. Of course, I
did not apologize, which may lead Bascomb to challenge me."

"An' he didn't challenge yez alridy? Wurra! wurra! Oi thought there
moight be a foight on hand, so Oi did."

"Dot's vot's der madder mit me," sighed Hans Dunnerwust, in
disappointment. "It vos peen so long alretty yet since I haf seen a
scrap dot I don'd know vot it vos."

"G'wan wid yez, Dutch!" cried Barney, who was in ill-humor on account
of the failure--as he supposed--of Bascomb to challenge Merriwell.
"Thot Yankee from Vermont called yez a balloony sausage t'-day, an' ye
nivver did a thing. Av ye wur dying fer a foight, ye'd challenge him.
Ye're th' biggest coward on th' face av th' earth. Ye give me
distriss!"

"Vos dot so!" retorted Hans. "Don'd you pelieve me! Vos id my blace
to fight mit a blebe?"

"Of course it is yer place, ye ignoramus."

"Vell, I didn't know dot. Maype I fight him some dime pime-py right
avay soon alretty yet."

"Oh, no ye won't."

"Von't I?"

"No, ye won't dare, ye Dutch coward. Av ye had a bit av spunk in yer
body, ye'd challenge him to wance."

"Vell, you pet me my boots I don'd vos a coward," declared Hans,
emphatically. "I'll vight dot feller!"

"Thot's th' shtuff, me b'y!" cried the delighted Barney. "Let me take
th' challenge."

"Nod py a plamed sight! I don'd vant a pog-drotter to done some uf dot
peesness for me, ain'd id? Uf I shoose mein second, I dakes Vrankie
Merrivell alretty!"

For all that he had serious work on hand, Frank was ready for a frolic,
and he instantly said:

"I will carry your challenge, Hans. You may depend on me."

"All righd, Vrankie, my poy; led her go."

"You wish me to hunt up Ephraim Gallup, and demand an apology or a
fight?"

"Yaw."

"And you really mean it?"

"Yaw."

"Will you fight if he agrees to meet you?"

"Yaw."

"All right. There can't be any backing out now, understand that. You
are in for a fight, if Gallup doesn't apologize."

"Yaw; but you mighd