nued, the cadets carrying on the
work in relays.

Hodge had convinced Lieutenant Gordan that Bascomb had suddenly become
deranged, and had succeeded in having the search instituted without
telling the real cause of the disappearance.

The joy of the boys when they knew Merriwell was safe in his own tent
had been boundless, but they were forced to keep it suppressed, fearing
that too much of a demonstration would arouse suspicion, and create an
investigation.

Davis wept for joy. At first he could not believe such good news could
be true, and he had rushed straight to the tent, where Frank was
already receiving congratulations.

"You don't know what a terrible load this lifts from my shoulders!"
cried the little plebe, in ecstasy. "Nobody shall ever fight for me
again! I can't lick anybody, but I will stand up and take my thumping
when it is necessary. I am going to write to mother tomorrow that it
is absolutely impossible for a fellow to get along here without
fighting, and I am going to ask her to release me from my promise. I
won't lie for anybody, but I am going to fight when I have to!"

"I do not believe you will be forced into many fights when the boys
understand you," said Frank.

Frank reduced the inflammation in his eyes so he was able to take part
in the search, and he declined to be relieved, continuing in his
efforts through the entire night.

Near sunrise, with a company of plebes under his command, he was
beating a piece of woods along the bank of a river about four miles
from the academy. Davis was one of the company. The little fellow had
grown intensely anxious for the quick discovery of Bascomb, hoping the
big bully had done no harm to himself.

"If he should commit suicide, I'd feel that I must be responsible for
that," said Fred.

"You are altogether too conscientious," declared Frank. "There are
none of us but hope to find Bascomb all right, but no one save himself
will be to blame if he has taken his life."

Birds were singing their morning songs, and there was a rosy tinge
spreading upward in the eastern sky. The breath of the morning was
sweet with the perfume of June; but the boys heeded none of the
beauties of nature around them, for they were fearing that at any
moment they might come upon some ghastly thing there in the heart of
the green woods.

All at once, they did come upon a haggard, pale-faced lad, who was
sitting on a fallen tree, and seemed to be waiting for th