laughed
and joked, and did not seem worried over anything.

But the "gang" would not remain long without a place in which to play
cards.

One day Frank received an invitation to "sit into a little game" that
evening.

Snell tendered the invitation.

Merriwell's face clouded instantly.

"Why, there is no place to play, is there?"

"Sure!" was the reply. "You didn't suppose we'd be knocked out so
easy, did you?

"Where do you play?"

"Come along with Hodge to-night, and he will show you. You have been
there before."

But Frank did not come along.

Three nights he knew of Bart rising and stealing out of the room. Then
there was an interval of two nights, during which Bart, plainly too
much used up to stand the strain, or else out of money, remained in his
bed.

When Hodge arose again, and prepared to go out, he heard a stir in
Merriwell's alcove.

"Are you awake, Frank?" he asked, softly.

"Yes," was the reply, "and I am going with you."

Bart hesitated. He was tempted to undress and return to bed, but he
had received his money from home that day and, having lost heavily the
last time he played, he was anxious for "satisfaction."

"I'm not Merriwell's guardian," he thought. "I guess the fellow is
able to take care of himself."

So he told Frank to dress fully for going out, and to take his shoes in
his hand.

Together they crept from the room, slid along the corridor, watched a
favorable moment to get past the sentinel, and finally found their way
into a room where the "gang" was waiting.

There was much whispered satisfaction when Merriwell was known to be
with Hodge.

Then the window was softly opened, and one by one the boys descended
the fire-escape, which ran past that window. The last one out closed
the window, having arranged it so it could be readily opened from the
outside.

Behind the messhall they sat down on the ground and pulled on their
shoes.

It was a cool, starry night,

"I rather fancy I know where we are bound," said Frank.

"Where?" asked Bart.

"To the old boathouse, down the cove."

"Sure. You are a good guesser, old man."

Then the thought came to Frank that it would be a good thing for
Fardale Academy if that boathouse should burn to the ground. It was
there plebes generally received their first hazing, and there most of
the fights between the cadets took place.

To the boathouse they went, and this night luck ran against Frank, for
he lost heavily.