ent Collingwood came up, accompanied by a gentleman who
carried a case in his hand.

"Here, Merry, old boy," cried the captain of the crew, "I've brought a
doctor to look after that hand of yours."

"What is the matter with your hand?" asked Winnie, anxiously.

"Oh, nothing much," assured Frank, carelessly.

"Nothing much, only there is a bad felon on it," said Collingwood.

"A felon? And you rowed with a felon on your hand? Oh, Frank!"

Winnie looked at him with added admiration showing in her eyes.

"That's what he did," nodded Collingwood. "It was the greatest display
of grit I've ever seen. Do you wonder he flopped over in a dead faint
when we crossed the line at the finish?"

The doctor looked at Frank's hand, which was now badly inflamed. After
a thorough examination the physician glanced up at Frank and observed:

"If you were able to row with this hand, I rather think you'd endure
burning at the stake by a band of Indians without uttering a murmur!"

"You dear fellow!" cried Winnie, with girlish enthusiasm; "I feel just
like giving you a good hug!"

Then Frank blushed more than ever.

The doctor opened his case and proceeded to dress Merriwell's hand.

While the physician was thus employed Frank was somewhat surprised to
observe at a little distance the same man who had offered him a drink of
brandy as he was recovering from his swoon at the close of the race.

This man was watching the boy in a strange manner, but the moment he saw
he was observed he quickly turned away.

Frank's curiosity was aroused.

"I wonder who he is and what he wants here?" thought the boy. "How did
he get in here, anyway? He seems to take a remarkable interest in me,
and I can't say that I like it."

The man walked away and mingled with the throng.

In a short time Frank's hand was cared for, and the doctor gave
directions for future treatment of the felon.

"It is bound to trouble you for some time, and you will find it very
painful," he said. "After what you have done to-day, I doubt if you
sleep much to-night."

"I don't care if I do not sleep for a week so long as Yale won!"
declared the boy.

"You have the true Yale spirit," said the doctor, approvingly. "Yale men
carry that unconquerable spirit out into the world, and that is why Old
Eli turns out so many successful men in all walks of life. I think there
is no fear as to your future, my boy."

"Thank you, sir," said Merriwell, simply.

CHAPTER XX