him.

"I shall not deal gently with that gang this time," he declared, with a
hard-set face. "This little adventure has put me on my guard, and I
don't propose to let them have much fun with me. Those two fools were
just full enough to drive right into me with the hope of doing me an
injury, without a thought of their own necks. They might have been
thrown out and killed, but they did not hesitate because of that. The
one thought was to do me some way--any way. Hartwick always was a
desperate fellow, but I did not fancy Harlow could be such a chap.
However, he was driving that horse, and the way he drove was proof
enough that he is careless of life and limb at times."

For some time Frank paid very little attention to Nemo, but the lameness
of the horse became so pronounced at last that he could not help
observing it once more.

"That worries me, old fellow," he admitted, with a troubled face. "It is
something I can't understand."

He rode slowly back to the stable.

It was growing dark when he arrived at the stable. A strange man was
standing outside as Frank rode up. The man looked keenly at the boy and
the horse, and then, as the doors rolled open, followed into the stable.

"Horse is lame, eh?" he said, questioningly. "I didn't notice that when
he went out. He wasn't lame then, was he?"

Frank paid not the least attention to this question. The man was a
stranger, and the boy did not care to talk with him.

"I spotted that horse when yer rode out, young man," the stranger
persisted. "Fine lookin' critter--just the kind I've been wantin' some
time for a saddle horse. Whose critter is it?"

"Grody," said Frank, utterly ignoring the man, "I want you to see if you
can tell what ails Nemo. He is lame in one of his hind feet. He was
taken that way after I had been out a while. I think it possible there
is something the matter with the way he is shod. Will you look after him
without delay?"

"To be sure, sir--I'll not fail, sir," said Grody.

"Then the horse belongs ter you, does it?" asked the strange man, coming
forward and addressing Frank in a point-blank manner. "I am a horseman,
and I know all about critters. If there's anything the matter--and there
seems to be--I can tell what it is in five minutes. Shall I make an
examination, young man?"

"No, sir!" came sharply from Merriwell's lips. "I do not propose to have
strangers fooling around my horse. I do not know you, sir, so your offer
is respectfully