“Worse than that,” chuckled Smart. “It takes the coat off a fellow’s back.”
“I think this yere is a fool piece of business, anyhow!” growled the Texan. “I’ll bet Arlington doesn’t show up. He certain knows he is about to get a good trimming if he does, and he is not looking for that.”
“I think he will be here,” said Dick quietly.
“Well, it’s about time he was here now. Where is he?”
“Wait and sus-sus-sus-see,” advised Jolliby. “I didn’t suppose Dick would fuf-fuf-fuf-fight him, anyhow.”
“I don’t know what you think I am made of, Jolliby,” said young Merriwell grimly. “I have stood almost everything from Arlington, but the time has passed for me to stand any more. He struck me down in the wood. What could I do about it? If I reported it, it is possible he would be expelled. In that case he would think me afraid of him. Even now, because of his sister’s sake I have stood so much, he seems to fancy I fear him. I have got to get that out of his head.”
Buckhart laughed.
“You will get it out of his head all right to-night if he shows up.”
The sound of voices now came to their ears, and several persons were seen approaching through the darkness.
“Here they cuc-cuc-cuc-come!” whispered Jolliby.