“I think I did,” agreed Merriwell. “You should have seen them, Brad. Their eyes stuck out of their heads. Du Boise collapsed like a pricked bladder. It was really amusing. I’ve been well paid for the ducking I received.”
“Perhaps you have!” growled the Texan. “But I’ve got a bill to settle with those gents. They still have to pay me for my Sallie, and you bet your life I’ll make them cough up. You hear me gently chirp!”
CHAPTER XL.
A QUEER DELUSION.
Mike Lynch was placed under the care of a doctor, who found it necessary to give the fellow opiates in order to quiet him. The doctor fancied Lynch would come around all right in case he could get some sleep, which he seemed to require. Mike’s friends took turns in watching him through the day.
Toward nightfall Lynch awoke and discovered Ditson and Wolfe in the room. He announced his intention of getting up and proceeded to do so in spite of their remonstrances.
“I’m all right,” he declared. “The trouble with me was that I couldn’t seem to sleep after the unfortunate drowning of Merriwell last night. I’ve been troubled with hallucinations I suppose. Never had anything like that before. I’m nearly starved, fellows.”
“I should think you would be,” said Ditson, exchanging glances with Wolfe. “Come on with us and get something to eat. You know we all thought Merriwell drowned, and even now I don’t know how he escaped. Of course we’re glad he did escape.”
“What are you talking about?” cried Lynch, beginning to show excitement. “Merriwell’s dead. Don’t think you can soothe my feelings by giving me the impression that he escaped. Don’t try to deceive me, Ditson.”
“Now listen to reason, Mike,” urged Duncan. “Here’s Bern—he’ll tell you that Merriwell’s all right. We’ve both seen him several times to-day.”
But at this Lynch fell into such a state of excitement that both his friends were startled and alarmed. He beat the air with his clenched fists and cried out that Merriwell was dead and would have to remain so.