He did not hesitate to approach the academy boldly, and there was nothing unusual about him to attract particular attention or arouse suspicion. Happening to meet two cadets, he paused to ask:
"How may I find Elmer Tyke?"
Both professed that they were unacquainted with Elmer Tyke, but they readily gave him directions and passed on, paying no further attention to him, as he seemed to be some chap who was seeking to meet an acquaintance there after the afternoon session.
The stranger, however, followed the walk around to the door of the barracks, but kept on along the walk, passing round the corner of the building, and walking swiftly toward another building beyond, the door of which stood open.
As Lincoln ascended the steps of this building somebody came out, carrying a book, and passed him without stopping. It was Jabez Lynch, and, although Jabez did not seem to give the stranger so much as a glance, any one watching closely might have seen his lips move slightly when he was at the very shoulder of the other.
The stranger heard these words:
"Lower south room. Be lively. You can get out after dark."
That was all. Jabez passed on and the other walked straight into the building, disappearing within the dark doorway.
Not much more than twenty minutes later the members of the Fardale football-team, together with the trusted substitutes, assembled in one of the rooms of that same building. In that room there were seats, desks, blackboards, charts, and so forth, indicating it was one of the recitation-rooms. Barely had the members of the eleven assembled when Elmer Dow, the manager of the team, came in, accompanied by Frank Merriwell.
"Is every one here?" asked Dow.