Up to this time Frank had been content to drill Fardale in the simple lines of the game; but the team had made such progress in learning these things that he now determined to resort to more difficult plays.
Aware that Dick’s success had aroused a spirit of jealousy at home, and knowing there might be traitors in camp, Frank decided on some secret practise. Never before had Fardale started off so brilliantly in football, and Merry was determined that the school should make a great record that season, if possible.
So the eleven and the choice substitutes were taken out for practise in this field, a long distance from the academy, where it was believed there existed little danger from spies or traitors.
The players had gone off quietly, in order to avoid attention; but Uric Scudder was on the watch, and his suspicious soul awakened. Before long he had communicated his suspicions to Jabez Lynch, who found an opportunity to slip away with Scudder and strike across lots in the direction it was supposed the football team had gone.
Just what he hoped to accomplish, the chief rascal did not himself know, but he wished to be fully informed concerning the plans and progress of the eleven.
"Can you tell me what they are doing?" asked Lynch, with some eagerness. "Can you make out their plays from there?"
"Yes, I can see them plainly," answered the fellow in the tree. "I take it that Merriwell is drilling them in some new formation."
"I must see that!" exclaimed Jabez, starting to pull off his coat. "I’m coming up."
"This limb won’t hold us both," said Uric.
"Then you had better come down. If Merriwell is putting the team up to some new stunts, I’m going to find out what’s doing."