Then came the knowledge that the freshmen had been repulsed. The sophomores were cheering wildly, and the unfortunate freshmen were downcast.
"They've held us out," muttered Harry, bitterly. "It begins to look as if we'll have to climb over the fence if we get inside."
"What's that?" cried Frank, bracing up a little. "Climb the fence? Not much!"
"Then how'll we get in? Will you tell me that?"
"We'll find a way."
"Wind a fay!" spluttered Harry excitedly. "It's easy enough to say that, but I don't believe we can do it."
"Oh, freshies! oh, you poor freshies!" tauntingly cried the victors. "Don't you wish you could? But you can't do it, you know!"
"That remains to be seen," muttered Merriwell, brushing the hair back from his eyes. "I didn't think we could do it in this way. But there are others."
"You'll be a dandy if you devise a way," declared Little.
Diamond, with his coat off, his vest ripped up the back and his shirt torn open at the throat, was regarding the jeering sophomores with a fierce, sullen look. Evidently he was ready for anything. He glanced at Merriwell, but said nothing.