He was dragged out of the vat, and then he was forced to endure all the hustling, and thumping, and banging which Frank Merriwell had passed through. His protests seemed to fall on deaf ears.
It had been reported that Diamond had declared that the sophomores would not dare to haze him, as his father would make it hot for them if they did. The report was remembered, and he was used more severely than Frank had been.
Hazing at Yale was said to be a thing of the past, but Frank saw it was still carried on secretly.
"Make a speech, fresh!" shouted a voice.
"Speech! speech!" yelled the masked lads.
Diamond was placed on a low table.
For a moment he hesitated, and then he fancied he saw his opportunity to make a protest that would be heard.
"I will make a speech," he declared. "I'll tell you young ruffians what I think of you and what—"
Swish! a sponge that was dripping with dirty water struck him square in the mouth. Some of the water went down his throat, and he choked and strangled.
The table was jerked from beneath his feet, and he fell into the waiting arms of the masked sophomores.