A roar of laughter broke from the masked students.
When Diamond was lifted to his feet he was almost too weak to stand. He clinched his teeth, vowing over and over to himself that he would find a way to square accounts.
"If it takes me a year, I'll find out who the leaders in this affair are, and they shall suffer for it!" he thought.
"Give him a chance to see the others put through the mill," said Mephisto, and Diamond's hands were released.
The Virginian looked around, seeming irresolute for a moment. Not far away he saw a masked lad whose clothes were wet and bedaubed with dirt and sawdust.
In an instant Diamond sprang toward this person and snatched the mask from his face.
"It's Merriwell!" he triumphantly shouted, "and he has helped to haze me! His career at Yale will be suddenly cut short!"