The alcalde frowned.
“That is not for me to grant, señorita,” he said.
Then he waved his hand, and several of the civil guards rushed into the arena. They placed themselves about Frank Merriwell, and the boy was marched off, a captive, while the spectators howled their applause or anger.
CHAPTER XX.
AFTER THE FIGHT.
As soon as they could escape, Professor Scotch and Ephraim Gallup left the bull ring. They tried to discover where Frank had been taken, but were unsuccessful. They were met with black looks and were given scant courtesy. Some of whom they sought information declared that the boy would be imprisoned.
As they marched back to the hotel Ephraim raged and raved as if he had quite lost his head. He vowed that Frank should have a square deal. He vowed that the United States would wipe Spain off the face of the earth if Frank were harmed. He was stared at in astonishment by the wondering people they passed. It was well for him that English was not understood by those Spaniards who overheard him. It is certain that he would have been arrested and imprisoned, if nothing more serious had happened to him.
The professor was on the verge of tears.
“It’s all that daring boy’s fault!” he declared. “He is continually getting into scrapes! Oh, my! oh, my! What shall we do?”
“Do?” cried Ephraim. “Why, we’ll apply to the United States Consul. By chaowder! we’ll find aout ef a citizen uv the United States can be put inter prison like a caow in a pound jest because he saved the life uv a gal!”