“I do not believe it!” he flatly declared.
“It is true,” said Frank. “When I entered the military school at which I fitted for college I was something of an athlete, but while at that school I made the greatest progress. It was there that I really became an athlete of some consequence.”
Still it was plain the boy was not convinced.
“That school,” continued Merry, “is one of the best in the country for boys who need building up in body as well as mind. Since I left it vast improvements have been made there. When a student enters now he is compelled to pass a physical examination at the hands of a competent professor, and all his weak points are noted and recorded. Every day he is required to spend a certain length of time in the gymnasium building up those weak points and strengthening himself generally. For this very reason Fardale Military Academy is turning out vigorous, healthy young chaps, who are well prepared for the strain of study and competition during their college careers; or, if he does not enter college, he is ready to begin the battle of life with a stout heart and plenty of stamina to meet all sorts of hardships.”
“It’s no use to talk to me,” said the boy stubbornly. “I don’t want to go to school, and I’m not going.”
“I didn’t know you were afraid!” exclaimed Merry, as if greatly disappointed.
“Afraid?” cried Dick. “Who’s afraid?”
“You must be.”
“Of what?”
“You must be afraid to have your weak spots discovered. You are a trifle hollow just in front of your shoulders, and your neck is not quite large enough at the base. You would have to train at Fardale to correct these weaknesses.”