The histories read by the different historians had been full of hits upon the various members of the class. As a man’s name was called his companions lifted him upon their shoulders, while his history was given to the strained ears of the gathering. He was compelled to submit gracefully, but some of those sharp hits caused the victims to look like fresh-boiled lobsters.
The historian was reading when Packard reached a spot where he could see and hear. Bruce Browning was held aloft upon the shoulders of his fellows. When it was finished, Browning was lowered, and up came Bart Hodge as his name was mentioned.
“Merriwell’s friends!” muttered Packard bitterly. “Everybody seems to be Merriwell’s friend to-day. I’m the only one of the whole howling pack who has remained his enemy. He has conquered them all, but I’ll conquer him!”
Then Hodge was lowered. There was a stir. The name of Merriwell came from the lips of the historian. Instantly something remarkable took place. Merry was lifted and held aloft, but every man on these benches rose to his feet. It was a tribute to Frank, and the great crowd of watching spectators caught the feeling. Up rose that mass of men and women and youths and girls in one great surge, standing for the moment to do honor to the most famous college man in the world. It was a spectacle never forgotten at Yale.
Then those students who were not holding Frank aloft sat down, and the spectators followed their example.
The historian, his voice ringing out clear and strong, delivered a blood-stirring eulogy on Merriwell.
“Bah!” muttered Packard, and, sick at heart, he slunk away, unwilling to listen to those words of adulation for one he hated with undying intensity.
Late that afternoon, when the exercises were all over, Oliver Packard found Roland in the room they had occupied together. Oliver was surprised when he saw his brother’s arm in a sling, and he asked what had happened.
“None of your business!” answered Roland surlily.
“You are hurt?” exclaimed Oliver, forgetting that he had vowed he would take no further interest in his wayward brother. “What is it, Roll! Won’t you tell me how badly you are hurt?”