Now the manner of the man in gray aroused the anger
and resentment of the boys. He seemed to be taunting them.
"Shall we shoot the snake, Bruce?" asked Diamond, his face purple with passion. "Shall we avenge Frank?"
"Not just yet," said Browning. "We will give him a chance for his life."
"You are very kind!" murmured Mr. Cooler.
"If he will tell us what has become of Frank—if he will lead us to Frank, we will spare his life."
"What if I don't know where he is?"
"You do know. You dare not deny it!"
"You are very much mistaken, for I do deny it. I give you my word of honor that I do not know where Mr. Merriwell is at this moment. I do know he followed me. He thought he was doing a very shrewd thing, and I must confess that I rather admired his skill at it, but I knew all the time that he was behind me."
"Ha!" exclaimed Hodge. "Then you know what became of him?"