“Hold on, you chaps!” called Bruce.
The cry was heard. Gooch and Billings turned and looked about. Then they seemed on the point of taking to their heels, but did not do so.
Browning and Rattleton came up.
“We want to talk to you,” said Bruce, surlily.
For some reason neither of the fellows seemed to care about talking, but they could not get away, and in a very few minutes they heard some straight talk from Bruce.
“If either of you blow on Merriwell,” said the big fellow, with such fierceness that both were astounded and appalled, “I’ll take particular pains to see that you are tarred and feathered and ridden on a rail. You will not be tolerated in Yale. I swear to hound you out of college in less than two weeks, and I’ll be aided by a hundred others. That is business, and it is straight from the shoulder.”
Both Gooch and Billings protested that they had not the least idea of exposing Merriwell.
“That’s all right,” said Browning, grimly. “Rattleton heard enough to know you might do it. If Merry is exposed, I shall know you did it, no matter how well you cover your tracks, and that will mean the end of your college life in this city. I’m not going to say any more. I have said enough. If you are not fools, you will go slow.”
Then Bruce and Harry walked away, and Gooch and his freshman chum were left to their thoughts, which were anything but pleasant.
“Confound him!” muttered Billings. “He would keep his word!”