“You will be nipped in the bud if you’re not careful,” said Frank. “Sit down, Jack, and let up for a while. You’ve had your mouth open long enough to thoroughly ventilate your system for an hour, at least.”
“And there has been an awful escape of gas,” said Carson.
“You’ve run your race,” declared Greg Carker, with a solemn wave of his hand. “Stand aside now.”
“Is the earthquake coming?” awesomely inquired Jack. “If so, I’ll get out of the old thing’s track in a hurry, Cark.”
“Speaking about races,” put in Bingham, the sophomore, “I heard a strange rumor to-day. It was to the effect that Merry has been asked by the freshmen to give them a little coaching, and has agreed to do so. I can’t believe it, for it seems to me that he has his hands full without bothering with the freshmen crew. I’m sure it isn’t true, is it, Merriwell?”
“Yes,” said Frank quietly, “it is.”
CHAPTER XXX.
THE FRESHMAN COXSWAIN.
There was a moment of silence, and then Ready was heard sobbing violently, as if his heart were breaking.
“What makes you feel so bad, Jack?” asked Bingham. “Is it because we didn’t get Merriwell to coach our crew?”
“Not that, not that!” asserted Jack, pressing his handkerchief to his eyes and flopping one hand in a gesture of intense sadness. “I’m so sorry for him! I love him even as I love a nice, juicy steak, and to think this terrible disappointment must be his! Alas! alas!”