“Well, any other time I am, but not to-day.”
“Why not?”
“Because the Yale nine is run by Frank Merriwell, and I’m for him first, last, and all the time. He’s the boss jim-dandy, and don’t you forget it! Why, I’ll bet a thousand dollars that he just wipes up the earth with U. V. to-day. There ain’t anybody can beat him, and don’t you forget that, either!”
“Go on! He’s pretty good, but Paragon will show him some tricks to-day. You’re a traitor, else you wouldn’t be wearin’ that ribbon.”
“You’re a big fibber, Scrub! I’ve always been for Frank Merriwell, and I’d be a traitor to him if I went back on him to-day. His friends never go back on him!”
“Well, I guess you’ve worn that long enough.”
Then the boy called Watson suddenly snatched the ribbon from the ragged coat of the other lad. A moment later Watson got it good and hard on the point of the jaw, and he went down with a thud.
“That’s one of Frank Merriwell’s settlers,” declared Jimmy, as he snatched up the ribbon. “I read all about how he did it, an’ I’m willing to give any of you other fellers some of the same. Come on, if you want it.”
But by this time the train had come to a stop, and the Virginia students gave a cheer on catching sight of the Yale men. Instantly every lad was pushing and crowding in a mad endeavor to get nearer the car, the trouble between Watson and Jimmy being forgotten.
The Yale men were a lusty-looking set of fellows as they descended from the car. The crowd swayed and pushed and commented.