Merry knew it was an effort to lead him on.
Twice Hashi repeated the movement, and once he came near falling into Frank’s clutch, for Merry made a lightning snap at his wrist and barely missed.
Finally Hashi came still nearer. Suddenly he felt a hand close on the back of his neck. Merriwell had caught him before he could prevent it.
He knew now that Frank could move with such swiftness that light itself seemed barely faster.
Hashi shot his own hand up and tried to secure a hold on Frank’s wrist, with the intention of seeking a certain nerve with his fingers and robbing the American youth of strength in that arm.
Frank read his intention and prevented it by his manner of maintaining his hold, at the same time closing on the professor’s arm at the shoulder.
Hashi twisted and snapped away barely in time to prevent the American from finding one of those paralyzing nerves.
He continued to smile, but he understood that Merriwell was inclined to meet him at his own game.
A moment later Frank secured another hold on the Jap. Instead of coming at Hashi, he drew the yellow athlete toward him.