“Not tenanted. Then how did it catch afire?”
“I am inclined to think somebody must have set it.”
Later, in his room, he told them of the thrilling adventure through which he had passed.
“What are you going to do, Frank?” panted Bart, fiercely. “What are you going to do to the Hookers?”
“Give them the full benefit of the law,” was the answer.
“They ought to be lynched!”
“That’s so, by gosh!” spluttered Ephraim. “They’re wuss’n I thought they was! If ever any critters oughter be lynched, them is the ones!”
“The sheriff will wait on them in the morning,” said Merry. “He will serve them with a great surprise, for they think I am burning in that old building.”
In the morning, however, neither of the Hooker brothers could be found in Carrolton. Whether they had learned of Merriwell’s escape or not, they had taken the alarm and fled from the town.
Frank made known the story of their atrocity, and the anger of the honest citizens of the place was great. They assured Merry that neither of the brothers would be tolerated in Carrolton again if they reappeared there.