This seemed logical, and not a few were ready to agree with Gordan. Harry Rattleton came up, and the lads appealed to him at once.
"You are Merriwell's roommate," said Robinson, "and you should know if it is true that Yale is going
to change her oars and stroke for the Oxford oar and stroke."
Harry grinned mysteriously.
"Why should I know all this just because I am Merriwell's roommate?" he asked. "Do you think he knows everything he tells me—I mean do you think he tells me everything he knows?"
"Of course not, but he'd be sure to tell you this, for you know he introduced English methods with 'Umpty-eight last year, and he must be rather proud if Collingwood has given in that those methods are preferable to the old Yale ways."
"If Merry were proud of anything, you'd never know it by his words or manner," said Harry. "He is not given to boasting."
"Oh, of course not!" cried Little, impatiently. "We all swear by Frank Merriwell, but what we wish to know is if he has induced Collingwood to adopt the Oxford oar and stroke."
"Well, you'll have to ask Merriwell, for I will tell you frankly that I don't know. The longer I room with him the less I pry into his affairs, and, if he knows
Collingwood's plans, he has not seen fit to reveal them to me. That is all, gentlemen."