It was Mike Hogan, his brutal face pale and drawn, if he were, indeed, ill, and a bloody handkerchief tied about his head.
"Your head was near broken!" snarled Hartwick. "You bungling fool! I'll finish the job!"
And then he hit Mike in the face with his fist. They grappled and fell, and, as the other lads were trying to pull them apart, there came a great shout that announced the race was over. The crowd was heard cheering.
"Which won?" was the question Harlow paused to ask.
"Nemo came in first by a full length," replied a spectator.
Then Hogan was dragged off Hartwick, who lay pallid and still on his back, looking as if the end had come for him.
Two nights later a jolly party gathered in Frank Merriwell's room to offer him congratulations. There were speeches, songs, toasts and jests.
"How much will you take for Nemo now, Merri
well?" asked Jack Diamond. "I want to buy him and send him South to my father."
"You can't," laughed Frank. "Your father hasn't money enough to buy the dear old boy."