"All right, and we'll try and look out for it."
"How's Merriwell getting on?" asked Browning.
Baker grinned.
"He's standing it like a man," was the reply, "just as we supposed he would, but he'll get black marks enough to sink a ship before the night's over."
Browning chuckled.
"I'll bet he takes those black marks seriously," he said.
"Well, why shouldn't he?" returned Baker. "It's the last time we'll get the chance to roast a good fellow like Merriwell, and we're going to make it hot for him, I tell you."
"Go ahead, he'll stand it," said Bruce.
Having delivered his message of warning, Bruce left the room. Then Baker returned and ordered Frank to begin his essay.
"Speak up loud and clear," he said, "for when you're told to talk, we expect you to talk."