In any event no trouble had arisen before this from this feature of "Pig" initiation.
Having left Frank beside the track, as we have stated, the mentors withdrew and stood in the shadow of a big elm from where they could see the result of the test without being observed by the motorman or anybody else in the vicinity.
They were watching the affair with great interest, although pretty well convinced that Merriwell's nerve was so strong that he would stand the test without trouble.
They were disappointed when the car stopped to let off a passenger, but were satisfied when it proceeded again and rapidly gained full speed.
Then they were amazed to see a figure dart rapidly out from the shadow of another tree not far away and make straight toward the neophyte.
They wondered at it, but were not alarmed, for their first impression was that it was some man who was unfamiliar with students' doings, and who believed that the blindfolded figure was in real danger.
They rather expected, therefore, to see this stranger catch Merriwell up and drag him aside. Their horror may be better imagined than described when they saw the stranger push Merriwell in front of the car and then leap across the tracks just missing the car himself, and disappear.
The alarmed and indignant seniors dashed from their hiding place and ran with all possible speed to Merriwell's assistance. They came up to him just as the car stopped sliding forward, and began to move back under the force of the reversed current.
The excited motorman was jabbering curses upon the foolish conduct of students generally, and altogether too busy with his apparatus and too rattled to get down from the platform.
The conductor and the few passengers in the car, disturbed by the slight collision, were moving toward the platform to see what was the matter.