Frank struck Rob in such a manner that he was thrown to the ground, but he flopped over, sat up, and took the ball that belonged to him, laughing in a good-natured way.
Marline paid no attention to the ball he had started after, but stood looking down at Frank, his face utterly bloodless and his eyes gleaming.
"Sah," he said, after a few seconds, as Frank was getting up—"sah, you ran into me!"
"Believe I did, old man," laughed Merriwell. "No harm done, I hope. Didn't upset you, and you did me. I'm all right."
"But you ran into me, sah!"
"Couldn't help it, you know," declared Frank, with unfailing good nature. "Accidents will happen."
"Accidents, sah, may often be avoided."
"It is difficult to avoid them on the gridiron."
"You may apologize, sah."
Marline was standing there, his arms folded, his dark eyes looking daggers at Merriwell. His pose was graceful, and he really looked handsome, for all of his arrogant bearing.