"And Diamond would have been captured if it hadn't been for Merriwell, who stayed behind to help him out," put in Thornton. "The duel was never finished."
"Don't try it again, Merry," cried Danny Griswold. "The next one wouldn't come out as well as that."
"But what am I going to do?" asked Frank. "This fellow Marline will not let up on me."
"Don't pay any attention to him," advised Little.
"That's right, ignore him," said the others.
"That will be a hard thing to do. I am no bully, as you all know, but I cannot ignore a man who tries to ride me."
"Better do that than get into a fight with deadly weapons, and be killed," said Put.
"Or kill him," added Griswold.
"Never mind if he does try to brand you as a coward," advised Emery. "He can't make the brand stick. You are known too well here."
Frank flushed a bit.