"I don't care!" repeated Jack. "He struck Frank—kicked him when he was down! You know, Browning—you know how Merriwell stood by me on our trip when all the rest of you turned against me, because I was out of sorts. You know how he stood by me when I raved at him. Another fellow would have told me to go to the Old Nick. I haven't forgotten those things. I am ready to do anything for him!"
"But if it should happen that you have killed this freshman——"
"What then?"
"It will go hard with you. A little while ago, in Merriwell's room, you were saying you would kill him. It will look like a premeditated murder."
This hit Jack hard, but it did not stagger him.
"I can't help it. I did the trick to keep him from killing Merriwell. Merry was down, and that brute was kicking him. No one would dare try to stop Mason with bare hands. I used the best and only means to stop him. If he dies——Well, I'll take my chance with a jury of honest men."
Browning felt that Diamond had nerve, for all that he was hot-headed and passionate.
"Well, we'll hope the fellow isn't hurt much."
Some one was bending over Mason, fanning him, while others were pushing the crowd back.
"Get back—give him air! Do you want to smother him to death?"