At the word there was a sudden thud as four bodies fell to the ground. Immediately afterward there was a creaking and a sound of straining as the four prostrate men pulled with all their might at a rope.
Then there were long breaths and grunts, and presently one of the four exclaimed:
"I say, Merriwell, I didn't suppose you were going to say 'drop' until you had counted three!"
"You had no business to suppose any such thing," responded Frank, seriously, and yet with a smile; "the man who gives the word in a tug of war sometimes doesn't count at all, and you've got to get used to falling at one word only."
"It will be a pistol shot in New York, won't it?"
"That isn't decided on. You didn't get the rope under your knee when you fell, Taylor."
"I know," responded the one addressed, "and that was because the word 'drop' came before I was ready for it."
"Look out for it next time, then. That will do for the present."
At this word the four young men stood up and looked at Merriwell to await his next command.
They were in the gymnasium at Yale. A corner of the main exercise hall had been set apart for them and screened so that their work could not be seen or interrupted by other students.