"You are wrong there!" Frank declared positively. "He can pitch."
"Why, Merry, those Hartford fellows will just put it all over us. I tell you it won't do! You must give it up!"
"I suppose you know why I promised to let him pitch?"
"Well, I haven't heard, but I can guess. After you'd saved him from drowning himself, and he came to realize what everything meant, he came licking round you, professing gratitude and friendship, and all that sort of stuff. And you——"
"See here, Hodge!" said Frank, with uncommon sternness. "I won't stand talk like that, and you ought to know it. I'm your friend, as I've proved many times, but I can't remain your friend if you treat me that way. I'm ready to hear your opinions, but I won't stand abuse from you or any other man!"
"I told you a good while ago that whenever you and Badger ceased to be enemies you would become friends!" Bart declared, somewhat softened. "And now it has come true. You are wanting to befriend and help him now, just as I knew you would. And after all the dirt he has done you! Why, he's put dirt all over you a dozen times!"
The memory of it caused Bart to lose his head again.
"Badger is my enemy! A man who is his friend is no friend of mine! That is flat! I don't think I can make it plainer."
"You can't; it's plain enough. Badger is not my friend, but I am not his enemy."
"Don't tell me, Merriwell! You are his friend. You wouldn't ask such a thing, if you weren't. You must know that every one of the fellows will kick. What did you make such a fool promise for?"