“It was his duty!”
“But he did not succeed. Oh, I was so frightened! He was thrown down, and I thought he must be killed. We found out afterward that he was not very badly hurt.”
“He got hold of the horses?” asked the man frowning.
“Yes, but he could not hold them.”
“Weakling!” muttered the man, contemptuously. “Why, had I been in his place, I’d stopped them in their tracks!”
“They were mad with terror, and it seemed that no one could check them. But there was a young man who ran out, got them by the bridles, and brought them to a stand.”
“Ah!” cried the man, with a show of interest. “He must be the possessor of some strength.”
“He’s the greatest athlete in Yale. His name is Frank Merriwell.”
Elsie had stopped a short distance away. As he leaned against a tree which shielded him from her view, Hodge had not been discovered by her. Standing thus, Bart heard her tell how Frank had stopped the runaway horses. It gave him a strange sensation, and all at once he began to wonder if the meeting between Frank and Elsie had been unintentional, or accidental.
“Oh, yes; I know about him,” said the man called “doctor.” “I have seen him many times in athletic sports and games. I presume some men would regard him as rather strong.”