“D’yer moind now, thot b’y is a hot birrud!” he said.
“I couldn’t hit him!” grated Dolph, still shaking. “He took refuge behind his promise to my sister. But he’ll have to face me! I’ll force him to do it!”
Then came comments and remarks from all quarters, and it was some time after Scott’s departure before the boys cooled down. As he resumed his position on the table, Renwood discovered that his knife was missing.
“What’s become of my knife?” he asked. “It was here on the table.”
“Didn’t you put it into your pocket?” asked Bentley.
Dolph shook his head. “No; I left it lying on the table. Scott came in just a moment after you put it back there.”
However, he felt through his pockets, but did not find it. Then the boys searched for the knife, looking under the table and into all sorts of corners. Again Renwood searched his pockets, turning them wrongside out one by one, but with no better success than before.
The knife was not found.
CHAPTER IX.
A STRUGGLE IN THE DARK.
Straight from Wolf’s Head Point to the club-rooms Don Scott had come, with a determination to have a talk with Sterndale, express his regret at what had happened that day on the football field and apologize to Renwood, if absolutely necessary. This he was resolved to do for his father’s sake, not wishing to cause the doctor further worry and distress on his account.