"What are you doing here, you old flunker?" laughed Bert.
"Take back them cruel woids," demanded Axtell. "Flunker," he went on meditatively, "it hath a right knavish sound. Beshrew me, if I fling it not back in the teeth of any caitiff knight that dare put such shame upon me."
A great light dawned upon them.
"What!" cried Dick. "You old rascal. You don't mean to say that you've worked off your conditions?"
"You speak sooth," was the reply, "albeit your wonder at the same pleasureth my pride but little. For less than that my sword hath ofttimes drunk the blood of churls."
They fell upon him and pounded him till he was out of breath.
"Glory hallelujah!" shouted Tom.
"The best news I've heard since Hector was a pup," declared Dick.
"Now we've got a fighting chance," exulted Bert. "By Jove, old scout, you don't know how the team has missed you."
Axtell flushed with pleasure.