"I have no doubt that he did, from what I know of him," agreed Mr. Callum.
"That's not so. It was a fair fight. I dodged his first blow and—well, it was a fair fight," murmured Frank.
"That will do. I shall at once report you to Dr. Doolittle. You may consider yourself suspended, Racer. I saw you deliberately knock Welter down. You are suspended!"
"And—and can't I race to-morrow?" pleaded Frank, his heart beating so hard as almost to choke him.
"Race! I should say not!"
Frank made a bold resolve. Matters could not be made much worse and he decided to risk an appeal to the irate professor.
"Look here, Professor Callum," said Frank. "I know you don't like me or my brother, but can't you at least be fair?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that I'm telling you the truth. I was out after hours. I admit that. Coming home I saw a light in here, and I saw Welter in the act of putting holes in the bottom of the shell. There is one slit he cut, and here is the knife he used." Stooping quickly Frank picked up the weapon that had dropped from the bully's hand. "Now all I ask is a fair show," went on the captain. "I'm willing to be suspended, but can't you wait until after the race, Professor? Give Riverview a chance to beat Waterside?"
Frank paused in his pleading. Welter was observing him with a mocking smile. There seemed to be some struggle going on within Professor Callum. Perhaps he remembered that he was once a boy. Perhaps he saw the justice of the demand Frank made. Perhaps he was weary of the low place Riverview held in athletics. At any rate he said grimly: