“Just a joke,” mumbled Chester. “Just a little fun. Didn’t mean anything by it. Confound that dago! He tried to stab me, didn’t he? Did you stop him, Merriwell? What did you do? I didn’t see.” “Never mind what I did. Come on, now. Follow us, Moran, and see that the Italian gets no fresh opportunity to use a knife. Arlington must go ashore, for his life wouldn’t be safe if he remained here.” “Guess that’s so,” acknowledged Chester, as he permitted himself to be led up the companionway to the deck. Having reached the deck, Dick again told Chester to order the fires banked. Lazaro was waiting near, and he concealed his surprise, if he felt any, when Arlington gave this order. The yacht had not left the wharf, and a few minutes later, accompanied by Dick and Moran, Arlington was on shore. “Just a little joke,” he kept muttering. “Didn’t mean anything by it. Drank too much. Made a fool of myself, I guess. Wonder if June knows ’bout it. She’s good girl. Nobody can say anything ’bout her to me. I won’t stand for it! She’s all right!” “We will get him over to the hotel, Moran,” said Dick. “I wonder if there is any way to do it without his being seen?” “Tell you what I can do,” suggested Moran. “I can get a closed carriage and come for you.” “That’s it,” said Dick. “We will be on the road somewhere between here and the hotel. Just you hustle. I’ll watch for you.” “All right,” was the assurance. “Depend on me.” And Moran started away on a run. * * * * * * * * Arlington awoke the next morning in a room at the Fardale House. He had a splitting headache, and his mouth was dry as a pine board. When he stirred a groan came from his lips. “Oh, murder!” he muttered. “What is the matter with me? Where am I?” Dick Merriwell rose from a couch near the window. “You must feel pretty rocky this morning, Arlington,” he said. Chester stared at him in blank astonishment. “What the dickens are you doing here?” he questioned. “Where did you come from?” “Why, I found you on a little toot last night and managed to get you in here without attracting much attention. I stayed with you to see that you came out of it all right. Want a drink of water?” “Give me a bathtub full! I will drink it all!” “Here you are,” said Dick. “A whole pitcherful.” Arlington seized the pitcher and drank greedily. “Oh, my head!” he muttered. “What sort of stuff was I drinking, anyhow? And I had such a beastly dream! Why, I dreamed about kidnapping you and taking you aboard the old lady’s yacht and having a devil of a time. Then there was a dago trying to stab me, and all that kind of stuff. I’ll never touch any more cheap booze!” “That was a pretty bad dream,” said Dick. “But, as long as it was a dream, it’s best to forget it. You will have to take a cold bath and brace up to get back to the academy.” “A cold bath!” gasped Chet, shaking with horror. “I can’t do that! Great Cæsar! I can’t do that! Not this morning!”