“I opine you’re right, Dick,” nodded Buckhart. “That’s just it. I wouldn’t be surprised to see those two onery varmints turn up any time. Well, they’ve succeeded in making a lot of fool work for a lot of fool people, and this is the first time we’ve been touched by it.” Achmet had listened to their words with a manner of mingled interest and doubt. It was plain that he did not understand, and he was on the point of questioning them further when the sudden sound of excited and angry voices reached their ears through the partly open doorway. “The professor!” cried Dick. “Something is doing, Brad! Come on!” “Lay the trail, pard! I’m at your heels!” They rushed forth and ran toward the point from which came the sound of those voices. “You’re a miserable, crawling worm! You’re a whisky-soaked, dried-up, offensive squid! You have annoyed the lady by your obnoxious attentions, and they must cease!” It was the voice of Zenas. “Yo’, suh, are a long-eared jackass, suh, and I demand satisfaction fo’ your insults, suh!” “Major Fitts!” exclaimed Dick, in dismay. “Gentlemen, gentlemen!” shrilled another voice. “This is scandalous! You must not quarrel over me! It is shocking to my delicate sensibilities. I cannot permit it!” “And Sarah Ann, sure as shooting!” cried Brad. At the head of the stairs were three persons. Zenas Gunn was shaking his fist down at Major Fitts, while the major was shaking his fist up at the professor. Miss Ketchum had her hands clasped in an attitude of despair, while she implored them to desist. Dick halted, folding his arms. “Now what do you think of that?” he muttered, in disgust. “It certain is some annoying,” chuckled Buckhart, pausing with his hands resting on his hips. “Shall we pitch in, pard, and break it up?” “I’m tempted to let those two old fools have it out,” said Merriwell. “Good idea! Mebbe it will cure them both.” “Take your fist away!” snarled the professor, knocking the hand of the little man aside. “Don’t yo’ strike at me, suh!” panted the major, his face red as a boiled lobster, and his gray mustache bristling. “Strike at you!” retorted Zenas scornfully. “If I ever struck at you, you human wart, there wouldn’t be anything left of you but a grease spot!” “Oh, please, please stop!” sobbed Sarah Ann, trying to get hold of them and force them apart. “Yo’ had better hide behind a lady’s petticoat!” raged the man from Mississippi. “Hide behind nothing!” retorted Gunn, giving Miss Ketchum an embrace and looking over one shoulder, while he reached over her other shoulder to again shake his fist at Fitts. “She is trying to keep me from annihilating you.” Finding herself in the professor’s embrace, Miss Ketchum screamed and seemed on the point of fainting. “Oh, Moses!” laughed Buckhart. “Look at that, pard—just look!” “I see,” said Dick, also convulsed. “The professor isn’t losing the opportunity to hug Sarah Ann, and it makes the major bloodthirsty.”