“No matter where we roam in the mystic years to come, There are days we never shall forget, The happy days when we, in a school beside the sea, Cast aside the past without regret; ’Twas there sweet friendship grew ’mid hearts forever true, And our longing souls must oft turn back With yearnings for that time in youth’s fair golden clime When we wore the royal red and black. “Oh, the royal red and black! We’ll love it to the end. True to it we’ll stand, And true to every friend; So rise up, boys, and cheer For those colors bright and clear— For the royal red and black.” In spite of himself, Dick’s eyes filled with a mist as he heard this sweet song, in which the great chorus joined in that room packed with loyal Fardale lads. His lips smiled while there was a tear in his eye, for that tear was a pearl of happiness. They were cheering! He stopped and listened. They cheered for the red and black, and then a voice cried: “I propose the long cheer for Captain Merriwell, the royal defender of the red and black, the greatest captain Fardale ever knew, and the finest fellow who ever breathed. Let her go!” They did let her go! It seemed that they would raise the roof. And the cheer ended with Dick’s name three times shouted at the full capacity of their lusty, boyish lungs. In his room Chester Arlington heard them, and he writhed with mental anguish that caused him to forget his bodily pain. “Fools! fools!” he snarled. “Where is Darrell? Why doesn’t he come to me? Is he ashamed because he broke his promise not to play? Well, he ought to be! He swore he wouldn’t go into that game, and then he went!” June could have told her brother that Hal offered to go into the game because she had urged him to do so, but she did not care to agitate Chester any further just then. “You must keep still,” she said. “The doctor is going to bring back another physician and make a closer examination. You may be seriously hurt.” “No!” snapped Chester. “I won’t have it so!” “But I hope it is not so.” “I won’t have it so! Why should I be hurt while he—while Dick Merriwell is all right? It isn’t possible!” “I hope not! I think you will be all right, Chester.” “You’re a good sister, June!” he suddenly exclaimed, looking at her. “I’m sorry you made the mistake of having anything to do with that cheap fellow Merriwell. But, June, you can never know how I felt when I saw you in that carriage and knew I could do nothing to save you. I thought I should die! But to have him save you, June—that was the bitterest pill of all!” “Don’t keep thinking about that, Chester. Just be quiet until we find out how much you are hurt. It will kill mother if you are hurt much.”