“And I take exceptions, Jack, to your statement that those girls are bold. They were pleased by your appearance, and they tried to make themselves agreeable to you. That’s all.” “I may be wrong,” admitted Jack; “but it seemed boldness. I wouldn’t say so to anyone else. Do not repeat it for the world! It might reach their ears, and I’d rather do anything than say a word to hurt the feelings of a lady.” But his words had already reached the ears of Mabel and Hattie, for the girls were sitting on a flat stone and leaning against a bowlder less than thirty feet away. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER V THE FIGHT ON THE BEACH. As soon as Merriwell, Hodge and Diamond walked away, the girls arose and hurried from the spot. “Oh, I could kill him!” flared Hattie. Mabel said nothing. They walked down the beach till they came to some steps that led up to an unoccupied cottage. They sat down on the steps. “To think that fellow could say anything like that about us!” exclaimed Hattie, passionately. “It is dreadful,” acknowledged Mabel. “Dreadful! Why, it’s awful! He said we were bold! Oh! Ugh! How I hate him! How I hate him!” “Don’t get so excited, Hattie.” “Why, haven’t I every reason to get excited? Oh, I’d like to tell Mr. Jack Diamond what I think of him!” Mabel sat still and looked out upon the water. “He didn’t mean for us to hear it,” she said, after a time. “But he said it! It’s just as bad!” Pretty soon there was a queer sound in Mabel’s throat. Hattie looked at her in astonishment. Mabel was sobbing. Above the bank there was grass on the ground, so the feet of two lads walking along there made no sound. They halted in amazement, looking down at the girls. Hattie had placed her arm about her friend, and was trying to comfort her, saying swiftly: “The wretch! How did he dare say it! He has broken your heart, Mabel! How can fellows be so mean!” “It is Miss Mischief and Miss Hazle, Bart,” said Frank Merriwell. “Somebody has insulted them.” “I’d like to punch the head of the fellow who would dare!” growled Hodge. They heard him and looked up quickly. Then the boys were in a quandary, not knowing exactly what to do. “We must pretend we did not know she was crying,” said Frank. “We must go down there, Bart.” He whispered the words, and Hodge nodded. So they descended the bank, greeting the girls cheerfully. “We have been looking for you,” declared Frank. “How fortunate we found you!” “Yes, very fortunate,” said Hattie, a strange inflection in her voice. “We have something to say to you—something we wish you to tell a particular friend of yours.” “Hattie, stop!” gasped Mabel. “Would you——” “Yes, I would!” flashed Hattie. “You mustn’t!” “I must! Your friend, Mr. Diamond, expressed his opinion of us a short time ago.”