“Do you dare to talk to me like that, you miserable freshman!” he grated. “Why, I’ll--I’ll----” “What will you do?” asked the voice of Hodge, trembling with eagerness. “I wish you would do something! I’d like to have you lift your hand to me, Noon! I’d take delight in soaking you just once, and I do not feel like it as long as you keep your hands down. Oh, do put ’em up! I don’t know but I’ll let you hit me once, if you will!” Frank laughed out loud, but the excited lads within the doorway did not notice it. “That’s Hodge--the same old Hodge!” thought Merry. “The blood in his body is boiling now. He would eat Noon.” “Oh, so you’re a fighter!” sneered Noon. “Well, I am not going to fight with you. I would not disgrace myself by fighting with such a fellow as you are. But I want your answer.” “You shall have it. Here it is!” A second later, Noon came tumbling down the steps, assisted by Bart Hodge’s boot, which struck with violence beneath Ned’s coattail, fairly lifting the fellow off his feet. “That’s my answer!” called Hodge, from the doorway. “Now, go ahead and do your worst, you dirty sneak!” Noon picked himself up, cursing bitterly. One of his hands was cut and bleeding, and the left knee of his pants was torn. “That settles your hash!” he snarled, shaking his fist at Bart, and failing to observe Merriwell in his rage. “I’ll cook you for that!” He turned away, and, with a biting laugh, Hodge disappeared, ascending the stairs. Frank started after Noon, quickly overtaking him. “I want to speak with you,” he said, quietly. Noon started and turned pale. He was tying a handkerchief about his injured hand. “What do you want?” he huskily asked. “Hold on a minute, and I will tell you.” “I don’t want to stop here,” said Ned, looking around. “I have fallen and torn my trousers, besides hurting my hand here. If you wish to talk to me, you know where to find my room.” “I am not going up to your room,” said Frank, quietly; “and I am going to talk to you now. What I have to say will not detain you long.” “All right, go ahead,” snapped Ned, scowling. “I happened to see you when you took your tumble,” said Frank, still speaking smoothly and serenely. “I know all about it, for I overheard by accident some of the conversation between you and Hodge.” Noon’s face turned paler than it had been, and he bit his lip. Then, with a sudden effort at bravado, he snapped: “Well, what of it?” “I heard your threat to blow on Hodge.” “What of that?” “You will not blow.” “By the eternal blazes, I will!” cried Noon, his eyes glaring. “I will get even with that fellow!” “You will do nothing of the sort.” “Who will prevent me?” “I will!” The eyes of the two met squarely. For some moments Ned tried to look straight at Frank, but, after a little, his eyes drooped, but he sneered: “You? I know you are the chum of that sneaking freshman, but I fail to see how you can keep me from blowing on him.”