“I’d sooner die fighting than be left at the post,” he muttered grimly, taking a firm grip on his bat. Again Green smiled, scarcely taking the trouble to wind up for the throw. He sent the ball down to Olcott, far too high for a good strike, but Chip was past caring whether it was good or not. With an effort, he swung up and reached for it. There was a crack, and the sphere shot out over second base--for his third hit off Green! Merrell made a hard run in for the ball, secured it on the first bounce, and relayed in a beautiful throw to Olcott. Clancy was tearing for home, and he ran along as he had never run before. Glancing around, he saw the ball almost even with him, and as he neared home he went down in a desperate slide. Olcott received the ball perfectly, and there was a moment of suspense as the dust rose and hid the play. Then the umpire’s figure emerged, hands down. Fardale had won on Merry’s hit--the closest finish ever seen on Fardale field. CHAPTER XXXVIII. CAUGHT WITH THE GOODS. “It’s Merry’s game, all right!” “I’m not so sure of that, fellows,” said Merry, as he entered the dressing room and heard Lowe’s remark; “I’d say that it’s Villum’s game. Didn’t he get the run that tied, and get it without assistance?” A roar of laughter went up. As Merry went to his locker, however, he was approached by Colonel Gunn’s orderly, who shoved hastily through the crowd. “Come outside, Mr. Merriwell!” cried the cadet. “The constable wants you!” “Tell him I’ll be dressed in a minute,” returned Chip. “No, get a move on right now!” insisted the other excitedly. “Colonel Gunn is waiting, too.” “That’s a horse of another color, then,” said Chip, and made haste outside. He found the constable, who greeted him eagerly. “Say, Merriwell, come along over to the riding hall. Colonel Gunn’s gone over, and said to bring you along.” “Me? What for?” Merry had forgotten all about the affairs of Randall in the excitement. “Why, they found that feller Carson, and he seems to be drunk, or hurt, or something,” explained the constable hurriedly, as they started out. “One o’ the boys phoned over to the grand stand just before the game ended.” “That’s bad,” commented Merry. “You don’t know any more?” The constable did not, except that he had seen Colonel Carson slinking away from the grounds in woeful plight. It was said that the colonel had lost a large sum of money on the game. With the orderly, they hastened to the riding hall. Grouped in the rear, they found a small crowd of cadets, in the midst of whom stood Colonel Gunn and Randall, while a motionless figure could be made out on the ground. “Ha--Merriwell!” cried the principal, who had recovered his momentarily lost ponderous manner. “Here is the--ah--individual of whom we were in search. He appears to have been in this posture for some little time.”