“Here, Hashi,” said Fillmore, “you have the fortune of beholding one who regards himself as the champion athlete of this country and has somehow won considerable recognition of his claim.” The Jap bowed very low. “Augustly deign to let my bewildered eyes find resting upon the famous one,” he urged. Fred jerked his thumb toward Merry. It was a gesture calculated to irritate Frank. “Behold him, professor.” Hashi smiled, but there was the least touch of incredulity and contempt in that smile. “I am greatly overcome in his honorable presence,” he murmured. “Here’s a chance for you to prove your claim that you are more than a master for any athlete or wrestler that weighs not more than two hundred pounds.” “How would you generously suggest that such may come about?” “Challenge him! His name is Merriwell. Challenge him!” Fillmore laughed, as if considering it a great joke. The face of Bart Hodge was dark and frowning. “Here it comes!” he muttered again. Hashi advanced a little and surveyed Frank more fully. “I humbly confess my exceeding admiration at beholding one so grandly famous,” he purred. “Believe me greatly overcome in your august presence.” “What claptrap!” said Hodge. “Out with it and show your hand! Nobody is fooled by this slick game.” Hashi looked surprised, but said: “Wonderful much pleasure it would give if the excellent honorable American athlete would condescend to meet me in the contest of skill.” “All right,” said Frank promptly. “Where shall it be?” Fred Fillmore was somewhat surprised by Merry’s prompt acceptance of the smoothly delivered challenge. He had fancied it would be necessary to drive Frank into it through ridicule. Frank was not pleased. He was dressed in evening clothes, and he had no desire to meet Hashi; but he had understood from the first that it was a scheme to force him into the meeting in some manner, and therefore he decided to meet the schemers halfway. “The sooner it is over the better,” he thought. Martin Manners and Bob Ridgely were somewhat disappointed. They were friends of Fillmore, and it had been arranged that they were to join in the ridicule of Merry in case he declined or seemed reluctant to meet the Jap. Hashi had been told by Fillmore that it might be no easy matter to draw Frank into the snare, and he, also, was somewhat surprised. “It is the exceeding great honor you are beneficently willing to bestow upon me?” he questioned. “If that’s the way you look at it,” nodded Frank. “You’ll get all that’s coming,” muttered Hodge. “I know where we can pull it off,” laughed Fillmore quickly. “There’s a private gymnasium near the Diamond on Howard Street. That will be a fine chance.” “Well, well!” cried Spaulding; “it seems that we’re going to have an entertainment not down on the bills.” “’Rah, ’rah!” cheered Harrow. “This is the kind of stuff to suit me!” The Yale men were enthusiastic, and to a man they expressed their confidence in Merry.