“Do you know this?” asked Frank, his heart burning with indignation. “I’m dead sure of it. You are going to be maimed. Better not go into it. Keep out of the dirty trap!” “Keep out?” laughed Frank, and there was something terrible in the sound of that laugh. “Yes.” “On the contrary, I’ll go into it, and Fillmore’s paid tool had better look out for himself. He may get a portion of his own medicine!” CHAPTER XXXIV. AMERICAN AGAINST JAP. Stripped to sleeveless sweaters, trousers and light rubber-soled shoes, Frank and the Jap faced each other on the huge mat spread on the floor of a seldom-used room above the gymnasium. The spectators stood around, feeling a thrill of excitement. One and all they seemed to anticipate something unusual. Hashi still smiled. Frank was calm and grave. Fred Fillmore found it difficult to control his features to hide an expression of eager satisfaction and malignance. “This is my time to triumph!” he thought. “Merriwell walked into the trap like a lamb going to the slaughter. While he is recovering from a broken leg I’ll be perfecting my plans to steal Inza Burrage from him. I’m bound to have her! She shall be mine!” Hodge was watching Fillmore, and the expression on the fellow’s face made Bart long to hit him. “Is the honorable gentleman quite prepared?” gently inquired Hashi. “Quite,” nodded Merry. They crouched and moved toward each other. Hashi held himself on the alert, waiting and expecting his opponent to attack with a rush. It is a feature of jujutsu to seem to yield before the first rush of the enemy, but to turn the attack to the undoing of the assailant, actually causing him to use his own force to aid in his defeat. Therefore Hashi was a bit disappointed when Merry failed to come after him in the style of most American wrestlers. “I must provoke him to attack,” thought the Jap. Aloud he observed: “The honorable gentleman seems exceedingly overcome by vastly much timidness.” It was now Frank’s turn to smile. “I haven’t observed you making any headlong plunge,” he retorted. “I would humbly refrain from alarming you greatly more, discreet sir,” said Hashi. “That is indeed very considerate of you.” “Well, well!” cried Fillmore, with a mocking intonation; “I do believe Merriwell is frightened!” “I don’t see the professor displaying amazing courage about coming to a clinch,” laughed Spaulding. “That’s his style.” “Perhaps it’s Merriwell’s style.” Frank and Hashi circled slowly. At last, tired of waiting, the Jap reached out swiftly as if to get a sudden hold on Frank; but he drew back instantly and waited again. Merry knew it was an effort to lead him on. Twice Hashi repeated the movement, and once he came near falling into Frank’s clutch, for Merry made a lightning snap at his wrist and barely missed.