He had heard Merriwell laugh like that before, and he knew what usually followed. Frank seized his opponent and lifted him from the floor, giving him a fling that sent him clear of the mat and slam against the nearest wall. One thing practiced by the Japanese is the art of falling. Hashi was jarred, of course, when he collided with the wall, but he fell to the floor and sat up smiling in his usual bland manner. That smile, however, was the mask which concealed the intense rage and chagrin which he felt. He knew now that the American was well up in the art of Japanese self-defense, besides being master of the American style of wrestling. Hashi felt that he would be disgraced if he permitted Frank to defeat him. Besides, he would not earn the five hundred dollars. But the disappointment of the Jap was not equal to that of Fred Fillmore. “Fiends, take him!” whispered the young rascal. “Is he going to let Merriwell do him up?” He had fancied Merriwell’s action in hurling his antagonist against the wall would end the struggle; but vicious hope had new birth in his heart when he beheld the smiling yellow man pick himself up from the floor. “The honorable gentleman is very skillful,” purred Hashi, toddling back to the mat. There was a steely glitter in Frank’s eyes as he regarded the tough, little rascal. “Wait a moment, Hashi,” he commanded. “Respected sir, yours to command,” said the Jap. “I am onto your trick now,” said Frank. “I know what you are trying to do. Jujutsu teaches a man how to break limbs. The hold you had on my leg would have crippled me if I had not moved quickly to prevent it. But a leg or an arm is not the only thing that may be broken by such a method.” “Oh, respected sir——” “You may as well cut out the respected sir! You tried to break my leg. It is no more difficult to break a neck. I warn you to hold up. Don’t try that trick again if you respect your neck!” “That’s the talk, Merry!” cried Hodge. “The honorable gentleman is so greatly suspicious!” murmured Hashi. “Now come ahead,” invited Frank, stepping to the very centre of the mat. “I shall defend myself at any cost to your limbs or life.” “Curse him!” whispered Fillmore. Some of the spectators clapped their hands. “This was to be a friendly trial of skill,” said Maurice Spaulding. “Of course it was!” cried Cutler Priest. Hashi hesitated. For a moment his eyes left Frank. They met the eyes of Fillmore, and there he saw a command for him to go on. “The honorable gentleman is wonderfully skillful,” said the Jap. “I congratulate him upon his excellent skill, and his hand I would shake.” Was it possible that the Jap acknowledged himself beaten? Frank was not duped, although he accepted the hand extended. He was prepared when Hashi instantly tried to obtain the arm lock which would have rendered him helpless. Merry had a grip of steel, and he exerted it suddenly, crushing the fingers of the Jap.