"That is right!" panted Flemming, his eyes glittering and his teeth showing. "A fellow with a sprained back is no good at an oar. Why, Thornton, my boy! Merriwell has played right into my hands! He has given me the very opportunity I most desire, and I'll be a chump if I neglect it! If he is not taken to his room on a stretcher, it will be necessary for some of his friends to aid him. I know a hug that will take the stiffness out of his spine and make him lame for a month!" "Give it to him!" fluttered Tom, with returning confidence. "Fix the cad this time so he will not be able to wrestle any more!" "I will, rest assured of that. This is my opportunity. In five minutes the starch will be taken out of him." Flemming was confident, far more confident than he would have been had he dreamed that Merriwell had turned him in the air and brought him underneath in the first fall. In his mind he saw Merriwell groaning on the ground, saw him assisted to his room, saw him helpless in bed and attended by a physician. But what gave Flemming the greatest satisfaction was the vision of Collingwood humbly asking him to again resume his place on the crew--the place now given to Frank Merriwell. It seemed remarkable to Fred that he had not planned to engage the lad he hated in a wrestling match, and so injure him in such a manner that he would be unable to row on the crew. But no less remarkable, it seemed, was the fact that he had been challenged to wrestle by Merriwell, and thus given the opportunity he most ardently desired. The only thing that marred his satisfaction at that moment was that Merriwell had, apparently by accident, seemed to have acquired the honor of having thrown him in the first struggle. "Gentlemen," said Heffiner, "are you ready?" The antagonists stepped forward and signified their readiness. The spectators fell back. "This time it is catch as you can," said Yale's famous pitcher. "Any kind of a hold is fair. Is that understood?" "It is," nodded Merriwell. "Certainly," bowed Flemming, giving Frank a scornful look. "Very well, gentlemen. Prepare to clinch. Ready--go!" CHAPTER XIV. PLOTTING FUN. Like a panther Merriwell sprang forward, but he halted quite as suddenly and stood erect, careless and disdainful. Flemming came forward in a crouching posture. He believed he saw his opportunity, and, with a gasp of satisfaction, he darted in and caught the lad he hated about the body. This time it was not Flemming's intention to throw Merriwell too suddenly. He wanted a little time to wrench Frank's back, and then he would cast his foe writhing and helpless at his feet. Tom Thornton saw that Fred had obtained the hold he sought, and he mentally exclaimed: "This time there will be no blunder!" Jack Diamond no longer smiled. He saw that Flemming had obtained what seemed to be a great advantage, and his face was filled with concern.