“What is it?” Frank asked, in apprehension. “I want to drink about a barrel of good cold water. I’d like to be backed up to a watering-trough.” Frank rang for ice-water at once. When the boy brought it, Jack seized the pitcher and came near drinking its entire contents without pausing to take breath. “Now I have a good tub of ice-cold water waiting for you,” said Frank. “Great Scott!” gasped the Southerner, in horror. “I can take a cold bath when I am feeling all right, but I don’t believe I have the nerve for it this morning, old man. You’ll have to let me off.” “It can’t be done. You must take your medicine, my boy. It’s just what you need.” “Have you no mercy, Merriwell?” “Not in a case like this. You do not deserve mercy.” With many protests, Jack was dragged out of bed and compelled to take a plunge in the icy water of the bath. After the rub-down he felt a little better, but he was ready to gulp down another pitcher of ice-water, which he easily accomplished before getting dressed. “You’re a hard doctor, Merry,” he said, with a rueful grin; “but hanged if I don’t believe you will effect a cure.” He did not want any breakfast, but Frank would not let him off till he had taken a glass of milk in which an egg had been beaten. “Now,” said Merriwell, “for a good brisk walk in the open air.” “Wait till I get a cigar,” said Diamond. “Not much!” exclaimed Frank. “How much good will a cigar do you? How much good will a walk do you if you are making a smoke-stack of yourself? When a man goes out to take exercise in the open air he should keep tobacco out of his mouth. As he walks and smokes, the fumes of tobacco get into his lungs and taint the pure air that should be filling their every cell. Thus he robs himself of the beneficial effect he might receive from his walk.” “All right, all right,” muttered Jack feebly. “Don’t lecture! I won’t smoke. But you’re not going to walk far, are you?” “Not very.” “About how far?” “Five miles.” Diamond protested; he was in no condition to stand it. His protests were unavailing; Merry said he must stand it. So they set out, and Frank set the pace, which soon brought the color into Diamond’s pale cheeks. North-ward along Broadway they strode until the park was reached, and then Frank gave his companion a merry chase through the park, coming out at last on Fifth Avenue, by way of which they returned to the hotel. Jack was pretty tired when they got back there, but he confessed that he was beginning to feel better. Now Frank sought to find out if there had come a reply to the message he had sent his father. On inquiry, he was informed that Mr. Charles Merriwell had sailed from Charleston on the steam-yacht _Petrel_ early the previous day. “Sailed for what place?” asked Frank. But that they could not tell him, only knowing that the gentleman had sailed and the message to him had not been delivered into his hands.