Frank knew Dick was brooding over the affair, and he thought a walk in the open air might do the big freshman good. Thus, after they had eaten, during which Jack and Merry seemed in a very agreeable mood, not a little to Dick’s wonderment, Merriwell proposed a walk. Diamond, however, stated that he had many letters to write and thought he had better be about them at once. “I’ll have to run down home for a day or two before going across,” he said. “I shall leave you to-morrow, Merriwell. To-night I shall spend in getting things straightened out here.” So Frank and Dick left the hotel together. They made a handsome “pair” as they strolled along the street—shoulder to shoulder. Starbright was larger, but he was not a whit more finely developed, and there was a certain air of confidence and assurance about Merriwell that was not possessed by the big fellow. At a glance a discerning person could see that Frank was the natural leader and a born commander of men. They walked up Broadway, attracting considerable attention and causing more than one head to be turned that the owner might follow them with his or her eyes. “Things have conspired to hold me here in New York long after I had thought of returning to college,” said Merry; “but I’m going back with you to-morrow, Starbright.” “I’m glad of that,” said Dick listlessly. “Your voice did not sound as if you were very glad.” “Nevertheless, I am, Frank. All the fellows will be delighted. Why, things are at loose ends there. Everybody is wondering what keeps you away.” “Are they?” “Yes. The baseball men are worried to death, and there is a general air of suspense and dread over the place.” Frank laughed. “I fear you are making it too strong, Starbright. Yale got along all right before I came, and I am sure she will continue to do so when I’m gone.” “But you know what happened when you were away—you know how she slumped the year you were out of college.” “The same thing might have happened had I been there.” “Nobody believes it. All point to the fact that you straightened things out in a hurry when you came back.” “That is giving me too much credit.” “Nobody thinks so. Yale never in her history had such a football-team as she did last season. Not once was she defeated. Harvard had the best team she ever put onto the field, yet Yale beat her. I say Yale, but I mean Merriwell, for it is certain Harvard would have won that game had you not risen from a sickbed and appeared on the field at the critical moment in the last half. You won the game for us, Merriwell, by the most remarkable play ever seen on a football-field, jumping clean over the head of a tackler. What other man could have done that?” Starbright was beginning to forget Inza, and life and animation were coming back to him. “It was a very lucky trick,” said Merry, with no show of false modesty.