Frank Merriwell's Champions

pang!

icycle strike something which gave under his weight with a snapping, music

behind, checked himself wi

wrong,

uess," answered Frank, le

llant Virginian, Jack Diamond; merry-hearted Harry Rattleton; the Yankee youth, Ephraim Gallup; the Dutch boy, Hans Dunnerwust; the lad with Ir

n their way to the East once more. They had journeyed in various ways through California, Texas, Missouri, Kentucky and other States, and had now reached the mountain region in the southwestern part of Virginia. The

ute before, at the top of a rise, as they were about to plunge into the bit of woodland,

y the rustic cottages stretching along the shores of the lake and the flag that floa

g up the instrument that had been crushed by his whe

e an outing suit of blue flannel, and a white straw hat that well became him rested on his abundant brown hair. He was

olin, and you have crushed and ruined it. What business ha

dressed. "As to the path being a private one, I am not so sure of that. At any rate, I did not run into your violin on purpose. It occurs to me that a path such as this, whether

rank, who stood beside his wheel, holding the broken instrument. "This woodland belongs to my father, and no one has a rig

ight to make good your loss," Merriwell continued, smiling lightly and deceptively. "But I still insist that a place lik

showed scorn now,

are right back here among the trees. You can see them from that bend. As for the violin, I was playing it a

he bushes, with the sound of hu

! What's the ma

tired like the owner of th

this array of force, and Rattleton was heard to mutter

en bragging all day to Merriwell and my other friends about the big-heartedness of the people of Virginia. I'm a Virgini

t was not wi

ent like that smashed into kindling, and just let it go at that. As for this land, i

ly private?" queried Frank

ing the thing where he did!" exclaimed Harry Rat

g inwardly at the belligerent Virginia boys. "We expect to stop a few days in Glendale,

lity the instrument had cost him only twenty. "I doub

one way only. We will pick three disinterested persons who know something about violins. Let them set a value on the instrument. You stand half

ted Barney Mulloy, who was itching

arney a quick

turning again to Frank. "You pay me a hundre

facing him, and laughing lightly. "Jump

he lightness of his manner, Frank Merriwell meant to f

ant, and making a seeming attempt to break away from his fr

laughed Merriwell. "I'm willing h

looks of Merriwell's backers, and the two began to force the enraged

ver is fair. When he is in the same frame of mind, let him come down to the hotel at the village, and we will try