Frank Merriwell's Champions

making a search is the veriest humbug! The idea that one of their number would wander away into the woods, or drown himself

h announced to come off that morning at nine o'clock sharp. They were seated on camp stools, on wooden

Lily Club would not enter the contest because they were organizing to search for

ow they dare not meet us, and they're simply making that an excuse. I'll bet big money that, if th

ng to institute another search through the woods and along the shores of the lake, though they had already made a number of such searches. Merriwell was to speak to the people

cottage, when Harry Rattleton sw

ped. "Just in sight, c

ning, who had lost his way again, in spite of the moonlig

e mountains for a walk, and had been assaulted

t current, they did not try to correct it, choosing to let it g

he saw Browning return, and knew that he would have to swi

Colson, who had been selected by the members of the Lake Lily Club to uphold the c

ub, were already at the starting point, and the spectators, who ha

b'y!" cried Barney, jubilantly. "Thot Hommond sint up his rooster crowin

rney," promised Merriwell, touc

d Rattleton. "We want you to beat Hammond worse th

boathouse in spite of his aching head and generally used-up condition. "But as for m

llup and Mulloy imitated his example, and when their hands came

eep off that chill," said Rattleton,

eep off that gol darn chill!" cried Ephraim

in an' kape aff thot ager," a

em in mock rage, whereupon they dodged backward and

n' chilluns," warned Toots. "I's su'mised dat Mistah

ghten up and stare toward the slope

ispered, nodding his

you talking about?"

farthest bench. The slim girl, with the cotton dress and calico sunbonnet. Heavens! I'm glad to see h

e than to let you see her, so that you may

are right," ass

of the boat landing, from which point the

n, Hammond and Matlock stood up side by side, and faced the de

ran along

wo, thr

ashed in the air, shot downward, and slip

ff!" some

d a fluttering of fans and umbrel

. Hammond was a full yard ahead of Frank, and the latter's friends saw that Merriwell would not have

nd that the final stretch is what tests the strength of the swimmer. So while Ward Hammond spurted and increased his lead,

owlocks, prepared to follow the swimmers leisurely, that a boat might be at hand in case of accident. Of course, he was o

er a little quicker, frog fashion. That's right! Go it, old man! T

drown himself," was Rattleton's unchar

the swimmers with a critical eye. "Colson is a good swimmer

he shore to test the strength and wind of the

ond led, with Merriwell second, Colson t

ers headed shoreward, it was seen that

d swinging the oar aloft to give emphasis to his Indian-like yell

essed Bart Hodge, with an uneasy shifting of his feet. "Se

hose faith in Merriwell's ability was always supreme. "Now look, will you? Hurrah for

of tumbling into the water, and there, standing on tiptoe and swinging h

tly on his shoulders, but it was observed that he was greatly increasing his speed. Not in the

stump and capered like a schoolboy, while a couple of Glendale's severest old maids, whom nobody supposed

d bitter enemy. His head drew alongside of Hammond's thrashing heels, forged

m faster, seeking to regain his lost ground by another spurt. But

whooped, and fluttered handker

ed his insane antics. His

s spaniel. It recognized him as he sat in the boat, and was anxious to join him. The boat was beyond the swimmers, and the dog, in attempting to reach it, s

He was already in a desperate mood, and

ng. White and panting, Carter rose to his feet, l

brought cries of "Shame!"

dived like a flash, and the oar

swimming neck and neck with Ward Hammo

again broke loo

ist. The crowd yelled like mad. A dozen men crowded to the water's ed

shed and flailed. His win

ee yards in the lead, and was imm

rers-to the shoulders of men who loved pluck and fair play-and borne

onquering h

rank Merriwell and others, which were not taken part in by the disg

satisfaction of those who had waited so

Colson, when they were again in the dressing-room. "I wonder if Hammo