Then Kent Spencer drew Frank aside.
"Mr. Merriwell," he said, "my knowledge of you has not been obtained entirely from the papers."
"Indeed?" smiled Frank, lifting his eyebrows.
"No; I have heard much of you from a personal friend and admirer who is stopping at the Cove."
"That is pleasant news. I shall be pleased to meet him. I am always glad to meet my friends. Is it a Yale man?"
"No," said Kent, "it is not a Yale man. It is some one you have not seen in a long time. There is a little hotel down at the Cove, and you must bring your party there. This friend of yours is stopping at the cottage of a retired sea captain who lives at the Cove. My sister is also stopping at the same place."
In vain Frank urged Spencer to tell the name of the mysterious person of whom he spoke. He declared that it was some one Merriwell would be delighted to see, and that was all Frank could get out of him.
"Well," laughed Merry, "you have aroused my curiosity so that I am going down to Blue Cove immediately. I shall send Jack back to Brooke for the rest of the fellows, but I shall continue on to Blue Cove."
This pleased Spencer.
"Do it!" he cried. "You won"t be sorry."
Then Frank went back and told Jack of his decision.
"I will go on to Blue Cove and make arrangements for our party at the hotel," he said, "while you are to go back for the fellows."
Jack was not quite pleased with the idea of wheeling back to the others all alone, but he did not murmur much.
CHAPTER XIII-AGAINST ODDS
A short time later, the Blue Cove boys were pulling up the river in their boat, while Diamond was riding in one direction and Merriwell in another.
Frank arrived at the Cove ahead of the crew. He found a pretty little spot, with a hotel set back on an elevation from the water, while the academy was surrounded by well-kept grounds and tall trees.
It was the vacation season at the academy, but two of the professors lived in the building the year around, and by the rule of the inst.i.tution, the annual boat race on the Potomac was not allowed during the spring term. For some years it had been a midsummer event, a number of students remaining at the academy and getting into trim after the spring term was over.
As the Cove was something of a summer resort, where there were often many pretty girls, this was a pleasure instead of a hardship, and the rivalry for the crew was intense.
Often from six to a dozen students besides the crew remained at Blue Cove during the summer, and at the time of the race every student who could get there was on hand.
There were nearly a dozen cottages at the Cove, and Frank"s first view of the place brought a cry of delight from his lips.
Amid the trees, hammocks were swung, and in them could be seen several girls in light dresses, idly perusing paper-covered novels or chatting with the young fellows who lingered near.
There were two large tennis courts, and upon one of these, despite the warm sun, a party of four, two fellows and two girls, were engaged in a most exciting game.
Above the Blue Cove Academy boathouse flew a beautiful flag, and several pleasure boats lay beside a float, or were moored at a distance from the sh.o.r.e.
"Great stuff!" exclaimed Frank, with satisfaction. "And to think we might have missed this place but for the little adventure down the river. We won"t do a thing here but have sport!"
Straight to the hotel he rode, attracting some attention. Soon he had disposed of his wheel, and made arrangements for the accommodation of his party, fortunately being on hand in time to take some rooms left vacant by some visitors who had departed that morning.
Having settled this matter, Frank went out to look for Kent Spencer and the crew. He found they were not yet in sight, and he was devoured by curiosity to learn without delay what friend of his was stopping at the Cove.
Being thus impatient, Frank made inquiries about a retired sea captain who lived in the neighborhood.
He was told that an old sea captain by the name of Tobias Barnaby lived about half a mile away. Barnaby was said to be queer, having considerable money, but being rather close-fisted and mean.
Frank was shown a path that led over a rise and through some timber to Barnaby"s home, and he immediately set off in that direction.
Merry"s curiosity seemed to increase as he hurried along the path. What friend of his could be stopping with this queer old sea captain? It was some one who had spoken well of him to Kent Spencer.
The timber through which the path pa.s.sed was rather thick, and Frank did not obtain a sight of the old sailor"s home till he came out suddenly and saw the wood-colored roof of the old house showing amid the trees in a little hollow at his feet.
"Well, that"s a cozy nest!" he muttered, as he paused to admire the picture; "and the last place in the world where I should expect to find any one who knows me."
At that moment he was startled by a sound that came from the midst of the trees near the back of the house.
"Go away and let me alone!" sounded the voice of a girl. "If you don"t-- Help! he-e-e-lp!"
The cry for help was uttered in a smothered, frightened manner, and it stirred Frank Merriwell"s blood from his crown to his toes.
"I think I am needed down there!" he muttered.
With that, he went leaping down the steep path at breakneck speed.
"Stop your screaming!" roughly commanded a voice. "I won"t hurt you, you little fool! But I am going to kiss you, and you can"t stop me, for I know old Barnaby is away. I saw him row off in his boat."
"Help-help! Kate!" cried the appealing voice of the girl from the midst of the trees back of the old house.
These voices served to guide Frank. He left the path and rushed toward the spot from whence the frightened appeal came, his feet making very little noise on the gra.s.s.
In a moment he came upon a spectacle that fired his heart with the greatest rage.
A girl with golden hair was struggling in the arms of a young fellow, who was doing his best to hold her while he pressed a kiss upon her unwilling lips.
And that young fellow was Rolf Harlow!
Frank recognized his enemy at a glance, and the sight of the fellow added to the consuming fury burning in his breast.
By brute strength, Harlow overcame the girl, and, as he held her helpless in his arms, he laughed triumphantly, crying:
"What"s the use to make so much fuss! I won"t hurt you. I was stuck on you the first time I saw you, my little peach, and I made a bet that I"d kiss you within two days. I must do the job now, or lose my bet."
"Then you will lose your bet!"
Rolf heard the words, but he had no time to turn and meet Frank, who was right upon him.