Addison had claimed the first waltz with her, and great was his rage when Hodge appeared and reminded her that she had promised him that dance. As they whirled away, leaving Addison standing alone, the latter ground his teeth and vowed vengeance.
When the dance was over, Addison found an opportunity to speak to Hodge.
"Come out," he said; "come out alone and fight me-if you dare!"
"I"ll do it-with pleasure," nodded Hodge, promptly. "Lead the way."
Then he followed at Addison"s heels.
Kent Spencer had heard Addison muttering threats, and he was watching the fellow. When he saw him speak to Bart, the manner of the two lads was enough to betray what was coming, so Spencer hastened to find Diamond.
"Come on!" he excitedly whispered. "There"s a sc.r.a.p in the air!"
That was enough for Jack. If a fight was going to take place, he wanted to see it; if it was possible, he would wish to take a hand in it.
"Go ahead," he said; "I"m after you."
When they reached the outer air, they saw two figures moving away in the direction of the academy ground, one following the other.
"They are going to fight over on the ball ground," said Spencer. "Come ahead, and we"ll get there another way."
Jack followed, and they made a half circle, coming around to the ground on the side opposite the hotel.
By the time they arrived there, Hodge and Addison were hard at it, having stripped off their coats and vests. They were striking, grappling, struggling, falling, getting up, breaking away and going at it again. Spencer and Diamond heard the sound of their blows and panting breaths before the fighting lads were seen.
"Let"s keep away," said Diamond. "I"ll risk Hodge. I haven"t known him long, but he strikes me as a terror."
The fight lasted some time, and it was fast and furious. At last, it was seen that Hodge was getting the best of it. He would not take a mean advantage of his enemy, but he pressed Addison, who began to weaken.
Bart got in some heavy blows, occasionally knocking Addison off his feet.
"Will you give up?" he demanded. "I don"t want to use you too rough.
Give up, old fellow-give up!"
Addison made a last spurt of rage, but he was knocked down, and Hodge stood over him, ready to thump him again if he tried to rise.
"Will you give up now?" Bart demanded.
"Yes," came the reluctant reply. "Don"t strike me again! You are too much for me."
"That settles it. Get up and we"ll shake hands."
But Addison refused to shake hands after he got upon his feet.
"You have won the fight," he confessed, wiping the blood from his face with a handkerchief, "but I hate you just as much as I did before. I won"t shake hands with anybody I hate."
"I don"t blame you a bit," said Bart, at once. "I wouldn"t do it if I were in your place; but I don"t hold any hard feelings, though, to tell the truth, I might if you had licked me. I"m going to my room, and see if I can get myself in shape to dance again. So long."
Then, tossing on his coat and vest, he sauntered away toward the hotel, leaving the defeated Blue Cove lad on the ball ground.
Addison put on his coat, muttering to himself:
"Oh, I hate all of that Yale crowd! I can"t wait any longer! I don"t believe they"ll have time to get another boat before the race. I"ll do the job now!"
As he started away, Diamond whispered to Spencer:
"That fellow is up to something crooked. Let"s watch him."
"All right," nodded Kent.
They followed Addison, and saw him go down back of the boathouse, where he stripped off all his clothing and prepared to go into the water.
"I think I know what he is up to," declared Kent. "Come with me."
Taking care not to be seen by Addison, the two boys made their way to the door of the boathouse, where Spencer produced a key and hastily admitted them, closing the door cautiously when they were inside.
"Here," whispered the Blue Cove stroke, "we"ll hide in this corner. If I am right, Addison is coming in here for something."
They crouched in a corner and waited. Before long there was a splash of water in the slip and a blowing sound, as if a diver had just come to the surface.
With his lips close to Diamond"s ear, Spencer gently whispered:
"Just as I thought! He dived from the outside and came under the door, which is closed."
Then the intruder was heard pulling himself out of the water, and the eyes of the crouching lads, having become accustomed to the darkness of the place, saw a form moving about.
Addison went into the clubroom, soon returning. Then he struck a match and lighted a lamp.
"There are no windows in this part," he muttered. "The light won"t be seen."
The light shone on his wet and dripping body. The watching boys, hushing their breathing, for fear they would be detected, watched his every movement.
"There"s the boat," Addison grated, glaring at the handsome new sh.e.l.l of the visitors. "I"ll soon spoil its beauty!"
Then he went to the wall and took down from some brackets an ax, with which he approached the boat. There was a glare in his eyes, and his pale face was contorted with rage.
"Now! he cried, I"ll do the job!"
He raised the ax.
"Stop!"
Out leaped Spencer and Diamond, and the ax was torn from Addison"s hand before he could carry out his dastardly design.
CHAPTER XVIII-THE RACE