“Perhaps you think that will scare me,” he sneered.  “If so, you will find I am not bluffed so easily.”

“We are not trying to scare you,” declared another of the masked students, “but you’ll find we are in earnest if you blow.”

“Well, you will find I am in earnest, and I do not care for you all.”

The boys began to despair, for they saw that Diamond was determined and obstinate, and it would be no easy thing to induce him to abandon his intention of reporting the hazing.  If he did so, Browning and Horner would find themselves in deep trouble, and others might become involved during the investigation.  It was not probable that the consequences would be serious for Merriwell, who would be able to prove his innocence in the matter.

What could be done?

The boys fell to discussing the matter in little groups, and not a few expressed regret that Tad Horner had unmasked, as an alibi could have been arranged for him if he had not done so.  Now he would be too proud to permit them to try anything of the sort, and he would tell the truth about his connection with the affair if the truth were demanded of him.

“We’re in a bad box,” said one fellow in one of the little groups.  “Diamond is mad enough to do as he threatens.”

“Sure,” nodded another.  “And that breaks up this joint.  No more little lunches here—­no more games of penny ante.”

“It’s a howling shame!” exploded a third.  “It makes me feel grouchy.”

“I move we strangle Diamond,” suggested the first speaker.

“It seems that that is the only way to keep his tongue still,” dolefully groaned a tall chap.  “This is a big horse on us.”

“That’s what,” sighed a boy with a face like a girl’s.  “The whole business puts me in a blue funk.”

Then they stood and stared silently at each other through the eyeholes in their masks, and not one of them was able to propose anything practicable.

The rest of the assembled sophomores seemed in quite as bad a plight, and some of them were inclined to indulge in profanity, which, although it relieved their feelings for the moment, did not suggest any way out of the scrape.

At this point Merriwell spoke up, addressing Diamond.

“Look here, old man,” he said in a friendly way, “you’ve only taken the same dose they gave me.  It’s nothing when you get used to it.”

Diamond gave him a contemptuous look, but did not speak.

“Now, I don’t propose to make a fuss about this little joke,” Frank went on.  “What’s the use?  I’m not half killed.”

“Perhaps you think you can hoodwink me!” cried Diamond.  “Well, you cannot!  You were in the game all the time.  That’s why you were so ready to meet me in a duel—­that’s why you came here.”

“I assure you on my word of honor that you are wrong.”

“Your word of honor!”

“Yes, my word of honor,” he calmly returned.  “See—­look at my clothes.  You can tell that I have been through the mill.”