“Don’t try to put on many frills here the first year,” he said.  “You will find that freshmen do not cut much of a figure here.  It doesn’t make any difference what you have done or what you have been elsewhere, you will have to establish a record by what you do and what you become here.  You’ll find these fellows here won’t care a rap if you have discovered the North Pole or circumnavigated the globe in—­er—­ah—­ten days.  It will be all the better for you if you do not let them know you are rich in your own name and have traveled in South America, Africa, Europe, and other countries.  They’d think you were bragging or lying if you mentioned it, and—­”

“You know well enough that I am not given to boasting about myself, professor, and so you are wasting your breath,” said Frank, rather resentfully.

“Hum! ha!  Don’t fly off the handle—­keep cool.  I know you have sand, and you’re made of the right kind of stuff; but you are the greatest hand to get into scrapes I ever saw, and a little advice won’t do you any harm.  You will find that in many things you cannot do just as you would like, so you must—­”

“I’ll get into the game all right, so don’t worry.  You will remember that I did fairly well at Fardale, and you should not worry about me while I am here.”

“I will not.  You did well at Fardale—­that’s right.  You were the most popular boy in the academy; but you will find Yale is far different from Fardale.”

So the professor took his departure, and Frank was left to begin life at college.

His roommate was a rollicking, headstrong, thoughtless young fellow from Ohio.  Harry Rattleton was his name, and it seemed to fit him perfectly.  He had a way of speaking rapidly and heedlessly and turning his expressions end for end.

Frank had been able to assist Harry at examination.  Harry and Frank were seated close to each other, and when it was all over and the two boys knew they had passed all right, Harry came to Frank, held out his hand, and said: 

“I believe your name is Merriwell.  Mine is Rattleton and I am from Ohio.  Merriwell, you are a brick, and I am much obliged to you.  Let’s room together.  What do you say?”

“I am agreeable,” smiled Frank.

That was the way Frank found his roommate.

Harry was interested in sports and athletics, and he confided to Frank that he was bound to make a try for both the baseball and football teams.  He had brought a set of boxing gloves, foils, and a number of sporting pictures.  The foils were crossed above the mantel and the pictures were hung about the walls, but he insisted on putting on the gloves with Frank before hanging them up where they would be ornamental.

“I’ve taken twenty lessons, old man,” he said, “and I want to point you a few shows—­I mean show you a few points.  We’ll practice every day, and I’ll bet in less than ten weeks I’ll have you so you’ll be able to hold your own with any fellow of your age and weight.  Ever had the gloves on?”