CHAPTER XXI--ON THE ACADEMY STEPS
They approached the academy cautiously, yet in a hurried manner. Lightswere in the barracks windows, suggesting warmth and comfort within.Outside the driving wind was cold and biting. Away to the southwest theburning woods flung a red glow against the clouds, and this lightreached even to the academy. They feared the light would betray them asthey approached, and they slipped up swiftly.
Sure enough, some one was sitting on the steps outside the door. Who wasit? They halted beneath the leafless trees and held a consultation. Whatwas to be done?
"We must get in somehow," said Hogan.
"I'm sorry I came out to-night," averred Crauthers.
"It's been a bad night," came dolefully from Stark.
Miguel Bunol had kept near them, but he did not venture to take part inthe conversation.
They watched the figure on the steps for some time. Now and then theylooked away toward the strip of burning woods, and the reflected lightrevealed the terror in their eyes.
They thought of the boy who had been stricken down and left for theflames, and it robbed them of strength and courage and manhood.
"If that fool would leave the steps!" muttered Stark. "But he sits therelike a dummy."
"I'm going in," chattered Hogan. "I'm almost frozen."
"You'll be recognized."
"I don't care."
When he started forward the others quickly decided to follow him, and ina body they advanced toward the steps where sat the motionless figure.They came up close to it, and then--they suddenly stopped. It was Bunolwho uttered first an exclamation in Spanish, and then jabbered:
"Look! See! It is here!"
He was half-crouching, pointing at the figure, and his teeth rattledtogether like castanets, while his protruding eyes gleamed with terror.
Crauthers uttered a groan, and his legs nearly gave way beneath him.
"A ghost!" he whispered.
For the light of the burning woods seemed to show them sitting there onthe steps, hatless, pale, a streak of red down across his temple,Chester Arlington. Never before had those boys been so startled. Infact, they seemed for a moment struck dumb and motionless with horror.Then one of them turned and ran, and the others followed, not uttering aword.
As they disappeared beneath the trees, Dick Merriwell stepped round acorner of the building and spoke to the lad who sat on the steps.
"I thought that you would give them a shock. You had better get up toyour room now."
Chester Arlington, for Chester it was, made no retort and no move. Hesat there dumbly, not even looking at Dick.
"Come," said young Merriwell, taking his arm.
Chester rose, and they entered the building. Dick assisted Arlington tohis room.
"Are you sure you are all right?" asked young Merriwell.
Chester nodded.
"All right," he said, in a mechanical manner. "Only my head hurts some."
At the wash-bowl the blood was washed out of Chester's hair and from hisface.
"Perhaps you had better have the doctor," suggested Dick, but Arlingtonobjected, saying:
"I don't want the doctor! He'll ask too many questions. I'm going totake care of myself. Tell me again how it was you happened to find methere in the woods."
"It was not a case of happening to find you," said Dick. "I have been tothe Den before. I had a fight on the tree-bridge once. I followed youto-night when I saw you striking out in that direction. You aroused mycuriosity. But I was not familiar enough with the path through thatjungle to keep very near you. So I was not on hand when you were tappedon the head, but I knew something had happened to you when those fellowsrushed past my place of hiding. I crossed the bridge and stumbled overyou. Then I discovered the fire, which was just starting. I shook somelife into you, got you out and brought you here."
Arlington was gently drying his hair with a towel. He made a despairinggesture and dropped on a chair.
"It's fate!" he muttered. "I might have been burned to death in thewoods but for you! Twice you have saved me from fire! It's no use, I'vegot to leave Fardale!"
"Why?"
"I can't stay here as your frie----" Chester stopped himself abruptly,remembering the change of policy he had decided upon. A few more wordswould ruin everything.
Could he play the part now? Could he continue to pretend to be friendlytoward Dick while really plotting to injure him? That was the plan hehad decided upon, but fate seemed determined to baffle him, to makesport of him.
Then he thought of the fellows who, a short time before, had pretendedto be his friends. They had struck him down in the woods and left him tobe consumed by the flames. Were these the kind of friends he had madesince coming to Fardale? And Dick Merriwell had friends who would fightfor him, suffer for him, sacrifice anything for him. Chester was doublydisgusted.
"I'm going away," he declared. "Merriwell, I' got to do it!"
"I don't see why."
"I do! I can't tell you. But one thing I am going to do before I go: I'mgoing to get even with those whelps who turned on me to-night!"
"You know them all?"
"Every one."
Chester tied a handkerchief about his head. His manner was rather queer,and he kept glancing at Dick out of the corners of his eyes.
"There is no more I can do?" said Dick, rising.
"No; you have done too much!"
"Too much?"
"Yes. Frankly, Merriwell, I'd rather any one else in the world shouldhave given me this last lift."
Dick smiled. He realized that he had been able to pour hot coals onArlington's head, and it gave him a feeling of satisfaction.
"Too bad you feel that way about it!" he said, retreating to the door.
"Good night," said Arlington shortly, and Dick went out.
"A thousand devils!" grated Arlington, when he was alone. "How am Igoing to keep it up? I hate him still, but he has made it almostimpossible for me to again lift my hand against him. Yes, I believe Ishall have to get out of Fardale. Mother wanted me to go, and I wouldnot; but now it is different."