CHAPTER III--HAPPINESS AND MISERY
Dick escaped from the crowd and from his friends and took a bath,followed by a brisk rub-down. When this was over, he donned his clothes,feeling pretty well, for all of the game he had played through, for allof his exertions in pursuing the runaway, for all of the bruisesreceived in stopping the frightened horse.
Being in perfect physical condition, he recovered swiftly. His eyes weresparkling and there was a healthy glow in his cheeks as he hurriedlypacked his stuff and prepared to take the train that was to carry thetriumphant cadets back to Fardale.
He could hear the boys singing in a room across the corridor. The"faithful" were having a high old time. They were packed into that room,their arms locked about one another, howling forth the old songs oftheir academy, "Fair Fardale," "The Red and Black," and "Fardale's Way."
"It's no use moaning, it's no use groaning, It's no use feeling sore; Keep on staying, keep on playing, As you've done before. Fight, you sinner; you're a winner, If you stick and stay; Never give in while you're living-- That is Fardale's way."
Dick smiled as he heard this familiar old song roared forth by thelusty-lunged chaps who were rejoicing over the wonderful victory. Itgave him a feeling of inexpressible pleasure, and it was something hewould never forget as long as he lived.
Oh, these wonderful days at Fardale! It was not likely he would forgetthem in after years. He had learned to love the old school as FrankMerriwell loved it before him, and he was thankful that Frank hadrescued him from the lonely life in far-away Pleasant Valley beneath theshadow of the Rockies and brought him to the academy.
Not that Dick's heart had ever ceased to turn lovingly toward the hiddenvalley where he had lived a peaceful, happy life, with his little cousinFelicia Delores as his sole companion and playmate near his own age.True, he often thought of the days when he had wandered alone into thewoods and called about him the birds and wild creatures, every one ofwhom seemed to know him and fear him not a bit. True it was that herealized a change had come over him so that no longer could he call thebirds and the squirrels as he had done; but still he was happy and hadno desire to exchange the present for the past.
"No matter where we roam in the mystic years to come, There are days we never shall forget, The happy days when we, in a school beside the sea, Cast aside the past without regret; 'Twas there sweet friendship grew 'mid hearts forever true, And our longing souls must oft turn back With yearnings for that time in youth's fair golden clime When we wore the royal red and black.
"Oh, the royal red and black! We'll love it to the end. True to it we'll stand, And true to every friend; So rise up, boys, and cheer For those colors bright and clear-- For the royal red and black."
In spite of himself, Dick's eyes filled with a mist as he heard thissweet song, in which the great chorus joined in that room packed withloyal Fardale lads. His lips smiled while there was a tear in his eye,for that tear was a pearl of happiness. They were cheering! He stoppedand listened. They cheered for the red and black, and then a voicecried:
"I propose the long cheer for Captain Merriwell, the royal defender ofthe red and black, the greatest captain Fardale ever knew, and thefinest fellow who ever breathed. Let her go!"
They did let her go! It seemed that they would raise the roof. And thecheer ended with Dick's name three times shouted at the full capacity oftheir lusty, boyish lungs.
In his room Chester Arlington heard them, and he writhed with mentalanguish that caused him to forget his bodily pain.
"Fools! fools!" he snarled. "Where is Darrell? Why doesn't he come tome? Is he ashamed because he broke his promise not to play? Well, heought to be! He swore he wouldn't go into that game, and then he went!"
June could have told her brother that Hal offered to go into the gamebecause she had urged him to do so, but she did not care to agitateChester any further just then.
"You must keep still," she said. "The doctor is going to bring backanother physician and make a closer examination. You may be seriouslyhurt."
"No!" snapped Chester. "I won't have it so!"
"But I hope it is not so."
"I won't have it so! Why should I be hurt while he--while Dick Merriwellis all right? It isn't possible!"
"I hope not! I think you will be all right, Chester."
"You're a good sister, June!" he suddenly exclaimed, looking at her."I'm sorry you made the mistake of having anything to do with that cheapfellow Merriwell. But, June, you can never know how I felt when I sawyou in that carriage and knew I could do nothing to save you. I thoughtI should die! But to have him save you, June--that was the bitterestpill of all!"
"Don't keep thinking about that, Chester. Just be quiet until we findout how much you are hurt. It will kill mother if you are hurt much."
For Chester Arlington's mother doted on him. He was her pride and joy,and she had implicit confidence in him. She had permitted June to cometo Fardale to satisfy June that Chester was in the right in his troublewith Dick Merriwell, but she had not fancied that June did not mean tolet her brother know she was in town until after she had investigatedand discovered the truth.
"I won't be hurt!" exclaimed the unfortunate lad. "Why should anythinglike that happen to me? But it was so strange that I had no strength inmy legs when I tried to stand."
"That is what worried the doctor."
"Worried him?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"He was afraid your spine had been injured."
Chester turned still paler.
"My spine?" he whispered, a look of horror on his face. "Why, if thatshould be, I might become a helpless cripple."
"Oh, I don't think it's anything like that!" cried the girl, regrettingthat she had spoken so plainly. "I am sure it isn't."
He lay still and stared up at the ceiling.
"A cripple!" came huskily from his lips. "What a terrible thing! Andthat fellow still strong and well! Nothing ever happens to him. Why isit? It's his luck--his luck!"
June knew he was thinking of Dick Merriwell, and she thought how nearlyDick had been knocked out of the game that day, how she had rushed tohim as he lay on the field, and how she had given him the little locketas a "charm" to keep away misfortune in the future.
"What made you do it, June?" whined the lad on the bed, and she startedas she realized he was thinking of the same thing. "It was a shame--adisgrace!"
"I'm sorry I disgraced you, Chester!" she said, somewhat coldly.
"I'd rather given anything than to have my sister make such a spectacleof herself. All Fardale will know of it! They will say you are smittenon him--on that fellow!"
"Chester, I know how much you dislike him; but don't you think you aresomewhat in the wrong yourself?"
He started to his elbow, with a cry.
"It's hard enough to be knocked out this way without having my sister goback on me for a dog like that!" he exclaimed fiercely.
"He is no dog, Chester! Have you forgotten that he stopped the runawayand saved me?"
"No! no! Wish I could!"
"Have you forgotten that this is the second time he has saved me? SurelyI owe him something! I owe him respect, at least!"
"That's all! You can keep away from him! June, you must stay in Fardaleno longer. I'll write mother. That is, if you do not decide to leave atonce."
"Perhaps I may not be able to leave."
"Not able?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"You may need me."
"You think I am going to be as bad as that? Then that infernal doctormust have told you something he did not say to me! But I'll foolhim--I'll fool them all! I'll get up all right in a day or so! It'snothing but a sprained back! Why doesn't Darrell come to me? Has he goneback on me entirely?"
"Perhaps the doctor has told everybody to keep away."
"Confound the doctor! June, go find Hal Darrell and tell him to comehere rig
ht away. I have something to say to that fellow, and I'm goingto say it while it is hot on my mind."
"Keep still while I am gone," she said. "Will you?"
He promised, and she left the room to look for Darrell.