If he did not look out, he was almost sure to get into trouble and find himself "rusticated" or sent home for good.
Merriwell could not help thinking it possible that Gordon had been innocent and that a mistake had been made in dropping him, as it might discourage him so that he would go to the bad.

This worried Frank not a little.
"I'll have to make Ditson call a halt," he said to Harry.

"He must be told to let up on Gordon." "Now, that is dead right," nodded Harry, who was inclined to be generous and kindly toward the fellow who might have filled his place on the freshman crew.

"I tell you that Ditson is a bad man, and I would not trust him as far as I can fling a cow by the tail." "I'll get after him at the first opportunity," promised Frank.
Harry went out and had a talk with Bandy Robinson about the matter.
Robinson admitted that he did not have much use for either Gordon or Ditson, but he was inclined to think Gordon the better fellow of the two.
That night Merriwell and Rattleton retired early, but they were not allowed to go to sleep.

Barely were they in bed before there was a knock on the door, and they found Robinson and one of the fellows who lived in the house were there.
"Say," said Bandy, "Ditson and Gordon are down at Billy's, and Gordon has a great load on.