Hodge saw the glance, heard the words, and could hardly resist the temptation to walk up and knock him down.
"The scoundrel!" he hissed to Browning.

"What is he driving at?
Does he mean that Merry hasn't given him a fair deal, or that he had the gun explode in some way to keep from being tied by him, or beaten?
Perhaps he is hinting crooked work against me! If he does, I'll punch his head, sure.

Frank is a fool to stand such stuff." Merriwell showed a slight trace of annoyance.

He took Badger by the arm and they walked aside together.

A dozen men were examining the gun, and a score more were craning their necks to get a look at it, while all sorts of excited conjectures and comments filled the air.
"See here, Badger," said Merriwell, somewhat sternly.