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MERRIWELL SERIES
Stories of Frank and Dick Merriwell
YOUR DEALER HAS THEM!
Handsome Colored Covers
Stories of Generous Length
For three generations, the adventures of the Merriwell brothers have
proven an inspiration to countless thousands of American boys.
Frank and Dick are lads of high ideals, and the examples they set in
dealing with their parents, their friends, and especially their
enemies, are sure to make better boys of their readers. These stories
teem with fun and adventure in all branches of sports and athletics.
They are just what every red-blooded American boy wants to read--they
are what he must read to develop into a manly, upright man.
_ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT_
1--Frank Merriwell's School Days By Burt L. Standish
2--Frank Merriwell's Chums By Burt L. Standish
3--Frank Merriwell's Foes By Burt L. Standish
4--Frank Merriwell's Trip West By Burt L. Standish
5--Frank Merriwell Down South By Burt L. Standish
6--Frank Merriwell's Bravery By Burt L. Standish
7--Frank Merriwell's Hunting Tour By Burt L. Standish
8--Frank Merriwell in Europe By Burt L. Standish
9--Frank Merriwell at Yale By Burt L. Standish
10--Frank Merriwell's Sports Afield By Burt L. Standish
11--Frank Merriwell's Races By Burt L. Standish
To Be Published in June, 1921.
12--Frank Merriwell's Party By Burt L. Standish
13--Frank Merriwell's Bicycle Tour By Burt L. Standish
To Be Published in July, 1921.
14--Frank Merriwell's Courage By Burt L. Standish
15--Frank Merriwell's Daring By Burt L. Standish
To Be Published in August, 1921.
16--Frank Merriwell's Alarm By Burt L. Standish
17--Frank Merriwell's Athletes By Burt L. Standish
18--Frank Merriwell's Skill By Burt L. Standish
To Be Published in September, 1921.
19--Frank Merriwell's Champions By Burt L. Standish
20--Frank Merriwell's Return to Yale By Burt L. Standish
To Be Published in October, 1921.
21--Frank Merriwell's Secret By Burt L. Standish
22--Frank Merriwell's Danger By Burt L. Standish
To Be Published in November, 1921.
23--Frank Merriwell's Loyalty By Burt L. Standish
24--Frank Merriwell in Camp By Burt L. Standish
To Be Published in December, 1921.
25--Frank Merriwell's Vacation By Burt L. Standish
26--Frank Merriwell's Cruise By Burt L. Standish
In order that there may be no confusion, we desire to say that the
books listed above will be issued, during the respective months, in
New York City and vicinity. They may not reach the readers at a
distance promptly on account of delays in transportation.
MARY J. HOLMES
CHARLES GARVICE
MAY AGNES FLEMING
MRS. GEORGIE SHELDON
Four authors enshrined in the heart of every reader of fiction in
America. See the list of their works in the NEW EAGLE SERIES.
FRANK MERRIWELL'S ALARM
OR,
DOING HIS BEST
BY
BURT L. STANDISH
Author of the famous Merriwell Stories.
STREET & SMITH CORPORATION
PUBLISHERS
79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York
Copyright, 1903 By STREET & SMITH
Frank Merriwell's Alarm
All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign
languages, including the Scandinavian.
CONTENTS
I--ADRIFT IN THE DESERT
II--ON TO THE MOUNTAINS
III--THE SKELETON
IV--"INDIANS!"
V--BLUE WOLF TRIES THE BICYCLE
VI--TRICK RIDING
VII--ESCAPE
VIII--THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED
IX--A NIGHT ADVENTURE
X--THE STORY
XI--ANOTHER ESCAPE
XII--AT LAKE TAHOE
XIII--A RACE ON THE LAKE
XIV--THE HERMIT'S POWER
XV--RECOVERY
XVI--LOST UNDERGROUND
XVII--BROTHER AND SISTER
XVIII--OLD FRIENDS
XIX--BART HODGE MAKES A CONFESSION
XX--FRANK BECOMES ALARMED
XXI--ARREST AND ESCAPE
XXII--ISA ISBAN
XXIII--A KNOCK ON THE DOOR
XXIV--THE SHERIFF'S SHOT
XXV--ESCAPE--CONCLUSION
FRANK MERRIWELL'S ALARM.
CHAPTER I.
ADRIFT IN THE DESERT.
Once more the bicycle boys pushed on westward, and it must be said
that in spite of all their perils they were in the best of spirits.
The beautiful valley in Utah was left behind, and some time later
found them on the edge of the great American Desert.
Water was not to be had, and they began to suffer greatly from thirst.
The thirst at last became so great that nearly all were ready to drop
from exhaustion.
Toots was much affected, and presently he let out a long wail of
discouragement.
"Land of watermillions! mah froat am done parched so I ain't gwan teh
be able teh whisper if we don' find some warter po'erful soon,
chilluns! Nebber struck nuffin' lek dis in all mah bawn days--no,
sar!"
"You're not the only one," groaned Bruce. "What wouldn't I give for
one little swallow of water!"
"We must strike water soon, or we are done for," put in Jack.
Toots began to sway in his saddle, and Frank spurted to his side,
grasping him by the arm, as he sharply said:
"Brace up! You mustn't give out now. The mountains are right ahead,
and----"
"Lawd save us!" hoarsely gasped the darky. "Dem dar mount'ns had been
jes' as nigh fo' de las' two houah, Marser Frank. We don' git a bit
nearer 'em--no, sar! Dem mount'ns am a recepshun an' a delusum. We
ain't nebber gwan teh git out ob dis desert--nebber! Heah's where we's
gwan teh lay ouah bones, Marser Frank!"
"You are to blame for this, Merriwell," came reproachfully from
Diamond. "You were the one to suggest that we should attempt to cross
instead of going around to the north, and----"
"Say, Diamond!" cried Harry; "riv us a guest--I mean give us a rest!
You were as eager as any of us to try to cross the desert, for you
thought we'd have it to boast about when we returned to Yale."
"But we'll never return."
"Perhaps not; still I don't like to hear you piling all the blame onto
Merry."
"He suggested it."
"And you seconded the suggestion. We started out with a supply of
water that we thought would last----"
"We should have known better!"
"Perhaps so, but that is the fault of all of us, not any one person.
You are getting to be a regular kicker of late."
Jack shot Harry a savage look.
"Be careful!" he said. "I don't feel like standing too much! I am
rather ugly just now."
"That's right, and you have been the only one who has shown anything
like ugliness at any time during the trip. You seem to want to put the
blame of any mistake onto Merry, while it is all of us----"
"Say, drop it!" commanded Frank, sharply. "This is no time to quarrel.
Those mountain are close at hand, I am sure, and a last grim pull will
take us to them. We will find water there, for you know we were told
about the water holes in the Desert Range."
"Those water holes will not be easy to find."
"I have full directions for finding them. After we get a square drink,
we'll feel better, and there'll be no inclination to quarrel."
"Oh, water! water!" murmured Browning; "how I'd like to let about a
quart gurgle down past my Adam's apple!"
"Um, um!" muttered Rattleton, lifting one hand to his throat. "Why do
you suppose a fellow's larynx is called his Adam's apple?"
"Nothing could be more appropriate," declared Bruce, soberly, "for
when Adam ate the apple he got it in the neck."
Something like a cackling laugh came from Harry's parched lips.
Diamond gave an exclamation of disgust.
"This is a nice time to joke!" he grated, fiercely.
"The matter with you," said Rattleton, "is that you've not got over
thinking of Lona Ayer, whom you were mashed on. You've been grouchy
ever since you and Merry came back from your wild expedition into the
forbidden Valley of Bethsada. It's too bad, Jack----"
"Shut up, will you! I've heard enough about that!"
"Drop it, Harry," commanded Frank, warningly. "You've worn it out.
Forget it."
"Great Scott!" grunted Browning. "I believe my bicycle is heavier than
the dealer represented it to be."
"Think so?" asked Rattleton.
"Sure."
"Then give it a weigh."
Browning's wheel gave a sudden wobble that nearly threw him off.
"Don't!" he gasped. "It's not original. You swiped it from the very
same paper that had my Adam's apple joke in it."
"Well, it was simply a case of retaliation."
"I'd rather have a case of beer. Oh, say!--a case of beer! I wouldn't
do a thing to a case of beer--not a thing! Oh, just to think of
sitting in the old room at Traeger's or Morey's and drinking all the
beer or ale a fellow could pour down his neck! It makes me faint!"
"You should not permit yourself to think of such a thing as beer,"
said Frank, jokingly. "You know beer will make you fat."
"Don't care; I'd drink it if it made me so fat I couldn't walk. I'd
train down, you know. Dumbbells, punchin' bag, and so forth."
"Speaking of the punching bag," said Frank, "makes me think of a good
thing on Reggy Stevens. You know Stevens. He's near-sighted. Goes in
for athletics, and takes great delight in the fancy manner in which he
can hammer the bag. Well, he went down into the country to see his
cousin last spring. Some time during the winter his cousin had found a
big hornets' nest in the woods, and had cut it down and taken it home.
He hung it up in the garret. First day Stevens was there he wandered
up into the garret and saw the hornets' nest hanging in the dim light.
'Ho!' said Reggy. 'Didn't know cousin had a punching bag. Glad I found
it. I'll toy with it a little.' Then he threw off his coat and made a
rush at that innocent looking ball. With his first blow he drove his
fist clean through the nest. 'Holy smoke!' gasped Reggy; 'what have I
struck?' Then the hornets came pouring out, for the nest was not a
deserted one. They saw Reggy--and went him several better. Say,
fellows, they didn't do a thing to poor Reggy! About five hundred made
for him, and it seemed to Reggy that at least four hundred and
ninety-nine of them got him. His howls started shingles off the roof
of that old house and knocked several bricks out of the chimney. He
fell down the stairs, and went plunging through the house, with a
string of hornets trailing after him, like a comet's tail. The hornets
did not confine themselves strictly to Reggy; some of them sifted off
and got in their work on Reggy's cousin, aunt, uncle, the kitchen
girl, the hired man, and one of them made for the dog. The dog thought
that hornet was a fly, and snapped at it. One second later that dog
joined in the general riot, and the way he swore and yelled fire in
dog language was something frightful to hear. Reggy didn't stop till
he got outside and plunged his head into the old-fashioned watering
trough, where he held it under the surface till he was nearly drowned.
The whole family was a sight. And Reggy--well, he's had the swelled
head ever since."
Rattleton laughed and Bruce managed to smile, while Toots gave a
cracked "Yah, yah!" but Diamond failed to show that he appreciated the
story in the least.
However, it soon became evident that the spirits of the lads had been
lightened somewhat, and they pedaled onward straight for the grim
mountains which had seemed so near for the last two hours.
The sun poured its stifling heat down on the great desert, where
nothing save an occasional clump of sage brush could be seen.
Heat shimmered in the air, and it was not strange that the young
cyclists were disheartened and ready to give up in despair.
Suddenly a cry came from Diamond.
"Look!" he shouted. "Look to the south! Why haven't we seen it before?
We're blind. Water, water!"
They looked, and, at a distance of less than a mile it seemed they
could see a beautiful lake of water, with trees on the distant shore.
The reflection of the trees showed in the mirror-like surface of the
blue lake.
"Come on!" hoarsely cried Jack, as he turned his wheel southward.
"I'll be into that water up to my neck in less than ten minutes!"
"Stop!" shouted Merriwell.
Jack did not seem to hear. If he heard, he did not heed the command.
He was bending far over the handlebars and using all his energy to
send his wheel spinning toward the beautiful lake.
"I must stop him!" cried Frank. "It is a race for life!"
Frank forgot that a short time before Jack Diamond had accused him of
leading them all to their doom by inducing them to attempt to cross
the barren waste--he forgot everything save that his comrade was in
danger.
No, he did not forget everything. He knew what that race meant. It
might exhaust them both and render them unable to ride their wheels
over the few remaining miles of barren desert between them and the
mountain range. When Diamond learned the dreadful, heart-sickening
truth about that beautiful lake of water it might rob his heart of
courage and hope so that he would drop in despair and give himself up
to death in the desert.
Frank would save him--he must save him! He felt a personal
responsibility for the lives of every one of the party, and he had
resolved that all should return to New Haven in safety.
"Stop, Jack!" he shouted again.
But the sight of that beautiful lake had made Diamond mad with a
longing to plunge into the water, to splash in it, to drink his fill
till not another swallow could he force down his throat.
Madly he sent his wheel flying over the sandy plain, panting, gasping,
furious to reach the lake.
How beautiful the water looked! How cool and inviting was the shade of
the trees on the other shore! Oh, he would go around there and rest
beneath those trees.
Frank bent forward over the handlebars, muttering:
"Ride now as you never rode before!"
The wheel seemed to leap away like a thing of life--it flew as if it
possessed wings.
But Frank did not gain as swiftly as he desired, for Diamond, also,
was using all his energy to send his bicycle along.
"Faster! faster!" panted Frank.
Faster and faster he flew along. The hot breath of the desert beat on
his face as if it came rushing from the mouth of a furnace. It seemed
to scorch him. Fine particles of sand whipped up and stung his flesh.
He heard a strange laugh--a wild laugh.
"Heaven pity him!" thought Frank, knowing that laugh came from Jack's
lips. "The sight of that ghostly lake has nearly turned his brain with
joy. I fear he will go mad, indeed, when he knows the truth."
On sped pursued and pursuer, and the latter was still gaining. Frank
Merriwell had engaged in many contests of skill and endurance, but
never in one where more was at stake. His success in overtaking his
friend meant the saving of a human life--perhaps two lives.
Now he was gaining swiftly, and something like a prayer of
thankfulness came from his lips.
Once more he cried out to the lad in advance, but it seemed that
Diamond's ears were dumb, for he made no sound that told he heard.
One last spurt--Frank felt that it must bring him to Diamond's side.
He gathered himself, his feet clinging to the flying pedals as if
fastened there.
A slip, a fall, a miscalculation might mean utter failure, and failure
might mean death for Diamond.
Now Frank was close behind his friend. He could hear the whirring
sound of the spokes of Diamond's wheel cutting the air, and he could
hear the hoarse, panting breathing of his friend.
A steady hand guided Merriwell's wheel alongside that of his friend; a
steady and a strong hand fell on the shoulder of the lad who had been
crazed by the alluring vision of the lake in the desert.
"Stop, Jack!"
Diamond turned toward his friend a face from which a pair of glaring
eyes looked out. His lips curled back from his white teeth, and he
snarled:
"Hands off! Don't try to hold me back! Can't you see it, you fool! The
lake--the lake!"
"There is no lake!"
"Yes, there is! You are blind! See it!"
"Stop, Jack! I tell you there is no lake!"
Frank tried to check his friend, but Diamond made a swinging blow at
him, which Merriwell managed to stop.
"Wait--listen a moment!" entreated Frank.
But the belief that a lake of water lay a short distance away had
completely driven anything like reason from Diamond's head.
"Hands off!" he shouted. "If you try to stop me you'll be sorry!"
Frank saw he must resort to desperate measures. He secured a firm grip
on the shoulder of the young Virginian, and, a moment later, gave a
surge that caused them both to fall from their wheels.
Over and over they rolled, and then lay in a limp heap on the desert,
where the earth was hot and baked and the sun beat down with a fierce
parching heat.
Diamond was the first to stir, and he tried to scramble up, his one
thought being to mount his wheel again and ride onward toward the
shimmering lure.
Frank seemed to realize this, for he caught at his friend, grasped him
and held him fast.
Then there was a furious struggle there on the desert, Diamond making
a mad effort to break away, but being held by Frank, who would not let
him go.
The eyes of both lads glared and their teeth were set. Frank tried to
force Diamond down and hold him, but Jack had the strength of an
insane person, and, time after time, he flung his would-be benefactor
off.
The eyes of the young Virginian were red and bloodshot, while his lips
were cracked and bleeding. His cap was gone, and his straight dark
hair fell in a tousled mass over his forehead.
Occasionally muttered words came from Diamond's lips, but the other
was silent, seeming to realize that he must conquer the mad fellow by
sheer strength alone.
So they fought on, their efforts growing weaker and weaker, gasping
for breath. Seeing that fierce struggle, no one could have imagined
they were anything but the most deadly enemies, battling for their
very lives.
At last, after some minutes, Diamond's fictitious strength suddenly
gave out, and then Frank handled and held him with ease. Merriwell
pinned Jack down and held him there, while both remained motionless,
gasping for breath and seeking to recover from their frightful
exertions.
"You fool!" whispered the Virginian, bitterly. "What are you trying to
do?"
"Trying to save your life, but you have given me a merry hustle for
it," answered Frank.
"Save my life! Bah! Why have you stopped me when we were so near the
lake."
"There is no lake."
"Are you blind? All of us could see the lake! It is near--very near!"
"I tell you, Jack, there is no lake."
"You lie!"
"You have been crazed by what you fancied was water. Some time you
will ask my pardon for your words."
"You will ask my pardon for stopping me in this manner, Frank
Merriwell! You did it because I was the first to discover the lake!
You were jealous! You did not wish me to reach it first! I know you!
You want to be the leader in everything."
"If you were not half crazy now, you would not utter such words,
Jack."
"Oh, I know you--I know!"
Then Diamond's tone and manner suddenly changed and he began to beg:
"Please let me up, Merry--please do! Oh, merciful heaven! I am
perishing for a swallow of water! And it is so near! There is water
enough for ten thousand men! And such beautiful trees, where the
shadows are so cool--where this accursed sun can't pour down on one's
head! Please let me up, Frank! I'll do anything for you if you'll only
let me go to that lake!"
"Jack, dear old fellow, I am telling you the truth when I say there is
no lake. There could be no lake here in this burning desert. It is an
impossibility. If there were such a lake, the ones I asked about the
water-holes would have told me."
"They did not know. I have seen it, and I know it is there."
Frank allowed his friend to sit up.
"Look, Jack," he said; "where is your lake?"
Jack looked away to the south, the east, the north, and then toward
the west, where lay the mountains.
There was no lake in sight.