"Where'sVic？"Bugdemanded。
"Idon'tknow，"Burgessanswered。
"Takemeup，I'setold。”Bugstretcheduphisarmsappealingly，andBurgess，whoknewnothingofbabies，awkwardlyliftedhimup。
"TuddlemetloselikeVicdo，"andthelittleonesnuggledlovinglyintheProfessor'sembrace。"Yourtoat'swet。
IsVicwet，too？"
"Yes，littleboy。Weareallintroubletonight。”
Burgesshadtosaysomething。
"Intwouble？Umph——humph!"Bugshuthislipstightly，puffingouthischeeks，aswashishabit。"Iwasintwouble，andIistwentedtoDonFonnybone。He'sdoodfortwouble-ness。Yougoseehim。
Poorman!"andthelittlehandstrokedProfessorBurgess'feverishcheek。
"Ifyou'llrunrightbacktobed，I'lldoit，"Burgessdeclared。
"Wecanlearnevenfromchildrensometimes，"hethought，asBugclimbeddownobedientlyandtoddledaway。
VincentBurgesswentdirectlytoDr。LloydFenneben，towhomhetoldthestoryoftheday'sevents，includingtheinterviewwithBondSaxon。HedidnotrepeatBond'swordsregardingVic，butonlyhintedatthesuspicionthattherewassomethingquestionableinthesituationinwhichVicwasplaced。
Nordidherefertotheoldman'smaudlindemandthatheshouldtakecareofDennieifshewereleftfatherless，andofhisswornpromisetodoso。
Burgessfeltas，iftheDean'sblackeyeswouldburnthroughhim，sosteadywastheirgazewhilethestorywasbeingtold。
Whenhehadfinished，LloydFennebensaidquietly:
"Youarewornoutwiththeexcitementofthedayandnight。
Gohomeandrestnow。I'velearnedthroughmanyastruggle，thatwhatIcannotfighttoafinishinthedarkness，IcansafelyleavewithGodtillthedaylightcomes。”
ThesmilethatlightedupthesternfaceandthefirmhandclaspwithwhichLloydFennebendismissedtheyoungmanwerethingsherememberedlongafterward。Andaboveall，herecalledmanytimesasenseofsecretshamethatheshouldhavefeltdegradedbecauseofhisassociationwithDennieSaxononthisday。
Butofthislast，thememorywasstrongerthanthepresentrealization。
Meanwhile，asthemadwaterssurgedaroundthebendintheriver，andsweptovertheshallows，VictorBurleighflunghisarmaroundElinorWreamandleapedbackfromtheveryedgeofdoom。
"Wemustclimbthebluffagain。BeagoodIndian!"hecried，gropingforafooting。
Climbingthewestbluffbydaylightforthesakeofadventurewasveryunlikethisstruggleinthedarknesstoescapethewideningriver，withawind-driventorrentofrainsweepingdownthelandbehindthefirststorm-fury，andElinorWreamclungtohercompanion'sarmalmosthelplesswithfear。
"Doyouthinkyoucanevergetusout？sheasked，asthelimestoneledgeblockedtheway。
"Doyouknowwhatmymothernamedme？"Thecarelessnessofthetonewassurprising。
"Victor!"shereplied。
"Thendon'tforgetit，"Burleighsaid。"It'sadreadfullyroughwaybeforeus，littlegirl，butwe'llsoonbesafefromtheriver。
Don'tmindthislittlebitofastorm，andyou'llgetpersonallyconductedintoLagondaLedgebeforemidnight。”
Inhershelteredlife，Elinorhadneverknownanythinghalfsodreadfulasthisstormanddarknessandboomingflood，butthefearlessnessofthestrongmanbesideherinspiredhertodoherbest。Itwasonlytwohourssincetheywereherebefore。
HowcouldsheknowthatthesetwohourshadmarkedthecrisisofalifetimeforVictorBurleigh。Withafriendlylittlepressureonhisarm，shesaidbravely:
"I'dratherbeherewithyouthanovertheriverwithanybodyelse。
Ifeelsaferhere。”
Vicknewshemeantonlytobecourteous，butthewordswerecomforting。
Onthecrestoftheledgethefiercenessofthestormwasrevealed。
Greatsheetsofwind-blownrainwereflungathwartthelandscape，andtheutterblacknessthatfollowedthelightning'sglare，andtheroaringofthewindandriverwereappalling。
Inallthistumult，awaytothenortheast，thebeaconlightabovetheSunrisedomewascuttingthedarknesswithasteadybeam。
"Seethatlight，Elinor？Wearenotlost。Wemustgetupstreamalittleway。Thenwe'llfindthebridge，allright。
Thecrowdwillgethomeaheadofus，becausethisistheroughsideoftheriver。”
"Oh，whatacomfortalightcanbe!"Elinormurmuredasshelookedupandcaughtthewelcomegleam。
Astheyhurriedalong，theSunriselightsuddenlydisappearedandtheyfoundthemselvesdescendingaroughdownwardway。
Presentlytherewererockwallsoneithersidehemmingtheminanarrowcreviceintheledges。ThentherainceasedandVicknewtheyhadsliddendownintoarock-coveredfissure，thattheyweregettingunderground。Theytriedtoturnback，buttheup-climbwasimpossible，andinthedarknesstheycouldreachnothingbutthesharpledgeofthecliffsheerabovetheragingriver。
Entrappedandbewildered，Vicfeltcautiouslyabout；buttheonlycertainthingswerethestraightbluffoverhangingtheflood，andthecavernouswayleadingdownward；whilethesamedelugethatwaskeepingVincentBurgessstorm-staidontheverandaoftheSaxonHouse，wasbeatingmercilesslydownonElinorWream。
"Wecan'tstayhereandbethreshedtopieces，"Viccried。
"Thiscrackisdrier，anyhow，anditmustleadtosomewhere。”
ItdidleadtowhatseemedtoElinoranendlesslengthofhideousuncertainty，untilVicsuddenlylosthisfootingandplungedheadlongdownsomewhereintotheblacknessofdarkness。
Elinorshriekedinterrorandsankdownlimplyonthestonefloorofthecrevice。
"Allabluff，"Viccalledupcheerily，inthesamestartlinglydeepsweetvoicethathadcaughtElinor'searontheSeptemberafternoonbeforethedoorofSunrise，andoutintheedgeofherconsciousnessthethoughtplayedinagain，"I'dratherbeherewithyouthanovertheriverwithanybodyelse。
Ifeelsaferhere。”
"Slidedown，Elinor。I'llcatchyou。Itisn'tveryfar，andthere'salittlelightsomewhere。”
ElinorslippedblindlydownthesideoftherockintoVicBurleigh'soutstretchedarms。Ashesetheronherfeet，somehow，thelittlelightfailed。Inalltheirstruggle，thispartofthewayseemedthedarkest，thechillest，themostdangerous，andasuddensenseofapresencehiddennearbypossessedthemboth，astheycameagainstablindwall。
AstouterheartthanVicBurleigh'smightwellhavequailednow。
Thetwowerelostunderground。Whatdeepercavernmightyawnbeyondthem？Whatlengthofdeadwallmightbartheirway？
Andmoreterrifyingstill，wasthegrowingsenseofahumanpresence，ahumanmenace，anunseentreachery。AsVicfelthiswayalongthestone，hishandclosedoversomethingthrustintoalittleniche，shoulder-highinthewall。Itseemedtobeasmallpitcherofuniquepattern，solidsilverbyitsweight。
Wasitthebootyofsomedeadandforgottenrobberchief，theburiedtreasureofsomeoldKickapooraidingtragedy，orthelootofalivingoutlaw？
Victhoughthefelttheoutlineofalettergraveninheavyreliefonthesmoothside，and，forareasonofhisown，droppedthething。
Mercifully，hedidnotcryoutatthediscovery，butElinorfelthishandonherarmgrowchill。
Adazzlingglare，tokenofthepassingofthestorm'sfireworks，outlinedanirregularopeninginthewallbeforethem，revealingatthesametimealargeroombeyondthewall。
"Here'stheholewherewegetoutofthistrap，ElinorWream。Ifsuchabiglightninglikethatcangetin，wecangetout，"Viccried。
Hecrawledthroughtheopening，andpulledherasgentlyaspossibleafterhim。Presently，anotherblazelitupthenightoutside，showingacavern-likespacethirtyfeetindimensions，witharockroofabovetheirheads，andalowdoorwaythroughwhichthelightfromtheoutsidehadcomein，andbeyondwhichtherainwasbeatingtremendously。
Evidentlytheyhadfoundarearentrancetothiscavern。
"Wearepastourtroublesnow，Elinor，"Vicsaid。
"There'stherealout-of-doors，andIfeelsureoftherestoftheway。Thisseemstobeasortofcave，andwehavecomeinkindofirregularlybythebackdoorordownthechimney。
Buthereweareattherealfrontdoor。Shallwegoon？"
Elinorleanedwearilyagainstthewall，wetandcold，andalmostexhausted。
"Let'swaitalittle，tillthisshowerpasses，"shepleaded。
"Youpoorgirl!Thishasbeenanawfulnight，"Vicsaidgently。
Theireyesweregettingaccustomedtothedarknessandtheysawmoreclearlytheoutlineoftheopeningtotheoutsideworld。
SuddenlyElinorshiveredasagainthenearnessofapresencesomewherepossessedthemboth。
"Let'sgo!Let'sgo!"shewhispered，huddlingclosetohercompanion，whosegriponherarmtightened。
Hewasconsciousofalightbehindhim。Glancingoverhisshoulder，hecaughtagleambeyondtheopeningintherearwallthroughwhichtheyhadjustcrept；andinthatgleam，avillainousface，withstillblackeyes，lookingstraightathim。
Thelightdisappeared，andheheardthefaintsoundofsomethingcreepingtowardthem。Viccouldfightanymanliving。
Naturebuilthimforthat。Hehadnofearforhimself。
ButherewasElinor，andhemustthinkofherfirst。
Atthatinstant，thedoorwaydarkened，andaformslippedintothecavernsomewhere。Oh，windandrain，andforkedbluelightningandthethunder'sroar，theriver'smadfloods，thesteep，slipperyrocks，andjaggedledges，allwerekindbesidethissecrethumanpresence，cruellysilentandtreacherous。
VictorBurleighdrewElinorclosertohim，andwhisperedlow:
"Don'tbeafraidwithmetoguardyou。”
Eveninthatdeepgloom，hecaughttheoutlineofawhitefacewithstar-brighteyesliftedtowardhisface。
"I'mnotafraidwithyou，"shewhispered。
Behindthemstealthymovementssomewhere。Betweenthemandthedoorway，stealthymovementssomewhere；butallsostillandslow，theystretchedthelisteningnervealmosttothebreakingpoint。Suddenly，abig，hardhandgrippedBurleigh'sshoulder，andadeadstillvoice，thatViccouldnotrecognize，breathedintohisear，"Goquickandquiet!
I'llstandforit。Go!"
ItwasoldBondSaxon。
ViccaughtElinor'sarm，andwithonestridetheysprangfromthecave'smouthuptotheopengroundbeyondit。
Somethingbehindthem，itmighthavebeenagroanorasmotheredoath，reachedtheirears，astheyspedawaydownanarrowravine。
Therainhadceasedandoverheadthestarswerepeepingfromtheedgesoffeatheryflyingclouds；andallthesoddenautumnnightwasstillatlast，saveforthegurglingwatersofalittlestreamdowntherockyglen。
TheSunrisebellwasstrikingelevenwhentheyreachedthebridgeacrosstheWalnut，andthebeaconlightfromthedomebegantotwinkleawelcomenowandthenthroughthedrippingbranchesoftheleaflesstrees。
Afewminuteslater，VictorBurleighbroughtElinorsafelytoLloydFenneben'sdoor。
"Wemadeitinbeforemidnight，anyhow，"hesaidcarelessly。
Elinorlookedupinsurprise。Theterrorsofthenightstillpossessedher。
"Whatahorriblenightmareithasallbeen。Thestorm，theriver，therocks，andthedarkness，andthatdreadfulsomethingbehindusinthecave。Wastherereallyanything，ordidwejustimagineitall？
Itwillseemimpossiblewhenthedaylightcomes。”
Victorlookedatherwithawonderfullightinhiswide-openbrowneyes。
"Yes，"hesaidinadeepvoice。"Itwillseemimpossiblewhendaylightcomes。Butwillitallbeasahorriblenightmare？"
"No，no；notall。”Elinor'sfacewaswinsomelysweet。"Notall，"
sherepeated。"Itisfinetofeelone'sselfsosafeguardedasIhavebeen。
IshallalwaysrememberyouasonewithwhomIcouldneveragainbeafraid。”
Burleighturnedhastilytowardthedoor，and，havingdeliveredhertothecareofheruncle，hebadethembothgoodnight。
Dr。Fennebenlookedkeenlyaftertheyoungmanstridingawayfromthelight。
Hisclothesweretornandbedraggled，hiscapwasgone，andhisheavyhairwasamassofroughwavesabouthisforehead。Thedirectgazeofhisgolden-browneyestookawaydistrust，andyetthefacehadchangedsomehowinthisday。
Ahintofanewpurposehadcreptintoit，apurposenotpossibleforDr。Fennebentoread。
Buthedidnotethesetofthehead，theerectformandbroadshoulders，andtheeasyswingingstepastheboywentwhistlingawayintotheshadowsofthenight。
"Asplendidanimal，anyhow，"theDeanthought。"Willthesoulmeasureuptothatprincelybody？AndwhatcanbethepurportofthismaudlinmouthingofoldBondSaxon？Bondisreallyalovablemanwhenhe'ssober；buthe'svindictiveanduglywhenhe'sdrunk。
Icanwaitfordevelopments。Whatevertheboy'shistorymayhavebeen，likethecourts，it'smybusinesstoholdeverymaninnocenttillhe'sprovenguilty；tobuildupcharacter，nottoundermineanddestroyit。
Anddestructionbeginsinsuspicion。”
CHAPTERVI
THEGAME
_TrulyyecomeofTheBlood；slowertoblessthantoban；
Littleusedtoliedownatthebiddingofanyman_——
KIPLING
BITTERweatherfollowedthenightofthestorm。
Bitingwindsbeatalltheautumnbeautyfromtreeandshrub。
Coldgrayskieshungoveracoldgrayland，andaheavysnowfallandapenetratingchillseemedtodestroyallhopefortheIndianSummerthatmakestheKansasNovembersglorious。
DennieSaxonwastheonlygirlofthepartywhowasnotaffectedbythestormattheKickapooCorral。ProfessorBurgess，whonarrowlyescapedpneumoniahimself，andwhodislikedirregularclassattendance，tookcomfortinthesightofDennie。Shewassofresh-checkedandwholesome，andshewentaboutherworkpromptly，forgetfulofstormandrainandmuddyways。
"Youseemimmunefromsickness，MissDennie，"Burgesssaidonedayasshewasputtingthelibraryinorder。
Underherlittlebluedustingcap，thesunnyripplesofherhairframedafaceglowingwithhealth。Shesmiledupathimcomfortably——
asmilethatplayedabouttheedgesofhisconsciousnessallthatday。
"I'veneverbeensick，"shesaid。"It'sagoodthing，too，forourhouseisaregularhospitalthisweek。LittleBugBuleristheworstofall。Hetookcoldonthenightofthestorm。
That'swhyVictorBurleigh'soutofschoolsomuch。
Hewon'tleaveBug。”
VincentBurgessdespisedthenameofBurleighnow。WhileVic'ssafeescortofElinorWreamhadincreasedhispopularitywiththestudents，BurgesshonestlybelievedthatoldBondSaxon'sdrunkenspeechhintedatsomedisgracethebigfreshmanwouldnotlongbeabletoconceal，andheresentedthehighplacegiventosuchalowgradeofcharacter。
Toamanlikehimselfitwasgallingtolookuponsuchafellowasarival。
So，hetightenedtherulesandexactedthelastmentalfarthingofVicintheclassroom。AndVic，easilyunderstandingallthis，becausehewasfranklyandfool-ishlyinlovewiththesamegirlwhomVincentBurgessseemedtoclaim，contrivedinathousandwaystomakelifeaburdentotheHarvardman。Ofcourse，BurgessshowednomercytowardVicforabsencefromtheclassroomwhilehewascaringforlittleBug，andtheblackmarksmultipliedagainsthim。
ElinorWream。hadbeenillafterthenightofthestorm。
VichadnotseenhersincethehourwhenheleftheratLloydFenneben'sdoor。Heknewhewasafooltothinkofheratall。
HeknewshemustsometimebewonbyBurgess，andthatshewasborntogentleculturewhichhishardlifehadneverknown。
Besides，hewaspoor。Notapauper，butpoor，andluxuriesbelongednaturallytoagirllikeElinor。Thestormoftheholidaywasabalmyzephyrcomparedtothestormthatragedeverydayinhim。
Forwithallthehopelessnessofthings，hewasinlove。
Poorfellow!Thestrengthofhisspiritwaslikethestrengthofhisbody——unbreakable。
Hehadnofearofpneumoniaafterthestormynight，forhewasusedtohardknocks。Andhemeanttogoagainbydaylightandexploretherockyglenandhiddenways，andtofindout，ifpossible，whosefaceitwasthatwasbehindthatcavernwall，whosevoicehadwhisperedinhisear，andwhatlootwashiddenthere。
Forreasonsofhisown，hehadmentionedthismattertonobody。
Butthecold，wetdays，littleBug'sillness，andthehardstudytokeepuphisclassstanding，tookallofhistime。
Especially，thestudy，thathemightnotbeshutoutofthegreatfootballgameoftheyearonThanksgivingday。Sunrisewasstiffinitsscholasticrequirements，andconscientioustothelastdegree。
Thefootballteamstoodonmentalabilityandmoralhonor，nolessthanonscientificskillandmuscularweightandcunning。
Dr。FennebenwatchedBurleighcarefully，fortheboyseemedtobealwaysonhisheart。TheDeanknewhowtomixcommonsenseandjusticeintohisrulings，sothewordwassentquietlyfromtheheadoffice——
thesuggestionofleniencyinthematterofBurleigh'sabsence。
Burleighwasgoodforit。Itlaywithhisprofessors，ofcourse，tograntorwithholdscholarshipranking，buttheDeanwouldbepleasedtohavealllatitudegiveninBurleigh'scase。
Bugwasbetternow，andVicwasburningmidnightoilinstudy，forthehoursofpracticeforthegameweredoubled。
OntheeveningbeforeThanksgivingthecoachcalledVicaside。
"Everythingissafe。Onlyonereportnotin，butitwillbeintomorrow。”thecoachdeclared。"IaskedProfessorBurgessaboutyourstanding，andhesaysyourgradesareawayaboveaverage。
He'sgottoreckonupyourabsentmarks，butthat'seasy。
Alltheteachersunderstandaboutthat。IguessDeanFunnybonefixed'em。Andnow，Vic，thehonorofSunriserestsonyou。
Ifyoufailus，we'relost。CanIcountonyou？"
Thetigerlightwasbehindthelongblacklashesundertheheavyblackbrows，asVicshuthiswhiteteethtightly。
"Countonme!"hesaid，andturning，heleftthecoachabruptly。
"Hey，there，Burleigh，holdonaminute，"Trench，therightguard，called，asVicwasstridingupthesteepsouthslopeofthelimestoneridge。
"Say，windafellow，willyou!Youinfernal，never-wear-out，humansteamengine。I'montosomethingsyououghttoknow。EvenalazyoldscoutlikeIamgetsacrackatthingsonceinawhile。”
"Well，getridofitonceinawhile，ifyoureallydoknowanything，"Vicresponded。
"Say，you'renervous。Coachsaysyouspendtoomuchtimeinyournursery；
saysyou'dbettergetridofthatlittlekid。”
"Tellthecoachtogotothedevil!"Vicspokesavagely。
"Say，Coach，"Trenchroareddownfromthehillslope，"Vicsaysforyoutogotothedevil。”
"Waittillaftertomorrow，"thecoachshoutedback，"andI'lltakeyoufellowsalongifyoudon'tdoyourbest。”
"Now，that'ssettled，I'lltellyouwhatIknow，"Trenchdrawledlazily。
"First，ElinorWream，whatDeanFunnybonecalls`Norrie，'isheadingthebunchthat'sgoingtoshoweruswithrosestomorrow，ifwewin。
Andyouknowblamedwellwe'llwin。TheycameinfromKansasCityonthelimited，justnow，therosesdid。Theshower'spredictedfortomorrowP。M。”
AsuddenglowlightedVic'ssternface，andtherewasnosavagegleaminhiseyesnow。
"IsElinorwellenoughtocomeouttomorrow？"
Hehadbeencaughtunawares。Trenchstaredathimdeliberately。
"Say，VictorBurleigh。”Hespokeslowly。"Don'tdoit!
DON'TDOIT!Itwillkillamanlikeyoutogetinlove。
Lordpityyou!and"——moreslowlystill——"Lordpitythefoolgirlwhocan'tseethesolidgoldintherougholdnuggetyouare。”
"What'stherestofyournews？"Vicasked。
"Igavethebestfirst。Coachtellsmeab-so-lute-lee，youareouronlyhope。ThehopeofSunrise，tomorrow。
You'vegotthebeef，thewind，thespeed，thehead，andthewill。
Oh，youangelchild!"
"Thecoachisclever，"Vicsaidcarelessly。
"Burleigh，here'stherubaswellastheRub-i-con。DennieSaxon'swise，andshetellsme——ontheside；inside，notoutside——thatyourabsentmarksonBurgess'maparegoingtocutyououtatthelastminute。
Don'tletBurgessdothat，Vic，ifyouhavetokillhim。
Couldn'twekidnaphimanddrophimintothewhirlpool？
OldLagonda'sinterestisaboutdue。Denniejuststoodhergroundtodaylikeacherub，andaskedtheHahvahdUnivusitymanrightoutaboutit。
Idon'tknowhowshegotthehint，onlyshe'sinalltheofficesandthelibraryoutofhours，youknow，andwhentheslimonefromBoston，yuhknow，saidashowhehadtostandfirmontheright，yuhknow，oldDenniejustsaysstraightandflat，`ProfessorBurgess，I'mashamedofyou。'
Dennie'sabrick。Anddoyouknow，Burgess，spiteofhiscussedthinhide，we'vegottotoughenforhimouthereinKansas；spiteofallthat，HELIKESDENNIESAXON。Theoraclehathorked，thesibylhathsibbed。
Butsay，Vic，ifhedoescomedownhardonyou，whatwillyoudo？"
"Comedownhardonhim，andplayanyhow。”
ThegrimjawandblackfrownleftnodoubtastoVic'spurpose。
LateNovemberisidyllicintheWalnutValley。Autumn'sgoldhasallbeenburnedinNature'sgreatcrucible，refiningthelandscapetoawiderangefromfrostedsilvertorichestPurple。Heliotropeandroseandamethystblendwithmistypinkanddaintygray，andthefaint，indefinableblue-greenhueoftherobin'segg，andoutlinedallindelicateblacktraceryofleaflessboughsanddarkenedwaterways。
EverysunriseisarevelationofInfiniteBeauty。Everymidday，ashadowysoftpictureofPeace。EverysunsetadreamofOmnipotentSplendor。
OnsuchaNovemberThanksgivingday，thegreatgameoftheseasonwasplayedontheSunrisefootballfield，whichalltheWalnutValleyfolkscameforthtosee。
Byoneo'clockLagondaLedgewasdeserted，saveforoldBondSaxon，whosatonhisveranda，watchingthecrowdsstreamby。
Attwoo'clockthebleacherswerepacked，andthesidelineswerebroadandblackwithagood-natured，jostlingcrowd。
Andeveryminutethenumberswereincreasing。
TrulySunrisehadneverbeforeknownsuchanauspiciousday，suchrecord-breakinggatereceipts，norsuchsurepromiseofsuccess。Thegamewascalledforhalf-pasttwo。
Itwasthreeo'clocknowandtheline-uphadnotbeenformed。
Eventhegentlewrangleoverdetailsandeligibilitycouldhardlyhavespunoutsomuchtimeasseemedtothewaitingthrongtobeuselesslywastednow。Evidently，somethingwaswrong。
Thecrowdgrewimpatientanddemandedthecause。
Outintheopen，thetwosquadswerewarmingupforthefray，whiletheofficialshungfireinagroupbythegoalpostsandtalkedthreateningly。
"What'sthematter？"
"Whenwillthefreightbein？"
"MerryChristmas!"
Sothecrowdshouted。Thesongswerewornout，theyell-leaderswereexhausted，andtherooterswerehoarse。
"Where'sVicBurleigh？"somebodycalled，andachorusfollowed:
"Burleigh!Burly!Burlee!Comehome!Comehome!Comehome!"
ButBurleighdidnotcome。
"Maybetheyareshuttinghimout，"somebodyelsesuggested，andtheSunrisebleacherstookfire。CallsforBurleighrenttheair，roarsandyellsthatthreatenedtoturnthismostauspiciouscollegeeventintopandemonium，andthejollycompanyintoaveritablemob。
Meantime，astheteamswereleavingtheirquartersearlyintheafternoon，thecoachsaidtoVic:
"RunuptoBurgessandgetyourgrades，Burleigh。It'samereform，butitwillsavethatgangofgame-cocksfromgettingoneoverus。”
IntherotundaVicandVincentmetfacetoface，thecountryboyinhisfootballsuitandbrownsweater，andtheslenderyoungcollegeprofessor，withfaultlesstailoringandimmaculatelinen。
Tenminutesbefore，BurgesshadbeeninDr。Fenneben'soffice，whereElinorWreamandagroupoffaircollegegirlswerechatteringexcitedly。
"Seetheseroses，UncleLloyd。”ElinorwasholdingupagorgeousbunchofAmericanBeauties。"ThesegotoVicBurleighwhenhegetsbehindthegoalposts。CostlotsofmyUncleLloyd'smoney，butwehadtohavethem。”
SmallwonderthattheveryodorofroseswashatefultoBurgessatthatmoment。
"MayIspeaktoyouaminute？"Vicsaidasthetwomenmetintherotunda。
Burgesshaltedinsilence。
"Thecoachsentmeafteryourstatementofmystanding。
We'vegotabunchofsticklerstofighttoday。”
"Ihaveturnedinmyreport，"Burgessrespondedcoldly。
"Sothecoachsaid，allbutmine。I'mlate。MayIhavemyreportnow？"
Vicurged，tryingtobecomposed。
"Ihavenofurtherreportforyou。”Itwasacold-bloodedthingtosay，butBurgess，thoughfilledwithjealousy，wasconscientiousnowinhisbeliefthatBurleighwasreallyalowgradefellow，deservingnoleniencynorrecognition。
"Butyouhaven'tgivenmeanystandingyet，thecoachsays。”
Vic'svoicewasdeadcalm。
"Ihavenostandingtogiveyou。Youarebelowgrade。”
Vic'seyesblazed。"Youdog!"wasallhecouldsay。
"Now，seehere，Burleigh，there'snoneedtoactanyruderthanyoucanhelp。”Burleighdidnotmove，nordidhetakehisyellowbrowneyesfromhisinstructor'sface。
"Whathaveyoutosayfurther？Ithoughtyouwereinahurry。”
Burgessdidnotreallymeanatauntinthelastwords。
"Ihavethistosay。”VictorBurleigh'svoicehadamenaceinitsdepthandpower。"Youhavedonethisinfamousthing，notbecauseIdeserveit，butbecauseyouhatemeonaccountofagirl——ElinorWream。”
"Stop!"VincentBurgesscommanded。
Iforbidyoutomentionhername。You，whocomeinherefromsomebarren，poverty-strickenprairiehome，wheregoodbreedingisunknown。
You，topresumetothinkofsuchagirlasDr。Fenneben'sbeautifulniece，whosereputationwasbarelysavedbyoldBondSaxononthestormynightaftertheholiday。You，whoareforcedforsomereasontocareforanunknownchild。You，whosetruecharacterwillsoonbefullyknownhere——
ifthisiswhatyouhavetosay，youmaygo，"headdedwithanimperiouswaveofthehand。
Themeannessofangerisinitsmastery。BurgesshadmeantonlytodisciplineBurleigh，butitwastoolateforthatnow。
Therotundawasveryquiet。Everybodywasdownonthefieldwaitingimpatientlyforthegametobegin。Burgesswasalsoimpatient。
TherewasaseatwaitingforhimbesideElinorWream。
"I'mnotquitereadytogo"——Vic'sfiercevoicefilledtherotunda——"becauseyouaregoingtowritemycredentialsforthisgame，andyou'lldoitquick，orbegformercy。”
"Irefusetoconsiderawordyousay。”Burgesswasfuriousnow，andthewhitefaceandburningeyesofhisopponentwereunbearable。
"Iwillnotgrantyouanycredentials，youlow-bornprize-fighter——"
AsuddengripofsteelheldhimfastasVictoweredoverhim。
Thesoftenedlightofthedomeoftherotunda，wheretheKansasmotto，"_AdAstraperAspera_。”adornedthestainedglasspanes，hadneverfallenonsuchasceneasthis。
"Seehere，Burleigh，you'llrepentthisunwarrantedattack，"
Burgesscried，tryingtofreehimself。"Bruteforcewillwinonlyamongbrutes。”
"That'stheonlyplaceIexpecttouseit，"Vicretorted，tighteninghisgrip。"Notimeforwordsnow。
ThehonorofSunriseaswellasmyhonorisatstake，andit'smyrighttoplayinthisgame，becauseIhavebrokennolaws。
Imayhavenocultureexceptthatofaprairieclaim；
andImaybepoor，and，therefore，presumptuousindaringtomentionElinorWream'snametoyou。But"——thebrowneyeswereablazingfire——"nobodycantellmethatanymanmustrescueagirlfrommetosaveherreputation，northatanydishonorbelongstomebecauseoflittleBugBuler。Uncultured，asIam，Ihavethecultureofacouragethatguardsthehelpless；
andill-bred，asImaybe，Ihaveagentleman'shonorwhereverawoman'sneedcallsformyprotection。”
Vic'sfacewasashy，forhisangermatchedhislove，andbothwereparalleltohiswonderfulphysiqueandendurance。
Inhisfury，thetemptationtothrottlethemanwhohadwrongedhimwasgainingthemastery。
"Vic，oh，Vic，they'rewaitingforyou。Turnon!
Don'thurthim，Vic。”BugBuler'spleadinglittlevoicebrokethemomentarystillness。
Vic'shandfellnerveless，andBurgessstaggeredback。
"Wasn'tyoudoodtoVic？Hewouldn'thurtedyou。Heneverhurtedme。”
Theinnocentfaceandgentlewordsheldastrangepowerovereachpassion-firedmanbeforehim。