"That's right, and they would have reached the limit with me long ago," declared Diamond.
"Well, it is like this, Jack," said Frank; "it is almost always true that not all of a man's enemies are bad fellows. To begin with, you remember that you were my enemy, and now we are friends, and this is not the first time such a thing has happened with me."
"Well, if a man were bucking against me, I do not think I would wait to see how he would turn out before I bucked back."
"Oh, I am not in the habit of doing that. You will remember that I bucked back pretty hard in your case."
Jack did remember it, and he felt that Merriwell was capable of holding his own with his foes.
"You will do well to look out for your horse, all the same," said Diamond.
"That's right," grunted Browning. "If I were in your place, Merriwell, I'd watch out pretty sharp."
"I will," said Frank. "I'll have Toots come on here and keep watch over Nemo most of the time. When he is not here, Grody can take his place. If I have an enemy who thinks of stealing my horse, he'll have hard work to accomplish his design."
"Unless he does it before you get things arranged," said Griswold. "Put him up, Merriwell, and let's get out."
"I am going for a ride," said Frank. "Put the saddle on him, Grogan. Will see you later, fellows, if you are going now."
"We'll wait till you leave," yawned Browning. "There's no reason why we should tear our clothes hurrying away."
"You are not liable to tear your clothes doing anything," laughed Frank.
Grody soon had Nemo saddled and bridled. The horse was eager to be away, as he showed by his tossing head, fluttering nostrils and restless feet.
"Whoa, boy," said Frank, soothingly. "Don't be so impatient. We'll get away in a moment."
He swung into the saddle, the stable doors rolled open, and away sprang the gelding.
The remaining lads hurried out of the stable to watch Frank ride, Grody accompanying them.
"He seems like he were a part of the horse," declared the hostler, admiringly. "That young gentleman were born to handle horses, he were."
"He is, indeed, a graceful rider," nodded Diamond. "I am sure he did not learn in any riding academy, for he rides naturally. The riding academies all turn out riders with an artificial and wooden style. There is no more distressing sight than the riders to be seen in Central Park, New York, almost any afternoon. They bounce around in the saddle like a lot of wooden figures, and it is plain enough that many of them do not bounce because they want to, but because they think it the proper thing. Southerners ride naturally and gracefully. Mr. Merriwell rides like a Southerner."