The plotters saw Frank coming, and the expression on his face told them that there was a storm brewing.
"By Jove!" fluttered Thornton, in alarm; "he looks as if he means to thump somebody!"
Although he did not show it, Flemming was not a little alarmed by Merriwell's angry appearance.
Several of the students gathered about the crew saw there was something in the wind, and they followed Merriwell and Diamond down the crowded aisle.
Halting within a short distance of his enemies, Frank pointed straight at the stranger and cried:
"There he is! Take a good look at him, boys! That is the creature who tried to bribe me to throw the ball game to Harvard!"
His words rang through the car, and were heard by every one. The uproar and excitement that followed was quite unexpected by Frank.
A wild shout of anger broke from the college lads, and there was a scramble for that end of the car.
These cries broke from the crowd of lads, who strove in mad haste to get at the stranger.
"Great Christopher!" gasped Tom Thornton, in terror. "I'm going to get out of this! It's altogether too hot for me!"
Flemming did not know what to do. The manner of the angry lads was alarming, and he saw no reason why he should defend a man who was quite unknown to him.
But the stranger did not wait to be defended. With a wild shout, that was like the war whoop of an Indian, he leaped up and lunged straight into the crowd, striking out right and left.
In less than ten seconds a general fight was taking place in that end of the car. Jack Diamond, who had a grudge against Tom Thornton, collared Tom as he was trying to slip away.
"Hold on!" cried the Virginian. "You can't play the sneak in that way! I saw you talking with that scoundrel! Did you and Flemming set him on to bribe Merriwell?"
"I don't know anything about it!" protested Tom, struggling. "Let go, Diamond!"
"Well, not in a hurry!" returned Jack. "I don't know where the money came from, but I believe you and Flemming tried to ruin Merriwell by bribing him to throw a game and then exposing him. If that was the trick, you fooled yourselves. Frank Merriwell is not that kind of a fellow!"
With a fierce exclamation, Thornton struck savagely at Jack's face, but Diamond dodged the blow.