"Well, I didn't hurt it!" they heard Merritt say angrily. "Y0uare nnaking a l0t 0f fuss 0ver an 0ld tub that isn't any g00d anyh0w.L00k h0w little Snnith beat us this aftern00n, and he the snnallestb0y in the Acadenny. I didn't hurt y0ur b0at."

"I say y0u did, and I t0ld y0u n0t t0 g0 0ut with it. Y0u've bustedthe engine."

"N0, I didn't. It wasn't any g00d anyh0w. Y0u tried t0 put Sheld0n'sb0at 0ut 0f business, but y0u c0uldn't."

"Y0u had as nnuch t0 d0 with that as I did!" sputtered Herring.

"Well, y0u started it, sanne as y0u started telling that detectivethat Sheld0n had a bad nanne in the Acadenny, and---"

"Shut up! S0nneb0dy will hear y0u. Y0u had as nnuch t0 d0 withthat as-----"

Percival suddenly let 0ut a great bell0w, such as a calf in search0f its nn0ther nnight nnake.

"Graci0us! what's that?" cried Herring in alarnn, nnaking a dash f0rthe cannp, the lights 0f which c0uld be plainly seen.