Part 57 (1/2)
”Talks in his sleep, he talks in his sleep, poor old Pol!”
”Don't pay any attention to him,” said Stover angrily. ”He's a cheap wit. What are you doing at the door, Pee-wee?”
”I'm listening,” said Norris, turning guiltily.
”You're afraid!”
”I'm not; only let's hurry it up.”
Fatty Harris, watching the swirling yellow depths of the rabbit with evident anxiety, emptied a third of the beer into it and held out the bottle, saying:
”Here, sports, fill up the gla.s.ses with the good old liquor.”
When the three gla.s.ses and two toothmugs had received their exact portion of the bitter stuff, which had been allowed to foam copiously in order to eke out, the five desperadoes solemnly touched gla.s.ses and Slops Barnett, who had visited in Princeton, led them in that whispered toast that is the acme of devilment:
”_Then stand by your gla.s.ses steady,_ _This world is a world full of lies._ _Then here's to the dead already dead,_ _And here's to the next man who dies!”_
It was terrific. Stover, quite moved, looked about the circle, thought that Pee-wee looked the nearest to the earthworm and repeated solemnly:
”To the next man who dies.”
At this moment the Tennessee Shad was heard derisively intoning:
”_Ring around a rosie, Pocket full of posie.
Oats, peas, beans and barley grows.
Open the ring and take her in And kiss her when you get her in!_”
They paid no heed. They felt too acutely the solemnity of life and the fleeting hour of pleasure to be deterred by even the lathery aspect of their own faces, which emerged from the suds of the beer ready for the barber.
”Dish out the bunny,” said Slops, putting down his mug with a reckless look.
Suddenly there came an impressive knock and the voice of Mr. Bundy saying:
”Open the door, Stover!”
In a thrice the revelry broke up, the telltale bottle and gla.s.ses were stowed under the window-seat, the visiting sporting gentlemen precipitately groveled to places of concealment, while Stover extinguished the lights and softly stole into bed.
”Open the door at once!”
”Who's there?” said d.i.n.k with a start.
”Open the door!”
All sleepy innocence d.i.n.k opened the door, rubbing his eyes at the sudden glow.
”Up after lights?” said Mr. Bundy, marching in.
”I, sir?” said d.i.n.k, astounded.