Part 9 (1/2)
”Break it in!” another added.
”Ask 'em to open first,” counseled a third. ”We've smashed so many now that we'll have a pretty bill to pay.”
”Oh, blazes, give it your shoulder, Battersby,” exclaimed a loud voice.
”Going to open, fresh?” called out a student on the other side of the portal.
”Nope!” cried Sid.
There was a moment's pause and then some one hurled himself at the door.
The bolt held for a few seconds, but on a second rush there was a splintering of wood, the screws pulled out and the portal flew open, giving admittance to a crowd of soph.o.m.ores.
CHAPTER V
A SCRUB GAME
”Stripped!” exclaimed a tall soph.o.m.ore with a broken nose. ”The beggars have stripped their den!”
”I told you some one had been giving us away,” added another. ”They knew we were coming. Didn't you, fresh?” and he turned to Sid and Tom.
”Sure,” replied Sid as he looked around the room, which was bare of the articles that usually afforded the second-year men an opportunity for causing annoyance.
”Who tipped you off?” asked he of the broken nose.
”Yes, tell us,” chimed in several others. ”We won't do a thing to him but make him sorry.”
”Oh, we had a dream,” put in Tom with a grin.
”Ha! Here's a fresh fres.h.!.+” exclaimed ”Broken-nose.” ”Well, fellows, let's give 'em a shower bath, anyhow.”
”Look under the beds,” suggested a big soph.o.m.ore.
”Nope; haven't time, Gladdus. Here, some of you hold 'em while the rest of us douse 'em.”
In an instant Sid and Tom were grasped each by half a dozen hands and pulled to the middle of the room. Then Broken-nose and some others took the two water pitchers and poured the contents over the two freshmen. It was not a pleasant ordeal, but Tom and his chum bore it unflinchingly.
It was useless to struggle.
”Oh, this is no fun!” exclaimed Gladdus. ”They don't fight.”
”The odds are too heavy,” retorted Tom quickly. ”I'll take any one of you alone,” he added, and he looked as if he meant it.
”Let me take him on,” pleaded a tall soph.o.m.ore.
”No--none of that,” declared Broken-nose, who was addressed as Fenmore.
”We've got lots to do yet. I wonder where their good clothes are.
They've got on old togs. We'll give 'em a soaking.”