Part 14 (1/2)

The seniors took no part, but three had been ”told off” to act as referees, and they stood around as if inspecting the buildings and the scenery. The instructors, who also knew what was coming, wisely kept out of sight.

”Come on, and at 'em!” called out Dudd Flockley, and this cry was quickly taken up by all the others who were to take part in the contest.

”h.e.l.lo! They know a thing or two,” said Frank Holden, who was the soph.o.m.ore leader in the attack. ”They've got the little fellows in the middle.”

As tightly as possible the freshmen gathered around the flagstaff.

Each wore a necktie of the college colors and it was fastened as tightly as strong thread could hold it.

”At 'em!” was the yell of the second and third-year lads. ”Tear 'em apart! Pull the ties from 'em!”

And then they leaped in at the big freshmen, and on the instant a battle royal was started. Down went four boys on the campus, rolling over and over. Others caught each other by the hands and shoulders and wrestled valiantly.

d.i.c.k and Tom were in the front rank, with Sam directly behind them.

d.i.c.k was caught by Frank Holden, and the two wrestled with might and main. Frank was big and strong, but d.i.c.k managed to hold him so that all the soph.o.m.ore leader could do was to get his finger tips on the sought-for necktie.

Flockley tackled Tom, and much to his surprise was tripped up and sent flat on his back. Mad with sudden rage, Flockley scrambled up and let out a savage kick for Tom's stomach. But Tom was too quick for the soph.o.m.ore, and leaped to one side.

”Foul!” cried Tom.

”Don't do that again!” called one of the seniors to Dudd. ”If you do you'll be ruled out.” Kicking and punching were prohibited by the rules. All the boys could do was to wrestle and throw each other, and either try to pull the neckties away or hold on to them.

On and on the battle waged, each minute growing hotter. Many of the students were almost winded, and felt that they could not endure the struggle much longer. d.i.c.k, Tom and Sam managed to keep their neckties, although Sam's was torn loose by two soph.o.m.ores who held him as in a vise until Stanley came to his a.s.sistance. When the time was half up eleven neckties had been captured--two of them almost torn to shreds.

”At 'em!” yelled Frank Holden. ”We haven't begun yet!”

”Hold 'em back!” was d.i.c.k's rallying answer. ”Don't let 'em get near the little fellows!”

Again the contest raged, and this time with increased bitterness. In the melee some few blows were exchanged, but it must be admitted that one side was about as much to blame for this as the other. Three additional neckties were captured, making fourteen in all. As thirty-seven freshmen were in the contest, the soph.o.m.ores and juniors had to capture five more neckties to win.

”Only three minutes more!” sang out one student, looking at his watch.

”At 'em! Rip 'em apart!”

”Three minutes more!” yelled d.i.c.k. ”Hold 'em back and we'll win!”

The enemy fought with increased fury, and one more necktie was taken--the collar and collar band coming with it. But then of a sudden the chapel bell tolled out the hour.

”Time's up!” was the cry.

”And we win!” came from a score of freshmen in huge delight.

”Look out! Look out!” cried several small youths in the center of the crowd.

Crack! It was the flagstaff, and all looked in that direction. The pole, old and decayed, was falling. It looked as if it would crush all who stood in its path.

CHAPTER IX