Part 37 (1/2)

”Then the sophs must have been to both places where we had them.”

”Yes, but it's all the better for us. We'll now be--”

Foster stopped abruptly as the farmer that owned the buildings appeared in the doorway and for a moment stared blankly at them.

”Good morning,” said Will cheerfully. ”We're here after these canes.”

”So I see,” replied the farmer. ”The freshmans didn't find ye out, then?”

”It's all right,” responded Will glibly. ”How much are we to pay you?”

”They paid me last night. I guess 'twas 'beout right. I don't want nothin' more.”

”We've tumbled your hay over more than we thought,” said Will, as he thrust a bill into the man's hand.

”I don't know 'beout it,” drawled the farmer, nevertheless thrusting the money into his pocket. ”Putty good pay, but I don't know but I might's well take it.”

”Of course you're to take it!” said Will eagerly. ”All we ask of you now is not to tell anybody--anybody,” he added with special emphasis, ”that we've taken the canes away. Don't tell any one of it or the whole game will be spoiled.”

”I'll be as mum as a hitchin' post.”

Without waiting for any further words the two boys seized the bundles and at once departed from the barn. When they came out into the lane they looked carefully about them in every direction, but no one could be seen and they soon came out into the open road.

”What are we going to do with them now?” inquired Foster, as they halted for a moment.

”We can't take them back to our rooms,” said Will.

”No! No! That would never do.”

”I'll tell you,” said Will quickly. ”Let's take them down to that old bridge yonder,” pointing as he spoke toward a rude bridge that spanned the stream not far away.

”All right. Come along, then,” responded Foster.

Instantly the two boys began to run and in a brief time arrived at the rude structure, and after a hasty inspection they placed the two bundles on the piers beneath the bridge and then covered them with the driftwood that had been cast up on the bank of the stream when its waters had been swelled by the pa.s.sing storms.

When their work was at last completed they departed for Winthrop and arrived just as the final strokes of the bell were given that a.s.sembled the students in the chapel. They hastily pa.s.sed in with the throng of students and were in their seats in time to receive credit for attendance.

As they pa.s.sed out from the chapel when the service was ended they came face to face with Mott and a group of soph.o.m.ores, who evidently were waiting for their appearance; but as neither Foster nor Will betrayed any emotion by the expression upon their faces it was impossible for the soph.o.m.ores to perceive whether or not the canes had been discovered.

There was no question about their opinions, however, when later in the day it was apparent that the soph.o.m.ore cla.s.s was possessed of a feeling of intense excitement. Parties were sent forth in various directions, and there was the keenest interest manifest in the entire college. Will and Foster, however, were too wise to relate their experiences to any except to the three or four leaders of their cla.s.s; and when night fell, by a circuitous route, and then only after a half-dozen parties had been sent out in other directions to mislead any of their rivals who might be watching their movements, they proceeded to the bridge, secured the canes, and bringing them safely back to the college under the protecting shelter of the darkness, distributed them among the members of the cla.s.s.

Great was the elation of the freshmen when on the following morning they formed in a body near the gymnasium just before the hour of morning prayers in the chapel and then marched to the service every one carrying in his hands one of the coveted sticks.

The discomfited soph.o.m.ores endured in silence the gibes of the students, and the exultant freshmen received the applause that greeted their success with an air that it is to be feared only served to increase the chagrin of their rivals. And Will Phelps and Foster were at once, and by a common though unspoken a.s.sent, awarded a place among the leaders of their cla.s.s for their success.

Of the parade that took place that day Will Phelps did not tire of talking for many a week. The a.s.sembled crowd of students, townspeople, and visitors, the long line of freshmen in the parade and their grotesque appearance, the stirring music of a bra.s.s band at the head of the line, the march to the lower campus where the huge bonfire was kindled, the weird songs and dancing as in dual lines the two lower cla.s.ses with joined hands leaped and danced about the blazing fire, and then the final consignment to the flames of the huge wooden hatchet that had been carried in the parade, were all incidents that duly impressed him. And when at last the fires burned low and the final song was sung, and it was declared that the hatchet was buried forever and all feelings of animosity between the lower cla.s.smen were at an end, the boys returned to their rooms feeling that a well-earned victory had been won.

The escapades were doubtless silly, and in after years brought a smile to the faces of the partic.i.p.ants when they were then recalled, but nevertheless they had formed a part of the experiences of college life and had brought with them the development of certain qualities of leaders.h.i.+p which in other ways and in later days were to play no small part in the lives of Will Phelps and his room-mate.

The coming of springtime in Winthrop was always an occasion of general rejoicing. The hills were once more covered with their garments of green and the valleys were beautiful in their verdure. Among the students at Winthrop there was usually a relaxing of effort then, but Will Phelps, though the effort cost him much, still held himself resolutely to his tasks. He had been learning not merely what to study but also how to study, and in his spring vacation his father had explained to him that this was his supreme purpose and desire. If a man did not learn how to work while he was a student in college it was seldom the case that he learned it afterward. And Will had responded. His Greek was still distasteful to him, but he was doing somewhat better and was more content.