Part 8 (1/2)

”My gracious, this is terrible!” spluttered Carncross, and began to cough.

In the meantime Glutts smelled of the food that remained on the improvised tray, and suddenly gave a loud sneeze, followed by several others.

”Hurrah! they are enjoying it all right enough,” remarked Jack, in a low tone.

”I've got to have a drink!” yelled Carncross recklessly. ”Gee! I'm burning up clean from my mouth to my stomach!”

”You're no worse off than I am,” spluttered Glutts. ”Oh, just wait until I get hold of that Walt Baxter!”

”It was the whole bunch that did it. I'll bet the trick was gotten up by those Rovers!”

The door was flung open, and all of the occupants of the room dashed out into the hallway, bent upon getting to the nearest bathroom or water cooler for a drink. Not one of them noticed the slippery banana skins spread out on the floor, and on the instant Bill Glutts went sliding along and came down flat on his back. Carncross did likewise, Codfish tripping over him and pitching headlong.

”Say! what's this?” exploded Glutts. ”Oh, my back! I guess I've broken my shoulder.”

”They must have soaked the floor,” came from Carncross. ”No! It's banana skins,” he added, in deep disgust. ”Say, Codfish, take your feet off my stomach, will you?”

”I--I couldn't help falling over you, you went down so suddenly,”

apologized the sneak. ”Oh dear! let me get a drink of water--I'm all on fire inside.”

The Rovers and their chums had retreated to a distance, and this was wise, for, had Glutts and Carncross been able to get hold of them, there would certainly have been a fight. But as it was, the bully and his cronies pa.s.sed down a back corridor to the nearest bathroom, where they proceeded to wash out their mouths and get a long drink.

”Now we'd better get back to our rooms and get into bed as soon as possible,” said Jack. ”They may report us, and some of the professors may come around to investigate.”

”Let them come! We'll all be asleep like so many innocent lambs,”

remarked Randy.

”They'll find that I've been asleep for the last two hours,” added Walt Baxter, and at this the others had to smile.

The crowd separated, and the four Rovers returned to their rooms, where they lost no time in getting rid of all the evidences of the feast. Then they undressed, turned out the lights, and crept into their beds.

”I don't believe they'll dare to report this,” whispered Andy to his twin. And in this surmise the fun-loving Rover was correct. Glutts and his cronies did a good deal of grumbling, but there the matter, for the time being, ended.

”But I'll get square some day! You just wait and see!” Glutts told the others.

The school term was now drawing to an end, and it was definitely announced that, owing to the war conditions, Colby Hall would remain closed for a period of six weeks for the winter holidays. This would give the Rovers and their chums a full month's vacation after New Year's.

”And what a good time we will have up at Cedar Lodge!” cried Fred.

”It certainly was grand of Gif to ask us to go up there with him and Spouter,” added Jack.

The Rovers and their chums, and especially Walt Baxter, kept a close eye on Bill Glutts and his cronies. But beyond scowling at them whenever they pa.s.sed, the bully did nothing regarding the peppered food which had been presented.

”He's laying low for something, I suppose,” said Walt. ”However, I'm not going to worry.”

One day he received a ”soaker” of a s...o...b..ll in his left ear while hurrying to the gymnasium. He did not know who threw the missile, but was satisfied in his mind that it came from either Glutts or Carncross.

The examinations for the term were held, and much to the Rover boys'

satisfaction all acquitted themselves creditably. Spouter and Gif did very well too, and were equally elated.