Part 1 (2/2)
”Slice of punk, with an ancient lemon on top,” finished Dave. ”It's just what he's been waiting for.” And at this sally there was a general laugh.
”Well, I'm ready,” went on Phil, as he arose from the bench. ”Say, but isn't it just a glorious day for the outing?” he added, casting his eyes around and drawing in a deep breath of the pure, cold air.
”It couldn't be better, Phil,” answered Dave. ”And we ought to have a fine time at the island, bringing down rabbits and squirrels. Old Jerry Lusk told me that hunting was never better.”
”What's the matter with having some of the rabbits and squirrels for lunch?” asked Sam Day.
”Perhaps we can cook them, Sam,” returned Dave. ”But we had better depend on the lunch hamper for something to eat. By the way, we'll have to take turns carrying the hamper. It is rather heavy.”
”Chip Macklin and I are going to carry it first,” said a tall, strong youth named Gus Plum. ”It's not so very heavy, although it is filled with good things.”
”Don't lose it, on your life!” cried Phil.
”Lose it!” echoed Roger Morr. ”Banish the thought! We'll form a guard around Gus and Chip, so they can't get away with it on the sly.”
”Not so much as a doughnut must be eaten until we reach the island and start a campfire,” said Dave. ”Those are orders from headquarters,” he added, with a grand flourish.
”Orders accepted, admiral!” cried Gus, and made a bow so profound that his skates went from under him, sending him to his knees. This caused a wild laugh, and the powerfully-built youth got up in a hurry, looking rather sheepish.
”I'm ready now,” said Ben, as he left the bench and settled his skating cap on his head. ”Come on, let's get away before old Haskers calls us back for something or other. He just loves to spoil a fellow's outing.”
”There he is at one of the windows!” cried Roger, pointing back to the school building. ”I really believe he is beckoning to us!”
”Don't look,” cautioned Dave. ”He'll want us to go back, to put away some books, or clean our desks, or something. Doctor Clay said we could take this outing, and I'm not going to let any teacher spoil it.
Forward!” and away from the sh.o.r.e he skated, with his chums around him.
They had scarcely covered a distance of a dozen yards when a window was thrown up hastily, and Job Haskers thrust his head through the opening.
”Boys! boys!” called out the Oak Hall teacher. ”Wait a minute! I want to know where you are going, and if all of you have finished studying.”
”Don't look back, and don't answer!” said Roger, in a hoa.r.s.e whisper.
”Give the school yell!” suggested Phil.
”Just the thing!” returned Sam Day. ”Now then, all together!” And an instant later through the clear, wintry air, rang the well-known Oak Hall slogan:
”Baseball!
Football!
Oak Hall Has the call!
Biff! Boom! Bang! Whoop!”
Three times the boys gave the cry, and by that time they had skated far up the river and out of sight of the window at which the teacher was standing. Job Haskers looked after them glumly, and then closed the window with a bang.
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