The Spirit of the School

a canvas football jacket. Hansel, propped on one elbow on the window seat, was similarly attired. It was long after supper, and twilight was fast deepening to d

ttered Hansel, “if a whole arm

ight up,” said

-morrow night,[57] after all. I wish, though, that they’d come and have

o do it if I don’t want to get into trouble. That’s the worst about being on the team. Other fellows can

arply. “Blow out that ma

the grate with a shower of tiny sparks, while Bert, blinded by the sudden

t?” he ask

d Hansel doubtfully. “P

other demanded impatiently, as

stand and the woods? Well, I could[58] have sworn t

be doing alone? There are eighty-four Towners this year, and when they come they’ll come in a big old bunch. I tell you what,

ure I saw something. And they seemed to be sort of cr

ckets coming in. It’s eight o’c

nsel. “I can’t study now. I don’t see what good

ere and found us all standing around the yard waiting for them they might take it into their head to go back again. But it’s so dark now I guess they couldn’t see us, so come on. I’ll light up first, t

e gas fixture. With one hand on the key of the nearest bracket and the other holding the flar

hat?” he cr

I didn’

ste

School this way!

into the grate and le

e cried. “Th

6

e behind him, the corridor and stairway w

w stars twinkled wanly. The unlighted bulk of Academy Building rose before them at a little distance and toward it they sped. But the cries of “School! School! School this way!” came from farther along toward Weeks. The steps of Academy were empty, and after a moment’s indecision, Bert a

e got Johnny Parrish[61] and they almost got Jones, but he escaped and gave the alarm. He says there doesn’t seem to

ght! Co

lt his heart pounding excitedly. As they reached the edge of the school grounds, a cheer started from the head of the little army, and those behind, taking it up, pressed

moved forw

ut. Hansel, in the center of the school army, was swayed hither and thither, jammed in between laughing, shouting fellows. For a moment the defenders gave before the impetus of the rush, but for a moment only. The Schoolers recovered and moved forward, the foe giving before them. Suddenly Hansel

m foe, and so Hansel set his teeth and shoved and pushed forward with the rest of his side. There were no blows struck, or if there were, they were harmless and unintentional. Hansel was surprised at the[63] good humor which prevailed in spite of the excitement. The Towners were yielding foot by foot now,

som. “They’ve fooled us! B

seen crossing behind the athletic field. The Towners had tricked them! While their main force had attacked openly by the road a smaller force had crept around by the woods on the other side and

” they shout

6

m off!” cried the defender

olers were literally caught between two fires. Up the first steps dashed the Schoolers and

urled unceremoniously over the edge of the steps onto the turf. He picked himself up and sprang again into the swaying, shouting mass. It would have been much simpler had it been possible to distinguish

as the Towners’ turn to be surprised. Out from the doorway dashed a handful of defenders and, shoving and shouting mightily, they took the invaders in the rear and scattered them like chaff. With cheers of triumph the Schoolers below t

re pierced and divided. Part of them fled along the road in front of the gymnasium and part scattered across the terrace, making for the green and the path to the village. Had they remained together they might easily have retired in good order and gained the village[66] without further loss of

ught only of himself. Then the pursuit caught up with the laggards and either sent them into the woods or fields or captured them and subjected them to such indignities as smearing their faces with handfuls of dust or depriving them by force of jackets or sweaters. As every fellow was careful to wear only the oldest things he possessed, the loss of the garments was more emba

haven’t any breath left!

wait here for the rest of the Towners, and when t

along in a minute if

e road all right. Liste

called Harry softly,

oup crouched in the darkness at the side of the ro

hispered. “Wait till a b

6

ollowed. Then more footsteps sounded in the silence and in a moment a

whisper

named Cartwright, who managed to beat off the enemy and put a dozen yards between them and himself before they started in pursuit. Then Hansel and two other Schoolers went

you’ll get hurt!” he pante

f Hansel’s companions. “You’re our game,

was the reply, “or t

6

ought to be ashamed of yourself, Billy, to lo

s think you can rough-house me, you’

Billy. We’re not th

ff, I t

on, fe

a tiger, thoroughly angry. Hansel received a blow from some one’s elbow that dazed him for a moment, but he clung hard to th

, since his nose was still aching with the blow he had receive

7

ellows?” called Har

panions, “but he put up a dickens o

llows. “Who is it? Cartwright? Oh, Billy never could take a joke. We ought to s

“Where is he? Hello, Bill

confine himself to a simple statement of the

up or we’ll half drown you! Say, fellows, let those

l struggled fiercely, and was half pushed and half carried across the meadow. No one knew just w

this is it?”

y as he wrung the water out of his t

en I give the word drop him gently into the

right, which was drowned by the laughter of the Schoolers, and then

” called Har

l as Cartwright stumbled away

nother of his friends, “I ad

nd then a group of two or three Towners passed. But they had had their troubles[72] already and the f

or the

ng on the ste

o see you! And bring your

ached the campus, their cheers were answered by a throng in front of Academy, and a jubilation meeting was held there. Every few minutes late comers straggled up with new tales

this now,” he said. “It’

esently dispersed to the dormitories, Hansel, and possibly many oth