“That may not be so nice,” mused Jerry. “I hope they don’t scorch us too much.”
Blindfolded they were led onward. They could feel an increase of temperature, and they heard the roaring of flames.
“Are the irons hot, Keeper of the Sacred Fire?” a voice asked.
“’Tis well. Seal the candidates that we may always know them!”
For an instant Bob, Ned and Jerry shrank back as they felt hot irons brought near their faces. There was a tingling sensation, and then a burning and itching. Jerry knew what had happened.
A warm iron had been brought near them that they might feel the heat. Then they were touched with a piece of ice, and some cow-itch rubbed on them. Cow-itch is a powder which stings like nettles, and is painful while it lasts. The more one rubs it the worse it burns.
“Keep your hands away from it,” advised Jerry in a low voice to his chums.
There was a pause, and then a voice went on:
“They have been tested by fire, by water and by blood. So far all is well. Now for the merriment!”
Before the three candidates could move they were seized and their hands bound behind them.
“Run the course!” came the command, and they were pushed forward. The chums started off.
“Faster! Faster! Run, don’t crawl!” was shouted at them, and run they did.
All sorts of things happened to them. They fell down, and got up. They stumbled and were buffeted on all sides. Nor were the blows gentle, some in fact being staggering ones.
That the buffetings were too rough was evidenced when one of the unseen initiators called out sharply:
“Here, cut some of that out! We don’t want to lame ’em.”
“I’ll do as I please!” was the retort, and Jerry was sure the last speaker was Frank Watson.
“He’s taking advantage of us now and making his blows as hard as possible,” thought Jerry, “but we won’t squeal.”
Nor did he, while Bob and Ned also bore it all bravely.
The initiation, while rough, was not unduly so for a secret society, and the three chums had been through worse experiences.
Finally, after they had rolled down some sort of inclined way plentifully sprinkled with bumps, and had been tossed up in a blanket, they were led together to some spot, and a voice said:
“’Tis well! Are ye now ready to subscribe to the sacred rolls, and swear forever to hold inviolate the secret of our noble order of Bang-Ups? Answer!”