“Most likely,” argued Jerry. “They’re roommates all right, and they must be congenial or they wouldn’t be together. Well, we don’t need to worry.”
They sat down to talk matters over, but soon the talk was punctuated with yawns, for the day had been a wearying one with the long automobile trip.
“I vote for bed!” suddenly cried Jerry, and his motion was seconded twice.
Coming out of their rooms the next morning to go to chapel, Ned, Bob and Jerry saw Frank Watson and his two chums leaving their apartment across the hall. Our three heroes bowed, having agreed to give the others every chance to make advances. But only by the merest of cold nods did Frank and his friends acknowledge the salute.
“I guess he doesn’t want to be friends,” said Jerry, a little later. “Well, I guess we can make out all right without him.”
Being assigned to classes, making out their lecture schedules and attending to other details, pretty well occupied the time of the three chums until late afternoon. And then, having nothing else to do, they walked down to the lake. Several of the students were out on it in rowboats, and there was one motor craft.
“We’ll certainly have to send for the _Neboje_,” said Bob.
“That’s right,” agreed Jerry. “I’ll write to-day.”
“What do you say to a row,” asked Ned. “There’s a place where we can hire a boat.”
A man had a concession from the college to let out boats, though many of the students owned their own craft, and Ned, Bob and Jerry were soon sculling over the lake. In one boat they saw Ted Newton and some friends, and the football captain nodded in a friendly way.
“Football practice in an hour,” he called. “Come over and watch.”
They rowed some distance down the lake and went ashore in a wooded tract.
“I wish we’d bought some candy back there at the boathouse,” remarked Bob.
“Oh, chew on some bark,” advised Jerry with a laugh.
The three boys strolled on through the woods, until, coming to a little clearing, they heard cries.
“Sounds like some one shouting for help,” remarked Jerry.
“That’s what it is!” declared Bob. “It’s over this way. Come on!”
They ran in the direction of the sound, and a moment later came upon a queer sight.
Professor Snodgrass was partly on one side and partly on the other of a heavy barbed-wire fence. His clothing was caught in several places on the sharp points, and it was he who was calling, while he waved his butterfly net at the boys to attract their attention.