“Yes, it sure is a nice place--but I don’t like the only specimens of students we’ve yet come in contact with,” remarked Ned.
“There’s the diamond over there,” said Bob, after a pause, as he indicated the baseball field. “Let’s go and take a look at it.”
“The football gridiron would be more in keeping now,” suggested Jerry.
As they were walking along a path that led between two of the buildings, a voice hailed them:
“Hello there, freshies! What do you mean by trespassing on the sophs’ walk. Get off there!”
The three chums stopped, and looked around. In the light of a lamp, one of many that glowed on the college grounds, they saw a lad hastening toward them.
“What’s the matter with you fellows?” he demanded. “Don’t you know no freshies are allowed here?”
“No, we didn’t know it,” said Jerry. “We’ve just arrived, and we’re not on to all the rules yet.”
“We tried to get some one to put us wise,” put in Ned, “but we got snubbed for our pains.”
“Is that so?” asked the other, in some surprise. “That doesn’t sound like the Boxwood Hall spirit.”
“Who was it?” asked the lad who had hailed the three.
“Excuse me,” the other continued quickly. “I shouldn’t have asked you that. But I’m telling you no freshmen are allowed on this walk. College custom, you know.”
“Oh, that’s all right,” Jerry said, good-naturedly. “We’ll move on.”
“My name’s Newton,” said the lad who had made the objection. “Edward Newton--but they all call me Ted. Shake!”
He extended his hand and while this form of welcome was being gone through with Ned, Bob and Jerry introduced themselves.
“Oh, I know your names all right,” declared Ted. “We’ve heard about you.”
“Nothing out of the way, I hope?” came from Bob.
“No,” was the rather hesitating answer. “You’ve been pretty well discussed by a certain crowd on account of some of the things the professor said you fellows had done. Did you really do all that?”
“We’d have to know what Professor Snodgrass said about us,” remarked Jerry.
“I’ll tell you some time. But this is what I want to know. I’m captain of the eleven, and I want to know if you play football?”
“Then there’s no use putting you in at this stage,” he said. “I’m sorry, too, for you look husky. I need some experienced players. I’ve got enough candidates in the beginner’s class. Well, it can’t be helped. You know here we let freshmen play on the varsity.”