"And, Dave," he went on, in a low tone, "I--I want to tell you something. Be on your guard against Plum and Nat Poole."
"Because they are plotting mischief. I heard them talking in the gym. I don't know what it is about, but they are surely up to something."
"I'll remember, Chip, and much obliged," answered Dave, and then he turned to the other boys, leaving the small youth to finish his examples.
"Hello, where have you been?" came from stout and lazy Buster Beggs. He was sprawled out on the end of a couch. "I noticed you didn't get to supper till late, and went right off, directly you had finished."
"Had a special session with Haskers," answered Dave. "He wants me to improve my handwriting."
There was a smile at this, for all the boys knew what it meant.
"Oh, that fellow is a big peach, he is!" came from Sam Day, who sat in one of the windows. "Yesterday, he made me stay in just because I asked Tolliver for a lead pencil."
"He was mad because Polly Vane caught him in an error in grammar," added another youth. "Didn't you, Polly?" he added, addressing a rather girlish-looking boy who sat near Chip Macklin.
"I did," was the soft answer. "It was rather a complicated sentence, but perfectly clear to me," explained the boy.
"I don't wonder, for Polly fairly lives on grammar and language," put in Phil. "I don't believe anybody could trip him up," and this compliment made Bertram Vane blush like a girl. He was in reality one of the best scholars in the academy.
"Which puts me in mind of a story," came from one of the cots. "An----"
"Hello, are you awake, Shadow?" cried Sam Day. "I thought you were snoozing."
"So I was, but I am slept out, and feel better now. As I was saying, an old farmer and a college professor went out rowing together. Says the college professor, 'Can you do sums in algebra?' 'No,' answers the farmer. 'Then you have missed a great opportunity,' says the professor. Just then the boat struck a rock and went over. 'Save me!' yells the professor. 'Can't you swim?' asked the farmer. 'No.' 'Then you have lost the chance of your life!' says the farmer, and strikes out and leaves the professor to take care of himself."
"Two hundredth time!" came in a solemn voice from the doorway to the next room.