“It will take a few days to get used to it I suppose,” said Sam, with a trace of a sigh.  “I know I felt the same way when first I went to Putnam Hall.”

“Let us go down and take a look around and watch for Tom,” replied his brother.  “Say, but I’m glad Songbird is coming,” he added.  “I don’t care much for his doggerel, but John’s a good fellow just the same.”

“None better,” replied Sam heartily.  “And his poetry isn’t so very bad, always.”

The two brothers went below and strolled around.  They found the main building formed the letter T, with the top to the front.  In this were the offices and the classroom and also the private apartments of the president and his family and some of the faculty.  To the east of the main building was a long, one-story structure, containing a library and a laboratory, and to the west the three-story dormitory the lads had just left.  Somewhat to the rear was another dormitory and beside it a large gymnasium, with a swimming pool attached.  A short distance away was a house for the hired help and a stable and carriage sheds.  Down by the river was a boathouse, not unlike that at Putnam Hall but larger.

“This is a fine layout and no mistake,” observed Dick with satisfaction.

“Did you see that fine athletic field beyond the campus?” returned Sam.  “That means baseball and football galore.”

Having walked around the outside of the various buildings the Rover boys made their way to the highway to watch for the coming of Tom.  Hardly had they reached the road when they saw a crowd of six students approaching.  Among the number were Dudd Flockley and Jerry Koswell.

“See those two, Dick?” whispered Sam.  “Won’t they be mad when they see us here?”

“Well, I don’t care,” answered Dick coolly.  “If they say anything, let me do the talking.”  And thus speaking, Dick sat down on the top of a stone fence and his brother hopped up beside him.

The six students came closer, and of a sudden Dudd Flockley espied the Rovers.  He stopped short and pulled his crony by the arm, and Jerry Koswell likewise stared at Dick and Sam.

“You here?” demanded Flockley, coming closer and scowling at the youths on the fence.

“We are,” answered Dick briefly.

“Freshmen?”

“Yes.”

“Humph!” And Flockley put as much of a sneer as possible in the exclamation.

“How did you get here?” asked Koswell.

“Got a carriage at the Sanderson place,” answered Sam with a grin.

“You did!” cried Flockley.  “Say, you’re a fresh lot, aren’t you?” he went on, glaring at Dick and Sam.  “Where’s the third chap?”

“None of your business,” answered Dick sharply.

“Don’t you talk to me like that!” cried Dudd Flockley, and then his face took on a look of cunning.  “Freshmen, eh?  Then you don’t know what we are.  We are sophs, and we want you to answer us decently.”