“That’s the talk!” cried Koswell.  “Boys, these are freshmen, and on the fence, too.  We can’t allow this, can we?”

“No freshies allowed on that fence!” answered another boy of the crowd.  “Off you go and quick!”

As he spoke he approached Sam and tried to catch him by the foot to pull him off.  Sam drew in his foot and then sent it forth so suddenly that it took the sophomore in the stomach and sent him reeling to the grass.

“At them!” yelled Flockley.  “Show them how they must behave!  Sophs to the front!”

“Wait!” The command came from Dick, and he spoke so clearly and firmly that all the sophomores paused.  “Is this an affair between Flockley and Koswell and ourselves or is it simply two freshmen against six sophs?”

“Why—­er—­have Flockley and Koswell anything against you two?” demanded one of the boys curiously.

“I think so,” answered Dick.  “We had the pleasure of knocking them both down a few hours ago.  As it was a private affair, we won’t go into details.”

“Didn’t do it because you were freshmen?” asked another lad.

“Not at all.  We were total strangers when the thing occurred.”

“Yes, but—­” came from another sophomore.

“Sorry I can’t explain.  Flockley and Koswell can if they wish.  But I advise them to keep a certain party’s name out of the story,” added Dick significantly.  He felt bound to protect Minnie Sanderson as much as possible.

“It’s all stuff and nonsense!” roared Dudd Flockley.  “They are freshies and ought to be bounced off the fence and given a lesson in the bargain.”

“That’s it—­come and hammer ’em!” added Jerry Koswell.

“What’s the row here?” demanded a tall lad who had just come up.  He had light curly hair, blue eyes and a face that was sunshine itself.

“Two freshies on the stone fence, Holden,” said one of the sophomores.  “We can’t allow that, you know.”

At this Frank Holden, the leader of the sophomore class, laughed.

“Too bad, fellows, but they’ve got you.  Term doesn’t begin until to-morrow and they can sit where they please until twelve o’clock midnight.  After that”—­he turned to Dick and Sam—­“well, your blood will be on your own heads if you disturb this fence or the benches around the flagstaff.”

“My gracious!  Frank’s right, term isn’t on until to-morrow,” cried another student.  “I beg your pardon, boys!” And he bowed lowly to the Rovers.

“Gee, it’s a wonder you fellows wouldn’t say something before I was kicked off the earth!” growled the sophomore who had been sent to the grass by Sam.

“Don’t thank me for what I did,” said Sam pleasantly, and this caused some of the other college fellows to grin.

“Don’t say a word,” cried the one who had gone down.  “Only—­well, if I catch you on the fence, it will be who’s best man, that’s all.”

“Aren’t we to do anything to these freshies?” demanded Dudd Flockley.  He did not at all relish the turn affairs had taken.