“We’ll get fifteen or twenty neckties first clip that way,” said one of the sophomores, “and it doesn’t matter who we get them from.  A little chap’s tie counts as much as that of a two-hundred pounder.”

In the meantime the freshmen were busy following Tom’s advice and sewing their ties fast to their collars, shirts, and even their undershirts.  Then Dick, who had, unconsciously almost, become a leader, called the boys into an empty recitation-room.

“Now, I’ve got a plan,” said he.  “We want to bunch up, and all the little fellows and lightweights get in the center.  The heavy fellows can take the outside and fight the others off.  Understand?”

“Yes!”

“That’s a good idea!”

“Forward to the fray!” yelled Stanley, “and woe be to him who tries to get my tie!  His blood be on his own head!” he added tragically.

“Forward!” cried Sam, “and let our watchword be, ‘Die, but no tie!’”

“Now don’t get excited,” said Dick.  “Take it coolly, and I’m certain that when the time is up we’ll have the most of our ties still on.”

It was the custom to go out on the campus at a given time, and when the chapel bell sounded out the hour Dick led the freshmen forward.  They came out of a side door in a body and formed around the flagstaff almost before the sophomores and juniors knew they had appeared.

The seniors took no part, but three had been “told off” to act as referees, and they stood around as if inspecting the buildings and the scenery.  The instructors, who also knew what was coming, wisely kept out of sight.

“Come on, and at ’em!” called out Dudd Flockley, and this cry was quickly taken up by all the others who were to take part in the contest.

“Hello!  They know a thing or two,” said Frank Holden, who was the sophomore leader in the attack.  “They’ve got the little fellows in the middle.”

As tightly as possible the freshmen gathered around the flagstaff.  Each wore a necktie of the college colors and it was fastened as tightly as strong thread could hold it.

“At ’em!” was the yell of the second and third-year lads.  “Tear ’em apart!  Pull the ties from ’em!”

And then they leaped in at the big freshmen, and on the instant a battle royal was started.  Down went four boys on the campus, rolling over and over.  Others caught each other by the hands and shoulders and wrestled valiantly.

Dick and Tom were in the front rank, with Sam directly behind them.  Dick was caught by Frank Holden, and the two wrestled with might and main.  Frank was big and strong, but Dick managed to hold him so that all the sophomore leader could do was to get his finger tips on the sought-for necktie.

Flockley tackled Tom, and much to his surprise was tripped up and sent flat on his back.  Mad with sudden rage, Flockley scrambled up and let out a savage kick for Tom’s stomach.  But Tom was too quick for the sophomore, and leaped to one side.