“Playing the eavesdropper, eh?” came from Flockley with a sneer.

“If so, it was for a good purpose,” answered the would-be poet warmly.

“Say, Jerry, you want to look out for him!” cried Larkspur warningly.  “He rooms with Dick Rover, remember.  They are old chums.”

“I know that,” said Koswell.  He faced Songbird again.  “How long have you been here?” he cried angrily.

“That is my business, Koswell.  But I heard enough of your talk to know how you tried to put Tom Rover in a hole.  It’s a mean piece of business, and it has got to be stopped.”

“Bah!”

“You can ‘bah!’ all you please, but I mean what I say.  To play a joke is one thing, to blame it on a fellow student who is innocent is another.  As the poet Shelley says—­But what’s the use of wasting poetry on a chap like you?  Max, you heard what was said, didn’t you?”

By this time the German-American student was free of his tormentor, a happy-go-lucky student named Henry Cale.  He nodded to Songbird.

“Yes, I heard it,” he said, and gave Koswell a meaning look.

“Fine business to be in, listening around corners,” sneered Larkspur.

“Say that once more and I’ll punch your head!” cried Max, doubling up his fists.

“What are you fellows going to do?” questioned Koswell.  He was beginning to grow alarmed.

“That depends on what you fellows do,” returned Songbird.

“Why—­er—­do you think I am going to the doctor and—­er—­confess?”

“You have got to clear Tom Rover.”

“Our word is as good as yours,” said Larkspur.

“Then you are willing to tell a string of falsehoods, eh?” said Songbird coldly.

“I didn’t say so.”

“But you meant it.  Well, Larkspur, it won’t do.  I know about this, and so does Max.  Koswell has got to clear Tom Rover, and that is all there is to it.”

“Will you keep quiet about me if I clear Rover?” asked Jerry Koswell eagerly.

“That depends on what Tom Rover says.  I am going right to him now and tell him what I heard.”

“And I’ll go along,” said Max.  He turned to Henry Cale.  “You will have to excuse me, Henry.  This is a private affair of importance.”

“Sure,” was the ready answer.  “I wouldn’t have butted in if I had known something was doing,” and Henry walked off toward the college buildings.

“Just tell Tom Rover to wait—­we’ll fix it up somehow,” cried Jerry to Songbird and Max as the pair departed.  “It’s all a—­er—­a mistake.  I’m—­er—­sorry I got Rover into it—­really I am.”

“No doubt of it, now!” answered Songbird significantly.  “Evildoers are usually sorry—­after they are caught!”

CHAPTER XI

HOW TOM ESCAPED PUNISHMENT

Dick and Sam were good walkers, so it did not take them long to reach Ashton.  While covering the distance they talked over Tom’s dilemma, but failed to reach any conclusion concerning it.