“Oh, I’ll stand it as long as the rest of you do,” challenged Reade.

Dick and Dave were in the lead, the other chums coming behind them in couples.

So Prescott and Dave Darrin were the first to catch a glimpse down the short lane that led from the alleyway to the back of one of the buildings.

Here stood a man, with cap drawn well down over his forehead.  He was beside an automobile—–­a big black touring car.

Dick saw and guessed.  He almost jumped.  Giving Dave’s arm a quick squeeze, Prescott marched by without appearing to pay any heed to the man and the autocar.

Once past the lane, Dick kept on walking, but he turned and walked backwards.  He signed to the other four, putting a finger to his lips for silence.

All six of the chums had guessed swiftly what the man and the auto, at that particular point, must mean!

“Keep walking, fellows,” whispered Dick, as the other startled freshmen reached him.  “And laugh—–­loudly!”

Their forced laughter rang out.  Then Dick, again at the head with Dave, started in on the first bars of the latest popular song.  Again the chums understood, and joined in with a will.

When he had gone two hundred feet further, Dick countermarched his little force.  Still singing they went back by the head of the lane, but not one member of Dick & Co. allowed himself to glance down the lane at man or automobile.

Then the song died out.

“I say, fellows,” called Dave Darrin, banteringly, “we’d better get back to the hall if we don’t want to find other fellows going home with our girls.”

“I’ll fight before I’ll let that happen,” proclaimed Dick Prescott.

“Hustle, then!” urged Dan.

Once out of the alleyway and into the side street the freshmen halted for an instant.

“Fellows,” spoke Dick Prescott, “you all know what that means?  One lookout in front of the bank, and another at the rear.  An auto at the rear, too.  Greg, you hustle to the police station as fast as you can make your feet fly.  No use trying to find a place open where you can telephone.  Come, the rest of you fellows.”

There was a side entrance to the hall from the side street.

Dick and his four remaining chums ran in at this side door, that the man in front of the bank might not see them.

Up the stairs the freshmen rushed.

“Dave, take care of the orchestra,” panted Dick.  “The music mustn’t stop for an instant after we get the fellows out.”

Something in the looks of the five freshmen, as they burst into the hall attracted the attention of nearly everyone present.

Dick held up his hand as a sign for the dancing to stop.  But Dave Darrin was already up on the platform, talking in the leader’s ear, and the music did not cease.

As quickly as could be Dick got the upper classmen away from the girls, at the lower end of the hall.