“I hope we catch up with ’em before they get back to the hotel,” uttered Tom fervently.  “But warn us, please, whenever we get so close that they’re likely to hear our voices.”

The bell-boy now led them through an orchard.

“There seem to be a lot of apples on the ground,” remarked Prescott, halting.

“Green ones—–­they’re no good,” replied the bell-boy.

“Then they are good—–­just what we want!” ejaculated Prescott.  “Hold on, fellows!  Fill your hats with these apples.”

“What are you going to do when you come upon these fellows?” asked the bell-boy.

“Scuttle ’em—–­the way they did our tent!” Tom retorted.

“I hope you pay them back generously,” muttered the bell-boy.  “I’ve a score to settle with them for trying to blacken good old Saunders!  But see here!  Up to date, at least, they’re guests of the hotel, and I’m an employe there.  Now, if they get too much the better of matters in a scrimmage, I’ll sail in with you boys, even though I have to resign my hotel job.  But, if I see that you can handle ’em all right, I shall just stand by without taking any part in the fight”

“We understand your position, and appreciate it,” Dick replied.  “We thank you, too, but we believe that we can take care of them all by ourselves.  If we can’t, then we’ll take our drubbing.”

“You boys have done some things in athletics, haven’t you?” asked the bell-boy, noting the way that each of the five present members of Dick & Co. carried himself.

“Gridley High School football team last season,” Dick replied, a trace of justifiable pride in his voice.

“You were?” demanded the bell-boy eagerly.  “Then shake!  My name is Gerard.  We know a lot about the Gridley High School brand of football at Saunders.”

Introductions were quickly passed.

“Now, I’d like to feel that I’m really one of you, and I’ll fight shoulder to shoulder with you!” chuckled Gerard.

“Please don’t try to take a hand in any fight that may occur,” Prescott begged.  “If you’re working your way through college, just keep your eye on your job.  Don’t mix up in any trouble with the guests.”

“We’ll soon be at the spot where I left the bunch,” said Gerard, a few moments later.

Over a rise of ground the bell-boy led Dick & Co.  Then he pointed to a little grove of chestnut trees.

“There is the rah-rah crowd,” he whispered.  “You see, they have one of your lanterns, and they’re lunching on some of your food supplies that they brought along with them.”

“I wonder what those freshies are saying now,” came in a laughing voice, from the rah-rah group under the chestnut trees.

“Their potted chicken is all right, anyway,” laughed another.  “Cut me off another slice of the bread.  Whee!  This college mischief on a dark night gives one an appetite.”

Dick gave whispered instructions to his own forces, then signed to Gerard, who drew back into the shadow.