Hans stared in breathless amazement.  His solemn face was too much for the others, and a peal of laughter rang through the car.  At this Hans grew suspicious, and at length a sickly grin overspread his features.

“I know you, Tom Rofer,” he said.  “Dot vos von of dem fish stories, ain’t it alretty?”

“No, it’s a jibberjacker story, Hans.”

“It vos a jibjacker fish story den annahow.  You can’t fool me some more.  I vos too schmart for dot alretty.  Ven I go py der academy I git mine ear teeths cut, hey?”

“All right, Hans, if you have cut your ear-teeth we’ll call it off,” said Dick, and here the conversation took a more rational turn.

“So far as I know only a few of the fellows have left the Hall on account of the scarlet fever scare,” said Larry.  “And they were boys that nobody seemed to care much about.”

“I was told that the fellows expected to elect an entirely new lot of officers,” said Sam.  “We have been away so much I’ve rather lost track of our military affairs.”

“Captain Putnam said we would have to ballot for officers as soon as all the boys were back,” said Larry.  “Some of the old officers have graduated, you must remember.”

“I’ve not forgotten that I was once second lieutenant of Company A,” put in Dick.  “Reckon I’ll have to try my luck once more—­if the boys want me to run.”

“Well, I want you to run for one, Dick,” said Larry.  “Hans, you’ll vote for Dick, won’t you?”

“Yah, und I vonts him to vote for me, too,” said the German youth.

“Why, Hans, do you want to be water-carrier this year?” asked Sam.

“Nein, I vonts to be high brivate py der rear rank alretty.  Von of der fellows tole me dot would chust suit me.”

“All right, Hans, we’ll all elect you high private of the rear rank,” answered Larry with a laugh.

CHAPTER VI

FUN ON THE BOAT

At the city of Ithaca the boys stopped long enough to get dinner, and were here joined by Fred Garrison and George Granbury, two more of their old school chums.

“Hurrah for the gathering of the clans!” cried George Granbury, with a beaming face.  “This is like a touch of old times.  How are all of you, anyway?”

“First rate, with the exception of Hans here,” said Tom.  “He’s got the buckwheat measles.”

“Yah, und Tom he’s got der jipperjocker fefer,” declared the German boy, bound to do his best to get square.

“Good for Hans!” cried Sam.  “Tom, after this, you have got to take care, or Hansie will roast you.”

“Oh, Hans is just all right,” observed Tom, and when the German boy’s face was turned away he took the latter’s coffee and put into it about a teaspoonful of salt.  “Tell you what, fellows, this coffee just touches the spot,” he added loudly.

“Right you are,” said Fred Garrison.  “Never tasted better in my life.”