“Oh, we’re out for a sleigh ride,” responded Foster glibly, “and we just stopped here to see the fun.  What are you doing here?”

“Oh, we stopped to see the fun too,” responded Mott gruffly.  “It’s worth going miles to see freshmen who don’t know any more than to go sleigh-riding on bare ground.  Had a good time, freshman?”

“Yes.  Have you?”

“We’re all right.  If you’ve come for the canes you’re too late.”

“Have you just found that out?” replied Foster with a loud laugh.  It was true that he was not aware that the canes had been taken away, but he was not minded to betray his surprise to the members of the rival class.

There was a brief interval of silence which was broken by the old minister, who said, “I shall be very glad, young gentlemen, to have you come into the house.  The night air is cold and you must be thoroughly chilled.  A little while ago I may have appeared somewhat lacking in hospitality,” he added, turning to Mott as he spoke; “but now I can assure you I shall be very glad indeed to receive you.”

“Thank you,” responded Foster.  “We shall be glad to come in if the others will come too.”

“We can’t very well to-night,” said Mott glumly.  “We’ve got to go—­”

Suddenly there broke in a wild yell upon the silence of the night.  The sound was made by only two men, but these two were possessed of a lung power that was well-nigh phenomenal.  Hawley who with his companion had been watching the events that were occurring before them had suddenly turned to Will and whispered, “Let’s go in and take a hand!  Yell, Phelps!  Make them hear you clear over in Winthrop!”

“Hi-i-i-i!” the two lusty freshmen had shouted together as they leaped forward, and the prolonged yell was repeated when all the assembly had instantly turned and for a moment in sheer astonishment were gazing at the startling approach of men from behind the barn.

“Come on, fellows!” shouted Hawley again.  “Come on!  We’ll get every one of them!  Come on!  Come on!”

To the startled sophomores it seemed as if myriads of their foes were rushing upon them, and after a momentary confusion every one had started swiftly across the narrow field that intervened between the yard and the road that approached Coventry Center from another direction.

“Come on, Foster!  Come on all you fellows!” shouted Hawley.  “Come on!  We’ll get every soph that’s here and will put ’em where they won’t do any harm till long after St. Patrick’s Day.”

Obediently every freshman started to follow Hawley, and across the rough, plowed field they ran swiftly toward the road where the sophomores had already disappeared from sight behind the bushes that were thick and high by the roadside.  When once they had gained the road they could see the forms of two men speeding away in the distance, and with a renewed shout the freshmen started in swift pursuit.

On up the long hill they sped until at last they stood together on the summit.  Not a sight of their rivals was to be seen, and blankly the freshmen stood and stared about them till Hawley said: