CHAPTER XIGETTING ACQUAINTEDPee Wee was the boy who first "took up" the chums from Clinton. The fat boy sat on the steps of the doctor's house, idly whistling and twiddling his fingers when Bobby and Fred came out. Perry Wise never stood when he could sit, and never walked when he could stand, and never ran when walking would get him to his goal just as well. He was the picture of peace just now."Hello, fellows!" he said."Hello!" returned Bobby."Is the Old Doc goin' to let you stay?" grinned the fat boy."Huh! why shouldn't he?" demanded Fred, quick to take offense."Cause you're so terrible green," chuckled Pee Wee. "They let the sheep loose sometimes to crop the lawn, and they might eat you.""Aw—you're too smart," said the abashed Fred.Bobby only laughed. He was glad to have his mind taken up by something beside the fact of his father's going away."Say!" said Pee Wee, cordially. "Don't you want to look over the place?""We'd be very glad to," admitted Bobby.Pee Wee made no effort to rise at first. He merely bawled after another boy who was some distance away:"Hey, Purdy! Don't you want to beau the greenhorns around?"Fred Martin doubled his fist again and scowled at the placid fat boy, but Bobby warned him by a shake of the head. The boy addressed, who was smaller than Pee Wee, but who was well out of his reach, turned and made a face at the fat boy, saying:"Do your own work, Fatty. Don't try to put it off on me."Pee Wee was quite unmoved by this rough retort. He looked around and hailed another lad:"Jimmy Ailshine! come on and show the newsies all the lions, will you?""For why?" demanded the boy addressed."Aw—well—I have a stone bruise," explained Pee Wee, hesitatingly."You must have it from sitting so much, then," declared Jimmy, with a loud laugh. "You better take them around yourself, or the captain will be after you.""You needn't show us about if it is very, very painful," suggested Bobby, beginning to understand the fat boy now."Guess we can find our way around alone," grunted Fred."Aw well! we won't row about it," said Pee Wee, getting up slowly. "But that stone bruise—"However, the trouble in question seemed, later, to be of a shifting nature, for first Pee Wee favored his right foot and then his left.It must be confessed that Perry Wise was a very lazy boy, but he was a good natured one, and when once the exploration party was started, he played the part of show-master very well indeed.They went through the school rooms and up to the dormitories first. In the second dormitory, where the smaller boys slept, in a pair of twin beds in one corner, Bobby and Fred were billeted."And no pillow fights, or other ructions, after 'lights out,' unless you ask the captain first," warned Pee Wee."Seems to me this captain has a lot to say around here," growled Fred."You bet he has. And what he says he means. And it's not healthy for anybody to do a thing when he says 'don't.'""Why not?" queried Master Fred.Pee Wee grinned. "You try it if you like," he said. "Then you'll find out. Dr. Raymond says experience is the surest, if not the best, teacher."The dormitory was a big, light room, cheerfully furnished, with a locker beside each bed for the boy's clothes and personal possessions, and a chair at the head of the bed.That wall-space over the heads of the beds was considered the private possession of each couple, for the flaunting of banners, photographs, strings of birds-eggs, shells, pine-cone frames, and a hundred other objects of virtu dear to boyish hearts."You see, we can hang up a lot of stuff, too, when our trunks come," whispered Fred to Bobby, pointing to the blank spaces over their beds, lettered only with the names: "Blake" and "Martin.""You can see clear across the lake from the window here," drawled Pee Wee, lolling on a sill.The chums came to see. Lake Monatook was spread before them—a beautiful, oval sheet of water, with steep, wooded banks in the east, and sloping yellow beaches of sand at the other end.Where the Rockledge School stood, a steep sandstone cliff dropped right down to a narrow beach, more than fifty feet below. A strong, two-railed fence guarded the brink of this cliff the entire width of the school premises, save where the stairs led down to the boat-house.In the middle of the lake were several small islands, likewise wooded. The lake was quite ten miles long, and half as wide in its broadest part.Across from Rockledge School was the village of Belden. On a high bluff over there the new boys saw several red brick buildings among the trees."That's Belden School," explained Pee Wee. "We have to beat them at football this fall. We did them up at baseball in the spring. They're a mean set of fellows anyway," added the fat boy. "Once they came across here and stole all our boats. We'll have to get square with them for that, some time.""Come on," said Fred, who had begun to enjoy pushing the fat boy, now—knowing that he had been set the task of showing them around—and was determined to keep their guide up to the mark. "We don't want to stay here till bedtime, do we?""Aw-right," returned Pee Wee, with a groan. "That's my bed next to yours, Blake. Mouser Pryde is chummed on me this year. We call him Mouser because he brought two white mice with him to school when he first came."Shiner and Harry Moore have the beds on your other side. Shiner's the chap you saw down stairs—Jimmy Ailshine. He's a good fellow, but awfully lazy," remarked the fat boy, with a sigh."What do you call yourself?" demanded Fred, rather impolitely."Oh,me? I'm not well—honest. And that stone bruise—"It was then he began to favor the other foot, and Bobby giggled. Pee Wee looked at him solemnly. "What are you laughing at?" he asked.Bobby pointed out that the stone bruise seemed to have shifted."Aw, well! it hurts so bad I feel it in both feet," returned the fat boy, grinning. "Come on."They went down to the gymnasium. It was a dandy! Bobby and Fred saw that it was a whole lot better than the one Mr. Priestly had for his Boys' Club in the Church House at home.Then they inspected the outside courts, the ball field, and the cinder track—which was an oval, on the very verge of the cliff.They met boys everywhere, and Pee Wee told them the names of some of them, while a few of about their own age stopped to speak to Bobby and Fred.Jack Jinks and the yellow-haired youth, Bill Bronson, came up to the trio of smaller boys as they stood by the railing that defended the cliff's brink."So you're showing the greenies around, are you, Fatty?" proposed Jack. "Shown them the stake where the Old Doctor ties up fresh kids and gives them nine and thirty lashes if they as much as whisper in class?""Yes," said Pee Wee, nodding. "And I showed them the straps there whereyouwere tied up last term, Jinksey.""Aw—smart, aren't you?" snarled the squint-eyed boy, while Bill Bronson grinned."This red-headed chap's going to be a favorite—I can see that," said Bill, rolling the cap on Fred's head with one hand, but pressing hard enough to hurt."Let go of me!" cried Fred, hotly, jerking away."Don't you get too presumptuous, sonny," advised the yellow-haired youth. "There's lots of chance for you to get into trouble here.""If I get into trouble withyou," snapped Fred, "it won't all be on one side.""Keep still, Fred!" said Bobby. "Let's come on away," and he tugged at his chum's sleeve."That's a pretty fresh kid, too," said Jack, eyeing Bobby with disfavor.But the trio of younger boys withdrew. "Those fellows," said Pee Wee, "are always picking on fellows they think they can lick. If you don't toady to them, they'll treat you awfully mean!""I won't toady to anybody—not even to that captain," declared Fred."What! Barry Gray?" cried Pee Wee, in surprise."Yes. I don't like him—much," confessed the belligerent Fred."You'll be dreadfully lonesome, then," chuckled the fat boy. "For 'most every fellow in the school likes Barry. He's captain of the baseball team, and center in the football team. He can do anything, Barry can. And the Old Doctor thinks he is about right. He was next choice after Tommy Wardwell last year for the Medal of Honor, and he'll likely get it this year.""What's the Medal of Honor?" asked Fred, curiously.Pee Wee grinned. "It's something that no red-headed boy ever won," he declared, mysteriously.CHAPTER XIIIN THE DORMITORYBy supper time Bobby and Fred knew ten boys to speak to—without counting Jack Jinks, Bill Bronson, and the school captain, Barrymore Gray. The latter they did not see at all again until they beheld him sitting at the doctor's right hand at the head of the "upper table," as they soon learned to call the one around which the head scholars and the assistant master sat with Dr. Raymond. The junior teachers sat at the heads of the other tables and kept order.Rockledge was divided into the Upper School and the Lower School. Bobby and Fred would of course be in the Lower, but just how they would be placed in classes they would not know until the real business of the school opened on Monday.The supper was plentiful, but plain. Bobby missed Meena's sweet cakes and hot tea-biscuit, and Fred whispered that there was hayseed in the strawberry jam, so he knew it was not "home made."Pee Wee sat across the table from them and ate steadily, showing beyond peradventure that his plumpness arose from a very natural cause!Until eight o'clock the boys were allowed to frolic outside as they wished, no tasks being set them as yet. Bobby noticed that one of the junior teachers was always within sight, while Captain Barry Gray, and some of the older fellows, were grouped on the main steps of the dormitory building, swapping vacation experiences.Bobby noticed that Barry was always very well dressed—indeed, richly dressed, beside many of the boys—so he made up his mind that the school captain must come from a wealthy home.Bill Bronson jingled money in his pockets and wore a handsome gold watch and a diamond pin in his tie. Most of the smaller boys, however, were no better dressed than Bobby and Fred.Taken altogether, the boys who appeared at the supper table were a bright and interesting looking crowd. Bobby was sure he was going to be happy here, and Fred was already on terms of intimacy with half a dozen of the chaps about their own age.The boys from Clinton chanced to be the only new ones to enter Rockledge this semester. There was usually a long waiting list, but Mr. Martin's influence had gained Bobby the chance to attend with Fred, because the two boys were chums.Before they left the supper table the doctor arose and walked down the line of smaller tables and shook hands with each boy, called him by name, and welcomed him again to the school.To some he said a word of warning, but all in a cheerful way that took the sting out of the admonition. He evidently knew the failings of each boy, and had studied their characters carefully.When he came to Bobby and Fred he placed a hand on each boy's shoulder and said, so that all the school could hear:"Our two new friends. I hope all of you will welcome them kindly. Make them feel at home."This was before the evening run outside. Bobby and Fred were taken into a noisy game of "relievo," and the great clock in the tower chiming eight was all that brought the fun to a close.The students filed into the library and general study-room on the first floor of the main building. For an hour every night the boys were allowed to read or play quiet games here. It was a cheerful, bright room, with rugs on the floor, and pretty hangings, and comfortable chairs. Although one of the teachers was always present, there was a feeling of freedom among the boys, and they could talk or read, as they pleased—just so they were not noisy.When nine struck in the tower, they filed upstairs to bed. There was plenty of time to undress and prepare for bed before the half hour struck. Bobby and Fred found that the older boys in the small rooms were allowed to remain up a half hour longer than those occupying the big dormitories.Captain Gray came in and advised the small boys to lay their clothing carefully on their chairs as they removed the garments."Part of the fire drill, you know," he said, cheerfully. "Coat and vest over the back of the chair. Pants folded nicely and laid across the back, too. Here, Pee Wee! None of that! Shake out your stockings and hang them on the chair-round. Shoes each side of the chair as you take them off—right and left. That's it."He walked up and down between the rows of beds. He told Bobby and Fred just how to distribute the remainder of their garments so that they would be easily at hand if there came an alarm."Of course, there's no danger, and there are plenty of fire escapes and all that," said the big boy, cheerfully. "But the Old Doctor insists upon our being ready for any emergency. Some night you'll be waked up by the fire bell and find drill is called. Want to be ready for it."Then he glanced again at Fred's chair. "Hi, Ginger!" he said. "Put your boots straight. Your left one's on your right side, and vice versa."There was a good deal of fun at Fred's expense when Barry had gone. "Hi, Ginger!" resounded from all parts of the room; Fred Martin had won a distinctive nickname on the spot, and he didn't like it much."I knew I shouldn't like that big fellow," he confessed to Bobby. "And I'll lick some of these kids yet, if they keep on calling me Ginger.""No, you won't," declared Bobby. "You know you won't. They all have nicknames, too. Yours is no worse than 'Pee Wee,' or 'Shiner,' or 'Buck,' or 'Skeets.' They'll stick me with one yet.""But 'Ginger'—""Aw, stop your kicking," advised his chum. "It won't get you anywhere."There was still a buzz of voices as the twenty boys finished getting ready for bed. The door opened and Bill Bronson and Jack Jinks, from their room across the hall, looked in."Sleep with an eye open, you kids," Bill ordered, in a shrill whisper. "Something doing by and by.""Oh, what, Bill?" cried Purdy, near the door."Somebody's got to ride the goat," chuckled the squint-eyed boy, looking over his chum's shoulder.At that several of the others looked at Bobby and Fred, and chuckled. The two Clinton boys did not hear this by-play. Bill and his chum looked over at the newcomers with wide grins.Just at this moment Bobby was completely ready for bed and he dropped upon his knees before his chair at the head of the bed and proceeded to say his prayers as he always did at home. Fred, after a moment's hesitation, followed suit.Instantly a hush fell upon the room. The boys who had been gabbling together stopped because they saw the facial expression of those boys grouped at the doorway. Everybody turned to look at the corner occupied by the chums from Clinton.The silence was but for a moment. Then Bill laughed and took one long stride to the nearest bed. He snatched up a pillow and sent it with unerring aim and considerable force at the back of Bobby's head.The pillow reached its mark, and Bobby jumped. But he did not rise until his prayer was completed. A second pillow came his way, while Jack and some of the other spectators laughed immoderately.Fred Martin jumped up with an angry exclamation. Perhaps he did not finish his prayer at all. He grabbed one of the pillows which had struck his chum and made for Bill Bronson at the other end of the room."You big bully!" he exclaimed, all the rage which he had bottled up that day boiling over in an instant, "You big bully! Can't you leave a peaceable fellow alone?"He slammed the yellow-haired youth over the head, and struck him so hard that the pillow-case burst and the feathers began to fly. Bill uttered a roar of rage, and tried to seize him."Don't, Fred! Stop! Stop!" called Bobby, from the other end of the room.Fred Martin had gone too far to stop now. He expected to take a thrashing for his boldness, but meanwhile he was filling Bronson's eyes and mouth with feathers.Jack Jinks put out his foot and tripped the smaller boy up. Fred fell with Bill on top of him. The bigger boy began to use his fists."No fair! Let him up, Bill!" cried two or three."Shut up!" ordered Jack, putting his back against the closed door. "You kids that holler will get all that's coming to you."Bobby came running up the room to help his chum, and at just that instant the door knob was turned and the door was burst in, sending Jack sliding half way across the room."Cheese it!" squealed Pee Wee, jumping into bed with his trousers on.But it was only Barry Gray who appeared."Hello! Can't keep quiet the first night, eh?" demanded the captain. "What you doing in here, Jack?"Then he saw Bill Bronson on top of the struggling Fred. Bill had got in one savage punch and there was blood flowing from Fred's nose upon the burst pillow.Captain Gray seized Bill by the back of his collar and with both hands jerked him to his feet. Bill squealed like a rat, thinking the Old Doctor himself had come to Fred's rescue."Ow! Ow! Ouch!" he squealed. "Aw—you! Let me alone, Barry Gray. This isn't any of your business.""All right. I'll pass it up to the teachers if you say so," snapped the captain."Aw—well—""Hold on!" commanded Barry, stepping in front of Jack who was sneaking out of the room "You'rein this, too.""No, I'm not," said Jack."You were holding the door," said Barry. "Stop here till we hear what's the trouble."Half a dozen shrill voices tried to tell him at once. But Barry pointed at Fred. "Youtell," he said."I hit him with the pillow," growled Fred, ungraciously enough.Barry glanced down the room toward Fred's bed. "It isn't your pillow," he said. "Did he shuck the pillow at you first?""No," said Fred, determined not to "snitch."But Howell Purdy didn't feel that way about it. He said to the captain:"Bill Bronson began it. He fired a couple of pillows at Bobby Blake when Bobby was saying his prayers. Then Fred went for him."Barry looked from Fred's flushed and bloody face to Bobby's pale one. He said nothing for a moment to either of them, but turned on Bill Bronson."You know the rules. You had no business in this dormitory—neither you nor Jack.""I suppose you'll tell on us," snarled Bill. "Of course! I knew what a tattle-tale you'd be just as soon as the Old Doc appointed you captain last June. He did it so that he'd be sure to have somebody to run to him with every little thing.""Maybe," returned Barry, flushing. "But he doesn't call it a little thing for two boys to fight in a dormitory.""Yah!" snarled Bill."Give me a fair chance and I'll fight him anywhere!" declared the belligerent Fred, sopping the blood with a handkerchief that Bobby had brought him."You are one plucky kid," said Barry, quickly. "But if there has got to be a fight, it must be between two fellows more evenly matched. I leave it to the room: Is a fight fair between Bronson and Martin!""No!" cried the boys in chorus."But Bill Bronson started the fight, so he ought to be accommodated," Captain Gray said. "Isn't that right?"Some of the boys giggled. Fred muttered: "Let me fight him. I'm not afraid.""If Bill doesn't want me to go to the Doctor with this, he'll have to abide by my decision, won't he?" proceeded Barry, his eyes twinkling."Sure!" cried the crowd, led by Pee Wee, now delighted by what they saw was coming."Aw, you're too fresh," grumbled the bully."That's not the question," said Barry. "Do you agree?""To what?""To have me set the punishment for this infraction of the rules, instead of putting it up to the Old Doctor?""Well!""You, too, Jack?" demanded Barry of the squinting fellow."Yes," muttered the latter."All right. Then I announce that as Bill wants to fight, he shall be accommodated. Jack is a good match for him. Isn't that so, boys?"There was a storm of giggling. The two bullies looked at each other and grinned. The idea of them fighting each other was preposterous—or, so it seemed."And for fear," said the captain, his eyes twinkling, "that they won't play fair, if they are matched in a regular fight, we'll make it a 'poguey fight' to-morrow morning at nine—in the gym. Now, you two fellows run to your rooms—and show up at nine in the gym, or I'll come after you."He drove the bullies out of the room before him, and then went himself. There was a subdued whispering and giggling all over the dormitory."What's a 'poguey fight'?" demanded Bobby, of Pee Wee, in some alarm.The fat boy was rocking himself to and fro on the bed in huge delight, and could scarcely answer for laughing."You wait and see," he finally chuckled, "It's more fun than the Kilkenny cats!"CHAPTER XIIITHE POGUEY FIGHTFred staunched his bleeding nose at the basin in the corner, and then exchanged pillows with Howell Purdy. Fred slept on the burst one."I'll get into trouble anyway over this," Fred growled in Bobby's ear. "I wish I could have hit that mean bully just once with something hard."Bobby hadn't the heart to scold. Fred had attacked a much bigger boy than himself just because that bully had flung a pillow at Fred's chum. That was the impulsive way of Fred Martin. Bobby knew that his chum was going to have a hard row to hoe here at Rockledge, unless he learned to control his temper.Bobby Blake had some difficulty in getting to sleep that night—and that was not usually the case with him. The plan of Bill and Jack to haze the two newcomers to Rockledge had evidently been stopped. The dormitory was not disturbed until morning, save that once in the night Pee Wee had a nightmare and groaned and fought, until the next fellow to him punched him and woke him up."Wow!" said the fat boy, "I thought I was up in a balloon and they wanted to put me out instead of dropping sandbags.""Don't eat so much at supper; then you won't dream such stuff," growled Mouser Pryde, punching his pillow and settling down again.The rising bell at half past six got everybody but Pee Wee out of bed. Mouser pulled off the bed clothes, but that did not start the fat boy, and finally, when the others were half dressed, Mouser tiptoed over from the basins with a glass of water, and let the drops trickle down, one by one, upon Perry's fat neck."Ow! ow! ouch!" bawled Pee Wee. "Something's sprung a leak. Let me up before I drown!"He struck the floor before he was half awake and landed in his bare feet upon a set of "jacks" that Shiner had conveniently dropped on the rug."Ow! what are these things? Wow! I'll bet I can't walk at all now.""They hurt worse than the stone bruise, eh?" asked Bobby, grinning."These fellows are always playing jokes on me," grumbled Pee Wee. "And I never do a living thing to hurt them."The fat boywasa tempting subject for a joke, and he probably was the butt more often than anybody else.While they were dressing, Fred almost got in a fight with Shiner because the latter called him "Ginger." Bobby took his chum aside."Now, Fred, that name's bound to stick," he said. "What's the use of getting mad at it? They all like you; no use in making enemies. Take it laughingly.""That's because of Smartie Gray," grumbled Fred. "Hecalled me 'Ginger' first.""That isn't as bad as 'Bricktop'," suggested Bobby, smiling. "You ought to be glad it's no worse. I expect they'll find a nickname for me pretty soon, that will be a corker!"At seven the bell rang again and they all marched down to breakfast. Bill Bronson and Jack Jinks scowled at Bobby and Fred on the stairs, but the captain was near and they did not say a word to the chums.Before the boys separated, the first master, Mr. Leith, said:"Young gentlemen: Doctor Raymond will see you all in the hall at eleven. Nobody is to be out of bounds this morning. Be prompt at eleven, remember. You are excused."Bobby thought Mr. Leith a very grim and serious gentleman indeed.As the smaller boys scurried out of the hall to the porch, they found a steady stream of boys going down the basement steps to the gymnasium. Howell Purdy and Shiner were set, one on either side of the doorway, where they whispered to those who passed:"Poguey fight in the gym at nine. Don't forget the poguey fight.""Whatisthat, Shiner?" asked Bobby."You don't want to miss it," grinned Shiner. "You and your chum are at the bottom of it.""But we're not going to fight," declared Bobby."No. But Bill and Jack are. No fear!"Bobby and Fred did not go down into the basement at once. There was still an hour before the time set by Captain Gray, the evening before, for the mysterious "poguey fight." Nobody whom the chums asked would tell them any particulars."I expect I'll get into trouble over bloodying that pillow," said Fred. "What shall I tell them if they ask me?""Say your nose bled," returned Bobby. "If they ask youhowit came to bleed, that's another question.""Well, that's the question I'm afraid of.""Wouldn't you tell on that Bill Bronson?""No. The other boys would say I snitched. I hate him, but I won't snitch on him," declared Fred."Maybe nobody will ask you. And Barry Gray will take your side.""I don't want him to take my side," growled Fred. "He's a big fellow, too, and expects to be toadied to.""You're making a mistake about him, I think," said Bobby, mildly. He knew it was no use to argue the matter with his chum.They walked out across the campus to the railing that bordered the edge of the bluff. They were standing there looking across the beautiful lake, and talking, when there was a sudden scrimmage over on one of the tennis courts."Hello! a fight!" exclaimed Fred, with lively interest."Pshaw!" said Bobby, with some disgust. "You're always looking for a fight!""I'm not either! What do you call that?" denied and demanded Fred in the same breath."It's the captain," said Bobby, slowly. "And some of the big fellows—I know! they're dragging Bill Bronson and Jack Jinks away to the gym. There's going to be something doing—"Just then Pee Wee appeared at the corner of the main building and yodled for the Clinton boys, beckoning them across the campus with excited gestures."Come o-o-on!" bawled the fat boy.Fred grabbed Bobby's hand and started running. The chums were at the gym steps almost as quickly as the big fellows and their captives."You let me alone, Barry Gray!" yelled Bill, as he was shoved down the steps. "I'll fix you for this.""Thanks, Billy Bronson. I can do my own fixing. You agreed to this, and you'll go through with it," Barry said, firmly."Ididn't do a thing," Jack was urging."Ah! but you're going to," chuckled Barry, who seemed to have answers ready for both objectors.The bullies were dragged below. The smaller boys followed. Every boy in the school was waiting in the gymnasium, and no teacher—not even the athletic instructor—was present.Some of the boys had been at work on the bars, or the ladder, or otherwise using the gymnastic paraphernalia. They all gathered around in interest to see what the big boys were going to do with the bullies.Bill Bronson and his chum kicked and struggled for a time. But there were enough to help Barry, so that their struggles were useless. The bullies' shoes were quickly removed, despite their kicking. Then a sort of harness made of straps was buckled around both boys under their arms. There was a steel ring sewed into the crosspiece of each harness at the back.Somebody produced eight objects that looked like huge boxing-gloves—only they were made of cotton cloth stuffed with cotton-batting. One of these clumsy things was strapped on each foot, and another on each hand. The victims of the joke were now unable to hurt any of their captors when they struck out at them, and the crowd was greatly amused as well as excited."Come on, now!" panted Barry. "Boost them up here. Throw the rope over a couple of rungs of the ladder, Max. That's it."The rope in question was a strong manilla, about four feet long. At each end was a snap, such as is spliced upon the ends of hitch-ropes.Two boys lifted each of the embarrassed prisoners, and held them under the ladder. The snaps were fastened in the rings back of their shoulders.There they hung, kicking and sprawling. At first Barry Gray and Max Bender, one of the other big boys, held the victims."Here you are now," said Captain Gray, sternly. "You wanted to fight a fellow much smaller than yourself last night, Bill; and you agreed to take on a fellow nearer your size. Here's Jack willing to accommodate you. Now, go to it, you chaps, and may the best man win!"He and Max both stepped back, dragging their prisoners with them, and then they let the two helpless ones swing together.Their heads bumped. Bill let out a roar and tried to kick Max with one of his muffled feet. In doing so his other foot caught Jack above the knee."Look out what you're doing—you chump!" exclaimed Jack. "Keep still, can't you?""Keep still yourself," growled Bill, as his gyrating friend collided with him again with some force. He tried to push Jack away. At once the latter put out his mittened hand and punched Bill between the eyes."Look out what you're doing!" yelled Bill, striking madly at his opponent.In a moment they were at it! The poguey fight was on. The two erstwhile chums swung over the rungs of the horizontally laid ladder, like the famous Kilkenny cats, punched and kicked and batted at each other in a most ridiculous manner.They couldn't hurt each other very much, save when they bumped heads, and that was not often. But they grew madder every moment.The spectators were delighted, and the harder the combatants tried to strike each other, the more ridiculous the whole thing appeared.Why it was called "poguey" nobody seemed to know, but Bobby discovered that it had long been practiced at Rockledge School, and that usually the two victims accepted the situation philosophically and did not really get mad.The two bullies, however, had never learned to control their tempers. Besides, both considered that the other was somewhat to blame for their predicament.The battle continued, fast and furious. Bill Bronson's face was blazing. Jack Jinks' was very ugly indeed to look at. If they could have torn the gloves off their hands they would have done so and struck each other with their bare fists.Suddenly Jack drew up his knee as they swung together, and he caught Bill right in the belt. It was a solid blow and the victim uttered a cry of anger and pain. Captain Gray stepped forward and stopped the two from swinging together again."Foul blow," he said, decidedly. "You know the penalty well enough, Jack. When you're let down, Bill's got the right to punch you with his bare fist—if he likes.""And if he does, I'll hand him all he's looking for," declared the squint-eyed youth, glaring at the boy who had been his chief friend."Do it, and you'll get what's coming to you!" threatened Bill, just as angrily.Barry winked at Max Bender. "Let's take them down. I guess they won't be half so thick hereafter—and then maybe some of the little fellows will have a better time."CHAPTER XIVTHE HONOR MEDALBill Bronson and Jack Jinks were released from their harnesses, and the "pillows" were taken off their feet and hands, they went to opposite ends of the gymnasium and had nothing to say to each other.Barry did not mention the foul blow and its punishment, and none of the smaller boys dared speak of it. It was certain, however, that the intimacy of the only two boys in the school inclined to bully the smaller ones had taken a decided set back.The fun of the "poguey fight" was not to end so quickly, however. Some of the bigger boys caught Pee Wee and Mouser Pryde, and fastened them into the harness and put the mufflers on their feet and hands.The fat boy and his chum made no decided remonstrance, and when they were swung up, they made an earnest endeavor to give the fellows all the fun they were looking for. Their gyrations certainly were amusing, and Bobby and Fred laughed as loudly as any of the other boys.But when the fat boy and Mouser were let down, and Max and Barry grabbed the chums from Clinton, for a moment, Fred was inclined to cut up rough."Aw, be a sport, Fred!" said Bobby, earnestly. "If Pee Wee can stand it,wecan."So Fred thought better of "getting mad" and for a while the two friends swung in the air and punched and kicked at each other to the delight of the other boys. Bobby was very careful not to anger the red-haired lad, and they came through the poguey fight with smiling faces. It was borne in upon Bobby's mind more and more that Fred Martin was going to have difficulty in keeping out of trouble in this new environment.At eleven o'clock the whole school filed up to the hall on the second floor. None of the teachers were present and there was some little confusion and noise at first.Barry stepped forward and held up a hand for silence. "You fellows better take a tumble to yourselves," he said calmly. "You want to show the Doctor that you don't have to be watched all the time. You all know—at least, all of you but Bobby Blake and Fred Martin, and they are not making the noise—thatthisisn't the place for skylarking."We had our fun downstairs. I hear the Doctor coming now. Let's give him a Rockledge cheer when he comes in and then—silence!"The door opened as he ceased speaking and the tall, heavy-set principal with his quiet smile and pleasant eyes peering through the thick lenses of his glasses, appeared.Captain Gray raised his hand again. The roomful of boys sprang to their feet. Bobby noted that many of them placed their left hands upon the little blue and white enameled button that they wore on the lapels of their coats, as they shouted in unison:"One, two, three—boom!Boom—Z-z-z—ah!Rockledge! Rockledge!Sword and star!Who's on top?We sure are—Rock-ledge!"Bobby and Fred had both noticed the blue and white buttons with the star and sword upon them, but they did not know what they meant. Now Bobby guessed that there was some society, or inner circle at Rockledge School that they, as newcomers, knew nothing about.All the boys did not belong to it. Pee Wee did not wear a button, nor did many of the fellows from their dormitory. Bill Bronson and Jack Jinks did not possess the badge, either.Meanwhile, Doctor Raymond, smiling and bowing, approached the rostrum. Bobby—his mind always on the alert—noted the little blue and white spot against the dead black of the doctor's coat."Well, boys! I am extremely obliged to you, I am sure," said the Doctor, bowing again. "I am just as sensitive to compliments as the next person. I hope you will always be as glad to see me as you appear to be at this moment."Now, I shall not detain you for long. You know my little lectures have usually the saving grace of brevity. We have come together once more to face a year of study. Let us face it like real men! Star and sword, my boys! The star we are aiming for, and the Sword of Determination will hew our way to the goal."There! I will give you no homilies. There are but two new boys with us this year—Robert Blake and Frederick Martin. Give them a warm welcome. They only do not understand about our Medal of Honor."He suddenly opened his large hand and displayed in its palm a five-pointed gold star, at least two inches across, and with a beautiful blue-velvet background."Here it is—all ready for the engraving. At the close of the school year, this medal will be presented to the one among you who has won it by studiousness, good conduct, manliness and general popularity."It is not always the boy who sets out to win the medal who reallydoeswin it. You, who are older, knowthat. We teachers try not to influence the opinion of the school in the choice of the recipient of the Honor Medal."The winner must stand well in his classes, or he cannot have the faculty vote. His deportment must be good, or we teachers cannot vote for him. But you boys yourselves must—after all—choose the winner."There are fifty of you in Rockledge School. You have each, individually, a better chance to understand your neighbors' characters than anybody else. You are quick to find out if there is somethingfinein a lad's temper. You will soon learn the one who restrains himself under provocation, who bears insult, perhaps, with confidence in his own uprightness; who keeps straight on his way without turning aside because of any temptation."Thatis the sort of a lad who will win this Medal of Honor," concluded the Doctor, very seriously. "Any boy—even the youngest—may secure it. It does not have to go to the boy at the top of his class, nor to the oldest boy in the school. You little chaps stand just as good a chance for it as Captain Gray," and he rested his hand upon Barry Gray's shoulder for an instant as though there was some secret understanding between him and the captain of the school."Now, I have talked enough. School will begin in earnest on Monday. Remember, bounds are as usual. You little fellows, see Barrymore, or some of the masters, if you are not sure of a thing. And remember that my office door is never locked."He went out quickly at the door behind the platform. Somehow, the boys felt rather serious, and there was no shouting or fooling as they filed out and down the stairs to the open air."Say! that was a handsome gold medal he showed us," said Fred, with enthusiasm, to Bobby."Wasn't it?" returned his chum, with sparkling eyes."I'd like to get that myself," admitted the red-haired one."Didn't I tell you, you'd have no chance atthat, Ginger?" chuckled Pee Wee's voice behind them."I see it," admitted Fred, without getting angry. "But it would be fine to win it, just the same."So Bobby thought. He remembered what his mother had said to him on one occasion, and wondered if it were possible forhimto win the gold medal and present it to her when she returned from that far journey which she and his father were soon to take."She certainly would be proud of me then," thought Bobby Blake. "I guess she'd think afterthat, it would be safe to leave me alone anywhere—yes, sir! And I certainly would like to own such a medal."This set his mind to thinking upon the fact that at daybreak the very next morning the ship on which his parents had bought their stateroom would sail from New York. They were already on the train which would bear them to the coast.After they sailed it would be a long time before he could even expect a picture post-card from them—a month, at least. Andthen, they would be thousands of miles away!He slipped away from Fred and Pee Wee and went into one of the schoolrooms. There was a big globe there, and he timidly turned this around and around until he found the pink splotch of color which marked Brazil.There was the gaping mouth of the Amazon, with the big island dividing it, and the river on the south side, against which was the black dot marking the city of Para—where his parents would land.He thought of all he had ever heard or been taught about the Amazon—"that Mighty River." He knew how the current of the vast stream met the ocean tides and fought with them for supremacy. He knew how the river overflowed its banks in the rainy seasons and covered vast areas of forest and plain.The trader's station, to which his parents were bound, was a thousand miles up the Amazon, and then five hundred miles more up another river. Why—why, if he fell ill, or anything—He never realized until this moment just what it would mean to have his mother and father so far away. It had been great fun to come to Rockledge to school. He liked it here. He hoped he would learn, and advance, and win his way with both the boys and the teachers.But to have a mother and father so many, many miles away—especially to have a mother going away from one just as fast as steam could take her—Bobby Blake put his arm on the big globe, and laid his face against his jacket-sleeve. His shoulders shook.
CHAPTER XI
GETTING ACQUAINTED
Pee Wee was the boy who first "took up" the chums from Clinton. The fat boy sat on the steps of the doctor's house, idly whistling and twiddling his fingers when Bobby and Fred came out. Perry Wise never stood when he could sit, and never walked when he could stand, and never ran when walking would get him to his goal just as well. He was the picture of peace just now.
"Hello, fellows!" he said.
"Hello!" returned Bobby.
"Is the Old Doc goin' to let you stay?" grinned the fat boy.
"Huh! why shouldn't he?" demanded Fred, quick to take offense.
"Cause you're so terrible green," chuckled Pee Wee. "They let the sheep loose sometimes to crop the lawn, and they might eat you."
"Aw—you're too smart," said the abashed Fred.
Bobby only laughed. He was glad to have his mind taken up by something beside the fact of his father's going away.
"Say!" said Pee Wee, cordially. "Don't you want to look over the place?"
"We'd be very glad to," admitted Bobby.
Pee Wee made no effort to rise at first. He merely bawled after another boy who was some distance away:
"Hey, Purdy! Don't you want to beau the greenhorns around?"
Fred Martin doubled his fist again and scowled at the placid fat boy, but Bobby warned him by a shake of the head. The boy addressed, who was smaller than Pee Wee, but who was well out of his reach, turned and made a face at the fat boy, saying:
"Do your own work, Fatty. Don't try to put it off on me."
Pee Wee was quite unmoved by this rough retort. He looked around and hailed another lad:
"Jimmy Ailshine! come on and show the newsies all the lions, will you?"
"For why?" demanded the boy addressed.
"Aw—well—I have a stone bruise," explained Pee Wee, hesitatingly.
"You must have it from sitting so much, then," declared Jimmy, with a loud laugh. "You better take them around yourself, or the captain will be after you."
"You needn't show us about if it is very, very painful," suggested Bobby, beginning to understand the fat boy now.
"Guess we can find our way around alone," grunted Fred.
"Aw well! we won't row about it," said Pee Wee, getting up slowly. "But that stone bruise—"
However, the trouble in question seemed, later, to be of a shifting nature, for first Pee Wee favored his right foot and then his left.
It must be confessed that Perry Wise was a very lazy boy, but he was a good natured one, and when once the exploration party was started, he played the part of show-master very well indeed.
They went through the school rooms and up to the dormitories first. In the second dormitory, where the smaller boys slept, in a pair of twin beds in one corner, Bobby and Fred were billeted.
"And no pillow fights, or other ructions, after 'lights out,' unless you ask the captain first," warned Pee Wee.
"Seems to me this captain has a lot to say around here," growled Fred.
"You bet he has. And what he says he means. And it's not healthy for anybody to do a thing when he says 'don't.'"
"Why not?" queried Master Fred.
Pee Wee grinned. "You try it if you like," he said. "Then you'll find out. Dr. Raymond says experience is the surest, if not the best, teacher."
The dormitory was a big, light room, cheerfully furnished, with a locker beside each bed for the boy's clothes and personal possessions, and a chair at the head of the bed.
That wall-space over the heads of the beds was considered the private possession of each couple, for the flaunting of banners, photographs, strings of birds-eggs, shells, pine-cone frames, and a hundred other objects of virtu dear to boyish hearts.
"You see, we can hang up a lot of stuff, too, when our trunks come," whispered Fred to Bobby, pointing to the blank spaces over their beds, lettered only with the names: "Blake" and "Martin."
"You can see clear across the lake from the window here," drawled Pee Wee, lolling on a sill.
The chums came to see. Lake Monatook was spread before them—a beautiful, oval sheet of water, with steep, wooded banks in the east, and sloping yellow beaches of sand at the other end.
Where the Rockledge School stood, a steep sandstone cliff dropped right down to a narrow beach, more than fifty feet below. A strong, two-railed fence guarded the brink of this cliff the entire width of the school premises, save where the stairs led down to the boat-house.
In the middle of the lake were several small islands, likewise wooded. The lake was quite ten miles long, and half as wide in its broadest part.
Across from Rockledge School was the village of Belden. On a high bluff over there the new boys saw several red brick buildings among the trees.
"That's Belden School," explained Pee Wee. "We have to beat them at football this fall. We did them up at baseball in the spring. They're a mean set of fellows anyway," added the fat boy. "Once they came across here and stole all our boats. We'll have to get square with them for that, some time."
"Come on," said Fred, who had begun to enjoy pushing the fat boy, now—knowing that he had been set the task of showing them around—and was determined to keep their guide up to the mark. "We don't want to stay here till bedtime, do we?"
"Aw-right," returned Pee Wee, with a groan. "That's my bed next to yours, Blake. Mouser Pryde is chummed on me this year. We call him Mouser because he brought two white mice with him to school when he first came.
"Shiner and Harry Moore have the beds on your other side. Shiner's the chap you saw down stairs—Jimmy Ailshine. He's a good fellow, but awfully lazy," remarked the fat boy, with a sigh.
"What do you call yourself?" demanded Fred, rather impolitely.
"Oh,me? I'm not well—honest. And that stone bruise—"
It was then he began to favor the other foot, and Bobby giggled. Pee Wee looked at him solemnly. "What are you laughing at?" he asked.
Bobby pointed out that the stone bruise seemed to have shifted.
"Aw, well! it hurts so bad I feel it in both feet," returned the fat boy, grinning. "Come on."
They went down to the gymnasium. It was a dandy! Bobby and Fred saw that it was a whole lot better than the one Mr. Priestly had for his Boys' Club in the Church House at home.
Then they inspected the outside courts, the ball field, and the cinder track—which was an oval, on the very verge of the cliff.
They met boys everywhere, and Pee Wee told them the names of some of them, while a few of about their own age stopped to speak to Bobby and Fred.
Jack Jinks and the yellow-haired youth, Bill Bronson, came up to the trio of smaller boys as they stood by the railing that defended the cliff's brink.
"So you're showing the greenies around, are you, Fatty?" proposed Jack. "Shown them the stake where the Old Doctor ties up fresh kids and gives them nine and thirty lashes if they as much as whisper in class?"
"Yes," said Pee Wee, nodding. "And I showed them the straps there whereyouwere tied up last term, Jinksey."
"Aw—smart, aren't you?" snarled the squint-eyed boy, while Bill Bronson grinned.
"This red-headed chap's going to be a favorite—I can see that," said Bill, rolling the cap on Fred's head with one hand, but pressing hard enough to hurt.
"Let go of me!" cried Fred, hotly, jerking away.
"Don't you get too presumptuous, sonny," advised the yellow-haired youth. "There's lots of chance for you to get into trouble here."
"If I get into trouble withyou," snapped Fred, "it won't all be on one side."
"Keep still, Fred!" said Bobby. "Let's come on away," and he tugged at his chum's sleeve.
"That's a pretty fresh kid, too," said Jack, eyeing Bobby with disfavor.
But the trio of younger boys withdrew. "Those fellows," said Pee Wee, "are always picking on fellows they think they can lick. If you don't toady to them, they'll treat you awfully mean!"
"I won't toady to anybody—not even to that captain," declared Fred.
"What! Barry Gray?" cried Pee Wee, in surprise.
"Yes. I don't like him—much," confessed the belligerent Fred.
"You'll be dreadfully lonesome, then," chuckled the fat boy. "For 'most every fellow in the school likes Barry. He's captain of the baseball team, and center in the football team. He can do anything, Barry can. And the Old Doctor thinks he is about right. He was next choice after Tommy Wardwell last year for the Medal of Honor, and he'll likely get it this year."
"What's the Medal of Honor?" asked Fred, curiously.
Pee Wee grinned. "It's something that no red-headed boy ever won," he declared, mysteriously.
CHAPTER XII
IN THE DORMITORY
By supper time Bobby and Fred knew ten boys to speak to—without counting Jack Jinks, Bill Bronson, and the school captain, Barrymore Gray. The latter they did not see at all again until they beheld him sitting at the doctor's right hand at the head of the "upper table," as they soon learned to call the one around which the head scholars and the assistant master sat with Dr. Raymond. The junior teachers sat at the heads of the other tables and kept order.
Rockledge was divided into the Upper School and the Lower School. Bobby and Fred would of course be in the Lower, but just how they would be placed in classes they would not know until the real business of the school opened on Monday.
The supper was plentiful, but plain. Bobby missed Meena's sweet cakes and hot tea-biscuit, and Fred whispered that there was hayseed in the strawberry jam, so he knew it was not "home made."
Pee Wee sat across the table from them and ate steadily, showing beyond peradventure that his plumpness arose from a very natural cause!
Until eight o'clock the boys were allowed to frolic outside as they wished, no tasks being set them as yet. Bobby noticed that one of the junior teachers was always within sight, while Captain Barry Gray, and some of the older fellows, were grouped on the main steps of the dormitory building, swapping vacation experiences.
Bobby noticed that Barry was always very well dressed—indeed, richly dressed, beside many of the boys—so he made up his mind that the school captain must come from a wealthy home.
Bill Bronson jingled money in his pockets and wore a handsome gold watch and a diamond pin in his tie. Most of the smaller boys, however, were no better dressed than Bobby and Fred.
Taken altogether, the boys who appeared at the supper table were a bright and interesting looking crowd. Bobby was sure he was going to be happy here, and Fred was already on terms of intimacy with half a dozen of the chaps about their own age.
The boys from Clinton chanced to be the only new ones to enter Rockledge this semester. There was usually a long waiting list, but Mr. Martin's influence had gained Bobby the chance to attend with Fred, because the two boys were chums.
Before they left the supper table the doctor arose and walked down the line of smaller tables and shook hands with each boy, called him by name, and welcomed him again to the school.
To some he said a word of warning, but all in a cheerful way that took the sting out of the admonition. He evidently knew the failings of each boy, and had studied their characters carefully.
When he came to Bobby and Fred he placed a hand on each boy's shoulder and said, so that all the school could hear:
"Our two new friends. I hope all of you will welcome them kindly. Make them feel at home."
This was before the evening run outside. Bobby and Fred were taken into a noisy game of "relievo," and the great clock in the tower chiming eight was all that brought the fun to a close.
The students filed into the library and general study-room on the first floor of the main building. For an hour every night the boys were allowed to read or play quiet games here. It was a cheerful, bright room, with rugs on the floor, and pretty hangings, and comfortable chairs. Although one of the teachers was always present, there was a feeling of freedom among the boys, and they could talk or read, as they pleased—just so they were not noisy.
When nine struck in the tower, they filed upstairs to bed. There was plenty of time to undress and prepare for bed before the half hour struck. Bobby and Fred found that the older boys in the small rooms were allowed to remain up a half hour longer than those occupying the big dormitories.
Captain Gray came in and advised the small boys to lay their clothing carefully on their chairs as they removed the garments.
"Part of the fire drill, you know," he said, cheerfully. "Coat and vest over the back of the chair. Pants folded nicely and laid across the back, too. Here, Pee Wee! None of that! Shake out your stockings and hang them on the chair-round. Shoes each side of the chair as you take them off—right and left. That's it."
He walked up and down between the rows of beds. He told Bobby and Fred just how to distribute the remainder of their garments so that they would be easily at hand if there came an alarm.
"Of course, there's no danger, and there are plenty of fire escapes and all that," said the big boy, cheerfully. "But the Old Doctor insists upon our being ready for any emergency. Some night you'll be waked up by the fire bell and find drill is called. Want to be ready for it."
Then he glanced again at Fred's chair. "Hi, Ginger!" he said. "Put your boots straight. Your left one's on your right side, and vice versa."
There was a good deal of fun at Fred's expense when Barry had gone. "Hi, Ginger!" resounded from all parts of the room; Fred Martin had won a distinctive nickname on the spot, and he didn't like it much.
"I knew I shouldn't like that big fellow," he confessed to Bobby. "And I'll lick some of these kids yet, if they keep on calling me Ginger."
"No, you won't," declared Bobby. "You know you won't. They all have nicknames, too. Yours is no worse than 'Pee Wee,' or 'Shiner,' or 'Buck,' or 'Skeets.' They'll stick me with one yet."
"But 'Ginger'—"
"Aw, stop your kicking," advised his chum. "It won't get you anywhere."
There was still a buzz of voices as the twenty boys finished getting ready for bed. The door opened and Bill Bronson and Jack Jinks, from their room across the hall, looked in.
"Sleep with an eye open, you kids," Bill ordered, in a shrill whisper. "Something doing by and by."
"Oh, what, Bill?" cried Purdy, near the door.
"Somebody's got to ride the goat," chuckled the squint-eyed boy, looking over his chum's shoulder.
At that several of the others looked at Bobby and Fred, and chuckled. The two Clinton boys did not hear this by-play. Bill and his chum looked over at the newcomers with wide grins.
Just at this moment Bobby was completely ready for bed and he dropped upon his knees before his chair at the head of the bed and proceeded to say his prayers as he always did at home. Fred, after a moment's hesitation, followed suit.
Instantly a hush fell upon the room. The boys who had been gabbling together stopped because they saw the facial expression of those boys grouped at the doorway. Everybody turned to look at the corner occupied by the chums from Clinton.
The silence was but for a moment. Then Bill laughed and took one long stride to the nearest bed. He snatched up a pillow and sent it with unerring aim and considerable force at the back of Bobby's head.
The pillow reached its mark, and Bobby jumped. But he did not rise until his prayer was completed. A second pillow came his way, while Jack and some of the other spectators laughed immoderately.
Fred Martin jumped up with an angry exclamation. Perhaps he did not finish his prayer at all. He grabbed one of the pillows which had struck his chum and made for Bill Bronson at the other end of the room.
"You big bully!" he exclaimed, all the rage which he had bottled up that day boiling over in an instant, "You big bully! Can't you leave a peaceable fellow alone?"
He slammed the yellow-haired youth over the head, and struck him so hard that the pillow-case burst and the feathers began to fly. Bill uttered a roar of rage, and tried to seize him.
"Don't, Fred! Stop! Stop!" called Bobby, from the other end of the room.
Fred Martin had gone too far to stop now. He expected to take a thrashing for his boldness, but meanwhile he was filling Bronson's eyes and mouth with feathers.
Jack Jinks put out his foot and tripped the smaller boy up. Fred fell with Bill on top of him. The bigger boy began to use his fists.
"No fair! Let him up, Bill!" cried two or three.
"Shut up!" ordered Jack, putting his back against the closed door. "You kids that holler will get all that's coming to you."
Bobby came running up the room to help his chum, and at just that instant the door knob was turned and the door was burst in, sending Jack sliding half way across the room.
"Cheese it!" squealed Pee Wee, jumping into bed with his trousers on.
But it was only Barry Gray who appeared.
"Hello! Can't keep quiet the first night, eh?" demanded the captain. "What you doing in here, Jack?"
Then he saw Bill Bronson on top of the struggling Fred. Bill had got in one savage punch and there was blood flowing from Fred's nose upon the burst pillow.
Captain Gray seized Bill by the back of his collar and with both hands jerked him to his feet. Bill squealed like a rat, thinking the Old Doctor himself had come to Fred's rescue.
"Ow! Ow! Ouch!" he squealed. "Aw—you! Let me alone, Barry Gray. This isn't any of your business."
"All right. I'll pass it up to the teachers if you say so," snapped the captain.
"Aw—well—"
"Hold on!" commanded Barry, stepping in front of Jack who was sneaking out of the room "You'rein this, too."
"No, I'm not," said Jack.
"You were holding the door," said Barry. "Stop here till we hear what's the trouble."
Half a dozen shrill voices tried to tell him at once. But Barry pointed at Fred. "Youtell," he said.
"I hit him with the pillow," growled Fred, ungraciously enough.
Barry glanced down the room toward Fred's bed. "It isn't your pillow," he said. "Did he shuck the pillow at you first?"
"No," said Fred, determined not to "snitch."
But Howell Purdy didn't feel that way about it. He said to the captain:
"Bill Bronson began it. He fired a couple of pillows at Bobby Blake when Bobby was saying his prayers. Then Fred went for him."
Barry looked from Fred's flushed and bloody face to Bobby's pale one. He said nothing for a moment to either of them, but turned on Bill Bronson.
"You know the rules. You had no business in this dormitory—neither you nor Jack."
"I suppose you'll tell on us," snarled Bill. "Of course! I knew what a tattle-tale you'd be just as soon as the Old Doc appointed you captain last June. He did it so that he'd be sure to have somebody to run to him with every little thing."
"Maybe," returned Barry, flushing. "But he doesn't call it a little thing for two boys to fight in a dormitory."
"Yah!" snarled Bill.
"Give me a fair chance and I'll fight him anywhere!" declared the belligerent Fred, sopping the blood with a handkerchief that Bobby had brought him.
"You are one plucky kid," said Barry, quickly. "But if there has got to be a fight, it must be between two fellows more evenly matched. I leave it to the room: Is a fight fair between Bronson and Martin!"
"No!" cried the boys in chorus.
"But Bill Bronson started the fight, so he ought to be accommodated," Captain Gray said. "Isn't that right?"
Some of the boys giggled. Fred muttered: "Let me fight him. I'm not afraid."
"If Bill doesn't want me to go to the Doctor with this, he'll have to abide by my decision, won't he?" proceeded Barry, his eyes twinkling.
"Sure!" cried the crowd, led by Pee Wee, now delighted by what they saw was coming.
"Aw, you're too fresh," grumbled the bully.
"That's not the question," said Barry. "Do you agree?"
"To what?"
"To have me set the punishment for this infraction of the rules, instead of putting it up to the Old Doctor?"
"Well!"
"You, too, Jack?" demanded Barry of the squinting fellow.
"Yes," muttered the latter.
"All right. Then I announce that as Bill wants to fight, he shall be accommodated. Jack is a good match for him. Isn't that so, boys?"
There was a storm of giggling. The two bullies looked at each other and grinned. The idea of them fighting each other was preposterous—or, so it seemed.
"And for fear," said the captain, his eyes twinkling, "that they won't play fair, if they are matched in a regular fight, we'll make it a 'poguey fight' to-morrow morning at nine—in the gym. Now, you two fellows run to your rooms—and show up at nine in the gym, or I'll come after you."
He drove the bullies out of the room before him, and then went himself. There was a subdued whispering and giggling all over the dormitory.
"What's a 'poguey fight'?" demanded Bobby, of Pee Wee, in some alarm.
The fat boy was rocking himself to and fro on the bed in huge delight, and could scarcely answer for laughing.
"You wait and see," he finally chuckled, "It's more fun than the Kilkenny cats!"
CHAPTER XIII
THE POGUEY FIGHT
Fred staunched his bleeding nose at the basin in the corner, and then exchanged pillows with Howell Purdy. Fred slept on the burst one.
"I'll get into trouble anyway over this," Fred growled in Bobby's ear. "I wish I could have hit that mean bully just once with something hard."
Bobby hadn't the heart to scold. Fred had attacked a much bigger boy than himself just because that bully had flung a pillow at Fred's chum. That was the impulsive way of Fred Martin. Bobby knew that his chum was going to have a hard row to hoe here at Rockledge, unless he learned to control his temper.
Bobby Blake had some difficulty in getting to sleep that night—and that was not usually the case with him. The plan of Bill and Jack to haze the two newcomers to Rockledge had evidently been stopped. The dormitory was not disturbed until morning, save that once in the night Pee Wee had a nightmare and groaned and fought, until the next fellow to him punched him and woke him up.
"Wow!" said the fat boy, "I thought I was up in a balloon and they wanted to put me out instead of dropping sandbags."
"Don't eat so much at supper; then you won't dream such stuff," growled Mouser Pryde, punching his pillow and settling down again.
The rising bell at half past six got everybody but Pee Wee out of bed. Mouser pulled off the bed clothes, but that did not start the fat boy, and finally, when the others were half dressed, Mouser tiptoed over from the basins with a glass of water, and let the drops trickle down, one by one, upon Perry's fat neck.
"Ow! ow! ouch!" bawled Pee Wee. "Something's sprung a leak. Let me up before I drown!"
He struck the floor before he was half awake and landed in his bare feet upon a set of "jacks" that Shiner had conveniently dropped on the rug.
"Ow! what are these things? Wow! I'll bet I can't walk at all now."
"They hurt worse than the stone bruise, eh?" asked Bobby, grinning.
"These fellows are always playing jokes on me," grumbled Pee Wee. "And I never do a living thing to hurt them."
The fat boywasa tempting subject for a joke, and he probably was the butt more often than anybody else.
While they were dressing, Fred almost got in a fight with Shiner because the latter called him "Ginger." Bobby took his chum aside.
"Now, Fred, that name's bound to stick," he said. "What's the use of getting mad at it? They all like you; no use in making enemies. Take it laughingly."
"That's because of Smartie Gray," grumbled Fred. "Hecalled me 'Ginger' first."
"That isn't as bad as 'Bricktop'," suggested Bobby, smiling. "You ought to be glad it's no worse. I expect they'll find a nickname for me pretty soon, that will be a corker!"
At seven the bell rang again and they all marched down to breakfast. Bill Bronson and Jack Jinks scowled at Bobby and Fred on the stairs, but the captain was near and they did not say a word to the chums.
Before the boys separated, the first master, Mr. Leith, said:
"Young gentlemen: Doctor Raymond will see you all in the hall at eleven. Nobody is to be out of bounds this morning. Be prompt at eleven, remember. You are excused."
Bobby thought Mr. Leith a very grim and serious gentleman indeed.
As the smaller boys scurried out of the hall to the porch, they found a steady stream of boys going down the basement steps to the gymnasium. Howell Purdy and Shiner were set, one on either side of the doorway, where they whispered to those who passed:
"Poguey fight in the gym at nine. Don't forget the poguey fight."
"Whatisthat, Shiner?" asked Bobby.
"You don't want to miss it," grinned Shiner. "You and your chum are at the bottom of it."
"But we're not going to fight," declared Bobby.
"No. But Bill and Jack are. No fear!"
Bobby and Fred did not go down into the basement at once. There was still an hour before the time set by Captain Gray, the evening before, for the mysterious "poguey fight." Nobody whom the chums asked would tell them any particulars.
"I expect I'll get into trouble over bloodying that pillow," said Fred. "What shall I tell them if they ask me?"
"Say your nose bled," returned Bobby. "If they ask youhowit came to bleed, that's another question."
"Well, that's the question I'm afraid of."
"Wouldn't you tell on that Bill Bronson?"
"No. The other boys would say I snitched. I hate him, but I won't snitch on him," declared Fred.
"Maybe nobody will ask you. And Barry Gray will take your side."
"I don't want him to take my side," growled Fred. "He's a big fellow, too, and expects to be toadied to."
"You're making a mistake about him, I think," said Bobby, mildly. He knew it was no use to argue the matter with his chum.
They walked out across the campus to the railing that bordered the edge of the bluff. They were standing there looking across the beautiful lake, and talking, when there was a sudden scrimmage over on one of the tennis courts.
"Hello! a fight!" exclaimed Fred, with lively interest.
"Pshaw!" said Bobby, with some disgust. "You're always looking for a fight!"
"I'm not either! What do you call that?" denied and demanded Fred in the same breath.
"It's the captain," said Bobby, slowly. "And some of the big fellows—I know! they're dragging Bill Bronson and Jack Jinks away to the gym. There's going to be something doing—"
Just then Pee Wee appeared at the corner of the main building and yodled for the Clinton boys, beckoning them across the campus with excited gestures.
"Come o-o-on!" bawled the fat boy.
Fred grabbed Bobby's hand and started running. The chums were at the gym steps almost as quickly as the big fellows and their captives.
"You let me alone, Barry Gray!" yelled Bill, as he was shoved down the steps. "I'll fix you for this."
"Thanks, Billy Bronson. I can do my own fixing. You agreed to this, and you'll go through with it," Barry said, firmly.
"Ididn't do a thing," Jack was urging.
"Ah! but you're going to," chuckled Barry, who seemed to have answers ready for both objectors.
The bullies were dragged below. The smaller boys followed. Every boy in the school was waiting in the gymnasium, and no teacher—not even the athletic instructor—was present.
Some of the boys had been at work on the bars, or the ladder, or otherwise using the gymnastic paraphernalia. They all gathered around in interest to see what the big boys were going to do with the bullies.
Bill Bronson and his chum kicked and struggled for a time. But there were enough to help Barry, so that their struggles were useless. The bullies' shoes were quickly removed, despite their kicking. Then a sort of harness made of straps was buckled around both boys under their arms. There was a steel ring sewed into the crosspiece of each harness at the back.
Somebody produced eight objects that looked like huge boxing-gloves—only they were made of cotton cloth stuffed with cotton-batting. One of these clumsy things was strapped on each foot, and another on each hand. The victims of the joke were now unable to hurt any of their captors when they struck out at them, and the crowd was greatly amused as well as excited.
"Come on, now!" panted Barry. "Boost them up here. Throw the rope over a couple of rungs of the ladder, Max. That's it."
The rope in question was a strong manilla, about four feet long. At each end was a snap, such as is spliced upon the ends of hitch-ropes.
Two boys lifted each of the embarrassed prisoners, and held them under the ladder. The snaps were fastened in the rings back of their shoulders.
There they hung, kicking and sprawling. At first Barry Gray and Max Bender, one of the other big boys, held the victims.
"Here you are now," said Captain Gray, sternly. "You wanted to fight a fellow much smaller than yourself last night, Bill; and you agreed to take on a fellow nearer your size. Here's Jack willing to accommodate you. Now, go to it, you chaps, and may the best man win!"
He and Max both stepped back, dragging their prisoners with them, and then they let the two helpless ones swing together.
Their heads bumped. Bill let out a roar and tried to kick Max with one of his muffled feet. In doing so his other foot caught Jack above the knee.
"Look out what you're doing—you chump!" exclaimed Jack. "Keep still, can't you?"
"Keep still yourself," growled Bill, as his gyrating friend collided with him again with some force. He tried to push Jack away. At once the latter put out his mittened hand and punched Bill between the eyes.
"Look out what you're doing!" yelled Bill, striking madly at his opponent.
In a moment they were at it! The poguey fight was on. The two erstwhile chums swung over the rungs of the horizontally laid ladder, like the famous Kilkenny cats, punched and kicked and batted at each other in a most ridiculous manner.
They couldn't hurt each other very much, save when they bumped heads, and that was not often. But they grew madder every moment.
The spectators were delighted, and the harder the combatants tried to strike each other, the more ridiculous the whole thing appeared.
Why it was called "poguey" nobody seemed to know, but Bobby discovered that it had long been practiced at Rockledge School, and that usually the two victims accepted the situation philosophically and did not really get mad.
The two bullies, however, had never learned to control their tempers. Besides, both considered that the other was somewhat to blame for their predicament.
The battle continued, fast and furious. Bill Bronson's face was blazing. Jack Jinks' was very ugly indeed to look at. If they could have torn the gloves off their hands they would have done so and struck each other with their bare fists.
Suddenly Jack drew up his knee as they swung together, and he caught Bill right in the belt. It was a solid blow and the victim uttered a cry of anger and pain. Captain Gray stepped forward and stopped the two from swinging together again.
"Foul blow," he said, decidedly. "You know the penalty well enough, Jack. When you're let down, Bill's got the right to punch you with his bare fist—if he likes."
"And if he does, I'll hand him all he's looking for," declared the squint-eyed youth, glaring at the boy who had been his chief friend.
"Do it, and you'll get what's coming to you!" threatened Bill, just as angrily.
Barry winked at Max Bender. "Let's take them down. I guess they won't be half so thick hereafter—and then maybe some of the little fellows will have a better time."
CHAPTER XIV
THE HONOR MEDAL
Bill Bronson and Jack Jinks were released from their harnesses, and the "pillows" were taken off their feet and hands, they went to opposite ends of the gymnasium and had nothing to say to each other.
Barry did not mention the foul blow and its punishment, and none of the smaller boys dared speak of it. It was certain, however, that the intimacy of the only two boys in the school inclined to bully the smaller ones had taken a decided set back.
The fun of the "poguey fight" was not to end so quickly, however. Some of the bigger boys caught Pee Wee and Mouser Pryde, and fastened them into the harness and put the mufflers on their feet and hands.
The fat boy and his chum made no decided remonstrance, and when they were swung up, they made an earnest endeavor to give the fellows all the fun they were looking for. Their gyrations certainly were amusing, and Bobby and Fred laughed as loudly as any of the other boys.
But when the fat boy and Mouser were let down, and Max and Barry grabbed the chums from Clinton, for a moment, Fred was inclined to cut up rough.
"Aw, be a sport, Fred!" said Bobby, earnestly. "If Pee Wee can stand it,wecan."
So Fred thought better of "getting mad" and for a while the two friends swung in the air and punched and kicked at each other to the delight of the other boys. Bobby was very careful not to anger the red-haired lad, and they came through the poguey fight with smiling faces. It was borne in upon Bobby's mind more and more that Fred Martin was going to have difficulty in keeping out of trouble in this new environment.
At eleven o'clock the whole school filed up to the hall on the second floor. None of the teachers were present and there was some little confusion and noise at first.
Barry stepped forward and held up a hand for silence. "You fellows better take a tumble to yourselves," he said calmly. "You want to show the Doctor that you don't have to be watched all the time. You all know—at least, all of you but Bobby Blake and Fred Martin, and they are not making the noise—thatthisisn't the place for skylarking.
"We had our fun downstairs. I hear the Doctor coming now. Let's give him a Rockledge cheer when he comes in and then—silence!"
The door opened as he ceased speaking and the tall, heavy-set principal with his quiet smile and pleasant eyes peering through the thick lenses of his glasses, appeared.
Captain Gray raised his hand again. The roomful of boys sprang to their feet. Bobby noted that many of them placed their left hands upon the little blue and white enameled button that they wore on the lapels of their coats, as they shouted in unison:
"One, two, three—boom!Boom—Z-z-z—ah!Rockledge! Rockledge!Sword and star!Who's on top?We sure are—Rock-ledge!"
"One, two, three—boom!Boom—Z-z-z—ah!Rockledge! Rockledge!Sword and star!Who's on top?We sure are—Rock-ledge!"
"One, two, three—boom!
Boom—Z-z-z—ah!
Rockledge! Rockledge!
Sword and star!
Who's on top?
We sure are—
Rock-ledge!"
Bobby and Fred had both noticed the blue and white buttons with the star and sword upon them, but they did not know what they meant. Now Bobby guessed that there was some society, or inner circle at Rockledge School that they, as newcomers, knew nothing about.
All the boys did not belong to it. Pee Wee did not wear a button, nor did many of the fellows from their dormitory. Bill Bronson and Jack Jinks did not possess the badge, either.
Meanwhile, Doctor Raymond, smiling and bowing, approached the rostrum. Bobby—his mind always on the alert—noted the little blue and white spot against the dead black of the doctor's coat.
"Well, boys! I am extremely obliged to you, I am sure," said the Doctor, bowing again. "I am just as sensitive to compliments as the next person. I hope you will always be as glad to see me as you appear to be at this moment.
"Now, I shall not detain you for long. You know my little lectures have usually the saving grace of brevity. We have come together once more to face a year of study. Let us face it like real men! Star and sword, my boys! The star we are aiming for, and the Sword of Determination will hew our way to the goal.
"There! I will give you no homilies. There are but two new boys with us this year—Robert Blake and Frederick Martin. Give them a warm welcome. They only do not understand about our Medal of Honor."
He suddenly opened his large hand and displayed in its palm a five-pointed gold star, at least two inches across, and with a beautiful blue-velvet background.
"Here it is—all ready for the engraving. At the close of the school year, this medal will be presented to the one among you who has won it by studiousness, good conduct, manliness and general popularity.
"It is not always the boy who sets out to win the medal who reallydoeswin it. You, who are older, knowthat. We teachers try not to influence the opinion of the school in the choice of the recipient of the Honor Medal.
"The winner must stand well in his classes, or he cannot have the faculty vote. His deportment must be good, or we teachers cannot vote for him. But you boys yourselves must—after all—choose the winner.
"There are fifty of you in Rockledge School. You have each, individually, a better chance to understand your neighbors' characters than anybody else. You are quick to find out if there is somethingfinein a lad's temper. You will soon learn the one who restrains himself under provocation, who bears insult, perhaps, with confidence in his own uprightness; who keeps straight on his way without turning aside because of any temptation.
"Thatis the sort of a lad who will win this Medal of Honor," concluded the Doctor, very seriously. "Any boy—even the youngest—may secure it. It does not have to go to the boy at the top of his class, nor to the oldest boy in the school. You little chaps stand just as good a chance for it as Captain Gray," and he rested his hand upon Barry Gray's shoulder for an instant as though there was some secret understanding between him and the captain of the school.
"Now, I have talked enough. School will begin in earnest on Monday. Remember, bounds are as usual. You little fellows, see Barrymore, or some of the masters, if you are not sure of a thing. And remember that my office door is never locked."
He went out quickly at the door behind the platform. Somehow, the boys felt rather serious, and there was no shouting or fooling as they filed out and down the stairs to the open air.
"Say! that was a handsome gold medal he showed us," said Fred, with enthusiasm, to Bobby.
"Wasn't it?" returned his chum, with sparkling eyes.
"I'd like to get that myself," admitted the red-haired one.
"Didn't I tell you, you'd have no chance atthat, Ginger?" chuckled Pee Wee's voice behind them.
"I see it," admitted Fred, without getting angry. "But it would be fine to win it, just the same."
So Bobby thought. He remembered what his mother had said to him on one occasion, and wondered if it were possible forhimto win the gold medal and present it to her when she returned from that far journey which she and his father were soon to take.
"She certainly would be proud of me then," thought Bobby Blake. "I guess she'd think afterthat, it would be safe to leave me alone anywhere—yes, sir! And I certainly would like to own such a medal."
This set his mind to thinking upon the fact that at daybreak the very next morning the ship on which his parents had bought their stateroom would sail from New York. They were already on the train which would bear them to the coast.
After they sailed it would be a long time before he could even expect a picture post-card from them—a month, at least. Andthen, they would be thousands of miles away!
He slipped away from Fred and Pee Wee and went into one of the schoolrooms. There was a big globe there, and he timidly turned this around and around until he found the pink splotch of color which marked Brazil.
There was the gaping mouth of the Amazon, with the big island dividing it, and the river on the south side, against which was the black dot marking the city of Para—where his parents would land.
He thought of all he had ever heard or been taught about the Amazon—"that Mighty River." He knew how the current of the vast stream met the ocean tides and fought with them for supremacy. He knew how the river overflowed its banks in the rainy seasons and covered vast areas of forest and plain.
The trader's station, to which his parents were bound, was a thousand miles up the Amazon, and then five hundred miles more up another river. Why—why, if he fell ill, or anything—
He never realized until this moment just what it would mean to have his mother and father so far away. It had been great fun to come to Rockledge to school. He liked it here. He hoped he would learn, and advance, and win his way with both the boys and the teachers.
But to have a mother and father so many, many miles away—especially to have a mother going away from one just as fast as steam could take her—
Bobby Blake put his arm on the big globe, and laid his face against his jacket-sleeve. His shoulders shook.