"In my pocket," pants James.

With trembling fingers Robbins knots the two lengths together, and forces the loop down beneath Percy's shoulders, then over them, grating the skin from James' nose in his endeavor to get the rope between the latter and his captives.

"Pull tight."

Robbins braces his foot on Boyce's shoulder-blade and pulls his best. Then James slips out one arm and completes the job. In a like manner, but with more difficulty, the squirming feet are bound, and James jumps up just as some freshmen, who have noticed the struggle, come running to his assistance,

"Hooray! Look at the Siamese twins!" he shouts, and dances before the two, bound together in tight embrace. They keep silence.

"Robbins, you're a dandy," he exclaims, turning to his assistant, and gripping him hard. Even with the pain in his finger-joints Robbins beams his satisfaction.

Now follow explanations of how it all came to happen. Robbins explains his appearance, James his presence up by the number: "Well, you see, I was down with the rest of you, trying to tie a chap up, when another soph grabs me, and this first one breaks away. Up the hill he scoots, and I saw what he was up to. I managed to shake the other one off, and was up after the first. We had a great old tie-up up there right by the number, and I was just for carrying him down when I saw those two coming, and I had to give him a roll for his health. Hope he's all right."

"Yes, and we've got the whole push tied up down there."

mates.

Percy and Boyce were packed down to join their classIt was in truth a comical sight! Lining the tank, were two layers of sophomores, tied arms and feet. Some were sullen, others were taking it good-naturedly. There was many a scratched nose and cheek among them, and not a few black eyes were beginning to show. Likewise a bloody nose or so was still dripping its gory tribute to King Rush. And their clothes! Pajamas showed where trousers' legs had been wrenched off. Coats were minus sleeves and were ripped up the back. There were going to be some scared mammas if these sophomores did not manage to get into their rooms unobserved. But, for that matter, the freshmen were no better off than the others in the matter of bruises, abrasions and wrecked wearing apparel.

But what mattered that? The day was won! And they danced around their captives like wild Indians, yelling and singing. James was anxious to get home, so after a while he managed to calm his exuberant classmates. Terms of parole were arranged with the sophomore leader, and the number was safe, the glory and pride of the freshman class and the admiration of the charter day visitors.

Shortly after seven James arrived at Mrs. Saunders'. That worthy matron looked at his nose quizzically, but said naught. On arising she had gone out to the porch to see what number was on the hill.

CHAPTER XII

"Drill Ye Tarriers"

"Say, Jim, I've got the heart disease. I'm going to join the signal corpse."

"Cold in the feet, the feet, the feet, hey?"

"Yep, that must be it," admitted Percy, laughing. But, just the same, I got a transfer, and today I drill with a saber."

"I envy you.

Isn't there some way of my getting out

of the rear rank of G?”

But you

"Can't give you any encouragement," replied Percy, holding up his chin. "The ranks are full now. might get a job on the artillery, pulling the cannon. "I'd rather have a job pulling the lieut's leg." "You can't. That's reserved for the commissioned officers or those about to be."

"I have it," exclaimed Percy. "Pull the lieut's leg for a permanent excuse on account of that mashed finger of yours that you got in the game.

your gun properly."

་་

Tell him you can't hold

"I'll try it." James brightened up. bad finger, and examined it critically.

He held out his

"Try to get it so that it'll wiggle like it was out of joint," suggested Percy. "Or you might chew some chalk, so as to get your tongue coated white, and go up to the Doc He'll ask to see your tongue first. Jack Maginnis worked

that fake. Or you might smoke perique all night, and work up a tobacco heart. Anyhow the football push ought to get permanent excuses from drill. Don't we do enough for the college without chasing ourselves around the campus two hours a week for three years? Why do they only give us a measly few weeks during the football season? It ain't right. We ought to get permanent excuse from drill and gym."

"I wouldn't mind gym, but drill somehow won't go down," sighed James. "I'm so hanged awkward. My captain said the lieut was onto me, and wanted to know why I was drilling in the rear rank, half a head taller than the fellow in front. He told the lieut that I took too long steps in the front rank, and had to have a fellow before me.

"I wouldn't like to be the fellow. Bet his heels are raw."

"Say, just look how it's clouding up," broke in George. 'Maybe it'll rain before 11:15."

"Hope springs eternal in the human breast."

"Fond one, didst ever know it to rain on Monday or Wednesday mornings?"

"Can't say that I did, but that's no reason why it

won't."

From which it may be inferred that our three friends were not overjoyed at having to don a blue uniform twice a week, and, shouldering a gun, play tin soldier, tramping up and down the dusty campus. But it had to be done, if one could not find an outlet, such as has just been discussed. Drill earns five units of credits, and these are required for graduation. Nor were the three alone in their disaffection.