It did not take long, in the barn, and with the light of several lanterns which Tom had hidden, to make the effigy of Professor Skeel. It did not look much like him, but the hat added the necessary identification.
None of the school employees was about the stable, and the boys had easy sailing.
“Now to string it up, and set fire to it!” cried Tom.
“How you going to burn it when it’s up in the air?” asked Bert.
“I’ll make a sort of fuse of twisted straw that will hang down, and I can touch that off from the ground,” was the answer.
With their mates crowding around them, Tom and his chums brought out the effigy. A rope had been provided by our hero, who seemed to think of everything, and soon it was attached to the flag halyards and the image was mounting the pole through the blinding storm and darkness.
“Here we go!” cried Tom, as, with some difficulty he struck a match and set the straw fuse ablaze. “Now for the yell!”
It was given with a will as the fire slowly enveloped the effigy, and, in response, there was a rush from the dormitories of the various classes, for it was not late yet.
“Three hisses for Professor Skeel!” called someone, and it sounded as if a den of snakes had been loosed.
Brighter and brighter grew the flames. The effigy was shown in bold relief. All the college seemed pouring out, heedless of the storm.