Sidney had to be satisfied with this, and then the lads returned to the consideration of the case against the three fellows who had hoaxed them.
It was decided after a time that, as punishment, one of the three should tell a story, one should make a speech, and one should sing a song.
Griswold was selected to tell the story, Creighton agreed to make the speech, while Merriwell was to sing a song.
The room was packed full of students, and Browning insisted that the punch should be sent round again before the fun began once more. Not a few of the fellows had taken too much already, but they were not the ones to protest against taking more.
Danny told a story, and it proved to be hilariously funny, as it was all about a “horse” on a student well known to them all.
More punch was absorbed.
Then Creighton mounted upon a chair and made a flowery speech, which was vociferously applauded.
More punch was disposed of by the merry crowd.
The sophomores were reckless in their hilarity. They were out for a racket, and they had it. They seemed to forget the barrier between them and the freshmen. Freshmen and sophs could be seen hanging on each other’s necks and pledging eternal affection over the flowing bowl. Fellows were friendly who would not recognize each other on the morrow. The freshmen were fearless of the older classmen. They addressed them familiarly, talked to them in a familiar manner, joked them and toasted them.
Sidney Gooch seemed trying to drown his grief with punch. Once in a while he would break out about his watch, but everybody else seemed to wish to forget all about that.