"Miller," said Baker, sternly, standing squarely in front of him, "you are in a very serious situation, and it is necessary for your safety that you should have as good control of yourself as possible. We intend to give you every chance for your life."
"I ain't done nothing!" muttered Miller.
"That will be found out later," was the stern reply; "meantime you're in no condition to defend yourself. We'll give you a bracer so that you may be able to understand what goes on and take part in it the best way you know how."
With this Baker nodded to a senior, who immediately came forward with a glass filled with some kind of liquor.
"Drink this," said Baker.
He held it out to Miller, who took it with a trembling hand.
"You're going to poison me," he stammered.
"In the presence of all these witnesses?" returned Baker, sharply. "Hardly. The stuff will not harm you; if you don't drink it you'll be worse off."
Miller still hesitated. He looked doubtfully at the liquor, smelled of it and then stared helplessly at the faces around him.
Baker raised his hand. At the signal every student seized a club of some kind and got in a circle around Miller, holding the clubs up.