“It was a mean trick!” declared Ned. “Keeping us in bounds for a week!” he continued.
“Well, a week will soon pass, and we did have a good feed,” returned Bob philosophically.
The idea spread through the college, as such ideas will, that Frank was the informer, and he did not take the trouble to deny it. The three Cresville chums learned more about him than they had known before. For one thing, they found out that Frank was studying zoology under Professor Snodgrass, though the student confided to his friends that he fairly hated the study.
“Then what makes him take it?” asked Jerry.
“Well, it seems his stepfather wanted him to. Frank is very fond of his stepfather, and does everything he asks, even to that. He’s quite a different boy since his mother married again. It was a good thing for Frank.”
“Well, I’m glad he likes somebody, even if it’s a stepfather,” said Ned.
The punishment week passed, though it was the longest our three heroes had ever known, and finally they were restored to liberty.
“And now for a trip on the lake!” exclaimed Ned. “We’ll make the old Neboje hum!”
“Let’s go down to Simpson’s and have a good feed!” proposed Bob. “Thorny can’t molest us there.”
And once again Bob’s chums found no fault with his proposal to eat. The boys hurried down to the boathouse, and soon had their craft out on the sparkling lake, inviting a few of their friends to go with them.