When they went out to drill, Dick Percival said to Jack:
“Well, my boy, it seems to me as if you showed just as cool a head last night as you did in the afternoon when you stood in the road and directed the two fellows who were rushing down upon you on their bikes. I would have liked to seen the fun.”
“If they had not talked about it I would not have known anything of it,” replied Jack, “but how did you hear of it?”
“Oh, Billy Manners thought it was too good a joke to keep even if you did soak him with the contents of the water jug,” laughed Dick. “I don’t think he upset it as some of the boys think.”
Jack said nothing and the subject was dropped for the time.
Later, Billy Manners himself came to Jack and said, good-naturedly:
“That was one on us, Sheldon, but I don’t hold it up against you. I would like to know how you suspected us, however. Have you been to other schools where they practised this sort of thing?”
“No, I have never been away to school before but if fellows will talk of their plans they need not be astonished if somebody overhears.”
“True enough!” rejoined Billy, with a chuckle. “I never thought of that. I supposed we were speaking low, however.”
“You spoke in whispers and you can hear a whisper farther than you can hear a low tone.”