“It was a ticklish moment,” answered Jack, “but you two boys sized up the situation as quickly as I did and acted just as you should have acted so that as much credit belongs to you as you are ready to give to me. I am glad that all came out so well.”
Harry introduced Arthur and in a short time the new boy was acquainted with all the boys then at the Academy and apparently on good terms with all of them, Dick Percival’s advances toward the newcomer having given the others their cue, so to speak.
More boys came that afternoon and in the early evening, some by train or boat and some in private conveyances, the greater part of those expected to enter upon the new term being on hand that night.
There were nearly a hundred of the Hilltop boys, the majority hailing from New York but many other states were represented, the Academy having a national reputation and being considered one of the best schools for boys to be found anywhere.
It was conducted under military rules and had besides a retired army officer to drill the boys, a corps of competent instructors in many branches, sending its graduates to the leading colleges and universities of the land.
As the boys’ duties would not begin until the next day they were at liberty to do as they pleased that evening and after supper, which was had in the great dining hall, Jack took a stroll with Dick, Harry and one or two others of his new acquaintances.
“Dick told us how you helped him out of a scrape,” said Harry, as they were entering a bit of woods in the rear of the Academy. “He took you for a berry picker. That was funny, wasn’t——”
“But I was one,” said Jack. “I picked all summer, strawberries, raspberries and currants and then peaches and some grapes. I made enough to pay my schooling for——”
“Yes, but you were not one of the regulars,” broke in Harry. “They are nothing but a lot of tramps, I believe.”
“There are tramps that do the work, of course, but the regulars, as you call them are not. They work up from the south and go as far as the western part of the state and into Pennsylvania before the season is over. Many of the boys and girls, too, in our part of the state earn money that way and I don’t see that there is anything——”