“I’m not saying anything,” growled Paxton.
“Don’t you try to let Crabtree in,” came from one cadet. “We are going to let him have a regular freeze-out.”
As Gus Coulter had had trouble with the teacher, he was willing to keep the man out, and so, after some talk, it was decided that nobody should aid in letting the teacher get into the Hall building.
“If anybody tries it, he’ll catch it good and hard,” warned Pepper.
“So say we all of us!” shouted a score of others. “No sneak wanted here!” And some glanced at Mumps in a fashion that made that youth slink out of sight in short order.
Going to an upper window, Pepper, Andy, and Jack looked out, and saw Crabtree and Snuggers stealing softly around the gymnasium. After a look into several of the windows, the two men crouched down behind some bushes.
“This is the best yet!” whispered Pepper. “They think we haven’t arrived yet.”
“Let them wait,” returned Jack. “It will cool them off sure. It is nipping cold to-night.”
CHAPTER XXI
THE BOYS “HOLD THE FORT”
Quarter of an hour passed, and still Josiah Crabtree and Peleg Snuggers remained in the vicinity of the gymnasium, while the boys, from behind the window shades, watched all of their movements.