Without delay the midnight visitors unfolded their bags and got ready the excelsior. In a very few minutes—for all worked with nervous haste—[they had packed away nearly every trophy the room contained.] These included three flags, four banners, four silver cups, a gold tankard, a bronze statue of a bowler, a marble statue of an oarsman, a bronze tablet containing the names of the school champions for several years back, two decorated canoe paddles, and several other trophies of more or less importance.
“Moving day! moving day!
Now is the time to get away!”
sang Pepper softly, as he tied up his bag of stuff.
“Hush!” whispered Jack, sternly. “Remember, we are not out of it yet. You can sing when we are on the lake.”
“I’ll be as mum as a mule with the lockjaw,” said Pepper, with a grin.
The trophy room was now totally bare excepting for several small rugs and a table. The rugs Andy began to roll up.
“Might as well finish up the job in first-class style,” said the acrobatic youth.
“Shall we leave a card behind?” asked Dale. “Compliments of Putnam Hall, or something like that?” questioned Stuffer.
“I have something better than a card,” answered Jack. “Just set that little table out in the middle of the floor.” And as some of the others did as requested he took from his pocket two small objects and placed them side by side on the table top. One was a toy cannon about two inches long and the other was a lady’s hatpin with a small American flag attached.