Jack and the others had expected an open row with the bully and his cohorts, but it did not come. As a matter of fact the crowd that had been stung were so ashamed of their appearance that they did all they could to keep out of sight. When it was off-time they got two boats and rowed down the lake, to a refreshment resort at which they stopped whenever they got the chance.
“I’ll get square, you mark my words,” cried Reff Ritter, savagely, as all were waiting for ice-cream to be served.
“I don’t understand how they got the hornets’ nest,” said Paxton.
“They made some kind of an exchange,” said Coulter. “And we got it in the neck!” he added, coarsely.
“Yes, and in the face and on our hands too,” added another cadet, who had a swollen forehead.
The cadets were about to leave the refreshment place when they saw a carriage approaching on the road which skirted the lake shore. The carriage contained Mr. and Mrs. Ford and their two daughters.
“Come on, we don’t want to meet those folks,” said Ritter.
“I am not afraid of them,” said Paxton. “I’ll get out when I feel like it.”
Some were for going and some were for staying, and the upshot of the matter was that Paxton and two others remained. Ritter, Coulter and the rest rowed off down the lake.
When the Paxton crowd came back they were met by the others. Paxton was excited and looked at Ritter and Coulter knowingly.