“We can let down the ladder just as soon as we’re ready to turn the trick,” announced Randy. “I don’t believe anybody will notice it, for it will be dark and so cold that most everybody will be indoors.”
“We’ve got to be on our guard to make certain that Codfish or Duke or somebody else doesn’t spot us,” said Spouter Powell. “Of course it wouldn’t hurt if some of the regular fellows found us out, because they’d keep it to themselves.”
It must be confessed that the Rover boys were rather preoccupied in mind during supper that evening. In fact, Andy grew so thoughtless that he salted some eggs he was eating three times, so that when he finally came to his senses the food had to be pushed aside. This happened just as Professor Snopper Duke was passing, and the new teacher eyed the young cadet suspiciously.
“What is the matter with that omelet, Rover?” he demanded, in his high-pitched, nervous tone of voice.
“Nothing the matter with it, sir,” answered Andy. “Only I somehow forgot and salted it too much.”
“Really!” returned Snopper Duke sarcastically. “Is that the way you waste food?”
“No, sir. It was only a mistake,” answered Andy meekly.
“You ought to be made to eat that omelet,” continued the professor severely. “Don’t let such a thing happen again.” And then, with his eyes rolling around among the other cadets to see if anything else might be wrong, he passed slowly down among the tables of the mess hall.
“Oh, isn’t he a perfect little lamb!” murmured Randy. “So awfully tender-hearted!”
“Somebody ought to wring his neck,” grumbled his twin.