"Young gentlemen: Doctor Raymond will see you all in the hall at eleven. Nobody is to be out of bounds this morning. Be prompt at eleven, remember. You are excused."
Bobby thought Mr. Leith a very grim and serious gentleman indeed.
As the smaller boys scurried out of the hall to the porch, they found a steady stream of boys going down the basement steps to the gymnasium. Howell Purdy and Shiner were set, one on either side of the doorway, where they whispered to those who passed:
"Poguey fight in the gym at nine. Don't forget the poguey fight."
"What is that, Shiner?" asked Bobby.
"You don't want to miss it," grinned Shiner. "You and your chum are at the bottom of it."
"But we're not going to fight," declared Bobby.
"No. But Bill and Jack are. No fear!"
Bobby and Fred did not go down into the basement at once. There was still an hour before the time set by Captain Gray, the evening before, for the mysterious "poguey fight." Nobody whom the chums asked would tell them any particulars.
"I expect I'll get into trouble over bloodying that pillow," said Fred. "What shall I tell them if they ask me?"