It was a very lame and sore lot of boys who dragged themselves out of bed when the rising hell rang on the following morning.
“Scubbity-yow!” exclaimed Fred. “I feel as though I’d been in a railroad smash-up.”
“I’m one big ache all over,” groaned Pee Wee.
“One big ache is right,” grinned Mouser. “You couldn’t be a little one if you tried.”
“My joints creak like a wooden doll’s, every time I go to move,” complained Sparrow.
“I bet I’ll go to pieces on the stairs and have to be shoveled up in bits,” prophesied Skeets.
“We’ll each keep a part to remember you by,” laughed Bobby. “Quit your groaning, you fellows, and let’s go down to the table. You’ll feel better when you get filled up.”
The filling up process was carried out with neatness and despatch, and when it was over the boys were inclined to look on life in a more cheerful way.
“We can’t do anything this morning on account of lessons,” remarked Bobby. “But as soon as they’re over this afternoon, let’s make a break for that hill and see what we can find out.”
“And see how Hicksley and his pals act in the classrooms,” suggested Skeets. “That may give us a tip to go by.”