“That’s looking on the bright side of things all right,” laughed Bobby. “Come along, fellows, and let’s get to bed.”
There was no dissenting voice, and they made their way upstairs to the old familiar dormitory.
This was one of the brightest and most cheerful rooms in the school and not the least of its charm was that it commanded a splendid view of the lake. There was ample space for the twenty beds that the room contained. A locker stood beside each bed for the exclusive use of the occupant, and there was a chair at the head of each bed on which the regulations of the school demanded that clothing should be carefully folded and arranged each night upon retiring.
Most of the boys had already arrived for the beginning of the term, and the room was full of noise and the clatter of tongues. Later on, a little more quiet would be insisted upon, but the regular school course was not in full swing yet and the boys were allowed a little more latitude than usual.
The other occupants of the room clustered instantly about Bobby and his party, who were general favorites. They had already learned almost all there was to be told about the adventures of the day, but they were keenly interested in the exploits of the party during their winter holiday in the Big Woods.
“Shiner”—the nickname that had been bestowed on Jimmy Ailshine—Howell Purdy and “Sparrow” Bangs, had also been on that memorable trip, but as they too had reached school but a little earlier in the day, they had been able to tell only enough of their adventures to whet the appetite for more. The newcomers were pleased at this, as they had feared that all the wind would be taken out of their sails and that the trip would be an old story when they arrived upon the scene.
“Sparrow says that you killed a big bear up in the woods,” said Sam Thompson, one of the younger boys.
“And to hear Sparrow tell it, it must have been a twenty-foot bear at least,” laughed Frank Durrock.
“No,” grinned Fred. “It had only four feet, just like any other bear.”
“Smarty!” Frank shot back at him.