"Keep out of this, you Cotton-Top!" cried the other boys, jumping for Fred. "This is none of your affair."
"Oh, yes, it is," grinned Fred, throwing aside Soda and skillfully dodging the others who charged at him. Then sniffing loudly, he continued: "I say, Buttons, you'd better run and take a bath."
"Bath nothing," retorted Buttons angrily. "It's this cheese."
Even his fellow-conspirators could not keep from laughing at the indignation with which he repelled the charge.
"I'll stand treat for sodas if you'll come down to the store," exclaimed Bronson, deeming the moment opportune to try to make friends with his tormentors. "That is, if we can go without missing classes."
"Sure we can go. There are no classes till afternoon," chorused several.
Laughing and talking, the boys started for the village, when Buttons suddenly cried:
"I say, let's put the cheese in Bart's desk. He's gone home, and it will make him furious."
The suggestion met with hearty approval, and after due consideration, Shorty Simms was selected as the one to hide the limburger.
"We'll all go in," declared Soda, "then if any instructor sees us, he won't be able to tell who did it, as he would if Shorty went alone."