Pursued by cries of "Fish!" the Hardy boys hastened into the schoolroom and sat down at their desks, where they took refuge in study, although the bell had not yet rung.
Chet came in.
"Not in police court this morning?" he asked politely. "I heard you had been arrested for spearing fish last night."
"Just you wait," retorted Frank darkly.
He thrust his hand into his desk for a book and encountered the package. In another moment he would have withdrawn it, but a suspicion of the truth dawned on him. He knew that Chet was a practical joker and, with a chance like this, almost anything might be expected. So, thinking quickly, he left the package where it was and took out a history. By the expression of disappointment on Chet's face he knew his suspicions had been correct.
There were still a few minutes before school opened.
"Get him out of the room," whispered Frank to his brother, as Chet went over to his own desk.
Mystified, Joe obeyed.
"Well," he said to their chum, "we can stand a bit of kidding. Come on out and I'll tell you all about it."
They went out into the hall. Frank took the package from his desk. The odor was enough. If ever a fish smelled fishy, it was that fish. One stride, and he was over at Chet's desk. In a moment the package was nestling among Chet's books and Frank was back at his own desk, working busily.