They were now about half-way up the flight of steps, and, forming themselves into a solid body, as though about to stop a rush in a football game, they braced themselves to catch fat Johnnie.
With a bump and a bounce he landed against them, and in another moment Frank had set the little fellow on his feet again.
"There you are, Johnnie!" said Frank, while Sammy and Bob brushed the dust from his clothes. "You aren't hurt; are you?"
Johnnie gasped once or twice, opened his mouth as though to howl, and then, thinking better of it, closed his lips again.
"No, I'm not hurt!" he said bravely.
"He's too fat to get hurt!" laughed Bob. "You're like a rubber ball; aren't you, Johnnie?"
"I—I guess so," answered the little fellow, "but I don't want to bounce down stairs again!"
The three chums laughed at him as he started up the stairs once more, and they kept close behind him, but he did not fall again.
Into their classroom went Bob, Sammy and Frank. Other boys and girls were already there, and more came in. Miss Williams was there to meet them with a smile. She was a very pretty school-teacher, and her pupils loved her.
Soon the final bell rang, and then the children from the different rooms marched into the one, big main hall, or auditorium, where the morning exercises were held. There were many new pupils present this first day of the term.