This question was addressed to Sergeants Gordon and Elmer, who just then hurried up, bringing with them pale and anxious faces.
“Oh, fellows!” stammered Bert. “We’re going to have trouble right here at the academy.”
“No!” exclaimed all the boys at once.
“But I say we are,” said Bert; who then went on to tell what had happened to Elmer and himself just a few minutes before. They had been sent to the village on business, and in going and coming they were obliged to pass the railroad depot. They noticed that there were a good many men gathered on the platform and standing around in little groups, all talking in low and earnest tones, but no one paid any attention to them until they came back, and then one of the truck hands, who was dressed in his Sunday clothes, stepped out and confronted them.
“Arrah, me foine gentlemen,” said he, nodding with his head and winking his eyes vigorously, “it’s a swate little rod we have in pickle fur yees, intirely; do yees moind that?”
The boys made no reply. They turned out and tried to go by the man, but he spread out his arms and stopped them both.
“We’ll have thim foine soldier clothes aff the back of yees the day,” said he, with a leer.
“Be good enough to let us pass,” said Bert. “We have no desire to talk to you.”