“I say, Ross,” he exclaimed, with a great show of annoyance, “I have been looking all over for you. Our train is an hour behind time, and——”
“How do you know?” demanded Ross.
“Telegraph,” answered Lester.
“Now that’s very provoking,” said Ross, who believed every word of it. “I wish we were in the city now, for I shall not draw an easy breath as long as we stay here. A word from the operator in Hamilton would make dough of our cake in a little less than no time.”
“That’s so,” assented Lester. “I feel as uneasy as you do—more so, in fact, because—er——”
“Because what?” said Ross.
“No matter,” replied Lester, with an air which said that he could tell something surprising if he wanted to. “But if the superintendent should send an orderly after me with instructions to report at the academy without a moment’s delay, it would not astonish me in the least. But if he does, I don’t mean that the orderly shall find me. Let’s go out to the Big Tree, get a good country dinner, and inquire about the trout-fishing.”
The Big Tree was the name of a little tavern that was located in the country, about five miles beyond the village limits. It was a favorite place of resort for the students who were fond of angling, and a visit to the ponds and streams in its immediate vicinity was sure to result in a full creel. The landlord was famous for his pies, but when it came to pancakes, the boys all agreed that he could not begin to compete with Cony Ryan. The Big Tree was so far away that it was some trouble to reach it, and so the students were accustomed to go in parties large enough to fill a two-horse carriage, which they paid for by “pooling” their small supply of pocket-money.
“I am in favor of that,” said Ross, readily. “The boys drew on me pretty heavily this morning, but I think I have enough left to pay my share toward a livery rig.”
“I haven’t,” said Lester; “that is if you and I go alone. Let’s get two more good fellows to go with us. It will make the expense lighter. Here come Smith and Wheeler. They’ve got some collaterals; let’s ask them.”