“Excuse me a moment,” said Blake. “Was Endicott one of the boys who waited on you and told you we should not want the hall?”
“Endicott! No. Is he mixed up in it?”
Blake replied that he was, and with another slight apology for the interruption went on to tell how Sam had met them at the depot that morning, carried them out into the country to consult with Mr. Taylor, who was so ill that he could not appear at the hall that evening, and left them in the woods, eight miles from the city. It was while they were trying to find their way out that they got their boots muddy and their coats covered with burrs.
As Mr. Colson listened, the muscles of his face gradually relaxed, and when Blake wound up the story of his adventures, he threw back his head, pounded his knees with his clenched hands and laughed so loudly and heartily that the boys were obliged to laugh, too, angry as they were.
“No, I didn’t see Endicott,” said Mr. Colson, as soon as he could speak. “If I had, I should have suspected something at once; for I know him, and I happen to know, too, that he doesn’t graduate this year. He was sharp enough to keep out of my sight, and to send two boys I never saw before. Those same boys came around this morning and got the flags, which I had fastened up over the musicians’ stand, and when that crowd of ‘pirates,’ as you call them, came in on the lightning express, they marched through the streets, with the band playing and colors flying——”
“Has the band gone to Bordentown, too?” cried Forester.
“Certainly. Everything was done up as slick as you please. Just before they left the city, their advance guard, or whatever you call those fellows who did the business for them, dropped about a bushel of notes into the post-office, all addressed to your guests, no doubt, stating that the time and place for holding the banquet had been changed.”
“Whoop!” yelled Forester, who being utterly unable to sit still and listen to this cold-blooded description of the way in which his class had been outwitted, jumped to his feet and stamped about the office, shaking his fists in the air, and acting altogether as if he had suddenly taken leave of his senses.
“Now the best thing you can do,” continued Mr. Colson, “is to telegraph your boys to stay in Bridgeport. They will only make themselves a laughing-stock if they come here.”
“I wouldn’t do that for any money,” exclaimed Blake, earnestly.