“There!” said Tom, with a long breath of relief, “it’s finished at last. That’s a splendid letter, and it covers all the ground. Now,” he continued, as he folded it up and placed it in an envelope, “the next thing is to get it safely to the post-office.”
“Yes; and that’s the most dangerous part of the undertaking,” said Miller. “That’s a useless rule the colonel made, about putting all letters in the mail-box. Now, Newcombe, mind what you are about, or you’ll be brought up with a round turn. Then look out for the guard-house.”
“Never mind me,” said Tom, as he put a stamp on the envelope. “I’ll fix that all right.”
After the letter had been sealed and addressed, the two conspirators left the dormitory, and Miller walked off toward the ball-ground, while Tom loitered about in the hall. The students whose names were on the “liberty list,” were leaving the academy to visit the village, and, among them were several who had but recently been admitted to the school. Presently a new scholar, who belonged to dormitory H, came out of the principal’s room with a pass in his hand; and Tom, walking carelessly toward him, accosted him with:
“Hallo, Simmonds! Off for the village, I suppose?”
“Yes,” replied the new student. “I am one of the lucky ones this week.”
“You are fortunate, that’s a fact,” said Tom. “But Simmonds,” he continued, as he accompanied the new scholar toward the gate, “will you do a favor for me?”
“I will,” replied the other, readily.
“Then mail this letter for me,” said Tom, producing it.
“Isn’t that against the rules?” asked Simmonds, hesitatingly.