Then one of the others interrupted in a loud tone, "Take off your hat, Freshman."
It was the same high voice that had broken in upon him at the first. Its owner was the shortest of the lot, but he smoked the longest pipe.
"Take off your hat," he commanded, "and don't look so sober. We aren't going to hurt you."
They were all looking at him. The Freshman felt himself blushing; he smiled and tried to look good-natured.
"I wouldn't smile if I were you," put in one of the others; "your teeth aren't even."
The others laughed at this, but the small Sophomore said, "Come, wipe away that smile and take off your hat, I tell you."
The Freshman stopped smiling and looked up across the campus instead. Two men were entering an old brown building, busily talking, their arms about each other's shoulders; they seemed very happy. He shifted from one foot to the other.
"See here, Freshman," cried the little Sophomore, in an amazed tone, "didn't you hear me tell you to take off your hat?" He had a large, sneering mouth, and he constantly tried to say sarcastic things. He held his chin elevated, as if to make himself a little taller, and the big Freshman, looking down at him, thought how he would like to pick him up and spank him. The Freshman had no intention of taking off his hat.
Perhaps the Sophomore knew what he was thinking; at any rate, he stepped up close to him, and shaking a finger under his face, he snarled out, "You big, green Freshman from Squeedunk, you're the freshest one I've seen yet. We'll give you just five seconds to take off that ugly hat, and if you don't——"
"Look out—look out! there comes Matt," in a quick, scared voice, one of the others interrupted.