“Just as you choose,” answered Joe, as he rallied his lads to the attack again.
Then the snow ball fight went on, with Professor Rodd an interested onlooker. Joe’s boys finally won, capturing the fort; but the real zest had been taken out of the battle by the unpleasant incident, and the boys no longer fought with jolly good-will.
“Ah, that is what I like to see,” remarked the Latin professor, as the lads, having finished the game, strolled away from the fort which had been sadly battered and disrupted by the attack on it. “Nothing like good, healthy out-door exercise to fit the mind for the classics. I’m sure you will all do better in Latin and Greek for this little diversion.”
“He’s got another think coming as far as I’m concerned,” whispered Teeter to Joe. “I haven’t got a line of my Cæsar.”
“This is certainly what I like to see,” went on the instructor. “No hard feelings, yet I venture to say you all fought well, and hard. It is most delightful.”
“It wouldn’t have been quite so delightful if you’d have come along a few minutes later and seen a real fight,” murmured Peaches. “Would you have stood up to Hiram, Joe?”
“I sure would. I was ready for him, though I don’t want to be unfriendly to any of the fellows here. But I couldn’t stand for what he did. Oh, I’d have fought him all right, even at the risk of a whipping, or of beating him, and having him down on me all the while I’m here.”
“I guess he’s down on you all right as it is,” ventured George Bland. “And it’s too bad, too.”
“Oh, I don’t know as I care particularly,” spoke Joe.
“I thought I heard you say you wanted to play ball when the Spring season opened,” said George.