"How did you like my début?" he asked weakly.
"Great, but how in the name of Mike and the rest of the family did you come to get roped in?"
"They noticed my special fitness for the job, I guess," murmured the Codfish, "and they threw me into the ring, and when I got there, what was there left but to take my medicine?"
"Who was it that chucked you over our heads, and why didn't you follow us when we made a break?" demanded Frank.
"O, you ducked off so fast that I lost track of you, and then while I was hunting around for you a bunch of fellows came along and asked me if I were a Freshman."
"And you said no, of course," said Jimmy.
"No, I said yes with the result as you saw it. I was lucky to escape with my life. How that Sophomore came to let me throw him is more than I can understand."
"It was the blue socks that did it," declared Frank. "He simply couldn't withstand them."
"Come on home," said the Codfish, groaning. "I'm a mess."