"Did the principal offer the prizes?" asked Life, astonished that it had been done in the absence of the rebels.
"Of course he did; he had opened the subject before you left the schoolroom."
"But I thought he would put it off after one third of the whole school had left."
"He don't do things in that way," added Dory.
"But what are the conditions? Perhaps I am not too late, for I had some ideas about a plan."
"We are not allowed to speak to anyone about the plans," answered Dory. "Every fellow is put on his honor to say nothing to anyone about them."
"Then the eight fellows that object to being dressed like monkeys are to be shut out from the competition!" exclaimed Life indignantly. "That is about as unfair as anything can be."
"You had the same chance that the rest of us had, and you chose to stay in your room rather than hear the terms on which the prizes were to be given."
"We were standing up for a principle."