"We can't get hold of them," replied Ben, who was not disposed to renew the former discussion.
"Perhaps we can; we know where they are, and all we have to do is to go and take them," added the coxswain, with a smile and a shrug of the shoulders.
"But the fellows have them on," Ben objected.
"That has nothing to do with the right and wrong of the question," continued Dory.
"I think we had better get back our own clothes before we talk of stealing theirs," said Ben. "I am cold now I have come out of the water, and I want my shirt and trousers."
"We are all in the same pickle," laughed Dory, as he glanced at the boats of the Chesterfields.
The collegiate gentlemen seemed to be afraid the Beech Hillers would not know what had become of their garments, and they were flaunting them in the air as a matter of information to their rivals. And they seemed to be enjoying the situation hugely, and the shouts of derision and the roars of laughter came across the waters thick enough to stir up all the bad blood in the veins of the Winooskis.
"We are in a pretty fix," exclaimed Phil Gawner, as he extended his arms as an athlete would exhibit his muscles.
The principal required every student to wear trunks when he bathed, and was very strict in enforcing the rule. When the second class came out of the water, they were certainly in uniform, though it was rather unique in style. It was a cool day, and cooler on the shore than it was in the water. Most of the boys began to shiver as they stood on the beach, and the situation was very uncomfortable as well as very annoying, so far as the proprieties of society were concerned.