"I can't sing a word," answered Joel.
"You must. Hullabalooloo decrees it."
"Then Hullabalooloo can come and make me," retorted Joel stubbornly.
"What," asked the mask in a deep, grewsome voice, "what is the penalty for disobedience?"
"Tossed in the blanket," answered the other four in unison.
"You hear, Freshman March?" asked the mask. "Choose."
"I'll sing, I guess," answered Joel, with a grin. But West jumped up.
"Don't you do it, Joel! They can't make you sing! And they can't make me sing; and the first one that comes in reach will get knocked down!"
"Oh, well, I don't mind singing," answered Joel. "That is, I don't mind trying. If they can stand it, I can. What shall I sing?"
"What do you know?"