“Good night!” called Harry mockingly.
There was no reply save a growl as Cartwright stumbled away across the meadow toward town.
“Next time, Billy,” called another of his friends, “I advise you to keep your temper.”
Still laughing, the group made its way back to the road and turned toward school. As they went, now and then a group of two or three Towners passed. But they had had their troubles already and the fellows allowed them to go unmolested. But they were forced to listen to many jeering remarks, such as:
“’Rah for the Towners!”
“Great cheering on the steps, fellows!”
“Come again! Always glad to see you! And bring your friends; you’ll need them!”
Ordinarily, the fellows were required to be in the dormitories at nine o’clock and to have their lights out at ten, but on Raid Night the rules were relaxed, and so when they reached the campus, their cheers were answered by a throng in front of Academy, and a jubilation meeting was held there. Every few minutes late comers straggled up with new tales to tell. Almost everyone had some trophy of the chase in the shape of captured garments. The crowd was in a fair way to cheer itself hoarse when Mr. Foote appeared on the scene.
“Fellows, you must stop this now,” he said. “It’s almost eleven o’clock.”
They jeered good-naturedly and then sent up a cheer for him, and presently dispersed to the dormitories, Hansel, and possibly many others, to dream of the evening’s exciting adventures.