"You'd better cut out such talk," warned Tom. "I absorbed the contents of that silly thing half an hour ago. It doesn't faze us in the least."
"It isn't expected to. But what happens this afternoon is."
The general feeling of unrest and excitement so affected the students that work in the class room suffered greatly. Professor Ivins was much disturbed.
"I declare, Professor Hopkins, I don't know what we shall do," he said in the president's office. "Several of the brightest boys in the school failed lamentably to-day. It is deplorable that this thing has taken such a hold upon them. Cannot something be done?"
"If conditions get any worse I shall be compelled to take a hand," asserted Professor Hopkins. "It appears to me that young Brown is actually becoming defiant. That flaring poster out there is one of the boldest things I ever saw."
"It certainly is," said Professor Ivins, solemnly.
As the time for the meeting drew near "Crackers" Brown and his assistants got into action. Several large boxes, with boards laid across the tops, and designed for use as a table, were placed beneath the big elm, while another box—the speaker's stand—stood only a few feet away.
By the number of students which poured out upon the campus it looked as if the "Indignation Meeting" was destined to be a great success. Occasionally, above the medley of noises, came the blare of ear-disturbing megaphones or blasts from tin horns. Every cheer for Brown was answered with a yell for Somers. The fighting spirit of the students was aroused, and, in spite of "Crackers'" request, the boys did not refrain from unpleasant observations. Only the leader of the "outlaws" and Benny Wilkins wore their usual expressions.
"Are you going to speak for the Ramblers, Mercer?" asked the latter, as he approached the manager of the team.
"I should say not!"