It was Tony Larcom’s whispered exclamation of warning to Ray Wendell, Dick Palmer, and myself. We were hurrying along the narrow country lane that skirted Packer’s woods, and Tony, who was leading, had almost come to grief against the bars which separated us from the broad meadow. The starlight was all we had to guide us, the crescent moon having set two hours before. Vaulting the fence, we turned to the left and pursued our way through the somber shadow of the woods, making a short straight cut to the bank of the river. When within about twenty yards of the water, we came out upon a stretch of clear, open ground. There we stood a moment, straining our eyes to catch a glimpse of the excursion boat Geraldine. Just then the sound of the college clock broke on the still night air. It was on the stroke of eleven.
“We are prompt,” said Ray softly. “Now where is the boat? Try the signal, Tony. I think I see a shadow over there to the right.”
Tony picked up a stone and threw it well out into the river toward a large black body that loomed up in the direction indicated.
Immediately a lantern appeared, and swung to and fro. Then came the sound of oarlocks, and presently a small rowboat approached the shore. We were taken aboard, and in a few moments stood upon the deck of the Geraldine.
Clinton Edwards was already there, having boarded Jerry Bunce’s craft down at the lake. We had scarcely been disposed of when there came another signal—the splash of a stone beside the boat—and the two men who had brought us turned again toward the shore. And now the signals came fast and thick, and the oarsmen were kept busy for the next ten minutes transporting the students to the steamer. As the first batch of them clambered up on deck, I was surprised to see that they all wore masks.
“Why, what is all this disguise for?” I asked of the nearest student.
His stalwart figure and strong voice easily betrayed him. It was Percy Randall.
“I ordered the fellows to have masks. There will be fun later, and we will need them. Better take one,” and he held one toward me.
“No,” I answered sharply, “and moreover, I think——” but I was interrupted by the sudden departure of Randall to another part of the boat.
There was no catching him again at that moment of confusion, and among the rapidly increasing crowd of students similarly disguised. I was uneasy at the spirit in which the enterprise was undertaken. I moved forward to the front of the boat, where I found Ray and Tony seated together, and some distance from any of the others. I joined them immediately.