By that time Tom had come to the rescue with an armful of dry blankets from an unoccupied bunk. The tin lard can was kicked out of the way, the wet mattress turned over, and the new blankets spread. Hethington tossed over the dry pajamas, and Nelson, his teeth chattering, got into them and looked about him. As far as he could see in the dim light white-robed figures were sitting up in their bunks regarding him with grinning faces. There was something expectant in both faces and attitudes, and Nelson realized that they were awaiting an expression of his feelings. With a glance that encompassed the entire assemblage, he remarked earnestly, but more in sorrow than in anger: “_Well, I hope you choke!_” A shout of laughter rewarded him, while a voice from the nearer dimness remarked audibly: “I told you he’d be all right, Dan!” Nelson examined the bed, but found that it could not be made to stand without the aid of tools. So, thanking Hethington again for his pajamas and eliciting a calm “All right,” and looking about for evidences of further surprises without finding them, he blew out the lantern and descended into his lowly couch. The last thing he saw, as the light went out, was the amused countenance of Mr. Verder across the dormitory. Ten minutes later he was asleep. CHAPTER III SHOWS THAT A MOTOR-DORY CAN GO AS WELL AS STOP When Nelson awoke the early sunshine was dripping through the tender green branches outside the window, the birds were singing merrily, and Tom Ferris was digging him in the ribs. He blinked, yawned, and turned over again, but Tom was not to be denied. “Come on, Tilford, and have a douse,” he whispered. “First bugle’s just blown.” “Wha--” (a magnificent yawn)--“what time is it?” asked Nelson. “Five minutes of seven. Come on down.” “Down? Down where?” inquired Nelson, at last sufficiently awake to hear what Tom was saying. “Down to the lake for a douse. It’s fine.” “Huh! It’s pretty fine here. And the lake must be awfully cold, don’t you think, Ferris?” “It really isn’t, honest to goodness! It’s swell! Come on!”