“Mu-mu-maybe we du-du-du-did,” said Tom warmly. “Bu-bu-but mu-mu-money’s not the only th-th-th-thing. We sh-sh-showed you fu-fu-folks what we cu-cu-could--could do, by gum!” “Cut it out now!” laughed Nelson. “Tommy’s getting excited, and excitement isn’t good for him. Besides, he wants to save his breath for the chase to-morrow. He says he’s going to get home before you and I do, Dan.” Dan and Bob found the idea amusing. “Another case of the hare and the tortoise,” suggested Bob. “You and Dan will have to be careful, and not fall asleep.” “If it keeps on raining we won’t have a chance to do much sleeping, I tell you,” answered Nelson. “The ground will be as soft and slippery as anything!” “Hares don’t mind soft ground,” said Tom. “This hare does,” replied Dan. “So does this one,” Nelson added. “I guess Tommy wants to lose flesh,” said Bob. “There’s nothing like a good hard run to remove superfluous avoirdupois.” “Oh, isn’t he good?” cried Tommy. “Did you hear him say that?” “That’ll do for you, Bob,” said Dan. Bob made an unsuccessful attempt to pull Dan’s stool from under him, and then gave his attention to the workers. “Come now, ‘Babe,’ this isn’t a funeral, you know. You’ll have to tear paper faster than that, or you won’t have enough to trail from here to the dining-hall. Say, Kid Rooke, you’ve got a wrong idea of the game of shovelboard; it isn’t necessary to throw those weights on the floor _every_ time! Besides, you’re making a beastly lot of noise.” “All right, Bobby,” was the disrespectful reply. “Bobby” promptly threw a stick of kindling-wood with admirable precision, and Rooke played badly for some time in consequence of nursing a lame arm. “Say, Bob, why couldn’t we get off on a little trip of our own?” asked Dan. “Don’t you think Clint would let us, seeing we’re not going to be here for the regular one?” “Maybe he might,” answered Bob. “Last year he let six of the big fellows go off on a two days’ canoe trip.” “Just the thing!” said Dan. “We’ll take your canoe and Carter’s--he’ll let us have it, all right--and we four’ll go. What do you say, fellows?” “Great scheme!” said Nelson. “Perfectly swell!” seconded Tom. “Maybe, though, he wouldn’t let Tommy and me go,” objected Bob, “because we’ll be here for the long trip.” “Well, don’t go on the long trip, then,” suggested Nelson. “Come to ‘St. Louis, Louis’ with me.” “By ginger! I’d like to, all right. I’ll see what Clint says. If he makes that objection, I’ll tell him I’m thinking of cutting the long trip out this year; and maybe my folks would let me go to the fair.” “Still, there’s Tommy; what about him?” asked Dan. “What do you think I care about the trip, if you fellows aren’t gu-gu-gu-going?” “Noble youth!” said Bob. “Who’ll ask Clint?” Silence ensued. “Whoever asks him,” said Dan presently, “had better wait until he’s sort of forgotten about that painting affair.”