"L-l-l-lets puncture h-h-h-is t-t-t-t-ti--" sputtered Will Slade. "What's that about his necktie?" asked Sam with a grin. "W-w-w-who s-s-s-said n-n-neck t-t-ti-?" "I thought you were trying to, and I wanted to help you out," replied Sam. "I-I-I-I ni-m-m-meant his autototototo--" "Toot-toot!" sung out Fred. "All aboard! Where does your train stop, Will?" "I know what you mean," put in Jack, coming to Will's relief. "But I don't want to do anything like bursting his auto tires. That's not my way." "We can easily enough find a plan," Sam went on. "Will you join us, Jack?" "You know I'm always ready for anything that's going." "Then I'll try and think up something," Sam concluded. "But we'd better hustle now. Chapel bell will ring in five minutes." CHAPTER V TURNING THE TABLES For several days after this there were review examinations so that all the students at the academy were kept busy, and there was little time for anything but study. At the end of the week Adrian Bagot returned from his period of suspension. He did not seem to have suffered much, and the boys heard him boasting of having ridden nearly a thousand miles in his auto. One evening Sam and some of his chums paid a visit to Jack Ranger. "Got anything on to-night?" asked Sam. "Nothing special, why?" "Well, I'll not tell you the particulars, and then, if anything happens you can truthfully say you never knew a thing about it. But if you want to see something, put on an old pair of slippers, so you can walk through the corridors softly, and follow us." "Some fun?" asked Jack. "Well, we wouldn't go to all this trouble if it was work or study," replied Sam with a grin. "But say nothing, only saw wood and come on." Jack, nothing loath, did as he was told. He got an old pair of felt slippers, and noticed that the others were also wearing similar foot-gear. "First to Professor Socrat's room," whispered Sam when the boys, including Will Slade, Fred Kaler and Bony Balmore were out in the corridor. "He's not going to fight a duel with Professor Garlach, is he?" asked Jack, recalling an occasion when the two teachers nearly did. "Not this time," replied Sam, "but there may be a fight in it." With Sam in the lead the boys went to the room of the French professor. "Now stay back in the shadows," advised the leader. "You can see and listen, but keep quiet." Sam knocked on the door, and, in his most polite tones said: "I was asked, my dear professor, to leave this with you with the compliments of the sender." "Ah, I zank you extremely, sir," said Professor Socrat, bowing low, "I zank ze giver, an' I zank you for ze most polite attention you have bestowed on me." "You are very welcome, I'm sure," murmured Sam, as he hurried away to join his waiting comrades. "I don't see anything funny about that," said Jack. "Wait until he opens it," whispered Sam. A few seconds later the hidden boys heard the door of the French teacher's room open, and saw him come out.