Lower middle tried doors and windows and found them impregnable. They were denied even a glimpse of the proceedings inside, for the juniors had carefully draped blankets against the windows. Lower middle held a conference of war and upper middle jeered. Upper middle not only jeered but made remarks calculated to displease the enemy. Lower middle replied in kind and the seniors applauded both sides. And there the matter would have rested until the juniors had finished their meeting and sallied forth had not an ambitious lower middler taken it into his head to try to reach the second story by means of a copper rain-spout. Why that should have annoyed upper middle I don’t know, but upper middle resented the trespass and surged forward. The attack was so unexpected that lower middle gave way and the ambitious climber was pulled, struggling, from his place halfway up the metal pipe. He reached the ranks of his friends no worse for the adventure, but lower middle felt that her rights had been interfered with and the fun commenced. Up and down in front of the gymnasium the battle waged, the two classes fairly even in numbers. For the first few minutes it was a mere matter of pushing and shoving, one throng against the other, lower middle giving way only to close ranks again and force upper middle back. The seniors, laughing and impartially encouraging the belligerents, watched appreciatively. And in the meanwhile, quite forgotten, the juniors proceeded undisturbed with their election. Afterwards lower middle declared that upper middle had started the real trouble, and upper middle stoutly laid the blame on her opponent. At all events, what was to be expected happened and someone, losing his temper for the instant, struck a blow. His adversary accepted the challenge. Others at once adopted the new tactics and cries of “Fight! Fight!” arose from both factions, and those behind surged eagerly forward. At first it was only those in the front ranks who became engaged, but the others soon got into action and presently some ninety-odd youths were hard at it. More than one old score was settled, doubtless, in the ensuing five minutes. The seniors, scattering away from the field of battle, viewed proceedings dubiously. This was more than precedent called for, and if a master happened to put in an appearance there would be trouble for all concerned.