In spite of lively scenes on the floor below, the noise was kept within a certain range. Neither the freshmen nor the sophomores desired to have their pranks interrupted by the college authorities, which would be sure to be the case if the fun grew too hilarious. The noise seemed to be approaching the room of Sid and Tom. "Here they come," whispered the country youth. Sid nodded and there was a grim smile on his face. An instant later the door was tried. "The beggars have locked it!" some one exclaimed. "Break it in!" another added. "Ask 'em to open first," counseled a third. "We've smashed so many now that we'll have a pretty bill to pay." "Oh, blazes, give it your shoulder, Battersby," exclaimed a loud voice. "Going to open, fresh?" called out a student on the other side of the portal. "Nope!" cried Sid. There was a moment's pause and then some one hurled himself at the door. The bolt held for a few seconds, but on a second rush there was a splintering of wood, the screws pulled out and the portal flew open, giving admittance to a crowd of sophomores. CHAPTER V A SCRUB GAME "Stripped!" exclaimed a tall sophomore with a broken nose. "The beggars have stripped their den!" "I told you some one had been giving us away," added another. "They knew we were coming. Didn't you, fresh?" and he turned to Sid and Tom. "Sure," replied Sid as he looked around the room, which was bare of the articles that usually afforded the second-year men an opportunity for causing annoyance. "Who tipped you off?" asked he of the broken nose. "Yes, tell us," chimed in several others. "We won't do a thing to him but make him sorry." "Oh, we had a dream," put in Tom with a grin. "Ha! Here's a fresh fresh!" exclaimed "Broken-nose." "Well, fellows, let's give 'em a shower bath, anyhow." "Look under the beds," suggested a big sophomore. "Nope; haven't time, Gladdus. Here, some of you hold 'em while the rest of us douse 'em." In an instant Sid and Tom were grasped each by half a dozen hands and pulled to the middle of the room. Then Broken-nose and some others took the two water pitchers and poured the contents over the two freshmen. It was not a pleasant ordeal, but Tom and his chum bore it unflinchingly. It was useless to struggle. "Oh, this is no fun!" exclaimed Gladdus. "They don't fight." "The odds are too heavy," retorted Tom quickly. "I'll take any one of you alone," he added, and he looked as if he meant it. "Let me take him on," pleaded a tall sophomore. "No--none of that," declared Broken-nose, who was addressed as Fenmore. "We've got lots to do yet. I wonder where their good clothes are. They've got on old togs. We'll give 'em a soaking." Tom and Sid were glad that they had hidden their garments in the hall closet. There was a hasty search on the part of the sophomores, but as nothing was disclosed the second-year men prepared to leave. "Come on," ordered Fenmore. "There's no water left in their pitchers, anyhow."