"By jinks! we'll have to be on our good behavior," observed Tom, after he had read his father's letter. "That's so," responded Sam. "Father means to have us study, or else we must stay here during the spring term." As anticipated, Alexander Pop reached Cedarville Tuesday afternoon. He came first to Putnam Hall, and was warmly received both by the Rover boys and by the others who knew him as an old hand around the Hall. "Glad you have come, Aleck!" cried Tom. "I declare it looks as if you belonged here." "Yes, sah, an' I dun feel like I belong heah, too, Massah Tom," answered the colored man. "Remember the sport we used to have?" put in Sam. "'Deed I does, Massah Sam--an' de tricks youse lads used to play on dis yeah coon," and Aleck smiled broadly. Captain Putnam also came forward to greet Pop. There had been a time when the captain had suspected Pop of stealing, and the colored man had run away in preference to being sent to jail, but now it was known by all that the faithful negro was innocent, and the master, of the Hall was sorry that he had ever accused the man. "Pop, I miss you a good deal," he said kindly. "If ever you are out of work again, come to me and I will let you stay here as long as you please." "T'ank you, Cap'n Putnam, I'll remember dat. But I dun lub de Robers, ain't no use ter talk, an' so long as da wants me to stay by 'em, why dat's whar you will find Aleck Pop, yes, sah!" And he bobbed his head to emphasize his words. "I do not blame you for sticking by them," answered the captain. "For they always stood up for you." Of course some of the boys could not help but have some fun with Pop. Some ran off with his hat, and when they returned it to him it was half full of flour, although he did not know it. "Mustn't do dat, Larry Colby," he said, as he took the hat. "Dis niggah dun cotch cole in his haid widout a hat." And then they clapped the headgear on his head, very carefully. "Only a bit of Larry's sport," said Frank. "Come in, the captain wants to give you some supper before you start out for the Stanhopes' place." Never suspecting that anything was wrong, Aleck Pop entered the kitchen attached to the academy, where Mrs. Green, the matron, had a nice supper spread for him. "How do you do, Aleck," she said pleasantly, as he came in. "How do yo' do, Missus Green," he answered, and took his hat off with such a flourish that part of the flour swept into her face and the balance landed over the supper table. "Oh! oh!" screamed Mrs. Green. "What in the world have you done? I am covered with flour from head to foot!" And then she began to sneeze with great violence. "Deed, missus, I don't--ker--chew!" replied Pop, sneezing. "I didn't--ker--chew--" "But you did--ker--chew!" she answered. "You covered me with--ker--chew! Ker--chew!" "Oh, you--ker--chew!" and then she went off into another prolonged sneeze.