ay wanted 'em both to come to his room, but they mustn't
come till after their beds were made, for they might stay till it was
too late to make the beds before taps. They both hustled up the beds,
and then skipped over to see Gray. Merriwell was watching, and he
didn't lose more than an hour getting that basket of crawfish into
their room, and stowing the lively little birds in the beds. Oh, my!
won't there be a howl when they yank themselves into bed!"

Sammy Smiles doubled up with suppressed laughter. He was convulsed at
the thought of what would happen when the Dutch boy and the Irish lad
hastily jumped into their beds.

"Merriwell takes the cake," Poke declared, with a chuckle. "He's been
on a regular frolic for the last week, and he can invent more kinds of
fun than any fellow living--besides himself."

"That's right," agreed Sammy. "Frank is a dandy! Things would be
rather dull here this winter if it wasn't for him."

"Well, he'll never let them get dull, and I believe he is the best
fellow that ever lived!"

"Right again," nodded the other lad, with a moment of seriousness.
"Merriwell is the prince of good fellows, and there's not a white man
in the academy who wouldn't fight for him. I know some fellows are
down on him, but that's pure jealousy. They're sore because he has
become so popular. I don't believe he cares much."

"If he wouldn't stick up for Hodge the way he does----"

"That shows his loyalty. I can't see what he finds to admire in Hodge,
though the fellow can fight and play ball. He and Frank do not seem
very well matched for roommates. I don't see how Merriwell can keep
from working jokes on Hodge all the time. Jingoes! but wouldn't I
laugh if he had put some of those crawfish in Hodge's bed!"

This fancy convulsed Sammy again, and, just then, Poke hissed:

"'Sh! Somebody's coming! Skip!"

Both made haste to get into their rooms, and, as Sammy roomed with Ned
Gray, he found Barney Mulloy and Hans Dunnerwust being entertained
there. Ned was telling them stories, and pretending to be greatly
absorbed in their society. As Sammy slipped in, with the inevitable
grin on his face, although he was doing his best to suppress it, Ned
looked up and asked:

"How's the weather outside?"

"It is settled," replied Sammy, with a meaning wink.

"Do you think it will be a cold night?"

"It will be for some folks."

"When the weather is cold down East, they call it nipping."

"Wel