came
seriously from Ned's lips. "The strict discipline of the institution
is too much for them, and they keep away."

Barney grinned.

"Thot's all roight, me b'y. Some doay Oi'll tell yez about th' big
shnakes we hiv in Oireland. Oi hivn't toime to-night."

"Und I vill dell you apoud der big Injuns vot dere vos der Rhine on, in
Shermany," said Hans. "Maype you haf heardt uf dose poem enditled 'Big
Injun on der Rhine,' ain'd id?"

"Oh, well, that's all right!" said Ned, with a wave of his hand, as if
he was not quite pleased.

Then he looked at his watch, and exclaimed:

"Great Scott! we've got but one minute left in which to undress and get
into bed before taps!"

He leaped up and began undressing, and, with exclamations of alarm, the
Irish lad and the Dutch boy hustled from the room, losing no time about
getting into their own and undressing.

"Did Merriwell fix it?" asked Ned, of Sammy.

"You bet!" was the reply. "Extinguish the flicker, and wait for the
general war-dance. It will take place in a very few seconds."

So they extinguished the light, and awaited the outburst that must soon
come.

CHAPTER XIV.

LIVELY TIMES.

Barney and Hans dashed into their room, and tore themselves out of
their clothes, which, however, they took care to hang in order on the
pegs placed along the partition that divided one end of the room into
two alcoves.

Long practice enabled them to undress with great swiftness.

By the time taps began to sound they were ready to jump into their beds.

Barney quickly extinguished the light, but Hans lost no time in getting
under the blankets, while the Irish lad made a leap to do so.

Then came a cry of astonishment and fear from Hans.

"Shimminy Gristmas!" exclaimed the Dutch boy. "Vot dot vos I touch me
to, ain'd id?"

"Shut up!" growled Barney. "Bad cess to yez! do yez phwant th' officer
av th' guarrud doon on us! Kape shtill, ur----"

"Wa-ow!" howled Hans, uttering a wild shriek of pain and terror. "I
vos caught in der ped my leg by! Dunder und blitzens! I vos bit mit
der toe on!"

"Begorra! ye hiv gone crazy, ye son av a Dutch chazemaker! Kape shtill
thot howlin', ur----"

Then Barney's tone suddenly changed, and he let out a yell that would
have awakened Rip Van Winkle from his long nap.

"Saints defind me! I'm bitten in siventane different places intoirely!
Wurra! wurra! Musha! musha! Th' bed is full av crawling crathers!"

"Cendibedes!"