foot of the stairs.

The cats struck one on either side of Professor Gunn's neck, and, as
their tails were tied together, they hung there, but not quietly.

With wild howls of agony, they began clawing each other, incidentally,
by way of diversion, socking their claws into the professor's face now
and then, and ripping up a few furrows in that gentleman's countenance.

Professor Gunn howled louder than the cats, and tried to fling them
off; but they clung to him as if they loved him, and continued to
shower marks of affection upon him.

"Great Scott!" gasped Ned Gray. "If it is ever found out that you were
at the bottom of this, Merriwell, you will be expelled sure!"

"Then I shall perish in a good cause," laughed Frank. "Fun is better
than medicine, and we were beginning to stagnate."

"Help!" cried Professor Gunn, in tones of deep anguish. "Take these
beasts away! They are devouring me!"

"Meow! me-e-eow! S'pt! s'pt! Me-e-e-e-ow!" howled the cats, as they
continued to scratch the professor's face till it began to look like
the colored map of a country that had been disturbed by a violent
earthquake.

Somehow Hot Scotch had gotten into a wrangle with High Jinks, whom he
was holding down and punching vigorously.

"Hit me in the ribs, will ye! Pound me in the eye, will ye? Tackle me
when down, will ye? Well, I've got a score against you, and I'll
settle it now!"

"Take him off!" squealed Jenks, thrashing about with his long legs.
"Save me! save me!"

Having untangled themselves from the mass and become freed of the
crawfish in the struggle, Hans and Barney sat on the floor and stared
in astonishment at the spectacle. The sight was too much for the
risibilities of the Irish boy, and he forgot that he had been severely
bitten by "centipades."

"Begorra! Dutchy, this is a roight loively avening, Oi do belave," he
chuckled. "Will yez look at this fer a racket, Oi dunno! Hurro! Sail
in, b'ys!"

"Vell, I don't efer seen der peat uf dot!" gasped Hans, his eyes
bulging. "Uf dot don't peen a recular fight, I vos an oysder!"

"Now, boys, it's time to take a hand," said Frank Merriwell. "Be
lively! Gather up the crawfish, and throw 'em out of the windows.
Work quick! Here, Windsor, dispose of this bag!"

His words put the cadets in motion. Down the stairs he ran, and
quickly gathered up every crawfish he could find, while others followed
his example. Then, leaving the boys to take care of the