o the end of the term, and the boys were busy
finishing up with the examinations in the various classes and also in
writing the final essays to be handed in. All had worked hard to make a
showing.

"Just think! Only ten days more!" exclaimed Andy, throwing a grammar
across his room at Randy. "Doesn't it make you feel fine?"

"It sure does!" answered his twin, catching the book and sending it back
so quickly that his brother was hit in the stomach. "And that puts me in
mind, Andy. Why not get at Spouter and make him tell us what he's got in
mind about our vacation this summer?"

"Let's do it! Come on! We'll get Fred and Jack and Gif and go and pound
it out of him."

All alive with their scheme, the twins burst in upon the other Rovers
while they were busy writing their essays and broached the subject. The
others agreed, and Fred ran off to get Gif. Then the whole crowd rounded
up Spouter, and grabbing him by the arms fairly forced him along the
corridor and into the Rover boys' sitting room.

"Now, Spouter, you've got to tell us!" declared Randy. "No more
secrets!"

"Oh, gee! Is that it?" was Spouter's reply. "I thought you wanted to
borrow a nickel from me, or something like that," and he smiled feebly.

"Come on now, Spouter! Give it to us straight," demanded Fred.

"No more sawing and fiddling," put in Andy. "We want straight goods.
Where are we going this summer?"

"You're going with me," answered Spouter, with a grin.

"So you've told us about three thousand times. But where are we going?"

"You're going home first."

"Pound him, fellows, pound him! Throw him down and pound him good!" and
thereupon the whole crowd pounced upon the luckless schemer.

"Hold on! Hold on! Let me up!" spluttered Spouter. "Let me up, and I'll
tell you everything!"

"Honest?" demanded Andy. "If you fool us this time we'll drag you to the
bathroom and duck you."

"Cross my heart!" panted Spouter. "Now let me up!"

The others allowed him to arise and then forced him into an easy chair in
the corner and all stood over him menacingly.

"You are going to spend your vacation at a new place which was purchased
by my dad only a few months ago," answered Spouter.

"And what place is that?" came in a chorus from his chums.

"Big Horn Ranch."

CHAPTER XVII

GOOD-BYE TO SCHOOL

"What do you know about that!"

"Big Horn Ranch! That sounds interesting!"

"What sort of a place is it, Spouter?"

"I suppose you must