caught and the tongues of fire leaped high, bringing into bold
relief the faces of the lads who joined hands and circled about the
ruddy beacon.

"Hurray!"

"That's the stuff!"

"Let her burn!"

"Say, that's a dandy, all right!"

"Biggest in years!"

"Well, we want to give the boys a good send-off!"

"Look at old Swipes's piano box sizzle!"

The shouting and excitement grew. The fire blazed higher and higher. The
campus was bright with yellow gleams.

"Here's good-bye to old Milton!" chanted Andy.

"That's right! Good-bye to the old school!" echoed Chet, and there was
not much joy in his tones.

"Now, fellows, the old song. 'Milton Forever!'" called Ben, and the
melody burst forth.

Hardly was it finished than the silence that succeeded was broken by the
strident tooting of an auto horn.

"What's that?" cried Andy. "Who's coming here in a car?"

"On the campus, too! It's against the rules!" cried Chet.

"It's some fresh fellow from town trying to butt in," someone called.

"Come on!" yelled Andy. "We'll upset him, fellows! The nerve of him!"

CHAPTER VII

LINK AGAIN

There was a rush of the celebrating seniors toward the place where the
disturbance arose. Then others left the big bonfire to see the fun.

An automobile horn tooted discordantly--defiantly, Andy thought.

"Who has had the nerve to come in here, of all nights--on the one when
we have our fire?" he thought. "It can't be any of the freshmen; they
wouldn't dare."

"What are you going to do?" asked Ben in Andy's ear, as he trotted
beside his chum.

"We'll upset his apple cart--that's the least we'll do, for one thing."

"I should say yes!" chimed in Chet. "Surely!"

They had now reached the spot where, from all appearances, was located
the center of disturbance. A crowd of the freshmen, whose labors in
gathering wood for the fire had now ceased, were gathered around a large
touring car that, in defiance of all rules and customs, had been run to
the very center of the school campus.

"Come down out of that!"

"Get away from here!"

"You fellows have nerve!"

"Puncture their tires!"

These are only a few of the cries and threats hurled at those in the
auto--four young fellows who seemed anxious to make trouble not only for
themselves, but for the school boys, whose celebration they had
interrupted.

The campus was a sort of sacred place. It stood in the midst of the
school buildings and dormitories, and, though