Caesar! he's got his gun all right enough," said Jack in a low
voice.

"Maybe he'll use it on us when he discovers the trick," returned Fred.

"I'll git my lantern, an' then we kin go after them tramps," announced
Elias Lacy; and in a moment more he reappeared with a smoky lantern and
started for the front door. "Come on, an' show me where them tramps
are," he said, determinedly.

CHAPTER XXV

OFF ON A HUNT

"Say, as soon as we are outdoors let us give him the ha-ha and run
away," whispered Fred to the others.

"Oh, no! Let's have some more fun," pleaded Randy. "Why! the sport has
just begun!"

"That's it!" came from his twin.

"Don't forget we are due at the Hall," remonstrated Jack.

"Now then, show me them tramps!" cried Elias Lacy, as the whole crowd
went outdoors and towards the front gate.

"Oh, protect us! Please protect us!" shrieked Randy, and caught hold of
the old man's coat-tails.

"Don't let the tramps abduct us! I don't want to live with any tramp! I
want to marry a millionaire!" screamed Andy, and began to cling so
close to Elias Lacy that the old man could hardly move forward.

The twins cut up so that the others had all they could do to keep from
laughing. One boy began to snicker, but promptly clapped his hand over
his mouth.

"Don't hang on to me," ordered the old farmer. "I can't use my gun if
you clutch my arm like that," and he tried to shake the twins off.

"Oh, there they are--behind the bushes!" screamed Randy, suddenly,
pointing off to the left.

"Where?" demanded the old man, holding his lantern over his head. "I
don't see nothin'."

"There they are!" screamed Andy. "They've got pistols, too! Oh, save
us! Save us!"

"Drat the pesky rascals! I'll fix 'em!" snarled Elias Lacy, and,
shaking loose the clinging boys, he ran off, lantern in one hand and
shotgun held up to his shoulder with the other.

"Now is our time to skip out!" cried Jack.

"Right you are!" added another of the crowd. And then without waiting
for the rest, this cadet let up a cry: "Sold! Mr. Lacy, you are sold!"

"Sold! With the compliments of the Colby Hall cadets!" cried another.
And then, seeing that the disguise was at an end, the boys began to
shout a variety of things not at all complimentary to the old farmer.

Elias Lacy was thunderstruck by the sudden turn of affairs, and,
wheeling around, he stared in open-mouthed wonder at the retreating
girlish figures.

"What's that?" he shrill