that the boys needed to be placed under strict
discipline and that this was not possible at the school which they had
been attending.

"That school is altogether too fashionable," had been Dick Rover's
comment. "They make regular dudes of the pupils and they think more of
high collars and neckties and patent-leather shoes than they do of
reading, writing and arithmetic. Now, I want Jack to get a good
education and I want him to learn how to behave himself while he is
getting it." And so, after several communications had passed between
the Rovers and Colonel Lawrence Colby, it was settled that the boys
should be enlisted as cadets at Colby Hall.

"Cease firing!" cried Jack, when there came a lull in the pillow fight.
"The first thing you know somebody will come in here and we'll be in
hot water again." The boys were up in Jack's bedroom, and all of their
mothers were downstairs, talking over the question of the wardrobes the
lads were to take along to school.

"All right, Commodore," answered Andy, gaily. "Out of the trenches,
boys; the war is over!"

"Suits me," panted Randy, who was all out of wind from his exertions.
"Melt the cannons into telephones and send messages to the girls that
the soldier boys are coming home," and at this remark there was a short
laugh. Then all the boys proceeded to make themselves comfortable in
various attitudes around the bedroom.

"Say! I'm glad of one thing," remarked Fred; "and that is, we won't be
utter strangers at Colby Hall. Spouter Powell will be there and so will
Gif Garrison."

It may be as well to explain here that Spouter Powell, whose real first
name was Richard, was the son of the Rovers' old friend, John Powell,
commonly called Songbird. Richard Powell did not seem to have much of
his father's ability to write verse, but he did have a great fondness
for making speeches, whence had come his nickname of Spouter.

Gifford Garrison, always called Gif for short, was the son of the
Rovers' old schoolmate, Fred Garrison, after whom Fred Rover had been
named. Gif was a big, strong youth who doted on athletic sports of all
kinds. Both Gif and Spouter had visited the Rover boys on a number of
occasions, and consequently all of the lads were well acquainted.

"Yes, I'll be glad to meet Gif and Spouter," returned Jack. "I like
them both, even though Spouter gets pretty talky sometimes."

Just then there sounded downstairs a postman's whistle, and a minute
later Martha Rover