All the boys in their own dormitory had learned to like them thoroughly,
and among the rest of the boys outside they were general favorites.

There were, to be sure, a few exceptions. And chief among these were the
bully, Andy Shanks, and his toady, Sid Wilton, together with two or
three others who hung about Shanks, because of his money and the "good
times" he could give those who sought his favor.

Andy, in the crowd at the station, had not seen the boys get off the
train and enter the bus. So that he was entirely taken aback, when, on
the following day, he had come face to face with them on the campus.

He stepped back with an ugly sneer.

"So you're here, are you?" he whipped out.

"No," said Fred coolly, "I'm somewhere else."

"None of your lip now!" snarled Shanks, thrusting out his jaw and
putting his pasty face close to Fred's. "I'm not used to taking back
talk from any fellow in this school."

"You'd better get used to it then right away," was the retort, "because
I give it to you straight that you're going to get plenty of it, if you
come fooling around me. And I give you the tip to steer clear of me, if
you don't want to get something besides talk."

The bully was clearly at a loss to know what to do, when he found his
bluff called in such a determined manner. He had been used to having
things largely his own way. His money was accountable for this, in part,
and then, too, he was much larger and stronger than most of the boys in
the school.

He measured Fred with his eye from head to foot, and what he saw did not
serve to increase his confidence. Fred was tall and muscular, and Andy
saw again in his eyes the fighting look that had cowed him in the train.

Still it was hard for him to believe that, when the test came, this
newcomer would not back down as most of the other boys had done.
Besides, quite a crowd of the fellows had come up now, scenting a fight
in prospect, and it would ruin his reputation among them if he retreated
now before them all.

"I've a good mind to give you a thump in the jaw," he growled.

"Don't hesitate on my account," said Fred politely.

The snicker that came from the crowd at this remark maddened Andy.

"I won't," he shouted, and made a move to strike.

Like a flash, Fred shed his coat.

"Come on then," he cried, "and I'll give you the licking that you're
aching for."

There was a delighted stir among the other fellows, as they formed a
ring around the two. Thei