y splendid time, in spite of that little mishap,"
declared Ruth, as she bid Jack good-bye.

"We couldn't have had a nicer afternoon," said May. "You can come
around with your box-sled just as often as you please;" and she smiled
mischievously, in a way that set Fred's heart to bounding.

As it was growing late, the boys had scant time in which to bid the
girls good-bye. Soon they were on the way to Colby Hall, and they told
the driver to hurry as much as possible.

"If we're late and Asa Lemm finds it out, he'll certainly punish us in
some way," was Randy's comment.

"Well, we're in luck for once," announced Gif. "I heard old Lemon say
that he was going away right after lunch and wouldn't be back until
to-morrow."

"It seems to me he has been spending quite some time away lately,"
remarked Spouter. "Not but what I'm perfectly willing that he should
absent himself at every possible opportunity. The institution of
learning can very well dispense with the services of such an individual
as Professor Asa Lemm."

"A little long-winded, Spouter, but you hit the nail on the head,"
answered Fred. "Old Lemon could quit for good, and I doubt if any of us
would shed a tear."

Although the cadets were half an hour late, neither Colonel Colby nor
any of the professors who saw them found any fault, and for this they
were thankful.

As soon as he had an opportunity to do so, Jack told his cousins about
what Ruth had said regarding old Barney Stevenson. They listened to his
recital with keen interest.

"He certainly must be a queer stick," was Randy's comment. "Just the
same, I'd like to go to Snowshoe Island and visit him."

"Yes, and try the hunting around that neighborhood," added Fred.
"According to what that Bill Hobson said, Uncle Barney, as they call
him, must be quite a hunter, as well as a lumberman."

"I'd like to have the chance to talk with him," resumed Jack. "From the
way Ruth spoke, I'm quite sure her folks are very much put out over the
way he is acting."

"I'll tell you what!" put in Andy, "we're going to have an extra long
Christmas holiday, and we might get a chance to go over to Snowshoe
Island hunting at that time."

"How do you know the holiday is going to be extra long?" queried Fred.

"I heard Professor Brice saying so. It seems they have got to fix some
part of the heating plant, which is pretty well worn out, and the
furnace man said it would take longer than at first expected. So,
instead of