closing up for ten days or two weeks at Christmas, they are
going to shut down for about three weeks."

"Three weeks! That will give us a nice holiday at home and give us a
chance for an outing in the bargain," cried Jack.

Late that evening Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell put in an appearance
and were closeted with Colonel Colby for the best part of half an hour.
What was said by the master of Colby Hall the other cadets did not
learn, but the two new arrivals looked exceedingly meek when they went
up to their former rooms. On the following day they met the Rovers, but
paid no attention whatever to them.

"Maybe they are going to give us the cold shoulder," remarked Fred.

"Well, that won't hurt me," answered Jack.

Several days went by, and the Rover boys applied themselves closely to
their studies, realizing that before long the examinations previous, to
the Christmas holidays would take place. They did very well in their
recitations, and got along nicely with all the professors except Asa
Lemm.

"There is no use of talking--I can't get along with that man!" said Andy
one afternoon. He was almost in despair. "If I hadn't just shut my mouth
hard when old Lemon lectured me, there would have been an explosion, and
I'd have told him just exactly what I think of him--and it wouldn't
have been anything that he would want to hear."

"Gif was telling me that Lemm is getting more and more anxious about
some of that money he lost years ago."

"Maybe he thought he saw a chance of getting it back, and now it is
slipping away from him again, and that is making him more sour than
ever," suggested Randy.

"I don't care what is making him so sour--he needn't take it out of me,"
retorted his twin.

There had been another slight fall of snow, and on Thursday afternoon
the cadets of Colby Hall organized a grand snowball match. A fort was
built on the top of a little hill in the vicinity, and one crowd of
cadets defended this, while the others made an attack. The school flag
was hoisted over the fort, and the battle raged furiously for over an
hour. Major Ralph Mason was in charge of the fort defenders, while the
Rover boys, along with half of the school cadets, composed the attacking
party. The fort was captured only after a terrific bombardment with
snowballs, and it was Jack who had the pleasure of hauling down the
flag.

"Some fight that!" remarked Fred, after the contest was over.

"Almost like a real battle," said