combination, believe me!"

"Oh, you want to be very careful," remarked Codfish, his voice shaking a
little. "The ink will be sure to spoil some things, not to mention the
bad tomatoes."

"Well, we want to spoil something," returned Slugger. "We want to get
Colonel Colby real mad. Maybe then he'll send the Rovers home."

"How soon do you suppose we can play this joke?" questioned Nappy, while
Slugger lit a fresh cigarette.

"Perhaps we can play it very soon. We'll have to watch our chance," was
the answer. Slugger held out his box of cigarettes to Codfish. "Here,
Henry, have another."

"N-n-no, th-thank you," stammered the sneak. "I--I do--don't care to
smoke any more. It--it makes my head dizzy."

"Oh, you'll soon get over that. Come on, be a real man and smoke up!"
urged Slugger; and much against his will poor Codfish lit a second
cigarette, he having dropped the other behind the nail keg.

This talk was followed by an animated discussion between Slugger and
Nappy as to just how the proposed trick might be played. Codfish said
but little. He was growing pale, and at the first chance threw away the
second cigarette.

Of course Fred and Randy had listened to every word that was said.
Ordinarily, the Rovers did not favor playing the part of eavesdroppers,
but just now they thought they were amply justified in listening to
everything that their enemies might have to say.

"They are a fine bunch if ever there was one!" whispered Randy.

"Come on away; I guess we've heard enough," answered his cousin. "The
best thing we can do is to report to Jack and Andy, and then make up our
minds what we are going to do next."

CHAPTER XV

AN ALARM OF FIRE

With great care, so as not to make any noise, the two Rover boys tiptoed
their way back behind the boxes and barrels until they reached the
narrow stairway.

"Come on! But don't make a bit of noise," said Randy quickly, and went
down the stairs as rapidly as possible, with Fred at his heels. Reaching
the lower floor of the gymnasium, they shut the door, and then lost no
time in mixing with the other Rovers and their chums at the far end of
the building.

"Where have you fellows been?" questioned Jack, who had suddenly noticed
their absence.

"I'll tell you later," said Fred.

"Now, don't say a word more about our being away--especially if Slugger
and Nappy and Codfish come this way. Act just as if we had been here
right along."

"I get you, Randy," sai