Page:Baseball Joe on the School Nine.djvu/158

146 instantly he felt cold water spurting up around his ankles, and he sought to draw back. He did not want to fall Into a deep tank, with his arms bound.

"Go on! Go on in!" was the command and he felt himself being shoved from behind. There was no help for it, but to his relief he found, as he advanced, that the water did not come higher than his knees.

"Great Scott! What are we up against?" asked Tom.

"Search me," responded Joe.

"Silence! Blindfold 'em!" came a command, and before they could have prevented it, had they been able, Joe's and Tom's eyes were covered with big handkerchiefs.

"Keep on!" was the order again, and the candidates did, soon stepping out of the water upon the solid floor.

"Tie their feet," was the next order, and this was done. "Now, candidates," spoke the leader, "you have crossed the river of blood and the first part of your journey is over. But, to be good and loyal members of the Mystic and Sacred Order of Choo-Choo, it is necessary that you make a noise like a locomotive. Go ahead now, puff!"

For a moment Joe and Tom hesitated and then, absurd as it was, they entered into the spirit of