Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/166

148 "Sure," and then and there a plan was laid to "rough-house" dormitories Nos. 11 and 12. The expression meant to disarrange everything the rooms contained. In some schools this is called "stacking," but at Oak Hall it was "rough-housing" or "jumbling."

The bully of the school had mentioned Saturday as the day for this work, for then it was that each dormitory was inspected by Andrew Dale, the head assistant, to see that all was in proper condition for the Sabbath. The dormitories were cleaned and dusted by the maids, but the pupils themselves had to keep everything in order. A failure to do this caused all in the dormitory to be marked down in their averages.

True to his promise made to Mr. Wadsworth and Professor Potts, Dave was studying hard, and, if he was not at the head of his class, he was close to it. As yet certain features of academy life were strange to him, but he was becoming settled rapidly.

"He's a staver," said Roger to Ben. "He works hard, and plays hard, and he is at one thing or another from morning till night."

"That's the kind I like," answered Ben. "Dave is the best kind of a chum. He'll do whatever he can for you."

"Oh, I like him myself—and I'll never forget what he did for my family."