Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/199

Rh a game gives a fellow an appetite, eh?" And he began to eat with vigor.

As was to be expected, the high spirits of the students could not be controlled, and many were the tricks played at the table. Shadow Hamilton had some sugar poured down inside his collar, "just to make him sweet," as was declared, and Dave had his fish so well peppered that the first mouthful brought tears to his eyes.

"Phew! but this is hot!" he cried, reaching for a glass of water.

"Dave wants his fish to swim!" cried Roger. "All right, my boy, go ahead."

"Say, who put mustard in my tea?" demanded Ben.

"No extra charge, Basswood!" came from the end of the table. "The proprietor has a mustard farm in Connecticut, so the product costs next to nothing."

"I'll farm you if I get hold of you," cried Ben.

So the fun went on until the meal was about finished, when Buster Beggs and Dave slipped out of the dining room.

"Where did you see the turtle?" asked Dave, in a whisper.

"In a storeroom, this way," answered Buster, in an equally low voice. "He was in a big crate."

The two boys hurried to the storeroom