Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/230

208 ceremonies would be held at the old boathouse that evening. He promised to be on hand, and promptly at the hour appointed presented himself, in company with Ben and Roger. Nat Poole and Haven were also present.

The candidates found the members of the Gee Eyes duly assembled. Each wore a cotton robe of red and had a big black hood over his head, with a yellow tassel dangling over one ear. Two were armed with wooden swords, one had a wooden hammer, and some others had stuffed clubs.

As soon as they had been greeted, the candidates were pounced upon from behind, and each was made a prisoner and blindfolded. Then they were placed in a bunch, and the members of the Gee Eyes joined hands and began to dance around them, singing as they did so:

This was followed by a ferocious hissing sound, and then the chant went on:

Willy nilly! chi phi! Let us blow 'em sky high! Cap 'em, rap 'em, slap 'em hard, Boil 'em down to bones and lard!