Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/335

Rh "I'm glad I cut loose from Gus Plum and Nat Poole," said he to Dave. "I never want to have anything to do with them again."

"Nor I," added Dave. "They can go their way, and I'll go mine." But Dave was not to get rid of the bully and his aristocratic crony so easily, as later events proved.

The celebration was kept up until two o'clock in the morning. When it came to an end and all the boys were ready to retire, Roger stepped to a window which was partly open.

"What are you going to do?" asked Ben.

"Make a report of the proceedings," said Roger, and produced a big cannon cracker. "Got those matches, Dave?"

"Yes," answered Dave, and striking one, he lit the fuse of the cannon cracker. Then Roger hurled the cracker into the courtyard below—and all hopped into bed.

Bang! It was a tremendous report, and awoke every person in the building. Lights were lit, and windows were thrown up on all sides.

"What was that?"

"Has something blown up?"

So the questions were asked, but nobody could give an answer. An investigation was made, but nothing came of it. The boys kept quiet, and those in dormitories Nos. 11 and 12 looked as innocent as lambs.