Page:The Eight-Oared Victors.djvu/59

Rh like that," declared Frank. "Especially from a Freshman. He may have meant it, and he may not, but the time to put the screws on is in the beginning."

The two parties broke up soon after that, most of the Boxer Hall boys nodding friendly goodnights to their rivals as they passed out.

"What's the matter, Frank?" asked Tom, a little later, as they gathered in their common study, and the tall pitcher "flopped" down beside his chum on the old sofa. At once there was a cracking, splintering sound, and Sid cried out in alarm.

"Cheese it, you fellows! Do you want to spoil that completely? Remember it's an invalid."

"I should say so!" cried Tom, getting off as carefully as a skater goes over thin ice, while Frank held his breath. "I didn't mean to come down so hard."

Thus Phil misquoted, adapting it to suit his needs.

"Punk!" commented Tom.

"Fierce!" cried Sid. "That's an old one."

"Say, you fellows don't know good poetry when it comes up and shakes hands with you," declared