Page:The Rover Boys at School.djvu/79

Rh Tom. "By George! I'm going to give 'em a salute."

"How?" asked Sam.

"Never mind. Just wait and see."

In a minute more they swept up to the gate-way leading to the parade ground. Some of the pupils had seen the carriage coming, and they ran down to learn if any old friends had arrived.

"Hullo!" yelled several.

"Hullo yourself!" came in return, and then Tom drew out the firecracker still in his pocket and lit it on the sly. Just as it was about to explode he threw it up into the air.

Bang! The report was loud and clear, and everybody within hearing rushed to the spot to see what it meant. There were forty or fifty pupils and two assistant teachers, but Captain Putnam had gone out.

"Hi! hi! what does this mean?" came in a high-pitched voice, and Josiah Crabtree, the first assistant, rushed up to the carryall.

"What was that exploded?"

"A big firecracker, sir," answered Peleg Snuggers.

"And who exploded it?"

Before the utility man could answer there came a cry from the parade ground:

"Don't peach, Peleg, don't peach!"

"Silence, boys!" burst from Josiah Crabtree