Monday morning, following the sensational winning of the game by Ned Wilding, saw the four chums a.s.sembled on the school campus, waiting for the ringing of the gong that would call all the pupils to their cla.s.ses.
It was almost time to go in, when Sandy Merton, a former enemy of the chums, but who had become a friend because of a favor received, approached Bart. Sandy had left school because of a dispute he and Bart had had over a ball game, but had returned for the spring term.
"I"ve got something to tell you," Sandy said.
"I"m listening," Bart replied.
"I can"t tell you here," Sandy went on, with a look about him. "I don"t want any of the Upside Down boys to hear."
"Oh, ho!" said Bart softly. "Something in the wind, eh?"
"I think there is," Sandy replied. "I"ll meet you after school down by the boathouse."
"I"ll be there," Bart answered. "Don"t say anything to any of the others."
Sandy promised; and then the gong rang and the boys and girls hurried into the school. All that morning Bart was wondering what Sandy had to tell him. That it had to do with the dinner the nine intended to hold was his belief, but he did not see how the first-year lads had found out about it so soon.
"If they"re up to any tricks," said Bart softly, "I think we can play two to their one. Let "em try; it"s all in the game."
"Let"s go for a swim, Bart," proposed Ned, when school had been dismissed for the day. "Frank and Fenn are going."
"Where you going?" asked Bart.
"Up by the Riffles, of course," the "Riffles" being a place in the Still river where the boys frequently congregated. Near the Riffles, which were a series of shallow places in the stream, was the swimming hole and a little further up was a good place to fish.
"I"ll meet you later," Bart replied.
"What"s the matter?" asked Ned, for Bart was usually the first one to join in sport of this kind.
"Got a little business to transact. You fellows go ahead, and I"ll come pretty soon."
Ned had to be content with this. A little later, with Frank and Fenn, he went to the swimming hole. Bart remained about the school until he saw Sandy start off, then he followed a short distance behind, heading for the dock, where the four chums kept a boat they owned.
"h.e.l.lo, Sandy!" exclaimed Bart, as he saw the boy on the dock when he arrived. Bart spoke as though Sandy"s presence was accidental, and he did that for the benefit of any of the members of the Upside Down Club who might be in the vicinity.
"Going out rowing?" asked Sandy, and he winked at Bart.
"Yes," was the answer, as Bart comprehended what Sandy meant. "Want to go "long?"
Sandy nodded, and, with his help, Bart got the boat from the house and rowed it out into the middle of the river.
"Now I guess we can talk without being overheard," said Bart, when they were well out from sh.o.r.e, and rowing up stream. "What"s up, Sandy?"
"The Upside Down boys have a plot on foot to spoil the dinner."
"What dinner?" asked Bart, wishing to see just how much Sandy knew.
"Oh, the dinner the baseball nine is going to have. It"s all over. Some one must have talked. I heard of it late Sat.u.r.day night, but it wasn"t until last night that I heard of the conspiracy."
"What are they going to do?" asked Bart.
"That I can"t tell," Sandy replied. "You know that, though I"m in the first-year cla.s.s, I don"t belong to the society. I didn"t join. One of the members thought I was in and before he knew what he was doing he had blurted out something about their going to take the dinner stuff from Fenn"s barn. Then he found out I wasn"t a member, and a lot of "em got around me and made all sorts of threats if I told. I wouldn"t promise not to, but I can"t find out any more, except that they"re going to make a raid on the place just before it"s time for the dinner."
"How many?" asked Bart.
"About fifty of "em."
"Whew!" exclaimed the captain of the nine.
"That means trouble!"
CHAPTER III
NED IS CAPTURED
For a few minutes after receiving this information Bart was busy thinking. Then, turning to Sandy he said "Will you help me row the boat up to the swimming hole?"
"Sure. But let me out just before you get there. If any of the Upside Down boys see me with you they"ll suspect I"ve given the thing away. Are you going to do anything?"
"I rather think we will," replied Bart "But I don"t know yet what it will be. Row fast now, Sandy."
In a little while the boat was near enough to the Riffles so that Bart could manage it alone for the rest of the distance. Sandy went ash.o.r.e and disappeared in the woods that lined the bank while Bart tied the craft to an overhanging limb and got out.
He found his three chums were enjoying themselves in the water, splashing about and ducking one another. There were a number of High School boys with them, including several of the first-year cla.s.s, from the ranks of which the secret society was made up.
"There"s Bart!" cried Fenn. "Come on in!"
Anxious to tell his chums the news he had heard, but not wanting to awaken the suspicions of the Upside Down Club members, Bart prepared and went in swimming. He managed to get close to his three friends in turn, and quietly told them to go out, dress, and wait for him near the boat, which he told them was tied close at hand.
"Go out one at a time," Bart cautioned, "or they may suspect something."
In a little while the four boys were seated in their boat and were rowing down stream.
"Now what"s up?" demanded Ned. "I declare you"re as mysterious as though something had happened."
"Something"s going to happen," said Bart.
"What?"
"The Upside Downs are going to spoil our dinner--if they can!"
"How did you hear of it?"
"Who told you?"