“My tongue is all right,” answered Mumps.  Nevertheless, he held it out; and Sam slyly dropped the bluing on it.

“It’s as blue as indigo!” he exclaimed, “Look into the glass for yourself.”

Somewhat against his will, Mumps strode over to the looking glass.  As he noted the condition of his tongue, he grew very pale and began to tremble.

“It is blue,” he whined, “and —­ and —­ I feel sick all over.  Oh, say, do you think I really am getting the smallpox?”

For an instant there was a dead silence.  Then the boys could hold in no longer, and a long but smothered laugh showed the sneak how completely he had been sold.

CHAPTER XXVI

A LIVELY GAME OF BASEBALL

If ever a boy was mad clear through that boy was the sneak of Putnam Hall.  As the laugh ended, Mumps shook his fist at one and another of his tormentors.

“Think you are smart, don’t you?” he spluttered in his rage.  “I’ll fix you all!  I’ll go and tell Captain Putnam all about this spread, and then maybe you won’t catch it!”

“Mumps, keep quiet,” said Dick, placing himself between the enraged one and the door.  “Make too much noise, and I’ll promise you the worst drubbing you ever received.”

“If you peach on me, I’ll give you a second whipping,” added Tom.

“This is a gentlemanly affair,” put in Larry.

“The boy who gives us away gets a thrashing from me.”

“Ditto myself,” said Frank; and several others said the same.  All looked so determined that Mumps fell back in alarm.

“You let me go,” he whined.  “I don’t want to stay here any longer.”

“You can’t go until you promise to keep quiet,” said Dick.

“And you’ll promise right now,” cried Tom, seizing a pitcher of ice water that had been hidden under one of the stands.  Leaping on a bed he held the pitcher over Mumps’ head.

“Promise, quick, or I’ll let her go!” he went on.

“Oh, don’t!” yelled Mumps, as a few drops of the water landed on his head and ran down his neck.

“Do you promise to keep silent?” demanded Dick.

“Yes, yes!”

“All right.  Now mind, if you break that promise you are in for at least ten good whippings.”

“Somebody else may give you away,” said Mumps craftily.

“No one will.  If Captain Putnam hears about this it will be only through you.  So beware, Mumps, if you value your hide!” And then the sneak was allowed to go.  Five minutes later the spread came to an end, the muss was cleared away, and every cadet sought his couch, to rest if not to sleep.

It is possible that Captain Putnam and George Strong suspected something, yet as the cadets seemed none the worse for the festivities the next day, nothing was said on the subject.  “Boys will be boys,” smiled the captain to his head assistant; and there the whole matter dropped.