“Here, I’ll go with you, chum,” he said, with a suggestion of swagger.  “We can manage those dubs down there alone.  The rest of you can sit down and tell stories; we’ll let you out in a minute,” he added scathingly.

“That’s Gale,” whispered some one.  “Fresh kid!”, added another angrily.  But the gibe had the desired effect.  Four other freshmen signified their willingness to die for their class, and Neil climbed on to the broad window-sill.  His reappearance was the signal for another outburst from the watching sophomores.

“Don’t jump, sonny; you may hurt yourself.”  “He’s going to fly, fellows!  Good little Freshie’s got wings!” “Say, we’ll let you out in the morning!  Good-night!”

But when Neil, divesting himself of coat and shoes, swung out and laid hold of the largest of the big ivy branches that clung there to the wall, the jeers died away.  The hall where the meeting had been held was on the third floor, and when Neil stepped from the window-sill he hung fully twenty-five feet from the ground.  The ivy branch, ages old, was almost as large as his wrist, and quite strong enough to bear his weight just as long as it did not tear from its fastenings.  Whether it would hold in place remained to be seen.  Neil judged that if he could lower himself fifteen feet by its aid he could easily drop the rest of the distance without injury.  The window above was black with watchers as he began his journey, and many voices cheered him on.  Paul, his feet hanging over the black void, sat on the narrow ledge and waited his turn.

“Go fast, chum,” he counseled, “but don’t lose your grip.  I’ll wait until you’re down.”

“All right,” answered Neil.  Then, with a great rustling of the thick-growing leaves, he lowered himself by arm’s lengths.  The vine swayed and gave at every strain, but held.  From below came the sound of clapping.  Hand under hand he went.  The oblong of faint light above receded fast.  His stockinged feet gripped the vine tightly.  In the group of sophomores the clapping grew into cheers.

[Illustration]

“Good work, Freshie!” “You’re all right!”

Then, with the ground almost at his feet, Neil let go and dropped lightly into a bed of shrubbery.  The fellows above applauded wildly.  With a glance at the near-by group of sophomores, Neil ran.  Several of the enemy started to intercept him, but were called back.

“Let him go!  He’s all right!  We’ve had our fun!” And Neil sprang up the steps and into the building without molestation.  Meanwhile Paul was making his descent and receiving his meed of applause from friend and foe.  And as he dropped to earth there came a sound of cheering from the building, and the freshmen, released by the unlocking of the door, emerged on to the steps and path.

“Five this way!” was the cry.  “Rush the sophs!”

But wiser counsels prevailed and, each cheering loudly, the representatives of the rival classes took themselves off.