arms so
that no one could remove the crawfish.

The boys who were witnesses of this "circus," nearly choked with
laughter. Sammy Smiles had a fit, and rolled on the floor, clinging to
his sides.

All the while Frank was apparently making desperate efforts to quiet
the boys and remove the crawfish, but, at the same time he was saying
just loud enough for them to hear:

"The bite is deadly poison! The only antidote is equal parts of new
milk and vinegar taken internally. About a gallon should be absorbed,
while a chemically prepared poultice of H2O, _tempus fugit_, and _aqua
pura_ should be applied to each and every bite."

"Bring' on yer new milk and vinegar, begorra!" roared the Irish boy,
wildly. "It's a barrel ur two Oi'll drink av th' sthuff!"

"Somepody dose boultices make britty queek alretty!" shouted Hans. "I
vant dwo huntred und elefen for dose bites vot I haf all ofer mein body
on!"

"Keep still!" ordered the sentinel. "Stand still while those crawfish
are removed."

"You peen bitten all der dime dose cendibedes py, und I pet me my poots
you don'd keep very sdill yet avile! We-e-eow! Dey vos eadin' me ub
alretty yet!"

"Get away wid yez, ye spalpane!" shouted Barney, and one of his wildly
waving fists struck the sentinel between the eyes and knocked him over
instantly.

"Remember it is vinegar and milk that you want, and you must have it,"
shouted Frank, in the Irish lad's ear. "Every second you delay about
procuring it makes your chances all the more desperate."

"Begorra! Oi'll hiv it directly, av there's anything av th' sort in
th' ranch!"

Then Barney made a break for the stairs, with Hans a close second, and
the boys could not resist the temptation to rush after them.

Never before had there been such an uproar heard in Fardale Academy,
and the commotion had brought Professor Gunn and his two principal
assistants, Professor Jenks and Professor Scotch, from their rooms on
the floor below the "Cockloft."

"What can be the meaning of this outrageous hub-bub?" cried Professor
Jenks, who, on account of his exceeding height, was known as "High
Jinks."

"Goodness knows!" exclaimed Professor Gunn, peering over his spectacles
in a horrified way at his companions. "It must be a mutiny----"

"Or a murder!" chattered Professor Scotch, who was a very small man,
and was generally known as "Hot Scotch," because of his fiery red hair
and peppery temper.

"Let us proceed together to invest