not in his room and Stockie availed himself of the
chance to view the pictures hanging around the walls. The president
had just made the discovery that several of the boys had utterly ruined
some growing tobacco that he had been experimenting on, so he was in
bad humor when he entered his sanctum.

"What! You here again?"

And without permitting the astonished Stockie to speak he began to
administer a severe thrashing. The door was opened by the professor
who wanted the mail.

"Has he been in mischief already? Why I told him a few moments ago to
come here and get your letters." "Oh," exclaimed the president, "I
thought he had been sent here as usual, for punishment. Well, if he does
not deserve it now, he certainly will before the week is out."

Paul had organized a company of choice spirits who were known by the
title of the 'Wild Geese'. Each member named himself after his
own particular hero, such as Dick Turpin, Jack Shepard, Capt. Kidd and
other distinguished gentleman freebooters. The headquarters of the
association was in an abandoned log house about three miles from the
college. On half holidays the company would escape out of bounds
by different ways and assemble at headquarters. The cabin consisted of
one large earthen floor room with a loft above. The stairs leading up
to this loft had been cut away and a light ladder that could be easily
hauled up, substituted. The aperture closed down by a rough trap door
made for the purpose. This was done to afford concealment, in case any
of the professors should come looking for them, or protection against a
rival organization of larger boys, known as the "Wild Hens." When the
company assembled, it was customary for Paul, who was their chosen
chief, to detail parties to different duties. While some would be
cutting and collecting wood to burn in the huge fire-place in the lower
story, others would be off through the surrounding farms on a forage
for chickens, potatoes, apples, etc., etc. All the money in the
society would be entrusted to a committee of the most reliable
members. These would be dispatched to the village store to purchase
cheese, crackers, ginger-bread and other delicacies for the banquet.
The village store was owned by an old fellow by the name of Philip
Hardtsoe. He had expelled both Paul and Stockie from his territory on
account of an incident which had happened some time previous. The two
chums w