THE HAZING
Evan tore the note into tiny bits and scattered them under the table,
something undoubtedly in defiance of the rules. After supper, at which
the foot-ball practice was the main subject of discussion, Evan and
Rob, accompanied by Jelly, went back to Holden. Malcolm Warne had
not returned, but that didn’t prevent Rob from taking possession of
36 and doing the honors. Jelly was properly impressed with so much
magnificence and declared that next year he was going to make his folks
furnish his room just like Malcolm’s. In a lull of the conversation
Evan introduced the subject which since the receipt of Malcolm’s
mysterious warning had occupied not a little of his thoughts.
“Do they haze here, Rob?” he asked.
There was a quick interchange of glances between Rob and Jelly. Then
Rob smiled carelessly and shrugged his shoulders.
“You might call it that,” he said. “The new ones have to go through a
few stunts, but they don’t amount to much. Faculty bars real hazing,
which it ought. You’ll probably be requested to sing a song or do a
dance some night, but you needn’t be worried about it.”
“I’m not at all worried,” answered Evan quietly. “I only wanted to know
what to expect.”
“They made me recite ‘Curfew Shall Not Ring To-night,’” said Jelly,
smiling foolishly at the recollection.
“It was funny, too,” laughed Rob. “Just picture Jelly in his little
white nightie spouting that with inappropriate gestures!”
“I wouldn’t have minded if it hadn’t been for the gestures,” said Jelly
with a grin. “They made me do all sorts of fool things, like pulling
the bell-rope and clasping my hands.”
“Yes, and when it came to the last they made him swing by his hands
from the transom. I can see him yet, kicking his legs back and forth
and gurgling ‘Curfew shall _not_ ring to-night!’”
“Well, I hope they don’t ask me for poetry,” said Evan, “for I don’t
know any.”
“Better get Malcolm to coach you,” Jelly suggested. “He knows
every line of poetry that was ever written, I guess. And I _have_
thought,”――dropping his voice to a hoarse whisper――“that he even writes
it!”
“Of course he does,” said Rob. “Every Southerner reads poetry and
writes it. Southerners are romantic――whatever that is.”
Presently Malcolm returned, and Jelly took his departure, declaring
that he supposed he would have to study although he had quite forgotten
how. At Rob’s suggestion Malcolm brought his books into 32 and the
three found places about the old green-topped table and prepared their
lessons. It was hard going, though, and there were many interruptions,
and after a while Malcolm gathered up his books and declared that he
would have to go back to his own room if he was to do any work.
“Sorry, Mal,” said Rob. “It’s my fault. I can’t seem to get my mind on
lessons to-night. I’ve thought of a way to make that foot-scraper a lot
better. Supposing that instead of having the brush――”
“Never mind,” laughed Malcolm. “You tell me about it to-morrow. Good
night.”
“Aren’t you coming back after study?”
“No, I’m going to bed.” He shot a questioning look at Evan. Evan smiled
and shook his head slightly.
“What are you idiots signalling about?” asked Rob. “What’s up? Or isn’t
it any of my business?”
“It isn’t,” answered Malcolm. “You’d better change your mind, though,
Evan.”
“No, I guess not. I’m much obliged, though.”
“Well, if you do――” Malcolm left the sentence unfinished. “Good night,
fellows.”
“Good night,” they echoed. Rob was already busy with the problem of the
improvement of the foot-scraper, drawing strange lines on a fly-leaf.
Evan went back to his algebra. After a while the bell in the tower
of Academy Hall struck nine and he closed his book with a sigh and
gathered his papers together. Rob was still drawing, his unruly hair
straggling down over his puckered forehead. Evan watched amusedly for a
minute. Then,
“Got your lessons, Rob?” he asked gravely.
“Eh? What?” Rob looked up with a startled frown. “What time is it?”
“Just struck nine.”
“Jingo! I’ve got to get busy. Look at this, though, Evan. I’ve got it
dead to rights now. I’ll bet it will work finely.” So for the next five
minutes Evan listened to an explanation of the drawings and a eulogy
of the invention. Then Rob resolutely turned his mind to the Anabasis,
remarking sadly that it was all Greek to him, and Evan finished his
letter. They went to bed at ten and Rob fell promptly to sleep. Evan,
however, with Malcolm’s warning in mind, preferred to stay awake and
await developments. The dormitory was very quiet, and when fully a
half-hour had gone by, Evan began to think that Malcolm had mistaken
the date. He closed his eyes at last, for he was really very sleepy,
and was afloat in that delicious state between slumber and waking when
there sounded a quiet but peremptory knock on the door. Rob didn’t hear
it but Evan was wide awake on the instant. He slid out of bed, stumbled
across the room and fumbled at Rob’s patent latch.
“Open!” commanded a voice outside.
“All right,” answered Evan, “but you’ll have to wait until I find the
combination of this plaguey thing.”
Then the latch slipped back and the door swung inward. In the hall
were some twenty boys variously attired.
“What’s wanted?” asked Evan innocently.
Frank Hopkins, who was apparently master of ceremonies, replied grimly:
“You are. Come on.”
“What for?” asked Evan.
“Never you mind. Just come along.”
“Hello! What’s doing?” Rob appeared behind Evan, blinking. “Oh, I see.
Buck up, Evan, it’s soon over. I’ll join the mob and see the fun.”
So Evan was marched off in custody, feeling somewhat ridiculous in his
night attire. However, there were plenty of others who boasted no more
elaborate costumes than his, for pajamas appeared to be the proper
dress. There was nothing solemn in the occasion. Every one whispered
or laughed under his breath and a handful of more cheerful spirits
joined arms and did a snake-dance down the hall. Evan was conducted to
a room at the far end of the corridor, a room which, because it was
larger than most, was regularly used on such occasions. Here, standing
dejectedly about, were six other new boys, one of them, a youth of not
over twelve years, looking at once pathetic and ridiculous in a long
nightgown several sizes too large for him. Evidently Evan was the last
of the victims, for after he had entered with his captors the door was
closed and bolted. The room was crowded to its full capacity and there
was a general scramble for posts of vantage. The two beds served as
grand-stands, all those who could securing seats on the edge and more
standing up behind them. The others formed a circle about the center of
the room, the study table having been pushed aside. Evan wondered if
Malcolm was there, but failed to see him.
If Frank Hopkins was master of ceremonies, Edgar Prentiss was
undoubtedly his first lieutenant and a most able one. Hopkins looked
over the initiates disgustedly.
“A mighty small crop this year,” he said, “and a pretty poor one, too.
Who’s first, Ed?”
“Let’s have Little Nemo,” said Prentiss, pointing to the boy in the
nightgown. “Come out here, Little Nemo. Step forward and make a nice
bow to the company.”
The youth obeyed, trying very hard to smile.
“What’s your name, kid?” demanded Hopkins.
“George Winship.”
“Say ‘sir’ when addressing the Honorable Court,” Prentiss commanded.
“What are you doing here?”
“I don’t know――sir.”
“You don’t know? What did you come here for?”
“To learn, sir.”
“Good. Can you sing?”
“N-no, sir.”
“All right. Then go ahead and sing.”
“I can’t.”
“You’ve got to.” The boy looked distressedly around the circle of
amused faces. “What――what shall I sing?” he asked.
“Anything,” answered Hopkins. “Only get at it.”
“Do you know ‘Rock-a-bye, Baby’?” asked Prentiss, scoring a laugh from
the audience. The boy shook his head.
“All I know is ‘Rock of Ages,’ I guess,” he said apologetically.
“Let’s hear that, then,” said Prentiss. But there was a murmur of
disapproval and Rob growled:
“Shut up, Prentiss; that’s a hymn. Cut it out and let the kid go.”
“Hello, Lanky Rob, you here?” returned Prentiss. “Don’t butt in. Can
you recite anything, Little Nemo?” The boy shook his head again.
“Sure?” demanded Hopkins suspiciously.
“Yes――sir.”
“What can you do, then? Haven’t you any parlor tricks?” The boy
considered a moment, painfully anxious to oblige but at a loss what to
say. Then, his face lighting up,
“I can dance the Highland fling!” he announced eagerly. A howl of
amused approval went up.
“Go ahead, kid!”
“Fling away!”
“I thought all along he was a Scotchman!”
“I――I usually have music,” said the boy doubtfully.
“Sorry, but the bagpipes have just left,” said Hopkins. “Let’s have it
without music, kid.”
So young Winship danced the Highland fling for them, his face very
serious and his long nightgown flopping and writhing about him with
ludicrous effect. Some of the fellows began to hum and after that the
boy did rather well, for he knew the dance thoroughly and was light
and graceful. But it was terribly funny and even Evan had to laugh with
the others. Winship ended amidst a howl of approval and much clapping.
“You’re all right, kid,” they assured him, and Hopkins let him go to
find a place amongst the audience. The next youth was all ready with a
song, but he was much too anxious and so Hopkins refused to allow him
to sing and made him recite instead. He was a serious youth, and after
he had reeled off two verses of “The Launching of the Ship” some one
in the background threw a pillow at him and he was allowed to go in
peace. The next victim had an extensive repertoire of popular songs and
made such a hit that he was kept at it until he ran out of breath. And
so it went for almost an hour. A stout youth was made to stand on his
head――a feat which he only accomplished after innumerable failures――and
then was required to imitate the cries of every animal any one in
the audience could think of. His imitations were not successful as
imitations but they were funny, notably when he was instructed to make
a noise like an eel and whistled through his teeth. There was more
dancing and a pale-faced, red-haired boy recited “Casey at the Bat”
and won liberal applause. Evan was saved for the last, a fact which
caused him some uneasiness. He would have much preferred to have some
one other than Hopkins managing affairs. His turn came at last and
Hopkins told him to step out.
“What’s your name, little boy?”
“Evan Kingsford.”
“‘Sir!’”
“Sir.”
“Kingsford, eh? Not――not Kingsford the great quarter-back, of course?”
“No――that is, no, sir,” answered Evan, flushing a little in spite of
his determination not to let them worry him.
“Then you don’t play foot-ball?”
“Yes, sir, I do.”
“What position?”
“Quarter-back,” answered Evan good-naturedly.
“Ah! What did I tell you, Ed? It is――it really is the famous Mr.
Kingsford of whom we have all heard. There’s no use trying to
deceive us, Mr. Kingsford. All is discovered. We know you. You were
quarter-back on the All-America Girls’ Preparatory School Team last
year!”
Every one laughed at that, Evan as quickly as any.
“Now, Mr. Kingsford,” went on Hopkins, very much pleased by his
wit, “we will ask you to give us a few lessons in the rudiments of
foot-ball. A little more room, please. Ed, produce the pigskin.”
Prentiss pulled a foot-ball from under the bed. A strong cord was
attached to the lacings, and Evan viewed it with misgivings. Hopkins
placed the ball on the floor, retaining the end of the cord.
“Now, Mr. Kingsford, kindly show us how to kick. Aim the ball toward
the wall, please, so as not to break a window.”
Evan knew well enough what to expect, but he went through the motions
of kicking from placement. Of course the ball wasn’t there when his
foot swung at it, and of course the audience was vastly amused. This
performance was gone through with several times, Prentiss at each
attempt shading his eyes with his hand and announcing the distance
made, as:
“Fine work, Kingsford! Forty-five yards and excellent direction!”
“Fifty-odd that time, but a little too low. Try again.” “Better, much
better! Sixty yards at least and a beautiful corkscrew! Wonderful!
Marvellous!”
[Illustration: “HE WENT THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF KICKING FROM PLACEMENT.”]
Evan was almost as much amused as the others, and Hopkins didn’t like
that. So,
“Now, Mr. Kingsford, if you please, we will have a little falling on
the ball.” A chorus of delighted laughter greeted this announcement.
Falling on the ball wasn’t quite as funny as kicking it, to Evan at
least, although every one else enjoyed it hugely. The floor was very,
very hard and, of course, the ball was never there when he dropped,
never save once when he was too quick for Hopkins and managed to
snuggle the pigskin under his arm before the captain could yank it
away. This feat won applause from the spectators and a scowl from
Hopkins.
“Put more ginger into it, Mr. Kingsford,” commanded the latter. “You’re
not half trying. That’s better!” Evan’s elbow and hip crashed against
the floor and the foot-ball bounded out of his reach. The audience
howled approval.
“Now try a dive, Mr. Kingsford. Stand off there about six feet and let
us see what you can do with a moving ball.”
But Evan was feeling pretty sore and lame by this time, and he rebelled.
“I guess I’ve done enough,” he said good-humoredly. “This floor isn’t
quite as soft as the turf.”
“Enough,” said Prentiss, “why, we can never see enough of such clever
work, Mr. Kingsford!”
“Well, I’ve had enough, if you haven’t,” replied Evan doggedly.
“You’ll do as we tell you,” said Hopkins. “We’re managing this show.
Now you get over there and――”
“I won’t, I tell you. I’m not going to break my bones for you. I’ve
done as much as any of the others already, and I don’t intend to get
all lamed up.”
“That’s right, Hop,” said Rob, and some of the others agreed. But
Hopkins wasn’t ready to let go.
“You dry up, Rob!” he snarled. “You haven’t got anything to say about
this. You haven’t any business in here anyhow; you’re a junior. This is
upper class, and so you shut up.”
“You can make me, I guess――not,” drawled Rob.
“There are plenty of us here to run you out of the room,” answered
Hopkins angrily.
“All right, come try it. Let’s have a little rough-house,” replied Rob
smilingly. But there was an expression about his eyes and mouth that
Hop didn’t just like, and while he was hesitating some of the others
broke in.
“Oh, cut out the slanging!”
“Shut up, Lanky!”
“Go ahead with the show, Hop!”
Hopkins glared angrily at Rob and then turned his attention again to
Evan.
“Come on, fresh kid,” he commanded. “Do as we tell you.”
“I’m through,” said Evan quietly.
“Then we’ll make you! Put him over there, Prentiss.”
“Better not try it,” said Evan as the tall Prentiss came toward him. He
was still smiling, but the smile was rather set and his eyes were fixed
very steadily on Prentiss. Also, he stepped back and clenched his fists
in a very business-like way. But Prentiss was no coward, and, besides,
he was much bigger than Evan. There might have been real trouble in
another moment had not the light suddenly gone out, plunging the room
into complete darkness. A howl of laughter went up and good-natured
rough-house began as the fellows swarmed from their places. Some
one found the foot-ball and it went banging about in the darkness
regardless of heads.
“Light! Let there be light!”
“I want to go home!”
“Look out for the table, fellows!”
And above the pandemonium could be heard Hopkins angrily demanding that
some one turn the light on again. Evan, in the thick of the swaying,
laughing throng, felt a hand on his arm.
“This you, Evan?” whispered Rob’s voice.
“Yes.”
“This way then, quietly. Make for the door.” Evan followed and in
another moment they were in the dimly-lighted hall running for their
room. Once inside Rob bolted the door and closed the transom. Then,
much pleased with his strategy, he sat down on his bed and chuckled.
From the other end of the hall came the sound of stampeding youths and
from the floor below Mr. McGill’s deep voice:
“Fellows, be quiet up there! Go to your rooms!”