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."

Now, provide a numbered list of answers to these questions:

1. Who shook their fist?
2. At who?
3. Was there more than one?
4. Who was he going to tell?
5. What was he going to tell about?
6. What did Dick want him to do?
7. Where did he place himself?
8. Did he threaten Mumps?
9. With what?
10. What did Larry think of the situation?
11. Did Frank want to thrash someone too?
12. Anyone else?
13. How many?
14. Did Mumps want to stick around?
15. Did he whine about it?
16. Did Dick say he would let him leave?
17. What did Tom grab?
18. What was in it?
19. Warm water?
20. What kind?
1. Mumps
2. his tormentors
3. yes4
4. Captain Putnam
5. about this spread
6. keep quiet
7. between the enraged one and the door.
8. yes
9. the worst drubbing
10. This is a gentlemanly affair,
11. yes
12. yes
13. several
14. no
15. yes
16. no
17. a pitcher
18. water
19. no
20. ice water