Winning His W | Page 5

had no thought for any one else.
Just as Baker stepped down, Peter John emerged from the car directly
behind the captain, and a cheer louder than any that before had been
given rose from the assembly.
Poor Peter John! Nervous and excited, conscious only of himself and
his strange surroundings, the startled freshman had no other thought
than that the cheers were meant for him and doubtless were intended as
a war cry from those enemies of whom he had heard such marvelous
tales--the sophomores. Wild-eyed, for a moment he seemed to be

well-nigh paralyzed. He stood motionless and gazed out at the surging
mass of students almost as if he were minded to turn back into the car
and escape from the threatening peril. But the pressure from behind
was too strong to permit him to carry out his intention and he was
compelled to move forward. As yet he had not seen his two waiting
friends and his feeling of utter loneliness swept over him afresh. From
the lowest step he was about to move when another mighty shout went
up from the assembly and Peter John looked helplessly about him as if
he were convinced that his doom was sealed and for him there was to
be no escape.
Suddenly he darted from the midst of the crowd, sending two or three
young men who chanced to be in his way sprawling, and with his
quaint carpet-bag still tightly grasped in his hand fled directly back
over the railway ties. He had not gone far before his flight was
perceived and a shout of laughter and derision arose. Even the mighty
Baker was ignored in the fresh excitement and instantly a crowd of
students started in pursuit of the fleeing freshman.
"Hi, there! Stop, freshman! Wait a minute; we'll help carry your bag!
Look at the sprinter! Going home? Good-bye! Good-bye!" were among
the derisive cries that he heard. There could be no mistake, the attention
of the entire student body was upon him, he was convinced, and his
speed increased. His long legs, his flying coat tails, his flapping
carpet-bag, indeed his entire appearance was such that shrieks of
laughter arose from his pursuers, but Peter John never once glanced
behind him. Every fresh call served to increase his terror. Life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness were about to be taken from him and his
sole hope depended upon his own exertions. It was do or die, and Peter
John preferred the former.
In a brief time the good-natured crowd abandoned its pursuit, and Peter
John Schenck was left to continue his lonely flight. Will Phelps and
Foster Bennett had joined in the laughter at first, for the ridiculous
flight of their classmate was well-nigh irresistible; but when it soon
became apparent that Peter John's terror was real and that he firmly
believed the entire college was in swift pursuit of him, their attitude

changed.
"It's too bad, Will," said Foster. "The poor chap is scared almost to
death."
"We can't help it. He'll have to learn some things, if not others,"
laughed Will.
"They're coming back," suggested Foster, as the pursuit was abandoned
and the students laughing boisterously returned to the station.
Peter John, however, was still fleeing and his long strides and his
wildly flapping carpet-bag could be distinctly seen as the frightened
freshman sped up the track. The body of students, however, had now
turned into the street that led back to the college grounds, and
apparently Peter John's wild flight was already forgotten.
"We must go after him," said Foster thoughtfully.
"Oh, leave him alone," replied Will. "He'll come back all right."
"You go up to the room and I'll go and look him up."
"Not much! If you go, then I go too! I may be the next victim and I
don't intend to be offered up alone. Come on, or he'll be clear back in
Sterling before we find him."
Will laughed as he spoke, and at once the two boys started up the track
in the direction in which their classmate had fled. He could not be seen
now for a bend in the road had concealed him from sight, and for a time
his two friends did not dare to run, being fearful that they too might
attract an undue amount of attention and bring upon themselves the
many ills from which they were striving to save their friend.
Apparently their departure from the station had not drawn the attention
of any one, and, as they became convinced that they were not being
followed, their own speed increased until they too had passed the bend
in the road, when they began to run swiftly. Nothing could be seen of

Peter John, and when they had gone a considerable distance