"Sam, you've got a head like a billiard ball," retorted the
bully, turning on the other, "it'll be mine some day, won't it?
Therefore it's as good as mine now."

Although he didn't quite see the logic of the foregoing, Sam
Redding gave a sage nod and agreed that his leader was right.

"Yes, those kids need a good lesson from somebody," chimed in
Bill Bender.

"I think we had better be the 'somebodies' to give it to them,"
rejoined Jack Curtiss. "They are getting insufferable. They
actually twitted me this afternoon with being sore at them
because I didn't get my patrol--as if I really wanted one. That
Blake kid is the worst of the bunch. Just because his father has
a little money he gives himself all kinds of airs. My father is
as rich as his, even if he isn't a banker."

"I've been thinking of a good trick we can put up on them, but it
will take some nerve to carry it out," announced Bill Bender,
after some more discussion of the lads of the Eagle Patrol.

"Out with it, then," urged the bully, "what is it?"

In a lowered tone Bill Bender sketched out his scheme in detail,
while Jack and Sam nodded their approval. At length he ceased
talking and the other two broke out into a delighted laugh, in
which malice as much as merriment prevailed.

"It's the very thing," exclaimed Jack. "Bill, you're a genius.