"Then the only way left," remarked the reflective Paul, "is to watch the
faces of the suspects when we go to school in the morning, and maybe we
can spot the ones who did it."

As there seemed nothing more to do about it, they left the rifled armory
and went to their homes.

The next morning as they neared the schoolyard they heard loud laughing
which they could not lay altogether to the near approach of the holiday.
They hurried in, and were quickly surrounded by their schoolmates who
with laughter and jeers pointed to the top of the climbing pole; and oh,
misery! there hung the helmet of Achilles, its plume waving in the
morning air. Speechless and helpless the three friends stood, and would
have given the last penny in their savings banks if a hawk or some other
large bird would swoop down upon it and send it to the ground.

"Now here is an exercise in physical culture," cried one of the Trojans,
in the tone and manner of the professor in that line of instruction.
"One of our Grecian heroes will kindly ascend and bring the helmet
down."

This called for peals of laughter and shrill whistles from the Trojans,
for they knew that no one of the Grecians could climb to the top and it
was a delight to see them redden with shame. But the restless Fritz was
not willing to give up without trying to scale the giddy height.

"Here, Franz," he cried, "hold my books. Paul, here is my jacket and
hat. Stand back, boys, and see if I am the coward they think me," and
soon his legs and arms were in motion. The laughter and jeering of the