"Out with it."

"The boys are to take back the weapons."

"Well, what of that?"

"We are staying to see them."

"Indeed! Well, that is just what I expected, so I gave them permission
to go out the back way some time ago and take the weapons to their
places. By this time they are quietly eating their suppers in their
homes."

There were many red faces at hearing the joke turned upon them, and they
went quietly out of the yard, glad to be away from the piercing gaze of
the principal, feeling that he could see into their hearts and minds as
well as he could see through the lecture-room window.

In the meantime Odysseus-Fritz, Achilles-Franz and Patroclus-Paul were
in triumphant possession of their weapons, and to add to their happiness
they had a safe place to keep them, for the father of Franz, who was
keeper of the forest, gave them a room in the forest cabin. It had a
lock and keys and the Grecian warriors realized that many a dark cloud
has a silver lining.




CHAPTER II