"They came in East to hunt up some buffalo that got away. They
had something like half a million in a corral, and about two
thousand got away from them."

This preposterous announcement was taken by Hans Mueller in all
seriousness, and he asked Tom all sorts of ridiculous questions
about the savage red men, whom he supposed as wild and wily as
those of generations ago.

"No, I ton't vonts to meet any of dem," he said at last. "Da vos
von pad lot alretty!"

"That's right, Hans, you give them a wide berth," said Tom, and
walked away.

Later on Tom persuaded Dick to ask Hans if he would not walk down
to Cedarville for him, to buy him a baseball. Eager to be
accommodating, the German youth received the necessary permission
to leave the academy acres and hurried off at the full speed of
his sturdy legs.

"Now for some fun!" cried Tom, and ran off for the Indian suit and
the face paints. These he took down to the bam and set to work to
transform himself into a wild-looking red man.

"You're a lively one!" grinned Peleg Snuggers, who stood watching
him. "We never had such a lad as you before Master Thomas."

"Thanks, Peleg, and perhaps you'll never have one like me again --
and then you'll be dreadfully sorry."