"Well, you know the first-year boys have formed a sort of secret
society. They call themselves the Upside Down Club."

"What has that got to do with our dinner?"

"Nothing, maybe, and again it may have."

"Have they any grudge against us?" asked Ned.

"No, nothing special, but it's part of their game to play tricks on all
the other school societies, from the athletic teams to the debating club.
Archie Smith, a cousin of mine, belongs, and I got that much out of him
before he knew what I was after. Then he wouldn't tell me any more. So
that's why I think the Upside Down boys may make trouble for us."

"Well, if they wish to make trouble we'll give them all they want,"
put in Fenn.

"Yes, but we don't want the dinner spoiled," said Bart. "There's a big
class of first-year boys this term, and they could make a 'rough-house'
of our spread in short order. That's why I think it would be better to
keep quiet about the affair, at least as to the place where we're going
to hold it."

After some discussion Bart's suggestion was agreed to. Further details of
the dinner were arranged, and it was planned that Ned should be
toastmaster, an honor which he would gladly have declined.

"No, sir, you won the game for us, and you've got to preside at the
dinner!" declared Bart, to which all the others on the nine gave their