"Get a net," shouted Walter.

"No, rope him, Ned. That's the only way you ever will catch him,"
jeered Tad.

Both boys were dancing about their companions, shivering in their
pajamas and uttering shouts of glee.

"He's a regular high roller," said Tad.

"No, not a high roller," answered Walter.

"Here, here!" admonished the Professor. "Stop this nonsense. I
want to go to sleep. I don't mind you young gentlemen enjoying
yourselves, but midnight is rather late for such pranks, it strikes
me. Into your blankets, every one of you."

It was doubtful that the boys even heard his voice. If they did,
they failed entirely to catch the meaning of his words, so absorbed
were they in the mad scramble of Ned Rector and Stacy Brown.

"Roll, Chunky, roll!" urged Walter, jumping up and down in his bare
feet.

"Good thing he's fat. If he weren't so round he could never do it,"
mocked Tad. "I'll bet he was a fast creeper when be was a baby."

The ponies, disturbed by the noise and excitement, had scrambled to
their feet and were moving about restlessly in the bushes where they
were tethered.