If he came out with no more than one or two companions his name was "mud," according to the assembled sophs.
Arrangements were made to bind handkerchiefs over their faces to the eyes, so they would be partly disguised.

Some of them turned their coats wrong side out, and some resorted to other means of disguising themselves.
Then they waited patiently.
It was not so very long before Ditson came out in a breathless hurry.

He signaled, and they called him.

As he hastened up he panted: "Merriwell is coming right out, fellows! Be ready for him!" The sophomores knew which way Frank was likely to go after leaving Billy's, and they lay in wait at a convenient spot.
"Is he alone ?" eagerly asked Puss Parker.
"No." "Who is with him ?" "Rattleton." "Any others ?" "Not likely." "Good! Take a tumble to yourself and skip." Ditson did so.
"Now, fellows," hurriedly said Browning, "be ready for a struggle.
Remember that Merriwell is a scrapper and he is likely to resist.

We must take him completely by surprise.