Very likely the partners were even more exultant than was Prescott himself.
Then the freshman sextette came in full sight from the gateway.
"Who's this ?" yelled Ben Badger in his loudest voice.
From the crowded tanks below welled up the chorus: "Dick & Co.! Dick & Co.! Good old Dick! Bully old Co.!" Prescott and his chums halted, thunderstruck by the volume and force of that unexpected chorus.
Immediately on top of it rolled out lustily the complicated High School yell, given with a vim never before heard off the football field.
And then: "What's the matter with Dick Prescott ?" demanded Ben Badger, in stentorian tones.
From one half of the H.S.boys came the roaring response: "He's the whole cheese." Then, from the other half: "-- ---for a _freshman_!" Dick & Co.

recovering from their amazement, were coming on again now.

Young Prescott's heart thumped hard.

He was no popularity-chaser, but only the fellow who has been down hard, for a while, knows how good it is to be _up_ once more.
As Dick neared the gate Ben Badger dropped down out of the bare maple tree, for Ben had yet other duties on the reception committee.
He and Frank Thompson suddenly snatched Dick Prescott out of the ranks of his chums, and hoisted him aloft.

This these two husky first classmen were well able to do.
Across the school yard they started with him, while the rest of the fellows followed, giving voice to the High School yell: "T-E-R-R-O-R-S! Wa-ar! Fam-ine! Pes-ti-lence! That's us! That's us! G-R-I-D-L-E-Y H.S.! Rah! rah! rah! rah! Gri-i-id-ley!" The girls grouped on the steps parted, letting the leaders and followers through.
With the rush as of an army the excited youngsters bore Dick Prescott up a flight of stairs.