If we don't cook up something to pay them back, the name of freshman will be disgraced forever more." However, the afternoon adventures were not at an end.
As the group of girls started toward the road, some distance away, trying not to look crestfallen, a gruff voice from the far side of the Omnibus House called: "Hold up there!" The girls took no notice, thinking it was more upper-class tricks.
Five rough-looking men emerged from a grove of alders which grew about the building.
The young girls were really frightened this time.

No sophomore could disguise herself like this.

These were undoubtedly genuine ruffians of the worst type, hungry, blear-eyed and ragged.
"What shall we do ?" whispered Jessica, clinging to Grace desperately.
"Everybody run," answered her friend, trying to be calm as the five men advanced on them.

But when they broke away to run toward the distant road they found their retreat cut off by the tramps, who were active enough as soon as the girls showed signs of flight.

Back of them lay the dense woods into which the sophomores must have plunged and departed for town by another road.