48 THE PRODIGIOUS HICKEY.

“ All ready,” came Macnooder’s cry.

“ Ready here.”

“ Six pancakes!”

“ Regulation size? ”

“ Regulation.”

“ Six it is,” said Hickey, at the slate. “ Six and twenty-seven is thirty-three.”

“Wait a moment,” sang out the Butcher. “ He has only to eat thirty-two.”

“ That’s so—take one off.”

“ Give him five, Hickey—five only.”

“If Hungry says he can eat six,” said Hickey, firmly, glancing at his protégé, “ he can. We’re out for big things. Can you do it, Hungry?” '

And Smeed, fired with the heroism of the moment, answered in disdainful simplicity:

“ Sure! ”

A cheer that brought two Davis House boys run- ning in greeted the disappearance of the thirty- third. Then everything was forgotten in the amaze- ment of the deed.

“ Please, I’d like to go on,” said Smeed.

“ Oh, Hungry, can you do it? ”

“ Really? ”

“ You’re goin’ on?”