"How could I, with this thing over my eyes, and laying down on my stummick, anyway ?" "Then the time has come," Penrod announced in solemn tones.

"The time has come." Whack! Evidently a broad and flat implement was thereupon applied to Roddy.
"OW!" complained the candidate.
"No noise!" said Penrod sternly, and added: "Roddy Bitts must now say the oath.

Say exackly what I say, Roddy, and if you don't--well, you better, because you'll see! Now, say 'I solemnly swear--'" "I solemnly swear--" Roddy said.
"To keep the secrets--" "To keep the secrets--" Roddy repeated.
"To keep the secrets in infadelaty and violate and sanctuary." "What ?" Roddy naturally inquired.
Whack! "OW!" cried Roddy.

"That's no fair!" "You got to say just what _I_ say," Penrod was heard informing him.
"That's the rixual, and anyway, even if you do get it right, Verman's got to hit you every now and then, because that's part of the rixual, too.

Now go on and say it.