At the Hall they had made a bitter enemy of a big, stocky bully named Tad Sobber and of another lad named Nick Pell.

Tad Sobber, to get even with the Rovers for a fancied injury, sent to the latter a box containing a live, poisonous snake.

The snake got away and hid in Nick Pell's desk and Nick was bitten and for some time it was feared that he might die.

He exposed Tad Sobber, and fearing arrest the bully ran away from the Hall.

Later, much to their surprise, the Rover boys learned that the bully was a ward and nephew of Sid Merrick, and when the sharper disappeared, Tad Sobber went with him.
"They are certainly a bad pair," said Dick, but how bad the Rovers were still to find out.
With the boys on the train were John Powell, better known as "Songbird," because he had a, habit of reciting newly made doggerell which he called poetry, Hans Mueller, a German youth who frequently got his English badly twisted, Fred Garrison, who had graduated with the Rovers, and some others.
"Dick, you haven't told me yet what you intended to do this summer," remarked Fred Garrison, as the train rolled on.
"Because I don't know, Fred," answered the elder Rover.