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diff --git a/21894.txt b/21894.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5c85cdc --- /dev/null +++ b/21894.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8990 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Rover Boys at Colby Hall, by Arthur M. Winfield + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Rover Boys at Colby Hall + or The Struggles of the Young Cadets + +Author: Arthur M. Winfield + +Release Date: June 21, 2007 [EBook #21894] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ROVER BOYS AT COLBY HALL *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from scans of public domain material produced by +Microsoft for their Live Search Books site.) + + + + + + +[Illustration: JACK MANAGED TO GET THE BALL AND START WITH IT FOR +THE GOAL. + +_The Rover Boys at Colby Hall._ _Frontispiece--Page_ 223] + + + + +THE ROVER BOYS AT COLBY HALL + +OR + +_THE STRUGGLES OF THE YOUNG CADETS_ + + + +By + +ARTHUR M. WINFIELD +(Edward Stratemeyer) + + +AUTHOR OF "THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL," "THE ROVER +BOYS ON THE OCEAN," "THE PUTNAM HALL SERIES," ETC. + + + +_ILLUSTRATED_ + + + +NEW YORK +GROSSET & DUNLAP +PUBLISHERS + +Made in the United States of America + + + + +BOOKS BY ARTHUR M. WINFIELD +(Edward Stratemeyer) + + +THE FIRST ROVER BOYS SERIES + +THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL +THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN +THE ROVER BOYS IN THE JUNGLE +THE ROVER BOYS OUT WEST +THE ROVER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES +THE ROVER BOYS IN THE MOUNTAINS +THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP +THE ROVER BOYS ON LAND AND SEA +THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER +THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS +THE ROVER BOYS IN SOUTHERN WATERS +THE ROVER BOYS ON THE FARM +THE ROVER BOYS ON TREASURE ISLE +THE ROVER BOYS AT COLLEGE +THE ROVER BOYS DOWN EAST +THE ROVER BOYS IN THE AIR +THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK +THE ROVER BOYS IN ALASKA +THE ROVER BOYS IN BUSINESS +THE ROVER BOYS ON A TOUR + + +THE SECOND ROVER BOYS SERIES + +THE ROVER BOYS AT COLBY HALL + + +THE PUTNAM HALL SERIES + +THE PUTNAM HALL CADETS +THE PUTNAM HALL RIVALS +THE PUTNAM HALL CHAMPIONS +THE PUTNAM HALL REBELLION +THE PUTNAM HALL ENCAMPMENT +THE PUTNAM HALL MYSTERY + + +12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, New York + +COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY +EDWARD STRATEMEYER + + +_The Rover Boys at Colby Hall_ + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +MY DEAR BOYS: This book is a complete story in itself, but forms the +first volume in a line issued under the general title, "The Second +Rover Boys Series for Young Americans." + +As mentioned in several of the other volumes of the first series, this +line was started a number of years ago with the publication of "The +Rover Boys at School," in which my readers were introduced to Dick, +Tom, and Sam Rover, three wide-awake American lads. In that volume and +in those which followed I gave the particulars of their adventures +while attending Putnam Hall Military Academy, Brill College, and while +on numerous outings, both in our own country and abroad. + +The Rover boys were, of course, growing older; and, having met three +young ladies very much to their liking, each married and settled down, +as related in detail in the several volumes immediately preceding this. +They were well established in business; and in due course of time Dick +Rover was blessed with a son, as was also Sam, while the fun-loving Tom +became the proud possessor of a pair of twins who were as full of life +as their father had ever been. + +In this volume the younger Rover boys are old enough to go to boarding +school. They are sent to Colby Hall Military Academy, presided over by +an old friend and schoolmate of their fathers; and there they make both +friends and enemies, and have numerous adventures. + +In the beginning this chronicle of the younger Rovers, I wish to thank +my numerous readers for all the kind things they have said about the +other volumes in these series, and I trust that they will make just as +good friends of Jack, Andy and Randy, and Fred as they did of Dick, +Tom, and Sam Rover. + +Affectionately and sincerely yours, + +EDWARD STRATEMEYER. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + PAGE + + I INTRODUCING THE YOUNGER ROVERS 1 + + II SOMETHING OF THE PAST 13 + + III WHAT FOLLOWED ANOTHER TRICK 24 + + IV JACK IN WALL STREET 35 + + V GETTING READY TO LEAVE 45 + + VI ON THE TRAIN 54 + + VII A SCENE IN THE DINING CAR 65 + + VIII AT COLBY HALL 76 + + IX THE MISSING SUITCASE 88 + + X GETTING ACQUAINTED 98 + + XI DOWN IN THE CORNFIELD 109 + + XII LEARNING TO DRILL 119 + + XIII FRED IS FOLLOWED 129 + + XIV THE FIGHT 139 + + XV IN THE TOWN 148 + + XVI AT THE MOVING PICTURE THEATER 157 + + XVII THE GIRLS FROM CLEARWATER HALL 167 + + XVIII SLUGGER BROWN IS EXPOSED 178 + + XIX A SQUALL ON THE LAKE 187 + + XX IN GREAT PERIL 197 + + XXI ASSISTANCE REFUSED 206 + + XXII THE MEETING WITH HIXLEY HIGH 216 + + XXIII TARGET PRACTICE 226 + + XXIV THE FUN OF HALLOWE'EN 235 + + XXV OFF ON A HUNT 245 + + XXVI FROM ONE TROUBLE TO ANOTHER 254 + + XXVII ELIAS LACY'S DEMAND 265 + +XXVIII IN THE GUARDROOM 274 + + XXIX THE EXPOSURE 284 + + XXX A FOOTBALL VICTORY--CONCLUSION 296 + + + + +THE ROVER BOYS AT COLBY HALL + + +CHAPTER I + +INTRODUCING THE YOUNGER ROVERS + + +"For gracious sake! what's that racket?" exclaimed Dick Rover, as he +threw down the newspaper he was reading and leaped to his feet. + +"Sounds to me as if there was a battle royal going on," returned his +younger brother, Sam, who was at a desk in the library of the old +farmhouse, writing a letter. + +"It's those boys!" exclaimed Tom Rover, as he tossed aside a copy of a +comic paper which he had been looking over. "I'll wager they're up to +some mischief again." + +"Well, if they are your boys, Tom, you mustn't find fault with them," +answered Sam Rover, with a twinkle in his eye. "If ever there were +chips of the old block, your twins are It with a capital I." + +"Humph!" snorted Tom Rover. "I don't think Andy and Randy are much +ahead of your Fred when it comes to playing tricks, and I think Dick's +Jack can hold up his end too." + +"Never mind about that just now," broke in Dick Rover, hastily. "Let's +go out and see what those kids are up to." + +"All right. But don't be too severe with 'em," pleaded Tom Rover. +"Remember, boys will be boys." + +"That's true, Tom. But we've got to take 'em in hand sooner or later," +remonstrated his brother Sam. "If we don't, they'll grow up the wildest +bunch ever known." + +A number of cries of alarm and protest, mingled with fierce cheering, +had reached the house from the garden just beyond the broad veranda. As +the three Rover brothers hurried through the hallway and outside, the +yelling and cheering were renewed. Then, just as Tom Rover stepped out +on the veranda, there was a sudden swish and a stream of water from a +garden hose caught him directly in the left ear. + +"Hi! Hi! Stop that!" cried Tom Rover, doing his best to dodge the +stream of water, which suddenly seemed to play all over the piazza. +"What do you mean by wetting me this way?" + +"It wasn't my fault, Dad," came from a boy standing on the lawn, both +hands clutching a rubber hose held, also, by another boy of about the +same age. "It was Fred who turned the hose that way." + +"Nothing of the sort! It was Randy twisted it that way trying to get it +away from me," cried Fred Rover. "And he isn't going to do it!" and +thereupon ensued a struggle between the two boys which caused the +stream of water to fly over the garden first in one direction and then +another. + +In the meanwhile, not far away another stream of water was issuing from +a hose held by two other lads. This, as well as the water from hose +number one, had been directed towards the back of the garden, where an +elderly white man and an equally elderly colored man were trying to +shelter themselves behind a low hedge to keep from becoming drenched. + +"Fo' de lan's' sake, Massa Dick! won't you make dem boys stop?" cried +out the old colored man, when he caught sight of Dick Rover hurrying +out on the lawn. "Dem boys is jest nacherly tryin' to drown old Aleck +Pop, dat's what dey is!" + +"They didn't have no call to touch them hoses," came from the elderly +white man. "I tol' 'em they mustn't muss with the water; but they won't +mind nohow!" and thus speaking old Jack Ness held up his hands in comic +despair. + +"Why! we didn't know you were behind the hedge," came from one of the +boys holding the second hose. "We thought you were both down at the +barn." + +"You can't make believe like that, Andy Rover!" returned the old man of +all work, shaking his head vigorously. "You knowed I was goin' to trim +up this hedge a bit and that Aleck was goin' to help me." + +"You boys let up with this nonsense," came sternly from Tom Rover. He +turned to face one of his twins. "Randy, I ought to give you a +thrashing for wetting me like this." + +"Don't Fred get half the thrashing?" questioned Randy Rover, +quizzically, for he could readily see that his parent was not as angry +as his words seemed to imply. "I don't like to be selfish, you know. He +can have more than his share if he wants it." + +"You'll take your own thrashings--I don't want 'em," broke in his +cousin Fred quickly. + +"Jack," cried Dick Rover, turning to his son, "turn that water off at +once." + +"I don't know where to turn it off. I didn't turn it on," answered Jack +Rover, the oldest of the four boys who had been fooling. + +"I'll turn it off and fix it so they can't turn it on ag'in," came from +old Jack Ness, and away hobbled the man of all work. + +"I think it's a shame for you boys to drench old Ness and Aleck," was +Sam Rover's sober comment. "Both of them might catch cold or get +rheumatism." + +"We didn't start to do anything like that, Dad," answered Fred Rover. +"We were going to have a little fight between ourselves, playing rival +firemen. We aimed the water at the hedge, and we didn't see Ness and +Aleck until they let out a yell." + +"But I saw two of you playing the water in that direction," cried Dick +Rover. "You were one of them, Jack." + +"Oh, well, Dad, what was the harm after they were all wet?" pleaded his +son. "They'd have to change their clothing anyway." + +"That's just it," added Andy Rover quickly, with his eyes twinkling +from merriment. "A little more water won't hurt a person when he's +already soaked. It's just like spoiling a rotten egg--it can't be +done," and at this reply, both Dick Rover and his brother, the +fun-loving Tom, had to turn away their faces to hide their amusement. +Nevertheless, Dick sobered his face almost instantly as he answered: + +"Well, these pranks around the farm have got to stop. You'll have your +grandfather and Uncle Randolph and Aunt Martha all upset, not to say +anything about your sisters and your mothers. It's a fortunate thing +that they went down to the town to do some shopping. Otherwise I think +all of you would be in for quite some punishment." + +"Oh! Then you're not going to punish us, are you?" broke in Randy Rover +quickly. "That's fine! I knew you wouldn't mind our having a little +fun." + +"Don't be so fast, young man," returned his father. "Your Uncle Dick +may be too lenient. I am rather of the opinion that you and your +brother, if not your cousins, have got to be taken in hand." + +"Oh, please, Massa Tom, don' go fo' to punish 'em," burst out old Aleck +Pop. "I--I don't s'pose dey meant any great ha'm, even do dey did t'row +dat stream of wattah right in dis yere coon's mouf;" and he smiled +broadly, showing a row of ivories, rather the worse for wear. + +"I think all of you boys had better go into the house and get some dry +clothing on before your mothers put in an appearance," suggested Dick +Rover. "If they see you like this, all dripping wet, they'll certainly +be worried." + +"All right, Dad; I'll do it," answered Jack, quickly. And then he +motioned to his cousins. "Come on, let's see how fast we can make the +change;" and off into the big farmhouse rushed the boys, clattering up +the back stairs one after the other, to the two big rooms which they +occupied. + +"Some boys!" was Sam Rover's comment, as he shook his head doubtfully. + +"They are certainly growing older--and wilder," returned Dick Rover. + +"We've got to take them in hand--that is dead certain!" said Tom Rover, +with conviction. "Why! if I don't do something with Andy and Randy +pretty soon, they'll be as--as----" + +"As bad as you were, Tom, at their age," finished Dick Rover, with a +smile. + +"Now you've said something, Dick," affirmed Sam Rover. "Andy isn't +quite so bad when it comes to playing tricks, although he certainly +says some awfully funny things, but when it comes to doing things Randy +continually puts me in mind of Tom." + +"Oh, say! To hear you fellows talk, you'd think that I was the worst +boy that ever lived," grumbled Tom Rover. "What did I ever do to raise +such a rumpus as this?" + +"Phew! What did he ever do to raise such a rumpus as this?" mocked Sam +Rover. "Well, what didn't he do? When father went to Africa and +disappeared and we came down here to good old Valley Brook Farm, wasn't +he the constant torment of Uncle Randolph and Aunt Martha, and the +hired girl, and all the rest of the community until, in sheer despair, +uncle had to send us off to Putnam Hall? And when we went to the Hall, +who was the first one to get into trouble--exploding a giant firecracker +on the campus? Answer me that, will you?" + +"Ancient history," murmured Tom Rover, dryly. But then, of a sudden his +eyes began to twinkle. "No use talking, though, we certainly did have +some good times in those days, didn't we?" he continued. "Do you +remember how we got the best of old Josiah Crabtree?" + +"Yes. And how we got the best of a whole lot of our enemies," added Sam +Rover. + +"Yes, and what gloriously good times we did have at Putnam Hall and at +Brill College," came from Dick Rover, with a sigh. "Sometimes I wish +all those happy days could be lived over again." + +"When you think of those days, Dick, just think of what great times are +in store for our boys," said Sam. "I only trust they have as good times +as we had." + +"I guess they'll know how to take care of themselves all right enough," +was Tom Rover's comment. "But, just the same, we can't permit them to +become too wild. Sending them to that private school in New York City +doesn't seem to have done them so very much good, although, of course, +I admit they are well educated for their age." + +"I know where I'm going to send Jack when the proper time comes," +answered Dick Rover. + +"Where?" came from his brothers. + +"I'm going to send him to Colby Hall, the military academy which our +old school chum, Larry Colby, has opened. Larry sent me some of his +literature some time ago; and I have heard from several people that +it's already a first-class institution of learning--every bit as good +as Putnam Hall." + +"Well, if it's half as good as dear old Putnam Hall it must be some +school," said Tom Rover. "And there's no reason why Larry Colby +shouldn't be able to run a first-class military academy. He was a good +scholar and a first-class cadet when he was at Putnam Hall." + +"After Larry left Putnam Hall he went to travel in Europe," continued +Dick. "Then he went through college, and immediately after that he +joined the militia of New York State and there worked his way up until +he now sports the title of colonel." + +"Colonel Colby, eh? That's going some," was Tom's comment. + +"His school is patterned after West Point, as was Putnam Hall, and I +understand he has a West Point officer there to instruct the cadets in +military tactics." + +"Well, that's the sort of school our boys will need," answered Tom +Rover. "The stricter it is the better it will be for them." + +"I think it would be a good scheme to send them to Larry Colby's +school," was Sam's comment. "As Larry knows us so well he would +probably take an especial interest in our boys." + +"Yes. But I wouldn't want him to show our lads any special favors," +broke in Tom, quickly. "If the boys went there, I should want them to +stand on their own feet, just as we did when we went to Putnam Hall." + +"That's the talk, Tom! No favoritism!" cried Dick. "The only way to +make a boy thoroughly self-reliant is to make him take his own part." + +"If we are going to send them off to boarding school, they might as +well go this Fall as any other time," remarked Sam Rover. "Have you any +idea when the term at Colby Hall begins, Dick?" + +"About the middle of September." + +"It's the middle of August now. That would give us a full month in +which to make arrangements and for them in which to get ready." + +"Have you ever said anything to the twins about going to boarding +school, Tom?" questioned Sam. + +"Oh, yes. They understand that they are to go to some place sooner or +later. Fred understands it, too, doesn't he?" + +"Yes." + +"And I told Jack only a short while ago that he must get ready to think +of leaving home," put in Dick Rover. "Of course, it will be rather hard +on the boys at first. They have never been away from us at all except +the two weeks when they were out in that boys' camp." + +"They'll have to get used to it, just as we got used to it when father +went off to Africa and Uncle Randy sent us to Putnam Hall. Perhaps we +had better tell them----" + +Sam Rover broke off short as a series of shrieks in a high-pitched +feminine voice issued from the pantry of the big farmhouse. An instant +later a hired girl, followed by a middle-aged cook, came flying forth +from the kitchen doorway. + +"Oh, save me! Save me!" cried the hired girl, clutching her skirts +tightly around her ankles, "Save me!" + +"Oh, Mr. Rover! Mr. Rover! It's those dreadful boys! I won't stay here +another minute!" screamed the cook, flourishing a big spoon in one hand +and a dish-cloth in the other. "It's outrageous! That's what it is! I'm +going to pack my trunk and leave this house right away!" + +"What's the matter?" demanded Tom Rover, quickly. + +"Are you hurt?" came anxiously from Dick. + +"What have the boys done now?" questioned Sam. + +"What have they done?" wailed the hired girl. "I just went into the +pantry and opened the closet door and out jumped about a thousand mice +at me!" + +"Yes! and they are running all over the house!" broke in the cook +savagely. "One of 'em ran right over my foot and tried to bite me! I'm +going to pack my trunk and leave! I won't stay here another minute!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +SOMETHING OF THE PAST + + +At the announcement of the hired girl that their sons had let loose in +the farmhouse a thousand mice--more or less--the three Rover brothers +looked at each other enquiringly. + +"Another joke--and so soon!" gasped Sam Rover. + +"That certainly is the limit!" broke out Dick Rover, as he started for +the house. + +"If I find Andy and Randy have been up to another trick right on top of +this water-hose nonsense, I'll give them a tanning they won't forget in +a hurry," added Tom Rover; and then he and Sam followed Dick up the +back porch and into the kitchen. + +To the readers of the former volumes in these two "Rover Boys Series," +Dick, Tom and Sam Rover will need no special introduction. For the +benefit of others, however, let me state that the sober-minded and +determined Dick was the oldest of the three, with the fun-loving Tom +coming next and sturdy Sam being the youngest. They were the sons of +one Anderson Rover, who, when not traveling, made his home at Valley +Brook Farm, in New York State, living there with his brother Randolph +Rover and wife Martha. + +While Dick, Tom, and Sam were quite young, and while their father was +off exploring in the interior of Africa, the three Rovers had been sent +to Putnam Hall Military Academy, where they had made a few enemies and +likewise a host of friends, including a manly and straight-forward +cadet named Lawrence Colby. After many adventures both at school and in +various portions of the globe, they had graduated from Putnam Hall with +honor and then entered Brill College. + +At that time, Mr. Anderson Rover, who had long since returned from +Africa, was not in the best of health. He had numerous business +interests both in Wall Street, New York City, and in the West to take +care of, and presently it was found necessary that Dick leave college +and take charge of business matters for his parent. In this task Dick +was soon aided by Tom, leaving Sam the only member of the family to +graduate from Brill. + +While at Putnam Hall the three Rovers had become acquainted with three +charming girls, Dora Stanhope and her cousins, Nellie and Grace Laning. +This acquaintance had ripened into loving intimacy; and when Dick went +into business he took Dora Stanhope for his life-long partner. A little +later Tom was married to Nellie Laning, and, after he had left Brill +and joined his brothers in conducting their father's various business +enterprises, Sam married Grace Laning. + +With the aid of Mr. Anderson Rover and some others, The Rover Company +was organized with offices on Wall Street, New York City. The company +dealt in stocks, bonds, real estate, and other investments; and Dick +was now president, with Tom secretary and Sam treasurer. The company +had been prosperous from the start, although on several occasions +enemies had done their best to give the concern a black eye. + +When they were first married, Dick and his beautiful wife Dora had +begun housekeeping in a cosy apartment in the metropolis, and they had +presently been followed by Tom and Sam. But two years later the three +brothers had a chance to buy a beautiful plot of ground on Riverside +Drive facing the noble Hudson River, and on this they built three fine +houses adjoining each other, Dick living in the middle house with Tom +on one side and Sam on the other. + +Before the happy young folks moved into the new homes, Dick and Dora +were blessed with a little son, who later on was named John, after Mr. +John Laning. Later still, this couple had a daughter, whom they named +Martha, after Aunt Martha of Valley Brook Farm. Little Jack, as he was +called in those days, was a wonderfully bright and clever lad with many +of the clear-minded qualities which had made his father so successful +in life. + +About the time young Jack was presented with a baby sister, Tom and +Nellie Rover came forward with twin boys, one of whom was named +Anderson, after his grandfather, and the other Randolph, after his +uncle. Andy and Randy, as they were always called for short, were +exceedingly bright, each taking after his father, Andy always saying +things that were more or less funny and Randy playing tricks whenever +he got the chance. They were truly chips off the old block, and Tom +knew it, although outwardly he professed to be ignorant of the fact. + +"Those twins will be some boys when they grow up," was old Anderson +Rover's comment, when the lads were less than five years old. "They're +just as full of fun now as Tom ever dared to be." + +"So they are," answered his brother Randolph. "My! my! what will they +ever do with them when they get a little older?" + +"I sha'n't mind," said Aunt Martha, her eyes beaming brightly. "That +is, if they are really and truly as good-hearted as Tom has always +been. He certainly was the worst of the lot when it came to playing +jokes, but no lad ever had a better heart than Tom--not one!" + +About the time that Tom began to boast about his twins, Sam and Grace +came along with a beautiful little girl, whom they named Mary, after +Mrs. Laning. About a year later the girl was followed by a boy, and +this sturdy little chap was named Fred, after Sam's old school chum, +Fred Garrison. + +Living so close together, the four boys and the two girls were brought +up almost like one big family. The girls were all but inseparable, and +the boys could generally be found together, either studying, playing, +or having a good time. + +When the time came to set the children to studying, Martha and Mary +were placed in a private school for girls located but a short distance +from their homes. It was thought best, however, at the start to send +the boys to a public school, and this was done. For three years matters +went along very well, and during that time The Rover Company prospered +far beyond the expectations of those in charge. But then Andy and +Randy, becoming a little older, began to exhibit their talent for +playing tricks, and usually they were seconded in these efforts by Jack +and Fred. Once or twice all of the boys were reported by the school +principal for this, and each time the lads were remonstrated with by +their fathers in such a manner that, as young Andy expressed it, "it +was far more comfortable to sit down standing up than it was any other +way." + +"I think I'll have to do something with those twins," said Tom Rover to +his wife, after the boys had been reported for more tricks. "The school +they go to doesn't seem to be strict enough." And thereupon he had sent +the boys to a private establishment further uptown. + +Jack and Fred had begged their parents that they might be allowed to do +likewise; and at this private school the four cousins had been kept +until the close of the Spring term the preceding June. To the credit of +this school it must be said that the boys advanced rapidly in their +studies. Their deportment, however, was apparently no better than it +had been before, and as a consequence Tom Rover was more worried than +ever, while Dick and Sam began to wonder secretly whether it would not +be advisable to separate their sons from the mischievous twins. + +One day Dick broached this subject to his offspring. At once young Jack +set up a wild remonstrance. + +"Oh, Dad! don't take me away from Andy and Randy and Fred!" he pleaded. +"Why, we are just like brothers! I wouldn't know how to get along +without 'em." + +"But I'm afraid Andy and Randy are leading you into bad habits," +returned Dick Rover. + +"I don't think so, Dad. Anyway, I've heard folks say that Andy and +Randy are no worse than their father used to be--and you never wanted +to be separated from Uncle Tom, did you?" + +At this question Dick Rover's face took on a sudden sober look. "No; I +never wanted to be separated from your uncle, that's true," he said. +"But I tell you what we did used to do. When his pranks got too wild I +and your Uncle Sam used to hold him in." + +"All right then, Dad. I'll tell Fred about this, and we'll see what we +can do towards holding in Andy and Randy;" and there, after some more +talk along the same line, the matter was allowed to rest. + +Young Jack was as good as his word, and during the remainder of that +Spring term at the private school in New York City, Andy and Randy were +as well behaved as could possibly be expected from two red-blooded +lads. + +It had been planned by the Rovers that the Summer should be spent by +all the young folks and their mothers at Valley Brook Farm, the fathers +to come down from time to time, and especially over the week ends. +Since Dick, Tom, and Sam had become married the farm had been enlarged +by the purchase of two hundred additional acres. The farmhouse, too, +had been made larger, with the old portion remodeled, and a water +system from the rapidly-growing town of Dexter's Corners, as well as +electric lighting, had been installed. A telephone had been put in some +years previous. + +At first after their arrival at their grandfather's home, the four boys +had been content to take it easy, spending their time roaming the +fields, helping to gather the fruit, of which there was great +abundance, and in going fishing and swimming. But then Andy and Randy +had found time growing a little heavy on their hands, and one prank had +been followed by another. Some of the tricks had been played on Jack +and Fred, and they, of course, had done their best to retaliate, and +this had, on more than one occasion, brought forth a forceful, but +good-natured, pitched battle, and the fathers and the others present +had had all they could do to hold the boys in check. + +"I never saw such boys," was Mary Rover's comment to her brother Fred. +"Why can't you behave yourselves just as Martha and I do?" + +"Oh, girls never have any good times," answered Fred. "They just sit +around and primp up and read, and do things like that." + +"Indeed!" and Mary tossed her curly head. "I think we have just as good +times as you boys, every bit; but we don't have to be rough about it;" +and then she ran off to play a game of lawn tennis with her cousin +Martha. + +The time was the middle of August, and as the summer was proving to be +an unusually warm one, all the older Rovers were glad enough to take it +easy on the farm, they having earlier in the season been down to the +seashore for a couple of weeks. Dick, Tom and Sam had each taken a week +off at various times, and all managed to get down to the farm early +every Saturday afternoon, to remain until Sunday night or Monday +morning. + +And it was late on a Saturday afternoon, when the ladies and the girls +had gone to Dexter's Corners to do some shopping, and while the fathers +were busy reading and writing, that the events occurred with which the +present story opens. + +As Dick Rover ran into the farmhouse he heard a slight scream coming +from the sitting-room. The scream was followed by exclamations from two +men, and then a wild thumping as if someone was hitting the floor with +a cane. + +"It's a mouse--several of 'em!" came in the voice of Grandfather Rover. + +"Oh, my! oh, my! wherever did they come from?" exclaimed old Aunt +Martha. + +"Never mind where they came from, I'll fix 'em," asserted old Randolph +Rover, and then followed another thumping as he rushed around between +the chairs and behind the sofa, trying to slaughter some of the +scampering mice with his heavy walking stick. + +"Where are they? Where are those mice?" demanded Tom Rover, giving a +hasty glance around the kitchen. + +"There is one--under the sink!" ejaculated his brother Sam, and +catching up a stove lifter he let fly with such accurate aim that the +unhappy rodent was despatched on the spot. + +"I see another one back of the pantry door," said Tom Rover a moment +later, and then made a dive into the pantry. Here, in a side closet, +the door of which was partly open, he saw a broom and grabbed it +quickly. Then he made a wild pass at the mouse, but the rodent eluded +him and scrambled over the kitchen floor and into the sitting-room. + +"Oh, dear! Oh, dear! Did you ever see so many mice?" came in a wailing +voice from Aunt Martha. She had clambered up on a chair and stood there +holding her dress tightly around her feet. + +"It's another of those boys' tricks, that's what it is," asserted +Grandfather Rover. "They ought to be punished for it." + +"Yes. But we've got to get rid of these mice first," answered his +brother. + +Then Randolph Rover, seeing a mouse scampering across the side of the +room, threw his walking stick at it with all his force. But his aim was +poor and the walking stick, striking the edge of the table, glanced off +and hit a fish-globe, smashing it to pieces and sending the water and +the goldfish flying in every direction. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +WHAT FOLLOWED ANOTHER TRICK + + +When the hubbub downstairs started the four Rover boys were up in their +adjoining bedrooms partly undressed and in the midst of a couple of +impromptu boxing matches, one taking place between Andy and Jack and +the other between Randy and Fred. + +"There, my boy, how do you like that?" cried Andy, as, dancing around, +he managed to land a slapping blow on Jack's bare shoulder. + +"Fine, child! fine!" retorted young Jack. "But not half as good as +this," he continued, and, with a sudden spring, he landed one blow on +Andy's chest and another on his shoulder which sent Tom's son +staggering half-way across the bed. + +"Hurrah! one man down! Now for the next!" cried Fred, and managed to +land several blows in quick succession on Randy's shoulder. + +But then the fun-loving twin came at him with a rush, sending him into +a corner and on to a little table containing a number of books. As Fred +went down the table did likewise and the books fell all over him. + +"Whoop!" roared Randy in his delight. "Down and buried!" + +"But not dead," retorted Fred, promptly, and catching up several of the +books he hurled them in quick succession at his opponent. One in +particular caught Randy in the stomach, and down he sat with a +suddenness that jarred the floor. + +"Say!" exclaimed Jack, suddenly, and held up his hand, "this won't do +at all. The folks downstairs will think we're pulling the house down +over their ears. We'll have to slow up a bit. You know what our fathers +said a little while ago." + +"All right," returned Andy, promptly, as he arose to his feet. "After +this we'll be as quiet as a thunder storm in a moving picture drama." + +"That's the talk! Silence it is!" cried his twin; and then to let off a +little extra steam he silently turned a cart-wheel across the floor, +after which he proceeded with his toilet making. + +The boys were still minus their collars and ties when they suddenly +realized that something unusual was taking place downstairs. They had +closed the bedroom doors, but now all of them rushed out into the +hallway. + +"Great watermelons!" groaned Randy, and turned slightly pale. "I forgot +all about 'em!" + +"About what?" chimed in Jack. + +"You don't mean the mice?" demanded Andy. + +"Yes, I do!" + +"What mice?" questioned Fred. + +"The mice I caught under the flooring of the old wagon house +yesterday," answered Randy. + +"I thought you put them in a cage and drowned them in the brook." + +"I was going to do that, but then I changed my mind and put 'em in a +couple of boxes. I thought maybe I might have a chance to train +'em--just like those mice we once saw in a show." + +"Where did you put those boxes?" demanded Andy, quickly. + +"I--I--didn't know exactly what to do with 'em, so--I--I--put 'em on +the shelf in the pantry downstairs," faltered the twin. + +"Great catfish, Randy! you've got us into a fine mess!" broke in Fred. + +"Coming right on top of that trouble with the water-hose!" added Jack, +ruefully. + +After that there was a moment of silence, the four cousins gazing at +each other uncertainly. Then Randy drew a long breath. + +"Well, I'm going downstairs to see what's doing," he declared. "If I've +got to suffer for this, I might as well see the fun." + +"I'm going down, too," responded his twin, and side by side they ran +down the stairs, with Jack and Fred close at their heels. + +Perhaps it was poetic justice that Randy, who had been the cause of +this commotion, should suffer the worst for it. Hardly had he put his +foot in the lower hallway of the farmhouse when a mouse, scampering +from a nearby doorway, made directly for him. The boy made a wild jump +to step on the rodent, missed his footing, and came down flat on his +back. He landed directly at the foot of the stairs, and his brother, +being unable to stop, fell on top of him. + +"Hi! Get off of me!" gasped the unfortunate youth. "What do you want to +do--crack my head open?" + +"Next time you go down, give a fellow warning," retorted his brother, +scrambling to his feet; and then the two boys, with Jack and Fred, +entered the sitting-room, doing this just as their fathers came in from +the direction of the kitchen and just when old Uncle Randolph made his +unfortunate attack on the fish-globe. + +"Hello! look at the fish on the floor," exclaimed Jack. "What's the +matter, Grandfather? Did the mice upset the globe?" + +"No. I did that, trying to hit one of the pesky creatures," explained +old Uncle Randolph. "We must kill them some way or they'll get all over +the house, and then none of us will have any peace." + +"I wouldn't care for a piece of mouse, anyway," remarked Andy, but in +such a low tone that none of the older folks heard him. + +"Everybody get a stick and go at those mice," commanded Dick Rover, and +looked at the boys so sternly they all began to feel uncomfortable. +"We've got either to kill them or drive them out of the house, +otherwise the lady folks won't be able to sleep to-night." + +"I'll get a poker and kill as many of 'em as I can," cried Randy, and +ran out into the kitchen to do as he had mentioned. + +The other boys, as well as their fathers, armed themselves with canes, +umbrellas, and brooms, and for the next fifteen minutes there was a +rapid and thorough search for all of the rodents. Several were driven +outside through the open doors, while others were caught and +slaughtered in various parts of the kitchen, the pantry, and the rooms +adjoining. Then the goldfish were gathered up and put into another bowl +of water and the bits of broken glass were removed. + +"I'm awfully sorry, Uncle Randy, you broke the fish-globe," said Randy, +contritely, "but I'm glad you saved the fish." + +"Look here, young man, I want to talk to you--and to you, too!" cried +Tom, sharply, and without more ado caught each twin by the arm and +marched them into the library. + +"Wow! I'm afraid Andy and Randy are in for it now," whispered Fred to +Jack. + +"Well, Randy certainly had no right to put those mice in the pantry," +answered his cousin. "Just the same, I hope Uncle Tom isn't too severe +with 'em." + +"I don't see why Andy should be punished for this." + +"Oh, they always stick together. You know that as well as I do." + +"So I do. Isn't it wonderful how each is willing to share the blame +with the other?" added Fred, with deep admiration. + +Once in the library, Tom Rover shut the doors tightly and then faced +his twin sons. + +"Now then, I want the truth about this," he commenced sternly. "Where +did those mice come from?" + +"They came from under the flooring of the old wagon house," answered +Randy. "I caught them there when the carpenters tore up the floor to +put down the new one." + +"And where did you put them?" + +"I put 'em in a--er--a couple of boxes." + +"Randy was going to keep the mice and try to teach 'em to do tricks, +just the same as those mice we once saw in a vaudeville show," put in +Andy, quickly, to do what he could to shield his brother. + +"More tricks, eh?" was Tom's dry comment. "It seems to me that it is +nothing but tricks lately. I suppose you placed the boxes in the pantry +just so the mice wouldn't catch cold, didn't you?" he went on +quizzically. + +"No, sir. I--I--placed 'em there just for safekeeping," was the +hesitating answer. "I didn't know that Lulu would disturb them." + +"That's it, Dad. I'm sure Randy didn't want 'em disturbed." + +"And what did you have to do with this, Andy?" demanded the father. + +At this the boy addressed had nothing to say. + +"He had nothing to do with it, Dad," answered Randy. "I got the mice +and put 'em in the two boxes. I s'pose it wasn't just the right thing +to put 'em in the pantry, but I give you my word I didn't think they'd +be upset the way they were and be sent running all over the house. If +Lulu hadn't touched the boxes, the mice would be there yet." + +"Perhaps," answered Tom Rover, dryly. "Just the same, I think you +placed the boxes there hoping that Lulu or the cook would have +curiosity enough to see what they contained. As it is, your actions +have upset the whole house, brought on the destruction of the +fish-globe, and the cook is so upset that she has threatened to leave." + +"Oh, she won't leave, Dad. She likes her big wages too well," remarked +Andy, quickly. + +"I don't know about that, Son. Nobody is going to stand for your tricks +much longer. They are getting altogether too numerous." Tom continued +to look as stern as possible. "I've got to take both of you in hand, +and that is all there is to it. You are growing wilder every day. +Something has got to be done. Now you go right upstairs and finish +dressing, and don't dare to let me hear of any more tricks being played +for the rest of this day, otherwise I'll not only give you a sound +thrashing, but I'll cut off your spending money and do several other +things that you won't like;" and, thus speaking, the father of the +twins opened the door to the hall and shoved them both out towards the +stairs with more force than they had felt for some time. The two lads +lost no time in retiring to their bedroom. + +"Say, Randy, I think you got off rather easily," remarked Andy, when +they were alone. + +"I think so myself," was the quick response. "I thought Dad would be so +mad that he would give me one everlasting licking." + +"Say! how did you make out?" questioned Fred, eagerly, as he came +sneaking in, followed by Jack. + +"You don't look as if you had suffered very much," was Jack's comment. +"I thought you'd come out looking as if you'd been through a threshing +machine." + +What Randy and Andy had to tell was quickly related. At the conclusion, +Jack, who being somewhat older than any of the others, was looked upon +as something of a leader, shook his head thoughtfully. + +"I guess we had better pull in our horns a little, for a while at +least," was his conclusion. "My father was mighty mad, too, and so was +Fred's. If we don't look out, we'll all get in wrong. They didn't like +that wetting business to start with." + +While the boys were finishing their toilet and discussing the matter, +their fathers were doing what they could to set matters to rights +downstairs, and to pacify their Aunt Martha and also the cook and the +hired girl. The cook was particularly wrought up. + +"It ain't the first time nor the second time nor the third time that +them boys have played tricks on us," she declared. "It's been nothin' +but one thing or 'nother ever since they came here--and last Summer it +was the same way. The first thing you know, they'll be doin' somethin' +awful, and some of us'll get hurt. I think I had better leave." + +"If she leaves, I'll leave too," declared the hired girl. + +"Don't think of leaving," said Tom Rover. "I'll take those boys in hand +and see to it that they don't bother you any more. If they do the least +thing, I'll pack them back to our house in New York." And after a +little more talk he succeeded in mollifying the cook and the hired girl +to such an extent that they went back to their work. Then the fathers +of the boys withdrew once more to the library. + +"I don't know how you feel about it," began Tom, after he had picked up +his comic paper once more and then thrown it aside in disgust. "I begin +to think that the best thing I can do is to pack those twins off to +Colby Hall." + +"I don't know but what I agree with you, Tom," answered Sam. "And if +you do send them, I think Fred might as well go along." + +"Yes; and Jack also," added Dick. "Those boys will never want to be +separated, and I don't know that we could do better than to place them +under Larry Colby's care, especially if we let Larry know just how wild +they are apt to be and tell him to take them in hand." + +"Yes; I'd want Larry to know all about them," answered Tom. "And I'd +want him to give me his word that he'd keep a sharp eye on Andy and +Randy and punish them severely every time they broke any of the rules. +It's the only way to bring them up properly." + +"All right then, Tom. If you think that way and Dick thinks the same, +let's get right down to business and send a letter to Larry Colby +to-night," said Sam. + +"But what of the boys' mothers?" questioned Dick Rover. He knew that +his wife Dora would grieve considerably over having young Jack leave +home. + +"We'll have to explain the situation to them and get them to agree," +answered Tom, firmly. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +JACK IN WALL STREET + + +"Just to think, Jack! a week from to-day we'll be on our way to Colby +Hall Military Academy." + +"Yes, Fred. Doesn't it seem wonderful? I do hope we'll find the school +to our liking," returned Jack, with a serious look on his face. "It +would be too bad to go to some punk school." + +"Oh, you can be sure that the school is all right; otherwise our +fathers wouldn't have picked it out for us," broke in Andy. "They know +what a good military academy is. Didn't they go to that famous old +Putnam Hall?" + +"I wish we could have gone to Putnam Hall," added Randy. "From what dad +has told me, it must have been one dandy school." + +"Well, we can't go to something that ain't," answered his twin with a +grin. "Putnam Hall doesn't exist any more. When it burnt to the ground, +Captain Putnam felt too old to have it rebuilt, and so he settled with +the insurance companies and retired." + +"Gee! but won't we have dandy times if that school is what we hope +for?" cried Andy. "We'll make things hum, won't we?" + +"Right you are!" came in a chorus from the others. And then, in sudden +high spirits, the boys began to wrestle with each other, ending up with +something of a pillow fight in which not only pillows but also bolsters +and numerous other articles were used as missiles. + +After a never-to-be-forgotten vacation at Valley Brook Farm, the boys, +along with their sisters and their parents, had returned to their homes +in New York City. The Summer was almost at an end, and schools all over +were opening for the Fall and Winter term. + +It had been no easy task for Dick, Tom, and Sam Rover to convince their +wives that it would be best to send the boys to some strict boarding +school instead of to the private school which they had been attending +in the metropolis. Gentle Dora Rover had cried a little at the thought +of having her only son Jack leave home, and Grace Rover had been +affected the same way at the thought of parting from her only boy Fred. + +"But both of you will be better off than I shall be," had been Nellie +Rover's comment. "Each of you will have a daughter still at home, while +both of my twins will be gone and I'll have nobody;" and her eyes, too, +had filled with tears. + +But with it all, the mothers were sensible women, and they agreed with +their husbands that the boys needed to be placed under strict +discipline and that this was not possible at the school which they had +been attending. + +"That school is altogether too fashionable," had been Dick Rover's +comment. "They make regular dudes of the pupils and they think more of +high collars and neckties and patent-leather shoes than they do of +reading, writing and arithmetic. Now, I want Jack to get a good +education and I want him to learn how to behave himself while he is +getting it." And so, after several communications had passed between +the Rovers and Colonel Lawrence Colby, it was settled that the boys +should be enlisted as cadets at Colby Hall. + +"Cease firing!" cried Jack, when there came a lull in the pillow fight. +"The first thing you know somebody will come in here and we'll be in +hot water again." The boys were up in Jack's bedroom, and all of their +mothers were downstairs, talking over the question of the wardrobes the +lads were to take along to school. + +"All right, Commodore," answered Andy, gaily. "Out of the trenches, +boys; the war is over!" + +"Suits me," panted Randy, who was all out of wind from his exertions. +"Melt the cannons into telephones and send messages to the girls that +the soldier boys are coming home," and at this remark there was a short +laugh. Then all the boys proceeded to make themselves comfortable in +various attitudes around the bedroom. + +"Say! I'm glad of one thing," remarked Fred; "and that is, we won't be +utter strangers at Colby Hall. Spouter Powell will be there and so will +Gif Garrison." + +It may be as well to explain here that Spouter Powell, whose real first +name was Richard, was the son of the Rovers' old friend, John Powell, +commonly called Songbird. Richard Powell did not seem to have much of +his father's ability to write verse, but he did have a great fondness +for making speeches, whence had come his nickname of Spouter. + +Gifford Garrison, always called Gif for short, was the son of the +Rovers' old schoolmate, Fred Garrison, after whom Fred Rover had been +named. Gif was a big, strong youth who doted on athletic sports of all +kinds. Both Gif and Spouter had visited the Rover boys on a number of +occasions, and consequently all of the lads were well acquainted. + +"Yes, I'll be glad to meet Gif and Spouter," returned Jack. "I like +them both, even though Spouter gets pretty talky sometimes." + +Just then there sounded downstairs a postman's whistle, and a minute +later Martha Rover came upstairs. + +"Here's a letter for you, Jack," said his sister, holding it out. + +"Thanks," he returned, as he took the communication and glanced at it. +"Why! what do you know about this? Here we were just talking about Gif +and Spouter, and here is a letter from Gif now," he cried. + +"Wonder what he's got to say," remarked Fred, and then, as he saw his +cousin lingering at the doorway, he added: "Don't you want to come in, +Martha, and join us?" + +"No, thank you," she returned. "I'm going out with Mary. We're going to +buy some things for you boys to take along when you go to that boarding +school." + +"Oh, I know what those will be," burst out Andy, gaily. "Pink neckties +with yellow dots, or nice red socks with blue rings around 'em." + +"Oh, the idea!" burst out the girl. "What an eye for color you have!" + +"Well, maybe it was blue socks with red rings around 'em," went on +Andy, innocently; "and maybe the pink neckties will be plain yellow." + +"Oh, Cousin Andy! I think you're just the worst ever!" shrieked Martha, +and then ran downstairs to join those below. + +In the meantime, Jack had torn open the letter and was scanning it +hastily. + +"Don't be selfish!" burst out Fred, curiously. "If Gif has anything to +say about that school, let us hear it." + +"Sure. I'll read it out loud," answered his cousin. + +The communication, which was a rather long one, was of the usual boyish +type, and much of it was of no particular interest. Several paragraphs, +however, may be quoted here. + + * * * * * + +"You will be interested to know that besides Spouter Powell there will +be another boy here who may or may not join our set. The fellow's name +is Walter Baxter, and he is the son of Dan Baxter, the man who, years +ago, caused your father and your uncles so much trouble at Putnam Hall +and other places. Baxter is very hot-tempered and willing to fight +almost any time. + +"When I get back to school I am going in for athletics, particularly +football this Fall, and I hope some of you fellows will want to go into +athletics, too, for it will make it more interesting to have some +friends on the eleven. Spouter don't go in for that sort of thing. He +likes to save his wind for talk." + + * * * * * + +"Hum! that's rather interesting," was Randy's comment. "I wonder if +this Walt Baxter will try to make trouble for us like his father did +for our fathers?" + +"Well, if he does, I guess we can take care of him, just as our folks +took care of his father," returned his twin. + +"No use borrowing trouble," came from Fred. "I've heard from my dad +that Mr. Dan Baxter has reformed and is now a first-class business man +and is quite prosperous. It may be that while his son Walt is somewhat +hot-tempered, he may still be a thoroughly good fellow. I wouldn't give +a rap for a boy that didn't show some spirit once in a while." + +On the following morning Jack was on the point of going over to Fred's +house to return some books he had borrowed, when his father called to +him. + +"I want you to go down to our offices with me this morning, Jack," said +Dick Rover. "I've got a package there that I meant to bring up for your +mother. You can come right back with it." + +"All right, Dad. I'll be with you in a minute," answered the son, and +ran off to deliver the books and to let Fred, as well as Randy and +Andy, know where he was going. + +Jack's temperament was a good deal like that of his father, and, young +as he was, he already took an interest in what was being done in the +offices of The Rover Company. On more than one occasion he had begged +his parent's permission to visit the place on Wall Street, and once had +been granted a "look-in" at the Stock Exchange during one of its +busiest sessions. That sight was one he had never forgotten. + +When the Rovers had first opened up in Wall Street, they had taken +possession of a set of rather shabby offices formerly occupied by +another firm with which they had had various difficulties, the +particulars of which were related in "The Rover Boys in New York" and +"The Rover Boys in Business." Now, however, they occupied the entire +fourth floor of another building in a much better location. There was a +large general office and a counting room, and a private office for each +of the three brothers. Their office help numbered about twenty; and +when business was brisk, the place consequently was a decidedly busy +one. + +When the offices of The Rover Company were reached, Dick Rover brought +out the package intended for his wife. It was quite a bundle, and not +wrapped as well as it might have been. + +"You'd better let the office boy put an extra string around that, +Jack," said the father. + +"Oh, that's all right, Dad. I can get it home just as it is. There +won't be much of a crowd on the subway train going uptown this time of +day." + +Jack spent a few minutes in the offices, speaking to the office boy and +to several of the clerks with whom he was acquainted, and then started +off for home, the bundle under his arm. He came down by one of the +several elevators to the lower corridor of the building, and there +stood in the wide-open doorway, contemplating the bustle in the narrow +street beyond. Wall Street is the financial heart of our nation, and +the activity there during business hours is something tremendous. + +As Jack stood with his bundle under his arm, his attention was suddenly +attracted to what was going on close by, beyond several columns which +formed a part of the entrance to the building. In a niche of the wall +stood a peddler, a short, sallow-faced and hollow-eyed man, evidently +of foreign birth, trying to sell some cheap wares displayed on a little +three-legged stand which he had set up. In front of the peddler stood a +tall, slim, overbearing boy, loudly dressed and wearing light-colored +spats and gloves to match. + +"You've got no right to plank yourself here!" cried the overbearing boy +savagely. "You get out of here or I'll dump that trash of yours into +the street." + +"Please, Mister, I am a poor man," pleaded the peddler in very broken +English. "Please, Mister, you buy somet'in'?" + +"You get out, I tell you!" went on the tall youth with a very lordly +air. "Get out, I tell you! You foreigners are all thieves! Get out of +here!" And without further warning he caught the thin, little peddler +by the shoulder and gave him such a shove that the man had all he could +do to keep from falling and from upsetting his little stock in trade. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +GETTING READY TO LEAVE + + +"The mean fellow!" + +Such was Jack's exclamation as he witnessed the scene between the +hollow-eyed little street peddler and the dudish, overbearing youth who +had attacked him. + +"Get out, I tell you!" repeated the overbearing boy, as the peddler +straightened up and caught hold of his little stand to keep it from +tumbling over. "I've a big mind to kick your stuff into the street for +you." + +"Let up there, you big boob!" cried Jack, and without stopping to think +twice he leaped towards the other youth and caught him firmly by the +arm. + +The boy who had attacked the peddler had not expected such +interference, and he whirled around greatly surprised, especially when +he saw a boy smaller than himself confronting him. + +"What--what do you mean by catching hold of me this way?" he stammered. + +"Why can't you leave that poor peddler alone?" retorted Jack. + +"What business is this of yours?" + +"That chap wasn't doing any harm here so far as I can see. He's only +trying to earn his living." + +"See here, kid! this is none of your affair, and I want you to keep out +of it," stormed the dudish-looking youth. "We don't allow those fellows +around this building." + +"Then you tell him to move on in a decent kind of way," returned Jack. + +"I'll do as I please." The big boy turned again towards the peddler and +made a motion as if to push both the man and his stand down, but, +instantly, Jack caught hold of him again and pulled him back, shoving +him in between two pillars of the building's entrance. + +"You had better go on," said Jack to the peddler, and, evidently much +frightened by what was occurring, the little man took up his stand and +disappeared as if by magic in the crowd on the street. + +"Say! you've got gall to interfere with me!" burst out the big youth, +glaring at Jack. "I'll teach you a lesson;" and with a sudden move he +pulled Jack's bundle from under his arm and threw it out into the +street. "Now you go about your business and don't you interfere with me +again." + +To have the bundle belonging to his mother treated in that fashion made +the young Rover's blood boil. He jumped at the big youth, and as the +other aimed a blow at him he dodged and then caught his opponent by the +ear. + +"Ouch! Let go!" screamed the big youth in sudden pain, and then he +landed a blow on Jack's shoulder and received a crack on the chin in +return. + +How far this encounter might have gone, it is hard to say, but at that +moment, while a crowd was beginning to gather, there came a sudden +interruption in the appearance of Jack's Uncle Tom, followed by his +Uncle Sam. + +"Hello! What does this mean?" demanded Tom Rover, as he stepped between +the two boys. + +"It means that I've got an account to settle with that young snip, Mr. +Rover!" cried the big youth savagely and giving Jack a look full of +hatred. + +"Uncle Tom, that fellow is nothing but a brute," declared Jack. + +"A brute? What do you mean?" + +"He just attacked a poor little peddler who was trying to sell a few +things from a stand here in the corner. He tried to knock the peddler +down and upset his stand. I told him to stop and then he attacked me." + +"Humph! Are you this boy's uncle, Mr. Rover?" asked the big youth, in +surprise. + +"I am, Martell." + +"Then I want to tell you that he has no right to interfere with me," +went on Napoleon Martell, uglily. "Those peddlers are always hanging +around here and my opinion is they are all thieves." + +"That fellow was no more a thief than you are," broke in Jack, +sturdily. + +"Ha! Do you mean to call me a thief?" + +"Come, Jack, such talk won't do down here in Wall Street," remonstrated +his Uncle Sam, who had listened closely to what had been said. Sam +Rover, from a distance, had seen the bundle flung into the gutter and +had picked it up. Both the wrapping and the string were broken, but the +contents of the package seemed to be uninjured. + +"If that kid is your nephew, you had better take him in hand," grumbled +Napoleon Martell, and then, not wishing to have any more words with the +two older Rovers, he broke through the crowd which had gathered and +hurried up the street. + +"Come into the building," ordered Tom Rover to Jack, for the crowd was +getting denser every instant; boys and men who had been hurrying by +stopped to find out what was the matter. + +"I guess I'll have to go back to get that bundle tied up again," +answered Jack. The encounter had excited him not a little. "Uncle Tom, +that fellow seemed to know you?" + +"Yes, I know that boy. His name is Napoleon Martell, although they call +him Nappy for short. He is the son of Nelson Martell, one of our rivals +in business, a man who occupies the floor above us in this building." + +"I didn't know Nappy was much of a scrapper," was Sam Rover's comment. +"I thought he was too much of a dude to fight." + +"He certainly is a dude as far as appearances go," answered Jack; "but +he has the manner of a brute. I wish now I'd had the chance to give him +a good licking," he went on heartily. + +"You had better go slow when it comes to fighting," returned his uncle. +"A fight seldom settles anything." + +"Didn't you ever have any fights, Uncle Sam?" + +At this direct question Sam Rover's face became a study while his +brother Tom looked at him rather quizzically. + +"Yes! I had my share of fights when I was a boy," admitted the uncle. +"But, looking back, I think a good many of them might have been +avoided. Of course, I expect a boy to take his own part and not be a +coward. But a fight isn't always the best way to settle a difficulty." + +Once back in the offices, Jack did not hesitate to tell his father +about what had happened. In the meantime, an office boy rewrapped the +bundle, securing it this time with a stout cord. + +"I am sorry to hear about this trouble, Jack," said his father +seriously. "I don't want you to grow up into a scrapper." + +"But, Dad, I couldn't stand by and see that fellow abuse a poor little +peddler like that," answered the son. "It wasn't fair at all! What +right had that Nappy Martell to order the man away?" + +"No right, that I know of. Jack, except that Mr. Martell owns some +stock in the company that owns this building; but that would be a very +far-fetched right at the best." + +"I guess those Martells are all tarred from the same stick," was Tom +Rover's comment. "The father is just as overbearing as the son." + +"Do you know what I'm inclined to think?" remarked Sam Rover, as he +walked over and closed the door to the outer office so that the clerks +might not hear what was said. "I'm inclined to think that Nelson +Martell is a good deal of a crook." + +"And that's just my idea of the man, too," added Tom Rover. "What do +you think, Dick?" + +At this direct question the oldest of the three brothers pursed up his +lips in concentrated thought. + +"To tell the truth, I don't know exactly what to think," he answered +slowly. "Some of the things that Nelson Martell is trying to put +through are certainly rather shady. Still, they may be within the +strict letter of the law, and if that is so it would hardly be fair to +call the man a crook." + +When Jack returned home, he, of course, told his cousins of his +encounter at the entrance to the office building. + +"It's a pity you didn't have a chance to give Martell one in the eye or +in the nose," was Randy's comment. "Such a brute deserves to be hauled +down a peg or two." + +"Well, I rather think I gave his ear a pretty good twist," answered +Jack, grinning. + +"You ought to have made him pick up that bundle he flung into the +gutter," added Fred. + +"I couldn't do much of anything with the crowd gathering around. My! +how the people do flock together when the least thing happens! If we +had stayed there another minute or two, we might have had a thousand +people around us." + +With so many things to be thought of and done previous to the departure +for Colby Hall, the subject of Nappy Martell was soon dismissed. All +the boys were wondering what they had better put in their trunks and +suitcases. + +"Gee! I've got enough stuff planned out to fill five trunks," declared +Randy. "I want to take all my clothing, and my fishing outfit, and my +football and baseball togs, and my gym suit, and I'd like to take along +my dumbbells, and my physical culture exerciser, and maybe a shotgun, +and that favorite paddle of mine, and----" + +"And about five thousand other things," finished his twin. "I'm in the +same boat. But we've simply got to cut down and take only the things +that are actually necessary." + +"We won't need any baseball things during this term," declared Jack. +"The Fall is the time for football--not baseball. And say! we don't +want to forget our skates. There's a river up there and also a lake; so +if the winter gets cold enough there ought to be some dandy skating." + +"Yes. And if the lake is large enough there ought to be a chance for +some ice-boating," added Fred. + +At last, with the aid of their parents, the four boys got their trunks +and suitcases packed. They were to leave home for Colby Hall on +Wednesday morning, and on Tuesday evening their folks gave them a +little send-off in the shape of a party given at Dick Rover's +residence. At this gathering many of their boy friends were present, as +well as a number of girls along with Mary and Martha. All of the young +folks had an exceedingly pleasant time, which was kept up until +midnight. + +"And now for Colby Hall!" exclaimed Jack, after the party had come to +an end. + +"That's it," returned Fred. "Colby Hall and the best times ever!" + +"So say we all of us!" came from the twins. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +ON THE TRAIN + + +"Ready?" + +"I've been ready for the last half hour." + +"So have I. Come on, if we're going to catch that train." + +"Yes, boys, you don't want to miss the train," came from Mrs. Dick +Rover. She gazed at Jack fondly. "Oh, dear! how I hate to have you go!" + +"And how I do hate to see Fred leave!" sighed Mrs. Sam Rover. + +"And my twins!" murmured Tom's wife. "I suppose they'll be getting into +all sorts of mischief at that boarding school." + +"Oh, Ma! we're going to be regular little lambs there," declared Andy. + +"Just you wait and see what fine records we send home," added his twin. + +"The automobiles are waiting, boys," broke in Dick Rover. "Come. The +train is due to leave in twenty minutes, and you know how crowded +traffic is around the Grand Central Terminal." + +There were hasty good-byes, a number of kisses and words of cheer, and +then the four boys left their mothers and the girls and ran down to +where two automobiles were standing at the curb. The twins and their +father leaped into one, and Jack and Fred and their fathers into the +other, and in a moment more the two machines were gliding down +Riverside Drive on the way to the Grand Central Terminal at +Forty-second Street. + +It was a perfect autumn day, and all four of the lads were in the best +of spirits. To be sure, the fact that they were leaving home to be gone +for several months sobered them a trifle; but all were eager to find +out what was in store for them rather than to give thought to what had +been left behind. + +As might have been expected, there was a perfect jam of automobiles and +carriages in the vicinity of the Terminal, and as a consequence the +lads had barely time to get aboard the train which was to carry them to +Haven Point, the town on the outskirts of which Colby Hall was located. + +"Take care of yourselves!" cried Dick Rover. + +"Learn all you can," added his brother Sam. + +"And go slow on mischief," warned Tom. + +"We'll remember everything," came in a chorus from the four boys; and +then, as they waved their hands to their parents, the long train pulled +out of the big, gloomy station and the trip to the boarding school was +begun. + +Haven Point was located in the heart of New England, so that the boys +had a ride of several hours ahead of them. They had seats in a parlor +car, two on one side and two on the other, and they proceeded without +delay to make themselves comfortable, the porter aiding them in +disposing of their handbaggage. + +"Good-bye to old New York!" cried Jack. "Won't we have a lot of things +to talk about when we get back!" + +"I'm just crazy to see Colby Hall, to find out what it really looks +like," said Andy. + +"That picture we had of it looked pretty good," was Fred's comment. +"But, of course, you can't always tell by a picture." + +"Not much!" vouchsafed Randy. "A building may look all right enough in +a picture and still be about ready to tumble down." + +The boys had left home in the middle of the forenoon, and expected to +have their lunch on the train before reaching Haven Point. + +"When lunch time comes I'm going to fill up," declared Andy. "No +telling what sort of grub we'll get at the Hall." + +"Father said they used to have first-class eats at Putnam Hall," +declared Fred. + +"Not always!" cried Jack. "At one time, while Captain Putnam was away, +the food got so bad there that the cadets rebelled and left the +school." + +"Oh, that was before our fathers went to Putnam Hall," answered Randy. +"I heard about that, too. But while our fathers were there, the food +was very good, indeed." + +After about half an hour's ride the train halted at a station, and +among the passengers to get aboard were two youths with suitcases. + +"Hello! what do you know about this?" cried Jack, surprised. "If there +isn't Spouter Powell! I wonder what he is doing down here. He doesn't +live in this town." + +"And look at the fellow who is with him!" burst out Fred. "Did you ever +see such a fat chap in your life?" + +"Oh, say! I'll bet I know who that fellow is," declared Randy. "It must +be Spouter's friend, Will Hendry. Spouter told me about him. They call +him Fatty." + +"And he fits his name," declared Randy. "Here they come now. They must +have seats in this car." + +Spouter Powell, a tall, thin youth with a mass of wavy, black hair +overhanging his forehead, and wearing a small cap well back on his +head, strode forward towards them. Behind him came the fat youth, +struggling with a suitcase and puffing audibly. + +"Hello, you Rover boys!" sang out the son of Songbird Powell, +cheerfully. "I thought you might be on this train." + +"Glad to see you, Spouter. How are you?" returned Jack, grasping his +hand cordially. "Got a little friend with you, I see." + +"Exactly! My chum, Will Hendry. Fatty, these are the Rover boys. This +is Jack, this is Fred, and these two little innocent lambs are the +twins, Andy and Randy." + +"Glad to know you," came from all, and a general handshaking followed. + +It was found that the new arrivals had two seats at the other end of +the parlor car; but there were other seats vacant near the Rover boys, +and an exchange for these was quickly made through the Pullman +conductor. + +"Say! they don't make you pay extra fare, do they?" queried Andy, as he +looked at Fatty Hendry doing his best to squeeze into one of the +chairs. + +"Not yet. But I don't know what I'm coming to," puffed the stout youth. +"Seems to me I'm taking on about a pound a day," he added, dolefully. + +"Maybe you eat too much," suggested Randy, "Why don't you cut down on +your victuals?" + +"Eat too much!" puffed Will Hendry. "I don't eat half as much as some +of you slim fellows. Why, Spouter here eats twice as much as I do!" + +"Yes. But see the exercise I take," answered Dick Powell. "I walk at +least five miles to your one. And I spend lots of time in the gym, +too--something that you cut out entirely." + +"Well, what would I be doing in the gym?" demanded the fat youth. "If I +got up on the rings or the bars, I'd pull the whole blamed business +down to the ground," and at this remark there was a general snicker. + +Spouter Powell explained that he had been visiting Will Hendry, who +lived in the town where the two had boarded the train. He had been at +Colby Hall ever since its opening, and he had much to tell about the +school and those who attended it. + +"Oh, I'm sure you'll like it," declared Spouter, growing eloquent. +"It's so delightfully situated on a hill overlooking the river, and is +surrounded by stately trees and a well-kept campus. The scene from the +front is exceedingly picturesque, while to the back the woods stretch +out for many miles. Soon, when the frost touches the leaves, the hues +and colors will be magnificent. The sparkle of the sunlight glinting +across the water----" + +"Wow! Spouter is off again!" puffed Fatty Hendry. "I told you to be +careful," he pleaded. + +"I was only acquainting them with the beauties of Colby Hall," +remonstrated Spouter. "When one comes to contemplate nature, it's +necessary to understand what real harmony----" + +"Exactly, exactly! Just so!" burst out Andy. "We understand what you +mean, Spouter. But please remember the scenery is there--it won't +move--and we'll have lots of time to look at it." + +"Tell us about the boys who go there--and the teachers," broke in +Randy. + +"Yes. The teachers especially," added Fred. + +"Is there any hard-hearted fellow--like that Josiah Crabtree our folks +tell about?" + +"We've got one fellow there--Professor Asa Lemm--that nobody likes," +answered Spouter. "He's a language teacher. They say he was once quite +well off, and he constantly laments the loss of his wealth." + +"And being poor now, he tries to take it out on every pupil who comes +under him," finished Fatty Hendry. "Oh, Asa is a lemon, believe me!" + +"Well, you know what lemons grow for," commented Andy, mischievously. +"They are raised to be squeezed." + +"And maybe we'll have to squeeze Mr. Asa Lemm--the lemon," added his +twin. + +"Then all the other profs are perfectly good fellows?" questioned Jack. + +"Oh, yes! Captain Dale, our military instructor, is one of the nicest +men I ever met, and so are Professors Grawson and Brice. The others +don't seem to cut much ice one way or the other." + +"Tell us something about the cadets." + +"Any bullies there?" queried Fred. + +"Yes; we've got one bully all right enough," answered Spouter. +"Slogwell Brown is his name, but everybody calls him Slugger. He's from +the country, but he thinks he knows it all and is very overbearing. +You've got to keep your eye open for Slugger or you'll get into trouble +sure." + +"Thanks. I suppose we'd better give Mr. Slugger Brown a wide berth," +remarked Fred, dryly. + +"I don't think I'll let him ride over me," answered Jack, determinedly. + +"Then, there is Walter Baxter. He isn't a half bad sort, although he's +pretty hot-tempered. He had a room directly opposite Ned Lowe, who +plays the mandolin and is quite a singer. About sixty of the old +scholars are coming back, and then there will be quite a bunch of new +fellows--not less than twenty, I've been told." + +"Gif Garrison wrote to us and spoke about football," went on Jack. "I +suppose they have some pretty good games up there?" + +"Sure. We always have our regular eleven and a scrub eleven, and, +besides that, we have two or three games with rival schools. Gif was at +the head of the football eleven last season, and I suppose he'll be at +the head this year, although Slugger Brown would like that place." + +So the talk ran on, the Rover boys gaining quite a little information +concerning the school to which they were bound. Then the porter came +through the car announcing the first call for lunch. + +"Say! let's go and have something to eat," cried Will Hendry, +struggling to his feet. + +"I thought you were going on a diet," remarked Andy, mischievously. + +"Sure. But I'm going to have something just the same," answered the fat +boy. "Come on if you are going to the dining car. If you wait too long, +you won't be able to get a seat." + +"My! I shouldn't think he'd want anything to eat for a month," +whispered Fred to Spouter. + +"Don't you believe a word of what Fatty says about cutting down on his +food," returned the other in a low voice. "He eats just as much as +anyone. That's what makes him so fat." + +Possessed of the full appetites of growing boys, the Rovers were not +loth to follow the fat youth and Spouter into the dining car, which, to +their surprise, was almost full. + +"We'll have to have a table for four and another table for two," +remarked Jack to the head waiter. "Do you think you can find that many +places?" + +"Come this way," was the reply; and the party of six started for the +other end of the dining car. They were about to take the seats assigned +to them by the head waiter, when a very fussy man, accompanied by +another man, pushed forward to crowd in at one of the vacant tables. + +"Say! that's pretty cheeky," declared Randy. "Now I don't know where we +are going to sit." + +"I'll fix you up on the other side of the car," said the head waiter. +The appearance of the boys had rather pleased him, while he did not +like the actions of the fussy man and his companion at all. + +Spouter and his fat chum were behind the Rovers, so they did not see +the face of the fussy individual who had deprived the lads of one of +the seats. They sat down on the other side of the aisle, and the Rover +boys spread themselves around as best they could. + +Fred and Jack had just sat down and Randy was doing likewise, when one +of the waiters came through the swaying car carrying a tray filled with +eatables. Suddenly the car gave an extra lurch, and Andy was thrown up +against the waiter in such a manner that the tray tilted from the +colored man's hand, and an instant later the contents of a large +platter containing a broiled steak with some French-fried potatoes was +deposited over the neck and shoulders of the fussy man in the seat near +by. + +[Illustration: THE TRAY TILTED FROM THE COLORED MAN'S HAND. +_Page_ 64] + +"Oh!" roared the man, starting up in great anger. "What do you mean by +this? What do you mean, I say?" he shrilled. + +At the sound of this voice, Spouter Powell and Fatty Hendry looked up +in sudden wonder. Then, as some of the Rover boys commenced to laugh +over the mishap, Spouter clutched Jack by the arm. + +"That man is Professor Asa Lemm!" he whispered. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A SCENE IN THE DINING CAR + + +"You don't mean it!" gasped Jack. "The lemon of a professor we were +just talking about?" + +"That's it!" + +"Then I'm afraid Andy has gotten himself into trouble right at the +start." + +"It wasn't his fault. It was the lurching of the train did it," put in +Fred. + +"Just the same, I'd hate to be in your cousin's shoes," was Fatty +Hendry's comment. + +In the meanwhile the waiter, by a lightning-like move, had managed to +save the broiled steak from slipping to the floor of the dining car. He +now had it on the platter, but the French-fried potatoes were scattered +in all directions. + +"What do you mean, I say?" repeated Professor Asa Lemm in a loud, harsh +voice. + +"Scuse it, boss," answered the waiter humbly. "'Twas the swingin' o' de +car what done it. Besides, one o' dem passengers knocked agin my arm." + +"I think it was that boy's fault quite as much as the waiter's," came +from the man who was accompanying Professor Lemm. + +"I couldn't help it," answered Andy. "The car gave such a sudden lurch +that I was almost thrown off my feet." + +"We'll fix this all up, sir," broke in the head waiter, coming to the +front. "Take that steak back to the kitchen and bring some more +potatoes," he added to the waiter. "I am glad to say it hasn't mussed +you up very much;" and he handed the professor a fingerbowl full of +water and an extra napkin. + +A number of passengers had witnessed the accident and were smiling +broadly. Spouter and Fatty Hendry were also on a broad grin, but their +faces took on a sudden sober look when they found Asa Lemm's gaze +directed toward them. + +"Ha! so you are here," was the teacher's comment. "What business have +you to laugh?" + +"Excuse me, Professor Lemm, I--I--didn't--er--mean anything," stammered +Spouter. + +"Sorry it happened, very sorry," puffed Fatty. + +"Is this young man traveling with you?" demanded Asa Lemm, suddenly, as +he looked from Spouter and Fatty to Andy. + +"Y--yes--sir," answered the son of Songbird Powell. + +"Hum! Is he bound for the Hall?" + +"Y--yes--sir." + +"Indeed? Then perhaps I'll see all of you later," muttered Asa Lemm; +and after that did what he could with the aid of some water and a +napkin to remove the traces of the accident from his person. In this he +was aided by the head waiter, who was profuse in his apologies over +what had occurred. + +"I'm afraid you've got yourself into a pickle, Andy," whispered his +twin, when the latter had taken his seat at the table. + +"I don't care. I didn't mean to do it. It was an accident. Besides +that, I think the waiter was as much to blame as I was." + +"You'll never make old Lemon believe that," returned Spouter. + +"Spouter's right about that," puffed out Fatty. "Once Asa Lemm gets +down on a boy--good night!" + +"I wonder who the man with him is?" questioned Spouter. + +"Maybe it's a new teacher," vouchsafed Jack. + +"I don't think so," returned Randy. "I heard both of them talking about +some lawsuit and about money matters. Maybe the other fellow is a +lawyer." + +"I guess you're right," said Spouter. "As I told you before, old Lemon +used to be worth a lot of money. Since he lost it he has been having +one lawsuit after another trying to get some of it back. Most likely +the other fellow is his lawyer." And in this surmise Spouter was +correct. + +The accident had sobered all the boys, consequently the lunch was not +near so lively as it might otherwise have been. Still the irrepressible +Randy could not hold back altogether, and he got what little sport he +could out of it by putting some red pepper on Fatty's last mouthful of +pie. He used a liberal dose, and the pie had scarcely disappeared +within the stout youth's mouth when the boy began to splutter. + +"Ug--ug--ugh!" came from Fatty as he made a wry face. "What pie! That +last mouthful was like fire--full of pepper!" + +"I thought the pie was rather hot," answered Randy, coolly. + +"Hot! It's nothing but pep all the way through!" roared the fat boy. +"Wow! let me have some water!" and he gulped this down so hastily that +he almost strangled, the tears running down his cheeks. The other boys +set up a laugh. + +The boys had had some celery served with their lunch and several stalks +which were not particularly good still remained in the dish on the +table. When the boys were ready to leave, Professor Asa Lemm and his +companion were still at their table discussing the particulars of a +coming lawsuit. + +"I'll give 'em something to remember us by anyhow," whispered Andy to +the chums when the party had arisen to leave the dining car; and before +any of the others could stop him he took up the stalks of celery and on +passing Asa Lemm dropped them in the professor's side pocket, leaving +the tops dangling outside. + +"Gee! but you're some funny boy," chuckled Fatty, gazing at Andy in +admiration. "I wish I could think of things like that to do." + +"You'll think of 'em some day--when you get thin," returned Andy, +encouragingly. "You see, I wanted to give him a bouquet to remember me +by;" and at this remark there was a general snicker. Two or three of +the passengers in the car had noticed Andy's action and all were +smiling broadly over the incident. + +"If he ever finds out who did that, he'll be down on you worse than +ever," declared Jack, when the boys were once more in the chair car. + +"Oh, well, what's the difference?" returned the light-hearted Andy. +"I'd just as lief be shot for a mule as for a hoptoad." + +"I suppose he's going on to the Hall," remarked Spouter. "If he is, I +hope he doesn't get into the auto-stage with us." + +"If he gets in the auto-stage, we might hire a jitney," suggested +Fatty. "There are six of us, and we could get one of the jitneys to +take us over to the Hall, baggage and all, for half a dollar." + +A little later the train made a stop of several minutes at quite a +large city. The boys were tired of sitting still and were glad enough +to go out on the platform to stretch their legs. Here they saw +Professor Lemm and his friend leave the train and walk up the main +street of the place. + +"Hurrah! we won't be bothered with him any more on this trip," declared +Spouter. + +"Look!" cried Randy, suddenly, pointing to the two men; and as the boys +gazed in that direction they were just in time to see Asa Lemm pull the +stalks of celery from his pocket and throw them in the street. His +whole manner showed that he was much disgusted. + +"And to think he has thrown away your beautiful bouquet, Andy," +lamented Fred. + +"Never mind, Fred; we have to get used to keen disappointments in this +life," groaned Andy. + +"Won't he be coming back?" questioned Fatty. + +"I don't think so--he won't have time," answered Jack; "here comes the +conductor now." + +"All aboard!" shouted the conductor at that moment, and the boys had to +hurry in order not to be left behind. Then the train pulled out of the +station and the journey was continued. + +"We certainly ought to have some dandy times," said Jack to Spouter, as +the train sped along. "I suppose your father has told you of all the +good times our folks had when they went to Putnam Hall and Brill +College." + +"Yes, Jack. That is, he has told me about a good many things. Of course +I don't suppose he told me about some of the tricks they played." + +"Well, I've heard from father and from my Uncle Sam that my Uncle Tom +was playing tricks almost continually." + +"Then Andy and Randy come by their fun-making naturally." + +"They sure do! And what do you suppose the folks at home expect me to +do?" went on Jack, seriously. "They expect me to hold those twins in. +Why! a fellow could no more do that than hold in a pair of wild horses. +You've seen a little of what Andy can do. Well, his jokes aren't a +patch to those Randy occasionally gets off." + +"You don't say! Well, I'm not sorry. The last term at Colby Hall was +rather slow. Now maybe we'll have some life;" and Spouter's face +lightened. + +While the boys had been at lunch the sky had darkened, and now the +train rushed into a sudden heavy shower, the rain driving against the +windows of the car in sheets. + +"I don't like this much," said Fred, dolefully. "Maybe we'll get out at +Haven Point in a regular downpour." + +"Oh, this looks more like a local shower than anything else," answered +Jack. "We may run out of it in a few minutes." + +"Some rain, all right," remarked Randy, as the water continued to dash +against the windows. + +"Just look there!" cried Andy, pointing out. "Before it began to rain I +noticed the automobiles on yonder road kicking up quite a dust. Now +just look at the water and mud." + +"We'll be at Haven Point in twenty minutes--that is, if the train is on +time," announced Spouter, consulting his watch. "Too bad! Because I +wanted you to see the beautiful scenery with which the school is +surrounded. Oh! the woods are perfectly beautiful, and after a heavy +rain the torrent of water coming down the river makes the outlook one +of marvelous beauty. I have stood there contemplating the scene----" + +"Turn it off, Spouter! turn it off!" broke in Fatty. "You promised me +on your bare knees that you would stop spouting about nature this +term--and here you start in the first thing!" + +"Oh, you haven't any more eye for beauty than a cow," retorted Spouter, +ruefully. + +"Why abuse the cow?" questioned Andy, gaily. "A cow has an eye for +beauty. Just you hold out a beautiful red apple to her and see if she +hasn't;" and at this the others grinned. + +Haven Point was still five miles away when the boys saw that the rain +was letting up; but the ditches along the track, and the highways +wherever they passed them, were filled with running water, showing that +the downpour in that vicinity had been a severe one. + +"Next station Haven Point!" called out one of the trainmen as he came +through the car. + +"Better get your bags ready," cried Spouter. "There may be other +fellows going to the Hall, and we want to get good seats on the +auto-stage if we can." + +"All right. You lead on, Spouter," answered Jack; "we'll follow you." + +In a few minutes more Haven Point was reached and the long train rolled +into the little station. One after another the boys alighted, the +porter helping them with their suitcases and gladly accepting the tips +they offered. + +Spouter headed for a large auto-stage drawn up on the opposite side of +an open plot behind the station. As the Rovers and their friends +started for the turnout belonging to Colby Hall, they noticed that +several other boys had also left another coach of the train and were +headed in the same direction. + +"New fellows, like ourselves, I suppose," remarked Fred. "Let's get +ahead of 'em." + +"That's the talk!" exclaimed Randy. "Come on!" and he set off on a run +beside Spouter with the others at their heels. + +The rain had been falling heavily at Haven Point just previous to the +arrival of the train, and consequently the open place behind the depot +contained numerous hollows of water and mud, around which the boys had +to make their way as best they could. They were rushing along as fast +as their handbaggage would permit, when they came up side by side with +three other lads also bound for the stage. + +"Look out there!" cried Jack as one of the strangers leaped into a +puddle of water, splashing the mud right and left. + +"Look out yourself!" cried the other youth, a big lad, much larger than +any of the others. + +"That's Slugger Brown--the bully I was telling you about," explained +Spouter as he continued to run. + +Directly behind Slugger Brown came another youth, loudly dressed in a +checkered suit and a soft checkered hat to match. He was rather +fastidious as to where he stepped, and with his eyes on the ground ran +directly into Fred. + +"Hi! look where you are going!" cried the youngest of the Rover boys, +and then, to keep himself from slipping down, made a clutch at Randy's +arm. This brought Randy around, and both he and Fred bumped into the +elegantly attired youth. + +"Stop that!" cried the stranger, and then, seeing a puddle directly in +front of him, attempted to leap over it. But his foot slipped in the +mud and down he went flat on his back with a loud splash. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +AT COLBY HALL + + +"My! look at that!" + +"Some tumble that, eh?" + +"Why! he sent some of that water and mud over me!" + +Such were some of the exclamations as the loudly-dressed youth went +down in the puddle of water and mud. + +He was flat on his back, and it took several seconds for him to turn +over and get to his feet. The fall had attracted the attention of +everybody making for the auto-stage excepting Spouter and Jack. + +"Oh, my eye! you're certainly a sight to see," came from the biggest +boy in the crowd, Slugger Brown. + +"It wasn't my fault that I fell," retorted the unfortunate one. "Those +fellows bumped into me and made me lose my footing," and he pointed to +Fred and Randy. + +"No such thing!" burst out Fred, indignantly. "You bumped into us +first; and you only fell when you tried to jump across the puddle and +your feet slipped." + +"I say it's your fault!" spluttered the boy who had gone down. His +hands were covered with mud and water and he stood there helpless, +filled with rage. + +"Take your handkerchief and wipe your hands off," advised Slugger +Brown. He looked coldly at Fred and Randy. "If they tripped you up, +they ought to have a licking for doing it." + +"That's the fellow who's responsible," answered the boy who had fallen, +and he strode up to confront Fred. "For two pins I'd smash you on the +nose," he continued, hotly. + +"You leave him alone!" broke in Randy, and doubled up his fists. + +The boy who had gone down had expected Fred to back away; but the +youngest Rover bravely stood his ground. + +"Say! what's up back there?" queried Spouter, suddenly looking around +to see why the other boys had not followed him to the auto-stage. + +"Looks to me as if somebody was going to get into a fight," returned +Jack. "See! one of those fellows just made a pass at Fred. Come on, +this won't do!" and he ran back towards the crowd that was gathering. + +The boy who had fallen had, indeed, made a pass with one of his dirty +fists at Fred, but the latter had dodged the blow with ease and now he +had the loudly dressed youth by the arm. + +"You behave yourself!" he said sharply. "I didn't knock you down, and +you know it! I'm sorry you got yourself all dirty, but it wasn't my +fault." + +"You fight him, and you'll fight me too!" broke in Randy. "If there is +any blame in this it belongs to me as much as to my cousin." + +By this time Jack had reached the group and pushed his way to the +front. As he caught sight of the face of the boy who had fallen, he +gave a quick exclamation. + +"Well I never! Nappy Martell!" + +"Do you know this fellow?" questioned Andy, quickly. + +"I've met him before," was the reply. "He's Nappy Martell--the fellow I +had trouble with in front of the office in Wall Street--the fellow who +so mistreated that poor street peddler." + +"Oh! So this is the same chap, eh?" broke out Randy. "No wonder he +wants to fight with Fred. He's a regular scrapper, in spite of his fine +clothes." + +"What are you doing here?" asked Nappy Martell, curiously, as he looked +at Jack. Then his gaze suddenly shifted to Fred and Randy. "Are you +Rovers, too?" + +"We are," was the quick response. + +"Humph! No wonder you knocked me down. I suppose that fellow told you +all about me?" and Nappy pointed to Jack. + +"What's the use of quarreling about a little thing like a tumble in the +dirt?" panted Fatty, who was almost out of breath because of his run +towards the auto-stage. "Come on! let's get to the Hall and see who is +there." + +"I'm not anxious to fight," answered Fred, readily; "but I don't like +this fellow's talk." + +"I'll talk as I please," blustered Martell. "And I'll fight, too, if I +want to." + +"That's the talk, Nappy!" came from Slugger Brown. "Don't let any new +boys lord it over you. If you want to fight, go ahead." + +"I owe these Rovers one," muttered the loudly dressed youth. "I had a +run-in with this one in New York," and he pointed to Jack. "They are +all of a kind--too fresh to live." + +"There is no use of your talking that way, Martell," broke in Jack. "We +didn't come here to scrap, but everyone of us can take his own part if +it is necessary." + +A perfect war of words followed, and the argument proved so hot that it +looked as if there would certainly be a fight with Fred and Randy, and +possibly some of the others, on one side, and Nappy Martell, Slugger +Brown and one or two of their cronies who had come up on the other. But +then came a sudden diversion as a heavily built and military looking +man came from the main street of the town and walked towards them. + +"Cheese it, boys!" came from one of the lads present. "Here comes +Captain Dale. He'll report us all if he knows there's anything like a +fight going on." + +At the announcement that Captain Mapes Dale, who was the military +instructor at Colby Hall, was approaching, the boys who had attended +the academy the term previous fell back in alarm. They knew the captain +to be a strict disciplinarian who abhorred fighting except in a +military way. + +"Well, boys, are you going up to the Hall?" said the captain +pleasantly, as he came closer. The old pupils present saluted him and +were saluted in return. + +"Yes, sir," answered Spouter. And then before any of the others could +speak he added: "Captain Dale, will you permit me to introduce some new +scholars?" and thereupon he mentioned the Rover boys' names. + +"Glad to know you," said Captain Dale, and shook hands all around. + +In the meanwhile Nappy Martell had dropped somewhat in the background +so that the military instructor might not notice the soiled condition +of his clothing. Then one or two other new pupils were introduced, and +the whole crowd made for the auto-stage. + +The stage was a large affair, and Slugger Brown, Nappy Martell and some +of their friends kept to the front end, leaving the Rovers and their +friends together at the rear, the captain and a professor connected +with the Hall seating themselves between the two factions. + +"This row is only stopped for the time being," whispered Randy to Jack. +"I think that fellow Martell is too ugly to let it drop." + +"He's rather a big fellow to tackle Fred," returned Jack. "Why, he is +even bigger than I am!" + +"That's the way with most bullies," put in Fatty. "They don't feel like +tackling a fellow of their size. They like to pick out little chaps." + +"Oh, don't misunderstand me," returned the oldest of the Rover boys. +"Fred may be small, but he is very strong and wiry, and he knows how to +take care of himself. But I shouldn't like to see any out and out +fighting--at least not so soon. We don't want to get a black eye before +we get settled down." + +"That's the talk!" came from Andy. "I'd rather have some fun than have +any fighting. I hope we'll find the other fellows at the Hall more +pleasant than this Martell and that great big Slugger Brown." + +"It's queer you didn't mention Martell to us on the train," remarked +Fred. + +"I thought he had left school," answered Spouter. "You see, he went +home before the term closed last Spring, and I didn't know that he was +coming back." + +"He and Brown seem to be pretty thick," was Randy's comment. + +"Yes; they were always together last term, they and a fellow named +Henry Stowell. Stowell is a regular little sneak, and most of the boys +call him Codfish on account of the awfully broad mouth he's got." + +"Well, there's one thing sure," remarked Jack; "we'll all have to keep +our eyes open for Martell, Brown and Company." + +While on the train the Rover boys had learned that Haven Point was a +clean and compactly built town containing about two thousand +inhabitants. It was located at the head of Clearwater Lake, a beautiful +sheet of water about two miles long and half a mile wide and containing +a number of picturesque islands. At the head of the lake was the Rick +Rack River, running down from the hills and woods beyond. Up in the +hills it was a wild and rocky watercourse containing a number of +dangerous rapids, but where it passed Colby Hall it was a broad and +fairly deep stream, joining the lake at a point where there were two +rocky islands. The distance from the railroad station to the Military +Academy was a little over half a mile, along a road branching off +through the main street into a country highway bordered on one side by +the river and on the other by a number of well-kept farms, with here +and there a small patch of timber. + +"There's the Hall!" exclaimed Spouter presently, after the auto-stage +made a turn through a number of trees and came out on a broad highway +running in a semi-circle around a large campus. "What do you think of +the place? Looks rather fine, doesn't it?" + +All of the Rover boys gazed eagerly at what was before them. They saw a +large stone building, shaped almost in the form of a cross, the upper +portion facing the river. It was three stories in height and contained +not only the classrooms and mess hall of the institution, but also the +dormitories for the boys. To one side was a small brick building which +at one time had evidently been a private dwelling. This was now +occupied by Colonel Colby and his family and the various professors. On +the opposite side was a long, low, wooden building. + +"That's our gym," explained Fatty. "You can go in there any time you +want to, do a turn on the bars, and break your neck." + +Down at the water's edge were several small buildings which, Spouter +explained, were used for storing the boats belonging to the Hall and +also as bathhouses. Behind the Hall were a stable and a barn, and also +a garage. And still farther back were a vegetable garden and some farm +fields, for Colonel Colby believed in raising as much stuff for the +Hall table as possible. + +"That's the Rick Rack River," explained Spouter, as they passed the +stream. "We've some dandy times there swimming and boating." + +"Don't you have skating in the winter?" queried Andy. + +"Sure! And we have some great races, too." + +In another moment the auto-stage drew up to the front door of Colby +Hall, and one after another the boys and Captain Dale and the other +teacher alighted. + +"You new pupils may as well follow me right to the office," said the +captain. "You can leave your suitcases in the hallway until you have +been assigned to your rooms." + +He led the way, and they followed through a large reception room and +into an elegantly appointed office where Colonel Colby sat at a +mahogany desk, writing. + +"Some new pupils, Colonel Colby," announced the captain, and at once +the colonel arose. + +"So you are the Rover boys, eh?" he said, his face lighting up with +pleasure. "I am certainly very glad to meet you. Of course you know +that your fathers and myself were schoolmates for many years?" + +"Yes, Colonel Colby, we know that," replied Jack. "That is one reason +why they sent us here." + +"So I understand. I am proud to know that my old friends think so much +of me," and the master of Colby Hall smiled broadly. "I am sure we are +going to get along famously." + +"It certainly looks like a nice school," remarked Andy, frankly. "I +like it first rate." + +"And so do I," added his twin. + +"We hope to have some great times here," came from Fred. + +Then one after another the boys were required to sign the register and +answer a number of questions regarding their age and previous +instruction, and the state of their health. + +"I'll have Professor Brice assign you to your rooms," said Colonel +Colby, after the questioning had come to an end. "He has charge of that +matter so far as it concerns the older boys. The younger boys are under +the charge of Mrs. Crews, the matron." + +The master of the Hall touched a bell, and when a servant appeared +requested that Professor Brice be summoned. The latter soon appeared, a +young man evidently just from college. He was introduced to the boys, +and then took them off to assign them their rooms. + +"Hadn't we better get our suitcases?" suggested Jack. + +"Yes; you might as well bring them along," answered Professor Paul +Brice. "That will save another trip downstairs. You can give your trunk +checks to me, and I will see that the trunks are brought up from the +station and placed in your rooms to be unpacked. After you've unpacked +them, they will be marked with your names and placed in the trunk +room." + +It took the boys but a minute to reach the end of the hallway where +their suitcases had been left. Those of the twins were still there, and +also that belonging to Jack; but Fred's was missing. + +"Hello! what's become of my suitcase?" questioned the youngest Rover, +anxiously. + +"Maybe somebody carried it upstairs for you," suggested Jack. + +All looked around the hallway and in the nearby rooms, but the suitcase +could not be found. + +"Well, I don't think you need to worry," said Professor Brice lightly. +"There is no danger of thieves around here. Probably some boy picked up +the suitcase by mistake." + +"Maybe," returned Fred; but then he looked at his cousins and shook his +head slowly. + +"I guess you suspect Nappy Martell and his cronies," whispered Randy on +the way upstairs. + +"I do!" answered Fred. "I think they took that suitcase to play a trick +on me." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE MISSING SUITCASE + + +In the letters sent to Colby Hall the Rover boys had requested that +they be placed in rooms close to those occupied by Spouter Powell, Gif +Garrison and their chums, and Colonel Colby had replied that he would +do what he could for them in the matter, although many of the choicest +rooms at the Hall had already been assigned to the old cadets. + +"I can give you a choice of several rooms," said Professor Brice, as he +led the way to the second floor of the school. "Come this way, please." + +He took them down a long corridor and into a wing of the building. + +"This is our hallway," whispered Spouter to Jack. "I guess you'll get +pretty close to Gif and me after all." + +Spouter and Gif had rooms numbered 19 and 21. Across the hall, Fatty +had number 16. 18, 20 and 22 were as yet unassigned. + +"I can give you these three rooms," announced Paul Brice. + +"But what about the fourth?" queried Jack. "There are four of us, you +see, and all these are single rooms." + +"For a fourth room you might take the one next to that occupied by +Powell on the other side of the hallway," answered the teacher. + +"That might do," returned Fred. "But we would prefer to be +together--especially as these rooms all connect." + +"I think I can help you out if you want me to," came from Fatty, +good-naturedly. "If Professor Brice is willing, I'll move over to +number twenty-three, and that will give you four fellows numbers +sixteen, eighteen, twenty, and twenty-two." + +"Oh, we don't want to disturb you, although it's very kind of you to +make the offer," remonstrated Jack. + +"That's all right," answered Fatty. "I'd just as lief be next to +Spouter. The room is just as good, and I know you four cousins would +like to keep together." And so, after a little more talk, the matter +was arranged. + +"Now the question is: How are we going to assign these rooms?" came +from Randy. + +"I've got an idea," returned his twin. + +"All right; out with it!" came from Fred. "I'd like to get settled so +that I can make another hunt for my missing suitcase." + +"Why not live here just as we live on Riverside Drive?" answered Andy. +"Jack can take one of the middle rooms, with Fred on one side of him +and Randy and myself on the other." + +"You've solved it, Andy!" exclaimed Jack, and so without further ado +the matter was settled. + +"Now I'll institute a hunt for that missing suitcase," said Professor +Brice after he had made a note of the room assignments. "Most likely +some boy picked it up by mistake." + +"If he did that, why didn't he leave his own suitcase behind?" queried +Fred. + +"I'll look it up. Don't worry," said the professor, and then hurried +away, for there were many other matters demanding his attention. + +The boys found the rooms small but pleasant. Each contained a single +bed, a desk, and a chiffonier, and also a small clothing closet. In one +corner was a bowl with running water, and each room contained two +electric lights. All of the rooms had connecting doors, but these, for +the most part, were kept closed, some of the pupils having their beds +or chiffoniers in front of them. + +"You see, you are permitted to arrange your room to suit yourselves," +explained Spouter, "so some of the boys have them one way and some +another. Some of the boys are even permitted to double up--that is, put +two of the beds in one room and use the other room exclusively for +dressing and studying." + +"That's an idea," answered Randy. "Maybe Andy and I will do that." This +plan was followed out by the twins, who used the last room of the four +for a sleeping apartment and made of the other room a sort of general +meeting place for all of the Rovers. + +"Where does that Nappy Martell hold forth?" questioned Fred of Fatty, +while he was helping the stout youth transfer his belongings across the +hallway. + +"He and Slugger Brown and Codfish and that gang are all around the +corner, on the main corridor," was the reply. "That is, Nappy was there +last season. I don't know whether somebody else used his room after he +left or not." + +"It was room sixty," put in Spouter. "Slugger has sixty-two. I don't +believe anyone went into sixty after Nappy left. You see, it was almost +the end of the term and all the cadets were settled." + +"I'm going to take a look around," answered Fred. "I can't do anything +here anyway, with no suitcase and no trunk." + +"I guess I'd better go with you," came from Jack. He did not wish to +allow his cousin to interview the big, over-dressed youth alone. + +Leaving the others to settle down in the rooms as best they could, Fred +and Jack hurried through the hallway to the main corridor of the second +floor of the Hall. Old cadets and new pupils were coming and going in +all directions, and many were the glances of curiosity directed towards +the Rovers. + +"Gee! some of those fellows certainly look nifty in their uniforms," +was Fred's comment. + +"They look like the uniforms our folks brought home from Putnam Hall," +answered Jack. "My father's old uniform is up in our storeroom now. I +tried it on one day just for fun. They tell me they are patterned after +the uniforms worn at West Point." + +"There goes an officer," whispered Fred, as a tall youth went by with a +sword dangling from his belt. "Look at the gold braid, will you? Isn't +it swell?" he added, in deep admiration. + +"I can see your finish, Fred," laughed his cousin. "If you stay here, +you'll want to be an officer with a sword, and with lots of gold lace." + +"I don't know about that," answered the youngest Rover, seriously. "I +guess all the officers have to be big boys." + +"Nonsense! Size has nothing to do with it. Why, some of the greatest +military men in the world have been very small. Look at Napoleon, for +instance." + +"Well, I'll see about that later, Jack. Just now I'd rather get on the +track of that suitcase." + +It did not take the two Rovers long to reach that part of the corridor +where was located the room formerly occupied by Nappy Martell. The door +was open several inches, and Fred and Jack saw that three boys were +present--Nappy, Slugger, and a small, round-faced youth with a +particularly broad mouth. + +"That little chap must be the sneak Spouter mentioned--the boy they +call Codfish," whispered Jack. + +"That was a good joke all right, Nappy," piped out the small cadet, as +the Rovers came closer. "A fine joke all right all right!" + +"You keep your mouth shut about it, Codfish," retorted Nappy Martell, +quickly. + +"Oh, I won't say a word, believe me!" returned the other quickly. + +Just then Slugger Brown peered out into the hallway and saw the two +Rover boys. He looked somewhat startled, and immediately placed his +hand over Nappy Martell's mouth. + +"I want to see you, Martell," cried Fred without hesitation. "I want to +know what you did with my suitcase." + +"I don't know anything about your suitcase," growled the loudly dressed +youth in surly tones. + +"Yes, you do! You took it; and I want you to return it," answered Fred, +boldly. + +"See here! do you want a licking?" burst out the New York boy, as he +doubled up his fists. "You deserve one for the way you tripped me up in +that mud puddle. You say another word, and I'll give you what's coming +to you," and his manner was very threatening. + +"No use of fighting here, Nappy," remonstrated Slugger Brown. "Keep it +until some time when you can meet him outside." + +"I didn't come here to fight," answered Fred. "But I want my suitcase." + +"I don't know anything about your suitcase. Who says I took it?" added +Nappy Martell with sudden suspicion. + +"I say you took it. There wouldn't be anyone else here to play such a +trick on me. Now, you must hand it over!" + +"You go on about your business!" roared the New York boy; and as Fred, +followed by Jack, attempted to enter the room, he slammed the door in +their faces and shot the bolt into place. + +Fred was thoroughly angry, and if it had not been for his cousin he +would have tried then and there to batter the door down. But Jack +caught him by the arm and pulled him back. + +"No use of creating a disturbance so soon," said Jack. "We'd only get +into hot water, and maybe Colonel Colby would become so disgusted he +would send us right home. If Martell took that suitcase, he won't dare +to keep it, for that would be stealing. More than likely he'll sneak it +back to you by to-morrow." + +"He ought to have his head knocked off of him," muttered the youngest +Rover. "Jack, I feel in my bones that that fellow is going to cause us +a lot of trouble." + +"I shouldn't wonder," was the answer. "Remember, Fred; he is as angry +at me for the row we had down in Wall Street as he is at you over that +mud-puddle affair." + +"Oh, dear! And I thought everything was going to be lovely when we got +here," sighed Fred. + +There seemed nothing else to do, and so the two boys returned to where +they had left the others. A little while later their trunks came in, +and all spent an hour or more in unpacking these and stowing away the +various articles brought along. + +"You'll be measured for your uniforms to-morrow," announced Spouter. +"And then, if the school has the right sizes on hand, you'll get them +at once. Otherwise, they'll be made to order and you'll have to wait at +least ten days for them." + +"Oh, I hope they've got my size in stock!" cried Andy. "I'd like to see +how it feels being a cadet." + +"Don't worry," answered his twin. "I guess we'll get enough of that +before we leave Colby Hall. Remember, you've got to learn how to drill, +and march, and shoot at a target, and all that." + +"I think it'll be lots of fun," broke in Jack. "My father told me he +liked that part of the life at Putnam Hall very much." + +"We're pretty well filled up here, it seems to me," came from Fred, as +he sat on his empty trunk surveying his surroundings. + +"The men will come to take the trunks away in a little while," answered +Fatty; and this proved to be so. With the trunks gone the boys had more +room in which to move about, for which they were thankful. + +"How about supper?" questioned Andy, presently, as a bell rang out +sharply. + +"We have supper at six o'clock sharp," returned Fatty, quickly. + +"Last year we were at a table with Professor Grawson," put in Spouter. +"He's a pretty nice man. I hope I get at his table again." + +"Excuse me from getting at a table with a man like Professor Lemm," +burst out Andy. "Gee! what will I do if they put me with him?" he +continued dolefully. + +"Well, you'll have to sit wherever you are placed," answered Spouter. + +"And what do you care so long as you get enough to eat?" questioned +Fatty. + +But Andy shook his head. He thought if he were placed at the same table +with Professor Asa Lemm, it would be an actual hardship. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +GETTING ACQUAINTED + + +"I don't see him anywhere," remarked Andy, as he and his cousins +approached the mess hall of the school. + +The cadets were entering in little groups of twos and threes, for as +yet the regular term at Colby Hall had not begun. With the real opening +of the school, the cadets would have a dress parade previous to dining +and would then stack their arms outside and march in in regular order. + +"Who are you talking about?" questioned Fred. + +"Professor Asa Lemm. I don't see him at any of the tables." + +"Maybe he didn't come to the Hall to-night. He might have had quite +some business to transact with that man who left the train with him." + +As there were more tables than professors, some of the boards were +presided over by the senior cadets. There was a little confusion, due +to the entrance of so many new pupils, and then the Rovers were +assigned to a table presided over by a senior named Ralph Mason, who +was the major of the school battalion. + +"I am glad to meet you," said Major Mason, as he shook hands cordially. +"I hope you will make yourselves at home," and he smiled in a manner +that won the confidence of all the boys at once. + +The meal was a good, substantial one--for Colonel Colby believed in +setting a homelike table--and soon the clatter of knives and forks and +the rattle of dishes filled the air. Most of the boys had come in from +long journeys and were, consequently, hungry, so but little was said +while the meal progressed. Spouter and Fatty and several other boys +they had met sat at a table next to that occupied by the Rovers, but +Nappy Martell and his cronies were on the opposite side of the mess +hall, for which our friends were thankful. + +"I think if I had to look at the face of Codfish while I was eating, it +would spoil my appetite," was Andy's comment during the meal. "They +ought to photograph his mouth and put it in the comic supplements." + +"Yes. Or else they ought to get him to act in some of the funny +movies," returned his twin. + +As soon as the repast was at an end, Fred sought out Professor Brice +and asked him if anything had been learned concerning the missing +suitcase. + +"I am sorry to say I haven't learned anything," answered the professor, +a troubled look coming over his face. "I really must say, Rover, I +don't know what to make of it. Do you suspect anyone in particular of +having taken it?" + +Fred was on the point of mentioning Nappy Martell's name, but suddenly +held himself in check. + +"I wouldn't like to say anything about that, Professor," he answered +slowly. "I might be accusing a fellow cadet unfairly. If the suitcase +isn't returned by to-morrow I may have something to say about it." + +"Very well. I think I understand how you feel about it," and the young +professor looked knowingly at the boy. "Did you have much in the +suitcase?" + +"Yes, sir. It was well packed. You see, I wasn't sure whether my trunk +would come right along, so I carried all I could in my handbaggage." + +When Fred joined the others, all of the crowd, led by Spouter, walked +down to the gymnasium. Here the Rovers were introduced to a number of +other pupils, including Ned Lowe, who was quite a mandolin player and +also a good singer, and a tall, studious youth named Dan Soppinger. + +"Ned is our great singer," announced Spouter. "We expect some day that +he'll be singing in grand opera on the Metropolitan stage." + +"Did you say grand opera or grand uproar?" questioned Andy, slyly. + +"Opera, my boy! Opera!" repeated Spouter. "I expect some day that he +will thrill great audiences with exquisite renderings of the famous +solos by Wagner, Beethoven, Mozart, Donizetti----" + +"Great mackerel, Spouter! what are you giving us--a musical directory?" +interrupted Randy. + +"No. I was only giving you a list of the things I expect to hear Ned +sing sooner or later. Now, as for Dan here--he is the human +encyclopedia." + +"If there is anything you don't want to know, ask Dan and he'll be sure +to tell you all about it," put in Fatty with a grin. "How about it, +Dan?" + +"Say! that's a fine way to introduce a fellow," cried Dan Soppinger, +with a doubtful grin on his studious face. "Of course, I'm trying to +learn as much as possible, but there are a whole lot of things that I +don't know, and I'm not ashamed to acknowledge it. But say! by the way, +can any of you tell me what the date was when Jefferson was inaugurated +president?" + +At this question there came a sudden groan, not only from Fatty, but +also from Spouter and Ned Lowe. Then with one voice the three shouted: + +"Down with him! He's at it again!" + +"I don't believe any of you know the date," retorted Dan Soppinger. "If +you did, you'd tell me. I am writing an article about the presidents, +and I've got to put that in. And then, here's another thing. Can any of +you tell me who crossed the Pacific Ocean to----" + +But whatever the question was, it was never finished, for at that +moment Spouter, Fatty, Ned and several others piled on Dan Soppinger +and brought him to the gymnasium floor. + +"Hi! You let up!" cried the victim, squirming from under the others as +best he could. "Can't a fellow ask a question or two without you +starting such a rough-house as this?" + +"No questions to be asked, Dan, until the regular school term begins," +answered Spouter. "Then all you've got to do is to go to the Rover +boys----" + +"Not much!" came simultaneously from Andy and Randy. + +"Do you take us for a school library?" questioned Fred, gaily. + +"I'll answer all the easy ones, Dan," said Jack, good-naturedly. "The +hard ones I'll turn over to Spouter. If the question is a real sensible +one, he'll give you a nice little answer--one about twelve hundred +words long." + +"Hurrah! Spouter is discovered at last!" cried Fatty. "Twelve hundred +words long just fits it--that is, if Spouter is in a hurry to cut it +short." + +The Rover boys were much interested in what was taking place in the +gymnasium, and they even tried out some of the bars and swinging rings, +as well as one of the exercising machines. + +"This is certainly an up-to-date institution," remarked Jack. "This gym +couldn't be better." + +"How about the boats?" questioned Randy. He and his brother had owned a +rowboat on the Hudson River, and had often gone out in the craft. + +"Oh, we've got half a dozen good rowboats, as well as several racing +shells," answered Spouter. "You'll probably get a chance to look them +over later." + +While the Rover boys were taking in the sights to be seen in and around +the gymnasium, their attention was attracted to a tall, well-formed +cadet who was doing some clever work on one of the bars. + +"He's doing that almost as well as a circus performer," was Fred's +comment. + +"Yes; he's certainly very graceful," returned Jack. "I wonder who he +is." + +"That is Walt Baxter," announced a cadet who had heard the talk. + +"Walt Baxter!" exclaimed Randy. "I wonder if he can be the son of Dan +Baxter, the man who made so much trouble for our fathers while at +Putnam Hall." + +"I'll soon find out," returned Jack. "But please remember--Dan Baxter +reformed, and more than likely his son is a first-rate fellow." + +As soon as Walter Baxter had gotten through with his exercise and had +dropped to the floor, Jack, followed by his cousins, went up to him. + +"Are you Walt Baxter--the son of Mr. Daniel Baxter?" he questioned. + +"Yes," returned the other, and looked at Jack and the others with him +curiously. + +"I am Jack Rover--the son of Mr. Richard Rover. These are my cousins," +and Jack introduced them. + +"Oh! is that so?" answered Walt Baxter, and shook hands rather +doubtfully. "I--I--am glad to know you," he stammered. + +"And we are real glad to know you, Baxter," answered Randy, readily. +"We heard you were at this school. We hope that we'll all be good +friends." + +"If we are not, it won't be my fault," and now there was a ring of +relief in Walter Baxter's voice. He lowered his tone a trifle. "I know +your fathers did a lot for my father, and I am very thankful for it. If +I can do anything for you fellows here, I'll certainly do it." + +"And we'll do what we can for you, Baxter," answered Jack, quickly. + +After that the talk became general, and Walt Baxter told much about +himself and the doings of the cadets at Colby Hall. When Nappy +Martell's name was mentioned, he drew down the corners of his mouth. + +"I never had any use for that chap," he declared. "Once or twice my hot +temper got the better of me and we came pretty near having a fight. But +after that Martell gave me a wide berth." + +"I think I've got Martell to thank for something that is missing," said +Fred, and thereupon related the particulars regarding the lost +suitcase. + +"Say! I think I know something about that!" cried Walter Baxter, +quickly. "Yes, I'm sure I do!" + +"Did you see Martell take the suitcase?" demanded the youngest Rover, +quickly. + +"I can't say as to that, exactly. But I did see Martell sneaking off +through the backyard, past the stable, with something under his arm--a +big package wrapped up in a couple of newspapers." + +"When was this?" questioned Jack, quickly. + +"About four o'clock this afternoon." + +"Just after we arrived at the Hall!" burst out Randy. + +"What did he do with what package?" asked Jack. + +"I don't know exactly, excepting that he went down past the stable on +to the roadway that leads to the farm fields." + +"Maybe he took the suitcase and threw it down in one of the fields," +ventured Andy. + +"You didn't see him come back?" asked Fred. + +"Yes, come to think of it, I did--about a quarter of an hour after +that," answered Walt Baxter. + +"And did he have the package then?" + +"No." + +"Then I'll wager it was the suitcase and he left it somewhere down on +the farm!" cried Randy. "Let us go and take a look. We are permitted to +go out in the farm fields, aren't we?" he asked of Walt. + +"Oh, yes. You can go anywhere you please during off hours so long as +you don't go out of bounds," was the reply. "If you want to go out of +bounds, you have to report at the office and get permission." + +The matter was talked over for a few minutes more, and Walt Baxter said +he would gladly go along with the Rovers to show them just where he had +seen Nappy Martell with the bundle. The five boys were soon in the +neighborhood of the Hall stable, and then they passed beyond this to a +roadway which ran between the fields attached to the school farm. + +"It's a pity it's so dark," declared Jack. "I doubt if we'll be able to +locate that suitcase even if we get quite close to it." + +"I'll tell you what I'll do," declared Randy. "I'll run back to my room +and get my pocket flashlight. That will be just the thing." + +It took him but a few minutes to obtain the article he had mentioned, +and with the flashlight to guide them, the five boys started along the +roadway behind the school. The light was flashed first on one side and +then on the other. + +"Looks like a wild goose chase," declared Andy, after they had passed +two farm fields. "I don't think he would come this far with that heavy +suitcase." + +"Here is a cornfield full of stacks," said Walt Baxter. "The stacks +would afford a dandy hiding place for almost anything." + +They approached the first of the stacks, and Fred kicked some of the +corn stalks aside, but without result. Then they passed on to the next +stack. + +"Hello! here is something!" exclaimed Jack, as the rays of the +flashlight fell upon the object. "Fred, I guess we've found it all +right enough." + +"So we have!" cried the youngest Rover; and in a moment more he thrust +his hand in between the cornstalks and pulled out the missing suitcase. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +DOWN IN THE CORNFIELD + + +The other boys gathered around in curiosity as Fred brought forth from +the stack of cornstalks his missing suitcase. Beside the bag were +several newspapers crumpled up into a wad. + +"Those must be the newspapers he had the suitcase wrapped in," remarked +Walt Baxter. + +"More than likely," answered Jack. He picked up the wad of papers and +glanced at them. "New York newspapers, too," he cried. "Nappy must have +brought them with him from home." + +"Was the suitcase locked, Fred?" questioned Randy. + +"No. I didn't bother to lock it, because, you see, I had it with me. I +only lock a suitcase when I check it." + +"Then you'd better take a look inside and see if your duds are all +right," advised Andy. + +The youngest Rover quickly unstrapped the suitcase and threw back the +catch. Then, as Randy sent the rays of the flashlight into the bag, he, +as well as the others, uttered various exclamations. + +"The mean fellow!" + +"Fred, you ought to get after him for this!" + +For a quick look inside the suitcase had revealed the fact that Nappy +Martell had opened the bag and thrown handfuls of dirt amid the pieces +of clothing and the various other articles Fred had packed therein. + +"You'll have to have all that laundered stuff done over again before +you can wear it," declared Jack. "And you'll have to have those +neckties cleaned, too, I am afraid. Say! this is a shame!" + +"Just wait! I think I'll be able to get square with Nappy Martell," +muttered the youngest Rover. + +"He ought to be reported for this," broke in Walt Baxter. "This isn't a +joke. It's a low-down, dirty trick." + +At this remark all of the other Rover boys looked at Fred, and he +looked at his cousins in return. + +"I don't know about reporting this," he answered slowly. "I rather +think I prefer to settle with Martell myself." + +"That's the talk!" cried Andy. "If you reported this, some of the +fellows might put you down for a softy and a sneak. I'd rather watch my +chance and give Martell as good as he sent." + +"And with interest," added his twin. + +"If you fellows are anything like your fathers were before you, I +reckon you'll know how to get square with Nappy," remarked Walt Baxter. +"I've heard that the Rovers never took a back seat for anybody." + +"I'll figure out what I'm going to do after I get settled here," +returned Fred. He suddenly began to smile. "Say! things have been +happening since we left home, haven't they?" + +"I should say yes!" answered Andy. + +With Jack assisting his cousin in carrying the suitcase, the whole +crowd returned to Colby Hall, and here the Rovers started to separate +from Walt Baxter, first requesting him to remain silent regarding the +finding of the handbaggage. + +"If we don't say a word about it, maybe Nappy will get worried," said +Fred; "and that is what I want him to do." + +"He may go down to the cornfield to see if the bag is still there." + +"Hold on!" burst out Randy, suddenly. "I've got an idea!" and then in a +few words he explained what had occurred to him. The others listened +with interest, and even Walt Baxter had to laugh outright over what he +proposed. + +"I'll do it!" declared the son of Dan Baxter, readily. "I'll do it the +first chance I get. And, believe me, I'll fix it so Nappy Martell gets +into hot water!" + +"I'd like to see what effect the story has on Martell," said Andy, +grinning broadly. "Can't you fix it so we can be around at the time?" + +"Sure! When I get the chance, I'll drop you a hint." + +"And now I must get this bag to my room without anyone seeing me," said +Fred. + +"Better let Spouter or Fatty carry it up," advised Jack. "Then, if +Martell sees it, he won't know that it is your suitcase." + +It was an easy matter to get Spouter to do what was required, although +he insisted upon knowing what was in the wind. When he was told, he, +too, laughed heartily. + +"It will serve Martell right," he said. "I hope it worries him to +death." + +As soon as the suitcase was safe in Fred's room, he sought out +Professor Brice, who was busy arranging the order of some classes. + +"I wish to report that I've got my suitcase back, Professor," said the +youth. + +"Ah, indeed!" was the teacher's reply, and his face showed his relief. +"I'm glad to know it. Did you--er--have any trouble?" + +"Nothing that I care to mention--at least at this time," answered Fred. +"If you don't mind, Professor, we'll drop the matter." + +"Oh, very well, Rover. Just as you please." The young professor looked +at Fred rather knowingly. "Of course, if there is anything wrong, you +can report it later," he added hesitatingly. + +"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir," answered the youth, and then bowed himself +out of the office. In the hallway he was joined by Andy. + +"Did he make you squeal?" questioned the cousin quickly. + +"Not much!" was the reply. "He's a good sport. I guess he's been +through the mill himself." + +Fred spent some time over the contents of the suitcase, brushing the +dirt from some of the articles and sorting the rest out to be cleaned +or laundered. + +"It's going to cost two or three dollars to fix this up," he declared +to Randy. "I really ought to send the bill to Martell." + +"Well, just wait first and see if we get any fun out of this," answered +the joke-loving cousin. + +As was to be expected, there was far from a full night's sleep coming +to the Rover boys that night. The quarters were strange to them, and +there was more or less noise throughout the school building, a bunch of +scholars coming in on a late train and not getting settled down until +after midnight. There was also something of horseplay, although the +majority of the cadets were too tired from their journeys to be very +active. + +"I suppose we'll have to stand some hazing and all that sort of thing +later on," remarked Jack before retiring. + +About one o'clock the school seemed to settle down, and then one after +another the Rover boys fell asleep, not to awaken until the autumn sun +was showing well above the hills beyond Clearwater Lake. + +"This certainly is a splendid location," remarked Jack, as he went to +the open window, stretched himself, and filled his lungs with the fresh +morning air. + +"I don't wonder Colonel Colby picked this place out for a school," +answered Andy, who had come in. "He couldn't have done better." + +Not being accustomed to their surroundings, it took the Rovers a little +longer than usual to get washed and dressed. They were just finishing +their toilets when there came a light knock on Randy's door. He opened +it to find Walt Baxter standing there. + +"Nappy Martell just went downstairs, and I've fixed that matter up with +Ned Lowe," said Walt. "Come on down if you want to see what takes +place." + +He led the way, and all of the Rover boys followed at a safe distance. +They saw Walt enter one of the big living-rooms of the Hall, to one end +of which was attached the school library. Nappy Martell was at one of +the library tables glancing carelessly over a magazine. In the +living-room Walt was joined by Ned Lowe, and the pair walked up behind +Nappy. + +"Why, yes, it was the strangest thing I ever saw," said Walt to Ned in +a loud voice so that Nappy Martell could not help but hear. "The fellow +seemed to come from a stack of cornstalks down in the cornfield." + +"It wasn't one of the cadets, was it?" questioned Ned, innocently. + +"Oh, no. I think this fellow was some kind of a tramp--maybe some +fellow who had been sleeping under the stack all night. But what he was +doing with such a fine suitcase gets me." + +"That's right. Tramps don't generally have suitcases," returned the +other boy. "Did he come toward the school?" + +"No. He dug out the other way just as fast as he could go." + +"Poor fellow! maybe he was afraid if he came towards the school he +would be arrested. If he had a suitcase he couldn't have been just an +ordinary tramp. Maybe he was some working man looking for a job and +without the price of a night's lodging." + +"Perhaps, Ned. At the same time, I don't think Colonel Colby wants his +cornstalks used for a hotel," returned Walt; and then he and Ned walked +through the library and went outside on the campus. + +During this conversation the Rover boys, hidden behind some open doors, +had watched Nappy Martell closely. They had seen that he had caught +what was being said and had immediately lost all interest in the +magazine he was perusing. His face took on a worried look, and he +glanced inquiringly after Walt and Ned. Then he threw down his magazine +and started to leave the room. + +"Come on, let us watch him," whispered Jack. + +"Yes. But keep out of his sight," returned Randy. "We don't want this +joke spoiled." + +Keeping well in the background, they saw Nappy Martell ascend the +stairs to his room. A moment later he came forth with his hat in his +hand. + +"I bet an oyster against a soda cracker he's going down to that +cornfield!" cried Andy. + +"Right you are!" answered Fred. "Come on, let's follow him;" and +rushing up to their own rooms the Rover boys donned their caps and +sweaters, for the day was unusually cool. + +Nappy Martell left the Hall by a rear door, and the Rovers followed. +They saw the loudly dressed youth hurry toward the stable and then +disappear to the rear. Soon he was on the highway leading to the +cornfield. + +"There is no use of our following him, for he might see us and that +would spoil everything," said Randy. "Let's wait here at the stable +until he comes back." + +It did not take Nappy Martell long to reach the cornfield; and from a +distance the Rovers saw him rush around, first to one stack of +cornstalks and then to another. He was gone fully a quarter of an hour, +and came back looking decidedly worried. + +"He thinks some tramp got that suitcase and went off with it," said +Fred, grinning. "Randy, that certainly was one great joke." + +"Don't say a word," answered Randy. "Just let him keep on worrying for +a while. Maybe it will do him good." + +As Martell passed the stable, the Rover boys stepped out of sight in +the building. They saw him re-enter the Hall, and then they took a +roundabout course which soon brought them to the campus, where they +joined Fatty and Ned. + +"It's certainly a good joke," was Fatty's comment. "And any fellow who +would be mean enough to dirty a fellow's clothing like that ought to +suffer for it. Gee! I'll bet he's worried!" + +Of course, such a joke could not be kept entirely secret, and before +long it was spread among a good many of the cadets. But great care was +taken to keep it from Slugger Brown, Codfish and all the others +belonging to the Martell crowd. + +"And now to pay Martell back for his meanness!" said Fred a little +later. "This joke of Randy's is all right as far as it goes, but I +think I'm going to go him one better--that is, if I can get into +Martell's room." + +"All right, Fred. Anything you say goes," added Andy, quickly. "Isn't +that so, Randy?" + +"Sure thing!" + +"Look here! You don't want to get into trouble," warned Jack. + +"There won't be much trouble about this," answered Fred. "I am only +going to give Nappy Martell something to think about." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +LEARNING TO DRILL + + +While the Rover boys were talking matters over among themselves, Nappy +Martell had returned to his room, which was connected by a door with +that occupied by Slugger Brown. + +"What in thunder made you run off in such a hurry, Nappy?" demanded the +other cadet somewhat surlily. "You didn't answer that question I put to +you at all." + +"I had something else to think about," was the reply. "It looks to me +as if I'm in hot water." + +"How's that?" + +"Do you remember I told you that I placed that Fred Rover's suitcase +down under a stack in the cornfield?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, I heard Walt Baxter telling Ned Lowe that he had seen a tramp +down in the cornfield running away from one of the stacks with a +suitcase in his hand; so I went down to the cornfield to find out if +the suitcase was still where I had hidden it. It was gone." + +"Whew!" Slugger Brown gave a prolonged whistle. "That certainly does +look bad. Did Baxter say where the tramp went?" + +"He told Lowe that he had not come towards the Hall, but had gone off +in the opposite direction." + +"Then that looks as if the suitcase was gone for good." + +"So it does. And I don't know what I'm going to do about it," answered +Nappy Martell, gloomily. "Of course, I didn't think the suitcase would +be stolen." + +"And the worst part of it is, the Rovers suspect you of having taken +it," was the comment of Slugger. + +"Yes. But they can't prove it," cried Nappy, quickly. "That is, they +won't be able to do it unless you or Codfish give me away." + +"You know me well enough to know I won't say a word, Nappy. And as for +Codfish, just give him to understand if he opens his trap you'll fix +him for it." + +A little while later Martell and Brown went below. In the lower hallway +they met Fred and some of the others. + +"Well, Martell, when are you going to return that suitcase?" demanded +the youngest Rover. + +"I told you I haven't got your suitcase and don't know anything about +it," cried the loudly dressed youth. But at the same time his face grew +flushed and he could not look Fred in the eyes. + +"You took that suitcase, and if you don't return it pretty quick you'll +see what will happen," warned Fred; and then he walked away with his +cousins, leaving Nappy Martell gazing at Slugger Brown, questioningly. +The pair conversed in a low tone, and passed on out of the hall on to +the campus. + +"Now's your time, Fred, if you're going to do as you said," whispered +Randy. + +"Right you are!" was the quick reply. "Come on;" and Fred led the way +upstairs again, his cousins following. + +When they reached Nappy Martell's room, they found the door locked. But +the door to Slugger Brown's apartment was unfastened, and they quickly +entered this and passed into the room beyond. + +"Say, Jack, won't you stand on guard?" questioned Fred. "They might +come back while we're at work." + +"All right, boys. But be careful what you do. You don't want to spoil +anything. A joke is a joke, but it loses its flavor if it is carried +too far." + +With Jack standing in the hallway on guard, Fred and the twins took +possession of Nappy Martell's room. The boy who loved to dress so +loudly was rather methodical in his habits, and had arranged all of his +clothing and other articles with great nicety in his chiffonier and his +closet. + +"The bed first," whispered Fred; and in a trice the boys had taken off +the bed clothing and turned up the mattress. On the springs they placed +one of the bedsheets and on the top of this they distributed all of +Nappy's choice neckties and also his fancy-colored socks. Then to this +they added his cuffs, his fancy underwear, and all of his loose +jewelry. The articles were spread over the bed with care, so that they +rested as flat as possible. + +"Now, we'll put the mattress back and then make up the bed as nicely as +possible," said Randy, who, of course, in a joke of this sort directed +operations. + +"Gee! I don't believe he'll find those articles in a hurry," chuckled +Fred. + +"They'll never find them until they come to turn the mattress over," +vouchsafed Andy. "Some joke, believe me!" + +"I was thinking about that clothing in the closet. I wonder if we can't +fix that up some way," mused Randy. Then he began to grin. "Just the +thing!" he continued, and walked to the chiffonier, from a drawer in +which he brought out a package of safety pins. + +"What are you going to do with those?" questioned Fred. + +"We'll pin up all the ends of the sleeves and the trouser legs, from +the inside," was the quick reply. "Come, hurry up!" and then the three +boys lost no time in doing as Randy had suggested. This done, they left +the room, leaving it, so far as looks in general went, just as when +they had entered it. + +"There'll be some fun when Nappy wants one of those neckties or a pair +of those fancy socks," laughed Andy. "I wish I could be on hand to see +him." + +"Don't you worry--we'll hear about it," returned Fred. "He'll suspect +me on account of that suitcase affair." + +While it was true that the regular school term had not yet opened, the +new arrivals had been informed that they must be on hand to be measured +for their uniforms and also to be instructed by some of the seniors who +were present in drilling. The measurements of the boys were taken down +in the gymnasium under the directions of Mr. Silas Crews, who was the +gymnasium instructor and also the husband of Mrs. Crews, the matron for +the younger cadets. + +"I hope they've got a suit on hand that fits me," was Jack's comment, +as he and his cousins walked to the gymnasium. "I'd like to see how it +feels to be in a uniform." + +His wish was gratified, for a little later he was given an entire +outfit, which consisted of both a fulldress uniform and a fatigue suit, +as well as belt, shoulder straps, cap, and hat, and several other +things. Uniforms were also found for the others, and the entire crowd +lost no time in hurrying back to their rooms to dress up. In this they +were aided by Spouter, who had donned his uniform immediately upon his +arrival. + +"Some brass buttons, believe me!" was Andy's comment, as he strode +around the rooms. + +"Say! you put me in mind of a peacock," said the twin. "My, just see +how he swells up!" and Randy himself raised his chest as high as +possible. + +"What are you going to be, Jack--fifth corporal or first admiral of the +rear guard?" questioned Fred. + +"I'm going to be head soup-carrier for the bayonet squad," returned his +cousin gaily. + +As soon as they had donned their uniforms, the boys returned to the +gymnasium, where they were placed in what was called an awkward squad, +and which was under the direction of Dan Soppinger. Here they quickly +learned how to stand erect with their toes on a chalk mark, and how to +hold their hands properly. Then they were given directions how to cast +their eyes "To the right," "To the left," and "Front." Then they +learned the meaning of "Right face," "Left face," and "About face." + +[Illustration: THEY WERE PLACED IN WHAT WAS CALLED AN AWKWARD SQUAD. +_Page_ 125] + +"All of you are doing pretty well," remarked Dan Soppinger to the squad +of eight under him. "Now then, we'll see what you can do when it comes +to marching. When I give the order 'Forward,' you balance on your right +foot, and when the word comes 'March!' you step out with your left +foot. And when you step out, do it like this," and he gave an +illustration by marching up and down in front of the squad. + +To the Rover boys all this was very interesting, and they learned with +comparative ease. Only one of the awkward squad seemed to have +difficulty in marching just right, a lad named White. + +"Don't lag behind, White!" cried Dan Soppinger, sharply. "Step right +out as if you meant it;" and after that White did a little better. + +While the drilling was in progress, Colonel Colby came down to the +gymnasium to look on. He was pleased with the general results. + +"I think you are doing very well, boys," he said. "Of course, you can't +learn to become first-class soldiers in a day. It takes hard practising +to do anything just right." + +"When do we get guns?" questioned Andy, after the drilling had come to +an end. + +"You won't get guns until you have learned how to march and how to turn +properly," answered Dan. "Then, when you do get guns, you'll have to go +in for the manual of arms." + +"And how about learning how to shoot?" questioned Jack. + +"That will come still later--after you have had experience in marching +and in handling your guns." + +"Whoop! Me for a real soldier boy!" cried Andy, his eyes sparkling, and +then he began to hum a bit of doggerel he had made up on the spur of +the moment. + + "Johnny, get your musket-- + You must get your musket. + Johnny, get your musket-- + You must get it now!" + +"Wow! that's some song," was Fred's comment. "Better have it +copyrighted, Andy." + +"Oh, I've already got a double-barreled patent on it," was the light +answer. "Anybody who steals it will get ten years in a bathing suit at +the north pole;" and at this there was a general laugh. + +The boys were awaiting the arrival of Gif Garrison, who came in about +noon of that day. Gif was a big boy, and, as mentioned before, was at +the head of a great many of the athletic doings of the school. + +"Glad to see you fellows here," said Gif, as he shook hands all around. +"My! but we're going to have some good times now, aren't we?" + +"If we don't, it won't be our fault," responded Jack. + +"We've just been learning how to become soldiers," explained Randy. "My +head is full of 'Eyes right,' 'Left face,' 'Forward march,' and all +that sort of thing." + +"Oh, you'll get used to that, Randy, before you've been here very +long," returned Gif. + +"Did you have a nice time getting here?" questioned Fred. + +"I might have had a nice time if it hadn't been for one thing," was the +answer. "I came in on the same train with a professor that none of us +like." + +"Oh! Do you mean Asa Lemm?" questioned Andy, quickly. + +"That's it! What do you know of him?" + +"We know quite a little," answered Jack, and related some of the +particulars of what had happened on the train. + +"Oh, I can see your finish," said Gif with a serious look on his face. +"Old Lemon will never forget that happening. He'll be down on you for +it all the term." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +FRED IS FOLLOWED + + +It took the Rover boys several days to settle down at Colby Hall. +Everything, of course, was new to them, and they took great delight in +roaming around the place in company with Spouter, Gif and the various +new friends they had made. During that time they continued to drill, +both in the morning and the afternoon; and it was surprising how +quickly they learned the manual of arms and also the other tactics +which go to make up the discipline of a cadet. + +"This life is all to the merry," was Andy's comment one day, while he +and the others were down at the shore of the river inspecting the +boathouse with its numerous craft. + +"It certainly is one fine place," answered Jack. "If Putnam Hall was +anything like this, no wonder our fathers thought so much of it." + +Since Fred had asked Nappy Martell for the suitcase, the boy who was +addicted to loud clothing had avoided the Rovers. But through the cadet +named White they had learned much of what had happened in Nappy's room +when he came in after it had been "rearranged" by the Rovers. + +"Nappy Martell was the maddest fellow you ever saw," Bart White had +declared. "He stormed all around the corridor, accusing nearly +everybody in that vicinity of having taken his neckties and his +underwear and a lot of jewelry. He even came to my room and threatened +to tell Colonel Colby if I didn't tell him where the things were." + +"And, of course, you couldn't do that," had been Randy's reply, with a +side wink at the others. + +"No. I told him I didn't know where the things were--because, you see, +I really didn't know," went on Bart White, innocently. + +"And after that?" queried Jack. + +"Oh, he stormed around, accusing this one and that one until some of +the boys got sick of listening and told him to shut up. Then he went +back to his room and slammed the door hard enough to burst it off its +hinges." + +"Do you suppose he reported the matter to Colonel Colby?" had been +Fred's question. + +"I don't know about that. You see, when a fellow gets as mad as Martell +was he's liable to do almost anything." And that was all Bart White had +had to relate concerning the affair. + +So far, the Rover boys had not had anything to do with Asa Lemm. They +had met the sharp-faced professor once in the hallway and he had stared +at them in a fashion which made Andy shiver. + +"He's got it in for me all right!" had been the declaration of the +fun-loving youth. + +"I guess Gif was right," had been Jack's comment. "He'll have it in for +us the whole term. Too bad! I'd rather be friendly with every one than +have any enemies." + +The Rover boys were just leaving the boathouse after having admired the +beautiful four- and eight-oared shells stored there, when they saw +Fatty Hendry coming towards them as rapidly as his stoutness permitted. + +"Say! I've got something to tell you fellows," puffed the fat boy as he +came closer. "I just saw that sneak of a Codfish coming from Fred's +room. He looked awful sneakish, and I'm sure he was up to no good." + +"I'll go up to my room at once and see," answered the youngest Rover, +and lost no time in speeding back to the Hall. + +He bounded up the stairs two steps at a time. But when he reached the +room he occupied, a surprise awaited him. Everything was exactly as he +had left it. It may be as well to state here that every cadet at Colby +Hall was required to keep his room in absolute order, and a monitor +came around twice a day to see that this regulation was carried out. If +a pupil was lax in any particular regarding his room, he was given a +demerit in consequence thereof. + +"Well, thank goodness! he didn't upset anything, even if he was here," +murmured Fred to himself. "I wonder what the little imp was up to?" +Then a sudden thought struck him and he walked to the clothes closet in +the bottom of which he had deposited his suitcase. He found the bag in +the closet, but it was placed there in such a way that he was sure it +had been handled. + +"Well, what have you found?" questioned Andy, who had followed his +cousin to the room. + +"I think I know why he came here," declared Fred. "More than likely +Martell sent him here to find out whether I really had the suitcase or +not. The bag I know has been handled. When I placed it in the closet I +put the open end of the straps against the wall. Now the open ends are +on this side." + +"Say! you're some detective, Fred!" + +"I know how I left the bag. And he certainly had it out of the closet +and put it back." + +"See if he did anything to it," went on Andy, quickly; and thereupon +Fred brought the bag forth and examined it. It was empty, just as he +had left it. + +"Well, that will take the worry of the missing bag from Martell's +mind," was Fred's comment, as he and Andy left the room, this time +locking the door. + +"Martell must have had some kind of a clue to the truth or he wouldn't +have sent Codfish here," was Andy's comment. "Maybe he got on to what +part Walt Baxter and Ned Lowe played in the trick." And in this surmise +Andy was correct. By the merest accident Codfish had overheard Walt and +Ned speaking about the joke, and at once he had gone to Nappy with the +news; and the upshot had been that Nappy had sent the sneak to Fred's +room to learn if the suitcase with Fred's initials upon it was there. + +Late that afternoon both the old and the new cadets were assigned to +their places in the various classrooms and also given the text-books +which they were to study during the term. + +"This begins to look like work," sighed Randy. + +"Well, we didn't come here just for the fun of it," declared Jack. "We +came here, if you'll remember, to get an education." + +"Oh, I'm not going to complain," returned his cousin quickly. "I'm +willing to do my share of studying. But after the splendid vacation we +had this Summer it will be a little tough at the beginning to get down +to the grind." + +"That's just what I was thinking," declared Andy. "I wish a fellow +didn't have to study. Why can't some of our great inventors invent some +kind of knowledge pill so a fellow can just go and buy a few boxes and +then take them regularly?" + +"Great idea, Andy!" exclaimed his twin merrily. + +By the next morning all of the cadets had arrived, and also all of the +teachers and the other persons connected with Colby Hall. Then the +cadets were assembled on the parade ground and made to march into the +general assembly room of the institution, where Colonel Colby addressed +them. He spoke about the good work done by the cadets during the former +term at the school, and said he trusted that the present term would +turn out still better. + +"At present all of our old officers of the battalion will hold over," +he announced. "But in the near future--just as soon as we have got +settled in our classes--I will announce the time for a new election. +The major and the two captains to be elected must be in their senior +year at this institution. The other officers may be either sophomores +or juniors." + +"That lets us out," whispered Andy to Jack. "Evidently no freshmen can +be officers." + +"Well, why should we be officers?" answered his cousin. "We hardly know +a thing about soldiering yet. I think Colonel Colby's rule is a very +good one." + +During the meeting in the assembly room all of the professors were +called on to say a few words to the cadets. The addresses delivered by +Professors Grawson and Brice and one or two of the other teachers were +well received; but it was plainly evident that when Asa Lemm came +forward to speak to the boys there was a distinctly cold feeling +towards him. + +"I want to speak about attention to work," he said in a severe tone of +voice. "During the last term at this school there was not that +attention in classes that I desire. From now on I expect every one who +comes to me to pay strict attention at all times. Any laxity will be +severely punished." + +"Gosh! He's a cheerful customer!" was Fred's comment. + +"He'd make a fellow down on him almost before the term began," was +another cadet's comment. + +"I don't wonder they call him old Lemon," added another youth. + +"And now we're all ready to go to work," said Jack, after the cadets +had been dismissed. On the following day the classes were to begin. + +There had been so much bustle and confusion throughout the school that +day that Fred, who was not feeling extra well, got quite a headache. + +"You had better lie down for a while and rest," said Jack, kindly. "You +don't want to get sick." + +"Oh, it's only a headache, and I'll soon be over it," declared Fred. "I +think I'll go out for a quiet walk along the river." + +"Do you want me to go along?" + +"No. I'd just as lief go alone, Jack. I think the quietness will do me +more good than anything." + +This mood was not a new one with the youngest Rover, so Jack said no +more, and a few minutes later Fred slipped on his heavy sweater and +donned his cap and set out for his walk. His steps took him towards the +boathouse and the bathing houses, and then he continued on along a path +running close to the shore of the river. + +Although the youngest Rover did not know it, his departure had been +watched by Codfish. The small boy lost no time in hurrying to Nappy +Martell and Slugger Brown with his information. + +"You're sure he's alone?" asked Nappy, quickly. + +"Yes. Nobody went out with him." + +"Then that's our chance, Slugger," went on the boy from New York. "Come +ahead, if you want to help me." + +"All right, Nap. But I thought you said you could polish him off +alone?" + +"So I can. But I thought you'd like to see the fun." + +"Can't I go along too?" put in Codfish. + +"Yes, if you'll promise to keep your mouth shut about it." + +"Oh, I won't say a word," returned the little cadet, quickly. + +Putting on their hats and coats, the three cadets lost no time in +following Fred. It was quite dark on the campus and parade ground, but +they soon caught sight of the figure ahead as the youngest Rover moved +past the bathhouses to the river path beyond. + +"He's alone all right enough," was Slugger Brown's comment. + +"I thought I'd catch him sooner or later after I set Codfish to +watching him," answered Nappy Martell. "Now I guess I'll be able to +teach him to play tricks on me," he added sourly. + +The three cadets quickened their pace, and in a moment more caught up +to Fred just as he reached a point on the river shore almost out of +sight of the Hall. Fred had dipped his handkerchief in the water and +used the same for wiping off his aching brow. + +"See here, Rover, I want to talk to you!" cried Nappy Martell, and, +striding forward, he caught Fred roughly by the arm. + +Of course, the youngest Rover was startled, not dreaming that anyone +was following him. Yet he showed no signs of fear. + +"What do you want of me, Martell?" he asked quietly. + +"I'll show you what I want of you!" cried Nappy Martell in sudden +wrath. "I'll teach you to play tricks on me! Try to make me believe +your suitcase was stolen, will you? And then come to my room and +rough-house things, eh? Just wait till I get through with you and +you'll wish you'd never been born!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE FIGHT + + +Fred Rover realized that he was in an unenviable situation. Nappy +Martell was thoroughly angry, and evidently Slugger Brown and Codfish +were present to aid him in anything he might undertake to do. + +Many another boy might have thought discretion the better part of valor +and taken to his heels. But the youngest Rover was not built that way. +He had been taught to stick up for his rights and defend himself +whenever the cause was a just one. + +"What do you propose to do, Martell?" he questioned as quietly as he +could. + +"I'll show you what I'll do," blustered the other. "You thought it was +a fine joke to put most of my things under the mattress of my bed, +didn't you?" + +"Who told you I did that?" + +"Never mind. I found it out, and that's enough. Do you dare to deny +it?" + +"I don't suppose there will be any use in denying it," was Fred's +reply. "It was done as a joke, to square accounts over the missing +suitcase." + +"Bah! you needn't talk to me, Rover! I know the kind you and your +cousins are. I'm going to fix you. How do you like that?" and as he +uttered the last word, Nappy Martell hauled back and slapped Fred on +the cheek. + +It was a comparatively light blow, but it aroused all the fighting +blood in the youngest Rover boy's nature, and without stopping to think +twice, he doubled up his fists and hit the larger youth a stinging blow +in the jaw. + +"Gee! look at that!" murmured Codfish, who had not expected such an +onslaught from the smaller cadet. + +"Say, Nappy, he's coming back at you!" burst out Slugger Brown, in +surprise. + +"Coming back at me nothing!" roared Martell; and, leaping forward, he +rained a succession of blows on Fred--hitting him in the shoulder, the +chest and then the left ear. + +In another moment the two cadets were at it "hammer and tongs." As they +circled around, Codfish put out his foot, trying to trip Fred up. He +failed in this, but a moment later Slugger Brown tried the trick with +success, and the youngest Rover came down heavily and an instant later +Nappy Martell landed on top of him. + +"Get off of me! That wasn't fair!" exclaimed Fred. "Those other fellows +tripped me up." + +"Aw, shut up!" retorted Martell; and while he held Fred down with his +body he continued to pommel the smaller youth with his fists. + +"Don't go too far," said Slugger Brown presently, in alarm. "If you do +that, he may squeal and get you into trouble." + +"Somebody is coming!" screamed Codfish, suddenly, as he saw a number of +forms running across the parade ground in the direction of the river +road. "Four or five of 'em." + +"It's Jack Rover and his chums," muttered Slugger Brown. + +He was right. Jack was approaching, followed by Spouter, Fatty, Walt +Baxter and Gif Garrison. + +"I was sure they were up to no good--following Fred that way," Walt +Baxter was saying. + +"I'm glad you told me about this, Walt," answered Jack. "Three against +one is no fair deal." + +As the five cadets came rushing up, Codfish viewed their approach with +alarm and then retreated several paces. Slugger Brown, however, stood +his ground. + +"Hi you! let my cousin alone!" cried Jack, and, leaping forward, he +caught Nappy Martell by the collar and hurled him into some bushes. + +"Say, this isn't any of your fight," put in Slugger Brown, uglily. +While he spoke, Fred lost no time in leaping to his feet and there he +stood, once more on the defensive. + +"No one asked you to butt in, Jack Rover!" stormed Nappy Martell. "You +keep out of this." + +"Why did he attack you, Fred?" + +"Huh! you know the reason as well as he does," burst out Martell. "You +played a trick on me about that suitcase, and then you came and +rough-housed my room." + +"One trick was only played to square up for the other, Martell," +answered Jack, calmly. "You ought to be man enough to cry quits and let +it go at that." + +"I won't cry quits--not until I've given this fellow a good licking!" +roared Nappy Martell; and then before anyone could stop him he lunged +another blow at Fred, who, however, was quick enough to dodge it. + +"Stop!" Jack's voice was now unusually stern, and stepping up to Nappy +Martell he caught the fellow by the arm and swung him around so that +the pair faced each other. "If you want to fight, Martell, take +somebody nearer your size." + +"Oh, Jack! I'm not afraid of him," burst out Fred. Strange to say, the +excitement of the occasion seemed to have chased his headache +completely away. + +"Maybe you want me to fight you," sneered Nappy Martell. + +"You'll have to fight me if you don't leave my cousin Fred alone." + +"See here, Rover! you've no right to butt in like this," interposed +Slugger Brown. "Why don't you let the pair finish it?" + +"Those two fellows," cried Fred, pointing to Slugger Brown and Codfish, +"tripped me up. It wasn't fair--three against one." + +"We didn't trip him up at all," came from the two accused ones +simultaneously. + +"They did, Jack. First Codfish tried it, and then Brown put out his +foot and I went down, and Martell at once pounced on me." + +"That's no way to fight!" broke out Spouter. + +"It was certainly a mean trick," was Gif's comment. + +"If there is any fighting to be done, I guess we're on hand to see that +it's done fairly," came from Walt Baxter. + +A perfect war of words followed, in the midst of which Nappy Martell +seemed to lose complete control of his temper. He rushed at Jack and +hit the youth two quick blows, one in the chest and the other on the +chin. The oldest Rover was not looking for this attack, and he +staggered backward into some bushes, all but losing his balance. + +"That's the way to do it, Nappy!" cried Slugger Brown, excitedly. "Give +it to him!" + +Jack was as much surprised as Fred had been when first hit, but he was +able to recover much more quickly than his cousin. He leaped forward +from the bushes, doubled up his fists, and the next instant sent in a +crashing blow that landed straight on Martell's nose. He followed up +this blow with another on the other youth's chin which sent Martell +sprawling flat on his back. + +"Hurrah! that's the way to do it, Jack!" cried Spouter. + +"Say! has he got to fight two of you Rovers?" questioned Slugger Brown. + +"No. He's got to fight me only," answered Jack, quickly. He turned to +his cousin. "Fred, you keep out of this." + +"But he started on me," pleaded the youngest Rover. "And now that you +are here to see fair play, I'm not afraid of him." + +"Never mind. It's my fight, anyway," went on Jack. "I owe him one for +the way he treated me down in Wall Street that day." + +While this talk was going on, Nappy Martell had scrambled to his feet. +His nose was swollen and bleeding profusely. + +"You imp!" he howled, and lunged another attack at Jack. + +He was able to land two blows on Jack's chest, but they were not +powerful enough to do harm. Then, as Martell circled around, the oldest +Rover boy managed to get in another blow, this time on his opponent's +mouth, loosening two of Nappy's teeth. + +"That's the way to do it, Jack!" + +"Give him a few more like that and he'll soon quit." + +"Go for him, Nappy! You can do him up if you'll only try," bellowed +Slugger Brown in excitement. + +"You keep back, Slugger," warned Walt Baxter. "Don't you interfere." + +"I didn't interfere." + +"Well, you're too close, anyway. Keep back like the rest of us." + +"That's just what I say," broke out Spouter. + +Realizing that the others were in the majority, Slugger Brown kept his +distance from the pair who were fighting. Codfish was trembling like a +leaf, and cowered well in the background. + +Around and around circled the two contestants, and for a few minutes +neither of them seemed to have the advantage. Jack was hit in the arm, +and returned by landing another blow, this time on Nappy's chest. Then +the big youth aimed a kick at the Rover boy's stomach. + +"Hi! that's no way to fight!" cried Gif, indignantly. + +Jack had managed to escape the kick, and he had put down one hand so +quickly that Nappy Martell had been in great danger of being caught and +thrown on his back. + +In the midst of the contest several forms could be seen hurrying across +the campus and the parade ground, and in a moment more Andy and Randy +came into view, followed by Bart White and some other cadets. + +"It's a fight!" + +"Why, what do you know about this! Jack is fighting Nappy Martell!" + +"Martell tackled me first, but Jack took the fight out of my hands," +explained Fred to his cousins. + +"Who has got the best of it?" questioned Bart White, excitedly. + +"I think Jack has the best of it so far," answered Gif; "but the fight +isn't finished yet," he added, a bit anxiously. + +"You're right it isn't finished yet!" retorted Slugger Brown. "Just you +wait until Nappy gets his second wind, and then you'll see what he'll +do to Rover." + +Once more the two contestants were circling around, each trying to get +in some kind of telling blow. Various passes were made, and in the +excitement the pair left the roadway and began to circle around on the +grassy bank of the river. + +"Look out there, or you'll both go overboard!" sang out Spouter in +alarm. + +The cadets who were fighting were too engrossed to pay attention to +this warning. They kept on circling about, and then Nappy Martell made +a wild and vicious pass for Jack's head. The latter dodged like +lightning, came up under his opponent's arm, and the next instant +landed a swinging blow on Martell's ear which sent him staggering +backward several paces, to fall with a splash into the river. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +IN THE TOWN + + +"Hello! Nappy's overboard!" + +"Wow! that was some crack on the ear!" + +"Can he swim?" + +"Sure, he can swim! If he can't we can haul him in easy enough." + +"I don't believe the river is very deep here." + +Such were some of the words uttered immediately after the +well-delivered blow from Jack Rover had sent his opponent spinning into +the swiftly flowing waters of the Rick Rack River. Fortunately, the +moon and the stars were shining brightly, so it was not as dark as it +otherwise might have been. Indeed, had it not been for the brightness +of the night it is doubtful if the fight could have been carried on as +already described. + +All of the cadets present lined up along the river bank, and an instant +later saw Nappy Martell come to the surface. He was striking out wildly +and spluttering at the same time, showing that he had gone overboard +with his mouth open and had swallowed some of the water. One hand and +shoulder were covered with mud from the river bottom, for at that +particular point the stream was less than five feet deep. + +"Oh, he'll be drowned! I know he'll be drowned!" screamed Codfish in +terror. + +"You shut up, you little imp!" burst out Gif. "You'll arouse the whole +school, and there is no need of doing that." + +By this time Nappy Martell was close to the river bank, and he reached +up his hand appealingly to those above him. + +"Here, give me your hand, Nappy!" cried Slugger Brown, and reached down +to aid his crony. But the bank was a slippery and treacherous one, and +he was in danger of going overboard himself. + +"Wait a minute, Slugger--let me help you," cried Spouter, and he took +hold of the big youth's left hand. + +Then the others also came forward to do what they could, and in a few +seconds more Nappy Martell was hauled up on the grass. He was pretty +well exhausted and panted painfully. + +"I'm sorry you went overboard, Martell," said Jack, promptly. "I didn't +expect to knock you into the river." + +"You did it on purpose! You know you did!" returned the other youth +wrathfully. "Yo--you--d--d--don't know how to f--f--fight fair," he +added, his teeth suddenly beginning to chatter, for the unexpected bath +at this season had proved awfully cold. + +"Say! he's shivering like a leaf!" cried Fred. + +"You had better get back to the Hall and change your clothing," advised +Jack. + +"I won't change anything until I've given you a licking," roared Nappy +Martell. + +"Oh, say, Nappy, you had better call it off for to-night," interposed +Slugger Brown. "You can't fight in those wet clothes. Finish it some +other time." + +"I won't!" came the ejaculation, and then the dripping boy hurled +himself once more at Jack. + +But he was blinded by water and mud as well as by rage; and the oldest +Rover boy easily evaded the new onslaught. Then, of a sudden, he +reached out and caught Martell by both wrists and held him in a +vise-like grasp. + +"Now, see here, Martell, don't be foolish," he said sternly. "I don't +want to fight a fellow who has been overboard and is wringing wet. +You'll catch your death of cold hanging around here in this night air. +Go on back to the Hall and change your clothing. If you want to finish +this some other time, I'll be ready for you." + +"That's the talk!" added Spouter. + +"It would be foolish to go on in this condition," remarked Gif. "Call +it off, by all means." + +"You might as well do it," came from Slugger Brown. "You wouldn't have +any kind of a fair show, Nappy--after having been in the river, and +after having had to lick the other Rover first." + +"He didn't lick me!" burst out Fred, indignantly. + +More words followed, but in the end Nappy Martell consented to return +to the Hall and went off in company with Slugger Brown, Codfish, and +one or two more friends who had chanced to come up. + +"You'll have to slip in on the sly, or else somebody may ask some +unpleasant questions," remarked Slugger Brown on the way to the school. + +"You lend me your coat, and I'll take mine off and make a bundle of +it," answered Martell; and so it was arranged. The others clustered +around the dripping youth and thus they managed to get him to his room +without being detected. + +"He'll never forgive you, Jack, for knocking him into the river," said +Randy, while the Rovers and their friends walked slowly back to the +Hall. + +"I guess you're right," was the answer. + +"And what is more, he'll probably try to play some underhanded trick on +you," added Andy. + +"I wish I had had the chance--I think I could have knocked him out +myself," broke in Fred. "I'm not afraid of him, even if he is bigger +than I am." + +All those who had witnessed the contest were cautioned to keep quiet +about it. Yet in a school like Colby Hall it was next to impossible to +keep the particulars of the affair from circulating, and before long +many of the cadets knew the truth. The majority were of the opinion +that Jack could readily have defeated Martell had the contest been +fought to a finish. + +"He'll undoubtedly lay for you, Jack," remarked Fred that night, in +talking the matter over in their rooms. + +"Maybe he'll lay for you, Fred," smiled his big cousin. "You had better +keep your eyes peeled." + +"I guess we had better all watch out," was Randy's comment. + +But for the next few days Nappy Martell, as well as his particular +crony, Slugger Brown, kept to themselves, while Codfish was so timid +that he hardly dared to show himself. + +About a week, including Sunday, went by, and the school began to settle +down to its regular routine of studies. The Rover boys had had all +their classes mapped out for them, and had also been assigned to a +class in gymnasium work. Gymnastics especially suited the agile Andy, +who nearly always preferred action to sitting still. The Rover boys on +leaving home had promised their parents that they would pay strict +attention to their studies, and now they did their best in that +direction. Of course, some of the lessons were rather hard, and Fred, +being the youngest, often found he needed assistance from the others. + +During those days they quickly discovered why Dan Soppinger had been +referred to by one of their friends as the "human question mark." Dan +always wanted to know something, and he did not hesitate to ask for +information on any and all occasions, no matter what else might happen +to be under discussion at the time. + +"He'll die asking questions," remarked Andy. "I never knew a fellow who +could fire questions at a person so rapidly." + +It was now ideal weather for football, and as soon as the school became +settled football talk filled the air. Gif Garrison had been at the head +of the football eleven the Fall previous, and now he was looked upon to +whip the new team into shape. + +"We generally play three games with outside schools," explained Gif to +the Rovers one day. "First we play Hixley High. Then we play the +Clearwater Country Club. And after that we wind up usually with our big +game with Columbus Academy." + +"It must be great sport," answered Jack. + +"Did you ever get a chance to play football in New York?" + +"Oh, yes, we occasionally played a game." + +"Jack would make a first-rate football player if he had the chance," +put in Randy. "I've seen him play, and I know." + +"Yes. And Fred makes a pretty good player, too," added Andy. "Of +course, he's small and light in weight, but he's as quick on his feet +as they make 'em." + +"How about you and Randy?" questioned Gif. + +"Oh, we never cared very much to play football. We'd rather have some +fun in the crowd looking on," was the answer of the twin. + +At this, the football leader smiled. "Well, we've got to have some kind +of an audience--otherwise there wouldn't be any fun in pulling off a +game." He looked at Jack and Fred, thoughtfully. "I'm going to keep you +two fellows in mind, and if I can put one or both of you on the team, +I'll do it. Of course, you'll have your try-outs on the scrub first." + +"Well, you can put me on the scrub as soon as you please," answered +Jack, promptly. + +"I'll be glad of the chance," added Fred. + +As was to be expected, no sooner had the boys attempted to settle down +at Colby Hall than they began to want for a number of things which they +had failed to bring from home. These articles were, for the most part, +of small consequence; yet the boys could not get along very well +without them, and so resolved on the following Saturday, which was a +holiday, to walk down to Haven Point and do some shopping. + +"I'd like first rate to take a look around the town, too," said Randy. +"It looked like a pretty good sort of place." + +"Maybe we can go to the moving picture show there," put in his brother. +"We'll have time enough." + +"Perhaps--if the films look worth while," answered Jack. + +They had already learned that the moving picture show in the town was +of the better class, and that the pupils of the school were allowed to +attend a performance whenever they had time to do so. + +It did not take the four cousins long to walk the distance to Haven +Point. They left the school directly after lunch, and inside of an hour +had purchased the various small articles which they desired. Then all +headed for the moving picture theater, which was located on the main +street in the busiest portion of that thoroughfare. + +As the boys walked up to the booth to purchase their admission tickets, +they saw a bevy of girls just entering the door. They were all well +dressed and chatting gaily. + +"Nice bunch, all right," was Randy's comment. "I wonder where they are +from?" + +"I think I know," answered Jack. "Spouter was telling me there is a +girls' school on the other side of this town, called Clearwater Hall. +It's about as large as Colby Hall. More than likely those girls come +from that school." + +"I wish we knew them," said Andy. "I wonder if some of the cadets from +our school don't know them." + +"More than likely some of our fellows know some of the girls," said +Jack. "We may be able to become acquainted with them some day." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +AT THE MOVING PICTURE THEATER + + +The moving picture theater was large enough to hold several hundred +people, and when the boys entered they found the place almost full. + +"There are some seats--over on the left," remarked Jack, as he pointed +them out. "Two in one row and two directly behind." + +"Why not two in one row and two directly in front?" returned Andy, +gaily, and then headed for the seats. + +"You and Fred had better sit in front, and Randy and I can take the +back seats," went on Jack; and so it was arranged. + +They had come in between pictures and while some doors had been open +for ventilation, so that the place was fairly light. As Jack took his +seat he noticed that the girls who had come in just ahead of the boys +were sitting close by. + +"They certainly do look like nice girls," was Jack's mental comment; +and he could not help but cast a second glance at the girl sitting +directly next to him. She was attired in a dark blue suit trimmed in +fur and held a hat to match in her lap. Jack noted that she was fair of +complexion, with dark, wavy hair. + +"I'm thinking this is going to be a pretty interesting picture for us, +Andy," remarked Randy, as the name of the production was flashed upon +the screen. "'The Gold Hunter's Secret--A Drama of the Yukon,'" he +read. "That must have been taken in Alaska." + +"That's right, Randy," returned his twin. "Gee! I hope this Alaskan +play doesn't affect us; like that other Alaskan play once affected +dad," he went on, referring to a most remarkable happening, the details +of which were given in "The Rover Boys in Alaska." + +"It isn't likely to," answered Randy, promptly. "Poor dad was in no +mental condition to attend that show, Uncle Dick once told me. He had +been knocked on the head with a footstool, and that had affected his +mind." + +The four Rovers were soon absorbed in the stirring drama of the Alaskan +gold fields, and for the time being almost forgot their surroundings. +In the midst of the last reel, however, Jack felt the girl beside him +stirring. + +"It's my hatpin," she whispered. "It just fell to the floor." + +"I'll get it," he returned promptly, and started to hunt in the dark. +He had to get up and push up his seat before the hatpin was recovered. + +"Oh, thank you very much," said the girl sweetly, when he presented the +article to her. + +"You are welcome, I'm sure," returned the Rover boy; and then he added +with a smile: "Accidents will happen in the best of families, you +know," and at this both the girl and two of her companions giggled. + +The photo-drama was presently finished and was followed by a +mirth-provoking comedy at which the entire audience laughed heartily. +Then came a reel of current events from various portions of the globe. + +"Say, there's something worth looking at!" cried Fred, as a boat race +was flashed on the screen. + +"Right you are," responded Jack. "Just see those fellows pull! Isn't it +grand?" he added enthusiastically. "I'd like to be in that shell +myself," and he turned suddenly, to catch the girl beside him casting +her eyes in his direction. She dropped them quickly, but her whole +manner showed that she, too, was interested, not only in the race, but +in what Jack had said. The cadets, of course, were in uniform, so the +girl knew they were from Colby Hall. + +The reel of current events had almost come to a finish, and there was +intense silence as the picture showed the funeral of some well-known +man of the East, when there came a sudden splutter from the operator's +booth in the back gallery. This was followed by several flashes of +light and then a small explosion. + +"What's that?" + +"Some explosion!" + +"The theater's on fire!" + +"Let's get out of this!" + +"That's right! I don't want to be burnt to death!" + +Such were some of the exclamations which arose on the air. A panic had +seized the audience, and, like one person, they leaped to their feet +and began to fight to get out of the theater. In a twinkling there was +a crush in the aisles, and several people came close to being knocked +down and trampled upon. + +"Where's my hat?" + +"Get back there--don't crush these children!" + +"See the smoke pouring in!" + +"Open the side door, somebody!" + +"Keep cool! Keep cool!" yelled somebody from the gallery. "There is no +fire! Keep cool!" But there was such a tumult below that scarcely +anybody paid attention to these words. + +While many fought to get out the way they had come in, others stormed +towards the side doors of the playhouse. Meanwhile, an ill-smelling +cloud of smoke drifted through the auditorium. + +With the first alarm the Rover boys had leaped to their feet, and +almost by instinct the others looked to Jack to see what he would do. + +"Oh, oh! is the place on fire?" cried the girl who had been sitting +next to the oldest Rover, and she caught him by the arm. + +"I don't know," he answered. "Something exploded in the operating +room." + +"Oh, let us get out!" came from one of the other girls. + +"Yes, yes! I don't want to be burnt up!" wailed a third. + +"Don't get excited," warned Jack. "I don't believe there is any great +danger. There is no fire down here, and there seem to be plenty of +doors." + +"The fellow upstairs said to keep cool," put in Randy. "Maybe it won't +amount to much after all." + +Most of the lights had gone out, leaving the theater in almost total +darkness. + +"Come on for the side door," said Jack. "That's the nearest way out." + +The smoke from above was now settling, and this caused many to cough, +while it made seeing more difficult than ever. Jack pushed Fred ahead +of him, holding one hand on his cousin's shoulder, while with the other +hand he reached out and grasped the wrist of the girl who had been +sitting beside him. + +"You had better come this way," he said; "and bring your friends +along." + +"All right. But do hurry!" she pleaded. "I am so afraid that something +will happen." + +"Oh, Ruth! can we get out?" questioned the girl next to her. + +"I don't know. I hope so," answered the girl addressed, and then began +to cough slightly, for the smoke was steadily growing thicker. + +It was no easy matter to reach the side entrance, for already half a +hundred people were striving to get through a doorway not much over two +feet wide. The air was filled with screams and exclamations of protest, +and for the time being in the theater it was as if bedlam had broken +loose. + +"Are we all here?" came from Andy, as, with smarting eyes, he tried to +pierce the gloom. + +"I'm here," answered his twin. + +"So am I," came simultaneously from Jack and Fred. + +Then Jack turned to the girl who was now beside him. + +"Are all your friends with you?" + +"I--I think so," she faltered; and then she added: "Annie, are Alice +and Jennie with you?" + +"Yes. We're all here," came from somebody in the rear. "But, oh, do let +us get out! I can scarcely breathe!" + +"I've lost my hat!" wailed another. + +"Oh, never mind your hat, Alice, as long as we get out," came from the +girl who was next to Jack. + +At last the crowd at the doorway thinned out, and a moment later the +four Rovers, pushing the girls ahead of them, managed to get outside. +They found themselves in a narrow alleyway, and from this hurried to +the street beyond. + +"Oh, how glad I am that we are out of there!" exclaimed the girl who +had been sitting beside Jack. + +"I'm glad myself," he added, wiping away the tears which the smoke had +started from his eyes. + +"If only they all get out safely!" said one of the other girls. + +"I don't know about that," answered Randy, seriously. "It was a bad +enough crush at that side door, but I think it was worse at the front +doors." + +By this time everybody seemed to be out of the theater. An alarm of +fire had been sounded, and now a local chemical engine, followed by a +hook and ladder company, came rushing to the scene. There was, for +fully ten minutes, a good deal of excitement, but this presently died +down when it was learned positively that there was no fire outside the +metallic booth from which the pictures had been shown and where the +small explosion had occurred. + +"It wasn't much of an explosion," explained the manager of the theater. +"It was more smoke than anything else." + +"Yes. And I yelled to the crowd that there was no fire and that they +must keep cool," added the man who had been operating the moving +picture machine. + +In the excitement several people had been knocked down, but fortunately +nobody had been hurt. A number of articles of wearing apparel had been +left in the theater. + +"I wish I could get my hat," said the girl named Alice, wistfully. "I +don't want to go back to school bareheaded." + +"What kind of a hat was it?" questioned Randy, who stood beside her. +"Maybe I can get it for you;" and then, after the girl had given him a +description of the head covering, he went off to question one of the +theater men about it. In a few minutes more he came back with the +missing property. + +After Randy returned, the boys introduced themselves to the girls, and +learned that all of the latter were scholars at Clearwater Hall. The +leader of the party was Ruth Stevenson, who had sat next to Jack, while +her friends were Annie Larkins, Alice Strobell, Jennie Mason and May +Powell. + +"I know a fellow named Powell quite well," remarked Jack, as the +last-named girl was introduced. "He goes to our school. His name is +Dick, but we all call him Spouter." + +"Dick Powell is my cousin," answered May. And then she added smilingly: +"I've heard of you Rover boys before." + +"Yes, and I've heard of you, too," broke in Ruth Stevenson. + +"And who told you about us?" questioned Jack. + +"Why, a big boy at your school--the head of the football team." + +"Oh! do you know Gif Garrison?" + +"Yes. I suppose you know him quite well?" + +"Well, I should say so!" declared Jack. "Why, my cousin Fred here is +named after Gif Garrison's father. His father and my father were school +chums." + +"Oh! Why then we know a lot of the same people, don't we? How nice!" +returned Ruth Stevenson, and smiled frankly at Jack. + +After that the talk between the boys and the girls became general, and +each crowd told the other of how matters were going at their own +particular school. + +"Yes, I've been up to Colby Hall several times to see the baseball and +the football games," said Ruth to Jack in answer to his question. "It's +certainly a splendid place." + +"Some day, if you don't mind, I'll come over and take a look at +Clearwater Hall," he answered. + +"Clearwater Hall! Say, that must be a fine place to get a drink!" piped +in Andy; and at this little joke all of the girls giggled. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE GIRLS FROM CLEARWATER HALL + + +The Rover boys remained with the girls from Clearwater Hall for the +best part of half an hour after the scare at the moving picture +theater, and during that time the young folks became quite well +acquainted. + +"We'll have to be getting back to our school now," said Ruth Stevenson, +presently. + +"Oh, what's your hurry?" pleaded Jack. "Weren't you going to stay to +the pictures?" + +"No. We were going to leave immediately after that reel they were +showing when the explosion occurred," the girl replied. + +"Well, we've got to get back to Colby Hall in time for supper; but we +can make that easily enough--we are all good walkers." + +"I should think you would ride in your auto-stage," put in Alice +Strobell. "I'd ride if we had a stage handy." + +"The stage isn't down here now," answered Randy. "It only comes on +order." + +The four boys walked with the girls to the end of a side street of the +town, and there the pupils from Clearwater Hall stopped to say +good-bye. + +"We are very thankful for what you did for us at the theater," said +Ruth Stevenson. "You were very kind, indeed." + +"You are regular heroes!" burst out May Powell, who by her merry eyes +showed that she was almost as full of fun as were the Rover twins. "I'm +going to write to Spouter and let him know all about it." + +"And don't forget to mention the rescue of my hat," added Alice +Strobell with a giggle. + +"I hope I have the pleasure of meeting you again, Miss Stevenson," said +Jack, in an aside to the oldest girl of the party. + +"Well, maybe," she returned, looking at him frankly. + +"I've enjoyed this afternoon very much--in spite of that excitement." + +"Oh, so have I!" and now she cast down her eyes while a faint flush +stole into her cheeks. + +"We won't dare say much about that trouble in the theater when we get +back to school," remarked Jennie Mason. + +"That's right!" burst out Annie Larkins. "If we did, maybe Miss Garwood +would refuse to let us attend any more performances." + +"Is Miss Garwood the head of your school?" questioned Randy. + +"Yes. And let me tell you, she is a very particular and precise woman." + +"I guess she isn't as precise and particular as one of our professors," +was Andy's comment. + +"Oh! do you mean that teacher they call old Lemon?" cried May Powell. + +"Yes." + +"We've met him a number of times. What a ridiculous man he is! I don't +understand why Colonel Colby keeps him." + +"I saw you look at me when I spoke about that boat race," said Jack to +Ruth Stevenson. "Maybe you like to be out on the water?" + +"Oh, I do--very much! You know we have boats at the school, and I often +go out with my friends." + +"I like to row myself. Perhaps some day you'd like to go out with me?" +went on the oldest Rover, boldly. + +"I'd have to ask permission first," answered the girl, and then dropped +her eyes. Evidently, however, the tentative invitation pleased her. + +As was to be expected, the parting between the boys and the girls was a +rather prolonged affair, and it looked as if everybody was highly +pleased with everybody else. But at last Annie Larkins looked at a +wrist watch she wore and gave a little shriek. + +"Oh, girls, we must be going! We ought to be at the school this +minute!" + +"Then here is where we start the walking act," declared May Powell. +"Good-bye, everybody!" and away she hurried, leaving the others to +trail behind her. + +"Don't forget about the row," said Jack in a low tone to Ruth +Stevenson. + +"I'll remember--if I get the chance," she returned; and in a moment +more all of the girls were gone and the boys retraced their steps to +the center of the town. + +"Pretty nice bunch," was Randy's comment. + +"It's funny that Spouter Powell never told us he had such a nice +cousin," came from Fred. + +"Hello, Fred's already smitten!" cried Jack, gaily. + +"Huh! you needn't talk," retorted the youngest Rover. "How about +yourself? Didn't I catch you trying to make a date with that Ruth +Stevenson?" + +"Oh, say, Fred! your ears are too big for your head," retorted Jack, +growing red, while Andy and Randy looked at each other suggestively. + +By this time the excitement around the moving picture theater had died +away completely and the crowd had disappeared. The front doors were +closed, but the manager was just hanging out a sign to the effect that +the evening performances would be given as usual. + +"I guess it was a big scare for nothing," was Randy's comment. + +"The audience can be thankful that they got out without anybody being +hurt," returned Jack. + +The boys made a few more purchases in Haven Point, and then started +back for Colby Hall. + +"I wonder if those girls go to church in Haven Point on Sundays," +remarked Jack, just before the Hall was reached. + +"I don't know," answered Andy. "More than likely." His eyes began to +twinkle. "Thinking of going to church yourself, Jack?" + +"Didn't we go to church when we were at home, Andy?" + +"Sure," was the prompt reply. + +"I think we can find out from Spouter or from some of the other +cadets," answered Fred. "I know the boys are allowed to go to whatever +church they please on Sundays." It may be as well to add here that on +week days regular chapel exercises were held at Colby Hall before the +ordinary classes were in session. + +From Spouter Jack received the information he desired, which was to the +effect that his cousin May and a number of her chums generally attended +a church on the outskirts of Haven Point in the direction of Clearwater +Hall. + +"If you say so, I'll go with you there to-morrow morning," continued +Spouter; and so the matter was arranged. At the church the cadets heard +a very good sermon, and after the services had the pleasure of +strolling with the girls as far as the entrance to their school +grounds. + +Monday morning found the Rovers once more down to the grind of lessons. +So far they had gotten along very well. But on Tuesday the unfortunate +Andy had another run-in with Asa Lemm. + +"This won't do at all, Rover," stormed the professor, after Andy had +given the wrong answer to a question. "You must pay more attention to +your studies." + +"I'm doing the best I can, Professor," pleaded the youth. + +"Nonsense! I don't believe a word of it. They tell me you spend most of +your time in horseplay. Now, that won't do at all. You must buckle down +to your studies or I shall have to take you in hand;" and Professor +Lemm glared at the lad as if ready to devour him. + +"Say, Andy, you'll have to toe the chalk mark after this," whispered +his twin. "If you----" + +"Silence there! I will have silence!" cried Asa Lemm, pounding on his +desk with a paper weight. + +"I'll have one grand smash-up with that man some day," was Andy's +comment in speaking of the affair after the school session had closed. +"I can't stand his arbitrary ways." + +"Oh, he's a lemon--and worse," returned his brother. + +During that week there was an election of officers for the school +battalion, composed of Company A and Company B. The Rover boys, being +freshmen, could not compete for any position, even had they so desired; +but there was a good deal of electioneering among the cadets, and the +lads got quite a lot of fun out of it. The announcement of who was +elected was followed by a parade around the grounds and an unusually +good supper in the mess hall. Then the boys were allowed to gather at +one end of the parade ground near the river, where they soon had +several large bonfires burning, around which they danced, sang, and cut +up to their hearts' content. + +The election had been a bitter disappointment to Slugger Brown and +Nappy Martell. Each had wanted to be an officer of the battalion, and +each had failed to get the required number of votes. + +"It's that Gif Garrison-Spouter Powell crowd that did it," muttered +Slugger Brown. "I saw 'em working like troopers to defeat us." + +"Yes. And those Rover boys worked against both of you, too," piped in +Codfish, who was present. "I watched 'em do it. They went all around +among the fellows they know electioneering for the others who were +running." + +"It would be just like them to do it," muttered Nappy Martell, +gloomily. + +"I thought you were going to fight that Jack Rover to a finish some +day?" questioned the sneak of the school. + +"So I am--when I get the chance," returned Martell. + +As soon as the election of officers was settled, the minds of a certain +number of cadets turned to football. Gif Garrison was busy arranging +his teams and placing the names of the players up on a big board in the +gymnasium. + +"Hurrah!" shouted Fred, bursting in on Jack one afternoon while the +latter was busy in his room studying the next day's lessons. "Our names +are up on the board, Jack! Gif has put us up for a try-out on the scrub +eleven!" + +"Is that so!" exclaimed his cousin, his face showing his satisfaction. +"Are you sure?" + +"I am. I just came from the gymnasium. We are to report for practice +to-morrow afternoon at four o'clock." + +"Is Andy or Randy up?" + +"No. You remember they told Gif they didn't want to play football this +season." + +The Rover boys soon learned that not only Gif but also Spouter, Ned +Lowe, Walt Baxter, and Slugger Brown were on the regular eleven. The +scrub team was made up largely from the freshmen class, although Dan +Soppinger and a few others of the older cadets who had never played on +the first team were also included. + +"Now, I want all of you to do your very best," said Gif, at the close +of a long talk to the boys on what was required of them. "We'll have +nothing but squad work first, and then a game or two just to find out +how matters are shaping themselves." + +As an aid Gif had Mr. Crews, the gymnasium instructor, who in his +younger days had been quite a football player. Between the pair matters +took shape rapidly, and by the end of the week the scrub was in shape +to play a game against the regulars. + +As was to be expected, this opening contest was a decidedly ragged one, +even the regular team making many plays which caused hearty laughter. + +"You fellows have all got to do better if we want to win any matches," +declared Gif. "Now then, go at it as if you meant it and see that you +mind the rules." And after that the playing showed gradual improvement. + +Colonel Colby had not forgotten his own football days, and one +afternoon he came down to the field to see what progress his pupils +were making. + +"Be on the alert when the signals are given," he said. "The signals," +he added, "count for a good deal." + +With the master of the school present, the cadets put forth renewed +efforts and the playing became actually snappy. There were several +well-earned runs, and once Jack managed to kick a goal from the field +which brought forth considerable applause. + +"Keep it up, Jack! You're doing fine!" were Gif's encouraging words. + +"Thanks. I'll do the best I know how," was the rejoinder. + +Fred was also working hard, and a little later he made a run which +netted the scrub team fifteen yards. + +"Fine! Fine!" cried his cousin encouragingly. + +"That was well played," announced Gif. "But I want every man on the +field to do better than he has been doing," he added, stiffening up, +for he knew that a captain can only get out of his men the best that is +in them by thus urging them on. + +During several of the plays Jack had come into contact with Slugger +Brown, and the big fellow showed that he had no friendly feeling for +the Rover boy. + +"You be careful," warned Jack, when Brown started once to tackle him +unfairly. But the big fellow merely grinned in a sarcastic fashion. +Then, less than two minutes later and while there was a wild rush on, +Slugger Brown, by a sidelong and unexpected leap, hurled Jack to the +ground and spiked him in the leg with his shoe. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +SLUGGER BROWN IS EXPOSED + + +To be thrown down so violently was bad enough, but to be spiked in the +leg hurt so much that Jack could not repress a gasp of pain. + +"Get off of me, Brown!" he panted when he could speak. "What do you +mean by spiking me that way?" + +"Didn't spike you!" retorted Slugger Brown, scowling viciously. + +The whistle blew and Gif came running towards the pair. "What's the +matter?" he demanded. + +"Brown tackled me unfairly and then spiked me," answered Jack. + +"It's false!" roared the accused one. "I threw him down according to +the rules and I didn't spike him at all!" + +The pain in Jack's leg was so intense that he could hardly stand. Fred +and some others came rushing to his assistance, and between them he +managed to hobble to a bench at the side of the football field. A crowd +began to collect, and all wanted to know what had gone wrong. + +"Let us take a look at your leg, Rover," said Mr. Crews. "That will +show whether you were spiked or not." The limb was exposed, and then a +cry of dismay went up. + +"Why, look there--it's all bloody! Slugger Brown must have spiked him +for keeps!" + +"That's a shame--if he did it on purpose. He has no right to have +spikes in his shoes." + +"I didn't do it on purpose! It was an accident!" cried the accused +player. "I didn't know I had spiked him or that I had spikes. Maybe he +cut himself on a stone or something like that." + +"No; he has been spiked," announced the gymnasium instructor, after +examining the wound. "Come, Rover; we'll go to the gymnasium and I'll +attend to that and bind it up for you." + +"You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Brown, for doing such a thing to +my cousin," said Fred. + +"That's right!" broke in Randy, who had come up. + +"You stop your talking!" answered Slugger Brown, uneasily. "It was an +accident, I tell you. Anybody on the team might have done it." + +Colonel Colby had been on the other side of the field, but now he came +hurrying forward to see what was amiss. He told Mr. Crews to do +everything that was necessary for Jack, and then turned to Gif. + +"I think it would be as well for you to retire Brown for the present," +he said in a low voice. + +"Just what I was going to do," answered the football captain quickly. +"We'll have to investigate this matter after the game is over." + +"I don't see why I should be put off the team!" cried Slugger Brown, +when notified that a substitute would take his place. "It was an +accident and nothing else." + +"We'll see about that later, Brown," answered Gif briefly. "Anyway, you +had no right to have spikes on your shoes." + +With one substitute in place of Brown and another playing Jack's +position, the game went on and came to a finish in favor of the regular +team by a score of 22 to 16. + +"Not such a very good showing for the regulars," was Gif's comment. + +"Maybe, if Jack had been in shape to play, we might have beaten you," +remarked Fred, grimly. + +"Oh, I'm not willing to admit that," answered the football captain. +"Just the same, some of you fellows on the scrub did very well, indeed. +I'm going to continue to keep my eyes on all of you." + +Down in the gymnasium the wound inflicted by the spikes in Slugger +Brown's shoe had been carefully washed and dressed by Mr. Crews and +then bandaged. + +"I don't think you'll have any great trouble from it, Rover," remarked +the gymnasium instructor. "But, just the same, you had better favor +that leg for a few days." + +"Then you wouldn't advise me to play football?" questioned Jack in +dismay. + +"Not for the next few days. After that I think you'll be all right." + +As soon as the game was over, Gif, aided by Mr. Crews, began an +investigation, closely questioning all of the players and those looking +on who had seen the encounter between Brown and Jack. Of course, there +were various versions of the affair, but the consensus of opinions +seemed to be that the tackle had been an unfair one and that Brown +could have avoided spiking Jack had he been more careful. It was +likewise considered unfair to use spiked shoes even in a practice game. + +"I guess he did it just to be nasty," said Gif to Mr. Crews. "You see, +he and Nappy Martell and that crowd are all down on the Rovers." + +"I know nothing about the quarrels between the cadets," was Mr. Crews' +reply. "But I do know that spiking anyone on purpose cannot be +permitted in this institution. I recommend, Garrison, that Brown be +suspended from the team." + +This was going a little further than Gif had anticipated. He knew that +Brown was a fairly good player, carrying considerable weight, and that +the cadet's heart would be almost broken if he was taken out of the +games entirely. + +"Don't you think, Mr. Crews, it would be going far enough if I put him +on the bench with the substitutes?" he pleaded. "To be thrown out of +the team entirely is a terrible blow for any one." + +"But we expect our cadets to act like young gentlemen and not like +brutes, Garrison," returned the gymnastic instructor warmly. "However, +if you wish to place Brown among the substitutes, I will not oppose +you. His weight might help you to win some game if it was running very +close and some of your best players dropped out." And so it was +arranged. + +Slugger Brown had been very anxious to know what the outcome of the +matter would be. He was far from appeased when he received the +notification that, while he would be retained on the regular team, it +would be only as a substitute. + +"A substitute, eh?" he said sarcastically to Gif. "So that is the way +you are going to punish me for something that couldn't be helped." + +"Mr. Crews and I went into the details of the affair, Brown," answered +the football captain. "Mr. Crews wanted to put you off the team +entirely. It was only through my efforts that you are to remain as a +substitute." + +"I've been the mainstay of our football eleven ever since it was +organized!" stormed Slugger Brown. "I helped to win every victory that +came our way." + +"I'm not denying that you play well. But, just the same, if you'll +remember, you've been warned of your brutal attacks before. In that +game with Hixley High last Fall, the left tackle said, if you will +remember, that you ought to be handed over to the police. Now Mr. Crews +says--and I agree with him--that we've got to play in a clean-cut +fashion, free from all needless brutality." + +"Bah! I won't listen to you," howled Slugger Brown. "You're in with +those Rovers, and that whole crowd is down on me just because I am +chummy with Nappy Martell. I won't stand for it! If I can't play on the +regular team, I won't play at all!" + +"Very well then, you can suit yourself about that," answered Gif; and +to avoid further argument he walked away, leaving the big youth in +anything but a pleasant frame of mind. + +The interview had taken place in the gymnasium, and presently Slugger +Brown was joined by Nappy Martell and three or four other cronies, +including Codfish. + +"It's an outrage!" was Martell's comment, when Slugger had told of what +had occurred. "I wouldn't stand for it! No wonder you told him you +wouldn't play on the eleven any more." + +"A team that has got a captain like that doesn't deserve to win," was +the comment of one of the other cadets. + +"Say, Slugger, why don't you get to work and see if you can't boost Gif +Garrison out of his place? He has no more right to be captain of the +eleven than you have." + +"Easy enough to say," growled Brown. "But Garrison has too many of the +fellows under his thumb. Oh, I don't care--they can go to grass with +their old football games!" And then Slugger Brown stalked off by +himself to nurse his wrath as best he could. He was very bitter against +Jack. + +"It's all that Rover boy's fault," he muttered to himself. "I don't +wonder Nappy is down on that crowd." + +The recent cold snap had given way to weather that was quite balmy; +and, being unable to put in his off time in football practice, Jack +remembered what he had said to Ruth Stevenson about a row on the river. +He consulted with Fred, and then the pair managed to get a message to +both Ruth and May Powell; and in return received word that the two +girls would be pleased to go out the following afternoon about four +o'clock. + +"Gee! you fellows will have a dandy time," remarked Randy, when he +heard of this. "Why didn't you let us know?" + +"Four in one of those rowboats is about enough," answered Jack. "But if +you and Andy want to go out, why don't you get another boat and send +word to a couple of the other girls?" + +"All right! Let's do it," answered Andy, quickly; and the upshot of the +matter was that they telephoned over to Clearwater Hall and made an +arrangement with Alice Strobell and Annie Larkins. + +"It's a shame we can't ask Jennie Mason, too," said Randy, who +remembered the fifth girl who had been in the crowd at the moving +picture theater. + +"You won't have to worry about Jennie," answered Alice Strobell, over +the telephone. "She has a date with somebody else." + +The Rover boys had already arranged about the boats, and promptly on +time they set off down the river in the direction of the lake. They had +to row past the several docks of the town, and then drew up at a small +wharf, leading up to the Clearwater Hall grounds. + +When the girls appeared, they were accompanied by one of the teachers, +who had been sent down, evidently, for the purpose of looking the +cadets over. + +"Now remember, do not stay out any later than six o'clock," said the +teacher, as the girls were entering the two rowboats, assisted by the +boys. + +"Oh, we'll have to come back a little before that time," answered Jack. +"You see, we are due at Colby Hall at that hour." + +"Very well then," said the teacher. "I trust you all have a pleasant +time," and she smiled. + +"Oh, we'll have a good time--don't worry," sang out Andy, gaily. + +"To be sure we will," echoed May Powell. + +And then, with the girls safely seated in the two rowboats, the boys +took up the oars, and the little outing on Clearwater Lake was begun. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +A SQUALL ON THE LAKE + + +"It's too bad we don't happen to have a motor boat up here," remarked +Jack, as he and Fred bent to the oars of their rowboat. + +"You mustn't work too hard," came from Ruth. + +"I wasn't thinking of that," answered the oldest Rover boy quickly. "I +was only thinking if we had a motor boat we could go farther." + +"They are going to have a motor boat or two at Colby Hall next +Spring--I heard Colonel Colby speaking about it," put in Fred. + +"That will be very fine," remarked May. "I suppose you'll give us a +ride once in a while?" she added, her eyes twinkling. + +"Sure!" responded the youngest Rover, quickly. + +"Hi--over there!" came from Andy, as he and his twin bent to the oars. +"Want to race?" + +"Of course--if you'd like to!" responded Jack. + +"Oh, a race!" exclaimed Alice Strobell. "Won't that be fine!" + +"There won't be any danger, will there?" questioned Annie Larkins, +anxiously. + +"No danger whatever, so long as we keep far enough apart," answered +Randy. "And we'll do that, because we expect to leave them far behind." + +"Not much you won't leave us behind!" retorted Fred. And then he added: +"Are you ready?" + +"Wait a minute until we have the young ladies seated just right," +answered Andy. And then, turning to the two girls in the boat with him, +he continued gaily: "Now sit right in the center of the boat, please; +and be sure to have your hair parted exactly in the middle;" and at +this both girls shrieked with laughter. + +With their passengers seated to their satisfaction, the four Rovers +prepared for the race. + +"Where are we going to race to?" questioned Jack. + +"I don't know," answered Randy. "Can any of you tell me?" he went on, +appealing to the pupils from Clearwater Hall. + +"You might race to the near end of Foxtail Island," suggested Ruth, and +pointed to an island some distance down the lake. + +"That suits!" cried Jack. + +"The first one to reach the dock at the end of the island wins the +race," announced May. + +"And what's the prize?" questioned Fred. + +"Oh, the prize will be the pleasure of rowing back," answered May, and +at this little joke there was a general laugh. + +"Now please don't tip us overboard," pleaded Alice. + +"Nary a tip," answered Randy. + +"We're not looking for tips," broke in Andy, quickly. "We are going to +do this free, gratis, for nothing," and at this pun there was another +laugh. Then Jack gave the signal, and away the two rowboats started on +the race. + +Of course, it was only a friendly affair, and none of the boys rowed as +hard as he would have done in a regular contest. Nevertheless, each +craft made good progress over the sparkling waters of the lake. + +"Oh, my! you certainly can row," remarked Ruth to Jack and Fred, as +their craft drew ahead. + +"Oh, we're not warmed up yet," was Jack's reply. + +"We could do much better if we were in regular rowing togs," explained +Fred. + +"Hi you! What do you mean by going ahead?" piped out Randy. "Come on, +Andy, or they'll beat us." + +"Maybe they can beat a drum, but they can't beat us," cried Andy. + +And then he and his twin increased their strokes so that presently +their boat was once more beside the other. + +The girls were as much interested as the boys in the impromptu race, +and they soon began to shout words of encouragement. + +"Pull! pull! we're going to win!" cried May. + +"Not a bit of it! Our boat will get there first!" sang out Alice. + +"You can't beat us!" came from Annie. + +"He crows best who crows last," cried Ruth. + +"Right you are!" came pantingly from Jack; and then, as he saw the look +of encouragement in Ruth's face, he redoubled his efforts. Fred did the +same, and when they came into plain view of the tiny dock at the end of +Foxtail Island their boat was two full lengths ahead of the other. + +"Hi you! What kind of a race is this, anyhow?" shouted out Andy, gaily. +"Why don't you keep side by side and be sociable?" + +"Sour grapes!" roared Fred. "Here is where we win!" and in a moment +more he and Jack sent their boat up to the side of the little dock. +Almost immediately the second craft followed. + +"I think all of you did very well," remarked Ruth, consolingly. + +"Anyway, we came in a close second," remarked Randy. + +"We would have won if it hadn't been for one thing--just one thing," +remarked Andy, solemnly. + +"Why, what was that?" questioned several of the others quickly. + +"That was the fact that the other boat"--Andy drew a deep breath--"came +in first." At this the girls shrieked with laughter and the other boys +set up a howl. + +"Pitch him into the lake!" + +"That's right! Give him a bath!" + +"A ducking will do him good--he needs to be cooled off!" + +"Not much! No bath for me!" cried Andy, quickly, and lost no time in +leaping to the dock, where, in the exuberance of his spirits, he turned +several handsprings, much to the amusement of the girls. + +"Is there anything worth seeing on this island?" questioned Jack, when +the excitement of the race was over. + +"There isn't anything here that I know of," answered Ruth. "In the +summer time people come here to picnic. There is a nice spring of water +in the center of the island." + +"Let's go and get a drink," said Fred. "That race made me thirsty;" and +off the whole party trooped to the spring. + +The young folks had a good time at the spring and in exploring the +little island, which had a hill at one end covered with trees. They +found some chestnuts and also a few hickory nuts, and these the boys +opened for the girls' benefit. + +"I suppose we had better go on and finish the row," remarked Jack to +Ruth, presently. "That is, unless you girls would rather wander through +the woods." + +"Oh, it's nice enough here on the island," she answered. "Remember, +you'll have quite a row back to the school and then to Colby Hall." + +"Oh, let's stay here for a while," put in Alice. "Maybe we'll be able +to find more nuts." + +They hunted around, and presently discovered another large chestnut +tree which was fairly loaded. The boys threw up sticks and stones, and +brought down a big shower. + +"If I had known this, we might have brought along a pillowcase for the +nuts," said Fred. + +"We can come back some day if we want to," returned Randy. + +Before leaving the island the young folks decided to go back to where +the spring was located, so as to get another drink and also to wash +their hands. On this trip, in speaking about the excitement at the +moving picture theater, Randy chanced to mention Jennie Mason's name. + +"Jennie is a nice girl," answered Annie Larkins, to whom he was +speaking, "but she does some things that I do not approve of. Do you +know a cadet at your Hall named Napoleon Martell--I think they call him +Nappy for short?" + +"Do we know him!" exclaimed Randy. "I should say we did!" + +"Oh! is that so?" Annie looked at him searchingly. "Is he a friend of +yours?" + +"No; I can't say that he is. To tell you the truth, he doesn't like us +at all." + +"If that's the case, I don't mind speaking to you about Jennie," went +on the girl. "You know, Jennie comes from New York City. And down there +she met Nappy Martell quite a few times, and they became well +acquainted. But Jennie's folks don't approve of him at all; and they +don't want her to go with him." And here Annie paused. + +"And do you mean to say she does go with him, anyhow?" queried the +Rover boy. + +"Yes. She goes out to meet him whenever she can get the chance," was +the reply. "You are sure you don't approve of him?" + +"Not in the least. In fact, to tell the truth, we have no use for him +or the bunch he trains with." + +"I see. Well, all of us think it is perfectly dreadful the way Jennie +accepts Martell's invitations. Of course, we don't want to tell on her, +either in school or to her folks, and yet none of us think it is +right." + +"Does he take her out much?" + +"Oh, as much as they dare to go. He takes her out sailing on the lake +and to the moving picture shows, and once they went off together on a +picnic to the Clearwater Country Club. The places were all right in +themselves, but I know Jennie's folks don't want her to be seen in the +company of Nappy Martell. He is so loud and forward." + +"You can't tell us anything about Martell being loud and forward," +answered Randy, readily. "We all know him to be a regular bully. +Besides that, when he isn't in uniform, he wears the loudest kind of +clothes--just as if he wanted to make an exhibition of himself." + +"Jennie went out with him this afternoon," continued Annie. "Where they +went to, I do not know. But I think they hired a motor boat and went +across the lake." + +"Does Martell know how to run a motor boat?" + +"Oh, yes. He told Jennie that he owned a motor boat on the Hudson +River--a boat his father gave him for a birthday present." + +Randy and the girl had dropped a little behind the others, who now +waited for them to come up. + +"I think we had better be getting back," said Jack. "It isn't as clear +as it was before, and it is beginning to blow." + +"Yes, we'll get back," returned Randy, with a look at the sky. He knew +that a blow on the lake might be no trifling matter. + +On the way over to the island the sun had been clear and warm. Now, +however, it was hidden under a dark bank of clouds, which were coming +up quickly from the west. The wind was already blowing freely, and out +on the bosom of the lake the water was roughing up in tiny ripples. + +"All aboard, everybody!" sang out Jack. And then turning to his cousins +he added in a low voice: "We mustn't lose a minute of time in getting +back. This blow is going to be a heavy one." + +The girls were soon seated in the rowboats, and then the four Rovers +lost no time in casting off from the little dock and in starting to row +towards Clearwater Hall. As they proceeded, the sky kept growing darker +and darker while the wind grew stronger and stronger. + +"We're in for a squall all right enough," murmured Randy, as he and +Andy bent to their oars with vigor. + +"Gee! I only hope we can reach the shore before it strikes us," was the +response. + +"Row for all you're worth, boys!" sang out Jack from the other boat. +"Bend to it just as if you were in a race!" + +And then he and Fred, as well as the twins, settled down to the task of +trying to outrace the oncoming squall. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +IN GREAT PERIL + + +As those who have had any experience know, a squall on a lake encircled +by hills sometimes comes up very quickly, and this is what happened in +the present case. Hardly had the two rowboats covered a quarter of the +distance to the shore, when the wind came whistling across the bosom of +the lake, sending the whitecaps tumbling in all directions. + +"Oh, dear, just look how rough the water is getting!" remarked Ruth in +alarm. + +"And how the wind is blowing!" added May. + +In the other boat the girls were even more fearful, and Andy and Randy +had all they could do to make them sit still. + +"Don't shift," pleaded Randy. "We don't want to ship any water." + +"Oh, dear! If only we were safe on shore!" wailed Alice. + +"I didn't think it looked like a storm when we left the school," added +Annie, in dismay. + +"This is only a squall. It may blow itself out in a few minutes," +returned Randy, although to himself he admitted that the squall looked +as though it might last for some time. + +Battling as best they could against the wind and the whitecaps, the +Rover boys strove to reach the shore in the vicinity of the girls' +school. But the wind was blowing directly down Clearwater Lake and +threatened more than once to capsize them. + +"Gee, Jack, this is getting serious!" panted Fred, as he looked +questioningly at his cousin. + +The same thought had come into the minds of each of the boys. Could the +girls swim? They wished they knew, but did not dare to ask any +questions for fear of further alarming their passengers. + +"I guess we had better head up into the wind. It's the safest thing to +do," cried Jack. And then, raising his voice to be heard above the +whistling of the elements, he added: "Head up! Don't take those waves +sideways! Head up!" + +The others understood, and in a minute more both of the boats were +heading directly into the wind. This prevented either of the craft from +swamping, but caused the spray to hit the bow more than once, sending a +shower of water over everybody. + +"Oh, dear! I'm getting wet!" wailed May. + +"Do you think you can reach shore?" questioned Ruth of Jack; and her +wide-open eyes showed her terror. + +"We can't head for the school just now," he answered. "We'll have to +keep pulling up against the wind until it lets up a little." + +"Oh, but we sha'n't upset, shall we?" came from Spouter Powell's +cousin. + +"I don't think so. Anyway, we are going to do our best to prevent it," +answered Fred. + +Keeping as close together as they dared, the two rowboats continued to +head up into the wind, which still blew as hard as ever. In the sky the +clouds were shifting, and Jack and his cousins had great hopes that ere +long the sudden squall would blow itself out. + +"Here comes a motor boat up behind us!" cried Ruth, presently. + +All looked in that direction and saw a fair-sized craft coming up the +lake. She was making good speed in spite of the whitecaps, and was +sending the spray flying in all directions. + +"I think that is the boat Jennie Mason was going out in," remarked +Annie to Randy. "Yes; I am sure it is," she added a minute later, as +the motor boat came closer. "There is Mr. Martell at the wheel now." + +The discovery that Nappy Martell was running the oncoming motor boat +had also been made by those occupying the other rowboat. + +"It's Martell! And there is Slugger Brown with him!" cried Fred. + +"Isn't one of those girls Miss Mason?" questioned Jack. + +"Yes. And Ida Brierley, one of our girls, is with her," answered Ruth. +Her manner indicated that the discovery did not altogether please her. + +"Maybe we can get that motor boat to pull us in," suggested May. "They +could do it easily enough." + +"So they could," answered Fred. "But I doubt if those two fellows who +are running it would like to undertake the job. They go to Colby Hall, +but they are no friends of ours." + +"Yes, but they ought not to let their enmity stand between us in a time +like this," said Jack. "If they were in the rowboats and I was in the +motor boat, I'd give them help quick enough." + +As the motor boat drew nearer, it prepared to pass close to the craft +manned by Jack and Fred. As it came closer, Jennie Mason gave a cry of +surprise. + +"Oh, look! look! There are those Rover boys, and some of our girls are +with them!" + +"I'm glad I am not out in a rowboat," said Ida Brierley. "I'd be afraid +of getting a good ducking." + +"Ahoy there, on the motor boat!" sang out Fred, as the craft came +alongside. "Can't you fellows give us a tow? We have plenty of rope." + +"This motor boat wasn't built for towing," answered Nappy Martell, +roughly. + +"We're having a terrible time of it against this wind," put in Jack. He +would not have asked for assistance on his own account, but he was +thinking of the girls. He knew that all of them were badly frightened. + +"Oh, yes! please tow us in!" came from May. + +"Yes! please do!" added Ruth. + +"It's so far to the shore!" came from Annie. + +"And we're afraid we'll get wet through and through!" cried Alice. + +"You ought to do something for them," declared Jennie Mason, who had +herself become frightened over the roughness of the lake. + +"I'm not going to tow those Rovers in," muttered Nappy Martell. "You +wouldn't do it, would you, Slugger?" + +"Not much! Let 'em take care of themselves," was the heartless answer. + +"Oh! but they may be drowned!" gasped Jennie. + +"Nothing of the sort. This is only a little wind, and it will soon die +down. If those Rovers have to break their backs rowing, it will do 'em +good!" + +"If you don't tow us in, you'll be the meanest fellow on earth," sang +out Andy. + +"I wouldn't have your disposition for a million dollars," added his +twin. + +"Aw! go chase yourselves!" retorted Slugger Brown, heartlessly. + +"We're not helping fellows like you," came from Nappy Martell. Then the +motor boat passed on and was soon all but lost in the distance. + +"Of all the mean people!" cried Ruth. + +"I shouldn't think Jennie Mason would stand for such meanness," +declared May. "Nor Ida Brierley, either." + +The motor boat having gone on and left them to their fate, the Rover +boys continued pulling on the oars. It was hard, laborious work, and +soon Andy and Fred were all but exhausted. Jack and Randy, however, had +now gotten their second wind, so to speak, and they continued their +efforts with unabated vigor. + +"It was as mean as dirt for them to leave us out here when they could +have towed us in with ease," panted Fred. "Just you wait--I'll let the +whole school know of this!" + +"Don't talk! Save your wind. We can talk afterwards," returned his +cousin. + +The next quarter of an hour was one which none of the girls or boys +ever forgot. The Rovers continued to battle with the wind and the waves +with all the energy left to them, while the girls crouched down on the +seats almost speechless with fear. Occasionally, the waves would hit +the bow of one rowboat or the other, sending a shower of water over the +occupants. + +"I--think--it's--letting up--a--bit," panted Jack, presently, and +glanced up at the sky. + +"Oh, if only it would!" breathed Ruth. + +The boat containing the others had dropped slightly behind, but now +Jack and Fred held back until it was once more alongside. + +"Oh, did you ever see such a storm!" wailed Alice. + +"I don't think I'll ever want to go out in a rowboat again," was +Annie's bitter comment. + +"I think the wind is beginning to die down," said Ruth, encouragingly. + +"Let--us--hope--so," came in jerks from Jack. He was still rowing, but +his arms felt as if they were being torn from their sockets. + +They had now covered nearly half the distance to the upper end of the +lake, but they were just as far from the western shore as ever. Now, +however, as the wind began to die down, they turned slightly in the +direction of Haven Point. + +"It won't matter where we land," declared Ruth. "We can easily walk +back to the school." + +The sun was still under a cloud, but now the wind went down more than +ever. The surface of the lake, however, was still much troubled, and +the boys had all they could do to make any progress towards the shore. + +"Oh, you must be very tired!" said Ruth to Jack. + +"Never--mind--we'll--reach--shore--somehow," he answered. Then she said +no more, because she knew it was painful for him to speak. + +The four boys continued to row on, and in about a quarter of an hour +came within plain view of the shore, at a point some distance beyond +Clearwater Hall and the town. + +"Oh, look! Something is the matter down by the lumber yards," remarked +Alice, presently. "See the men running!" She pointed, and those in both +rowboats looked in that direction. + +"I don't see anything wrong," said Ruth. + +"I do!" cried May, and gave a little shriek. "Look! look! A whole lot +of lumber is drifting this way!" + +"Some--thing--broken--lose," gasped Jack. "Maybe--a--lumber--raft." + +And that was just what had happened. In a manner to be explained later, +a lumber raft being towed up the lake by a steam tug had not only +broken away, but likewise had broken apart, and the timbers which had +composed it were now floating around over a large area of Clearwater +Lake. + +In another minute the two rowboats were in the very midst of the +drifting timbers and in great danger of being upset. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +ASSISTANCE REFUSED + + +"My gracious! look at the lumber floating around!" + +"Be careful, boys! Don't get hit if you can help it!" + +"One of those timbers is heavy enough to send us to the bottom!" + +"Oh, dear! Do you think we'll be smashed up?" + +Such were some of the cries which rent the air as the Rover boys and +the girls with them found themselves in the midst of the wreckage from +the broken-apart lumber raft. + +On all sides of them heavy sticks of timber were bobbing up and down on +the whitecaps, and presently one of these bumped into the craft +occupied by Jack and Fred and two of the girls. The rowboat careened so +much that quite a large quantity of water was shipped, which made Ruth +and May scream in fright. + +"Stand up in the bow, Fred, and see if you--can--ward--them--off!" +gasped Jack as well as his semi-exhausted condition would permit. "I'll +stick to--the--oars." + +He knew he must keep the rowboat headed up into the wind, for the +squall had not yet subsided sufficiently to allow of their taking it +sidewise. + +A moment later came a cry from the other rowboat as the craft slipped +up and over several large sticks of timber. + +[Illustration: THE CRAFT SLIPPED UP AND OVER SEVERAL LARGE STICKS +OF TIMBER. +_Page_ 207] + +"Gosh! that was a narrow escape!" was Andy's comment, as the craft +finally righted itself. + +"Oh, dear! if only we were on shore once more!" wailed Annie, for at +least the tenth time. + +"I never dreamed that we would have such a dreadful experience as +this!" came from Alice. + +Randy said nothing, but continued to row, while Andy did the same as +Fred was doing, both trying their best to ward off the heavy sticks +which came floating towards them every minute or two. + +Not far away was a steam tug, and presently two other boats came from +the shore, both bent upon saving all that was possible of the +broken-apart lumber raft. + +"We'll pick you up if you have much trouble," cried the captain of the +steam tug, as he ran a course between the two rowboats. "But don't ask +us to do it unless it's necessary, for we want to round up this +floating lumber before it gets away from us, if it can be done." + +"Thank you!" gasped out Jack, in return. "Maybe we +can--make--the--shore. The wind seems--to--be--going--down." + +"Sure, we'll make it!" put in Randy. The fright of the girls in his +boat had somewhat nettled him and he was resolved to land them safely +without assistance. + +But it was a time of peril as well as exhausting effort; and all of the +Rovers were glad enough when the last of the drifting lumber was passed +and they came within hailing distance of the shore. The wind had now +gone down considerably, and most of this was to be felt farther out on +the lake. + +"Let us take them right down to the school dock," sang out Randy. "We +can turn down the lake, and the wind will be just strong enough to help +us;" and so it was arranged. + +When the two rowboats came within sight of the school dock, those on +board found fully a dozen of the scholars there, along with two of the +teachers. + +"Are you safe?" cried one of the teachers, as soon as the boats came +within hailing distance. + +"Yes, Miss Glover. We are all right," answered Ruth. + +"Only we are rather wet," added May. + +"And I'm awfully glad to get back," broke in Annie, who was fairly +shivering over her trying experience. + +"Well, anyway, I think you cadets did perfectly splendid," remarked +Alice. + +"Indeed they did!" broke out Ruth, quickly. "I don't believe anyone +could have managed these boats better;" and she bestowed a glance of +admiration first on Jack and then on his cousins. + +"It was a terrible blow, and it came up so quickly that we all grew +alarmed for your safety," said Miss Glover. + +"And then to think that you must get mixed up with that drifting +lumber!" put in the other teacher. "The squall was bad enough without +having anything like that happen." + +"It's too bad the lumbermen had their big raft go apart like that," was +Jack's comment. "I guess those big sticks of timber are worth a good +deal of money." + +"They couldn't have had the raft chained together very tightly," said +Miss Glover, who had come from a lumbering community where rafting was +frequent. "I never heard of a raft going to pieces like that." + +"Well, I don't know much about lumber rafts," answered Jack. + +"Say, can't we leave our two rowboats here and ride back to the Hall?" +questioned Randy. "I don't want to do any more rowing if I can help +it." + +"Of course you can leave your boats here," answered Miss Glover, and +she showed where the craft might be stowed away in the boathouse. All +of the Rovers were glad enough to give up further work at the oars. + +"I am awfully sorry our little outing turned out as it did," remarked +Jack to Ruth. + +"And it was too bad to frighten you so," added Randy, to all of the +girls. + +"Oh, it wasn't your fault that the squall came up," answered Ruth. +"And, besides that, now it is over I think I rather enjoyed the +adventure--that is. I'll enjoy telling about it," she corrected. + +"Some day I hope we'll be able to spend a nicer time together," said +Jack. + +"Perhaps," murmured Ruth, and blushed. + +Before the Rovers left for Colby Hall, they asked if Jennie Mason and +Ida Brierley had returned. + +"They have not come back yet," answered one of the teachers. "We saw +them going up the lake against the wind. We were a little bit worried, +but I presume the motor boat can take care of itself in quite a blow." + +"All they've got to do is to turn on the gasolene, while in a rowboat +sometimes a fellow's muscles give out," was Andy's comment, and this +caused a smile. + +After bidding the girls and the others good-bye, the four Rovers walked +towards the town. There they were fortunate enough to find the Hall +auto-stage, and were soon at the school once more. + +"Gee! but my arms ache!" was Fred's remark on the way. "The muscles +hurt so I can hardly keep still." + +"You'd better bathe them well with witch hazel or alcohol," returned +Jack. "My muscles feel sore, too." + +"It took the wind right out of me," came from Andy. "Funny, too--with +so much wind all around," he added merrily. + +"I can't help but think of how Martell and Brown treated us," said +Randy, seriously. "It was as mean as dirt!" + +"I believe they would have left us there to drown!" added Fred. + +"Oh, I wouldn't like to think that of them," broke in Jack. "Just the +same, it was a very dirty thing to do. Not on our account so much as on +account of the girls." + +When the boys got back, the first person they met was Spouter, who +wanted to know how his cousin May had enjoyed the outing. He listened +in some alarm to the story the Rovers had to relate. + +"It was a narrow shave all right," was the comment. And then his face +took on a stern look. "And to think Nappy Martell and Slugger Brown +treated you that way! Those fellows ought to be run out of this +school!" + +The squall on the lake had been noticed by some of the other cadets who +had been out on the river; and the news soon spread of the danger into +which the Rovers and their companions had run. Gif, Ned, Walt, and +several others wanted to know the particulars of the affair, and all +were loud in their denunciation of the cadets who had been running the +motor boat. + +"Spouter is right!" declared Gif. "Those fellows ought to be run out of +Colby Hall!" + +"After this I want nothing more to do with them!" added Ned. + +"I wonder what they would say if some of you had been drowned," +remarked Walt. + +"Makes me want to pitch into 'em," came from Fatty, who was present. +"But then, in one way, it's a pity to dirty one's hands on such cattle +as that." + +Of course, the Rover boys had come in late for supper. Professor Lemm +had started to find fault with Andy and Fred for this, but he was +quickly stopped by Colonel Colby, who had come up to learn the +particulars of what had occurred. + +"I heard you were out in that big blow," remarked the colonel. "I trust +none of you suffered from it." + +"Well, we had rather a narrow escape," answered Fred. Then he and Andy +gave a brief outline of what had happened, not forgetting to mention +how Martell and Brown had left them to their fate. + +"Too bad! too bad!" murmured the colonel, shaking his head slightly. "I +did not think that any of our cadets would do such a thing;" and then +he walked away in a very thoughtful mood. + +"I wonder what he'll say to Brown and Martell," mused Fred, as, after +being dismissed by Professor Lemm, they hurried to the mess hall. As +they were late, they had missed the parade. + +"Maybe he'll give 'em a piece of his mind. I hope he does," answered +his cousin. + +Nappy Martell and Slugger Brown did not appear until supper was almost +over. Both had a gloomy look, as if something had gone decidedly wrong. +They glared sourly at the Rover boys and their chums, and then sat down +to their meal without saying a word to anybody. + +"I'll wager something slipped a cog with them," whispered Fred to Jack. + +"I've got an idea," returned the oldest of the Rover boys. "Maybe +Jennie Mason and that other girl who were out in the motor boat gave +them a piece of their mind for not aiding us." + +"Oh, I hope they did, Jack!" + +"It wouldn't be anything to wonder at. That Jennie Mason seemed to be a +nice girl, and I don't think she would stand for any such meanness." + +Jack's surmise concerning what had happened to Nappy and Slugger was +correct. The two girls had pleaded with the two cadets to go back and +give those in the rowboats aid. And after much argument, in which Nappy +and Slugger had proved that they were anything but young gentlemen, the +girls had politely asked to be taken ashore. This had brought on +something of a quarrel, and in the end the two cadets had taken the +girls to a dock near the lumber yards and quite a distance from +Clearwater Hall. + +"Now you can have the fun of walking to the school," had been Nappy +Martell's final words. + +"And I don't think you'll go out with us again in a hurry," Slugger +Brown had added. + +"I'll never go out with you again," Ida Brierley had answered. + +"And I'd much prefer to walk to the school alone than to ride any +further with you in the motor boat," Jennie Mason had added; and thus +the four had parted, the two girls resolving in their hearts never to +have anything more to do with Nappy Martell and Slugger Brown. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE MEETING WITH HIXLEY HIGH + + +Football talk now filled the air at Colby Hall, and for the time being +most of the cadets forgot about how the Rovers had been treated on the +lake by Nappy Martell and Slugger Brown. + +Nappy was particularly angry, because of the way he had been treated by +Jennie Mason, on whom he had been sweet ever since they had become +acquainted. Slugger, too, was hurt over what the girls had said about +his meanness. But he was far more put out over the fact that he could +act only as a substitute on the regular eleven, and that Gif Garrison +had finally concluded to put Jack in his place. Fred had not won out +for the first eleven, but Gif had told him he stood so high on the +scrub that he might possibly make the team before the season came to an +end. + +"It's all those Rovers' fault," growled Slugger Brown to Martell. + +"Of course it is!" was the unreasonable reply. "I'll tell you, Slug, we +ought to do something to get square with those chaps." + +"If I break loose and do that, it'll be something they'll remember as +long as they live!" declared Slugger Brown, vehemently. + +Nappy Martell looked at his crony knowingly, and then glanced around to +see if anybody was listening. + +"Let's do it right now, Slug," he said in a low voice. "I don't care +what it is, so long as we can get the best of those Rovers." + +"We'll think it over, Nap. This isn't to be any one-cent, every-day +affair, you know." + +"Right you are! I'm game for anything--just remember that!" added the +other cadet. + +As Gif Garrison had said, there were three football games scheduled for +Colby Hall that Fall. The first of these was to be with Hixley High +School, located in a town at the other end of the lake. Then would +follow a game of more importance with the Clearwater Country Club, at +their beautiful grounds on the outskirts of Haven Point. And then the +last and most important game of all--that with Columbus Academy, +located about ten miles away. Whether the last named game would be +played at Colby Hall or at the Columbus Academy grounds, was still a +question. + +In a few days Jack recovered completely from the spiking he had +received from Slugger Brown, and then he went at his football practice +with greater vigor than ever. He took Slugger's place on the regular +eleven, as already mentioned, and in his first game they beat the scrub +team by a score of 32 to 12. + +"Now, that's better!" declared Gif. "You didn't let the scrub walk all +over you." + +Fred had been on the scrub team, and, although that eleven had been +defeated, he was in a rather happy frame of mind, for the reason that +out of the twelve points scored he had been directly responsible for +six points. + +"I think Fred is going some," remarked Jack to Gif, later on when he +had a chance to speak to the football captain privately. + +"You're right, Jack," was the answer. "And I've got my eye on him." + +The game with Hixley High was not a very important one, yet it was made +the occasion for quite a gala day by not only the boys of both schools +but likewise the girls attending the high school and also the young +ladies of Clearwater Hall. The Rover boys and some of their chums +invited Ruth and her several friends, including Jennie Mason and Ida +Brierley, to be present, and this invitation was gladly accepted. + +"I don't wonder that Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell look so glum +occasionally," remarked Spouter to Jack the day after the invitations +had been given and accepted. "I just had a talk with my cousin May, and +she says Jennie Mason and Ida Brierley are through with those two +cadets. They told Nappy and Slugger they thought they were nothing but +cowards for the way they treated you Rovers on the lake." + +"Well, I'm glad they've given up going with that pair," announced Jack. + +The last game with Hixley High had been played on the grounds of that +institution, so that the game this year was to take place at Colby +Hall. + +"You fellows will have the honor of bringing the girls over from +Clearwater Hall," remarked Jack to his cousins and his chums. "I'll +have to stay here and do a bit of practising." + +The auto-stage and a number of automobiles and carriages had been +requisitioned, and also a number of motor boats on the lake, and in +these the young folks from Hixley High School and from Clearwater Hall +journeyed to Colby Hall. + +Jack was on the lookout for Ruth and the others, and lost no time in +greeting the girl as soon as she appeared. + +"I'm so glad that you're on hand to encourage us to win," said he, as +he took Ruth's hand. + +"Thank you. But how are you sure I am here to encourage you?" she +questioned mischievously. "Maybe I'm going to root for Hixley High." + +"You dare!" he returned earnestly, and then they both laughed and +hurried towards the grandstand, where seats had been reserved for the +entire party. + +"Whoop her up for Hixley High!" was the cry. And then those in favor of +the high school took up the slogan: + + "Do or die! + Hixley High! Hixley High!" + +"They mean to win if yelling will do it," was May Powell's comment. + +"Oh, I guess the cadets of Colby Hall can yell, too," responded Fred. +And he was right, for a moment later there boomed out this refrain: + + "Who are we? + Can't you see? + Colby Hall! + Dum! Dum! Dum, dum, dum! + Here we come with fife and drum! + Colby! Colby! Colby Hall!" + +And this the cadets repeated over and over again until they were +hoarse. + +"Well, I've got to go now," said Jack, reluctantly, as word came for +the team to gather in the dressing room for final instructions. + +"Good-bye then," said Ruth, sweetly. And then, looking Jack full in the +eyes, she added earnestly: "Oh, I do hope you'll win!" + +They were simple words, but the way in which they were spoken, and the +look that accompanied them, thrilled the youth to the heart, and he +went down to the dressing room on feet that seemed to be walking on +air. + +"Now then, boys, I expect every one of you to do his level best," said +Gif. "Hixley High has been bragging everywhere that it has a superior +team this year and is going to walk all over us. I want you to play +with vigor from the very start;" and then followed a number of +directions concerning plays and signals, to all of which his eleven +listened earnestly. + +When the Colby Hall team came forth, they were given a loud round of +applause, and this was repeated when Hixley High showed itself. The +high school boys were nearly all seniors, and a glance sufficed to show +that, player for player, they were quite a few pounds heavier than the +cadets. + +"If our eleven wins this game they will be going some," was Fatty's +whispered comment to a fellow cadet. + +"You're right there," was the answer. "Those chaps certainly look +pretty husky." + +It is not my intention here to give the particulars of this game with +Hixley High, interesting as it proved to be. It was not the big game of +the season--that was to come later. During the first quarter, the +playing on both sides was rather rough and ragged, each school doing +its best to wear its opponent out at the very start. In these +onslaughts the weight carried by Hixley High told, so that when the +whistle blew the score was 6 to 3. + +"Hurrah! Hurrah!" came from the supporters of the high school. And +again and again they boomed out with their slogan. + +"This game isn't over yet!" cried one of the followers of Colby Hall. + +"We haven't begun to play yet! Just watch us in the second half!" added +another cadet. + +"Oh, dear! I thought Colby Hall would score, sure!" pouted Ruth. + +"Those Hixley High boys are awfully big fellows," answered May. + +The second quarter opened with a good deal of cheering for each side. +The playing now became more settled, and the ball went back and forth +from the 20-yard line on one side to the 30-yard line on the other. +Then came a mix-up, in the midst of which Jack managed to get the ball +and start with it for the goal. + +"Rover has it!" + +"Run, Jack, run! Leg it for all you're worth!" + +And Jack did run, making the best of his opportunity. Three of the +Hixley High players did their utmost to down him, but when the third +laid him low, he was directly over the chalk mark. + +"A touchdown!" was the cry from the Colby Hall cadets. And then they +gave vent to their feelings by tooting their horns and sounding their +rattles. + +The touchdown was followed by a skilful kick for goal, and with this in +their favor, Colby Hall went at the game with renewed vigor, so that +when the whistle blew for the ending of the second half the score stood +13 to 6 in favor of Colby Hall. + +"That's the way to do it!" + +"Keep it up, boys!" + +"Oh, wasn't that a splendid run by Jack?" cried Ruth, enthusiastically. + +"It certainly was!" answered one of the other girls. + +With the score piling up against them, Hixley High grew fairly frantic +in the third quarter. As a consequence, their play became rougher than +ever, and twice they had to be called to order, and once they were +penalized. But their vigor told, and in spite of all Colby Hall could +do to hold them back, they gained constantly, and when the end of the +third quarter was reached the score was a tie. + +"Thirteen to thirteen! What do you think of that?" + +"Some playing, eh?" + +Each side cheered its own, but many were the anxious faces when the two +elevens lined up for the final quarter. + +"Now then, boys, dig into them!" cried Mr. Crews, earnestly. "Show them +what Colby Hall can do!" + +"Watch 'em--watch 'em closely!" cautioned Gif. "They may try to pull +off some new stunt at the last minute." + +Once more the two teams went at it "hammer and tongs." It was certainly +a battle royal, and on more than one occasion it looked as if some of +the players might be seriously injured. As it was, Hixley High had to +put in one substitute, and Colby Hall took on two. But the fighting +blood of the cadets was now up, and with a great rush they carried the +ball over the Hixley High line. They failed, however, to kick the goal, +much to the regret of their followers. + +"Never mind, boys," said Gif, encouragingly. "Hold 'em now! That is all +I ask of you--hold 'em!" + +And hold them Colby did, although the high school lads fought like +demons to carry the ball across the cadets' territory. Back and forth +went the play, the crowd meanwhile yelling itself hoarse. The ball was +on the Colby Hall 15-yard line when the whistle blew and the game was +over. + +"Colby Hall wins!" + +"Hurrah! Hurrah!" + +Then the horns and rattles sounded out louder than ever, and in a +twinkling the football field was alive with visitors, and the +triumphant eleven was surrounded. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +TARGET PRACTICE + + +Colby Hall prepared for a great celebration that night in honor of +their victory over Hixley High. Boxes and barrels had been stored away +in anticipation of just such an occasion, and these were brought out +and stacked up at a safe place along the river front. + +"Bonfires to-night--and big ones, too!" cried Andy, and let off his +surplusage of spirits by turning several handsprings. + +"Look out, Andy!" cried Fred, "or some circus will capture you." + +"Sour grapes!" retorted the fun-loving youth. + +"Oh, it was grand--the way you held Hixley High back in that last +quarter!" remarked Ruth to Jack. "I was so afraid they would break +through and score, I could hardly wait for the whistle to blow." + +"It was certainly some game!" answered Jack. "You see, they are so much +heavier than we are." + +The victorious eleven came in for all sorts of congratulations, and +Jack was slapped on the back until the wind was almost knocked out of +him. As soon as he could escape from his friends, he and the others +took the girls down to a waiting automobile and set off for Clearwater +Hall. On the way the young folks sang and cut up to their hearts' +content, having the best possible time. + +The only cadet at Colby Hall who was not elated over the victory was +Slugger Brown. Even though two substitutes had been used in the game, +and even though the big fellow had repented of his former decision, and +agreed to play if called upon, Gif had ignored him and used a player at +least ten pounds lighter in weight. + +"He doesn't intend to give me a show--and that's all there is to it," +remarked Slugger to Nappy Martell, bitterly. + +"Well, you told him you wouldn't play unless you could go out at the +start of the game," answered his crony. + +"I told him that first, but afterwards I agreed to go in as a sub," +growled Brown. "But I can see how it is--those Rovers have told +Garrison how we acted on the lake, and so Garrison has made up his mind +to ignore me entirely, even though I've got the weight and can play as +good as any of them." + +"Oh, I don't doubt but what it's the Rovers' fault!" retorted Martell. +"And that puts me in mind--are we going to do anything to get square or +not?" + +"Don't worry about that, Nap--we'll do something all right enough! But +I want the chance first to think up something that will be worth +while," answered Slugger Brown, emphatically. + +The bonfires along the river were lit directly after supper, after the +cadets had received permission from Colonel Colby. The boys were +allowed to do about as they pleased, the only stipulation being that +they should avoid anything that might be dangerous or ungentlemanly. + +With the bonfires blazing high, throwing a lurid glare over the campus +and parade grounds, the cadets sang and danced and then started an +impromptu parade which took them around the various buildings of the +school. Many carried torches, while four had drums and bugles. There +was a good deal of horseplay, and also something in the way of hazing. + +"Here is where we get back at Codfish for some of his meanness!" cried +Randy, as he and some of the others caught the sneak. + +Then Codfish was made to stand up on an unusually large barrel and +sing, after which he was told to hold out each hand for a valuable +present. + +"I don't want any present! I want to get down!" cried the sneak. + +"Oh, this is something very valuable, Codfish," returned Randy, and +winked at some of the others. + +Just for the fun of it, some of the cadets had obtained some potatoes +from the storehouse and started to roast these under one of the +bonfires. Two of the potatoes, quite hot and black, were brought forth +and thrust into Codfish's hands. + +"Ouch! What do you mean by handing me red-hot potatoes!" yelled the +sneak, in alarm. + +"Oh, we thought you were hungry," cried one of the other cadets. + +"You wanted to burn me--that's what you wanted to do!" shrieked +Codfish, who, however, was far more scared than hurt. "I want to get +down!" + +"You've got to give us a dance first, Codfish," ordered Randy. + +"That's right! Give us a jig!" put in Andy. + +"Make it a Boston seven-step," suggested Jack. + +"Or a Washington dip," added Fred. + +A dozen of the cadets were shouting at poor Codfish to dance, and +presently the excited boy commenced to shuffle his feet. + +"Now jump up three times and we'll let you go!" cried Randy. + +Codfish made one leap into the air and came down on the barrel top +successfully. Then he tried a second leap, but, as Randy well knew, the +barrel top was weak, and, with a crash, poor Codfish went down straight +into the big barrel up to his armpits. + +"Whoop! Codfish has busted the barrel!" cried Fred. + +"What do you mean by breaking up housekeeping like that, Codfish?" +demanded Andy. + +"Let's do the baker act for him," went on Randy, quickly. + +"The baker act?" queried several of the cadets. "What's that?" + +"Don't you know the baker loves his rolls?" answered Andy, with a broad +grin. + +"That's the talk!" came in a shout. "Let's give Codfish a roll;" and +before the sneak could save himself the barrel was tipped up on its +side and sent rolling over and over towards the parade ground. + +"Ouch! Let up! I'll be killed!" screamed the victim. "This barrel may +have a lot of nails in it!" + +"Oh, do you think that's true?" asked one of the cadets in fright. + +"Nary a nail! I saw to that before we used the barrel," answered Randy. +"Such a rolling won't hurt him a bit;" and the cadets continued their +sport with the barrel, finally sending it down a slight hill in the +direction of the river. Here it lodged against some bushes, and Codfish +was allowed to crawl forth. At once he took to his heels and +disappeared. + +It was noticed by many that Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell had not +participated in the festivities of the evening. The two had gone off +for a walk, during which they smoked many cigarettes and talked over +their grievances against the Rovers. On their return they were met by +Codfish, who related to them his tale of woe. + +"Oh, we've got to do something," was Nappy Martell's comment. "If we +don't, before we know it the Rovers will be fairly running this +school." + +"Well, they won't run me," growled Slugger Brown. + +The following Monday found the Rover boys once more hard at work over +their studies. They had now settled down to the regular routine of the +Hall, and were doing very well, not only in their classes, but also in +their training as young soldiers. Each of them could march and handle a +gun as well as anybody, and now they were given the privilege of +practising at target shooting--something which interested them greatly. + +"Let's get up a little match among ourselves," said Randy one day; and +this was agreed upon, eight new cadets entering the contest. + +The shooting was done at a target set up against a tree some distance +behind the gymnasium building; and the boys did their practising under +the direction of Captain Dale. + +"It requires considerable practice to become an expert shot," said the +military instructor. "Once in a while we find someone who is a +natural-born sharpshooter, but that is very rare. Some of the best +shots in the army are men who, at the start, hardly knew how to handle +firearms." + +At this target practice a perfect score would have netted twenty-five +points. The contest went on merrily, and at the conclusion it was found +that Andy had scored ten points; Randy, twelve; Jack, eighteen; and +Fred, nineteen. One other cadet, a youth named Lewis Barrow, had scored +twenty. + +"Well, the prize goes to Barrow!" cried Jack. + +"Yes. But we came pretty close to winning," cried Fred, with +justifiable pride. + +"You and Jack needn't complain," was Andy's comment. "Eighteen and +nineteen points out of a possible twenty-five is going some, especially +for beginners." + +"If I win the prize, what is it?" questioned Lewis Barrow, a tall, +lanky youth with a rather leathery face. He came from the far West, and +knew much more about firearms than did the Rovers. + +"Oh, the prize is first choice of holes in half a dozen doughnuts," +snickered Andy. + +"Holes in doughnuts!" replied Barrow, who was not over-bright. +"Suffering buffaloes! What would a fellow do with holes out of +doughnuts?" and at this there was a little laugh. + +"For beginners, I think you have all done very well," remarked Captain +Dale. "The lowest score, I see, is nine. Last year when the new cadets +went at practice, we had several fellows who didn't hit the target." + +"Gee! I'd hate to go hunting with such chaps," was Andy's dry comment. +"A fellow would have to get right directly in front of 'em to be sure +of not being hit;" and this remark made even the military instructor +laugh. + +"I'll be proud of all of you," said Major Ralph Mason, when he heard of +the scores that had been made. "First thing you know, we'll have a +company of genuine sharpshooters." + +"This practising at a target will come in fine if we get a chance to do +any hunting this winter," remarked Fred. "Wow! Just think what would +have happened if that target had been a deer, or even a partridge!" + +"A deer or a partridge isn't apt to stand still," returned Randy. "If +you want to become expert as a hunting shot, you'll have to practise at +a swinging target." + +"Well, that's to come later, so Captain Dale said," was the answer. + +"Say, let's go out hunting some day when the season opens!" cried Jack. +"I'd like first rate to bag something, even if it were only a few +rabbits." + +"That's the talk!" answered Fred, quickly. "As soon as the hunting +season opens let's go out, by all means." + +The target practice had been witnessed by Slugger Brown and Nappy +Martell. Now, when Jack and Fred spoke of hunting, Slugger Brown's face +became thoughtful. + +"I think I see a way to square accounts with those Rovers," he remarked +to his crony. "From now on, I'm going to watch 'em pretty closely. If +ever they do go out hunting, I think we'll be able to put one over on +'em they'll never forget." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE FUN OF HALLOWE'EN + + +"Hallowe'en to-morrow night, boys! So get ready for some real fun!" + +"Right you are, Andy! Remember what fun we had last year in New York?" + +"And what fun we had down on the farm two years ago, scaring Aleck Pop +and Jack Ness nearly to death?" broke in Fred. + +"I don't know whether they'll let us have any fun around Colby Hall or +not," remarked Jack, but in such a tone of voice that all of the others +knew he was fooling. + +Several days had passed since the target practice, and the boys were +gathered in the room used by Andy and Randy for studying. All were deep +in a discussion of what they might do on Hallowe'en, when there came a +knock on the door and Dan Soppinger came in. + +"Excuse me for interrupting you," commenced Dan, "but I'm up against a +hard proposition. Can any of you tell me----" + +"Gee! the Human Question Mark is at it again!" broke out Randy. + +"Certainly we can tell you," put in Andy; "but please don't ask it." + +"Three and three make six, three and three always have made six, and +three and three always will make six!" cried Fred in a girlish tone of +voice. "So what's the use of asking a question like that?" + +"Who said anything about three and three making six?" snorted the Human +Question Mark. "What I was going to say was: Can any of you tell +me----" + +"When Nero discovered the north pole?" interrupted Andy. + +"No. He wants to know when Washington first crossed the Pacific in a +motor boat," came from Fred. + +"No; that isn't it at all," declared Jack, seriously. "Dan wants to +know what kind of an automobile Noah took on the ark." + +"Great Scott! What do you take me for?" groaned Dan Soppinger, +helplessly. "Here I come in to ask you a perfectly simple question, and +you start with a lot of foolishness." + +"Why, my dear Dan, we are helping you all we can!" cried Andy in deeply +injured tones. + +"I want to know when Florida was first settled and by whom!" cried Dan, +desperately. "I bet ten cents none of you know!" + +"Oh, that's easy, Dan," answered Andy, gravely. "Florida was first +settled by the alligators, in the year one;" and at this remark there +was such a burst of laughter that the Human Question Mark gave it up in +despair and fled. + +"I've got a great scheme for Hallowe'en," said Andy a little later. He +had been walking up and down the room trying to make up his mind what +they might do to have some fun. "I wonder if the girls over at +Clearwater Hall wouldn't lend us some dresses and some girls' hats for +the occasion." + +"They might if we agreed to lend them some of our suits in exchange." + +"Well, we could do that easily enough," answered Fred. "We hardly ever +have a chance to wear anything these days but our uniforms." + +"What do you want to do, Andy--dress up as a girl?" questioned Jack. + +"That's it. We might have dead loads of fun." + +The matter was discussed for a time, and in the end a boy, who often +did errands for the cadets, was dispatched to Clearwater Hall with a +note to Ruth and her chums. The boy had performed this sort of service +before, and knew that he must deliver the note without allowing the +communication to go through the school office. + +The messenger returned just as the cadets were on the point of +retiring, and brought back a letter from the girls in which they agreed +to let the boys have what they wanted in return for some suits of male +attire. It was agreed that the exchange be made in the afternoon, +directly after the school session. + +The Rover boys and two of their friends walked to Haven Point, and +there invested some of their spending money in the hire of an +automobile. Then they rode back to the school, procured several bundles +of clothing, and set out for Clearwater Hall. + +The girls were waiting for them at a spot secluded from observation, +and there an exchange of bundles took place, interspersed with a good +deal of laughing by the cadets and giggling on the part of the +Clearwater pupils. + +"Oh, I'd love to see you dressed up as a girl!" cried Ruth to Jack. + +"How about your being dressed up as a boy?" he returned. + +"Oh, none of us will dare show ourselves outside the grounds," returned +Ruth, blushing. "Miss Garwood wouldn't permit it." + +"Well, if we get the chance, we may come up as far as yonder side +fence," put in Fred. "If we do, we'll give you the signal--three long +whistles." + +Nearly all of the cadets at Colby Hall were ready for Hallowe'en fun. +They dressed up in all sorts of disguises, including those of monks, +Indians, negroes, and ghosts. Lighted pumpkins with grinning faces cut +into them were likewise numerous; and one senior trailed around in a +silk gown which he had brought from home for this very occasion. + +When the Rover boys appeared dressed as young ladies, with girls' hats +on their heads and parasols in their hands, they were greeted with a +loud cheer, and this was redoubled as they marched around the campus +arm in arm with several boys dressed as dudes, and one attired as an +admiral. + +"Some class to the Rovers, and no mistake!" was Spouter's comment. He +had on a pair of long whiskers, a linen duster, farm boots, and a big +straw hat. + +"How do you do, Uncle Si?" cried Andy, coming up to him and bowing. +"How is corn?" + +"So high, by gosh! y'u can't see the house," answered Spouter in +country dialect. "Do tell, leetle gal! but y'u do look mighty purty, +y'u do!" and at this there was a general snicker. + +At the first opportunity, the Rovers and several of their friends +slipped away from the campus and hurried off in the direction of +Clearwater Hall. They were lucky enough to meet a big wagon, the driver +of which was going to the next town to pick up some young folks for a +straw ride. This man took them to the young ladies' school just for the +sport of it. + +When the Rovers gave the signal, Ruth and her friends came running +towards the side fence of the grounds. All were attired in male +costumes, wearing exaggerated collars, cuffs and neckties. In addition, +Ruth had on a big pair of pick-toed shoes and a silk hat many years out +of date. She also carried a silver-headed cane. + +"Oh, don't you want to take us out for a walk?" questioned Andy, in a +high-pitched, feminine voice. + +"Very sorry, my dear, very sorry," came from May Powell, in as deep a +voice as she could command. "I have important business to attend to." + +"Oh, Jack, what an awfully big girl you do make!" screamed Ruth, when +she discovered his identity behind the little mask he wore. "I didn't +know you were so large." + +"And what a little man you are," he answered, gaily. + +"Don't say a word," she returned. "See these sleeves? They are all +rolled up; and I had to do the same with the trousers," and she laughed +merrily. + +Although acting against the rules, the Rovers and their friends found +an opening in the fence, and for a brief quarter of an hour mingled +with the girls on the campus of the school. They had "a barrel of fun," +to use Andy's way of expressing it, and left only because it was +getting late and they knew they would have to walk all the way back to +Colby Hall. + +"This is about the best Hallowe'en fun we ever had," remarked Jack, +while he and the others were on the return to the school. + +To make time, the boys did not take the regular road through Haven +Point to Colby Hall, but tramped along a back highway which was +considered something of a short cut. This presently brought them in +sight of a large farm which belonged to a hard-fisted man named Elias +Lacy. + +"Say, we ought to call on old Lacy and give him a scare," said Randy, +coming to a halt near the farmhouse. + +"It would serve him right!" answered Fred, promptly. + +None of the Rovers had a kindly feeling for Elias Lacy, for the reason +that the old man had once caught them getting chestnuts from a tree on +the corner of his farm and had made them give up all the nuts they had +gathered and had then threatened them with the law if they dared to set +foot on his premises again. + +"I know you cadets," he had snarled. "You are all a pack of petty +thieves! I want you to keep away from here." + +He had suffered a great deal, some cadets, including Slugger Brown and +Nappy Martell, having at various times robbed him of his cherries, his +strawberries, and some melons. Of these depredations, however, the +Rovers knew nothing. + +"Maybe Lacy isn't around," remarked Jack. "He may have gone to town." + +They knew that the old man was a bachelor. He had two young men working +for him, and also a woman who came in during the day to do the +housework, but all of these went home at night. + +"I see somebody moving around the house now," answered Randy. "It's +Lacy, too!" + +"Let's knock on the door and pretend we are young ladies in distress," +cried Randy. "Come on! I wonder what he'll do?" + +"Don't ask him for any money. He won't give you a cent," chuckled Fred. + +"Let's tell him some tramps stopped us and that we want him to go out +and fight the fellows," suggested one cadet. "That will show how brave +a man Lacy is. We can take off our masks." + +So it was arranged, and in a minute more the boys were all on the front +piazza of the farmhouse ringing the old doorbell. There was a sound +within, and in a moment more Elias Lacy came to the door with a lamp in +one hand. + +"What do you want?" he asked in astonishment, when he saw what looked +to be a number of well-dressed girls confronting him. + +"Oh, Mr. Lacy, won't you please protect us?" pleaded Randy, in his best +feminine voice. + +"Three murderous tramps are after us!" gasped Andy. "Oh, dear! I know I +shall faint!" + +"The tramps wanted to rob us!" cried Jack. + +"They are just outside your fence," put in Fred. "Please go out and +chase them away." + +Elias Lacy was staggered. He placed his lamp on a little table near by, +and looked in wonder at the crowd before him. + +"Three tramps, eh? An' goin' to rob you? Why, I never heard of sech a +thing!" he shrilled. "Mebbe I'd better git my gun." + +"Oh, yes! yes! Get your gun, by all means! Get your gun! And maybe +you'd better get a sword, too!" cried Randy. + +"Yes! Or a knife or a--a--razor," put in Andy. + +"Now, now! don't git so excited!" cried the old man, for the boys +insisted upon clinging to his arms and to his shoulders. "Them tramps +ain't goin' to eat you up." + +He was short-sighted, and, as the lamplight was poor, he had not +noticed the boys' somewhat crude make-up. He hurried into a room and +came forth presently carrying a shotgun. Then he walked back into his +kitchen. + +"Great Caesar! he's got his gun all right enough," said Jack in a low +voice. + +"Maybe he'll use it on us when he discovers the trick," returned Fred. + +"I'll git my lantern, an' then we kin go after them tramps," announced +Elias Lacy; and in a moment more he reappeared with a smoky lantern and +started for the front door. "Come on, an' show me where them tramps +are," he said, determinedly. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +OFF ON A HUNT + + +"Say, as soon as we are outdoors let us give him the ha-ha and run +away," whispered Fred to the others. + +"Oh, no! Let's have some more fun," pleaded Randy. "Why! the sport has +just begun!" + +"That's it!" came from his twin. + +"Don't forget we are due at the Hall," remonstrated Jack. + +"Now then, show me them tramps!" cried Elias Lacy, as the whole crowd +went outdoors and towards the front gate. + +"Oh, protect us! Please protect us!" shrieked Randy, and caught hold of +the old man's coat-tails. + +"Don't let the tramps abduct us! I don't want to live with any tramp! I +want to marry a millionaire!" screamed Andy, and began to cling so +close to Elias Lacy that the old man could hardly move forward. + +The twins cut up so that the others had all they could do to keep from +laughing. One boy began to snicker, but promptly clapped his hand over +his mouth. + +"Don't hang on to me," ordered the old farmer. "I can't use my gun if +you clutch my arm like that," and he tried to shake the twins off. + +"Oh, there they are--behind the bushes!" screamed Randy, suddenly, +pointing off to the left. + +"Where?" demanded the old man, holding his lantern over his head. "I +don't see nothin'." + +"There they are!" screamed Andy. "They've got pistols, too! Oh, save +us! Save us!" + +"Drat the pesky rascals! I'll fix 'em!" snarled Elias Lacy, and, +shaking loose the clinging boys, he ran off, lantern in one hand and +shotgun held up to his shoulder with the other. + +"Now is our time to skip out!" cried Jack. + +"Right you are!" added another of the crowd. And then without waiting +for the rest, this cadet let up a cry: "Sold! Mr. Lacy, you are sold!" + +"Sold! With the compliments of the Colby Hall cadets!" cried another. +And then, seeing that the disguise was at an end, the boys began to +shout a variety of things not at all complimentary to the old farmer. + +Elias Lacy was thunderstruck by the sudden turn of affairs, and, +wheeling around, he stared in open-mouthed wonder at the retreating +girlish figures. + +"What's that?" he shrilled. "What are you runnin' away fur?" + +"Good-bye, Mr. Lacy!" sang out Randy. "We're only having a little fun." + +"Don't you know it's Hallowe'en?" queried Andy; and then started to +walk off on his hands, but the dress he wore fell down around him and +caused him to tumble over on his back. In the gloom, Fred stumbled and +fell on top of him. + +"Fun! Hallowe'en!" bellowed Elias Lacy, and of a sudden he became +filled with rage. "You ain't gals at all! You're only playin' a trick +on me!" he snarled. + +"Good-bye and pleasant dreams!" shouted Randy. + +"Don't tell any of your friends about the young ladies who called on +you," advised Jack. + +And then the other cadets made various taunting remarks. They had come +to a halt to enjoy the old farmer's discomfiture and at the same time +to give Andy and Fred a chance to regain their feet. + +"Halt!" suddenly commanded Elias Lacy, and set down his lantern on a +fence post. "Halt! or I'll shoot some of you!" and he aimed his shotgun +at them. + +"Don't shoot!" cried several of the cadets in alarm, for they could see +that the old man was in a frame of mind to do almost anything. + +"Stop! Don't you dare stir a step or I'll shoot as sure as you're +standin' there!" continued the old man. And then, as all of the boys +halted he went on: "Now come up here where I kin git a good look at +you, but don't you come too clost or try to play any more tricks. If +you do, somebody'll sure git shot." + +There was no help for it, and rather sheepishly the crowd of cadets +came forward as he had ordered. + +"It was only a bit of Hallowe'en fun. We didn't mean any harm," pleaded +Randy. + +"Take them bunnets an' things off so I kin see your faces," ordered the +old man, at the same time keeping the crowd covered with his shotgun. + +With great reluctance one after another the cadets took off their veils +and hats. The old man came a step or two closer, looking at each face +sharply. His countenance grew even more hateful when he recognized the +Rovers. + +"Ha! you're the same fellers who robbed my chestnut tree," he snarled. +"Didn't I tell you to keep off my premises? I've a good mind to have +you locked up." + +"Oh, come, Mr. Lacy, it was only a bit of fun," pleaded one lad. +"Didn't you go out on Hallowe'ens when you were a boy?" + +"No, I didn't! I stayed home an' done my work," was the harsh reply. +"Nowadays boys cut up altogether too much." + +Had it not been for the shotgun the boys would have taken to their +heels; but with the old man thus armed none of them wanted to take any +chances. But then came a lucky interruption. From back on the farm came +a wild bellowing as if a cow was in trouble. This was followed by the +squealing of a number of pigs. + +"Hello! Those town boys must have come over after your cattle after +all!" cried Jack, struck by a sudden idea. + +"My cattle! What do you know about my cattle?" questioned Elias Lacy, +quickly. + +"That's it! The town boys are after the cows and pigs!" broke in Fred, +quick to catch Jack's idea. + +"You'll lose them all if you don't look out, Mr. Lacy!" put in Randy. + +"They sha'n't tech my cows, nor my pigs neither!" snarled the old +farmer; and, taking up his lantern, he left the cadets and ran off +towards the rear of the premises. Fortunately, nothing serious had +happened to his stock. + +"Now's the time to skip out!" cried Jack, and led the way, and the +others lost no time in following. The cadets had to hold their skirts +high to keep from tripping as they sped along. They reached Colby Hall +in safety, and lost no time in rejoining their friends. A little later +the Hallowe'en celebration came to an end. + +"Old Lacy will remember us," was Andy's comment, in speaking of the +affair the next day. "He'll have it in for us." + +"I'm afraid so," replied Jack, seriously. + +The main topic of conversation at the school now was the football game +which was to take place with the eleven of the Clearwater Country Club +on the following Saturday. This was another gala occasion for the +school, and once more the boys had the pleasure of escorting the girls +to and from the conflict. + +"I hope we can do them up as we did Hixley High," remarked Jack. But +this was not to be. The Clearwater Country Club eleven were much older +than the cadets and much heavier, and all the Colby Hall team could do +was to hold them down to a score of 16 to 10. + +"Well, that's not so bad but what it might be worse," remarked Gif, +when the defeated eleven had returned to Colby Hall. "I did hope, +however, that we might hold them to at least a tie." + +"They carried too much weight for us," replied Jack. "Even Slugger +Brown couldn't do anything against them." For Slugger had been used as +a substitute in the third and fourth quarters. But the big cadet had +failed to show either form or efficiency. He had been warned by the +umpire, because of an unfair tackle, and this had put him in anything +but a good humor. + +"I won't play again so long as Gif Garrison is captain!" cried Slugger +to Nappy Martell; and that evening he sent in his resignation, which +Gif promptly accepted. + +The game with Columbus Academy was not to take place until two weeks +later, so that, although they kept at their practice, the football +players had considerable time for other things. Jack and his cousins +had continued their target practice, and their shooting was now so +accurate that Captain Dale complimented them upon it. + +"The hunting season opens to-morrow," announced Jack one day, as he +came back from an errand to the town. "How I'd like to go out and try +my luck!" + +"I'd like to go myself," spoke up Fred. + +A number of the senior cadets had received permission to go hunting and +Jack spoke to one of these youths about the prospects. + +"I'd like first rate to have you come with me, Rover," said the cadet, +Frank Newberry by name; "and if your cousin Fred wants to come along, +he can do so." + +"We'd have to get permission first, and also permission to use a couple +of the shotguns," answered Jack. The gun rack at Colby Hall boasted a +number of these weapons, but none of them could be taken out and used +without special permission from Captain Dale. + +It was no easy matter for Jack and Fred to gain the desired permission, +but when Colonel Colby heard from Captain Dale what good shots the boys +had proved to be, he said they might go out, along with Frank Newberry +and some of the others. + +"But I want you to be very careful," said the colonel impressively. "I +wouldn't have an accident happen to you for the world. Don't fire a +charge until you are absolutely sure of what you're firing at. Never +point your gun at anybody else; and be very careful how you handle your +weapon in climbing a fence or leaping over rocks or brushwood." + +The twins were a bit envious over the prospects for their cousins, but +they wished Jack and Fred the best of luck. All of the cadets who were +to go out had lessons in the morning, but they departed directly after +dinner, and were told that they could remain out as long as they +pleased. + +"Now, don't forget to bring back a deer or a bear," cried Andy. + +"And if you can, bag a buffalo or a hippopotamus," added his twin. + +"We'll be lucky if we bag some rabbits and a squirrel or two or some +woodcock," answered Jack. "Big game doesn't exist around here any more. +The farms are too thick." + +"Well, be sure and bring down a pink canary bird, anyway," advised +Andy; and at this there was a general laugh. + +Frank Newberry had been out the year before, and consequently knew much +about the lay of the land. + +"We'll go down into the woods directly back of Haven Point," he +announced. "Last year the hunting there was much better than it was up +the Rick Rack River." + +And then off the cadets started on the hunt. Much that was unusual lay +in store for them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +FROM ONE TROUBLE TO ANOTHER + + +Half an hour of tramping brought the two Rover boys and their friends +into the heart of the big woods Frank Newberry had mentioned. They had +entered it by way of the road they had used on Hallowe'en, and were now +almost directly behind Elias Lacy's farm. In fact, although they were +not aware of this, a large section of the woods belonged to the old +farmer. + +On their way into the timber they had heard various shots at a +distance, showing that other hunters were abroad. Then came a report so +close at hand, it made Fred jump. + +"You want to be very careful so that you don't mistake some other +hunter for game," cautioned Frank Newberry. + +"Exactly!" grumbled Fred. "And I want the other hunters to be careful +that they don't shoot me for a deer or a bear." + +The cadets continued to advance into the woods, and then crossed an +open space. Here they were fortunate enough to stir up quite a few +rabbits, and Jack, after an hour's hunt, had the pleasure of bringing +down two, while one was laid low by Fred. + +So far the cadets had kept together, but presently the party managed to +catch sight of game in two directions, and soon Frank Newberry and the +seniors with him were hurrying off to the southward while the Rover +boys went after game that had gone northward. + +"Come right back to this spot!" cried Frank Newberry to the Rovers. + +"All right," answered Jack. + +Their sporting blood, aroused by the game already brought down, urged +Jack and Fred forward, and almost before they knew it they had covered +a long distance. They presently came to another clearing, bordering a +good-sized pond. Here they stirred up half a dozen rabbits and also +some squirrels, and each succeeded in bringing down more than half the +game sighted. + +"Say, this is the finest sport ever!" declared Fred, as he looked at +his game with deep satisfaction. "Won't the others envy us when we get +back to the Hall with these!" + +"It's sport enough for us," returned Jack. "I don't know what the +rabbits and squirrels think about it though," he added dryly. + +From a distance the boys had seen more game and they began to circle +the pond. Then they heard a strange whirring in some bushes a distance +further on. + +"Maybe we'll come across some wild turkeys or something like that," +said Fred. + +"I don't believe there are any wild turkeys around here," answered +Jack. + +"Oh! wouldn't it be fine if we sighted a deer or a bear?" sighed Fred. + +"You don't want much for your money, do you?" laughed his cousin. "I +rather think if a bear came after you you'd take to your heels." + +"Maybe I would--if he was a big one." + +On and on went the two boys, and presently were rewarded by the sight +of several small woodcock. Both fired almost at the same instant, and +two of the birds came fluttering down, to thrash around in the bushes +until put out of misery by the young hunters. + +"Two of 'em! Think of that!" chuckled Fred. "Oh! this is simply +glorious!" + +So far the two boys had not met any of the strange hunters, but now +they came across two men well loaded down with rabbits. They did not +know it, but one of the men was a farm hand employed by Elias Lacy. + +"You'd better keep away from the Lacy place," said the man, with a +sarcastic look at the Rovers. He had been on hand when the lads had had +the chestnuts taken away by the old farmer, and had also heard about +the joke on Hallowe'en. + +"Don't you worry. We've no use for Mr. Lacy," returned Fred, crossly. + +"He's the meanest man we ever met," added Jack. At this the farm hand +only grinned, and then he and his companion disappeared once more into +the woods. + +So far the day had been typical of the Autumn season, somewhat gray, +with only an occasional showing of the sun. Now, however, it became +rapidly darker, and presently a few flakes of snow sifted down through +the air. + +"Hello! What do you know about this!" cried Jack, looking up. "I guess +we're going to have a snowstorm." + +"Oh, I hope it doesn't snow very heavily--at least not until we get +back to school," returned Fred, quickly. + +"A little snow won't hurt us, Fred." + +"But if it got too thick, Jack, we might lose our way." + +"I don't believe it will come down as heavily as all that--not at this +season of the year." + +With the sky growing darker, and the flakes of snow coming down thicker +than ever, the two boys sought to retrace their steps in the direction +of the pond. But in their eagerness to sight something at which to +shoot, they had not noted their path very carefully, and as a +consequence they now found themselves somewhat bewildered. + +"If the sun was only out we'd know in what direction to steer," +remarked Jack. "But when the sky is this way, a fellow is apt to get +completely turned around." + +"It's too bad we didn't bring a pocket compass." + +"That's true. However, we haven't got one, so we'll have to make the +best of it. Come on!" + +They had paused for a moment to rest and to survey their surroundings. +Now they continued their tramping, and at length came out on the edge +of a sheet of water which they at first took to be the pond they had +previously visited. + +"There they go! Quick, Jack!" sang out Fred, and blazed away with his +shotgun. His cousin followed suit, and soon they found they had bagged +two additional rabbits--one the largest yet brought low. + +"This isn't the pond at all!" cried Jack, in some disappointment, after +the excitement of shooting the rabbits had subsided. "I never saw this +spot before." + +"Nor I! What do you make of it, Jack?" + +"Don't ask me! It looks as if we were lost." + +"Hark! I heard a shot!" cried Fred, a minute later, while the pair were +looking around trying to make up their minds in what direction to +proceed next. "Maybe those are our fellows shooting." + +The shot had come from their right, and was presently followed by +another. Thinking their friends might be close at hand, the Rovers +started off as well as they could through the brushwood and between the +trees. But then they came to some rough ground covered with rocks, and +here further progress was all but impossible. In the meanwhile, no +further reports had reached their ears. + +"We are sure up against it," remarked Jack, after he and his cousin had +looked at each other rather helplessly. It was darker than ever, and +the snow still continued to sift down through the trees. + +"Maybe we'll have to stay out here all night," said Fred, after +consulting his watch. "It's half past five now." + +"We ought to be on the way back to the Hall if we expect any supper," +replied his cousin. + +Being unable to advance further in that direction, the Rover boys +sought to retrace their steps, and after considerable trouble managed +to return to the sheet of water they had left a while before. But by +this time the darkness of night had fallen. + +"It's no use!" cried Fred, helplessly. "We're lost, that's all there is +to it!" + +"It was bad enough while it was daylight, Fred. I really don't know +what we are going to do now it's dark," answered Jack, seriously. + +On the return to the little pond Fred had stumbled over some tree +roots, and this had lamed him a little. + +"I can't walk very much further," he said, with a sigh. And then he +added quickly: "Jack, have you any matches?" + +"Oh, yes! I put a box in my pocket before we started." + +"Good! Then if we have to stay here we can build a fire and maybe cook +something." + +The boys tried the water of the pond, and finding it fairly good drank +their fill. Then they sat down to discuss the situation. Both were +hungry, and in the end they gathered some dry sticks, started a fire, +and cooked one of the rabbits and also a squirrel, which they ate with +much satisfaction. + +"We'll freeze to death if we stay here all night," was Fred's dismal +comment. + +"Oh, no--not if we keep the fire going." + +"Then let's do that by all means. It will not only keep us warm, but it +may be the means of directing somebody to this place." + +It was a long night for both of the boys. They took turns at resting +and at replenishing the fire, and it is doubtful if either of them got +much real sleep. Once, in the early morning, came an alarm, and Fred +imagined a bear was in the bushes. But the animal, or whatever it was, +soon went away, and that was the end of the disturbance. + +"Thank goodness! it has stopped snowing!" remarked Jack, when the +cousins were preparing a breakfast of another squirrel. + +The snow had not amounted to much, being less than an inch in depth. +The storm had cleared away entirely, and at the proper time the sun +came up over the hills beyond Clearwater Lake. + +Long before that time the two young hunters were once more on their +way. They had tramped along for fully half an hour when suddenly Jack +let up a shout of joy. + +"Hurrah! we've struck a road at last! Now we'll find out where we are!" + +The road was little more than a trail through the woods, evidently made +by the wagon or sled of some woodcutter. It ran down a slight hill, and +the two boys lost no time in following it. + +"I hope it brings us into Haven Point," remarked Fred, as they strode +along. "I'm getting tired of walking and of carrying the shotgun. I'd +rather have a ride." + +"Let us be thankful to get out of the woods, Fred. We might have gotten +so mixed up that we'd have had to spend another night there." + +The two lads continued to follow the woods road, and presently came +into sight of several farm buildings, including a corncrib and a long, +low cowshed. + +"Oh, for the love of doughnuts!" cried Jack an instant later. "Fred, do +you know where we are?" + +"No, I don't. Where?" + +"Right in the back of old Lacy's place! There is his house;" and the +oldest Rover boy pointed with his hand. + +"You're right, Jack! Gee! we almost ran into the old man again, didn't +we?" gasped Fred. "We had better get out of here as quick as we can!" + +"Now you're saying something!" returned his cousin. "Come on, before he +catches sight of us!" + +The two boys had just started to leave the road on which they had been +traveling when a shout reached their ears. The next moment another +shout rent the frosty morning air, and then two men came running +towards the lads, one carrying a gun and the other a pitchfork. + +"Stop there! you young rascals! Stop!" roared out the voice of Elias +Lacy. "Stop, I tell you! Caleb, cover 'em with your gun!" + +"I'm doin' it, Mr. Lacy," replied the other man, and leveled his gun at +the boys. He was the same man the Rovers had met in the woods the +afternoon before. + +With the weapon of the farm hand pointed at them the two Rover boys +came to a halt. In a minute more the others came up, Elias Lacy puffing +because of his exertions. + +"Now I've caught you!" he snarled. "I didn't think it was goin' to be +so easy." + +"You're certainly in luck, Mr. Lacy," grinned Caleb Boggs. "I didn't +think they'd stay roun' here after doin' it." + +"They came back jest to have the laugh on me!" snarled the old farmer. +"I know 'em! I s'pose they did it 'cause I took them chestnuts away +from 'em, an' on account o' the way I treated 'em Hallowe'en night. But +I'll fix 'em now! I'll have the law on 'em! I'll send 'em to state's +prison for ten years! Jest you see if I don't!" and thus the old man +spluttered on, saying many things the boys could not understand. + +"See here, Mr. Lacy! What are you so mad about?" queried Jack, finally. +"Can't you stand a little fun?" + +"Stand a little fun!" yelled the excited old man, fairly beside himself +with rage. "It ain't no fun to kill two o' my cows!" He shook his bony +fist at the boys. "I'll have the law on you, so I will! I'll send you +both to state's prison for ten years!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +ELIAS LACY'S DEMAND + + +The two Rover boys stared at Elias Lacy in open-mouthed amazement. + +"What did you say about killing two cows?" questioned Jack. + +"Have two of your cows been killed?" came from Fred. + +At these questions the old farmer seemed to become more enraged than +ever. He raised his pitchfork as if to use it on the cadets. + +"You can't play innercent with me!" he fairly screamed. "I know you! +You shot them cows, an' I'm a-goin' to send you to state's prison fur +it!" + +"It's a purty serious business--killin' a man's cattle like that," +added Caleb Boggs, with a shake of his head. He still held his shotgun +so as to cover the two boys. + +"I don't know a thing about your cows, and I certainly haven't shot at +them," answered Jack, indignantly. + +"We haven't been anywhere near your cow pasture, or your cowshed, +either," said Fred. "We've been hunting up in the woods yonder. Your +man saw us." + +"We got lost up there after it began to snow, and we had to camp out +all night," explained Jack. "We just found that road and were trying to +get back to Haven Point and Colby Hall." + +"It ain't so! It ain't so!" snarled Elias Lacy. "You come over to my +cow paster yesterday afternoon an' shot both o' them cows and then you +run away. One o' my men seen you." + +"He never did!" burst out Jack. "I tell you we weren't near your +place." + +"We went out hunting with a number of other cadets, and we can prove +it!" added his cousin. + +"Huh! where are them other cadets now?" demanded the old farmer. + +"We got separated in the woods--they going off for some rabbits in one +direction and we going off after some other rabbits in another +direction," explained the oldest Rover boy. "I don't know where those +other cadets are now. Probably they went back to the school." + +"You ain't got no right to hunt on my grounds." + +"We were out in the open woods, Mr. Lacy, where we had a perfect right +to be." + +"Well, we won't talk about that now," snarled the old man. "I'm a-goin' +to fix you for shootin' them cows. They was two of the best cows I had, +an' they was wuth a lot o' money." + +A wordy war followed, during which the boys became almost as angry as +the old farmer. They insisted upon it that they had not been near his +farm during the afternoon of the day before, but he did not believe a +word they said. + +"I'm a-goin' to have the law on you!" he cried. "I'm a-goin' to have +you arrested! An' I'll make your folks pay fur them cows!" + +"Hadn't we better march 'em down to the barn?" suggested the hired man. +"Then I kin hitch up the horses and we kin take 'em down to the town +lock-up." + +"Oh, Jack, don't let them lock us up!" whispered Fred, in horror. + +"If you lock us up, Mr. Lacy, you'll suffer for it," said Jack. "I'll +get my father to sue you for damages." + +"Don't you talk to me like that, you young whipper-snapper!" cried the +old man. "I know what I'm a-doin'. I'm a-goin' to turn you over to the +town authorities, an' that's all there is to it!" + +The old man was obdurate, and he and the hired man forced the boys into +the barn, where the farmer stood guard with the shotgun while the hired +man hooked up a team of horses to one of the farm wagons. Then the lads +were told to get into the turnout. + +"I don't think I'll get in," said Jack. + +"Yes, you will!" snarled Elias Lacy; and then followed a lively +scuffle. But the two boys were no match for the men, and they were +quickly disarmed. Then, being covered by the hired man's shotgun, they +had to get up into the wagon. The hired man drove, while Elias Lacy sat +in the rear, the shotgun ready for action so that the boys might not +escape. Their own guns, along with their game, were placed on the +bottom of the wagon under a blanket. + +It must be confessed that Jack and Fred were in no enviable frame of +mind as the wagon with the two prisoners aboard headed in the direction +of Haven Point. They knew that news of their arrest would spread +rapidly, and they wondered what their friends, and especially the girls +at Clearwater Hall, would think of it. + +"Gee, but we're in a pickle!" commented Fred, dismally. + +"Yes. And the worst of it is, I don't know how we are going to clear +ourselves," answered his cousin. "As near as I can learn, those cows +were shot while you and I were off by ourselves in the woods. The hired +man says the other man who works on the place saw two cadets +disappearing between the trees." + +"Who can those fellows be, Jack?" + +"Don't ask me! Probably two of our fellows who have some grudge against +Lacy." + +This talk was carried on in an undertone, so that neither the old +farmer nor his hired man could understand what was said. + +"You needn't plan no trick to escape," warned Elias Lacy, raising his +shotgun slightly. + +"Mr. Lacy, what did you do with the two cows that were shot?" asked +Jack, suddenly. + +"I left 'em out in the paster, right where they fell," returned the old +farmer. "I ain't a-goin' to tech 'em till the authorities have looked +'em over." + +"Were they killed with bird shot or with rifle bullets?" + +"Bird shot--same as you've been a-usin' in them shotguns of yourn." + +A portion of the roadway leading into Haven Point was being repaired +and was closed off; so, in order to get down into the town, they had to +make something of a detour in the direction of Colby Hall. + +"Oh, Jack, hadn't we better ask him to take us to the Hall first?" +whispered Fred to his cousin. "Maybe Colonel Colby can fix this up for +us." + +"I might ask him," returned Jack, in a low tone. + +"I ain't a-goin' to Colby Hall," snarled Elias Lacy, after the question +had been put to him. "I'm a-goin' to take you to the lock-up." + +The journey towards the town was continued, and presently those in the +wagon came within sight of a rural free delivery turnout. + +"Hello there, Pete! Got any letters for us?" sang out the farm hand. + +"One fur Mr. Lacy," replied the post carrier, and, driving closer, he +handed it over. + +"I ain't got no time to read letters now," announced Elias Lacy, as he +thrust the communication into his pocket. "I've got other business to +'tend to." + +"Givin' a couple of the Colby cadets a ride, eh?" ventured the carrier. + +"I'm a-takin' 'em to the lock-up, Pete. They went an' shot two o' my +cows." + +"You don't say, 'Lias!" cried the carrier in amazement. "Out huntin' I +s'pose, and mistook 'em for deer or bears," and he chuckled over his +little joke. + +"No; they done it a-purpose," growled the farmer. "They held a grudge +agin me, an' they thought they was a-goin' to git square. But I'll show +'em, an' don't you forgit it!" + +"We didn't shoot his cows!" came simultaneously from Jack and Fred. + +"Bad business! But I've got to be on my way," commented the carrier. +"That road bein' closed puts me away off my regular route;" and off he +drove. + +Three quarters of the distance to Haven Point had been covered when +those in the wagon heard a shout, and a moment later Captain Dale came +galloping up on horseback. + +"Where in the world have you two cadets been?" he cried. "We have been +looking all over for you." + +"We got lost in the woods and had to camp out all night," explained +Jack, and then added: "Did the others get back?" + +"Oh, yes. And they fully expected that you would follow them." And +then, seeing a peculiar look on the boys' faces, the military +instructor of Colby Hall continued: "Nothing wrong, I hope?" + +"Yes, there is--a whole lot wrong!" cried Elias Lacy, before the cadets +could answer. "They sneaked up to my farm an' shot two o' my cows." + +"Impossible!" exclaimed the military man. + +"No, it ain't! It's so!" shrilled the old farmer. "They killed the +cows, an' I'm on my way to put 'em in the Haven Point lock-up." + +"Oh, Captain Dale, don't let him have us arrested!" pleaded Fred. "We +do not know anything about his cows, and we certainly did not shoot +them." + +"Tell me all about this," demanded Captain Dale. And in a highly +excited fashion, Elias Lacy told his story, which was corroborated by +his hired man. + +"Now I'll hear what you have to say," said the captain, turning to Jack +and Fred. + +They gave him the particulars of what had happened, just as they had +already related them to the old farmer. Then Captain Dale asked them a +number of questions. Elias Lacy interrupted continually. + +"I ain't a-goin' to stand no nonsense," said the old man doggedly. "I'm +a-goin' to put 'em in the lock-up, an' do it right now!" + +"Mr. Lacy, allow me to tell you something," said the military +instructor coolly. "If these boys are guilty you will be justified in +having them placed under arrest. But if they are not guilty--and they +claim they are innocent--you'll make yourself liable for a big suit for +damages." + +"I don't care! I know they shot them cows!" + +"No, you don't know it. You admit that the farm hand who saw the two +cadets did not recognize them. In fact, he wasn't altogether sure that +they were cadets. Now, these boys claim they were nowhere near your +pasture lot when the cows were shot. I think the best thing you can do +is to let them return to the Hall with me. Colonel Colby is away +to-day, but I will take the matter up with him just as soon as he +returns." + +"Mebbe if I let 'em go to the Hall, they'll run away," answered Elias +Lacy. The mention of a possible lawsuit for damages had taken some of +the aggressiveness out of him. + +"I will see to it that they do not run away," answered Captain Dale. +"We have a guardroom at the Hall--a sort of lock-up; and if it is +necessary I will have them placed there until Colonel Colby can +investigate, and until you can make up your mind what you want to do." + +The old farmer argued the matter for several minutes, but in the end +agreed to let the military instructor take charge of Jack and Fred. + +"But remember," he said in parting, "you've got to keep 'em under lock +an' key till I see Colonel Colby. I'm a-goin' to make an investigation, +an' I'm purty sure I'll be able to prove that they killed them cows." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +IN THE GUARDROOM + + +"What in the world do you suppose has become of them, Randy?" + +"I give it up! I hope they only lost their way and didn't have some +kind of an accident." + +"Oh, don't speak of an accident!" cried Andy in horror. "It makes me +shiver to think of it." + +"I can't understand why they didn't rejoin us as they promised to do," +said Frank Newberry, who was present. "We looked all over for them, and +fired one or two shots to attract their attention, but it was all +useless." + +The twins had passed a restless night following the continued absence +from the school of their cousins. Early in the morning they had gone +out in company with Gif and Spouter, and covered many miles in a vain +search for the absent ones. They could not settle down to their class +work, and so were excused by Professor Brice. + +"Well, I've got to be getting back to the classroom," remarked Frank +Newberry, presently, and he and several others who were present hurried +away, leaving the twins to themselves. + +The boys walked down the roadway which had been followed by the hunters +the day before. They had covered only a short distance when they saw a +farm wagon approaching, with Captain Dale beside it on his horse. + +"There they are!" cried Andy, and an instant later added in amazement: +"Old Lacy and one of his men are with them!" + +"Yes. And I bet that spells trouble for Jack and Fred," announced his +brother. + +The old farmer would not stop for the boys on the roadside, but drove +directly to the Colby Hall entrance. + +"Why! what's the matter?" exclaimed Randy to the military instructor. + +"A little trouble, boys," was Captain Dale's answer. "You'll hear about +it later." And then he went after the wagon, and the boys took to their +heels and followed. + +"Now then, you do what you promised!" snapped Elias Lacy, after Jack +and Fred had jumped from the wagon. "Don't let 'em run away, nohow!" + +"You can rest assured that I will take care of them, Mr. Lacy," +answered the captain coldly. + +"When do you expect Colonel Colby back?" + +"Some time this afternoon." + +"Then I guess I'll be back by that time to see him. An' I guess I'll be +able to prove them boys is guilty, too." + +"Why, Jack! what is it all about?" demanded Randy, while his twin +looked on questioningly. The boys' shotguns and game had been taken +from the farm wagon, and now the pair from the Lacy farm drove away. + +"You've got to search me!" declared Jack. "Old Lacy accuses Fred and me +of shooting two of his cows." + +"You didn't do it, though, did you?" queried Andy. + +"Certainly not!" burst out Fred. "All we know about it is what he has +told us. We weren't even near the pasture where the cows were kept." + +As well as they were able, Jack and Fred explained the situation to +their cousins and also answered a number of questions put to them by +Captain Dale. The military instructor was much puzzled over the +situation, and hardly knew what to do. + +"You heard what I promised Mr. Lacy," he said finally. "I'll have to +place you in the guardroom until Colonel Colby gets back. But I imagine +you would rather be kept there than let Mr. Lacy take you down to the +town lock-up." + +"It isn't fair to lock us up at all," grumbled Fred. "We have done no +wrong. Of course we stayed away from the Hall over night, but that +couldn't be helped. It was no fun staying outdoors on such a cold night +without shelter." + +"Can't you parole us, Captain?" queried Jack. + +"No. I gave Mr. Lacy my word that I would lock you up, and I'll have to +do it. I'll see to it, however, that you suffer no discomforts while +you are in the guardroom." + +After this there seemed no help for it, and, turning their guns and +game over to the twins, Jack and Fred followed Captain Dale through one +of the lower corridors and then into a wing of the building. Here there +was a room about twelve feet square, the one window of which was +barred, and this was known officially as the school guardroom, or +prison. + +"You may wash up if you care to do so, and I will send you some +breakfast," announced Captain Dale, and then left them in the room, +locking the door behind him. + +The apartment was but scantily furnished, containing an iron cot, a +couple of stools, a table, and, in one corner, a wash bowl with running +water. There was a small steam radiator in the room, and this the boys +lost no time in turning on, for the air was damp and cold. + +"This is a fine prospect, truly," remarked Fred, as he sank down on one +of the stools. "I wonder how long we'll have to stay in this hole." + +"That remains to be seen, Fred. I wish Colonel Colby were here. I think +he would give us some good advice--being such an old friend of our +fathers." + +"Gee! I'd hate to have him send a letter home telling the folks that we +were guilty of shooting a farmer's cows." + +"So would I. I don't see how we are going to clear ourselves. You can +bet Lacy will make out the blackest possible case against us." + +After their outing in the woods the boys were glad enough to wash +themselves. They had hardly finished when one of the waiters of the +Hall came in with a large tray filled with an appetizing breakfast. + +"This isn't so bad," declared Jack, when they had been left once more +alone. The boys ate heartily, yet they were so much troubled that it is +not likely the food did them any good. + +The report soon circulated throughout Colby Hall that Jack and Fred had +been placed under arrest, and many of the cadets wanted to know what it +meant. + +"They've been arrested for shooting two of old Lacy's cows!" said +Codfish, who had heard the news and had started to circulate it as +quickly as possible. "They say old Lacy is going to send them to +state's prison for it." + +"Spikeless mosquitoes!" cried Fatty. "Do you think they really went +over there and shot the cows?" + +"I don't know, I'm sure," answered Walt Baxter, who was present. "I +know they didn't bear old Lacy much good-will. They felt rather raw +over the way the old man held 'em up with his shotgun when they were +having their Hallowe'en fun." + +"Yes. And they were down on Lacy because he once took away some +chestnuts they had gathered from one of his trees," put in another +cadet. + +"Shooting cows is rather a serious business," was Bart White's comment. + +This talk took place on the campus. Down in the gymnasium another group +of cadets had gathered, including Nappy Martell and Slugger Brown. + +"Locked up for killing old Lacy's cows, eh?" cried Martell, with a +satisfied grin on his face. "They'll catch it for that, all right +enough!" + +"I don't see why Colonel Colby don't fire 'em out of the school for +it," said Slugger Brown. + +"Maybe he will dismiss 'em if he finds out the report is true," +ventured another cadet. + +"Of course the report is true!" put in Codfish, who had come up. +"Didn't one of the hired men see 'em do it?" + +"Is that so, Codfish?" + +"So they say." + +"Oh, it would be just like those Rovers to do something like that," +came from Nappy Martell. "They are that kind of fellows." + +"I always thought they were pretty good chaps," was the comment of +another cadet. + +"Good chaps!" sneered Slugger Brown. "That shows you don't know 'em as +well as we do. They are sneaks--all of 'em--and wouldn't hesitate a +minute to do anything underhanded. I hope Colonel Colby gets after them +and fires 'em out;" and then, with a knowing look at Martell, Slugger +passed on, and presently his crony followed him. + +A good deal of this talk drifted to the ears of the Rover twins and +hurt them not a little. But they were in no position to combat what was +said. + +"Of course we know Jack and Fred are innocent," remarked Randy to his +brother. "But in a court of law it is one thing to know it and quite +another thing to prove it." + +"Yet I've always heard it said that a man was innocent until he was +proved guilty," asserted Andy. + +"Very true. Just the same, many a man has been convicted on what they +call circumstantial evidence; and evidently the circumstantial evidence +against Jack and Fred is pretty strong." + +In the guardroom the time for Jack and Fred passed slowly. They +discussed the situation from every possible point of view, but without +arriving at any satisfactory conclusion. + +"Even if they don't send us to prison for the crime, they may make our +fathers' pay for the cows," said Jack. + +"Yes. And Colonel Colby may send us home," added Fred, dismally. "Oh, +dear! wouldn't that be the worst ever?" and he sank down on the cot and +covered his face with his hands. + +It was Martell and Brown, aided by Codfish, who saw to it that the +report of Jack and Fred's arrest was carried to Clearwater Hall. This +brought consternation to the girls, particularly to Ruth and May. + +"I won't believe it!" declared Ruth. "I don't believe Jack and Fred +would be so mean." + +"I don't believe it either!" cried Spouter's cousin. "Somebody else +must have done it!" + +In the middle of the afternoon Colonel Colby returned to the Hall and +was at once acquainted with the affair by Captain Dale. The colonel was +on the point of questioning the two prisoners when a servant came in, +announcing the arrival of Elias Lacy. The farmer was as wildly excited +as he had been in the morning. + +"I knowed I was right!" he cried, flourishing a letter in the colonel's +face. "Here's something I got to prove it! It come by mail this mornin' +when I was bringin' them young whelps over here. I put the letter in my +pocket, an' I forgot all about it until an hour ago. Jest read that, +will you?" and he thrust the communication into Colonel Colby's hand. + +The letter was postmarked at Beach Haven, and had been mailed the +evening previous. It was written in a slanting backhand, evidently +disguised, and ran as follows: + + "Dear Mr. Lacy: + + "Your two cows were shot by Jack Rover and Fred Rover. They were + out in the woods hunting when we saw them go towards your pasture + lot. We thought they were up to some trick, so watched them. They + drove the two cows from the rest of the herd, and then Jack Rover + gave one cow two shots and Fred Rover gave the other cow two shots. + Then they ran back into the woods as tight as they could go. They + didn't join the other hunters they had gone out with, most likely + because they were afraid. + + "You had better go to Colby Hall and have them arrested before they + run away. + + "Yours truly, + + "Three boys who know, but who do not dare to give you their names." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +THE EXPOSURE + + +"There! what do you think of that letter?" demanded Elias Lacy, after +Colonel Colby had read the communication. + +"I don't know what to think of it, Mr. Lacy," was the slow reply. "I +have not yet had an opportunity to interview the two Rovers. If you +will sit down here in my office, I'll talk to them and try to settle +this matter with you." + +"Don't you want me to go with you?" questioned the old farmer quickly. + +"No. I prefer to interview them alone." + +"All right then, I'll stay here. But don't be too long, 'cause I want +to drive down to the town an' git Bill Pixley, the chief o' police, or +one of his men." + +"I don't think you'll need any police, Mr. Lacy. I think we'll be able +to fix this matter up to your entire satisfaction," answered Colonel +Colby; and then left the office and made his way along the corridors to +the guardroom. + +His coming was a great relief to Jack and Fred, for they felt that in +Colonel Colby they had a real friend. Yet they were much troubled, for +they realized that the case looked black against them. + +"Now tell me everything you know. Don't hold back a single item," said +the colonel, as he seated himself on one of the stools. + +Thereupon both cadets related their story in detail--how they had gone +out with Frank Newberry and the others, how the two parties had become +separated, and how they had lost their way, camped out over night, and +finally found the woods road leading down to the Lacy farm, and then +how Elias Lacy and his hired man had held them up and threatened them +with arrest. + +"And you do not know a single thing about the shooting of the cows?" +questioned the colonel, eyeing them sternly. + +"Not a thing, sir," responded Jack, promptly. + +"We don't know anything more about those cows than you do, sir," added +Fred, vehemently. "We weren't anywhere near his place when they were +shot." + +"Then what do you two say to this letter?" continued the master of +Colby Hall, and presented the communication to them. + +Jack read the letter with Fred looking over his shoulder. Then, of a +sudden, Fred gave a cry of amazement. + +"I think I know who wrote that letter!" he exclaimed. + +"You do!" returned Colonel Colby and Jack, simultaneously. + +"I think so; although, of course, I am not sure." Fred looked at his +cousin. "It would be just like him to do it." + +"Who are you talking about, Fred?" + +"I'm talking about Slugger Brown." + +"Slugger Brown!" + +"Do you mean Slogwell Brown?" queried the master of the school. + +"Yes, sir." + +"And what makes you think Brown wrote that communication?" demanded +Colonel Colby. And now, somewhat to their wonder, the Rovers realized +that the colonel seemed to be unusually interested. + +"Because I once saw Brown writing in backhand fashion on the blackboard +in the gymnasium," explained Fred. "He wrote a hand almost identical +with that. I noticed it particularly, because he was amusing himself by +writing one line slanting backward and the next line slanting forward." + +"Did he know you were watching him?" + +"Oh, no! I didn't stay there long enough for that. He was all alone, +and as I didn't care to speak to him, I passed out without his noticing +it." + +"How long ago was this?" + +"Only about a week ago." + +"Hum!" The colonel mused for a moment, knitting his brows closely as he +did so. "That is worth investigating." He thought for another moment. +"You have nothing more to add to your story?" + +"No, sir," answered Fred. + +"I think we've told you everything, Colonel Colby," returned Jack. "We +are innocent, and I trust you will do all you can to help us prove it." + +"I shall do what is absolutely fair in the matter," answered Colonel +Colby; and then left the two boys once more to themselves. + +Andy and Randy had begged for permission to talk things over with their +cousins, and they came in to see Jack and Fred almost immediately after +Colonel Colby left. + +"If Slugger Brown wrote that letter, maybe he and Nappy Martell did the +shooting," remarked Randy. + +"They would be just mean enough to do it," added his twin. "They'd do +anything to get our crowd into trouble." + +"Why can't you two fellows watch Brown and Martell?" questioned Jack. +"You might tell Gif and Spouter and Ned about it, too. Find out where +those two fellows were yesterday afternoon, and find out if they used +any of the shotguns." + +"Say! that's an idea!" cried Randy, enthusiastically. "I'll go at it +right away!" + +"And so will I!" declared his brother. "Maybe we'll be able to lay the +whole blame on that pair." + +The twins talked it over with the others for a little while longer, and +then were let out of the guardroom by a servant, who locked the door +after them. As they came out into the main corridor of the Hall, they +saw that Elias Lacy was just leaving Colonel Colby's office. + +"All right, then, I'll wait," the old farmer was saying. "But I'll be +back by to-morrow afternoon, an' if you can't prove by that time that +them Rover boys is innercent, I'm a-goin' to have 'em locked up." + +"Very well, Mr. Lacy," the colonel replied, and bowed his visitor out +of the door. + +"Well, anyway, the colonel has got old Lacy to wait another day," +whispered Randy. "That will give us just so much more time to get on +the track of what Martell and Brown have been doing." + +"All provided they are really guilty of playing this dirty trick," +answered his brother. + +In the upper hallway the twins ran across Ned Lowe, and immediately +took that cadet into their confidence, and asked him if he would not +try to find out for them where Brown and Martell had been the previous +afternoon. + +"For, you see, we can't ask them ourselves," explained Randy. "If we +did that they would become suspicious at once." + +"All right, I'll do what I can," answered Ned, and made off without +delay. He came back in less than fifteen minutes, looking much excited. + +"How did you make out?" queried Randy, eagerly. + +"Great! I want you two fellows to come upstairs at once while Brown and +Martell are out of their rooms. And I think you had better bring along +one of the teachers as a witness." + +"Why, what have you learned, Ned?" questioned Andy. + +"I saw them down near the gymnasium, and sneaked up behind them, and by +rare good luck heard them talking about two shotguns that belonged in +the gun rack. They were wondering how they could get them from their +rooms back into the gun rack without detection." + +"Hurrah! I wager we have found 'em out!" ejaculated Randy, excitedly. +"Come on! let's get one of the teachers at once!" + +The boys were fortunate enough to fall in with Professor Brice a minute +later, and in a rather excited fashion they told the teacher of what +they had learned and what they proposed to do. + +"Why, certainly, I'll go with you," said Paul Brice, quickly. "I want +just as much as anybody to get at the bottom of this affair." + +Accompanied by the professor, the three cadets hurried to the second +floor of the Hall and then to the rooms occupied by Slugger Brown and +Nappy Martell. The door to each was locked, but one of them was opened +for the crowd by an assistant janitor. A hasty search revealed nothing +in the shape of a firearm in either room, and the Rover boys were much +disappointed. But then Randy thought of the bed, and quickly raised the +mattress. On the springs rested a shotgun. + +"And I'll bet the other shotgun is in the other bed!" cried Andy, and +he and the professor made an investigation. The fun-loving Rover's +surmise was correct. + +"These are guns belonging to the Hall, too!" cried Ned, pointing out +the mark of the school on the stocks. "They must belong down in the gun +rack, just as Slugger and Martell said." + +"Bring those guns along, boys, and we'll go directly to Colonel Colby's +office," said Professor Brice; and the cadets lost no time in doing as +he directed. + +They found the master of the school seated at his desk, looking over a +mass of papers. He gazed in wonder at the three lads and Professor +Brice. + +"We found the shotguns that were used on those cows!" cried Randy, his +eyes sparkling. + +"And do you know where we found 'em? In the beds that Slugger Brown and +Nappy Martell use!" broke in Andy. + +"What's this?" And now the colonel was really startled. + +"You had better let the boys tell the beginning of the story, and I +will tell the end," said Professor Brice. + +Thereupon, the two Rovers repeated the talk that had taken place in the +guardroom, and then told how they had gotten Ned to spy on Brown and +Martell. Then Ned told of what he had heard, and of how the three had +called on Professor Brice for assistance. After that the teacher took +up the narrative, ending with the finding of the shotguns in the beds. + +"It looks like a pretty clear case against Brown and Martell," remarked +the colonel slowly. "However, I shall have to make a further +investigation. I will send for Brown and Martell at once." + +The colonel was as good as his word, and inside of five minutes Slugger +and Nappy came into the office together. They looked much disturbed, +and this look increased when they saw Andy and Randy. + +"Brown and Martell, I have sent for you to answer a few questions," +began Colonel Colby, sternly, as the two cadets faced him. "I want you +to answer me directly and truthfully. What was your object in taking +two of our shotguns from the gun rack and going over to Mr. Lacy's farm +and shooting down two of his cows?" + +"Wh--wh--why, wh--wh--what do you mean?" faltered Brown. + +"We didn't--er--shoot--er--any cows," stammered Martell. + +Both boys were thrown into utter confusion, and showed it plainly. Then +Slugger Brown suddenly turned to glare at the Rovers. + +"Is this some of your work?" he demanded. "If it is, let me tell you +I'll pay you back for it!" + +"Stop that talk, Brown!" commanded Colonel Colby. "I want you and +Martell to answer my question. Why did you go over there and shoot +those cows?" + +"Who says we shot the cows?" questioned Nappy, faintly. + +"Never mind who says so. You did it, and it is useless for you to deny +it. Here are the two guns you took from the gun rack and afterwards hid +in your beds. And here is the despicable note you, Brown, wrote and +mailed to Mr. Lacy," and the colonel held out the communication. + +"Oh, Colonel Colby, I di--di--didn't do it!" faltered Slugger Brown. +His face had suddenly gone white, and he could scarcely speak. + +"Do you deny that this is your handwriting?" + +"I--I----Oh, is----I--I--didn't----That is----" and here Slugger Brown +broke down absolutely, not knowing what to say. + +"Did you mail that letter or did Brown do it?" questioned the colonel, +quickly turning to Martell. + +"He did it! I didn't have anything to do with it!" burst out Nappy, +breaking down completely. + +"It ain't so!" cried Slugger. "He was with me, and he dropped the +letter in the post-office!" + +"And so you killed the cows to get the Rovers into trouble?" said +Colonel Colby; and now his eyes glittered like steel. "A fine thing to +do, truly! I did not think any of our cadets would stoop to such a base +action." + +"It was a--er--a joke," gasped Nappy. + +"A joke! To kill two valuable cows? Martell, if you talk that way, I'll +be inclined to think you are losing your senses. But evidently there is +something radically wrong with both you and Brown," went on the master +of the Hall. "This case of the cows and the plot against the Rovers is +bad enough, but I have another matter against you which may prove even +worse." + +"What is that?" questioned Slugger, very faintly. + +"It is a case that Captain Larkins of the steam tug, _Mary D._, has +lodged against you. He says he has absolute proof that both of you went +out in a motor boat one day and tampered with the towing line and the +chains of a large lumber raft, so that when a sudden squall came up on +the lake, the towing line parted and the lumber raft went to pieces." + +"Oh, say! that must have been the squall we were out in!" exclaimed +Randy. "And we got caught among that floating lumber, too!" + +"Yes, that was the time," answered Colonel Colby. + +"Oh, Colonel! can't we go to our cousins and tell them that they can +have their freedom?" questioned Andy, with a sudden thought of those +left in the guardroom. + +"Yes, Rover. Both of you and also Lowe can go," was the colonel's +reply. "I will settle this affair with Brown and Martell." + +"And will you settle it with Mr. Lacy, too?" queried Randy, quickly. + +"Yes. I will fix the whole matter up. You may tell Jack and Fred that +they need not worry any further on this score." And thereupon Andy, +Randy and Ned hurried away to bear the glad tidings to the prisoners. + +Of course Jack and Fred were greatly pleased to be released. They +listened eagerly to all the twins and Ned had to relate. + +"So Nappy and Slugger are guilty!" cried Jack. "What a mean way to +act!" + +"And to think they are also guilty of sending that lumber adrift," said +Fred. "They'll suffer for that." + +"They ought to suffer," answered his cousin. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +A FOOTBALL VICTORY--CONCLUSION + + +"Whoop her up for Colby Hall!" + +"This is the time Columbus Academy wins!" + +"Not on your life! This is Colby Hall day!" + +"You'll sing a different tune after the game is over!" + +"Hurrah! here come the elevens now!" + +And then a wild shouting, intermingled with the tooting of horns and +the sounding of rattles, rent the air, while banners went waving on +every side. + +It was the day of the great game between Colby Hall and Columbus +Academy. It had been decided that the contest should take place on the +field belonging to the military academy, and once again everything had +been put in the best of order for this gala occasion. The grandstand +and the bleachers were overflowing with spectators, and in a distant +field were parked a hundred automobiles or more, while in another field +were numerous carriages and farm wagons. + +"We've certainly got a crowd to-day," remarked Randy, who, with his +brother, was in the section of the stand reserved for the Colbyites and +their friends. In front of the twins and their chums sat Ruth, May, and +half a dozen other girls from Clearwater Hall. + +"I don't see anything of Nappy Martell or Slugger Brown," remarked Ida +Brierley, who was with the girls. + +"I hope you don't want to see them, Ida," returned Ruth, promptly. + +"Indeed, I do not!" answered the other girl. "I was only wondering what +had become of them." + +"Jack told me they had both left the Hall for the term. They shot those +cows, you know, and they had some other trouble which was hushed up." + +"Oh, that was the trouble over that lumber raft," put in Jennie Mason. + +"Right you are!" answered Andy, bending over and speaking in a low tone +so that no outsider might hear. "Their folks had to pony up a pretty +penny, too, for the lumber and for the cows." + +"Oh, well, let's forget Martell and Brown," broke in May. "I want to +enjoy this game." + +"And that's what we all want to do," said Alice Strobell. + +What had been said concerning Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell was true. +Questioned by Colonel Colby, the two misguided cadets had finally +broken down utterly and confessed everything, telling how they had once +gotten into a quarrel with Captain Larkins on the lake and how they had +sought to get square by tampering with the fastenings of the lumber +raft and the towline; and they had also related the particulars of how +they had watched Jack and Fred go out shooting and had then purloined +the two shotguns from the gun rack and hurried over to the Lacy farm to +shoot the cows. Mr. Brown and Mr. Martell had been called upon to pay +both the lake captain and the old farmer heavy damages; and thereupon +they had withdrawn their sons from the Hall for the time being. + +"And I'm glad they're gone," had been Fred's comment. "I hope they +never come back here again." + +"Yes, we could do without Brown and Martell very well," had been Jack's +answer. + +Both of the cousins were particularly happy on this day. Jack occupied +his former position on the eleven, and Fred had been drafted from the +scrub team and put on the substitutes' bench in place of Brown. + +"Maybe I'll get a chance to play!" cried the youngest Rover eagerly, +when the football captain brought him the news. + +"Perhaps so, Fred," answered Gif. "Although, of course, I hope none of +our players get hurt." + +As the Colby Hall eleven marched out on the gridiron, Jack glanced +towards the grandstand and caught Ruth's eye. The girl gaily waved a +Colby Hall banner at him. Then May caught sight of Fred on the side +lines, and shook her hand at him. + +Spectators from the town were almost as much interested in the contest +as were the two schools. This football game was always the big match of +the season, and many wagers were placed on the result. In the past the +contests had always been exceedingly bitter, with the various scores +almost a tie, Columbus Academy winning by a narrow margin one year and +Colby Hall taking the lead by an equally narrow margin the following +year. + +When the Columbus Academy boys came out on the field, it was seen that +they were good, husky fellows, every bit as heavy as the Colby Hall +eleven. They looked in the pink of condition. + +"I am afraid our boys will have their work cut out for them in this +game," remarked Mr. Crews to Colonel Colby. + +"Well, our boys look pretty fit," answered the master of the Hall. + +By the toss of a coin, Columbus Academy won the choice of position, and +took the west goal, the slight wind that was blowing being in their +favor. Then the two teams lined up for the kick-off. + +"Now then, boys, show 'em what you can do!" yelled the Colby Hall +cadets, and then the school slogan rang out on the air. + +"Put it all over 'em, boys!" yelled one of the Columbus Academy +followers. "Come on now, all together!" he added, and started up a +song, the refrain of which contained the line: "We're here to-day to +bury them!" + +"What an awful song to sing!" remarked Ruth. + +"Oh, you mustn't mind that," returned Andy, gaily. "He sings best who +sings last, as the cat said to the bird." + +It must be confessed that both teams were rather nervous at the outset +of the contest. The play was decidedly ragged, and one or two mistakes +were made, which, however, profited neither side anything. The ball was +carried first to the Colby Hall 10-yard line, and from there it went +back to the Columbus 15-yard line, and then it sawed back and forth +until eight minutes of the first quarter had passed. + +"Gee! this begins to look like a blank," was Spouter's comment. + +"So it does," returned Dan Soppinger. "Say! can any of you tell me why +the----" + +"Don't ask questions now, Dan," interrupted Randy. "Oh, look! look!" he +burst out suddenly. "Isn't that great!" + +The ball had dribbled back and forth until, by a punt, it reached Colby +Hall's 20-yard line. It landed close to Jack, and like a flash he +gathered it to his breast and started for the Columbus goal. + +"Go it, Rover! go it!" + +"Don't let 'em down you, Jack!" + +With his friends cheering lustily, Jack sped on, dodging many +straight-arm tackles, and skipping from right to left and then back +again in order to avoid the numerous players who seemed to confront him +as if by magic. Then somebody appeared on his left, and the next moment +he went down with a thud, not knowing where he had landed. + +"It's a touchdown!" was the cry, and then the Colby Hall followers went +wild with delight, while Columbus Academy was mute. The girls stood up +in the grandstand and waved their banners gaily. + +"Oh, just to think, Jack did it!" murmured Ruth, and her face showed +her intense satisfaction. + +"Now if only Walt Baxter can kick a goal!" cried Randy. + +But this was not to be, for at the moment the leather sailed through +the air, a strong puff of wind came up and the ball went just outside +the posts. + +"Well, never mind," cried Randy, consolingly; "that puts us in the +lead." + +The run had somewhat exhausted Jack, but still he insisted upon keeping +on playing, and after the wonderful exhibition he had made, Gif had not +the heart to call in a substitute to take his place. + +But if, with a touchdown in their favor, Colby thought to remain in the +lead, they soon had this hope shattered. The Columbus Academy eleven +played a fast and snappy second quarter, and, as a result, before it +was half over they took the ball on a fumble and circled the left end +for twelve yards. + +"Say, that's going some," remarked Fatty. + +"Oh, it won't net them anything," responded Andy. + +But in this he was wrong, for on the next two plays Columbus carried +the ball over the line for a touchdown. + +"A tie! A tie!" yelled the followers of the Academy. + +"Now then, boys, don't miss the goal!" + +"It isn't likely they'll miss it," grumbled Andy. "The wind is in their +favor." The goal was kicked with ease, and then the score stood: +Columbus Academy--7, Colby Hall--6. + +During the intermission between the second and third quarters, Gif and +Mr. Crews gave the eleven some very pointed instructions. One player +had hurt his ankle slightly, and he was taken out and a substitute took +his place. But the substitute was not Fred, much to that youth's +disappointment. + +If the first and second quarters had been fast and snappy, the third +quarter was even more so. Back and forth went the ball, and it was lost +both by Colby Hall and by the Academy team. There were some really fine +tackles and splendid runs, but all of these availed nothing. And when +the whistle blew the score still stood 6 for Colby Hall as against 7 +for Columbus Academy. + +"Tough luck!" groaned Ned. + +"Oh, we're going to win--I'm sure of it!" answered Randy. + +"I hope what you say proves true," returned Ruth, hopefully. + +Just before the whistle was given for the end of the third quarter +there had been a grand crash and a fierce mix-up on the field. Then it +was found that both a Columbus Academy player and a Colby Hall youth +would have to be taken out of the game. + +"Now then, Fred, here's your chance," said Gif, coming up to the +youngest Rover. "I'm going to put you in, and I want you to help us win +the game." + +"Win it is!" cried Fred, his eyes shining eagerly. "We'll either win or +we'll die!" + +When the whistle blew for the final quarter, all of the players who +trooped on the field had a do-or-die expression on their faces. Once +more the play became fast and furious, and, as a result, in less than +three minutes Columbus Academy scored another touchdown, which, +however, failed of a goal. + +"Hurrah! That's the way to do it!" yelled their followers in keen +delight. + +"Brace up, boys! brace up! This won't do at all. Come on now, all +together!" And then Colby Hall went in with renewed vigor so that +inside of a few minutes more they, too, had scored another touchdown, +and from this they managed to kick a goal. + +"Hello! what do you know about that! Another tie!" + +"Thirteen to thirteen! Same as that other game! Say, this is getting +mighty interesting!" + +So far, Fred, although he had played as hard as anybody in the game, +had failed to make any appreciable showing. Now, however, with only a +few minutes to spare, he saw his chance. + +One of the Columbus Academy players had dropped back for a punt. Fred, +who was close at hand, made a sudden leap over a protecting half back +and blocked the kick. + +"Say, look at that! Fred Rover is in the game for keeps!" + +"Send it back, Fred! Send it back!" + +The words were scarcely spoken when the thrilled spectators saw that +the youngest Rover boy had the leather. Like a flash he sent it rolling +back, Gif coming to his aid. + +"A safety! A safety for Colby Hall!" + +"Hurrah! that puts Colby two points ahead!" + +"Good work for Fred Rover!" + +"Now then, Colby Hall, you've got 'em a-going! Keep it up!" + +"Pitch into 'em, Columbus! Pitch into 'em!" + +So the yelling went on while all of the spectators stood up in their +seats, anxious to see what might be accomplished next. But there was no +time to do more. The whistle blew and the great game was over. + +Colby Hall had won! + +In a twinkling the huge field was covered with spectators running in +all directions, and the victorious eleven was surrounded. Many were the +congratulations showered on all the players, and it may well be +believed that Jack and Fred came in for their full share. + +"The finest game I ever saw," declared Colonel Colby, as he shook hands +with all his youthful players. + +"Oh, Jack! It was simply grand--that run you made!" exclaimed Ruth, +when she saw him. + +"Yes. And the way you played for that safety!" put in May to Fred. + +Columbus Academy was much disheartened over its defeat, yet it cheered +the victors and was cheered in return; and then the great crowd +gradually dispersed. + +"Bonfire to-night, boys! And a big one, too!" cried Andy, as he rushed +up to fairly embrace both his cousins. Then, to work off some of his +high spirits, the acrobatic youth turned several cartwheels and +handsprings. + +"What a pity our folks weren't here to see this game," said Jack, +wistfully. + +"Never mind, we'll write them all the particulars," announced Randy. +"And we'll send them copies of the local paper, too. That will have a +full account of it," and this was done as soon as possible. + +After the game refreshments were served to the cadets and their +particular friends, and in this, of course, the Rovers and the girls +from Clearwater Hall joined. Then the boys took the girls back to their +school in an automobile. + +"We are certainly having one dandy time at this school," remarked Fred, +on the way back to Colby Hall. + +"Right you are!" answered Randy. + +"If only we hadn't had that trouble with Slugger and Nappy," remarked +Jack. + +"Oh, don't bother about those fellows!" cried Andy. "I don't believe +they'll ever trouble any of us again." + +But in this he was mistaken. Brown and Martell did trouble them, and in +what manner will be related in the next volume of this series, to be +entitled: "The Rover Boys on Snowshoe Island; or, The Old Lumberman's +Treasure Box." + +In that volume we shall meet all the boys and their chums again, and +also learn the particulars of a queer mystery, and also of a great joke +played upon Professor Asa Lemm. + +The cadets of Colby Hall were a happy crowd that night. A great bonfire +blazed along the bank of the river, and around this the boys cut up to +their hearts' content. Then they marched around and around the Hall, +singing loudly. + +"It's certainly a dandy school, isn't it?" remarked Jack to his +cousins. + +"The best ever!" they answered in a chorus. And here for the present we +will leave the Rover boys and say good-bye. + + +THE END + + + + +This Isn't All! + +Would you like to know what became of the good friends you have made in +this book? + +Would you like to read other stories continuing their adventures and +experiences, or other books quite as entertaining by the same author? + +On the _reverse side_ of the wrapper which comes with this book, you +will find a wonderful list of stories which you can buy at the same +store where you got this book. + +Don't throw away the Wrapper + +_Use it as a handy catalog of the books you want some day to have. +But in case you do mislay it, write to the Publishers for a complete +catalog._ + + + + +THE HARDY BOYS SERIES + +By FRANKLIN W. DIXON + +Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself + +The Hardy Boys are sons of a celebrated American detective, and during +vacations and their off time from school they help their father by +hunting down clues themselves. + + +THE TOWER TREASURE--A dying criminal confessed that his loot had been +secreted "in the tower." It remained for the Hardy Boys to clear up the +mystery. + +THE HOUSE ON THE CLIFF--Mr. Hardy started to investigate--and +disappeared! An odd tale, with plenty of excitement. + +THE SECRET OF THE OLD MILL--Counterfeit money was in circulation, and +the limit was reached when Mrs. Hardy took some from a stranger. A tale +full of thrills. + +THE MISSING CHUMS--Two of the Hardy Boys' chums disappear and are +almost rescued by their friends when all are captured. A thrilling +story of adventure. + +HUNTING FOR HIDDEN GOLD--In tracing some stolen gold the trail leads +the boys to an abandoned mine, and there things start to happen. + +THE SHORE ROAD MYSTERY--Automobiles were disappearing most mysteriously +from the Shore Road. It remained for the Hardy Boys to solve the +mystery. + +THE SECRET OF THE CAVES--When the boys reached the caves they came +unexpectedly upon a queer old hermit. + +THE MYSTERY OF CABIN ISLAND--A story of queer adventures on a rockbound +island. + +THE GREAT AIRPORT MYSTERY--The Hardy Boys solve the mystery of the +disappearance of some valuable mail. + +WHAT HAPPENED AT MIDNIGHT--The boys follow a trail that ends in a +strange and exciting situation. + +WHILE THE CLOCK TICKED--The Hardy Boys aid in vindicating a man who has +been wrongly accused of a crime. + +FOOTPRINTS UNDER THE WINDOW--The Smuggling of Chinese into this country +is the basis of this story in which the boys find thrills and +excitement aplenty. + + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK + + + + +TED SCOTT FLYING STORIES + +By FRANKLIN W. DIXON + +Illustrated. Each Volume Complete in Itself. + +No subject has so thoroughly caught the imagination of young America as +aviation. This series has been inspired by recent daring feats of the +air, and is dedicated to Lindbergh, Byrd, Chamberlin and other heroes +of the skies. + + +OVER THE OCEAN TO PARIS; +_or, Ted Scott's Daring Long Distance Flight._ + +RESCUED IN THE CLOUDS; +_or, Ted Scott, Hero of the Air._ + +OVER THE ROCKIES WITH THE AIR MAIL; +_or, Ted Scott Lost in the Wilderness._ + +FIRST STOP HONOLULU; +_or, Ted Scott Over the Pacific._ + +THE SEARCH FOR THE LOST FLYERS; +_or, Ted Scott Over the West Indies._ + +SOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE; +_or, Ted Scott On a Secret Mission._ + +ACROSS THE PACIFIC; +_or, Ted Scott's Hop to Australia._ + +THE LONE EAGLE OF THE BORDER; +_or, Ted Scott and the Diamond Smugglers._ + +FLYING AGAINST TIME; +_or, Breaking the Ocean to Ocean Record._ + +OVER THE JUNGLE TRAILS; +_or, Ted Scott and the Missing Explorers._ + +LOST AT THE SOUTH POLE; +_or, Ted Scott in Blizzard Land._ + +THROUGH THE AIR TO ALASKA; +_or, Ted Scott's Search in Nugget Valley._ + +FLYING TO THE RESCUE; +_or, Ted Scott and the Big Dirigible._ + +DANGER TRAILS OF THE SKY; +_or, Ted Scott's Great Mountain Climb._ + +FOLLOWING THE SUN SHADOW; +_or, Ted Scott and the Great Eclipse._ + +BATTLING THE WIND; +_or, Ted Scott Flying Around Cape Horn._ + + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK + + + + +THE AVIATION SERIES + +By JOHN PRENTICE LANGLEY + +Here is an intensely exciting series on a topic of worldwide +interest--Aviation. Every day one hears of new stunts accomplished by +pilots. With the passing of each year new records in altitude and long +distance are made. In these stories Amos Green and his chum, Danny +Cooper, accomplish all the thrilling deeds of the air that have been +done before only by hardened veterans. Moreover, backed by the +mysterious "Mr. Carstairs" they succeed in doing stunts new to the +history of aviation. You'll find them vastly exciting. + + +TRAIL BLAZERS OF THE SKIES + +SPANNING THE PACIFIC + +MASTERS THE AIR-LANES + +THE PATHFINDER'S GREAT FLIGHT + +AIR VOYAGERS OF THE ARCTIC + +DESERT HAWKS ON THE WING + +CHASING THE SETTING SUN + +BRIDGING THE SEVEN SEAS + +THE STAIRCASE OF THE WIND + + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK + + + + +BOB CHASE BIG GAME SERIES + +By FRANK A. WARNER + +In these thrilling stories of outdoor life the hero is a young +lumberjack who is a crack rifle shot. While tracking game in the Maine +woods he does some rich hunters a great service. They become interested +in him and take him on various hunting expeditions in this country and +abroad. Bob learns what it is to face not only wildcats, foxes and deer +but also bull moose, Rocky Mountain grizzly bears and many other +species of big game. + + +BOB CHASE WITH THE BIG MOOSE HUNTERS + +BOB CHASE AFTER GRIZZLY BEARS + +BOB CHASE IN THE TIGER'S LAIR + +BOB CHASE WITH THE LION HUNTERS + + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK + + + + +BUDDY BOOKS FOR BOYS + +Illustrated. Individual Colored Wrappers + +Tales of Western pioneer days and the California gold fields; tales of +mystery, humor, adventure; thrilling stories of sports and aviation. +There is a wide range of subjects in this list of titles--all by +well-known authors of books for boys. + + +HOT DOG PARTNERS By William Heyliger + +YOUNG EAGLE OF THE TRAIL By J. Allan Dunn + +THE LAND OF MONSTERS By Harold M. Sherman + +QUARTERBACK HOTHEAD By William Heyliger + +LEFTY LEIGHTON By Percy Keese Fitzhugh + +NUMBER 44 By Harold M. Sherman + +BILL DARROW'S VICTORY By William Heyliger + +THE STORY OF TERRIBLE TERRY By Percy Keese Fitzhugh + +BEYOND THE DOG'S NOSE By Harold M. Sherman + +DING PALMER, AIR DETECTIVE By Harold M. Sherman + +BEAN-BALL BILL By William Heyliger + +CAMERON MacBAIN, BACKWOODSMAN By Harold M. Sherman + +FLYING HEELS By Harold M. Sherman + +FLASHING STEEL By Harold M. Sherman + +BUFFALO BOY By J. Allan Dunn + +THE CLOUD PATROL By Irving Crump + +SPIFFY HENSHAW By Percy Keese Fitzhugh + +THE PILOT OF THE CLOUD PATROL By Irving Crump + +DON RADER, TRAIL BLAZER By Harold M. Sherman + +TUCK SIMMS, FORTY-NINER By Edward Leonard + +WIGWAG WEIGAND By Percy Keese Fitzhugh + +HERVEY WILLETTS By Percy Keese Fitzhugh + +SKINNY McCORD By Percy Keese Fitzhugh + + +GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Rover Boys at Colby Hall, by Arthur M. 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