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diff --git a/26539.txt b/26539.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ec9f070 --- /dev/null +++ b/26539.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8846 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Rover Boys at Big Horn Ranch, by Edward +Stratemeyer + + +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 Big Horn Ranch + The Cowboys' Double Round-Up + + +Author: Edward Stratemeyer + + + +Release Date: September 5, 2008 [eBook #26539] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ROVER BOYS AT BIG HORN RANCH*** + + +E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 26539-h.htm or 26539-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/5/3/26539/26539-h/26539-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/5/3/26539/26539-h.zip) + + + + + +THE ROVER BOYS AT BIG HORN RANCH + +or + +The Cowboys' Double Round-Up + +by + +ARTHUR M. WINFIELD +(Edward Stratemeyer) + +Author of "The Rover Boys at School," "The Rover Boys +on Treasure Isle," "The Rover Boys at Colby Hall," +"The Putnam Hall Cadets Series," etc. + +Illustrated + + + + + + + +[Illustration: ANDY AND FRED FOUND THE ROCKS ANYTHING BUT EASY TO ASCEND. +Rover Boys at Big Horn Ranch (Page 271)] + + + +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 ROVER BOYS ON SNOWSHOE ISLAND +THE ROVER BOYS UNDER CANVAS +THE ROVER BOYS ON A HUNT +THE ROVER BOYS IN THE LAND OF LUCK +THE ROVER BOYS AT BIG HORN RANCH + +THE PUTNAM HALL SERIES + +THE CADETS OF PUTNAM HALL +THE RIVALS OF PUTNAM HALL +THE CHAMPIONS OF PUTNAM HALL +THE REBELLION OF PUTNAM HALL +CAMPING OUT DAYS AT PUTNAM HALL +THE MYSTERY AT PUTNAM HALL + +12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. + +Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York + +Copyright, 1922, by +EDWARD STRATEMEYER + +The Rover Boys at Big Horn Ranch + + * * * * * + + +INTRODUCTION + +My Dear Boys: This book is a complete story in itself, but forms the +sixth volume in a line issued under the general title, "The Second Rover +Boys Series for Young Americans." + +As noted in some volumes of the first series, this line was started years +ago with the publication of "The Rover Boys at School," "On the Ocean," +and "In the Jungle," in which I introduced my readers to Dick, Tom and +Sam Rover and their relatives and friends. The twenty volumes of the +First Series related the doings of these three Rover boys while attending +Putnam Hall Military Academy, Brill College, and while on numerous +outings. + +Having finished their education, the three young men established +themselves in business and became married. Dick Rover was blessed with a +son and a daughter, as was also his brother Sam, while Tom became the +proud father of a pair of the liveliest kind of twin boys. + +From their home in New York City the young Rovers were sent to a boarding +school, as related in the first volume of the Second Series, entitled +"The Rover Boys at Colby Hall." From that institution of learning the +scene was shifted to "Snowshoe Island," where the lads spent a mid-winter +outing. Then they rejoined their fellow-cadets and had some strenuous +doings while "Under Canvas." After that, in a volume entitled "The Rover +Boys on a Hunt," I related how they uncovered the mystery surrounding a +strange house in the woods. And following this came a trip to Texas and +Oklahoma, where, "In the Land of Luck," the boys aided Dick Rover in his +efforts to locate some valuable oil wells. + +In the present volume the scene is shifted back to Colby Hall and then to +a ranch in the West where some remarkable happenings await our young +heroes. + +From reports received I am assured that the sale of this line of books +has now passed the _three million_ mark! This is as astonishing as it is +gratifying. I sincerely trust that the reading of the volumes will do all +of the boys and girls good. + + Affectionately and sincerely yours, + Edward Stratemeyer. + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER PAGE + I. Snow and Snowballs 1 + II. Something about the Rover Boys 13 + III. What the Sneak Told 23 + IV. Prisoners 35 + V. By the Fishing-Pole Route 46 + VI. A Touch of Mystery 58 + VII. Something about a Sleighride Party 70 + VIII. A Fight and a Challenge 82 + IX. The Shooting Contest 93 + X. Spouter's Secret 103 + XI. The Election of Officers 113 + XII. Bonfire Night 123 + XIII. A Startling Discovery 133 + XIV. The Parade 145 + XV. Baseball 156 + XVI. Spouter Is Cornered 166 + XVII. Good-Bye to School 175 + XVIII. On the Way West 184 + XIX. In the Saddle 193 + XX. At Big Horn Ranch 204 + XXI. Hop Lung and the Fish 213 + XXII. A Horse and a Snake 222 + XXIII. Jarley Bangs 232 + XXIV. A New Arrival 242 + XXV. Professor Duke's Secret 254 + XXVI. The Cattle Stampede 264 + XXVII. The Mountain Lion 274 +XXVIII. In the Cave 284 + XXIX. A Confession 294 + XXX. The Capture--Conclusion 303 + + + + + + +THE ROVER BOYS AT +BIG HORN RANCH + +CHAPTER I + +SNOW AND SNOWBALLS + + +"Line up, fellows! No crowding ahead in this contest." + +"Here, Jack, give me some elbow room if you want me to do any real +snowball throwing!" cried Fred Rover. + +"All the elbow room you want," returned his cousin gayly. + +"Remember the prize!" shouted Andy Rover to the cadets who were stringing +themselves out in a ragged line. "The first fellow to throw a snowball +over the top of the barn gets a sock doughnut." + +"For gracious sake! what do you call a sock doughnut?" demanded Phil +Franklin, another cadet, as he paused in the act of rounding up a +snowball he was making. + +"A sock doughnut is one with a big hole in it," answered Andy, with a +grin. + +"Then my socks must be all of the doughnut variety," put in one of the +cadets dolefully. "They are always full of holes." + +"Never mind the socks now!" cried Randy Rover. "Let's see who can put the +first snowball over the barn." + +It was late in the afternoon of a day in January and a number of the +cadets of Colby Hall had been amusing themselves in the snow which +covered the ground to a depth of nearly a foot. They had started in to +snowballing each other, but had then grown more serious and had built +several snow forts and likewise two or three snowmen which later they had +taken great sport in knocking apart. Then some one had suggested that +they try their skill at seeing who could throw, the highest and farthest, +and this had led to the present contest. + +"We'll mark off a line about a hundred feet from the main barn," Jack +Rover had announced. "And then we'll see who can throw highest over the +roof." + +The four Rovers were accompanied by half a dozen of their chums and six +or eight others, and at the word from Jack the snowballs began to fly at +a lively rate, a few landing on the roof of the big barn and the majority +hitting the side. + +"Say, look out that you don't break a window," warned Gif Garrison. "If +you do, you'll have an account to settle with Captain Dale." + +"Here she goes!" yelled Dan Soppinger, and let fly with so much strength +that the snowball sailed up to the very ridgepole of the barn and +disappeared on the other side. + +"Hurrah! Dan draws first blood!" shouted Jack. + +"Huh! Dan didn't throw over the barn, he just slid over it," snickered +Randy. + +Jack was hard at work making a small and perfectly round ball. Now, +taking careful aim, he let fly with all his might. + +"There she goes fair and square," he announced with pardonable pride, as +the snowball cleared the top of the barn by several feet and disappeared +beyond. + +The snowball had scarcely been thrown when two other balls thrown by Fred +and another cadet went sailing over the barn. Then those in the contest +seemed to acquire better skill, and soon nearly every one of them was +topping the barn with the missiles. + +"Phew! some hot work, I'll say," panted Will Hendry, usually called Fatty +because he was the stoutest boy in the school. + +"This exercise will do you good, Fatty," returned Fred. "You need to +reduce." + +"If Fatty keeps on he'll be eating Colby Hall poor," announced Spouter +Powell. + +"Huh! I don't eat any more than any of you," grumbled Fatty. "Fact is, I +hold myself down." + +"Gee! listen to that, will you?" exclaimed Andy. "Fatty says he holds +himself down! And this morning I saw him storing away three helpings of +sausages and about 'steen dozen buckwheat cakes." + +"Nothing of the kind! I didn't have a bit more than you had," growled +Hendry. He broke off suddenly. "Hello! what's up now?" + +"Hi! Hi! What's the meaning o' this?" cried a voice from around one end +of the big barn, and a man, dressed in overalls and a heavy cap and +carrying a broom, appeared. + +"Hello there, Bob Nixon!" cried Jack. "What's wrong?" + +"There'll be a whole lot wrong if you fellows keep on throwing those +snowballs much farther," answered Bob Nixon, who was a chauffeur for the +Hall and who did all sorts of odd jobs in the winter time. + +"Did we hit you?" questioned Phil Franklin. + +"You sure did--on the back and on my hand," answered Nixon. + +"We didn't know anybody was around on that side of the barn," announced +Andy. + +"I don't suppose you did. But never mind me. What I want to know is, do +you fellows intend to smash all the glass in those hotbed frames out +yonder?" + +"Great salt mackerel!" ejaculated Fred. "I forgot those hotbed frames +were there." + +"Why, the glass is out of 'em, anyway, isn't it?" questioned Gif. + +"It was out. But they've been setting some of 'em in again, getting ready +for some early stuff. You've sent those snowballs up to within ten or +fifteen feet of where the frames are located." + +"Gosh! it's a good thing you told us of this," burst out Fatty Hendry. +"We might have had a nice lot of glassware to pay for." + +"Not you, Fatty," grinned Andy. "You never even hit the top of the barn. +If you break any glass it will be in some of those basement windows." + +"Come on up to the other end of the barn," suggested Gif. "Then the +snowballs will fly right out into the open field and do no harm." + +"Well, I don't care where you throw 'em as long as you don't get into +mischief," answered Bob Nixon, and disappeared into the barn. + +After that the cadets continued to throw over the structure for some +time. But then they gradually lost interest, and as the short winter day +was coming rapidly to an end some hurried into the Hall to do a little +extra school work before the bell should ring for supper. + +"Well, what next?" questioned Fred Rover, when he and his three cousins +and Gif, Phil and Spouter found themselves left alone. + +"I've got a great scheme for to-night if you fellows will help," +announced Randy. He and his twin brother were always ready for a joke. + +"What is it?" questioned Jack quickly. + +"This snow is just soft enough for rolling some big balls, as we found +out this afternoon," answered his cousin. "What's the matter with making +a whole lot of big snowballs and placing 'em in some of the bedrooms +to-night?" + +"Gee, that's the talk!" cried his twin merrily. "I'd like to place a +couple in Codfish's room." + +"He certainly deserves 'em," added Fred. "He's getting to be just as big +a sneak as he ever was. All of our kindness to him seems to have been +useless." + +"And I thought he was going to turn over a new leaf," declared Jack. "I +wonder if some of the other fellows haven't been teasing him and that has +made him go back to his old tricks." + +"I know one person I'd like to treat to some big snowballs!" broke out +Fred. "That's Professor Duke." + +"Oh, say! I'd like to square up with him myself," burst out Andy. "Gee! +he certainly did have it in for us yesterday." + +"Professor Duke is certainly a sour one--much worse than Asa Lemm ever +dared to be," came from Gif. + +"I was thinking of Duke when I mentioned it," said Randy. "You know he +has his room in our building instead of with the other professors in +Colonel Colby's residence." + +"We don't want to get in bad with the colonel," remarked Fred seriously. + +"Oh, I think we can fix it so that nobody will know who did it," returned +his cousin. + +The matter was talked over for several minutes, and then, having agreed +on their plan for more fun, the Rover boys and their chums set to work +rolling a number of snowballs which were two feet or more in diameter. +These they placed close to the school building at a point where there was +a series of fire-escapes leading down from the upper halls of the +institution. + +"We can let down the ladder just as soon as we're ready to turn the +trick," announced Randy. "I don't believe anybody will notice it, for it +will be dark and so cold that most everybody will be indoors." + +"We've got to be on our guard to make certain that Codfish or Duke or +somebody else doesn't spot us," said Spouter Powell. "Of course it +wouldn't hurt if some of the regular fellows found us out, because they'd +keep it to themselves." + +It must be confessed that the Rover boys were rather preoccupied in mind +during supper that evening. In fact, Andy grew so thoughtless that he +salted some eggs he was eating three times, so that when he finally came +to his senses the food had to be pushed aside. This happened just as +Professor Snopper Duke was passing, and the new teacher eyed the young +cadet suspiciously. + +"What is the matter with that omelet, Rover?" he demanded, in his +high-pitched, nervous tone of voice. + +"Nothing the matter with it, sir," answered Andy. "Only I somehow forgot +and salted it too much." + +"Really!" returned Snopper Duke sarcastically. "Is that the way you waste +food?" + +"No, sir. It was only a mistake," answered Andy meekly. + +"You ought to be made to eat that omelet," continued the professor +severely. "Don't let such a thing happen again." And then, with his eyes +rolling around among the other cadets to see if anything else might be +wrong, he passed slowly down among the tables of the mess hall. + +"Oh, isn't he a perfect little lamb!" murmured Randy. "So awfully +tender-hearted!" + +"Somebody ought to wring his neck," grumbled his twin. + +"Just the same, Andy, you'd better be careful how you handle the +salt-shaker after this," put in Jack. + +After the meal the Rovers and their chums mingled with the other cadets +and informed two or three of what was in the wind, and as a consequence +there was quite some excitement noticeable when a little later the crowd, +with the exception of Randy, slipped out of the school building by a side +door. Randy ran upstairs, to appear presently on the lower landing of the +fire-escape. Here was suspended a heavy iron ladder in such a fashion +that it could be easily shoved out so that one end would drop to the +ground. + +Soon the crowd of cadets appeared in the snow below him, and then, with a +warning to them to get out of the way, Randy let down the ladder and then +came down himself. + +"All clear upstairs," he announced. "Not a soul in sight." + +"One of us ought to stay on guard up there to give warning in case it's +necessary," announced Spouter. + +"Well, suppose you go up," returned Jack. + +"I'd just as soon help with the snowballs," returned Spouter. "But if you +want me to go I'll do so." And a moment later he disappeared up the +ladder and into the school building through a window which had been +thrown open. + +The cadets on the ground found it no easy task to raise the big snowballs +up the ladder. They tried it first with nothing but their hands, but soon +found they could do much better by dumping a snowball into a big overcoat +and then hauling it up by the sleeves and the tail of the garment. They +worked as rapidly as possible, and soon had eight of the snowballs raised +to the platform of the fire-escape. + +"How about it? Everything clear?" questioned Randy, as he came into the +corridor where Spouter was on guard. + +"All clear so far," was the reply. "A few of the fellows are in their +rooms, but no one that we are going to bother." + +"Then let's get those snowballs inside and distribute 'em." + +In a few minutes the snowballs were gotten inside the building, and then +two were rolled and pushed over to the room occupied by Henry Stowell, a +cadet commonly called Codfish on account of the broadness of his mouth. +Luck was with them, for the door was unlocked, so that they had little +trouble in rolling the snowballs inside, where they were placed one on +either side of the single bed the cadet occupied. + +After this the cadets rolled several of the balls to various other rooms, +one being placed in the tub of a bathroom. + +"I've saved the biggest of the snowballs," whispered Randy. "That's the +one we must place in Professor Duke's room." + +The professor's room was around in another corridor, and to get to this +the cadets had to roll the big snowball directly past the top of the +broad stairs leading to the hall below. They had the snowball in a +position right at the head of the stairs when Spouter, who was leaning +over the upper railing on guard, gave a sudden hiss of warning. + +"Somebody coming!" he announced in a whisper. "And unless I'm mistaken, +it's Professor Duke!" + +"Gosh! I hope he doesn't catch us," returned Gif Garrison. "Maybe we had +better run for it." + +"Here he comes right for the stairs!" put in Jack, as he saw the familiar +form pass a light in the lower hall. + +The cadets did not know just what to do, and while they paused to +consider, Professor Duke started up the long, straight stairs. He was +evidently in deep thought and did not look above him. + +"Run, fellows! Run!" whispered Andy excitedly, and then, as the others +started away he attempted to follow. But the floor was wet from the +melting snow, and down he came flat on his back, both feet hitting the +big snowball squarely. + +The movement was sufficient to send the snowball directly to the edge of +the top step. Here, as Andy scrambled to his feet, it hovered for a +moment, then began to slide down the stairs, gathering speed from step to +step. + +"Hi! Hi! What is this?" those above heard Snopper Duke ejaculate. And the +next instant the teacher set up a yell of alarm as the big snowball hit +him in the stomach and hurled him to one side. Then the snowball passed +on down the stairs, slid across the lower hallway, and shot directly +through the open door leading to Colonel Colby's private office! + + + + +CHAPTER II + +SOMETHING ABOUT THE ROVER BOYS + + +"Gee, we've done it now!" + +"The snowball knocked Professor Duke over!" + +"Hi! Stop that! What do you mean? Who did that?" came in smothered tones +from Snopper Duke, who now sat on one of the lower steps of the stairs, +holding both hands over the spot where the big snowball had struck him. + +"Gosh! it struck him, all right," whispered Gif Garrison. + +"Yes. And it went across the hallway into Colonel Colby's office!" gasped +Andy, who had scrambled to his feet and given a glance downward. + +"Skip for it!" put in his twin brother quickly. "We mustn't be caught at +this." + +The warning was not needed, for all of the cadets were already scrambling +through the corridor and away from the stairs as rapidly as possible. +They came to a halt in front of Room 18, that which Jack occupied. + +"Skip inside and pretend to be reading or studying," said the oldest of +the Rover boys. + +"I think we had better go to our own rooms," said Gif to Phil and +Spouter. "And remember, mum is the word," he added for the benefit of the +others. + +"There'll be some fun sooner or later, believe me," remarked Fred. "Andy, +why did you push that snowball downstairs on top of old Duke?" + +"I didn't do it on purpose. I slipped," was the answer. "But come before +they start to investigate." And then he slipped into Jack's room, +followed by his cousins. + +And here let me pause for a moment to tell something about the Rover boys +and how it was that they came to be at Colby Hall. My old readers will +not need this introduction, and, therefore, I shall not feel hurt if they +skip my words on the subject. + +In the first volume of this line, entitled "The Rover Boys at School," I +introduced three brothers, Dick, Tom, and Sam Rover, and told how they +were sent to Putnam Hall Military Academy where they made a number of +chums, including a cadet named Lawrence Colby. + +Passing through Putnam Hall successfully, the three brothers next +attended Brill College, and then went into business in New York City, +where they organized The Rover Company, with offices on Wall Street. + +During their school days the Rover brothers had fallen in with three very +nice girls, Dora Stanhope and her cousins, Nellie and Grace Laning. The +three young couples became married and settled down in connecting houses +on Riverside Drive, New York City. + +About a year following their marriage Dick and his wife Dora became the +parents of a son, who was named John, and this son was followed by a +daughter Martha. The boy Jack, as he was usually called, was a sturdy +youth with many of the independent qualities which had made his father so +successful. + +Shortly after the birth of Jack, Tom Rover and his wife Nellie came +forward with a great surprise in the form of a pair of lively twin boys, +one of whom was named Anderson and the other Randolph. Andy and Randy, as +they were invariably called, were exceedingly active lads, in that +particular being a second edition of their fun-loving father, Tom. + +About the time Tom's twins came upon the scene, Sam Rover and his wife +Grace became the parents of a little girl, called Mary. Then, a year +later, the girl was followed by a boy who was christened Fred. + +Residing side by side, the younger generation of Rover boys, as well as +their sisters, were brought up very much as one large family. At first +they were sent to private schools in the Metropolis, but the boys, led by +Andy and Randy, showed such an aptitude for fun and horseplay that their +parents were compelled to hold a consultation. + +"We'll have to send those kids to some strict boarding school--some +military academy," said Dick Rover. + +"I guess that's right," his brother Tom had answered. "Although how my +wife is going to get along without having the twins around is more than I +know." + +At that time Lawrence Colby, the Rovers' former Putnam Hall chum, was at +the head of a military academy called Colby Hall. To this institution +Jack, Fred, and the twins were sent. And what they did upon their arrival +there is told in detail in the first volume of my second series, entitled +"The Rover Boys at Colby Hall." + +The military school was located about half a mile from the town of Haven +Point on Clearwater Lake. At the head of the lake was the Rick Rack +River, running down from the hills and forests beyond. The school +consisted of a large stone building facing the river, and close by was a +smaller building occupied by Colonel Colby and his family and some of the +professors, and at a short distance were a gymnasium, a boathouse, and +likewise bathing pavilions. + +On arriving at Colby Hall the younger Rovers found several of their +friends awaiting them, including Dick Powell, usually called Spouter +because of his occasional desire to make long speeches, and Gifford +Garrison. Spouter and Gif were the sons of Songbird Powell and Fred +Garrison, men who in their boyhood days had been close chums of the older +Rovers while at Putnam Hall. The Rovers made a number of other friends, +and, likewise, a few enemies, many of whom will be heard of later. + +As mentioned, Colby Hall was located about half a mile beyond Haven +Point, and on the opposite side of the town was Clearwater Hall, a +boarding school for girls. During a panic in a motion picture house the +Rover boys became acquainted with several girls from Clearwater Hall, +including Ruth Stevenson, May Powell, Alice Strobell, and Annie Larkins. +They discovered that May was Spouter Powell's cousin, and the whole crowd +of young people soon became friends. Later on Mary and Martha Rover +became pupils at the girls' school. + +Ruth Stevenson had an old uncle, Barney, and one day, while out hunting, +the Rover boys did the old man a great service. For this he invited them +to spend some winter holidays with him, which they did, as related in +another volume, called "The Rover Boys on Snowshoe Island." + +On this island the boys met two of their former enemies, Nappy Martell +and Slugger Brown, as well as Asa Lemm, a discharged teacher of Colby +Hall. The Rovers exposed a plot against old Uncle Barney and caused the +hunter's enemies to leave Snowshoe Island in disgust. + +Some of the boys hoped they had seen the last of Nappy and Slugger, but +Jack was doubtful; and how those two unworthies turned up again to cause +more trouble is related in the book entitled "The Rover Boys Under +Canvas." + +This was at the time of the annual encampment, and at an election of +officers Jack was made captain of Company C and Fred made first +lieutenant. + +While the Rover boys were at Colby Hall the great war in Europe opened. +When the call for army volunteers came Dick Rover and his brother Sam +lost no time in enlisting, and as soon as he could get away Tom Rover +followed; and the three fathers of the boys went into the trenches in +Europe to do their duty for Uncle Sam. + +During the following winter at Colby Hall Gif Garrison received a letter +from an uncle, stating that he and his chums might use a bungalow up in +the woods. Gif at once invited the Rover boys and Spouter to become his +guests, and what a glorious time the lads had is related in a volume +entitled "The Rover Boys on a Hunt." + +The return of the older Rovers from Europe at the conclusion of the great +war in which they had served gallantly brought something of a surprise. +Dick Rover had saved the life of a man from Texas, and in return had been +given the deed to some property located between Texas and Oklahoma and +said to be in a region containing oil. He decided to go to Texas and +Oklahoma to investigate, and the four boys begged to go along. How they +went to the oil fields and what stirring adventures they had there are +related in detail in the volume preceding this, called "The Rover Boys in +the Land of Luck." + +Here they fell in again with Nappy Martell, Slugger Brown, and another +good-for-nothing lad named Gabe Werner, and also with a man named Carson +Davenport, who did his best to do Dick Rover great harm. Davenport and +some of his cohorts were finally placed under arrest. As a result of this +Gabe Werner's father took hold of some wells that were being sunk by the +Davenport crowd. But in the end he and the Martells and the Browns lost a +great deal of their money, so that they were left almost penniless. + +"It's a terrible blow for those three families," said Dick Rover, when +this occurred. "It will make Mr. Werner quite a poor man." + +"Well, I don't particularly wish them any hard luck," remarked Andy. +"Just the same, I guess Nappy, Slugger, and Gabe got what was coming to +them." + +Before going down to Texas and Oklahoma the Rover boys, while along the +Rick Rack River during a violent storm, had succeeded in rescuing a man +and his son who were caught between some rocks and a drifting tree in the +middle of the swiftly flowing stream. + +The man, John Franklin, was exceedingly thankful for what had been done +for him, and so was his son Philip. It developed later that the Franklins +owned a tract of land in Texas. And when it was discovered that the tract +inherited by Dick Rover from the soldier in France was practically +worthless, Jack's father made an arrangement to work the Franklin place +on shares. Two oil wells were bored, and both of these paid handsomely, +making the Rovers richer than ever and also placing a substantial amount +in the bank to John Franklin's account. + +"Do you know I can scarcely believe it's true," Phil Franklin had said to +the Rover boys. "Why, my father will have more money than he ever dreamed +of." + +"We're as glad as you are, Phil," Jack had answered. "Glad on your +account as well as our own. Now maybe you can go to Colby Hall with us." + +"Say, that would be immense!" Phil had returned with pleasure. And that +fall he had joined the crowd at the military academy and soon made for +himself a host of friends. + +"Gee, I never thought going to school could be so nice," declared Phil +Franklin to the Rover boys one day. "I always considered going to school +a hardship. But this is bang-up in every way." + +"I guess you haven't made any enemies yet, Phil," remarked Fred. "Don't +forget that Nappy Martell, Slugger Brown, and Gabe Werner all hailed from +here." + +"I've met only one fellow that I don't like," returned Phil Franklin. +"That's a fellow who came in the day I did, a big, tall, lanky chap named +Lester Bangs." + +"Oh, you mean Brassy Bangs," broke in Randy. "I know that fellow only too +well. I had quite a set-to with him one day in the gym." + +"For a new cadet he's certainly pretty forward," answered Jack. "I'm glad +he isn't a member of my company. If he was I think I'd have to call him +down more than once." + +"I guess Colby Hall is bound to have its bullies," Andy had remarked on +hearing this. "No sooner do we get rid of one group than another appears. +They seem to grow like weeds." + +During the fall there had been the usual football season at the military +academy, and the boys had acquitted themselves quite creditably, winning +seven games out of twelve. Then had come the brief Christmas holidays. +And following this the lads had settled down once more into the grind, +resolved to do their best at their lessons. But, of course, they were +only boys, and they had to have their fun, and occasionally the fun went +a little too far and brought forth rather disastrous results, as we have +just seen. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +WHAT THE SNEAK TOLD + + +"I certainly didn't think that snowball would go down the stairs so +easily," remarked Andy, when he and the other Rovers were alone. + +"Keep quiet," warned Jack, who had remained at the partly-opened door. "I +want to hear what takes place." + +"This is outrageous, simply outrageous!" they heard in Snopper Duke's +high-pitched voice. "How dared you roll such a snowball down these +stairs? And how came you to get that snowball up there anyway?" + +"Excuse me, Professor, but I don't know what you're talking about," +answered another voice; and at this Jack gave a slight start, for he +recognized the words as coming from Brassy Bangs. + +"What is that? You do not know anything about the big snowball that just +came hurtling down these stairs?" stormed Professor Duke. + +"No, sir. I just reached the top of the stairs," answered Brassy Bangs. +"I came out of my room not ten seconds ago." + +"What do you know about this, Stowell?" went on the professor, who had +now come slowly to the top of the stairs, followed by Professor Grawson, +who had come out of Colonel Colby's private office where he had been +looking over some reports when the big snowball had landed with a thump +against the desk at which he had been seated. + +"Me? What do you mean?" stammered the youth who was known to the cadets +as Codfish and who had always been more or less of a sneak. + +"Somebody just rolled a big snowball down the stairs. It struck me and +nearly knocked me flat," returned the irate teacher. + +"Yes, and it rolled all the way into the private office," added Professor +Grawson. + +"I don't know anything about any snowballs," said Codfish. "I noticed the +floor was all wet and I wondered what it meant." + +"I saw some fellows rushing around the corner," came from Brassy Bangs. + +"Who were they?" demanded Snopper Duke. + +"I don't know." + +"Which way did they go?" + +"That way," and Brassy pointed out the direction. + +By this time the two professors had reached the top of the stairs and +Grawson was looking at the water marks on the polished floor. + +"Here is where they brought that big snowball in," he remarked, pointing +to the track that led to one of the windows. "They must have brought it +up on the fire-escape." + +"Here are several other tracks. I think we had better follow them," +returned Snopper Duke quickly. + +The track leading to the bathroom was most in evidence, and the two +professors quickly discovered the big snowball resting in the bathtub. + +"Evidently they put this here to have some more fun with," announced +Professor Grawson grimly. "Well, it won't do much harm here. I'll turn on +a little hot water and it will soon melt and run off," and he turned on +the faucet as he spoke. + +From the bathroom the two professors, followed by Codfish and Brassy, +followed the water trail into a room occupied by several students who +were particularly uppish and whom the Rovers did not like, and here some +more of the snowballs were found. + +"Here is another trail," announced Professor Duke, and in a moment more +had thrown open the door leading to Stowell's bedroom. + +"Here! what does this mean?" stammered Codfish, as, after the light had +been turned on, he and the others saw the two big snowballs resting on +either side of the bed. + +"Stowell, you must have had something to do with this," cried Snopper +Duke savagely. + +"No, sir. Not at all, sir," answered the sneak in a trembling voice. "I +don't know a thing about it." + +"Where did you come from just now?" + +"I--I came up the back stairs. I was just coming through the corridor +when I heard the noise and came to see what it meant." + +"The back stairs, eh?" put in Professor Grawson. "What were you doing on +the back stairs this time in the evening?" + +"I--I was down in the kitchen." And now Codfish grew pale. + +"And what called you to the kitchen?" + +"I--I was hungry, and so I asked one of the servants for something to +eat." And now Codfish was fairly whining. + +"Humph! didn't you have any supper?" + +"Yes, sir. But I wasn't feeling extra well just then and I didn't eat +very much, and that made me hungry afterwards. And, oh, say! I guess I +can tell you something about those snowballs," and Codfish's face lit up +suddenly. + +"What do you know?" + +"When I was passing through the little entryway that leads into the +kitchen I happened to glance out of the window and I saw four or five +fellows down at the foot of the fire-escape." + +"What were they doing?" + +"When I looked at them they were just talking among themselves. I only +looked for a moment because I was in a hurry to get to the kitchen and +get back again." + +"Did you recognize any of the cadets?" + +At this direct question, Codfish hesitated and showed that he felt far +from comfortable. + +"I don't like to tell on anybody," he whined. "If I do that they'll be +sure to lick me later on--I know they will!" + +"You tell me who they were and I'll see to it that they do not harm you," +put in Professor Duke quickly. + +"I only saw two of the fellows real plainly," answered Stowell. "They +were standing in the light from one of the windows." + +"And who were they? Tell me! I want no nonsense now," and Snopper Duke +caught the sneak firmly by the shoulder. + +"Ouch! Please don't hurt me!" cried Codfish, in added alarm. + +"Then answer me!" + +"The two fellows I recognized were Captain Jack Rover and his cousin, +Lieutenant Fred Rover." + +"You didn't know the others?" put in Professor Grawson. + +"No, sir. I didn't see them well enough. They were all in the shadows." + +"I'll investigate this," cried Professor Duke. "Stowell, you come with +me." + +"Oh, please don't make me come!" cried the sneak. "They'll almost kill me +if they find I gave them away!" + +"They sha'n't touch you." + +"Oh, I know what they'll do," moaned Codfish. He had not forgotten how +the Rover boys had sided with him on more than one perilous occasion, and +it scared him half to death to think what they might do when they +discovered how meanly he was acting. + +But there was no help for it, and Codfish was marched along between the +two professors, with Brassy and a number of other cadets, who had been +attracted by the noise and the talk, following. + +Meanwhile the four Rover boys had listened to as much of the conversation +as they could catch. + +"They went into Codfish's room--they are following the trail of the water +on the floor," announced Jack. + +"Some of the other fellows are coming out and coming upstairs," announced +Fred. "Let us go out too and see what happens." + +"Maybe they'll accuse Codfish of this," remarked Randy, with a grin. + +The four Rovers had just come out in the corridor and been joined by Gif, +Phil, and Spouter when they found themselves suddenly confronted by +Professor Duke, with Professor Grawson and poor Codfish directly behind +him. + +"So this is your work, is it?" demanded Snopper Duke, glaring angrily at +Jack and Fred in turn. + +"To what do you refer, Professor?" asked Jack, as calmly as he could. + +"You know well enough, Captain Rover. It is useless for you to deny it," +stormed the angry teacher. "You and your cousins here are responsible for +bringing those big snowballs into the school." + +"Who says so?" questioned Fred. At the same time he gave Codfish a look +that made the sneak want to hide himself. + +"Never mind who says so. We know it to be a fact," stormed Snopper Duke. +"Will you kindly let me know what you mean by such outrageous conduct?" + +"Is it so very outrageous, Professor, to bring a few snowballs into the +school?" questioned Randy innocently. + +"We've often brought snow into the school," put in Andy. "We used to use +it for making a sort of home-made ice-cream--with milk and sugar and a +little flavoring, you know." + +"Colonel Colby or Captain Dale never ordered us to leave the snow +outdoors," added Fred, and at this there was a snicker from among a +number of the cadets who were gathered. + +"I will not listen to such nonsense," stormed Snopper Duke. "You four +brought those snowballs into this school, and some of you kicked that +snowball down the stairs on top of me," he added, glaring at them. + +"I want to say right now, Professor Duke, that that big snowball went +downstairs by accident," answered Andy, feeling that there was no help +for it and that he must make a clean breast of the matter. "We were +rolling it down the corridor when all at once I slipped in a puddle of +water and both my feet struck the snowball and sent it on its way down +the stairs. But we didn't mean to send it down; I can give you my word on +that." + +"I don't believe it," stormed Snopper Duke. + +"I'm telling you the truth, sir." + +"Perhaps Rover didn't mean to send the snowball downstairs," put in +Professor Grawson mildly. As a general thing he sided with the cadets and +they had little difficulty in getting along with him. + +"Mr. Grawson, I was the one to suffer through this outrageous trick," +fumed Snopper Duke. "And you will kindly permit me to handle the affair. +These four cadets are guilty and must be punished." + +"I agree it is more your affair than mine, Mr. Duke," returned the other +teacher. "But don't you think it would be wise to let the matter rest +until Colonel Colby comes back from the city?" + +"Not at all! Not at all! These young rascals must be taken in hand, and +at once. Otherwise our authority in this institution will go to pieces." + +At this moment there was a movement among the students who had collected +in the corridor, and Gif and Spouter stepped forward. + +"Excuse me, Professor Duke," said Gif. "But I had as much to do with +bringing those snowballs upstairs as anybody." + +"And so did I," added Spouter. + +"And I was in on the deal, too," came from Phil Franklin, as he too +stepped forward. + +"What? All of you?" demanded Snopper Duke, eyeing them coldly. + +"I can assure you we meant no great harm," continued Spouter. "We were +only going to have a little fun among ourselves and with our +fellow-cadets--that is, mostly," he added somewhat lamely, as he +remembered what had been said about placing some of the snowballs in the +teacher's room. + +"Were any others implicated in this despicable piece of business?" +demanded Professor Duke, looking around at the assembled cadets. "Answer +me at once!" + +There was no reply to this, the cadets simply looking at each other +questioningly. + +"We're all here, sir," said Jack. "There were no others." And he and his +cousins gave their chums a warm look to show they appreciated their +coming forward to take a share of the blame. + +"Seven of you, eh?" was the teacher's sour comment. "A fine piece of +business, truly." He thought for a moment. "Come with me, all of you, and +we'll see what damage has been done down in the office." + +The assembled cadets made a passageway, and through this filed the Rovers +and their chums with Professor Duke following close on their heels. +Professor Grawson remained behind to talk to Stowell. + +"They'll kill me for this--I know they will!" whined Codfish. And now he +was on the verge of tears. + +"I don't think the Rovers will touch you, Stowell--I don't think they're +that class of boys," answered Professor Grawson. "Come. I'll go to your +room with you and help you throw those snowballs out of the window." He +had not forgotten that he had been a schoolboy himself once, and he had +small sympathy for such a sneak as Henry Stowell. + +Down in Colonel Colby's private office it was found that the big snowball +had done little damage outside of wetting a couple of the rugs. What was +left of the snowball had been gathered up by Pud Hicks, the janitor's +assistant, and now he was mopping up the floor. + +"I'll take the rugs and dry 'em in the laundry," said Hicks. "I think +they'll be all right by morning." + +"You cadets remain here until I return," said Professor Duke, when Hicks +was ready to depart. And then he went outside and in the hallway held a +whispered conversation with the janitor's assistant. + +"I guess we're in for it," said Jack to his cousins and his chums. + +"What do you suppose they'll do with us?" questioned Phil. + +"I'm sure I don't know." + +In a few minutes Snopper Duke returned, and there was a grin of +satisfaction in his eyes as he faced the cadets. + +"You will all follow me," he declared, "and I'll show you what can be +done in this school to cadets who act as outrageously as you have acted. +Come! March!" and he led the way out of the private office. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +PRISONERS + + +In one of the wings of the school building there was located a room about +twelve feet square with one window which was barred, and this, as my old +readers know, was known officially as the school guardroom or prison. +Jack and Fred had once been prisoners in this guardroom on a charge that +was afterwards proved to be false. + +"Gee! I wonder if he's going to take us to the guardroom?" whispered the +youngest of the Rovers. + +"I don't see how he can crowd seven of us into that small room," answered +Randy. "Why, it's only got one cot in it!" + +Professor Duke led the way through the corridor and up the broad stairs. +In the meanwhile Professor Grawson had ordered the other cadets to their +rooms, so there was no one at hand to witness what was taking place. + +Arriving on the second floor, Snopper Duke led the way into another +corridor and then up a somewhat narrow stairway leading to the third +floor. + +"Hello! I wonder where he's going to take us now?" questioned Fred in +wonder. + +"This is certainly a new wrinkle," declared Gif. + +The third floor was but dimly lit until the professor turned on more +light. Then he turned into a little side corridor at the end of which was +located a long, narrow room which, during the previous year, had been +used by some of the hired help but which was now unoccupied. + +"You will remain in this room until I have a chance to communicate with +Colonel Colby," said Professor Duke, as he marched the cadets in. "And +remember! I want no cutting up here. I want you to remain perfectly +quiet." + +"How long shall we have to stay here?" questioned Jack. + +"That will depend on what Colonel Colby has to say about it," was the +sharp answer. + +"Do you expect us to stay here all night?" demanded Randy. + +"You will have to stay here unless Colonel Colby gets back from the city, +and I think that hardly likely to-night," answered the teacher. "Now +remember! No noise and no horseplay or I'll do something that you won't +forget in a hurry," and with this admonition he walked out of the room, +closing and locking the door after him. + +"Listen!" cried Fred, as all of the others started to talk at once. And +going to the door, he listened intently, and so did the others, and they +heard Snopper Duke pass through the little corridor and down the stairs. + +"He's gone, all right enough," remarked Phil Franklin. + +"Well, what do you know about this, anyhow!" cried Gif. + +"I think he's treating us like a lot of children," declared Andy +angrily. + +"I don't believe he has any right to keep us out of our regular rooms," +came from his brother. + +"Well, anyway, he took the right," answered Jack grimly. "And what is +more, he seems to have the best of us." + +"He won't have if we break down that door." + +"I don't think you'll have an easy job of it breaking down that door," +put in Spouter. "I happened to notice that there was not only a regular +lock on it, but also a top bolt. You'd have to smash the whole door to +get out. But it certainly is a despicable piece of business," Spouter +continued. "And at the first opportunity we have we'll have to lay the +whole case before Colonel Colby. I'm sure when he has verified our +report, and gone into the various merits of the case, he will make a +finding that will be in accordance with----" + +"Gee! Spouter can spout even if he is a prisoner," burst out Randy. +"Better get up on a chair, Spouter, and make a regular speech about it," +he continued, grinning. + +"This is a new experience for me," remarked Phil, with a smile. "I never +thought I was going to be put in jail." + +"You can hardly call it being put in jail, Phil," answered Jack. "In a +military academy it is quite common for a cadet, when he has broken the +rules and regulations, to be placed in the guardhouse, just the same as +he is placed in the guardhouse in the regular army." + +"I thought maybe they'd make us do what they call police duty," said the +boy from Texas. "One fellow told me that while he was in the training +camp he overstepped the regulations and they made him peel potatoes until +he was sick and tired of seeing them." + +"Well, they do that too," put in Fred. "You might have to do something +like that if we were at the annual encampment. But while the school +session is on all they do is to lock you up." + +The boys found that the long narrow room contained two double beds and +two cots, as well as a couple of bureaus, several stools, and a table. At +one end was a small bathroom and a clothing closet. There were three +small windows in a row, all looking out on the snow-covered fields behind +the school. + +"Well, we've got a place to sleep, anyhow," announced Jack. "Although +three of us will have to sleep in one of the beds." + +"Not much in the way of covering," remarked Gif, who had been making an +investigation. "Just one thin blanket on each bed. And that radiator is +not letting out heat enough to warm a cat," he added, as he placed his +hand on the one small radiator of which the long bedroom boasted. + +"Never mind, we can keep on our uniforms if we want to," declared Randy. +"And who knows but what Colonel Colby may come back at any minute, and +then I'm almost certain that he'll let us go back to our own rooms." + +"He will unless old Duke cooks up some dreadful story against us," came +from his brother. "You can bet he'll make out as black a case against us +as he can." + +"Yes. But I think Professor Grawson will have something to say too," said +Jack. "And he has always been a very fair-minded man." + +"I don't see why Colonel Colby took on such a man as Snopper Duke," +declared Spouter. "He's every bit as bad as Asa Lemm was." + +"But you've got to hand it to him for being a very well educated man," +said Jack. "And he certainly knows how to teach when he's in the humor +for it." + +"I don't think a man who is as harsh-minded as he is ought to be a +teacher," was Gif's comment. "He can't get a cadet to do his best if he's +forever nagging at him. Now, if I was a teacher, I'd do my best to gain +my pupils' confidence." + +There was a pause, and presently Andy began to chuckle. + +"Say, he certainly did look funny when that big snowball hit him in the +stomach and nearly knocked him over," he cried. + +"How could you see that when you were on your back?" questioned Fred. + +"Oh, I managed to flop over and look down the stairs just in time. He was +some sight, believe me. It's a wonder he didn't go over backward to the +floor below. I don't know what saved him. He must have grabbed the +banisters just in time." + +"You can't really blame him for being mad. I think maybe I'd be mad +myself," said Gif. "However, let's drop that. What are we going to do? Go +to bed?" + +"I don't see that there is anything else to do," answered Jack. + +"I've got to do something to keep warm," declared Andy, and suddenly +turned a somersault over one of the beds. Then he began to box with his +brother, and the two spun around from one end of the room to the other. + +"Here! you stop that," warned Fred. "You know what Duke said. You keep on +and he'll put us down in the cellar or some other worse place." + +After this the seven cadets became more quiet, and, sitting as close as +possible to the little radiator which gave forth only a mite of warmth, +they discussed the situation for half an hour longer. + +"That's another one against Codfish," declared Randy. "I'm sure he's +guilty." + +"Well, he had some reason for saying what he did," said Jack. "He had to +clear his own skirts after they found those two big snowballs in his +room." + +"Just the same, Jack, you know well enough hardly any other fellow in the +school would have squealed," cried Randy. "Codfish always was a sneak, +and I guess he always will be, no matter what some of the other fellows +do for him." + +"Say, look here! I thought you fellows told me that Captain Dale was in +charge of this school whenever Colonel Colby was absent," burst out Phil +suddenly. + +"That's true," answered Jack. "He was in charge all the time the colonel +was in the regular army." + +"Then why didn't Professor Duke put this up to the captain?" + +"Because Captain Dale is away on a little vacation," announced Gif. "He +won't be back until some time next week." + +"And where did Colonel Colby go?" + +"They said he had gone to the city," answered Fred. "But I don't know +what they mean by that. They may mean Boston, or New York, or some +smaller place." + +"The radiator is growing stone cold," declared Gif, who had his hands on +it. + +"What'll you bet old Duke didn't turn the heat off?" broke in Andy +quickly. "It would be just like him to do it." + +"I guess about the only thing we can do is to go to bed," announced +Jack. + +"Well, you had better do it with your uniform on, then," said Spouter. +"Because I'm not going to bed with the windows closed, and it's going to +be beautifully cold by and by." + +All of the cadets had been accustomed to sleeping with the windows of +their bedrooms open. But they had also been accustomed to plenty of bed +clothing, and knew they would probably suffer with the scant quantity of +quilts now provided. + +However, they had to make the best of it, and in the end did little else +but take off their shoes and coats and then wrap themselves in the +blankets as best they could. Of course, there was some horseplay in which +even Phil Franklin indulged. But on the whole the cadets kept rather +quiet, for they did not want to make matters worse than they were. + +"The last time Randy and I were home our dad laid down the law good and +plenty," announced Andy. "So we've got to do something towards toeing the +mark." + +"I'm afraid Brassy Bangs and a lot of the other fellows will have the +laugh on us for this," remarked Fred, as he turned in. + +"Oh, well, you can't have fun without paying the piper once in a while," +was Jack's comment. + +It grew colder during the night, and on rising to cut off some of the air +that was blowing over him, Fred noticed that it had begun to snow. The +fine hard particles were drifting into the room, and he called the +attention of some of the others to this. + +"I don't care. Let it snow in if it wants to," grumbled Randy sleepily. + +But some of the others demurred to this, and presently one of the windows +was closed entirely and the others left open only a few inches. + +"Gee, talk about Greenland's icy mountains!" exclaimed Gif, on arising a +little after seven o'clock. "Some coldness, if you ask me!" + +"You said it!" declared Jack, as he got up and walked across the floor to +where the radiator was located. "Cold as ice!" he announced. + +"Did you leave it turned on?" questioned Randy quickly. + +"I certainly did." + +"Then old Duke must intend to freeze us out!" exclaimed Fred. "What do +you know about that!" + +"I know it's a mean piece of business," answered Andy. "Gee! why, we +might all catch our death of cold." + +Having washed themselves, the cadets lost no time in donning the clothing +they had taken off on retiring. Then they continued to walk around the +narrow room in order to keep their blood in circulation. It was now about +eight o'clock, and they wondered if they would get any breakfast. + +"A hot cup of cocoa or coffee wouldn't go bad," remarked Spouter. "Not to +say anything about ham and eggs, hot muffins, or a few other things on +the side." + +"Yum, yum! don't mention them," groaned Andy. "I feel hollow clean down +to my shoes. I didn't have any too much supper, and I was depending on +having a few crackers I had in my closet." + +"And I left an apple on my bureau," declared Phil. + +"And I had two doughnuts stored away to take to bed with me," came from +Fred. + +The boys heard the cadets below assembling for roll call and the short +morning parade, and then heard them march into the mess room of the Hall +for breakfast. + +"My! but I wish I was downstairs right now," declared Randy. "I wouldn't +do a thing to that breakfast table!" + +"Maybe they'll bring our breakfast to us," suggested Jack. + +"If they do you can bet there won't be any too much of it--if old Duke +has anything to do with it," returned Gif grimly. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +BY THE FISHING-POLE ROUTE + + +Another half hour went by, and the boys confined in the room on the third +floor of the school building became more and more impatient. + +"Perhaps they won't give us any breakfast at all," said Phil Franklin +presently. + +"If they don't there'll be war," declared Andy. "I won't stand for being +starved." + +"None of us will stand for that," put in Gif grimly. "But I don't believe +Duke will dare do it. You must remember he will have all the other +teachers to contend with. They have the same rights here as he has." + +"Yes, but Professor Grawson turned this affair over to Duke," was Fred's +comment. + +"That was because old Duke was the only one to really suffer through what +we did," answered Jack. + +Another fifteen minutes passed, and then those in the room heard +footsteps outside. The door was unlocked and Professor Duke appeared, +followed by Pud Hicks and Bob Nixon and two of the mess-room waiters. + +"Well, did you behave yourselves during the night?" demanded the teacher, +as he glanced sharply from one to another of the cadets, all of whom eyed +him curiously. + +"We did, sir," answered Phil, who was nearest to the door. + +Leaving those who had accompanied him at the door so that none of the +cadets present might escape, Snopper Duke strode into the room and looked +around suspiciously, even going so far as to glance into the bathroom and +the clothing closet. As was the custom during the school term, the cadets +had put the beds and the cots in order, and also arranged the chairs and +other furniture. + +"Professor Duke, I'd like to ask something. Do you know we have no heat +in here?" questioned Jack. + +"Growing boys like you don't need too much heat--it makes them lazy," +responded the teacher tartly. "You will be warm enough after you have had +your breakfast." + +"Can we go downstairs now and get it?" asked Andy quickly. + +"No. You are to have it up here. I have had it brought up for you," was +the answer. And then Professor Duke motioned for the two waiters to come +in. + +They carried two trays covered with napkins, and these they deposited on +the table. + +"Has Colonel Colby come back yet?" questioned Spouter. + +"You will know quickly enough when he comes," was the teacher's reply. +And then he motioned the waiters out of the room. + +"Professor, do you think----" began Bob Nixon. But the teacher caught the +Hall chauffeur by the arm and pushed him out into the hallway. + +"Never mind now, Nixon," he broke in hastily. "We'll talk matters over +downstairs." And thereupon he closed and locked the door once again, and +the cadets heard him and all of the others go below. + +"What do you suppose he brought Hicks and Nixon up here for?" questioned +Randy, when they were left alone. + +"I don't know, unless he thought we might try to break out, and if so he +would have them along to stop us," answered Jack. + +"Maybe he thought the cold and waiting for breakfast would make us +desperate," suggested Gif. "However, now they've gone, let's see what +they have brought us to eat." + +Eagerly the seven cadets whipped away the napkins that covered the two +trays. They gave one look, and then a cry of disappointment arose. + +"What do you know about this!" + +"Isn't this the limit!" + +"Black coffee and bread without butter!" + +"And mush with nothing but a little molasses on it!" + +"And no sugar in the coffee, either!" + +"Talk about your prison fare!" groaned Andy. "I think this takes the +cake!" + +"You mention cake and I'll murder you!" burst out Fred. "Why don't you +speak of ham and eggs, lamb chops, fried potatoes, coffee cake with +raisins in it, and things like that while you're at it?" + +"Wow! Fred for the water faucet!" exclaimed Jack, and got his cousin by +the arm and made as if to run him into the bathroom. + +"Hold up! I'll be good!" pleaded the youngest Rover. "But, say! doesn't +looking at these two trays make you weary in the bones?" + +"Well, anyway, the coffee is hot," declared Spouter, as he tasted it. +"And we might as well drink it before it gets cold. It will help to warm +us up." + +Thereupon the seven cadets fell to eating, and soon every particle of the +scanty breakfast furnished to them had disappeared. They grumbled, +however, as they ate, and continued to grumble after the repast was +finished. + +"I'm quite sure Colonel Colby wouldn't treat us like this," declared +Gif. + +"He certainly did much better by Fred and me when we were placed in the +guardroom," declared Jack. "We got as good a meal as we ever had served +to us in the mess hall." + +"It's nothing short of a crime not to turn the heat on," said Fred, who +was examining the radiator again. "Just as cold as ever." + +"Listen!" cried Randy suddenly. + +All did so, and heard a faint knocking on the door. + +"Who is that?" questioned Jack, moving to the portal. + +"Is that you, Jack?" came in Fatty Hendry's voice. The stout youth was +whispering through the keyhole. + +"Yes, Fatty. What brought you up here?" + +"I got wind that you fellows were being fed scanty rations," answered +Fatty. "How about it?" + +"It's true, all right enough." + +[Illustration: "OUR FRIENDS ARE ON THE JOB!" CRIED FRED, DELIGHTEDLY. +Rover Boys at Big Horn Ranch (Page 51)] + +"Well, Dan Soppinger, Walt Baxter and myself got our heads together and +we managed to make up a bundle of food for you. Just watch the window on +your right," continued the stout youth, and then tiptoed away. + +Wondering what their friends intended to do, the seven cadets crowded to +the window in question and opened it wide. It was still snowing, and +through the thickly-flying flakes they presently saw the end of a fishing +pole on which was tied a bundle done up in a pillow case. + +"Hurrah! Our friends are on the job," cried Fred delightedly, as the +bundle was slipped from the end of the fishing pole and hauled into the +room. Then he looked out of the window and saw at a little distance the +face of Dan Soppinger at another window. + +"Got it all right, did you?" demanded Dan, as he hauled in the fishing +pole. + +"We sure did, Dan; and much obliged to you." + +"Has Colonel Colby come back yet?" questioned Jack, looking over his +cousin's shoulder. + +"No. And there is no telling when he'll come back," answered Dan. "He +sent word that his business might keep him away for several days." Then +Dan spoke to some one behind him, and continued in a low voice, "I've got +to go now, or they'll catch us. Good-bye." + +The imprisoned cadets closed the window again and then placed the bundle +on the table and opened it. They found it contained a rather jumbled +collection of buttered bread, cheese, the knuckle of a boiled ham, a +small glass full of jelly, a square of pound cake, three bananas, a +couple of oranges, several apples, a small bag of lump sugar, and a can +of condensed milk. + +"Some collection, all right enough," declared Spouter, as they surveyed +it. "I guess they grabbed up anything they could lay their hands on." + +"They must have heard we had black coffee without sugar," put in Fred. +"Too bad we were in such a hurry. We might have feasted in great shape +off of this collection." + +"Never mind. The sugar and condensed milk may come in handy later," +answered Jack. + +The boys divided some of the fruit, and then made themselves a few +sandwiches, and with this topped off the scanty breakfast they had +previously consumed. They placed the rest of the things on the top shelf +of the closet and folded up the pillow case carefully. + +"We'll have to send that back the first chance we get," declared Fred. +"Otherwise some cadet is going to catch it when his room is inspected." + +With nothing to do, the cadets found the time drag heavily. They looked +around the room for some reading matter, but found nothing outside of +some newspapers which had been placed on the shelves of the closet. These +were old sheets, and contained nothing which they cared to peruse. + +"Hurrah! we're going to have some heat, anyhow," cried Randy, about +eleven o'clock. "Hear the radiator cracking?" + +He was right, and soon the radiator became moderately warm. This did not, +of course, warm the room very thoroughly, but it took the chill off and +made it more comfortable than it had been. + +"I'll bet a cooky that some of the others made old Duke turn the heat +on," declared Gif. + +"Either that or else some of our chums turned it on when he wasn't +watching," answered Jack. Some time later they found out that Bob Nixon +had turned on the heat unbeknown to Snopper Duke. It was also learned +that Professor Grawson and Professor Brice knew nothing about the heat +having been turned off. + +About half-past twelve Snopper Duke appeared again, this time with one of +the under teachers and two of the waiters. The under teacher had his arms +full of books. + +"I have had some of your text books brought up here," explained Professor +Duke. "There is no sense in your wasting your time here doing nothing. I +want you to study the same as if you were attending your classes. I have +also had your dinner brought up." + +"Do you expect us to study in a cold room?" questioned Jack. He had +thrown one of the small bed covers over the radiator and added a book or +two so that the teacher might not notice that it was warm. + +"I'll not discuss that point with you, Rover," was Snopper Duke's sharp +reply. "You can eat your dinner, and then go at your studies." And +thereupon he directed the two waiters to deposit the fresh trays on the +table and take the old ones away. Then the seven cadets were locked up as +before. + +In comparison, the dinner was just as scanty as the breakfast had been. +For each pupil there was a small boiled potato, almost cold, a few lima +beans, a small slice of roast beef, and one slice of unbuttered bread. +There were also several paper drinking cups, to indicate that the cadets +might drink all the water they cared to draw from the faucet in the +bathroom. + +"Regular miser's lunch," was Andy's comment, as he surveyed it. + +"Exactly!" answered Fred. And then he added dryly: "What are we going to +use that sugar and condensed milk on?" + +"Oh, the condensed milk will go fine on the bread," put in Spouter. "I +used to like condensed milk sandwiches." + +"And you can eat the lump sugar for dessert if you want to," put in +Jack. + +All began to eat, and in the midst of the meal they heard another knock +on the door. This time Ned Lowe was there, one of their chums who was a +great singer and banjo player. + +"Be on the watch for the beautiful fishing pole," sang Ned in a low +voice. "Hurry up. We can't stay up here very long." + +All leaped for the window, and a few minutes later the fishing rod came +once more into view, this time with another bundle attached to it. They +held the end of the pole while they detached the bundle and fastened upon +it the empty pillow case. The new bundle was in a large paper flour bag. + +"Here is where we are going to have a regular feast!" cried Jack with +satisfaction. "Just look! Almost half a boiled tongue, a quart jar of hot +coffee, some boiled sweet potatoes, and half an apple pie. I declare I +don't see how they managed to get hold of it." + +"They're certainly looking out for us," answered Spouter. + +With this addition to the food already on hand, the boys started in to +have a real good dinner. They were enjoying it thoroughly and cracking +all kinds of jokes when they suddenly heard a commotion in the corridor +outside. + +"I've caught you, have I?" they heard Snopper Duke exclaim. "What +business have you up here, anyway?" + +"I wasn't doing any harm, Professor," came in the voice of Dan +Soppinger. + +"What is that you have behind your back? Give it to me this instant," +went on the teacher. + +"Gee! that's Dan Soppinger, and he's got himself into trouble!" exclaimed +Jack, in alarm. + +"I really didn't mean to do any harm," the imprisoned cadets heard Dan +answer. + +"What is that you are trying to hide? Give it to me!" There was a brief +silence, and then those in the room heard the teacher continue: "A +pumpkin pie and almost a pound of cheese! Where did you get those things, +Soppinger? And what were you going to do with them? Come, answer me!" + +"If you want to know, I was going to try to get them to those fellows you +locked up," answered Dan Soppinger, in desperation. "I heard you were +just about starving them to death." + +"What's that? Starving them to death? Stuff and nonsense! They are +getting all that they need, and it's not for you to interfere in my +business," went on Snopper Duke, his high-pitched voice rising still +higher in anger. "You should be down in your classroom. Give me those +things and go downstairs at once. I'll attend to your case later." + +"Gee! poor Dan is certainly in hot water," whispered Jack. + +"Old Duke must have been spying on him," said Randy. + +"Maybe he'll come in here and see how matters are going!" cried Spouter +excitedly. "It might not be a bad thing to get all that extra food out of +sight." + +He had scarcely spoken when they heard Professor Duke at the door. An +instant later the portal was thrown open and the teacher stepped in. His +eyes swept the trays and the plates of food the cadets were holding. + +"Ha! So this is what is going on, eh?" he stormed. "Having food brought +in on the sly, eh? Well, I'll see that that is stopped! You'll go without +your supper for this!" And then, after a few more words, he stormed out +of the room, banging the door behind him and locking it. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A TOUCH OF MYSTERY + + +"Now I reckon we are worse off than we were before," remarked Jack, as +the assembled cadets looked at each other in consternation. + +"If he cuts off our supper the best thing we can do is to save this +grub," declared Randy. "We'll have to go on short rations." + +"And when we feel real hungry we can turn to our school books for +consolation," added his twin brother. "Gee! but doesn't this take the +cake?" And picking up his algebra he threw it at Phil. The boy from Texas +dodged, and the algebra hit the wall behind him. + +"Don't start a rough-house, Andy," remonstrated Jack quickly. "We're in +deep enough as it is. Please don't forget that Fred and I are worse off +than any of you." + +"How do you make that out?" demanded Gif. + +"Because we are officers, and are supposed to be models for the rest of +the cadets." + +"Huh! I forgot that," said Gif. "That's too bad." + +It must be admitted that the cadets were far less cheerful while +finishing their meal than they had been a few minutes before. They ate +somewhat sparingly, and placed what was left of the food in an +out-of-the-way corner under one of the cots. + +"No use of taking chances," said Jack. "Duke may come in here and search +the closet for rations when he gets the dirty dishes." + +"Well, I suppose we might as well spend our time studying," came from +Spouter presently. "We've got to learn our lessons, no matter if we are +prisoners. Otherwise later on we'll be marked down for that, too." + +"Too bad that poor Dan had to be caught with that pumpkin pie and +cheese," groaned Randy. He was particularly fond of the pies turned out +by the Hall cooks. + +Making themselves as comfortable as they could around the radiator, the +seven cadets began to study. Thus an hour passed, and then came more +footsteps in the hall. + +"Another visitor," said Jack, looking up. + +When the door was thrown open they expected to see Snopper Duke or one of +the other professors, and they were, therefore, much surprised when +Colonel Colby stepped into the room. The master of the Hall was alone. + +"Attention!" called Jack sharply--for this had been arranged between the +cadets earlier in the day--and thereupon all of the cadets leaped to +their feet and saluted. + +This action came somewhat as a surprise to the master of the school, and +just the faintest flicker of a smile passed over his features. Then he +closed the door behind him and came forward. + +"I am very sorry to learn that all of you have been breaking the rules of +this institution," said Colonel Colby, in an even tone of voice. "Captain +Rover, I would like to have your version of the affair if you care to +make a report." + +"I don't know that I can make much of a report, Colonel," answered the +young captain, his face flushing. "We brought the snowballs into the +school, and that is all there is to it." + +"Well, what about sending that big snowball down the stairs on top of +Professor Duke?" + +"That was an accident, sir, and I was responsible for it," broke in +Andy. + +"An accident? Professor Duke is quite certain it was done by design." + +"He is mistaken, sir," continued Andy, and then in a few words related +exactly how the accident had occurred. + +"Well, what about the snowballs that were placed in the rooms of Stowell, +Besser, Lunn and in the bathroom?" + +"We only meant it for a little fun, Colonel," pleaded Fred. "Of course, I +realize now that maybe we went a little too far." + +"You certainly did go too far, Lieutenant Rover. And I am especially +surprised to find you and Captain Rover mixed up in anything of this +sort. I expect the officers of the cadets to set a good example." + +"I was thinking you might say that, Colonel Colby," put in Jack quickly. +"And I should have thought of it before I went into the affair. But we +were having such fun outside snowballing, and like that, that we got +deeper into it before we gave it a second thought." + +"And we really didn't know that we couldn't bring any snow into the +school," put in Phil rather lamely. + +"Such an explanation won't go here, Franklin. I expect my students to +have more common sense than that. Of course, it may have been nothing but +a boyish prank, and if you can give me your word that the snowball which +went down the stairs and hit Professor Duke was not aimed at him +deliberately, I shall feel inclined to let the matter pass." + +"Oh, Colonel Colby, will you really do that?" questioned Fred eagerly. + +"Please remember we've been punished already," put in Spouter. "Locked up +like a lot of criminals, and the radiator turned off until we almost +froze to death!" + +"The radiator turned off?" questioned the owner of the school. "It is hot +enough now," he added, as he placed his hand upon it. + +"But it wasn't before," answered Gif, and gave the particulars. As he did +this Colonel Colby's face became a study. + +"I will look into that," he said, and then walked over to one of the cots +and also to one of the beds and inspected the thin coverings. "I trust +none of you caught cold?" + +"Well, I did catch a little cold," answered Spouter, and began to cough, +for what he said was true. + +After this Colonel Colby talked to the cadets for fully ten minutes, +trying to show them that what they had done was not what he expected of +them. He was kind almost to the point of being fatherly, and made several +remarks which caused the boys to do considerable thinking. + +"I am afraid some of you lads do not like Professor Duke," said he. "I am +afraid you consider him rather quick-tempered and irritable." + +"Well, he certainly isn't as nice as most of the other teachers," +declared Randy flatly. + +"He always seems to be waiting for a chance to get in on a fellow," broke +out Fred. "In some ways he's even worse than Asa Lemm was." + +"But he's a splendid teacher, I will say that for him," declared Jack. +"Only, the way he sometimes jumps on a fellow is terrible." + +"I shouldn't like to have you boys compare Professor Duke with that +scalawag, Asa Lemm," declared Colonel Colby. "Lemm had a good +education--if he hadn't had I should not have engaged him to teach +here--but he was not the honest and upright man Snopper Duke is. I will +admit that at times he is quick-tempered, but, believe me, boys, he has +good reasons for it--or, at least, there is quite some excuse for his +acting that way at times. I do not feel like discussing his personal +affairs with you, but you will be doing a real act of kindness if at +times you don't notice his actions when he seems rather sharp. I am quite +sure he doesn't always mean it." + +"Well, of course, if there's some reason----" began Jack. + +"There is quite a reason, Captain Rover. But, as I said before, I do not +care to discuss Professor Duke's personal affairs further. Only, if I +were one of you boys, I should go very slow in judging him. And now to +come back to this present affair: I have had a talk with Professor Duke +and I will have another talk this evening, and, all told, I think you +have been punished enough. So we will call the matter off and you can +return to your classrooms." + +"Thank you very much, Colonel Colby," cried Jack, and, starting forward, +he offered his hand, and the master of the school shook it warmly. Then +all of the other cadets came forward to do likewise. + +"I hope you won't punish those other fellows for getting some extra food +up to us," said Fred, as he and Andy brought out the hidden things and +placed them on one of the trays. "They only tried to do us a good turn." + +"You may rest assured, Rover, that I shall treat them only as they +deserve," answered Colonel Colby, and led the way downstairs. Here the +cadets separated, each to pay a brief visit to his own room before going +down to the classrooms on the lower floor. + +"I wonder what Colonel Colby meant when he said Duke had reasons for +being irritable?" remarked Randy. + +"I don't know, I'm sure," answered Jack thoughtfully. + +"Maybe he's suffering from some sickness," suggested Fred. "Perhaps he +ought to have an operation and hates to have it done." + +"Maybe he's worried about money matters," came from Randy. + +"It was certainly something worth while or Colonel Colby wouldn't have +been so serious about it," said Fred. "Gee! I'm sorry if I misjudged him, +if there is really something wrong." + +"I don't believe Colonel Colby would caution us if it wasn't so," said +Jack. "And after this I'm going to give Duke as much consideration as I +possibly can." + +The boys had been told to go to their classrooms, but this was hardly +necessary, for they had just about presented themselves when the +afternoon session of the school came to an end. Then they followed some +of their friends down to the gymnasium, where they were at once +surrounded and asked to give the particulars of what had happened to +them. + +"It wasn't a great deal," said Jack. "And first of all I want to know +what was done to Dan and the others." + +"Oh, Colonel Colby read us a little lecture, that's all," answered Walt +Baxter, one of the cadets. "He told us we had no right to take any of the +food without asking for it." + +"I offered to pay for it," put in Ned Lowe, "and so did Dan. But the +colonel said that wasn't the point. That he wanted the discipline of the +Hall maintained." + +"Did he say anything about Professor Duke?" questioned Fred. + +"Not a word." + +"Well, he told us something," continued the youngest Rover, and then +related what had been said on the subject. + +"Say, that squares with something I once heard," cried Walt Baxter. "I +met Professor Duke down at the barn one day where he was waiting to have +Nixon drive him down to town. The professor was walking around, wringing +his hands and muttering to himself. He looked all out of sorts, and he +said something that sounded to me like 'I don't see how I can do it! I +don't see how I can really attempt it!'" + +"And what do you suppose it was that bothered him, Walt?" questioned Jack +curiously. + +"I'm sure I don't know. I watched him walk up and down and wring his +hands. And then he took a notebook out of his pocket and began to study +some of the figures in it. Then Nixon came along with the auto, and he +jumped in and rode off." + +"Well, that sure is a mystery," declared Randy. + +This news concerning Snopper Duke gradually spread throughout the school, +and many of the boys watched the teacher curiously. In the meantime +Colonel Colby had a conference, not only with Duke, but also with +Professor Grawson; and when the classes opened the next day Jack and the +others found themselves treated just as if nothing out of the ordinary +had occurred. + +"Colonel Colby said he would let the matter pass, and I guess he's going +to keep his word," remarked Fred. + +There was only one boy who remained troubled, and that was Codfish. He +avoided the Rovers and the others as much as possible, often running away +at the sight of them. + +"Codfish is just about scared stiff," remarked Randy. "He knows he got +himself in wrong." + +"What a poor fish he is," answered his twin. + +On Saturday afternoon a number of the boys obtained permission to visit +the town and attend the moving picture performance if they so desired. +Jack had telephoned to his sister, and Martha had answered that probably +a number of girls from Clearwater Hall would be in town at the same +time. + +"And I've got something to tell you, too, Jack," said Martha over the +wire. "Something I'm sure you'll be interested in hearing." + +"Why don't you tell me now?" he replied. + +"Oh, this isn't something to tell over a public telephone," his sister +answered. + +The snowstorm had come to an end, and it was clear and bright overhead +when the four Rovers and some of the others tramped to Haven Point. Here, +at the railroad station, they met Martha and Mary, and also Ruth +Stevenson, May Powell, and several other girls from the academy. + +"How are your eyes feeling, Ruth?" questioned Jack anxiously, as he +walked side by side with the girl on the way to the moving picture +theater. As my old readers know, Ruth had once suffered dreadfully +through getting some pepper into her eyes, and it had been feared that +she might go blind. + +"Oh, my eyes are quite all right again, Jack," answered the girl. +"Sometimes they feel the least bit scratchy. But I bathe them with a +solution the doctor gave me and then they feel quite natural." + +"I'm mighty glad to hear that," Jack returned warmly. For of all the +girls who were friends of his sister he liked Ruth the best. + +As luck would have it, there was a very good show on that afternoon, and +as a consequence a crowd had assembled to obtain tickets of admission. +Randy went ahead to get all the tickets needed, and while he did this +Martha plucked her brother by the coat sleeve and drew him a little to +one side. + +"What's this you've got to tell me, Martha?" questioned the young captain +in a whisper. + +"It's about a fellow at your school--a chap named Lester Bangs," replied +the girl. + +"Oh, you mean the fellow we call Brassy Bangs! What about him?" + +"He and one or two of his particular chums have been up to Clearwater +Hall three times. They took some of the girls out in a sleigh they hired, +and that Bangs did his level best to get Ruth to go along. And now he has +invited her to attend some kind of a party next week," was Martha's +reply, words which for some reason he could not explain even to himself +cut Jack to the heart. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SOMETHING ABOUT A SLEIGHRIDE PARTY + + +"What kind of a party is it, Martha?" + +"I don't know, except that it's somewhere out of town and some of the +girls and fellows are going to the place in sleighs. I wasn't asked to +go, and I got the information in a roundabout way." + +"Then Ruth hasn't said anything to you about it?" + +"Not a word. But I'm sure she received this Lester Bangs' invitation." + +"And you think she may accept it?" + +"I hope not, Jack. Because I don't like Bangs. He wears such showy +clothing and jewelry." + +"That's the reason we call him Brassy--he is brassy in looks and brassy +in manner. He's just as much of a hot-air bag as Tommy Flanders," went on +the young captain, referring to an arrogant youth who the summer before +had pitched for Longley Academy and been knocked out of the box. + +"Isn't it queer, he put me in mind of Flanders?" whispered Martha. "I +hope you don't have any trouble with him, Jack." And then, as some of the +others came closer, the private conversation had to come to an end. + +While in the moving picture theater Jack sat with Ruth beside him. They +occasionally spoke about the scenes presented to them and also about +school matters in general, but not one word was said by either about the +party Martha had mentioned. + +"Mr. Falstein certainly gets good pictures," remarked the girl, when the +performance had come to an end and the crowd of young people was moving +out of the theater. "They're just as good as one can see in the big +cities." + +"They're the same thing, only he gets them a little later," answered +Jack. + +"I like the comic pictures better than anything," declared Andy. "I hate +those serious ones. They're generally so awfully mushy." + +"Why, Andy Rover, how you talk!" cried Alice Strobell. "I think that +picture they showed today of Life in a Big City was perfectly grand." + +"Especially where the heroine sobbed herself to sleep over the sewing +machine in her garret room," went on Andy, with a snicker. "Wasn't that +just the tear-bringer?" + +"I don't care! It was just as true to life as it could be," answered +Alice sturdily. + +"Well, maybe," was the airy return of the fun-loving Rover. "Come to +think of it, I never did run a sewing machine in a garret room with the +snow blowing through a busted window. I'd rather sit in the shade of the +old apple tree reading a good book and getting on the outside of some +ripe pears," he continued, and at this there was general laughter. + +As was their custom, the young folks drifted from the theater to a nearby +candy and ice-cream establishment. Here they split up into various groups +at some tables in the rear. Of course, the boys insisted on treating the +girls, and there was quite a discussion over what each would have. Martha +and Mary had paired off with Gif and Spouter, and Fred and the twins were +with some of the other girls, and this left Ruth and Jack by themselves. + +Several times the young captain wanted to bring the conversation around +to the question of the party that had been mentioned. But every time he +checked himself. + +"What were you going to say?" questioned Ruth, when he caught himself +once. "You act as if you had something on your mind of special +importance, Jack." + +"Not at all! Not at all!" he returned hastily. "How are you getting along +with your studies, Ruth? Do your eyes interfere much with them?" + +"Not a great deal. But, of course, I have to be more or less careful. But +I'm doing finely, so the teachers say." + +"We're going to have an election of officers soon," continued the young +captain. "Some of the fellows are urging me to run for major of the +battalion. Ralph Mason is going to drop out, you know." + +"Oh, Jack! why don't you run?" + +"Do you want me to run, Ruth?" + +"Why, of course! if there's any chance of getting it, and I don't see why +there shouldn't be," she returned quickly. + +Her manner was so intimate that once again he was on the point of +mentioning the party. But then he shut his teeth hard and pretended to be +interested in something taking place at the other tables. + +"Don't you think you could win the election if you tried?" Ruth +continued, after looking at him questioningly for a moment. + +"Oh, I guess I'd have as good a chance as any one in command. Of course, +there are a number of other officers who would have as good a chance as +I'd have. But I'm not altogether sure that I want to be major. If I held +that office Colonel Colby would expect me to toe the mark all the time +just as an example to the others. Even as it was, he didn't like to have +me as a captain and Fred as a lieutenant mixed up in that snowball +affair." + +"Oh, but, Jack! think of the honor of being major of the battalion," +cried the girl. "I'm sure Martha and your folks will be very proud of +you." + +"Would you be proud, Ruth, if I should win the position?" he asked in a +low tone. + +"Why, of course--we all would," returned the girl, her face flushing +slightly. "I always like to see my friends make something of +themselves." + +Ruth's tone was cordial enough, and once again Jack was on the point of +switching the talk to the party. But now some of the young folks had +finished, and the little gathering began to break up and he and Ruth were +surrounded by the others. + +"We've got to do some shopping," declared Mary, when they were out on the +sidewalk. "So we can't remain with you boys any longer." And a few +minutes later the crowd separated, the girls hurrying in one direction +and the cadets in another. + +"You let me know if you hear any more about that party," whispered Jack, +on parting from his sister. + +"I will," she answered. + +On starting back for the Hall Jack paired off with Fred and purposely +lagged behind. + +"Did you hear anything about a party in which Brassy Bangs was +interested?" he asked of his cousin. + +"Mary said that Brassy was getting up some sort of party, to come off +either Thursday or Friday of this week. The crowd is going somewhere in +two big sleighs." + +"She didn't say where?" + +"She didn't know." + +"Did she say who was going?" + +"As far as she knew the crowd of fellows consisted of Brassy and two or +three of his chums at the Hall and some young fellows around town." + +"And what about the girls, Fred?" + +"They asked Jennie Mason and Ida Brierley to go and a number of the other +girls from Clearwater." + +"Did they ask May?" + +"Mary wasn't sure. But she rather thinks that May and Ruth both got an +invite, although in some kind of roundabout way. Did Ruth say anything to +you about it?" + +"Not a word. But Martha did. She, too, thought Ruth had an invitation, +but she didn't mention May." + +"I wonder if May and Ruth will go?" questioned the youngest Rover. He was +almost as chummy with Spouter's cousin as Jack was with Ruth. + +"I'm sure I don't know, Fred. But I do know I'd hate to see either of +them going out with such a fellow as Brassy." + +"It will be a shame to have any of those girls associate with him!" burst +out Fred indignantly. "He's not in their class at all--he's altogether +too loud and flashy." + +"He certainly sports a lot of cheap jewelry," was Jack's comment. "And +that suit of clothes that he had on when he first came to the Hall was a +scream." + +"Let's go around to the livery stable and see if we can find out +something about the party." + +The place Fred had in mind was located on a side street less than a block +away, and it did not take the two young officers long to reach it. They +found the livery-stable keeper out, but one of his assistants came +forward to see what they wanted. + +"Hello, Waxy," cried Jack cordially, for he had met the young fellow many +times before. "How are you these days?" + +"Fine as a spider's web," answered Waxy, with a grin. + +"I understand you're going to use your two big sleighs for a party this +week for some of our fellows?" went on the young captain. + +"Yes, both sleighs are hired for Thursday or Friday night," was the +answer. "But you could get 'em for any other night you might want," went +on Waxy, with an eye to business. + +"Where is the party to be held?" questioned Fred. + +"I don't know exactly. They're to go about twelve miles out of town, so I +was told." + +"Some young fellows from town helping to get it up, I believe?" + +"Yes. Tom Drake, Bill Fenny, Joe McGuire, Ted Rosenblatt, and a bunch of +others are interested. They'll have one high old time, you believe me," +went on the livery-stable keeper's assistant, with a grin. + +"Rather a lively bunch, are they?" questioned Jack. + +"About as lively as this town affords." + +"It's a wonder some of our fellows are going with them," was Fred's +comment. + +"Oh, that'll be all right. There won't be anything out of the way," put +in Waxy hastily, afraid that he had said too much. "They'll have a lively +time, but everything will be perfectly all right." + +"Maybe," answered Jack, and then, after a few more words with the +assistant, the two cadets hurried off after their chums. + +"If McGuire and Rosenblatt have anything to do with that party it will +certainly be a lively one," said Fred, on the way to the school. "They're +the liveliest fellows this town affords." + +"It won't be any kind of a party for our girl friends to attend," +remarked Jack. "I certainly hope May and Ruth don't go." + +"Maybe we ought to warn them, Jack." + +"If we did that somebody might say we were sore because we weren't +invited, Fred." + +"I know it. But it's a shame, just the same." + +"We might let Martha and Mary know what we found out, and then they might +put a flea in the ears of the other girls." + +It must be confessed that Jack was rather sober that night and all day +Sunday. He could not get the coming party out of his mind, and he +wondered constantly whether Ruth would really accept the invitation which +had been extended to her. Along with a number of other cadets he attended +church in town, but, owing to the fact that it had begun to snow again, +none of the girls from Clearwater Hall were present at the services. + +"I guess I might as well call Martha up on the 'phone," he told Fred, +Sunday evening. + +"All right," was his cousin's reply. "And don't forget to mention May." + +When the young captain had his sister on the wire he learned a number of +things that surprised him not a little. It seemed that the matter of the +coming sleighride party had been rather freely discussed at Clearwater +Hall, and a number of the pupils there were divided on the question as to +whether to participate in the affair or not. Jennie Mason, Ida Brierley, +and four or five others were in favor of accepting, while others had +either declined or were noncommittal. + +"Some of the girls have gotten almost into a fight over it," said Martha. +"It's the liveliest thing that has happened in this school in a long +while. I believe if the discussion keeps up none of the girls will be +allowed to go, even though two married ladies from the town are to go +along as chaperones." + +"Did you hear anything further about Ruth or anything about May?" +questioned Jack. + +"Not a word. Of course, not having been invited myself, I didn't care to +question either of them for fear they might think I was just a bit +jealous, or something like that." + +"Well, I don't think they ought to go to any such party," answered Jack, +and then told what he and Fred had learned at the livery stable. + +"I've heard of Joe McGuire and also heard of Ted Rosenblatt!" exclaimed +Martha. "I certainly shouldn't want to be seen in their company. I'll +have to mention this to some of the others." And here the conversation +had to come to an end. + +On Monday morning Jack met Brassy Bangs in one of the corridors and +noticed that the loud-spoken youth looked at him rather speculatively. +Nothing, however, was said, and the young captain entered one of the +classrooms and was soon deep in his studies. That evening, however, +Brassy Bangs and two of his chums were missing from their usual places at +one of the mess-hall tables. + +"They got permission to go to town. I suppose they went to make further +arrangements about that big sleighing party," remarked Randy. + +To show that he meant to do his best as captain of Company C, Jack put in +a full day on Tuesday drilling his command and in the classrooms. As a +consequence that evening found him pretty well worn out from his duties. +Yet he had some studying he felt he must do, and so announced he was +going to sit up for a while after his cousins, who occupied rooms on both +sides of him, had retired. + +The young captain was hard at work doing some examples in geometry when +there came a sudden sharp rap on his door. Thinking that one of his +school chums had come to have a word with him before retiring, he threw +the door open and found himself confronted by Brassy Bangs. + +"I want to have a few words with you, Jack Rover!" cried the loud-mouthed +cadet savagely. And then closing the door he advanced upon the young +captain in anything but a friendly manner. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +A FIGHT AND A CHALLENGE + + +Jack Rover could see that Brassy Bangs was laboring under great +excitement. The youth who loved to dress in such a showy manner was red +of face and his eyes glittered in a manner calculated to make any one +quail before him. + +But the young captain of Company C was not going to quail, and he stood +his ground and looked the other youth squarely in the face. + +"You want a few words, eh?" he said coldly. "Well, what is it?" + +"You know well enough what brought me here!" cried Brassy. "I've a good +mind to wipe up the floor with you!" + +"I'm not fighting just now, Bangs. But don't forget that I can defend +myself if it's necessary," answered the young captain quickly. And then +he added: "Now say what you've got to say or get out." + +"I'll stay as long as I please," blustered the showy youth. "It's a fine +piece of business you've been in--trying to belittle me and my chums in +the eyes of the girls at Clearwater Hall." + +"If you came here to talk about the young ladies from Clearwater the +sooner you get out the better," answered Jack, his face flushing. + +"Thought you were pulling off a fine stunt, didn't you, when you talked +to Ruth Stevenson about me?" sneered Brassy. + +"I haven't said a word to Miss Stevenson about you." + +"I know better, Jack Rover. You went to her and some of the other girls +and told them that my chums and I were no good, and that the sleighride +party we and some other fellows were getting up was going to be the +wildest thing that ever took place at Haven Point." + +"You're entirely mistaken, Bangs. And the sooner you get out of here the +better it will please me." + +"Do you dare deny that you hauled us over the coals with those girls at +Clearwater Hall?" + +"I decline to discuss the matter any further with you," answered the +young captain. + +"See here, Rover! you can't ride any high horse like that with me," +blustered Brassy. "You and your cousins and some of the other fellows did +your best to queer our whole sleighing party, and you've got to take the +consequences!" And now Brassy Bangs doubled up his fists and tried to +look more dangerous than ever. + +"See here, Bangs! if you don't stop your noise and get out of here I'll +put you out," returned Jack, in a low but firm voice. "I don't want any +fight with you, but I want you to understand that I can hold up my end +every time." + +"Like pie you can! You put on a big front as a captain, but I know your +sort well enough! You can't pull the wool over my eyes! You went to the +girls' school and shot off your mouth, and you are going to take the +consequences!" and without further ado Brassy Bangs stepped forward and +aimed a heavy blow at Jack's face. + +Had the fist landed as intended, Jack might have been knocked flat. But +the young captain had not been in athletic training for several years for +nothing, and he dodged quickly. Brassy was carried forward, so that his +arm shot over Jack's shoulder and his body came in contact with the young +captain's arm. The next instant Jack had him by the back of the collar +and was holding him at arm's length. + +"Now you get out of here!" he cried, and tried to drag Brassy toward the +door. + +Of course the other youth squirmed, and in an instant there was a rough +and tumble scuffle. Jack was pushed against the wall, and retaliated by +forcing Brassy backward over a chair. Then the two spun around the room, +upsetting a stand containing a number of books. + +"Hello! what's going on here?" came a voice from one of the side rooms, +and Fred appeared. He had been in bed and was attired only in his +pajamas. + +Jack and Brassy were so wrought up by this time that neither paid +attention to the interruption. Nor did they take notice when another door +opened and Andy and Randy came into view. Brassy managed to break away +and land a blow on Jack's arm, and in return received a crack in the chin +which sent his head backward and all but unbalanced him. + +"Gee! it's a regular fight," burst out Andy. "I didn't know Brassy was +here." + +"Neither did I," said Fred. "Why didn't you call us, Jack?" + +"He didn't give me time," answered the young captain. "He accused me of +getting him into trouble at Clearwater Hall, and then pitched into me." + +"I'll fix you!" yelled Brassy, who was now almost beside himself with +rage. "I'll fix you!" and he made another lunge for Jack. + +But the blow he intended to deliver fell short, and before he could +recover the young captain came at him with a crack in the ear, followed +by another on the cheek, and these caused Brassy to stagger into a corner +where he held fast to a chair. + +"Say, you fellows will have Colonel Colby here in another minute," warned +Fred. + +"I don't care who comes!" bellowed Brassy recklessly. "But see here, I'm +not going to fight four of you!" he went on sullenly, as he glared from +one to another of the Rovers. + +"There won't be any more fight!" cried Jack, who had no desire to be +brought up before the master of the school again. "Fred, open that door!" +And then, as the youngest Rover did so, he added to his opponent: "Now +get out of here before I throw you out." + +"You can't throw me out!" blustered Brassy. But then, as Jack advanced on +him threateningly, he made a sudden spring for the door and ran out into +the corridor. "I'm not going to fight four to one. But just wait--this +isn't ended yet," he went on, and then disappeared. + +Fred closed the door again, and he and the others gathered around Jack, +who was panting from his unexpected exertions. + +"Gosh, but he looked mad!" was Randy's comment. "What was it all about?" + +In as few words as possible the young captain explained the situation so +far as he was able. + +"Brassy must have gone over to Clearwater Hall and there got the idea +that you were queering that proposed party," was Fred's comment. "Well, +I'm glad if the girls are wise to what is going on." + +"Better chew this over in the morning," admonished Andy. "The thing now +is to get into bed and put out the lights. One of the professors may be +up here any minute." + +This advice was considered good, and with lightning-like rapidity the +room was placed in order and the others retired again, leaving Jack to +undress and go to bed as quickly as possible. A little later one of the +monitors came through the hall, but none of the Rovers was disturbed. + +It was not until two days later that the Rovers heard the particulars of +what had occurred at Clearwater Hall. Then they learned that, unknown to +any of the girls, one of the teachers had been delegated by Miss Garwood, +the head of the academy, to make a quiet investigation concerning the +proposed sleighing party. And when this teacher had found out who were on +the committee of arrangements, Miss Garwood had forbidden any of the +young ladies to participate. When this became known, Brassy Bangs had at +once concluded that Jack--and perhaps some of his relatives and +friends--was responsible for what had occurred. The party had been called +off. + +"I'm glad it's called off," said Jack. + +"So am I," returned Fred. "But, believe me, Jack, Brassy will have it in +for you after this." + +"Possibly." + +"You didn't hear anything about what girls intended to go, did you?" put +in Randy. + +"I heard Jennie Mason, Ida Brierley, and Nettie Goss mentioned. That's +all," answered Jack. + +He would have given a good deal to have known what was the real attitude +of Ruth and May toward the party. But, as before, neither he nor Fred +felt inclined to make any direct inquiries. + +"It almost looks as if Brassy had expected Ruth to go with him," murmured +the young captain to himself, when he was alone that night. And it must +be confessed that the thought made him feel quite gloomy. + +After this incident matters ran along smoothly for a week or more at the +Hall. During that time the snow commenced to melt and almost before the +cadets knew it, it had disappeared entirely. + +In the meanwhile there was constant talk of the election for officers +that was to take place. Ralph Mason, the major of the school battalion, +was about to leave, as was also one of the captains, so there would be +first an election to fill these vacancies and then another election in +case one or both vacancies were filled by those who were already acting +as officers. + +"I really think you ought to try for the majorship," said Gif to Jack. +"You certainly have done well as a captain." + +"It would be very nice, Gif," was Jack's reply. "But I feel sometimes as +if I ought to give some of the other fellows a show." + +"But they may not want it," answered Andy. "Look at me, for instance. I +don't want to be an officer, and neither does Randy. And Gif here would +rather continue at the head of our athletics." + +"Yes, but you fellows are not the whole school," declared Jack, with a +smile. + +"I know lots of fellows who want you to run," declared Spouter. "And you +say the word and I'll go around and do a lot of electioneering for you." + +The matter was talked over a good many times, and fully twenty of the +cadets came to Jack and told him they wanted him to run for the office of +major. And finally he consented. + +"Hello, here's news!" burst out Fatty Hendry, one day, as he joined his +chums. "It's the richest thing ever," and he grinned broadly. + +"What's that?" questioned Dan Soppinger, who was present. + +"I just heard through Teddy Brown that Brassy Bangs wants to run for +major. That he even told one of the professors about it." + +"Why, he can't do that!" declared Fred quickly. "That is, not without +special permission from Colonel Colby or Captain Dale. The major is +always chosen from among the captains and lieutenants, or those who have +been officers before. That is, if there is any one to pick. It's only +Colonel Colby or Captain Dale who can declare the election open to any +one. You can't put a fellow who has just learned to handle a gun to march +at the head of the battalion." + +"Well, of course Brassy didn't know that, and he wouldn't believe it +until Captain Dale explained it to him. And then he said he thought he +ought to be able to hold the position because he was one of the best +shots in the school." + +"Well, he certainly is a good shot," declared Fred. "I saw him shooting +at a target one day and he certainly made some marvelous hits." + +"He comes from the West--from some place where everybody knows how to +shoot," declared Walt Baxter. "I heard him telling some of the fellows +about it one day. He said he had learned to ride and to shoot when he was +only six or seven years old. And he can ride, all right enough, too. I +saw him do it one day when I was on the road back of the Point." + +"Well, I think a few of us can do a little shooting," declared Andy. +"Don't forget that out of a possible twenty-five points Fred once made +nineteen and Jack eighteen." + +"Oh, yes, I remember that," put in Ned Lowe. "That was the time Lew +Barrow scored twenty." + +"Yes, and the time I scored the whole of ten," chuckled Andy. "But I +don't care," he added proudly. "I guess I brought down my share of small +game when we went hunting." + +The talk concerning Brassy Bangs wanting to run for the office of major +was true, and the cadet was much disgusted when he found that the +regulations of the Hall forbade this. + +"I can beat any one of them at shooting," he grumbled to Paul Halliday, +one of his particular cronies and the fellow who had aided in trying to +get up the sleighing party. + +"Of course you can," was Halliday's quick reply. Then he went on: "Say, +Lest, why don't you challenge Jack Rover and his cousin Fred to shoot +against you? You can show 'em up in great shape. It would be better than +fighting them." + +"I'll do it!" announced Brassy promptly, for the idea was one that +appealed to him. "I'll shoot against them with either pistols or rifles, +just as they may choose. I'll show 'em up for a couple of dubs when it +comes to handling firearms." + +"That's the talk!" broke in Billy Sands, another of Bangs' chums. "You +say the word and Paul and I will take the challenge to the Rovers right +away." + +"All provided Colonel Colby or Captain Dale will permit the contest," +said Brassy sourly. "Maybe that's another one of the things their dirty +rules won't allow." + +The matter was talked over for a while longer, and the three boys went +off to interview Captain Dale. He listened to them with a smile, and then +nodded. + +"Of course you can have a contest of that sort if you desire, Bangs," he +said presently. + +Following this the challenge to Jack and Fred was promptly issued. It, of +course, came as a surprise to the Rovers. + +"We ought not to dirty our hands with a fellow like Bangs," declared the +young captain to Fred. + +"Oh, we can't afford to refuse, Jack!" cried his cousin. "If we did the +fellows in the Hall would think we were afraid." + +And thereupon the challenge was accepted. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE SHOOTING CONTEST + + +It was decided that the shooting contest should take place the next day. + +"It doesn't give us much time to practice," grumbled Fred. + +"We might as well have it over with," answered Jack. "There is no use of +allowing it to interfere with our lessons or with the coming election for +officers." + +"Do you think we can shoot as well as Brassy?" + +"We can try, Fred. From all reports he's quite a wonderful shot. It seems +he comes from a place where everybody is used to firearms." + +It had been decided to hold the contest on the regular range back of the +school grounds. Fred and Jack had been in favor of rifles, but the boy +from the West had voted in favor of pistols. As a consequence, Captain +Dale had told them the contest would be divided into two parts of a +possible fifteen points each, the first part to take place with pistols +and the second with rifles. + +"Say, you fellows have just got to snow Brassy under!" cried Randy. +"Don't leave him a leg to stand on." + +"That's easy enough to say, Randy," answered Jack. "But it isn't so easy +to do." + +"I know it, and I was only fooling. However, do your best and make some +kind of showing against that loud-mouthed fellow." + +Early on the morning of the contest Jack and Fred received permission to +take rifles and pistols and do a little practicing with the firearms. +They went out alone, not wishing to be disturbed by any one. + +As they were crossing the fields they saw a figure coming from a side +road. The person approaching had the cape of his overcoat drawn up +tightly around his throat and wore his cap pulled down well over his +forehead. + +"That fellow looked like Brassy Bangs," declared Fred, as the distant +figure leaped over a hedge and disappeared. + +"It certainly did look like Brassy," answered his cousin. "But what in +the world could he be doing out so early in the morning?" + +"Maybe he was practicing a little on his own account." + +"He didn't have any gun with him." + +"That's right. But he might have a pistol." + +"He never struck me as a fellow who would get up so very early. He always +appeared to be rather lazy. And besides that, he didn't come from the +range. He came from the river road." + +"I know it, Jack. Maybe he's been out all night for a good time with some +of those fellows from town." + +After this the two Rovers lost no time in hurrying to the rifle range, +and there practised with their pistols and their rifles until it was time +to return to the Hall for roll call and the drill before breakfast. + +"Well, we may not win, but we'll make some kind of a showing," remarked +Fred. + +It was a clear day, the air just bracing enough to put the cadets of +Colby Hall in good spirits. When the time came for the contest nearly all +of them hurried to the range. + +"Now then, Lest, show 'em what you can do!" cried Paul Halliday. + +"The Rovers won't have a look-in!" broke out Billy Sands. "It will be a +regular walk-away for Lest." + +"Don't be so sure of that," answered Gif. + +"Brassy may be all right enough with a pistol; but don't forget that Jack +and Fred know how to handle a rifle," added Spouter. + +A coin was tossed up and it was thereby decided that the contest with +pistols should take place first. Each contestant was to shoot three +times, the rings on the target counting from 1 to 5. The three +contestants were to shoot in rotation, Fred first, Brassy second, and +Jack last. + +If Fred was a trifle nervous when he went to the front to shoot, he did +his best to control it. Taking as careful aim as possible, he fired. + +"A three!" + +"That's good enough for a starter!" + +With a self-satisfied look on his face, Brassy Bangs strode forward, took +quick aim, and fired. + +"A bull's-eye!" shouted Billy Sands in delight. + +"I told you he could do it!" added Paul Halliday. + +When Jack came to the front he managed to make a 4. + +"That's the stuff!" cried Randy. "You're only one point behind!" + +On the second round Fred managed to make a 4, while Jack scored a 3, thus +tying the Rovers. Brassy scored a 4. + +"Seven to nine in favor of Bangs!" + +Then came the third round, and again Fred scored a 3 and Jack did +likewise, while Brassy delighted his cronies by scoring another +bull's-eye. + +"A total of ten each for the Rovers!" + +"And fourteen for Bangs!" + +"I told you Lest could hold 'em down!" shouted Billy Sands. + +"Just wait till they shoot with the rifles. He'll walk away from 'em!" +added Paul Halliday. + +It must be admitted that the Rovers and their chums were somewhat +disappointed that the score stood four points in favor of Brassy. + +"Now, Fred, do your best," whispered Andy to his cousin, as the latter +went to the front after carefully examining the rifle handed to him by +Captain Dale. + +The firearm was a light affair, but of approved pattern and supposed to +be quite accurate for use at a distance of two hundred yards. + +Fred took longer to aim with the rifle than he had with the pistol, and +there was a breathless silence until after the report rang out. + +"A four!" + +"That's the stuff, Fred!" + +"Now, Brassy, let us see what you can do!" + +As confident as ever, Brassy Bangs came to the front, took the rifle +handed to him, and shot rather hastily. + +"A three!" + +Jack was up next, and to the dismay of many of his friends made only a +2. + +Then came the second round with rifles, and in that Fred scored a 4, +Bangs a 1, and Jack a 3. + +"Hurrah! Fred Rover and Brassy Bangs are tied with eighteen points +each." + +"And Jack Rover has fifteen points." + +Then came the final round, and amid a breathless silence Fred shot and +scored a bull's-eye. Then came Bangs, and made a 2. And Jack ended the +contest with a bull's-eye. + +"Hurrah! Fred Rover wins the match with twenty-three points!" + +"Yes, and Jack Rover and Brassy Bangs are tied for second place with +twenty each!" + +"Hurrah for Fred Rover!" + +"Pretty good shooting, I'll say!" + +"It was all to the merry, Fred!" exclaimed Jack, as he caught his +cousin's hand. "You did fine!" + +"The best ever!" burst out Andy. + +"Say, Jack, why don't you and Brassy shoot off the tie?" questioned +Spouter. + +"I'm willing," was the ready reply of the young captain. + +"I'll shoot off the tie with pistols," put in Brassy quickly. + +"No, let it be with rifles," broke in Randy. + +"I'll tell you what I think would be fair," announced Captain Dale. "Each +of you take one shot with a rifle and one shot with a pistol." And after +quite a little discussion it was so agreed. + +The pistols were used first, and there Brassy made a bull's-eye while +Jack managed to register a 4. Then the rifles were used, and here Jack, +shooting first, made a bull's-eye while Brassy got a 2. + +"Hurrah! Nine to seven in favor of Captain Rover!" + +"Some shooting, Jack!" + +"If you had shot as good as that in the first contest you might have +beaten Fred." + +"I'm quite content, even if I didn't beat Fred," announced the young +captain, with a smile. + +Brassy Bangs was quite gloomy over the outcome of the contest, and he and +his cronies lost no time in quitting the range. + +"I'm mighty glad you two fellows beat him," announced Gif. "Maybe it will +take a little of the conceit out of him." + +"Well, Gif, you've got to admit he's a wonderful shot with the pistol," +answered Jack. + +"Yes. And his rifle work isn't any worse than mine," answered Andy. "Now, +I'll promise to make a lot of bull's-eyes for you if you'll let me use a +good-sized shotgun or a blunderbuss," and at this there was a snicker. + +For the rest of that day Brassy Bangs had little to say. But the next +morning he was as loud-mouthed as ever, declaring that he would have won +the contest had he been allowed to use his own pistol--a long affair of +the old-fashioned western variety. + +"Had he done that it might have given him one more point," declared +Randy. "Of course that would have put him ahead of Jack in the first +contest, but it wouldn't have helped him when it came to the rifle +work." + +"Oh, let's drop Brassy," said Jack. "I am really getting tired of hearing +of him." + +"I can't bear him," put in Phil Franklin. "Once or twice he has tried to +become chummy with me, but I've always given him the cold shoulder." + +It was now drawing on toward the time for the election, and there was a +great deal of wire-pulling among the various cadets as to who might run +for the offices. Three names were in the field for the office of major: +Jack, a Captain Glasby, and a Lieutenant Harkness. + +Glasby was a fellow who was very well liked, while Harkness was a +lieutenant who at one time had been more or less of a crony of Nappy +Martell, Gabe Werner, and others of the crowd that had been opposed to +the Rover boys. + +"Well, I sha'n't complain if Glasby gets the position," declared Jack. +"But I'd hate mightily to see Lieutenant Harkness at the head of the +school battalion." + +"I never liked Harkness myself," put in Spouter. "He isn't a bit better +in many respects than Gabe Werner." + +It was soon noised around the school that Brassy Bangs and his cronies +were doing their best for Harkness, while another crowd, led by Bart +White, were rooting in rather a lively fashion for Captain Glasby. + +"We've got to get busy for Jack," said Gif to Spouter. "Come on! Let's +sound out all the fellows in the Hall we think we can influence." And +thereupon he and Spouter and a number of others set to work to +electioneer for Jack as hard as they could. + +Several days before the election Andy and Randy obtained permission to go +to Haven Point on an errand. It was rather a disagreeable, misty day, and +they were tramping along through the mud on the outskirts of the town +when they saw Brassy Bangs and a stranger ahead of them. The stranger was +a tall, thin individual, dressed in an old-fashioned suit of rusty black +and with a big slouch hat pulled well down over his head. He was puffing +away at a large black cigar, and seemed to be very much in earnest in +what he was saying to Brassy. + +"I saw that fellow around the school about a week ago," declared Randy. +"He didn't look like a very nice sort, either." + +"He certainly has a fierce-looking mustache," was Andy's comment. "And +it's as red as his hair." + +"I tell you I can't do it, and that's all there is to it," the boys heard +Brassy exclaim, in reply to something the stranger had said. + +"And I say you've got to do it," returned the man, and his tone was +decidedly ugly. "You've got to do it--or otherwise you've got to take the +consequences." + +"You wouldn't be so mean, Haddon!" pleaded Brassy, and now the Rovers +could see that he was more or less scared. + +"Wouldn't I?" returned the strange man harshly. "You just try me and see! +The best thing you can do is to agree to what I said. If you don't, +well----" and here the tall man shrugged his shoulders--"you'll do as I +said before--or you'll take the consequences." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +SPOUTER'S SECRET + + +"Say, this is rather interesting," remarked Randy in a low tone to his +brother. + +"That fellow is certainly threatening Brassy," returned Andy. "I wonder +what it can be all about." + +"He wants Brassy to do something." + +The two Rovers kept on behind Bangs and the man called Haddon, and +presently saw them turn down a side street where was located a small +factory that had been in operation during the war but which was now +closed. Both disappeared into a shed attached to the factory. + +"Let's see if we can find out what it's all about," said Randy. + +"I'm willing," answered his twin. "Maybe that fellow will grow abusive +and hurt Brassy." + +"Well, a good licking wouldn't hurt him," answered his brother, with a +grin. + +"Oh, that's all right. But we don't want to see him half killed even if +we don't like him." + +"You trust Brassy to take care of himself," was the quick reply. + +The twins hurried to the shed and there found that the door had been left +open and that the man and their fellow-cadet had gone into another part +of the low building. + +"You know as well as I do that that barn and them hosses was worth at +least twelve thousand dollars," the man was saying to Brassy. "That was a +big loss for John Calder." + +"Please don't say another word about it!" pleaded Brassy. + +"I won't if you'll do as I told you to." + +"But I've let you have a hundred and ten dollars already! It's every cent +I can spare!" + +"Well, I've got to have more." + +"I'll bet you've been gambling it away, Haddon." + +"It's none of your business what Bud Haddon does with his money!" +exclaimed the stranger, with a toss of his head and blowing a ring of +tobacco smoke toward the ceiling of the shed. "If you don't want me to +start things you do as I told you to." + +"Do you know what I think!" exclaimed Brassy, after a pause. "I think +those tramp cowboys were guilty." + +"You can't put that off on no cowboys!" exclaimed Bud Haddon. "I know all +about it, and so do Jillson and Dusenbury." + +"They don't know anything--at least they don't know anything about me!" +cried Brassy. But it was plainly to be seen that he was exceedingly +nervous. "Somebody's been cooking up a story against me!" + +"Ain't nobody cookin' up nothin'," growled the man. "I know what I'm +talkin' about. You'd better get busy if you know when you're well off. If +you don't, and your uncle gets wind of this--well, good-night for you!" + +"Oh, don't say anything to my uncle! Please don't!" + +"Well, then you get busy. I've hung around here about as long as I intend +to. I'm goin' back to Chicago in a few days." + +At this juncture the Rovers heard a noise outside, and several boys +playing hide-and-seek appeared. Not wishing to be discovered by Brassy +and his companion, Andy and Randy hurried out into the street and up to +the corner. Here they waited for a while, and presently saw Brassy and +Bud Haddon come forth. The man sauntered away in the direction of the +town while Brassy sped off on the winding road leading to Colby Hall. + +"Now what do you make of this?" questioned Randy, as he and his brother +continued on their errand. + +"It looks rather suspicious to me," answered Andy. "It looks as if Brassy +had done something that wasn't right and this man was going to expose him +unless Brassy paid over some hush money." + +"Yes, and from what Brassy said, he evidently has already paid the man +one hundred and ten dollars." + +On the way back to Colby Hall after their errand was finished the twins +discussed the matter, but could arrive at no satisfactory conclusion. +That evening they told their cousins of what they had heard, and also +mentioned the matter to Gif and Spouter. + +"It looks to me as if that Bud Haddon had a hold on Brassy," remarked +Jack. "But whether Brassy is really guilty or not of some wrongdoing +remains to be found out." + +"I wouldn't put it past him to do something that wasn't right," came from +Fred. + +"That remains to be seen, Fred. Brassy might do some things that we +wouldn't do; but at the same time I doubt if he's so very bad at heart. +He's loud-mouthed and has a hasty temper, and he likes to show off, and +all that sort of thing, but that doesn't say he's a criminal." + +"That Bud Haddon looks like a bad one," announced Randy. "I wouldn't +trust him with a nickel." + +"It certainly is a mystery," came from Fred. "Just the same as it's a +mystery about Professor Duke." + +"Gosh, don't mention Duke!" broke out Gif. "I had all I could do to keep +from getting into a row with him this morning. He certainly is a tart one +at times." + +"But he looks troubled," answered Jack. "Ever since Colonel Colby spoke +about him I've been watching him carefully. And, believe me, that man has +something on his mind that's far from pleasant." + +"He certainly comes and goes a good deal," said Spouter. "He was away +several hours last night and the night before. And I understand he's +going away to-morrow afternoon again." + +"Colonel Colby must know it's all right. Otherwise he wouldn't let him go +away so much," declared Gif. + +On the following morning when the mail was distributed Spouter received a +letter from his father that interested him greatly. He read the +communication several times, and then, placing it in his pocket, ran off +to where he had left Gif. + +"Come on, Gif!" he cried gayly. "I've got great news! Come ahead and help +find the Rovers." + +"What's the news?" demanded the other, as they hurried on side by side. + +"Just wait and I'll tell you all about it--maybe." And then Spouter +stopped short, struck by a sudden idea. He thought for a few seconds and +then his face broke into a broad smile. + +The two boys found the Rovers up in Room 20, which the four cousins used +as a sitting room. All were busy studying and looked up in surprise as +Spouter dashed in with Gif at his heels. + +"Glorious news, boys! Glorious news!" sang out Spouter, as he beamed at +them. + +"What is it?" they demanded in chorus. + +"Glorious, I tell you, glorious!" Spouter waved his hands eloquently. +"Why remain cooped up here within the dingy walls of a school when the +mighty plains, the boundless forests, the leaping streams, and the azure +blue of the skies await you? Why snuff the tainted air of the musty +classroom when the free ozone of the hills and mountains beckons to you? +Why waste time over musty books when rifle and fishing rod can be had, +when one can fling himself in the saddle and go dashing madly across +the----" + +"Jumping crabs and hopping mud turtles!" exclaimed Andy. "Spouter has got +'em again!" + +"What is this, Spouter?" demanded Randy. "A moving picture, or just a +plain everyday nightmare?" + +"Ha, ha!" continued Spouter, prancing around. "Whoopee! Bang! Bang! Let +her go, boys! Lasso him quick before he gets away!" and the talkative +cadet made a movement as if throwing a lasso. + +"Say, Spouter, come down to earth, will you?" cried Jack, grabbing his +chum by the shoulder. "What's the matter with you?" + +"Maybe he swallowed a few yeast cakes by mistake," remarked Andy. + +"It's the best news ever, fellows!" went on Spouter. "I got it this +morning." + +"All right! Let's have it," came quickly from Fred. + +"I've been waiting for this news for several weeks." + +"News from where?" came from the others. + +"News from home." + +"From your dad?" questioned Randy. + +"Exactly." + +"What has he done now--bought you an automobile?" questioned Gif. + +"Better than that!" + +"For goodness' sake, spill out what you've got to say!" returned Fred, in +exasperation. + +"When we went to Cedar Lodge on our grand hunt we were Gif's guests," +resumed Spouter. "This summer the tables are to be turned, and all of you +are to be the guests of yours truly." + +"Gee, that sounds interesting, Spouter!" cried Randy. + +"Where do we go and when?" questioned his twin. + +"You're to go just as soon as school shuts down and you can get ready." + +"And where to?" questioned Jack curiously. + +"Ha! that's the deep, dark and delightful secret," returned Spouter. +"You're all to be my guests, and I'll promise you the time of your lives. +Oh, boys, but this is going to be something great!" And the cadet +playfully pounded one and another on the shoulder with his fist. + +"But how can we go if we don't know where we're going?" asked Fred. + +"You'll know, Fred, before you're on the way," was the mysterious answer. +"And, believe me, after you've found out you won't want to turn back." + +"What! do you mean you're not going to tell us where we're going?" +demanded Jack, in astonishment. + +"Exactly, Jack. That's going to be my little secret until this school +shuts up," and Spouter folded his arms calmly and grinned at all his +chums. + +They looked at him in blank amazement. This was a proceeding that had +never happened before. Suddenly Gif made a dash forward. + +"Let's pound it out of him!" + +"That's the talk! We'll make him tell!" + +"Pull him down and sit on him!" + +"Pull off his shoes and tickle his feet! He's got to tell!" + +"Poke him in the ribs!" + +"He got a letter this morning. I'll bet the news is in that!" shouted +Gif. "It's in his pocket now!" + +All attempted to pounce upon Spouter, but he was too quick for them, and, +dashing across the room, he shot into Fred's bedroom, banging the door +after him. Then, as the others followed, he ran out into the corridor and +then sped for his own room, where he locked the door behind him. Then he +hid the letter in a place where he was sure none of his chums would find +it. + +"Well, this takes the bakery!" announced Randy, after all of them had +pounded on Spouter's door in vain. "What do you suppose it means?" + +"It's simple enough," remarked Jack. "Spouter is going to invite us on +some sort of outing this summer, but he doesn't want to tell us yet what +sort it's to be." + +"He spoke about mountains and rivers and horseback riding," said Randy. +"That looks like some sort of outdoor affair," and his eyes glistened. + +"Come on out, Spouter, and let us love you a little," called Fred through +the keyhole. + +"You go on down and I'll meet you downstairs," was the reply. "And +remember, you're not to know another word about this until vacation +comes." + +"Going to take us away in a submarine, Spouter?" demanded Andy. + +"No, he's going to take us in an airship to the south pole," declared his +twin. + +"Never mind where I'm going to take you," answered Spouter. "You just +keep calm until vacation time comes, and then you'll learn fast enough in +what direction you're going to travel. And, believe me, we'll have some +outing, or else I'll miss my guess." + +And with this statement the Rover boys and Gif had to be content. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE ELECTION FOR OFFICERS + + +"Company attention! Shoulder arms! Forward march!" + +Boom! Boom! Boom, boom, boom! + +The drums rang out clearly on the morning air and the Colby Hall +battalion swung into line on a march that carried it around the school +buildings and then to the lake shore. Here Colonel Colby and Captain Dale +inspected the three companies. Then the retiring major, Ralph Mason, was +called on for a little speech which brought forth many cheers, and after +this the command was dismissed. + +It was the day for the election, and there was to be no school session +until the afternoon. + +At the last election there had been a total of 111 votes cast. But now +there were one hundred and twenty-five cadets at the institution. There +had been some talk of organizing a new command to be known as Company D, +but so far this had not materialized. + +As was the custom, the election was held in the main hall of the school +and was presided over by Captain Dale and Professor Brice. + +"I see they expect a hundred and twenty-five votes," remarked Randy. +"That means sixty-three will be necessary to a choice." + +"Well, I'm sure Jack will get at least forty on the first vote," returned +his brother. + +"I hope he gets the whole sixty-three," put in Dan Soppinger. Dan had +once run for a captaincy, but had dropped out and turned most of his +attention to athletics. + +As at other elections, it was decided by Colonel Colby that each officer +should be voted for separately. + +"We'll try for a new major first," announced the head of the Hall. + +The ballot box was placed on the table, and after a short intermission +during which there was some very active electioneering among the various +groups assembled, a bell rang and the cadets were formed in one long line +and told to march up and deposit their ballots in the box. + +It must be admitted that Jack was rather anxious, although he did his +best to conceal it. He smiled at Captain Glasby, who smiled back. Then he +smiled at Lieutenant Harkness, but that under-officer only favored him +with a scowl. + +"Harkness will never win anything with that look on his face," was Gif's +comment, as he noticed the scowl. "The fellows like an officer who can +take things pleasantly." + +It did not take the cadets long to vote, and as soon as all of the +ballots had been cast Captain Dale, assisted by Professor Brice, began to +tabulate the vote. In less than ten minutes they had finished. Then a +bell rang and Captain Dale came forward to read the result. + +"Total number of votes cast . . . . . . . 125 +Necessary to a choice . . . . . . . . . . 63 +Louis Glasby has . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 +Jack Rover has . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 +Darrell Harkness has . . . . . . . . . . . 24" + +"What do you know about that!" exclaimed Fred. "Jack and Glasby are +within one vote of each other!" + +"I'll say that's getting pretty close," answered Randy. + +"As no cadet has received the number of votes necessary to a choice, I +will give the school a recess for fifteen minutes. Then we will vote +again--for the same cadets or for new ones if you feel so inclined." + +After this brief announcement by Captain Dale came a hum of voices and +there was some strenuous electioneering in all parts of the hall and also +in the corridors and out on the campus. + +"Glasby is stronger than I thought he was," remarked Gif to Jack. "We'll +have to do some tall work to overcome his vote." + +"I think we can get some of the Harkness fellows to come over to us," put +in Spouter. "I don't believe he's as popular as he thinks." + +"Maybe we can get him to withdraw," suggested Andy, with a grin. + +"Withdraw, not!" broke out Fred. "He's not that sort." + +While the conversation was going on somebody touched Jack on the +shoulder, and turning he found himself confronted by Paul Halliday. + +"Say, see here, Rover! I'd like a word with you," whispered Halliday +somewhat excitedly. + +"All right, shoot!" answered the young captain. + +"This is a little private matter," went on Halliday. "You can bring your +cousins along if you want to," he added. + +Wondering what Halliday had in his mind, Jack, along with Fred and Andy +who happened to be close by, followed him to an out-of-the-way corner of +a corridor. + +"We want to know if you're willing to make a deal with us," said Halliday +in a low, nervous tone of voice. "You know Harkness got twenty-four +votes. Well, he's willing to throw those votes to you if you are willing +to back him for the new captain of Company C." + +"I can't do that," answered Jack quickly. "If I get to be major I'm going +to back Fred here for the captaincy." + +"Oh, but, Jack, I could drop out of that!" put in his cousin quickly. + +"Not much, Fred! I said I was going to do it, and I'm going to stick to +my word. Besides that, I might as well tell you, Halliday, that I don't +believe Harkness is the best fellow for the position." + +"Then you won't consider my offer?" demanded Halliday sourly. + +"Certainly not!" + +"I don't believe you can control the Harkness votes," put in Andy. "I +believe Jack will get a whole lot of them on the next ballot." + +"He won't get a one of them, and he'll lose some of his own!" answered +Paul Halliday. "You just wait and see!" And then he walked away. + +"Jack, that move might have given you the majorship," said Fred. + +"If I've got to get it that way, Fred, I don't want it," was the prompt +reply. "I wouldn't vote for Harkness under any circumstances. He's in +hand and glove with Brassy Bangs, Halliday, Sands, and that whole bunch; +and I don't believe he ought to be an officer." + +A few minutes later came a commotion near the main entrance of the Hall. +A cadet named Gibson who was doing some electioneering for Glasby had +knocked Paul Halliday down, and there was every prospect of a fight when +the two cadets were separated by a number of friends. + +"He offered to sell the Harkness vote if our crowd would vote later on +the way he wanted us to!" declared Gibson. "You would think he had half +the vote of the Hall in his pocket," and he glared at Halliday, who +thereupon lost no time in sneaking out of sight. + +The report that Halliday, Sands, and even Brassy Bangs were trying to +sell the Harkness vote in exchange for some votes for a captaincy soon +spread, and a number of the cadets who had voted for the lieutenant +became disgusted and promptly said they were going to change. A lively +discussion followed, in the midst of which the bell rang for the second +ballot. + +"Gee, Jack! if some of those fellows do change their votes I hope they +come to you," murmured Gif. + +"Well, I must confess I'm hoping that myself," answered the young +captain, with a smile. + +Once more the boys lined up and deposited their ballots. Then came some +anxious waiting, and finally Captain Dale announced the result: + +"Total number of votes cast.....125 Necessary to a choice............63 +Jack Rover has...................67 Louis Glasby has.................46 +Darrell Harkness has..............9 Peter Floyd has...................3" + +"Hurrah! Jack wins!" cried Fred enthusiastically, and was the first +person to grab his cousin by the hand and shake it warmly. + +"That's great, Jack!" exclaimed Gif, slapping him on the shoulder. "Let +me congratulate you!" + +"It's just the result I was looking for!" burst in Spouter, his face +wreathed in smiles. + +Of course, Louis Glasby was much disappointed, but he took his defeat in +good part and came up bravely to shake Jack by the hand. + +"It was a fair and square contest, Jack," he said. "And I congratulate +you." And then turning to the other cadets he called out: "Three cheers +for Major Rover!" They were given with a will; and then Colonel Colby, +Captain Dale, and many of the older persons came forward to congratulate +the newly-elected head of the school battalion. + +"Speech! Speech!" came the cry from the students. "A speech from the new +major!" and almost before he was aware of it Jack was escorted to the +platform. + +"I don't know what to say to you," he said, as he faced his +fellow-students. "I thank you very heartily for your support and I will +do my best to deserve it. I want to say that I am particularly pleased at +the nice manner in which Louis Glasby has taken his defeat. He's a fine +fellow and I hope I shall always have him for my friend." And following +these words there was more cheering. + +"Evidently the Harkness combination went to pieces," remarked Randy. "He +polled only nine votes." + +"And that was nine too many," murmured his brother. + +Following the election for major, Captain Dale announced that they would +next vote for a new captain for Company A. + +"I don't know what you fellows are going to do, but I know I'm going to +vote for Louis Glasby," announced Jack. + +"I think a whole lot of fellows will do that," answered Fred. "He'll +probably get every one of his original fifty-one votes." + +Again there was an intermission of a quarter of an hour, and then the +boys were lined up for the vote to fill the vacancy in Company A. On the +first ballot Glasby got 60 votes while Fred poled 18 votes, the rest +being scattering. Then on the second ballot Glasby was declared elected +with 69 votes in his favor. + +"Three cheers for Captain Glasby of Company A!" called out Jack quickly, +as he shook hands with his late rival, and the cheers were given with as +much of a will as they had been for the newly-elected major. + +"Well, I got thirty-two votes on that last ballot," announced Fred. "That +shows I've got some friends in this school. I don't want to be the +captain of Company A. I'd rather remain a lieutenant of Company C." + +"But we've got to have a new captain for Company C now that Jack has +stepped out," put in Phil Franklin. + +A quarter of an hour later the balloting began for a new captain for the +company Jack had commanded. Here developed a spirited rivalry, and it was +not until the fifth ballot that the final vote was taken. Then Fred won +by 64 votes with the other votes scattered among eight contestants. + +"Three cheers for Captain Fred Rover!" shouted Phil Franklin +enthusiastically, and threw his cap high in the air. He had electioneered +as hard as anybody for the youngest Rover. + +Then Fred was called on for a little speech, and after that there was +another election for lieutenants and a number of minor officers. + +"It certainly was our day, Fred," said Jack, as he and his cousin shook +hands. + +"Right you are, Major Rover," and Fred saluted in the most precise +military fashion. + +"Bonfires to-night, boys!" sang out Andy. "And we'll have some big +doings, believe me!" + +"Right you are!" declared his twin. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +BONFIRE NIGHT + + +It was the custom at Colby Hall for the officers of the battalion to take +dinner with Colonel Colby on the day of an election. This was quite a +formal affair and the cadets to participate made it a point to look their +best. + +"Say, Jack, you're going to make a stunning looking major," remarked +Fred, as he watched his cousin dressing. + +"How about yourself as captain?" was the reply. + +"Just wait till Ruth Stevenson sees Jack in his new uniform!" cried +Randy. + +"Say, Jack, why not have a life-sized photo taken and give it to her to +hang over her dressing table?" put in Andy, with a grin. + +"You beware, Andy," admonished his cousin, waving a finger severely at +him. "Remember, as the commandant of the battalion, I can throw you into +a dungeon cell if I feel so inclined," and Jack strutted around grandly +in the privacy of the Rovers' sitting room. + +"I'll be good, oh, Most Noble One," answered the fun-loving Rover, bowing +down until his head almost touched his feet. + +Jack and Fred had already sent word to Martha and Mary, and they, of +course, had told Ruth and the others. It is needless to say that the +Rover girls and their chums were almost as much pleased over the results +of the election as the boys had been. + +"I'm just dying to see them on parade with Jack at the head," confided +Martha to the others. + +"Yes, and Fred in command of Company C," added Mary. "Just to think of +it! And he so much younger than the others!" + +"I hope I'm on hand to see their first parade," said Ruth, her eyes +beaming with pleasure. + +"I thought you were going to write Jack a letter about that party," said +Martha in a low tone. + +"I am. To-night. And I'll let him know that I've wanted to do it ever +since the party was talked of," went on Ruth. + +The officers' dinner was a great success. Every one present made a little +speech and Colonel Colby and Captain Dale made addresses to which the +cadets listened with keen attention. + +"It is my desire to make this military academy one of the best in the +country," declared the colonel earnestly. "And I cannot do that without +the sincere cooperation of every cadet attending the institution. As many +of you know"--and here he glanced at Jack and Fred--"when I was about +your age I attended Putnam Hall Military Academy. I am sure the training +I received there did me much good, and I am also sure that I made many +friends who will stand by me as long as I live. + +"I want this institution to be one of good-fellowship all around, and I +am relying upon all of you to do your best. At Putnam Hall in many +respects we followed the honor system which I have put into operation +here. That honor system did not fail there, and I do not look for it to +fail here. I want you all to have a good time; but there is a limit, and +every one of you knows what that limit is just as well as I do. In the +late war the training which some of our soldiers had received at Putnam +Hall stood them in good stead. And I want the training received here to +be of equal benefit if any of my cadets should ever be called upon to +fight for our country." + +"Three cheers for Colonel Colby!" came from Jack a minute later, and the +boys assembled nearly split their throats trying to do justice to their +feelings. + +While this dinner was going on the other cadets had their repast in the +mess hall and then flew off in all directions to prepare for the real +festivities of the evening. They had gotten together several piles of +barrels and boxes, as well as brushwood from the forest behind the +school, and these were soon heaped up along the river bank into great +bonfires, the light of which could be seen a long distance. + +"It's going to be some night, believe me!" sang out Andy merrily. "We'll +tear the woodpile down, as the old saying is." + +"We want to be a little bit careful or else we'll have Snopper Duke or +some other professor calling us down." + +"Snopper Duke is going away. I heard him tell one of the other teachers +that he had had a sudden call to go somewhere out of town," answered +Randy. + +"Going away again, eh?" questioned Gif, in surprise. "He certainly is +getting to be a regular Man of Mystery." + +The greater part of the cadets were wildly excited over the prospects of +a good time that night. A few of them, however, including Lieutenant +Harkness, Paul Halliday, and Brassy Bangs, looked far from pleased. + +"They make me tired," was Brassy's comment. "You'd think that being major +of the school battalion was next to being president." + +"If I can't be anything better than a lieutenant I think I'll resign +altogether," returned Harkness. "I'd rather go in for athletics." + +"You'll have a pretty good chance if you do," announced Paul Halliday. "I +understand they're going to try to divorce the officers from +participating in baseball and football as much as possible. A fellow can +hold a commission and be on a team at the same time only when it seems +absolutely necessary." + +"Then Jack Rover and Fred Rover will have to give up playing baseball," +put in Brassy quickly. + +"More than likely. Although, of course, they'll hate to lose such good +players as they are," put in another cadet who was present. + +When the officers' dinner was at an end Jack and Fred lost no time in +hurrying to their rooms, where they donned their old uniforms. It was +what was termed a "holiday night" at the Hall, which meant that for the +time being the cadets were all on an even footing and must treat each +other as if such a thing as an officer was unknown. + +By the time Jack and Fred joined the crowd along the river bank the fun +was at its height. Many of the cadets were running around indulging in +all sorts of horseplay while others were dancing around the bonfires +singing the songs they had learned in the school and while at the +encampments. Several of the boys, including Andy, were in clowns' costume +with big slapsticks which they used vigorously on everybody who came +within their reach. + +"Hurrah, boys, let her flicker!" cried Fred, as he rushed forward. +"Everybody join in!" he added, and then boomed out with this well-known +Hall 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!" + +"That's the stuff!" cried Jack. "Let's have it again!" And then the +refrain boomed out louder than ever. + +"Come on! Let's march around the school," came from Gif, and he caught up +a firebrand as he spoke. + +A number of others were quick to follow his example, and in a minute more +a torchlight procession was in progress, winding along over the campus, +around the school, and through the edge of the woods beyond. Then the +boys came back by way of the barns and sheds in the rear. + +"Look out that you don't set something on fire," warned Jack. + +"Something is on fire already!" burst out Andy suddenly. + +"You don't say!" queried Spouter. + +"Where is the fire?" demanded half a dozen others, looking around +anxiously. + +"Right down there," declared the fun-loving Rover, and pointed to the +bonfires along the river. + +"Wow! Let's duck him for that!" cried Phil Franklin. + +He made a dive for Andy and so did several others, but the agile Rover +was too quick for them and danced out of their reach, having no desire to +take an involuntary bath in the river, which at that time of the year was +very cold. + +In the past the cadets had had considerable fun with Job Plunger, the +school janitor, who was quite deaf and who was often called Shout because +everybody had to shout at him to make him hear. But this time Plunger was +wise and kept out of sight, as did also Pud Hicks, his assistant, and Bob +Nixon, the chauffeur. The only person the boys could get hold of was Si +Crews, the gymnastic instructor. + +"Give us a song, won't you?" asked several of the boys at once, for Si +Crews was known to be quite a singer. + +"I will if Lowe will play the mandolin or the banjo," answered Crews. + +"That's the stuff, Ned!" called Fred. "Go on and get your mandolin." + +Ned Lowe, who was also a good singer, was willing, and at once ran off +into the school to get the musical instrument mentioned. When he came out +he tuned up hastily and then played while Si Crews sang one or two +old-time songs. Then Ned gave the crowd one or two funny songs and a +dozen or more of the cadets joined in the chorus. + +"Here's a chance to get square with Codfish!" cried Fred, as the sneak of +the school showed himself in the crowd. + +"Oh, we might as well let Codfish drop," answered Jack. + +But before this could be done Andy and Randy caught hold of Stowell and +pushed him forward through the circle of merry cadets around one of the +fires. + +"We're going to initiate you in the Ancient Order of Cornmeal," declared +Andy. + +"I don't want to be initiated," answered Codfish. "You let me alone!" + +[Illustration: THERE DESCENDED UPON CODFISH SEVERAL POUNDS OF +FINELY-GROUND CORNMEAL. +Rover Boys at Big Horn Ranch (Page 131)] + +"Oh, but this is a first-class Order, Codfish," returned Randy. "If your +reputation is bad it will render you almost spotless." + +"You let me go!" burst out Codfish in sudden fear, as Andy and Randy and +several others came close to him. "I don't want any horseplay to-night. +I'm tired out." + +"To be initiated in this Order you've got to lie down," continued Andy, +and, motioning to his brother and some of the others, they suddenly +caught poor Codfish and stretched him out on the grass in front of the +fire. + +"Are you ready to be initiated?" questioned Randy solemnly, as he stood +over Codfish with a small paper bag in one hand. + +"You let me----" began Codfish. + +"He says 'let me!'" burst out Randy quickly. "So go to it, Most Potent +Sower of the Ancient and Honorable Order of Cornmeal! Go to it, I say!" + +And thereupon without further ado Randy overturned the paper bag he held +in his hand and there descended upon Codfish several pounds of +finely-ground meal which the lads had purchased in town a day or two +before. + +"Hi! Hi! What's this? You let me go!" cried Codfish, and then began to +splutter as the dry cornmeal got into his mouth and nose. + +"My, Codfish, you'd make a regular muffin now," declared Andy, as the +whitened youth struggled to his feet. + +"Give us a song, Codfish." + +"Make it a regular corncake hoedown," put in Randy. + +"You let me go!" shrieked Codfish, and then in commingled rage and fear +he suddenly caught up a long firebrand from the bonfire and whirled it +around rapidly before him. + +"Get out of my way--all of you!" he screamed, and the next minute made a +movement as if to dash the firebrand directly into Randy's face. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A STARTLING DISCOVERY + + +"Drop that, Codfish!" exclaimed Randy, and backed away so suddenly that +he tripped over some brushwood and came down flat on his back. + +"I'm not going to be tormented any more," stormed Codfish, and swung the +firebrand around again, this time so the flames brushed Andy's shoulder +and also Fred's arm. + +"Drop that, you imp!" exclaimed Ned Lowe. "Do you want to put out +somebody's eyes?" + +"I don't care! You've got to let me alone!" screamed Codfish. + +"We won't let you alone until you learn how to behave yourself and act +like the other fellows do," answered Andy. "You're the worst sneak this +school ever had, and you know it!" + +"Yes, and see how you acted after all we did for you when we were at +Cedar Lodge," added Randy, who had scrambled to his feet. + +"I--I didn't mean to say anything about those snowballs," whined Stowell. +"They made me do it!" And thereupon, pitching the firebrand back on the +bonfire, he pushed his way through the crowd of cadets and disappeared in +the darkness in the direction of the school. + +"Gee, he certainly is a pill!" was Dan Soppinger's comment. "I think none +of us would weep if Codfish left the school for good. How about it?" + +"Never mind--don't let it spoil the festivities," cried Andy gayly. "Come +on! Everybody join in! A fine of one suspender button for the fellows who +don't sing!" And thereupon he began a ditty he had composed during the +war. + + "Johnny get your musket! + You must get your musket! + Johnny get your musket! + You must get it now!" + +And this ditty the lads sang over and over again as they leaped and swung +in a circle around the bonfires. + +But all gala occasions must come to an end, and by eleven o'clock the +bonfires were nothing but heaps of smouldering ashes, and then one by one +the cadets returned to the Hall and retired. + +"Well, Jack, it will seem kind of funny, won't it, to be at the head of +the school battalion to-morrow morning?" questioned Gif, as he and the +newly-elected major turned into the corridor leading to their rooms. + +"Yes, Gif. But it won't be so very strange either, because you know I had +to command the battalion two or three times when the other officers were +away." + +Their activities during the whole of the day had made the cadets sleepy, +and nearly all turned in without much ado. Here and there there was an +exception, and these included Fatty Hendry and Dan Soppinger. + +"I've got to get out some sort of a composition on City Improvements," +declared Fatty. "I don't know much about 'em, but if I don't get the +paper in by nine o'clock to-morrow morning there's going to be trouble." + +"And I still have some examples in algebra to work out," answered Dan. +"So I think I'll go at them before I retire." + +All of the Rovers slept soundly and did not awaken until they heard an +unexpected knock on their door some time before the rising bell. + +"Let me in," came in the voice of Dan Soppinger. "I've got news." + +Jack opened the door and Dan came in, followed by Fatty. + +"Say, what do you know about this!" exclaimed Dan. "Colby Hall has been +robbed!" + +"Robbed!" ejaculated Jack. "What do you mean? What did they take?" + +"What did they take!" burst out Fatty. "I guess they took about +everything they could get their hands on that was easy to carry off. I +lost my stickpin and my watch." + +"And I lost two old stickpins and two rings that I haven't been wearing," +put in Dan. + +"When did you find this out?" questioned the newly-elected major. + +"I made the discovery just when I was going to bed after doing some +examples in algebra," answered Dan. "It was about half-past twelve, so I +didn't want to wake anybody up--that is, none of the other fellows, +although I did call on Fatty because I knew he was writing a composition. +He looked around his room then and found he had been robbed, too. Then, +as Professor Duke was away, we called on Professor Watson. He made an +investigation and then said he would report to Colonel Colby the first +thing this morning." + +The talk in Jack's room had brought Fred to the scene, and a few minutes +later Randy and Andy came in, rubbing their eyes sleepily. + +"What was your stuff worth, Dan?" questioned Fred. + +"I think the rings were worth about fifteen dollars each, and the +stickpins almost as much." + +"My stickpin was worth thirty-five dollars," groaned Fatty. "And the +watch was a gold one given to me by my grandfather, and I wouldn't lose +that for a good deal." + +"Hark! What's that commotion?" put in Jack suddenly. + +There was a murmur of excited voices in the corridor, and, throwing open +the door, the Rovers and their friends came out to see what was up. + +"My room has been robbed!" + +"My watch is gone and a whole lot of other jewelry!" + +"I lost three dollars!" + +"Huh, that isn't anything! I lost fourteen dollars and a half!" + +So the talk ran on as an excited group of cadets, some fully attired and +some still wearing their pajamas, crowded forward. + +"Say, what do you know about this!" exclaimed Fred. + +"Is anything belonging to us gone?" questioned Jack suddenly. + +"I'm going back to find out," came from Randy. "I was so sleepy last +night that I just tumbled into bed and let it go at that." + +Without further ado the four Rovers ran back into the rooms they occupied +and began a search of their chiffoniers and the other places where they +kept their things of value. + +"My stickpin is gone and also one of my rings," groaned Randy. + +"I had a brand new five-dollar bill tucked away in one of my drawers," +said his brother. "I can't find it anywhere. And, yes, my wrist-watch is +missing!" + +"My watch and chain and stickpin are gone, and likewise all my badges!" +cried Fred. "Oh, this is the worst ever!" + +"Well, I'm out a ring and three stickpins," announced Jack, "including +that brand new pin I got last year." + +As quickly as possible the four Rovers dressed and then joined the other +cadets in the corridor. From all sides were heard excited exclamations as +one pupil after another came forward to announce that either his jewelry +or his money--and sometimes both--were gone. + +Colonel Colby and several of the professors had already been notified, +and they quickly appeared on the scene and tried to interview the cadets. +This, however, was a hard thing to undertake because nearly all the boys +wanted to talk at once. There was so much excitement that for the time +being the morning parade and breakfast were completely forgotten. + +"This is certainly a terrible state of affairs," remarked the colonel to +Captain Dale. "Have you any idea who can be guilty?" + +"No, Colonel. I have always thought that every one connected with this +school was honest." + +"It may be the work of some of the hired help," mused Colonel Colby. "But +I hate to think that. Every one who is here came highly recommended." + +"We might make inquiry and see if any strangers were in the school last +night during the celebration," suggested Captain Dale. "There was so much +excitement that some one might have slipped in and out without our +noticing." + +Finally Colonel Colby told all the cadets to go below for breakfast, +dispensing with the early morning drill. + +"As soon as you have finished eating I wish each cadet to make a thorough +search of his room and make out a written list of everything that is +missing and sign the paper. Take careful note of everything when you are +making your search, and if you find any clues to the perpetrator of this +outrageous affair, let me know. The lists can be left at the office as +soon as they are made out." And then, after a moment of thought, he +added: "There will be no session of the school this morning." + +"Shall we notify the Haven Point authorities?" questioned Professor +Brice. + +"Not at present. I wish to make my own investigation first," answered the +head of the school. + +It did not take Jack and his cousins long to swallow their breakfast, and +this finished, they hurried back to their rooms and began the search +Colonel Colby had advised. + +"Well, I'm shy that gold fountain pen Aunt Martha gave me," announced +Jack presently. "I'd forgotten about that because I didn't usually use +it. I use the one mother gave me." + +Outside of this the Rovers could find nothing more missing nor did they +locate anything in the way of a clue that might lead to the robber. They +sat down and made out their brief lists, signed them, and then walked +together down to the office. + +Here a crowd of cadets were coming and going. It was learned that +twenty-two cadets in all had suffered losses which ranged from +seventy-five cents to one hundred and twenty-five dollars. In all it was +figured that the loss would amount to at least twelve hundred dollars. + +"This is about the worst thing that ever struck Colby Hall," announced +Jack. + +"Who do you suppose did it?" questioned Randy. + +"Don't ask me, Randy. I'd hate to suspect any of the fellows." + +"Oh, I don't think any of the fellows did it!" burst out Fred. + +"Well, what about the hired help?" questioned Andy. + +"I don't know any of them that I'd suspect," said Jack promptly. "Every +one looks like a pretty good sort." + +Only two cadets came forward with objects that might possibly be a clue +to the robbery. One boy had picked up a handkerchief in his room that he +said did not belong to him, and another boy had found the marks of muddy +footprints over his window sill and on a fire-escape outside. + +"Say, that looks as if somebody had come up the fire-escape and got into +the rooms that way," said Jack, when he heard of this. + +"They say the handkerchief that was picked up is not marked in any way," +said Gif. + +"Well, every handkerchief used by the cadets is marked," returned +Spouter. "They've got to be that way or they'd get all mixed up in the +laundry." + +"How about the help?" + +"Their stuff is all marked, too. One of the teachers told me so," put in +Dan Soppinger. + +"Say, Ned! you came upstairs for your mandolin," cried Jack suddenly. +"Did you see anybody up here?" + +"I don't remember that I did," answered Ned Lowe. "I was in such a hurry +to get the instrument that I didn't pay much attention. And, besides +that, it seemed pretty dark in here after coming away from that big +bonfire." + +"A robber would be sure to keep out of Ned's sight," put in Fred. + +"I remember seeing some fellows in the lower hall--Major Mason, Bart +White, and one or two others. But I can't seem to remember seeing anybody +upstairs--and yet, somehow or other, it seems to me I did pass somebody +just before I ran into my room," and now Ned looked perplexed. + +"Can't you think who it was?" questioned Andy quickly. + +"No, I can't." + +"If it was a stranger you would have remembered, wouldn't you?" asked +Jack. + +"I think I would, Jack. I'd think right away what that person was doing +upstairs." Ned scratched his head. "No, if I did meet somebody, I'm sure +it must have been one of the cadets. But who it was, I can't think." + +A little later Colonel Colby continued his investigation by asking all +those who had been inside the building during the celebration to come +forward and tell anything they could that might be of advantage. It +developed that not only Ned but also Ralph Mason, Bart White and two of +the older cadets named Lawrence and Philips had been upstairs some time +between eight and eleven o'clock. The most of these cadets said they had +seen no one else upstairs in the building. But Bart White declared while +at one end of a long corridor he had seen some one slip around a corner +out of sight. He was not sure whether the person had been a cadet, one of +the hired help, or an outsider. + +"It was either a man or a big boy," said Bart. "But he moved so quickly +and it was so dark I didn't recognize him, even if I happened to know +him." + +"And what time was this?" questioned Colonel Colby. + +"Some time between half-past nine and ten o'clock." + +Bart was asked to show the colonel where the disappearance of the +stranger had taken place, and it was proved that this was at a point just +around a corner from the room where the footprints leading to the +fire-escape had been discovered. + +"Perhaps you saw the person just at the time he was making his escape," +was Colonel Colby's comment. "We will look for footprints below the +fire-escape." + +This was done, but the cadets the night before had tramped around the +school building so much that the footprints were hopelessly mixed. Then +the boys were questioned as to whether or not they had seen any one +dropping from the fire-escape to the ground, and all answered in the +negative. + +"We will question the hired help and see what they have to say," +announced the master of the school. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE PARADE + + +The inquiries made among the hired help of Colby Hall produced little +results. Some of the servants were rather scared and declared to Colonel +Colby that they were innocent of any wrong doing. + +"I am not accusing any one here," declared the master of the Hall. "I +only want to find out, if possible, who was guilty of this outrageous +proceeding." + +It was found that two men with wagon loads of supplies for the school had +visited the place during the evening, but neither of these men had gone +any further into the building than the storeroom, and both had departed +as soon as their errands were finished. Outside of that, so far as the +servants could remember, no outsiders had been on the premises. + +"And yet those footmarks on the window sill and the fire-escape look as +if it had been done by an outsider," said Captain Dale to the head of the +school. + +"It's just possible that it may have been an inside job and an outside +job combined," ventured Professor Grawson. + +"What do you mean by that?" + +"Somebody in the institution may be in collusion with some outsider--some +professional thief. The inside person may have given the outsider a tip +as to when the coast was clear and may even have stood on guard while the +rooms were being looted." + +"That is possible, Professor. But is there any one in the place that you +suspect?" + +At this Professor Grawson shook his head. + +"No, sir. So far as I can imagine they are all thoroughly honest." + +"We might institute a general search of all the buildings," announced +Captain Dale. "We can call all the cadets out on the campus and all the +hired help into the mess room and request them to remain while the search +is going on." + +"Some of the hired help may object to that," came from Professor Watson. + +"If they did it would throw suspicion on them," answered Colonel Colby +quickly. "I think the idea had better be carried out." + +All the persons in the school were assembled as mentioned, and then +Captain Dale explained to the cadets what had been proposed and Colonel +Colby did the same to the hired help. + +"They're certainly welcome to search our rooms," declared Major Jack +promptly. + +"And mine, too," added a score of others. + +"I'm sure I haven't anything to conceal," put in Lieutenant Harkness. + +"And I haven't anything to conceal either," came from Brassy Bangs. "They +can search my room all they please." He had announced the loss of a +stickpin and six dollars and a quarter in cash. + +Among the hired help there was more or less murmuring, one of the old +cooks, an Irish woman who had been in the place since it had been opened, +shaking her head dubiously. + +"Sure an' I didn't think yez would take me fer a thief, Colonel Colby," +said Bridget, gazing at the head of the school severely. + +"I'm not taking any one for a thief, Mrs. Mulligan," he answered. "But it +would not be fair to search any of the rooms without searching all of +them." + +"Sure an' that's true fer yez," announced the cook, nodding her head in +assent. "An' if that's the way ye're after lookin' at it, go ahead and +search me room all ye please. Only don't be disturbin' them trinkets I +have from me dead mother." + +The search was made without delay, all of the teachers and the cadets who +had lost their belongings taking part. It occupied the rest of the +morning. Every room was gone over carefully, and when anything in the way +of jewelry or other such articles as had been reported missing were +discovered all those who had suffered were asked to look on and see if +they could identify anything. + +"Gee! there's a fountain pen that belongs to me," cried one of the boys +presently. And then he added in a crestfallen manner: "It's all right. I +lent that to Bill Latimer a couple of weeks ago and forgot all about +it." + +Outside of this incident the search came to an end with nothing out of +the ordinary happening. Not an article that had been taken was discovered +in any of the rooms occupied by the cadets or the hired help. Nor was +anything discovered in any of the other rooms or closets of the +institution. + +"It certainly is puzzling," declared Colonel Colby, after the search had +been called off. "It looks to me as if a thief had gotten away with +everything he took." + +"Either that or he has some hiding place which we as yet haven't +unearthed," answered Captain Dale. + +After that the hired help were told they might go, and as soon as +possible dinner was served to the cadets and the teachers. Then, when the +pupils were told to go to their afternoon classes, Colonel Colby and +Captain Dale held a conference in the office and notified the local +police authorities. + +"I hate to do it," said Colonel Colby. "But there seems to be no help for +it. It will certainly give our institution a black eye." + +"But I do not see how anyone can hold you responsible for this affair," +returned Captain Dale. "We are as watchful at this institution as they +are anywhere." + +"Of course I shall not permit our cadets to lose anything by this," went +on the master of the school quickly. "I shall ask each of them to value +carefully what they have lost, and then, if the things are not recovered +before the end of the term, I will make the loss good." + +"That would be very nice on your part, Colonel Colby. And I think it +would be a good investment too," added Captain Dale. "It will prove to +the parents of the cadets that you consider yourself responsible while +they are under your care." + +When the local authorities came to the school they went over the ground +carefully with Colonel Colby and some of the others and asked innumerable +questions. + +"We have a number of strangers stopping in town, mostly traveling +salesmen," announced the chief of police. "I'll look 'em up, and also +look up any tramps or any other suspicious characters that may be hanging +around." And that for the time being was all he could say. Soon he and +his men departed. + +That evening Jack found a letter in his box which had been mailed early +that morning at Haven Point. It was from Ruth. There was also a brief +note to Fred which had been sent by May. + +In her communication to the newly-elected major Ruth congratulated him +heartily on his success and said she hoped soon to see him in a parade at +the head of the battalion. After that she wrote as follows about the +sleighing party that had been called off: + + "I received an invitation to that party from Lester Bangs and May + received an invitation from Paul Halliday. Jennie Mason, Ida + Brierley and several of the other girls had invitations and they + wanted us to go very much. But, of course, I did not want to go + with such a fellow as Bangs. Then he came to me and started a + report that all of you Rovers were going to another party with some + of the girls from the town, and that the party was to take place + the same night as our party. Of course, I did not want to say + anything about it, because I realized that you could do as you + pleased. But I told Bangs positively that I would not go with him + and May told the same thing to Halliday. Then both of them got + quite ugly and accused you and your cousin of trying to spoil his + outing. I told him you had had nothing to do with it, but he + declared that you had and that you had better look out or you would + get into hot water. So, Jack, please look out for him and tell Fred + to look out for Halliday and the others." + +There was more to the letter, and Jack read the communication with great +interest. He felt greatly relieved to think that Ruth had not intended to +accept Brassy's invitation, and later on he dropped her a note thanking +her for her kind congratulations and telling her that the report of +another party in which the Rovers and some girls from Haven Point were to +participate had been faked up. + +The note received by Fred was on lines similar to the communication sent +to Jack. He sent word to May clearing up the situation. + +"It was a mean thing for Bangs and Halliday to do," declared the +newly-elected captain of Company C. "We ought to pitch into them." + +"We can't afford to do it, Fred, now that I'm a major and you're a +captain," was Jack's reply. "Remember what Colonel Colby said: We must be +models for the other cadets." + +"Great Scott! does that mean we can't stick up for our rights?" demanded +the youngest Rover indignantly. + +"Not at all, Fred. If those fellows say anything, give it back to them. +And if they start to fight, defend yourself just as well as you are +able." + +As mentioned before, Snopper Duke had been absent from the Hall during +the election for officers and the celebration which had followed. When he +returned he looked much worried, and this worry was far from dispelled +when he visited his room. + +"Colonel Colby, I, too, have been robbed!" he exclaimed, as he came +rushing down to the office. "I've had a silver cardcase taken, and also a +gold watch which has been in our family for several generations, a watch +that belonged to my father and my grandfather." + +"It's too bad, Professor Duke," answered the master of the Hall +seriously. "May I ask what the articles were worth?" + +"I don't suppose the cardcase was worth more than a few dollars, but the +watch was of gold, and I presume it must have cost fifty or sixty +dollars. It was an heirloom and I treasured it highly." + +"I am doing my best to find out something about the robbery," said +Colonel Colby. "But so far all my efforts have been in vain. I intend, if +the articles are not recovered by the time the school session comes to an +end, to pay for everything that has been stolen." And that was all the +master of the Hall could say. + +It must be admitted that both Jack and Fred felt quite proud when the +first regular parade of the battalion took place that spring. The cousins +had, of course, sent home word of the election and had received +permission to purchase new uniforms. Both looked spick and span as they +marched out at the head of their respective commands. It was a clear, +warm day, and Colonel Colby announced that the cadets could parade +through Haven Point to Clearwater Hall and return if they so desired. + +"Hurrah! That's the stuff!" cried Fred. + +And so it was arranged, and one of the teachers telephoned over to the +girls' academy, to let those at that institution know what they might +expect. Then one of the cadets telephoned to Felix Falstein, the owner of +the Haven Point moving picture theater. + +"Falstein always hangs out his flags for us," said this cadet. "And he'll +do it this time, I'm sure." + +Colby Hall now boasted of a drum and fife corps of twelve pieces, and +they made merry music as the battalion marched away in the direction of +Haven Point. All but three or four of the cadets were in the best of +spirits. + +"I think marching over to Clearwater Hall is punk," declared Brassy +Bangs, with a snarl. "Why can't they march some place worth while or just +go around the town and let it go at that?" + +"I guess Jack Rover wants to show off before those girls," grumbled Paul +Halliday. + +"I wouldn't go if I could get out of it," growled Brassy. + +"Oh, don't squeal," returned his crony quickly. "If you do they'll only +laugh at us and make us go anyway." + +"Attention there, Bangs!" cried the captain of Company B, the command to +which Brassy belonged. "No talking in the ranks!" And thereupon the +cadets became silent. + +As had been anticipated, when the cadets reached Haven Point they found +that Felix Falstein had outdone himself in the way of decorations. Not +only were several flags displayed across the front of his theater, but he +had strung two big flags across the street, and between them placed a +banner which he had had painted some time before and which read: + + WELCOME TO + COLBY HALL + +"That's very nice of him," remarked Jack, who was marching at the head of +the procession with Captain Dale on horseback close beside him. + +"Very nice, indeed, Major Rover," answered the military man. + +"I wonder if we can't come to a halt here and go through the manual of +arms?" went on the newly-elected major. + +"Certainly, if you wish to do so." + +"Battalion halt!" called out Jack, turning around and the three companies +came to a stop. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +BASEBALL + + +Soon the three companies of the Colby Hall battalion were in a long line +in front of the moving picture theater. At once a crowd began to gather +until several hundred people were assembled. Then the cadets were put +through the manual of arms, after which followed some fancy evolutions in +the street in front of the show house. + +"Very good! Very good, indeed!" shouted Felix Falstein, who was present. + +His face was beaming and he clapped his hands loudly, and, taking this +hint, the crowd applauded with vigor. Then the march through Haven Point +was resumed and soon the cadets came in sight of Clearwater Hall. + +They had good reason to feel proud of what those at the girls' school had +done in their honor. The big flag was flying from the flagstaff on the +campus and other flags were displayed from the front of the building. In +addition to this the classes had been dismissed for the time being and +nearly all the girls were out at the front of the school, many carrying +small flags which they waved vigorously as the cadets approached. + +"Oh, don't they look grand!" cried Mary. + +"Superb!" added Martha ecstatically. + +"I do believe Jack has a brand new uniform," came from Ruth, and then she +began to cheer and all the girls joined in. + +The cadets had been cautioned to preserve true military discipline, and +they did their best not to smile and make eyes at their admirers. But it +was hard work, and many a face broke into a grin impossible to control. + +Opposite the school the command came to a halt, and then Miss Garwood and +a number of her teachers came forward to greet the cadets and those with +them and invite them to the campus. Here another drill was given, the +girls applauding louder than ever as each movement was executed with a +precision that would have done credit to the cadets at West Point. + +"I'm sure that's as good as our fathers did at Putnam Hall," declared +Mary to her cousin. + +Colonel Colby had come along with Captain Dale, and during the drilling +had been in earnest conversation with Miss Garwood. Then came a surprise +as the cadets were asked to march into the dining hall of the girls' +school. Here they found generous plates of cake and ice-cream, as well as +glasses of refreshing lemonade, awaiting them. + +"Gee, this is the best ever!" declared Andy, smacking his lips. + +"Yes. And what a surprise!" returned Randy. + +"Some day we'll have to return this compliment," came from Jack. "My, +wouldn't it be a lark to have the girls in our mess hall and treat +them?" + +"I suppose we'd have to give 'em regular soldiers fare," was Andy's dry +comment. "Salt pork and baked beans and things like that," and he +grinned. + +"Nothing doing!" declared Fred. "We'll feed 'em toasted marshmallows and +angel cake," and at this sally there was a laugh. + +Following the refreshments the cadets were allowed fifteen minutes in +which to walk around the school campus and mingle with the girl students. +Jack, of course, at once sought out Ruth to tell her personally how much +he appreciated the letter she had sent. + +"I hope, Jack, you haven't had any more trouble with Lester Bangs," the +girl said anxiously. + +"Oh, he's growling around a little, but that's all," answered the young +major. "I'm not paying any attention to him, Ruth. I'm mighty glad that +you didn't accept his invitation," and he gave her a warm glance. + +"It was awful for him to get up that report about another party," +answered the girl. "Of course I didn't think it was true--that is, not +what he said about you and your cousins." + +"Suppose we let the whole matter drop, Ruth, and forget Brassy Bangs and +his crowd." + +"I'm sure I'm willing to do that, Jack." And then the girl added quickly: +"You've had some terrible doings over at the Hall, so I have been told." + +"You mean the robbery, I suppose?" + +"Yes. Have they discovered anything?" + +"Not a thing. It certainly is a mystery." + +When the gathering of boys and girls broke up nearly every one was in the +best of humor, the only exceptions being Brassy Bangs and Paul Halliday. +These two unworthies had done their best to get on friendly terms with +some of the girls, but had been snubbed in such a manner that it made +them much crestfallen. + +"I'll be glad when we start back," grumbled Brassy to his crony. + +"Come on, let's take a walk outside," answered Halliday, and thereupon +the pair left the school grounds. + +"What about baseball this spring, Jack?" questioned his sister just +before the cadets were ready to start. + +"I'll be out of that this year. There is a new ruling that officers must +step aside and let the other cadets have a chance on the baseball nine +and the football eleven, as well as have a chance in the rowing and other +contests. Colonel Colby has an idea that not enough cadets have filled +these various places in the past. He wants to give every fellow a chance +if possible." + +"Well, you can't blame him for that." + +"Not at all, Martha. I'm quite content to step aside so far as baseball +is concerned, and so is Fred. We want to do our best as officers and also +do our best with our studies. You know the folks at home are expecting us +to make real records in the classrooms." + +"I know that only too well, Jack. Mary and I are working day and night on +our lessons here. We're going to do our best to come out either at the +head of our classes or very near to it." + +"How is Ruth making out?" + +"She's doing very well. Of course, she had a hard struggle to catch up on +account of the time lost because of her eyesight." + +Following the parade to Clearwater Hall the cadets settled down to the +usual routine of drills and studies. But soon there came a call for +aspirants to the baseball team, and then talk of the coming matches with +Columbus Academy, Hixley High, and Longley Academy filled the air. + +"Gee! it makes my hands tingle to think about baseball," sighed Fred, +when talking the matter over with Jack. + +"I feel the same way," answered the young major. "But remember, Fred, we +can't have everything in this world, and I'd rather be major of the +school battalion--at least, for one term." + +"Of course! And I'd rather be captain of Company C." + +"Gif tells me there are going to be a number of important changes on the +nine," went on Jack. "A lot of new fellows are clamoring to get on. +They're going to have their try-outs in a day or two." + +What Jack said was true, and the following Saturday afternoon a somewhat +patched-up first team played a scrub team. On the scrub, somewhat to the +Rovers' surprise, were Brassy Bangs and Paul Halliday. + +"They both claim to know a whole lot about the game," explained Gif. "So +I'm bound to give them a try-out." + +"Why, I thought Brassy Bangs came from a ranch in the West?" + +"So he does. But he told me they frequently played baseball on the ranch +and that some of the cowboys were really good players. He said one of the +fellows had once played on one of the Midwest Leagues." + +"Gee! there's no telling what an up-to-date cowboy will do these days," +remarked Andy. "Playing baseball, going into the movies and into +vaudeville, and I don't know what else!" + +"I guess he finds more money in the doing of those things than he does in +the herding of cows," answered his twin. + +The game between the patched-up first nine and the scrub nine resulted in +a tie, 7 to 7. Jack and his cousins watched the game and had to admit +that Brassy Bangs and Paul Halliday did quite well--in fact, much better +than had been expected. + +After that the practice was continued, Gif, as head of the athletic +association, trying out one player after another. Then came the final +selection of the regular club to represent Colby Hall, and Brassy Bangs +was given the position of third baseman while Paul Halliday went to +center field. + +"I think I ought to be allowed to pitch," grumbled Brassy. "I'm sure I +can send 'em in just as good as any of those other fellows." + +"You pitch a pretty swift ball, I admit," returned Gif. "But your +delivery is rather erratic. You put them over the catcher's head several +times. If you did that when the bases were full, it would mean just so +many runs coming in." And after that Brassy said no more about pitching. + +The first game to be played was on the grounds of Longley Academy. The +cadets journeyed to the place in carriages and automobiles and on +bicycles, and were joined by quite a number of the girls from Clearwater +Hall. + +"Do you suppose Tommy Flanders will pitch?" questioned Randy. + +"No. They tell me that last game we had over here was too much for +Flanders and he has given up the nine entirely. I think they'll put in +that new left-hander that they tried at the end of that game," answered +Jack. And in this surmise he was correct. + +When the first man came to the bat it was easy to be seen that both nines +were on their mettle. It was a Colby Hall player who had the stick, and +the left-handed twirler for Longley Academy struck him out in +one-two-three order. + +"Hurrah! That's the way to do it!" yelled one of the Longley students. +"Now make it three straight!" + +"Gee! that was Nevins, one of our best batters," whispered Randy to his +cousin Mary. + +"Never mind that, Colby Hall!" shouted Jack. "You've got to encourage 'em +a little bit!" and at this there was a smile. + +The next man to the bat got a hit and on a wild pitch managed to reach +third. But that was all that could be done, and Colby Hall retired +without scoring. + +During their half of the inning Longley Academy managed to make two runs, +and this was increased by two more at the end of the fourth inning. In +the meantime the best Colby Hall could do was to get two hits and bring +in one run. + +"Hurrah! Four to one in favor of Longley!" shouted one of the students +from that academy. + +"You've got to tighten up, boys!" called out Fred to the members of his +school team. "Tighten up and show 'em what you can do!" + +The fifth inning passed without a run, and so did the sixth. Then in the +seventh Colby Hall managed to pass the home plate twice while Longley +Academy scored once. This made the score, Longley Academy 5, Colby Hall +3. + +"Oh, Jack, it looks as if Colby Hall might be beaten!" said Ruth +anxiously. + +"I think they might have a better fellow than Brassy Bangs on third," put +in Fred. "He could have put out that last runner with ease. That run +wasn't deserved at all." And a number of others who heard this remark +agreed with the young captain of Company C. + +In the eighth inning Colby Hall made one more run. Then Longley Academy +came once more to the bat, and with two men on first and second and two +out, the batsman knocked a high fly to center field. + +"Scoop it in, Halliday!" + +"It's a dead easy fly!" + +"They won't get any runs this inning!" + +So the shouts from the Colby Hall boys went on. + +In the meanwhile Paul Halliday stepped back a few paces and got directly +under the descending sphere. Down it came, striking his finger tips and +bouncing over his head. + +"He's muffed it! He's muffed it!" yelled several of the Longley Academy +contingent gleefully. "Run, boys, run!" + +And how the runners did streak from base to base! And before the ball +could be recovered by the bewildered Halliday the three runs had been +scored. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +SPOUTER IS CORNERED + + +"Hurrah for Longley!" + +"That's the way to do it! That makes the score eight to four!" + +"My, what a muff that was! That center fielder is a regular +butter-fingers!" + +"Soak it to 'em good and plenty, Longley! Only two men out!" + +Thus the hubbub on the part of the students of Longley Academy continued +while the cadets of Colby Hall had little to say. There were one or two +cries to take Halliday out of the field, but these were quickly hushed. + +"Anybody might muff a ball," declared Jack. "It's too bad, but probably +it couldn't be helped." + +The very next player to the bat knocked a liner between first and second +and got to second on a fumble by the first baseman. Then the next player, +after having two strikes called on him, sent a low one down to center +field. + +"Go for it, Halliday! Get it!" yelled the cadets eagerly. + +Halliday ran for the ball, but was only able to get it on the first +bounce. Then, as he saw the batsman rounding first for second, he threw +the ball wildly. + +"Run, Newcomb, run!" + +"There goes the ball for the grandstand! Hurry up, Markle, and make it a +homer!" + +The ball had sailed over the head of the runner and landed at least ten +feet away from the home plate. The catcher made a dive for it while the +pitcher came to the plate to stop the runners. But it was too late, and +before the sphere could be sent in both runs had been scored. + +"Zip! Boom! Two more runs for Longley!" + +"That's the way to do it, boys! Let's snow 'em under!" + +"Take Halliday out!" was the angry cry of fully a dozen cadets. "Take him +out! He has no business on the team!" + +And thereupon amid shouts of derision Paul Halliday was compelled to quit +the field and one of the substitutes went to take his place. + +"It wasn't my fault! I stepped in a hole," growled Halliday when he came +to the bench. He made a show of limping badly. "I almost sprained my +ankle." + +"Well, your two errors have been very costly," answered Gif coldly. + +After that the pitcher for Colby Hall tightened up, and the next man up +was put out on strikes and the side retired. + +With the score 10 to 4 against them, Colby Hall did what it could to +redeem itself during the last inning. They made one run, followed by two +outs and two hits which brought a man on first and another on third. Then +Brassy Bangs came to the bat. + +"Now, Brassy, here's your chance!" + +"Knock it over the back lots!" + +Brassy set his teeth and swung the bat with a do-or-dare expression. Then +the first ball pitched came in an outcurve which he swung at in vain. + +"Take your time!" called out Gif. + +The next was an incurve, but Brassy swung at it and missed again. + +"Strike two!" + +"Hit it, Brassy! Hit it!" + +"Knock the cover off!" + +"Take your time! Wait until you get just what you want!" + +And thereupon Brassy Bangs did wait--until he had three strikes called +upon him and was declared out. + +"That ends the game!" + +"And the score is ten to five in favor of Longley Academy!" + +"Hurrah! That's the time we showed Colby Hall what we can do!" + +The Longley Academy boys went wild in their enthusiasm and danced around +the field like so many Indians. And they had good cause to be elated, for +they remembered only too well the drubbing they had gotten at the hands +of Colby Hall the season before when Jack and Fred had made such records +for themselves. + +The Colby Hall cadets could say nothing against the record made by the +Longley nine. They had put up a stiff fight from the start and deserved +their laurels. + +"Our defeat was largely due to Halliday and Bangs," declared Spouter. +"Between them they let in at least five runs." + +"That's exactly the truth," answered Dan Soppinger. "If I were Gif I'd +read the riot act to those two players." + +"Oh, I don't think I'd be too hard on them," came from Jack. "Anybody +might have muffed that ball down in center field, and any of us might +have struck out as Brassy did." + +"But both of them made several other errors," put in Walt Baxter. + +On the way back to Colby Hall the students were free in their comments on +the game, and there were many uncomplimentary things said about Brassy +and Halliday. Those two players tried to excuse themselves as best they +could; but a baseball player who has not made good seldom gets any +sympathy. + +"I'll give you both another chance in the game with Hixley High," said +Gif at last, in talking the matter over with the two players. "But if you +make a single error it will cost you your positions." + +The game with Hixley High came off on the following Saturday and was won +by the narrow score of 7 to 6. In the second inning Halliday made another +wild throw from center to second, and Brassy Bangs made a bad fumble in +the fourth inning, and as a consequence both were retired and substitutes +put in their places. + +"It was certainly a narrow squeak," declared Fred, when the game was over +and the boys were preparing to celebrate that evening. "I believe if Gif +had kept Brassy and Halliday on the team we would have lost." + +"Well, we may lose some other games even so," said Jack. And he was +right. Out of a total of seven games played with the other schools of +that vicinity that season Colby Hall won but four. + +"Well, we can't win every year," declared Randy. "And we're half a game +to the good anyway, and that's something." + +"It's certainly better than being half a game behind," answered his +twin. + +While these matters were going on Colonel Colby and Captain Dale had been +doing everything possible with the aid of the local police, and also a +private detective who had been called in, to solve the mystery concerning +the robbery at the school. But all efforts seemed to be in vain. Not a +trace of the person or persons who had committed the crime could be +found. It was a great mystery. + +"I think I'll have to settle with all of the boys and with Professor +Duke," said Colonel Colby to his head assistant. "And there I suppose the +matter will have to be dropped." + +Later on he took up the various claims and paid each one of them in +cash. + +"I am very thankful to you for this, Colonel Colby," declared Snopper +Duke, when he received his money. "It will come in quite handy, I assure +you. And yet I am much distressed over that watch which once belonged to +my grandfather." + +"Well, I hope it is brought to light some day, Professor," answered the +master of the Hall. "And if it is then you can pay me back for it," and +he smiled faintly. + +In those days a number of the cadets noticed that Snopper Duke seemed to +be much preoccupied. He paid hardly any attention to what his pupils were +doing and was so absent-minded that often he answered the simplest +questions in the most ridiculous manner. + +"He's certainly got something on his mind," was Fred's comment. "I must +say I'd like to know what it can be." + +"Maybe we'll never know," answered Jack. "But because of what Colonel +Colby said I'm certainly going to be careful how I treat him. He may have +more of a load on his mind and heart than any of us imagine." + +It now lacked but ten days to the end of the term, and the boys were busy +finishing up with the examinations in the various classes and also in +writing the final essays to be handed in. All had worked hard to make a +showing. + +"Just think! Only ten days more!" exclaimed Andy, throwing a grammar +across his room at Randy. "Doesn't it make you feel fine?" + +"It sure does!" answered his twin, catching the book and sending it back +so quickly that his brother was hit in the stomach. "And that puts me in +mind, Andy. Why not get at Spouter and make him tell us what he's got in +mind about our vacation this summer?" + +"Let's do it! Come on! We'll get Fred and Jack and Gif and go and pound +it out of him." + +All alive with their scheme, the twins burst in upon the other Rovers +while they were busy writing their essays and broached the subject. The +others agreed, and Fred ran off to get Gif. Then the whole crowd rounded +up Spouter, and grabbing him by the arms fairly forced him along the +corridor and into the Rover boys' sitting room. + +"Now, Spouter, you've got to tell us!" declared Randy. "No more +secrets!" + +"Oh, gee! Is that it?" was Spouter's reply. "I thought you wanted to +borrow a nickel from me, or something like that," and he smiled feebly. + +"Come on now, Spouter! Give it to us straight," demanded Fred. + +"No more sawing and fiddling," put in Andy. "We want straight goods. +Where are we going this summer?" + +"You're going with me," answered Spouter, with a grin. + +"So you've told us about three thousand times. But where are we going?" + +"You're going home first." + +"Pound him, fellows, pound him! Throw him down and pound him good!" and +thereupon the whole crowd pounced upon the luckless schemer. + +"Hold on! Hold on! Let me up!" spluttered Spouter. "Let me up, and I'll +tell you everything!" + +"Honest?" demanded Andy. "If you fool us this time we'll drag you to the +bathroom and duck you." + +"Cross my heart!" panted Spouter. "Now let me up!" + +The others allowed him to arise and then forced him into an easy chair in +the corner and all stood over him menacingly. + +"You are going to spend your vacation at a new place which was purchased +by my dad only a few months ago," answered Spouter. + +"And what place is that?" came in a chorus from his chums. + +"Big Horn Ranch." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +GOOD-BYE TO SCHOOL + + +"What do you know about that!" + +"Big Horn Ranch! That sounds interesting!" + +"What sort of a place is it, Spouter?" + +"I suppose you must have thousands of heads of cattle?" + +"How about horses, Spouter? We'll have enough mounts, sha'n't we?" + +"Any good hunting or fishing?" + +"Stop! Stop! What are you trying to do?" spluttered Spouter. "Trying to +drown me in a flood of questions? Why don't you ask one thing at a +time?" + +"Well, where is the ranch and how are we going to get to it?" questioned +Jack. + +"And how big is it?" put in Fred. + +And then came another flood of questions until poor Spouter placed his +hands to his ears in dismay. + +"I can't answer everything at once," he said finally. "So you'd better +let me tell what I know in my own way. Big Horn Ranch is located out in +Montana, and it comprises a thousand acres or more--how large I don't +exactly know. To get there you journey by rail to a little jumping-off +place called Four Rocks, and then you have to ride or drive to the ranch, +which is four or five miles away. The nearest town of any size is Arrow +Junction, which is quite a distance off." + +"How is it your dad bought a place like that?" broke in Gif. "I didn't +know he was interested in ranches." + +"Oh, he has always liked outdoor life--you all know that. And this ranch +came to him in rather an unexpected way. There were two brothers who were +interested in a speculation in which my dad was interested, too. My dad +advanced a lot of money to these brothers, and as they couldn't pay up in +cash they asked him if he wouldn't take the ranch off their hands by +allowing them an additional thirty thousand dollars. So he made a trip +out there in company with another man who knew all about ranches and then +he concluded to buy, and did so. So now we own Big Horn Ranch, and the +family expects to spend a large part of each summer there." + +"And your father said we could all go out there with you?" questioned +Randy. + +"Yes. He told me to invite you four Rovers and also Gif. And that isn't +all," went on Spouter. "He's invited all your folks out there, too. He's +going to make a great big house-party of it!" + +"Our folks!" exclaimed Fred. "What do you mean? They can't all go. Uncle +Dick is just back from Texas, and somebody has got to look after the +offices in New York." + +"It has been arranged that your father and mother are to go along first, +Fred, and later on Randy and Andy's father and mother are to come out. +Then, when they go back to New York, it's possible that Jack's folks will +come West before the season is over. Gif's folks have not decided on what +they can do, but will let us know in a week or two." + +"And what about the girls?" questioned Fred quickly. + +"Of course, they are to go along, too. Martha will go with Mary and her +folks, and May will, of course, be with my mother, and she is going to +try to get Ruth to go with her." + +"But Ruth said she was going somewhere else," remarked Jack, and his face +showed disappointment. + +"I know that, Jack. But I think May can get the Stevensons to allow her +to go. Anyway, all the girls are going to try." + +After that the Rovers and Gif asked many other questions concerning Big +Horn Ranch and Spouter told them all he could. + +"Of course, I know only what dad has written and what was said about the +ranch before we purchased it. I suppose I'll learn a lot more as soon as +I go home, and then I'll let you know about it." + +"Gee! we ought to have the best time ever," exclaimed Andy gleefully, as +he caught Spouter by the shoulders and commenced to dance him around the +room. + +"It was certainly well worth waiting for, Spouter," came from Jack. + +"I don't see how you managed to keep it a secret," put in Randy. "I'd +have been bustin' to tell it every minute." + +"Well, I had a job of it, believe me, with you fellows dinging at me all +the time," was Spouter's answer. + +"When do you suppose we can start?" questioned Fred. + +"That, of course, will depend a good deal on you and your folks," +answered Spouter. "My folks are already out there, getting the ranch in +readiness for visitors. I suppose you'll want to go home over the Fourth +of July, but maybe you'll be able to start West right after that." + +"I don't know what could hold us back." + +"Is the ranch house big enough to accommodate such a large crowd?" +questioned Jack. "There are a lot of us, remember." + +"I think so. You see the ranch is really a combination of two ranches, +the buildings of one ranch were located near the eastern boundary while +the buildings of the other ranch were set equally close to the western +boundary, and as a result the two sets of buildings are not very far +apart. Father and mother didn't know exactly what they were going to do. +They said they would either divide the party between the two ranch houses +or otherwise send all the hired help to one of the houses and keep our +whole party at the other." + +"It would be nice if we could stick together," said Randy. + +"Oh, it won't make much difference, because, as I understand it, it's +only a short walk from one set of buildings to the other." + +After this revelation from Spouter it was difficult for the Rover boys +and Gif to settle down once more to their essay writing and their +examinations. However, all did their best, and when the school term came +to an end each had made a creditable showing. + +"I'll be proud to take this card home and show it," said Fred, as he +examined the pasteboard which had been handed to him. + +Out of a possible 100 per cent. he had received 94 per cent. Jack had +passed with 92 per cent., Randy with 89 per cent., and Andy with 88 per +cent. This last figure was the one also reached by Gif. Spouter, who was +naturally a very studious person, had passed with the highest mark of the +class--96 per cent. + +"Well, eighty-eight per cent. isn't as good as it might be, but it's a +good deal better than lots of the fellows made," remarked Andy. "And it's +a long way from the failure mark--below seventy." + +Of course the boys had already talked over the telephone to the girls, +and then it leaked out that all of those at Clearwater Hall knew about +Big Horn Ranch and that Ruth was almost certain that she could go with +the Rover girls and May. + +"If we all go together we had better charter a private car," remarked +Jack. + +"Say, that would be something worth while!" put in Fred, with +satisfaction. "Let's put it up to our folks!" + +Two days before the boys were to leave for home, Randy saw a messenger +boy deliver a telegram to Snopper Duke. The professor read the brief +communication and then Randy saw him stagger up against a chair in the +hallway as if about to fall. He rushed forward and caught the professor +by the arm. + +"What is the trouble, Professor?" he questioned kindly, for he could see +that Snopper Duke was in deep distress. + +"I--I---- Don't mind me, Rover," stammered the teacher. "It's a little +bad news, that's all. And coming on top of some other bad news I've +received lately I can hardly stand it," and with these words Snopper Duke +turned and went slowly upstairs to his room. Half an hour later he was +closeted with Colonel Colby and then drove away from the Hall; and that +was the last the Colby Hall cadets saw of the strange teacher during that +term. + +"He's certainly got something on his mind," said Randy, in telling the +others of the incident. "And I must confess I'm growing really sorry for +him." + +On the next day came another surprise for the Rovers. All of them were +out on the campus when they saw Brassy Bangs leap a side hedge and start +toward the school. At the same time they saw a tall man wearing a slouch +hat hurrying off in the opposite direction. + +"Hello! there is that fellow Brassy had trouble with in town," exclaimed +Randy. + +"Just look at Brassy!" whispered Fred, after the youth had passed them +and gone into the Hall. "Why, he's as pale as a ghost!" + +"It certainly is a mystery about Brassy and that strange man," was Jack's +comment. "Just as much of a mystery as about Professor Duke's doings." + +Soon the boys were busy packing up, getting ready to leave. Then came the +usual jolly times just previous to saying good-bye to their fellow-cadets +and the teachers. The students were to scatter in all directions and the +majority of them expected to have a glorious time during the summer +vacation. Phil Franklin was to go back to the oil fields, to visit his +father. + +At the railroad station the Rovers met Mary and Martha and also some of +the other girls, and here many good-byes were said. + +"I hope you get a chance to get out to Big Horn Ranch," said Jack to +Ruth. + +"So do I, Jack. But I haven't received permission to go yet. If I don't +get there you must write to me." + +"I certainly will, Ruth. And you must write also. But come out if you +possibly can." + +The home-coming of the Rovers was, as usual, made a gala event. The three +mothers had come down to meet their children and there was a happy +reunion at the Grand Central Terminal, and then the three families drove +off in their automobiles to their homes on Riverside Drive. A little +later the fathers of the young folks came in from downtown, and that +night there was a grand dinner spread for all in Tom Rover's house. + +"Gosh, it's good to be home once more, Mother!" cried Andy, and hugged +his parent from one side while his twin hugged her from the other. + +"And it's mighty good to think that we can all be together," came from +Jack. "It's so different from what it was when the war was going on." + +"Oh, please don't speak of the war! I never want to hear of it again!" +put in Martha. + +"And to think we're all going out to Big Horn Ranch!" burst out Fred. +"Isn't that just the grandest ever?" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +ON THE WAY WEST + + +"Well, we're off for Big Horn Ranch at last!" + +"It certainly is a grand prospect, eh, Jack? We ought to have barrels of +fun on the ranch." + +"Yes, Randy, it certainly ought to make a dandy vacation." + +"I'm fairly itching to get on horseback," put in Andy. "What dandy rides +we shall have!" + +"Maybe we'll get a chance to break in a broncho," put in Fred, with a +grin. + +"Don't you dare do such a thing, Fred Rover!" burst out his sister Mary. +"Most likely the bronco would break your neck." + +"Well, we won't bust any broncos until we get to the ranch," came with a +smile from Fred's father, who had followed the young people into the +sleeping car at the Grand Central Terminal. + +It was the day of their departure for the West, and the young folks were +quivering with suppressed excitement. Sam Rover and his wife headed the +party, which consisted of the four boys and the two girls. + +Fourth of July had been spent rather quietly at home preparing for the +trip. Of course, Andy and Randy had had some fun, especially with +fireworks in the evening, but otherwise the young folks had been too +preoccupied with their arrangements for getting away to pay special +attention to the national holiday. + +It had been arranged that only the Rovers mentioned above should at first +make the trip to the ranch, and Gif and Spouter were to meet them in +Chicago, where they would change cars for Montana. Tom Rover and his wife +were to come to the ranch two weeks later and bring with them May Powell +and Ruth Stevenson. Later still it was barely possible that Dick Rover +and his wife would come West. + +Jack's idea of chartering a private car had fallen through because not +all of the party to meet at Big Horn Ranch were to go at the same time. +But those now gathered had seats at one end of the sleeper along with a +private compartment for Mrs. Rover and the two girls, so they were all +comfortable. + +The boys were in the best of spirits; and for a while Sam Rover had his +hands full making Andy and Randy behave. + +"I hope we strike a lot of lively cowboys, Uncle Sam," broke out Andy. + +"Perhaps you'll find some of the cowboys too lively," was the answer. + +Jack and Fred, as well as their sisters, were disappointed that May and +Ruth had not been able to accompany them, but they were glad to know that +the others would follow later to the ranch. + +Soon New York was left behind and the train was speeding along the Hudson +River on its way to Albany. + +"Just think! By this time to-morrow we'll be in Chicago," remarked +Martha. "Isn't it wonderful how you can cover such a distance?" + +"Do you know, I almost wish we were going out there in an auto," returned +Fred. "That would be a trip worth taking." + +"Especially if you had to put on all the extra tires along the way, +Fred," added Andy, with a grin. + +"Oh, well, I guess I could do that, too, if I had to," answered the +youngest Rover boy quickly. "But the roads from here to Chicago are +pretty good, they tell me, so I don't think we'd have many punctures or +blow-outs." + +"Such a trip would be dandy, only it might take more time than we'd care +to spend on the way right now," remarked Jack. "Personally I want to get +out to Big Horn Ranch as soon as possible." + +"Exactly my sentiments," came from Randy. "Me for the mountains and +plains and a life in the open air!" + + "Oh, for a life in the open air, + Under the skies so blue and fair!" + +sang out Andy gayly. + +"Gee, Andy is bursting into poetry!" cried Fred. "What's going to happen +next?" + +"Maybe he ate something that didn't agree with him," giggled Mary. + +"You'd better bottle up that poetry stuff, Andy," remarked Jack. +"Remember we're going out to a ranch owned by Songbird Powell, and he was +nicknamed Songbird while at Putnam Hall because he was always bursting +out into home-made poetry. Maybe we'll get a surplus of it when we get +out to the ranch." + +Lunch was had in the dining car, and almost before the young folks +realized it the train was rolling into Albany. Here an extra car was +attached, and then they were off on the long journey through the Mohawk +Valley to Buffalo, Cleveland, and the great city by the Lakes. + +After the train had passed Utica Andy and Randy, who found it hard to sit +still, took a walk through the cars from end to end, thinking they might +meet somebody they knew. They were gone so long that Sam Rover became a +little worried over them. + +"I think I'll hunt them up," he said to his wife. "For all we know they +may have gotten into some mischief." + +"More than likely they're into something," answered Mrs. Grace Rover. +"They're exactly like their father Tom when it comes to stirring things +up." + +Sam Rover was just leaving his seat when Andy and Randy came back to the +car. Their faces showed their excitement. + +"What do you think!" exclaimed Randy, as he dropped into a seat. "We met +that same fellow who was threatening Brassy Bangs at Haven Point." + +"Was Brassy with him?" questioned Jack quickly. + +"No. But two other men were with him, and it's a tough crowd, believe +me." + +"Where are they?" questioned Fred. + +"Two cars behind. And from the way the three talked they must have gotten +on at Albany. The fellow Brassy had something to do with is tough enough, +but the other two men seem to be much worse. By their talk, they are +cattle men, and I shouldn't be surprised if they have been cowboys." + +"And that isn't all!" added Andy. "They spoke about going to Arrow +Junction!" + +"Arrow Junction!" repeated Fred. "Why, that's the town that Spouter said +was nearest to Big Horn Ranch!" + +"What were they going to do at Arrow Junction?" questioned Jack. + +"They've got some sort of a deal on for handling horses and cattle. We +couldn't make out exactly what it was," answered Randy. "But they +certainly are a tough bunch. It looks to me as if they might have been +drinking." + +"Did you hear them mention Brassy?" asked Fred. + +"No. But that fellow who met Brassy at Haven Point, the chap called Bud +Haddon, told the others he had struck a real snap in the East. And one of +the others answered that he had noticed that Bud was rather flush." + +"It's certainly a mystery what that fellow had to do with Brassy," +remarked Jack. And then of a sudden his face became a study. + +A sudden thought had occurred to him, and it was such a horrible one that +he was inclined to force it from his mind. And yet it came bobbing up +time and again until Fred, who was sitting beside his cousin, noticed +that something was on his mind. + +"What are you thinking of, Jack? Ruth?" + +"No, Fred. I was thinking of that fellow who met Brassy Bangs in Haven +Point." + +"You're wondering, I suppose, why Brassy let him have some money." + +"Partly that and partly something else, Fred. But it's so horrible I hate +to think of it." + +"Why, what do you mean, Jack?" + +"Well, if you must know, it just happened to cross my mind that that Bud +Haddon was hanging around Haven Point and was seen around the school +several times just when Colby Hall was robbed." + +As the young major uttered these words in a low tone of voice, Fred +stared at him in astonishment. + +"My gracious, Jack, that's so!" he whispered. "Isn't it queer we didn't +think of it before? From what Andy and Randy tell of how that fellow +treated Brassy I wouldn't put it past him to be a bad one. But if he had +anything to do with the robbery at the school, do you think Brassy had, +too?" + +"I don't know what to think, Fred. Brassy never struck me as that sort of +a fellow. He's loud-mouthed and he's got a big opinion of himself, and +all that, but I never put him down as being crooked." + +"Neither did I. But you must remember one thing--that fellow was dinging +at him for money. He said Brassy must get it or there would be trouble." + +"Yes, I'm remembering that, Fred. I must confess it looks pretty bad. But +I don't think we had better say anything until we know more about the +men." + +"Let's pump Andy and Randy all we can." + +Fred's suggestion was followed out, and the four Rover boys talked the +matter over among themselves. The twins were as much surprised as Fred +had been when Jack mentioned what was in his mind. + +"Gee, that Bud Haddon may be the guilty one!" burst out Randy. "Why +didn't we think of this before? Colonel Colby might have put a detective +on his trail." + +"Do you think we ought to send him a telegram or anything like that?" +asked Andy. + +"It wouldn't do much good. What would be better, I think, is for us to +watch the man and see if we can find out more about him. If he is going +to Arrow Junction we may have a chance of learning more about him out +there. Did he expect to stay at the Junction?" + +"I think so--or at least in that vicinity. The whole crowd is bound for +some ranch out there." + +"Then if we learn anything of importance against the fellow we can have +the local authorities make an investigation," said Jack. + +"Gosh! wouldn't it be queer if that fellow really had robbed Colby Hall +and if Brassy was mixed up in it?" remarked Randy. + +"It would be terrible if Brassy was guilty," answered Jack. "It would +just about ruin him forever." + +"Come on, Jack. Suppose you and I walk back and see if we can locate the +fellows," suggested Fred. "They don't know us, so they won't be +suspicious." + +"Well, we might try it," was the young major's reply. + +And thereupon he and his cousin walked through the cars to the place +where the twins said Bud Haddon and his two companions were seated. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +IN THE SADDLE + + +The two boys located the three men without any trouble. They were seated +near the end of the car where there was a water cooler, and here the two +lads stopped to fumble for a minute or two over the paper drinking cups +and then to take their time getting a drink. + +"Yes, we ought to make a lot of money on that deal, Noxley," they heard +Bud Haddon say. "That is, provided we mind what we're doin'." + +"Oh, there'll be no trip-up this time," answered the man called Noxley. + +"I've been wonderin' how many horses there would be that we could sell," +put in the third man of the group. + +"I heard we could get at least twenty, Jenks. Of course, I can't tell +exactly until I've looked over the ground." + +"Well, twenty head of horses and two hundred head of cattle are not to be +sneezed at," answered the man called Jenks. "A fine piece of business, +I'll say," and he laughed shrewdly. + +"How long do you expect to stay at Arrow Junction before you go out to +Bimbel's Ranch?" questioned Noxley. + +"Not more 'n three or four days. I'm expectin' word from Bimbel as soon +as I reach the Junction, and then I'll know just what he wants us to +do." + +"One thing I want understood," went on Jenks crossly. "This time I get +all that's comin' to me--no holdin' back!" + +"And I want the same, remember that," put in Noxley sourly. + +"You'll get your full share--no fear of that," said Haddon reassuringly. +"Only remember, you've got to do your full share of the work, too. No +shirkin' at the last minute!" + +"Well, we don't want to be takin' too many chances," and Jenks shook his +uncombed head dubiously. + +"You've got to take chances in this game, Jenks. You can't expect the +hens to lay eggs right in your hands," and Haddon chuckled at his little +joke. + +After that the men talked about a good time they had had in Albany the +evening before. They said nothing further of what they expected to do in +the West nor did Haddon mention Haven Point or Brassy Bangs. + +"We might as well go back," whispered Jack to Fred, after they had +remained as long at the water cooler as they dared. The men had glanced +at them carelessly, but had evidently given them scant attention. + +When the two lads returned to the others they held a consultation, and +then laid the whole case before Fred's father. Sam Rover listened with +interest, and his face became a study. + +"It is just possible that your guess may be correct and this fellow +Haddon may be guilty of robbing Colby Hall. But it would be sheer +foolishness to accuse the fellow unless you had sufficient evidence +against him. This talk about horses and cattle may be a perfectly +legitimate affair. However, when we get to the ranch we can look into the +matter further and find out what sort of place this Bimbel's ranch is and +what the men really intend to do while there. That may give us a better +line on this Bud Haddon and the others." + +"I'm going to watch that crowd as long as they travel with us," said +Jack, and the other lads said they would do the same. + +A night was spent on the train, all the boys sleeping soundly, and in the +middle of the forenoon they rolled into the great station at Chicago. +Here the lads kept their eyes wide open and saw Haddon and his two +companions walk away, dresssuit-cases in hand. Nor did they reappear when +the Rovers, an hour later, hurried for the train which was to take them +further westward. Evidently the three men were going to take some other +train to Montana. + +"Here they are! We've been waiting for you folks!" came the cry, and +Spouter rushed up to the Rovers, followed by Gif. + +"Ho for the glorious West!" put in Gif. "Aren't you fellows anxious to +get there?" he questioned. + +"Anxious doesn't express it!" answered Andy. "Why, all night long I was +riding broncos and lassoing wild cattle!" and he grinned. + +Sleeping-car accommodations had been reserved for all of the crowd, and +they were soon making themselves at home. Then, as the train sped +westward, the Rovers told their chums about Bud Haddon. + +"That certainly is interesting," said Gif. "Just the same, I can't think +that Brassy Bangs is a thief. Why, if you'll remember, he said he had +been robbed himself!" + +"He might have said that just to throw dust in the eyes of the public," +answered Spouter. "To my mind it will certainly be a good thing to keep +our eyes open for this fellow Haddon." + +The trip to Montana took the best part of three days, and every one in +the party enjoyed the journey thoroughly. They often went out to the +observation end of the train, there to view the endless panorama of +prairies and mountains, forests and streams, as they sped swiftly past. +The magnificent view impressed Spouter as much as anybody. + +"It's sublime--stupendously sublime," he murmured over and over again. +"The thoughts that well up in my bosom at such a sight as this are beyond +the power of words to express. When I view these immense plains, these +mountain tops fading away in the distance, these wild and weird torrents +rushing over the rocks, and these trackless forests with often not a +human abode in sight, I cannot but think----" + +"That there is room here for every man, woman and child in the city of +New York and then some," finished Andy. "Gee, how can they stick in one +or two miserable cubby-holes of rooms when we have all this land to draw +on!" + +"That's what gets me," put in Gif. "But they do it. And I'm told that a +whole lot of 'em would rather die huddled together than live out here +where neighbors are miles apart." + +The through train took them only as far as Arrow Junction. Here they +alighted and then boarded a little side line, running through the hills +to a dozen small stations, including Four Rocks. + +"This isn't so nice," sighed Martha, when all had piled into one of the +two little cars which comprised the train. Their baggage had been put in +the other car, which was a combination baggage and smoking car. There +were but a few other passengers in the car, including one fat woman with +two small and exceedingly dirty children. There were also several +cowboys, and a Chinaman who looked as if he might be a cook. + +"I think dad has a Chink at our ranch," said Spouter. "Anyway, he wrote +he thought he'd hire one." + +They had telegraphed ahead, so that there might be some one to meet them +when they arrived at Four Rocks. + +"It's certainly an odd name for a railroad station," remarked Mrs. Rover +to her husband. + +"Four Rocks sounds substantial enough," he returned, with a smile. + +"Is it much of a town?" + +"Not likely to be any town at all. Perhaps a little railroad station and +possibly one store, which, of course, would also be the post-office." + +Sam Rover's idea of Four Rocks proved to be correct. Situated near a +ridge of rocks was a small railroad station with a telegraph office and +baggage room attached, a water tower, and opposite to the station were +two low buildings, one a general store and the other a place where there +had once been a saloon and dance hall, but which was now closed up. + +"There's my dad now!" cried Spouter excitedly, as he leaped off the +train. And the next minute he was running towards an automobile in which +sat his parent. "Where is ma?" he demanded. + +"She remained at the house to see that everything was in readiness when +you got there," answered Songbird Powell, as he shook hands with his +son. + +Close to the automobile stood a number of horses, all saddled. On one sat +a bronzed cowboy, who grinned broadly at the boys and tipped his hat +rather awkwardly to Mrs. Rover and the girls. + +"This is my foreman, Joe Jackson," said Songbird Powell. "Joe, this is +Mr. and Mrs. Rover, and these are the Rover boys and their sisters, and +this is my son and another of his chums. I guess you'll get better +acquainted a little later on," and he smiled broadly. + +"Who's to ride on horseback?" questioned Andy quickly, "We can't all get +into that machine." + +"You boys can all ride with Joe," answered Spouter's father. "I thought +you'd rather do that than anything else. The girls and the others can +ride with me." + +"How do you know I don't want to ride on horseback, Uncle John?" cried +Martha gayly. She often called this intimate chum of her father "uncle." + +"No, Martha, you'd better ride with us now," put in Mrs. Rover hastily. +"You can do your horseback riding later on." + +"Oh, I was only fooling, Aunt Grace," the girl replied. + +"I'm just crazy to see Big Horn Ranch, Uncle John," came from Mary. + +"Well, I hope you'll like it," returned Songbird Powell. "I want every +one of you to have the best times ever while you're here." His eyes +glistened. "We ought to have a regular old-fashioned reunion." And then, +unable to control himself, he broke out into a bit of his old-time +doggerel. + + "I'm glad you're here. + I hope you'll stay. + I'll miss you much + When you're away." + +"Hurrah, Songbird, that certainly sounds natural!" cried Sam Rover, +slapping his old chum on the shoulder. "You'll have to give us more of +that later on." + +"I haven't spent much time on verses the last few years, Sam," answered +Songbird. "I've been too busy attending to business. But maybe I'll get +back to it while loafing around the ranch," he added. + +"Are any other people coming to the ranch?" + +"Yes, one other person. And I think you'll be very much surprised to see +him." + +"Who is that?" + +"Oh, you had better wait until he arrives," returned Songbird Powell, and +began to grin as though the thought of what was coming pleased him. + +The older persons and the girls waited until all the boys were safely in +the saddle, and then Songbird Powell started the automobile. + +"I'm leaving them in your care, Joe," he called back to his foreman, as +he moved along. "Bring 'em to the ranch in safety." + +"Trust me," called out the foreman promptly. "We'll be at the ranch +almost as soon as you." + +"Well, don't ride the horses to death," shouted back Songbird. And then +in a few minutes more the automobile disappeared in the distance. + +"The boys will certainly enjoy that horseback riding," said Mary. + +"Glad of it," answered Songbird Powell, and as the automobile rolled +onward he murmured gaily: + + "An elephant sat on a bamboo tree + And he was as happy as he could be. + 'To travel,' said he, 'is awfully punk + Unless you remember to take your trunk!'" + +"Oh, what a funny rhyme!" giggled Martha. + +"I'll have to write that down in my scrap book," returned her cousin, and +at this remark Spouter's father looked real pleased. + +"Hurrah for Big Horn Ranch!" shouted Randy, waving his cap. "Come on if +you're ready." + +"Don't work your horses too hard at the start," cautioned Joe Jackson. +"It's a good five miles to the ranch, and part of it is rather tough +climbing." + +"If it's tough climbing how is the automobile going to get there?" +questioned Jack quickly. + +"Oh, they'll go around by the river road. But that is eight miles longer. +We'll take the hills." + +"Then maybe we can get there first after all!" broke in Fred. + +"Well, we can try, anyhow," answered the foreman of the ranch. "Do all of +you boys know how to ride?" + +"Sure we do!" + +"Then forward it is!" And away rode the foreman with Jack and Spouter on +either side of him and the others following close behind. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +AT BIG HORN RANCH + + +The way lay along a flat stretch of prairie bordering the river, and then +up into the hills. The brushwood in the immediate neighborhood was +scanty, but in the distance they could see some scrub timber backed up by +a stretch of forest. Far to the westward they could see the distant +mountains over which the sun was now setting. + +"Come on, you fellows, come on! Don't lag behind!" shouted Spouter, and +set off at a brisk pace along the well-defined trail leading to the +ranch. + +Joe Jackson, having seen that all of them could ride well, was quite +willing to let them set their own pace. + +"Only look and see where you're going!" he shouted. "And remember at the +split in the trail to take the one on the right." And then he allowed +them to plunge on ahead, but kept his eyes on everything they were +doing. + +[Illustration: "OFF TO THE EASTWARD YOU CAN SEE A BIT OF OUR RANGE." +Rover Boys at Big Horn Ranch (Page 205)] + +Two miles from the station the boys found they had quite a climb, and +here they were forced to slow down. A little later they reached the top +of the first hill. + +"There off to the eastward you can see a bit of our range," said the +ranch foreman, pointing with his finger. "And those cattle yonder are our +cattle." + +By the time they reached the foot of the first hill the sun was setting +beyond the mountains in the west and the long shadows were creeping +across the trail and over the forest beyond. + +"This must be some dark trail at night," remarked Jack. + +"Dark as a tunnel," answered Joe Jackson. "You have to carry a lantern or +a flashlight when you try to ride it after dark." + +"Ever get held up?" questioned Fred curiously. + +"Nary a hold-up, lad," answered the foreman, with a grin. "We leave all +that to the movie men." + +"Did you ever have a moving picture company out here?" asked Gif. + +"Yes, we had one crowd out here last year. They stayed around about six +weeks taking some sort of a drama, as they called it. It was funny," +added the foreman, with a chuckle. "The leading lady was scared to death +of horses, and yet she had to do a little riding. The man who was having +the pictures taken wanted her to smile while she was cantering along. But +that smile, believe me, wasn't anything to brag about. They ought to have +brought along some leading lady who liked horses and knew all about +'em." + +"Did they use any of your outfit?" + +"Oh, they used a few of our cowboys in a round-up. They wanted me to go +into some of the pictures, but I told 'em there was nothing doing--that I +was here to manage the ranch and not make moving pictures." + +"How many men on the place?" asked Randy. + +"We have six at present. But the boss is thinking of getting some more +and increasing the herd." + +"Did dad get his Chinese cook?" questioned Spouter. + +"Yes. He's got a Chink named Hop Lung; a pretty good sort of a chap, +too." + +They crossed two more hills and then passed through a patch of tall +timber. Here there was a rough wagon road, and the foreman explained that +it was used for hauling firewood to the ranch house and the bunkhouse. + +It was growing dark when the party on horseback approached the ranch. +Already lights were streaming from the windows and the automobile stood +in front of the wide veranda which ran around two sides of the building. + +"They got here ahead of us," announced Jack. + +"I thought they would," answered the foreman. "The river road is in +pretty good shape just now, so I suppose the boss made fast time in +driving over." + +"The trail to the ranch was rougher than I expected," put in Andy. "If +you tried to run a horse over it he would most likely break a leg and +maybe you would break your neck." + +"I've known one of our boys to go over to the station inside of twenty +minutes," returned the foreman. "But he only did it to catch a train and +on a bet. I'd rather take my time and save my horseflesh." + +When they reached the ranch Mrs. Powell came out on the veranda to greet +her son and his chums. She was a round-faced, motherly woman, and she +immediately did all she could to make the young folks feel at home. + +"You must be thoroughly tired out from your long trip," said she. "So we +will have supper right away, and then if any of you want to go to bed you +can do so." + +"I can't say that I'm tired," answered Jack. "But I suppose the girls are +and maybe Aunt Grace is, too." + +The travelers were shown to some rooms and then told where they could +wash up if they so desired. + +"Supper will be ready in ten minutes," announced Mrs. Powell. "So don't +take too much time in primping up," she added, with a smile to the girls. +"Remember, you are on a ranch now and you can dress exactly as you +please." + +"I'm going to slip on a plain gingham right now," declared Martha. + +Their hand baggage had been brought along on the running-board of the +touring car, and a little later one of the cowboys came in with their +trunks, which had been brought over from the station in a wagon. In the +meanwhile the crowd sat down to a somewhat elaborate supper which Hop +Lung had prepared under Mrs. Powell's supervision. + +"He's a very good cook," the lady of the ranch confided to Mrs. Rover. +"But he occasionally tries to turn out some very funny concoctions, so +that I find it advisable to keep my eyes on him." + +"The cowboys are quite excited over the idea of having visitors here all +summer," said Songbird Powell during the course of the meal. "And two or +three of them are especially excited over the fact that there are going +to be so many girls and ladies. You see, the brothers who used to own +these combined ranches weren't married, and all they had around the +houses were an Indian woman and a real old Dutch woman who was almost +entirely deaf. + +"Joe Jackson told me that one of the cowboys, a fellow named Hank Minno, +was very bashful and had almost been on the point of giving up his job +when he heard so many skirts were coming here." + +"Oh, dear, I think I'd like to make the acquaintance of Mr. Hank," said +Martha mischievously. + +"Perhaps if he saw you coming he'd run away," returned Mary. + +"Oh, I think he'll get over his bashfulness, and so will some of the +others," answered Songbird Powell. "And let me tell you one thing--when I +first got here I thought the men were a pretty rough crowd, but the more +I get to know them, the more I'm satisfied they're all right at heart." + +"Your foreman certainly seems to be a fine fellow," said Jack. "We got +well acquainted with him riding over." + +"He was well recommended by the former owners of the ranch, Jack. And so +far I've had no occasion to find any fault with him. He seems thoroughly +trustworthy." + +The Powells had given their visitors their choice of what to do +concerning rooms. They could either crowd themselves a little and remain +in the one ranch house, or otherwise the boys could take rooms in the +other house, which was located about two hundred yards away. + +"If we went over to the other place we could have things all our own +way," whispered Andy to his brother and Fred. "We could come and go to +suit ourselves." + +"I think you boys had better stay in this house with us," said Mrs. +Rover. "Then we can keep an eye on you." + +"But there is no sense in all of us being crowded," returned Sam Rover. +"And the boys are certainly old enough to take care of themselves. I +think we had better let this matter rest until to-morrow, and then we can +see how we can arrange it." + +"If the boys go over to the other ranch house I'll have Joe Jackson stay +there with them," said Songbird. "He'll know how to make them line up if +anything goes wrong." + +Several days later it was arranged for all the boys to take their +belongings and settle down in the other ranch house so far as rooming was +concerned. They were to have their meals in the main house. The foreman +of the ranch went with them, taking a room in a corner where he could +watch what was going on if it became necessary to do so. The boys took +three connecting rooms, the twins occupying one, Jack and Fred another, +and Spouter and Gif the third. + +On the second day at the ranch the boys began to feel quite at home. +Accompanied by the men, they had visited many points of interest and had +become acquainted with all the cowboys, and also with Hop Lung, the +cook. + +"Wellee nice boys," remarked the cook, after they had been chatting with +him and gone their way. "Wellee nice boys. Me cookee heap good dinner for +'em." And then he dived into his kitchen to start his preparations for +the next meal. + +The boys found all the cowboys friendly. One of them could do some +marvelous stunts with a lasso, and, urged by the foreman, gave an +exhibition which interested the lads exceedingly. + +"Why, that fellow is as good as anybody on the vaudeville stage," +remarked Fred. "I never dreamed so much could be done with a rope. Just +see how he whirled it around his body and between his legs and over his +head!" + +"Yes, and how he lassoed those three running horses all in a bunch," +added Fred. "That's what got me." + +"He ought to be in a Wild West Show," put in Jack. + +"I'll have the boys give you an exhibition of shooting this evening," +said the foreman, and he was as good as his word. + +Some of the cowboys proved to be remarkable shots both with the rifle and +the pistol. But here the boys, especially Fred and Jack, felt at home, +and they, too, showed what they could do. + +"Rattlesnakes and tarantulas!" exclaimed one of the cowboys, Hank Minno, +the fellow who was supposed to be so bashful. "You kids sure kin shoot +some. I s'pose you learned it at that there military school you've been +goin' to." + +"Yes," answered Fred. "Although we sometimes do a little practicing when +we're at home. Down in the long cellar of our house." + +"Well, it's a good thing to know how to shoot, lad. Sometimes it comes in +mighty handy like," answered Hank Minno. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +HOP LUNG AND THE FISH + + +By the end of the first week all of the boys felt thoroughly at home on +Big Horn Ranch. They had visited many points of interest, including the +cowboys' bunkhouse and also the big range to the eastward, and they had +likewise tramped over a number of the hills and tried their hand at +fishing in the river. + +"It certainly is one dandy place," remarked Jack to the others one day +when they were coming up to the house from the river, each with a +fair-sized string of fish to his credit. + +"We certainly never had such fishing as this in the East," answered Gif, +as he looked at his string admiringly. "Just look at the size of 'em, +will you?" + +"I wonder what Hop Lung will say when he sees them," remarked Fred. + +"I've got a scheme!" cried Andy. "Let's have a little fun," and thereupon +he unfolded to the others what he had in mind to do. They readily agreed +to his suggestion, and all came up to the ranch house by a roundabout +way. Then Spouter called out loudly: + +"Hop Lung! Hop Lung! Come out here a minute!" + +A moment later the Chinese cook appeared, a long soup ladle in on one +hand and a carving knife in the other. + +"You callee me?" he queried. + +"Yes," answered Spouter. "I want you to come around to the front of the +house and tell me what you know about this," and he motioned to the cook +to follow him around to the big veranda. + +No sooner had their chum and the cook disappeared than the others ran +into the kitchen. Here at one side was a home-made kitchen cabinet, the +top within a foot of the ceiling. + +"See if you can find the big bread-board," said Randy. "I guess that will +answer our purpose." + +"And here is the fishing line," added his twin. "We can run it from the +ceiling over to the window and then outside." + +The line was run to the window as mentioned, then fastened to the ceiling +back of the cabinet, and then to the back end of the board, which was +placed flat on the top of the cabinet. On the board the boys placed the +fish, laying them out in a row from front to back. One fish was placed on +the pulled-out shelf of the lower part of the cabinet. + +"Now then, clear out before Hop Lung catches us," said Andy. And the lads +lost no time in disappearing. + +In the meanwhile Spouter had taken the Chinese cook to the front of the +ranch house and then to an out-of-the-way corner where there was a large +spider's web. + +"Hello, he's gone now!" exclaimed Spouter, in a tone of disappointment. +"Do you see him anywhere, Hop Lung?" + +"Hop Lung see what?" demanded the puzzled cook. + +"Why, that great big blue and gold spider with white feet!" + +"Blue an' gol' spide?" queried Hop Lung. "See black spide." + +"Oh, no, I don't mean the black spider. I mean that great big blue and +gold spider about that long," and Spouter showed up his two forefingers +six inches apart. + +"Noee see spide so long dat," answered the Chinese cook, shaking his head +doubtfully. "Sploutel maybe see catpillal." + +"No, it wasn't a caterpillar. It was a spider. Although I think it might +have had wings." + +"Um, wings! Spide he all the samee buttelfly," announced Hop Lung. "No +see him," and he got down on his hands and knees to peer up into the +corner to make certain. + +Spouter continued to engage his attention until he heard the boys coming +around the corner of the house. Then he turned to them as if in +surprise. + +"Hello! I thought you fellows were off fishing," he remarked. + +"So we were," answered Gif calmly. + +"I got a nice little fish, Hop Lung. I laid him in the kitchen for you," +remarked Andy. + +"You git only one flish?" queried the cook in surprise. + +"Well, maybe you can catch more," put in Randy. + +"Hop Lung no go flishee. Hop Lung cookee," was the calm reply. And then +the cook walked back to the rear of the ranch house. + +Watching their chance, the boys stole back, some to the window where was +located the string which had been attached to the board on the top of the +cabinet, and others to another window from which they might see what +would take place. Hop Lung had gone inside and picked up the fish left on +the cabinet shelf. He looked it over, wiped off the shelf carefully, and +then took up the fish and disappeared into the pantry with it. + +"Now then, Andy!" whispered his twin. And thereupon Andy gave the string +in his hand two or three little jerks. From the board on the top of the +cabinet a fish fell down to the shelf below. + +It had hardly fallen in place when Hop Lung came from the pantry. He +looked to see how matters were going on the stove, and then turned again +to the cabinet. + +A queer look came over his face when he saw the fish lying in the same +place that the first had occupied. He looked toward the door to find no +one there. + +"Him funny," he murmured in his Pidgin-English. "Him vellee funny." Then +he took up the second fish and walked into the pantry with it. + +No sooner had he done this than Andy, doing his best to control his +laughter, jiggled the string again. This time, as luck would have it, two +fish came down, to light side by side on the cabinet shelf. + +Again Hop Lung entered the kitchen and again he looked at what was +cooking on the stove. He stirred the mass in one of the pots carefully, +and then came back to his cabinet to get some seasoning. + +When he saw the two fish lying there his eyes nearly started out of his +head. He jabbered something in his native tongue and then looked around +wildly, first to one side of the kitchen and then the other. Then he +looked toward the door leading to the dining room and then he came to the +door leading to the yard. + +"Duck!" was all Andy said, and he and the others lost no time in getting +out of sight. + +Hop Lung looked carefully around the yard and then came slowly back into +the kitchen. He walked again to the stove to see that nothing was +burning, and finally came back to the cabinet and picked up the two fish +gingerly. Meanwhile, the boys tiptoed their way back to their original +positions at the windows. + +"He'll begin to think the cabinet is haunted," whispered Jack. + +"Either that, or else he'll think he's bewitched," answered Gif. + +And both were about right, for the poor Chinaman looked all around the +cabinet and even behind and under it, and then he looked under the table +and the chairs. Finally, still bewildered, he walked into the pantry with +the fish, which he carried before him at arm's length, as if afraid it +might bite him. + +"Better give him a shower now, Andy," whispered his brother, and +thereupon Andy gave the string a strong pull which sent all the remaining +fish tumbling down on the cabinet and the floor. The noise reached Hop +Lung in the pantry, and he came forth on a run. + +When he saw the quantity of fish that had appeared so miraculously he was +nearly dumbfounded. With eyes and mouth wide open and hands up-raised he +uttered a sudden yell of fright and dove through the doorway leading to +the dining room and the living room beyond. + +In the living room Mrs. Rover and Mrs. Powell were sitting doing some +sewing. The sudden appearance of the Chinaman caused them to look up in +astonishment. + +"What is the matter, Hop Lung?" demanded Mrs. Powell, as she sprang to +her feet. + +"Flishee! Flishee!" screamed the cook. "Kitchen full flishee! Hop Lung no +knowee where flishee come! One flishee--two flishee--two flishee +more--whole blame kitchen flishee!" spluttered the cook, his eyes rolling +from one side to the other. + +"Gracious me! is the man crazy?" asked Mrs. Rover, rising. "What does he +mean by 'flishee?'" + +"Flishee! Flishee!" repeated Hop Lung. "No flishee--all flishee!" + +"I can't imagine what he's driving at," remarked Mrs. Powell. "Where is +the trouble, Hop Lung? In the kitchen?" + +"Les, Miz Plowell. Kitchen all flishee!" + +Without ado the lady of the ranch marched into the kitchen, followed by +Mrs. Rover. All the ladies could see were the freshly-caught fish resting +on the cabinet shelf and the floor. + +"I don't see anything the matter here except that some of your fish are +on the floor," remarked Mrs. Powell calmly. "You had better pick them up +and wash them off." + +"Did the boys catch those fish?" asked Mrs. Rover. "They said they were +going fishing a couple of hours ago." + +"Boys clatchee one flishee," announced Hop Lung. Then a sudden idea +entered his head, and he made a quick leap to the yard door. He was just +in time to see the boys trying to retreat, all laughing merrily. + +"You foolee Hop Lung! You foolee Hop Lung!" he shrieked wildly, and of a +sudden came back into the kitchen, scooped up several of the fish, and +ran outside again. Wildly he threw one fish after another at the lads. + +"Hop Lung, stop that!" commanded Mrs. Powell sternly. "Those fish are too +good to throw away!" + +"Bloys fool Hop Lung," was the reply. "One flishee--two flishee--four +flishee--all whole lot flishee," he continued, trying his best to +explain. And then by pantomime he showed how he had found the first of +the fish and placed them in the pantry. + +"It's nothing more than some of their tricks, Hop Lung," said Mrs. +Powell. "They had no right to play such tricks, and I'll call them to +account for it. But you had better pick up the fish which you threw +outside. They're too good to be thrown away." + +"Hop Lung flix bloys, play flishee tlick," answered the Celestial. And +then a little later he set about preparing supper. + +The boys did not think it wise to return to the house just then, and so +wandered off to the stable where the ranch horses were kept. + +"It was certainly a rich joke," remarked Fred, with a chuckle. + +"I'll bet Hop Lung will have it in for us for that," returned Randy. + +And Hop Lung did have it in for them, as they were to learn in the near +future. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +A HORSE AND A SNAKE + + +During the days which followed at Big Horn Ranch the Rover boys and their +chums asked Joe Jackson if he knew Bud Haddon and the other men who had +been with him. + +"Yes, I know Haddon," answered the foreman of the ranch. "He used to work +for Bimbel on a ranch on the other side of the river; but I think he left +there several months ago." + +"Well, if he did, I rather think he's going back," answered Jack. "Can +you tell us anything about him?" + +"Oh, I imagine he's as good as the average fellow around Bimbel's place," +answered Joe Jackson. "You see, none of our crowd have much to do with +that outfit. Bimbel is a hard fellow to get along with, and some of the +men working for his outfit have rather shady characters." The foreman +looked at the boys curiously. "How do you happen to know the fellow?" + +The lads had come to like the foreman very much and felt that they could +trust him thoroughly, so they told their story in detail, to which +Jackson listened with interest. + +"Looks to me as if Haddon was trying to blackmail that kid Bangs," was +his comment. "That is unless there was something in the talk about that +barn being burned with the horses. It's just possible that fellow Bangs +had something to do with it and Haddon was making him pay for keeping his +mouth shut." + +"Do you know anybody by the name of John Calder whose barn burned down?" + +"No. That couldn't have been anywhere around here or I certainly would +have heard about it. But there's one thing I do know," added the foreman +suddenly. "There's a man named Jarley Bangs who owns a ranch on the other +side of the river--a small place next to the one run by Bimbel." + +"Jarley Bangs!" exclaimed Fred. "Do you suppose it could be Brassy Bangs' +father?" + +"I don't think so," answered Gif. "I believe Bangs' folks live in +Wyoming." + +"But this Bangs may be some relative of his," put in Spouter. + +The matter was talked over a while longer, but the boys could learn +little further from the foreman. + +"I'll tell you what I'll do," said Joe Jackson at last. "I'll put it up +to some of the cowboys. They may know more about Bimbel and his outfit +and about Jarley Bangs than I do. Bangs has a reputation for being a very +queer and miserly man, but that's about all I can say of him." + +The boys, and even the girls, spent quite a little of their time in the +saddle. Both Mary and Martha had learned to ride while at home, using the +bridle path in Central Park, so they felt at home when galloping over the +plains. + +"This outing is going to do Mary a world of good," confided Mrs. Rover to +Mrs. Powell. "She has always been so timid." + +The river in which the boys went fishing and also bathing was a broad, +shallow stream which could be forded in many places with ease. So far, +however, the lads had remained on their side of the watercourse. But one +day Jack proposed that they go off on horseback and do a little exploring +on the other side. + +"We might ride past the Bimbel place, and also the one Jarley Bangs +owns," said he. "Who knows but what we may catch sight of Bud Haddon and +his crowd." + +"We don't want to get into any trouble with those fellows," put in Fred +quickly. + +"Oh, they can't touch us!" exclaimed Andy. "They don't even know us. And +we've as much right to use the trails around here as anybody--the land +isn't fenced in." + +"Yes, but you know what Jackson said," went on Fred. "He said the Bimbel +outfit wasn't a very nice one and that Bangs was very miserly and +peculiar. That sounds as if both places were good ones to steer clear +of." + +"Oh, come on! Let's go anyhow," put in Spouter. "I'm anxious to know what +sort of neighbors we have. They can't find any fault with us for coming +over when they find out that my father owns this ranch." + +The boys talked this matter over several times, and the next day obtained +permission to take the horses and go off for a day's outing along the +river. They were to take their lunch with them, and did not expect to +come back until evening. + +"I wish we could go along," sighed Martha. + +"We'll take you along next time, Martha," answered her brother. "This +time I'm afraid the ride will be a little too long for you." + +"Never mind, Martha and I will take a little ride of our own," declared +Mary. "We can go up to the edge of the woods and pick some wild +flowers." + +"Let's do it!" answered her cousin quickly. "One of the cowboys tells me +there are all sorts of wild flowers up there near one of the springs." + +Hop Lung was told to prepare a lunch which the boys might take along with +them, and set to work immediately. As he got the things ready the +Celestial had a faraway look in his eyes and once or twice he stuck out +his tongue suggestively. + +"One flishee--two flishee--lot flishee," he murmured to himself. "Hop +Lung fixee boys," and he smiled in his own peculiar way. + +The day dawned bright and clear, and immediately after breakfast the boys +leaped into the saddle and with good-natured shouts swung the sombreros +they were wearing, and started off on their ride. Each had equipped +himself with a pistol, although they expected to do no shooting, and +several carried small saddlebags containing their food and drink, the +latter placed in a couple of thermos bottles. They also carried feed for +the horses. + +"Whoop-la!" shouted Andy gaily. "Come on, fellows! let's put distance +between ourselves and the ranch." + +"Better take it a little easy at the start, Andy," remonstrated Gif. +"Remember we expect to cover quite a few miles, and we don't want to wear +out the horses at the start." + +"We'll let Spouter set the pace," announced Jack, for he had not +forgotten that they were all guests of the lad mentioned. + +They had questioned the foreman regarding the lay of the land, and he had +drawn up a rough map for them which Jack carried. Inside of half an hour +they reached the fording place he had mentioned, and there crossed the +stream, coming out on the side of a small hill. + +"I wonder if we'll come across any wild animals," remarked Fred, as they +pushed along a well-defined trail leading to the top of the hill and +through a small patch of scrub timber further westward. + +"From what Joe Jackson said, I don't think there's very much left in this +immediate vicinity," answered Spouter. "You see, the cowboys have scared +most of the animals away. Of course, they occasionally come across a +bobcat or a mountain lion, and then we might come across a wolf or a fox +or some jackrabbits, or even a bear." + +"Well, please don't let 'em come at us in a bunch!" cried Randy, with a +grin. "One at a time, please." + +"It'll be our luck not to see a thing worth shooting," declared Fred. "I +wouldn't give five cents for our chances of bringing down anything." + +Fred had scarcely spoken when the horse Gif was riding shied suddenly to +one side, throwing Gif into some low bushes. Then the horse gave a snort +and leaped ahead on the trail, not stopping until he had covered a +hundred yards or more. + +"Hello! what's the trouble?" exclaimed Jack, bringing his own steed to a +halt. "Are you hurt, Gif?" + +"No. I'm all right. But what startled that horse?" demanded the other +lad, as he scrambled to his feet. Then he gave a sudden yell. "It's a +snake! Look out!" + +All looked in the direction pointed out by Gif, and there saw a black +object wriggling away through the brushwood. As quickly as they could +Jack and Spouter, who were close by, pulled out their pistols and fired +at the snake. They saw the reptile rise up in the air, turning and +twisting, and then disappear from sight between the rocks. + +"What's up? What are you shooting at?" cried Fred, galloping to the +spot. + +"A snake. He scared Gif's horse and threw Gif into the bushes." + +"Where is he?" + +"I guess he got away, although I think we wounded him," answered Jack. + +"It's funny how that horse shied," said Spouter. "Maybe he stepped right +on the snake." + +"That might be," put in Fred. "Maybe the snake was sunning himself and +didn't notice our approach until the horse stepped on him. Then he +switched around, and that must have started the horse off. I wonder if we +can catch him." + +"I think so," answered Spouter. "Gosh! I'm glad no one was bit. That +snake looked to be of pretty good size." + +While Spouter and Jack hurried forward to capture the runaway horse, Gif +was assisted to the back of the steed Randy rode. + +"I'm glad I didn't go out on my head on the rocks," remarked Gif, as the +boys went forward. "I might have broken my neck." + +"Yes, you picked out just the right place to fall into," answered Andy. + +"I didn't pick it out. I went where I was sent," returned the other lad +calmly. "After this I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for more snakes." + +"I think we had better all do that," said Fred. "Gee! I'd forgotten all +about those pests." + +When they reached the runaway horse they found him still somewhat +skittish. But he was soon calmed down, and then Gif remounted him, and +they set off along the trail as before. + +"Well, we didn't exactly meet a wild animal," remarked Randy. "But we met +something just as bad." + +Presently the boys came to a spot where the river wound around the hill, +and beyond this was a broad stretch of plains, apparently many miles in +extent. Far to the southward they could see some tall timber. + +"The Bimbel ranch must be somewhere in this vicinity," declared Jack. + +"Yes, and the Bangs place can't be so very far off," returned Fred. + +But distances in the open air are deceiving, and the boys rode along over +the plains for the best part of an hour before they reached a spot where +the trail branched in several directions. Here they came to a halt, +wondering which way to turn next. + +"It's too bad they don't put up a few signboards out here," grumbled +Randy. "How is a fellow going to know where he's heading?" + +"I suppose the natives know these trails just like we know the main +streets of New York City," answered Jack. "And that being so, they don't +need any signboards." + +Jack had consulted the rude map given to him by the ranch foreman, but +this did not seem to have upon it the forks of the trail. + +"I suppose those cowboys would know at once which was the main trail and +which were only side trails," said Gif. + +The boys were still uncertain which way to turn when Fred set up a cry of +amazement. + +"Here comes an auto, boys! What do you know about that?" + +"An auto!" several of them repeated. "Where?" + +The youngest Rover pointed with his finger, and there, to the +astonishment of every one in the party, they beheld a small touring car +coming across the plains at a speed of twelve or fifteen miles an hour. +It was running in a curiously haphazard fashion. + +"What a way to run an automobile!" ejaculated Randy. + +"Maybe the driver is getting out of the way of holes," answered Jack. And +then he added quickly: "There isn't any driver!" + +Completely mystified, the boys stared at the oncoming automobile. For a +moment it seemed heading directly for them, but suddenly swerved and +started off across the plains in another direction. + +"It is empty!" ejaculated Andy. "It's running by itself!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +JARLEY BANGS + + +"What do you know about that!" + +"Who ever heard of an automobile running around by itself?" + +"It's gotten away from somebody," came from Jack. "Just look at it +skating over the ground!" + +"Come on! Let's stop the blamed thing!" shouted Andy, and started off on +horseback after the runaway car. + +"You'll have a sweet job catching that auto," declared his twin. +Nevertheless, he followed Andy, and, not knowing what else to do, the +others did the same. + +The automobile was of a cheap variety, and clattered noisily on its way, +with one cylinder occasionally missing fire. It had been running in a +snakelike course, but now it seemed to be making something of a circle. + +"By jinks! I think it's coming back here!" exclaimed Fred suddenly. + +"It isn't running as fast as it was," declared Spouter. "Maybe it's going +to stop." + +"I'm going to see if I can't get aboard!" cried Jack, with sudden +determination, and headed his horse behind the touring car, which was +still moving at a fair rate of speed. + +Once one of the front wheels went down in a hole, and then the car slued +around and started off, heading almost for the boys. + +"Look out!" + +"Get out of the way there or you'll be run down!" + +Wild cries rent the air, and the young horsemen scattered in every +direction. But Jack was watching his chance, and as the car slued around +once more he managed to leap from his horse and clutch the side of the +automobile. Then he leaped into the car and turned off the power, and in +a few seconds he brought the automobile to a standstill. + +"This is the queerest adventure I ever heard of," declared Gif, when the +brief excitement had come to an end. "Who ever heard of meeting a runaway +auto like this?" + +"I guess we can be thankful that we weren't run down," returned Fred. +"You took a big chance, Jack, in jumping on board as you did." + +"Oh, it wasn't such a risk," answered his cousin modestly. "I think the +auto was getting ready to stop anyhow." + +"I wonder where the owner is?" questioned Andy. + +"Perhaps the auto struck a stone and threw him out!" exclaimed Spouter +suddenly. "He may be lying along the trail somewhere stunned or dead." + +"I guess the best thing we can do is to see if we can locate the owner," +declared Gif, after a pause. + +"Come on, Spouter. You get in the auto with me and we'll run it back in +the direction it came from," said Jack. "The other fellows can follow and +bring our horses." + +"Do you think you can run this car?" questioned Spouter. + +"Sure I can! It isn't much different from the cars I'm used to even +though it's a cheap one," was the reply. + +Spouter dismounted and was soon beside Jack. The power was again turned +on and the car moved on with many a little jerk and jangling of +metal-ware. + +"It's next door to a bit of junk," remarked Jack, as they moved forward +along the trail at a rate of about fifteen miles an hour. "I think if a +fellow tried to make real speed with it it would fall to pieces." + +"Sounds to me as if it needed oiling," ventured Spouter. + +"Yes, it needs oiling, and new springs, and a new engine, and a new +chassis and a few other things, and then it would be quite a good car," +answered Jack, with a grin. + +The two lads in the car had covered less than a mile, and the others were +coming up behind them, when they saw a man running toward them and waving +his arms wildly. + +"Hi there! Stop!" called out the man. "Stop, I tell you! If you don't +stop I'll have the law on you!" + +As soon as he saw the man Jack slowed up and came to a standstill by the +side of the fellow. He was a tall, lean man of about fifty, with a +strangely wrinkled and sallow face and long, drooping, reddish mustache. +He had a pair of greenish-brown eyes that seemed to bore the boys through +and through as he gazed rather savagely at them. + +"What do you mean by running off with my car?" he demanded, as he shook +his fist at the lads. + +"Is this your car?" questioned Jack. + +"You know well enough it's my car!" blustered the man. "And I demand to +know what you mean by running away with it!" + +"We didn't run away with it," answered Spouter. + +"Yes, you did!" + +"We did not!" put in Jack. "We found it back there on the plains running +around all by itself." + +"What? You expect me to believe such a story as that?" exclaimed the tall +man, glaring at them more ferociously than ever. "Running around by +itself! How could it be doing that? You took it from where I left it, up +by the trees yonder!" and he pointed to a quantity of tall timber some +distance away. + +By this time the other boys were coming up, bringing with them the two +unused horses. The man gazed at them in surprise and also noted the two +steeds that were not being used. + +"Maybe you're telling the truth and maybe you ain't," went on the man +sourly. "I'd like to git at the bottom of this." Thereupon the boys +related what had taken place and Spouter mentioned the fact that his +father was the owner of Big Horn Ranch. + +"Oh, then you're Mr. Powell's son, eh?" cried the man. "Are you the boy +who went to Colby Hall with my nephew, Lester Bangs?" + +"Is Lester your nephew?" queried Spouter. And as the man nodded shortly, +he added: "Then you must be Mr. Jarley Bangs?" and again the man nodded. + +"I think you ought to thank our chum here, Jack Rover, for bringing your +car back to you, Mr. Bangs," remarked Gif. "If he hadn't jumped from his +horse into the car the machine might be racking itself to pieces out on +the prairie now. It was doing all sorts of stunts when he jumped aboard +and shut off the power." + +"I can't understand this nohow," grumbled Jarley Bangs. "If what you say +is true, how in thunder did that car git started? I left it by the edge +of the woods while I went in to look over some timber that we thought of +gitting out this fall. All at once I heard the engine go off with a bang, +and when I ran out of the woods to see what was doing the car was gone." + +"Was any one with you?" questioned Spouter. + +"No. I came out alone. Lester wanted to come along, but I told him to +stay at the ranch and do some work. He seems to think that all he's out +here for is to play." + +"Oh, then Lester is staying with you, is he?" queried Fred. + +"Yes. His folks let him come up for a couple of months. Then he's going +back to his home in Wyoming, and after that he's got to return to that +military school. I think it's a fool notion to send him to that school. +If I was his father I'd make him stay out here and go to work." + +"You don't suppose Lester tried to start the car, do you?" questioned +Andy. + +"How could he if he was at the ranch? But wait a minute! He said +something about going fishing in that brook that flows through the woods. +Maybe he did come up that way, after all." + +"Does he know how to run the auto?" asked Randy. + +"Yes, he does. But I don't let him run it very often because he's so +careless I'm afraid he'll ruin the machine--he bangs her over the rocks +something awful. I ain't got no money to waste on a new car. This has got +to do, even if it is kind of used up." + +"Maybe Brassy--I mean Lester--came up and tried to start the car while +the gears were in mesh," suggested Jack; "and then when the car started +to run away perhaps he got scared and ran away, too." + +"If he did anything like that he'll have an account to settle with me!" +exclaimed Jarley Bangs, his eyes glowing with anger. "That boy is getting +too fresh. I said he could come up here, thinking he'd do some work +around the place and so earn the money that I promised him for his +schooling. But evidently he thinks more of having a good time than he +does of working. He is forever fooling around the car and wanting to run +it; so I wouldn't put it past him to do what you suspect. As soon as I +git home I'll ketch him and make him tell me the truth," continued Jarley +Bangs, with a determined shake of his head. + +After that he questioned Spouter concerning the ranch Mr. Powell had +purchased and spoke of the men who had previously owned the place. + +"These city fellows think they kin come out here and make a fortune on a +ranch," he growled. "But after they've owned a place a year or two they +find it ain't so easy. A man has got to hustle like all git-out to make a +living." + +"Where is your ranch located?" asked Fred. + +"Our buildings are right behind that patch of timber," was the reply. +"It's not so very much of a place, but it's good enough for me." + +"And where is the Bimbel ranch?" questioned Gif. + +"That's up to the northward, over the top of yonder hill. But you young +fellows had better give Bimbel a wide berth," went on Jarley Bangs, with +a shake of his head. + +"Why?" asked Spouter. + +"He don't like no strangers hanging around, that's why. If a stranger +comes up to his door Bimbel always reaches for his gun. He had trouble +years ago with some tramps, and he never got over it." + +After that Jarley Bangs had but little more to say. The boys had left the +touring car, and now the man jumped inside, saw to it that everything was +in order, and then asked Spouter to crank up for him. + +"Ain't no use to waste time here," he remarked. "I've got to git back to +what I was doing. I'll tell Lester I saw you, and if he wants to he kin +come over to Big Horn Ranch and visit--he ain't of much account around my +place. And I'll git at the bottom of what happened to this auto, too, +even if I have to lick it out of him." + +"I don't think Lester will care to visit our ranch," answered Spouter +coldly. + +"Well, I ain't got nothing to say about that one way or the other. Now +I'm off," and with a short nod of his head Jarley Bangs threw in the +gears of his machine and rattled away, slowly gathering speed as he +proceeded. + +"A kind, considerate man, not!" exclaimed Andy in disgust. + +"How politely he thanked Jack for returning his car," added Spouter. + +"And the beautiful invitation we got to visit his place," put in Randy. + +"I wonder if Brassy really started that car on him?" questioned Fred. + +"It might be," answered Gif. And then he added: "Gee, I'm sorry for +Brassy if he has to live with such an uncle as that! Wouldn't you think +he'd rather stay at home?" + +"Perhaps it's a case of money," put in Randy. "Didn't you hear what Mr. +Bangs said about paying for tuition at Colby Hall? Brassy's folks may be +quite poor, and they may be depending on this uncle for financial aid." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +A NEW ARRIVAL + + +After the disappearance of Jarley Bangs the Rover boys and their chums +continued their trip on horseback. + +"Let's move over the hill in the direction of the Bimbel ranch," +suggested Spouter. "I'd like to get a bird's-eye view of that outfit." + +"Perhaps we had better not go too close," advised Fred. "Bimbel may be +getting out a shotgun for us." + +"I guess it isn't as bad as all that, Fred. Those things might have +happened years ago when the country was more sparsely settled and when +there were more bad men around. I don't take much stock in what Bangs +said. Probably he and Bimbel have quarreled. He struck me as being a man +who could get into a dispute very easily." + +"Oh, I was only fooling," answered Fred. "I wouldn't be afraid to ride +right up to his door. That is, in the daytime. Of course, if we did it at +night he might become suspicious." + +"Say, do you fellows know that it's five minutes to twelve?" questioned +Andy, after consulting his watch. "I move that we keep our eyes open for +some place where we can take it easy and have lunch." + +"And I second the commotion," returned his brother, joking in a way their +father had made familiar to them. + +The boys rode on for half an hour longer, and then reached the top of the +hill they were ascending. Here they could look a long distance in all +directions. + +"Some view, I'll say," declared Jack, as he surveyed the panorama. "What +a picture for an artist to paint!" and he pointed to the majestic +mountains to the westward. + +"Just look at the river--how it glistens and sparkles in the sunshine," +burst out Spouter. "See how it winds in and out like a silvery ribbon +among the hills and brushwood and then comes out to cut the broad and +fertile prairie in the far distance." + +"Spouter, you'll have to write an essay about this when you get back to +the Hall," said Fred, with a grin. + +"Gee, don't mention school at a time like this!" burst out Andy. "I want +to forget all about studying until it's absolutely necessary to go back +to it. And don't forget it's high time to eat," he added. + +They moved along slowly and presently selected a spot for their temporary +camp. This was a short distance from the trail they had been following. +It was at the edge of a patch of timber where they were sheltered from +the rays of the sun which were now quite warm. + +"We'll be in the shade here, and yet just see the view we'll have," cried +Gif. + +"Suits me," announced Spouter promptly; and the others agreed that the +spot was a first-rate location. + +It did not take the six chums long to give the horses their feed and then +to empty the saddlebags and prepare their mid-day meal. They had brought +along chicken as well as roast-beef sandwiches, hard boiled eggs, +pickles, and a large cake, and also a bag of doughnuts which Hop Lung had +learned to make from Mrs. Powell and of which the Celestial was justly +proud. They also had with them a thermos bottle of hot cocoa and another +of coffee, all fixed ready to drink. + +"Well, Hop Lung certainly spread himself for us," said Jack, as he took +up one of the fat chicken sandwiches and surveyed it with satisfaction. +Then he turned to the twins. "What are you grinning about?" he questioned +quickly. + +"Oh, I was only thinking about the trick we played on the Chink," +chuckled Andy. + +"And I was thinking of the same thing," put in his twin. + +"It's a wonder he didn't try to get square with us for that," came from +Fred. "An American would be sure to try it." + +The long ride in the open air had made all of the boys hungry, and it was +not long before they had disposed of a large part of the sandwiches, +pickles and eggs, washing the meal down with cocoa and coffee and also +with water from a regular water bottle Spouter carried. + +"Now I guess it's about time we passed around some of the cake," remarked +Jack, presently. + +"I think I'll start on a doughnut," answered Gif. + +The cake was in a square tin and had been cut ready for use. In a few +seconds all of the boys were munching away lustily. + +And then something happened! It was Fred who was the first to notice that +the piece of cake he was devouring had a peculiar puckery taste. He +rolled some of the cake around in his mouth, and then suddenly ejected +it, and just as he did this Andy dropped the doughnut he was devouring. + +"Oh my! What's the matter with that cake?" + +"Say, this doughnut tastes like fire!" + +"Gee, my mouth is burning up!" + +"Give me some of that water, quick! My tongue is getting blistered!" + +"What do you suppose is in this cake, anyhow, and in the doughnuts?" +demanded Jack, as he, too, made a wry face and stopped eating. + +"Gracious me! do you suppose Hop Lung put the wrong stuff in the cake and +in the doughnuts?" demanded Spouter anxiously. + +"Oh, this is awful!" groaned Gif. "I'm burning up inside!" And he put +both hands on his stomach. + +"Maybe we're poisoned!" suggested Randy. He made a wild dive for the +water bottle, and this was passed around from hand to hand, each lad +drinking eagerly in an endeavor to wash the burning taste from his mouth +and throat. + +"I know what's the matter," said Jack, after the most of the excitement +was over. "Hop Lung doctored the cake and the doughnuts to get square +with us for the trick we played on him." + +"I wonder if that's so?" questioned Andy soberly. + +"Sure, it's so!" broke in Gif. "That Chink wasn't as slow as you thought, +Andy." + +"Gosh, my mouth burns yet!" grumbled Randy, taking a drink of cocoa. +"That's the worst dose I ever chewed. What do you suppose he put in the +cake?" + +"Tasted to me like a combination of cayenne pepper, mustard, and a few +things like that," answered Jack. + +"Then the whole cake and all the doughnuts must be no good." + +"That's too bad! And I had my heart set on a nice doughnut," answered +Spouter. "Just the same, I can't blame Hop Lung." + +"Well, anyway, let's be thankful the sandwiches are all right and so are +the eggs," remarked Fred. + +"Maybe some of the sandwiches that are left are doctored," put in Andy +suspiciously. + +"No, they look all right," announced Gif, after an inspection. "And he +couldn't do much with the eggs while they were in their shells," he +added. + +While he was speaking, and while some of the boys were still taking +drinks of various kinds to clear their mouths and throats of that awful +burning taste, Spouter made an inspection of the paper bag containing the +doughnuts. + +"Hello! here's another little bag at the bottom of the big one," he +cried. "Let's see what it contains." + +He dumped out the doughnuts and drew forth the smaller bag. Opening this, +the lads found it contained six pieces of golden yellow pound cake, +neatly wrapped in tissue paper. + +"Gee! is that more of the doctored stuff?" questioned Fred. + +"Maybe. But I don't think so," answered Spouter. "I think Hop Lung put +this in for a peace offering, to be found after we had chewed on that +other stuff." + +And in that surmise Spouter proved correct. The pound cake was delicious, +and, having sampled it with caution to find that it was all right, the +boys ate it to the last crumb with great satisfaction. + +"We'd better dump all that other stuff away," said Fred. "No use of +carrying it if it isn't fit to eat." + +"Maybe some of it is good," returned Andy. + +"Do you want to sample it and make sure?" questioned Jack, with a grin. + +"Not on your life! I wouldn't want that burning taste in my mouth again +for a hundred dollars." + +The boys threw the highly-seasoned cake and the doughnuts away, repacked +what was left of the other food, and then continued on their ride. The +trail led through the patch of timber and then over some rather rough +rocks and through some brushwood. Among the rocks they found a spring +where the water was clear and cold, and here they had a most refreshing +drink and watered their horses. + +"It's queer this spring is away up here on the top of the hill," remarked +Spouter. "That water must flow underground from the mountains yonder." + +"What a lot of underground streams there must be!" returned Fred. + +While moving along those in the lead had kept their eyes open for more +snakes. But no reptiles appeared, for which they were thankful. + +"But I'm sorry we didn't see some sort of wild animals," said Randy, in +speaking of this. "I thought sure we'd see a bear or a deer or something +like that." + +Even birds seemed to be scarce in that vicinity, and the only sound that +broke the stillness as they advanced was their own voices and the clatter +of the horses' hoofs on the rocks. + +The trail was a well-defined one, and they could see that it had been +used only a short while before. + +"Half a dozen horsemen have been this way within the last few hours," +declared Gif. "Most likely they were on their way to Bimbel's ranch." + +"I wonder if that man Haddon has gotten here yet," said Jack. + +"More than likely," answered Fred. "If you'll remember, those men didn't +expect to stay in Arrow Junction very long." + +"I'd like to know more about that chap, and know exactly how he's mixed +up with Brassy Bangs," went on the oldest of the Rover boys. + +"I guess we'd all like to know that," put in Randy. + +Presently they came to a turn of the trail. Here they could see across a +wide stretch of prairie to where there was a collection of low buildings, +seven or eight in number. To the rear of the buildings was a corral for +horses. + +"It doesn't look much different from lots of other ranches," said Fred. + +"Do you want to go any closer to it?" questioned Gif. + +The boys talked the matter over, and while Andy and Randy were rather +curious to get a more intimate view of the place, the others decided that +they would not ride any closer on this trip. + +"It's now nearly two o'clock," said Spouter. "And if we want to go any +distance up the river it will take us until sundown to get back home." + +They turned back, and an hour or so later reached the point where they +had parted from Jarley Bangs. Then they took a trail up the river and +followed this until the sun, sinking over the western mountains, warned +them that it was time for them to head for home. + +"Say, I've got an idea," announced Andy, when they came in sight of the +ranch house. "Don't let on to anybody about that doctored cake. If Hop +Lung or anybody else mentions it, just act as if nothing unusual had +happened. Say the lunch was as good as any we ever had." + +"That's the idea!" returned his twin. "We'll keep that Chink guessing." +And it may be added here that the boys kept their word, and Hop Lung +never knew how his little joke had terminated, although he felt sure in +his own mind that they had received the full benefit of the trick he had +played. + +The six boys were still some distance from the house when they saw a man +come out on the veranda and wave his hand to them. At first they thought +it might be Sam Rover. But then, of a sudden, Jack let out a yell. + +"Boys, what do you know about this! Do you recognize that man?" + +"It's Hans Mueller!" ejaculated Fred. + +"Uncle Hans!" + +"Who would have thought he was coming to the ranch?" + +"Hans Mueller!" murmured Andy. "I'll be glad to see him. He's as full of +fun as a stray dog is of fleas!" + +Hans Mueller was a man who in his boyhood days had been a boon companion +of the Rover boys' fathers. When he had gone to Putnam Hall with the +Rovers he had spoken very broken English, and his improvement in speech +had been slow and painful. But Hans had prospered in a business way, and +was now the sole proprietor of a chain of delicatessen stores in Chicago. +He was unmarried, and, having no family of his own, had insisted upon it +that all of his young friends call him "uncle." + +"Hello der, eferypody!" called out Hans Mueller cordially, as he came +down from the veranda to greet them, his fat face beaming genially. + +"How are you, Uncle Hans?" cried Jack, leaping to the ground and shaking +hands. "This is certainly a surprise." + +"Yes, Songpird tol' me you wouldn't know I vas coming," was the answer. +"How you been alreatty?" + +"Fine as silk," answered Andy gayly. And now all the boys clustered +around to shake hands. + +"You're just the man we want here to help us enjoy our vacation," put in +Fred. + +"Dot's nice, Fred. I tink I vas going to haf a fine time alreatty. And I +need him," went on Hans Mueller. "Since I come from de war back from +Europe, where I fights for Uncle Sam, I work like a steam horse in mine +delicatessen stores. But so soon like Songpird says come out here and +meet dem Rovers and you udder friends, I say to my clerks, 'you got to +run dem stores by yourselfes alreatty yet awhile. I go oud to Pig Horn +Ranch and git some fresh air mine lungs in.'" + +"You'll get the fresh air all right enough," announced Spouter. "And +we're mighty glad you're here," he added, and then led the way into the +house. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +PROFESSOR DUKE'S SECRET + + +The girls had already returned from the woods and met Uncle Hans, as they +called him. + +"I got somet'ing by mine trunk in for you young ladies," said Hans +Mueller, with a broad smile. And later on when his trunk arrived he +presented each of them with a bottle of the highest grade of olives. He +also had some olives for Mrs. Powell, for use on the table. + +"I import dem olives myself alreatty yet," he vouchsafed. "Nopody by +Chicago has olives half so goot." + +"I knew you'd be surprised to see Uncle Hans here," declared Songbird +Powell. "And I knew an outing on the ranch would do him a world of good. +He has been confining himself too closely to business since he got back +from the war." + +"It was grand of you, Uncle Hans, to fight for Uncle Sam," declared +Martha. + +"And vhy, I like to know?" demanded Hans Mueller. "Since I come by der +United States over I been just such a goot American like anypody." + +"That's the way to talk, Uncle Hans!" cried Jack, and slapped him on the +shoulder. + +The next day the young folks took great pleasure in showing Hans Mueller +around the place. + +"He vas chust like a farm, only different," remarked the delicatessen +man. "Dot iss a nice lot of cows you got, Songpird. I dink dos cows vould +make apout a million pounds of frankfurters, not?" and at this remark +there was a general laugh. + +A few days later Jack noticed that Songbird Powell seemed to be worried +over something. The owner of Big Horn Ranch held an earnest consultation +with Joe Jackson, and then the foreman of the ranch rode off in hot +haste, accompanied by two of his cowboys. + +"What's the matter--is something wrong?" questioned Jack of Spouter. + +"Four of our best horses are missing," answered Spouter. "The men are not +sure whether they strayed away or have been stolen. Jackson and the +fellows with him are going to ride along the river and see if they can +find out." + +"Didn't you say something about other horses being stolen before we got +here?" + +"Yes. But they didn't belong to my father. They belonged to the men who +formerly owned this ranch. They left them here, but at their own risk." + +"Were the animals now missing the horses we rode?" questioned Fred. + +"No. They were the mounts used by Jackson and his men. That is, three of +the horses were. The other was that beautiful black my father +occasionally rode." + +"You mean Blackbird?" exclaimed Randy. + +"Yes." + +"Why, I think Blackbird is the finest horse on the ranch," declared Gif. + +"He certainly is a splendid nag," answered Spouter. "And my dad thinks a +great deal of him." + +The horse in question was a three-year-old, shining black in color, with +a peculiar diamond-shaped spot of white on his forehead and a similar +spot on his chest. Because of these spots some of the cowboys often +referred to him as Two-spot. + +"I suppose those horses are worth some money," remarked Fred. + +"Indeed they are!" declared Spouter. "I heard my father say he wouldn't +take four hundred dollars for Blackbird. And the other animals must be +worth at least a hundred and fifty dollars apiece. You know they always +had pretty good horses on this ranch." + +"I certainly hope they get some trace of the horses," said Jack. + +But this hope was not fulfilled. Jackson and those with him came back +disappointed, saying that they had found no trace of the animals. + +About a week later came another surprise. The young folks, including the +girls, had gone off to the woods for the best part of the day, and when +they returned, much to their astonishment, they saw seated in rocking +chairs on the veranda Ruth and May. + +"My goodness!" screamed Mary. "Ruth and May! Glory hallelujah! How in the +world did you get here?" + +"And you never let us know!" wailed Martha, as she bounced up the steps +to embrace her school chums. + +"We got started sooner than we expected," answered May. + +"Did you come alone?" questioned Jack, as he, too, came forward, his +pleasure showing on his face. + +"No, we didn't come alone," answered Ruth. "We came with Mr. and Mrs. +Rover. They are inside with the others." + +"My mother and dad!" burst out Andy. "Where are they?" And he raced into +the house, followed by his twin. + +There followed a joyous reunion all around. Everybody was happy to see +everybody else, and for a while it seemed as if all were trying to talk +at once. + +"We had a splendid trip over," declared Mrs. Nellie Rover. "Not a single +hitch all along the way. Tom had everything mapped out to the last +detail." And she gave her husband an affectionate glance. + +"That's what army discipline did for me," answered Tom Rover. "I didn't +used to be so particular. But now I've got in the habit of walking a +regular chalk mark." + +"Yes, I've walked me a chalk mark, too," put in Hans Mueller. "I run mine +delicatessen stores chust like they vas by army regulations alreatty. And +it pays, belief me!" + +"It's a regular touch of old times to see you around, Hans," said Tom, +grabbing his former school chum by both arms. "How is that new pickling +machine getting along?" + +"Vot pickling machine you mean, Tom?" questioned Hans, looking at him +blankly. + +"Why, that machine you're going to invent whereby you can grind up old +oilcloth and automobile tires and make dill pickles of them." + +"I don't vas got no machine like dot, Tom," answered the delicatessen man +in bewilderment. "I buy mine dill pickles by der barrel. Dem dill pickles +grows, you can't make 'em by no machine." + +"Oh! Then maybe it was a new sourkraut stamper," went on Tom innocently. + +"Oh, Tom, you vas joking chust like you alvays vas!" exclaimed Hans, a +light breaking in on him. "Vell, I don't care. You vas a pretty goot +fellow anyhow," and Hans smiled as broadly as ever. + +"It sure is a touch of old times," declared Songbird Powell. And then, +unable to restrain himself, he burst out: + + "From among the mountain tops + Where the brooklet flows, + There I love to linger long--" + + "Counting up my toes," + +broke in Tom, with a twinkle in his merry eyes. + +"Counting up my toes!" snorted Songbird. "Nothing of the kind! You always +did knock my poetry endways, Tom. That last line was to read like this: + + "Where the sunset glows." + +The young folks had a grand time that evening singing and dancing, and +did not retire until the older heads had hinted several times that they +had better do so. + +"Oh, Jack, it's a splendid place to come to!" said Ruth, when she was on +the point of retiring. "I know I'm going to have the best times ever." + +"And to think my Uncle John owns the place!" put in May. "Isn't it simply +glorious?" + +After that the days seemed to speed along swiftly. The boys and girls +made up various parties up and down the river, and on the hills and in +the woods. Once they got up a grand family picnic, and everybody +attended. + +During those days the boys often wondered whether Brassy Bangs would show +himself. But Brassy kept out of sight, and for the time being they heard +nothing further concerning him. But they did hear through Joe Jackson of +Bud Haddon. That man had been met on the trail to Bimbel's ranch in +company with several other persons. + +"They were a bum-looking bunch," declared Jackson. "I wouldn't give one +of 'em house room on this ranch." + +"Haddon certainly didn't make a very good impression on me," declared +Jack. "I'm frank to admit I think he's a thoroughly bad egg." + +From time to time the boys had been sending letters to some of their +other school chums, and a number of letters had come in return. One day +Gif received a long communication from Fatty Hendry which he read in +wonder. + +"Here's something that will interest all of you," he declared, after he +had finished. "I guess it clears up the mystery surrounding Professor +Duke." + +"What is it?" questioned Fred eagerly. + +"It's a letter from Fatty Hendry. He's been staying at a place named +Ellenvale, which, as you know, is about thirty miles north of Haven +Point. He says that Snopper Duke came from that place, and has an aged +father living there." + +"Has Duke been taking care of his father?" questioned Jack. + +"Yes. And his father has been very sick and has had to have several +operations. It seems the operations cost a lot of money, and Duke wanted +two of his younger brothers to help pay for them. But they wouldn't +contribute a cent." + +"Gee, that was certainly rough!" declared Randy. "No wonder the professor +was grouchy at times." + +"That isn't all of it," went on Gif. "Fatty got interested and made a +little investigation, and he found out that there was another brother, a +little older than the professor, who had gotten into difficulties with +the firm he was working for. That firm was on the point of having him +arrested, so Fatty heard, but at the last minute Professor Duke came +forward and settled up for him, so he wasn't prosecuted. + +"But Fatty adds in his letter that he heard this not only took every cent +the professor had, but it also placed him in debt to Colonel Colby and +some of his friends." + +"Well, that's what I call hard lines!" declared Jack emphatically. "The +poor professor must have been worried half to death." + +"Does Fatty say anything further about Duke's father?" + +"Yes. Since the last operation the old gentleman is feeling quite like +himself again." + +"And what became of the brother who got into trouble?" asked Spouter. + +"He disappeared, and Fatty says there is a report that he went to +England, where the family originally came from. I suppose Professor Duke +was glad to have him go." + +After this Gif handed around the letter so that all might read it. After +its perusal Andy was the first to speak. + +"It's too bad," he said, with a deep sigh. "I'm mighty sorry now that I +didn't treat the professor with more consideration. That poor man +certainly had as much of a load as anybody to carry." + +"We'll have to make it up to him when we get back to Colby Hall," +declared Randy. "I'm going to show him just what I think of him," he went +on. "He certainly was a fine fellow to help his old father and to get his +brother out of that hole." + +The boys were still discussing this matter when they suddenly saw Joe +Jackson dash up to the ranch house on his horse and dismount in great +haste. + +"Hello, something is wrong!" declared Jack. + +Songbird Powell and Tom and Sam Rover had seen the approach of the +foreman, and men and boys ran out to listen to what he might have to +say. + +"Four more horses are gone!" declared Joe Jackson. "The best horses on +the ranch! And, boss, I'm certain this time that they didn't stray away. +They were stolen!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE CATTLE STAMPEDE + + +"Four more horses gone!" cried Songbird Powell in consternation. "When +did this happen, Jackson?" + +"Less than half an hour ago, over on the three-tree range," returned the +foreman. + +"And what makes you certain that they were stolen this time?" + +"Because the horses had been left all properly tethered. Billy Brown and +his crowd had 'em, and I know Billy is a very careful man. He's positive +they couldn't have broken away." + +"This is certainly getting to be a serious matter," declared Sam Rover. +"Songbird, if these last four horses were stolen, it's more than probable +that the first four went the same way." + +"Any clue to the thief or thieves?" asked Tom Rover. + +"The boys looked around and picked up a quirt that they say don't belong +to our outfit. But it's a very ordinary quirt and might belong to almost +anybody. Of course, they found a good many hoof marks, but they were so +mixed up with the marks from the other horses they couldn't tell one from +the other." + +"I'll ride over to the place with you and investigate," returned Songbird +Powell after a moment's thought. "Perhaps we can get on the trail of the +thieves." + +"Can we go along?" questioned Spouter quickly. + +"No, Son. We want to use the horses. And, anyway, I think it would be +better for you lads to remain behind." + +Songbird and the foreman hurried down to the horse corral accompanied by +Tom and Sam. And thus the boys and girls, as well as the ladies of the +household, were left by themselves. + +"Gee! I'd like to go on a chase after those horse thieves," burst out +Andy. + +"You might get a pretty warm reception if you did that," remarked Fred. +"Horse thieves and cattle rustlers are usually a bad bunch." + +"It isn't likely they'll get on the trail of the horses very quickly," +put in Jack. "Those fellows have too much of a start. The most they can +do is to advertise the loss as widely as possible and trust to it that +some one will recognize the horses, especially Blackbird." + +The boys had spoken about going fishing, and Ruth and May had asked if +they could go along. As a consequence the young folks spent the remainder +of the afternoon along the river. They managed to catch a good mess of +fish, of which they were justly proud. + +"And just to think! I caught two of the fish myself!" exclaimed Ruth. "I +never knew I was going to be a fisherman." + +"You mustn't say 'fisherman;' you must say fisherlady," put in Andy +mischievously. + +The men did not return until ten o'clock that night. All were tired and +hungry and glad to sit down to the meal which Mrs. Powell and the cook +provided. + +"It was a wild-goose chase," answered Tom Rover in reply to a question +from Andy. "We followed half a dozen clues, but they didn't get us +anywhere." + +"What are you going to do next, Dad?" questioned Spouter. + +"We sent word to Arrow Junction and several other places, and they'll +post notices giving a description of the stolen animals," answered +Songbird. "And I've offered a hundred dollars reward for any information +leading to the recovery of the horses." + +The next day one of the cowboys came in with more information. This was +to the effect that a ranch in that neighborhood, owned by a man named +Cheltham, had suffered the loss of three horses, one a mare of +considerable value. + +"Say, this certainly is getting interesting," said Jack, when the lads +heard the older heads talking it over. "First thing we know, all the +horses on the place will be gone." + +"Years ago they used to suffer from the cattle rustlers in this +neighborhood," said Spouter. "But horse stealing is something new." + +"I wonder if that fellow Bud Haddon had anything to do with it?" +questioned Fred. + +"I was thinking of that," broke in Randy. "I think they ought to make an +investigation." + +The boys spoke to the men about this, and there was a long discussion +which ended when Songbird said he would ride over to the Bimbel ranch +with his foreman and interview the men. + +The visit to the Bimbel ranch occurred the next day, and the boys waited +impatiently for the return of the two men to learn what Bimbel and Bud +Haddon might have to say. + +"Another wild-goose chase," announced Songbird Powell, on the return that +evening. "We saw Bimbel, and he seemed as much surprised as anybody to +learn of the horses being taken." + +"And what about Bud Haddon?" asked Jack. + +"We didn't see Haddon. But Bimbel said he had been at the ranch house +early in the morning and he was certain Haddon knew nothing about the +loss. He said Haddon and the other men were out on a range to the +westward, looking after the cattle. Of course, if Haddon was away out +there he couldn't have been here taking our horses." + +"And you didn't see any trace of the animals?" asked Spouter. + +"Nothing at all. They said they hadn't heard of the theft nor of the loss +of the horses over at Cheltham's ranch." + +After that a week passed swiftly, during which time the young folks +enjoyed themselves thoroughly, not only in tramping and riding around and +in fishing, but also in other sports around the ranch home. With so much +level ground available, a tennis court had been laid out, and also a +croquet ground, and the boys and girls enjoyed these games immensely. The +lads also pitched quoits, a sport which at times had been popular at +Colby Hall. + +One day the boys accompanied Joe Jackson on a round-up of some cattle far +down the river. This was a day full of excitement, for some of the cattle +broke away and Andy and Fred happened to be separated from the rest of +the crowd and got directly in line with the runaway steers. + +"Hi there! Hi there! Ride out of the way!" yelled Joe Jackson at the top +of his lungs. + +Andy and Fred were looking in the opposite direction and did not notice +the cattle until the beasts were within a hundred yards of them. Then +they heard the foreman's cry and also the beating of the hoofs on the +prairie. + +"My gracious!" gasped Fred. "Look what's coming!" + +"We've got to get out of the way and be quick about it," returned Andy, +and struck his horse on the flank. + +The steeds the boys were riding needed no urging, for the sudden rush of +the cattle filled them with alarm. Away they bounded across the grassy +plain with the maddened cattle thundering after them. + +"Let's ride to one side and let 'em pass!" gasped Fred, who was badly +shaken by this sudden turn of affairs. He had not dreamed that the herd +of cattle would head for them in this fashion. + +But to get out of the way was not easy. To one side of the plains was a +series of rough rocks, while to the other side there was a brook flowing +into the river, and here the ground was soft and treacherous. + +"Don't go that way!" cried Andy, as he saw his cousin heading toward the +brook. "You'll get stuck and you'll never get out." + +"I'd rather get stuck than be trampled under foot by those beasts," +panted Fred. + +"No, no, Fred! Turn this way! I'm sure we can get up on the rocks +somehow!" declared Andy. + +The boys continued to advance with the thoroughly frightened cattle not +far behind them. While being rounded up both cattle and cowboys had come +upon a nest of small rattlesnakes. These had, of course, frightened the +beasts, and they were still more frightened when the cowboys had begun to +shoot at the reptiles. Then a few of the cattle had started the stampede, +and the rest, terrorized by the pistol shots, had followed. + +As the two lads galloped on, they looked anxiously to the side where the +rocks were located. Most of the places they passed were too steep to +ascend. But presently Andy caught sight of a point where there was +something of a trail leading upward. + +"Come on this way!" he yelled to his cousin. "I think we can get up on +the rocks here!" + +In the meanwhile Joe Jackson and his men, followed by Jack and the +others, were doing their best to get the cattle to turn back to the point +from which they had started. The best herd riders were circling the edge +of the rushing animals, shouting at the top of their lungs and firing +their pistols. But so far this demonstration had had little effect. + +"Oh, Jack! do you think they'll be run down?" gasped Randy. + +"I hope not." + +"They're on a pair of good horses; they ought to be able to outrun the +cattle," came from Gif. + +"Don't be so sure of that," cried Spouter. "A mad steer can go some, +believe me." + +"Who ever thought they would start off like that?" went on Randy. + +"It was firing at those rattlesnakes did it," declared Jack. "Of course, +I can't blame the cowboys for doing that." + +Andy and Fred found the rocks anything but easy to ascend. They went up a +few feet, and then the horses began to slip and were in danger of rolling +over, carrying their young riders with them. + +"Look out!" screamed Fred. He had to catch his horse around the neck to +keep from being flung headlong. + +But the horses were as anxious to escape the maddened cattle as were the +lads, and the steeds continued to scramble upward until they reached a +ledge of rock where the footing was comparatively level. + +"Do you think we'll be all right here?" panted Fred, when he could catch +his breath sufficiently to speak. + +"We shall be unless some of those steers take it into their heads to +climb the rocks the same way we did," answered Andy. He was suffering +from a slight bruise on his left leg where he had brushed some of the +roughest of the rocks. + +The horses were still alarmed, and continued to snort and stamp their +feet, and the two lads for a few seconds had their hands full quieting +the animals. They looked below them and saw the cattle coming on in a +great mass. Some had already passed, but others were huddled close to the +rocks as if on the point of making an ascent. + +"I really think they'll try to come up," said Fred. + +"Come ahead! We'll see if we can't get a little higher up," answered +Andy. "I don't think the steers will follow us very far, even if they do +come. We can shoot at them if we have to," he added, for each of them +carried a pistol. + +Beyond the ledge were more rough rocks, and here the two lads had to +proceed with caution for fear one of their horses might slip and perhaps +break a leg. As they advanced they looked back and saw that the cowboys +were coming closer and were beginning to drive a part of the cattle to +the rear. + +"Oh, if only they can drive them back!" sighed Fred. "Just look at 'em, +Andy! There must be a hundred of the steers directly below us! And see +how angry that big black fellow looks! He acts just as if he'd like to +come up here and gore us!" + +"Listen!" ejaculated Andy, pulling back on the rein. "What's that funny +noise?" + +Both listened, and, mingled with the murmurs of the cattle at the foot of +the rocks, came to their ears a peculiar whine or growl that was entirely +new to the lads. + +"It's a wild animal of some kind!" cried Fred, as the growl was +repeated. + +"Where did it come from?" + +"I don't know. But it was close at hand." + +Thoroughly scared, both boys looked on all sides. Then, of a sudden, Fred +let out another exclamation. + +"There it is! Right on the shelf of rocks yonder! Oh, Andy, it's a +mountain lion!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +THE MOUNTAIN LION + + +It was a time of extreme peril, and both of the Rover boys realized it. +The shelf of rock was not over twenty feet ahead of them, and on this +rested the mountain lion, crouched as if for a spring. + +Fred had scarcely spoken when both horses began to snort and stamp their +feet as if wanting to turn and run away. + +"Look out!" screamed Andy, "or the horses will take us right back among +those mad cattle." + +With the discovery of the mountain lion, that lay close to the rocky +shelf with glaring eyes and tail that swept nervously from side to side, +the boys had noted that the animal was as much penned in as they were +themselves. Beyond the shelf was an overhanging cliff, so that further +progress in that direction was cut off completely. Had this not been so, +it is more than likely that the mountain lion would have turned and slunk +away, for like all wild beasts they do not fight unless they think it is +necessary to do so. + +"Come on--give him a shot!" exclaimed Fred, as soon as he could recover +from his astonishment. + +His weapon was handy, and in a moment the pistol rang out sharply, and +this shot was followed by one from his cousin. + +Had the two boys been on the ground their shots might have been more +effective. But it was another task to aim from the back of a restive +horse that was threatening every instant to bolt, and so both bullets +merely grazed the mountain lion's side. + +But these shots, mingled with those coming from the plain below, had one +good effect. The cattle had been stopped in their mad flight and now they +turned back in the direction in which the cowboys wanted them to go. + +As the pistols rang out the mountain lion gave a scream of commingled +pain and rage. Then it crept forward several feet and made a movement as +if on the point of leaping for Fred and his steed. + +"Back up! Back up, Fred!" yelled Andy, and fired a second time, and his +cousin did likewise. + +This time the aim of the boys was better, and the mountain lion was hit +in one of the forelegs and in the flank. It made a sudden leap, but the +wound in the leg made it fall short, and it fell down between the rocks +directly in front of where Fred's horse was standing. + +As the mountain lion went down in the hollow the horse uttered another +wild snort and an instant later leaped directly over the wild beast, +coming down at the foot of the rocky ledge beyond. The steed Andy rode +backed violently until some other rocks stopped its retreat. + +"Hi there! What are you shooting at?" came a cry from below, and the two +boys recognized the voice of Joe Jackson. + +"It's a lion!" called back Andy. + +"Then plug him! Plug him quick!" yelled Jackson. "Plug him before he gets +a chance to get at you!" + +There was no need for this advice, for Andy was already taking aim. This +time the bullet passed through the body of the lion and the beast leaped +up, turning over and over convulsively. Then Fred managed to steady his +mount for a moment, and he, too, fired, this time catching the mountain +lion in the ear. Then the beast gave a final leap and tumbled down the +rocks almost at the feet of the astonished ranch foreman. + +"Are you hurt?" demanded Jackson anxiously, as he gave a glance at the +lion to make certain that it was breathing its last. + +"No," came from both of the boys. But it must be confessed that their +voices were trembling. They had all they could do to quiet their horses, +the steeds showing a great inclination to leap over the rough rocks and +run away. + +By the time that Fred and Andy managed to descend to the plain below them +the stampede of the cattle, which had been only momentary, was coming to +an end, only two steers having run away for parts unknown. + +"But they'll come back, Boss," said one of the cowboys to Jackson. "They +always do. You can't hire 'em to herd by themselves. They'll sure be +back." + +"A mountain lion! What do you know about that!" exclaimed Jack, as he +came riding up, followed by the other boys. + +"Did he hurt you at all?" questioned Spouter quickly. + +"He didn't get a chance," answered Fred, just a bit proudly. "Andy and I +let drive at him almost as soon as we saw him." + +"A pretty powerful beast, I'll say," remarked Gif, as he made an +examination of the lion that was now dead. "I don't think I'd like to +face such a creature." + +"We had to fight him," declared Andy. "He was right up on that rocky +shelf yonder, and he couldn't back out. If he had had the chance he'd +have leaped right on us." + +"Well, you're the prize hunters of this crowd," declared Randy. + +"You can't put that down to hunting," answered his twin promptly. "That +was simply a case of necessity." + +"Anyway, you've got the lion, and that skin will make some rug," declared +Spouter. + +"I wonder if there are any other mountain lions around?" remarked Gif. +"I'd like to get a shot at one of them myself." + +"They often travel in pairs," answered Joe Jackson. "But if you're going +after lions you had better arm yourselves with rifles. It was only good +luck that brought this beast down with pistol bullets." + +"The pistols were good enough at close quarters," answered Andy. "Just +the same, I'd rather shoot the next mountain lion from a distance," he +added dryly. + +Of course, when the boys rode up to the ranch home with the carcass of +the dead lion there was a good deal of excitement among the older folks +and the girls, and Fred and Andy had to tell their story in detail. + +"You really must be more careful in the future, boys," declared Mrs. Sam +Rover. "Why, you might have been trampled under foot by the cattle, as +well as chewed up by this mountain lion!" + +"I didn't know there was any danger of the cattle stampeding," put in +Mrs. Tom Rover. + +"Oh, Jackson assures me that the stampede wasn't of much consequence," +remarked Songbird Powell. "But, of course, the boys shouldn't have gotten +in front of the animals. But this question of facing a mountain lion is +another story." + +"Py chimminy! you don't vas cotch me facin' no mountain lions," declared +Hans Mueller emphatically. "I did me dot years ago, ven I go oud mit your +faders. But I ton't do him no more alreatty." + +"Oh, Fred, you must be more careful!" protested May to the youngest +Rover, when she got the chance. "Suppose that lion had jumped right on +top of you?" + +"Believe me, May, I didn't want to get so close," he answered. "When we +discovered the beast he wasn't over twenty feet away." + +"And they told us there weren't very many wild beasts around here!" came +from Martha. "After this I guess we had better be careful how we roam +through the woods and along the river." + +"Oh, they're not likely to harm you unless you corner them," said +Songbird Powell. "They'll sneak away from you if you give them half a +chance. It's only when they're cornered or when they're needing food that +they are really combative." + +The mountain lion was skinned and the pelt taken away by the ranch +foreman to be cured, and then Fred and Andy took it easy for the rest of +the day. + +"Isn't it queer that Brassy Bangs has never showed himself around this +place?" remarked Spouter that evening. "Wouldn't you think he'd at least +ride over to see what sort of an outfit we had here?" + +"More than likely he's afraid of his welcome," said Jack. "He knows that +none of us care for him." + +"I'd like to know if he really started that auto," put in Fred. + +"Gosh, what a sour fellow that Jarley Bangs was!" exclaimed Andy. + +There had been an indication of a storm, but this had passed away, and +one day found the Rover boys and their chums off on a trip along a trail +which led across the river and to the mountains westward, a trail which +they were informed by Jackson led between the ranches owned by Jarley +Bangs and Bimbel. + +"I'd like to get a better view of Bimbel's ranch and also of Bangs' +place," declared Jack. "And maybe we'll see something of Bud Haddon and +his crowd." + +All of the boys were now on good terms with Hop Lung, and he had prepared +for them a substantial lunch and also something extra in case they should +remain out after the supper hour. + +"Now you lads take good care of yourselves," admonished Tom Rover, when +they were ready to depart on their day's outing. "No more rattlesnakes or +mountain lions!" + +"Or mix-ups with runaway cattle," put in Sam Rover. + +Spouter and Jack carried small rifles, and the others were armed with +pistols. They, however, were not going out to hunt, but thought best to +provide themselves with the firearms in case any game presented itself. + +It did not take the boys long to cross the river, and then they followed +a trail which led up a long hill and through a somewhat dense forest. + +They had journeyed along the best part of two hours when they noticed the +sun going under a cloud. This caused the trail under the trees to become +dark. + +"Gee! I wonder if we're going to have a storm?" remarked Randy. + +"Oh, maybe it's nothing but a wind cloud," answered Spouter. + +They continued to move along the trail, and presently reached a small +opening where there was a spring. + +"Halt!" called out Jack, who was riding ahead with Spouter. + +"What's the matter?" questioned Gif quickly. + +"Look there! Isn't that a wolf?" asked Jack. He pointed with his rifle, +which he had already unslung, and all the boys looked in the direction +pointed out. + +"Maybe it's a dog," put in Fred quickly. + +"You don't want to shoot somebody's pet," admonished Gif. + +The animal had slunk away behind some brushwood, and now they saw it +trying to retreat, pulling something through the dead leaves as it did +so. + +"It's a wolf! I'm sure of it!" declared Jack, and, raising his rifle, he +took quick aim and fired. + +As the echo of the firearm died away the lads heard a snarl and a yelp, +and an instant later a gaunt wolf showed himself, his fangs gleaming +dangerously as he came closer. + +Several shots rang out, for all of the boys had their weapons ready. The +wolf was hit in three places, and gave a single leap into the air and +then dropped lifeless. + +"Hurrah! We've got him!" yelled Randy, with satisfaction. + +"Be careful! Don't go too close before we're sure," warned Jack. "Better +reload first." + +But the wolf was past doing further harm, and having assured themselves +of this the boys looked at what he had been carrying away. + +"It's the side of a calf!" exclaimed Spouter. "Isn't this the limit? I'm +glad we brought him down!" + +"He must have been raiding some cow yard," said Jack. + +"No ranch cow yard," said Gif. "This half of a calf was skinned by some +person. I'll bet he stole it out of some ranch larder." And later on it +was learned that the calf meat had been stolen from Jarley Bangs' place +the night before. + +The boys had become so interested in bringing down the wolf that they had +paid no attention to what was taking place overhead. But now they noticed +that the sky was more overcast than ever. The wind began to blow through +the woods, and of a sudden there came a downpour as surprising as it was +dismaying. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +IN THE CAVE + + +"We're in for it now!" cried Jack, as he looked up at the sky and at the +trees beginning to bend in the wind. + +"And it's going to be some storm, or I miss my guess," added Gif. + +"I wonder if we can find any shelter around here?" put in Randy. "If we +can't we'll be soaked to the skin in no time." + +"Jackson was telling me of a couple of caves toward the end of these +woods," said Spouter quickly. "I wonder if we could reach the nearest of +them? It might help us to get out of the rain." + +"Come on--let's try it!" put in Fred eagerly. + +Leaving the dead wolf where it had fallen, the boys pushed forward on the +trail, which now led downward on the other side of the hill. Here they +noticed the going was getting rougher, and presently they found +themselves entering a defile among the rocks. Here the trees were more +scattering and consequently they were exposed to the full fury of the +elements. Ever and anon a flash of lightning would illumine the sky, +followed by the crack and rumble of thunder. + +"Say, maybe we had better stay under the trees," suggested Andy. + +"Suppose the trees should be struck by lightning?" questioned Jack. "I +think we had better go on, especially if we're anywhere near those caves +Jackson mentioned." + +A turn in the defile brought them to something of an open place. Here on +one side the rocks towered fully fifty feet above their heads and at one +point there was an opening perhaps fifteen feet square and leading into +the side of the hill. + +"This must be the first of the caves!" cried Spouter. "Come on in!" And +without ceremony he led the way, and the others followed, glad to get out +of the storm. + +They found the cave an irregular one, running in somewhat of a semicircle +and with a flooring that was comparatively level. It was dry and fairly +comfortable, and once beyond the fury of the storm the lads dismounted +and proceeded to make themselves at home. + +The rain continued to come down and, with nothing better to do, the boys +proceeded to make themselves as comfortable as possible. Near the +entrance to the cave they found some leaves and dead tree branches which +were still dry, and these they dragged inside and then made themselves a +campfire. + +"I reckon we'll have to cut out going any further," announced Spouter. +"Even if the storm clears away, the trail will be very wet and +slippery." + +It still lacked an hour to noon, and with nothing else to do the boys +tethered their horses and then proceeded to investigate their +surroundings. From the campfire they obtained several torches, and with +these in hand they moved along slowly around the bend of the cave and +over a series of rocks which led upward. + +"It certainly is a larger cave than I supposed," said Jack, as he and Gif +led the way, with the others close behind. + +"I think I see a light ahead, Jack," was Gif's remark. "That must be +another opening to the cave." + +"Maybe the two caves that Jackson mentioned are really one, and this +passageway connects them." + +"We'll soon find out." + +By this time all but one of the torches had burnt themselves out. But +this the lads did not mind, for the light ahead was steadily increasing, +showing that they could not be far from another opening. + +"Look!" called Jack suddenly. And then he added: "Keep quiet, all of +you!" + +He pointed ahead and there, around a bend of the rocks, all saw two +figures moving around on horseback. One was the figure of a tall man, and +the other that of a well-grown youth. + +"Why, that's Brassy Bangs!" whispered Fred excitedly. + +"Yes. And the man is Bud Haddon," returned Andy. + +"What do you bet Haddon isn't after Brassy for more money?" put in Fred +excitedly. + +While the youngest Rover was speaking, he and the others saw that the two +figures on horseback had disappeared behind a mass of rocks. + +"I'm going ahead and find out about this," declared Jack. "Come on! So +far as we can see there are only two of them, so the six of us have +nothing to fear." + +"Especially as we're armed," added Fred, who carried his pistol with +him. + +Throwing down the last of their torches, the six boys advanced with +caution. They heard the horses beyond the rocks occasionally stamping a +hoof and caught a faint murmur of voices. Then, led by Jack, they mounted +the rocks noiselessly, presently gaining a point where they could look +directly down upon Brassy Bangs and his companion. + +"It's all wrong, Bud Haddon, and you know it!" they heard Brassy declare. +"And sooner or later the authorities will get after you for this." + +"See here, Lester Bangs, you don't have to preach to me!" growled Bud +Haddon. "You're just as deep in some things as I am in others." + +"It isn't true, and you know it!" whined Brassy. And now the lads who +were listening could see that their fellow-cadet was very much upset. +"I'm not guilty, and I never have been guilty of any wrongdoing!" + +"You tell that to the police and see what they have to say about it," +sneered Haddon, "You know well enough that you set fire to John Calder's +barn and burnt up horses that was worth thousands of dollars." + +"And I always said it was some cowboys or tramps that did it!" stormed +Brassy. + +"Not much! You did it! I know it, and so do Jillson and Dusenbury! We've +got the goods on you." + +"What were Jillson and Dusenbury and you doing around the place?" +questioned Brassy suddenly. + +"Never mind what we were doing around there. We know you set the barn on +fire. Didn't you have a quarrel with old Calder?" + +"Yes, I did. But I didn't make any fire. Maybe you had a quarrel with him +yourself." + +"Hold on there, Bangs! None of that!" cried Bud Haddon sternly. + +"Well, you wouldn't be too good to set the fire," added Brassy, with +sudden recklessness. "Not after the way you are acting out here, running +away with those horses, and after the way you acted at Colby Hall, trying +to rob every room in the place!" + +"Wait a minute now! Wait a minute!" returned the man sarcastically. "Who +was it lent me his uniform and who was it that told me just what rooms to +go into? Answer me those questions, will you?" + +"You wouldn't have gotten hold of the uniform and you wouldn't have +gotten any information if you hadn't threatened me in all sorts of ways," +answered Brassy, somewhat lamely. "I wish now that I'd never had anything +to do with you!" + +"Well, you keep your tongue between your teeth, or else you'll get +yourself in the hottest kind of water!" burst out Bud Haddon. "Don't you +know that they can send you to prison for ten years for what you did?" + +"I haven't said anything to anybody as yet," answered Brassy hastily. + +"Well, you see that you don't!" + +"But I didn't set Calder's barn on fire--really I didn't!" pleaded the +boy. "I don't see why you won't believe me." + +"I'm willing to let that matter drop if only you'll keep a civil tongue +in your head and mind what you're doing," returned Bud Haddon. "And don't +forget--I want at least a hundred dollars more just as soon as you can +lay your hands on it." + +"I don't see how I'm going to get it. I'm expecting some money from my +uncle. But that has got to pay for my tuition at Colby Hall this fall." + +"Well, you let the school wait for its money and you turn it over to me. +They won't want you there anyhow if they should find out what sort of a +fellow you are," went on Bud Haddon coarsely. "Now I've got to be getting +back to Bimbel's, rain or no rain," he continued. "Just remember, you've +got to fork over a hundred in cold cash before you start East again. If +you don't--well, look out, that's all!" And with this threat the tall man +rode out of the cave. + +The Rovers and their chums had listened to every word that had been +spoken. They were both mystified and amazed by what had been said. + +"That fellow Haddon is surely a first-class rascal," whispered Spouter to +Jack. + +"Do you know what I think we had better do?" returned the young major. +"Let's stop Brassy and have a straight talk with him. I don't think he's +quite as bad as we thought he might be." + +"Yes, let us stop Brassy by all means," came in a low tone from Fred. + +Brassy Bangs had ridden to the mouth of the cave and there sat astride of +his horse, watching Bud Haddon as he galloped away though the rain. Then +he turned back in anything but a cheerful humor. The other boys saw him +dismount and sink down on a rock, covering his face with his hands. + +"Come on," said Jack, and without more ado he scrambled down from the +rocks and came around to where Brassy was sitting, and the others did the +same. + +Brassy's misery was so great that for several seconds he did not notice +their approach. Then, he looked up startled and leaped to his feet. + +"Where did you come from?" he demanded, as soon as he could speak. + +"We came from the other end of the cave, Brassy," answered Jack. + +"How long have you been here?" + +"We've been here long enough to hear the talk you had with that fellow +named Haddon," answered Fred. + +"You did!" Brassy turned pale. "It wasn't very nice to listen when you +had no business to!" + +"Never mind about that now, Brassy. What we want to know is, did you or +that fellow rob Colby Hall?" + +"He did it! I didn't have a thing to do with it--at least, willingly!" +cried Brassy Bangs. "He forced me to do everything I did. He threatened +me in all sorts of ways--said he would put me in prison and all that if I +didn't help him. Oh, he's the worst man there ever was!" groaned the +overwrought boy. And now the others could see that he was on the verge of +collapse. + +"See here, Brassy, why don't you tell us the whole story?" put in Gif +kindly. + +"Why should I tell my story to you? All you fellows are against me--you +always were!" + +"We're not against you, Brassy," answered Jack. "If you can prove to us +that you're really being hounded by that man, we'll do what we can to +help you. Isn't that so, fellows?" And at this question the others +nodded. + +"Hounded is right! He's done nothing but hound me ever since he knew me," +whined the accused one. + +"You tell me one thing!" demanded Spouter, striding up and catching +Brassy by the shoulder. "Did that rascal steal the horses from our +ranch?" + +"I think he did--in fact, I'm about certain he did. That is, either he or +the fellows he's in league with." + +"Who are those other fellows?" + +"Two fellows who just came out here from Chicago named Jillson and +Dusenbury and two others from Bimbel's ranch named Noxley and Jenks. The +whole bunch were mixed up with Bimbel some years ago in a shady +transaction, and they lit out for quite a while. But now they're back +again." + +"I don't see why you want to get mixed up with a crowd like that," was +Andy's comment. + +"I didn't want to get mixed up with 'em," declared Brassy. "I haven't had +a thing to do with any of 'em except Bud Haddon. Oh, I wish I'd never met +that man!" And now Brassy seemed almost on the verge of tears. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +A CONFESSION + + +After that it was an easy matter for the other boys to get Brassy to make +a complete confession. + +"My first trouble came when I got a job with John Calder who has a farm +on the outskirts of Omaha," said Brassy. "I had had a quarrel at home, +and also a quarrel with my uncle here, and had made up my mind to get a +place and support myself. But I couldn't get along with Calder, who was a +very strict man, and one afternoon we had a lively quarrel, and I told +him I'd leave, and I did so and went to Omaha. About a week after that +Calder's barn burned down and a number of horses were caught in the fire. +That was just after I had fallen in with Bud Haddon and his two chums, +Jillson and Dusenbury. Haddon pretended to be quite friendly. But all at +once he accused me of setting the fire and said that Jillson and +Dusenbury, who had left the day before, could prove it. I protested my +innocence, but he insisted I was guilty and worked me up to such an +extent that I gave him almost every dollar I had in my pocket to keep him +quiet." + +"And you say positively that you had nothing to do with the fire?" +questioned Fred. + +"Not a thing!" + +"Couldn't you prove that you weren't there when the fire took place?" +asked Andy. + +"No, I couldn't, because I went to a vaudeville show that evening, and I +was among strangers, so that I couldn't account for my time." + +"Did Haddon hound you when you came to Colby Hall?" questioned Gif. + +"He certainly did--not once, but half a dozen times. And I gave him all +the money I could scrape up. In fact, I even borrowed some money from +Halliday and a couple of the other fellows." + +"But what about the robbery at the Hall?'" questioned Fred. + +"Several times Haddon came to me and spoke in a mysterious manner about +its being an easy matter to make a big haul. Then he hinted about the +robbery; but I would have nothing to do with it. On the afternoon when we +were getting ready to celebrate that night, he sent word that he wanted +to see me at a certain barn not far from the school. When I got there he +demanded that I help him go through the bedrooms while the fellows were +having a good time on the campus and down by the river. I said I wouldn't +do it, and then all of a sudden he hit me on the head and knocked me +down. Then he stripped me of my trousers and jacket and tied me fast in +one of the disused horse stalls." + +"And you mean to say he used your uniform in stealing into the school?" +asked Spouter. + +"That's it. I didn't know it at the time, because he went to another part +of the barn where I couldn't see him. But later on, when he brought the +uniform back, he told me all about it. He thought he had been wonderfully +slick." + +"Why didn't you expose him at once?" demanded Jack. + +"He told me that if I exposed him he would tell the authorities that I +had planned the whole scheme and that I had done most of the work myself. +He said some one had seen him in the uniform scooting from one room to +another, so that the report would circulate that some cadet was guilty. +He got me so worked up that at last I promised to keep quiet." + +"And had he really robbed your room, too?" demanded Fred. + +"Yes. I lost my stuff just as I reported. Oh, you can't imagine how I +felt!" went on Brassy Bangs in a hopeless tone of voice. "Many a time I +thought I'd go to Colonel Colby and confess everything. But then I +thought they would bring that old charge of barn-burning up against me, +as well as the charge of helping in the robbery, and I didn't have nerve +enough to say a word. Oh, I know I was a big fool! I should have faced it +out!" + +"Wait a minute!" put in Jack suddenly. "Are you pretty sure Haddon, as +well as Dusenbury and Jillson, are guilty of making off with the horses +that are missing?" + +"I am!" + +"Well, then, isn't it possible that those three went to this John +Calder's barn and stole some of the horses and then set fire to the place +to cover the theft?" + +"By golly, I'll bet that's just what they did!" burst out Brassy Bangs. +"I remember now that the reports in the newspapers said the fire had been +so fierce that the carcasses of the horses had been burnt up completely. +They only found some of the bones in the ruins. Oh, if they really did do +that!" + +"Did Calder have any particularly good horses?" + +"Yes, he had a splendid team of matched grays that were worth +considerable money. He thought more of the grays than he did of all his +other horses put together." + +"I'll wager a toothpick against a lemon that gang stole the grays before +the fire," declared Andy emphatically. + +"The police ought to arrest those three men and put 'em through what they +call the third degree," remarked Gif. + +"I'd like to know one other thing," went on Andy, and now his face showed +a slight grin. "What do you know about your Uncle Jarley's auto running +away by itself?" + +"Oh, please don't mention that tin junk wagon!" pleaded Brassy. "I +started it, and the blamed thing ran over me, and I was lame for a +week." + +"Does your uncle know anything about what Haddon and his crowd are up +to?" questioned Jack. + +"Not exactly. Although he's becoming suspicious of the whole gang around +the Bimbel place. You know he's never trusted Bimbel since the man got +into difficulty with the authorities several years ago." + +After that the seven boys talked the matter over for half an hour longer. +And then the others insisted upon it that Brassy accompany them to the +other entrance to the cave, and there all sat down to partake of the +lunch brought from Big Horn Ranch. + +Brassy appeared much relieved by the confession he had made, and readily +answered all the questions put to him. His assertive manner had left him +entirely, and he appeared quite humble. + +"If he ever gets out of this I'll bet he'll be a different fellow," +whispered Randy to Fred. + +"I think so myself," was the reply. "But how he is going to square +himself with Colonel Colby remains to be seen. It was a serious piece of +business to let Haddon steal all those things from the school and say +nothing about it." + +While the boys were eating the storm stopped, and less than an hour later +the sun was shining as before. + +"I think we might as well be on our way back to the ranch," remarked +Spouter. "The sooner we get there and let our fathers know how matters +stand, the better." + +"Don't you want to go with us, Brassy?" asked Jack. + +"If I did that I couldn't get back to my uncle's place to-night, and then +he'd worry about me. Otherwise I would just as lief go to your place as +not. Now that I've told you everything I'd like to see the whole matter +cleaned up, and quick too." + +"How far is it to your uncle's ranch?" asked Fred. + +"Not over a mile and a half." + +"Then suppose we go there first, and then all of us can strike out for +Big Horn Ranch. Maybe your uncle will want to take part in what is going +on," said Jack. + +"I wish you would go with me!" cried Brassy eagerly. "I'm afraid my uncle +will raise Cain when I tell him the truth." + +"He won't dare do much when we're around," answered Gif. "If he gets too +ugly you can clear out and meet us on the way to our place." + +"That's the talk," said Randy. + +Again there was a discussion, but in the end it was decided that the +whole party should lose no time in getting to Jarley Bangs' ranch. They +would explain matters to Brassy's uncle, and then set out for Songbird +Powell's place. + +The campfire was speedily stamped out, and leaping into the saddle, the +seven boys set out for the Bangs' place, Brassy leading the way, with +Spouter beside him. It was a wet and dismal ride through the woods, and +it is safe to say that Brassy felt every bit as dismal as his +surroundings. + +"Gee, but I certainly am sorry for him!" whispered Andy to his twin. "He +isn't a fellow that I would cotton to, but he certainly has got himself +into a pickle." + +Presently the woods were left behind and they came out on the open +prairie. Here the sun shone brightly, and the trail was drying rapidly. +They urged their steeds into a gallop, and in a short while came in sight +of the Jarley Bangs' outfit. + +As they rode up they saw Jarley Bangs come from the ranch house and move +swiftly toward one of the stables where the horses were kept. He was +evidently in a hurry and much excited. + +"Hello! where have you been?" he demanded of his nephew. "Where did you +pick up these chaps?" + +"I met 'em during the storm over at Twin Caves," answered Brassy. + +"It's a wonder you wouldn't stay around the house once in a while," +grumbled Jarley Bangs. "If you would, maybe I wouldn't be losing +things." + +"Losing things! What do you mean, Uncle Jarley?" questioned the nephew +quickly. + +"What do I mean?" stormed the ranch owner. "Do you know what has happened +since you went away?" + +"No." + +"Well, then, I'll tell you! Two of our best horses have been stolen! +Right out of the stable, too!" exclaimed Jarley Bangs wrathfully. "Duster +and old Whitehead!" + +"Stolen!" came from all of the boys simultaneously. + +"Yes, stolen! Nobody saw 'em taken, but they're gone, and not a man on +the ranch was near 'em!" + +"I'll wager that's more of Bud Haddon's work," declared Jack quickly. + +"But he wasn't here--he was over at the caves," returned Fred. + +"Well, if he didn't do it, then some members of his gang did," put in +Randy. + +"I'm going to have the law on somebody for this!" stormed Jarley Bangs. +"Too many horses in this neighborhood have been stolen. I'm going to +visit some of the other ranchmen and notify the sheriff, and see if we +can't raise a posse to run down the rascals." + +"That's the way to talk, Mr. Bangs!" cried Spouter. "And we know just +what gang to go after." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +THE CAPTURE--CONCLUSION + + +Less than an hour later found the whole party, including Jarley Bangs, on +the way to Big Horn Ranch. + +Brassy's uncle had listened with keen interest to the story his nephew +and the other lads had to relate. He had interrupted a number of times to +ask questions, and at the finish of the recital had held up both hands in +disgust. + +"You're a bigger fool than I ever thought you were, Lester," he had told +his nephew. "Why in thunder didn't you tell your folks and me all about +this just as soon as it happened? We could have set a trap for those +rascals and caught 'em easy." + +"But, Uncle Jarley, remember how I was tied up in that Colby Hall +affair!" Brassy had pleaded. + +"I don't believe Colonel Colby would hold you responsible for that--not +after he'd made a thorough investigation. But that ain't here nor there. +What we want to do now is to grab those fellows before they've a chance +to make a get-away. I'd just like to ketch 'em with Duster and Whitehead +in their possession! I think I could find enough old-timers around here +to hand all of 'em a rope," and Jarley Bangs' eyes had flashed with a +fire that was anything but agreeable. + +The Rover boys and their chums had thought to take the regular trail +leading back to Big Horn Ranch, but Jarley Bangs told them he knew of a +shorter way. + +"We can cut off over a mile," said he. "And I reckon the quicker we get a +posse out the better." + +"Don't you suppose we can round them up around Bimbel's ranch almost any +time?" queried Spouter. + +"Maybe, and maybe not. We'd probably be able to get the others, but +Haddon, Dusenbury and Jillson come and go. Sometimes they're here, and +sometimes in Omaha and Chicago." + +"Perhaps that's where they disposed of their stolen horses," suggested +Jack. + +"More'n likely." + +Jarley Bangs had armed himself with a double-barreled shotgun, and he +rode in advance with Spouter at his side and the others close behind. + +The way lay across a stretch of prairie and then into the edge of the +woods bordering the river. The party had just gained the water's edge and +were looking for a good fording place when Brassy suddenly uttered an +exclamation. + +"Look up the river, will you? There are those men now! And see! they are +leading a couple of horses!" + +"Get back out of sight, quick!" ordered Jarley Bangs. And in a few +seconds all were behind the bushes which at that point lined the river. + +"Why, they're heading almost straight for Big Horn Ranch!" exclaimed +Spouter excitedly. + +"They're going to follow the old river trail," announced Jarley Bangs. +"More'n likely they'll take to the lower trail when they reach the +forks." + +"Can't we head 'em off and capture 'em?" questioned Fred. + +"I think we can. Anyhow, we can try," was Jarley Bangs' answer. + +The old ranchman made a swift mental calculation and then directed the +boys to follow him to a fording place a little further down the river. +Once on the other side of the watercourse, he urged his steed forward at +topmost speed in the direction of another patch of timber further +southward. + +"They wouldn't dare take the upper trail," he told the lads. "For that +would take 'em too close to Big Horn. They'll come this way, I'm almost +certain." + +It was not easy riding on a trail which was used but seldom. +Nevertheless, the lads hurried after the old ranchman as well as they +could. They wound in and out over some rough rocks and up a small hill, +and presently emerged upon a much better trail. + +"Here is where they ought to pass," announced Jarley Bangs. "Now then, +we'll put our horses in the thicket and then see what we can do toward +pocketing 'em when they come." + +The old ranchman had seen strenuous times in his younger days, and he +seemed to know exactly what to do. He divided the boys into two groups, +placing them on either side of the winding and rocky road. + +"Now if you have to shoot, shoot high so as not to hit anybody on the +other side," was his warning. "But maybe we can get 'em without firing a +shot," he went on. + +Brassy was armed with a small rifle, and he insisted upon remaining in +the roadway with his uncle. The other lads with their pistols and guns +were placed in advantageous positions behind nearby rocks and trees. + +The arrangement was scarcely completed when they heard the tramp of +horses' hoofs over the somewhat rocky trail, and in a minute more Bud +Haddon came into view, followed by Jillson and Dusenbury, all on +horseback and each of the latter leading an extra steed. + +"Throw up your hands!" shouted Jarley Bangs, as the horsemen came closer, +and he leveled his shotgun full at Haddon's head, while Brassy covered +Dusenbury with his rifle. The boys behind the rocks and trees covered all +three men as well as they were able. + +The three rascals had not anticipated such a meeting, and, seeing the +guns leveled at them, not only from the front but also from the sides, +three pairs of hands went up almost as one. + +"It's Bangs!" murmured the man named Dusenbury. "I reckon the jig is +up." + +"Don't dare to budge or I'll blow somebody's head off!" roared Jarley +Bangs. And he looked as if he meant what he said. + +"You've got the drop on me, and I ain't moving," answered Bud Haddon +surlily. + +"Hi, Powell! Come out here, will you?" went on Brassy Bangs' uncle. And +then, as Spouter came from the bushes with rifle in hand, he continued. +"Go up there and take every one of their guns away from 'em." + +As soon as they had been disarmed the three rascals were told to dismount +and stand in a line along the side of the road. Then, as the boys +confronted them, Jarley Bangs went through their pockets once more to +make sure that no weapon had been overlooked. + +"Fine piece of business, to run away with my horses!" exclaimed the old +ranch owner, and he jerked his head in the direction of the two animals +the men had been leading. + +With their hands tied in front of them, the men were made to remount, and +then the entire party lost no time in heading for Big Horn Ranch. + +"I'll fix you for this!" hissed Haddon at Brassy when he got the chance. + +"You do your worst!" retorted the boy. "I'm not afraid of you any more." + +Of course, there was great excitement at the ranch when the crowd came in +with the three prisoners. The story of what had happened was quickly +circulated, and Joe Jackson and a number of the cowboys were called in +from the ranges. One of the cowboys was sent off to notify a deputy +sheriff of what had occurred and of what the ranch owners expected to do, +and two other cowboys were started off to notify the owners of other +ranches in that vicinity. + +As a consequence early the next morning a posse consisting of twelve men +headed for Bimbel's ranch. Of course, the boys wanted to go along, but +they were forced to remain behind, much to their chagrin. + +"You might get shot," said Songbird Powell. "And, besides that, you have +had glory enough, helping to catch these three rascals," and he smiled +faintly. + +The affair at Bimbel's was rather a strenuous one. Jenks and Noxley, as +well as Bimbel, tried to escape, and Noxley was shot in the leg. The +fellow thought he was going to die, and while waiting for the doctor to +come and attend him he made a full confession concerning the stealing of +many of the horses in that neighborhood. He said that Bud Haddon was at +the head of the gang and that Haddon, with Jillson and Dusenbury, were in +the habit of disposing of the animals either at Omaha or Chicago, +although one or two steeds, including one belonging to the former owners +of Big Horn Ranch had been sent further east. + +"I guess it was one of the early thefts that took Haddon to Haven Point," +declared Jack, and in that surmise he was correct. + +With this evidence against them, Haddon, Jillson and Dusenbury were +submitted to a severe gruelling, each being examined separately. Finally +Dusenbury broke down completely and admitted that he and the other two +had fired John Calder's barn after stealing his noted pair of gray +horses. The horses had been shipped out of town, and were later on +recovered, as were also Mr. Powell's Blackbird and several other of the +animals. + +When Bud Haddon's effects were examined many pawn tickets were +discovered, and following up the clues thus afforded Colonel Colby +managed to get back many of the articles stolen from the school. These +included Professor Duke's heirloom watch and a number of the things lost +by our friends. + +At first it was thought that Brassy might be prosecuted, but when Bud +Haddon was brought to trial for the thefts the State used the youth as a +witness against the fellow, and consequently Brassy was allowed to go +free. He, however, received a stern lecture from Colonel Colby and was +then told that he had better not return to the Hall. + +"I don't think I want to come back," said Brassy. "A whole lot of the +fellows would never forgive me for what I did." And in this surmise he +was probably correct. Brassy returned to his uncle's ranch, and that was +the last heard of him for a long time. + +With the mystery of the robbery at Colby Hall and of the missing horses +cleared up, the Rover boys and all the other young folks at Big Horn +Ranch turned their attention once more to having a good time. Sam Rover +went back to New York to take charge of the offices in Wall Street, and +that gave Dick Rover and his wife a chance to come out and pay the ranch +a visit. + +"We've certainly had some strenuous times here," remarked Jack one day. + +And he was right. But other strenuous times were still in store for the +lads, and what some of these were will be related in the next volume, to +be entitled, "The Rover Boys at Big Bear Lake; or, The Camps of the Rival +Cadets." + +"Big Horn Ranch is a delightful place," said Ruth. "I never thought a +spot where they raised cattle could be so interesting." + +"Is your father going to stay out here and become a regular ranchman, +Spouter?" questioned Fred. + +"I don't know about that," answered the ranch owner's son. "He'll stay +here for a while, anyway. He likes it better and better every day." + +"I dink some day I got me a ranch mineself alreatty," remarked Hans +Mueller. "Den I could raise all mine own meats for mine delicatessen +stores, not so?" and he smiled complacently. + +"Come on, boys, let's get on horseback and have a race!" cried Andy, as +he came up from finishing a game of lawn tennis with Mary. + +"I'm with you," answered Fred, who had been playing a game of croquet +with May and some of the others. + +"All right! A horseback race it is!" cried Jack. + +"An extra piece of cake to the boy who wins!" shouted his sister Martha +after him. + +"Hurrah! Me for that piece of cake!" came from every one of the boys +assembled. + +And here, while they are running down to the corral pell-mell to get on +their horses for a gallop across the prairie, we will leave them and say +good-bye. + + +THE END + + + * * * * * + + +THE FAMOUS ROVER BOYS SERIES +BY ARTHUR M. WINFIELD +(Edward Stratemeyer) + +OVER THREE MILLION COPIES SOLD OF THIS SERIES + +Uniform Style of Binding. Colored Wrappers. +Every Volume Complete in Itself. + +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 ON LAND AND SEA +THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP +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 ROVER BOYS AT COLBY HALL +THE ROVER BOYS ON SNOWSHOE ISLAND +THE ROVER BOYS UNDER CANVAS +THE ROVER BOYS ON A HUNT +THE ROVER BOYS IN THE LAND OF LUCK +THE ROVER BOYS AT BIG HORN RANCH +THE ROVER BOYS AT BIG BEAR LAKE +THE ROVER BOYS SHIPWRECKED + +Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York + + * * * * * + +THE TOM SWIFT SERIES +By VICTOR APPLETON + +Uniform Style of Binding. Individual Colored Wrappers. +Every Volume Complete in Itself. + +Every boy possesses some form of inventive genius. Tom Swift is a bright, +ingenious boy and his inventions and adventures make the most interesting +kind of reading. + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE +TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP +TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE +TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS +TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE +TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE +TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER +TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA +TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT +TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON +TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP +TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL +TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT +TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH +TOM SWIFT AND AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE +TOM SWIFT AND HIS FLYING BOAT +TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT OIL GUSHER + +Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ROVER BOYS AT BIG HORN RANCH*** + + +******* This file should be named 26539.txt or 26539.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/5/3/26539 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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