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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Dave Porter and His Classmates, by Edward
+Stratemeyer, Illustrated by Charles Nuttall
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
+other parts of the world 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.  If you are not located in the United States, you'll have
+to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.
+
+
+
+
+Title: Dave Porter and His Classmates
+       For the Honor of Oak Hall
+
+
+Author: Edward Stratemeyer
+
+
+
+Release Date: October 30, 2016  [eBook #53414]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES***
+
+
+E-text prepared by David Edwards, Brian Wilsden, and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images
+generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+      file which includes the original illustrations.
+      See 53414-h.htm or 53414-h.zip:
+      (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/53414/53414-h/53414-h.htm)
+      or
+      (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/53414/53414-h.zip)
+
+
+      Images of the original pages are available through
+      Internet Archive. See
+      https://archive.org/details/daveporterhiscla00straiala
+
+
+Transcriber's note:
+
+      Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
+
+
+
+
+
+DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES
+
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+EDWARD STRATEMEYER'S BOOKS
+
+
+Old Glory Series
+
+_Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume._
+
+  UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA.      UNDER OTIS IN THE PHILIPPINES.
+  A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA.  THE CAMPAIGN OF THE JUNGLE.
+  FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS.   UNDER MacARTHUR IN LUZON.
+
+Soldiers of Fortune Series
+
+_Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume._
+
+  ON TO PEKIN.                AT THE FALL OF PORT ARTHUR.
+  UNDER THE MIKADO'S FLAG.    WITH TOGO FOR JAPAN.
+
+Colonial Series
+
+_Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume._
+
+  WITH WASHINGTON IN THE WEST.   ON THE TRAIL OF PONTIAC.
+  MARCHING ON NIAGARA.           THE FORT IN THE WILDERNESS.
+  AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL.       TRAIL AND TRADING POST.
+
+Mexican War Series
+
+_Cloth. Illustrated. Price Per volume $1.00._
+
+  FOR THE LIBERTY OF TEXAS.  WITH TAYLOR ON THE RIO GRANDE.
+                 UNDER SCOTT IN MEXICO.
+
+Pan-American Series
+
+_Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.00._
+
+  LOST ON THE ORINOCO.              YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE AMAZON.
+  THE YOUNG VOLCANO EXPLORERS.      TREASURE SEEKERS OF THE ANDES.
+  YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE ISTHMUS.   CHASED ACROSS THE PAMPAS.
+
+Dave Porter Series
+
+_Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume._
+
+  DAVE PORTER AT OAK HALL.        DAVE PORTER ON CAVE ISLAND.
+  DAVE PORTER IN THE SOUTH SEAS.  DAVE PORTER AND THE RUNAWAYS.
+  DAVE PORTER'S RETURN TO SCHOOL. DAVE PORTER IN THE GOLD FIELDS.
+  DAVE PORTER IN THE FAR NORTH.   DAVE PORTER AT BEAR CAMP.
+  DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES. DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE.
+  DAVE PORTER AT STAR RANCH.      DAVE PORTER'S GREAT SEARCH.
+  DAVE PORTER AND HIS RIVALS.     DAVE PORTER UNDER FIRE.
+                  DAVE PORTER'S WAR HONORS.
+
+Lakeport Series
+
+_Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume._
+
+  THE GUN CLUB BOYS OF LAKEPORT.   THE FOOTBALL BOYS OF LAKEPORT.
+  THE BASEBALL BOYS OF LAKEPORT.   THE AUTOMOBILE BOYS OF LAKEPORT.
+  THE BOAT CLUB BOYS OF LAKEPORT.  THE AIRCRAFT BOYS OF LAKEPORT.
+
+American Boys' Biographical Series
+
+_Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume._
+
+  AMERICAN BOYS' LIFE OF WILLIAM McKINLEY.
+  AMERICAN BOYS' LIFE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
+
+DEFENDING HIS FLAG. _Price $1.75._
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+
+[Illustration: THE BIG TOURING CAR SHOT PAST THE CARRYALL.--_Page
+249._]
+
+
+Dave Porter Series
+
+DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES
+
+Or
+
+For the Honor of Oak Hall
+
+by
+
+EDWARD STRATEMEYER
+
+Author of "Dave Porter at Oak Hall," "The Old Glory Series,"
+"Colonial Series," "Pan-American Series,"
+"Soldiers of Fortune Series," etc.
+
+Illustrated by Charles Nuttall_
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[ILLUSTRATION]
+
+Boston
+Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co.
+
+Published, March, 1909
+
+Copyright, 1909, by Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co.
+
+All rights reserved
+
+DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES
+
+Norwood Press
+Berwick & Smith Co.
+Norwood, Mass.
+U. S. A.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+
+"Dave Porter and His Classmates" is a complete story in itself, but
+forms the fifth volume in a line issued under the general title of
+"Dave Porter Series."
+
+The first book of this series, "Dave Porter at Oak Hall," introduced to
+the reader a typical American youth of to-day, full of vim and vigor,
+and with a true sense of manliness, and related the particulars of some
+doings at a modern boarding school. At this institution of learning
+Dave, by pluck and perseverance, fought his way to the front, and was
+admired accordingly.
+
+There was a cloud on the youth's parentage, and in order to clear this
+away he took a long and eventful sea voyage, as related in the second
+volume of the series, called "Dave Porter in the South Seas." Thousands
+of miles from home he found an uncle and learned something of his
+father and sister, who were then traveling in Europe.
+
+As was but natural, the lad was anxious to meet all his relatives,
+but the address of his father and sister could not be obtained, and
+while waiting for this he returned to Oak Hall, as related in the next
+volume, entitled "Dave Porter's Return to School." At school Dave lived
+a truly strenuous life, becoming innocently involved in some robberies,
+aiding to win some great football games, and helping to bring the bully
+of the academy to a realization of his better self.
+
+In the midst of his school life Dave learned that his father had been
+heard from. More anxious than ever to meet his parent he, in company
+with an old chum, set sail for England, and then went to Norway, as
+related in "Dave Porter in the Far North." Here, amid the ice and snow
+of the Land of the Midnight Sun, Dave found his father, and learned
+much of his sister, which filled him with great satisfaction.
+
+It was now time for the youth to return to school, and in the present
+volume I have related some of the things that took place at Oak Hall
+after Dave got back,--how he worked hard, played hard, overcame his
+enemies, and what he did for the honor of the academy.
+
+Once more I thank the young people for the interest they have shown in
+my books. I trust that the reading of the present volume will do them
+much good.
+
+  EDWARD STRATEMEYER.
+
+_February 1, 1909_
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+  CHAPTER                                         PAGE
+
+  I.      DAVE AND HIS PAST                          1
+
+  II.     WHAT LAURA HAD TO TELL                    11
+
+  III.    ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL                      21
+
+  IV.     THE FUN OF A NIGHT                        31
+
+  V.      WHAT HAPPENED TO NAT POOLE                41
+
+  VI.     WHAT A BIG SNOWBALL DID                   51
+
+  VII.    PRISONERS IN THE SCHOOL                   61
+
+  VIII.   A MOVE IN THE DARK                        71
+
+  IX.     VERA ROCKWELL                             81
+
+  X.      DAVE SPEAKS HIS MIND                      91
+
+  XI.     AT THE OLD GRANARY                       101
+
+  XII.    GUS PLUM'S STORY                         111
+
+  XIII.   THE GEE EYES' INITIATION                 121
+
+  XIV.    IN WHICH JOB HASKERS GETS
+          LEFT IN THE COLD                         131
+
+  XV.     WHAT MIKE MARCY HAD TO TELL              141
+
+  XVI.    SOMETHING ABOUT LESSONS                  151
+
+  XVII.   SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL                  161
+
+  XVIII.  THE BOXING BOUT                          171
+
+  XIX.    AT THE EXPRESS OFFICE                    181
+
+  XX.     A MISUNDERSTANDING                       191
+
+  XXI.    IN WHICH THE BOYS GIVE AN
+          ENTERTAINMENT                            201
+
+  XXII.   FORMING THE BASEBALL CLUB                211
+
+  XXIII.  A GREAT VICTORY                          221
+
+  XXIV.   ON BUSH ISLAND                           231
+
+  XXV.    WHAT AN AUTOMOBILE DID                   241
+
+  XXVI.   A DEFEAT FOR OAK HALL                    250
+
+  XXVII.  STUCK ON A SANDBAR                       260
+
+  XXVIII. LINK MERWELL HAS HIS SAY                 270
+
+  XXIX.   DAVE MAKES UP HIS MIND                   280
+
+  XXX.    DAVE TAKES THE LAW IN HIS OWN HANDS      289
+
+  XXXI.   MORE VICTORIES--CONCLUSION               298
+
+
+
+
+ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+  The big touring car shot past the
+  carryall (page 249)                                  _Frontispiece_
+                                                                 PAGE
+
+  The big snowball hit the craft and bowled it over, (_missing_)   52
+
+  "It's a shame to make you eat without a fork, Phil"              74
+
+  "Now to Jackson's Gully with him!"                              124
+
+  Dave pointed out the form of the sleep-walker, (_missing_)      164
+
+  Down went the back part, letting him fall
+  most unexpectedly                                               208
+
+  "Well, you can row if you want to," sneered Poole               232
+
+  Raising his oar, he hit the bully a blow on the shoulder        274
+
+
+
+
+DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+DAVE AND HIS PAST
+
+
+"I suppose you feel very happy to-day, Dave."
+
+"Yes, Roger, happy and anxious," answered Dave Porter. "And who
+wouldn't feel so if he was in my place? Just think of it! I am to see
+my sister at last--somebody I've never seen before in my life! Why,
+sometimes I have to pinch myself to make certain I am really awake."
+
+"More than likely Laura is just as anxious as you are," went on Roger
+Morr. "She'll surely want to know how her long-missing brother looks.
+Remember, she hasn't had a photograph of you, while you have seen
+several of her."
+
+"That is so," answered Dave. His usually smiling face took on a serious
+look. "I trust she isn't disappointed in me or my looks."
+
+"Oh, she won't be, don't worry about that. You're a good-looking
+fellow, even if I do have to say it for you, Dave. If you don't believe
+it, just ask Jessie Wadsworth." And Roger Morr began to grin. "I know
+Jessie will say at once that you are the dearest, sweetest----"
+
+"Come now, Roger, let up!" interrupted Dave, growing red in the face.
+"Supposing Jessie should hear you?" And he looked anxiously toward the
+sitting-room door, which was partly open.
+
+"There is no harm in telling the truth," returned Roger, with a
+calmness that made Dave blush still more. "But joking aside, Dave, I
+really hope this day proves to be the happiest of your life, and Laura
+turns out to be the jolliest of sisters."
+
+"Hello, in there!" came a pleasant, boyish voice from the doorway, and
+a youth showed himself, with a pair of bright, nickel-plated skates on
+his arm. "Thought you were going skating, Roger?"
+
+"So I am, Phil. I just stopped to speak to Dave for a moment. He is
+going off now to meet his sister."
+
+"Oh!" Phil Lawrence came into the room and faced his chum. "Well,
+I can't say any more than what I've said before, Dave--I wish you
+the best of luck. I am sure you'll find it awfully nice to have a
+sister--especially after what you've had to put up with in the past."
+
+"Don't you fellows really want to go with me?" asked Dave.
+
+"Of course we do, but---- Well, Roger and I talked it over and we--that
+is--well, we thought it would be nice to let you go with your father
+and uncle--kind of family gathering, you know. We'll be on hand by the
+time you get back to the house."
+
+At that moment the merry jingle of sleighbells sounded from outside the
+mansion and a comfortable two-seated sleigh came up to the door, driven
+by one of the men from the barn.
+
+"There is your turnout ready for you!" cried Roger. "What time does
+that Western train get in?"
+
+"Ten-twenty, if it's on time," replied Dave promptly, for he had the
+time-table well in mind. "But the snowstorm may have delayed it."
+
+"Well, I hope for your sake the train is on time," said Phil Lawrence.
+"If it isn't, I suppose every minute's delay will seem like an hour to
+you."
+
+"More like two," answered Dave, and then, as he heard his father
+calling to him, he hurried out into the hall. There stood Mr. David
+Porter and his brother Dunston, both ready for the long drive to the
+depot. Behind the pair were a lady and gentleman of middle age, Mr. and
+Mrs. Wadsworth, and their daughter Jessie, while in the library door,
+holding a ponderous volume on botany in his hands, was an elderly man
+with white hair, Caspar Potts.
+
+All of the party looked at Dave, for they knew what was in the youth's
+mind and what was on his heart. He had waited a long, long time for
+this day to come, and now he was a little timid about the result; why,
+he could not exactly tell. Perhaps because he had pictured his sister
+Laura to be one kind of a person and he was afraid she might prove
+something different.
+
+"We mustn't be late," said Mr. Porter, breaking a momentary silence.
+He, too, was anxious over the coming meeting of son and daughter. It
+made his heart bound with pleasure to think that his little family were
+to be united at last.
+
+"Remember, dinner will be waiting for you, no matter if the train is
+late," said Mrs. Wadsworth.
+
+"And I'm to sit on one side of Laura and Dave on the other," put in
+Jessie, flinging back her curls that insisted at times on falling about
+her face. "Oh, won't it be glorious, Dave! I know I am going to love
+Laura, and I know she is going to love me--at least, I hope so."
+
+Dave looked at her and smiled--he thought a great deal of Jessie, he
+simply couldn't help it. Then he turned and followed his father and
+Uncle Dunston down to the sleigh. The three got in and Mr. Porter took
+up the reins. A word to the stylish team and off they sped, through the
+spacious grounds of the Wadsworth mansion and down the road leading to
+the railroad station.
+
+Dave wanted to talk to his father and uncle, but somehow his heart was
+too full and the words would not come. His whole mind was centered upon
+meeting his sister, whom, so far as he could remember, he had never
+seen. He did not dream of the unexpected news Laura would bring him.
+
+To those who have read the former volumes of this "Dave Porter Series,"
+the characters already mentioned will need no special introduction.
+For the benefit of others let me state that Dave Porter was a youth
+who had had a varied experience in life. When a small boy he had been
+found wandering along the railroad tracks just outside of the village
+of Crumville. Nobody knew who he was or where he came from, and as a
+consequence he was put in the local poorhouse, where he remained until
+about nine years old. Then an old college professor, Caspar Potts, who
+on account of broken health had taken up farming, took the boy to live
+with him.
+
+Caspar Potts meant well, but he got in the grasp of a money-lender,
+Aaron Poole, as related in detail in my first story, called "Dave
+Porter at Oak Hall." Times looked exceedingly black for the old man and
+for Dave when there came a happening which turned the whole aspect of
+affairs.
+
+In an elegant mansion of the outskirts of the town lived Mr. Oliver
+Wadsworth, a rich manufacturer, with his wife and daughter Jessie, the
+latter a beautiful miss some years younger than Dave. One day Dave
+called at the mansion on business. Jessie was waiting for an automobile
+ride, and through an accident to the gasoline tank of the car the
+girl's clothing took fire, and she might have been burned to death had
+not Dave rushed to her assistance and put out the flames.
+
+Of course the Wadsworths were exceedingly grateful, and when the
+gentleman of the place learned that Caspar Potts was one of his old
+college professors he at once interested himself in the old man's
+behalf.
+
+"You must come and live with me," he said. "You can do some work around
+the place and in arranging my library--and you must bring the boy with
+you." He had had a son who had died, and Dave reminded him strongly of
+that offspring.
+
+At the Wadsworth home Dave made himself a great favorite, and he and
+Jessie became the closest of friends. The rich manufacturer wanted the
+lad to have a good education, and so he was sent off to Oak Hall, a
+fine institution of learning. With Dave went Ben Basswood, a youth of
+Crumville who had been the poorhouse lad's chum for some years.
+
+At Oak Hall, Dave proved himself a leader in many sports, and as a
+consequence he gained a host of friends, including Roger Morr, the
+son of a United States senator, and Phil Lawrence, the offspring of a
+wealthy shipowner. He also made several enemies, not the least of whom
+was Nat Poole, the son of the money-lender who had caused Caspar Potts
+so much worry.
+
+One day Dave's enemies raised the cry of "poorhouse nobody" against
+him. This cut the high-spirited lad to the quick. A fight ensued, in
+which Dave was victorious, and then the boy resolved, at any cost, to
+solve the mystery of his parentage.
+
+How this was accomplished has been related in detail in "Dave Porter
+in the South Seas." With information obtained from an old sailor the
+youth journeyed almost half around the world, and there fell in with
+his uncle, Dunston Porter, who gave him much information concerning his
+father, David Breslow Porter, and also about his sister Laura, one year
+younger than himself, and told how the family had become separated.
+
+Happy in the knowledge that he was no longer a "poorhouse nobody," but
+a well-to-do lad with a large sum of money coming to him when he should
+be of age, Dave returned to the United States. His father and sister
+were in Europe, and while waiting to hear from them he went back to Oak
+Hall, as told in "Dave Porter's Return to School." Here he made many
+more friends. His enemies could no longer twit him about his parentage,
+yet some of them, notably a fellow named Jasniff and Nat Poole, and a
+bully named Gus Plum, did what they could to torment him. Plum, when
+Dave did him a great service, tried to reform, but Jasniff, who was a
+hot-tempered fellow, attempted to strike Dave down with a heavy Indian
+club. This was a dastardly attack, roundly condemned by those who saw
+it, and fearful of what might follow, Nick Jasniff ran away from school
+and set sail for England.
+
+Dave had waited long to hear from his father and sister, and at last
+when he learned that Jasniff had met them in London, he resolved to
+go in quest of them, although he did not yet have their address. In
+company with Roger Morr he crossed the Atlantic, only to find that his
+parent had joined an expedition for the upper part of Norway. How he
+and his chum journeyed to the land of the Midnight Sun has been told
+in all its particulars in "Dave Porter in the Far North." Here Dave
+at last met his father face to face,--a joyous reunion no words can
+express. Then the boy learned that his sister Laura had gone to the
+United States some time before, in company with some friends named
+Endicott, who owned a ranch in the Far West.
+
+"We must telegraph at once for Laura," said Mr. Porter, and several
+telegrams were sent without delay, and, as a consequence, word came
+back that Laura would come as fast as the overland express could bring
+her.
+
+When Dave's friends heard the good news that he had found his father
+some of them came to the Wadsworth home to congratulate him. Among the
+number was Phil Lawrence, and he and Roger were invited to remain with
+Dave until the latter returned to Oak Hall.
+
+"You can all go back together--after Dave has seen his sister," said
+Mr. Porter. "I will fix it up with Doctor Clay, so you won't have
+any trouble over staying out of school a week longer." And so it was
+arranged.
+
+Just before leaving school for his trip to Europe Dave had had a
+bitter quarrel with Nat Poole and a new student at Oak Hall named Link
+Merwell. Merwell was an aggressive fellow, tall and powerful, the son
+of a cattle-owner of the West. His taunting remarks to Dave had led to
+a fight in which the cattle-owner's son had gotten the worse of it.
+
+"I'll get square for this," Link Merwell had said to his crony. "I'll
+make Dave Porter eat humble pie before I am done with him." Then had
+come another quarrel between the Western boy and Mr. Dale, the head
+assistant teacher, and Merwell had come close to being expelled. He had
+gone home for a vacation, stating that he believed Phil Lawrence had
+gotten him into "the mess," as he expressed it, and he had added that
+he would not forgive either Dave or Phil as long as he lived.
+
+"Well, what did you do?" questioned Dave, when he and the shipowner's
+son talked this affair over.
+
+"I didn't do anything," answered Phil. "Merwell wanted me to say that
+he hadn't gone out one night when I knew he did go out. I refused,
+and then he was found out. Oh, but wasn't he mad when he left on his
+vacation! He pounded his fist on a desk and vowed he'd fix me as soon
+as he got back,--and then he added that he'd fix you, too, as soon as
+you got back."
+
+"Mighty interesting," said Dave. "We'll have to watch him and see what
+comes of it." And there the subject was dropped. But it was to come up
+very soon again, and in a manner not anticipated.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+WHAT LAURA HAD TO TELL
+
+
+The train was nearly an hour late, and during that time Dave walked
+impatiently up and down the railroad platform. Occasionally he thought
+of school matters, and his friends and enemies, but most of the time
+his mind was on his sister. His father and his uncle talked together
+and did not interrupt his meditations.
+
+At last a far-away whistle proclaimed the coming of the Western
+express, and Dave's face took on a more eager look than ever. His
+father gazed into his clear eyes and caught him by the arm.
+
+"I trust with all my heart you find Laura all you desire," he said in
+a low tone, and Dave nodded, for his throat was so choked up that he
+could not speak.
+
+The long train rolled in and the passengers for Crumville began to
+alight. "There she is!" cried Dunston Porter and ran forward, with his
+brother and Dave at his heels. A mist seemed to come over the boy's
+eyes and his heart thumped furiously. Then he saw a tall girl standing
+before him, her eyes looking deeply into his own.
+
+"Laura, this is Dave," he heard his father say. Then the girl came
+closer, reached out her arms, and in a moment more brother and sister
+were locked in the closest of embraces. It was such a moment Dave had
+longed for--prayed for--and all on the instant he knew that Laura was
+what he had hoped she would be and that they should love each other
+with the sweetest of sisterly and brotherly love as long as they lived.
+
+Laura was handsome rather than pretty. She had an aristocratic air
+which had come down to her from her mother and grandmother. She was
+stately in her movements and her voice charmed Dave the moment he heard
+it.
+
+"Just to think, you are really and truly my brother!" she exclaimed.
+"Isn't it wonderful!"
+
+"It's wonderful for me to find a sister--and a father," answered Dave.
+"Sometimes I am afraid I'll wake up and find it all a dream."
+
+"When I got papa's telegram I thought it was a dream. One of the
+cowboys on the ranch brought it over from the railroad station. At
+first I thought there must be some mistake, but Mr. Endicott said there
+couldn't be, and so I arranged to come east at once. A gentleman and
+his wife, who had been stopping at the ranch, came with me as far as
+Buffalo. Oh, I really couldn't get here fast enough! Did you get the
+telegram I sent from Chicago?"
+
+"Yes," answered her father. "And the one from the ranch, too."
+
+"I want to hear the whole of the wonderful story just as soon as
+possible," continued Laura. "I promised Belle Endicott I'd send her the
+particulars, for she is dying to know. Belle is my friend, you know.
+Her father is a railroad president, but he owns that ranch, too, and
+they go out there whenever they feel like it, winter or summer. Belle
+said she'd rather read my next letter than a story book." And Laura
+smiled brightly.
+
+"And I shall want to hear all about you and your travels," answered
+Dave. "Oh, I guess we'll have enough to talk about to last a week."
+
+The party of four were soon in the sleigh, with Laura and Dave on the
+front seat. The youth showed how he could handle the team, and in a
+short while drove up to the stepping-stone of the Wadsworth mansion. At
+once there was a rush from within, and the girl was introduced to those
+who had in the past done so much for her brother, and those who were
+Dave's chums. Jessie was a trifle shy at first, but this presently wore
+away, and when Laura heard what the Wadsworths had done for her brother
+she speedily took mother and daughter to her heart, and Jessie and she
+became the best of friends.
+
+It was assuredly a grand gathering around the bountiful table which the
+Wadsworths had supplied, and all lingered long, listening to what the
+various members of the Porter family had to tell: of Dave's doings on
+the Potts farm, at school, and in quest of his relatives; of Dunston
+Porter's treasure hunt in the South Seas; of Mr. David Porter's trip
+to Europe with Laura; and of the girl's adventures on the ranch and
+elsewhere.
+
+"Strange as it may seem, I have met two boys who knew Dave," said
+Laura, during the course of the conversation. "One was that scamp, Nick
+Jasniff, who tried to make himself agreeable in London."
+
+"Yes, I know about him," answered Dave. "But who was the other?"
+
+"The other is the son of the man who owns the cattle ranch next to Mr.
+Endicott's, Mr. Felix Merwell."
+
+"Merwell!" cried Dave, Roger, and Phil in a breath.
+
+"Yes. Why do you look so astonished?"
+
+"Do you mean Link Merwell's father?" asked her brother.
+
+"Yes. Link came out there just a few days before I started for the
+East. He seemed to be a nice sort, and he is one of the best horseback
+riders I ever saw."
+
+"Did you--er--go out with him?" stammered Dave.
+
+"Yes, twice, but not alone--Belle was along." Laura looked at her
+brother, whose face was a study. "What makes you look so queer? You
+know Mr. Merwell, don't you?"
+
+"Oh, yes, we know him," answered Phil, before Dave could speak.
+
+"We'd like to know less of him," added Roger.
+
+"Oh!" And now Laura's face showed her wonder.
+
+"You see, it's this way," continued the senator's son, thinking it
+might be difficult for Dave to explain. "Link Merwell tried to lord it
+over a lot of us fellows at Oak Hall. He's a domineering chap, and some
+of us wouldn't stand for it. I gave him a piece of my mind once, and so
+did Phil, and Dave did more--gave him a sound thrashing."
+
+"Oh, Dave, did you really!" Laura's face showed her distress. "Why,
+I--I thought he was nice enough. Maybe it was only a boyish quarrel,"
+she added, hopefully. "I know boys do fight sometimes with hardly a
+reason for it."
+
+"Dave had a good reason for hitting Merwell," said Phil. "The best
+reason in the world." He looked at Jessie and Mrs. Wadsworth and the
+others. "I'll not spoil this gathering by saying what it was. But it
+was something very mean, and Merwell deserved the drubbing he got."
+
+"Oh, I am so sorry! That is, I don't mean I am sorry Dave thrashed
+him--if he deserved it--but I am sorry that I--I went out with him, and
+that I--I started a correspondence with him. I thought he was nice, by
+his general looks."
+
+"Oh, he can make himself look well, when he dresses up," said Roger.
+"And he can act the gentleman on the outside. But if you get to know
+him thoroughly you'll find him a different sort."
+
+"I don't wish to know him if he's that kind," answered Laura, quickly.
+"But I thought he was all right, especially as he was the son of the
+owner of the next ranch. I am sorry now I ever spoke to him."
+
+"And you have been writing to him?" asked Dave. "I thought you said you
+had met him only a few days before you came away?"
+
+"So I did. But he wanted me to buy something for him in Chicago--a lens
+for his camera, and asked me to write from there, and I did. And, just
+for fun, I sent him two letters I wrote on the train--along with some
+letters to Belle and some other folks I know. I did it to pass the
+time,--so I wouldn't know how long it was taking me to get here. It was
+foolish to do so, and it will teach me a lesson to be careful about
+writing in the future."
+
+"I'm sorry you wrote to him," answered Dave, soberly. But how sorry he
+was to be, and how distressed his sister was to become, he was still to
+learn.
+
+Not further to mar the joy of the occasion Link Merwell's name was
+dropped, and Roger and Phil told of some funny initiations into the
+secret society at Oak Hall, which set everybody to laughing, and then
+Dunston Porter related the particulars of a hunt after bears he had
+once made in the Rockies. Thus the afternoon and evening wore away
+swiftly and all too soon it was time to retire. Laura was given a room
+next to that occupied by Dave, and long after the rest of the house was
+quiet brother and sister sat by a window, looking out at the moonlight
+on the snow and discussing the past.
+
+"You look very much like father," said Laura, "and much like Uncle
+Dunston, too. No wonder that old sailor, Billy Dill, thought he had
+seen you when he only saw Uncle Dunston."
+
+"And father tells me you look like mother," answered Dave, softly. "I
+do not remember her, but if she looked like you she must have been
+very handsome," and Dave smiled and brushed a stray lock back from his
+sister's brow.
+
+"It is too bad she cannot see us now, Dave--how happy it would make
+her! I have missed her so much--it is no easy thing to get along
+without a mother's care, is it?--or a father's care, either. Perhaps
+if mamma were alive I'd be different in some things. I shouldn't be so
+careless in what I do--in making friends with that Link Merwell, for
+instance, and sending him letters." Laura looked genuinely distressed
+as she uttered the last words.
+
+"Well, you didn't know him, so you are not to blame. But I shouldn't
+send him any more letters."
+
+"You can depend upon it I won't."
+
+"He is the kind who would laugh at you for doing it, and make fun of
+you to all his friends."
+
+"He'll not get another line from me, and if he writes I'll return the
+letters," answered Laura, firmly.
+
+"Did he say when he was going back to Oak Hall?"
+
+"Inside of two weeks. He said he had had a little trouble with a
+teacher, and the master of the school had advised him to take a short
+vacation and give the matter a chance to blow over."
+
+Laura had arrived at Crumville on Thursday, and it was decided that
+Dave, Roger, and Phil should not return to Oak Hall until the following
+Monday. On Friday and Saturday the young folks went sleighing and
+skating, Jessie being one of the party, and on Sunday the entire
+household attended church. It was a service into which Dave entered
+with all his heart, and he thanked God from the bottom of his soul
+that at last his sister, as well as his father and his uncle, had been
+restored to him.
+
+"After I go back to boarding school where are you and Laura and Uncle
+Dunston going to stay?" questioned Dave of his father.
+
+Mr. Porter smiled faintly. "I have a little secret about that, Dave,"
+he answered. "I'll tell you later--after everything is ripe."
+
+"I know the Wadsworths would hate to have me leave them--and Professor
+Potts won't want me to go either."
+
+"Well, you wait, Dave,--and see what comes," answered his father; and
+with this the lad had to be content.
+
+Bright and early Monday morning the three boys had breakfast and
+started for the depot, to take the train for Oakdale, the nearest town
+to Oak Hall. Laura, Jessie, and Mr. David Porter went along to see them
+off.
+
+"Now, Dave, I want to see you make the most of this term at school,"
+said Mr. Porter. "Now you have Laura and me, you won't have so much to
+worry about."
+
+"I'll do my level best, father," he answered. "We want you to come out
+at the top of the class," said Laura.
+
+"And Dave can do it too--I know he can," remarked Jessie, and gave him
+a sunny smile of encouragement.
+
+"How about us poor chaps?" asked Roger. "Can't we come in somewhere?"
+
+"Yes, you must come in right after Dave," answered Laura, and this made
+everybody laugh.
+
+"The higher we get in school the harder the work becomes," came from
+Phil. "But I am going to peg away at it--provided the other fellows
+will let me."
+
+"Phil always was very studious," said Dave, with an old-time grin
+spreading over his face. "He'd rather study a problem in geometry or
+translate Latin than read a story book or play baseball; wouldn't you,
+Phil?"
+
+"Not much! and you know it. But if a fellow has got to grind, why----"
+
+"He can grind--and play baseball, too," added Mr. Porter. "My parting
+advice is: when you study, study for all you are worth, and when you
+play, play for all you are worth."
+
+"Here comes the train!" cried Laura, and turning, she kissed her
+brother. "Good-bye, Roger; good-bye, Phil!"
+
+"Good-bye!" came from the others, and a general handshaking followed.
+Then the three chums ran for the train, got aboard, and were off for
+school once more.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL
+
+
+"There is one thing I've forgotten to mention to you," said Phil, as
+the train rolled on its way and Crumville was left far behind. "That
+is that this term Doctor Clay has offered a special set of prizes to
+the students standing highest in various subjects. There is a prize
+for history, another for Latin, and a third for English literature
+and theme-writing. In addition there is to be a special prize for the
+student who can write the best paper on 'The Past and Future of our
+Country.' This last contest is open only to those who stand above the
+eighty per cent. level in their classes."
+
+"That's interesting," answered Dave. "How many reach that level, do you
+think, Phil?"
+
+"Not more than thirty all told, and of those I don't believe more than
+twenty will send in papers."
+
+"Dave, you ought to try," said Roger. "You were always good at
+composition."
+
+"So are you, Roger."
+
+"I'm not as good as you, and I know it. I like history more than
+anything else, and I guess I'll try for that prize."
+
+"Well, what is the past of our country but history?" continued Dave,
+with a smile.
+
+"That part might be easy; but what of the future? I'm no good at
+prophesying."
+
+"Oh, couldn't you speak of the recent inventions and of what is
+coming--marvelous submarine boats, airships, wireless telegraphy,
+wonderful cures by means of up-to-date surgery, and then of the big
+cities of the West, of the new railroads stretching out everywhere, and
+of the fast ocean liners, and the Panama Canal, and the irrigation of
+the Western dry lands, and----"
+
+"Hold on, Dave!" cried Phil. "You are giving Roger all your ammunition.
+Put that in your own paper."
+
+"Oh, there's a whole lot more," was the smiling answer. "The thirty-and
+forty-storied buildings in our big cities, the underground railways,
+the tubes under the rivers, the tremendous suspension bridges, the
+automobile carriages and business trucks,--not to mention the railroad
+trains that are to run on one rail at a speed of a hundred miles an
+hour. Oh, there are lots of things--if one only stops to think of them."
+
+"The prize is yours, Dave!" exclaimed the senator's son. "You've
+mentioned more in three minutes than I would have thought of in three
+weeks. I'll stick to history."
+
+"And I'll stick to English literature--I'm pretty well up on that,
+thank goodness!" said the shipowner's son.
+
+After that the talk drifted to other things--of the doings of the
+students at Oak Hall, and of how Job Haskers, one of the assistant
+teachers, had caught some of the lads playing a trick on Pop Swingly,
+the janitor, and punished them severely for it.
+
+"The trick didn't amount to much," said Phil, "and I rather believe
+Swingly enjoyed it. But old Haskers was in a bilious mood and made the
+fellows stay in after school for three days."
+
+"Were you in it?" asked Dave.
+
+"Yes; and all of us have vowed to get square on Haskers."
+
+"It's a wonder Doctor Clay doesn't get rid of Haskers--he is so
+unpopular," was Roger's comment.
+
+"Haskers is a fine teacher, that's why he is kept. But I like Mr. Dale
+much better," said Dave.
+
+"Oh, everybody does!"
+
+"All but Link Merwell," said Phil. "Isn't it strange, he seems to get
+along very well with Haskers."
+
+"Two of a kind maybe," returned the senator's son.
+
+After a long run the Junction was reached, where the boys had to change
+cars for Oakdale. They got off and found they had twenty-five minutes
+to wait.
+
+"Remember the time we were here and had the trouble with Isaac
+Pludding?" asked Roger.
+
+"I'll never forget it," answered Dave, with a grin. "By the way, as we
+have time to spare let us go around to Denman's restaurant and have a
+cup of chocolate and a piece of pie. That car was so cold it chilled
+me."
+
+Growing boys are always hungry, so, despite the generous breakfast they
+had had, they walked over to the restaurant named. The man who kept it
+remembered them well and smiled broadly as they took seats at a table.
+
+"On your way to school, I suppose," he said, as he served them. "Ain't
+following up Ike Pludding this trip, are you?"
+
+"Hardly," answered Dave. "What do you know of him?"
+
+"I know he is about down and out," answered Amos Denman. "And served
+him right too."
+
+The boys were about to leave the restaurant when Dave chanced to glance
+in one of the windows. There, on a big platter, was an inviting heap
+of chicken salad, above which was a sign announcing it was for sale at
+thirty cents a pint.
+
+"Let me try that salad, will you?" Dave asked.
+
+"Certainly. Want to take some along?" And Amos Denman passed over a
+forkful.
+
+"What are you going to do with chicken salad?" questioned Roger.
+
+"Oh, I thought we might want to celebrate our return by a little feast,
+Roger."
+
+"Hurrah! just the thing!" ejaculated the senator's son. "Is it good? It
+is? All right, I'll take a quart."
+
+"I'll take a quart, too," said Dave. "I guess you can put it all
+together."
+
+"Are those mince pies fresh?" asked Phil, pointing to some in a case.
+
+"Just out of the oven. Feel of them."
+
+"Then I'll take two."
+
+In the end the three youths purchased quite a number of things from the
+restaurant keeper, who tied up the articles in pasteboard boxes wrapped
+in brown paper. Then the lads had to run for the train and were the
+last on board.
+
+It had begun to snow again and the white flakes were coming down
+thickly when the train rolled into the neat little station at Oakdale.
+The boys were the only ones to alight and they looked around eagerly to
+see if the school carryall was waiting for them.
+
+"Hello, fellows!" cried a voice from the end of the platform, and
+Joseph Beggs, usually called Buster because of his fatness, waddled up.
+"Thought you'd be on this train."
+
+"How are you, Buster?" answered Dave, shaking hands. "My, but aren't
+you getting thin!" And he looked the fat boy over with a grin.
+
+"It's worry that's doing it," answered Buster, calmly. "Haven't slept a
+night since you went away, Dave. So you really found your dad and your
+sister! Sounds like a regular six-act-and-fourteen-scene drama. We'll
+have to write it up and get Horsehair to star in it. First Act: Found
+on the Railroad Tracks; Second Act: The Faithful Farm Boy; Third Act:
+The King of the School; Fourth Act----"
+
+"Waiting for the Stage," interrupted Dave. "Keep it, Buster, until
+we're on the way to Oak Hall. Did you come down alone?"
+
+"Not much he didn't come down alone!" cried a voice at Dave's elbow,
+and Maurice Hamilton, always called Shadow, appeared. Maurice was as
+tall and thin as Buster was stout. "Let me feel your hand and know you
+are really here, Dave," he went on. "Why, your story is--is--what shall
+I say?"
+
+"Great," suggested Roger.
+
+"Marvelous," added Phil.
+
+"Out of sight," put in Buster Beggs.
+
+"All good--and that puts me in mind of a story. One time there was
+a----"
+
+"Shadow--so early in the day!" cried the senator's son, reproachfully.
+
+"Oh, you can't shut him off," exploded Buster. "He's been telling
+chestnuts ever since we left the Hall."
+
+"This isn't a chestnut, it's a----"
+
+"Hickory nut," finished Phil; "hard to crack--as the darky said of the
+china egg he wanted to fry."
+
+"It isn't a chestnut or a hickory nut either," expostulated the
+story-teller of the school. "It's a brand-new one. One time there was a
+county----"
+
+"If it's new you ought to have it copyrighted, Shadow," said Roger.
+
+"Perhaps a trade-mark might do," added Dave. "You can get one for----"
+
+"Say, don't you want to hear this story?" demanded Shadow.
+
+"Yes, yes, go on!" was the chorus.
+
+"Now we've had the first installment we'll have to have the finish or
+die," continued Phil, tragically.
+
+"Well, one time there was a county fair, with a number of side shows,
+snakes, acrobats, and such things. One tent had a big sign over it,
+'The Greatest and Most Marvelous Wonder of the Age--A man who plays the
+piano better with his feet than most skilled musicians can play with
+their hands. Admission 10 cents.' That sign attracted a big crowd and
+brought in a lot of money. When the folks got inside a man came out,
+sat down in front of a piano that played with paper rolls, and pumped
+the thing for all he was worth with his feet!"
+
+"Oh, what a sell!" roared Phil. "Shadow, that's the worst you ever
+told."
+
+"Quite a feat," said Dave.
+
+"But painful to the understanding," added Roger. He looked around.
+"Hello, here's Horsehair at last."
+
+He referred to Jackson Lemond, the driver for the school, who was
+always called Horsehair because of the hairs which invariably clung to
+his clothing. The driver was coming down the main street of the town
+with a package of harness dressing in his hand.
+
+"Had to git this," he explained. "How de do, young gents? All ready to
+go to the Hall?"
+
+"Horsehair, we're going to write a play about Dave's discoveries," said
+Buster. "We want you to star in it. We know you can make a hit."
+
+"No starrin' fer me," answered the driver, who had once played minor
+parts in a barn-storming theatrical company. "I'll stick to the hosses."
+
+"But think of it, Horsehair," went on Buster. "We'll have you eaten up
+by cannibals of the South Seas, frozen to death in Norway snowstorms,
+shooting bears as big as elephants, and----"
+
+"Oh, Buster, do let up!" cried Dave. "None of those things are true,
+and you know it. Come ahead, I am anxious to see the rest of the
+fellows," and Dave ran for the carryall, with his dress-suit case in
+one hand and one of the packages from the restaurant in the other.
+
+Soon the crowd had piled into the turnout, Phil on the front seat
+beside the driver, and away they went. The carryall had been put on
+runners and ran as easily as a cutter, having two powerful horses to
+pull it.
+
+All of the boys were in high spirits and as they sped over the snow
+they sang and cracked jokes to their hearts' content. They did not
+forget the old school song, sung to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne," and
+sang this with a vigor that tested their lungs to the uttermost:
+
+  "Oak Hall we never shall forget,
+    No matter where we roam;
+  It is the very best of schools,
+    To us it's just like home!
+  Then give three cheers, and let them ring
+    Throughout this world so wide,
+  To let the people know that we
+    Elect to here abide!"
+
+"By the way, how is Gus Plum getting along these days?" asked Dave of
+Shadow Hamilton, during a pause in the fun. He referred, as my old
+readers know, to a youth who in days gone by had been a great bully at
+the Hall.
+
+"Gus Plum needs watching," was the low answer, so that none of the
+other boys might hear. "He is better in some ways, Dave, and much worse
+in others."
+
+"How do you mean, Shadow?"
+
+"I can't explain here--but I'll do it in private some day," answered
+Shadow; and then the carryall swept up to the school steps and
+a number of students ran forth from the building to greet the new
+arrivals.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE FUN OF A NIGHT
+
+
+As my old readers know, Oak Hall was a large structure of brick and
+stone, built in the shape of a broad cross, with wide hallways running
+from north to south and east to west. All of the classrooms were on
+the ground floor, as were also the dining hall and kitchen, and the
+head master's private office. On the second floor were the majority of
+the dormitories, furnished to hold four, six, and eight pupils each.
+The school was surrounded by a wide campus, running down to the Leming
+River, where was located a good-sized boathouse. Some distance away
+from the river was a neat gymnasium, and, to the rear of the school,
+were commodious stables and sheds. At the four corners of the campus
+grew great clumps of giant oaks, and two oaks stood like sentinels on
+either side of the gateway--thus giving the Hall its name.
+
+As Dave leaped to the piazza of the school he was met by Sam Day,
+another of his old chums, who gave his hand a squeeze that made him
+wince. Close by was Chip Macklin, once the toady of Gus Plum, but now
+"quite a decent sort," as most of the lads would say. Further in the
+rear was Gus Plum, looking pale and troubled. Evidently something was
+wrong with him, as Shadow had intimated.
+
+"Sorry I couldn't get down to the depot," said Sam. "But I had some
+examples in algebra to do and they kept me until after the carryall had
+left."
+
+There was more handshaking, and Dave did not forget Macklin or Gus
+Plum. When he took the hand of the former bully he found it icy cold
+and he noticed that it trembled considerably.
+
+"How are you, Gus?" he said, pleasantly.
+
+"Oh, I'm fair," was the hesitating answer. "I--I am glad to see you
+back, and doubly glad to know you found your father."
+
+"And sister, Gus; don't forget that."
+
+"Yes, and your sister." And then Gus Plum let Dave's hand fall and
+stepped back into the crowd and vanished. Dave saw that he had
+something on his mind, and he wondered more than ever what Shadow might
+have to tell him.
+
+Soon Doctor Clay appeared, a man well along in years, with gray,
+penetrating eyes and a face that could be either kindly or stern as the
+occasion demanded.
+
+"As the boys say, it is all very wonderful, and I am rejoiced for your
+sake, Porter," he said. "Your trip to Norway certainly turned out well,
+and you need not begrudge the time lost from school. Now, with your
+mind free, you can go at your studies with vigor, and such a bright
+pupil as you ought to be able to make up all the ground lost."
+
+"I intend to try my best, sir," answered Dave.
+
+The only lad at Oak Hall who did not seem to enjoy Dave's reappearance
+was Nat Poole. The dudish youth from Crumville, whose father had, in
+times past, caused old Caspar Potts so much trouble, kept himself
+aloof, and when he met Dave in a hallway he turned his head the other
+way and pretended not to notice.
+
+"Nat Poole certainly feels sore," said Dave to Ben Basswood, his old
+friend from home, when Ben came to meet him, having been kept in a
+classroom by Job Haskers.
+
+"Yes, he is sore on everybody," answered Ben. "Well, he is having a
+hard time of it, seems to me. First Chip Macklin cut him, and then Gus
+Plum. Then he got mixed up with Nick Jasniff, and Jasniff had to run
+away. Then he and Link Merwell became chums, and you know what happened
+to both. Now Merwell is away and Nat is about left to himself. He is
+a bigger dude than ever, and spends a lot of money that the doctor
+doesn't know anything about, and yet he can't make himself popular."
+
+"Well, I'm glad money doesn't count at Oak Hall, Ben."
+
+"I know you feel that way, Dave, and it does you credit. I guess now
+you are about as rich as anybody, and if money did the trick----"
+
+"I want to stand on my merits, not on my pocketbook. Perhaps Nat would
+make friends if he wasn't forever showing off and telling how wealthy
+his father is."
+
+"I believe you there."
+
+"By the way, Ben, do you know anything about Gus Plum? There seems to
+be a big change in him."
+
+"There is a change, but I can't tell you what it is. Shadow Hamilton
+knows. He and Plum came home late one night, both having been to
+Oakdale, and Shadow was greatly excited and greatly worried. Some of
+us fellows wanted to know what it was about, but Shadow refused to say
+a word, excepting that he was going to let you know some time, because
+you appeared to have some influence over Gus."
+
+Ben's words surprised Dave, coming so shortly after what Shadow himself
+had said. He was on the point of asking Ben some more questions, but
+reconsidered the matter and said nothing. He could wait until such a
+time as Shadow felt in the humor to unburden his mind.
+
+Dave and his chums roomed in dormitories Nos. 11 and 12, two large and
+well-lighted apartments, with a connecting door between. Not far away
+was dormitory No. 13, which was now occupied by Nat Poole and some
+others, including Link Merwell when that individual was at Oak Hall.
+One bed was vacant, that which Nick Jasniff had left so hurriedly.
+
+In a quiet way the news was spread that Dave and his chums had provided
+some good things for a feast, and that night about twenty boys gathered
+in No. 11 and No. 12 to celebrate "the return of our leader," as Luke
+Watson expressed it. Luke was on hand with his banjo and his guitar, to
+add a little music if wanted.
+
+"Say, boys, we couldn't have chosen a better time for this sort of
+thing than to-night," announced Sam Day. "Haskers has gone to town
+and Mr. Dale is paying a visit to a neighbor; I heard the doctor tell
+Mr. Dale he was tired and was going to bed early, and best of all Jim
+Murphy says he won't hear a thing, provided we set out a big piece of
+mince pie for him." Murphy was monitor of the halls.
+
+"Good for Jim!" cried Dave. "I'll cut that piece of pie myself," and he
+did, and placed it where he felt certain that the monitor would find it.
+
+The boys were allowed to do as they pleased until half-past nine, and
+they sang songs and cracked jokes innumerable. But then the monitor
+stuck his head in at the door.
+
+"Got to be a little quiet from now on," he said, in a hoarse whisper
+and with a broad grin on his face. "I'm awfully deaf to-night, but the
+doctor will wake up if there's too much racket."
+
+"Did you get the pie?" questioned Dave.
+
+"Not yet, and I'll take it now, if you don't mind."
+
+"Jim, do you mean to say you didn't get that pie?" demanded Dave.
+
+"Oh, he's fooling," interrupted Phil. "He wants a second piece."
+
+"That's it," came from Shadow. "Puts me in mind of a story about a boy
+who----"
+
+"Never mind the story now, Shadow," interrupted Dave. "Tell me
+honestly, Jim, whether you got the pie or not? Of course you can have
+another piece, or some chicken salad----"
+
+"I didn't get any pie,--or anything else," answered the monitor.
+
+"I put it on the bottom of the stand in the upper hallway."
+
+"Nothing there when I went to look."
+
+"Then somebody took it on the sly," said Roger. "For I was with Dave
+when he put it there. Anybody in these rooms guilty?" And he gazed
+around sternly.
+
+All of the boys shook their heads. Then of a sudden a delicate youth
+who looked like a girl arose in astonishment and held up his hands.
+
+"Well, I declare!" he lisped.
+
+"What now, Polly?" asked Phil.
+
+"I wonder if it is really possible," went on Bertram Vane.
+
+"What possible?" questioned Dave.
+
+"Why, when I was coming through the hall a while ago I almost ran into
+Nat Poole. He had something in one hand, under his handkerchief, and as
+I passed him I really thought I smelt mince pie!"
+
+"Nat Poole!" cried several.
+
+"Oh, the sneak!" burst out Roger. "He must have been watching Dave.
+Maybe he heard us promise Murphy the pie."
+
+"Bad luck to him if he stole what was coming to me," muttered the
+monitor. "I hope the pie choked him."
+
+"If Nat Poole took the pie we'll fix him for it," said Dave. "Just you
+leave it to me." Then he got another portion of the dainty and handed
+it to the monitor, who disappeared immediately.
+
+"What will you do?" questioned Roger.
+
+"Since Nat has had some pie I think I'll treat him to some chicken
+salad," was the reply. "Nothing like being generous, you know."
+
+"Why, Dave, you don't mean you are going to let Nat Poole have any of
+this nice salad!" cried Phil. "I'd see him in Guinea first!"
+
+"He shall have some--after it has been properly doctored."
+
+"Eh? Oh, I see," and the shipowner's son began to grin. "All right
+then. But doctor it good."
+
+"I shall make no mistake about that," returned Dave.
+
+While Shadow was telling a story of a little boy who had fallen down a
+well and wanted somebody to "put the staircase down" so he could climb
+up, Dave went to a small medicine closet which he had purchased during
+his previous term at Oak Hall. From this he got various bottles and
+powders and began to "doctor" a nice portion of the chicken salad.
+
+"Say, Dave, that won't hurt anybody, will it?" asked Ben, who saw the
+movement.
+
+"It may hurt Nat Poole, Ben."
+
+"Oh, you don't want to injure him."
+
+"This won't do any harm. I am going to give him what Professor Potts
+called green peppers. Once, when he was particularly talkative, he
+related how he had played the joke on a fellow-student at college. It
+won't injure Nat Poole, but if he eats this salad there will surely be
+fun, I can promise you that."
+
+"How are you going to get it to him?"
+
+"Take it to him myself."
+
+"You! He'll be suspicious at once and won't touch it."
+
+"Perhaps not--we'll wait and see."
+
+When the feast was practically at an end, Dave put the doctored salad
+in a dessert dish, topping it with some that was sweet and good. On all
+he laid some fancy crackers which one of the boys had contributed.
+
+"Now, here is where I try the trick," he said, and put on a sweater,
+leaving the upper portion partly over his face. Then, leaving his
+dormitory, he tiptoed his way to No. 13 and pushed open the door softly.
+
+As he had surmised, Nat Poole had gone to bed and had just fallen
+asleep. Going noiselessly to his side, Dave bent over him and whispered
+into his ear:
+
+"Here, Nat, is something I stole for you from that crowd that was
+having the feast. Eat it up and don't tell the other fellows."
+
+"Eh, what? The feast?" stammered Nat, and took the plate in his hand.
+"Who are you?"
+
+"Hush!" whispered Dave, warningly. "Don't wake the others. I stole it
+for you. Eat it up. I'll tell you how I did it in the morning. It's a
+joke on Dave Porter!" And then Dave glided away from the bed and out of
+the room like a ghost, shutting the door noiselessly after him.
+
+Half asleep, Nat Poole was completely bewildered by what he heard. In
+the semi-darkness he could not imagine who had brought the dish full
+of stuff. But he remembered the words, "eat it up" and "don't tell the
+other fellows" and "a joke on Dave Porter." That was enough for Nat.
+He sat up, looked at the fancy crackers and the salad, and smacked his
+lips.
+
+"Must have been one of our old crowd," he mused. "Maybe Shingle or
+Remney. Well, it's a joke on Dave Porter right enough, and better than
+taking that pie he left for Murphy." And then he began to munch the
+crackers and eat the salad, using a tiny fork Dave had thoughtfully
+provided. He liked chicken salad very much, and this seemed
+particularly good, although at times it had a bitter flavor for which
+he could not account.
+
+Peering through the keyhole of the door, Dave saw his intended victim
+make way with the salad. Then he ran back to his dormitory.
+
+"It's all right," he said. "Now all of you undress and go to bed,--and
+watch for what comes!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+WHAT HAPPENED TO NAT POOLE
+
+
+The students of dormitories No. 11 and No. 12 scarcely had time to get
+to bed when they heard a noise in the apartment Nat Poole and some
+others occupied. First came a subdued groan, followed by another, and
+then they heard Nat Poole get up.
+
+"What's the matter?" they heard a student named Belcher ask.
+
+"Why--er--I'm burning up!" gasped Nat Poole. "Let me get a drink of
+water!" And he leaped from his bedside to where there was a stand with
+a pitcher of ice-water and a glass.
+
+He was so eager to get the water that, in the semi-darkness, he hit the
+stand with his arm. Over it went, and the pitcher and glass fell to the
+floor with a crash. The noise aroused everybody in the dormitory.
+
+"What's the matter?"
+
+"Are burglars breaking in?"
+
+"Confound the luck!" muttered Nat Poole. "Oh, I must get some water! I
+am burning up alive!"
+
+"What's done it?" questioned Belcher.
+
+"I--er--never mind now. I am burning up and must have some water!"
+roared the dudish pupil, and dashed out of the dormitory in the
+direction of a water tank located at the end of the hall.
+
+Here he was a little more careful and got the drink he desired. But
+scarcely had he taken a mouthful when he ejected it with great force.
+
+"Wow! how bitter that tastes!" he gasped. Then of a sudden he commenced
+to shiver. "Wonder if that salad poisoned me? Who gave it to me,
+anyhow?"
+
+He tried the water again, but it was just as bitter as before. Then
+he ran to a bathroom, to try the water there. By this time his mouth
+and throat felt like fire, and, thoroughly scared, he ran back to his
+sleeping apartment and began to yell for help.
+
+His cries aroused a good portion of the inmates of Oak Hall, and
+students came from all directions to see what was the matter. They
+found poor Nat sitting on a chair, the picture of misery.
+
+"I--I guess I'm poisoned and I'm going to die!" he wailed. "Somebody
+better get a doctor."
+
+"What did you eat?" demanded half a dozen boys.
+
+"I--er--I ate some salad a fellow brought to me in the dark. I don't
+know who he was. Oh, my throat! It feels as if a red-hot poker was in
+it! And I can't drink water either! Oh, I know I am going to die!"
+
+"Try oil--that's good for a burn," suggested one student, and he
+brought forth some cod liver oil. Nat hated cod liver oil almost as
+much as poison, but he was scared and took the dose without a murmur.
+It helped a little, but his throat felt far from comfortable and soon
+it commenced to burn as much as ever.
+
+By this time Doctor Clay had been aroused and he came to the dormitory
+in a dressing gown and slippers.
+
+"Nat Poole has been poisoned!" cried several.
+
+"Poisoned!" ejaculated the master of the Hall. "How is this, Poole?"
+and he strode to the suffering pupil's side.
+
+"I--I don't know," groaned Nat. "I--er--ate some mince pie and some
+salad----"
+
+"Perhaps it is only indigestion," was the doctor's comment. "You may
+get over it in a little while."
+
+"But my throat----" And then the dudish boy stopped short. The fire in
+his mouth and throat had suddenly gone down--like a tooth stopping its
+aching.
+
+"What were you going to say?" asked Doctor Clay.
+
+"Why, I--that is--my throat isn't so bad now." And Nat's face took on a
+sudden sheepish look. In some way he realized he had been more scared
+than hurt.
+
+"Let me have a look at your throat," went on the master of the Hall and
+took his pupil to a strong light. "It is a little red, but that is all.
+Is your stomach all right?"
+
+"It seems to be--and the pain in my throat and mouth is all gone now,"
+added Nat.
+
+The doctor handed him a glass of water a boy had brought and Nat tried
+it. The liquid tasted natural, much to his surprise, and the drink made
+him feel quite like himself once more.
+
+"I--I guess I am all right now," he said after an awkward pause.
+"I--er--am sorry I woke you up."
+
+"After this be careful of how much you eat," said the doctor, stiffly.
+"If a boy stuffs himself on mince pie and salad he is bound to suffer
+for it." Then he directed all the students to go to bed at once, and
+retired to his own apartment.
+
+If ever a lad was puzzled that lad was Nat Poole. For the life of him
+he could not determine whether he had suffered naturally or whether
+a trick had been played on him. He wanted very much to know who had
+brought him the salad, but could not find out. For days after the boys
+would yell "mince pie" and "salad" at him, much to his annoyance.
+
+"That certainly was a good one," was Phil's comment. "I reckon Nat
+will learn to keep his hands off of things after this." And he and the
+others had a good laugh over the trick Dave had played. It proved to be
+perfectly harmless, for the next day Poole felt as well as ever.
+
+As Dave had said, he was determined to make up the lessons lost during
+his trip to England and Norway, and he consequently applied himself
+with vigor to all his studies. At this, Mr. Dale, who was head teacher,
+was particularly pleased, and he did all he could to aid the youth.
+
+As during previous terms, Dave had much trouble with Job Haskers. A
+brilliant teacher, Haskers was as arbitrary and dictatorial as could be
+imagined, and he occasionally said things which were so sarcastic they
+cut to the quick. Very few of the boys liked him, and some positively
+hated him.
+
+"I always feel like fighting when I run up against old Haskers," was
+the way Roger expressed himself. "I'd give ten dollars if he'd pack his
+trunk and leave."
+
+"And then come back the next day," put in Phil, with a grin.
+
+"Not much! When he leaves I want him to stay away!"
+
+"That puts me in mind of a story," said Shadow, who was present.
+
+"What, another!" cried Dave, with a mock groan. "Oh, but this is
+dreadful!"
+
+"Not so bad--as you'll soon see. A boy had a little dog, who could howl
+morning, noon, and night, to beat the band. Next door to the boy lived
+a very nervous man. Said he to the boy one day: 'Will you sell me that
+dog for a dollar?' 'Make it two dollars and the dog is yours,' answered
+the boy. So the man, to get rid of that howling dog, paid the boy the
+two dollars and shipped the dog to the pound. Then he asked the boy:
+'What are you going to do with the two dollars?' 'Buy two more dogs,'
+said the boy. Then the man went away and wept."
+
+"That's all right!" cried Sam Day, and everybody laughed. Then he
+added: "What can disturb a fellow more than a howling dog at night?"
+
+"I know," answered Dave, quietly.
+
+"What?"
+
+"Two dogs," and then Dave ducked to avoid a book that Sam threw at him.
+
+"Speaking of dogs reminds me of something," said Buster Beggs. "You all
+remember Mike Marcy, the miserly old farmer whose mule we returned some
+time ago."
+
+"I am not likely to forget him," answered Dave, who had had more than
+one encounter with the fellow, as my old readers are aware.
+
+"Well, he has got a very savage dog and has posted signs all over his
+place, 'Beware of the Dog!' Two or three of the fellows, who were
+crossing his corner lot one day, came near being bitten."
+
+"Were you one of them?" asked Roger.
+
+"Yes, and we weren't doing anything either--only crossing the vacant
+lot to take a short-cut to the school, to avoid being late."
+
+"I was in the crowd," said Luke Watson, "and I had a good mind to kill
+the dog."
+
+"We'll have to go over some day and see Marcy," said Phil. "I haven't
+forgotten how he accused me of stealing his apples."
+
+"He once accused me of stealing a chicken," put in a boy named Messmer.
+"I'd like to take him down a peg or two for that."
+
+"Let us go over to his place next week some time and tease him,"
+suggested another boy named Henshaw, and some of the others said they
+would bear his words in mind.
+
+Messmer and Henshaw were the owners of an ice-boat named the
+_Snowbird_. They had built the craft themselves, and, while it was not
+very handsome, it had good going qualities, and that was all the boys
+wanted.
+
+"Come on out in the _Snowbird_," said Henshaw, to Dave and several of
+the others, on the following Saturday afternoon, when there was no
+school. "The ice on the river is very good, and the wind is just right
+for a spin."
+
+"Thanks, I'll go with pleasure," answered Dave; and soon the party was
+off. The river, frozen over from end to end, was alive with skaters and
+ice-boats, and presented a scene of light-heartedness and pleasure.
+
+"There goes an ice-boat from the Rockville military academy," said
+Messmer, presently. "I guess they don't want to race. They haven't
+forgotten how we beat them." And he was right; the Rockville ice-boat
+soon tacked to the other side of the river, the cadets on board paying
+no attention to the Oak Hall students.
+
+The boys on the ice-boat did not go to their favorite spot, Robber
+Island, but allowed the _Snowbird_ to sweep up an arm of the river,
+between several large hills. The hills were covered with hemlocks and
+cedars, between which the snow lay to a depth of one or two feet.
+
+"Do you know what I'd like to do some day?" remarked Roger. "Come up
+here after rabbits." He had a shotgun, of which he was quite proud.
+
+"I believe you'd find plenty," answered Dave. "I'd like to go myself. I
+used to hunt, when I was on the farm."
+
+"Let us walk up the hills and take a look around--now we are here,"
+continued the senator's son. "If we see any rabbits' tracks we'll know
+they are on hand."
+
+Dave agreed, and he, Roger, and Phil left the ice-boat, stating they
+would be back in half an hour.
+
+"All right!" sang out Messmer. "We'll cruise around in the meantime.
+When we get back we'll whistle for you."
+
+The tramp through the deep snow was not easy, yet the three chums
+enjoyed it, for it made them feel good to be out in the clear, cold
+atmosphere, every breath of which was invigorating. They went on
+silently, so as not to disturb any game that might be near.
+
+"Here are rabbit tracks!" said Dave, in a low tone, after the top of
+the first hill was gained, and he pointed to the prints, running around
+the trees and bushes. "Shooting ought certainly to be good in this
+neighborhood."
+
+From one hill they tramped to another, the base of which came down to
+the river at a point where there was a deep spot known as Lagger's
+Hole. Here the ice was usually full of air-holes and unsafe, and
+skaters and ice-boats avoided the locality.
+
+From the top of the hill the boys commenced to throw snowballs down on
+the ice, seeing who could throw the farthest. Then Phil suggested they
+make a big snowball and roll it down.
+
+"I'll bet, if it reaches the ice, it will go clear across the river,"
+said the shipowner's son.
+
+"All right, let's try it," answered Dave and Roger, and the three set
+to work to make a round, hard ball. They rolled it around the top of
+the hill until it was all of three feet in diameter and then pushed it
+to the edge.
+
+"Now then, send her down!" cried Phil, and the three boys gave a push
+that took the big snowball over the edge of the hill. Slowly at first
+and then faster and faster, it rolled down the hill, increasing in size
+as it progressed.
+
+"It's getting there!" sang out Roger. "See how it is shooting along!"
+
+"Look!" yelled Dave, pointing up the river. "An ice-boat is coming!"
+
+All looked and saw that he was right. It was a craft from the Rockville
+academy, and it was headed straight for the spot where the big snowball
+was about to cross.
+
+"If the snowball hits them, there will be a smash-up!" cried Roger.
+
+"And that is just what is going to happen, I fear," answered Dave.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+WHAT A BIG SNOWBALL DID
+
+
+As the ice-boat came closer the boys on the hill saw that it contained
+four persons, two cadets and two young ladies. The latter were
+evidently guests, for they sat in the stern and took no part in
+handling the craft.
+
+Dave set up a loud cry of warning and his chums joined in. But if those
+on the ice-boat heard, they paid no heed. On and on they came, heading
+for the very spot for which the great snowball, now all of six feet in
+diameter, was shooting.
+
+"The ice is full of holes, maybe the snowball will drop into one of
+them," said Phil. But this was not to be. The snowball kept straight
+on, until it and the ice-boat were less than a hundred feet apart.
+
+It was then that one of the cadets on the craft saw the peril and
+uttered a cry of alarm. He tried to bring the ice-boat around, and his
+fellow-student aided him. But it was too late, and in a few seconds
+more the big snowball hit the craft, bowled it over, and sent it
+spinning along the ice toward some of the largest of the air-holes.
+
+"They are going into the water!" gasped Roger.
+
+"Come on--let us see if we can help them!" returned Dave, and plunged
+down the hill. He took the course the big snowball had taken, and his
+chums came after him. More than once they fell, but picked themselves
+up quickly and kept on until the ice was gained. At the edge they came
+to a halt, for the air-holes told them plainly of the danger ahead.
+
+"There they go--into the water!" cried Dave, and waiting no longer, he
+ran out on the ice, picking his way between the air-holes as best he
+could. Several times the ice cracked beneath his weight, but he did not
+turn back. He felt that the occupants of the ice-boat were in peril of
+their lives and that in a measure he was responsible for this crisis.
+
+The river at this point was all of a hundred yards wide and the
+accident had occurred close to the farther side. The ice-boat had been
+sent to where two air-holes were close together, and the weight of the
+craft and its occupants had caused it to crack the ice, and it now
+rested half in and half out of the water. One of the cadets and one of
+the young ladies had been flung off to a safe place, but the other pair
+were clinging desperately to the framework.
+
+"Oh, we shall be drowned! We shall be drowned!" cried the maiden in
+distress.
+
+"Can't you jump off?" asked the cadet who was safe on the ice.
+
+"I--I am afraid!" wailed the girl. "Oh, the ice is sinking!" she added,
+as an ominous sound reached her ears.
+
+To the credit of the cadet on the ice-boat, he remained the cooler of
+the two, and he called to his fellow-student to run for a fence-rail
+which might be used to rescue the girl and himself. But the nearest
+fence was a long way off, and time, just then, was precious.
+
+"Cut a couple of ropes!" sang out Dave, as he dashed up. "Cut one and
+throw it over here!"
+
+The cadet left on the overturned craft understood the suggestion, and
+taking out his pocketknife, he cut two of the ropes. He tied one fast
+to the other and sent an end spinning out toward Dave and the cadet
+on the ice. The other end of the united ropes remained fast to the
+ice-boat.
+
+By this time Phil and Roger had come up, and all the lads on the
+firm ice took hold of the rope and pulled with all their might. Dave
+directed the operation, and slowly the ice-boat came up from the hole
+into which it had partly sunk and slid over toward the shore.
+
+"Hurrah! we've got her!" cried Phil.
+
+"Vera, are you hurt?" asked the girl on the ice, anxiously.
+
+"Not at all, Mary; only one foot is wet," answered the girl who had
+been rescued.
+
+"Oh, I'm so glad!" And then the two girls embraced in the joy of their
+escape.
+
+"I'd like to know where that big snowball came from," growled the cadet
+who had been flung off the ice-boat when the shock came. He looked at
+Dave and his companions. "Did you start that thing?"
+
+"We did," answered Dave, "but we didn't know you were coming."
+
+"It was a mighty careless thing to do," put in the cadet who had been
+rescued. "We might have been drowned!"
+
+"I believe they did it on purpose," said the other cadet. He looked at
+the letters on a sweater Roger wore. "You're from Oak Hall, aren't you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Thought you'd have some sport, eh?" This was said with a sneer. "Say,
+Cabot, we ought to give 'em something for this," he added, turning to
+his fellow-cadet.
+
+"So we should," growled Cabot, who chanced to be the owner of the craft
+that had been damaged. "They have got to pay for breaking the ice-boat,
+anyway."
+
+"Oh, Mr. Anderson, please don't get into a quarrel!" pleaded one of the
+girls.
+
+"Well, those rowdies deserve a thrashing," answered Anderson. He was a
+big fellow, with rather a hard look on his face.
+
+"Thank you, but we are not rowdies," retorted Roger. "We were having a
+little fun and did not dream of striking you with the snowball."
+
+"If you know anything about the river, you know ice-boats and skaters
+rarely if ever come this way," added Phil. "The ice around here is
+always full of air-holes and consequently dangerous."
+
+"Oh, you haven't got to teach me where to go," growled Anderson.
+
+"I'm only stating a fact."
+
+"The ice is certainly not very nice around here," said one of the
+girls. "Perhaps we might have gotten into a hole even if the big
+snowball hadn't struck us."
+
+At this remark Dave and his chums gave the girl a grateful look. The
+cadets were annoyed, and one whispered something to the other.
+
+"You fellows get to work and fix the ice-boat," said Cabot.
+
+"And do it quick, too," added Anderson.
+
+"I--I think I'll walk the rest of the way home," said one of the girls.
+"Will you come along, Vera?"
+
+"Yes," answered the other. She stepped up to Dave's side. "Thank you
+for telling Mr. Cabot what to do, and for pulling us out of the hole,"
+she went on, and gave the boys a warm smile.
+
+"Going to leave us?" growled Anderson.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"That ain't fair. You promised----"
+
+"To take a ride on the ice-boat," finished the girl named Vera. "We did
+it, and now I am going home."
+
+"And so am I," added the other girl. "Good-bye."
+
+"But see here----" went on Anderson, and caught the girl named Vera by
+the arm.
+
+"Please let go, Mr. Anderson."
+
+"I want----"
+
+"Let the young lady go if she wishes to," said Dave, stepping up.
+
+"This isn't your affair," blustered Anderson.
+
+"No gentleman would detain a lady against her will."
+
+"Good-bye," said the girl, and stepped back several paces when released
+by the cadet.
+
+"All right, Vera Rockwell, I'll not take you out again," growled
+Anderson, seeing she was bound to go.
+
+"You'll not have the chance, thank you!" flung back the girl, and then
+she joined her companion, and both hurried away from the shore and to a
+road running near by.
+
+After the girls had gone there was an awkward silence. Both Cabot and
+Anderson felt sore to be treated in this fashion, and especially in the
+presence of those from Oak Hall, a rival institution to that where they
+belonged.
+
+"Well, what are you going to do about the damage done?" grumbled
+Anderson.
+
+"I don't think the ice-boat is damaged much," answered Dave. "Let us
+look her over and see."
+
+"If she is, you'll pay the bill," came from Cabot.
+
+"Well, we can do that easily enough," answered Roger lightly.
+
+The craft was righted and inspected. The damage proved to be trifling
+and the ice-boat was speedily made fit for use.
+
+"If I find she isn't all right, I'll make some of you foot the bill,"
+said Cabot.
+
+"I am willing to pay for all damage done," answered Dave. "My name is
+Dave Porter."
+
+"Oh! I've heard of you," said Anderson. "You're on the Oak Hall
+football team."
+
+"Yes, and I've had the pleasure of helping to beat Rockville," answered
+Dave, and could not help grinning.
+
+"Humph! Wait till next season! We'll show you a thing or two," growled
+Anderson, and then he and Cabot boarded the ice-boat, trimmed the sail,
+and stood off down the river.
+
+"Well, they are what I call a couple of pills," was Phil's comment. "I
+don't see how two nice girls could go out with them."
+
+"They certainly were two nice girls," answered Roger. "That Vera
+Rockwell had beautiful eyes and hair. And did you see the smile she
+gave Dave! Dave, you're the lucky one!"
+
+"That other girl is named Mary Feversham," answered Phil. "Her father
+is connected with the express company. I met her once, but she doesn't
+seem to remember me. I think she is better-looking than Miss Rockwell."
+
+"Gracious, Phil must be smitten!" cried Dave.
+
+"When is it to come off, Phil?" asked the senator's son. "We want time
+to buy presents, you know."
+
+"Oh, you can poke fun if you want to," grumbled the shipowner's son.
+"She's a nice girl and I'd like to have the chance to meet her.
+Somebody said she was a good skater."
+
+"Well, if you go skating with her, ask Miss Rockwell to come, too, and
+I'll be at the corner waiting for you," said the senator's son. "That
+is, if Dave don't try to cut me out."
+
+"No danger--Jessie wouldn't allow it," replied Phil.
+
+"You leave Jessie out of it," answered Dave, flushing a trifle. "Just
+the same, I agree with both of you, those girls looked to be very nice."
+
+The three boys walked along the river bank for nearly half a mile
+before they came in sight of the _Snowbird_. Then Messmer and Henshaw
+wanted to know what had kept them so long.
+
+"I'd not go in there with my boat," said Messmer, after he had heard
+their story. "Those air-holes are too dangerous."
+
+When the lads got back to Oak Hall they found a free-for-all snowball
+fight in progress. One crowd was on the campus and the other in the
+road beyond.
+
+"This suits me!" cried Roger. "Come on, Dave," and he joined the force
+on the road. His chums did the same, and sent the snowballs flying at a
+brisk rate.
+
+The fight was a furious one for over an hour. The force on the campus
+outnumbered those in the road and the latter were driven to where the
+highway made a turn and where there were several clumps of trees and
+bushes. Here, Dave called on those around him to make a stand, and the
+other crowd was halted in its onward rush.
+
+"Here comes Horsehair in a cutter!" cried one of the students,
+presently. "Let us give him a salute."
+
+"All right!" called back Dave. "Some snow will make him strong, and
+brush off some of the hair he carries around with him."
+
+The boys made a number of snowballs and, led by Dave, waited for the
+appearance of the cutter. Soon it turned the bend, the horse on a trot
+and the sleighbells jingling merrily.
+
+"Now then, all together!" shouted Dave, and prepared to hurl a snowball
+at the man who was driving.
+
+"Hold on!" yelled Roger, suddenly.
+
+But the warning cry came too late for Dave and Phil, who were in
+the lead. They let fly their snowballs, and the man in the cutter
+was struck in the chin and the ear. He fell backward, but speedily
+recovered and stopped his horse.
+
+"You young rascals!" he spluttered hoarsely. "What do you mean by
+snowballing me in this fashion!"
+
+"Job Haskers!" murmured Dave, in consternation.
+
+"What a mistake!" groaned Phil. "We are in for it now!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+PRISONERS IN THE SCHOOL
+
+
+Dave and Phil had indeed made a serious mistake, and they knew at once
+that they were in for a severe lecture, and worse. Job Haskers was
+naturally an irascible man, and for the past few days he had been in a
+particularly bad humor.
+
+"Excuse me, Mr. Haskers," said Dave, respectfully. "I didn't know you
+were in the cutter."
+
+"You did it on purpose--don't deny it, Porter!" fumed the teacher. "It
+is outrageous, infamous, that a pupil of Oak Hall should act so!"
+
+"Really, Mr. Haskers, it was a mistake," spoke up Phil. "We thought it
+was Horsehair--I mean Lemond, who was driving."
+
+"Bah! Do I look like Lemond? And, anyway, what right would you have to
+snowball the driver for this school? It is scandalous! I shall make an
+example of you. Report to me at the office in five minutes, both of
+you!"
+
+The boys' hearts sank at this order, and they felt worse when they
+suddenly remembered that both Doctor Clay and Mr. Dale were away and
+that, consequently, Job Haskers was, for the time being, in authority.
+The teacher went back to the cutter, took up the reins, and drove out
+of sight around the campus entrance.
+
+"Too bad!" was Roger's comment. "I yelled to you not to throw."
+
+"I know you did, but I had already done so," answered Dave.
+
+"And so had I," added Phil.
+
+"Say, that puts me in mind of a story," exclaimed Shadow, who was in
+the crowd. "A man once had a mule----"
+
+"Who wants to listen to a story at this time?" broke in Ben Basswood.
+
+"Never mind, let's have the yarn," said Dave. "Perhaps it will serve to
+brighten our gloom," and he smiled feebly.
+
+"This man had a mule in which a neighbor was very much interested,"
+continued Shadow. "One day the mule got sick, and every day after that
+the neighbor would tell the owner of some new remedy for curing him.
+One day he came over to where the mule-owner lived. 'Say,' he says,
+'I've got the best remedy a-going. You must try it.' 'Don't think I
+will,' answered the mule-owner. 'Oh, but you must, I insist,' said the
+neighbor. 'It will sure cure your mule and set him on his feet again.'
+'I don't think so,' said the mule-owner. 'But I am positive,' cried the
+neighbor. 'Just give it a trial.' 'Never,' said the mule-owner. Then
+the neighbor got mad. 'Say, why won't you try this remedy?' he growled.
+'I won't because the mule is dead,' answered the other man. Then the
+neighbor went home in deep thought."
+
+"Well, that's to the point," said the senator's son, laughing. "For I
+told them to stop after the damage was done."
+
+In no enviable frame of mind Dave and Phil walked into the school, took
+off their outer garments and caps, and made their way to the office.
+Job Haskers had not yet come in, and they had to wait several minutes
+for him.
+
+As has been said, the teacher was in far from a friendly humor. Some
+months before he had invested a portion of his savings in some mining
+stock, thinking that he would be able to make money fast. Now the stock
+had become practically worthless, and that very morning he had learned
+that he would never be able to get more than ten per cent. of his money
+back.
+
+"You are a couple of scamps," he said, harshly. "I am going to teach
+you a needed lesson." And then the two boys saw that he held behind him
+a carriage-whip.
+
+Dave and Phil were astonished, and with good reason. So far as they
+knew, corporal punishment was not permitted at Oak Hall excepting on
+very rare occasions,--where a pupil had taken his choice of a whipping
+or expulsion. Was it possible that Job Haskers intended to chastise
+them bodily?
+
+"Mr. Haskers, I am very sorry that I hit you with that snowball," said
+Dave. "As I said before, I did not know it was you, and it was only
+thrown in fun."
+
+"What Dave says is true," added Phil. "I hope you will accept my
+apology for what happened."
+
+"I'll accept no apologies!" fumed Job Haskers. "It was done on purpose,
+and you must both suffer for it," and the teacher brandished the whip
+as if to strike them then and there.
+
+"Mr. Haskers, what do you intend to do?" asked Dave, quietly but firmly.
+
+"I intend to give you the thrashing you deserve!"
+
+"With that whip?"
+
+"Yes, with this whip."
+
+"You'll not do it, sir!"
+
+"What!"
+
+"I say, you'll not do it, sir."
+
+"Hum! We'll see about this!" And the teacher glared at Dave as if to
+eat him up.
+
+"You have no authority to whip us," put in Phil.
+
+"Who says so?"
+
+"I say so."
+
+"And Phil is right," added Dave. "I'll not allow it, so you may as well
+put that whip away."
+
+"I'd like to know who is master here, you or I?" demanded Job Haskers,
+turning red with rage.
+
+"Doctor Clay is master here, and we are under his care. If you try to
+strike me with that whip I'll report the matter to him," answered Dave.
+"You may punish me any other way, if you wish, but I won't put up with
+a whipping."
+
+"And I won't be whipped either," added Phil.
+
+"I'll show you!" roared Job Haskers, and raising the whip he tried to
+bring it down on Dave's head. The youth dodged, turned, and caught the
+whip in his hands.
+
+"Let go that whip, Porter!"
+
+"I will not--not until you promise not to strike at me again."
+
+"I'll promise nothing! Let go, I say!"
+
+The teacher struggled to get the whip free of Dave's grasp, and a
+scuffle ensued. Dave was forced up against a side stand, upon which
+stood a beautiful marble statue of Mercury.
+
+"Look out for the statue!" cried Phil, in alarm, but even as he spoke
+Dave was shoved back, and over went the stand and ornament, the statue
+breaking into several pieces.
+
+"There, now see what you've done!" cried Job Haskers, as the battle
+ceased for the moment, and Dave let go the whip.
+
+"It wasn't my fault--you shoved me into it," answered Dave.
+
+"It was your fault, and you'll pay the damages. That statue was worth
+at least fifty dollars. And you'll take your thrashing, too," added the
+teacher, vindictively.
+
+"Don't you dare to hit Dave," cried Phil, "or me either, Mr. Haskers.
+You can punish us, but you can't whip us, so there!"
+
+"Ha! Both of you defy me, eh?"
+
+"We are not to be whipped, and that settles it," said Dave.
+
+"I presume you think, because you are two to one, you can get the
+better of me," sneered the teacher. He knew the two boys were strong,
+and he did not wish to risk a fight with them.
+
+"I don't want to get the better of anybody, but I am not going to let
+you whip me," answered Dave, stubbornly.
+
+"If you are willing, we'll leave the matter to Doctor Clay," suggested
+the shipowner's son.
+
+"You come with me," returned the teacher abruptly, and led the way out
+of the office to a small room used for the storage of schoolbooks and
+writing-pads. The room had nothing but a big closet and had a small
+window, set up high in the wall. The shelves on the walls were full of
+new books and on the floor were piles of volumes that had seen better
+days.
+
+"Going to lock us in, I guess," whispered Phil.
+
+"Well, he can do it if he wants to, but he shan't whip me," answered
+Dave, in an equally low tone.
+
+"Now, you can stay here for the present," growled Job Haskers, as he
+held open the door. "And don't you dare to make any noise either."
+
+"What about supper?" asked Dave, for he was hungry.
+
+"You shall have something to eat when the proper time comes."
+
+The boys walked into the room, and Job Haskers immediately closed the
+door and locked it, placing the key in his pocket. Then the lads heard
+him walk away, and all became silent, for the book-room was located
+between two classrooms which were not in use on Saturdays and Sundays.
+
+"Well, what do you make of this?" asked the shipowner's son, after an
+awkward pause.
+
+"Nothing--what is there to make, Phil? Here we are, and likely to stay
+for a while."
+
+"Are you going to pay for that broken statue?"
+
+"Was it my fault it was broken?"
+
+"No--he ran you into the stand."
+
+"Then I don't see why I ought to pay."
+
+"He may claim you had no right to fight him off."
+
+"He had no right to attack me with the whip. I don't think Doctor Clay
+will stand for that."
+
+"If he does, he isn't the man I thought he was."
+
+The two youths walked around the little room, gazing at the rows of
+books. Then Dave stood on a pile of old books and looked out of the
+small window.
+
+"See anything worth looking at?" asked his chum.
+
+"No, all I can see is a corner of the campus and a lot of snow. Nobody
+is in sight."
+
+"Wonder how long old Haskers intends to keep us here?"
+
+"I'm sure I don't know."
+
+With nothing to do, the boys looked over some schoolbooks. They were
+not of great interest, and soon it grew too dark to read. Phil gave a
+long sigh.
+
+"This is exciting, I must say," he said, sarcastically.
+
+"Never mind, it will be exciting enough when we face Doctor Clay."
+
+"I'd rather face him than old Haskers, Dave."
+
+"Oh, so would I! When will the doctor be back?"
+
+"I don't know."
+
+An hour went by, and the two prisoners heard a muffled tramping of feet
+which told them that the other students had assembled in the dining
+hall for supper. The thought of the bountiful tables made them both
+more hungry than ever.
+
+"I'd give as much as a dollar for a couple of good sandwiches," said
+the shipowner's son, dismally. "Seems to me, I'm hollow clear down to
+my heels!"
+
+"Wait, I've got an idea!" returned Dave.
+
+He felt in his pocket and brought forth several keys. Just as he did
+this they heard footsteps in the hallway, and Dave slipped the keys
+back in his pocket.
+
+The door was flung open and Job Haskers appeared, followed by one of
+the dining room waiters, who carried a tray containing two glasses of
+milk and half a dozen slices of bread and butter.
+
+"Here is something for you to eat," said the teacher, and directed the
+waiter to place the tray on a pile of books.
+
+"Is this all we are to have?" demanded Dave.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I'm hungry!" growled Phil. "That won't satisfy me."
+
+"It will have to satisfy you, Lawrence."
+
+"I think it's a shame!"
+
+"I want no more words with you," retorted Job Haskers, and motioned
+the waiter to leave the room. Then he went out, locking the door and
+pocketing the key as before.
+
+"Well, if this isn't the limit!" growled Phil. "A glass of milk and
+three slices of bread and butter apiece!"
+
+"Well, we shan't starve, Phil," and Dave grinned to himself in the
+semi-darkness.
+
+"And no light to eat by--and the room more than half cold. Dave, are
+you going to stand this?"
+
+"I am not," was the firm response.
+
+"What are you going to do?"
+
+"Get out of here--if I possibly can," was Dave's reply.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+A MOVE IN THE DARK
+
+
+Dave took the bunch of keys from his pocket and approached the door.
+He tried one key after another, but none of them appeared to fit. Then
+Phil brought out such keys as he possessed, but all proved unavailable.
+
+"That is one idea knocked in the head," said Dave, and heaved a sigh.
+
+"I am going to tackle the bread and milk," said Phil. "It is better
+than nothing."
+
+"It won't make us suffer from indigestion either," answered Dave, with
+a short laugh.
+
+Sitting on some of the old schoolbooks the two youths ate the scanty
+meal Job Haskers had provided. To help pass the time they made the meal
+last as long as possible, eating every crumb of the bread and draining
+the milk to the last drop. The bread was stale, and they felt certain
+the teacher had furnished that which was old on purpose.
+
+"I'll wager he'd like to hammer the life out of us," was Phil's
+comment. "Just wait and see the story he cooks up to tell Doctor Clay!"
+
+"Wonder what the other fellows think of our absence, Phil?"
+
+"Maybe they have asked Haskers about it."
+
+Having disposed of all there was to eat and drink, the two lads walked
+around the little room to keep warm. Then Dave went at the door again,
+examining the lock with great care, and feeling of the hinges.
+
+"Well, I declare!" he cried, almost joyfully.
+
+"What now, Dave?"
+
+"This door has hinges that set into this room and are held together by
+little rods running from the top to the bottom of each hinge. If we can
+take out the two rods, I am almost certain we can open the door from
+the hinge side!"
+
+This was interesting news, and Phil came forward to aid Dave in
+removing the tiny rod which held the two parts of each hinge together.
+It was no easy task, for the rods were somewhat rusted, but at last
+both were removed, and then the boys felt the door give way at that
+point.
+
+Now that they could get out, Phil wanted to know what was to be done
+next.
+
+"I think I'll go out and hunt up something to eat on the sly," answered
+Dave. "Then we can come back here and wait for Doctor Clay's arrival."
+
+"Good! I'll go with you. I don't want you to run the risk alone."
+
+They waited until they felt that the dining room was deserted and then
+pried the door open and stole from their prison. Tiptoeing their way
+through the side hall, they reached a door which led to a big pantry,
+connecting the dining room and the kitchen. As they had anticipated,
+the pantry held many good things on its shelves, and a waiter was
+bringing in more food from the tables.
+
+"Quick--take what you want!" whispered Dave, when the waiter had
+disappeared, and catching up a plate that contained some cold sliced
+tongue he added to it some baked beans, some bread and jam, and two
+generous slices of cake.
+
+Phil understood, and taking another plate he got some of the baked
+beans, some cold ham, some bread and cheese, and a pitcher of milk.
+Then the two boys espied some crullers and stuffed several in their
+pockets. Then Dave saw a candle and captured that.
+
+"He's coming back--skip!" whispered Phil, and ran out of the pantry
+with Dave at his heels. A moment later the waiter came in with more
+things, but he did not catch them, nor did he notice what they had
+taken.
+
+As quickly as they could, the two boys returned to the book-room, and
+setting the stuff on the books, they lit the candle, and placed the
+rods back into the hinges of the door. So that nobody might see the
+light, they placed a sheet of paper over the keyhole of the door, and a
+row of books on the floor against the doorsill.
+
+"Now we'll have a little better layout than that provided by Mr.
+Dictatorial Haskers," said Dave, and he proceeded to arrange some of
+the schoolbooks in a square in the center of the floor. "Might as
+well have a table while we are at it."
+
+"And a couple of chairs," added Phil, and arranged more books for that
+purpose. Then they spread a sheet of paper over the "table," put a
+plate at either end, and the two sat down.
+
+"It's a shame to make you eat without a fork, Phil," said Dave,
+solemnly. "But if you'd rather go hungry----"
+
+"Not on your collar-button!" cried the shipowner's son. "A pocketknife
+is good enough for me this trip," and he fell to eating with great
+gusto, and Dave did the same, for what food they had had before had
+only been "a flea bite," as Dave expressed it.
+
+Having eaten the most of the food taken from the pantry they placed the
+remainder on the plates on a bookshelf. Then Dave looked at his watch.
+
+"Half-past eight," he said. "Wonder how long we are to be kept here?"
+
+"Don't ask me, I was never good at conundrums," answered Phil, lightly.
+Plenty to eat had put him in a good humor. "Maybe till morning, Dave."
+
+[Illustration: "It's a shame to make you eat without a fork,
+Phil."]
+
+"I shan't stay here until morning--without a bed or coverings."
+
+"What will you do?"
+
+"Go up to the dormitory--after all the lights are out."
+
+"Good! Wonder why I didn't think of that?"
+
+"You ate too much, that's why." And Dave grinned. He, too, felt better
+now that he had fully satisfied his appetite.
+
+Slowly the time went by till ten o'clock came. The prisoners heard
+tramping overhead, which told them the other students were retiring.
+They looked for a visit from Job Haskers, but the teacher did not show
+himself.
+
+"He is going to keep us here until the doctor gets back, that is
+certain," said Dave.
+
+"But the doctor may not come back to-night. I heard him say something
+the other day about going to Boston."
+
+At last the school became quiet. By this time the boys' candle had
+burnt itself out, leaving them in total darkness. By common impulse
+they moved toward the door.
+
+"What if we meet Murphy?" asked Phil.
+
+"We'll do our best to avoid him, but if we do see him I rather think
+he'll side with us and keep quiet," answered Dave. "I know he hates
+Haskers as much as we do."
+
+Hiding what was left of their meal in a corner of a shelf, behind some
+books, the two lads stole into the semi-dark hall and up one of the
+broad stairs. They met nobody and gained their dormitory with ease.
+Going inside, each undressed in the dark and prepared to retire.
+
+"Who's up?" came sleepily from Roger.
+
+"Hush, Roger," whispered Dave.
+
+"Oh, so it's you! Where have you been, and what did old Haskers do to
+you?"
+
+In a few brief words Dave and Phil explained what had taken place.
+
+"We'll tell you the rest in the morning," said Phil, and then he and
+Dave hopped into bed and under the warm covers. Less than a minute
+later, however, Dave sat up and listened intently. He had heard the
+front door of the school building bang shut in the rising wind.
+
+"Phil!"
+
+"What is it now, Dave?"
+
+"I think I just heard Doctor Clay come in."
+
+"Oh, bother! I'm going to sleep," said the shipowner's son, with a
+yawn. "I don't think he'll trouble us to-night."
+
+"I'm going to see what happens," answered Dave, and got up again. Soon
+he had on a dressing gown and slippers, and was tiptoeing his way down
+the hallway. He heard a murmur of voices below, and knew then that both
+the doctor and Mr. Dale had arrived. Then he heard Mr. Dale walk to
+the rear of the lower floor, and heard somebody else come out of the
+library.
+
+"Mr. Haskers, what is it?" he heard Doctor Clay say.
+
+"I must consult you about two of the students, sir," answered Job
+Haskers. "They have acted in a most disgraceful manner. They attacked
+me on the road with icy snowballs, nearly ruining my right ear, and
+when I called them to account in the office one of them began to fight
+and broke your statue of Mercury."
+
+"Is it possible!" ejaculated the doctor, in pained surprise. "Who were
+the pupils?"
+
+"David Porter and Philip Lawrence."
+
+"Is this true, Mr. Haskers? Porter and Lawrence are usually
+well-behaved students."
+
+"They acted like ruffians, sir--especially Porter, who attacked me and
+broke the statue."
+
+"I will look into this without delay. Where are they now--in their
+room?"
+
+"No, I locked them up in the book-room, to await your arrival. I did
+not deem it wise to give them their liberty."
+
+"Ahem! prisoners in the book-room, eh? This is certainly serious. They
+cannot remain in the room all night."
+
+"It would serve them right to keep them there," grumbled Job Haskers.
+
+"There are no cots in that room for them to rest on."
+
+"Then let them rest on the floor! The young rascals deserve it."
+
+"Perhaps I'd better talk it over with the boys and see what they
+have to say, Mr. Haskers," went on the doctor, in a mild tone. "I do
+not believe in being too harsh with the students. Perhaps they only
+snowballed you as a bit of sport."
+
+"Doctor Clay, do you uphold them in such an action?" demanded the
+irascible instructor.
+
+"By no means, Mr. Haskers, but--boys will be boys, you know, and we
+mustn't be too hard on them if they occasionally go too far."
+
+"Porter broke that statue,--and defied me!"
+
+"If he broke the statue, he'll have to pay for it,--and if he defied
+you in the exercise of your proper authority, he shall be punished.
+But I want to hear what they have to say. We'll go to the book-room at
+once, release them, and take them to my office."
+
+"It won't be necessary to go to the book-room, Doctor Clay," called out
+Dave from the upper landing.
+
+"Why--er--is that you, Porter!"
+
+"How did you get out?" cried Job Haskers, in consternation. "Didn't I
+lock that door?"
+
+"You did, but Phil Lawrence and I got out, nevertheless," answered Dave.
+
+"Where is Lawrence?"
+
+"Up in our room in bed, and I was in bed, too, but got up when the
+doctor came in," added Dave.
+
+"Well, I never!" stormed Job Haskers. "You see how it is, Doctor Clay;
+they have even broken out of the book-room after I told them to stay
+there!"
+
+"We weren't going to stay in a cold room all night with no beds to
+sleep on, and only bread and milk for supper," went on Dave. "I
+wouldn't treat my worst enemy that way."
+
+"Did you say you were in bed when I came in?" questioned Doctor Clay.
+
+"Yes, sir--and Phil is there now, unless he just got up."
+
+"Here I am," came a voice from behind Dave, and the shipowner's son put
+in an appearance. "Do you want us to come downstairs, Doctor? If you
+do, I'll have to go back and put on my clothes and shoes."
+
+"And I'll have to go back and dress, too," added Dave.
+
+Doctor Clay mused a moment.
+
+"As you are undressed you may as well retire," he said. "I will look
+into this matter to-morrow morning, or Monday morning."
+
+"Thank you, sir," said both boys.
+
+"But, sir----" commenced Job Haskers.
+
+"It is too late to take up the case now," interrupted Doctor Clay.
+"There is no use in arousing anybody at this time of night. Besides,
+I am very tired. We'll all go to bed, and sift this thing out later.
+Boys, you may go."
+
+"Thank you, sir. Good-night."
+
+And without waiting for another word the two chums hurried to their
+dormitory, leaving Job Haskers and the doctor alone.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+VERA ROCKWELL
+
+
+Sunday passed, and nothing was said to Dave and Phil concerning the
+unfortunate snowballing incident; but on Monday morning, immediately
+after breakfast, both were summoned to Doctor Clay's office.
+
+"I suppose we are in for it now," said the shipowner's son, dolefully.
+
+"Never mind, Phil; we didn't mean to do wrong, and I am going to tell
+the doctor so. I think he will be fair in the matter."
+
+But though Dave spoke thus, he was by no means easy in his mind. He had
+had trouble with Job Haskers before and he well knew how the teacher
+could distort facts to make himself out to be a much-injured individual.
+
+When the two youths entered the office they found Doctor Clay seated
+at his desk, looking over the mail Jackson Lemond had just brought in
+from town. Job Haskers was not present, which fact caused the boys to
+breathe a sigh of relief.
+
+"Now, boys, I want you to give me the particulars of what occurred
+Saturday afternoon," said the master of the Hall, as he laid down a
+letter he had been perusing. "Porter, you may relate your story first."
+
+Without unnecessary details, Dave told his tale in a straightforward
+manner,--how the boys had been having a snowball fight, how somebody
+had cried out that Horsehair was coming in a cutter, and how they had
+thought to have a little fun with the school driver by pelting him with
+snowballs.
+
+"We have often done it before," went on Dave. "Horsehair--I mean
+Lemond--doesn't seem to mind it, and sometimes he snowballs us in
+return."
+
+"Then you did not know it was Mr. Haskers?"
+
+"No, sir--not until I had thrown the snowball."
+
+Then Dave told of Haskers's anger, and of how they had been ordered to
+the office and had gone there.
+
+"I told him I was sorry I had hit him, but he would not listen to me,
+and he wouldn't listen when Phil apologized. He said he would accept
+no apologies, but was going to give us the thrashing we deserved. Then
+he took the whip he carried and tried to strike me. I wouldn't stand
+for that and I caught hold of the whip. He told me to let go and I
+said I wouldn't unless he promised not to strike at me again. Then
+he struggled to get the whip from my grasp and pushed me backward,
+against the stand with the statue. The stand went over and the statue
+was broken."
+
+"Wait a moment, Porter." Doctor Clay's voice was oddly strained. "Are
+you certain Mr. Haskers tried to strike you with the whip?"
+
+"I certainly am, sir. He raised the whip over my head, and if I hadn't
+dodged I'd have been struck, and struck hard."
+
+"Mr. Haskers tells me that he simply carried the whip to the office to
+subdue you--that he was afraid both of you might jump on him and do him
+bodily injury."
+
+"Does he say he didn't strike at me?" cried Dave, in astonishment, for
+this was a turn of affairs he had not dreamed would occur.
+
+"He says he brandished the whip when you came toward him as if to
+strike him."
+
+"I made no move to strike him, Doctor Clay--Phil will testify to that."
+
+"Dave has told the strict truth, sir," said the shipowner's son. "Mr.
+Haskers did strike at him, and it was only by luck that Dave escaped
+the blow. I thought sure he was going to get a sound whack on the head."
+
+At these words Doctor Clay's face became a study. The teacher had had
+his say on Sunday afternoon, but this version put an entirely different
+aspect on the affair.
+
+"Go on with your story," he said, after a pause.
+
+"I am very sorry that the statue was broken," continued Dave. "And I
+wish to say right here, sir, that if you think it was my fault I will
+willingly pay for the damage done. But I think it was entirely Mr.
+Haskers's fault. I always understood that no corporal punishment was
+permitted in this school."
+
+"Your understanding on that point is correct, Porter. The only
+exception to the rule is when a student becomes violent himself and has
+to be subdued."
+
+"I wasn't violent."
+
+"Please tell the rest of your story."
+
+Then Dave told of the wordy war which had followed, and of how he and
+Phil had been locked up and given bread and milk for supper, and of
+how he and his chum had found the book-room more than cheerless. He
+had resolved to make a clean breast of it, and so gave the particulars
+of taking the door off its hinges, getting extra food, and of finally
+going upstairs to bed. The latter part of the story caused Doctor Clay
+to turn his head away and look out of a window, so that the boys might
+not see the smile that came to his face. In his imagination he could
+see the lads feasting on the purloined things in the book-room by
+candlelight.
+
+"Now, Lawrence, what have you to say?" he asked, when Dave had
+finished.
+
+"I can't say much, sir--excepting that Dave has told you the truth, and
+the whole truth at that. And I might add, sir, had Mr. Dale or yourself
+been in the cutter I think the whole trouble would have been patched
+up very quickly. But Mr. Haskers is so--so--impulsive--he never will
+listen to a fellow,--and he rushed at Dave like a mad bull. I was ready
+to jump on him when the whip went up, and I guess I would have done it
+if Dave had been struck."
+
+"And you are positive you didn't snowball Mr. Haskers on purpose?"
+
+"Positive, sir--and I can prove it by the other boys who were in the
+crowd."
+
+"Hum!" Doctor Clay was silent for fully a minute. "You can both
+go to your classes. If I wish to see you further in regard to
+this--ahem--unfortunate affair I will let you know."
+
+The boys bowed and went out, and quarter of an hour later each was deep
+in the studies for the day. Occasionally their minds wandered to what
+had occurred, and they tried to imagine what the outcome would be.
+
+"I don't think the doctor will stand for the whip," was the way Dave
+expressed himself, and in this surmise he was correct. That very
+afternoon the master of the Hall called the teacher to his office, and
+a warm discussion followed. But what was said was never made public.
+Yet one thing the boys knew--Dave was never called upon to pay for the
+broken statue--Job Haskers had to settle that bill.
+
+With the ice so fine on the river, much of the boys' off-time was spent
+in ice-boating and skating. One afternoon there was an ice-boat race
+between the _Snowbird_ from Oak Hall, a boat from Rockville Military
+Academy, and two craft owned by young men of Oakdale. This brought out
+a large crowd, and each person was enthusiastic over his favorite.
+
+"I hope our boat wins!" said Roger, who was on skates, as were Dave and
+Phil and many others.
+
+"So do I," said Dave. "I don't care who comes in ahead so long as it's
+an ice-boat belonging to Oak Hall."
+
+"That's pretty good!" cried Sam Day, "seeing that we have but one boat
+in the race."
+
+"Say, that puts me in mind of a story," came from Shadow. "One time a
+lot of young fellows in a village organized a fire company. They voted
+to get uniforms and the question came up as to what color of shirts
+they should buy. They talked it over, and at last an old fire-fighter
+in a corner got up. 'Buy any color you please,' said he, 'any color
+you please, but be sure it's red!'" And the story caused a smile to go
+around.
+
+The four ice-boats were soon ready for the contest, and at a pistol
+shot they started on the fivemile course which had been laid out.
+Messmer and Henshaw were on the _Snowbird_, which speedily took the
+second place, one of the town boats, named the _Whistler_, leading.
+
+"Hurrah! they are off!"
+
+"What's the matter with the Military Academy boat? She's a tail-ender."
+
+"The _Lark_ is third!"
+
+So the cries ran on, as the ice-boats skimmed along over the smooth
+ice, swept clear of nearly all the snow by the wind. Dave and his chums
+skated some distance after the boats and then halted, to await their
+return.
+
+"Hurrah, the _Snowbird_ is crawling up on the _Whistler_!" cried Buster
+Beggs.
+
+"They are neck and neck!" said Luke Watson.
+
+"Yes, but the _Venus_ is coming up, too," answered Phil. "Gracious, but
+I'll wager those Rockville fellows would like to win!"
+
+"The _Venus_ must be a new boat," said Ben Basswood. "I never saw her
+before."
+
+"She is new--some of the Military Academy fellows purchased her last
+week," answered another boy.
+
+The crowd moved on, Dave stopping to fix one of his skates, which had
+become loose. As he straightened up, a girl brushed past him and looked
+him full in the face. He saw that she was one of the two who had been
+on the ice-boat at the time of the accident. She gave him a sunny
+smile and he very politely tipped his cap to her.
+
+"I suppose you hope your boat will win," she said, coming to a halt
+near him.
+
+"You mean the Oak Hall boat, I suppose?"
+
+"Of course, Mr. Porter."
+
+"Yes, I hope we do win," answered Dave, and wondered how she had
+learned his name. "Don't you hope we'll win, too, Miss Rockwell?" he
+continued, seeing that the others had gone on and he was practically
+alone with his new acquaintance.
+
+"Well, I--I really don't know," she answered, and smiled again. "You
+see, the _Whistler_ belongs to some friends of my big brother, so I
+suppose I ought to want that to win."
+
+"But if the _Snowbird_ is a better boat----"
+
+Vera Rockwell gave a merry laugh--it was her nature to laugh a good
+deal. "Of course if your boat is the better of the two---- But I am
+keeping you from your friends," she broke off.
+
+"Oh, I shan't mind that," said Dave politely, and he did not mind in
+the least, for Vera seemed so good-natured that he was glad to have a
+chance to talk to her.
+
+"I wanted to meet you," Vera went on, as, without hardly noticing it,
+they skated off side by side. "I wanted to thank you for what you and
+your friend did for us the other day."
+
+"I guess you had better blame us. If we hadn't rolled that big snowball
+down the hill----"
+
+"Oh, but you said you didn't mean to hit the ice-boat----"
+
+"Which was true--we didn't see the ice-boat until it was too late. I
+hope you and your friend got home safely?"
+
+"We did. When we reached the road we met a farmer we knew with a big
+sled, and he took Mary and me right to our doors."
+
+"Do you live in Oakdale?"
+
+"Yes,--just on the outskirts of the town,--the big brick house with the
+iron fence around the garden."
+
+"Oh, I've seen that place often. You used to have a little black dog
+who was very friendly and would sit up on his hind legs and beg."
+
+"Gyp! Yes, and I have him yet--and he's the cutest you ever saw! He can
+do all kinds of tricks. Some day, when you are passing, if you'll stop
+I'll show you."
+
+"Thank you, I'll remember, and I'll be sure to stop," answered Dave,
+much pleased with the invitation.
+
+"Here they come! Here they come!" was the cry, and suddenly the youth
+and the girl found themselves in a big body of skaters. Vera was struck
+on the arm by one burly man, and would have gone down had not Dave
+supported her.
+
+"Better take my hand," said Dave, and the girl did so, for she was a
+little frightened. Then the crowd increased, and they had to fall back
+a little, to get out of the jam. Dave looked around for his chums, but
+they were nowhere in sight. Then all strained their eyes to behold the
+finish of the ice-boat contest.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+DAVE SPEAKS HIS MIND
+
+
+"Here they come!"
+
+"The _Whistler_ is ahead!"
+
+"Yes, but the _Snowbird_ is crawling up!"
+
+"See, the _Venus_ has given up."
+
+So the cries ran on, as the ice-boats drew closer and closer to the
+finishing line of the contest. It was true the _Venus_, the craft from
+the Rockville Military Academy, had fallen far behind and had given up.
+The third boat was also well to the rear, so the struggle was between
+the Oak Hall craft and the _Whistler_ only.
+
+"I hope we win!" cried Dave, enthusiastically.
+
+"Oh, how mean!" answered Vera, reproachfully. "Well, I--er--I don't
+mean that exactly, but I'd like to see my brother's friends come in
+ahead."
+
+"One thing is sure--it's going to be close," continued Dave. "Can you
+see at all?"
+
+"Not much--there is such a crowd in front."
+
+"Too bad! Now if you were a little girl, I'd lift you on my shoulder,"
+and he smiled merrily.
+
+"Oh, the idea!" And Vera laughed roundly. "I can see the tops of the
+masts, anyway. They seem to be about even."
+
+"They are. I think----"
+
+"A tie! a tie!" was the cry. Then a wild cheer went up, as both
+ice-boats crossed the line side by side. A second later the crowd broke
+out on the course and began skating hither and thither.
+
+"Is it really a tie?" asked the girl.
+
+"So it seems."
+
+"Well, I am glad, for now we can both be satisfied." Vera looked around
+somewhat anxiously. "Have you seen anything of Mary Feversham? She came
+skating when I did."
+
+"You mean the other young lady who was with you on that ice-boat?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"No, I haven't seen her. Perhaps we can find her if we skate around a
+bit."
+
+"Oh, but I don't want to trouble you."
+
+"It is no trouble, it will be a pleasure. We might----"
+
+At that moment a number of skaters swept by, including Nat Poole.
+The dudish student smiled at Vera and then, noticing Dave, stared in
+astonishment.
+
+"Do you know him?" asked Vera, and for a moment she frowned.
+
+"Yes, he belongs to our school."
+
+"Oh!" She drew down the corners of her pretty mouth. "I--I didn't know
+that."
+
+"We are not very friendly--he doesn't belong to my set," Dave went on,
+for he had not liked that smile from Poole, and he was sure Vera had
+not liked it either.
+
+"He spoke to us once--Mary and me--one day last week when we were
+skating. He was dressed in the height of fashion, and I suppose he
+thought we would be glad to know him. But we didn't answer him. Ever
+since that time he has been smiling at us. I wish he'd stop. If he
+doesn't I shall tell my big brother about it."
+
+"If he annoys you too much let me know and I'll go at him myself,"
+answered Dave, readily. "I've had plenty of trouble with him in the
+past, but I shan't mind a little more." And then he told of some of the
+encounters with the dudish student. Vera was greatly interested and
+laughed heartily over the jokes that had been played.
+
+"You boys must have splendid times!" she cried. "Oh, don't you know,
+sometimes I wish I were a boy!" And then she told something of her
+own doings and the doings of Mary Feversham, who was her one chum.
+Along with their relatives, the girls had spent the summer on the St.
+Lawrence, and the previous winter they had been to Florida, which made
+Dave conclude that they were well-to-do.
+
+They skated around a little more and soon met Mary Feversham, who was
+with Vera's big brother. Then Roger and Phil came up; and all were
+introduced to each other.
+
+"The girls told me about the big snowball affair," said Rob Rockwell.
+"I told 'em it served 'em right for going out with those Military
+Academy chaps. Those fellows never struck me right--they put on too
+many airs. We wouldn't stand for that sort of thing at my college."
+
+"Well, the race was a tie between our boat and the boat of your
+friend," said Dave, to change the subject. "They'll have to race over
+again some day."
+
+"Jackson let one of his ropes break at the turn," answered Rob
+Rockwell. "That threw his sail over and put him behind--otherwise he
+might have won."
+
+Rob was a college youth, big, round-faced, and with a loud voice
+and somewhat positive manner. But he was a good fellow, and Dave
+and his chums took to him immediately, and the two parties did not
+separate until it was time for the Oak Hall students to return to that
+institution. At parting Vera gave Dave a pleasant smile.
+
+"Remember the dog," she said.
+
+"I certainly shall," he answered, and smiled in return.
+
+"What did she mean about a dog?" questioned Roger, a minute later,
+when the chums were skating for the school dock.
+
+"Oh, not much," answered Dave, evasively. "She told me where she lived
+and I said I remembered seeing her little black dog, and then she said
+he could do all kinds of tricks, and if I'd stop there some time she'd
+show me." And hardly knowing why, Dave blushed slightly.
+
+"Oh, that's it," answered the senator's son, and then said no more.
+But in his heart he was just a little bit jealous because he had not
+been invited to call too. Vera's open-hearted, jolly manner pleased him
+fully as much as it pleased Dave.
+
+"They are all-right girls," was Phil's comment, when the boys were
+taking off their skates. "That Vera Rockwell is full of fun, I suspect.
+But I rather prefer Mary Feversham, even if she is more quiet."
+
+"Going to marry her soon, Phil?" asked Dave, quizzically.
+
+"Sure," was the unabashed reply. "The ceremony will take place on the
+thirty-first of next February, at four minutes past two o'clock in the
+evening. Omit flowers, but send in all the solid silver dollars you
+wish." And this remark caused the others to laugh.
+
+Two days later Link Merwell came back to school. Dave did not see the
+bully on his arrival, and the pair did not meet until Dave went to
+one of the classrooms to recite. Then, much to his surprise, Merwell
+greeted him with a friendly nod.
+
+"How do you do, Porter?" he said, pleasantly.
+
+"How are you, Merwell?" was the cold response.
+
+"Oh, I'm pretty well, thank you," went on Link Merwell, easily. "Fine
+weather we are having. I suppose skating is just elegant. I brought
+along a new pair of skates and I hope to have lots of fun on them." The
+bully came closer. "Had the pleasure of meeting your sister out West,"
+he continued in a lower tone. "My! but I was surprised! You were a
+lucky dog to find your father and Laura. See you later." And the bully
+passed on to his seat.
+
+Dave's face flushed and his heart beat rapidly. As my old readers know
+he had good cause to feel a resentment against Link Merwell, and it
+was maddening to have the bully mention Laura's name. He could see why
+the fellow was acting so cordially--it was solely on Laura's account.
+Evidently he considered his acquaintanceship with Laura quite an
+intimate one.
+
+"I'll have to open his eyes to the truth," thought Dave. "And the
+sooner it is done the better." Then he turned to his lessons. But it
+was hard work to get the bully out of his mind, and he made several
+mistakes in reciting ancient history, much to Mr. Dale's surprise.
+
+"You will have to study this over again," said the head teacher,
+kindly. And he marked a 6 against Dave's name, when the pupil might
+have had a 10.
+
+Dave's opportunity to "have it out" with Link Merwell came the next
+afternoon, when he had gone for a short skate, previous to starting
+work on the essay which he hoped would win the prize. The two met at
+the boathouse, and fortunately nobody else was near.
+
+"Going skating, I see," said Merwell, airily. "Finest sport going, I
+think. I wish your sister was here to enjoy it with us, don't you?
+I sent her a letter to-day. I suppose she told you we were having a
+little correspondence--just for fun, you know."
+
+"See here, Link Merwell, we may as well have an understanding now as
+later," began Dave, earnestly. "I want to talk to you before anybody
+comes. I want you to leave my sister alone,--I want you to stop
+speaking about her, and stop writing to her. She told me about her trip
+west, and how she met you, and all that. At that time she didn't know
+you as I know you. But I've told her about you, and you can take it
+from me that she doesn't want to hear from you again. She is very sorry
+she ever met you and wrote to you."
+
+"Oh, that's it, eh?" Link Merwell's face had grown first red and then
+deathly pale. "So you put in your oar, eh? Blackened my character all
+you could, I suppose." He shut his teeth with a snap. "You'd better
+take care!"
+
+"I simply told her the truth."
+
+"Oh, yes, I know just how you can talk, Porter! And did she say she
+wouldn't write to me any more?"
+
+"She did. Now I want to know something more. What did you do with the
+letters she sent you?"
+
+"I kept them."
+
+"I want you to give them to me."
+
+"To you?"
+
+"Yes, and I will send them to her."
+
+"Not much! They are my letters and I intend to keep them!" cried Link
+Merwell. His face took on a cunning look. "If you think you are going
+to get those letters away from me you are mistaken."
+
+"Maybe I can force you to give them up, Merwell."
+
+"What will you do--fight? If you try that game, Porter, I'll let every
+fellow in this school know what brought the fight about--and let them
+read the letters."
+
+"You are a gentleman, I must say," answered Dave. He paused for a
+moment. "Then you won't give them up?"
+
+"Positively, no."
+
+"Then listen to me, Link Merwell. Sooner or later I'll make you give
+them up. In the meantime, if I hear of your letting anybody else
+read those letters, or know of them, I'll give you a ten times worse
+thrashing than I did before I left this school to go to Europe. Now
+remember that, for I mean every word I say."
+
+"You can't make me give up the letters," said Merwell, doggedly. He was
+somewhat cowed by Dave's earnest manner.
+
+"I can and I will."
+
+"Maybe you think I've got them in my trunk? If so, you are mistaken."
+
+"I don't care where you have them--I'll get them sometime. And
+remember, don't you dare to write to my sister again, or don't you dare
+to speak to her when you meet her."
+
+"To listen to your talk, you'd think you were my master, Porter,"
+sneered the bully, but his lips trembled slightly as he spoke.
+
+"Not at all. But I want you to let my sister alone, that's all. All the
+decent fellows in this school know what you are, and it is no credit to
+any young lady to know you."
+
+"Bah! I consider myself a better fellow than you are," snarled the
+bully. "You are rich now, but we all know how you were brought
+up,--among a lot of poorhou----"
+
+Link Merwell stopped suddenly and took a hasty step backward. At his
+last words Dave's fists had doubled up and a light as of fire had come
+into his eyes.
+
+"Not another word, Merwell," said Dave, in a strained voice. "Not
+one--or I'll bang your head against the wall until you yell for mercy.
+I can stand some things, but I can't stand that--and I won't!"
+
+A silence followed, during which each youth glared at the other.
+Merwell had his skates in his hand and made a movement as if to lift
+them up and bring them down on Dave's head. But then his arm dropped to
+his side, for that terrible look of danger was still in the eyes of the
+youth who had spent some years of his life in the Crumville poorhouse.
+
+"We'll have this out some other time," he muttered, and slunk out of
+the boathouse like a whipped cur.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+AT THE OLD GRANARY
+
+
+There was to be a skating race that afternoon and Dave had thought
+to take part. But now he was in no humor for mingling with his
+fellow-students and so took a long walk, along the snow-covered road
+beyond Oak Hall.
+
+At first his mind was entirely on Link Merwell, and on his sister Laura
+and the letters she had written to the bully. To be sure, Laura had
+told him that the letters contained only a lot of girlish nonsense, yet
+he was more than sorry Merwell held them and he would have given much
+to have gotten them away from the fellow he despised.
+
+Returning to the Hall some time before supper, Dave went up to his
+dormitory. Only Bertram Vane was there, translating Latin.
+
+"Come to study, Dave?" he questioned pleasantly, hardly glancing up
+from his work.
+
+"I've come to work on that essay, Polly," Dave answered.
+
+"You mean the Past and Future of Our Country?"
+
+"Yes. Shall you try for the prize?"
+
+"I may--I haven't got that far yet. It seems to me you are beginning
+early."
+
+"Oh, I am merely going to jot down some ideas I have. Then, from time
+to time, I'll add to those ideas, and do the real writing later."
+
+"That's a good plan. Maybe----" And then Polly Vane stopped speaking
+and lost himself in his Latin lesson. He was very studious as well as
+girlish, but one of the best fellows in the school.
+
+Dave went to work, and so easily did his ideas flow that it was
+supper time before he had them all transferred to paper. The subject
+interested him greatly and he felt in his heart that he could do it
+full justice.
+
+"But I must work carefully," he told himself. "If I don't, some other
+paper may be better than mine."
+
+The students were flocking in from the campus, the gymnasium, and the
+river. Some came upstairs, to wash up before going to the dining room.
+Among the number was Chip Macklin, the young pupil who had in times
+gone by been the toady of Gus Plum when Plum had been the Hall bully.
+
+"Oh, Dave Porter!" cried Chip, and running up, he clutched Dave by the
+arm.
+
+"What is it, Chip?" asked Dave, seeing the little boy was white and
+trembling. "What's wrong?"
+
+"I--I--I don't know whether to tell you or not," whispered Chip. "It's
+awful--dreadful!" He looked around, to make certain nobody else was
+near.
+
+"What is awful?"
+
+Again Chip looked around. "You won't say that I told you, will you? I
+suppose I ought to tell somebody--or do something--but perhaps Plum
+wouldn't like it. He can't be left out where he is,--he might freeze to
+death!"
+
+"See here, Chip, explain yourself," and Dave's voice became somewhat
+stern.
+
+"I will! I will! But it is so awful! Why, the Doctor may suspend Gus!
+And I thought he was going to reform!" Chip Macklin's voice trembled so
+he could hardly frame the words.
+
+"Will you tell me just what you mean?"
+
+"I will if--if you'll try to help Gus, Dave. Oh, I know you'll help
+him--you did before! It's such a shame to see him throw himself away!"
+
+Dave looked the small student in the eyes and there was a moment of
+silence.
+
+"I guess I know what you mean, Chip. Where is Gus?"
+
+"Come on and I'll show you."
+
+The pair hurried downstairs. In the lower hall they ran into Shadow.
+
+"I was looking for you, Dave," said the story-teller of the school. "I
+want you to do something for me and--and for Gus Plum."
+
+"Why, Shadow, Chip---- What do you know about Gus?"
+
+The three boys stared at each other. On the instant they felt all knew
+what was wrong.
+
+"Was that what you said you'd tell me about sometime, Shadow?" asked
+Dave, in a whisper.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then it has happened before?"
+
+"Yes, about three weeks after you and Roger went to Europe. I met him
+on the road, coming to the school after spending several hours at some
+tavern in Oakdale. He wouldn't say where he got the liquor. I wouldn't
+let him come to Oak Hall until late at night. Then we got in by a side
+door and I helped him to get to bed. In the morning he was quite sick,
+but I don't think anybody suspected the cause. That afternoon he told
+me he would never touch liquor again."
+
+While Shadow was talking the three boys had left the school buildings
+and were hurrying around to the rear of one of the carriage sheds. Here
+was a small building which had once been used as a granary but was now
+partly filled with old garden implements and cut wood.
+
+It was dark in the building and from a corner came the sounds of
+somebody breathing heavily. Shadow struck a match and held it up.
+
+There, upon a pile of old potato sacks, lay Gus Plum, sleeping soundly.
+Close at hand lay a small flask which had contained liquor but which
+was now empty. Dave smelt of it, and then, going to the doorway, threw
+it far out into the deep snow.
+
+If Dave's heart had never been heavy before it was heavy now. Gus Plum
+had promised faithfully to reform and he had imagined that the former
+bully would keep his word. But, according to Shadow's statement, Plum
+had fallen from grace twice, and if he would reform at all was now a
+question.
+
+"It's fearful, isn't it, Dave?" said the story-teller of the school, in
+a whisper.
+
+"Yes, Shadow, I--I hardly know what to say--I hoped for so much from
+Gus--I thought he'd make one of the best fellows in this school after
+all--after he had lived down the past. But now----" Dave's voice broke
+and he could not go on for a moment.
+
+"We can't leave him here--and if we take him into the school----" began
+Chip Macklin.
+
+"How long has he been here?"
+
+"Not over an hour or two," answered Shadow.
+
+"He must have gone to town for the liquor."
+
+"Unless he had it on hand--he went to town a couple of days ago," said
+Chip.
+
+"We've got to do something quick--or we'll be missed from the dining
+hall," continued Shadow.
+
+"You fellows can go back, Shadow; I'll take care of him. Make some kind
+of an excuse for my absence--say I didn't care for anything to eat."
+
+"But what will you do, Dave?"
+
+"I don't know yet--but I'll fix it up somehow. This must be kept a
+secret, not only on Gus's account but for the honor of Oak Hall. If
+this got out to the public, it would give the school a terrible black
+eye."
+
+"I know that. Why, my father would never let me attend a school where
+there was any drinking going on."
+
+"Doctor Clay isn't responsible for this--nobody is responsible but Gus
+himself,--unless somebody led him on. But go on, there goes the last
+bell for supper."
+
+Shadow passed over half a dozen matches he carried and went out,
+followed by Chip Macklin. Dave stood in the dark, listening to Gus
+Plum's heavy breathing. He did not know what to do, yet he felt he had
+a duty to perform and he made up his mind to perform it. At any hazard
+he must keep the former bully from public exposure, and he must do his
+best to make Plum reform once more. He uttered a prayer that Heaven
+might help him to do what was best.
+
+Lighting another match, Dave espied an old lantern on a shelf, half
+filled with dirty oil, and lit it. Then he approached Plum and touched
+him on the arm. The sleeping youth did not awaken, and even when Dave
+shook him he still slumbered on.
+
+To take him into the school in that condition was out of the question,
+yet it would not do to let him remain in the old granary, where during
+the night he might freeze to death. Dave thought of the barn, with its
+warm hay, and blowing out the lantern, left the granary and walked to
+the other buildings.
+
+Fortune favored him, for neither Lemond nor the stableman was around,
+both being at supper in the servants' quarters. There was a back door
+and a ladder to the hayloft which might be used. He ran back to the
+granary, picked up Gus Plum and the lantern, and started on the trip.
+The former bully of the school was no light weight and Dave staggered
+under the load. Once he slipped in the snow and almost went down, but
+saved himself in time and kept on. Then came the tug up the ladder.
+During this Plum's hand was pinched and he uttered a grunt.
+
+"Shay--don't touch me," he muttered thickly, but before Dave could
+answer he was slumbering again.
+
+The hayloft gained, Dave deposited his burden in a far corner, where
+nobody was likely to see or hear him. He lit the lantern and made Plum
+a comfortable bed and covered him up, so that he might not take cold.
+Then he took a card from his pocket and wrote on it in leadpencil:
+
+  "GUS:
+
+"I brought you here from the old granary. Nobody but Chip and Shadow
+know and they will keep silent. Please, please brace up and be a man.
+
+  "DAVE."
+
+This card he fastened by a string to Plum's wrist. Then he put out the
+lantern, left the barn, and hurried back to the school. As he entered
+he found Shadow on the watch.
+
+"Just got through with supper," whispered the youth. "Nobody asked
+about you. I guess you can slip into your seat and get something,
+anyway." And Dave did this without trouble. That Job Haskers should
+miss a chance to mark him down for tardiness was remarkable, but the
+fact was Haskers was in a hurry to get away and consequently did not
+notice all that was taking place.
+
+Dave did not sleep well that night, and he roused up a dozen times
+or more, thinking he heard Gus Plum coming in. But all the alarms
+were false, for Gus Plum did not show himself until breakfast time.
+He looked flushed and sick and ate scarcely a mouthful. Some of his
+dormitory mates wanted to know where he had been during the night, but
+he did not tell them.
+
+At first Dave thought he would go to the former bully and talk to him,
+but then he concluded to let the matter rest with Plum. The latter came
+to him just before the noon session.
+
+"Will you take a skate with me after school, Dave?" he asked, very
+humbly.
+
+"Certainly, Gus."
+
+"I--I want to go with you alone," faltered the big lad.
+
+"Very well--I shan't tell any of the others," returned Dave.
+
+A fine snow was falling when the school session was over, but none of
+the pupils minded this. Dave took his skates and went to the river,
+and Plum followed. Soon the pair were skating by themselves. When they
+had turned a bend, Plum led the way to a secluded spot, under the
+wide-spreading branches of an oak, and with a deep sigh threw himself
+down on a rock.
+
+"I suppose you've got your own opinion of me," he began, bitterly, and
+with his face turned away. "I don't blame you--it's what I deserve. I
+hadn't any right to promise you that I'd reform, for it doesn't seem to
+be in me. My appetite for liquor is too strong for me. Now, don't say
+it isn't, for I know it is."
+
+"Why, Gus----"
+
+"Please don't interrupt me, Dave; it's hard enough for me to talk as it
+is. But you've been my one good friend, and I feel I've got to tell you
+the whole truth. I want you to know it all--everything. Will you listen
+until I have finished?"
+
+"Certainly. Go ahead."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+GUS PLUM'S STORY
+
+
+"You may think it strange when I tell you that I come by my appetite
+for liquor naturally, yet such is a fact," began Gus Plum, after a
+pause, during which he seemed to collect his thoughts. "You fellows who
+don't know what such an appetite is are lucky--far more lucky than you
+can realize. It's an awful thing to have such an appetite--it makes one
+feel at times as though he were doomed.
+
+"We always had liquor at our house and my folks drank it at meals, just
+as their folks had done before them, so I heard. When I was a small boy
+I was allowed to have my glass of wine, and on holidays we had punch
+and I got my share. Sometimes, I can remember, friends remonstrated
+with my folks for letting me have the stuff, but my father would laugh
+and say it was all right--that he had had it himself when he was a boy
+and that it wouldn't hurt me. My father never drank to excess, to my
+knowledge, but his brother, my uncle, did, and once when Uncle Jim was
+under the influence of liquor, he slipped under a street car and had
+his arm crushed so badly he had to have it amputated.
+
+"My uncle's losing that arm scared me a little. I was then about ten
+years old, and I made up my mind I wouldn't drink much more. But the
+stuff tasted good to me and I didn't want to break off entirely. So I
+continued to drink a little and then a little more, until I thought I
+couldn't have my dinner without wine, or something like that, to go
+with it."
+
+"When I was about thirteen a lady I knew well gave a New Year's party
+to a lot of young folks, and I was invited. I was one of the youngest
+boys there. The lady had punch, set out in a big cut-glass bowl on a
+stand in a corner of the hall, with sandwiches and cake alongside. I
+tried that punch and liked it, and I drank so much that I got noisy,
+and the lady had to send me home in her carriage."
+
+"I guess that woke my father up to the fact that matters were going too
+far, and he told me I mustn't drink liquor away from home. He couldn't
+stop me from drinking at our house, for he had it himself there. But
+he had helped me to get the appetite, and I couldn't stop. On the next
+Fourth of July I spent my money in a tavern some distance away from
+where we lived, and there some rascals--I can't call them men--treated
+me liberally, just to see me make a fool of myself, I suppose. The
+fellows teased me until I got in a rage and I took up a bottle and
+cracked it to pieces over one fellow's head, injuring him badly.
+
+"This brought matters to a climax and my father told me he was going to
+send me to boarding school. I did not want to go at first, but he said
+he felt sure it would do me good, and finally I went to Sandville, and
+then came to Oak Hall.
+
+"At first all went well, for I saw no liquor and got little chance to
+get any, but after a while the appetite forced itself on me once more,
+and--and you know what followed."
+
+As Gus Plum concluded he covered his face with his hands and looked the
+picture of misery and despair. Dave had sunk down on the rock beside
+him and he placed a hand on the other's shoulder.
+
+"Is that all, Gus?" he asked, quietly.
+
+"About all," was the low answer. "But I want you to know one thing
+more, Dave. When you went away to Europe I intended to keep my promise
+and make a man of myself. I got along all right at first, but one
+Saturday afternoon Link Merwell asked me to go to Rockville with him."
+
+"Merwell!"
+
+"Yes. I don't care for him much, yet he was very friendly and I said
+I'd go. We visited a place where they have a poolroom in the rear,
+and he urged me to play pool with him, and I did. Then he offered
+me a cigar, and finally he treated to liquor. I said I had stopped
+drinking, but he laughed at me and held a glass of strong stuff to my
+face and dared me to take it,--said I was a baby to refuse. And I took
+it,--and then I treated him, and we both took too much. I came back to
+school alone, for we got into a row when he spoke of you and said mean
+things about you. When I got to Oak Hall I might have gotten into more
+trouble, only Shadow Hamilton cared for me, as maybe you know. Merwell
+wasn't under the influence of liquor very much, but he had enough to be
+ugly, and he got into a row with Mr. Dale and came pretty near to being
+sent home. Then he had another row with the teacher and went off on his
+vacation. He somehow blamed Phil Lawrence, but Phil had nothing to do
+with it."
+
+"Yes, Phil wrote to me about that last row," answered Dave. "But to
+come back to yourself, Gus." His face grew sober. "You've certainly had
+a hard time of it, and, somehow, I don't think you alone are to blame
+for all that has happened. I have no appetite for liquor, but I think
+I can understand something of what it means. But let me tell you one
+thing." Dave's voice grew intensely earnest. "It's all nonsense to say
+you are not going to reform--that you can't do it. You can reform if
+you'll only use your whole will power."
+
+"But look at what I've tried already!" Plum's tone was utterly
+hopeless. "Oh, you don't know how I've fought against it! People who
+haven't any appetite for liquor don't know anything about it. It's like
+a snake around your neck strangling you!"
+
+"Well, I wouldn't give up--not as long as I had any backbone left. Just
+make up your mind from this minute on that you won't touch another drop
+of any kind, no matter who offers it. Don't say to yourself, 'Oh, I'll
+take a little now and then, and let it go at that.' Break off clean and
+clear,--and keep away from all places where liquor is sold."
+
+"Yes, but----" Plum's voice was as hopeless as before.
+
+"No 'buts' about it, Gus. I want you to make a man of yourself. You can
+do it if you'll only try. Won't you try?--for your own sake--for my
+sake--for the honor of Oak Hall? Say yes, and then thrust liquor out of
+your mind forever--don't even let yourself think of it. Get interested
+in your studies, in skating, boating, gymnastics, baseball,--anything.
+Before you know it, you'll have a death grip on that habit and it will
+have to die."
+
+"Do you really believe that, Dave?"
+
+"I do. Why, look at it--some men right down in the gutter have
+reformed, and they didn't possess any more backbone than you. All you
+want to do is to exert your will power. Fight the thing just as you
+used to fight me and some of the other fellows, and let that fight be
+one to a finish. Now, come, what do you say?"
+
+"I'll fight!" cried Gus Plum, leaping to his feet and with a new light
+shining in his eyes. "I'll fight! Oh, Dave, you're a wonderful fellow,
+to put new backbone in me! I felt I had to give up--that I couldn't win
+out, that everything was against me. Now I'll do as you say. I won't
+even think of liquor again, and I won't go where I can get it."
+
+"Give me your hand on that, Gus." The pair shook hands. "Now let us
+continue our skate. Perhaps we'll meet Shadow and Chip. I know they'll
+be glad to hear of what you intend to do. They want you to turn over a
+new leaf just as much as I do. And after this, take my advice and drop
+Link Merwell."
+
+"I'll do it. As I said, I never cared much for him."
+
+The two left the spot where the conversation had ensued and skated up
+the river for a considerable distance. As they disappeared another
+youth stole forth from behind some bushes near by and skated off in the
+opposite direction. The youth was Link Merwell.
+
+"So that was the trouble with Gus Plum last night, and that is what he
+has got to say about me!" muttered the bully, savagely. "Well, I am
+glad I know so much of his history--it may come useful some time! He
+may get under Dave Porter's wing, but I am not done with him yet--nor
+done with Porter either!"
+
+It was not long before Dave and Plum met Shadow, and a little later the
+three saw Chip Macklin. All four went off in a bunch, and Dave with
+much tact told of what Gus proposed to do.
+
+"It is very nice of you to keep this a secret," said Plum. "I shall
+always remember it, and if I can ever do anything for any of you I'll
+do it. You are all good friends, and Dave is the best fellow I ever
+met!"
+
+They skated on for fully a mile, the fine snow pelting them in the
+face. But nobody minded this, for all felt happy: Plum to think that he
+was going to have another chance to redeem himself, and the others over
+the consciousness that they had done a fellow-being some good.
+
+"Time to get home!" cried Shadow, looking at his watch. "What do you
+say to a race back?"
+
+"How much of a start will you give me?" asked Chip. "I've got no chance
+otherwise against you big fellows."
+
+"We'll give you fifteen seconds," answered Dave. "One, two, three--go!"
+
+Soon the race was on in earnest. Chip Macklin was well in the lead and
+the others started in a bunch. Gradually Shadow went ahead of Dave and
+Gus Plum, but then Plum drew closer, and when they reached the school
+dock, Plum and Dave were a tie, with Shadow and Chip close on their
+heels.
+
+"That puts new life in a fellow!" declared Dave. "Gus, you came pretty
+near to beating me."
+
+"Your wind is better than mine," was the answer. Plum felt he might
+have won had it not been for the dissipation of the day previous.
+Dissipation and athletic supremacy of any kind never go well together.
+
+A week slipped by quietly and during that time Dave, Roger, and Phil
+got the chance to go rabbit hunting and brought in twelve rabbits. Gus
+Plum stuck to his resolve to do better, and during school hours gave
+his studies all his attention. When not thus employed he spent his time
+in skating, snowballing, and in the gymnasium. He avoided Link Merwell,
+and for the time being the bully left him alone.
+
+During those days Dave received a letter from his sister Laura, to
+whom he had written after his talk with Merwell. Laura stated that all
+was going along finely at the Wadsworth home and that their father was
+thinking seriously of buying a fine mansion located across the street,
+which would keep the friends together. She added that she had received
+a letter from Link Merwell and had sent it back, writing across the
+top, "Please do not send any more."
+
+"No wonder Merwell looks so sour," mused Dave, after reading his
+sister's communication. "I suppose he is mad enough at me to chew me
+up."
+
+As my old readers know, there was at Oak Hall a secret society known
+as the Gee Eyes, this name standing for the initials G. I., which in
+their turn stood for the words Guess It. The society was kept up almost
+solely for the fun of initiating new members. On coming to the school
+Dave had had to submit to a strenuous initiation, which he had accepted
+without a murmur. All his chums were members, and the boys had gotten
+much fun out of the organization.
+
+"Call for a special meeting of the Gee Eyes to-night," said Ben
+Basswood, one afternoon. "Going to initiate three new members--Tom
+Atwood and the Soden brothers. Be on hand early, at the old boathouse."
+
+"What are we going to do to 'em?" asked Dave, with a grin.
+
+"That is something Sam, Buster, and some of the others want to talk
+over. They'd like to do something brand-new."
+
+"I think I can tell them of one thing to try," said Dave.
+
+"What?"
+
+"Make one of 'em think he is crossing Jackson's Gully on a narrow
+board."
+
+"Good, Dave; that will do first-rate!" cried Ben. "I hope we can think
+of two other things equally good."
+
+About an hour later Dave met some of the others, and a general
+discussion regarding the initiations for that evening took place. A
+score of "stunts" were suggested, and at last three were selected, and
+the committee got ready to carry out their plans.
+
+Link Merwell was not a member of the Gee Eyes. He had once been
+proposed and been rejected, which had made him very angry. In some
+manner he heard of the proposed initiations, and he did his best to
+learn what was going on. As we know, he was not above playing the
+eavesdropper, and now he followed Dave and his friends to learn their
+secrets.
+
+"So that is what they are up to," he said. "Well, let them go ahead.
+Perhaps I can put a spoke in their wheel when they least expect it!"
+And then he chuckled to himself as he thought of a plan to make the
+initiations end in disaster.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+THE GEE EYES' INITIATION
+
+
+"Well, you're a sight!"
+
+"I don't look any more stylish than yourself, Roger."
+
+"Stylish is good, Dave. I guess both of us look like circus clowns."
+
+"Whoop la!" shouted Buster Beggs. "Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to
+introduce to you the renowned Oak Hall Company of Left-Over Clowns and
+Monkeys--the most unique aggregation of monstrosities on the face of
+the globe. This one has the reputation of----"
+
+"Hush, not so loud, Buster!" cried Dave, "or you'll have old Haskers
+down on us, and that will spoil the fun."
+
+"Speaking of looking like clowns puts me in mind of a story," came from
+Shadow, who was still struggling to get into his club outfit. "One time
+a country fellow who wasn't a bit good-looking wanted to join a circus
+as a clown. He went to see the manager. 'Can I have a job as a clown?'
+he asked. 'Well, I don't know,' answered the manager, slowly, as he
+looked him over. 'Who showed you how to make up your face? It's pretty
+well done.'" And the usual short laugh went up.
+
+The Gee Eyes in the past had worn simple robes of red with black hoods
+over their heads. Now, by a special vote, they had purchased robes that
+were striped--red, white, and yellow. For headgear each member had a
+box-like contrivance, cubical in shape, with holes in the front for the
+eyes and an orange-like lantern on top, with a candle in it. This box
+rested on the shoulders of the wearer, thus concealing his identity
+completely.
+
+In the past, Phil Lawrence had been president of the organization,
+but now that office was filled by Sam Day, under the title of Right
+Honorable Muck-a-Muck. Ben Basswood was secretary, and was called the
+Lord of the Penwiper; Buster Beggs was treasurer, known as the Guardian
+of the Dimes, and Luke Watson was sergeant-at-arms under the title of
+Captain Doorkeep.
+
+The organization met whenever and wherever it was convenient. This was
+done for two reasons: first, because the members did not wish their
+enemies to know what they were doing, or otherwise information might be
+imparted to the teachers; and, second, they never met unless they were
+going to initiate a new member or were going to have some sort of a
+feast.
+
+"Where are the intended victims?" asked Dave, after he had adjusted
+his robe and his headgear to his satisfaction, and possessed himself of
+a long stuffed club.
+
+"They were told to wait in the old granary until called for," answered
+Messmer.
+
+"Do they seem to be timid about joining?" asked Ben.
+
+"Tom Atwood is a little timid,--he heard how little Frank Bond was
+almost scared to death by Gus Plum's crowd one term."
+
+"By the way, where is Gus?" asked Henshaw.
+
+"He said he wanted to study," answered Dave. "I asked him to come, but
+he wouldn't."
+
+"My, but didn't Gus give us a funny story the time we initiated him!"
+cried one of the students.
+
+"Yes, and do you remember how Link Merwell and Nat Poole placed those
+big firecrackers under our fire and nearly blew us all to pieces,"
+added another.
+
+"Never mind--we got square," said Buster. "I guess they haven't
+forgotten yet the drubbing we gave them."
+
+It was late at night, and the boys had had not a little difficulty in
+stealing away from the school unobserved. With all in readiness, the
+three boys who were awaiting to be initiated were sent for, and they
+presently appeared, escorted by four of the club members, each carrying
+a bright and very blunt sword. As they came into the old boathouse,
+lit up by various fantastic lanterns representing skulls, dragons, and
+the like, the Gee Eyes set up a low chant:
+
+  "Hail the victims! Let them come!
+  Let them enter, one by one!
+  Let them bow the humble knee!
+  Let them now forsake all glee!
+    Death! Blood! Tomb!"
+
+And then arose a weird groaning, calculated to make any lad feel
+uneasy. The three victims were forced to their knees and made to
+touch three chalk-marks on the floor with their noses. Then one of
+the members of the club came forward with a big tin wash-basin and
+sprinkled them with what looked to be water but was really ammonia.
+This caused some coughing and some tears commenced to flow. But the
+victims were "game" and said nothing.
+
+"Lock two of them in yonder dungeon cell," commanded the Right
+Honorable Muck-a-Muck. "They shall be led to their fate later." And the
+Soden brothers, twins named Joe and Henry, were led to a big closet of
+the old boathouse and thrust inside.
+
+Then Tom Atwood was taken outside, and a long march commenced behind
+the school grounds and leading to a secluded spot among some bushes.
+Here Atwood was suddenly blindfolded and his hands tied behind him.
+
+[Illustration: "NOW TO JACKSON'S GULLY WITH HIM!"]
+
+"Now to Jackson's Gully with him," cried several, and then the party
+proceeded a little further into the bushes.
+
+"Look out, don't slip into the gully," whispered one member, but loud
+enough for Tom Atwood to hear.
+
+"Oh, I'll take care!" whispered another. "Why, the gully is a hundred
+feet deep around here."
+
+Then Tom Atwood was led up and over some rocks and halted a short
+distance beyond.
+
+"Say, that looks mighty dangerous to me," whispered Roger.
+
+"Oh, he'll get over if he's got nerve," answered Dave.
+
+"Base slave, list thou to me!" cried the president of the Gee Eyes.
+"We have brought thee to the edge of a gully some hundred feet
+deep. If thou wouldst become a member of this notorious--I mean
+illustrious--organization thou must cross the gully on the bridge we
+have provided. Dost thou accept the condition?"
+
+"I--I don't know," faltered Tom Atwood. "I--I can't see a thing."
+
+"Nor wilt thou until thy task is accomplished. The gully must be
+crossed, otherwise thou canst not be of us."
+
+"How big is the bridge?"
+
+"One board wide."
+
+"Any--er--handrail?" went on the victim.
+
+"Nary a handrail," piped up a small voice from the rear. "What do you
+want for your money, anyway?"
+
+"Say, that puts me in mind of a story----" came from another, but he
+stopped short as a fellow-member hit him with a stuffed club.
+
+"I--I don't know about this----" began Tom Atwood. "I--oh, say, let
+up!" he cried, as he received several blows from stuffed clubs. "I--oh,
+my back!"
+
+"Wilt try the bridge?" demanded the Right Honorable Muck-a-Muck.
+
+"Yes, yes, but can't I--I crawl if I want to?"
+
+"Thou canst, after thou hast taken seven steps."
+
+"All right, here goes then."
+
+Tom Atwood was led forward to the end of a long plank.
+
+"Be careful," he was cautioned. "There, put your foot there and the
+other one right there. Now you are all right."
+
+"And must I really--er--stand up and take seven steps?"
+
+"Yes, exactly seven, or woe betide thee!" came the answering cry.
+
+With great caution the blindfolded victim took a step and then another.
+He was trembling visibly, which caused the club members to shake with
+silent laughter. He counted the steps and when he had taken just
+seven he fell on his hands and knees, clutching the sides of the plank
+tightly.
+
+"Ho--how long is--is it?" he asked, his teeth commencing to chatter.
+"I--I ain't used to climbing in such places. It--it makes me dizzy!"
+
+"Go on! go on!"
+
+"The plank is only fifty-four feet long," said one boy.
+
+"Oh, my! fifty-four feet; I'll go down--I know I will!"
+
+Slowly, and clutching the plank with a death-like grip, Tom Atwood
+moved forward a distance of eighteen feet. Then the plank came to an
+end. He put out one hand after the other, but felt only the empty air.
+
+"I--I don't feel the rest o--of th--the bridge!" he chattered.
+
+"It is gone!" cried one boy, in a disguised voice. "Turn around and
+come back."
+
+"But be careful how you turn, or the board may wabble and let you
+drop," added another.
+
+More scared than ever, Tom Atwood turned around very gingerly. Once he
+thought the board was going over, and he set up a yell of fright. Then
+slowly and painfully he came back over the plank until he reached the
+solid ground once more.
+
+"Hurrah!" cried the Gee Eyes. "Bravely done, Tom!"
+
+"Now you are one of us!"
+
+"He didn't mind that deep gully at all!"
+
+"Yes, but I did mind it," answered the victim, as they were taking the
+cover from his eyes. "I wouldn't do that again for a hundred dollars in
+cash!"
+
+"It was certainly the bravest thing to do I ever heard of," was Dave's
+comment, and then he tore the bandage away. Immediately, by the light
+of the lanterns the boys had on their headpieces, Tom Atwood looked at
+the plank which had cost him so much worry and fright.
+
+"Well, I never!" he gasped.
+
+And then what a roar of laughter went up! And well it might, for the
+plank rested on nothing but two blocks of wood and was less than a foot
+from the solid ground! The location was nowhere near Jackson's Gully.
+
+"Tom, you'll do it for a hundred dollars now, won't you?" questioned
+Roger, earnestly.
+
+"Oh, what a sell!" answered the victim, sheepishly. "Say, please don't
+tell the other fellows of this," he pleaded. "I'll never hear the end
+of it!"
+
+"The secrets of the Gee Eyes are never told outside," answered Phil.
+"But there is one more thing you must do," he added.
+
+"What?"
+
+"Carry that plank back to the boathouse."
+
+"All right."
+
+"And here is a suit for you," said Ben. "Put that on, and then you can
+participate in the initiation of the Soden brothers."
+
+"Where are they?"
+
+"Locked up in the closet at the old boathouse."
+
+"What are you going to do with them?"
+
+"You'll see when you get back."
+
+With Tom Atwood and the plank between them, the members of the Gee Eyes
+took up the long march back to the old boathouse. To do this they had
+to cross a country road which was but little used. As they did this
+they heard an unusual sound from a clump of trees near by.
+
+"There they are!" a voice called out. "I told you I had seen some
+ghosts."
+
+"Sure enough, Billy, they must be ghosts," was the reply, in a deeper
+voice. "It's a good thing I brung my shotgun with me."
+
+"Are you goin' to shoot at 'em?"
+
+"That's what, Billy."
+
+Hardly had the words been spoken when, to the consternation of the Gee
+Eyes, a shotgun was discharged, the load whistling through the trees
+over the lads' heads.
+
+"Hi! hi! stop that!" yelled Buster Beggs. "We are not ghosts! We
+are----"
+
+Bang! spoke up the shotgun a second time, and the load went clipping
+through the bushes on the left.
+
+"Hand me your shotgun, Billy," said one of the voices. "I don't know
+if I hit 'em or not, but this'll fetch 'em!"
+
+"Run!" cried Dave. "Run for your lives! That old farmer is so scared he
+doesn't know what he is doing!"
+
+And then all the boys ran across the roadway and dove into the woods
+beyond. They heard another report, but the contents of the gun did not
+reach them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+IN WHICH JOB HASKERS GETS LEFT IN THE COLD
+
+
+The boys kept on running for fully a hundred yards, plunging deeper and
+deeper into the woods which lined the roadway. Tom Atwood had dropped
+the plank and two of the club members had lost their headpieces, but
+nobody dreamed of going back for the articles.
+
+"I think I know who that man is," said Phil, when the crowd came to a
+halt.
+
+"Mike Marcy?" questioned Dave.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I thought that, too, but I wasn't sure. He called the other fellow
+Billy."
+
+"He has a boy working for him now and his name is Billy," said Shadow.
+"I met him on the road several times, driving cows. He isn't just right
+in his mind. I suppose Marcy got him to work cheap."
+
+"I wonder if Marcy really thought we were ghosts?" mused the senator's
+son. "Maybe he only said that to scare us. He might have thought we
+were up to some kind of a job around his farm."
+
+"Well, whether he thought we were ghosts or not, he certainly shot at
+us," was Phil's comment. "Ugh! I am glad I didn't get a dose of the
+shot!"
+
+"And so am I," answered several others.
+
+"That is one more black mark against Mike Marcy," said Luke Watson.
+"We'll have to remember to pay him back."
+
+"Never mind about paying him back just now," answered Roger. "The
+question is, What's to do next? That run warmed me up and I'll take
+cold if I stand here long doing nothing."
+
+"We must get back to the boathouse. Remember, the Soden boys are still
+locked up in that closet. It hasn't much ventilation and we don't want
+them to smother."
+
+"I'm not going around by the road," said Henshaw.
+
+"Not on your life!" exclaimed Ben. "I'd rather go down to the river and
+walk over the ice."
+
+It was finally decided to follow Ben's suggestion, and the crowd
+continued on their way through the brushwood until the Leming River was
+reached. They saw or heard nothing more of Mike Marcy and his hired
+boy, for which they were thankful. Reaching the ice, they set off at a
+dog-trot for the old boathouse.
+
+"If we only had skates this would be fine," declared Dave. "But as we
+haven't any we've got to make the best of it."
+
+"As the servant girl said, when she told her mistress that she couldn't
+make sponge cake because they didn't have any sponges," answered the
+senator's son.
+
+"Say, that puts me in mind of a story about a----" began Shadow.
+But just then one of the boys put out his foot and down went the
+story-teller of the school on the ice. "Hi, you!" he roared and pulled
+the other youth on top of him. Then began a wild scramble on the part
+of both to see who could get up first, and the story was forgotten.
+
+When the Gee Eyes came in sight of the old boathouse they were
+surprised to learn it was well past midnight.
+
+"We'll have to rush matters," said Dave. "If we don't, somebody may
+report us, and the doctor won't let us off very easily if we stay out
+too late."
+
+"Maybe we'd better postpone the other initiations," suggested Luke.
+
+"Oh, no, go ahead!" cried half a dozen. "We are safe enough."
+
+Entering the old boathouse, the boys lit all the lanterns they
+possessed, and those who had lost their head-coverings tied masks over
+their faces. Then some approached the closet in which the Soden twins
+had been confined.
+
+
+"Hello!"
+
+"They are gone!"
+
+"What does this mean?"
+
+"They must have broken out and run away!"
+
+Such were some of the exclamations indulged in when it was found that
+the apartment was empty. A hasty examination was made of the hasp and
+staple of the door, and they were found intact. A wooden peg had served
+to keep the hasp in place.
+
+"It looks to me as if somebody had let them out," said Dave, after an
+examination.
+
+"But who would do that, Dave?" questioned Phil.
+
+"Somebody not a member of the Gee Eyes--some enemy of the club."
+
+"But why should the Soden boys run away?" asked Shadow. "They were
+willing to be initiated."
+
+"Perhaps they got cold feet--mentally as well as physically," ventured
+Henshaw. "They may have got to talking things over in the dark and got
+scared."
+
+"They didn't break out, that's sure," declared the senator's son.
+"Somebody on the outside removed that wooden peg."
+
+"Well, we didn't do it," said one of the boys.
+
+"Can they be anywhere around?"
+
+Some of the boys began a search, but this was in vain--the twins had
+disappeared.
+
+
+"We may as well give up for to-night," said the president at last.
+
+"I move we adjourn to bed," said Ben, and this was put and carried, and
+without delay the robes, headgears, and stuffed clubs and swords were
+hidden away, and the students hurried to Oak Hall.
+
+Here another setback awaited them. The side door was locked, and the
+false key they had put on a convenient nail was missing.
+
+"Somebody is playing us tricks," said Dave. "I thought so before and
+now I am certain of it. I shouldn't wonder if that somebody had gone
+and told Mike Marcy to look out for ghosts at the end of his lot."
+
+"Who would do it?"
+
+"Several fellows--Link Merwell, Nat Poole, and their cronies."
+
+"Never mind that crowd now," said Shadow. "How are we to get into the
+school without waking anybody up?"
+
+"Let us try all the doors and lower windows," suggested the shipowner's
+son.
+
+This was done, and at last one of the boys found a basement window
+unfastened. He notified the others.
+
+"I know where that leads to," said Dave. "The laundry."
+
+"Yes, I've been in the laundry, too," added the senator's son.
+
+
+"Then one of you see if you can get upstairs through the laundry and
+let us in," said Buster. "And please don't be all night about it
+either, for I am getting cold."
+
+"Don't say a word," came from Messmer. "My ears are about frozen
+already."
+
+"I'll go," said Dave.
+
+"I'll go along," returned Roger.
+
+Both climbed down through the basement window, to find themselves in a
+place that was pitch-dark. Here Dave struck a match and by its faint
+rays led the way to an open cellar and then to a stairs running up to
+the kitchen.
+
+Tiptoeing their way up the stairs, they tried the door at the top, and
+to their joy found it unlocked. They stepped into the kitchen, and just
+then the match went out, leaving them again in the dark.
+
+"I know the way now, so there is no need to make another light," said
+Roger.
+
+"Wait,--better have a light," answered Dave. "You don't want to stumble
+over anything and make a noise."
+
+He found a candle and lit it, and then the chums crept silently from
+the kitchen, through the pantry and dining room to the side hall. They
+wanted to stop for something to eat from the pantry, but did not wish
+to keep their friends waiting out in the cold.
+
+The two youths were just on the point of turning a corner of the hall
+when a sound struck their ears. Somebody was close at hand, snoring
+lustily!
+
+"Who can it be?" asked Roger, in a faint whisper, when both realized
+what the sound meant.
+
+"I'll soon find out," answered Dave, and held up the candle.
+
+"Don't wake him up, or there'll be trouble!"
+
+Step by step they drew closer to the sleeping person. It was a man,
+wearing an overcoat and a skullcap. He was seated in a comfortable
+armchair taken from the parlor.
+
+"Old Haskers!" cried Dave.
+
+"He must have been on the watch for us and fallen asleep," was the
+comment of the senator's son.
+
+"Don't wake him--let him sleep."
+
+"To be sure, Dave--I'd like to chloroform him!"
+
+The boys passed the snoring teacher and reached a side door. Unlocking
+it, they slipped without, and closed the door again. Then they summoned
+the members of the Gee Eyes and told them of what they had discovered.
+
+"You'll have to go in as quietly as mice," said Dave. "Otherwise he'll
+wake up and catch us,--and then the fat will be in the fire."
+
+"Dave, somebody has surely been spying on us," said Phil.
+
+"Exactly--but we can't take that up now. In you go, and take off your
+shoes before you start upstairs. Maybe----" Dave paused.
+
+"What, Dave?"
+
+"Maybe we can play a joke on Haskers, when we are about safe."
+
+"How?" asked several.
+
+"We might carry him out on the piazza and lock the door on him. Under
+that overcoat he has on only his night clothes and a pair of slippers."
+
+"If we only could do it!" murmured Phil, gleefully.
+
+One by one the members of the Gee Eyes entered the school building,
+slipped off their shoes, and went upstairs. Then, wrapping their
+coats around their heads, Dave, Roger, Phil, and Shadow came back and
+surrounded Job Haskers.
+
+"Now listen," said Dave, who still held the candle. "If he wakes
+up, drop him. I'll blow out the candle, and all scoot for the
+dormitories,--but without noise, remember that!" And so it was agreed.
+
+As carefully as possible they raised up the sleeping man, armchair and
+all, and carried him to the side door, which Dave opened. Then they
+took their burden outside and put the chair down in the snow at the
+foot of the piazza steps. This accomplished, they ran back into the
+school, closed and locked the door, and threw the key in a dark corner.
+
+
+"Now for the dormitory!" cried Dave, and blew out the light. "And
+everybody undress in jig-time!"
+
+All understood, and the way they flew up the stairs was a wonder. Like
+lightning-change actors they threw off their garments and got into
+their sleeping clothes. The other boys were already disrobed, and some
+were at the windows, looking down through shade cracks, to see what
+might happen below.
+
+They had not long to wait. Job Haskers speedily grew cold and woke up
+with a start. In the darkness he stared around in perplexity and then
+leaped to his feet.
+
+"Oh!" the boys heard him mutter, as some of the loose snow got into his
+slippers. "What can this mean? Where am I?"
+
+He took several steps, and more snow got into his slippers. Then he
+slipped on a patch of ice and plunged straight into the snow with his
+arms and shoulders.
+
+"Confound the luck!" the boys heard him say. "Boys, what does this
+mean? Who put me here? Oh, but won't I make you suffer for this! Oh, my
+feet!" And then he rushed for the piazza steps. Here he slipped again,
+and the students heard him yell as he came down on his left elbow. Then
+he disappeared from sight under the roof of the piazza.
+
+
+"He won't get in right away!" whispered Roger. "Oh, this is the best
+yet!"
+
+They heard Job Haskers fumble at the knob of the door. He tried to turn
+it several times and then shook it violently. Finding the door would
+not open, he began to pound upon the barrier with his fist.
+
+"He's making noise enough to wake the dead!" whispered Phil.
+
+"Somebody is going below," said Dave, a moment later. "Now I guess
+there will be more fun!"
+
+"If only we aren't caught!" murmured Shadow, who was a bit afraid that
+the fun had been carried too far.
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+WHAT MIKE MARCY HAD TO TELL
+
+
+It was Murphy the monitor who let the assistant teacher in. Job Haskers
+entered stamping his feet loudly, for they were decidedly cold.
+
+"Why, Mr. Haskers, what does this mean?" asked the monitor, in
+amazement. "I didn't know you were out. And in slippers, too!"
+
+"I--er--I----" stammered the teacher, and then he stopped, for he did
+not know how to proceed. He realized that he occupied a very ridiculous
+position.
+
+"Can I do anything for you?" went on the monitor.
+
+"Murphy, have you seen any boys come in since lights were out?"
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"Nobody at all?"
+
+"Not a soul."
+
+"It is queer. They must have come in, and finding me asleep----" Job
+Haskers did not finish.
+
+"Where were you asleep, sir?"
+
+"Never mind--if you saw nobody. But listen, I want you to make the
+rounds, and see if every boy is in his dormitory. If any are absent,
+report to me in my room at once."
+
+"Yes, sir," returned the monitor, and hurried off.
+
+"He'll not find us missing," whispered Dave. "All hands in bed and
+eyes shut. No fooling now, for if you are caught something serious may
+happen."
+
+The others understood, and when Jim Murphy came with a light to look
+into dormitories No. 11 and No. 12 he found every lad tucked in under
+the blankets and looking as if he had been slumbering for several hours.
+
+"That was what I call a narrow escape," whispered Phil, after the
+monitor had departed. "Somebody surely spied on us."
+
+"We'll look into the matter to-morrow," answered Luke Watson. "I'm in
+for sleep now." And a little later all the lads were in the land of
+dreams.
+
+The next morning the members of the Gee Eyes looked for an
+investigation from Job Haskers, but no such thing occurred. The fact
+of the matter was that the teacher realized fully what a joke had been
+played on him while he was asleep, and he was afraid to stir the matter
+up for fear the entire school would be laughing at him. He made a few
+very cautious inquiries, which gave him no clew, and then, for the time
+being, dropped the matter.
+
+The Gee Eyes were anxious to know how the Soden brothers had gotten out
+of the closet at the old boathouse, and were amazed when the answer
+came.
+
+"Why, two of you fellows came back and let us out," said Henry Soden.
+
+"Let you out?" asked Buster Beggs.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"One of the fellows said that Mr. Haskers was onto the game and that no
+initiations would be attempted," explained Joe Soden. "He said we had
+better get back to our dormitory as quickly as we could, so we scooted."
+
+"Who were those chaps?" demanded Dave.
+
+"I don't know. They wore their coats inside out and big paper bags over
+their heads."
+
+"They were no members of the Gee Eyes," said Phil. "They were some
+outsiders who wanted to spoil our fun."
+
+"Well, I must confess we were glad enough to get out of the closet,--it
+was so cold," said Henry Soden. "But just the same I shouldn't have
+run away if I had known the truth. Both of us are anxious to join your
+club."
+
+"I'll tell you what I think," said Dave. "It was a put-up job all
+around. Some enemy told Mike Marcy about ghosts, sent word to old
+Haskers to be on guard, and released Joe and Henry."
+
+"If that is true, we want to find out who that enemy was," answered
+Roger. "No student of Oak Hall can play such a trick on the Gee Eyes
+without suffering for it."
+
+"So say we all of us!" sang out several.
+
+"I have a plan," went on Dave. "Let us lay for that hired boy of
+Marcy's--the lad called Billy. Maybe he can tell us who told Marcy--if
+anybody did tell him." And so it was arranged.
+
+The opportunity to interview the farm boy Billy did not occur until
+about a week later, when Dave and Ben Basswood were walking to Oakdale
+to buy some film rolls for their cameras. They took a side road leading
+past the Marcy farm, and caught sight of Billy down by a cowshed and
+beckoned to him.
+
+"Is your name Billy?" asked Dave, kindly, for he could easily see that
+the lad was somewhat simple-minded, by the way he clasped and unclasped
+his hands, twisted his shoulders, and twitched his mouth.
+
+"Yes, Billy Sankers, from Lundytown," was the boy's reply.
+
+"Do you work for Mr. Marcy?"
+
+"Do I? Sure I do--an' he works for me," and Billy grinned at what he
+thought was a joke.
+
+"You went after ghosts the other night, didn't you?" continued Dave.
+
+"Yes, we did, an' we bagged a lot of 'em, too--shot 'em full of holes
+an' they disappeared into the sky," and the poor deluded boy began to
+wave his arms as if flying.
+
+"Who told Mr. Marcy that the ghosts were coming?" asked Ben.
+
+"Two boys from the school over there," and now Billy jerked his thumb
+in the direction of Oak Hall. "They said to keep still about it, but
+what's the use? The ghosts are shot full of holes, shot full of holes,
+holes, holes!"
+
+"Did you know the boys?" asked Dave.
+
+At this question Billy shook his head. "I don't go to school there--I
+know too much. Maybe some day I'll go over and teach the teachers. One
+boy called the other Nat," he added, suddenly.
+
+"Nat!" cried Dave. He turned to his chum. "Can it have been Nat Poole?"
+
+"That's it, Nat Poole!" cried Billy. "You're a wise owl to guess it."
+
+"What was the other boy called?" continued Ben.
+
+"Called? Nothing. Yes, he was, too, he was called Link. That's it,
+Link, Blink, Hink! Funny name, eh?"
+
+"Link!" cried Dave. "Can it have been Link Merwell?"
+
+"More than likely," answered his chum. "Nat and Link travel together,
+and both are down on our crowd."
+
+"Did they tell Mr. Marcy that the ghosts would be schoolboys?" asked
+Dave.
+
+"No, ghosts," answered Billy, nodding his head gravely. "They told Mike
+an' he told me, an' we got the shotguns to scare 'em off. Mike don't
+want ghosts around this place."
+
+"Here comes Mike Marcy now," whispered Ben. "Had we better get out?"
+
+"I'll not run for him," was Dave's answer.
+
+"Sure, an' what do you fellers want here?" demanded the big, brawny
+Irish-American farmer as he strode up, horsewhip in hand.
+
+"Mr. Marcy, we want to have a talk with you," said Dave, coldly. "I
+guess you remember me."
+
+"I do. You're the lad I once had locked up in my smokehouse," and the
+farmer grinned slightly.
+
+"Yes. But I am not here about that now,--nor am I here to tell you that
+I was one of the boys that found your mule when he was lost and sent
+you word. I am here to ask you about the shooting that took place about
+a week ago."
+
+"Shooting!"
+
+"Exactly. Who were the boys who came here and told you to go to the end
+of your farm and shoot at a lot of innocent lads having a little fun by
+themselves?"
+
+"Why--er---- See here, what do you mean?" blustered Mike Marcy.
+
+"I mean just what I say, Mr. Marcy, and I want you to answer my
+question."
+
+"Eh! Say, do you see this whip?" stormed the farmer. "I'll let ye taste
+it in a minit!"
+
+"You'll do nothing of the kind," answered Dave, coolly. "I ask you a
+question and you must answer it. This is a serious business. You fired
+three shots at a crowd of innocent schoolboys who were harming nobody.
+You cannot deny it."
+
+"They were on my land."
+
+"Some of them were on the road, and they were doing absolutely no harm.
+You merely fired at them out of pure ugliness."
+
+"See here, do ye want this?" And now the horsewhip was raised.
+
+"If you strike either of us, I shall at once have you arrested. How
+many students do you suppose are now in bed under the doctor's care
+because of the shooting you did?"
+
+At this question Mike Marcy turned suddenly pale.
+
+"I--er--was anybody hurt? I--er--I fired into the air--just to scare
+'em," he faltered.
+
+"I ask you a question and I want you to answer it, and you had better
+do it unless you want to get into more trouble. Who told you to go out
+and do the shooting?"
+
+"We want their names and we are bound to have them," put in Ben,
+following up Dave's bold manner, now that he saw the farmer was growing
+uneasy.
+
+"The boys were named Nat Poole and Link Merwell. But they wanted their
+names kept secret."
+
+"What did they tell you?"
+
+"They said a lot of the toughest lads in the school were going to
+disguise themselves an' come down here and cut up like Indians, and
+maybe rob me of some chickens, an' I had better be on the watch for
+'em. One said I might scare 'em by saying I saw ghosts, and I said that
+was a good idee. So I called Billy an' told him about the ghosts, an'
+we got the shotguns. But as true as I stand here I shot up into the
+air. I didn't want to hit anybody, an' if any lad got as much as one
+shot in him I'm sorry."
+
+"That is all we want to know, Mr. Marcy," returned Dave. "We thank you
+for the information," and he started to walk away, followed by Ben.
+
+"But see here--if anybody is hurted----" cried Mike Marcy. "Sure, I
+don't want trouble----"
+
+"We won't say any more about it--since you didn't mean to hit anybody,"
+answered Dave. "But after this never shoot at us again."
+
+"I won't, ye can be certain of that," answered the farmer, with a sigh
+of relief.
+
+"And another thing, Mr. Marcy," added Ben. "If you see Nat Poole or
+Link Merwell do not tell them that you saw us or told us the truth."
+
+"I'll remember." And with this promise from the farmer the boys took
+their departure. But they had not gone a hundred feet when Mike Marcy
+came running after them.
+
+"Tell me," said he; "was anybody really hit?"
+
+"Nobody was seriously hurt," answered Dave. "But you scared some of the
+boys nearly to death, and they tumbled all over the rocks and bushes,
+in trying to get out of range of the shots."
+
+"I see. Well, I won't do any more shooting," answered Mike Marcy, and
+walked back to his house, looking very thoughtful.
+
+"It is just as we supposed," said Dave, when he and his chum were
+alone. "Nat Poole and Link Merwell are responsible for everything. They
+got Marcy to do the shooting, released the Soden brothers, and somehow
+put Haskers on guard."
+
+"Well, the Gee Eyes will have to square accounts with them," replied
+Ben. "We'll make a report at the next meeting of the club, and then the
+club can take what action it likes in the matter. For my part, I think
+such sneaks ought to be drummed out of the school."
+
+"And I agree with you, Ben. But let me tell you one thing. Link Merwell
+is ten times worse than Nat Poole. Nat is a dude and a fool and easily
+led around by others, but Link Merwell is a knave, as black-hearted as
+any boy I can name. Look out for him, or when you least expect it he
+will play you foul."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+SOMETHING ABOUT LESSONS
+
+
+At Oakdale the two students ran into Phil, who had come to town
+earlier, to see about a pair of skating shoes. They told their chum of
+what they had learned, and the shipowner's son agreed that the Gee Eyes
+ought in some way to punish the offenders.
+
+"I just met two friends," went on Phil. "I stopped at the candy store
+for some chocolates and ran into Mary Feversham and Vera Rockwell. Vera
+wanted to know how you were, Dave," and Phil grinned.
+
+"I trust you told her I was very sick, Phil," was Dave's quick reply.
+
+"I did--I said you were crying your eyes out for another sight of her,"
+and then Phil dodged, to escape a blow Dave playfully aimed at his head.
+
+The boys procured the articles for which they had come, and then took a
+stroll through the town. At one store an auction sale was in progress
+and here they met the two girls Phil had mentioned. Both were dressed
+in fur coats, with dainty fur caps to match, and both looked very sweet.
+
+"We watched them selling some bric-�-brac," said Mary. "It was real
+fun. A beautiful statue of Apollo went for two dollars--just think of
+it!"
+
+"Might get one of those statues to replace the broken one," said Ben to
+Dave.
+
+"Oh, did somebody break a statue?" cried Vera.
+
+"Yes,--and there was quite an exciting time doing it," said Phil. "Dave
+was the hero of the occasion."
+
+"Oh, tell me about it, Mr. Porter!" And Vera bent her eyes full upon
+Dave.
+
+"Oh, it didn't amount to much," answered Dave.
+
+"But please tell me, won't you?" pleaded Vera.
+
+Then both girls teased him, until at last he related some of the
+particulars of the encounter with Job Haskers. Mary and Vera were
+deeply interested, Vera especially.
+
+"I am glad you did not give in to him," said Vera. "I like a boy who
+can stand up for his rights."
+
+"You can trust Dave to do that," said Ben. "He doesn't take water for
+anybody."
+
+"Oh, come now, Ben----" murmured Dave.
+
+"I believe Mr. Basswood," said Vera. "I hope Mr. Porter always does
+stick up for himself. I never liked a boy or a man--or a girl
+either--who was cowardly."
+
+After that the boys and girls listened to the auctioneer for several
+minutes. Then Phil suggested soda to Mary Feversham, and all of the
+party walked over to a corner drug store, where hot chocolate was to be
+had, and there Phil and Dave treated.
+
+The crowd was in the act of drinking the beverage, and Dave had just
+handed Vera her glass, when, glancing toward the doorway, he saw Link
+Merwell and a strange young man standing there. Link started and stared
+rudely at the girls. Then he whispered something to his companion, and
+both turned from the drug store and disappeared up the street.
+
+"Did you see them?" whispered Dave to Phil.
+
+"I saw somebody look in and walk away. Who was it?"
+
+"Link Merwell and a stranger."
+
+"Humph! I suppose Merwell didn't want to come in while we were here,"
+murmured the shipowner's son. And there the subject was dropped.
+Little did Dave dream of what was to be the result of Link Merwell's
+unexpected appearance while he was in the company of Vera Rockwell.
+
+The boys did not have much time to spend in town, and soon they bade
+the girls good-by and hurried back to Oak Hall. It was plain to be
+seen that Phil thought the trip an extra pleasant one.
+
+"No use in talking; Mary Feversham is all right," he said to Dave,
+enthusiastically. "Finest girl I ever ran across."
+
+"Phil, I'm afraid you're smitten," answered Dave, with a laugh. "You'll
+be dreaming about her next."
+
+"Perhaps--I don't care if I do," was the reply, which showed that Phil
+was pretty far "gone" indeed. "But say," he went on, suddenly. "Talking
+about dreaming, I want to tell you something. Do you remember how
+Shadow Hamilton used to walk in his sleep?"
+
+"I don't think anybody is liable to forget it," answered Dave, thinking
+of Shadow's theft, during his sleep-walking, of Doctor Clay's valuable
+collection of rare postage stamps as related in a previous volume of
+this series.
+
+"Shadow is at it again--although not so bad as before."
+
+"How do you know?" asked Ben.
+
+"Because the other night I woke up and heard him getting something
+out of his trunk. He was at the trunk about ten minutes and then went
+to bed again. In the morning I asked him about it and he declared
+positively that he hadn't gotten up at all. He was much disturbed over
+what I told him."
+
+"Maybe you were only dreaming," suggested Dave.
+
+"No, I wasn't--I was as wide awake as I am now."
+
+"It would be too bad if Shadow got to sleep-walking again," said Dave.
+"We'll have to watch him a little. We don't want him to get into
+trouble."
+
+During the next two weeks Dave found but little time for recreation.
+A test in two studies was in progress, and he made up his mind to
+pass with flying colors. He went in for a regular "grind," as Roger
+expressed it, and was at his books fully as much as was Polly Vane;
+indeed, the two often studied together.
+
+"Come on out for a skate--it may be the last of the season," said the
+senator's son, one afternoon, but Dave shook his head.
+
+"Can't do it, Roger--I've got my Latin to do, and four of those
+problems in geometry,--and some German."
+
+"Oh, bother the lessons! Can't you let the geometry and the German
+slide?"
+
+"Oh, I've made up my mind to get not less than ninety per cent. in the
+test this week."
+
+"Then you won't really come?" Roger lingered in the doorway as he spoke.
+
+"Not to-day. Have you got that geometry?"
+
+"No--I thought I might do it this evening."
+
+"What about the German?"
+
+"Oh, perhaps I'll do that, too. I don't care much for the German,
+anyway."
+
+"But you ought to study your lesson, now you have taken it up, Roger."
+
+There was a minute of silence, and Dave turned to his text-books and
+papers and began to write. Roger drummed on the door and heaved a deep
+sigh. The ice on the river was growing soft--in a few days skating
+might be a thing of the past.
+
+"It seems to me you don't care for skating as much as you did, Dave,"
+he said, presently.
+
+"Oh, yes, I do, Roger; but I'm not going to think about it while I have
+studying to do. I can't forget that, after all is said and done, I am
+here to get a good education, and that both my father and Mr. Wadsworth
+expect me to make the most of my opportunities."
+
+Dave returned again to his books and papers and another silence
+followed. Then the senator's son came in, hung up his skates in the
+closet, and got out his own schoolbooks and papers.
+
+"Well, if we've got to grind, I suppose it is up to me to do my share,"
+he remarked, with another sigh. "But that ice----"
+
+"Don't do it on my account, Roger."
+
+"Yes, but, Dave, I can't stand it to see you grinding alone--when I
+know I ought to grind too. My father wants me to get a good education,
+too. So here goes," and then Roger began to study just as hard as Dave
+and Polly. Then Phil came in, and Shadow, and seeing the condition of
+affairs, went at it like the rest. Dave's example certainly carried
+a wonderful influence with it, even though the youth himself did not
+fully realize it.
+
+"This fifth problem in geometry is a corker," observed Shadow,
+presently. "If the gable of a house is fourteen feet long on one side,
+and the angle at the top is one of forty degrees, and the other side is
+but eleven feet long, how----"
+
+"Don't say a word, I've been working on that for half an hour," said
+Phil. "Tried it this noon, after dinner, and couldn't get it."
+
+"It's very easy," answered Polly.
+
+"Have you got it, Dave?" asked Roger.
+
+"Yes, but I didn't find it so easy."
+
+"Guess I'll climb up some gable and measure it," said Shadow. He began
+suddenly to grin. "That puts me in mind of a story. Once a college
+professor----"
+
+"Don't!" begged Polly. "I have some figures in my head I don't wish to
+lose!"
+
+"Then nail 'em down," answered the story-teller of the school, calmly.
+"This college professor was paying a visit to some lumbermen and
+he was trying to convince one old tree-chopper of the value of an
+education. Says he, 'Now, look at it. You don't know how to measure
+a plank accurately.' 'Don't I, though?' says the lumberman. 'No,
+you don't, and I can prove it,' says the professor. 'Now, supposing
+you had a plank twenty feet long and one foot wide at one end and
+running up evenly to two feet wide at the other end. Where would you
+saw that plank crosswise so that one end would contain as much wood
+as the other? You can't do that problem and I know it, because you
+never studied higher mathematics.' 'That's dead easy,' says the old
+lumberman. 'I don't even need a pencil to figger it out,' says he.
+'Jest balance thet plank on a bit of stick, an' cut her where she
+balances!' And then the college professor didn't have anything more to
+say, for he made out the lumberman was a hopeless case." And at this
+tale all the boys present snickered.
+
+"Shadow would have a job climbing up on a gable to measure it," said
+Phil. "I'd rather do it on paper." Then Polly Vane and Dave gave Shadow
+some points as to how the problem should be worked out.
+
+In some way Link Merwell and Nat Poole got an inkling of the fact
+that it was known they had done all in their power to break up the
+initiation ceremonies of the Gee Eyes, and, not to be cornered, both
+of the boys did all they could to keep out of the reach of their
+fellow-students. But the Gee Eyes did not forget, and at a special
+meeting of the club it was voted to give both Poole and Merwell "the
+cold shoulder" until something more definite could be done. By "the
+cold shoulder" was meant that no member of the club was to associate
+with Poole or Merwell or speak to them unless required to do so during
+school sessions. Outside of the schoolrooms they were to be as utterly
+ignored as though they did not exist.
+
+"I think that will bring Nat Poole to terms, without going further,"
+said Roger. "He hates to be left to himself--I've noticed that many
+times."
+
+"Well, it may have that effect on Nat," answered Dave. "But I think it
+will only make Merwell more savage," and in this surmise he was correct.
+
+The tests proved a severe strain on many of the boys, and Dave was glad
+when they were over. What the standing of each student was would not be
+known until later.
+
+"Now I'd like to go skating," said he to Roger, but this could not be,
+for warm weather had set in and the ice and snow were rapidly passing
+away. That night it rained, and this made everything outside very
+sloppy.
+
+Dave went to bed early, for he was tired out. He slept soundly for
+several hours and then awoke with a start, for something had brushed
+his face. He sat up, and was just in time to see a form gliding from
+the dormitory.
+
+"Hello! what can that mean?" he murmured to himself, and then he sprang
+up. "Guess I'll investigate." And then, putting on a pair of slippers
+and donning a long overcoat that was handy, he made after the person
+who had just disappeared.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL
+
+
+When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning,
+a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs. An instant later
+the form glided up the stairs toward the third floor of the school
+building. The form was in white, and Dave knew it must be one of the
+students in his nightdress.
+
+"Something is going on," he thought. "Wonder if that is Phil or Roger?"
+
+Curious to learn what the midnight prowler was up to, Dave followed
+the unknown to the third story of the building. He saw the fellow walk
+to a side hall. Here it was almost dark, for the servants' rooms were
+in that part of the building. He stopped and listened and heard an odd
+creaking and a scraping sound. Then he went forward once more.
+
+Turning into the side hall, a gust of cold wind struck him. He knew
+it came from overhead, and then he remembered that at the end of the
+side hall was a ladder leading to a scuttle of the roof. The scuttle
+had been thrown open, and wind and rain were coming down through the
+opening.
+
+Dave's curiosity was now excited to the top pitch. He felt sure that
+the servants had not left the scuttle open on retiring or that it had
+been blown open by the wind. Consequently, the midnight prowler must
+have opened it, and if so, for what purpose excepting to get out on the
+wet and slippery roof?
+
+Suddenly an idea flashed into Dave's mind, and without further ado he
+ran to the ladder and mounted it with all speed. At the top he thrust
+his head through the scuttle opening and looked around that portion of
+the school roof which was visible from that point.
+
+He had expected to see a certain person, but he was disappointed. Yet
+this did not make him hesitate regarding his course of action. He
+crawled out on the roof, slippery and treacherous with slush, and made
+his way cautiously but rapidly to where there were an angle and a high
+gable, with a wide chimney between.
+
+As he gained the side of the chimney and stood there in the rain,
+slush, and wind, he saw a sight that both thrilled and chilled him. The
+mysterious student in white was crawling up the gable and was already
+close to the ridge!
+
+"Shadow Hamilton!" murmured Dave. "He is sleep-walking again!"
+
+Dave was right--it was indeed poor Shadow, and as fast asleep as a
+sleep-walker can get. The lad had a tape measure in one hand and was
+muttering to himself:
+
+"If the gable of a house is fourteen feet long on one side, and the
+angle at the top----" And then the rest was lost in the wind.
+
+"He's dreaming of that problem in geometry," said Dave to himself.
+"It's got on his nerves."
+
+He wondered what he could do to aid the sleep-walker. He was afraid to
+call to Shadow, for fear the boy might awaken suddenly and tumble off
+the roof. Shadow was now on the ridge, and, to Dave's added horror, he
+stood upright, the tape measure in his hands. Then he began to walk to
+the very end of the ridgepole.
+
+"If he falls into the yard he'll break his neck sure!"
+
+Such was Dave's agonizing thought, and despite the cold, the heavy
+perspiration stood out on his forehead.
+
+"Dave!"
+
+It was a voice from the scuttle opening and came so unexpectedly it
+made the youth start. Turning back, he made out Phil in the dim light.
+
+"Phil!" he whispered.
+
+"What are you doing up there, Dave?"
+
+"I followed Shadow Hamilton."
+
+"Shadow?"
+
+"Yes. He is sleep-walking again and has climbed to the ridge of the
+gable roof. I don't dare to awaken him for fear of an accident."
+
+"I saw you go out and I was wondering what was up. Then I missed Shadow
+and came after you. It's too bad, Dave! But I imagine the very best
+thing you can do is to let him alone until he comes back."
+
+"I don't like to take the responsibility, Phil. If anything should
+happen I'd never forgive myself. I'll tell you what I wish you'd do."
+
+"What?"
+
+"Run and call Mr. Dale. He knows something about these cases. He once
+told me he had a brother who walked in his sleep and did all sorts of
+strange things."
+
+"All right, I'll call him," answered the shipowner's son, and
+disappeared down the scuttle ladder.
+
+Going back to the chimney, Dave now saw that Shadow had reached the end
+of the ridgepole and was kneeling down upon it. Holding out the tape
+measure he proceeded to make several imaginary measurements, all the
+while muttering to himself. The sight almost caused Dave's heart to
+stop beating, for the slightest miscalculation on the sleep-walker's
+part would have caused a serious if not fatal accident.
+
+After what seemed a long time Dave heard Phil coming back. He was
+accompanied by Andrew Dale, the head teacher, who had stopped just long
+enough to get on some of his clothing.
+
+"Where is he?" whispered Mr. Dale, as he came out in the wind and rain.
+
+"There," answered Dave, and pointed out the form of the sleep-walker.
+
+"Have you tried to speak to him?"
+
+"No, I was afraid."
+
+"Then, don't say a word till he comes down to a safer place."
+
+After that the three watched Shadow Hamilton for several minutes while
+he continued his calculation and used the tape measure. Then they saw
+the sleep-walker wind up the measure.
+
+"He is coming down!" whispered Phil, and he was right. Slowly Shadow
+climbed down from the gable roof and made his way toward the scuttle.
+He had taken but a few steps when suddenly he slipped and fell.
+
+"Oh!" he cried, and looked around in bewilderment. "Where----"
+
+"Shadow!" cried Dave, and caught him by the arm. "You are all right, so
+don't worry."
+
+"But where am I?" insisted the sleep-walker.
+
+"On the roof."
+
+"You have been walking in your sleep, Hamilton," explained Mr. Dale.
+"Come, let me help you down the ladder. You are soaked through, and if
+you don't get into a warm bed very quickly you may catch your death of
+cold."
+
+Completely bewildered, Shadow allowed himself to be taken to the ladder
+and aided to descend. Then the scuttle was closed and hooked.
+
+"I do not think it best for you to go back to the dormitory," said the
+head teacher. "I'll put you in a warm room by yourself. But perhaps
+it would be as well for somebody to stay with you for the rest of the
+night," and Andrew Dale looked questioningly at Dave and Phil.
+
+"I'll stay," said Dave, quickly.
+
+"Very well. To-morrow we'll talk this over and see what is best to do.
+There is no use in trying to do so now, when we are all cold, wet, and
+tired."
+
+The head teacher led the way to a private bedroom that was well heated
+and had Dave go back to the dormitory for some extra clothing. Then he
+left Dave and Shadow to themselves.
+
+"This breaks me all up," said Shadow, moodily. "I thought I was all
+over those tricks."
+
+"It was the hard study did it, and the tests," answered Dave. "You had
+that geometrical problem in your mind and couldn't get rid of it. Maybe
+you'll never walk in your sleep again."
+
+"I sincerely trust not, Dave. It was good of you and the others to help
+me," and Shadow gave his chum a grateful look.
+
+"We did very little, Shadow--indeed, I didn't know what to do. But when
+I saw you on the very end of the ridge I can tell you my heart was in
+my throat."
+
+Before going to bed both boys indulged in a good rubbing down and
+consequently the exposure to the elements did them no harm. In the
+morning Shadow was excused from attending school and Horsehair was sent
+to town to get some of the medicine which the sleep-walker had taken in
+the past, after the exposure of his former exploits during the night.
+
+With the coming of spring the boys had a vacation of several days.
+A few of the students went home, but the majority remained at Oak
+Hall, and, to pass away the time, indulged in all sorts of sports and
+pastimes, including a funny initiation of the Soden brothers.
+
+At New Year a new gymnasium teacher had been engaged,--a fine man,
+who was an expert gymnast and also a good boxer and fencer. Since
+coming back to the Hall, Dave had become interested in both boxing and
+fencing, and spent some time under the new instructor.
+
+"I believe a chap ought to know how to defend himself," he said to
+Roger. "In knocking around one doesn't know what kind of a hole he may
+be placed in,--and you can never know too much."
+
+"Well, I like boxing and fencing myself," answered the senator's son,
+and after that he and Dave had many a time together, with the foils and
+gloves.
+
+Link Merwell did not care much for fencing, but he took readily to
+boxing, and he caused Nat Poole to take up the sport. As the pair were
+still totally ignored by the Gee Eyes they had to box against one
+another or with some of the younger lads.
+
+"Those fellows are afraid to box with me," said Link Merwell, on
+several occasions. "They know that I can do every one of them up in
+short order." He referred to Dave and his chums, and made the assertion
+in the presence of a large crowd of students.
+
+At first none of the Gee Eyes paid any attention to the bully, but
+gradually the boasting nettled them, and some of them talked it over.
+Then came a report from little Frank Bond to the effect that Link
+Merwell was saying he had asked Dave to box him and the latter had
+declined because he was afraid.
+
+"Dave, if I were you, I wouldn't stand for that," said Buster Beggs.
+
+"What am I to do?" asked Dave. "The Gee Eyes voted to leave Merwell and
+Poole severely alone, and I've got to stick by my word."
+
+"Well, I guess they'll vote for the boxing contest--if you want to
+stand up before him."
+
+"I certainly am not afraid to do so."
+
+As a consequence of this talk, Buster spoke to Luke Watson, and there
+was a hasty meeting of the Gee Eyes and it was voted that Dave should
+box Merwell if he so desired.
+
+Not knowing of this meeting and of its result, Link Merwell strode
+into the gymnasium the next afternoon, in company with Nat Poole, and
+proceeded to put on a pair of boxing gloves.
+
+"Too bad, Nat, but I can't wake any of those fellows up," he said,
+loudly. "Every one of 'em is afraid to face me."
+
+"How about Dave Porter?" asked Nat Poole, in an equally loud tone.
+
+"Worst of the bunch. I guess he's afraid I'll knock the head off of
+him."
+
+These words were spoken so that Dave might hear them. There were a few
+seconds of silence, and then Dave walked up to Merwell.
+
+"So you think I am afraid to box you, Merwell?" he said, quietly.
+
+"Oh, so you've woke up, eh?" sneered the bully. "Thought you and your
+crowd had gone to sleep."
+
+"I want to know if you think I am afraid to box you?"
+
+"Of course you are afraid."
+
+"You are mistaken--and I'll prove it to you in very short order. How
+soon do you want to box?"
+
+At this Link Merwell was taken by surprise, and his face showed it. But
+he was "game," and drew himself up.
+
+"Any time you want me to box you I'll be ready."
+
+"Then we'll box right now," answered Dave.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+THE BOXING BOUT
+
+
+"A boxing match!"
+
+"I think Dave Porter will win."
+
+"I don't know about that. Link Merwell has been doing a great deal of
+boxing lately and has it down pretty fine."
+
+"That may be, but Dave is as quick as they make them."
+
+So the talk ran on, as the boys in the gymnasium gathered around the
+would-be contestants. They felt that, no matter who won, they were
+going to see something worth while. Many secretly hoped that the boxing
+match would degenerate into a regular fight, for they knew that Dave
+and Merwell were bitter enemies, and the majority wanted to see the big
+bully soundly whipped.
+
+"We'll have to have a referee and a timekeeper," said Dave. "Who shall
+they be?"
+
+"A referee and a timekeeper?" repeated Link Merwell. "Why don't you
+start her up and have done with it?"
+
+"This is to be no prize fight, Merwell. I shall box you for points
+only."
+
+"Oh!" The bully put as much of a sneer into the exclamation as
+possible. "Afraid to finish it up, eh?"
+
+"Perhaps you'll get all you want before we stop," answered Dave, calmly.
+
+"What kind of gloves do you want? The thickest in the place, I suppose."
+
+"No, a medium glove will do for me. Mr. Dodsworth recommends the number
+five."
+
+"Humph! I'm willing to box with a number one if you wish!"
+
+"We might as well box without gloves as with number ones. This is to be
+no slugging match, as I intimated before. If you are afraid to box for
+points say so."
+
+"Oh, I'll box you any way you please. Who do you want for timekeeper
+and referee?"
+
+"Any boy with a good watch can keep time. I think Mr. Dodsworth ought
+to be the referee."
+
+"Nat Poole can judge it all right," growled Merwell.
+
+"He's not acceptable to me," answered Dave, promptly.
+
+"The gym. teacher is all right," said Roger. "He'll know just what
+every move counts."
+
+Link Merwell wished to argue, but Dave would not listen, and in the
+end the services of the new gymnasium teacher were called in. Mr.
+Dodsworth smiled when told of what was on foot.
+
+"Very well, I'll be referee," he said. "Now, let me warn you against
+all foul moves. You both know the rules. Let this be a purely
+scientific struggle for points. Length of each round two minutes, with
+two minutes intermission. How many rounds do you want to have?"
+
+"To a finish," said Link Merwell, and he glared wickedly at Dave.
+
+"No, I'll not allow that, for it is too exhausting. Let us say ten
+rounds. That will give you twenty minutes of hot work. Here, I will
+give my watch to Lambertson and he can keep the time." And he passed
+the watch over to the student mentioned.
+
+The way matters had been arranged did not suit Link Merwell at all, yet
+he felt forced to submit or acknowledge that he was afraid of Dave. He
+had wished for a free-and-easy match and had hoped, on the sly, to get
+in a foul blow or two which might knock Dave out. Now, under the keen
+eyes of the gymnasium instructor, he knew he would have to be careful
+of his every movement.
+
+The preliminaries arranged, the two boxers faced each other, while the
+students gathered thickly in a large circle around them. The circle was
+protected by benches, giving to the scene something of the air of a
+professional boxing ring.
+
+"Ready!" called out Mr. Dodsworth. "Go!" he cried.
+
+But there was very little "go" at the start. Both boxers were on the
+alert and they circled around slowly, looking for an opening. Then
+Merwell made a pass, which Dave warded off easily. Then Dave landed on
+his opponent's breast, Merwell came back with a blow in the shoulder,
+and Dave, ducking, sent in two in quick succession on the bully's neck
+and ear. Then time was called.
+
+"How does that stand?" asked some of the boys.
+
+"I'll tell you later," said Mr. Dodsworth, as he penciled something on
+a bit of paper.
+
+"Oh, tell us now!" they pleaded.
+
+But the instructor was obdurate. And while the lads were pleading round
+two was called.
+
+The contestants were now warming up, and blows were given and taken
+freely. Link Merwell was forced back twice, and was glad when time was
+called by Lambertson.
+
+"Don't get too anxious," said the instructor, during the recess.
+"Remember, this is for points."
+
+Again the two boys went at it, and the third, fourth, and fifth rounds
+were mixed up freely. All present had to acknowledge that Link Merwell
+boxed quite well, but they saw that the points were in Dave's favor.
+Dave had perfect control of himself, while the bully was getting
+excited.
+
+"I'll show you something now!" cried Merwell as they came up for round
+six. He flew at Dave like a wild animal. But Dave was on the alert and
+dodged and ducked in a manner that brought constant applause. Then,
+almost before anybody knew it, he landed on the bully's jaw, his cheek,
+and then his nose.
+
+"O my! Look at that!"
+
+"Say, that was swift, wasn't it?"
+
+The three blows had thrown Merwell off his balance, and he recovered
+with difficulty.
+
+"He--he fouled me!" he panted.
+
+"No foul!" answered the gymnasium instructor, and just then time was
+called.
+
+"Maybe Merwell would like to call it off," suggested Dave.
+
+"Not much! I'll show you yet!" roared the bully. "I'll have you to
+know----"
+
+"Merwell, you'll do better if you'll keep your excitement down,"
+advised the instructor. "'Keep cool,' is an excellent motto."
+
+"Dave, you're doing well," whispered Roger. "Keep it up and Merwell
+won't know where he is at by the end of the tenth round."
+
+"I intend to keep it up," was the answer. "I started out to teach that
+bully a lesson and I'll do it--if it is in me."
+
+And it was in Dave--as the seventh and eighth rounds showed. In the
+latter round he practically had the bully at his mercy, and boxed him
+all around the ring. The calling of time found Merwell panting for
+breath and so confused he could hardly see.
+
+"I think you had better give it up," said the gymnasium instructor.
+"Merwell, you have had enough."
+
+"Say, are you going to give this boxing match to Porter?" roared the
+bully.
+
+"Yes, for he has won it fairly. He already has twenty-six points to
+your seven."
+
+"It ain't fair! I can lick him any day!"
+
+"It is not a question of 'licking' anybody, Merwell. This was a boxing
+bout for points, and you are no longer in condition to box. I declare
+Porter the winner, and I congratulate him on his clean and clever work
+with the gloves."
+
+"He--he fouled me."
+
+"Not at all. If there was any fouling it was done by you in the sixth
+and seventh rounds. I might have disqualified you then if I had been
+very particular about it. But I saw that Porter was willing to let you
+go on."
+
+This was the bitterest pill of all for Link Merwell to swallow. To
+think he might have been disqualified but that Dave Porter had been
+given the chance to continue hammering him! He wanted to argue, but no
+one except Nat Poole would listen to him, and so he strode out of the
+gymnasium in disgust, accompanied by his crony.
+
+"It makes me sick," he muttered. "Everybody stands up for Porter, no
+matter what he does!"
+
+"Well, you see he has a way of worming in with everybody," answered Nat
+Poole. "A decent chap wouldn't do it, but you couldn't expect anything
+different from a poorhouse boy, could you?" When alone he and Merwell
+frequently referred to Dave as "a poorhouse boy," but both took good
+care not to use that term in public, remembering what punishment it had
+brought down on their heads.
+
+"He'll crow over us worse than ever now," resumed Merwell. "Oh, but
+don't I wish I could square up with him and the rest of the Gee Eyes!"
+
+"We'll do it some day,--when we get the chance," said Poole. "Come on
+and have a smoke; it will help to quiet you." And then he and the bully
+walked away from Oak Hall to a secluded spot, where they might indulge
+themselves in the forbidden pastime of smoking cigarettes. Both were
+inveterate smokers and had to exercise extreme caution that knowledge
+of the offense might not reach Doctor Clay or his assistants.
+
+Finding a comfortable spot, the boys sat down on a fallen tree and
+there consumed one cigarette after another, trying to be real "mannish"
+by inhaling the smoke and blowing it through the nose. As they smoked
+they talked of many things, the conversation finally drifting around to
+Vera Rockwell and Mary Feversham.
+
+"I understand Phil Lawrence is daffy over that Feversham girl,"
+remarked Poole. "She is a fairly good sort, but she wouldn't suit me."
+He said this because Mary had snubbed him on several occasions when
+they had met in Oakdale.
+
+"Well, I heard Roger Morr was daffy over that Rockwell girl," answered
+Merwell. "And I heard, too, that Porter was likely to cut him out."
+
+"Porter cut him out!" exclaimed Nat Poole. "Who told you that? Why,
+Dave Porter is too thick with Jessie Wadsworth to think much of anybody
+else."
+
+"Are you sure of that?"
+
+"Yes. Why, when Porter is home the two are as thick as can be. I am
+sure that Jessie Wadsworth thinks the world of him, too, although why
+is beyond my comprehension," added the dudish student. He had not
+forgotten how Jessie had also snubbed him, when invitations were being
+sent out for her party.
+
+"Humph!" Link Merwell puffed at his cigarette in silence for a moment.
+"You say they are thick,--and still he goes out with this Vera
+Rockwell. Kind of funny mix-up, eh?"
+
+"Oh, I suppose he has a right to do as he pleases," drawled Nat.
+
+"Say, we might----" Merwell stopped short and blew a quantity of
+cigarette smoke from his nose.
+
+"Might what?"
+
+"Oh, I was just thinking, Nat----" And the bully stopped again.
+
+"If you don't want me to know, say so," returned the dudish student,
+crossly.
+
+"I was thinking that perhaps we could put a spoke in Dave Porter's
+wheel in a manner that he'd never suspect. If he's somewhat sweet on
+that Wadsworth girl, and at the same time giving his attention to Vera
+Rockwell, we ought to be able to do something."
+
+"What?"
+
+"Supposing that Wadsworth girl heard he was running around with a girl
+up here, and supposing Vera Rockwell heard about the Crumville maiden?
+Maybe Dave Porter would have some work straightening matters out, eh?"
+
+"By Jove, you're right!" cried Nat Poole. "It's a great scheme,
+Link! If we work it right, we can get him in the hottest kind of
+water--especially if he thinks a good deal of both girls."
+
+"And that isn't all," added Link Merwell, lighting a fresh cigarette.
+"Don't forget Roger Morr. If he thinks a good deal of Vera Rockwell
+we'll manage to put a flea in his ear,--that Porter is trying to
+cut him out in an underhanded way. I reckon that will split up the
+friendship between Porter and Morr pretty quick."
+
+"So it will!" Nat Poole's eyes fairly beamed. "This is the best plan
+yet, Link! Let us put it into execution at once. How shall we go at it?"
+
+"That remains to be seen," said Merwell.
+
+And then and there the pair plotted to get Dave and his friends into
+"the hottest kind of water," as the bully expressed it, and break up
+the closest of friendships.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+AT THE EXPRESS OFFICE
+
+
+"Dave, we want you to take part in the entertainment we are getting up."
+
+It was Luke Watson who spoke. Luke had been working like a Trojan to
+get all the talent of the school into line for what he said was going
+to be "the best show Oak Hall ever put up, and don't you forget it."
+
+"I'm willing to help you out, Luke, but what do you want me to do?"
+returned Dave. "I am no actor."
+
+"I know what he can do," said Buster. "He and Link Merwell can give a
+boxing match." And this caused a short laugh.
+
+"Say, that puts me in mind of a story," came from Shadow. "One day a
+very nice lady----"
+
+"Say, Shadow, remember what I told you," broke in Luke. "If you've got
+any real good, new stories keep them until the entertainment. You are
+down for a ten-minutes' monologue, and it will take quite a few yarns
+to fill the time."
+
+"Huh! Don't you worry--I can tell stories for ten hours," answered
+the story-teller of the school. "Well, as I was saying, one day a very
+nice lady called on another lady with a friend. Says she, 'Mrs. Smith,
+allow me to introduce my friend, Miss Tarnose.' Now, as it happened,
+Mrs. Smith was rather deaf so she says, 'Excuse me, but I didn't catch
+the name.' 'Miss Tarnose,' repeated the lady, a little louder. 'I
+really can't hear you,' says Mrs. Smith. Then the lady fairly bawled,
+'I said Miss Tarnose!' But Mrs. Smith only looked puzzled. 'I'm sorry,'
+she said at last. 'My hearing must be worse. I'd hate to say what it
+sounded like to me. It was just like Tarnose!'" And then there was
+another short laugh.
+
+"I asked Plum to take part," went on Luke. "He said he'd like to do a
+dialogue, if he could get anybody to assist. He said he had a pretty
+good piece."
+
+"I might do that," answered Dave, readily.
+
+"Would you go on with Plum?"
+
+"Certainly, Luke."
+
+"Well, I thought----" Luke Watson stopped short and shrugged his
+shoulders.
+
+"I feel that Gus is now one of us, Luke, and I wish the other fellows
+would feel the same."
+
+"Here he comes now," said Buster, in a low tone, as Gus Plum came into
+sight at the door of the schoolroom in which the talk was taking place.
+Gus looked pale and somewhat disturbed.
+
+"Hello, Plum!" sang out Luke. "Come here, we want you."
+
+"Luke says you think of doing a dialogue for the show," said Dave.
+"What have you got? If it's something I can do, I may go in with you."
+
+"Will you, Dave?" The face of the former bully of Oak Hall brightened
+instantly. "I'd like that first-rate. The dialogue I have is called
+'Looking for a Job.' I think it is very funny, and we might make it
+still more funny if both of us spoke in a brogue, or if one of us
+blacked up as a darky."
+
+"Let me read the dialogue," said Dave. "And if I think I can do it,
+I'll go in with you."
+
+The upshot of this conversation was that Dave and Plum went over the
+dialogue with care. Between them they made some changes and added a few
+lines, bringing in some fun of a local nature. Then it was decided that
+Gus Plum should assume the character of a darky and Dave should fix up
+as a German immigrant.
+
+"Maybe, if we work hard, we can make our piece the hit of the show,"
+said Dave. That afternoon he wrote a letter to his sister Laura and
+also one to Jessie, telling them of what was going on and adding he was
+sorry they would not be there to see the entertainment.
+
+By hard work Luke Watson got over twenty boys of Oak Hall to take part
+in the show. There were to be several dialogues as well as Shadow's
+monologue, some singing, and some banjo and guitar playing, also a
+humorous drill, given by six youths who called themselves The Rough
+Walkers, in place of The Rough Riders. One student also promised a set
+of lantern pictures, from photographs taken in and near Oak Hall during
+the past term.
+
+At first Doctor Clay said the show must be for the students only, but
+the boys begged to have a few outsiders, and in the end each lad was
+told he could invite three outsiders, and was given three tickets for
+that purpose. Dave sent his tickets to his father, but he doubted if
+any one at home would make use of them.
+
+"I sent one ticket home," said Phil, "and I sent the other two to Mary
+Feversham. I hope she comes."
+
+"Want her to come with the other fellow?" queried Dave, with a twinkle
+in his eye.
+
+"Oh, I thought maybe she'd come with Vera Rockwell."
+
+"That would suit Roger, Phil."
+
+"Yes, and it would suit you, too, Dave. Oh, you needn't look that way.
+I know you think Vera Rockwell is a nice girl."
+
+"That's true, but----"
+
+"No 'buts' about it, my boy. I know a thing when I see it. I guess she
+thinks a lot of you, too."
+
+"Now, Phil----" began Dave; but just then some other boys appeared and
+the rather delicate subject had to be dropped.
+
+Dave had procured a theatrical book on how to make up for all sorts of
+characters, and he and Plum studied this and got their costumes ready.
+Both were truly comical outfits, and each lad had to laugh at the other
+when they put them on.
+
+"We must keep them a secret," said Dave. "It will spoil half the fun
+to let the others know how we are going to be dressed. We don't want a
+soul to know until we step on the stage." And so it was agreed.
+
+Several of the boys had ordered face paints and some other things from
+the city, to be sent by mail and express, and when some of the articles
+did not come to hand, there was a good deal of anxiety. Dave was minus
+a red wig which he had ordered and paid for, and Phil wanted some paint
+and a rubber bulldog.
+
+"Let us go to Oakdale and stir up the postmaster and the express
+agent," said Dave, and he and the shipowner's son set out for the
+town directly after breakfast on the morning of the day that the
+entertainment was to come off.
+
+As the roads were in fairly good condition, the strong winds having
+dried them up, the two lads made the trip to town on their bicycles.
+This did not take long, and reaching Oakdale they left their wheels at
+a drug store, where they stopped to get some red fire that was to be
+burned during a tableau.
+
+At the post office they were in luck, for two packages had just come
+in, containing some things for which they had been waiting.
+
+"I hope we have as good luck at the express office," said Phil.
+
+The office mentioned was located at one end of the depot. Here they met
+Mr. Goode, the agent, with whom they were fairly well acquainted.
+
+"A package for you?" said the agent, looking speculatively at Dave.
+"Why, yes, I've got a package for you. Come in. I was going to send it
+up some time to-day or to-morrow."
+
+"To-morrow would have been too late," answered Dave. "I need the stuff
+to-day."
+
+The boys followed the agent into the stuffy little express office. Mr.
+Goode walked to a heap of packages lying in a corner and began to turn
+them over.
+
+"Hum!" he murmured. "Don't seem to be here. I had it yesterday."
+
+He continued to hunt around, and then went to a receipt book lying on
+his desk. He studied several pages for some minutes.
+
+"Why, you must have gotten it," he said.
+
+"No, I didn't."
+
+"It's signed for."
+
+"Well, I didn't sign for it," answered Dave, positively. And then he
+added, "Let me see that signature."
+
+Mr. Goode shoved the receipt book toward him and pointed out the
+signature. It was a mere scrawl in leadpencil, that might stand
+for almost anything. It was certainly not in the least like Dave's
+handwriting.
+
+"I was out yesterday afternoon," continued the express agent. "Went to
+a funeral. Dave Case kept office for me. Maybe he can tell you about
+it. Probably some of the other students got the package for you."
+
+Dave Case was the driver of the local express wagon. He was out on a
+trip and would not be back for half an hour. This being so, there was
+nothing for Phil and Dave to do but to wait.
+
+"If some of the other fellows got that package it's queer they didn't
+say anything," said Dave, as he and his chum walked slowly down the
+main street. "They must know I am anxious--with the show to come off
+to-night. If I don't get that wig my part won't be nearly so good."
+
+The boys reached a corner and were standing there, not knowing what to
+do, when two girls crossed over, coming from a dry-goods store.
+
+"Hello!" cried Phil, and his face lit up with pleasure. "Here are Mary
+Feversham and Vera Rockwell."
+
+He stepped forward, tipped his hat and shook hands, and then Dave did
+the same.
+
+"I must thank you for the tickets, Mr. Lawrence," said Mary, sweetly.
+"It was very kind of you to send them."
+
+"I hope you will come," returned the shipowner's son, eagerly.
+
+"Yes, I shall be there, for I do want to hear you boys sing and act. I
+am coming with my mother."
+
+"I am going, too," added Vera. "Roger Morr sent my brother two tickets
+and invited us. Bob is home for a couple of days, so it comes in real
+handy." And Vera smiled at both Dave and Phil. "I suppose you are going
+to give us something fine--a real city vaudeville show."
+
+"We are going to do our best," answered Dave, modestly.
+
+"Dave is in a little trouble," continued the shipowner's son, and told
+about the missing express package.
+
+"Oh, I hope you get the wig!" cried Vera. "A red one will look so
+becoming!" And she laughed heartily.
+
+"And he is to have a big red mustache, too," said Phil.
+
+"Hold on, Phil, you mustn't give away any professional secrets!" cried
+Dave.
+
+"Oh, I just dote on red mustaches," exclaimed Vera. "They make a man
+look like a--a---- Oh, I don't know what!"
+
+"Oh, Vera, you're awful!" interposed Mary. "What do you know about red
+mustaches, anyway?"
+
+"She never had one, did she?" remarked Dave, calmly, and at this both
+girls shrieked with laughter. "But never mind," he went on. "After I am
+done with it, she can have mine." And this brought forth more laughter.
+
+The girls and boys had come to a halt directly in front of a new candy
+and ice-cream establishment, and it was but natural that Phil should
+suggest to Dave that they go in and get some candy. The girls demurred
+at first at being treated, but then consented, and all went into the
+store. Dave purchased some assorted chocolates and Phil some fancy fig
+pastes, the girls saying they liked both.
+
+"As it's a new store, the candies ought to be fresh," remarked Dave.
+
+"Well, I like them best that way," answered Vera, as she helped herself
+to a chocolate. "I don't care for them when they are stale--and it
+is sometimes hard to get them fresh in a small town like this. The
+stores----"
+
+She stopped short, for at the door of the candy establishment they
+almost ran into a party of two girls and a man. One of the girls--the
+younger--was staring very hard at Dave.
+
+"Why, father!" cried Dave, in astonishment. "And you, too, Laura and
+Jessie! Why, this is a surprise!" And he hastened to shake hands all
+around. "I didn't dream of your coming."
+
+"I just made them come," said Laura, giving him a kiss. "How are you,
+Phil?" and she shook hands with the shipowner's son.
+
+When Dave took Jessie's hand he felt it tremble a little. The girl said
+a few commonplace words but all the time kept looking at Vera.
+
+"Let me introduce our friends," said Phil, and proceeded to go through
+the ceremony. "We have just been buying some candy. Come, have some,"
+and he held out the box he had bought. Laura took some, but Jessie
+shook her head.
+
+"Thank you, not to-day, Phil," Jessie said, and there seemed to be a
+little catch in her throat. Then Dave looked at her fully in the eyes,
+and of a sudden she turned her head away. Somehow he suspected that
+Jessie wanted to cry, and he wondered why.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+A MISUNDERSTANDING
+
+
+Mr. Porter explained that they had just come in on the train, and were
+looking for some conveyance to take them to Oak Hall.
+
+"We thought we might call on you for an hour or so and then come back
+and put up at the Oakdale Hotel," he said.
+
+"I'll certainly be glad to have you call," answered Dave.
+
+Then he told about the missing express package. In the meantime Laura
+conversed with Mary and Vera, but nothing was said about how the boys
+and girls had chanced to meet. Then Mary and Vera said they must attend
+to some errands and get home.
+
+"Well, we'll look for you to-night, sure!" cried Phil.
+
+"We'll be there," answered Mary.
+
+"I wouldn't miss it for a good deal," said Vera. "I want to see that
+red mustache and wig, if nothing else!" And she laughed, merrily.
+
+"You won't see the wig unless my package is found," answered Dave; and
+then the two girls hurried away.
+
+Mr. Porter led the way to the local hotel, situated close to the depot,
+and there registered his party for dinner and supper.
+
+"You can take dinner with us," said he to his son and Phil. "I'll write
+a note to Doctor Clay, so there will be no trouble."
+
+"We can't stay very long after dinner," answered Dave. "I must look up
+that package,--and all hands want some kind of a rehearsal."
+
+The boys walked to the express office, but Case had not come back, so
+they had to go to dinner without hearing from the driver. The five sat
+at a separate table, and Dave had Laura on one side and Jessie on the
+other. He did his best to make himself agreeable to Jessie, but she did
+not warm up as was usual with her, and this made his heart feel rather
+heavy.
+
+"Why, Jessie, you don't act like yourself," he said, after dinner, and
+while the others were sitting somewhat apart from them in the hotel
+parlor.
+
+"Don't I?" she asked.
+
+"No, you don't. What is the matter, don't you feel well?" And his face
+showed his concern.
+
+"Oh, yes, I feel very well." Her lips trembled a little. "I--I guess I
+am out of sorts, that's all."
+
+"It's too bad."
+
+"Oh, I'll soon get over it, I suppose." Jessie gave a sigh. "Tell me
+about your doings, Dave. I suppose you are having hard work at school
+and like to get out and meet some of your Oakdale friends."
+
+"Why, yes, I like to get out sometimes."
+
+"Those seem to be very nice girls."
+
+"Yes, they are. Phil is quite fond of one of them, too."
+
+"Which one?"
+
+"Mary Feversham. We became acquainted with them in quite an odd way,"
+and he told of the big snowball and the ice-boat.
+
+"That Vera Rockwell seems to think a great deal of you, Dave."
+
+"Do you think so? Well, I think she is a nice----"
+
+"Dave, there is the expressman now!" called out Phil, from his position
+near a window. "Come on, if you want to find out about that package."
+
+"All right," answered Dave, and for the time being he forgot all about
+what he was going to say to Jessie--that he thought Vera nice but not
+as nice as Jessie herself--something which might have gone a long way
+toward heading off the trouble that was brewing.
+
+For boys and girls will often think a great deal of each other--and a
+heartache at fourteen or sixteen is often as real, if not as lasting,
+as at twenty or older. Since the day Dave had saved Jessie's life he
+had been her one hero and her closest boy chum, and now to find him
+in the society of another and for him to say she was nice---- And
+then there was more than this, an anonymous letter, concocted by Link
+Merwell and Nat Poole and sent to her by mail. That letter had said
+some terrible things about Dave--things she could not and would not
+believe, and yet things which made her very miserable.
+
+"I suppose he has a right to make such friends as he pleases," she
+thought. "It is none of my affair, and I have no right to spoil his
+pleasure by saying anything." And then she brushed away the tears that
+would come into her eyes in spite of her efforts to keep them back.
+
+At the express office Dave and Phil found Mr. Goode already questioning
+the wagon driver about the missing package.
+
+"I turned it over to a boy who said he belonged to Oak Hall school and
+would give it to Dave Porter," said the driver. "I thought you had it
+by this time. He signed for it--leastwise he put that scrawl on the
+book."
+
+"What was his name?" asked Dave.
+
+"I asked him, but he mumbled something I didn't catch. I didn't pay
+much attention, for I thought it was all right."
+
+"What sort of looking chap was he?" asked Phil.
+
+As best he could the wagon driver described the individual. The
+description might have fitted half a dozen lads, until he mentioned a
+four-in-hand tie of bright blue with white daggers splashed over it.
+
+"Merwell wears a tie like that!" cried Phil. "I have seen it several
+times."
+
+"What would he be doing with my package, Phil?"
+
+"What? Why, maybe he knew about the wig and wanted to spoil your part
+of the show. It would be like him to play such a trick."
+
+"That's true," answered Dave, and then he asked the wagon driver if the
+boy had worn a ring with a ruby.
+
+"Yes, a fine large stone," answered the man.
+
+"Then it was Link Merwell," said Dave, decidedly. "Now the question is,
+What has he done with the package?"
+
+"I don't think he'd dare to destroy it," answered Phil. "Probably he
+hid it away somewhere."
+
+"I'll soon find out. Come on, Phil."
+
+"Going to tax him with it?"
+
+"Yes. He hasn't any right to touch my property, or to sign my name."
+
+Hurrying back to the hotel, the boys told of what they had learned.
+Then they got their bicycles and pedaled with all speed in the
+direction of Oak Hall. Dave felt very much out of sorts, not only
+because the package was missing but also over the meeting with Jessie.
+It was the first time that there had been any coldness between
+them--for he felt that it was a coldness, although he could not explain
+it.
+
+Arriving at the school, they learned that Link Merwell had taken a walk
+with Nat Poole. Chip Macklin pointed out the direction, and Dave and
+Phil went after the pair. They were not surprised to catch the cronies
+smoking on some rocks behind a growth of underbrush near the highway
+beyond the campus. As Dave and his chum came up Poole and Merwell threw
+their cigarettes away.
+
+"Merwell, what did you do with my express package?" demanded Dave,
+coming at once to the point.
+
+The words made the bully start, but he quickly recovered and arose
+slowly to his feet.
+
+"Want to see me?" he drawled.
+
+"I want my express package."
+
+"Don't know what you are talking about."
+
+"Yes, you do. Where is the package? I want it at once."
+
+"You took it out of the express office, and we can prove it," added
+Phil.
+
+"Humph!" growled Link Merwell.
+
+"Are you going to give up the package or not?" demanded Dave.
+
+"Who says I--er--took, any package of yours?" blustered the bully,
+trying to put on a bold front.
+
+"I say so," declared Dave. "And you not only took it but you signed for
+it. Merwell, do you know that signing another person's name without
+permission is forgery?" he went on, pointedly.
+
+At these plain words Link Merwell grew pale.
+
+"I--er--I didn't sign your name."
+
+"You pretended to sign it, and that's the same thing. You got the
+package from the office by fraud."
+
+"No, I didn't. I said I'd take it to the school, and I did."
+
+"Then where is it?"
+
+"In your dormitory."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"On the top shelf of the closet--been there since yesterday," and now
+Link Merwell leered over the joke he had played.
+
+"Ha! ha! ha!" came from Nat Poole. "That's one on you, Dave Porter."
+
+"It was a mean trick to play," was Phil's comment.
+
+"Did you open that package?" demanded Dave.
+
+"No, I didn't touch it, excepting to bring it from the express office."
+
+"Very well then, Merwell. If I find anything wrong I'll hold you
+responsible."
+
+"Say, you needn't try to scare me!"
+
+"I am not trying to scare you--I am merely giving you warning. I won't
+put up with any of your underhand work, and I want you to know it,"
+answered Dave, and turning on his heel he walked back to the school,
+followed by Phil.
+
+"He's mad all right," whispered Nat Poole.
+
+"Maybe he has heard from that Crumville girl in a way he didn't like,"
+returned Link Merwell, and closed one eye suggestively.
+
+"Well, if he did, I hope she didn't say anything about the letter,"
+answered Nat Poole, somewhat uneasily. "That was awfully strong."
+
+"Pooh! Don't get scared Nat; nobody will ever find out who wrote that
+letter, if we keep our mouths shut."
+
+Going up to the dormitory, Dave found the package on the shelf of the
+closet, as Merwell had said. It was tucked behind some other things,
+well out of sight.
+
+"It was certainly a well-planned trick," said the shipowner's son,
+while Dave was opening the package. "He did this so, if he was found
+out, he could say he gave the package to you and could bring the doctor
+here to prove it. Perhaps he had in mind to add that you had hidden
+the package yourself, just to get him into trouble."
+
+"Maybe you're right, Phil; I believe Merwell equal to almost anything."
+
+Fortunately the contents of the package had not been disturbed. Having
+ascertained that much, Dave went off to find Gus Plum, so that they
+might have a final rehearsal of the little play they were to enact. In
+the lower hall he ran into Job Haskers.
+
+"Porter, I want to see you!" cried the assistant teacher, harshly. "You
+were absent at dinner time. You know that is contrary to the rules.
+What have you to say for yourself?"
+
+"I met my father in Oakdale, sir--he is coming to the entertainment
+to-night. He asked Phil Lawrence and myself to dine with him. I have a
+note for the doctor from him explaining the matter."
+
+"Hum! Very well," answered Job Haskers, and hurried off without another
+word. Dave smiled grimly to himself, and lost no time in taking the
+note to the doctor, who excused him and Phil readily.
+
+Dave learned from Shadow that Gus Plum had been in the school but had
+gone off in the direction of the old boathouse. Feeling that it was
+growing late Dave hurried after the missing student. Just as he neared
+the old boathouse, which stood partly on some rocks and partly over
+the river, he heard a strange crash of glass.
+
+"Hello, what's that?" he asked himself, and ran forward to see.
+
+"There! you'll never tempt me again!" he heard, in Gus Plum's voice.
+
+Then he turned the corner of the old boathouse and saw the former bully
+of Oak Hall standing near some rocks. At his feet lay the remains of a
+big bottle. Plum looked pale and as if he had been fighting.
+
+"Oh, Gus!" cried Dave, and then stopped short and looked at the broken
+bottle and at the stuff flowing over the rocks.
+
+"Dave!" returned the big youth. And then he added, simply: "It was a
+bottle of wine, and rather than keep it to be tempted, I smashed it."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+IN WHICH THE BOYS GIVE AN ENTERTAINMENT
+
+
+"Gus, that was the bravest thing you ever did!"
+
+And so speaking, Dave caught the other youth by the hand and shoulder
+and held him for a moment.
+
+"Oh, I don't know about that," was the hesitating reply. "I--I should
+have smashed it when I received it."
+
+"Where did you get the wine, if I may ask?"
+
+"It was sent to me by Link Merwell."
+
+"What!" Dave's manner showed his great astonishment. "Do you mean to
+say he sent you that, knowing that you were trying to give up the
+habit?"
+
+"Yes. He says I am a fool to listen to you--said I was tied to your
+coat-tail--that I ought to be independent. He says a little drinking
+won't hurt anybody."
+
+"Gus, he is trying to--to----" Dave could not finish the sentence, for
+he did not want to hurt Plum's feelings.
+
+"Yes, I know. He'd like to see me down and out, as the saying goes. He
+hates me because I won't chum with him any longer."
+
+"The less you have to do with him the better, Gus."
+
+"I know that, and just before I came out here to break that bottle I
+sent him a note telling him that if he sent me any more such stuff I'd
+break the next bottle over his head!" And Plum's face glowed with some
+of his old-time assertiveness.
+
+"Well, I shouldn't blame you for that, Gus. I rather think your threat
+will keep him in the background for a while."
+
+Dave could realize something of the struggle which the former bully
+had had, to throw the bottle of wine away. But he did not know
+all--how for three hours the poor lad had wavered between drinking
+and abstaining--and that it was only the thoughts of Dave, and of his
+mother and home, that had kept him in the right path.
+
+Leading the way to the new boathouse, Dave found a spot where they
+would not be interrupted, and here he and Plum went to work on their
+dialogue, making such final changes as seemed best.
+
+"I've had my troubles with Merwell, too," said Dave, and told about the
+express package. "He seems bound to bring us to grief."
+
+"He's a bad egg--the worst in the school," was Gus Plum's comment.
+
+It must be confessed that all the boys were a little nervous as the
+time approached for the entertainment. It was to take place in the
+large assembly room of Oak Hall, and the platform had been transformed
+into something of a stage, with side curtains and a drop, and a back
+scene hired from a distant theater and representing a garden. The
+room itself was decorated with flags and bunting, and looked cozy and
+inviting.
+
+Promptly on time the visitors began to arrive, some from Oakdale and
+others from a distance. The boys to take part in the show were behind
+the scenes, while others showed the visitors to seats, so that Dave did
+not see any of his friends or relatives until later.
+
+The programme had been divided into two parts, of five numbers each,
+including an opening song by all the players, and a closing farce
+written merely to bring in all the characters.
+
+"Now, fellows, do your best," said Luke Watson, as the school orchestra
+played the overture. "Make it as near like a professional show as
+possible."
+
+"Say, that puts me in mind of a story," came from Shadow. "Once some
+young ladies---- But, pshaw! I'll save that for the stage," he added,
+and broke off suddenly.
+
+The opening number went very well, and then came a playlet by four of
+the boys representing four sailors ashore after an ocean trip of five
+years. The sailors did not apparently know how to act in a big city and
+did so many ridiculous things that the applause was long and loud.
+
+A musical number followed, introducing banjo playing by Luke, a guitar
+solo by Henshaw, a cornet solo by a lad named Dixon, and then a trio
+by the three. Then came fancy dumbbell exercises and club-swinging by
+three members of the gymnasium club, and this too went very well, the
+exercisers keeping time to a march played by the orchestra.
+
+The next number was Shadow's monologue, and when that youth came out
+everybody had to laugh before he said a word. He was dressed as an
+extreme dude, with big checked coat and trousers, fancy colored vest,
+a tremendous watch-chain, and paste diamond stud, very pointed patent
+leather shoes, a high standing collar, and a highly-polished silk hat.
+
+"Ladies and gentlemen, boys, girls, and fellow-weepers," he commenced
+with a profound bow and a flourish of his silk hat, "I have been asked
+an important question, namely, What is the difference between a cat
+and a shotgun? Well, I don't know, excepting that both can go off, but
+it's only the feline that comes back. Now, that puts me in mind of a
+story I once heard while traveling in Egypt with Noah, looking for a
+typewriter which was lost overboard from the ark. A little boy went
+to a hardware store for his dad and hung around waiting to be waited
+on. At last a clerk asked, 'Well, little boy, what do you want?' 'Oh,'
+says the little boy, 'I want a fire engine, an' a hobby horse, an' a
+automobile, an' a lot o' things, but papa he wants a bottle of glue,
+an' he says if it don't stick he'll stick you for it!' Now, that's the
+same boy who went to the courthouse to get courtplaster for his mother
+and then went down to the henhouse to look for egg plants."
+
+There was considerable applause over this opening, and Shadow continued:
+
+"That hand-clapping puts me in mind of another story. A would-be actor
+had joined a barn-storming company, and the company opened in a little
+place on Staten Island where the mosquitoes are manufactured by the
+ton, gross, or hogshead, just as you want 'em. Well, as soon as the
+play commenced, the would-be actor thought he heard a lot of applause.
+Says he to the scene-shifter: 'We've got 'em a-going, haven't we?' 'I
+don't know if you have or not,' answered the scene-shifter. 'I know
+the mosquitoes have some of 'em a-going, by the way they're slapping
+at 'em!' Well, that company busted up and the would-be actor had to
+come home on a trolley-car because he couldn't afford the train. He
+had only a nickel, and that he put into his mouth, and all at once it
+went down. 'What's the matter?' asked the conductor. 'I--I swallowed my
+nickel--the only one I had!' gasped the would-be actor. 'Never mind,
+I'll ring it up,' said the conductor, and he did. And then the actor
+didn't know if he was a nickel in or a nickel out."
+
+This brought forth more applause, and Shadow continued to tell one
+story or joke after another, in rapid succession, until the entire
+audience was roaring. When he made his bow and disappeared behind a
+side curtain his monologue was voted by all one of the hits of the
+evening.
+
+"It was all right," said Dave. "I only hope our playlet goes as well."
+
+The playlet came in the middle of Part Two, and the stage was set with
+a table, two chairs, and several other things. The table was a small
+one stored in a side room, and the chairs were common kitchen chairs.
+They were brought out by Chip Macklin and Frank Bond, who had been
+chosen to do all kinds of errands.
+
+"I just met Link Merwell in the side room," said Chip, when he came out
+with the table. "He looks as sour as can be. I guess he wishes the show
+would be a failure--because he wasn't asked to take part."
+
+"Yes, he'd like to make it a failure," answered Dave; and then, for
+the time being, turned his whole attention to the play and gave his
+enemy no further thought.
+
+Dave and Plum had gotten themselves up with great care, as a German
+immigrant and a darky, and when one shuffled on the stage after the
+other there was a good deal of laughing. The playlet revolved around
+the question of getting situations as a butler and a footman in a
+fashionable residence, and the lines were humorous in the extreme, and
+both Dave and Gus got about all the fun possible from them.
+
+"Oh, how very, very funny!" cried Laura, and could hardly control her
+laughter.
+
+"It certainly is funny," answered Jessie, and then she glanced over
+to where Vera Rockwell was sitting with some friends. She saw Vera
+applauding vigorously and it piqued her just a little. She clapped her
+hands, too, but her heart was not as light as it might have been had
+Vera not been there.
+
+In the course of the playlet, Dave had to stand on one of the chairs
+and then mount to the table, to show how he would play the part of a
+footman. As he got up on a chair there was an unexpected crack, and
+down went the back part, letting him fall most unexpectedly.
+
+It takes a quick-witted person to do just the right thing in a case of
+emergency. Dave had not looked for this fall, and the play did not
+call for it. Like a flash he felt that this was some trick of Link
+Merwell. But just as quickly as the accident came he resolved to make
+the best of it. In a very comical way he rolled over twice, stood
+partly on his head and then sat up with a dazed expression.
+
+"Oxcuse me!" he said, in a German tone of voice. "I tidn't know dot
+chair vos so tired owid he tidn't vont to hold me alretty." Then he
+picked up the broken chair. "Vell, of you ton't vont to sthand up,
+chust lay down," and he flung the broken article behind him.
+
+This brought forth an extra round of applause and in the midst of
+this Dave began to climb up the second chair. That too he felt to be
+"doctored," and he went up with care and thus managed to stand on top
+without breaking off the legs which had been nearly cracked through.
+Then from the chair he went to the table. He knew what to expect now
+and began to prepare for it.
+
+"Dis coach vos got von palky horse," he said. "Chust you hold der
+animile alretty, yah!"
+
+"Dat wot I will, brudder Carl," answered Plum, in negro dialect, and
+wondering what was to come next, for those lines were not in the
+playlet.
+
+"Now, dot is der vay I goes me riding py der Park," went on Dave,
+beginning to wabble on the shaky table. "Whoa mit dot hoss! Tidn't I
+told you he vos balky?" For the table was growing weaker and weaker.
+
+[Illustration:DOWN WENT THE BACK PART, LETTING HIM FALL MOST
+UNEXPECTEDLY.]
+
+"Say, dun yo' know dat hoss has got de dumb ager?" demanded Plum. "Wot
+yo' want to give him is a dose of Plaster of Paris Pills fo' Peevish
+People. If dat hoss should----"
+
+"He's running avay! Call der fire engines and der hoss-pistol vagons!"
+bawled Dave, and made a movement as if on a runaway coach. Then, as the
+table settled with a final crash, he whispered to Plum: "Make believe
+stop the horse and quarrel over it." Then he leaped forward, caught an
+imaginary horse by the tail and struggled to hold back. Gus was equally
+quick-witted and leaped to the head of the same imaginary horse and
+stretched up and down, as if he had hold of the bridle. Then the two
+boys backed and "shied" all over the stage, overturning the second
+chair, at which Dave yelled, "Dere goes dot peanut stand alretty!" Then
+of a sudden the two young actors faced each other.
+
+"Wot's de mattah wid you? Da ain't no hoss heah!"
+
+"Yah, dot's so--he runt avay alretty!"
+
+"Yo' is a fine footman, getting scared at a hoss wot ain't no hoss."
+
+"Vell, of he vosn't no hoss vy you cotch him py der headt, hey?"
+
+"Dat's because yo' was a fool an' I had to follow yo'---- I mean at
+yo'----"
+
+"I know vot you mean. You mean you vos der fool und der hoss----"
+
+"Look heah now, Mr. Dutchy, I wants yo' to understand dat I ain't no
+fool."
+
+"Vell, Mr. Vight, I dake your vord for dot, hey? Now, vot you do ven
+you vos a putler, hey?"
+
+And from that point the playlet went on as originally intended; the two
+finally winding up when a postman's whistle was heard and each got a
+letter from the same man, stating the one to arrive first at a certain
+house could have a job. Both started at the same time and each tripped
+the other up. Then both left the stage on hands and knees, each trying
+to keep the other back. It was a truly comical wind-up, and when the
+curtain went down there was a thunder of applause.
+
+"Dave, it was great!" cried Roger. "You acted the Dutchman to
+perfection, and Plum was the darky to a T!"
+
+"That's true," added Phil. "But say, didn't you change that coach scene
+some?"
+
+"Well, rather," put in Gus. "We had to do it on account of----"
+
+"Link Merwell," finished Dave. "That's another black mark I am going to
+put down to his account."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+FORMING THE BASEBALL CLUB
+
+
+After it was at an end the entertainment was voted the best yet given
+at Oak Hall. Of course there had been a few small hitches, such as a
+wig falling off of one actor and another breaking a guitar string just
+when he was playing, but those did not count.
+
+"It was splendid!" said Jessie to Dave, when they met.
+
+"I am glad you liked it," he answered. "I know all the fellows did
+their best."
+
+"That table scene made me nearly die laughing," said Laura.
+
+"That came in rather unexpectedly, Laura. It wasn't on the programme. I
+think Link Merwell is responsible for it." And then her brother told of
+what had been discovered--the legs of the table and chairs nearly split
+in two.
+
+"He must be a thoroughly bad fellow," was Jessie's comment.
+
+"He is, and he would do almost anything to get me and some of the
+other students into trouble," returned Dave.
+
+Vera and Mary were waiting to speak to some of the boys, and Vera
+laughed heartily when she saw Dave.
+
+"Oh, but you make a fine German!" she said. "I think you ought to go
+on the stage." And then she complimented Phil, Roger, and some of the
+others whom she knew.
+
+Mr. Porter had arranged to remain at the hotel over night with his
+party. They left for Oakdale shortly after the entertainment, and Vera,
+Mary, and some others went with them, in carriages of their own. Dave
+noticed that Jessie was not herself, and when they were alone in a
+hallway for a moment asked the reason.
+
+"Oh, it's nothing, Dave," she answered, but without looking him
+squarely in the eyes.
+
+"But I know there is something, Jessie," he said, and his voice showed
+his anxiety. "Have I offended you in any way?"
+
+"No, not in the least."
+
+"But you are angry with me."
+
+"No, I am not angry." She kept her eyes hidden from his gaze.
+
+"Well, there is something, and I wish you would tell me what it is."
+
+"No, I'll not say a word. If you don't know what it is, it doesn't
+matter," said the girl, and then rejoined Laura and Mr. Porter. When
+they went away Dave noticed that her hand was icy cold, and his heart
+was deeply troubled. Something was certainly wrong and, though he felt
+sorry, he also felt nettled to think Jessie would not tell him what it
+was. It was the first break of confidence that had occurred between
+them.
+
+Although Dave was morally certain Link Merwell had "doctored" the
+chairs and the table, he could not prove it, and so he said little
+concerning the episode, although he and Plum talked it over thoroughly.
+Gus was greatly angered, for the trick had come close to spoiling the
+playlet, and if Dave had urged it he would have gone and fought Merwell
+before retiring for the night. Even as it was, he told Merwell that he
+had been found out and warned him in the future to keep his distance.
+
+"Dave Porter and I are going to watch you," said Gus. "And if we find
+you trying anything more on, why, we'll jump on you like a ton of
+bricks, so beware!" And for once Link Merwell was so scared that he
+walked off without making any reply.
+
+The entertainment the students had given brought the spring holidays to
+an end, and once more the lads of Oak Hall turned their attention to
+their studies. But with the coming of warm weather some of the boys got
+out their kites, balls, and other things, while others took to rowing
+on the river.
+
+"Have you heard the news about Nat Poole?" asked Buster of Dave and
+Roger one day.
+
+"I've heard nothing," answered the senator's son. "Has he got a new
+necktie?" For Nat loved neckties and had a new one on an average every
+week.
+
+"He is going to get a motor boat--told Messmer all about it. He said
+his father bought it in New York and it cost four hundred dollars."
+
+"Well, I never supposed Aaron Poole would spend that amount on a boat,"
+was Dave's comment. "He is known as one of the most close-fisted men in
+the district where I come from."
+
+"Nat says the boat will beat anything on the river," continued Buster.
+"Wish I had one."
+
+The news that Nat Poole was going to get a motor boat proved true.
+The boat came early in April, and was certainly very nice-looking and
+speedy. Nat took out some of the boys, and the ownership of such a
+beautiful craft made him a new lot of friends, so he was "quite a toad
+in a puddle," as Ben Basswood declared. Once Nat asked Ben to go out
+with him, but the latter declined, and then Nat took Link Merwell.
+
+"I don't care if he has got a new motor boat," said Ben to Dave. "I
+don't want to be in his company. If any of the other fellows want to
+toady to him they can do it." Merwell was often seen with Poole, and
+the pair became quite expert in running the motor and steering. Once
+they had a race with a motor boat belonging to a Military Academy
+student and came in ahead, and of this victory Nat Poole never got
+through boasting.
+
+As was to be expected, warm weather brought on talk of baseball. Dave
+had pitched in more than one game for Oak Hall, with Roger behind the
+bat, and he was asked if he would again consent to occupy the box for
+the school, should any outside party send in a challenge.
+
+"We'll most likely get a challenge from Rockville Military Academy,"
+said Phil. "They are aching to make up for old scores."
+
+"I'll pitch if the fellows want me to," answered Dave. "But if they
+want anybody else----"
+
+"We want you," interrupted Sam Day. "You're the best pitcher Oak Hall
+ever had."
+
+From that time on all of the boys put in part of their off-time playing
+baseball, forming scrub nines for that purpose. Link Merwell loved the
+game and liked to cover first base.
+
+"Why don't you play?" asked Dave of Gus Plum, one afternoon.
+
+"Oh, I--I don't want to push myself in," stammered Plum. He was now as
+retiring as he had formerly been aggressive.
+
+"Come on out," went on Dave, and literally dragged him forth. Then he
+asked Gus to play first base, which the latter did in a manner that
+surprised many of the others.
+
+"He's quicker than he used to be," was Phil's comment. "I rather think
+he'll make a good one if he keeps on practicing."
+
+One Saturday afternoon a regular match was arranged, with Phil as
+captain on one side and a student named Grassman as captain on the
+other. Now, Grassman loved to go out in Nat's motor boat and so he put
+both Nat and Merwell on his nine--the former to cover third base and
+the latter first. He himself pitched, while Dave filled the box for
+Phil.
+
+It was certainly a snappy game from the start and at the end of the
+fourth inning the score stood three to three. Then Grassman's nine
+"took a brace" and brought in two more runs, and thus the score
+remained five to three until the end of the seventh inning.
+
+"Come, we must do something this trip!" cried Roger, who was on Phil's
+side, and he knocked a three-bagger. He was followed by Shadow with a
+single that brought in one run, and then came Buster with a hit that
+took him to second and brought in another run. The next man to bat
+knocked a liner to shortstop. The ball was sent over to Merwell on
+first, but he allowed it to slip through his fingers, and another run
+came in. Then Merwell muffed a pop fly, and after that the Grassman
+nine got rattled, so that when Phil's nine retired they had ten runs
+to their credit. To this they added three more runs in the ninth. In
+that inning Dave struck out two men and sent a third out on a foul; and
+thus the game ended with a score of thirteen to five in favor of Phil's
+aggregation of players.
+
+"Hurrah for Phil Lawrence's nine!" called out little Frank Bond, and
+a great cheer went up. Dave was complimented for his pitching and Gus
+Plum also received much praise for catching a hot liner ten feet away
+from the base.
+
+On the following Saturday the Oak Hall Baseball Club was formally
+organized for the season, by the election of Phil as president and
+manager, Ben Basswood as secretary, and Shadow as treasurer. It was
+voted to make the manager captain of the nine. After much talking Dave
+was declared the choice for pitcher and Roger for catcher, while, to
+the surprise of some, Gus Plum was made first baseman, something that
+greatly pleased the big youth. Merwell wanted to be first baseman, but
+he was not even chosen as a substitute, much to his disgust. Nat Poole
+was also left in the cold, but this did not worry him so much, for he
+preferred to dress in style and lounge around, rather than go in for
+anything which might dirty his hands or make them callous. When he ran
+his motor boat he always wore gloves.
+
+"It's an awful shame they put Gus Plum on the nine," said Nat Poole to
+Merwell. "You ought to have that position--you can cover first base
+better than he can."
+
+"I know it--but it's all the work of Porter, Lawrence, and that crowd,"
+growled Link Merwell. "As long as Plum will only toady to them they are
+willing to do anything for him. It makes me sick." And he began to puff
+away vigorously on a cigarette he was smoking.
+
+"Well, maybe, if they play Rockville or some other club, they'll lose,"
+said Poole. "Then they'll be sorry they didn't put on some better
+players."
+
+The baseball club soon got more challenges than they had expected. One
+came from Rockville Military Academy, for a series of three games, to
+be played during June, and two others from clubs belonging to Oakdale.
+The latter were for single games, and, after some consultation, all of
+the challenges were accepted.
+
+The games with the Oakdale clubs were played on the outskirts of the
+town, where a field had been inclosed and a grand stand erected. The
+first was with an aggregation known as the Comets, and resulted in a
+tie--8 to 8.
+
+"Well, we can't complain about that," was Dave's comment. "They were
+all big fellows."
+
+"Yes, and two of them have played on college nines," said Shadow. "We
+were lucky to hold them to a tie;" and in this opinion many of the
+others agreed, and so did Mr. Dale and Doctor Clay, both of whom were
+present. Job Haskers never went to games of any sort, for he considered
+athletic contests a waste of time and muscle.
+
+Vera Rockwell and Mary Feversham were at the game, and after the
+contest was over, Phil went to talk with them, taking Dave with him.
+While the girls were asking some questions, Roger came up, to speak to
+Vera. He did not see Dave at once, but when he did his face fell, and
+merely raising his cap he passed on.
+
+"Oh, I thought Mr. Morr was going to stop," said Vera, pouting. "I
+wanted to tell him how nicely he did the catching."
+
+Phil and Dave remained with the girls until it was time to return
+to the school. Then they learned that Roger had gone to Oak Hall in
+company with Chip Macklin.
+
+"It's queer he didn't wait for the crowd," was Dave's comment.
+
+"He's acted queer half a dozen times lately," returned the shipowner's
+son. "I don't understand it myself."
+
+The next game was to take place on the following Saturday, and the
+students practiced several times during the week. Dave noticed that
+Roger took but little interest, yet he said nothing, until he felt it
+his duty to speak up.
+
+"Roger, what's wrong?" he asked, very much in the way he had put that
+question to Jessie.
+
+"Nothing, that I know of," grumbled the senator's son.
+
+"You're not catching as well as you did."
+
+"Perhaps you think the club ought to have another catcher!" flared up
+the other, suddenly. "If you do, say the word, and I'll step down and
+out."
+
+"Now, Roger, I know something is wrong----" began Dave.
+
+"Of course you know--and I know, too!" cried the senator's son, and now
+his cheeks grew crimson. "I guess I'll resign from the club--and then
+you can run things to suit yourself," and to Dave's amazement he walked
+out of the room, banging the door after him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+A GREAT VICTORY
+
+
+Dave was much downcast over the way Roger acted, the more so because he
+could not understand it. He had half a mind to go after the senator's
+son and demand an explanation, but after thinking the matter over
+concluded that it would do no good.
+
+"He'll only get more angry," he reasoned. "Perhaps it will be better to
+speak to Phil about it."
+
+But, much to his surprise, when he saw the shipowner's son, Phil had
+also had a "scene" with Roger, and the latter had said he was going
+to resign from the baseball club and devote himself strictly to his
+studies.
+
+"I am sure it isn't his studies that are bothering him," said Phil. "He
+can go right ahead with his lessons and play baseball, too--if he wants
+to."
+
+"Well, but why is he angry at me?" demanded Dave.
+
+"I don't know." Phil paused for a moment. "Perhaps--but, pshaw! what's
+the use of mentioning that. I know there is nothing in it."
+
+"What, Phil?"
+
+"I don't think I ought to say anything--I know it's absurd, Dave."
+
+"What is absurd?"
+
+"Why--er--that is, you know Roger thinks a lot of Vera Rockwell, don't
+you?"
+
+"Does he? I hadn't noticed it particularly--in fact, I thought he
+treated her rather coolly the day we played the game with the Comets."
+
+"That was because you were around."
+
+"Because I was around?" repeated Dave, in a puzzled way.
+
+"Exactly."
+
+"I don't catch your meaning, Phil."
+
+"I don't see why you are so thick, Dave."
+
+"Am I thick?"
+
+"You are."
+
+"Well, then, tell me what you mean."
+
+"Didn't I just say that Roger thought a whole lot of Vera Rockwell?"
+
+"Well?"
+
+"And weren't you with Vera, Mary, and myself after the game?"
+
+"Yes, but----"
+
+"When Roger saw you talking to Vera, he walked away in the coldest
+manner possible."
+
+"Oh, but, Phil, that is absurd. Hadn't I a right to talk to Vera? I am
+sure she is a nice girl."
+
+"So she is--a very nice girl--we think so--and so does Roger."
+
+"And do you seriously think that Roger doesn't like it because I made
+myself agreeable to Vera?"
+
+"I guess he thinks you ought to give him a show. He has never said
+anything, but I imagine that is what he thinks," concluded Phil; and
+the conversation came to an end as some of the other students put in an
+appearance.
+
+This talk set Dave to thinking in more ways than one. He remembered
+several incidents now concerning Roger and Vera, and he also remembered
+how Jessie had acted during her visit to the school. Was it possible
+that Jessie, too, had felt offended over the manner of his friendliness
+to Vera?
+
+"I treated her only as a friend--and I have a right to do that," Dave
+reasoned. "Roger has no right to be jealous--nor has Jessie." He felt
+so hurt that his pride rebelled, and for two days he said hardly a word
+to the senator's son. The break between the two threatened to become
+permanent.
+
+But Roger did not resign from the baseball club. He mentioned it to
+Ben, Shadow, and some of the others, but they protested so strongly
+he had to remain as catcher. In order to do this, he had to consult
+with Dave, but the consultations were confined entirely to pitching and
+catching. Roger was not at all like himself, and his irritation arose
+at the slightest provocation.
+
+On the following Saturday the Oak Hall nine played the Oakdale
+Resolutes, on the town grounds. As before, a large crowd assembled,
+including some of the cadets from Rockville, who were to open their
+series with Oak Hall the week following. From Phil, Dave learned that
+Mary Feversham and Vera Rockwell were to be present.
+
+"All right, Phil, go and do the honors," said Dave. "I am going to
+attend strictly to pitching to-day."
+
+"Going to leave the field to Roger, eh?"
+
+"You may put it that way if you wish."
+
+"Shall I tell the girls you don't want to speak to them?"
+
+"If you do, Phil, I'll hit you in the head with the ball, the first
+chance I get," was Dave's reply, half in jest and half in earnest.
+
+The Oakdale Resolutes were made up of young men who had played baseball
+for several years. In the past they had not cared to play "a boys'
+school," as they designated Oak Hall. But since the past summer they
+had come to respect the Hall, and they had been forced into the game by
+friends who had said they were afraid to play our friends. They had a
+great pitcher named Gilroy and a catcher named Barwenk, and they relied
+on these two players to "wipe up the ball-field," as they put it, with
+Oak Hall.
+
+During the first four innings honors were about even, each side
+bringing in two runs. Then the nines began to see-saw, first one being
+ahead and then the other, until at the end of the eighth inning the
+score stood Oak Hall 7, Resolutes 6. So far Dave had struck out five
+players and Gilroy had the same number to his credit. But Gilroy had
+made one wild pitch, which had brought in Oak Hall's fifth run.
+
+"Now, Dave, see if you can't hold 'em down to a goose egg," said
+Shadow, as the other club went to the bat for the last time.
+
+"I'll do what I can," was the reply.
+
+Dave was on his mettle, and so for the matter of that was every other
+Oak Hall player. But some were a bit nervous, and as a consequence one
+missed a grounder and another let drop a hot liner. The Resolutes got
+three men on bases, and then, with one man out, they got in two runs.
+
+"Hurrah! That gives the Resolutes eight runs!" was the cry, and the
+town rooters cheered lustily.
+
+Dave did his best to strike the next man out. But with two balls and
+one strike he sent in a ball that was just a little wild, and strange
+to say, Roger muffed it. Then the man on third came in, giving the
+Resolutes another run.
+
+"Another! That makes the score seven to nine!"
+
+"That was a wild pitch."
+
+"Not so wild but that the catcher might have got it if he had tried."
+
+"Steady there, Roger!" called out some of the Oak Hall boys.
+
+"It wasn't my fault--the ball was out of my reach," grumbled the
+senator's son.
+
+A quick retort arose to Dave's lips, but he checked it. He did not
+wish to make his quarrel with Roger any worse. He walked back to the
+pitcher's box and signed to Roger for a drop ball. Roger did not answer
+at once and he waited a few seconds and repeated the sign.
+
+"Play ball!" was the cry. "Don't wait all day, Porter." Then the
+senator's son signed back and Dave sent in the ball with precision. The
+batsman swung for it, and missed it.
+
+"Strike two!" called out the umpire.
+
+Dave next signed for an out curve. It was now three balls and two
+strikes and the next delivery would "tell the tale." In came the ball
+with great swiftness, and again the batsman tried to connect with
+it--and failed.
+
+"Three strikes--batter out!"
+
+"Hurrah, Porter struck him out, after all!"
+
+"Now go for the third man, Dave!"
+
+"Lessinger is at the bat. He ought to lift it over the back fence."
+
+Lessinger was a heavy batter, yet twice he failed in his attempt to hit
+the sphere. But the third time he knocked a low fly to center. It was
+easily caught,--and the Resolutes went out with the score standing 9 to
+7 in their favor.
+
+"Now, fellows, we must do our best," said Phil. "Don't hit at the ball
+until you get a good one, and then lift it clear over Hamden's stables
+if you can." The stables were two blocks away, and a ball sent a
+quarter of that distance meant a home run.
+
+Shadow was first to the bat and got safely to first. Then came Gus
+Plum, and to the wonder of many he hit the ball for a two-bagger,
+bringing Shadow in. Then Dave got to first while Plum went to third.
+Next came an out, and then a hit by Ben Basswood took Dave to third and
+brought Plum home.
+
+The Oak Hall rooters were now cheering and yelling like mad, and this
+got the Resolute pitcher rattled and he gave the next batsman his base
+on balls. Then came another safe hit by Buster Beggs, and the game
+ended with the score standing, Oak Hall 10, Resolutes 9.
+
+"Hurrah, Oak Hall wins!"
+
+"That's a close finish right enough, isn't it?"
+
+The cheering by the Oak Hall adherents was tremendous, while the
+Resolute followers had little to say. Many came to congratulate Dave on
+his excellent pitching and others congratulated Roger on his catching.
+The other players were likewise remembered, even Plum coming in for
+many handshakes and thumps on the shoulder.
+
+In the crowd Dave saw Vera and Mary, and spoke to them for a minute or
+two. Both girls thought the game the best they had ever seen.
+
+"Oh, I think your pitching was superb!" cried Vera, enthusiastically.
+"I hope you do as well when you play Rockville."
+
+"I'll do my best," answered Dave, and then turned to rejoin some of his
+fellow-players. He came face to face with Roger and was about to speak,
+when the senator's son turned his head the other way and passed on.
+
+The club members had come to Oakdale in the carryall and a carriage,
+and they returned to the school in these turnouts. Dave and Phil looked
+for Roger, but he was not to be found. Phil, as captain of the club,
+had had so many details to look after that he had not gotten time to
+speak to Mary, much to his disappointment. But she had waved her hand
+to him and smiled, which was one consolation.
+
+Link Merwell and Nat Poole had predicted defeat for Oak Hall, and when
+instead a victory was gained this pair did not know what to say.
+
+"I reckon it was a fluke," was Merwell's comment. "They couldn't do
+it again in a hundred years. Must have been something wrong with the
+Resolute players."
+
+"I heard their pitcher had a sore arm, and they had a substitute first
+baseman," said Nat Poole. "That would make a big difference."
+
+"I hope Rockville Military Academy does 'em up brown," went on Link
+Merwell. The thought of having the honor to stand up for his own school
+never entered his head.
+
+"So do I, Link. It will take some of the conceit out of Porter and his
+crowd. As pitcher Porter, of course, thinks he is the whole thing."
+
+"Say, did you notice how cold Porter and Morr are getting toward each
+other?" And Link Merwell chuckled gleefully.
+
+"Yes. I guess they are stirred up over that girl right now."
+
+"You bet! And maybe they'll be stirred up some more before I am done
+with them."
+
+On the following Thursday afternoon, Dave, Phil, and Plum went out for
+a row on the river. It was a beautiful day, clear and warm, and the
+three got out a boat with two pairs of oars and a rudder, so that all
+might have a share in handling the craft at the same time.
+
+"Let us row down to Bush Island," suggested Plum, naming an island
+about two miles away, which took its name from a patch of huckleberry
+bushes growing there. It was a pleasant spot, and one end of the island
+was occasionally used by the folks of Oakdale for picnic grounds.
+
+"That suits me," answered Dave, and soon the three boys were off, never
+dreaming of what this little trip was destined to bring forth.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+ON BUSH ISLAND
+
+
+The three boys had covered less than a third of the distance to Bush
+Island when they passed two rowboats, one containing Roger, Ben, and
+two others, and another containing Doctor Clay and Andrew Dale.
+
+"Hello! lots of folks out this afternoon," was Phil's comment.
+
+"This is the first time I have seen the doctor and Mr. Dale out," said
+Dave. "They row very well, don't they?"
+
+"The doctor was once a college oarsman," put in Plum. "I suppose he
+likes to get out here for the sake of old times."
+
+"Well, Mr. Dale pulls as well as he does," returned Dave. "Both of them
+pull a perfect stroke."
+
+"Wonder if old Haskers ever rows?" mused Phil.
+
+"Guess he doesn't do much of anything but teach and find fault,"
+grumbled Gus Plum.
+
+The craft containing the doctor and the first assistant was heading
+for the east shore of the river and was soon out of sight around a
+point of rocks. The other boat had turned around, so the boys did not
+have a chance to speak to their fellow-students.
+
+"Here comes a motor boat!" cried Dave, as a steady put-put! reached his
+ears.
+
+"It's Nat Poole's boat," said Phil as the craft came into view.
+
+Soon the motor boat came close to them and they saw that Poole and
+Merwell were on board. The pair were smoking, as usual, but placed
+their cigarettes on the seats, out of sight.
+
+"Where are you going?" demanded Nat Poole, abruptly.
+
+"Rowing," answered Phil, dryly.
+
+"Humph! Don't you wish you had this motor boat?"
+
+"Not particularly."
+
+"A motor boat beats a rowboat all hollow," went on the dudish student.
+
+"Not for rowing," vouchsafed Dave.
+
+"Well, you can row if you want to," sneered Poole. "I prefer to let the
+motor do the work," and then he steered away, giving the rowboat all
+the wash possible as he passed.
+
+"Wonder where they are going?" said Link Merwell, as he looked back to
+see if the rowboat had shipped any water from the wash.
+
+[Illustration:"WELL, YOU CAN ROW IF YOU WANT TO," SNEERED POOLE.]
+
+"I don't know, I'm sure."
+
+"Perhaps they'll land somewhere. If they do, we can play a trick on
+'em, Nat."
+
+"How?"
+
+"By taking their rowboat when they are out of sight. We can easily tie
+the boat on behind and tow it to the boathouse. Then those fellows
+would have to walk back to Oak Hall."
+
+"Good! That would be great!" ejaculated Nat Poole. "I wish they would
+land and leave the boat to itself for a while."
+
+"Let us watch 'em," suggested Merwell, and to this his crony readily
+agreed.
+
+It did not take Dave and his friends long to reach Bush Island.
+Beaching the rowboat, they went ashore and took a walk around.
+
+"It certainly is a nice spot for a picnic," was Phil's comment. "I
+don't wonder that the town folks come here--and the Sunday schools. I'd
+like to have a picnic myself here--when it gets a little warmer."
+
+"We might come over some holiday--and bring a basket of grub along,"
+said Plum.
+
+"Oh, we'd have to have something good to eat," put in Dave. "That's
+three-quarters of the fun."
+
+Much to their surprise, in walking to the center of the island, they
+ran into Doctor Clay and Mr. Dale. Both had some bits of rocks in their
+hands and the doctor had a geologist's hammer as well.
+
+"Well, boys, what brought you?" asked the head of the school,
+pleasantly.
+
+"Oh, we just stopped for fun," answered Dave. "We didn't know you rowed
+so far."
+
+"We are knocking off a few geological specimens for the school
+cabinet," answered Doctor Clay. "These are not particularly
+valuable--but every little helps."
+
+The boys remained with the men for a quarter of an hour, and then
+walked back to the shore. As they did this, Dave suddenly put up his
+hand.
+
+"What is it?" asked Phil and Plum, in a breath.
+
+"Thought I heard a motor boat."
+
+"Perhaps Nat Poole's boat is near the island," suggested Gus.
+
+"Oh, there are a dozen motor boats on the river now," answered Phil.
+"There, I heard it, but it's a good distance off."
+
+No more was said about the motor boat, and they continued on their
+walk to the shore. Here they found their rowboat as they had left it,
+and entering, shoved off, and continued their row. They went a little
+further than at first anticipated, and consequently had to hurry to get
+back in time for supper, and even then were the last students to enter
+the dining hall.
+
+As he passed to his seat Dave had to walk close to Link Merwell. When
+the bully saw him he started and stared in amazement. Then he looked
+around and stared at Phil and Gus. He leaned over and spoke to Nat
+Poole, who sat close at hand.
+
+"They are back!" he whispered.
+
+"Who? Porter and his crowd?" And now the dudish pupil looked equally
+amazed.
+
+"Yes,--look for yourself."
+
+Nat Poole did look, and his face became a study. As soon as possible he
+and Merwell finished their evening meal and went outdoors.
+
+"Somebody must have stopped at the island and taken them off," said
+Merwell, when he felt safe to speak without being overheard.
+
+"I suppose that must be it or else----" Nat Poole stopped short and
+turned pale.
+
+"Or what?"
+
+"Perhaps we took some other boat, Link! Oh, if we did that, the owner
+might have us arrested!"
+
+"Nonsense! It was an Oak Hall boat--I looked to make sure, when I tied
+it to the motor boat."
+
+"Let us go down and see."
+
+"Can't you take my word for it?" asked Merwell, roughly.
+
+"Yes. But I want to know just what boat it was."
+
+"If they see you hanging around the boathouse they may smell a mouse."
+
+"I'll be careful. I have a right to look after my motor boat, you know."
+
+"That's so--I forgot that."
+
+The youths walked to the boathouse and, on the sly, looked at the craft
+they had towed over from Bush Island. It was certainly an Oak Hall
+rowboat, and Nat breathed a little sigh of relief.
+
+The two lads were just on the point of leaving the boathouse when Job
+Haskers came in, followed by a man who took care of the boats.
+
+"Siller tells me you were out in your motor boat this afternoon," said
+Job Haskers. "Did you see anything of Doctor Clay and Mr. Dale?"
+
+"No, sir," answered Nat Poole.
+
+"Were they out in a boat?" asked Merwell.
+
+"Yes, they went for a row about four o'clock, and they have not yet got
+back. It is strange, for they said nothing about being away for supper."
+
+"Well, we didn't see them," answered both Poole and Merwell. Then both
+left the boathouse and took their way to the gymnasium.
+
+Here, as fate would have it, they ran into Messmer and Henshaw, who
+were doing some turns on the bars, in company with Gus Plum, who, since
+his good work on the ball-field, was becoming quite a favorite.
+
+"I don't think I can do many turns to-night," they heard Plum say. "I
+am tired out from a row Dave Porter, Phil Lawrence, and myself took to
+Bush Island."
+
+"How did the island look?" asked Messmer, carelessly.
+
+"Very nice. We walked all around it and ran into Doctor Clay and Mr.
+Dale. They were there gathering geological specimens."
+
+"I'd like to make a collection," put in Henshaw. "By the way, Mr. Dale
+wasn't at supper. Did he come home with you?"
+
+"No, we left him and the doctor there knocking off the bits of rock,"
+answered Plum.
+
+Merwell and Poole listened to this conversation with keen interest.
+They exchanged glances, and then the dudish pupil pulled his crony by
+the coat-sleeve and led the way to a lonely part of the campus.
+
+"Oh, Link, do you think we took the doctor's boat by mistake?" asked
+Poole, with something akin to terror in his tones.
+
+"Hush! not so loud!" warned Merwell. "If we did, you don't want to let
+anybody know it."
+
+"But what shall we do? The doctor and Mr. Dale can't leave the island
+without a boat."
+
+"I know that. But don't you say anything--unless you want to get into
+hot water."
+
+"But they may have to stay there all night!" continued the thoroughly
+frightened Nat.
+
+"Oh, I reckon somebody will come to take them off."
+
+"Do you sup--suppose they saw us run away with their boat?" Poole was
+now so scared he could scarcely talk.
+
+"No. We didn't see them, and consequently I can't see how they'd know
+us. But you want to keep mum."
+
+"Maybe somebody saw us bring in the empty rowboat."
+
+"I don't think so; nobody was around when we came in. Now you just keep
+quiet and it will be all right."
+
+"If they have to stay on the island all night they'll be as mad as
+hornets."
+
+"I don't care--I'd like to pay them both back for some of the mean
+things they've done to us."
+
+"I don't know that they've done any mean thing to me," answered Nat
+Poole. He felt that he would give a good deal not to have touched the
+rowboat found on the shore of Bush Island tied to a tree. That it had
+been a craft used by Doctor Clay and Mr. Dale there was now not the
+slightest doubt.
+
+Dave was in the library of the school, consulting a history of Rome,
+when Ben came in with news that Doctor Clay and Mr. Dale were missing.
+It was almost time to go to bed and a number of the students had
+already retired.
+
+"Missing!" cried Dave, and put down the volume in his hands. "What do
+you mean, Ben?"
+
+"They are missing--isn't that plain enough? They went for a row on the
+river this afternoon, and they have not come back."
+
+"Why, we met them at Bush Island," and Dave explained the occurrence.
+"Maybe I'd better tell Haskers," he added, and hurried off.
+
+He found the assistant teacher in the office, considerably worried.
+That evening he and the doctor were to have gone over some school
+matters that needed attention. The non-return of the master of the Hall
+was therefore good cause for alarm.
+
+"What do you want, Porter?" he asked, coldly, for he had not yet
+forgotten the quarrel in that very room some months previous.
+
+"I understand Doctor Clay and Mr. Dale are missing, Mr. Haskers."
+
+"Well?"
+
+"I only wish to tell you that Phil Lawrence, Gus Plum, and I were out
+rowing this afternoon and we went to Bush Island, and there we met the
+doctor and Mr. Dale, who had come in a rowboat."
+
+"Indeed! Did they say anything about coming back?"
+
+"No, sir. We left them there, gathering geological specimens."
+
+"They wouldn't stay there unless there was a reason for it," mused Job
+Haskers.
+
+"Perhaps their boat sprung a leak, or something like that."
+
+"Ahem! Such a thing is possible."
+
+"Would you like some of us to go to the island and find out?"
+
+"No. If I want that done I can send Siller."
+
+"You might go to the island in Poole's motor boat. She could make the
+trip in no time."
+
+"I'll think of it," answered Job Haskers, shortly. He did not wish to
+give Dave any credit for the suggestion.
+
+Nevertheless, he acted on the advice, and less than a quarter of an
+hour later, with the searchlight on, the motor boat left the school
+dock, carrying on board Nat Poole, Siller, and Job Haskers. Poole was
+badly frightened, fearing that what he and Merwell had done would be
+found out.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+WHAT AN AUTOMOBILE DID
+
+
+"Dave Porter, Doctor Clay wishes to see you in his private office
+immediately."
+
+It was Murphy the monitor who spoke, and he addressed Dave just as the
+latter was getting ready to retire for the night. He had already called
+Phil and Gus Plum.
+
+"What does he want, Jim?" questioned Dave.
+
+"I don't know, I'm sure. He and Mr. Dale just came in, and he is as mad
+as a hornet."
+
+Without delay Dave put on the coat he had taken off, and went below,
+accompanied by Phil and Gus. The door to the private office stood open
+and inside were the master of Oak Hall, Mr. Dale, and Job Haskers.
+
+"Come in, young gentlemen," said the doctor, somewhat grimly. "I want
+to ask you a few questions."
+
+They walked in and stood in a row, facing the master. Certainly Doctor
+Clay was angry, and Andrew Dale looked far from pleased.
+
+"All of you were on Bush Island this afternoon," went on Doctor Clay.
+"When you went away, did you do anything to the rowboat that Mr. Dale
+and myself took there?"
+
+"No, sir," answered Dave, promptly.
+
+"We didn't see your boat--at least, I didn't," answered Plum.
+
+"I didn't see it either," came from Phil.
+
+"Porter, did you see the boat?"
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"All of you are positive of this?" went on the master of the school,
+sternly.
+
+"The only time I saw the boat was when you and Mr. Dale were on the
+river rowing--before we got to the island," said Dave.
+
+"That boat was taken by somebody. We tied it to a tree and when we went
+for it, it was gone. We had to remain on the island, in the dark and
+cold, until Mr. Haskers came with Poole's motor boat and took us off."
+
+"Excuse me, Doctor, may I ask a question?" said Andrew Dale.
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"Did you boys see anybody else on the island?"
+
+"No, sir," returned Dave.
+
+"Was anybody near there, so far as you know?"
+
+"Not very near. We met a number of the fellows on the river, while we
+were rowing toward the island."
+
+"Who were some of those boys?" asked Doctor Clay.
+
+Dave remembered that one of the boats had contained Roger, Ben, Sam
+Day, and Messmer, and remained silent.
+
+"Don't any of you remember who were in the other boats?" asked the
+doctor, and his voice was sharper than ever.
+
+"Nat Poole and Link Merwell were out in the motor boat," answered Phil.
+
+"Yes, I know that, but both declare they were not near the island."
+
+"Roger Morr, Sam Day, and a lot of others were out, but they were near
+the boathouse, and I don't think any of them went near Bush Island,"
+answered Gus Plum.
+
+"Well, somebody was there, and took our boat," said Doctor Clay. "If I
+find out who was guilty of the trick I shall punish him severely." He
+knew that many of the boys would laugh behind his back, and he hated to
+be the butt of such a joke.
+
+After being questioned for quarter of an hour the boys were told they
+could go, and returned to their dormitory. Hardly had they left the
+office when Siller, the boatman, came in.
+
+"The boat you had is at the dock," he announced. "It was tied up around
+a corner, where I didn't see it before."
+
+"That proves some boys from this school took it from the island," said
+the doctor. "Is the boat all right?"
+
+"Yes, sir. I looked her over, and in the bottom I found this case."
+
+As Siller spoke he handed over a small leather case, which was empty
+but smelt strongly of tobacco.
+
+"A cigarette case!" cried the master of the school. "Could any pupil
+here have had that? They know that smoking is forbidden." He turned the
+case over in the light. "Here is a letter painted on the side. It is
+rather worn."
+
+"It is an M," said Andrew Dale, after an examination. "Let me see, what
+pupils' names begin with M?" He mused for a moment. "Morrison, Morr,
+Merwell----"
+
+"Morrison went home yesterday, to be gone a week. Merwell said the
+motor boat was not near the island, and I certainly did not hear it."
+
+"Plum just said Morr and some others were out in a rowboat," added
+Andrew Dale, quickly. "This may be his cigarette case."
+
+"We'll question him."
+
+Thereupon Roger was made to visit the office and put through a course
+of questions. He denied being near Bush Island and also denied owning
+the cigarette case. He felt angered to think he was suspected and
+answered the doctor so sharply that he was told to translate ten pages
+of C�sar the next afternoon--a task he hated. And there the whole
+matter rested for the time being. Merwell missed his cigarette case,
+sent to him by a friend for his birthday, and he warned Poole not to
+breathe a word about it.
+
+"We have told the doctor we were not near the island," said the bully.
+"Now, if he finds out that we were, he'll punish us severely, and maybe
+he'll expel us." This fairly terrorized Nat, and he wished he had never
+seen Bush Island or listened to Merwell's plan to rob Dave and his
+chums of their rowboat.
+
+In some way Roger became convinced that Dave was responsible for his
+being hauled up before Doctor Clay, and as a consequence he grew colder
+and colder toward his former chum, something that hurt Dave very much.
+Phil, in a roundabout way, tried to patch up the matter, but Roger
+would not listen. He spent his entire time in company with Shadow,
+Buster, and some others, and only spoke to Dave when the baseball nine
+did its practicing.
+
+About six miles from Oak Hall was a private park known as Hilltop. This
+belonged to a gentleman named Richard Mongrace, who had a brother, a
+man who had once been a college football player, but who was now an
+invalid and could not leave the estate. Mr. Mongrace had a fine field
+for all sorts of outdoor sports at Hilltop, with a grand stand and
+bleachers, and, to please his brother, he frequently invited local
+clubs to use his grounds for their contests.
+
+In the past both Oak Hall and Rockville Military Academy had played at
+Hilltop, and now they had been invited to do so again, and it had been
+arranged that the baseball series should be played there. It may be as
+well to state here that the contest was to consist of two games out of
+a possible three. If either side won the first two games the third was
+not to be played.
+
+The day for the first game proved cloudy and windy, yet the Oak Hall
+boys went to the grounds in high spirits. Some went on bicycles, some
+in the carryall, and a few walked, just for the exercise.
+
+Dave was in the carryall, along with Phil, Shadow, and ten others. They
+were a jolly crowd, and as the turnout bowled along over the road they
+sang, gave the school yell, and cut up generally. The athletic yell was
+very popular, as follows:
+
+      "Baseball!
+      Football!
+      Oak Hall!
+      Has the call!
+  Biff! Boom! Bang! Whoop!"
+
+"This is the day we rip Rockville up the back!" cried one of the
+students.
+
+"And poke holes in the sky with raps for home runs," added another.
+
+"And strike out three men every inning!" cried a third. "Dave, how is
+our pitcher to-day?"
+
+"Able to sit up and eat pie," answered Dave, with a smile.
+
+"Talking about pitchers puts me in mind of a little story I heard
+yesterday----" began Shadow. "A little girl----"
+
+"Hello, Shadow has hit the story trail once more!" sang out Phil.
+"Thought there must be something wrong with him. He hasn't told a story
+for an hour and ten minutes."
+
+"He's thinking of all the outs he is going to make," put in Plum, slyly.
+
+"Not an out for yours truly," returned the story-teller. "But to get
+back to the little girl. Says she to her papa, 'Papa, did you say a
+baseball club has a pitcher?' 'Yes, my dear,' says papa. 'Well, do they
+have a sugar-bowl too?'" And at this anecdote the boys smiled.
+
+Jackson Lemond was driving the carryall. He had a team of horses
+which the doctor had purchased only a few weeks before. They were a
+mettlesome pair, and the Hall driver did not altogether understand
+them. At times they went along very well, but at others they "cut up
+simply awful," to use Horsehair's way of expressing it.
+
+"Why don't you let the team out, Horsehair?" asked one of the boys,
+presently. "We don't want to take all day to get to Hilltop."
+
+"I hate to give 'em too much headway," answered the driver. "The road
+ain't none of the best along here, and there ain't no telling what they
+might do."
+
+"We'll have to hurry some," said Dave. "I want some time to warm up,
+and so do the others."
+
+"Maybe it will rain and the game will have to be called off," was
+Phil's comment, with an anxious look at the overcast sky.
+
+"Oh, it's not going to rain just now," answered Henshaw.
+
+They had just reached the top of a long hill and were preparing to go
+down the other side, when they heard a tooting behind them.
+
+"Here comes an automobile!" cried Phil, looking back.
+
+"I know that machine," answered Buster. "It belongs to some of the
+students at Rockville--two cousins, I think. They brought it down from
+Portland, Maine, where they come from."
+
+"It is full of Rockville fellows," said Sam. "They want to pass us," he
+added, as the tooting sounded louder.
+
+"It's a narrow road to pass on," grumbled Horsehair. "Whoa, there!" he
+cried to his team.
+
+"Whoa, I say!"
+
+For the horses had begun to prick up their ears and dance about at the
+sound of the automobile horn.
+
+"Clear the road, for we are coming!" came the cry from behind, and
+then with a tooting of the horn, a puffing from the engine, and a wild
+yelling from the occupants, the big touring car shot past the carryall
+with less than three inches to spare, and plunged down the hill at a
+speed that soon carried it out of sight in a cloud of dust.
+
+It was enough to scare anybody, and the hearts of some of the boys beat
+wildly for the moment.
+
+"That's taking a fearful risk," was the comment of one lad. "If they
+don't look out, they'll break their necks."
+
+There was little time to say more, for the students now realized that
+Horsehair was having his hands full with the new team. One horse was
+plunging with might and main to break away and the other was shying to
+the left. Then came a sudden snap, as a portion of the harness gave
+way, and the next moment the carryall was sweeping down the hill on the
+very heels of the team that was running away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+A DEFEAT FOR OAK HALL
+
+
+It was a time of great peril and all the students in the carryall
+realized it. With a portion of the harness broken, the driver could do
+little or nothing to control the team. They had the bits in their teeth
+and plunged down the hill and over the rocks in a manner that sent the
+turnout swinging first to one side and then the other.
+
+"We'll go over!"
+
+"We'll be smashed to pieces!"
+
+"We'd better jump, if we want to save our lives!"
+
+These and many other cries rang out. Dave and Ben were on the front
+seat with Horsehair, but all the others were inside, being thrown
+around like beans in a bag.
+
+"Let them go!" sang out Dave. "Give them the middle of the road,--and
+put on the brake."
+
+At first the driver was too scared to pay attention to Dave's words,
+and the youth had to lean over and pull the brake back. This all but
+locked the wheels and caused the carryall greatly to diminish its
+speed. But the horses kept dancing and plunging as madly as ever, and
+it looked as if at any instant they might bring the turnout to grief in
+one or the other of the water gullies lining the highway.
+
+"If you fellows want to get off, drop out the back one at a time," sang
+out Dave, when he saw that the brake was telling on the speed of both
+team and carryall.
+
+"You had better jump, too," answered one youth, as he prepared to do as
+advised.
+
+"Not yet--I think the team will stop at the foot of the hill," returned
+Dave.
+
+His coolness restored confidence to the others, and all remained in the
+carryall. Horsehair had tight hold of the reins, and now began to talk
+soothingly to the horses--getting back some of his own wits. Then the
+bottom of the hill was reached; and after a few minutes of work the
+team was brought down to a walk and then halted. Without waiting for an
+invitation, the students leaped to the ground and the school driver did
+likewise.
+
+"Say, that was surely a scare," was Jackson Lemond's comment. "I'd like
+to wring the neck o' the young rascal who is running that auto!"
+
+"He certainly had no right to rush past us as he did," replied Phil.
+"But how about it, Horsehair; can you mend the harness? Remember, we
+want to get to Hilltop."
+
+"I reckon I can mend it--I've got extry straps and buckles under the
+seat."
+
+Horsehair set to work and Dave and Plum aided him, and in a very few
+minutes they were able to proceed on their way. The driver now kept
+the team well in hand, and the boys kept a keen lookout for more
+automobiles, but none passed them.
+
+"I've a good mind to report those chaps to the constable," said
+Horsehair, as they neared Hilltop. "They ought to be locked up."
+
+"You'll be laughed at for your pains," answered Shadow. "Let us wax
+Rockville at baseball--that will be revenge enough."
+
+The grounds were comfortably filled at the ball-field, and by the time
+the game started nearly every seat was taken. In one corner of the
+grand stand was a group of girls and among them Mary Feversham and Vera
+Rockwell, and they had flags with the initials O. H. on them.
+
+"They are going to root for us, bless 'em!" cried Phil, and he waved
+his hand at Mary and Vera, and Dave did likewise. Roger pretended not
+to see the girls, but hurried immediately to the dressing-room to
+prepare for the game.
+
+It had brightened up a little and for a short while the sun came out.
+Promptly at three o'clock the game started with Oak Hall at the bat.
+They were retired in one, two, three order, much to the delight of the
+Rockville contingent.
+
+"That's the way to do it!"
+
+"Now then, fellows, show them how you can bat the ball!"
+
+And then arose the Military Academy slogan:
+
+    "Rockville!
+    Rockville!
+  You'll get your fill
+  From Rockville!"
+
+Dave was certainly in the pink of condition when he walked down to the
+pitcher's box. Yet, despite his best efforts, one of the Rockville
+players "found him" for a two-bagger and another for a single, and when
+the side went out it had two runs to its credit.
+
+Then what a roar went up from the Military Academy boys!
+
+"That's the way! Keep it up!"
+
+"If you make two every inning, you'll have eighteen by the time you
+finish."
+
+During the second, third, and fourth innings Oak Hall did its best to
+score, but though two players reached second and one third, it was not
+to be. In the meantime Rockville got four more runs, making six in all.
+
+"Six to nothing! That's going some!"
+
+"Here is where we show Oak Hall what we can do!"
+
+Phil was very much worried and came to talk the matter over with Dave.
+
+"Dave, can't you strike some more of 'em out?" he asked. So far the
+pitcher had struck out two men.
+
+"I'm doing my best, Phil. They seem to be good hitters and no mistake.
+If you want to try somebody else in my place----"
+
+"No, no, Dave! Only I'd like to keep down that score. Do your best."
+
+In the next two innings Oak Hall managed to get two runs--one by a wild
+throw to second. This was a little encouraging, and the students rooted
+wildly. But in the seventh inning Roger made a wild throw to third and
+that gave the Rockvilles two more runs. At the end of the eighth the
+score stood, Rockville 10, Oak Hall 3.
+
+"We ought to have another pitcher and another catcher," said some.
+"Porter and Morr are both off to-day."
+
+"Phil, you can put somebody else in my place if you wish," said the
+senator's son, quickly.
+
+"And you can put somebody in my place, too," added Dave.
+
+"No, you stick and do the best you can," answered the manager of the
+nine.
+
+"They can't do anything!" sneered Link Merwell, who stood close by.
+
+"They can both play far better ball than you," retorted Phil. "If you
+were pitching or catching, the Rockvilles would have about fifty runs,"
+and then he turned his back on the bully.
+
+It had begun to rain a little, but both clubs decided to play the game
+out unless it came down too hard. Oak Hall went to the bat with vigor
+in the ninth and got two men on bases. But then came a foul fly, a
+short hit to first, and a pop fly, and there their chances ended. Then,
+to see what they could do, Rockville took the last half of the ninth
+and batted out four more runs, amid the wildest kind of yelling from
+the Military Academy cadets and their friends.
+
+Final score, Rockville 14, Oak Hall 3.
+
+The Oak Hall boys felt as gloomy as the sky above them and they had
+little or nothing to say. They could now realize how Rockville had
+felt, when defeated on the football field, the season before. None of
+the players gave attention to the rain, which was now coming down in
+torrents.
+
+"Told you we'd lose," said Link Merwell, to some of the boys near him.
+
+"Oh, you're a croaker!" cried Messmer. "We can't win every time."
+
+"You should have had Purdy in the box," said another. Purdy was a new
+student and it was said he could pitch very well.
+
+"Yes, and Barloe behind the bat," added another. Barloe had caught in
+some games the year before and done fairly well.
+
+It must be confessed that both Dave and Roger were considerably
+disheartened by the result of the game, and each blamed himself for
+errors made. Gus Plum also bewailed the fact that he had missed a foul
+fly that came down just out of his reach.
+
+It was raining so hard the boys had to wait in the dressing rooms and
+on the grand stand for the downpour to let up before starting for Oak
+Hall. Here the game was discussed in every particular, and each player
+came in for commingled praise and blame.
+
+"Well, if you want my opinion I'll give it," said Dave, frankly. "I do
+not say that I didn't make any errors myself, for I did. But I think
+our nine needs team-work--we don't play well enough together."
+
+"That is true," answered Plum. "I go in for constant practice between
+now and the time for the next game."
+
+During the wait Phil slipped away from the other players and sought out
+Mary Feversham. The girl smiled sadly at his approach.
+
+"I shouldn't have minded the rain at all if you had won," she said.
+"But to have you lose and have the rain also is dreadful!"
+
+"Well, we still have a chance to win the series," answered the club
+captain, bravely. "I am sorry you are caught here. Perhaps I can get a
+covered carriage----"
+
+"Thank you, but Vera has a gentleman friend here, and he is going to
+take us home in a coach."
+
+"Oh!"
+
+"He's a young man that used to think a lot of Vera," went on Mary, in a
+whisper. "I guess she thinks a lot of him, too--but don't let her know
+I told you."
+
+Soon the young gentleman drove up in a coach and Phil was introduced.
+Then the young ladies got in, and off the turnout sped through the
+rain. Then Phil rejoined the others of the club; and a little later
+all were on their way to Oak Hall, in the carryall, and in covered
+carriages and wagons.
+
+"Were Mary Feversham and Vera Rockwell here alone?" asked Roger, while
+on the way.
+
+"I guess so," answered Phil.
+
+"How were they going to get home?"
+
+"A young gentleman, fellow named Greene,--personal friend of
+Vera's,--took them home in a coach."
+
+"Greene?"
+
+"Yes, George Greene. Looked like a nice fellow. Mary said he and Vera
+were quite thick."
+
+Phil said this carelessly, but he looked sharply at the senator's son
+as he spoke.
+
+"Why, I thought----" Roger broke off short. "Didn't you and Dave call
+on Vera and Mary one night last week?" he added, after a long pause.
+
+"Why--er--I passed Mary's house and spoke to her at the gate for a few
+minutes," stammered Phil. "Dave was with me, but he didn't stop--said
+he wanted to post a letter to his sister."
+
+"Didn't he go to Vera's house?"
+
+"No. I don't think he has seen her since that ball game at Oakdale."
+
+"Is that really true, Phil?"
+
+"I believe it is, Roger. And now see here, old boy, what is this
+trouble between you and Dave? I'm your chum and I'm Dave's chum, too,
+and I think I have a right to know."
+
+"Why don't you ask Dave?"
+
+"He says he doesn't know--at least, he says the trouble all comes from
+you--no, I don't mean that either, I mean---- Hang it, Roger, what do I
+mean?"
+
+At this outburst the senator's son had to laugh, and Phil laughed also,
+and both boys felt better for it. There was a pause.
+
+"I guess I've been--been--well, jealous, Phil," said Roger. "I--I
+thought Dave was sweet on little Jessie Wadsworth----"
+
+"So he is."
+
+"And then he got acquainted with Vera Rockwell, and--and----"
+
+"And he became friendly with her, nothing more, Roger--just as you
+became friendly with Jessie. Didn't he have a right to do that? Why,
+I don't think--in fact, I am quite sure,--she doesn't care for him
+excepting in a general way. Why should she? She's young yet, and so is
+Dave,--and so are all of us. Now, I like Mary Feversham, and I guess
+she likes me, but I am not going to let that come between my friendship
+for you and Dave. Really, Roger, you are taking this too much to heart.
+I rather think, if you ought to be jealous, it should be of Mr. Greene,
+not of Dave."
+
+"Maybe you're right, Phil," answered the senator's son, slowly and
+thoughtfully. "And if you are--well, I've been making a fool of myself,
+that's all."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+STUCK ON A SANDBAR
+
+
+Roger seemed to feel much better after his talk with Phil, and that
+evening, when the baseball club held a meeting in the gymnasium, he
+spoke pleasantly to Dave. The young pitcher appreciated this, and when
+the meeting was over he and Roger walked to the school side by side,
+something they had not done in a long while.
+
+"I--I guess I've been making a fool of myself, Dave," said the
+senator's son, frankly. "I thought----" He hesitated, not knowing how
+to go on.
+
+"Don't say another word about it, Roger!" cried Dave.
+
+"You know what it was about."
+
+"I think I can guess. But what is the use of chewing it over? I am sure
+I never wanted to interfere with you or your--friends. If you like
+Vera--and I think she is certainly a nice girl--why don't you act more
+friendly when you meet? I think you treated her a little bit shabbily
+the last time--and maybe she thinks so, too."
+
+"Oh, I was a fool, that's why. I suppose now, if I try to make up,
+she'll cut me dead."
+
+"I don't think she is that kind, Roger. Anyway, if I were you, I'd try
+her."
+
+"I don't suppose you know I got a note about you and her?" went on the
+senator's son.
+
+"A note?"
+
+"Yes, it was only a scrawl in pencil and I was so angry at the time I
+tore it up. It said you were making yourself friendly with her just to
+cut me out."
+
+"Who sent the note?"
+
+"I don't know. Wish I did."
+
+"It was surely some enemy," said Dave; and there the talk had to come
+to an end.
+
+Not much had been said at the meeting of the baseball club, but during
+the next few days many of the students of Oak Hall came out against
+Dave, Roger, and Gus Plum, saying they thought those three players
+had lost the game. This was not true, but the talk grew, and it made
+matters decidedly unpleasant for the trio of ball players.
+
+"Phil, I think you had better try Purdy in the box at the next game,"
+said Dave. "So many of the fellows seem to want him."
+
+"And you can put Barloe behind the bat," added Roger. "I don't want to
+catch if somebody can do better."
+
+"And I'll give up first base," said Plum.
+
+"See here, if you are all going to resign I'll resign myself!" cried
+the manager of the nine. "This talk is all nonsense."
+
+"But it is growing stronger," answered Dave. "And I must admit, Purdy
+is a good pitcher."
+
+"Can he pitch as well as you?"
+
+"I'd prefer to have others decide that question."
+
+More talks like this followed, and when some of the other students got
+at Phil he began to waver.
+
+"Well, regardless of friendships," said he at last, "I want to do the
+best I can for Oak Hall. I am willing to put Purdy in the box, Barloe
+behind the bat, and Hissoc on first, provided Dave, Roger, and Gus will
+go on the substitute bench."
+
+"I reckon Porter won't agree to substitute," said one of the club
+members.
+
+But in this surmise the player was mistaken. The young pitcher agreed
+to do anything the manager wished, and so did the senator's son and
+Plum. Thereupon Purdy, Barloe, and Hissoc were at once put into
+training for the next game.
+
+One afternoon Dave, Phil, Roger, and Ben Basswood went for a row on the
+river. They took one of the racing boats, and, with each at an oar,
+they made rapid progress up the stream. They passed several of the
+islands, and then rounded a point and entered a cove which was thickly
+lined with bushes and trees.
+
+"Nat Poole is out in his motor boat," said Roger. "He has Link Merwell
+with him."
+
+"I think the best thing Nat can do is to drop Merwell," was Ben's
+comment. "Merwell is getting reckless. I've seen him in town half a
+dozen times, hanging around the poolroom, smoking."
+
+"Yes, and he drinks," said Roger. "Sometimes I really think he ought to
+be reported to Doctor Clay."
+
+"Yes, but who wants to do it?" asked Phil. "Nobody wants the reputation
+of a tale-bearer."
+
+"He certainly ought to be expelled if he is going to lead others
+astray," was Dave's comment. "I suppose some of us ought to talk to Nat
+about it. But Nat is so conceited he thinks he knows it all, and it
+would be mighty hard to tell him anything."
+
+"Hark! I hear a motor boat now!" cried Ben. "It must be behind those
+overhanging trees."
+
+"Here it comes," said Roger. "I declare, it's Poole's boat and he and
+Merwell have several young ladies aboard!"
+
+As the motor boat came closer the boys saw that the young ladies were
+Vera Rockwell, Mary Feversham, and a stranger.
+
+"I didn't know those girls would go out with Poole and Merwell," was
+Phil's comment.
+
+"Nor I," added Roger.
+
+The motor boat had been headed almost directly for the rowboat, but
+as soon as Merwell recognized those in the smaller craft he turned to
+his crony and said something in a whisper, and then the motor boat was
+turned in another direction.
+
+"Motor boat, ahoy!" cried Ben.
+
+To this hail Poole and Merwell paid no attention. Poole was steering
+and the bully was at the engine, and the latter advanced the spark and
+turned on more gasoline, in order to increase the speed of the craft.
+
+"Oh, it's Mr. Lawrence!" cried Mary Feversham.
+
+"And Mr. Porter and Mr. Morr!" added Vera Rockwell.
+
+"Please stop the boat, we want to speak to them," went on Mary, to
+Merwell.
+
+"Can't stop just now," grumbled the bully, as he tried to make the
+engine run still faster.
+
+"Why, the idea!" exclaimed the strange girl of the party. "I thought
+you could stop a motor boat any time."
+
+"So you can," added Vera Rockwell. "I want you to stop," she went on,
+commandingly.
+
+"Can't do it," answered Merwell, and then he winked at Poole, who had
+turned his head to listen to the talk.
+
+"Well, I think you are real mean!" pouted Mary. "I shall never ask you
+to take me across the river again. You've kept us on the motor boat
+now nearly an hour!"
+
+"If you don't land us where we want to go, and as soon as possible,
+I'll tell my brother," said Vera.
+
+"Yes, and we'll tell those students in that rowboat, too," said Mary.
+
+"You came for a ride of your own free will," said Merwell.
+
+"We did not. We said we wanted to cross the river and you said you'd
+take us across."
+
+"Well, that's what we intend to do," and Merwell grinned in a manner
+that disgusted all three of the fair passengers.
+
+"If you don't land us at once, I shall cry for help," said Vera.
+
+"And so will I," added the other girls.
+
+"We'll land you--after we've had a ride," answered Merwell, and
+continued to crowd the engine as best he knew how.
+
+"Don't run too fast--I don't know the channel here!" cried Poole,
+somewhat alarmed. Had he had his way, he would have landed the girls
+long before, but he did not dare to thwart Link Merwell's pleasure. The
+bully took a vast delight in teasing the girls and scaring them.
+
+"Help! help!" cried Vera, suddenly. "Help!" And then the other girls
+joined in the call for assistance.
+
+"You shut up!" exclaimed Merwell, sullenly. "We are not hurting you.
+If you don't shut up we'll land you on one of the islands and leave you
+there."
+
+"Oh!" exclaimed the third girl, whose name was Sadie Fillmore, and then
+she nearly fainted from fright.
+
+The motor boat was rounding a point of the cove when there came an
+unexpected scraping on the bottom. Then suddenly the craft slid up on a
+sandbar and careened to one side, almost tumbling some of the occupants
+into the water.
+
+"Shut her off!" yelled Poole, and in alarm Link Merwell stopped the
+engine. The girls screamed and clung to each other in terror. A little
+water entered the boat and this added to their fright.
+
+"Now, see what you did!" cried Nat Poole. "We are on a sandbar."
+
+"It wasn't my fault--I wasn't steering," answered Link Merwell.
+
+"I told you to run slow, but you kept piling on the speed."
+
+"Are we go--going to--to sink?" faltered Mary.
+
+"Sink? We can't sink. We are high and dry on a sandbar," grumbled
+Merwell.
+
+"Oh, I am so thankful!"
+
+"Well, I'm not."
+
+"But we aren't dry--the water is all around us," protested Vera.
+
+"There's not enough to float us."
+
+"What are we going to do?" demanded Poole, looking at his crony with
+much concern showing in his face.
+
+"Perhaps we can back her," suggested Merwell. "I'll reverse the engine
+and try."
+
+This was done, but though the propeller churned the water into a foam
+and sent some sand flying into the air, the motor boat remained firmly
+on the bar.
+
+"It's no use," sighed Nat. "Stop the engine, or you may break
+something." And then the power was turned off.
+
+"What are we to do?" questioned Sadie Fillmore. "We can't stay here
+forever."
+
+"Here comes that rowboat!" cried Vera, a moment later.
+
+"Oh, let us signal to them!" exclaimed Mary, and standing up she waved
+her handkerchief, and then her big sailor hat.
+
+"We don't want those fellows here!" growled Link Merwell. "They can go
+about their business. We'll get the boat off the sandbar somehow."
+
+"We do want them," answered Vera, and joined her friend in signaling,
+and Sadie Fillmore did the same.
+
+It was not long before the other boat came within hailing distance.
+Seeing that the motor boat was stuck on a sandbar, the rowers took
+care not to ground their craft.
+
+"Help us, won't you, please!" cried Vera.
+
+"Yes, yes, take us off!" added Mary.
+
+"We don't want to stay on this motor boat any longer!" exclaimed Sadie.
+
+"I guess we can take the girls off," said Phil. "But what about Poole
+and Merwell?"
+
+"We might come back for them," answered Ben. "We can't leave them here
+very well."
+
+With care the rowboat was brought to the side of the motor boat and the
+girls were assisted from one craft to the other.
+
+"Can't you take us?" asked Poole.
+
+"Not now," said Roger. "We can come back later."
+
+The rowboat was rather crowded, but this could not be altered. The boys
+pulled away from the motor boat, and then asked the girls where they
+wished to be landed.
+
+"We were going to Perry's Point, across the river," explained Vera.
+"But those boys kept us out so long I think we'd better go home." And
+then she and the others told how they had been walking toward the place
+where an old man kept a ferry, when they had been hailed by Merwell,
+who had offered to take them across.
+
+"But they didn't take us across at all!" cried Mary. "They took us for
+a ride instead, although we told them we didn't want to go."
+
+"Can that be true?" asked Phil, indignantly.
+
+"It certainly is," said Vera. "Oh, I think they were just too mean for
+anything!"
+
+"It serves them right that their motor boat ran on the sandbar. I hope
+they never get it off," added Sadie Fillmore.
+
+"We'll have to look into this," said Dave. "It was contemptible to keep
+you out on the river against your will, and they ought to be made to
+suffer for it."
+
+"And they shall suffer--just you wait and see," said Roger, firmly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII
+
+LINK MERWELL HAS HIS SAY
+
+
+As swiftly as they could the four boys rowed the girls to where they
+wanted to go. During the trip Roger spoke to Vera half a dozen times,
+and the coldness between them became a thing of the past. Sadie
+Fillmore was formally introduced, and all three girls said they were
+going to attend the next baseball game at Hilltop.
+
+"My father has a tally-ho and we are going in that," said Sadie. Her
+parents were rich and lived in Oakdale in the summer and in New York
+City in the winter.
+
+"Well, I hope you see a good game," answered Dave. He said nothing
+about Roger, Plum, and himself being only substitutes, for he did not
+wish to place Phil in an awkward position.
+
+As soon as the girls were landed the boys rowed out into the river
+again, and there they held what might be termed an impromptu
+indignation meeting.
+
+"Now, what do you think of that?" burst out Roger, referring to the
+conduct of Poole and Merwell. "I say such actions are a disgrace to
+Oak Hall."
+
+"Yes, and those fellows ought to be tarred and feathered," added Phil.
+
+"Doctor Clay ought to hear of this," came from Ben.
+
+"I think I have a plan to teach them a lesson," said Dave.
+
+"Let's have it," returned the senator's son, promptly.
+
+"We'll tell them what we think of them and then leave them stuck on
+the sandbar without sending anybody to their assistance. Maybe they'll
+have to stay there all night. They won't like that--and without their
+supper, too!"
+
+"Good! That's the cheese!" cried Ben, slangily. "I hope they have to go
+without their supper and breakfast, too!"
+
+It was decided to refuse all assistance, and this agreed upon, the four
+rowed to the vicinity of the stranded motor boat. They found Poole and
+Merwell still on board, both waiting impatiently for their return.
+
+"It's a wonder you wouldn't come!" cried Poole. "Do you think we want
+to stay here all night?"
+
+"Can you pull us off?" asked Link Merwell. "If you can't, Nat and I
+want you to go to Oakdale and get the tug _Ella Davis_ to do the job."
+
+"You talk as if we were hired to work for you," answered Dave.
+
+"I wasn't addressing you, Porter--I was talking to the others."
+
+"Well, we are not in your employ either," answered Phil.
+
+"Look here, Merwell, and you, too, Poole," said Roger. "We've got a
+big bone to pick with you, but it won't take long to pick it. We think
+that the way you acted toward those young ladies was disgraceful, and
+it reflects on the honor of Oak Hall. For two pins we'd tell some of
+the other students, and you'd be tarred and feathered or run out of the
+school. We----"
+
+"It wasn't my fault!" interrupted Nat Poole, turning pale. "I--I was
+willing enough to take them across the riv----"
+
+"Shut up!" growled Link Merwell. "We are not accountable to them for
+what we do. Don't make a fool of yourself."
+
+"It was certainly an outrageous proceeding," said Ben. "If their folks
+wanted to make you suffer for it, they could do so."
+
+"Oh, don't gas, Basswood. If you don't want to aid us, say so. We are
+not going to beg you to do so." And Link Merwell's face showed his
+hatred.
+
+"We are going to leave you here, as you deserve," said Dave.
+
+"No, no! Please don't do that!" pleaded Nat Poole. "I don't want to
+stay in this lonely part of the river all night!"
+
+"Shut up--we can swim ashore!" whispered his crony.
+
+"The water is too cold yet--I felt of it. It's like ice," answered Nat.
+He was plainly frightened.
+
+"Listen," said Phil, in a low tone to his chums. "Nat says he wanted to
+take the girls across the river. Perhaps he isn't to blame as much as
+we think."
+
+"He stood in with Merwell," answered Phil.
+
+"Oh, don't leave us here!" cried the dudish student. "It looks as if it
+might rain to-night, and it will be cold, and----"
+
+"Say, you make me sick," growled Merwell. "I wouldn't ask them for a
+favor now if I was dying!"
+
+"See here, Poole," said Dave, after consulting his chums. "We'll take
+you off on one condition."
+
+"What is that?"
+
+"That you will promise to write a letter to each of the young ladies,
+apologizing for your conduct."
+
+"Why, I--er--I----"
+
+"You can take your choice," added Roger. "Apologize or stay here."
+
+"I didn't mean any harm. I was willing to take them across, but
+Link----"
+
+"That's right, blame it all on me!" burst out Merwell. "Well, I don't
+care. I'll not crawl to anybody! They can go to Halifax, for all I
+care! I don't want their aid."
+
+"I'll--I'll apologize, if you'll take me back to the school," faltered
+Poole.
+
+"All right then, get into the rowboat," said Phil.
+
+"And mind you keep your promise, or you'll catch it!" added the
+senator's son.
+
+The rowboat was brought close to the stern of the larger craft and the
+dudish student leaped on board. As he did this, Merwell caught up a
+boathook, gave the rowboat a shove, and almost capsized it.
+
+"Let up, Merwell!" exclaimed Dave, and raising his oar, he hit the
+bully a blow on the shoulder and sent him sprawling in the bottom of
+the motor boat. Then the rowboat floated away from the larger craft.
+
+If Link Merwell had been angry before, he was now in a perfect rage.
+Scrambling to his feet, he shook his fist at the others.
+
+"Just wait!" he roared. "I'll fix you all for this, and you
+particularly, Dave Porter, you poorhouse rat! I'll make you wish you
+had never been born!"
+
+"Come away!" cried Nat Poole, badly frightened. "Don't listen to him."
+
+[Illustration:RAISING HIS OAR, HE HIT THE BULLY A BLOW ON THE SHOULDER.]
+
+"He acts as if he was crazy," was Phil's comment.
+
+"I--I know what it is," returned Poole. "It's----" He hesitated.
+
+"Has he been drinking?" demanded Dave. "Come, tell the truth, Nat?"
+
+"Yes. He had a bottle of stuff with him, and he had one drink before
+we started and two more while we were waiting for you to come back. He
+isn't himself at all--so you mustn't mind what he says."
+
+"He's a fool!" came bluntly from Ben.
+
+"I made a mistake to go out with him. He's always that way when he's
+got anything to drink."
+
+Dave's face was a study. When Merwell had called him "a poorhouse rat"
+he had gone white and his teeth had closed with a snap, but now, when
+he heard how the misguided youth was the victim of his own appetite,
+the lines softened into pity and nothing else.
+
+"It's too bad," he said. "Why can't fellows leave drink alone?" And
+then he thought of poor Gus and how he had been tempted.
+
+"We ought to take the stuff away from him," said Roger.
+
+"It's too late for that--the bottle is empty, and Merwell threw it
+overboard," answered Poole.
+
+"I don't think it safe to leave him out on the river alone," said Dave.
+
+But none of the others would agree to go back, and so the rowboat was
+headed for the Oak Hall dock. They were just coming in sight of the
+place when they heard a put-put! on the river and looked back.
+
+"Well, I declare, it's the motor boat!" ejaculated Roger.
+
+"He must have got it off the bar somehow," said Phil.
+
+"Maybe it slid off of itself," suggested Ben. "Although I don't see how
+it could."
+
+Left to himself Link Merwell had started the engine full speed ahead.
+He was desperate and did not care whether he ruined the motor boat
+or not. Lightened of the weight of the other passengers, the boat
+had wormed its way over the bar and into deep water, and then he had
+started in pursuit of the rowboat.
+
+"You didn't get the best of me, anyhow!" he sang out, as he passed
+them. Then he ran up to the dock, stopped the engine, and leaped
+ashore, and without waiting to tie up the craft, walked swiftly toward
+the school building and disappeared. That evening he left Oak Hall,
+to be gone for several days, on business for his father, so he told
+Doctor Clay. Whether this was true or not the boys never found out.
+They suspected, however, that he went off to have what he called a good
+time.
+
+Those who had been out in the rowboat saw to it that Nat Poole wrote
+and mailed the letters of apology to the three girls, and then Dave and
+Ben gave the lad from Crumville a severe lecture, telling him that it
+would be to his credit to cut such a fellow as Merwell, who was bound,
+sooner or later, to drag him down.
+
+"Merwell is by far the worst boy that ever came to Oak Hall," said
+Dave, "and sooner or later he will be expelled. What will your father
+say if you are expelled with him?"
+
+"We want you to make a record," said Ben. "Not only for your own sake,
+but also for the honor of the town we come from, and for the honor of
+the school. You'll never gain anything by sticking in with Merwell. Gus
+Plum has cut him, and so have lots of the fellows, and you ought to do
+it. There are plenty of other good fellows in this school, even if you
+don't want to train with our particular crowd. Think it over, Nat."
+
+And Nat Poole did think it over, and, as a consequence, from that day
+on he turned his back on Merwell and refused to have anything more to
+do with the dissolute bully.
+
+The day for the second ball game with Rockville was perfect in every
+respect. The sun shone brightly and there was just sufficient breeze
+to make the air bracing. Everybody turned out to see the contest, and
+long before the umpire called "Play!" grand stand and bleachers were
+crowded.
+
+The Rockville players were rather surprised to see Dave, Roger, and
+Plum on the bench while strangers filled their positions on the
+diamond. They asked each other, "What are we up against?" but none
+could answer that question.
+
+The Military Academy nine went to the bat first, and much to the
+delight of Oak Hall, Purdy, the new pitcher, struck out two men, while
+the third knocked a foul that was easily gathered in by the new first
+baseman.
+
+"That's the way to hold 'em down!" cried several.
+
+"Purdy's a big improvement on Porter, eh?"
+
+"It certainly looks that way."
+
+In this first inning Oak Hall managed to score one run, which caused a
+wild cheering, in which Dave, Roger, and Gus readily joined. But in the
+second, third, and fourth they got only "goose eggs," while Rockville
+came in over the home plate six times. In the fourth inning the second
+baseman was "spiked" by accident while sliding to third, and had to
+retire, and Plum took his place. Then came the fifth inning, with a run
+for each nine, and in that the shortstop was almost knocked senseless
+by a hot liner.
+
+"Roger, you'll have to cover short," said Phil, and the senator's son
+ran out to do so, amid a clapping of hands from his friends.
+
+The sixth inning resulted in several hits for the nines, but no runs
+were made. Then came the seventh, with another run for each, and in
+this a runner for Rockville bumped into the Oak Hall third baseman and
+both had to retire.
+
+"This is certainly a slaughter!" cried one spectator. "If they keep on,
+somebody will be killed before they get through."
+
+The accident took Dave out in the field to cover third. As luck would
+have it, less than a minute later he caught a man trying to slide to
+the bag, and when the runner was declared out the Oak Hall boys set up
+a cheer.
+
+"Good for Dave Porter! That's the way to cover third!"
+
+The end of the eighth inning found the score Rockville 11, Oak Hall 4.
+It looked as if Oak Hall was beaten, yet the nine resolved to do its
+best to win out.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX
+
+DAVE MAKES UP HIS MIND
+
+
+With the score eleven to four against his club, Purdy, the pitcher, got
+nervous, and as a consequence he allowed the first batter up to walk to
+first on balls. Then the next player met the sphere for a base hit, and
+the man on first ran down to second.
+
+"Steady, Purdy, steady!" was the cry.
+
+"Better put in Dave Porter," advised some of Dave's friends.
+
+The next batter got two strikes and two balls and then knocked a short
+fly, which was scooped in by Plum at second. Then the runner at second,
+on the next delivery of the ball over the plate, tried to steal to
+third. Over came the ball from the catcher. It was fully three feet
+over Dave's head, and many held their breath, expecting the run to come
+in. But with a high jump, Dave reached the sphere and brought it down
+with one hand; and the runner was put out.
+
+"Hurrah! What do you think of that for a catch!"
+
+"Talk about jumping! That's the best I ever saw on any ball-field!"
+
+The next man up got to first on balls, and again there was a cry to
+take Purdy out of the box and substitute Dave. But Dave shook his head
+to Phil.
+
+"It wouldn't be fair," he said. "Purdy hasn't done so badly--it was a
+streak of poor luck, that's all."
+
+When the next batter came up he waited until he had a strike and two
+balls and then knocked a swift liner into the diamond. It came several
+feet from Roger, but now the former catcher proved his worth. He made a
+dive, caught the ball, and rolled over, but still held the ball up in
+his left hand.
+
+"Batter out!"
+
+"That ends it for Rockville."
+
+It did end it for Rockville so far as making any runs was concerned,
+but it still looked as if the game belonged to them and with it the
+series.
+
+But the Oak Hall boys went to the bat with a "do or die" look on their
+faces. Phil started the ball rolling with a two-bagger and Roger
+followed with a single, taking Phil to third. Then came Shadow with
+another two-bagger, bringing in the two runners.
+
+What a cheering and yelling! The Oak Hall boys went wild and waved
+their caps and banners. Then, while the noise was still going on, Dave
+came up to the bat, swung the ashen stick at the first ball delivered,
+and sent the sphere down to deep center.
+
+"Hurrah! A home run!"
+
+"That's the way to do it! We'll win out yet!"
+
+Dave had, of course, brought in Shadow, and this gave Oak Hall eight
+runs. Seeing the runs piling up the Rockville pitcher became rattled,
+and gave two men their base on balls. Then came another two bagger, and
+the men on first and second trotted home.
+
+"Ten to eleven! One more run, fellows, and you'll tie 'em!"
+
+"Change the pitcher! He's no good!" called out some of the Rockville
+supporters. And another pitcher was sent to the box.
+
+Sam Day was now at the bat. Sam was a cautious player, not easily
+rattled. He allowed two balls to pass him, and they were called such by
+the umpire. Then, seeing just what he wished coming, he "swatted it for
+keeps," as Phil said, and ran for dear life. He reached third and the
+fellow at second came home, tying the score.
+
+Pandemonium now broke forth in earnest, while the catcher walked
+forward to confer with the pitcher. Gus Plum was up, and his face was
+deathly white as he faced the pitcher. He felt as if the fate of a
+nation depended upon him.
+
+In came the ball and with unerring judgment Plum struck at it. Down he
+went to first, safe, and in came Sam from third.
+
+The game was won! The supporters of Oak Hall rushed upon the field,
+and the nine was warmly congratulated. The Rockville club was bitterly
+disappointed and left as soon as possible.
+
+"Don't tell me that Porter, Morr, and Plum are poor players," said Luke
+Watson. "They did more than their share to win this game," and in that
+opinion even Mr. Dale concurred.
+
+The result of the game hit Nat Poole heavily. He had counted upon Oak
+Hall losing, and in secret had made several wagers against the school.
+Now all his pocket-money was gone and he was about twenty dollars
+in debt. He wrote to his father for money, but, as my old readers
+know, Aaron Poole was very miserly at times, and now he pulled his
+purse-strings tight and declared that Nat spent too much entirely, and
+must do without more funds until the summer vacation came.
+
+When Link Merwell came back to Oak Hall his general manner was worse
+than before, and even Nat was glad that he had cut away from the
+fellow. Merwell was getting to be a thorough sport, and a few, but
+by no means all, of his doings reached Doctor Clay's ears. As a
+consequence the master of the school sent a long letter to Merwell's
+father and gave Link himself a stern lecture. The lecture was not
+appreciated, for Merwell made no effort to reform.
+
+During the week following the second game of ball with Rockville, Dave
+put the finishing touches to his essay on The Past and Future of Our
+Country. It was his masterpiece so far, and when it was finished he
+breathed a sigh of commingled relief and satisfaction. He handed in
+the essay to Mr. Dale, and it was filed away with sixteen others for
+examination.
+
+"I hope you win, Dave," said Roger. "I am sure you deserve the
+prize--you have worked so hard."
+
+Roger was now as "chummy" as ever, which pleased Dave very much. After
+the second ball game the senator's son and Phil and Shadow had sought
+out Mary, Vera, and Sadie, and the young people had spent a pleasant
+hour together. In a roundabout way Roger learned that Mr. Greene was
+nothing more to Vera than an old friend, and this, somehow, eased his
+mind exceedingly.
+
+There was a good deal of talk about putting Roger, Dave, and Plum
+back on the regular nine, but the backers of Purdy and Barloe were so
+insistent that they be retained that only Plum was allowed to take his
+old place.
+
+"But I want you two to be substitutes as before," said Phil, to Dave
+and Roger. "I'll feel safer if I know you are at hand."
+
+"All right, I'll be there," answered Dave, cheerfully, and the
+senator's son nodded to show that he agreed to the request. If both
+were bitterly disappointed at not being chosen to pitch and to catch at
+this last game they took good care not to show it.
+
+As soon as Link Merwell heard that Gus Plum had been put back on the
+regular nine, he commenced to lay plans to make trouble. Since Plum had
+given him the cold shoulder he hated Gus exceedingly. He thought he
+knew Plum's weak point, and he acted accordingly.
+
+By the request of the Rockville manager the final game of the series
+had been postponed from Saturday to the following Wednesday. On
+Thursday the students of Oak Hall were to have their final exercises,
+and on Friday school was to break up for the term. Many visitors had
+been invited to attend the exercises and some of them arrived in
+Oakdale the day before, so as to witness the ball game.
+
+Among the latter were Mr. Porter and Laura, Mr. Wadsworth and Jessie,
+and Mr. Lawrence and Senator Morr. They had already engaged rooms at
+the Oakdale hotel, and Dave, Phil, and Roger went there to meet them on
+the morning previous to the game. There was a general handshaking, and
+then the students were asked a hundred and one questions about their
+studies, games, and school life generally.
+
+"It is too bad you are not to pitch, Dave," said his sister, when they
+were alone. "Why don't you get Phil to give you the place back?"
+
+"Because it wouldn't be fair, Laura. Purdy has as much right to pitch
+as I have."
+
+"But you are the better pitcher--Roger says so--and I heard so from Ben
+Basswood,--through a letter he wrote to his sister."
+
+"Well, maybe I'll get a chance to pitch a few innings--if Purdy breaks
+down. But I trust he doesn't break down--it's hard luck for any pitcher
+to do that."
+
+There was a pause, and Laura pulled her brother further into a corner,
+away from the others.
+
+"I want to speak to you about something," she continued in a low tone.
+"Do you know that Jessie got an awful letter about you?"
+
+"A letter? Who from?"
+
+"I don't know. It came from Oakdale and was signed A Friend. It said
+you were leading a fast life here--drinking and smoking and gambling."
+
+"It's false, Laura--I don't do any of those things."
+
+"I know that."
+
+"Did Jessie believe what the letter said?"
+
+"She didn't believe that part, but--the letter said something more."
+
+"What?"
+
+"In a postscript was written, 'You are being deceived by him, and he is
+also deceiving another girl, Vera Rockwell. If you don't believe it,
+come to Oakdale and find out.'"
+
+"And that was in a letter sent to Jessie?" Dave began to think rapidly.
+"Did she get that letter before she came here that other time?"
+
+"Yes,--but she didn't let me know it then."
+
+"And was that why she was so--so put out when she saw me with Vera and
+Mary and Phil?"
+
+"I suppose so. You must remember, Dave, that Jessie is very
+sensitive--the loveliest girl I ever met,--and she looks upon you as
+her dearest friend. Getting that letter and then seeing you with Miss
+Rockwell----"
+
+"But Vera is nothing to me but a friend, Laura. Why, Roger thinks ten
+times more of her than I do. Just go and pump him about it. Why, to me
+Jessie is worth more than--than--anybody, outside of my sister, and you
+must let her know it, Laura." Dave paused. "That letter--has Jessie got
+it yet?"
+
+"Yes. She was going to burn it up after she showed it to me, but I told
+her not to do it, and I made her bring it along. Of course, she feels a
+delicacy about showing it to you--on account of the postscript--but I
+said you ought to have a chance of exposing the person who was trying
+to ruin your character."
+
+"I want to see the letter. I've got some idea already regarding the
+writer."
+
+"So have I!"
+
+"Link Merwell?"
+
+"Yes. Do you know he sent me an unsigned letter two days ago."
+
+"He did? I warned him not to send you anything," and now Dave's face
+grew stern.
+
+"It was only a couple of lines in pencil, and said, 'If you want
+letters, come to Oakdale with twenty-five dollars.'"
+
+"The rascal! So he has sunk so low he wants to sell you the letters! I
+knew he was going to the bad, but I didn't think he was down as far as
+that. I hope you didn't bring the money."
+
+"But I did, Dave. I--I was afraid if I didn't he might--might read the
+letters to others and expose me to ridicule," and the girl's face grew
+crimson.
+
+"Don't you give him a cent, Laura--not a cent. I'll get hold of him
+before the term breaks up--and I'll get those letters or know the
+reason why!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX
+
+DAVE TAKES THE LAW IN HIS OWN HANDS
+
+
+A quarter of an hour later Dave and Jessie took a little walk up to the
+public park of Oakdale and, seated on a bench, they had a confidential
+talk lasting for some time. A great many things were said which need
+not be repeated here. When the talk was over Dave's heart felt lighter
+than it had for many weeks and Jessie's beautiful face shone with a
+happiness that had been missing for an equal length of time.
+
+"It was awful for that Merwell to send that letter," said Jessie. "Of
+course, Dave, you can be sure I didn't believe a word of it,--about
+your smoking and drinking and gambling."
+
+"I am fairly sure it is his handwriting," answered Dave. "He tried to
+disguise it, but a fellow can't always do that. I'll find out pretty
+quick--when I get back to the Hall."
+
+"And to think he acted so meanly toward Laura! He must be perfectly
+horrid!"
+
+"It's my opinion his days at Oak Hall are numbered, Jessie. I have
+heard the doctor has given him warning to mend his ways, but he
+doesn't seem to care. Well, if he won't do what is right he must take
+the consequences."
+
+Dave, Roger, and Phil had run down to Oakdale on their bicycles and
+now they had to return to the school--to get dinner and leave for the
+baseball grounds at Hilltop.
+
+"Let us go around by way of the Chedwick road," suggested the senator's
+son. "It's much better riding than on the main road and we can make
+better time."
+
+The others were willing, and off they sped at a speed which soon took
+them to the outskirts of the town. Then they came to a crossroad,
+on the corner of which was situated a roadhouse kept by a man named
+Rafferty. Rafferty's reputation was none of the best, and it was
+reported that the resort was used by many who wished to gamble. Doctor
+Clay had warned his pupils not to stop there under any circumstances.
+
+Phil and Roger were somewhat in advance of Dave, whose front tire was
+soft and needed pumping up. Passing the roadhouse, Dave came to a halt
+at the roadside.
+
+"Going to pump up!" he called out. "Go ahead--I'll catch up with you."
+And so the others went on, leaving him alone.
+
+He was at work with a small hand pump he carried when he heard a murmur
+of voices in the bushes and trees back of the roadhouse. The murmur
+grew louder, and presently he made out the voices of Gus Plum and Link
+Merwell.
+
+"You're a fool, Gus, to act this way," Merwell was saying. "What's the
+use of being a softy? You are missing a whole lot of fun."
+
+"I tell you I'm not going to do it," answered Plum. "I guess I know
+what is best for me."
+
+"It won't hurt you to have one drink," went on Merwell. "Come on in,
+like a good fellow. I hate to drink alone. He's got some prime stuff.
+We've got lots of time to get back to the Hall in time for dinner."
+
+"No, I'm done with drinking--I told you that before, Link. Now stop it
+and let me go."
+
+"See here, Gus, you've got to go with me," stormed Merwell, uglily.
+"I'll not have you giving me the cold shoulder. If you refuse to have
+just one drink, do you know what I'll do? I'll let Doctor Clay know
+about that other time--the time you went to the granary."
+
+"No! no!" pleaded Plum, and now his voice trembled. "Please don't do
+that!"
+
+"Ha! ha! that's where I've got you, haven't I? Now, will you take a
+drink with me, or not?"
+
+"I--I--I am afraid. Oh, Merwell, you know how it was before. I--I----"
+Gus Plum broke down completely. "Please don't ask me; please don't!"
+
+"Of all the fools----" began Link Merwell, and then stopped short as a
+heavy hand was suddenly laid on his shoulder. "Dave Porter!"
+
+"Merwell, I want to talk to you," said Dave, in a cold, hard tone that
+caused the big bully to start. "Come with me."
+
+"Oh, Dave----" began Plum, and his face was red from confusion.
+
+"Let me do the talking--and acting, Gus."
+
+"Did you--er--hear what was said?"
+
+"I heard enough. Now, Merwell, come with me."
+
+"Where to?"
+
+"Away from this roadhouse."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"I'll tell you that later."
+
+"Supposing I refuse to come?" Dave's manner began to make the bully
+feel uncomfortable. He felt that something very unusual was about to
+happen.
+
+"If you don't come, I'll make you."
+
+"Will you?" The bully tried to put a sneer in the question, but failed.
+
+"I will. Now, are you coming or not?" And Dave doubled up his fists and
+drew back his right arm.
+
+"Going to fight?"
+
+"No; I am going to give you the worst licking any boy at Oak Hall ever
+got."
+
+"Two can play at that game."
+
+"Are you coming or not, Merwell? This is your last chance to say yes."
+
+"No."
+
+Hardly had the word left the bully's lips when Dave leaped forward and
+sent in a crashing blow on Merwell's chin. The bully tried to dodge
+but failed, and went over on his back in some brushwood. For several
+moments he lay there dazed.
+
+"See here, I'll fix you!" he roared, as he struggled up. "If you want
+to fight---- Oh!"
+
+For again Dave had struck out, and this time the blow landed over the
+bully's left eye, and once more he went down in the bushes.
+
+"Oh, Dave----" began Plum, but received a shove back.
+
+"Leave it all to me, Gus--I owe him this, and more. I'll tell you some
+of the reasons later."
+
+"But--but he'll give me away to Doctor Clay--he'll tell about my----"
+
+"No, he won't--not after I am through with him. And even if he should I
+can tell the doctor the truth--how he tempted you and even threatened
+you."
+
+Breathing heavily, Link Merwell arose a second time. He looked around
+for something with which to attack Dave, and his uninjured eye fell
+upon a stone lying close by. But as he stooped to pick it up, Dave gave
+him a shove that landed him on his face in the dirt. Then Dave leaped
+forward and sat down heavily on the bully's back.
+
+"Ough!" roared Merwell. "Let up! Do you want to break my ribs? Let up,
+I say!"
+
+"Will you do as I told you to?" demanded Dave, not budging from his
+position.
+
+"Where do you want me to go?"
+
+"Down into this woods a short distance--away from the roadhouse and the
+road."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"I'll tell you that when we get there."
+
+Fearing some of his ribs might be broken, Merwell said he would do as
+Dave desired, and the latter allowed him to rise, but kept a close
+watch on his every movement. Plum could now see that the boy from
+Crumville was in deadly earnest and felt it would be useless to talk
+or interfere, and so followed the two into the woods in silence. Dave
+brought Merwell to a halt in a little glade surrounded by hemlocks.
+
+"Now, sit down on that stone while I talk to you, Link Merwell," said
+Dave, pointing to a flat rock. "I shan't take long, but you'll find it
+to your interest to listen closely to every word I say." And with his
+handkerchief to the eye that was rapidly closing, the bully sat down.
+
+"In the past you've made a lot of trouble for me and my friends,"
+commenced Dave. "You were in league with some others to play me foul
+at every opportunity. You sent a letter to Roger Morr about me, and
+another letter to Crumville, to a young lady friend of mine--and you
+also sent a letter to my sister." At these last words Merwell's hand
+went up unconsciously to his breast-pocket. "You have blackened my
+character all you possibly could. Now, if I wanted to, I could place
+you in the hands of the law. But instead, I am going to take it out of
+you."
+
+"Wha--what do you mean?" And the bully half arose to his feet.
+
+"I mean just what I say, Merwell. Sit down!" And Dave shoved the bully
+back on the rock.
+
+"I want you to know----"
+
+"Shut up!" And again Dave doubled up his fists. "I am not here to
+listen to you. I'll do the talking. Now to come to business. First of
+all, I want those letters."
+
+"What letters?"
+
+"You know well enough."
+
+"I haven't any letters with me."
+
+"Do you want to make it necessary for me to search you?"
+
+"You wouldn't dare, Porter!"
+
+"I shall dare. Now hand over those letters, and be quick about it!"
+
+Again Dave doubled up his fists and something like fire shone in his
+clear eyes. Merwell hesitated, shivered, and slowly his hand went to
+his breast-pocket.
+
+"You'll rue this day!" he muttered, savagely.
+
+Slowly he drew from his pocket the letters Laura had so foolishly sent
+him. Dave snatched them from his grasp and looked them over swiftly,
+then stowed them away in his own pocket.
+
+"Now, Merwell, I want you to promise by all you hold sacred not to say
+a word to anybody about Gus Plum's doings during the past term. For the
+honor of the school I think this matter ought to be kept secret."
+
+"I'll promise nothing."
+
+"Yes, you will."
+
+Again were Dave's fists doubled up, and again that fire showed itself
+in his determined eyes. Merwell shivered--for once he felt himself
+utterly cornered and beaten.
+
+"All right, I promise," he said, in a low tone.
+
+"And you must also promise that in the future you will leave me and my
+friends alone."
+
+"Have your own way about it."
+
+"Do you promise?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then stand up."
+
+"What do you want next?" growled Merwell. He was feeling more
+uncomfortable every minute.
+
+"I'll show you," answered Dave, and leaping forward he caught the bully
+by the collar and shook him as a dog might shake a rat. Then he cuffed
+the fellow right and left, gave him another shaking, and threw him down
+violently on the ground. Merwell did his best to resist, but Dave's
+muscles were at such a tension that Link was next to helpless in the
+other's grasp.
+
+"For two pins, I'd give you more!" cried Dave. "You deserve it. But
+I'll save the rest--in case you ever attempt to break the promises
+you've made."
+
+And then, taking Plum by the arm, he walked off, leaving Link Merwell
+on the ground, bruised and shaken, and as thoroughly cowed, for the
+time being, as a whipped cur.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI
+
+MORE VICTORIES--CONCLUSION
+
+
+Once more Oak Hall and Rockville Academy were struggling to decide the
+championship. It was a clear day, and as before every nook and corner
+of the grand stand and bleachers was filled. In one spot were located
+the Porters, Jessie, Senator Morr, Mr. Lawrence, and many other friends.
+
+It was the beginning of the fifth inning and the score stood, Rockville
+5, Oak Hall 3. Plum was again at first, but Dave and Roger were on the
+bench as substitutes.
+
+It had been a hard-fought battle from the first ball pitched. Each
+pitcher had been hit heavily, but good field work had kept the score
+from going higher. Shadow had made a phenomenal catch that had brought
+forth much applause, and Phil had brought in the third run when it
+looked almost certain that he would be put out.
+
+It was Oak Hall's turn at the bat, and they did their best to score.
+But with a man on second and another on first, their hopes faded, and
+they retired, leaving the figures as before. Then Rockville took up
+the stick, and lined out two singles, a three-bagger, and another
+single before giving up, thus adding three to their tally.
+
+"That's the way to do it!"
+
+"Rockville is sure to take this game!"
+
+Messmer was next to the bat, but knocked a fly to center, and another
+player followed with a foul that was caught by the third baseman. Then
+Barloe, the catcher, who had made the first run, came up with his bat.
+
+"Hurrah for Barloe!" was the cry. "Make another this time!"
+
+In came the ball and the batsman tried to hit it and failed. Then the
+sphere came in a second time, and of a sudden Barloe uttered a moan and
+sank to the ground.
+
+"Barloe's hit! The ball took him under the ribs!"
+
+The report was true, and too weak to run the injured catcher was
+escorted to a bench, while Roger took his place at first. By good luck
+the senator's son brought the run in, and he was then asked to do the
+catching as of old, Barloe begging to be excused.
+
+With the runs piling up against him, Purdy was getting nervous, and
+in the seventh inning he seemed to go all to pieces, much to his own
+chagrin and the disappointment of his many friends. He allowed two
+singles, and then gave two men their base on balls, thus forcing in a
+run.
+
+"Wake up, Purdy! You'll have to do better than that!"
+
+"Dave Porter! Put Dave Porter in!"
+
+"That's it! Porter! Porter! Porter!"
+
+The cry was taken up on all sides, and Phil motioned for Purdy to
+retire and for Dave to come out.
+
+"It's too bad, Purdy, old man," whispered Dave, as he passed the
+rattled pitcher.
+
+"Fortune of war," was the grim and plucky answer. "I did my best. Go in
+and wax 'em!"
+
+Dave might have been nervous had he allowed himself to think of what
+was before him. The bases were filled and nobody was out. It was
+certainly a trying moment, to say the least. He took his place in the
+box and the umpire called out "Play!" Then the ball fairly streaked
+over the plate.
+
+"Strike one!"
+
+"Hurrah! that's the way to do it!"
+
+With the ball again in hand, Dave looked at the batter and then cast a
+swift glance toward third. Over to the base went the ball, and much to
+his surprise the runner was caught two feet off the bag.
+
+"Runner at third out!"
+
+What a cheering went up! All the Oak Hall supporters felt that Dave
+meant business, and their drooping spirits revived as if by magic.
+
+With care the pitcher delivered one ball after another--a drop, and
+then one that was as straight as it was swift. The batter was struck
+out, and another roar went up from the Oak Hall contingent. Laura waved
+her banner and Jessie her handkerchief.
+
+"Two out! Now, Porter, go after the third!"
+
+And Dave did go after the next batter. But the fellow was a good hitter
+and managed to find the ball. But no run came in, and the inning was
+saved.
+
+It was a victory in itself and many came up to shake Dave by the hand.
+But he waved them aside.
+
+"Hold on," he said. "The game isn't over yet--and please to remember
+the score is four to eight against us."
+
+In the eighth inning the Oak Hall nine managed to make two runs. In
+that inning Dave by clever work held the opposition down to one scratch
+hit which went for nothing, and received more applause. Then came the
+ninth inning, and in that Oak Hall tied the score, amid a yelling that
+could be heard a mile away. Even Doctor Clay was cheering, and in his
+enthusiasm Andrew Dale completely smashed the derby hat he wore.
+
+The tenth inning opened amid a breathless silence. Oak Hall did its
+best to score, but failed. Then Dave walked down to the box once again,
+and in a manner that was certainly wonderful struck out two men after
+one man had been caught out on a pop fly.
+
+Ten innings and still a tie. This was certainly a game worth seeing and
+nearly all the spectators were now on their feet, talking and shouting
+wildly.
+
+"Now, boys, we must do something!" cried Phil.
+
+Ben Basswood was at bat, and with two strikes called on him, Ben landed
+for a two-base hit. Then came a single, and taking a perilous chance
+Ben ran around and slid to the plate.
+
+"A run! A run!"
+
+"Now make it two!"
+
+But this was not to be, and Oak Hall retired one run "to the good," as
+Roger said.
+
+"Well, that's enough,--if we can hold them down in their half,"
+said Plum. He had done some great work at first, of which he was
+correspondingly proud.
+
+All eyes were on Dave when he entered the pitcher's box for the last
+time. He felt as if he had the responsibility of the whole game on his
+shoulders. He pitched quickly, almost bewildering the batters. The
+first man up went out on strikes and the second knocked a short fly
+to third. Then came a fellow named Parsons, the best hitter of the
+Rockville club.
+
+"Hurrah! Parsons, show 'em where the back fence is!"
+
+With two men out, Dave faced the batter. He sent in a low ball which
+Parsons tried to find--and failed. Then Parsons tried again--and
+failed. Then Dave sent in the swiftest ball yet pitched, giving it all
+the twist possible.
+
+"Three strikes--batter out!"
+
+And the game was won, and with it the championship of the two schools!
+
+"Beautiful! beautiful!" cried Doctor Clay, when he came down into
+the field to congratulate the club. "It was the best exhibition of
+ball-playing I've seen in a long time."
+
+And all the visitors to Oak Hall and many others agreed with him. Dave
+was the lion of the occasion, and his many friends nearly wrung his
+hand off. The other members of the nine also came in for a share of
+the praise. The Rockville boys felt their defeat keenly, but had to
+acknowledge that they had been beaten fairly.
+
+As soon as he could get away from his chums, Dave sought out Laura and
+Jessie.
+
+"I've got those letters," he whispered to Laura. "And I doubt if Link
+Merwell will ever trouble you again."
+
+"Oh, I am so thankful, Dave!" she answered. "I'll never be so
+foolish again as to write letters to a person with whom I am not well
+acquainted."
+
+"It was grand, Dave!" cried Jessie. "It was the best victory that could
+be!"
+
+"Well, I am hoping for a greater to-morrow," answered Dave, gravely.
+
+"You mean in school?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, I trust with all my heart you have your wishes fulfilled," said
+the girl, and her eyes told that she meant what she said.
+
+That night late a report was whispered around the school that Link
+Merwell had gotten into serious trouble with Doctor Clay, and the
+report proved true. Angered by the way Dave had treated him, and by
+Plum's refusal to go with him, Link Merwell had not witnessed the ball
+game, but had gone to Rafferty's resort instead. Here he had smoked,
+drunk, and gambled, and ended by getting into a free fight with several
+men. One man told Horsehair of the trouble and the school driver
+reported at once to Doctor Clay. The doctor and Mr. Dale went after the
+misguided youth, and a scene followed which need not be mentioned here.
+The next day Link Merwell was ordered to pack his trunk and leave, and
+a telegram was sent to his father in the West stating that he had been
+expelled for violating the school rules. In his rage Merwell, before
+leaving, exposed the doings of both Gus Plum and Nat Poole. At once
+the doctor sent for Plum, and later he interviewed Poole.
+
+It was a trying time for Gus, and he broke down completely. He
+mentioned what Dave had done for him, and stated he was doing his best
+to reform. Learning of this, the master of the school called upon Dave
+to tell his story, and then the depths of Merwell's depravity came out.
+In the end the doctor said he would give Plum another chance to redeem
+himself, and for this the big youth was exceedingly grateful.
+
+For having told a falsehood about taking the boat from Bush Island, Nat
+Poole was given a severe lecture. He said he had wanted, several times,
+to explain to the doctor, but that Link Merwell had threatened to make
+it unpleasant for him if he did so. Because the joke had been directed
+against some of his fellow-students and not against Doctor Clay and Mr.
+Dale, Poole got off easier than might otherwise have been the case.
+
+The closing exercises of the school were well attended. Sixteen pupils
+were to graduate, including several who had been Dave's warm chums.
+Some of these boys stood high in their class and consequently walked
+off with some prizes.
+
+When the time came for the decision regarding the essays on The
+Past and Future of Our Country everybody was on the top-notch of
+expectation. All the teachers had read the various papers handed in,
+and they had been the subject of many comments.
+
+"Because of the general excellence of seven of the essays," said Doctor
+Clay, "it has been somewhat difficult to pick out that which was the
+best. We have here a fine essay by Bertram Vane, another by Samuel
+Downs, another by Joseph Beggs, and others by Chipham Macklin, Giles
+Cadmore, and Devere Peterson. But there is one that seems to stand out
+above the others, both for its originality and its literary qualities.
+That essay takes the prize, and it is written by Master David Porter.
+Porter, will you please come forward and read your essay."
+
+As Dave walked to the platform a round of applause was given and when
+he bowed there was much hand-clapping. Then in a clear, full voice, he
+read the essay on which he had spent so much thought and labor. It was
+certainly a splendid piece of literary composition and was listened to
+with great pleasure by all. When he had finished Doctor Clay handed him
+the prize, and then the applause broke forth anew.
+
+"Another victory!" whispered Roger, as Dave passed to his seat.
+
+"Yes, and the best of them all," was Dave's reply.
+
+Fortunately, the senator's son also won a prize, and Phil came in
+the third from the highest in his class, while Shadow came in fifth
+and Ben Basswood sixth. Even Gus Plum made a good record, much to the
+pleasure of his parents, who had feared at one time he would turn out a
+ne'er-do-well.
+
+"Now the question is, What are we going to do during the summer
+vacation?" said Roger, after the exercises were over, and he and the
+others and their friends were indulging in refreshments on the campus.
+
+"I am going to Asbury Park with my folks," said Luke Watson.
+
+"And I am going to Maine," added Messmer. "My uncle has a camp there.
+Henshaw is going with me, and so is Macklin."
+
+"I have an invitation for Dave," said Laura. "The Endicotts want me to
+come back to their ranch and bring my newly-found brother with me."
+
+"That's fine!" cried Phil. "I'd like to try ranch life myself just for
+a change."
+
+"The Endicotts' ranch is next to that owned by Merwell's father, so I
+have been told," added Roger. "Maybe if you go out there with Dave,
+you'll meet Link again."
+
+"I never want to see that fellow again," said Dave. But this wish was
+not to be fulfilled, as we shall learn in the next volume of this
+series, to be entitled, "Dave Porter at Star Ranch; or, The Cowboy's
+Secret." In that volume we shall meet many of our friends again, and
+learn what Link Merwell did when he and Dave met once more on the
+boundless prairies and in the mountain canyons.
+
+That evening the students held a grand celebration, which lasted far
+into the night. Bonfires were lit and the lads danced around and sang
+songs to their hearts' content. Shadow told half a dozen of his best
+stories, and two of the students distinguished themselves by giving all
+their schoolbooks to the flames. It was a time none of them ever forgot.
+
+"And now for home," said Dave, the next day. "Home, and the boundless
+West."
+
+And here let us leave him, and say good-by.
+
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's note:
+
+1. Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as
+    possible.
+
+2. Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical
+    errors.
+
+3. The following two illustrations listed in the Index of Illustrations
+    are missing from the original book used to prepare this e-book:
+
+    3.1. "The big snowball hit the craft and bowled it over," - Page 52.
+    3.2. "Dave pointed out the form of the sleep-walker," - Page 164.
+
+4. The original Illustrations include the page number in the captions.
+    These have been removed as each page is numbered in the righthand
+    margin.
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES***
+
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+******* This file should be named 53414-8.txt or 53414-8.zip *******
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+<body>
+<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Dave Porter and His Classmates, by Edward
+Stratemeyer, Illustrated by Charles Nuttall</h1>
+<p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States
+and most other parts of the world 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 <a
+href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>.  If you are not
+located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the
+country where you are located before using this ebook.</p>
+<p>Title: Dave Porter and His Classmates</p>
+<p>       For the Honor of Oak Hall</p>
+<p>Author: Edward Stratemeyer</p>
+<p>Release Date: October 30, 2016  [eBook #53414]</p>
+<p>Language: English</p>
+<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p>
+<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES***</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h4>E-text prepared by David Edwards, Brian Wilsden,<br />
+    and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br />
+    (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br />
+    from page images generously made available by<br />
+    Internet Archive<br />
+    (<a href="https://archive.org">https://archive.org</a>)</h4>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10">
+  <tr>
+    <td valign="top">
+      Note:
+    </td>
+    <td>
+      Images of the original pages are available through
+      Internet Archive. See
+      <a href="https://archive.org/details/daveporterhiscla00straiala">
+      https://archive.org/details/daveporterhiscla00straiala</a>
+    </td>
+  </tr>
+</table>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="pg" />
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="COVER" width="524" height="800" />
+</div>
+<hr class="r15" />
+<div class="chapter">
+<p class="center"><span class="xxlarge">EDWARD STRATEMEYER'S BOOKS</span></p>
+</div>
+<p class="center"><span class="xxlarge">Old Glory Series</span></p>
+
+<p class="center"><i>Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume.</i></p>
+
+<table summary="books1">
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA.</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp; &nbsp; </td>
+<td class="tdl">UNDER OTIS IN THE PHILIPPINES.</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA.</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp; &nbsp; </td>
+<td class="tdl">THE CAMPAIGN OF THE JUNGLE.</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS.</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp; &nbsp; </td>
+<td class="tdl">UNDER MacARTHUR IN LUZON.</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="xxlarge">Soldiers of Fortune Series</span></p>
+
+<p class="center"><i>Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume.</i></p>
+
+<table summary="books2">
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">ON TO PEKIN.</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp; &nbsp; </td>
+<td class="tdl">AT THE FALL OF PORT ARTHUR.</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">UNDER THE MIKADO'S FLAG.</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp; &nbsp; </td>
+<td class="tdl">WITH TOGO FOR JAPAN.</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="xxlarge">Colonial Series</span></p>
+
+<p class="center"><i>Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume.</i></p>
+
+<table summary="books3">
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">WITH WASHINGTON IN THE WEST.</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp; &nbsp; </td>
+<td class="tdl">ON THE TRAIL OF PONTIAC.</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">MARCHING ON NIAGARA.</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp; &nbsp; </td>
+<td class="tdl">THE FORT IN THE WILDERNESS.</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL.</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp; &nbsp; </td>
+<td class="tdl">TRAIL AND TRADING POST.</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="xxlarge">Mexican War Series</span></p>
+
+<p class="center"><i>Cloth. Illustrated. Price Per volume $1.00.</i></p>
+
+<table summary="books3">
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">FOR THE LIBERTY OF TEXAS.</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp; &nbsp; </td>
+<td class="tdl">WITH TAYLOR ON THE RIO GRANDE.</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<div class="center">UNDER SCOTT IN MEXICO.</div>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="xxlarge">Pan-American Series</span></p>
+
+<p class="center"><i>Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.00.</i></p>
+
+<table summary="books4">
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">LOST ON THE ORINOCO.</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp; &nbsp; </td>
+<td class="tdl">YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE AMAZON.</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">THE YOUNG VOLCANO EXPLORERS.</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp; &nbsp; </td>
+<td class="tdl">TREASURE SEEKERS OF THE ANDES.</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE ISTHMUS.</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp; &nbsp; </td>
+<td class="tdl">CHASED ACROSS THE PAMPAS.</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="xxlarge">Dave Porter Series</span></p>
+
+<p class="center"><i>Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume.</i></p>
+
+<table summary="books5">
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">DAVE PORTER AT OAK HALL.</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp; &nbsp; </td>
+<td class="tdl">DAVE PORTER ON CAVE ISLAND.</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">DAVE PORTER IN THE SOUTH SEAS.</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp; &nbsp; </td>
+<td class="tdl">DAVE PORTER AND THE RUNAWAYS.</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">DAVE PORTER'S RETURN TO SCHOOL.</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp; &nbsp; </td>
+<td class="tdl">DAVE PORTER IN THE GOLD FIELDS.</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">DAVE PORTER IN THE FAR NORTH.</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp; &nbsp; </td>
+<td class="tdl">DAVE PORTER AT BEAR CAMP.</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES.</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp; &nbsp; </td>
+<td class="tdl">DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE.</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">DAVE PORTER AT STAR RANCH.</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp; &nbsp; </td>
+<td class="tdl">DAVE PORTER'S GREAT SEARCH.</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">DAVE PORTER AND HIS RIVALS.</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp; &nbsp; </td>
+<td class="tdl">DAVE PORTER UNDER FIRE.</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+<div class="center">DAVE PORTER'S WAR HONORS.</div>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="xxlarge">Lakeport Series</span></p>
+
+<p class="center"><i>Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume.</i></p>
+
+<table summary="books6">
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">THE GUN CLUB BOYS OF LAKEPORT.</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp; &nbsp; </td>
+<td class="tdl">THE FOOTBALL BOYS OF LAKEPORT.</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">THE BASEBALL BOYS OF LAKEPORT.</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp; &nbsp; </td>
+<td class="tdl">THE AUTOMOBILE BOYS OF LAKEPORT.</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">THE BOAT CLUB BOYS OF LAKEPORT.</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp; &nbsp; </td>
+<td class="tdl">THE AIRCRAFT BOYS OF LAKEPORT.</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="xxlarge">American Boys' Biographical Series</span></p>
+
+<p class="center"><i>Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume.</i></p>
+
+<p class="center">AMERICAN BOYS' LIFE OF WILLIAM McKINLEY.<br />
+AMERICAN BOYS' LIFE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
+</p>
+
+<hr class="r15" />
+
+<p class="center">DEFENDING HIS FLAG. <i>Price $1.75.</i></p>
+<div class="topspace2"></div>
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<div class="figcenter"><a id="Frontispiece"></a>
+<img src="images/frontis.jpg" alt=""  width="316" height="500" />
+<div class="topspace1"></div>
+<div class="caption"><span class="smcap">The big touring car shot past
+the carryall.</span><i> Page </i><a href="#Page_249">249</a></div>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[Pg i]</a></span></p>
+
+<h1><a name="Dave_Porter_Series" id="Dave_Porter_Series">Dave Porter Series</a></h1>
+
+<hr class="r25" />
+
+<p class="center"><span class="xxxlarge">DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES</span></p>
+
+<p class="center">OR</p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="xxlarge">FOR THE HONOR OF OAK HALL</span></p>
+
+<div class="topspace4"></div>
+
+<p class="center">BY</p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="xxlarge">EDWARD STRATEMEYER</span></p>
+
+<p class="center">Author of "Dave Porter at Oak Hall," "The Old Glory Series,"<br />
+"Colonial Series," "Pan-American Series,"<br />
+"Soldiers of Fortune Series," etc.<br />
+</p>
+<div class="topspace4"></div>
+<p class="center"><span class="xlarge"><i>ILLUSTRATED BY CHARLES NUTTALL</i></span></p>
+<div class="topspace2"></div>
+
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/pii.jpg" alt="" width="121" height="150" />
+</div>
+<div class="topspace2"></div>
+<p class="center"><span class="xlarge"><span class="gesperrt">BOSTON</span><br />
+LOTHROP, LEE &amp; SHEPARD CO.</span></p>
+
+<hr class="r65" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[Pg ii]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="topspace4"></div>
+
+<p class="center">Published, March, 1909</p>
+
+<div class="topspace4"></div>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1909, by Lothrop, Lee &amp; Shepard Co.</span></p>
+<hr class="r15" />
+<p class="center"><i>All rights reserved</i></p>
+<hr class="r15" />
+<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Dave Porter and His Classmates</span></p>
+
+<div class="topspace4"></div>
+
+<p class="center">Norwood Press<br />
+<span class="smcap">Berwick &amp; Smith Co.</span><br />
+Norwood, Mass.<br />
+U. S. A.<br />
+</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE">PREFACE</a></h2>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">"Dave Porter and His Classmates"</span> is a
+complete story in itself, but forms the fifth volume
+in a line issued under the general title of "Dave
+Porter Series."</p>
+
+<p>The first book of this series, "Dave Porter at
+Oak Hall," introduced to the reader a typical
+American youth of to-day, full of vim and vigor,
+and with a true sense of manliness, and related the
+particulars of some doings at a modern boarding
+school. At this institution of learning Dave, by
+pluck and perseverance, fought his way to the
+front, and was admired accordingly.</p>
+
+<p>There was a cloud on the youth's parentage, and
+in order to clear this away he took a long and
+eventful sea voyage, as related in the second
+volume of the series, called "Dave Porter in the
+South Seas." Thousands of miles from home he
+found an uncle and learned something of his father
+and sister, who were then traveling in Europe.</p>
+
+<p>As was but natural, the lad was anxious to meet
+all his relatives, but the address of his father and
+sister could not be obtained, and while waiting for
+this he returned to Oak Hall, as related in the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</a></span>
+next volume, entitled "Dave Porter's Return to
+School." At school Dave lived a truly strenuous
+life, becoming innocently involved in some robberies,
+aiding to win some great football games,
+and helping to bring the bully of the academy to a
+realization of his better self.</p>
+
+<p>In the midst of his school life Dave learned that
+his father had been heard from. More anxious
+than ever to meet his parent he, in company with
+an old chum, set sail for England, and then went
+to Norway, as related in "Dave Porter in the Far
+North." Here, amid the ice and snow of the Land
+of the Midnight Sun, Dave found his father, and
+learned much of his sister, which filled him with
+great satisfaction.</p>
+
+<p>It was now time for the youth to return to
+school, and in the present volume I have related
+some of the things that took place at Oak Hall
+after Dave got back,&mdash;how he worked hard,
+played hard, overcame his enemies, and what he
+did for the honor of the academy.</p>
+
+<p>Once more I thank the young people for the interest
+they have shown in my books. I trust that
+the reading of the present volume will do them
+much good.</p>
+
+<p class="right">
+<span class="smcap">Edward Stratemeyer.</span></p>
+<p><i>February 1, 1909</i></p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</a></h2>
+</div>
+<table summary="contents">
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">CHAPTER</td>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp;</td>
+<td class="tdr">PAGE</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">I.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Dave and His Past</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">1</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">II.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">What Laura Had To Tell</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">11</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">III.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">On the Way To School</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">21</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">IV.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Fun of a Night</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">31</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">V.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">What Happened to Nat Poole</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">41</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">VI.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">What a Big Snowball Did</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">51</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">VII.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Prisoners in the School</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">61</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">VIII.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">A Move in the Dark</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">71</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">IX.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Vera Rockwell</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">81</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">X.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Dave Speaks His Mind</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">91</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">XI.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">At the Old Granary</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">101</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">XII.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Gus Plum's Story</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">111</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">XIII.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Gee Eyes' Initiation</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">121</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">XIV.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">In Which Job Haskers Gets Left in the Cold</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">131</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">XV.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">What Mike Marcy Had to Tell</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">141</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">XVI.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Something about Lessons</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">151</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">XVII.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Shadow Hamilton's Peril</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">161</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">XVIII.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Boxing Bout</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">171</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">XIX.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">At the Express Office</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">181</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">XX.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">A Misunderstanding</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">191</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">XXI.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">In Which the Boys Give an Entertainment</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">201</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">XXII.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Forming the Baseball Club</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">211</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">XXIII.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">A Great Victory</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">221</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">XXIV.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">On Bush Island</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">231</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">XXV.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">What an Automobile Did</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">241</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</a></span></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">XXVI.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">A Defeat for Oak Hall</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">250</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">XXVII.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Stuck on a Sandbar</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">260</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">XXVIII.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Link Merwell Has His Say</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">270</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">XXIX.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Dave Makes up His Mind</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">280</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">XXX.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Dave Takes the Law in His Own Hands</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">289</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdr">XXXI.</td>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">More Victories&mdash;Conclusion</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">298</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="ILLUSTRATIONS" id="ILLUSTRATIONS">ILLUSTRATIONS</a></h2>
+
+<table summary="illustrations">
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">&nbsp;</td>
+<td class="tdr">PAGE</td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">The big touring car shot past the carryall (page 249)</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Frontispiece"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">The big snowball hit the craft and bowled it over, (<i>missing</i>)</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#transcriber_notes">52</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">"It's a shame to make you eat without a fork, Phil"</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Its_a_shame">74</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">"Now to Jackson's Gully with him!"</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Now_to_Jackson">124</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Dave pointed out the form of the sleep-walker, (<i>missing</i>)</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#transcriber_notes">164</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Down went the back part, letting him fall most unexpectedly</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Down_went_the">208</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">"Well, you can row if you want to," sneered Poole</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Well_you_can">232</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Raising his oar, he hit the bully a blow on the shoulder</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#Raising_his_oar">274</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+</table>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2>DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES<br /><br /></h2>
+</div>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">DAVE AND HIS PAST</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"I suppose you feel very happy to-day, Dave."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Roger, happy and anxious," answered
+Dave Porter. "And who wouldn't feel so if he
+was in my place? Just think of it! I am to see
+my sister at last&mdash;somebody I've never seen before
+in my life! Why, sometimes I have to pinch
+myself to make certain I am really awake."</p>
+
+<p>"More than likely Laura is just as anxious as
+you are," went on Roger Morr. "She'll surely
+want to know how her long-missing brother looks.
+Remember, she hasn't had a photograph of you,
+while you have seen several of her."</p>
+
+<p>"That is so," answered Dave. His usually
+smiling face took on a serious look. "I trust she
+isn't disappointed in me or my looks."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, she won't be, don't worry about that.
+You're a good-looking fellow, even if I do have to
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span>
+say it for you, Dave. If you don't believe it, just
+ask Jessie Wadsworth." And Roger Morr began to
+grin. "I know Jessie will say at once that you are
+the dearest, sweetest&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Come now, Roger, let up!" interrupted Dave,
+growing red in the face. "Supposing Jessie
+should hear you?" And he looked anxiously
+toward the sitting-room door, which was partly
+open.</p>
+
+<p>"There is no harm in telling the truth," returned
+Roger, with a calmness that made Dave
+blush still more. "But joking aside, Dave, I
+really hope this day proves to be the happiest of
+your life, and Laura turns out to be the jolliest of
+sisters."</p>
+
+<p>"Hello, in there!" came a pleasant, boyish
+voice from the doorway, and a youth showed himself,
+with a pair of bright, nickel-plated skates on
+his arm. "Thought you were going skating, Roger?"</p>
+
+<p>"So I am, Phil. I just stopped to speak to
+Dave for a moment. He is going off now to meet
+his sister."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" Phil Lawrence came into the room and
+faced his chum. "Well, I can't say any more than
+what I've said before, Dave&mdash;I wish you the best
+of luck. I am sure you'll find it awfully nice to
+have a sister&mdash;especially after what you've had to
+put up with in the past."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Don't you fellows really want to go with me?"
+asked Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course we do, but&mdash;&mdash; Well, Roger and
+I talked it over and we&mdash;that is&mdash;well, we thought
+it would be nice to let you go with your father
+and uncle&mdash;kind of family gathering, you know.
+We'll be on hand by the time you get back to the
+house."</p>
+
+<p>At that moment the merry jingle of sleighbells
+sounded from outside the mansion and a comfortable
+two-seated sleigh came up to the door, driven
+by one of the men from the barn.</p>
+
+<p>"There is your turnout ready for you!" cried
+Roger. "What time does that Western train get
+in?"</p>
+
+<p>"Ten-twenty, if it's on time," replied Dave
+promptly, for he had the time-table well in mind.
+"But the snowstorm may have delayed it."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I hope for your sake the train is on
+time," said Phil Lawrence. "If it isn't, I suppose
+every minute's delay will seem like an hour to
+you."</p>
+
+<p>"More like two," answered Dave, and then, as
+he heard his father calling to him, he hurried out
+into the hall. There stood Mr. David Porter and
+his brother Dunston, both ready for the long drive
+to the depot. Behind the pair were a lady and
+gentleman of middle age, Mr. and Mrs. Wadsworth,
+and their daughter Jessie, while in the library
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span>
+door, holding a ponderous volume on botany
+in his hands, was an elderly man with white hair, Caspar Potts.</p>
+
+<p>All of the party looked at Dave, for they knew
+what was in the youth's mind and what was on his
+heart. He had waited a long, long time for this
+day to come, and now he was a little timid about
+the result; why, he could not exactly tell. Perhaps
+because he had pictured his sister Laura to be
+one kind of a person and he was afraid she might
+prove something different.</p>
+
+<p>"We mustn't be late," said Mr. Porter, breaking
+a momentary silence. He, too, was anxious
+over the coming meeting of son and daughter. It
+made his heart bound with pleasure to think that
+his little family were to be united at last.</p>
+
+<p>"Remember, dinner will be waiting for you, no
+matter if the train is late," said Mrs. Wadsworth.</p>
+
+<p>"And I'm to sit on one side of Laura and Dave
+on the other," put in Jessie, flinging back her curls
+that insisted at times on falling about her face.
+"Oh, won't it be glorious, Dave! I know I am
+going to love Laura, and I know she is going to
+love me&mdash;at least, I hope so."</p>
+
+<p>Dave looked at her and smiled&mdash;he thought a
+great deal of Jessie, he simply couldn't help it.
+Then he turned and followed his father and Uncle
+Dunston down to the sleigh. The three got in and
+Mr. Porter took up the reins. A word to the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span>
+stylish team and off they sped, through the spacious
+grounds of the Wadsworth mansion and down the
+road leading to the railroad station.</p>
+
+<p>Dave wanted to talk to his father and uncle, but
+somehow his heart was too full and the words
+would not come. His whole mind was centered
+upon meeting his sister, whom, so far as he could
+remember, he had never seen. He did not dream
+of the unexpected news Laura would bring him.</p>
+
+<p>To those who have read the former volumes of
+this "Dave Porter Series," the characters already
+mentioned will need no special introduction. For
+the benefit of others let me state that Dave Porter
+was a youth who had had a varied experience in
+life. When a small boy he had been found wandering
+along the railroad tracks just outside of
+the village of Crumville. Nobody knew who he
+was or where he came from, and as a consequence
+he was put in the local poorhouse, where he remained
+until about nine years old. Then an old
+college professor, Caspar Potts, who on account
+of broken health had taken up farming, took the
+boy to live with him.</p>
+
+<p>Caspar Potts meant well, but he got in the
+grasp of a money-lender, Aaron Poole, as related
+in detail in my first story, called "Dave Porter at
+Oak Hall." Times looked exceedingly black for
+the old man and for Dave when there came a
+happening which turned the whole aspect of affairs.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>In an elegant mansion of the outskirts of the
+town lived Mr. Oliver Wadsworth, a rich manufacturer,
+with his wife and daughter Jessie, the
+latter a beautiful miss some years younger than
+Dave. One day Dave called at the mansion on
+business. Jessie was waiting for an automobile
+ride, and through an accident to the gasoline
+tank of the car the girl's clothing took fire, and
+she might have been burned to death had not
+Dave rushed to her assistance and put out the
+flames.</p>
+
+<p>Of course the Wadsworths were exceedingly
+grateful, and when the gentleman of the place
+learned that Caspar Potts was one of his old college
+professors he at once interested himself in the
+old man's behalf.</p>
+
+<p>"You must come and live with me," he said.
+"You can do some work around the place and in
+arranging my library&mdash;and you must bring the
+boy with you." He had had a son who had died,
+and Dave reminded him strongly of that offspring.</p>
+
+<p>At the Wadsworth home Dave made himself a
+great favorite, and he and Jessie became the closest
+of friends. The rich manufacturer wanted the lad
+to have a good education, and so he was sent off
+to Oak Hall, a fine institution of learning. With
+Dave went Ben Basswood, a youth of Crumville
+who had been the poorhouse lad's chum for some
+years.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>At Oak Hall, Dave proved himself a leader in
+many sports, and as a consequence he gained a host
+of friends, including Roger Morr, the son of a
+United States senator, and Phil Lawrence, the offspring
+of a wealthy shipowner. He also made
+several enemies, not the least of whom was Nat
+Poole, the son of the money-lender who had caused
+Caspar Potts so much worry.</p>
+
+<p>One day Dave's enemies raised the cry of "poorhouse
+nobody" against him. This cut the high-spirited
+lad to the quick. A fight ensued, in which
+Dave was victorious, and then the boy resolved,
+at any cost, to solve the mystery of his parentage.</p>
+
+<p>How this was accomplished has been related in detail in "Dave Porter
+in the South Seas." With information obtained from an old sailor the
+youth journeyed almost half around the world, and there fell in with
+his uncle, Dunston Porter, who gave him much information concerning his
+father, David Breslow Porter, and also about his sister Laura, one year
+younger than himself, and told how the family had become separated.</p>
+
+<p>Happy in the knowledge that he was no longer
+a "poorhouse nobody," but a well-to-do lad with
+a large sum of money coming to him when he
+should be of age, Dave returned to the United
+States. His father and sister were in Europe, and
+while waiting to hear from them he went back to
+Oak Hall, as told in "Dave Porter's Return to
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>
+School." Here he made many more friends. His
+enemies could no longer twit him about his parentage,
+yet some of them, notably a fellow named
+Jasniff and Nat Poole, and a bully named Gus
+Plum, did what they could to torment him. Plum,
+when Dave did him a great service, tried to reform,
+but Jasniff, who was a hot-tempered fellow,
+attempted to strike Dave down with a heavy Indian
+club. This was a dastardly attack, roundly
+condemned by those who saw it, and fearful of
+what might follow, Nick Jasniff ran away from
+school and set sail for England.</p>
+
+<p>Dave had waited long to hear from his father
+and sister, and at last when he learned that Jasniff
+had met them in London, he resolved to go in
+quest of them, although he did not yet have their
+address. In company with Roger Morr he crossed
+the Atlantic, only to find that his parent had joined
+an expedition for the upper part of Norway. How
+he and his chum journeyed to the land of the Midnight
+Sun has been told in all its particulars in
+"Dave Porter in the Far North." Here Dave at
+last met his father face to face,&mdash;a joyous reunion
+no words can express. Then the boy learned that
+his sister Laura had gone to the United States
+some time before, in company with some friends
+named Endicott, who owned a ranch in the Far
+West.</p>
+
+<p>"We must telegraph at once for Laura," said
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span>
+Mr. Porter, and several telegrams were sent without
+delay, and, as a consequence, word came back
+that Laura would come as fast as the overland
+express could bring her.</p>
+
+<p>When Dave's friends heard the good news that
+he had found his father some of them came to the
+Wadsworth home to congratulate him. Among
+the number was Phil Lawrence, and he and Roger
+were invited to remain with Dave until the latter
+returned to Oak Hall.</p>
+
+<p>"You can all go back together&mdash;after Dave has
+seen his sister," said Mr. Porter. "I will fix it
+up with Doctor Clay, so you won't have any trouble
+over staying out of school a week longer." And
+so it was arranged.</p>
+
+<p>Just before leaving school for his trip to Europe
+Dave had had a bitter quarrel with Nat Poole and
+a new student at Oak Hall named Link Merwell.
+Merwell was an aggressive fellow, tall and powerful,
+the son of a cattle-owner of the West. His
+taunting remarks to Dave had led to a fight in
+which the cattle-owner's son had gotten the worse
+of it.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll get square for this," Link Merwell had
+said to his crony. "I'll make Dave Porter eat
+humble pie before I am done with him." Then
+had come another quarrel between the Western
+boy and Mr. Dale, the head assistant teacher, and
+Merwell had come close to being expelled. He
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>
+had gone home for a vacation, stating that he believed
+Phil Lawrence had gotten him into "the
+mess," as he expressed it, and he had added that he
+would not forgive either Dave or Phil as long as
+he lived.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what did you do?" questioned Dave,
+when he and the shipowner's son talked this affair
+over.</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't do anything," answered Phil. "Merwell
+wanted me to say that he hadn't gone out one
+night when I knew he did go out. I refused, and
+then he was found out. Oh, but wasn't he mad
+when he left on his vacation! He pounded his fist
+on a desk and vowed he'd fix me as soon as he got
+back,&mdash;and then he added that he'd fix you, too,
+as soon as you got back."</p>
+
+<p>"Mighty interesting," said Dave. "We'll have
+to watch him and see what comes of it." And
+there the subject was dropped. But it was to
+come up very soon again, and in a manner not
+anticipated.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="break">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">WHAT LAURA HAD TO TELL</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The train was nearly an hour late, and during
+that time Dave walked impatiently up and down
+the railroad platform. Occasionally he thought
+of school matters, and his friends and enemies,
+but most of the time his mind was on his sister.
+His father and his uncle talked together and did
+not interrupt his meditations.</p>
+
+<p>At last a far-away whistle proclaimed the coming
+of the Western express, and Dave's face took
+on a more eager look than ever. His father
+gazed into his clear eyes and caught him by the
+arm.</p>
+
+<p>"I trust with all my heart you find Laura all
+you desire," he said in a low tone, and Dave nodded,
+for his throat was so choked up that he could
+not speak.</p>
+
+<p>The long train rolled in and the passengers for
+Crumville began to alight. "There she is!" cried
+Dunston Porter and ran forward, with his brother
+and Dave at his heels. A mist seemed to come
+over the boy's eyes and his heart thumped furiously.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>
+Then he saw a tall girl standing before
+him, her eyes looking deeply into his own.</p>
+
+<p>"Laura, this is Dave," he heard his father say.
+Then the girl came closer, reached out her arms,
+and in a moment more brother and sister were
+locked in the closest of embraces. It was such a
+moment Dave had longed for&mdash;prayed for&mdash;and
+all on the instant he knew that Laura was what he
+had hoped she would be and that they should love
+each other with the sweetest of sisterly and brotherly
+love as long as they lived.</p>
+
+<p>Laura was handsome rather than pretty. She
+had an aristocratic air which had come down to
+her from her mother and grandmother. She was
+stately in her movements and her voice charmed
+Dave the moment he heard it.</p>
+
+<p>"Just to think, you are really and truly my
+brother!" she exclaimed. "Isn't it wonderful!"</p>
+
+<p>"It's wonderful for me to find a sister&mdash;and a
+father," answered Dave. "Sometimes I am afraid
+I'll wake up and find it all a dream."</p>
+
+<p>"When I got papa's telegram I thought it was
+a dream. One of the cowboys on the ranch
+brought it over from the railroad station. At first
+I thought there must be some mistake, but Mr.
+Endicott said there couldn't be, and so I arranged
+to come east at once. A gentleman and his wife,
+who had been stopping at the ranch, came with me
+as far as Buffalo. Oh, I really couldn't get here
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>
+fast enough! Did you get the telegram I sent
+from Chicago?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," answered her father. "And the one
+from the ranch, too."</p>
+
+<p>"I want to hear the whole of the wonderful
+story just as soon as possible," continued Laura.
+"I promised Belle Endicott I'd send her the particulars,
+for she is dying to know. Belle is my
+friend, you know. Her father is a railroad president,
+but he owns that ranch, too, and they go out
+there whenever they feel like it, winter or summer.
+Belle said she'd rather read my next letter than
+a story book." And Laura smiled brightly.</p>
+
+<p>"And I shall want to hear all about you and
+your travels," answered Dave. "Oh, I guess
+we'll have enough to talk about to last a week."</p>
+
+<p>The party of four were soon in the sleigh, with
+Laura and Dave on the front seat. The youth
+showed how he could handle the team, and in a
+short while drove up to the stepping-stone of the
+Wadsworth mansion. At once there was a rush
+from within, and the girl was introduced to those
+who had in the past done so much for her brother,
+and those who were Dave's chums. Jessie was a
+trifle shy at first, but this presently wore away, and
+when Laura heard what the Wadsworths had done
+for her brother she speedily took mother and
+daughter to her heart, and Jessie and she became
+the best of friends.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It was assuredly a grand gathering around the
+bountiful table which the Wadsworths had supplied,
+and all lingered long, listening to what the
+various members of the Porter family had to tell:
+of Dave's doings on the Potts farm, at school,
+and in quest of his relatives; of Dunston Porter's
+treasure hunt in the South Seas; of Mr.
+David Porter's trip to Europe with Laura;
+and of the girl's adventures on the ranch and
+elsewhere.</p>
+
+<p>"Strange as it may seem, I have met two boys
+who knew Dave," said Laura, during the course
+of the conversation. "One was that scamp, Nick
+Jasniff, who tried to make himself agreeable in
+London."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I know about him," answered Dave.
+"But who was the other?"</p>
+
+<p>"The other is the son of the man who owns the
+cattle ranch next to Mr. Endicott's, Mr. Felix
+Merwell."</p>
+
+<p>"Merwell!" cried Dave, Roger, and Phil in a
+breath.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. Why do you look so astonished?"</p>
+
+<p>"Do you mean Link Merwell's father?" asked
+her brother.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. Link came out there just a few days before
+I started for the East. He seemed to be a
+nice sort, and he is one of the best horseback riders
+I ever saw."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Did you&mdash;er&mdash;go out with him?" stammered
+Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, twice, but not alone&mdash;Belle was along."
+Laura looked at her brother, whose face was a
+study. "What makes you look so queer? You
+know Mr. Merwell, don't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, we know him," answered Phil, before
+Dave could speak.</p>
+
+<p>"We'd like to know less of him," added Roger.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" And now Laura's face showed her
+wonder.</p>
+
+<p>"You see, it's this way," continued the senator's
+son, thinking it might be difficult for Dave to explain.
+"Link Merwell tried to lord it over a lot
+of us fellows at Oak Hall. He's a domineering
+chap, and some of us wouldn't stand for it. I gave
+him a piece of my mind once, and so did Phil, and
+Dave did more&mdash;gave him a sound thrashing."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Dave, did you really!" Laura's face
+showed her distress. "Why, I&mdash;I thought he was
+nice enough. Maybe it was only a boyish quarrel,"
+she added, hopefully. "I know boys do fight
+sometimes with hardly a reason for it."</p>
+
+<p>"Dave had a good reason for hitting Merwell,"
+said Phil. "The best reason in the world." He
+looked at Jessie and Mrs. Wadsworth and the
+others. "I'll not spoil this gathering by saying
+what it was. But it was something very mean, and
+Merwell deserved the drubbing he got."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I am so sorry! That is, I don't mean
+I am sorry Dave thrashed him&mdash;if he deserved it&mdash;but
+I am sorry that I&mdash;I went out with him, and
+that I&mdash;I started a correspondence with him. I
+thought he was nice, by his general looks."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, he can make himself look well, when he
+dresses up," said Roger. "And he can act the
+gentleman on the outside. But if you get to know
+him thoroughly you'll find him a different sort."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't wish to know him if he's that kind,"
+answered Laura, quickly. "But I thought he was
+all right, especially as he was the son of the owner
+of the next ranch. I am sorry now I ever spoke
+to him."</p>
+
+<p>"And you have been writing to him?" asked
+Dave. "I thought you said you had met him only
+a few days before you came away?"</p>
+
+<p>"So I did. But he wanted me to buy something
+for him in Chicago&mdash;a lens for his camera, and
+asked me to write from there, and I did. And,
+just for fun, I sent him two letters I wrote on the
+train&mdash;along with some letters to Belle and some
+other folks I know. I did it to pass the time,&mdash;so
+I wouldn't know how long it was taking me to
+get here. It was foolish to do so, and it will teach
+me a lesson to be careful about writing in the
+future."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sorry you wrote to him," answered Dave,
+soberly. But how sorry he was to be, and how
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>
+distressed his sister was to become, he was still
+to learn.</p>
+
+<p>Not further to mar the joy of the occasion Link
+Merwell's name was dropped, and Roger and Phil
+told of some funny initiations into the secret society
+at Oak Hall, which set everybody to laughing,
+and then Dunston Porter related the particulars
+of a hunt after bears he had once made in the
+Rockies. Thus the afternoon and evening wore
+away swiftly and all too soon it was time to retire.
+Laura was given a room next to that occupied by
+Dave, and long after the rest of the house was
+quiet brother and sister sat by a window, looking
+out at the moonlight on the snow and discussing the
+past.</p>
+
+<p>"You look very much like father," said Laura,
+"and much like Uncle Dunston, too. No wonder
+that old sailor, Billy Dill, thought he had seen you
+when he only saw Uncle Dunston."</p>
+
+<p>"And father tells me you look like mother,"
+answered Dave, softly. "I do not remember her,
+but if she looked like you she must have been very
+handsome," and Dave smiled and brushed a stray
+lock back from his sister's brow.</p>
+
+<p>"It is too bad she cannot see us now, Dave&mdash;how
+happy it would make her! I have missed her
+so much&mdash;it is no easy thing to get along without
+a mother's care, is it?&mdash;or a father's care, either.
+Perhaps if mamma were alive I'd be different in
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>
+some things. I shouldn't be so careless in what I
+do&mdash;in making friends with that Link Merwell,
+for instance, and sending him letters." Laura
+looked genuinely distressed as she uttered the last
+words.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you didn't know him, so you are not to
+blame. But I shouldn't send him any more
+letters."</p>
+
+<p>"You can depend upon it I won't."</p>
+
+<p>"He is the kind who would laugh at you for
+doing it, and make fun of you to all his friends."</p>
+
+<p>"He'll not get another line from me, and if he
+writes I'll return the letters," answered Laura,
+firmly.</p>
+
+<p>"Did he say when he was going back to Oak
+Hall?"</p>
+
+<p>"Inside of two weeks. He said he had had a
+little trouble with a teacher, and the master of the
+school had advised him to take a short vacation and
+give the matter a chance to blow over."</p>
+
+<p>Laura had arrived at Crumville on Thursday,
+and it was decided that Dave, Roger, and Phil
+should not return to Oak Hall until the following
+Monday. On Friday and Saturday the young
+folks went sleighing and skating, Jessie being one
+of the party, and on Sunday the entire household
+attended church. It was a service into which Dave
+entered with all his heart, and he thanked God
+from the bottom of his soul that at last his sister,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>
+as well as his father and his uncle, had been restored
+to him.</p>
+
+<p>"After I go back to boarding school where are
+you and Laura and Uncle Dunston going to stay?"
+questioned Dave of his father.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Porter smiled faintly. "I have a little
+secret about that, Dave," he answered. "I'll tell
+you later&mdash;after everything is ripe."</p>
+
+<p>"I know the Wadsworths would hate to have
+me leave them&mdash;and Professor Potts won't want
+me to go either."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you wait, Dave,&mdash;and see what comes,"
+answered his father; and with this the lad had to be
+content.</p>
+
+<p>Bright and early Monday morning the three
+boys had breakfast and started for the depot, to
+take the train for Oakdale, the nearest town to
+Oak Hall. Laura, Jessie, and Mr. David Porter
+went along to see them off.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Dave, I want to see you make the most
+of this term at school," said Mr. Porter. "Now
+you have Laura and me, you won't have so much
+to worry about."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll do my level best, father," he answered.
+"We want you to come out at the top of the
+class," said Laura.</p>
+
+<p>"And Dave can do it too&mdash;I know he can," remarked
+Jessie, and gave him a sunny smile of
+encouragement.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"How about us poor chaps?" asked Roger.
+"Can't we come in somewhere?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, you must come in right after Dave," answered
+Laura, and this made everybody laugh.</p>
+
+<p>"The higher we get in school the harder the
+work becomes," came from Phil. "But I am going
+to peg away at it&mdash;provided the other fellows
+will let me."</p>
+
+<p>"Phil always was very studious," said Dave,
+with an old-time grin spreading over his face.
+"He'd rather study a problem in geometry or
+translate Latin than read a story book or play
+baseball; wouldn't you, Phil?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not much! and you know it. But if a fellow
+has got to grind, why&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"He can grind&mdash;and play baseball, too," added
+Mr. Porter. "My parting advice is: when you
+study, study for all you are worth, and when you
+play, play for all you are worth."</p>
+
+<p>"Here comes the train!" cried Laura, and turning,
+she kissed her brother. "Good-bye, Roger;
+good-bye, Phil!"</p>
+
+<p>"Good-bye!" came from the others, and a general
+handshaking followed. Then the three chums
+ran for the train, got aboard, and were off for
+school once more.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"There is one thing I've forgotten to mention
+to you," said Phil, as the train rolled on its way and
+Crumville was left far behind. "That is that this
+term Doctor Clay has offered a special set of prizes
+to the students standing highest in various subjects.
+There is a prize for history, another for
+Latin, and a third for English literature and theme-writing.
+In addition there is to be a special prize
+for the student who can write the best paper on
+'The Past and Future of our Country.' This last
+contest is open only to those who stand above the
+eighty per cent. level in their classes."</p>
+
+<p>"That's interesting," answered Dave. "How
+many reach that level, do you think, Phil?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not more than thirty all told, and of those
+I don't believe more than twenty will send in
+papers."</p>
+
+<p>"Dave, you ought to try," said Roger. "You
+were always good at composition."</p>
+
+<p>"So are you, Roger."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not as good as you, and I know it. I like
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>
+history more than anything else, and I guess I'll
+try for that prize."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what is the past of our country but history?"
+continued Dave, with a smile.</p>
+
+<p>"That part might be easy; but what of the future?
+I'm no good at prophesying."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, couldn't you speak of the recent inventions
+and of what is coming&mdash;marvelous submarine
+boats, airships, wireless telegraphy, wonderful
+cures by means of up-to-date surgery,
+and then of the big cities of the West, of the
+new railroads stretching out everywhere, and
+of the fast ocean liners, and the Panama Canal,
+and the irrigation of the Western dry lands,
+and&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Hold on, Dave!" cried Phil. "You are giving
+Roger all your ammunition. Put that in your
+own paper."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, there's a whole lot more," was the smiling
+answer. "The thirty-and forty-storied buildings
+in our big cities, the underground railways, the
+tubes under the rivers, the tremendous suspension
+bridges, the automobile carriages and business
+trucks,&mdash;not to mention the railroad trains that are
+to run on one rail at a speed of a hundred miles
+an hour. Oh, there are lots of things&mdash;if one only
+stops to think of them."</p>
+
+<p>"The prize is yours, Dave!" exclaimed the
+senator's son. "You've mentioned more in three
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>
+minutes than I would have thought of in three
+weeks. I'll stick to history."</p>
+
+<p>"And I'll stick to English literature&mdash;I'm pretty
+well up on that, thank goodness!" said the shipowner's
+son.</p>
+
+<p>After that the talk drifted to other things&mdash;of
+the doings of the students at Oak Hall, and of how
+Job Haskers, one of the assistant teachers, had
+caught some of the lads playing a trick on Pop
+Swingly, the janitor, and punished them severely
+for it.</p>
+
+<p>"The trick didn't amount to much," said Phil,
+"and I rather believe Swingly enjoyed it. But old
+Haskers was in a bilious mood and made the fellows
+stay in after school for three days."</p>
+
+<p>"Were you in it?" asked Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; and all of us have vowed to get square
+on Haskers."</p>
+
+<p>"It's a wonder Doctor Clay doesn't get rid of
+Haskers&mdash;he is so unpopular," was Roger's comment.</p>
+
+<p>"Haskers is a fine teacher, that's why he is kept.
+But I like Mr. Dale much better," said Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, everybody does!"</p>
+
+<p>"All but Link Merwell," said Phil. "Isn't it
+strange, he seems to get along very well with
+Haskers."</p>
+
+<p>"Two of a kind maybe," returned the senator's
+son.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>After a long run the Junction was reached,
+where the boys had to change cars for Oakdale.
+They got off and found they had twenty-five minutes
+to wait.</p>
+
+<p>"Remember the time we were here and had
+the trouble with Isaac Pludding?" asked Roger.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll never forget it," answered Dave, with a
+grin. "By the way, as we have time to spare let
+us go around to Denman's restaurant and have a
+cup of chocolate and a piece of pie. That car was
+so cold it chilled me."</p>
+
+<p>Growing boys are always hungry, so, despite the
+generous breakfast they had had, they walked over
+to the restaurant named. The man who kept it
+remembered them well and smiled broadly as they
+took seats at a table.</p>
+
+<p>"On your way to school, I suppose," he said,
+as he served them. "Ain't following up Ike
+Pludding this trip, are you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Hardly," answered Dave. "What do you
+know of him?"</p>
+
+<p>"I know he is about down and out," answered
+Amos Denman. "And served him right too."</p>
+
+<p>The boys were about to leave the restaurant
+when Dave chanced to glance in one of the windows.
+There, on a big platter, was an inviting
+heap of chicken salad, above which was a sign
+announcing it was for sale at thirty cents a
+pint.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Let me try that salad, will you?" Dave asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly. Want to take some along?" And
+Amos Denman passed over a forkful.</p>
+
+<p>"What are you going to do with chicken
+salad?" questioned Roger.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I thought we might want to celebrate our
+return by a little feast, Roger."</p>
+
+<p>"Hurrah! just the thing!" ejaculated the senator's
+son. "Is it good? It is? All right, I'll
+take a quart."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll take a quart, too," said Dave. "I guess
+you can put it all together."</p>
+
+<p>"Are those mince pies fresh?" asked Phil,
+pointing to some in a case.</p>
+
+<p>"Just out of the oven. Feel of them."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I'll take two."</p>
+
+<p>In the end the three youths purchased quite a
+number of things from the restaurant keeper, who
+tied up the articles in pasteboard boxes wrapped
+in brown paper. Then the lads had to run for the
+train and were the last on board.</p>
+
+<p>It had begun to snow again and the white flakes
+were coming down thickly when the train rolled
+into the neat little station at Oakdale. The boys
+were the only ones to alight and they looked
+around eagerly to see if the school carryall was
+waiting for them.</p>
+
+<p>"Hello, fellows!" cried a voice from the end
+of the platform, and Joseph Beggs, usually called
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>
+Buster because of his fatness, waddled up.
+"Thought you'd be on this train."</p>
+
+<p>"How are you, Buster?" answered Dave, shaking
+hands. "My, but aren't you getting thin!"
+And he looked the fat boy over with a grin.</p>
+
+<p>"It's worry that's doing it," answered Buster,
+calmly. "Haven't slept a night since you went
+away, Dave. So you really found your dad and
+your sister! Sounds like a regular six-act-and-fourteen-scene
+drama. We'll have to write it up
+and get Horsehair to star in it. First Act: Found
+on the Railroad Tracks; Second Act: The Faithful
+Farm Boy; Third Act: The King of the School;
+Fourth Act&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Waiting for the Stage," interrupted Dave.
+"Keep it, Buster, until we're on the way to Oak
+Hall. Did you come down alone?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not much he didn't come down alone!" cried
+a voice at Dave's elbow, and Maurice Hamilton,
+always called Shadow, appeared. Maurice was as
+tall and thin as Buster was stout. "Let me feel
+your hand and know you are really here, Dave,"
+he went on. "Why, your story is&mdash;is&mdash;what shall
+I say?"</p>
+
+<p>"Great," suggested Roger.</p>
+
+<p>"Marvelous," added Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"Out of sight," put in Buster Beggs.</p>
+
+<p>"All good&mdash;and that puts me in mind of a story.
+One time there was a&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Shadow&mdash;so early in the day!" cried the senator's
+son, reproachfully.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you can't shut him off," exploded Buster.
+"He's been telling chestnuts ever since we left the
+Hall."</p>
+
+<p>"This isn't a chestnut, it's a&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Hickory nut," finished Phil; "hard to crack&mdash;as
+the darky said of the china egg he wanted to
+fry."</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't a chestnut or a hickory nut either,"
+expostulated the story-teller of the school.
+"It's a brand-new one. One time there was a
+county&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"If it's new you ought to have it copyrighted, Shadow," said Roger.</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps a trade-mark might do," added Dave.
+"You can get one for&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Say, don't you want to hear this story?" demanded
+Shadow.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, yes, go on!" was the chorus.</p>
+
+<p>"Now we've had the first installment we'll have
+to have the finish or die," continued Phil,
+tragically.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, one time there was a county fair, with a
+number of side shows, snakes, acrobats, and such
+things. One tent had a big sign over it, 'The
+Greatest and Most Marvelous Wonder of the Age&mdash;A
+man who plays the piano better with his feet
+than most skilled musicians can play with their
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>
+hands. Admission 10 cents.' That sign attracted
+a big crowd and brought in a lot of money. When
+the folks got inside a man came out, sat down in
+front of a piano that played with paper rolls, and
+pumped the thing for all he was worth with his
+feet!"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, what a sell!" roared Phil. "Shadow,
+that's the worst you ever told."</p>
+
+<p>"Quite a feat," said Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"But painful to the understanding," added
+Roger. He looked around. "Hello, here's
+Horsehair at last."</p>
+
+<p>He referred to Jackson Lemond, the driver for
+the school, who was always called Horsehair because
+of the hairs which invariably clung to his
+clothing. The driver was coming down the main
+street of the town with a package of harness dressing
+in his hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Had to git this," he explained. "How de do,
+young gents? All ready to go to the Hall?"</p>
+
+<p>"Horsehair, we're going to write a play about
+Dave's discoveries," said Buster. "We want
+you to star in it. We know you can make a
+hit."</p>
+
+<p>"No starrin' fer me," answered the driver, who
+had once played minor parts in a barn-storming
+theatrical company. "I'll stick to the hosses."</p>
+
+<p>"But think of it, Horsehair," went on Buster.
+"We'll have you eaten up by cannibals of the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>
+South Seas, frozen to death in Norway snowstorms,
+shooting bears as big as elephants, and&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Buster, do let up!" cried Dave. "None
+of those things are true, and you know it. Come
+ahead, I am anxious to see the rest of the fellows,"
+and Dave ran for the carryall, with his
+dress-suit case in one hand and one of the packages
+from the restaurant in the other.</p>
+
+<p>Soon the crowd had piled into the turnout, Phil
+on the front seat beside the driver, and away they
+went. The carryall had been put on runners and
+ran as easily as a cutter, having two powerful
+horses to pull it.</p>
+
+<p>All of the boys were in high spirits and as they
+sped over the snow they sang and cracked jokes
+to their hearts' content. They did not forget the
+old school song, sung to the tune of "Auld Lang
+Syne," and sang this with a vigor that tested their
+lungs to the uttermost:</p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<div class="poetry">
+  <div class="poem">
+    <div class="stanza">
+      <span class="i1">"Oak Hall we never shall forget,</span>
+      <span class="i2">No matter where we roam;</span>
+      <span class="i1">It is the very best of schools,</span>
+      <span class="i2">To us it's just like home!</span>
+      <span class="i1">Then give three cheers, and let them ring</span>
+      <span class="i2">Throughout this world so wide,</span>
+      <span class="i1">To let the people know that we</span>
+      <span class="i2">Elect to here abide!"</span>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>"By the way, how is Gus Plum getting along
+these days?" asked Dave of Shadow Hamilton,
+during a pause in the fun. He referred, as my old
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span>
+readers know, to a youth who in days gone by had
+been a great bully at the Hall.</p>
+
+<p>"Gus Plum needs watching," was the low answer,
+so that none of the other boys might hear.
+"He is better in some ways, Dave, and much worse
+in others."</p>
+
+<p>"How do you mean, Shadow?"</p>
+
+<p>"I can't explain here&mdash;but I'll do it in private
+some day," answered Shadow; and then the carryall
+swept up to the school steps and a number of
+students ran forth from the building to greet the
+new arrivals.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">THE FUN OF A NIGHT</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>As my old readers know, Oak Hall was a large
+structure of brick and stone, built in the shape of
+a broad cross, with wide hallways running from
+north to south and east to west. All of the classrooms
+were on the ground floor, as were also the
+dining hall and kitchen, and the head master's
+private office. On the second floor were the majority
+of the dormitories, furnished to hold four,
+six, and eight pupils each. The school was surrounded
+by a wide campus, running down to the
+Leming River, where was located a good-sized
+boathouse. Some distance away from the river
+was a neat gymnasium, and, to the rear of the
+school, were commodious stables and sheds. At
+the four corners of the campus grew great clumps
+of giant oaks, and two oaks stood like sentinels
+on either side of the gateway&mdash;thus giving the
+Hall its name.</p>
+
+<p>As Dave leaped to the piazza of the school he
+was met by Sam Day, another of his old chums,
+who gave his hand a squeeze that made him wince.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>
+Close by was Chip Macklin, once the toady of
+Gus Plum, but now "quite a decent sort," as most
+of the lads would say. Further in the rear was
+Gus Plum, looking pale and troubled. Evidently
+something was wrong with him, as Shadow had
+intimated.</p>
+
+<p>"Sorry I couldn't get down to the depot," said
+Sam. "But I had some examples in algebra to do
+and they kept me until after the carryall had left."</p>
+
+<p>There was more handshaking, and Dave did not
+forget Macklin or Gus Plum. When he took the
+hand of the former bully he found it icy cold and
+he noticed that it trembled considerably.</p>
+
+<p>"How are you, Gus?" he said, pleasantly.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I'm fair," was the hesitating answer.
+"I&mdash;I am glad to see you back, and doubly glad
+to know you found your father."</p>
+
+<p>"And sister, Gus; don't forget that."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and your sister." And then Gus Plum
+let Dave's hand fall and stepped back into the
+crowd and vanished. Dave saw that he had something
+on his mind, and he wondered more than
+ever what Shadow might have to tell him.</p>
+
+<p>Soon Doctor Clay appeared, a man well along
+in years, with gray, penetrating eyes and a face
+that could be either kindly or stern as the occasion
+demanded.</p>
+
+<p>"As the boys say, it is all very wonderful, and
+I am rejoiced for your sake, Porter," he said.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>
+"Your trip to Norway certainly turned out well,
+and you need not begrudge the time lost from
+school. Now, with your mind free, you can go at
+your studies with vigor, and such a bright pupil as
+you ought to be able to make up all the ground
+lost."</p>
+
+<p>"I intend to try my best, sir," answered Dave.</p>
+
+<p>The only lad at Oak Hall who did not seem to
+enjoy Dave's reappearance was Nat Poole. The
+dudish youth from Crumville, whose father had,
+in times past, caused old Caspar Potts so much
+trouble, kept himself aloof, and when he met Dave
+in a hallway he turned his head the other way and
+pretended not to notice.</p>
+
+<p>"Nat Poole certainly feels sore," said Dave to
+Ben Basswood, his old friend from home, when
+Ben came to meet him, having been kept in a classroom
+by Job Haskers.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, he is sore on everybody," answered Ben.
+"Well, he is having a hard time of it, seems to
+me. First Chip Macklin cut him, and then Gus
+Plum. Then he got mixed up with Nick Jasniff,
+and Jasniff had to run away. Then he and Link
+Merwell became chums, and you know what happened
+to both. Now Merwell is away and Nat is
+about left to himself. He is a bigger dude than
+ever, and spends a lot of money that the doctor
+doesn't know anything about, and yet he can't
+make himself popular."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, I'm glad money doesn't count at Oak
+Hall, Ben."</p>
+
+<p>"I know you feel that way, Dave, and it does
+you credit. I guess now you are about as rich as
+anybody, and if money did the trick&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"I want to stand on my merits, not on my
+pocketbook. Perhaps Nat would make friends if
+he wasn't forever showing off and telling how
+wealthy his father is."</p>
+
+<p>"I believe you there."</p>
+
+<p>"By the way, Ben, do you know anything
+about Gus Plum? There seems to be a big change
+in him."</p>
+
+<p>"There is a change, but I can't tell you what it
+is. Shadow Hamilton knows. He and Plum
+came home late one night, both having been to
+Oakdale, and Shadow was greatly excited and
+greatly worried. Some of us fellows wanted to
+know what it was about, but Shadow refused to
+say a word, excepting that he was going to let you
+know some time, because you appeared to have
+some influence over Gus."</p>
+
+<p>Ben's words surprised Dave, coming so shortly
+after what Shadow himself had said. He was
+on the point of asking Ben some more questions,
+but reconsidered the matter and said nothing. He
+could wait until such a time as Shadow felt in the
+humor to unburden his mind.</p>
+
+<p>Dave and his chums roomed in dormitories Nos.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>
+11 and 12, two large and well-lighted apartments,
+with a connecting door between. Not far away
+was dormitory No. 13, which was now occupied
+by Nat Poole and some others, including Link
+Merwell when that individual was at Oak Hall.
+One bed was vacant, that which Nick Jasniff had
+left so hurriedly.</p>
+
+<p>In a quiet way the news was spread that Dave
+and his chums had provided some good things for
+a feast, and that night about twenty boys gathered
+in No. 11 and No. 12 to celebrate "the return of
+our leader," as Luke Watson expressed it. Luke
+was on hand with his banjo and his guitar, to add
+a little music if wanted.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, boys, we couldn't have chosen a better
+time for this sort of thing than to-night," announced
+Sam Day. "Haskers has gone to town
+and Mr. Dale is paying a visit to a neighbor; I
+heard the doctor tell Mr. Dale he was tired and
+was going to bed early, and best of all Jim Murphy
+says he won't hear a thing, provided we set out a
+big piece of mince pie for him." Murphy was
+monitor of the halls.</p>
+
+<p>"Good for Jim!" cried Dave. "I'll cut that
+piece of pie myself," and he did, and placed it
+where he felt certain that the monitor would
+find it.</p>
+
+<p>The boys were allowed to do as they pleased
+until half-past nine, and they sang songs and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>
+cracked jokes innumerable. But then the monitor
+stuck his head in at the door.</p>
+
+<p>"Got to be a little quiet from now on," he said,
+in a hoarse whisper and with a broad grin on his
+face. "I'm awfully deaf to-night, but the doctor
+will wake up if there's too much racket."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you get the pie?" questioned Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Not yet, and I'll take it now, if you don't
+mind."</p>
+
+<p>"Jim, do you mean to say you didn't get that
+pie?" demanded Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, he's fooling," interrupted Phil. "He
+wants a second piece."</p>
+
+<p>"That's it," came from Shadow. "Puts me in
+mind of a story about a boy who&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind the story now, Shadow," interrupted
+Dave. "Tell me honestly, Jim, whether
+you got the pie or not? Of course you can have
+another piece, or some chicken salad&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't get any pie,&mdash;or anything else," answered
+the monitor.</p>
+
+<p>"I put it on the bottom of the stand in the upper
+hallway."</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing there when I went to look."</p>
+
+<p>"Then somebody took it on the sly," said Roger.
+"For I was with Dave when he put it there. Anybody
+in these rooms guilty?" And he gazed
+around sternly.</p>
+
+<p>All of the boys shook their heads. Then of a
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>
+sudden a delicate youth who looked like a girl
+arose in astonishment and held up his hands.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I declare!" he lisped.</p>
+
+<p>"What now, Polly?" asked Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder if it is really possible," went on
+Bertram Vane.</p>
+
+<p>"What possible?" questioned Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, when I was coming through the hall
+a while ago I almost ran into Nat Poole. He had
+something in one hand, under his handkerchief,
+and as I passed him I really thought I smelt mince
+pie!"</p>
+
+<p>"Nat Poole!" cried several.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, the sneak!" burst out Roger. "He must
+have been watching Dave. Maybe he heard us
+promise Murphy the pie."</p>
+
+<p>"Bad luck to him if he stole what was coming to
+me," muttered the monitor. "I hope the pie
+choked him."</p>
+
+<p>"If Nat Poole took the pie we'll fix him for
+it," said Dave. "Just you leave it to me."
+Then he got another portion of the dainty
+and handed it to the monitor, who disappeared
+immediately.</p>
+
+<p>"What will you do?" questioned Roger.</p>
+
+<p>"Since Nat has had some pie I think I'll treat
+him to some chicken salad," was the reply.
+"Nothing like being generous, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Dave, you don't mean you are going
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>
+to let Nat Poole have any of this nice salad!" cried
+Phil. "I'd see him in Guinea first!"</p>
+
+<p>"He shall have some&mdash;after it has been properly
+doctored."</p>
+
+<p>"Eh? Oh, I see," and the shipowner's son began
+to grin. "All right then. But doctor it
+good."</p>
+
+<p>"I shall make no mistake about that," returned
+Dave.</p>
+
+<p>While Shadow was telling a story of a little boy who had fallen down a
+well and wanted somebody to "put the staircase down" so he could climb
+up, Dave went to a small medicine closet which he had purchased during
+his previous term at Oak Hall. From this he got various bottles and
+powders and began to "doctor" a nice portion of the chicken salad.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, Dave, that won't hurt anybody, will it?"
+asked Ben, who saw the movement.</p>
+
+<p>"It may hurt Nat Poole, Ben."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you don't want to injure him."</p>
+
+<p>"This won't do any harm. I am going to give
+him what Professor Potts called green peppers.
+Once, when he was particularly talkative, he related
+how he had played the joke on a fellow-student
+at college. It won't injure Nat Poole, but if
+he eats this salad there will surely be fun, I can
+promise you that."</p>
+
+<p>"How are you going to get it to him?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Take it to him myself."</p>
+
+<p>"You! He'll be suspicious at once and won't
+touch it."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps not&mdash;we'll wait and see."</p>
+
+<p>When the feast was practically at an end, Dave
+put the doctored salad in a dessert dish, topping
+it with some that was sweet and good. On all he
+laid some fancy crackers which one of the boys
+had contributed.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, here is where I try the trick," he said,
+and put on a sweater, leaving the upper portion
+partly over his face. Then, leaving his dormitory,
+he tiptoed his way to No. 13 and pushed open the
+door softly.</p>
+
+<p>As he had surmised, Nat Poole had gone to bed
+and had just fallen asleep. Going noiselessly to
+his side, Dave bent over him and whispered into
+his ear:</p>
+
+<p>"Here, Nat, is something I stole for you from
+that crowd that was having the feast. Eat it up
+and don't tell the other fellows."</p>
+
+<p>"Eh, what? The feast?" stammered Nat, and
+took the plate in his hand. "Who are you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Hush!" whispered Dave, warningly. "Don't
+wake the others. I stole it for you. Eat it up.
+I'll tell you how I did it in the morning. It's a
+joke on Dave Porter!" And then Dave glided
+away from the bed and out of the room like a
+ghost, shutting the door noiselessly after him.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Half asleep, Nat Poole was completely bewildered
+by what he heard. In the semi-darkness
+he could not imagine who had brought the
+dish full of stuff. But he remembered the words,
+"eat it up" and "don't tell the other fellows"
+and "a joke on Dave Porter." That was enough
+for Nat. He sat up, looked at the fancy crackers
+and the salad, and smacked his lips.</p>
+
+<p>"Must have been one of our old crowd," he
+mused. "Maybe Shingle or Remney. Well, it's
+a joke on Dave Porter right enough, and better
+than taking that pie he left for Murphy." And
+then he began to munch the crackers and eat the
+salad, using a tiny fork Dave had thoughtfully
+provided. He liked chicken salad very much, and
+this seemed particularly good, although at times
+it had a bitter flavor for which he could not
+account.</p>
+
+<p>Peering through the keyhole of the door, Dave
+saw his intended victim make way with the salad.
+Then he ran back to his dormitory.</p>
+
+<p>"It's all right," he said. "Now all of you undress
+and go to bed,&mdash;and watch for what comes!"</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">WHAT HAPPENED TO NAT POOLE</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The students of dormitories No. 11 and No. 12
+scarcely had time to get to bed when they heard a
+noise in the apartment Nat Poole and some others
+occupied. First came a subdued groan, followed
+by another, and then they heard Nat Poole get up.</p>
+
+<p>"What's the matter?" they heard a student
+named Belcher ask.</p>
+
+<p>"Why&mdash;er&mdash;I'm burning up!" gasped Nat
+Poole. "Let me get a drink of water!" And
+he leaped from his bedside to where there was a
+stand with a pitcher of ice-water and a glass.</p>
+
+<p>He was so eager to get the water that, in the
+semi-darkness, he hit the stand with his arm. Over
+it went, and the pitcher and glass fell to the floor
+with a crash. The noise aroused everybody in
+the dormitory.</p>
+
+<p>"What's the matter?"</p>
+
+<p>"Are burglars breaking in?"</p>
+
+<p>"Confound the luck!" muttered Nat Poole.
+"Oh, I must get some water! I am burning up
+alive!"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"What's done it?" questioned Belcher.</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;er&mdash;never mind now. I am burning up
+and must have some water!" roared the dudish
+pupil, and dashed out of the dormitory in the
+direction of a water tank located at the end of the
+hall.</p>
+
+<p>Here he was a little more careful and got the
+drink he desired. But scarcely had he taken a
+mouthful when he ejected it with great force.</p>
+
+<p>"Wow! how bitter that tastes!" he gasped.
+Then of a sudden he commenced to shiver.
+"Wonder if that salad poisoned me? Who gave
+it to me, anyhow?"</p>
+
+<p>He tried the water again, but it was just as bitter
+as before. Then he ran to a bathroom, to try
+the water there. By this time his mouth and throat
+felt like fire, and, thoroughly scared, he ran back
+to his sleeping apartment and began to yell for
+help.</p>
+
+<p>His cries aroused a good portion of the inmates
+of Oak Hall, and students came from all directions
+to see what was the matter. They found
+poor Nat sitting on a chair, the picture of misery.</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I guess I'm poisoned and I'm going to
+die!" he wailed. "Somebody better get a doctor."</p>
+
+<p>"What did you eat?" demanded half a dozen
+boys.</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;er&mdash;I ate some salad a fellow brought to
+me in the dark. I don't know who he was. Oh, my
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>
+throat! It feels as if a red-hot poker was in it!
+And I can't drink water either! Oh, I know I
+am going to die!"</p>
+
+<p>"Try oil&mdash;that's good for a burn," suggested
+one student, and he brought forth some cod liver
+oil. Nat hated cod liver oil almost as much as
+poison, but he was scared and took the dose without
+a murmur. It helped a little, but his throat
+felt far from comfortable and soon it commenced
+to burn as much as ever.</p>
+
+<p>By this time Doctor Clay had been aroused and
+he came to the dormitory in a dressing gown and
+slippers.</p>
+
+<p>"Nat Poole has been poisoned!" cried several.</p>
+
+<p>"Poisoned!" ejaculated the master of the Hall.
+"How is this, Poole?" and he strode to the suffering
+pupil's side.</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I don't know," groaned Nat. "I&mdash;er&mdash;ate
+some mince pie and some salad&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps it is only indigestion," was the doctor's
+comment. "You may get over it in a little
+while."</p>
+
+<p>"But my throat&mdash;&mdash;" And then the dudish boy
+stopped short. The fire in his mouth and throat
+had suddenly gone down&mdash;like a tooth stopping its
+aching.</p>
+
+<p>"What were you going to say?" asked Doctor
+Clay.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I&mdash;that is&mdash;my throat isn't so bad now."
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>
+And Nat's face took on a sudden sheepish look.
+In some way he realized he had been more scared
+than hurt.</p>
+
+<p>"Let me have a look at your throat," went on
+the master of the Hall and took his pupil to a
+strong light. "It is a little red, but that is all.
+Is your stomach all right?"</p>
+
+<p>"It seems to be&mdash;and the pain in my throat and
+mouth is all gone now," added Nat.</p>
+
+<p>The doctor handed him a glass of water a boy
+had brought and Nat tried it. The liquid tasted
+natural, much to his surprise, and the drink made
+him feel quite like himself once more.</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I guess I am all right now," he said after
+an awkward pause. "I&mdash;er&mdash;am sorry I woke
+you up."</p>
+
+<p>"After this be careful of how much you eat,"
+said the doctor, stiffly. "If a boy stuffs himself on
+mince pie and salad he is bound to suffer for it."
+Then he directed all the students to go to bed at
+once, and retired to his own apartment.</p>
+
+<p>If ever a lad was puzzled that lad was Nat
+Poole. For the life of him he could not determine
+whether he had suffered naturally or whether a
+trick had been played on him. He wanted very
+much to know who had brought him the salad, but
+could not find out. For days after the boys would
+yell "mince pie" and "salad" at him, much to
+his annoyance.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"That certainly was a good one," was Phil's
+comment. "I reckon Nat will learn to keep his
+hands off of things after this." And he and the
+others had a good laugh over the trick Dave had
+played. It proved to be perfectly harmless, for
+the next day Poole felt as well as ever.</p>
+
+<p>As Dave had said, he was determined to make
+up the lessons lost during his trip to England and
+Norway, and he consequently applied himself with
+vigor to all his studies. At this, Mr. Dale, who
+was head teacher, was particularly pleased, and he
+did all he could to aid the youth.</p>
+
+<p>As during previous terms, Dave had much trouble
+with Job Haskers. A brilliant teacher, Haskers
+was as arbitrary and dictatorial as could be
+imagined, and he occasionally said things which
+were so sarcastic they cut to the quick. Very few
+of the boys liked him, and some positively hated
+him.</p>
+
+<p>"I always feel like fighting when I run up
+against old Haskers," was the way Roger expressed
+himself. "I'd give ten dollars if he'd pack his
+trunk and leave."</p>
+
+<p>"And then come back the next day," put in
+Phil, with a grin.</p>
+
+<p>"Not much! When he leaves I want him to
+stay away!"</p>
+
+<p>"That puts me in mind of a story," said Shadow,
+who was present.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"What, another!" cried Dave, with a mock
+groan. "Oh, but this is dreadful!"</p>
+
+<p>"Not so bad&mdash;as you'll soon see. A boy had a
+little dog, who could howl morning, noon, and
+night, to beat the band. Next door to the boy
+lived a very nervous man. Said he to the boy one
+day: 'Will you sell me that dog for a dollar?'
+'Make it two dollars and the dog is yours,' answered
+the boy. So the man, to get rid of that
+howling dog, paid the boy the two dollars and
+shipped the dog to the pound. Then he asked the
+boy: 'What are you going to do with the two
+dollars?' 'Buy two more dogs,' said the boy.
+Then the man went away and wept."</p>
+
+<p>"That's all right!" cried Sam Day, and everybody
+laughed. Then he added: "What can disturb
+a fellow more than a howling dog at
+night?"</p>
+
+<p>"I know," answered Dave, quietly.</p>
+
+<p>"What?"</p>
+
+<p>"Two dogs," and then Dave ducked to avoid
+a book that Sam threw at him.</p>
+
+<p>"Speaking of dogs reminds me of something,"
+said Buster Beggs. "You all remember Mike
+Marcy, the miserly old farmer whose mule we returned
+some time ago."</p>
+
+<p>"I am not likely to forget him," answered Dave,
+who had had more than one encounter with the
+fellow, as my old readers are aware.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, he has got a very savage dog and has
+posted signs all over his place, 'Beware of the
+Dog!' Two or three of the fellows, who were
+crossing his corner lot one day, came near being
+bitten."</p>
+
+<p>"Were you one of them?" asked Roger.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and we weren't doing anything either&mdash;only
+crossing the vacant lot to take a short-cut to
+the school, to avoid being late."</p>
+
+<p>"I was in the crowd," said Luke Watson, "and
+I had a good mind to kill the dog."</p>
+
+<p>"We'll have to go over some day and see
+Marcy," said Phil. "I haven't forgotten how he
+accused me of stealing his apples."</p>
+
+<p>"He once accused me of stealing a chicken,"
+put in a boy named Messmer. "I'd like to take
+him down a peg or two for that."</p>
+
+<p>"Let us go over to his place next week some time
+and tease him," suggested another boy named Henshaw,
+and some of the others said they would bear
+his words in mind.</p>
+
+<p>Messmer and Henshaw were the owners of an
+ice-boat named the <i>Snowbird</i>. They had built the
+craft themselves, and, while it was not very handsome,
+it had good going qualities, and that was all
+the boys wanted.</p>
+
+<p>"Come on out in the <i>Snowbird</i>," said Henshaw,
+to Dave and several of the others, on the following
+Saturday afternoon, when there was no school.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>
+"The ice on the river is very good, and the wind
+is just right for a spin."</p>
+
+<p>"Thanks, I'll go with pleasure," answered
+Dave; and soon the party was off. The river,
+frozen over from end to end, was alive with skaters
+and ice-boats, and presented a scene of light-heartedness
+and pleasure.</p>
+
+<p>"There goes an ice-boat from the Rockville
+military academy," said Messmer, presently. "I
+guess they don't want to race. They haven't forgotten
+how we beat them." And he was right; the
+Rockville ice-boat soon tacked to the other side
+of the river, the cadets on board paying no attention
+to the Oak Hall students.</p>
+
+<p>The boys on the ice-boat did not go to their
+favorite spot, Robber Island, but allowed the
+<i>Snowbird</i> to sweep up an arm of the river, between
+several large hills. The hills were covered with
+hemlocks and cedars, between which the snow lay
+to a depth of one or two feet.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you know what I'd like to do some day?"
+remarked Roger. "Come up here after rabbits."
+He had a shotgun, of which he was quite
+proud.</p>
+
+<p>"I believe you'd find plenty," answered Dave.
+"I'd like to go myself. I used to hunt, when I was
+on the farm."</p>
+
+<p>"Let us walk up the hills and take a look around&mdash;now
+we are here," continued the senator's son.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>
+"If we see any rabbits' tracks we'll know they
+are on hand."</p>
+
+<p>Dave agreed, and he, Roger, and Phil left the
+ice-boat, stating they would be back in half an hour.</p>
+
+<p>"All right!" sang out Messmer. "We'll
+cruise around in the meantime. When we get back
+we'll whistle for you."</p>
+
+<p>The tramp through the deep snow was not easy,
+yet the three chums enjoyed it, for it made them
+feel good to be out in the clear, cold atmosphere,
+every breath of which was invigorating. They
+went on silently, so as not to disturb any game that
+might be near.</p>
+
+<p>"Here are rabbit tracks!" said Dave, in a low
+tone, after the top of the first hill was gained, and
+he pointed to the prints, running around the trees
+and bushes. "Shooting ought certainly to be good
+in this neighborhood."</p>
+
+<p>From one hill they tramped to another, the base
+of which came down to the river at a point where
+there was a deep spot known as Lagger's Hole.
+Here the ice was usually full of air-holes and unsafe,
+and skaters and ice-boats avoided the locality.</p>
+
+<p>From the top of the hill the boys commenced to
+throw snowballs down on the ice, seeing who could
+throw the farthest. Then Phil suggested they
+make a big snowball and roll it down.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll bet, if it reaches the ice, it will go clear
+across the river," said the shipowner's son.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"All right, let's try it," answered Dave and
+Roger, and the three set to work to make a round,
+hard ball. They rolled it around the top of the
+hill until it was all of three feet in diameter
+and then pushed it to the edge.</p>
+
+<p>"Now then, send her down!" cried Phil, and
+the three boys gave a push that took the big snowball
+over the edge of the hill. Slowly at first and
+then faster and faster, it rolled down the hill, increasing
+in size as it progressed.</p>
+
+<p>"It's getting there!" sang out Roger. "See
+how it is shooting along!"</p>
+
+<p>"Look!" yelled Dave, pointing up the river.
+"An ice-boat is coming!"</p>
+
+<p>All looked and saw that he was right. It was
+a craft from the Rockville academy, and it was
+headed straight for the spot where the big snowball
+was about to cross.</p>
+
+<p>"If the snowball hits them, there will be a
+smash-up!" cried Roger.</p>
+
+<p>"And that is just what is going to happen, I
+fear," answered Dave.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">WHAT A BIG SNOWBALL DID</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>As the ice-boat came closer the boys on the hill
+saw that it contained four persons, two cadets and
+two young ladies. The latter were evidently
+guests, for they sat in the stern and took no part
+in handling the craft.</p>
+
+<p>Dave set up a loud cry of warning and his chums
+joined in. But if those on the ice-boat heard, they
+paid no heed. On and on they came, heading for
+the very spot for which the great snowball, now all
+of six feet in diameter, was shooting.</p>
+
+<p>"The ice is full of holes, maybe the snowball
+will drop into one of them," said Phil. But this
+was not to be. The snowball kept straight on,
+until it and the ice-boat were less than a hundred
+feet apart.</p>
+
+<p>It was then that one of the cadets on the craft
+saw the peril and uttered a cry of alarm. He tried
+to bring the ice-boat around, and his fellow-student
+aided him. But it was too late, and in a few seconds
+more the big snowball hit the craft, bowled
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>
+it over, and sent it spinning along the ice toward
+some of the largest of the air-holes.</p>
+
+<p>"They are going into the water!" gasped
+Roger.</p>
+
+<p>"Come on&mdash;let us see if we can help them!"
+returned Dave, and plunged down the hill. He
+took the course the big snowball had taken, and
+his chums came after him. More than once they
+fell, but picked themselves up quickly and kept on
+until the ice was gained. At the edge they came
+to a halt, for the air-holes told them plainly of the
+danger ahead.</p>
+
+<p>"There they go&mdash;into the water!" cried Dave,
+and waiting no longer, he ran out on the ice, picking
+his way between the air-holes as best he could.
+Several times the ice cracked beneath his weight,
+but he did not turn back. He felt that the occupants
+of the ice-boat were in peril of their lives and
+that in a measure he was responsible for this crisis.</p>
+
+<p>The river at this point was all of a hundred
+yards wide and the accident had occurred close to
+the farther side. The ice-boat had been sent to
+where two air-holes were close together, and the
+weight of the craft and its occupants had caused
+it to crack the ice, and it now rested half in and
+half out of the water. One of the cadets and one
+of the young ladies had been flung off to a safe
+place, but the other pair were clinging desperately
+to the framework.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Oh, we shall be drowned! We shall be
+drowned!" cried the maiden in distress.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't you jump off?" asked the cadet who was
+safe on the ice.</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I am afraid!" wailed the girl. "Oh, the
+ice is sinking!" she added, as an ominous sound
+reached her ears.</p>
+
+<p>To the credit of the cadet on the ice-boat, he remained
+the cooler of the two, and he called to his
+fellow-student to run for a fence-rail which might
+be used to rescue the girl and himself. But the
+nearest fence was a long way off, and time, just
+then, was precious.</p>
+
+<p>"Cut a couple of ropes!" sang out Dave, as
+he dashed up. "Cut one and throw it over
+here!"</p>
+
+<p>The cadet left on the overturned craft understood
+the suggestion, and taking out his pocketknife,
+he cut two of the ropes. He tied one fast to
+the other and sent an end spinning out toward
+Dave and the cadet on the ice. The other end of
+the united ropes remained fast to the ice-boat.</p>
+
+<p>By this time Phil and Roger had come up, and
+all the lads on the firm ice took hold of the rope
+and pulled with all their might. Dave directed the
+operation, and slowly the ice-boat came up from the
+hole into which it had partly sunk and slid over
+toward the shore.</p>
+
+<p>"Hurrah! we've got her!" cried Phil.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Vera, are you hurt?" asked the girl on the
+ice, anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>"Not at all, Mary; only one foot is wet," answered
+the girl who had been rescued.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I'm so glad!" And then the two girls
+embraced in the joy of their escape.</p>
+
+<p>"I'd like to know where that big snowball came
+from," growled the cadet who had been flung off
+the ice-boat when the shock came. He looked at
+Dave and his companions. "Did you start that
+thing?"</p>
+
+<p>"We did," answered Dave, "but we didn't
+know you were coming."</p>
+
+<p>"It was a mighty careless thing to do," put in the
+cadet who had been rescued. "We might have
+been drowned!"</p>
+
+<p>"I believe they did it on purpose," said the
+other cadet. He looked at the letters on a sweater
+Roger wore. "You're from Oak Hall, aren't
+you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"Thought you'd have some sport, eh?" This
+was said with a sneer. "Say, Cabot, we ought to
+give 'em something for this," he added, turning to
+his fellow-cadet.</p>
+
+<p>"So we should," growled Cabot, who chanced
+to be the owner of the craft that had been damaged.
+"They have got to pay for breaking the
+ice-boat, anyway."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Mr. Anderson, please don't get into a
+quarrel!" pleaded one of the girls.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, those rowdies deserve a thrashing," answered
+Anderson. He was a big fellow, with
+rather a hard look on his face.</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, but we are not rowdies," retorted
+Roger. "We were having a little fun and did
+not dream of striking you with the snowball."</p>
+
+<p>"If you know anything about the river, you
+know ice-boats and skaters rarely if ever come this
+way," added Phil. "The ice around here is always
+full of air-holes and consequently dangerous."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you haven't got to teach me where to go,"
+growled Anderson.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm only stating a fact."</p>
+
+<p>"The ice is certainly not very nice around
+here," said one of the girls. "Perhaps we might
+have gotten into a hole even if the big snowball
+hadn't struck us."</p>
+
+<p>At this remark Dave and his chums gave the
+girl a grateful look. The cadets were annoyed,
+and one whispered something to the other.</p>
+
+<p>"You fellows get to work and fix the ice-boat,"
+said Cabot.</p>
+
+<p>"And do it quick, too," added Anderson.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I think I'll walk the rest of the way home," said one of the girls.
+"Will you come along, Vera?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," answered the other. She stepped up
+to Dave's side. "Thank you for telling Mr.
+Cabot what to do, and for pulling us out of the
+hole," she went on, and gave the boys a warm
+smile.</p>
+
+<p>"Going to leave us?" growled Anderson.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"That ain't fair. You promised&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"To take a ride on the ice-boat," finished the
+girl named Vera. "We did it, and now I am going
+home."</p>
+
+<p>"And so am I," added the other girl. "Good-bye."</p>
+
+<p>"But see here&mdash;&mdash;" went on Anderson, and
+caught the girl named Vera by the arm.</p>
+
+<p>"Please let go, Mr. Anderson."</p>
+
+<p>"I want&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Let the young lady go if she wishes to," said
+Dave, stepping up.</p>
+
+<p>"This isn't your affair," blustered Anderson.</p>
+
+<p>"No gentleman would detain a lady against her
+will."</p>
+
+<p>"Good-bye," said the girl, and stepped back
+several paces when released by the cadet.</p>
+
+<p>"All right, Vera Rockwell, I'll not take you out
+again," growled Anderson, seeing she was bound
+to go.</p>
+
+<p>"You'll not have the chance, thank you!" flung
+back the girl, and then she joined her companion,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>
+and both hurried away from the shore and to a
+road running near by.</p>
+
+<p>After the girls had gone there was an awkward
+silence. Both Cabot and Anderson felt sore to be
+treated in this fashion, and especially in the presence
+of those from Oak Hall, a rival institution to
+that where they belonged.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what are you going to do about the damage
+done?" grumbled Anderson.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think the ice-boat is damaged much,"
+answered Dave. "Let us look her over and
+see."</p>
+
+<p>"If she is, you'll pay the bill," came from Cabot.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, we can do that easily enough," answered
+Roger lightly.</p>
+
+<p>The craft was righted and inspected. The damage
+proved to be trifling and the ice-boat was speedily
+made fit for use.</p>
+
+<p>"If I find she isn't all right, I'll make some of
+you foot the bill," said Cabot.</p>
+
+<p>"I am willing to pay for all damage done," answered
+Dave. "My name is Dave Porter."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh! I've heard of you," said Anderson.
+"You're on the Oak Hall football team."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and I've had the pleasure of helping to
+beat Rockville," answered Dave, and could not
+help grinning.</p>
+
+<p>"Humph! Wait till next season! We'll show
+you a thing or two," growled Anderson, and then
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>
+he and Cabot boarded the ice-boat, trimmed the
+sail, and stood off down the river.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, they are what I call a couple of pills,"
+was Phil's comment. "I don't see how two nice
+girls could go out with them."</p>
+
+<p>"They certainly were two nice girls," answered
+Roger. "That Vera Rockwell had beautiful eyes
+and hair. And did you see the smile she gave
+Dave! Dave, you're the lucky one!"</p>
+
+<p>"That other girl is named Mary Feversham,"
+answered Phil. "Her father is connected with
+the express company. I met her once, but she
+doesn't seem to remember me. I think she is
+better-looking than Miss Rockwell."</p>
+
+<p>"Gracious, Phil must be smitten!" cried
+Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"When is it to come off, Phil?" asked the senator's
+son. "We want time to buy presents, you
+know."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you can poke fun if you want to," grumbled
+the shipowner's son. "She's a nice girl and
+I'd like to have the chance to meet her. Somebody
+said she was a good skater."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, if you go skating with her, ask Miss
+Rockwell to come, too, and I'll be at the corner
+waiting for you," said the senator's son. "That
+is, if Dave don't try to cut me out."</p>
+
+<p>"No danger&mdash;Jessie wouldn't allow it," replied
+Phil.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"You leave Jessie out of it," answered Dave,
+flushing a trifle. "Just the same, I agree with both
+of you, those girls looked to be very nice."</p>
+
+<p>The three boys walked along the river bank for
+nearly half a mile before they came in sight of the
+<i>Snowbird</i>. Then Messmer and Henshaw wanted
+to know what had kept them so long.</p>
+
+<p>"I'd not go in there with my boat," said Messmer,
+after he had heard their story. "Those air-holes
+are too dangerous."</p>
+
+<p>When the lads got back to Oak Hall they found
+a free-for-all snowball fight in progress. One
+crowd was on the campus and the other in the road
+beyond.</p>
+
+<p>"This suits me!" cried Roger. "Come on,
+Dave," and he joined the force on the road. His
+chums did the same, and sent the snowballs flying
+at a brisk rate.</p>
+
+<p>The fight was a furious one for over an hour.
+The force on the campus outnumbered those in the
+road and the latter were driven to where the highway
+made a turn and where there were several
+clumps of trees and bushes. Here, Dave called on
+those around him to make a stand, and the other
+crowd was halted in its onward rush.</p>
+
+<p>"Here comes Horsehair in a cutter!" cried one
+of the students, presently. "Let us give him a
+salute."</p>
+
+<p>"All right!" called back Dave. "Some snow
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>
+will make him strong, and brush off some of the
+hair he carries around with him."</p>
+
+<p>The boys made a number of snowballs and, led
+by Dave, waited for the appearance of the cutter.
+Soon it turned the bend, the horse on a trot and the
+sleighbells jingling merrily.</p>
+
+<p>"Now then, all together!" shouted Dave, and
+prepared to hurl a snowball at the man who was
+driving.</p>
+
+<p>"Hold on!" yelled Roger, suddenly.</p>
+
+<p>But the warning cry came too late for Dave and
+Phil, who were in the lead. They let fly their
+snowballs, and the man in the cutter was struck in
+the chin and the ear. He fell backward, but speedily
+recovered and stopped his horse.</p>
+
+<p>"You young rascals!" he spluttered hoarsely.
+"What do you mean by snowballing me in this
+fashion!"</p>
+
+<p>"Job Haskers!" murmured Dave, in consternation.</p>
+
+<p>"What a mistake!" groaned Phil. "We are
+in for it now!"</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">PRISONERS IN THE SCHOOL</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Dave and Phil had indeed made a serious mistake,
+and they knew at once that they were in for
+a severe lecture, and worse. Job Haskers was
+naturally an irascible man, and for the past few
+days he had been in a particularly bad humor.</p>
+
+<p>"Excuse me, Mr. Haskers," said Dave, respectfully.
+"I didn't know you were in the cutter."</p>
+
+<p>"You did it on purpose&mdash;don't deny it, Porter!"
+fumed the teacher. "It is outrageous, infamous,
+that a pupil of Oak Hall should act so!"</p>
+
+<p>"Really, Mr. Haskers, it was a mistake," spoke
+up Phil. "We thought it was Horsehair&mdash;I mean
+Lemond, who was driving."</p>
+
+<p>"Bah! Do I look like Lemond? And, anyway,
+what right would you have to snowball the driver
+for this school? It is scandalous! I shall make
+an example of you. Report to me at the office in
+five minutes, both of you!"</p>
+
+<p>The boys' hearts sank at this order, and they
+felt worse when they suddenly remembered that
+both Doctor Clay and Mr. Dale were away and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>
+that, consequently, Job Haskers was, for the time
+being, in authority. The teacher went back to the
+cutter, took up the reins, and drove out of sight
+around the campus entrance.</p>
+
+<p>"Too bad!" was Roger's comment. "I yelled
+to you not to throw."</p>
+
+<p>"I know you did, but I had already done so,"
+answered Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"And so had I," added Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, that puts me in mind of a story," exclaimed
+Shadow, who was in the crowd. "A man
+once had a mule&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Who wants to listen to a story at this time?"
+broke in Ben Basswood.</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind, let's have the yarn," said Dave.
+"Perhaps it will serve to brighten our gloom," and
+he smiled feebly.</p>
+
+<p>"This man had a mule in which a neighbor was
+very much interested," continued Shadow. "One
+day the mule got sick, and every day after that the
+neighbor would tell the owner of some new remedy
+for curing him. One day he came over to where
+the mule-owner lived. 'Say,' he says, 'I've got the
+best remedy a-going. You must try it.' 'Don't
+think I will,' answered the mule-owner. 'Oh, but
+you must, I insist,' said the neighbor. 'It will
+sure cure your mule and set him on his feet again.'
+'I don't think so,' said the mule-owner. 'But I
+am positive,' cried the neighbor. 'Just give it a
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>
+trial.' 'Never,' said the mule-owner. Then the
+neighbor got mad. 'Say, why won't you try this
+remedy?' he growled. 'I won't because the mule
+is dead,' answered the other man. Then the neighbor
+went home in deep thought."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, that's to the point," said the senator's
+son, laughing. "For I told them to stop after the
+damage was done."</p>
+
+<p>In no enviable frame of mind Dave and Phil
+walked into the school, took off their outer garments
+and caps, and made their way to the office.
+Job Haskers had not yet come in, and they had to
+wait several minutes for him.</p>
+
+<p>As has been said, the teacher was in far from a
+friendly humor. Some months before he had invested
+a portion of his savings in some mining
+stock, thinking that he would be able to make
+money fast. Now the stock had become practically
+worthless, and that very morning he had learned
+that he would never be able to get more than ten
+per cent. of his money back.</p>
+
+<p>"You are a couple of scamps," he said, harshly.
+"I am going to teach you a needed lesson." And
+then the two boys saw that he held behind him a
+carriage-whip.</p>
+
+<p>Dave and Phil were astonished, and with good
+reason. So far as they knew, corporal punishment
+was not permitted at Oak Hall excepting on very
+rare occasions,&mdash;where a pupil had taken his choice
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>
+of a whipping or expulsion. Was it possible that
+Job Haskers intended to chastise them bodily?</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Haskers, I am very sorry that I hit you
+with that snowball," said Dave. "As I said before,
+I did not know it was you, and it was only
+thrown in fun."</p>
+
+<p>"What Dave says is true," added Phil. "I
+hope you will accept my apology for what happened."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll accept no apologies!" fumed Job Haskers.
+"It was done on purpose, and you must both suffer
+for it," and the teacher brandished the whip
+as if to strike them then and there.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Haskers, what do you intend to do?"
+asked Dave, quietly but firmly.</p>
+
+<p>"I intend to give you the thrashing you
+deserve!"</p>
+
+<p>"With that whip?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, with this whip."</p>
+
+<p>"You'll not do it, sir!"</p>
+
+<p>"What!"</p>
+
+<p>"I say, you'll not do it, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"Hum! We'll see about this!" And the
+teacher glared at Dave as if to eat him up.</p>
+
+<p>"You have no authority to whip us," put in
+Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"Who says so?"</p>
+
+<p>"I say so."</p>
+
+<p>"And Phil is right," added Dave. "I'll not
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>
+allow it, so you may as well put that whip
+away."</p>
+
+<p>"I'd like to know who is master here, you or
+I?" demanded Job Haskers, turning red with rage.</p>
+
+<p>"Doctor Clay is master here, and we are under
+his care. If you try to strike me with that whip
+I'll report the matter to him," answered Dave.
+"You may punish me any other way, if you wish,
+but I won't put up with a whipping."</p>
+
+<p>"And I won't be whipped either," added Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll show you!" roared Job Haskers, and raising
+the whip he tried to bring it down on Dave's
+head. The youth dodged, turned, and caught the
+whip in his hands.</p>
+
+<p>"Let go that whip, Porter!"</p>
+
+<p>"I will not&mdash;not until you promise not to strike
+at me again."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll promise nothing! Let go, I say!"</p>
+
+<p>The teacher struggled to get the whip free of
+Dave's grasp, and a scuffle ensued. Dave was
+forced up against a side stand, upon which stood a
+beautiful marble statue of Mercury.</p>
+
+<p>"Look out for the statue!" cried Phil, in alarm,
+but even as he spoke Dave was shoved back, and
+over went the stand and ornament, the statue
+breaking into several pieces.</p>
+
+<p>"There, now see what you've done!" cried Job
+Haskers, as the battle ceased for the moment, and
+Dave let go the whip.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"It wasn't my fault&mdash;you shoved me into it,"
+answered Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"It was your fault, and you'll pay the damages.
+That statue was worth at least fifty dollars. And
+you'll take your thrashing, too," added the teacher,
+vindictively.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you dare to hit Dave," cried Phil, "or
+me either, Mr. Haskers. You can punish us, but
+you can't whip us, so there!"</p>
+
+<p>"Ha! Both of you defy me, eh?"</p>
+
+<p>"We are not to be whipped, and that settles it,"
+said Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"I presume you think, because you are two to
+one, you can get the better of me," sneered the
+teacher. He knew the two boys were strong, and
+he did not wish to risk a fight with them.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want to get the better of anybody, but
+I am not going to let you whip me," answered
+Dave, stubbornly.</p>
+
+<p>"If you are willing, we'll leave the matter to
+Doctor Clay," suggested the shipowner's son.</p>
+
+<p>"You come with me," returned the teacher
+abruptly, and led the way out of the office to a
+small room used for the storage of schoolbooks
+and writing-pads. The room had nothing but a
+big closet and had a small window, set up high in
+the wall. The shelves on the walls were full of
+new books and on the floor were piles of volumes
+that had seen better days.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Going to lock us in, I guess," whispered Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, he can do it if he wants to, but he
+shan't whip me," answered Dave, in an equally low
+tone.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, you can stay here for the present,"
+growled Job Haskers, as he held open the door.
+"And don't you dare to make any noise either."</p>
+
+<p>"What about supper?" asked Dave, for he was
+hungry.</p>
+
+<p>"You shall have something to eat when the
+proper time comes."</p>
+
+<p>The boys walked into the room, and Job Haskers
+immediately closed the door and locked it,
+placing the key in his pocket. Then the lads heard
+him walk away, and all became silent, for the book-room
+was located between two classrooms which
+were not in use on Saturdays and Sundays.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what do you make of this?" asked the
+shipowner's son, after an awkward pause.</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing&mdash;what is there to make, Phil? Here
+we are, and likely to stay for a while."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you going to pay for that broken statue?"</p>
+
+<p>"Was it my fault it was broken?"</p>
+
+<p>"No&mdash;he ran you into the stand."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I don't see why I ought to pay."</p>
+
+<p>"He may claim you had no right to fight him
+off."</p>
+
+<p>"He had no right to attack me with the whip.
+I don't think Doctor Clay will stand for that."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"If he does, he isn't the man I thought he was."</p>
+
+<p>The two youths walked around the little room,
+gazing at the rows of books. Then Dave stood on
+a pile of old books and looked out of the small
+window.</p>
+
+<p>"See anything worth looking at?" asked his
+chum.</p>
+
+<p>"No, all I can see is a corner of the campus and
+a lot of snow. Nobody is in sight."</p>
+
+<p>"Wonder how long old Haskers intends to keep
+us here?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm sure I don't know."</p>
+
+<p>With nothing to do, the boys looked over some
+schoolbooks. They were not of great interest, and
+soon it grew too dark to read. Phil gave a long
+sigh.</p>
+
+<p>"This is exciting, I must say," he said, sarcastically.</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind, it will be exciting enough when
+we face Doctor Clay."</p>
+
+<p>"I'd rather face him than old Haskers, Dave."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, so would I! When will the doctor be
+back?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know."</p>
+
+<p>An hour went by, and the two prisoners heard
+a muffled tramping of feet which told them that
+the other students had assembled in the dining hall
+for supper. The thought of the bountiful tables
+made them both more hungry than ever.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I'd give as much as a dollar for a couple of
+good sandwiches," said the shipowner's son, dismally.
+"Seems to me, I'm hollow clear down to
+my heels!"</p>
+
+<p>"Wait, I've got an idea!" returned Dave.</p>
+
+<p>He felt in his pocket and brought forth several
+keys. Just as he did this they heard footsteps in the
+hallway, and Dave slipped the keys back in his
+pocket.</p>
+
+<p>The door was flung open and Job Haskers appeared,
+followed by one of the dining room waiters,
+who carried a tray containing two glasses of milk
+and half a dozen slices of bread and butter.</p>
+
+<p>"Here is something for you to eat," said the
+teacher, and directed the waiter to place the tray
+on a pile of books.</p>
+
+<p>"Is this all we are to have?" demanded Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm hungry!" growled Phil. "That won't
+satisfy me."</p>
+
+<p>"It will have to satisfy you, Lawrence."</p>
+
+<p>"I think it's a shame!"</p>
+
+<p>"I want no more words with you," retorted Job
+Haskers, and motioned the waiter to leave the
+room. Then he went out, locking the door and
+pocketing the key as before.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, if this isn't the limit!" growled Phil.
+"A glass of milk and three slices of bread and
+butter apiece!"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, we shan't starve, Phil," and Dave
+grinned to himself in the semi-darkness.</p>
+
+<p>"And no light to eat by&mdash;and the room more
+than half cold. Dave, are you going to stand
+this?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am not," was the firm response.</p>
+
+<p>"What are you going to do?"</p>
+
+<p>"Get out of here&mdash;if I possibly can," was
+Dave's reply.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">A MOVE IN THE DARK</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Dave took the bunch of keys from his pocket
+and approached the door. He tried one key after
+another, but none of them appeared to fit. Then
+Phil brought out such keys as he possessed, but all
+proved unavailable.</p>
+
+<p>"That is one idea knocked in the head," said
+Dave, and heaved a sigh.</p>
+
+<p>"I am going to tackle the bread and milk," said
+Phil. "It is better than nothing."</p>
+
+<p>"It won't make us suffer from indigestion
+either," answered Dave, with a short laugh.</p>
+
+<p>Sitting on some of the old schoolbooks the two
+youths ate the scanty meal Job Haskers had provided.
+To help pass the time they made the meal
+last as long as possible, eating every crumb of the
+bread and draining the milk to the last drop. The
+bread was stale, and they felt certain the teacher
+had furnished that which was old on purpose.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll wager he'd like to hammer the life out of
+us," was Phil's comment. "Just wait and see the
+story he cooks up to tell Doctor Clay!"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Wonder what the other fellows think of our
+absence, Phil?"</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe they have asked Haskers about it."</p>
+
+<p>Having disposed of all there was to eat and
+drink, the two lads walked around the little room
+to keep warm. Then Dave went at the door again,
+examining the lock with great care, and feeling of
+the hinges.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I declare!" he cried, almost joyfully.</p>
+
+<p>"What now, Dave?"</p>
+
+<p>"This door has hinges that set into this room
+and are held together by little rods running from
+the top to the bottom of each hinge. If we can
+take out the two rods, I am almost certain we can
+open the door from the hinge side!"</p>
+
+<p>This was interesting news, and Phil came forward
+to aid Dave in removing the tiny rod which
+held the two parts of each hinge together. It was
+no easy task, for the rods were somewhat rusted,
+but at last both were removed, and then the boys
+felt the door give way at that point.</p>
+
+<p>Now that they could get out, Phil wanted to
+know what was to be done next.</p>
+
+<p>"I think I'll go out and hunt up something to
+eat on the sly," answered Dave. "Then we can
+come back here and wait for Doctor Clay's
+arrival."</p>
+
+<p>"Good! I'll go with you. I don't want you to
+run the risk alone."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>They waited until they felt that the dining room
+was deserted and then pried the door open and
+stole from their prison. Tiptoeing their way
+through the side hall, they reached a door which
+led to a big pantry, connecting the dining room
+and the kitchen. As they had anticipated, the
+pantry held many good things on its shelves, and
+a waiter was bringing in more food from the tables.</p>
+
+<p>"Quick&mdash;take what you want!" whispered
+Dave, when the waiter had disappeared, and catching
+up a plate that contained some cold sliced
+tongue he added to it some baked beans, some bread
+and jam, and two generous slices of cake.</p>
+
+<p>Phil understood, and taking another plate he got
+some of the baked beans, some cold ham, some
+bread and cheese, and a pitcher of milk. Then the
+two boys espied some crullers and stuffed several
+in their pockets. Then Dave saw a candle and
+captured that.</p>
+
+<p>"He's coming back&mdash;skip!" whispered Phil,
+and ran out of the pantry with Dave at his heels.
+A moment later the waiter came in with more
+things, but he did not catch them, nor did he notice
+what they had taken.</p>
+
+<p>As quickly as they could, the two boys returned
+to the book-room, and setting the stuff on the books,
+they lit the candle, and placed the rods back into
+the hinges of the door. So that nobody might
+see the light, they placed a sheet of paper over the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>
+keyhole of the door, and a row of books on the
+floor against the doorsill.</p>
+
+<p>"Now we'll have a little better layout than that
+provided by Mr. Dictatorial Haskers," said Dave,
+and he proceeded to arrange some of the schoolbooks
+in a square in the center of the floor.
+"Might as well have a table while we are at it."</p>
+
+<p>"And a couple of chairs," added Phil, and arranged
+more books for that purpose. Then they
+spread a sheet of paper over the "table," put a
+plate at either end, and the two sat down.</p>
+
+<p>"It's a shame to make you eat without a fork,
+Phil," said Dave, solemnly. "But if you'd rather
+go hungry&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Not on your collar-button!" cried the shipowner's
+son. "A pocketknife is good enough for
+me this trip," and he fell to eating with great gusto,
+and Dave did the same, for what food they had
+had before had only been "a flea bite," as Dave
+expressed it.</p>
+
+<p>Having eaten the most of the food taken from
+the pantry they placed the remainder on the plates
+on a bookshelf. Then Dave looked at his watch.</p>
+
+<p>"Half-past eight," he said. "Wonder how
+long we are to be kept here?"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't ask me, I was never good at conundrums,"
+answered Phil, lightly. Plenty to eat had
+put him in a good humor. "Maybe till morning,
+Dave."</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter"><a id="Its_a_shame"></a>
+<img src="images/p074.jpg" alt=""  width="312" height="500" />
+<div class="topspace1"></div>
+<div class="caption"><span class="smcap">"It's a shame to make you eat without a fork, Phil."</span></div>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p>
+<p>"I shan't stay here until morning&mdash;without a
+bed or coverings."</p>
+
+<p>"What will you do?"</p>
+
+<p>"Go up to the dormitory&mdash;after all the lights
+are out."</p>
+
+<p>"Good! Wonder why I didn't think of
+that?"</p>
+
+<p>"You ate too much, that's why." And Dave
+grinned. He, too, felt better now that he had fully
+satisfied his appetite.</p>
+
+<p>Slowly the time went by till ten o'clock came.
+The prisoners heard tramping overhead, which
+told them the other students were retiring. They
+looked for a visit from Job Haskers, but the
+teacher did not show himself.</p>
+
+<p>"He is going to keep us here until the doctor
+gets back, that is certain," said Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"But the doctor may not come back to-night. I
+heard him say something the other day about going
+to Boston."</p>
+
+<p>At last the school became quiet. By this time
+the boys' candle had burnt itself out, leaving them
+in total darkness. By common impulse they moved
+toward the door.</p>
+
+<p>"What if we meet Murphy?" asked Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll do our best to avoid him, but if we do
+see him I rather think he'll side with us and keep
+quiet," answered Dave. "I know he hates Haskers
+as much as we do."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Hiding what was left of their meal in a corner
+of a shelf, behind some books, the two lads stole
+into the semi-dark hall and up one of the broad
+stairs. They met nobody and gained their dormitory
+with ease. Going inside, each undressed in
+the dark and prepared to retire.</p>
+
+<p>"Who's up?" came sleepily from Roger.</p>
+
+<p>"Hush, Roger," whispered Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, so it's you! Where have you been, and
+what did old Haskers do to you?"</p>
+
+<p>In a few brief words Dave and Phil explained
+what had taken place.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll tell you the rest in the morning," said
+Phil, and then he and Dave hopped into bed and
+under the warm covers. Less than a minute later,
+however, Dave sat up and listened intently. He
+had heard the front door of the school building
+bang shut in the rising wind.</p>
+
+<p>"Phil!"</p>
+
+<p>"What is it now, Dave?"</p>
+
+<p>"I think I just heard Doctor Clay come in."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, bother! I'm going to sleep," said the
+shipowner's son, with a yawn. "I don't think he'll
+trouble us to-night."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm going to see what happens," answered
+Dave, and got up again. Soon he had on a dressing
+gown and slippers, and was tiptoeing his way
+down the hallway. He heard a murmur of voices
+below, and knew then that both the doctor and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>
+Mr. Dale had arrived. Then he heard Mr. Dale
+walk to the rear of the lower floor, and heard
+somebody else come out of the library.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Haskers, what is it?" he heard Doctor
+Clay say.</p>
+
+<p>"I must consult you about two of the students,
+sir," answered Job Haskers. "They have acted
+in a most disgraceful manner. They attacked me
+on the road with icy snowballs, nearly ruining my
+right ear, and when I called them to account in
+the office one of them began to fight and broke
+your statue of Mercury."</p>
+
+<p>"Is it possible!" ejaculated the doctor, in pained
+surprise. "Who were the pupils?"</p>
+
+<p>"David Porter and Philip Lawrence."</p>
+
+<p>"Is this true, Mr. Haskers? Porter and Lawrence
+are usually well-behaved students."</p>
+
+<p>"They acted like ruffians, sir&mdash;especially Porter,
+who attacked me and broke the statue."</p>
+
+<p>"I will look into this without delay. Where
+are they now&mdash;in their room?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I locked them up in the book-room, to
+await your arrival. I did not deem it wise to give
+them their liberty."</p>
+
+<p>"Ahem! prisoners in the book-room, eh? This
+is certainly serious. They cannot remain in the
+room all night."</p>
+
+<p>"It would serve them right to keep them there,"
+grumbled Job Haskers.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"There are no cots in that room for them to
+rest on."</p>
+
+<p>"Then let them rest on the floor! The young
+rascals deserve it."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps I'd better talk it over with the boys
+and see what they have to say, Mr. Haskers," went
+on the doctor, in a mild tone. "I do not believe
+in being too harsh with the students. Perhaps
+they only snowballed you as a bit of sport."</p>
+
+<p>"Doctor Clay, do you uphold them in such an
+action?" demanded the irascible instructor.</p>
+
+<p>"By no means, Mr. Haskers, but&mdash;boys will be
+boys, you know, and we mustn't be too hard on
+them if they occasionally go too far."</p>
+
+<p>"Porter broke that statue,&mdash;and defied me!"</p>
+
+<p>"If he broke the statue, he'll have to pay for
+it,&mdash;and if he defied you in the exercise of your
+proper authority, he shall be punished. But I want
+to hear what they have to say. We'll go to the
+book-room at once, release them, and take them to
+my office."</p>
+
+<p>"It won't be necessary to go to the book-room,
+Doctor Clay," called out Dave from the upper
+landing.</p>
+
+<p>"Why&mdash;er&mdash;is that you, Porter!"</p>
+
+<p>"How did you get out?" cried Job Haskers, in
+consternation. "Didn't I lock that door?"</p>
+
+<p>"You did, but Phil Lawrence and I got out,
+nevertheless," answered Dave.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Where is Lawrence?"</p>
+
+<p>"Up in our room in bed, and I was in bed, too,
+but got up when the doctor came in," added Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I never!" stormed Job Haskers. "You
+see how it is, Doctor Clay; they have even broken
+out of the book-room after I told them to stay
+there!"</p>
+
+<p>"We weren't going to stay in a cold room all
+night with no beds to sleep on, and only bread and
+milk for supper," went on Dave. "I wouldn't
+treat my worst enemy that way."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you say you were in bed when I came in?"
+questioned Doctor Clay.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, sir&mdash;and Phil is there now, unless he just
+got up."</p>
+
+<p>"Here I am," came a voice from behind Dave,
+and the shipowner's son put in an appearance.
+"Do you want us to come downstairs, Doctor? If
+you do, I'll have to go back and put on my clothes
+and shoes."</p>
+
+<p>"And I'll have to go back and dress, too," added
+Dave.</p>
+
+<p>Doctor Clay mused a moment.</p>
+
+<p>"As you are undressed you may as well retire,"
+he said. "I will look into this matter to-morrow
+morning, or Monday morning."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, sir," said both boys.</p>
+
+<p>"But, sir&mdash;&mdash;" commenced Job Haskers.</p>
+
+<p>"It is too late to take up the case now," interrupted
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>
+Doctor Clay. "There is no use in arousing
+anybody at this time of night. Besides, I am very
+tired. We'll all go to bed, and sift this thing out
+later. Boys, you may go."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, sir. Good-night."</p>
+
+<p>And without waiting for another word the two
+chums hurried to their dormitory, leaving Job
+Haskers and the doctor alone.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">VERA ROCKWELL</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Sunday passed, and nothing was said to Dave
+and Phil concerning the unfortunate snowballing
+incident; but on Monday morning, immediately
+after breakfast, both were summoned to Doctor
+Clay's office.</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose we are in for it now," said the shipowner's
+son, dolefully.</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind, Phil; we didn't mean to do
+wrong, and I am going to tell the doctor so. I
+think he will be fair in the matter."</p>
+
+<p>But though Dave spoke thus, he was by no means
+easy in his mind. He had had trouble with Job
+Haskers before and he well knew how the teacher
+could distort facts to make himself out to be a
+much-injured individual.</p>
+
+<p>When the two youths entered the office they
+found Doctor Clay seated at his desk, looking over
+the mail Jackson Lemond had just brought in from
+town. Job Haskers was not present, which fact
+caused the boys to breathe a sigh of relief.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, boys, I want you to give me the particulars
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>
+of what occurred Saturday afternoon," said
+the master of the Hall, as he laid down a letter he
+had been perusing. "Porter, you may relate your
+story first."</p>
+
+<p>Without unnecessary details, Dave told his tale
+in a straightforward manner,&mdash;how the boys had
+been having a snowball fight, how somebody had
+cried out that Horsehair was coming in a cutter,
+and how they had thought to have a little fun with
+the school driver by pelting him with snowballs.</p>
+
+<p>"We have often done it before," went on Dave.
+"Horsehair&mdash;I mean Lemond&mdash;doesn't seem to
+mind it, and sometimes he snowballs us in return."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you did not know it was Mr. Haskers?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, sir&mdash;not until I had thrown the snowball."</p>
+
+<p>Then Dave told of Haskers's anger, and of how
+they had been ordered to the office and had gone
+there.</p>
+
+<p>"I told him I was sorry I had hit him, but he
+would not listen to me, and he wouldn't listen when
+Phil apologized. He said he would accept no
+apologies, but was going to give us the thrashing
+we deserved. Then he took the whip he carried
+and tried to strike me. I wouldn't stand for that
+and I caught hold of the whip. He told me to let
+go and I said I wouldn't unless he promised not
+to strike at me again. Then he struggled to get
+the whip from my grasp and pushed me backward,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>
+against the stand with the statue. The stand
+went over and the statue was broken."</p>
+
+<p>"Wait a moment, Porter." Doctor Clay's
+voice was oddly strained. "Are you certain Mr.
+Haskers tried to strike you with the whip?"</p>
+
+<p>"I certainly am, sir. He raised the whip over
+my head, and if I hadn't dodged I'd have been
+struck, and struck hard."</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Haskers tells me that he simply carried
+the whip to the office to subdue you&mdash;that he was
+afraid both of you might jump on him and do him
+bodily injury."</p>
+
+<p>"Does he say he didn't strike at me?" cried
+Dave, in astonishment, for this was a turn of affairs
+he had not dreamed would occur.</p>
+
+<p>"He says he brandished the whip when you
+came toward him as if to strike him."</p>
+
+<p>"I made no move to strike him, Doctor Clay&mdash;Phil
+will testify to that."</p>
+
+<p>"Dave has told the strict truth, sir," said the
+shipowner's son. "Mr. Haskers did strike at
+him, and it was only by luck that Dave escaped
+the blow. I thought sure he was going to get a
+sound whack on the head."</p>
+
+<p>At these words Doctor Clay's face became a
+study. The teacher had had his say on Sunday
+afternoon, but this version put an entirely different
+aspect on the affair.</p>
+
+<p>"Go on with your story," he said, after a pause.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I am very sorry that the statue was broken,"
+continued Dave. "And I wish to say right here,
+sir, that if you think it was my fault I will willingly
+pay for the damage done. But I think it was entirely
+Mr. Haskers's fault. I always understood
+that no corporal punishment was permitted in this
+school."</p>
+
+<p>"Your understanding on that point is correct,
+Porter. The only exception to the rule is when
+a student becomes violent himself and has to be
+subdued."</p>
+
+<p>"I wasn't violent."</p>
+
+<p>"Please tell the rest of your story."</p>
+
+<p>Then Dave told of the wordy war which had
+followed, and of how he and Phil had been locked
+up and given bread and milk for supper, and of
+how he and his chum had found the book-room
+more than cheerless. He had resolved to make a
+clean breast of it, and so gave the particulars of
+taking the door off its hinges, getting extra food,
+and of finally going upstairs to bed. The latter
+part of the story caused Doctor Clay to turn his
+head away and look out of a window, so that the
+boys might not see the smile that came to his face.
+In his imagination he could see the lads feasting
+on the purloined things in the book-room by candlelight.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Lawrence, what have you to say?" he
+asked, when Dave had finished.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I can't say much, sir&mdash;excepting that Dave has
+told you the truth, and the whole truth at that.
+And I might add, sir, had Mr. Dale or yourself
+been in the cutter I think the whole trouble would
+have been patched up very quickly. But Mr.
+Haskers is so&mdash;so&mdash;impulsive&mdash;he never will listen
+to a fellow,&mdash;and he rushed at Dave like a mad
+bull. I was ready to jump on him when the whip
+went up, and I guess I would have done it if Dave
+had been struck."</p>
+
+<p>"And you are positive you didn't snowball Mr.
+Haskers on purpose?"</p>
+
+<p>"Positive, sir&mdash;and I can prove it by the other
+boys who were in the crowd."</p>
+
+<p>"Hum!" Doctor Clay was silent for fully a
+minute. "You can both go to your classes. If I
+wish to see you further in regard to this&mdash;ahem&mdash;unfortunate
+affair I will let you know."</p>
+
+<p>The boys bowed and went out, and quarter of an
+hour later each was deep in the studies for the day.
+Occasionally their minds wandered to what had
+occurred, and they tried to imagine what the outcome
+would be.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think the doctor will stand for the
+whip," was the way Dave expressed himself, and in
+this surmise he was correct. That very afternoon
+the master of the Hall called the teacher to his
+office, and a warm discussion followed. But what
+was said was never made public. Yet one thing the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>
+boys knew&mdash;Dave was never called upon to pay for
+the broken statue&mdash;Job Haskers had to settle that
+bill.</p>
+
+<p>With the ice so fine on the river, much of the
+boys' off-time was spent in ice-boating and skating.
+One afternoon there was an ice-boat race between
+the <i>Snowbird</i> from Oak Hall, a boat from Rockville
+Military Academy, and two craft owned by
+young men of Oakdale. This brought out a large
+crowd, and each person was enthusiastic over his
+favorite.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope our boat wins!" said Roger, who was
+on skates, as were Dave and Phil and many others.</p>
+
+<p>"So do I," said Dave. "I don't care who
+comes in ahead so long as it's an ice-boat belonging
+to Oak Hall."</p>
+
+<p>"That's pretty good!" cried Sam Day, "seeing
+that we have but one boat in the race."</p>
+
+<p>"Say, that puts me in mind of a story," came
+from Shadow. "One time a lot of young fellows
+in a village organized a fire company. They voted
+to get uniforms and the question came up as to
+what color of shirts they should buy. They talked
+it over, and at last an old fire-fighter in a corner
+got up. 'Buy any color you please,' said he, 'any
+color you please, but be sure it's red!'" And the
+story caused a smile to go around.</p>
+
+<p>The four ice-boats were soon ready for the contest,
+and at a pistol shot they started on the fivemile
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>
+course which had been laid out. Messmer and
+Henshaw were on the <i>Snowbird</i>, which speedily
+took the second place, one of the town boats, named
+the <i>Whistler</i>, leading.</p>
+
+<p>"Hurrah! they are off!"</p>
+
+<p>"What's the matter with the Military Academy
+boat? She's a tail-ender."</p>
+
+<p>"The <i>Lark</i> is third!"</p>
+
+<p>So the cries ran on, as the ice-boats skimmed
+along over the smooth ice, swept clear of nearly
+all the snow by the wind. Dave and his chums
+skated some distance after the boats and then
+halted, to await their return.</p>
+
+<p>"Hurrah, the <i>Snowbird</i> is crawling up on the
+<i>Whistler</i>!" cried Buster Beggs.</p>
+
+<p>"They are neck and neck!" said Luke Watson.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but the <i>Venus</i> is coming up, too," answered
+Phil. "Gracious, but I'll wager those
+Rockville fellows would like to win!"</p>
+
+<p>"The <i>Venus</i> must be a new boat," said Ben
+Basswood. "I never saw her before."</p>
+
+<p>"She is new&mdash;some of the Military Academy
+fellows purchased her last week," answered another
+boy.</p>
+
+<p>The crowd moved on, Dave stopping to fix one
+of his skates, which had become loose. As he
+straightened up, a girl brushed past him and looked
+him full in the face. He saw that she was one of
+the two who had been on the ice-boat at the time of
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>
+the accident. She gave him a sunny smile and he
+very politely tipped his cap to her.</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose you hope your boat will win," she
+said, coming to a halt near him.</p>
+
+<p>"You mean the Oak Hall boat, I suppose?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course, Mr. Porter."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I hope we do win," answered Dave, and
+wondered how she had learned his name. "Don't
+you hope we'll win, too, Miss Rockwell?" he
+continued, seeing that the others had gone
+on and he was practically alone with his new
+acquaintance.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I&mdash;I really don't know," she answered,
+and smiled again. "You see, the <i>Whistler</i> belongs
+to some friends of my big brother, so I suppose
+I ought to want that to win."</p>
+
+<p>"But if the <i>Snowbird</i> is a better boat&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Vera Rockwell gave a merry laugh&mdash;it was her
+nature to laugh a good deal. "Of course if your
+boat is the better of the two&mdash;&mdash; But I am keeping
+you from your friends," she broke off.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I shan't mind that," said Dave politely,
+and he did not mind in the least, for Vera seemed
+so good-natured that he was glad to have a chance
+to talk to her.</p>
+
+<p>"I wanted to meet you," Vera went on, as, without
+hardly noticing it, they skated off side by side.
+"I wanted to thank you for what you and your
+friend did for us the other day."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I guess you had better blame us. If we hadn't
+rolled that big snowball down the hill&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, but you said you didn't mean to hit the
+ice-boat&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Which was true&mdash;we didn't see the ice-boat
+until it was too late. I hope you and your friend
+got home safely?"</p>
+
+<p>"We did. When we reached the road we met
+a farmer we knew with a big sled, and he took
+Mary and me right to our doors."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you live in Oakdale?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes,&mdash;just on the outskirts of the town,&mdash;the
+big brick house with the iron fence around the
+garden."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I've seen that place often. You used to
+have a little black dog who was very friendly and
+would sit up on his hind legs and beg."</p>
+
+<p>"Gyp! Yes, and I have him yet&mdash;and he's the
+cutest you ever saw! He can do all kinds of
+tricks. Some day, when you are passing, if you'll
+stop I'll show you."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, I'll remember, and I'll be sure to
+stop," answered Dave, much pleased with the invitation.</p>
+
+<p>"Here they come! Here they come!" was
+the cry, and suddenly the youth and the girl found
+themselves in a big body of skaters. Vera was
+struck on the arm by one burly man, and would
+have gone down had not Dave supported her.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Better take my hand," said Dave, and the girl
+did so, for she was a little frightened. Then the
+crowd increased, and they had to fall back a little,
+to get out of the jam. Dave looked around for his
+chums, but they were nowhere in sight. Then all
+strained their eyes to behold the finish of the ice-boat
+contest.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">DAVE SPEAKS HIS MIND</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Here they come!"</p>
+
+<p>"The <i>Whistler</i> is ahead!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but the <i>Snowbird</i> is crawling up!"</p>
+
+<p>"See, the <i>Venus</i> has given up."</p>
+
+<p>So the cries ran on, as the ice-boats drew closer
+and closer to the finishing line of the contest. It
+was true the <i>Venus</i>, the craft from the Rockville
+Military Academy, had fallen far behind and
+had given up. The third boat was also well to the
+rear, so the struggle was between the Oak Hall
+craft and the <i>Whistler</i> only.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope we win!" cried Dave, enthusiastically.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, how mean!" answered Vera, reproachfully.
+"Well, I&mdash;er&mdash;I don't mean that exactly,
+but I'd like to see my brother's friends come in
+ahead."</p>
+
+<p>"One thing is sure&mdash;it's going to be close," continued
+Dave. "Can you see at all?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not much&mdash;there is such a crowd in front."</p>
+
+<p>"Too bad! Now if you were a little girl, I'd
+lift you on my shoulder," and he smiled merrily.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Oh, the idea!" And Vera laughed roundly.
+"I can see the tops of the masts, anyway. They
+seem to be about even."</p>
+
+<p>"They are. I think&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"A tie! a tie!" was the cry. Then a wild cheer
+went up, as both ice-boats crossed the line side by
+side. A second later the crowd broke out on the
+course and began skating hither and thither.</p>
+
+<p>"Is it really a tie?" asked the girl.</p>
+
+<p>"So it seems."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I am glad, for now we can both be satisfied."
+Vera looked around somewhat anxiously.
+"Have you seen anything of Mary Feversham?
+She came skating when I did."</p>
+
+<p>"You mean the other young lady who was with
+you on that ice-boat?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"No, I haven't seen her. Perhaps we can find
+her if we skate around a bit."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, but I don't want to trouble you."</p>
+
+<p>"It is no trouble, it will be a pleasure. We
+might&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>At that moment a number of skaters swept by,
+including Nat Poole. The dudish student smiled
+at Vera and then, noticing Dave, stared in astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you know him?" asked Vera, and for a
+moment she frowned.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, he belongs to our school."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" She drew down the corners of her
+pretty mouth. "I&mdash;I didn't know that."</p>
+
+<p>"We are not very friendly&mdash;he doesn't belong
+to my set," Dave went on, for he had not liked that
+smile from Poole, and he was sure Vera had not
+liked it either.</p>
+
+<p>"He spoke to us once&mdash;Mary and me&mdash;one day
+last week when we were skating. He was dressed
+in the height of fashion, and I suppose he thought
+we would be glad to know him. But we didn't answer
+him. Ever since that time he has been smiling
+at us. I wish he'd stop. If he doesn't I shall
+tell my big brother about it."</p>
+
+<p>"If he annoys you too much let me know and
+I'll go at him myself," answered Dave, readily.
+"I've had plenty of trouble with him in the past,
+but I shan't mind a little more." And then he told
+of some of the encounters with the dudish student.
+Vera was greatly interested and laughed heartily
+over the jokes that had been played.</p>
+
+<p>"You boys must have splendid times!" she
+cried. "Oh, don't you know, sometimes I wish
+I were a boy!" And then she told something of
+her own doings and the doings of Mary Feversham,
+who was her one chum. Along with their
+relatives, the girls had spent the summer on the St.
+Lawrence, and the previous winter they had been
+to Florida, which made Dave conclude that they
+were well-to-do.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>They skated around a little more and soon met
+Mary Feversham, who was with Vera's big
+brother. Then Roger and Phil came up; and all
+were introduced to each other.</p>
+
+<p>"The girls told me about the big snowball affair,"
+said Rob Rockwell. "I told 'em it served
+'em right for going out with those Military Academy
+chaps. Those fellows never struck me right&mdash;they
+put on too many airs. We wouldn't stand
+for that sort of thing at my college."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, the race was a tie between our boat and
+the boat of your friend," said Dave, to change the
+subject. "They'll have to race over again some
+day."</p>
+
+<p>"Jackson let one of his ropes break at the turn,"
+answered Rob Rockwell. "That threw his sail
+over and put him behind&mdash;otherwise he might have
+won."</p>
+
+<p>Rob was a college youth, big, round-faced, and
+with a loud voice and somewhat positive manner.
+But he was a good fellow, and Dave and his chums
+took to him immediately, and the two parties did
+not separate until it was time for the Oak Hall
+students to return to that institution. At parting
+Vera gave Dave a pleasant smile.</p>
+
+<p>"Remember the dog," she said.</p>
+
+<p>"I certainly shall," he answered, and smiled in
+return.</p>
+
+<p>"What did she mean about a dog?" questioned
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>
+Roger, a minute later, when the chums were skating
+for the school dock.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, not much," answered Dave, evasively.
+"She told me where she lived and I said I remembered
+seeing her little black dog, and then she said
+he could do all kinds of tricks, and if I'd stop there
+some time she'd show me." And hardly knowing
+why, Dave blushed slightly.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, that's it," answered the senator's son, and
+then said no more. But in his heart he was just
+a little bit jealous because he had not been invited
+to call too. Vera's open-hearted, jolly manner
+pleased him fully as much as it pleased Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"They are all-right girls," was Phil's comment,
+when the boys were taking off their skates. "That
+Vera Rockwell is full of fun, I suspect. But I
+rather prefer Mary Feversham, even if she is more
+quiet."</p>
+
+<p>"Going to marry her soon, Phil?" asked Dave,
+quizzically.</p>
+
+<p>"Sure," was the unabashed reply. "The ceremony
+will take place on the thirty-first of next
+February, at four minutes past two o'clock in the
+evening. Omit flowers, but send in all the solid
+silver dollars you wish." And this remark caused
+the others to laugh.</p>
+
+<p>Two days later Link Merwell came back to
+school. Dave did not see the bully on his arrival,
+and the pair did not meet until Dave went to one
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>
+of the classrooms to recite. Then, much to his
+surprise, Merwell greeted him with a friendly nod.</p>
+
+<p>"How do you do, Porter?" he said, pleasantly.</p>
+
+<p>"How are you, Merwell?" was the cold response.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I'm pretty well, thank you," went on Link
+Merwell, easily. "Fine weather we are having.
+I suppose skating is just elegant. I brought along
+a new pair of skates and I hope to have lots of fun
+on them." The bully came closer. "Had the
+pleasure of meeting your sister out West," he continued
+in a lower tone. "My! but I was surprised!
+You were a lucky dog to find your father and
+Laura. See you later." And the bully passed on
+to his seat.</p>
+
+<p>Dave's face flushed and his heart beat rapidly.
+As my old readers know he had good cause to feel
+a resentment against Link Merwell, and it was maddening
+to have the bully mention Laura's name.
+He could see why the fellow was acting so cordially&mdash;it
+was solely on Laura's account. Evidently he
+considered his acquaintanceship with Laura quite
+an intimate one.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll have to open his eyes to the truth," thought
+Dave. "And the sooner it is done the better."
+Then he turned to his lessons. But it was hard
+work to get the bully out of his mind, and he made
+several mistakes in reciting ancient history, much
+to Mr. Dale's surprise.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"You will have to study this over again," said
+the head teacher, kindly. And he marked a 6
+against Dave's name, when the pupil might have
+had a 10.</p>
+
+<p>Dave's opportunity to "have it out" with Link
+Merwell came the next afternoon, when he had
+gone for a short skate, previous to starting work
+on the essay which he hoped would win the prize.
+The two met at the boathouse, and fortunately
+nobody else was near.</p>
+
+<p>"Going skating, I see," said Merwell, airily.
+"Finest sport going, I think. I wish your sister
+was here to enjoy it with us, don't you? I sent
+her a letter to-day. I suppose she told you we
+were having a little correspondence&mdash;just for fun,
+you know."</p>
+
+<p>"See here, Link Merwell, we may as well have
+an understanding now as later," began Dave, earnestly.
+"I want to talk to you before anybody
+comes. I want you to leave my sister alone,&mdash;I
+want you to stop speaking about her, and stop writing
+to her. She told me about her trip west, and
+how she met you, and all that. At that time she
+didn't know you as I know you. But I've told her
+about you, and you can take it from me that she
+doesn't want to hear from you again. She is very
+sorry she ever met you and wrote to you."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, that's it, eh?" Link Merwell's face had
+grown first red and then deathly pale. "So you
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>
+put in your oar, eh? Blackened my character all
+you could, I suppose." He shut his teeth with a
+snap. "You'd better take care!"</p>
+
+<p>"I simply told her the truth."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, I know just how you can talk, Porter!
+And did she say she wouldn't write to me any
+more?"</p>
+
+<p>"She did. Now I want to know something
+more. What did you do with the letters she sent
+you?"</p>
+
+<p>"I kept them."</p>
+
+<p>"I want you to give them to me."</p>
+
+<p>"To you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and I will send them to her."</p>
+
+<p>"Not much! They are my letters and I intend
+to keep them!" cried Link Merwell. His face
+took on a cunning look. "If you think you are
+going to get those letters away from me you are
+mistaken."</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe I can force you to give them up, Merwell."</p>
+
+<p>"What will you do&mdash;fight? If you try that
+game, Porter, I'll let every fellow in this school
+know what brought the fight about&mdash;and let them
+read the letters."</p>
+
+<p>"You are a gentleman, I must say," answered
+Dave. He paused for a moment. "Then you
+won't give them up?"</p>
+
+<p>"Positively, no."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Then listen to me, Link Merwell. Sooner or
+later I'll make you give them up. In the meantime,
+if I hear of your letting anybody else read those
+letters, or know of them, I'll give you a ten times
+worse thrashing than I did before I left this school
+to go to Europe. Now remember that, for I mean
+every word I say."</p>
+
+<p>"You can't make me give up the letters," said
+Merwell, doggedly. He was somewhat cowed
+by Dave's earnest manner.</p>
+
+<p>"I can and I will."</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe you think I've got them in my trunk?
+If so, you are mistaken."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't care where you have them&mdash;I'll get
+them sometime. And remember, don't you dare
+to write to my sister again, or don't you dare to
+speak to her when you meet her."</p>
+
+<p>"To listen to your talk, you'd think you were my
+master, Porter," sneered the bully, but his lips
+trembled slightly as he spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"Not at all. But I want you to let my sister
+alone, that's all. All the decent fellows in this
+school know what you are, and it is no credit to any
+young lady to know you."</p>
+
+<p>"Bah! I consider myself a better fellow than
+you are," snarled the bully. "You are rich now,
+but we all know how you were brought up,&mdash;among
+a lot of poorhou&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Link Merwell stopped suddenly and took a hasty
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>
+step backward. At his last words Dave's fists had
+doubled up and a light as of fire had come into his
+eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Not another word, Merwell," said Dave, in a
+strained voice. "Not one&mdash;or I'll bang your head
+against the wall until you yell for mercy. I can
+stand some things, but I can't stand that&mdash;and I
+won't!"</p>
+
+<p>A silence followed, during which each youth
+glared at the other. Merwell had his skates in his
+hand and made a movement as if to lift them up
+and bring them down on Dave's head. But then
+his arm dropped to his side, for that terrible look
+of danger was still in the eyes of the youth who
+had spent some years of his life in the Crumville
+poorhouse.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll have this out some other time," he muttered,
+and slunk out of the boathouse like a
+whipped cur.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">AT THE OLD GRANARY</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>There was to be a skating race that afternoon
+and Dave had thought to take part. But now he
+was in no humor for mingling with his fellow-students
+and so took a long walk, along the snow-covered
+road beyond Oak Hall.</p>
+
+<p>At first his mind was entirely on Link Merwell,
+and on his sister Laura and the letters she had
+written to the bully. To be sure, Laura had told
+him that the letters contained only a lot of girlish
+nonsense, yet he was more than sorry Merwell held
+them and he would have given much to have gotten
+them away from the fellow he despised.</p>
+
+<p>Returning to the Hall some time before supper,
+Dave went up to his dormitory. Only Bertram
+Vane was there, translating Latin.</p>
+
+<p>"Come to study, Dave?" he questioned pleasantly,
+hardly glancing up from his work.</p>
+
+<p>"I've come to work on that essay, Polly,"
+Dave answered.</p>
+
+<p>"You mean the Past and Future of Our
+Country?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Yes. Shall you try for the prize?"</p>
+
+<p>"I may&mdash;I haven't got that far yet. It seems to
+me you are beginning early."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I am merely going to jot down some ideas
+I have. Then, from time to time, I'll add to those
+ideas, and do the real writing later."</p>
+
+<p>"That's a good plan. Maybe&mdash;&mdash;" And then
+Polly Vane stopped speaking and lost himself in
+his Latin lesson. He was very studious as well as
+girlish, but one of the best fellows in the school.</p>
+
+<p>Dave went to work, and so easily did his ideas
+flow that it was supper time before he had them all
+transferred to paper. The subject interested him
+greatly and he felt in his heart that he could do it
+full justice.</p>
+
+<p>"But I must work carefully," he told himself.
+"If I don't, some other paper may be better than
+mine."</p>
+
+<p>The students were flocking in from the campus,
+the gymnasium, and the river. Some came upstairs,
+to wash up before going to the dining room.
+Among the number was Chip Macklin, the young
+pupil who had in times gone by been the toady of
+Gus Plum when Plum had been the Hall bully.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Dave Porter!" cried Chip, and running
+up, he clutched Dave by the arm.</p>
+
+<p>"What is it, Chip?" asked Dave, seeing the
+little boy was white and trembling. "What's
+wrong?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I&mdash;I don't know whether to tell you or
+not," whispered Chip. "It's awful&mdash;dreadful!"
+He looked around, to make certain nobody else
+was near.</p>
+
+<p>"What is awful?"</p>
+
+<p>Again Chip looked around. "You won't say
+that I told you, will you? I suppose I ought to
+tell somebody&mdash;or do something&mdash;but perhaps
+Plum wouldn't like it. He can't be left out where
+he is,&mdash;he might freeze to death!"</p>
+
+<p>"See here, Chip, explain yourself," and Dave's
+voice became somewhat stern.</p>
+
+<p>"I will! I will! But it is so awful! Why, the
+Doctor may suspend Gus! And I thought he was
+going to reform!" Chip Macklin's voice trembled
+so he could hardly frame the words.</p>
+
+<p>"Will you tell me just what you mean?"</p>
+
+<p>"I will if&mdash;if you'll try to help Gus, Dave.
+Oh, I know you'll help him&mdash;you did before!
+It's such a shame to see him throw himself
+away!"</p>
+
+<p>Dave looked the small student in the eyes and
+there was a moment of silence.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess I know what you mean, Chip. Where
+is Gus?"</p>
+
+<p>"Come on and I'll show you."</p>
+
+<p>The pair hurried downstairs. In the lower hall
+they ran into Shadow.</p>
+
+<p>"I was looking for you, Dave," said the story-teller
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span>
+of the school. "I want you to do something
+for me and&mdash;and for Gus Plum."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Shadow, Chip&mdash;&mdash; What do you know
+about Gus?"</p>
+
+<p>The three boys stared at each other. On the
+instant they felt all knew what was wrong.</p>
+
+<p>"Was that what you said you'd tell me about
+sometime, Shadow?" asked Dave, in a whisper.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"Then it has happened before?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, about three weeks after you and Roger
+went to Europe. I met him on the road, coming
+to the school after spending several hours at some
+tavern in Oakdale. He wouldn't say where he got
+the liquor. I wouldn't let him come to Oak Hall
+until late at night. Then we got in by a side door
+and I helped him to get to bed. In the morning
+he was quite sick, but I don't think anybody suspected
+the cause. That afternoon he told me he
+would never touch liquor again."</p>
+
+<p>While Shadow was talking the three boys had
+left the school buildings and were hurrying around
+to the rear of one of the carriage sheds. Here was
+a small building which had once been used as a
+granary but was now partly filled with old garden
+implements and cut wood.</p>
+
+<p>It was dark in the building and from a corner
+came the sounds of somebody breathing heavily.
+Shadow struck a match and held it up.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>There, upon a pile of old potato sacks, lay Gus
+Plum, sleeping soundly. Close at hand lay a small
+flask which had contained liquor but which
+was now empty. Dave smelt of it, and then,
+going to the doorway, threw it far out into the
+deep snow.</p>
+
+<p>If Dave's heart had never been heavy before
+it was heavy now. Gus Plum had promised faithfully
+to reform and he had imagined that the
+former bully would keep his word. But, according
+to Shadow's statement, Plum had fallen from grace
+twice, and if he would reform at all was now a
+question.</p>
+
+<p>"It's fearful, isn't it, Dave?" said the story-teller
+of the school, in a whisper.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Shadow, I&mdash;I hardly know what to say&mdash;I
+hoped for so much from Gus&mdash;I thought he'd
+make one of the best fellows in this school after
+all&mdash;after he had lived down the past. But
+now&mdash;&mdash;" Dave's voice broke and he could not
+go on for a moment.</p>
+
+<p>"We can't leave him here&mdash;and if we take him
+into the school&mdash;&mdash;" began Chip Macklin.</p>
+
+<p>"How long has he been here?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not over an hour or two," answered Shadow.</p>
+
+<p>"He must have gone to town for the liquor."</p>
+
+<p>"Unless he had it on hand&mdash;he went to town a
+couple of days ago," said Chip.</p>
+
+<p>"We've got to do something quick&mdash;or we'll
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>
+be missed from the dining hall," continued
+Shadow.</p>
+
+<p>"You fellows can go back, Shadow; I'll take
+care of him. Make some kind of an excuse for
+my absence&mdash;say I didn't care for anything to
+eat."</p>
+
+<p>"But what will you do, Dave?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know yet&mdash;but I'll fix it up somehow.
+This must be kept a secret, not only on Gus's account
+but for the honor of Oak Hall. If this got
+out to the public, it would give the school a terrible
+black eye."</p>
+
+<p>"I know that. Why, my father would never let
+me attend a school where there was any drinking
+going on."</p>
+
+<p>"Doctor Clay isn't responsible for this&mdash;nobody
+is responsible but Gus himself,&mdash;unless somebody
+led him on. But go on, there goes the last bell for
+supper."</p>
+
+<p>Shadow passed over half a dozen matches he
+carried and went out, followed by Chip Macklin.
+Dave stood in the dark, listening to Gus Plum's
+heavy breathing. He did not know what to do, yet
+he felt he had a duty to perform and he made up
+his mind to perform it. At any hazard he must
+keep the former bully from public exposure, and
+he must do his best to make Plum reform once
+more. He uttered a prayer that Heaven might
+help him to do what was best.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Lighting another match, Dave espied an old
+lantern on a shelf, half filled with dirty oil, and
+lit it. Then he approached Plum and touched him
+on the arm. The sleeping youth did not awaken,
+and even when Dave shook him he still slumbered
+on.</p>
+
+<p>To take him into the school in that condition
+was out of the question, yet it would not do to let
+him remain in the old granary, where during the
+night he might freeze to death. Dave thought of
+the barn, with its warm hay, and blowing out the
+lantern, left the granary and walked to the other
+buildings.</p>
+
+<p>Fortune favored him, for neither Lemond nor
+the stableman was around, both being at supper
+in the servants' quarters. There was a back door
+and a ladder to the hayloft which might be used.
+He ran back to the granary, picked up Gus Plum
+and the lantern, and started on the trip. The
+former bully of the school was no light weight and
+Dave staggered under the load. Once he slipped
+in the snow and almost went down, but saved himself
+in time and kept on. Then came the tug up
+the ladder. During this Plum's hand was pinched
+and he uttered a grunt.</p>
+
+<p>"Shay&mdash;don't touch me," he muttered thickly,
+but before Dave could answer he was slumbering
+again.</p>
+
+<p>The hayloft gained, Dave deposited his burden
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>
+in a far corner, where nobody was likely to see or
+hear him. He lit the lantern and made Plum a
+comfortable bed and covered him up, so that he
+might not take cold. Then he took a card from
+his pocket and wrote on it in leadpencil:</p>
+
+<p>
+"<span class="smcap">Gus</span>:<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>"I brought you here from the old granary.
+Nobody but Chip and Shadow know and they
+will keep silent. Please, please brace up and be a
+man.</p>
+
+<p>
+"<span class="smcap">Dave.</span>"<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>This card he fastened by a string to Plum's
+wrist. Then he put out the lantern, left the barn,
+and hurried back to the school. As he entered he
+found Shadow on the watch.</p>
+
+<p>"Just got through with supper," whispered the
+youth. "Nobody asked about you. I guess you
+can slip into your seat and get something, anyway."
+And Dave did this without trouble. That Job
+Haskers should miss a chance to mark him down
+for tardiness was remarkable, but the fact was
+Haskers was in a hurry to get away and consequently
+did not notice all that was taking place.</p>
+
+<p>Dave did not sleep well that night, and he roused
+up a dozen times or more, thinking he heard Gus
+Plum coming in. But all the alarms were false,
+for Gus Plum did not show himself until breakfast
+time. He looked flushed and sick and ate
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>
+scarcely a mouthful. Some of his dormitory mates
+wanted to know where he had been during the
+night, but he did not tell them.</p>
+
+<p>At first Dave thought he would go to the former
+bully and talk to him, but then he concluded to let
+the matter rest with Plum. The latter came to him
+just before the noon session.</p>
+
+<p>"Will you take a skate with me after school,
+Dave?" he asked, very humbly.</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly, Gus."</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I want to go with you alone," faltered the
+big lad.</p>
+
+<p>"Very well&mdash;I shan't tell any of the others,"
+returned Dave.</p>
+
+<p>A fine snow was falling when the school session
+was over, but none of the pupils minded this.
+Dave took his skates and went to the river, and
+Plum followed. Soon the pair were skating by
+themselves. When they had turned a bend, Plum
+led the way to a secluded spot, under the wide-spreading
+branches of an oak, and with a deep sigh
+threw himself down on a rock.</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose you've got your own opinion of me,"
+he began, bitterly, and with his face turned away.
+"I don't blame you&mdash;it's what I deserve. I hadn't
+any right to promise you that I'd reform, for it
+doesn't seem to be in me. My appetite for liquor
+is too strong for me. Now, don't say it isn't, for
+I know it is."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Why, Gus&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Please don't interrupt me, Dave; it's hard
+enough for me to talk as it is. But you've been my
+one good friend, and I feel I've got to tell you the
+whole truth. I want you to know it all&mdash;everything.
+Will you listen until I have finished?"</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly. Go ahead."</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">GUS PLUM'S STORY</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"You may think it strange when I tell you that
+I come by my appetite for liquor naturally, yet
+such is a fact," began Gus Plum, after a pause,
+during which he seemed to collect his thoughts.
+"You fellows who don't know what such an appetite
+is are lucky&mdash;far more lucky than you can realize.
+It's an awful thing to have such an appetite&mdash;it
+makes one feel at times as though he were
+doomed.</p>
+
+<p>"We always had liquor at our house and my
+folks drank it at meals, just as their folks had done
+before them, so I heard. When I was a small boy
+I was allowed to have my glass of wine, and on
+holidays we had punch and I got my share. Sometimes,
+I can remember, friends remonstrated with
+my folks for letting me have the stuff, but my
+father would laugh and say it was all right&mdash;that
+he had had it himself when he was a boy and that
+it wouldn't hurt me. My father never drank to
+excess, to my knowledge, but his brother, my uncle,
+did, and once when Uncle Jim was under the influence
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span>
+of liquor, he slipped under a street car and
+had his arm crushed so badly he had to have it
+amputated.</p>
+
+<p>"My uncle's losing that arm scared me a little.
+I was then about ten years old, and I made up
+my mind I wouldn't drink much more. But the
+stuff tasted good to me and I didn't want to break
+off entirely. So I continued to drink a little and
+then a little more, until I thought I couldn't have
+my dinner without wine, or something like that, to
+go with it."</p>
+
+<p>"When I was about thirteen a lady I knew well
+gave a New Year's party to a lot of young folks,
+and I was invited. I was one of the youngest boys
+there. The lady had punch, set out in a big cut-glass
+bowl on a stand in a corner of the hall, with
+sandwiches and cake alongside. I tried that punch
+and liked it, and I drank so much that I got noisy,
+and the lady had to send me home in her carriage."</p>
+
+<p>"I guess that woke my father up to the fact that
+matters were going too far, and he told me I
+mustn't drink liquor away from home. He
+couldn't stop me from drinking at our house, for
+he had it himself there. But he had helped me to
+get the appetite, and I couldn't stop. On the next
+Fourth of July I spent my money in a tavern some
+distance away from where we lived, and there some
+rascals&mdash;I can't call them men&mdash;treated me liberally,
+just to see me make a fool of myself, I suppose.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>
+The fellows teased me until I got in a rage
+and I took up a bottle and cracked it to pieces over
+one fellow's head, injuring him badly.</p>
+
+<p>"This brought matters to a climax and my
+father told me he was going to send me to boarding
+school. I did not want to go at first, but he said
+he felt sure it would do me good, and finally I went
+to Sandville, and then came to Oak Hall.</p>
+
+<p>"At first all went well, for I saw no liquor and
+got little chance to get any, but after a while the
+appetite forced itself on me once more, and&mdash;and
+you know what followed."</p>
+
+<p>As Gus Plum concluded he covered his face with
+his hands and looked the picture of misery and
+despair. Dave had sunk down on the rock beside
+him and he placed a hand on the other's shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>"Is that all, Gus?" he asked, quietly.</p>
+
+<p>"About all," was the low answer. "But I want
+you to know one thing more, Dave. When you
+went away to Europe I intended to keep my promise
+and make a man of myself. I got along all
+right at first, but one Saturday afternoon Link
+Merwell asked me to go to Rockville with him."</p>
+
+<p>"Merwell!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. I don't care for him much, yet he was
+very friendly and I said I'd go. We visited a place
+where they have a poolroom in the rear, and he
+urged me to play pool with him, and I did. Then
+he offered me a cigar, and finally he treated to
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span>
+liquor. I said I had stopped drinking, but he
+laughed at me and held a glass of strong stuff to
+my face and dared me to take it,&mdash;said I was a
+baby to refuse. And I took it,&mdash;and then I treated
+him, and we both took too much. I came back to
+school alone, for we got into a row when he spoke
+of you and said mean things about you. When I
+got to Oak Hall I might have gotten into more
+trouble, only Shadow Hamilton cared for me, as
+maybe you know. Merwell wasn't under the influence
+of liquor very much, but he had enough
+to be ugly, and he got into a row with Mr. Dale
+and came pretty near to being sent home. Then
+he had another row with the teacher and went off
+on his vacation. He somehow blamed Phil Lawrence,
+but Phil had nothing to do with it."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Phil wrote to me about that last row,"
+answered Dave. "But to come back to yourself,
+Gus." His face grew sober. "You've certainly had
+a hard time of it, and, somehow, I don't think you
+alone are to blame for all that has happened. I
+have no appetite for liquor, but I think I can understand
+something of what it means. But let me
+tell you one thing." Dave's voice grew intensely
+earnest. "It's all nonsense to say you are not going
+to reform&mdash;that you can't do it. You can
+reform if you'll only use your whole will power."</p>
+
+<p>"But look at what I've tried already!" Plum's
+tone was utterly hopeless. "Oh, you don't know
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span>
+how I've fought against it! People who haven't
+any appetite for liquor don't know anything about
+it. It's like a snake around your neck strangling
+you!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I wouldn't give up&mdash;not as long as I
+had any backbone left. Just make up your mind
+from this minute on that you won't touch another
+drop of any kind, no matter who offers it. Don't
+say to yourself, 'Oh, I'll take a little now and
+then, and let it go at that.' Break off clean and
+clear,&mdash;and keep away from all places where liquor
+is sold."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but&mdash;&mdash;" Plum's voice was as hopeless
+as before.</p>
+
+<p>"No 'buts' about it, Gus. I want you to make
+a man of yourself. You can do it if you'll only
+try. Won't you try?&mdash;for your own sake&mdash;for
+my sake&mdash;for the honor of Oak Hall? Say yes,
+and then thrust liquor out of your mind forever&mdash;don't
+even let yourself think of it. Get interested
+in your studies, in skating, boating, gymnastics,
+baseball,&mdash;anything. Before you know it, you'll
+have a death grip on that habit and it will have to
+die."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you really believe that, Dave?"</p>
+
+<p>"I do. Why, look at it&mdash;some men right down
+in the gutter have reformed, and they didn't possess
+any more backbone than you. All you want to
+do is to exert your will power. Fight the thing
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>
+just as you used to fight me and some of the other
+fellows, and let that fight be one to a finish. Now,
+come, what do you say?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'll fight!" cried Gus Plum, leaping to his feet
+and with a new light shining in his eyes. "I'll
+fight! Oh, Dave, you're a wonderful fellow, to
+put new backbone in me! I felt I had to give up&mdash;that
+I couldn't win out, that everything was against
+me. Now I'll do as you say. I won't even think
+of liquor again, and I won't go where I can get it."</p>
+
+<p>"Give me your hand on that, Gus." The pair
+shook hands. "Now let us continue our skate.
+Perhaps we'll meet Shadow and Chip. I know
+they'll be glad to hear of what you intend to do.
+They want you to turn over a new leaf just as much
+as I do. And after this, take my advice and drop
+Link Merwell."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll do it. As I said, I never cared much for
+him."</p>
+
+<p>The two left the spot where the conversation
+had ensued and skated up the river for a considerable
+distance. As they disappeared another youth
+stole forth from behind some bushes near by and
+skated off in the opposite direction. The youth
+was Link Merwell.</p>
+
+<p>"So that was the trouble with Gus Plum last
+night, and that is what he has got to say about
+me!" muttered the bully, savagely. "Well, I am
+glad I know so much of his history&mdash;it may come
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>
+useful some time! He may get under Dave Porter's
+wing, but I am not done with him yet&mdash;nor
+done with Porter either!"</p>
+
+<p>It was not long before Dave and Plum met
+Shadow, and a little later the three saw Chip
+Macklin. All four went off in a bunch, and
+Dave with much tact told of what Gus proposed
+to do.</p>
+
+<p>"It is very nice of you to keep this a secret,"
+said Plum. "I shall always remember it, and if I
+can ever do anything for any of you I'll do it.
+You are all good friends, and Dave is the best fellow
+I ever met!"</p>
+
+<p>They skated on for fully a mile, the fine snow
+pelting them in the face. But nobody minded this,
+for all felt happy: Plum to think that he was going
+to have another chance to redeem himself, and the
+others over the consciousness that they had done a
+fellow-being some good.</p>
+
+<p>"Time to get home!" cried Shadow, looking
+at his watch. "What do you say to a race back?"</p>
+
+<p>"How much of a start will you give me?" asked
+Chip. "I've got no chance otherwise against you
+big fellows."</p>
+
+<p>"We'll give you fifteen seconds," answered
+Dave. "One, two, three&mdash;go!"</p>
+
+<p>Soon the race was on in earnest. Chip Macklin
+was well in the lead and the others started in a
+bunch. Gradually Shadow went ahead of Dave
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>
+and Gus Plum, but then Plum drew closer, and
+when they reached the school dock, Plum and Dave
+were a tie, with Shadow and Chip close on their
+heels.</p>
+
+<p>"That puts new life in a fellow!" declared
+Dave. "Gus, you came pretty near to beating
+me."</p>
+
+<p>"Your wind is better than mine," was the answer.
+Plum felt he might have won had it not been
+for the dissipation of the day previous. Dissipation
+and athletic supremacy of any kind never go
+well together.</p>
+
+<p>A week slipped by quietly and during that time
+Dave, Roger, and Phil got the chance to go rabbit
+hunting and brought in twelve rabbits. Gus Plum
+stuck to his resolve to do better, and during school
+hours gave his studies all his attention. When not
+thus employed he spent his time in skating, snowballing,
+and in the gymnasium. He avoided Link
+Merwell, and for the time being the bully left him
+alone.</p>
+
+<p>During those days Dave received a letter from
+his sister Laura, to whom he had written after his
+talk with Merwell. Laura stated that all was going
+along finely at the Wadsworth home and that
+their father was thinking seriously of buying a fine
+mansion located across the street, which would
+keep the friends together. She added that she had
+received a letter from Link Merwell and had sent
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>
+it back, writing across the top, "Please do not send
+any more."</p>
+
+<p>"No wonder Merwell looks so sour," mused
+Dave, after reading his sister's communication.
+"I suppose he is mad enough at me to chew me
+up."</p>
+
+<p>As my old readers know, there was at Oak Hall
+a secret society known as the Gee Eyes, this name
+standing for the initials G. I., which in their turn
+stood for the words Guess It. The society was
+kept up almost solely for the fun of initiating new
+members. On coming to the school Dave had had
+to submit to a strenuous initiation, which he had
+accepted without a murmur. All his chums were
+members, and the boys had gotten much fun out of
+the organization.</p>
+
+<p>"Call for a special meeting of the Gee Eyes
+to-night," said Ben Basswood, one afternoon.
+"Going to initiate three new members&mdash;Tom Atwood
+and the Soden brothers. Be on hand early,
+at the old boathouse."</p>
+
+<p>"What are we going to do to 'em?" asked
+Dave, with a grin.</p>
+
+<p>"That is something Sam, Buster, and some of
+the others want to talk over. They'd like to do
+something brand-new."</p>
+
+<p>"I think I can tell them of one thing to try,"
+said Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"What?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Make one of 'em think he is crossing Jackson's
+Gully on a narrow board."</p>
+
+<p>"Good, Dave; that will do first-rate!" cried
+Ben. "I hope we can think of two other things
+equally good."</p>
+
+<p>About an hour later Dave met some of the
+others, and a general discussion regarding the
+initiations for that evening took place. A score
+of "stunts" were suggested, and at last three were
+selected, and the committee got ready to carry out
+their plans.</p>
+
+<p>Link Merwell was not a member of the Gee
+Eyes. He had once been proposed and been rejected,
+which had made him very angry. In some
+manner he heard of the proposed initiations, and
+he did his best to learn what was going on. As
+we know, he was not above playing the eavesdropper,
+and now he followed Dave and his friends
+to learn their secrets.</p>
+
+<p>"So that is what they are up to," he said.
+"Well, let them go ahead. Perhaps I can put a
+spoke in their wheel when they least expect it!"
+And then he chuckled to himself as he thought of a
+plan to make the initiations end in disaster.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">THE GEE EYES' INITIATION</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Well, you're a sight!"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't look any more stylish than yourself,
+Roger."</p>
+
+<p>"Stylish is good, Dave. I guess both of us look
+like circus clowns."</p>
+
+<p>"Whoop la!" shouted Buster Beggs. "Ladies
+and gentlemen, allow me to introduce to you
+the renowned Oak Hall Company of Left-Over
+Clowns and Monkeys&mdash;the most unique aggregation
+of monstrosities on the face of the globe.
+This one has the reputation of&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Hush, not so loud, Buster!" cried Dave, "or
+you'll have old Haskers down on us, and that will
+spoil the fun."</p>
+
+<p>"Speaking of looking like clowns puts me in
+mind of a story," came from Shadow, who was still
+struggling to get into his club outfit. "One time a
+country fellow who wasn't a bit good-looking
+wanted to join a circus as a clown. He went to see
+the manager. 'Can I have a job as a clown?' he
+asked. 'Well, I don't know,' answered the manager,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>
+slowly, as he looked him over. 'Who
+showed you how to make up your face? It's pretty
+well done.'" And the usual short laugh went up.</p>
+
+<p>The Gee Eyes in the past had worn simple robes
+of red with black hoods over their heads. Now,
+by a special vote, they had purchased robes that
+were striped&mdash;red, white, and yellow. For headgear
+each member had a box-like contrivance,
+cubical in shape, with holes in the front for the
+eyes and an orange-like lantern on top, with a
+candle in it. This box rested on the shoulders of
+the wearer, thus concealing his identity completely.</p>
+
+<p>In the past, Phil Lawrence had been president of
+the organization, but now that office was filled by
+Sam Day, under the title of Right Honorable
+Muck-a-Muck. Ben Basswood was secretary, and
+was called the Lord of the Penwiper; Buster Beggs
+was treasurer, known as the Guardian of the
+Dimes, and Luke Watson was sergeant-at-arms
+under the title of Captain Doorkeep.</p>
+
+<p>The organization met whenever and wherever
+it was convenient. This was done for two reasons:
+first, because the members did not wish their
+enemies to know what they were doing, or otherwise
+information might be imparted to the teachers;
+and, second, they never met unless they were going
+to initiate a new member or were going to have
+some sort of a feast.</p>
+
+<p>"Where are the intended victims?" asked
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>
+Dave, after he had adjusted his robe and his headgear
+to his satisfaction, and possessed himself of a
+long stuffed club.</p>
+
+<p>"They were told to wait in the old granary until
+called for," answered Messmer.</p>
+
+<p>"Do they seem to be timid about joining?"
+asked Ben.</p>
+
+<p>"Tom Atwood is a little timid,&mdash;he heard how
+little Frank Bond was almost scared to death by
+Gus Plum's crowd one term."</p>
+
+<p>"By the way, where is Gus?" asked Henshaw.</p>
+
+<p>"He said he wanted to study," answered Dave.
+"I asked him to come, but he wouldn't."</p>
+
+<p>"My, but didn't Gus give us a funny story the
+time we initiated him!" cried one of the students.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and do you remember how Link Merwell
+and Nat Poole placed those big firecrackers under
+our fire and nearly blew us all to pieces," added
+another.</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind&mdash;we got square," said Buster.
+"I guess they haven't forgotten yet the drubbing
+we gave them."</p>
+
+<p>It was late at night, and the boys had had not a
+little difficulty in stealing away from the school
+unobserved. With all in readiness, the three boys
+who were awaiting to be initiated were sent for,
+and they presently appeared, escorted by four of
+the club members, each carrying a bright and very
+blunt sword. As they came into the old boathouse,
+lit up by various fantastic lanterns representing
+skulls, dragons, and the like, the Gee Eyes set up
+a low chant:</p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<div class="poetry">
+<div class="poem">
+<div class="stanza">
+      <span class="i1-5">"Hail the victims! Let them come!</span>
+      <span class="i2">Let them enter, one by one!</span>
+      <span class="i2">Let them bow the humble knee!</span>
+      <span class="i2">Let them now forsake all glee!</span>
+      <span class="i4">Death! Blood! Tomb!"</span>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>And then arose a weird groaning, calculated to
+make any lad feel uneasy. The three victims were
+forced to their knees and made to touch three
+chalk-marks on the floor with their noses. Then
+one of the members of the club came forward with
+a big tin wash-basin and sprinkled them with what
+looked to be water but was really ammonia. This
+caused some coughing and some tears commenced
+to flow. But the victims were "game" and said
+nothing.</p>
+
+<p>"Lock two of them in yonder dungeon cell,"
+commanded the Right Honorable Muck-a-Muck.
+"They shall be led to their fate later." And the
+Soden brothers, twins named Joe and Henry, were
+led to a big closet of the old boathouse and thrust
+inside.</p>
+
+<p>Then Tom Atwood was taken outside, and a
+long march commenced behind the school grounds
+and leading to a secluded spot among some bushes.
+Here Atwood was suddenly blindfolded and his
+hands tied behind him.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter"><a id="Now_to_Jackson"></a>
+<img src="images/p134.jpg" alt=""  width="316" height="500" />
+<div class="topspace1"></div>
+<div class="caption"><span class="smcap">"Now to Jackson's Gully with him!</span>"</div>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Now to Jackson's Gully with him," cried several,
+and then the party proceeded a little further
+into the bushes.</p>
+
+<p>"Look out, don't slip into the gully," whispered
+one member, but loud enough for Tom Atwood to
+hear.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I'll take care!" whispered another.
+"Why, the gully is a hundred feet deep around
+here."</p>
+
+<p>Then Tom Atwood was led up and over some
+rocks and halted a short distance beyond.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, that looks mighty dangerous to me,"
+whispered Roger.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, he'll get over if he's got nerve," answered
+Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Base slave, list thou to me!" cried the president
+of the Gee Eyes. "We have brought thee to
+the edge of a gully some hundred feet deep. If
+thou wouldst become a member of this notorious&mdash;I
+mean illustrious&mdash;organization thou must cross
+the gully on the bridge we have provided. Dost
+thou accept the condition?"</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I don't know," faltered Tom Atwood.
+"I&mdash;I can't see a thing."</p>
+
+<p>"Nor wilt thou until thy task is accomplished.
+The gully must be crossed, otherwise thou canst
+not be of us."</p>
+
+<p>"How big is the bridge?"</p>
+
+<p>"One board wide."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Any&mdash;er&mdash;handrail?" went on the victim.</p>
+
+<p>"Nary a handrail," piped up a small voice from
+the rear. "What do you want for your money,
+anyway?"</p>
+
+<p>"Say, that puts me in mind of a story&mdash;&mdash;"
+came from another, but he stopped short as a fellow-member
+hit him with a stuffed club.</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I don't know about this&mdash;&mdash;" began Tom
+Atwood. "I&mdash;oh, say, let up!" he cried, as he received
+several blows from stuffed clubs. "I&mdash;oh,
+my back!"</p>
+
+<p>"Wilt try the bridge?" demanded the Right
+Honorable Muck-a-Muck.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, yes, but can't I&mdash;I crawl if I want to?"</p>
+
+<p>"Thou canst, after thou hast taken seven steps."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, here goes then."</p>
+
+<p>Tom Atwood was led forward to the end of a
+long plank.</p>
+
+<p>"Be careful," he was cautioned. "There, put
+your foot there and the other one right there.
+Now you are all right."</p>
+
+<p>"And must I really&mdash;er&mdash;stand up and take
+seven steps?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, exactly seven, or woe betide thee!" came
+the answering cry.</p>
+
+<p>With great caution the blindfolded victim took
+a step and then another. He was trembling visibly,
+which caused the club members to shake with silent
+laughter. He counted the steps and when he had
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span>
+taken just seven he fell on his hands and knees,
+clutching the sides of the plank tightly.</p>
+
+<p>"Ho&mdash;how long is&mdash;is it?" he asked, his teeth
+commencing to chatter. "I&mdash;I ain't used to climbing
+in such places. It&mdash;it makes me dizzy!"</p>
+
+<p>"Go on! go on!"</p>
+
+<p>"The plank is only fifty-four feet long," said
+one boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, my! fifty-four feet; I'll go down&mdash;I know
+I will!"</p>
+
+<p>Slowly, and clutching the plank with a death-like
+grip, Tom Atwood moved forward a distance
+of eighteen feet. Then the plank came to an end.
+He put out one hand after the other, but felt only
+the empty air.</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I don't feel the rest o&mdash;of th&mdash;the
+bridge!" he chattered.</p>
+
+<p>"It is gone!" cried one boy, in a disguised
+voice. "Turn around and come back."</p>
+
+<p>"But be careful how you turn, or the board may
+wabble and let you drop," added another.</p>
+
+<p>More scared than ever, Tom Atwood turned
+around very gingerly. Once he thought the board
+was going over, and he set up a yell of fright.
+Then slowly and painfully he came back over the
+plank until he reached the solid ground once more.</p>
+
+<p>"Hurrah!" cried the Gee Eyes. "Bravely
+done, Tom!"</p>
+
+<p>"Now you are one of us!"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"He didn't mind that deep gully at all!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but I did mind it," answered the victim,
+as they were taking the cover from his eyes. "I
+wouldn't do that again for a hundred dollars in
+cash!"</p>
+
+<p>"It was certainly the bravest thing to do I ever
+heard of," was Dave's comment, and then he tore
+the bandage away. Immediately, by the light of
+the lanterns the boys had on their headpieces, Tom
+Atwood looked at the plank which had cost him so
+much worry and fright.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I never!" he gasped.</p>
+
+<p>And then what a roar of laughter went up! And
+well it might, for the plank rested on nothing but
+two blocks of wood and was less than a foot from
+the solid ground! The location was nowhere near
+Jackson's Gully.</p>
+
+<p>"Tom, you'll do it for a hundred dollars now,
+won't you?" questioned Roger, earnestly.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, what a sell!" answered the victim, sheepishly.
+"Say, please don't tell the other fellows of
+this," he pleaded. "I'll never hear the end of it!"</p>
+
+<p>"The secrets of the Gee Eyes are never told outside,"
+answered Phil. "But there is one more
+thing you must do," he added.</p>
+
+<p>"What?"</p>
+
+<p>"Carry that plank back to the boathouse."</p>
+
+<p>"All right."</p>
+
+<p>"And here is a suit for you," said Ben. "Put
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span>
+that on, and then you can participate in the initiation
+of the Soden brothers."</p>
+
+<p>"Where are they?"</p>
+
+<p>"Locked up in the closet at the old boathouse."</p>
+
+<p>"What are you going to do with them?"</p>
+
+<p>"You'll see when you get back."</p>
+
+<p>With Tom Atwood and the plank between them,
+the members of the Gee Eyes took up the long
+march back to the old boathouse. To do this they
+had to cross a country road which was but little
+used. As they did this they heard an unusual sound
+from a clump of trees near by.</p>
+
+<p>"There they are!" a voice called out. "I told
+you I had seen some ghosts."</p>
+
+<p>"Sure enough, Billy, they must be ghosts," was
+the reply, in a deeper voice. "It's a good thing
+I brung my shotgun with me."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you goin' to shoot at 'em?"</p>
+
+<p>"That's what, Billy."</p>
+
+<p>Hardly had the words been spoken when, to the
+consternation of the Gee Eyes, a shotgun was discharged,
+the load whistling through the trees over
+the lads' heads.</p>
+
+<p>"Hi! hi! stop that!" yelled Buster Beggs.
+"We are not ghosts! We are&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>Bang! spoke up the shotgun a second time, and
+the load went clipping through the bushes on the
+left.</p>
+
+<p>"Hand me your shotgun, Billy," said one of the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>
+voices. "I don't know if I hit 'em or not, but
+this'll fetch 'em!"</p>
+
+<p>"Run!" cried Dave. "Run for your lives!
+That old farmer is so scared he doesn't know what
+he is doing!"</p>
+
+<p>And then all the boys ran across the roadway
+and dove into the woods beyond. They heard another
+report, but the contents of the gun did not
+reach them.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">IN WHICH JOB HASKERS GETS LEFT IN THE COLD</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The boys kept on running for fully a hundred
+yards, plunging deeper and deeper into the woods
+which lined the roadway. Tom Atwood had
+dropped the plank and two of the club members
+had lost their headpieces, but nobody dreamed of
+going back for the articles.</p>
+
+<p>"I think I know who that man is," said Phil,
+when the crowd came to a halt.</p>
+
+<p>"Mike Marcy?" questioned Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"I thought that, too, but I wasn't sure. He
+called the other fellow Billy."</p>
+
+<p>"He has a boy working for him now and his
+name is Billy," said Shadow. "I met him on the
+road several times, driving cows. He isn't just
+right in his mind. I suppose Marcy got him to
+work cheap."</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder if Marcy really thought we were
+ghosts?" mused the senator's son. "Maybe he only
+said that to scare us. He might have thought we
+were up to some kind of a job around his farm."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, whether he thought we were ghosts or
+not, he certainly shot at us," was Phil's comment.
+"Ugh! I am glad I didn't get a dose of the
+shot!"</p>
+
+<p>"And so am I," answered several others.</p>
+
+<p>"That is one more black mark against Mike
+Marcy," said Luke Watson. "We'll have to remember
+to pay him back."</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind about paying him back just now,"
+answered Roger. "The question is, What's to do
+next? That run warmed me up and I'll take cold
+if I stand here long doing nothing."</p>
+
+<p>"We must get back to the boathouse. Remember,
+the Soden boys are still locked up in that
+closet. It hasn't much ventilation and we don't
+want them to smother."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not going around by the road," said Henshaw.</p>
+
+<p>"Not on your life!" exclaimed Ben. "I'd
+rather go down to the river and walk over the
+ice."</p>
+
+<p>It was finally decided to follow Ben's suggestion,
+and the crowd continued on their way through the
+brushwood until the Leming River was reached.
+They saw or heard nothing more of Mike Marcy
+and his hired boy, for which they were thankful.
+Reaching the ice, they set off at a dog-trot for the
+old boathouse.</p>
+
+<p>"If we only had skates this would be fine," declared
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>
+Dave. "But as we haven't any we've got
+to make the best of it."</p>
+
+<p>"As the servant girl said, when she told her
+mistress that she couldn't make sponge cake because
+they didn't have any sponges," answered
+the senator's son.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, that puts me in mind of a story about
+a&mdash;&mdash;" began Shadow. But just then one of the
+boys put out his foot and down went the story-teller
+of the school on the ice. "Hi, you!" he
+roared and pulled the other youth on top of him.
+Then began a wild scramble on the part of both
+to see who could get up first, and the story was
+forgotten.</p>
+
+<p>When the Gee Eyes came in sight of the old
+boathouse they were surprised to learn it was well
+past midnight.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll have to rush matters," said Dave. "If
+we don't, somebody may report us, and the doctor
+won't let us off very easily if we stay out too late."</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe we'd better postpone the other initiations,"
+suggested Luke.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no, go ahead!" cried half a dozen. "We
+are safe enough."</p>
+
+<p>Entering the old boathouse, the boys lit all the
+lanterns they possessed, and those who had lost
+their head-coverings tied masks over their faces.
+Then some approached the closet in which the
+Soden twins had been confined.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Hello!"</p>
+
+<p>"They are gone!"</p>
+
+<p>"What does this mean?"</p>
+
+<p>"They must have broken out and run away!"</p>
+
+<p>Such were some of the exclamations indulged in
+when it was found that the apartment was empty.
+A hasty examination was made of the hasp and
+staple of the door, and they were found intact. A
+wooden peg had served to keep the hasp in place.</p>
+
+<p>"It looks to me as if somebody had let them
+out," said Dave, after an examination.</p>
+
+<p>"But who would do that, Dave?" questioned
+Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"Somebody not a member of the Gee Eyes&mdash;some
+enemy of the club."</p>
+
+<p>"But why should the Soden boys run away?"
+asked Shadow. "They were willing to be initiated."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps they got cold feet&mdash;mentally as well
+as physically," ventured Henshaw. "They may
+have got to talking things over in the dark and
+got scared."</p>
+
+<p>"They didn't break out, that's sure," declared
+the senator's son. "Somebody on the outside removed
+that wooden peg."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, we didn't do it," said one of the boys.</p>
+
+<p>"Can they be anywhere around?"</p>
+
+<p>Some of the boys began a search, but this was in
+vain&mdash;the twins had disappeared.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"We may as well give up for to-night," said the
+president at last.</p>
+
+<p>"I move we adjourn to bed," said Ben, and this
+was put and carried, and without delay the robes,
+headgears, and stuffed clubs and swords were hidden
+away, and the students hurried to Oak Hall.</p>
+
+<p>Here another setback awaited them. The side
+door was locked, and the false key they had put on
+a convenient nail was missing.</p>
+
+<p>"Somebody is playing us tricks," said Dave. "I
+thought so before and now I am certain of it. I
+shouldn't wonder if that somebody had gone and
+told Mike Marcy to look out for ghosts at the end
+of his lot."</p>
+
+<p>"Who would do it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Several fellows&mdash;Link Merwell, Nat Poole,
+and their cronies."</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind that crowd now," said Shadow.
+"How are we to get into the school without waking
+anybody up?"</p>
+
+<p>"Let us try all the doors and lower windows,"
+suggested the shipowner's son.</p>
+
+<p>This was done, and at last one of the boys found
+a basement window unfastened. He notified the
+others.</p>
+
+<p>"I know where that leads to," said Dave.
+"The laundry."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I've been in the laundry, too," added the
+senator's son.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Then one of you see if you can get upstairs
+through the laundry and let us in," said Buster.
+"And please don't be all night about it either,
+for I am getting cold."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't say a word," came from Messmer.
+"My ears are about frozen already."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll go," said Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll go along," returned Roger.</p>
+
+<p>Both climbed down through the basement window,
+to find themselves in a place that was pitch-dark.
+Here Dave struck a match and by its faint
+rays led the way to an open cellar and then to a
+stairs running up to the kitchen.</p>
+
+<p>Tiptoeing their way up the stairs, they tried the
+door at the top, and to their joy found it unlocked.
+They stepped into the kitchen, and just then the
+match went out, leaving them again in the dark.</p>
+
+<p>"I know the way now, so there is no need to
+make another light," said Roger.</p>
+
+<p>"Wait,&mdash;better have a light," answered Dave.
+"You don't want to stumble over anything and
+make a noise."</p>
+
+<p>He found a candle and lit it, and then the chums
+crept silently from the kitchen, through the pantry
+and dining room to the side hall. They wanted to
+stop for something to eat from the pantry, but did
+not wish to keep their friends waiting out in the
+cold.</p>
+
+<p>The two youths were just on the point of turning
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>
+a corner of the hall when a sound struck their ears.
+Somebody was close at hand, snoring lustily!</p>
+
+<p>"Who can it be?" asked Roger, in a faint
+whisper, when both realized what the sound meant.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll soon find out," answered Dave, and held
+up the candle.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't wake him up, or there'll be trouble!"</p>
+
+<p>Step by step they drew closer to the sleeping
+person. It was a man, wearing an overcoat and a
+skullcap. He was seated in a comfortable armchair
+taken from the parlor.</p>
+
+<p>"Old Haskers!" cried Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"He must have been on the watch for us and
+fallen asleep," was the comment of the senator's
+son.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't wake him&mdash;let him sleep."</p>
+
+<p>"To be sure, Dave&mdash;I'd like to chloroform
+him!"</p>
+
+<p>The boys passed the snoring teacher and reached
+a side door. Unlocking it, they slipped without,
+and closed the door again. Then they summoned
+the members of the Gee Eyes and told them of
+what they had discovered.</p>
+
+<p>"You'll have to go in as quietly as mice," said
+Dave. "Otherwise he'll wake up and catch us,&mdash;and
+then the fat will be in the fire."</p>
+
+<p>"Dave, somebody has surely been spying on us,"
+said Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"Exactly&mdash;but we can't take that up now. In
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span>
+you go, and take off your shoes before you start
+upstairs. Maybe&mdash;&mdash;" Dave paused.</p>
+
+<p>"What, Dave?"</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe we can play a joke on Haskers, when
+we are about safe."</p>
+
+<p>"How?" asked several.</p>
+
+<p>"We might carry him out on the piazza and
+lock the door on him. Under that overcoat he has
+on only his night clothes and a pair of slippers."</p>
+
+<p>"If we only could do it!" murmured Phil, gleefully.</p>
+
+<p>One by one the members of the Gee Eyes entered
+the school building, slipped off their shoes, and
+went upstairs. Then, wrapping their coats around
+their heads, Dave, Roger, Phil, and Shadow came
+back and surrounded Job Haskers.</p>
+
+<p>"Now listen," said Dave, who still held the
+candle. "If he wakes up, drop him. I'll blow out
+the candle, and all scoot for the dormitories,&mdash;but
+without noise, remember that!" And so it was
+agreed.</p>
+
+<p>As carefully as possible they raised up the sleeping
+man, armchair and all, and carried him to the
+side door, which Dave opened. Then they took
+their burden outside and put the chair down in the
+snow at the foot of the piazza steps. This accomplished,
+they ran back into the school, closed
+and locked the door, and threw the key in a dark
+corner.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Now for the dormitory!" cried Dave, and
+blew out the light. "And everybody undress in
+jig-time!"</p>
+
+<p>All understood, and the way they flew up the
+stairs was a wonder. Like lightning-change actors
+they threw off their garments and got into their
+sleeping clothes. The other boys were already disrobed,
+and some were at the windows, looking
+down through shade cracks, to see what might
+happen below.</p>
+
+<p>They had not long to wait. Job Haskers speedily
+grew cold and woke up with a start. In the
+darkness he stared around in perplexity and then
+leaped to his feet.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" the boys heard him mutter, as some of
+the loose snow got into his slippers. "What can
+this mean? Where am I?"</p>
+
+<p>He took several steps, and more snow got into
+his slippers. Then he slipped on a patch of ice and
+plunged straight into the snow with his arms and
+shoulders.</p>
+
+<p>"Confound the luck!" the boys heard him say.
+"Boys, what does this mean? Who put me here?
+Oh, but won't I make you suffer for this! Oh,
+my feet!" And then he rushed for the piazza
+steps. Here he slipped again, and the students
+heard him yell as he came down on his left elbow.
+Then he disappeared from sight under the roof of
+the piazza.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"He won't get in right away!" whispered
+Roger. "Oh, this is the best yet!"</p>
+
+<p>They heard Job Haskers fumble at the knob of
+the door. He tried to turn it several times and
+then shook it violently. Finding the door would
+not open, he began to pound upon the barrier with
+his fist.</p>
+
+<p>"He's making noise enough to wake the dead!"
+whispered Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"Somebody is going below," said Dave, a moment
+later. "Now I guess there will be more
+fun!"</p>
+
+<p>"If only we aren't caught!" murmured Shadow,
+who was a bit afraid that the fun had been carried
+too far.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">WHAT MIKE MARCY HAD TO TELL</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>It was Murphy the monitor who let the assistant
+teacher in. Job Haskers entered stamping his
+feet loudly, for they were decidedly cold.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Mr. Haskers, what does this mean?"
+asked the monitor, in amazement. "I didn't know
+you were out. And in slippers, too!"</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;er&mdash;I&mdash;&mdash;" stammered the teacher, and
+then he stopped, for he did not know how to proceed.
+He realized that he occupied a very ridiculous
+position.</p>
+
+<p>"Can I do anything for you?" went on the
+monitor.</p>
+
+<p>"Murphy, have you seen any boys come in since
+lights were out?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"Nobody at all?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not a soul."</p>
+
+<p>"It is queer. They must have come in, and
+finding me asleep&mdash;&mdash;" Job Haskers did not
+finish.</p>
+
+<p>"Where were you asleep, sir?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Never mind&mdash;if you saw nobody. But listen,
+I want you to make the rounds, and see if every
+boy is in his dormitory. If any are absent, report
+to me in my room at once."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, sir," returned the monitor, and hurried
+off.</p>
+
+<p>"He'll not find us missing," whispered Dave.
+"All hands in bed and eyes shut. No fooling now,
+for if you are caught something serious may
+happen."</p>
+
+<p>The others understood, and when Jim Murphy
+came with a light to look into dormitories No. 11
+and No. 12 he found every lad tucked in under
+the blankets and looking as if he had been slumbering
+for several hours.</p>
+
+<p>"That was what I call a narrow escape," whispered
+Phil, after the monitor had departed.
+"Somebody surely spied on us."</p>
+
+<p>"We'll look into the matter to-morrow," answered
+Luke Watson. "I'm in for sleep now."
+And a little later all the lads were in the land of
+dreams.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning the members of the Gee Eyes
+looked for an investigation from Job Haskers, but
+no such thing occurred. The fact of the matter
+was that the teacher realized fully what a joke
+had been played on him while he was asleep, and he
+was afraid to stir the matter up for fear the entire
+school would be laughing at him. He made a few
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span>
+very cautious inquiries, which gave him no
+clew, and then, for the time being, dropped the
+matter.</p>
+
+<p>The Gee Eyes were anxious to know how the
+Soden brothers had gotten out of the closet at the
+old boathouse, and were amazed when the answer
+came.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, two of you fellows came back and let
+us out," said Henry Soden.</p>
+
+<p>"Let you out?" asked Buster Beggs.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"One of the fellows said that Mr. Haskers was
+onto the game and that no initiations would be attempted,"
+explained Joe Soden. "He said we had
+better get back to our dormitory as quickly as we
+could, so we scooted."</p>
+
+<p>"Who were those chaps?" demanded Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know. They wore their coats inside
+out and big paper bags over their heads."</p>
+
+<p>"They were no members of the Gee Eyes," said
+Phil. "They were some outsiders who wanted to
+spoil our fun."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I must confess we were glad enough to
+get out of the closet,&mdash;it was so cold," said Henry
+Soden. "But just the same I shouldn't have run
+away if I had known the truth. Both of us are
+anxious to join your club."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell you what I think," said Dave. "It was
+a put-up job all around. Some enemy told Mike
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>
+Marcy about ghosts, sent word to old Haskers to
+be on guard, and released Joe and Henry."</p>
+
+<p>"If that is true, we want to find out who that
+enemy was," answered Roger. "No student of
+Oak Hall can play such a trick on the Gee Eyes
+without suffering for it."</p>
+
+<p>"So say we all of us!" sang out several.</p>
+
+<p>"I have a plan," went on Dave. "Let us lay
+for that hired boy of Marcy's&mdash;the lad called
+Billy. Maybe he can tell us who told Marcy&mdash;if
+anybody did tell him." And so it was arranged.</p>
+
+<p>The opportunity to interview the farm boy Billy
+did not occur until about a week later, when Dave
+and Ben Basswood were walking to Oakdale to buy
+some film rolls for their cameras. They took a side
+road leading past the Marcy farm, and caught
+sight of Billy down by a cowshed and beckoned
+to him.</p>
+
+<p>"Is your name Billy?" asked Dave, kindly, for
+he could easily see that the lad was somewhat
+simple-minded, by the way he clasped and unclasped
+his hands, twisted his shoulders, and
+twitched his mouth.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Billy Sankers, from Lundytown," was
+the boy's reply.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you work for Mr. Marcy?"</p>
+
+<p>"Do I? Sure I do&mdash;an' he works for me,"
+and Billy grinned at what he thought was a
+joke.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"You went after ghosts the other night, didn't
+you?" continued Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, we did, an' we bagged a lot of 'em, too&mdash;shot
+'em full of holes an' they disappeared into
+the sky," and the poor deluded boy began to wave
+his arms as if flying.</p>
+
+<p>"Who told Mr. Marcy that the ghosts were
+coming?" asked Ben.</p>
+
+<p>"Two boys from the school over there," and
+now Billy jerked his thumb in the direction of Oak
+Hall. "They said to keep still about it, but what's
+the use? The ghosts are shot full of holes, shot
+full of holes, holes, holes!"</p>
+
+<p>"Did you know the boys?" asked Dave.</p>
+
+<p>At this question Billy shook his head. "I don't
+go to school there&mdash;I know too much. Maybe
+some day I'll go over and teach the teachers. One
+boy called the other Nat," he added, suddenly.</p>
+
+<p>"Nat!" cried Dave. He turned to his chum.
+"Can it have been Nat Poole?"</p>
+
+<p>"That's it, Nat Poole!" cried Billy. "You're
+a wise owl to guess it."</p>
+
+<p>"What was the other boy called?" continued
+Ben.</p>
+
+<p>"Called? Nothing. Yes, he was, too, he was
+called Link. That's it, Link, Blink, Hink! Funny
+name, eh?"</p>
+
+<p>"Link!" cried Dave. "Can it have been Link
+Merwell?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"More than likely," answered his chum. "Nat
+and Link travel together, and both are down on
+our crowd."</p>
+
+<p>"Did they tell Mr. Marcy that the ghosts
+would be schoolboys?" asked Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"No, ghosts," answered Billy, nodding his head
+gravely. "They told Mike an' he told me, an'
+we got the shotguns to scare 'em off. Mike don't
+want ghosts around this place."</p>
+
+<p>"Here comes Mike Marcy now," whispered
+Ben. "Had we better get out?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'll not run for him," was Dave's answer.</p>
+
+<p>"Sure, an' what do you fellers want here?" demanded
+the big, brawny Irish-American farmer
+as he strode up, horsewhip in hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Marcy, we want to have a talk with you,"
+said Dave, coldly. "I guess you remember me."</p>
+
+<p>"I do. You're the lad I once had locked up in
+my smokehouse," and the farmer grinned slightly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. But I am not here about that now,&mdash;nor
+am I here to tell you that I was one of the boys that
+found your mule when he was lost and sent you
+word. I am here to ask you about the shooting
+that took place about a week ago."</p>
+
+<p>"Shooting!"</p>
+
+<p>"Exactly. Who were the boys who came here
+and told you to go to the end of your farm and
+shoot at a lot of innocent lads having a little fun
+by themselves?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Why&mdash;er&mdash;&mdash; See here, what do you
+mean?" blustered Mike Marcy.</p>
+
+<p>"I mean just what I say, Mr. Marcy, and I
+want you to answer my question."</p>
+
+<p>"Eh! Say, do you see this whip?" stormed
+the farmer. "I'll let ye taste it in a minit!"</p>
+
+<p>"You'll do nothing of the kind," answered
+Dave, coolly. "I ask you a question and you must
+answer it. This is a serious business. You fired
+three shots at a crowd of innocent schoolboys who
+were harming nobody. You cannot deny it."</p>
+
+<p>"They were on my land."</p>
+
+<p>"Some of them were on the road, and they were
+doing absolutely no harm. You merely fired at
+them out of pure ugliness."</p>
+
+<p>"See here, do ye want this?" And now the
+horsewhip was raised.</p>
+
+<p>"If you strike either of us, I shall at once have
+you arrested. How many students do you suppose
+are now in bed under the doctor's care because of
+the shooting you did?"</p>
+
+<p>At this question Mike Marcy turned suddenly
+pale.</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;er&mdash;was anybody hurt? I&mdash;er&mdash;I fired
+into the air&mdash;just to scare 'em," he faltered.</p>
+
+<p>"I ask you a question and I want you to answer
+it, and you had better do it unless you want
+to get into more trouble. Who told you to go out
+and do the shooting?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"We want their names and we are bound to have
+them," put in Ben, following up Dave's bold manner,
+now that he saw the farmer was growing
+uneasy.</p>
+
+<p>"The boys were named Nat Poole and Link
+Merwell. But they wanted their names kept
+secret."</p>
+
+<p>"What did they tell you?"</p>
+
+<p>"They said a lot of the toughest lads in the
+school were going to disguise themselves an' come
+down here and cut up like Indians, and maybe
+rob me of some chickens, an' I had better be on the
+watch for 'em. One said I might scare 'em by
+saying I saw ghosts, and I said that was a good
+idee. So I called Billy an' told him about the
+ghosts, an' we got the shotguns. But as true as I
+stand here I shot up into the air. I didn't want to
+hit anybody, an' if any lad got as much as one shot
+in him I'm sorry."</p>
+
+<p>"That is all we want to know, Mr. Marcy,"
+returned Dave. "We thank you for the information,"
+and he started to walk away, followed by
+Ben.</p>
+
+<p>"But see here&mdash;if anybody is hurted&mdash;&mdash;" cried
+Mike Marcy. "Sure, I don't want trouble&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"We won't say any more about it&mdash;since
+you didn't mean to hit anybody," answered
+Dave. "But after this never shoot at us
+again."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I won't, ye can be certain of that," answered
+the farmer, with a sigh of relief.</p>
+
+<p>"And another thing, Mr. Marcy," added Ben.
+"If you see Nat Poole or Link Merwell do not
+tell them that you saw us or told us the truth."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll remember." And with this promise from
+the farmer the boys took their departure. But
+they had not gone a hundred feet when Mike
+Marcy came running after them.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell me," said he; "was anybody really hit?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nobody was seriously hurt," answered Dave.
+"But you scared some of the boys nearly to death,
+and they tumbled all over the rocks and bushes, in
+trying to get out of range of the shots."</p>
+
+<p>"I see. Well, I won't do any more shooting,"
+answered Mike Marcy, and walked back to his
+house, looking very thoughtful.</p>
+
+<p>"It is just as we supposed," said Dave, when
+he and his chum were alone. "Nat Poole and
+Link Merwell are responsible for everything.
+They got Marcy to do the shooting, released the
+Soden brothers, and somehow put Haskers on
+guard."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, the Gee Eyes will have to square accounts
+with them," replied Ben. "We'll make a
+report at the next meeting of the club, and then the
+club can take what action it likes in the matter.
+For my part, I think such sneaks ought to be
+drummed out of the school."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"And I agree with you, Ben. But let me tell
+you one thing. Link Merwell is ten times worse
+than Nat Poole. Nat is a dude and a fool and
+easily led around by others, but Link Merwell is a
+knave, as black-hearted as any boy I can name.
+Look out for him, or when you least expect it he
+will play you foul."</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">SOMETHING ABOUT LESSONS</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>At Oakdale the two students ran into Phil, who
+had come to town earlier, to see about a pair of
+skating shoes. They told their chum of what they
+had learned, and the shipowner's son agreed that
+the Gee Eyes ought in some way to punish the
+offenders.</p>
+
+<p>"I just met two friends," went on Phil. "I
+stopped at the candy store for some chocolates and
+ran into Mary Feversham and Vera Rockwell.
+Vera wanted to know how you were, Dave," and
+Phil grinned.</p>
+
+<p>"I trust you told her I was very sick, Phil," was
+Dave's quick reply.</p>
+
+<p>"I did&mdash;I said you were crying your eyes out
+for another sight of her," and then Phil dodged,
+to escape a blow Dave playfully aimed at his
+head.</p>
+
+<p>The boys procured the articles for which they
+had come, and then took a stroll through the town.
+At one store an auction sale was in progress and
+here they met the two girls Phil had mentioned.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span>
+Both were dressed in fur coats, with dainty fur caps
+to match, and both looked very sweet.</p>
+
+<p>"We watched them selling some bric-�-brac,"
+said Mary. "It was real fun. A beautiful statue
+of Apollo went for two dollars&mdash;just think of it!"</p>
+
+<p>"Might get one of those statues to replace the
+broken one," said Ben to Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, did somebody break a statue?" cried Vera.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes,&mdash;and there was quite an exciting time
+doing it," said Phil. "Dave was the hero of the
+occasion."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, tell me about it, Mr. Porter!" And Vera
+bent her eyes full upon Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, it didn't amount to much," answered
+Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"But please tell me, won't you?" pleaded
+Vera.</p>
+
+<p>Then both girls teased him, until at last he related
+some of the particulars of the encounter with
+Job Haskers. Mary and Vera were deeply interested,
+Vera especially.</p>
+
+<p>"I am glad you did not give in to him," said
+Vera. "I like a boy who can stand up for his
+rights."</p>
+
+<p>"You can trust Dave to do that," said Ben.
+"He doesn't take water for anybody."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, come now, Ben&mdash;&mdash;" murmured Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"I believe Mr. Basswood," said Vera. "I hope
+Mr. Porter always does stick up for himself. I
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span>
+never liked a boy or a man&mdash;or a girl either&mdash;who
+was cowardly."</p>
+
+<p>After that the boys and girls listened to the auctioneer
+for several minutes. Then Phil suggested
+soda to Mary Feversham, and all of the party
+walked over to a corner drug store, where hot
+chocolate was to be had, and there Phil and Dave
+treated.</p>
+
+<p>The crowd was in the act of drinking the beverage,
+and Dave had just handed Vera her glass,
+when, glancing toward the doorway, he saw Link
+Merwell and a strange young man standing there.
+Link started and stared rudely at the girls.
+Then he whispered something to his companion,
+and both turned from the drug store and disappeared
+up the street.</p>
+
+<p>"Did you see them?" whispered Dave to Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"I saw somebody look in and walk away. Who
+was it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Link Merwell and a stranger."</p>
+
+<p>"Humph! I suppose Merwell didn't want to
+come in while we were here," murmured the shipowner's
+son. And there the subject was dropped.
+Little did Dave dream of what was to be the result
+of Link Merwell's unexpected appearance while he
+was in the company of Vera Rockwell.</p>
+
+<p>The boys did not have much time to spend in
+town, and soon they bade the girls good-by and
+hurried back to Oak Hall. It was plain to be
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span>
+seen that Phil thought the trip an extra pleasant
+one.</p>
+
+<p>"No use in talking; Mary Feversham is all
+right," he said to Dave, enthusiastically. "Finest
+girl I ever ran across."</p>
+
+<p>"Phil, I'm afraid you're smitten," answered
+Dave, with a laugh. "You'll be dreaming about
+her next."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps&mdash;I don't care if I do," was the reply,
+which showed that Phil was pretty far "gone" indeed.
+"But say," he went on, suddenly. "Talking
+about dreaming, I want to tell you something.
+Do you remember how Shadow Hamilton used to
+walk in his sleep?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think anybody is liable to forget it,"
+answered Dave, thinking of Shadow's theft, during
+his sleep-walking, of Doctor Clay's valuable collection
+of rare postage stamps as related in a previous
+volume of this series.</p>
+
+<p>"Shadow is at it again&mdash;although not so bad as
+before."</p>
+
+<p>"How do you know?" asked Ben.</p>
+
+<p>"Because the other night I woke up and heard
+him getting something out of his trunk. He was
+at the trunk about ten minutes and then went to
+bed again. In the morning I asked him about it
+and he declared positively that he hadn't gotten up
+at all. He was much disturbed over what I told
+him."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Maybe you were only dreaming," suggested
+Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I wasn't&mdash;I was as wide awake as I am
+now."</p>
+
+<p>"It would be too bad if Shadow got to sleep-walking
+again," said Dave. "We'll have to watch
+him a little. We don't want him to get into
+trouble."</p>
+
+<p>During the next two weeks Dave found but little
+time for recreation. A test in two studies was in
+progress, and he made up his mind to pass with
+flying colors. He went in for a regular "grind,"
+as Roger expressed it, and was at his books fully
+as much as was Polly Vane; indeed, the two often
+studied together.</p>
+
+<p>"Come on out for a skate&mdash;it may be the last of
+the season," said the senator's son, one afternoon,
+but Dave shook his head.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't do it, Roger&mdash;I've got my Latin to do,
+and four of those problems in geometry,&mdash;and
+some German."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, bother the lessons! Can't you let the
+geometry and the German slide?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I've made up my mind to get not less than
+ninety per cent. in the test this week."</p>
+
+<p>"Then you won't really come?" Roger lingered
+in the doorway as he spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"Not to-day. Have you got that geometry?"</p>
+
+<p>"No&mdash;I thought I might do it this evening."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"What about the German?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, perhaps I'll do that, too. I don't care
+much for the German, anyway."</p>
+
+<p>"But you ought to study your lesson, now you
+have taken it up, Roger."</p>
+
+<p>There was a minute of silence, and Dave turned
+to his text-books and papers and began to write.
+Roger drummed on the door and heaved a deep
+sigh. The ice on the river was growing soft&mdash;in
+a few days skating might be a thing of the past.</p>
+
+<p>"It seems to me you don't care for skating as
+much as you did, Dave," he said, presently.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, I do, Roger; but I'm not going to think
+about it while I have studying to do. I can't forget
+that, after all is said and done, I am here to get
+a good education, and that both my father and Mr.
+Wadsworth expect me to make the most of my opportunities."</p>
+
+<p>Dave returned again to his books and papers and
+another silence followed. Then the senator's son
+came in, hung up his skates in the closet, and got
+out his own schoolbooks and papers.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, if we've got to grind, I suppose it is up
+to me to do my share," he remarked, with another
+sigh. "But that ice&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't do it on my account, Roger."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but, Dave, I can't stand it to see you grinding
+alone&mdash;when I know I ought to grind too.
+My father wants me to get a good education, too.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span>
+So here goes," and then Roger began to study just
+as hard as Dave and Polly. Then Phil came in,
+and Shadow, and seeing the condition of affairs,
+went at it like the rest. Dave's example certainly
+carried a wonderful influence with it, even though
+the youth himself did not fully realize it.</p>
+
+<p>"This fifth problem in geometry is a corker," observed
+Shadow, presently. "If the gable of a house
+is fourteen feet long on one side, and the angle at
+the top is one of forty degrees, and the other side
+is but eleven feet long, how&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't say a word, I've been working on that
+for half an hour," said Phil. "Tried it this noon,
+after dinner, and couldn't get it."</p>
+
+<p>"It's very easy," answered Polly.</p>
+
+<p>"Have you got it, Dave?" asked Roger.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but I didn't find it so easy."</p>
+
+<p>"Guess I'll climb up some gable and measure it,"
+said Shadow. He began suddenly to grin. "That
+puts me in mind of a story. Once a college professor&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't!" begged Polly. "I have some figures
+in my head I don't wish to lose!"</p>
+
+<p>"Then nail 'em down," answered the story-teller
+of the school, calmly. "This college professor was
+paying a visit to some lumbermen and he was trying
+to convince one old tree-chopper of the value of
+an education. Says he, 'Now, look at it. You
+don't know how to measure a plank accurately.'
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>
+'Don't I, though?' says the lumberman. 'No, you
+don't, and I can prove it,' says the professor.
+'Now, supposing you had a plank twenty feet long
+and one foot wide at one end and running up evenly
+to two feet wide at the other end. Where would
+you saw that plank crosswise so that one end would
+contain as much wood as the other? You can't do
+that problem and I know it, because you never
+studied higher mathematics.' 'That's dead easy,'
+says the old lumberman. 'I don't even need a
+pencil to figger it out,' says he. 'Jest balance thet
+plank on a bit of stick, an' cut her where she balances!'
+And then the college professor didn't
+have anything more to say, for he made out the
+lumberman was a hopeless case." And at this tale
+all the boys present snickered.</p>
+
+<p>"Shadow would have a job climbing up on a
+gable to measure it," said Phil. "I'd rather do
+it on paper." Then Polly Vane and Dave gave
+Shadow some points as to how the problem should
+be worked out.</p>
+
+<p>In some way Link Merwell and Nat Poole got
+an inkling of the fact that it was known they had
+done all in their power to break up the initiation
+ceremonies of the Gee Eyes, and, not to be cornered,
+both of the boys did all they could to keep
+out of the reach of their fellow-students. But the
+Gee Eyes did not forget, and at a special meeting of
+the club it was voted to give both Poole and Merwell
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>
+"the cold shoulder" until something more
+definite could be done. By "the cold shoulder"
+was meant that no member of the club was to associate
+with Poole or Merwell or speak to them unless
+required to do so during school sessions. Outside
+of the schoolrooms they were to be as utterly
+ignored as though they did not exist.</p>
+
+<p>"I think that will bring Nat Poole to terms,
+without going further," said Roger. "He hates
+to be left to himself&mdash;I've noticed that many
+times."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it may have that effect on Nat," answered
+Dave. "But I think it will only make
+Merwell more savage," and in this surmise he was
+correct.</p>
+
+<p>The tests proved a severe strain on many of the
+boys, and Dave was glad when they were over.
+What the standing of each student was would not
+be known until later.</p>
+
+<p>"Now I'd like to go skating," said he to Roger,
+but this could not be, for warm weather had set in
+and the ice and snow were rapidly passing away.
+That night it rained, and this made everything outside
+very sloppy.</p>
+
+<p>Dave went to bed early, for he was tired out.
+He slept soundly for several hours and then awoke
+with a start, for something had brushed his face.
+He sat up, and was just in time to see a form gliding
+from the dormitory.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Hello! what can that mean?" he murmured to
+himself, and then he sprang up. "Guess I'll investigate."
+And then, putting on a pair of slippers
+and donning a long overcoat that was handy,
+he made after the person who had just disappeared.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a
+dim light that was burning, a form at the lower
+end, moving toward a back stairs. An instant later
+the form glided up the stairs toward the third floor
+of the school building. The form was in white,
+and Dave knew it must be one of the students in his
+nightdress.</p>
+
+<p>"Something is going on," he thought. "Wonder
+if that is Phil or Roger?"</p>
+
+<p>Curious to learn what the midnight prowler was
+up to, Dave followed the unknown to the third
+story of the building. He saw the fellow walk to a
+side hall. Here it was almost dark, for the servants'
+rooms were in that part of the building. He
+stopped and listened and heard an odd creaking
+and a scraping sound. Then he went forward once
+more.</p>
+
+<p>Turning into the side hall, a gust of cold wind
+struck him. He knew it came from overhead, and
+then he remembered that at the end of the side hall
+was a ladder leading to a scuttle of the roof. The
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>
+scuttle had been thrown open, and wind and rain
+were coming down through the opening.</p>
+
+<p>Dave's curiosity was now excited to the top pitch.
+He felt sure that the servants had not left the
+scuttle open on retiring or that it had been blown
+open by the wind. Consequently, the midnight
+prowler must have opened it, and if so, for what
+purpose excepting to get out on the wet and slippery
+roof?</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly an idea flashed into Dave's mind, and
+without further ado he ran to the ladder and
+mounted it with all speed. At the top he thrust
+his head through the scuttle opening and looked
+around that portion of the school roof which was
+visible from that point.</p>
+
+<p>He had expected to see a certain person, but he
+was disappointed. Yet this did not make him hesitate
+regarding his course of action. He crawled
+out on the roof, slippery and treacherous with slush,
+and made his way cautiously but rapidly to where
+there were an angle and a high gable, with a wide
+chimney between.</p>
+
+<p>As he gained the side of the chimney and stood
+there in the rain, slush, and wind, he saw a sight
+that both thrilled and chilled him. The mysterious
+student in white was crawling up the gable and
+was already close to the ridge!</p>
+
+<p>"Shadow Hamilton!" murmured Dave. "He
+is sleep-walking again!"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Dave was right&mdash;it was indeed poor Shadow,
+and as fast asleep as a sleep-walker can get. The
+lad had a tape measure in one hand and was muttering
+to himself:</p>
+
+<p>"If the gable of a house is fourteen feet long on
+one side, and the angle at the top&mdash;&mdash;" And then
+the rest was lost in the wind.</p>
+
+<p>"He's dreaming of that problem in geometry,"
+said Dave to himself. "It's got on his nerves."</p>
+
+<p>He wondered what he could do to aid the sleep-walker.
+He was afraid to call to Shadow, for
+fear the boy might awaken suddenly and tumble
+off the roof. Shadow was now on the ridge, and,
+to Dave's added horror, he stood upright, the tape
+measure in his hands. Then he began to walk to
+the very end of the ridgepole.</p>
+
+<p>"If he falls into the yard he'll break his neck
+sure!"</p>
+
+<p>Such was Dave's agonizing thought, and despite
+the cold, the heavy perspiration stood out on his
+forehead.</p>
+
+<p>"Dave!"</p>
+
+<p>It was a voice from the scuttle opening and came
+so unexpectedly it made the youth start. Turning
+back, he made out Phil in the dim light.</p>
+
+<p>"Phil!" he whispered.</p>
+
+<p>"What are you doing up there, Dave?"</p>
+
+<p>"I followed Shadow Hamilton."</p>
+
+<p>"Shadow?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Yes. He is sleep-walking again and has
+climbed to the ridge of the gable roof. I don't
+dare to awaken him for fear of an accident."</p>
+
+<p>"I saw you go out and I was wondering what
+was up. Then I missed Shadow and came after
+you. It's too bad, Dave! But I imagine the very
+best thing you can do is to let him alone until he
+comes back."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't like to take the responsibility, Phil.
+If anything should happen I'd never forgive myself.
+I'll tell you what I wish you'd do."</p>
+
+<p>"What?"</p>
+
+<p>"Run and call Mr. Dale. He knows something
+about these cases. He once told me he had a
+brother who walked in his sleep and did all sorts of
+strange things."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, I'll call him," answered the shipowner's
+son, and disappeared down the scuttle
+ladder.</p>
+
+<p>Going back to the chimney, Dave now saw that
+Shadow had reached the end of the ridgepole and
+was kneeling down upon it. Holding out the tape
+measure he proceeded to make several imaginary
+measurements, all the while muttering to himself.
+The sight almost caused Dave's heart to stop beating,
+for the slightest miscalculation on the sleep-walker's
+part would have caused a serious if not
+fatal accident.</p>
+
+<p>After what seemed a long time Dave heard Phil
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>
+coming back. He was accompanied by Andrew
+Dale, the head teacher, who had stopped just long
+enough to get on some of his clothing.</p>
+
+<p>"Where is he?" whispered Mr. Dale, as he
+came out in the wind and rain.</p>
+
+<p>"There," answered Dave, and pointed out the
+form of the sleep-walker.</p>
+
+<p>"Have you tried to speak to him?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I was afraid."</p>
+
+<p>"Then, don't say a word till he comes down to
+a safer place."</p>
+
+<p>After that the three watched Shadow Hamilton
+for several minutes while he continued his calculation
+and used the tape measure. Then they saw
+the sleep-walker wind up the measure.</p>
+
+<p>"He is coming down!" whispered Phil, and he
+was right. Slowly Shadow climbed down from the
+gable roof and made his way toward the scuttle.
+He had taken but a few steps when suddenly he
+slipped and fell.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" he cried, and looked around in bewilderment.
+"Where&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Shadow!" cried Dave, and caught him by the
+arm. "You are all right, so don't worry."</p>
+
+<p>"But where am I?" insisted the sleep-walker.</p>
+
+<p>"On the roof."</p>
+
+<p>"You have been walking in your sleep, Hamilton,"
+explained Mr. Dale. "Come, let me help
+you down the ladder. You are soaked through,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>
+and if you don't get into a warm bed very quickly
+you may catch your death of cold."</p>
+
+<p>Completely bewildered, Shadow allowed himself
+to be taken to the ladder and aided to descend.
+Then the scuttle was closed and hooked.</p>
+
+<p>"I do not think it best for you to go back to the
+dormitory," said the head teacher. "I'll put you
+in a warm room by yourself. But perhaps it would
+be as well for somebody to stay with you for the
+rest of the night," and Andrew Dale looked questioningly
+at Dave and Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll stay," said Dave, quickly.</p>
+
+<p>"Very well. To-morrow we'll talk this over
+and see what is best to do. There is no use in trying
+to do so now, when we are all cold, wet, and
+tired."</p>
+
+<p>The head teacher led the way to a private bedroom
+that was well heated and had Dave go back
+to the dormitory for some extra clothing. Then
+he left Dave and Shadow to themselves.</p>
+
+<p>"This breaks me all up," said Shadow, moodily.
+"I thought I was all over those tricks."</p>
+
+<p>"It was the hard study did it, and the tests," answered
+Dave. "You had that geometrical problem
+in your mind and couldn't get rid of it. Maybe
+you'll never walk in your sleep again."</p>
+
+<p>"I sincerely trust not, Dave. It was good of you
+and the others to help me," and Shadow gave his
+chum a grateful look.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"We did very little, Shadow&mdash;indeed, I didn't
+know what to do. But when I saw you on the very
+end of the ridge I can tell you my heart was in my
+throat."</p>
+
+<p>Before going to bed both boys indulged in a good
+rubbing down and consequently the exposure to
+the elements did them no harm. In the morning
+Shadow was excused from attending school and
+Horsehair was sent to town to get some of the
+medicine which the sleep-walker had taken in the
+past, after the exposure of his former exploits
+during the night.</p>
+
+<p>With the coming of spring the boys had a vacation
+of several days. A few of the students went
+home, but the majority remained at Oak Hall, and,
+to pass away the time, indulged in all sorts of
+sports and pastimes, including a funny initiation of
+the Soden brothers.</p>
+
+<p>At New Year a new gymnasium teacher had been
+engaged,&mdash;a fine man, who was an expert gymnast
+and also a good boxer and fencer. Since coming
+back to the Hall, Dave had become interested in
+both boxing and fencing, and spent some time
+under the new instructor.</p>
+
+<p>"I believe a chap ought to know how to defend
+himself," he said to Roger. "In knocking around
+one doesn't know what kind of a hole he may be
+placed in,&mdash;and you can never know too much."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I like boxing and fencing myself," answered
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>
+the senator's son, and after that he and
+Dave had many a time together, with the foils and
+gloves.</p>
+
+<p>Link Merwell did not care much for fencing, but
+he took readily to boxing, and he caused Nat Poole
+to take up the sport. As the pair were still totally
+ignored by the Gee Eyes they had to box against
+one another or with some of the younger lads.</p>
+
+<p>"Those fellows are afraid to box with me,"
+said Link Merwell, on several occasions. "They
+know that I can do every one of them up in short
+order." He referred to Dave and his chums, and
+made the assertion in the presence of a large
+crowd of students.</p>
+
+<p>At first none of the Gee Eyes paid any attention
+to the bully, but gradually the boasting nettled
+them, and some of them talked it over. Then
+came a report from little Frank Bond to the effect
+that Link Merwell was saying he had asked Dave
+to box him and the latter had declined because he
+was afraid.</p>
+
+<p>"Dave, if I were you, I wouldn't stand for
+that," said Buster Beggs.</p>
+
+<p>"What am I to do?" asked Dave. "The Gee
+Eyes voted to leave Merwell and Poole severely
+alone, and I've got to stick by my word."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I guess they'll vote for the boxing contest&mdash;if
+you want to stand up before him."</p>
+
+<p>"I certainly am not afraid to do so."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>As a consequence of this talk, Buster spoke to
+Luke Watson, and there was a hasty meeting of
+the Gee Eyes and it was voted that Dave should
+box Merwell if he so desired.</p>
+
+<p>Not knowing of this meeting and of its result,
+Link Merwell strode into the gymnasium the next
+afternoon, in company with Nat Poole, and proceeded
+to put on a pair of boxing gloves.</p>
+
+<p>"Too bad, Nat, but I can't wake any of those
+fellows up," he said, loudly. "Every one of 'em
+is afraid to face me."</p>
+
+<p>"How about Dave Porter?" asked Nat Poole,
+in an equally loud tone.</p>
+
+<p>"Worst of the bunch. I guess he's afraid I'll
+knock the head off of him."</p>
+
+<p>These words were spoken so that Dave might
+hear them. There were a few seconds of silence,
+and then Dave walked up to Merwell.</p>
+
+<p>"So you think I am afraid to box you, Merwell?"
+he said, quietly.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, so you've woke up, eh?" sneered the bully.
+"Thought you and your crowd had gone to
+sleep."</p>
+
+<p>"I want to know if you think I am afraid to
+box you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course you are afraid."</p>
+
+<p>"You are mistaken&mdash;and I'll prove it to you in
+very short order. How soon do you want to
+box?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>At this Link Merwell was taken by surprise, and
+his face showed it. But he was "game," and
+drew himself up.</p>
+
+<p>"Any time you want me to box you I'll be
+ready."</p>
+
+<p>"Then we'll box right now," answered Dave.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">THE BOXING BOUT</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"A boxing match!"</p>
+
+<p>"I think Dave Porter will win."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know about that. Link Merwell has
+been doing a great deal of boxing lately and has it
+down pretty fine."</p>
+
+<p>"That may be, but Dave is as quick as they make
+them."</p>
+
+<p>So the talk ran on, as the boys in the gymnasium
+gathered around the would-be contestants. They
+felt that, no matter who won, they were going to
+see something worth while. Many secretly hoped
+that the boxing match would degenerate into a
+regular fight, for they knew that Dave and Merwell
+were bitter enemies, and the majority wanted
+to see the big bully soundly whipped.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll have to have a referee and a
+timekeeper," said Dave. "Who shall they
+be?"</p>
+
+<p>"A referee and a timekeeper?" repeated Link
+Merwell. "Why don't you start her up and have
+done with it?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"This is to be no prize fight, Merwell. I shall
+box you for points only."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" The bully put as much of a sneer into
+the exclamation as possible. "Afraid to finish it
+up, eh?"</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps you'll get all you want before we
+stop," answered Dave, calmly.</p>
+
+<p>"What kind of gloves do you want? The thickest
+in the place, I suppose."</p>
+
+<p>"No, a medium glove will do for me. Mr.
+Dodsworth recommends the number five."</p>
+
+<p>"Humph! I'm willing to box with a number
+one if you wish!"</p>
+
+<p>"We might as well box without gloves as with
+number ones. This is to be no slugging match, as
+I intimated before. If you are afraid to box for
+points say so."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I'll box you any way you please. Who
+do you want for timekeeper and referee?"</p>
+
+<p>"Any boy with a good watch can keep time. I
+think Mr. Dodsworth ought to be the referee."</p>
+
+<p>"Nat Poole can judge it all right," growled
+Merwell.</p>
+
+<p>"He's not acceptable to me," answered Dave,
+promptly.</p>
+
+<p>"The gym. teacher is all right," said Roger.
+"He'll know just what every move counts."</p>
+
+<p>Link Merwell wished to argue, but Dave would
+not listen, and in the end the services of the new
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>
+gymnasium teacher were called in. Mr. Dodsworth
+smiled when told of what was on foot.</p>
+
+<p>"Very well, I'll be referee," he said. "Now,
+let me warn you against all foul moves. You both
+know the rules. Let this be a purely scientific
+struggle for points. Length of each round two
+minutes, with two minutes intermission. How
+many rounds do you want to have?"</p>
+
+<p>"To a finish," said Link Merwell, and he glared
+wickedly at Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I'll not allow that, for it is too exhausting.
+Let us say ten rounds. That will give you
+twenty minutes of hot work. Here, I will give my
+watch to Lambertson and he can keep the time."
+And he passed the watch over to the student mentioned.</p>
+
+<p>The way matters had been arranged did not suit
+Link Merwell at all, yet he felt forced to submit or
+acknowledge that he was afraid of Dave. He had
+wished for a free-and-easy match and had hoped,
+on the sly, to get in a foul blow or two which might
+knock Dave out. Now, under the keen eyes of the
+gymnasium instructor, he knew he would have to be
+careful of his every movement.</p>
+
+<p>The preliminaries arranged, the two boxers
+faced each other, while the students gathered
+thickly in a large circle around them. The circle
+was protected by benches, giving to the scene something
+of the air of a professional boxing ring.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Ready!" called out Mr. Dodsworth. "Go!"
+he cried.</p>
+
+<p>But there was very little "go" at the start.
+Both boxers were on the alert and they circled
+around slowly, looking for an opening. Then
+Merwell made a pass, which Dave warded off
+easily. Then Dave landed on his opponent's
+breast, Merwell came back with a blow in the
+shoulder, and Dave, ducking, sent in two in quick
+succession on the bully's neck and ear. Then time
+was called.</p>
+
+<p>"How does that stand?" asked some of the
+boys.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell you later," said Mr. Dodsworth, as
+he penciled something on a bit of paper.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, tell us now!" they pleaded.</p>
+
+<p>But the instructor was obdurate. And while the
+lads were pleading round two was called.</p>
+
+<p>The contestants were now warming up, and
+blows were given and taken freely. Link Merwell
+was forced back twice, and was glad when time
+was called by Lambertson.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't get too anxious," said the instructor,
+during the recess. "Remember, this is for
+points."</p>
+
+<p>Again the two boys went at it, and the third,
+fourth, and fifth rounds were mixed up freely.
+All present had to acknowledge that Link Merwell
+boxed quite well, but they saw that the points
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span>
+were in Dave's favor. Dave had perfect control
+of himself, while the bully was getting excited.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll show you something now!" cried Merwell
+as they came up for round six. He flew at Dave
+like a wild animal. But Dave was on the alert and
+dodged and ducked in a manner that brought
+constant applause. Then, almost before anybody
+knew it, he landed on the bully's jaw, his cheek,
+and then his nose.</p>
+
+<p>"O my! Look at that!"</p>
+
+<p>"Say, that was swift, wasn't it?"</p>
+
+<p>The three blows had thrown Merwell off his
+balance, and he recovered with difficulty.</p>
+
+<p>"He&mdash;he fouled me!" he panted.</p>
+
+<p>"No foul!" answered the gymnasium instructor,
+and just then time was called.</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe Merwell would like to call it off," suggested
+Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Not much! I'll show you yet!" roared the
+bully. "I'll have you to know&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Merwell, you'll do better if you'll keep your
+excitement down," advised the instructor. "'Keep
+cool,' is an excellent motto."</p>
+
+<p>"Dave, you're doing well," whispered Roger.
+"Keep it up and Merwell won't know where he
+is at by the end of the tenth round."</p>
+
+<p>"I intend to keep it up," was the answer. "I
+started out to teach that bully a lesson and I'll do
+it&mdash;if it is in me."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>And it was in Dave&mdash;as the seventh and eighth
+rounds showed. In the latter round he practically
+had the bully at his mercy, and boxed him all
+around the ring. The calling of time found Merwell
+panting for breath and so confused he could
+hardly see.</p>
+
+<p>"I think you had better give it up," said the
+gymnasium instructor. "Merwell, you have had
+enough."</p>
+
+<p>"Say, are you going to give this boxing match
+to Porter?" roared the bully.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, for he has won it fairly. He already
+has twenty-six points to your seven."</p>
+
+<p>"It ain't fair! I can lick him any day!"</p>
+
+<p>"It is not a question of 'licking' anybody, Merwell.
+This was a boxing bout for points, and you
+are no longer in condition to box. I declare Porter
+the winner, and I congratulate him on his clean
+and clever work with the gloves."</p>
+
+<p>"He&mdash;he fouled me."</p>
+
+<p>"Not at all. If there was any fouling it was
+done by you in the sixth and seventh rounds. I
+might have disqualified you then if I had been
+very particular about it. But I saw that Porter
+was willing to let you go on."</p>
+
+<p>This was the bitterest pill of all for Link Merwell
+to swallow. To think he might have been
+disqualified but that Dave Porter had been given
+the chance to continue hammering him! He
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span>
+wanted to argue, but no one except Nat Poole
+would listen to him, and so he strode out of the
+gymnasium in disgust, accompanied by his crony.</p>
+
+<p>"It makes me sick," he muttered. "Everybody
+stands up for Porter, no matter what he does!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you see he has a way of worming in with
+everybody," answered Nat Poole. "A decent
+chap wouldn't do it, but you couldn't expect anything
+different from a poorhouse boy, could you?"
+When alone he and Merwell frequently referred
+to Dave as "a poorhouse boy," but both took good
+care not to use that term in public, remembering
+what punishment it had brought down on their
+heads.</p>
+
+<p>"He'll crow over us worse than ever now,"
+resumed Merwell. "Oh, but don't I wish I could
+square up with him and the rest of the Gee Eyes!"</p>
+
+<p>"We'll do it some day,&mdash;when we get the
+chance," said Poole. "Come on and have a
+smoke; it will help to quiet you." And then he and
+the bully walked away from Oak Hall to a secluded
+spot, where they might indulge themselves
+in the forbidden pastime of smoking cigarettes.
+Both were inveterate smokers and had to exercise
+extreme caution that knowledge of the offense
+might not reach Doctor Clay or his assistants.</p>
+
+<p>Finding a comfortable spot, the boys sat down
+on a fallen tree and there consumed one cigarette
+after another, trying to be real "mannish" by inhaling
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>
+the smoke and blowing it through the nose.
+As they smoked they talked of many things, the
+conversation finally drifting around to Vera Rockwell
+and Mary Feversham.</p>
+
+<p>"I understand Phil Lawrence is daffy over that
+Feversham girl," remarked Poole. "She is a
+fairly good sort, but she wouldn't suit me." He
+said this because Mary had snubbed him on several
+occasions when they had met in Oakdale.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I heard Roger Morr was daffy over
+that Rockwell girl," answered Merwell. "And
+I heard, too, that Porter was likely to cut him
+out."</p>
+
+<p>"Porter cut him out!" exclaimed Nat Poole.
+"Who told you that? Why, Dave Porter is too
+thick with Jessie Wadsworth to think much of
+anybody else."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you sure of that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. Why, when Porter is home the two are
+as thick as can be. I am sure that Jessie Wadsworth
+thinks the world of him, too, although why is beyond
+my comprehension," added the dudish student.
+He had not forgotten how Jessie had also
+snubbed him, when invitations were being sent out
+for her party.</p>
+
+<p>"Humph!" Link Merwell puffed at his cigarette
+in silence for a moment. "You say they are
+thick,&mdash;and still he goes out with this Vera Rockwell.
+Kind of funny mix-up, eh?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I suppose he has a right to do as he
+pleases," drawled Nat.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, we might&mdash;&mdash;" Merwell stopped short
+and blew a quantity of cigarette smoke from his
+nose.</p>
+
+<p>"Might what?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I was just thinking, Nat&mdash;&mdash;" And the
+bully stopped again.</p>
+
+<p>"If you don't want me to know, say so," returned
+the dudish student, crossly.</p>
+
+<p>"I was thinking that perhaps we could put a
+spoke in Dave Porter's wheel in a manner that
+he'd never suspect. If he's somewhat sweet on
+that Wadsworth girl, and at the same time giving
+his attention to Vera Rockwell, we ought to be able
+to do something."</p>
+
+<p>"What?"</p>
+
+<p>"Supposing that Wadsworth girl heard he was
+running around with a girl up here, and supposing
+Vera Rockwell heard about the Crumville maiden?
+Maybe Dave Porter would have some work
+straightening matters out, eh?"</p>
+
+<p>"By Jove, you're right!" cried Nat Poole.
+"It's a great scheme, Link! If we work it right,
+we can get him in the hottest kind of water&mdash;especially
+if he thinks a good deal of both girls."</p>
+
+<p>"And that isn't all," added Link Merwell,
+lighting a fresh cigarette. "Don't forget Roger
+Morr. If he thinks a good deal of Vera Rockwell
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span>
+we'll manage to put a flea in his ear,&mdash;that Porter
+is trying to cut him out in an underhanded way. I
+reckon that will split up the friendship between
+Porter and Morr pretty quick."</p>
+
+<p>"So it will!" Nat Poole's eyes fairly beamed.
+"This is the best plan yet, Link! Let us put it
+into execution at once. How shall we go at it?"</p>
+
+<p>"That remains to be seen," said Merwell.</p>
+
+<p>And then and there the pair plotted to get Dave
+and his friends into "the hottest kind of water,"
+as the bully expressed it, and break up the closest
+of friendships.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">AT THE EXPRESS OFFICE</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Dave, we want you to take part in the entertainment
+we are getting up."</p>
+
+<p>It was Luke Watson who spoke. Luke had
+been working like a Trojan to get all the talent of
+the school into line for what he said was going to
+be "the best show Oak Hall ever put up, and
+don't you forget it."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm willing to help you out, Luke, but what
+do you want me to do?" returned Dave. "I am
+no actor."</p>
+
+<p>"I know what he can do," said Buster. "He
+and Link Merwell can give a boxing match."
+And this caused a short laugh.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, that puts me in mind of a story," came
+from Shadow. "One day a very nice lady&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Say, Shadow, remember what I told you,"
+broke in Luke. "If you've got any real good,
+new stories keep them until the entertainment.
+You are down for a ten-minutes' monologue, and
+it will take quite a few yarns to fill the time."</p>
+
+<p>"Huh! Don't you worry&mdash;I can tell stories
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>
+for ten hours," answered the story-teller of the
+school. "Well, as I was saying, one day a very
+nice lady called on another lady with a friend.
+Says she, 'Mrs. Smith, allow me to introduce my
+friend, Miss Tarnose.' Now, as it happened, Mrs.
+Smith was rather deaf so she says, 'Excuse me, but
+I didn't catch the name.' 'Miss Tarnose,' repeated
+the lady, a little louder. 'I really can't
+hear you,' says Mrs. Smith. Then the lady fairly
+bawled, 'I said Miss Tarnose!' But Mrs. Smith
+only looked puzzled. 'I'm sorry,' she said at last.
+'My hearing must be worse. I'd hate to say what
+it sounded like to me. It was just like Tarnose!'"
+And then there was another short laugh.</p>
+
+<p>"I asked Plum to take part," went on Luke.
+"He said he'd like to do a dialogue, if he could
+get anybody to assist. He said he had a pretty
+good piece."</p>
+
+<p>"I might do that," answered Dave, readily.</p>
+
+<p>"Would you go on with Plum?"</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly, Luke."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I thought&mdash;&mdash;" Luke Watson stopped
+short and shrugged his shoulders.</p>
+
+<p>"I feel that Gus is now one of us, Luke, and I
+wish the other fellows would feel the same."</p>
+
+<p>"Here he comes now," said Buster, in a low
+tone, as Gus Plum came into sight at the door of
+the schoolroom in which the talk was taking place.
+Gus looked pale and somewhat disturbed.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Hello, Plum!" sang out Luke. "Come here,
+we want you."</p>
+
+<p>"Luke says you think of doing a dialogue for
+the show," said Dave. "What have you got?
+If it's something I can do, I may go in with
+you."</p>
+
+<p>"Will you, Dave?" The face of the former
+bully of Oak Hall brightened instantly. "I'd like
+that first-rate. The dialogue I have is called
+'Looking for a Job.' I think it is very funny, and
+we might make it still more funny if both of us
+spoke in a brogue, or if one of us blacked up as a
+darky."</p>
+
+<p>"Let me read the dialogue," said Dave. "And
+if I think I can do it, I'll go in with you."</p>
+
+<p>The upshot of this conversation was that Dave
+and Plum went over the dialogue with care. Between
+them they made some changes and added
+a few lines, bringing in some fun of a local nature.
+Then it was decided that Gus Plum should assume
+the character of a darky and Dave should fix up
+as a German immigrant.</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe, if we work hard, we can make our
+piece the hit of the show," said Dave. That
+afternoon he wrote a letter to his sister Laura and
+also one to Jessie, telling them of what was going
+on and adding he was sorry they would not be
+there to see the entertainment.</p>
+
+<p>By hard work Luke Watson got over twenty
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>
+boys of Oak Hall to take part in the show. There
+were to be several dialogues as well as Shadow's
+monologue, some singing, and some banjo and
+guitar playing, also a humorous drill, given by six
+youths who called themselves The Rough Walkers,
+in place of The Rough Riders. One student
+also promised a set of lantern pictures, from
+photographs taken in and near Oak Hall during
+the past term.</p>
+
+<p>At first Doctor Clay said the show must be for the
+students only, but the boys begged to have a few
+outsiders, and in the end each lad was told he could
+invite three outsiders, and was given three tickets
+for that purpose. Dave sent his tickets to his
+father, but he doubted if any one at home would
+make use of them.</p>
+
+<p>"I sent one ticket home," said Phil, "and I
+sent the other two to Mary Feversham. I hope
+she comes."</p>
+
+<p>"Want her to come with the other fellow?"
+queried Dave, with a twinkle in his eye.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I thought maybe she'd come with Vera
+Rockwell."</p>
+
+<p>"That would suit Roger, Phil."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and it would suit you, too, Dave. Oh,
+you needn't look that way. I know you think
+Vera Rockwell is a nice girl."</p>
+
+<p>"That's true, but&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"No 'buts' about it, my boy. I know a thing
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span>
+when I see it. I guess she thinks a lot of you,
+too."</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Phil&mdash;&mdash;" began Dave; but just then
+some other boys appeared and the rather delicate
+subject had to be dropped.</p>
+
+<p>Dave had procured a theatrical book on how to
+make up for all sorts of characters, and he and
+Plum studied this and got their costumes ready.
+Both were truly comical outfits, and each lad had
+to laugh at the other when they put them on.</p>
+
+<p>"We must keep them a secret," said Dave. "It
+will spoil half the fun to let the others know how
+we are going to be dressed. We don't want a soul
+to know until we step on the stage." And so it
+was agreed.</p>
+
+<p>Several of the boys had ordered face paints and
+some other things from the city, to be sent by mail
+and express, and when some of the articles did not
+come to hand, there was a good deal of anxiety.
+Dave was minus a red wig which he had ordered
+and paid for, and Phil wanted some paint and a
+rubber bulldog.</p>
+
+<p>"Let us go to Oakdale and stir up the postmaster
+and the express agent," said Dave, and he
+and the shipowner's son set out for the town
+directly after breakfast on the morning of the day
+that the entertainment was to come off.</p>
+
+<p>As the roads were in fairly good condition, the
+strong winds having dried them up, the two lads
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span>
+made the trip to town on their bicycles. This did
+not take long, and reaching Oakdale they left their
+wheels at a drug store, where they stopped to get
+some red fire that was to be burned during a
+tableau.</p>
+
+<p>At the post office they were in luck, for two
+packages had just come in, containing some things
+for which they had been waiting.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope we have as good luck at the express
+office," said Phil.</p>
+
+<p>The office mentioned was located at one end of
+the depot. Here they met Mr. Goode, the agent,
+with whom they were fairly well acquainted.</p>
+
+<p>"A package for you?" said the agent, looking
+speculatively at Dave. "Why, yes, I've got a
+package for you. Come in. I was going to send
+it up some time to-day or to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p>"To-morrow would have been too late," answered
+Dave. "I need the stuff to-day."</p>
+
+<p>The boys followed the agent into the stuffy little
+express office. Mr. Goode walked to a heap of
+packages lying in a corner and began to turn them
+over.</p>
+
+<p>"Hum!" he murmured. "Don't seem to be
+here. I had it yesterday."</p>
+
+<p>He continued to hunt around, and then went to
+a receipt book lying on his desk. He studied several
+pages for some minutes.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, you must have gotten it," he said.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"No, I didn't."</p>
+
+<p>"It's signed for."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I didn't sign for it," answered Dave,
+positively. And then he added, "Let me see that
+signature."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Goode shoved the receipt book toward him
+and pointed out the signature. It was a mere
+scrawl in leadpencil, that might stand for almost
+anything. It was certainly not in the least like
+Dave's handwriting.</p>
+
+<p>"I was out yesterday afternoon," continued the
+express agent. "Went to a funeral. Dave Case
+kept office for me. Maybe he can tell you about
+it. Probably some of the other students got the
+package for you."</p>
+
+<p>Dave Case was the driver of the local express
+wagon. He was out on a trip and would
+not be back for half an hour. This being so,
+there was nothing for Phil and Dave to do but
+to wait.</p>
+
+<p>"If some of the other fellows got that package
+it's queer they didn't say anything," said Dave,
+as he and his chum walked slowly down the main
+street. "They must know I am anxious&mdash;with
+the show to come off to-night. If I don't get that
+wig my part won't be nearly so good."</p>
+
+<p>The boys reached a corner and were standing
+there, not knowing what to do, when two girls
+crossed over, coming from a dry-goods store.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Hello!" cried Phil, and his face lit up with
+pleasure. "Here are Mary Feversham and Vera
+Rockwell."</p>
+
+<p>He stepped forward, tipped his hat and shook
+hands, and then Dave did the same.</p>
+
+<p>"I must thank you for the tickets, Mr. Lawrence,"
+said Mary, sweetly. "It was very kind of
+you to send them."</p>
+
+<p>"I hope you will come," returned the shipowner's
+son, eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I shall be there, for I do want to hear
+you boys sing and act. I am coming with my
+mother."</p>
+
+<p>"I am going, too," added Vera. "Roger Morr
+sent my brother two tickets and invited us. Bob
+is home for a couple of days, so it comes in real
+handy." And Vera smiled at both Dave and Phil.
+"I suppose you are going to give us something fine&mdash;a
+real city vaudeville show."</p>
+
+<p>"We are going to do our best," answered Dave,
+modestly.</p>
+
+<p>"Dave is in a little trouble," continued the shipowner's
+son, and told about the missing express
+package.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I hope you get the wig!" cried Vera. "A
+red one will look so becoming!" And she laughed
+heartily.</p>
+
+<p>"And he is to have a big red mustache, too,"
+said Phil.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Hold on, Phil, you mustn't give away any
+professional secrets!" cried Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I just dote on red mustaches," exclaimed
+Vera. "They make a man look like a&mdash;a&mdash;&mdash; Oh,
+I don't know what!"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Vera, you're awful!" interposed Mary.
+"What do you know about red mustaches, anyway?"</p>
+
+<p>"She never had one, did she?" remarked Dave,
+calmly, and at this both girls shrieked with laughter.
+"But never mind," he went on. "After I
+am done with it, she can have mine." And this
+brought forth more laughter.</p>
+
+<p>The girls and boys had come to a halt directly
+in front of a new candy and ice-cream establishment,
+and it was but natural that Phil should suggest
+to Dave that they go in and get some candy.
+The girls demurred at first at being treated, but
+then consented, and all went into the store. Dave
+purchased some assorted chocolates and Phil some
+fancy fig pastes, the girls saying they liked both.</p>
+
+<p>"As it's a new store, the candies ought to be
+fresh," remarked Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I like them best that way," answered
+Vera, as she helped herself to a chocolate. "I
+don't care for them when they are stale&mdash;and it
+is sometimes hard to get them fresh in a small
+town like this. The stores&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>She stopped short, for at the door of the candy
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span>
+establishment they almost ran into a party of two
+girls and a man. One of the girls&mdash;the younger&mdash;was
+staring very hard at Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, father!" cried Dave, in astonishment.
+"And you, too, Laura and Jessie! Why, this is
+a surprise!" And he hastened to shake hands all
+around. "I didn't dream of your coming."</p>
+
+<p>"I just made them come," said Laura, giving
+him a kiss. "How are you, Phil?" and she shook
+hands with the shipowner's son.</p>
+
+<p>When Dave took Jessie's hand he felt it tremble
+a little. The girl said a few commonplace
+words but all the time kept looking at Vera.</p>
+
+<p>"Let me introduce our friends," said Phil, and
+proceeded to go through the ceremony. "We
+have just been buying some candy. Come, have
+some," and he held out the box he had bought.
+Laura took some, but Jessie shook her head.</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, not to-day, Phil," Jessie said, and
+there seemed to be a little catch in her throat.
+Then Dave looked at her fully in the eyes, and of
+a sudden she turned her head away. Somehow he
+suspected that Jessie wanted to cry, and he wondered
+why.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">A MISUNDERSTANDING</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Mr. Porter explained that they had just come
+in on the train, and were looking for some conveyance
+to take them to Oak Hall.</p>
+
+<p>"We thought we might call on you for an hour
+or so and then come back and put up at the Oakdale
+Hotel," he said.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll certainly be glad to have you call," answered
+Dave.</p>
+
+<p>Then he told about the missing express package.
+In the meantime Laura conversed with Mary and
+Vera, but nothing was said about how the boys and
+girls had chanced to meet. Then Mary and Vera
+said they must attend to some errands and get
+home.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, we'll look for you to-night, sure!"
+cried Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll be there," answered Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"I wouldn't miss it for a good deal," said
+Vera. "I want to see that red mustache and
+wig, if nothing else!" And she laughed, merrily.</p>
+
+<p>"You won't see the wig unless my package is
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>
+found," answered Dave; and then the two girls
+hurried away.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Porter led the way to the local hotel, situated
+close to the depot, and there registered his
+party for dinner and supper.</p>
+
+<p>"You can take dinner with us," said he to his
+son and Phil. "I'll write a note to Doctor Clay,
+so there will be no trouble."</p>
+
+<p>"We can't stay very long after dinner," answered
+Dave. "I must look up that package,&mdash;and
+all hands want some kind of a rehearsal."</p>
+
+<p>The boys walked to the express office, but Case
+had not come back, so they had to go to dinner
+without hearing from the driver. The five sat at
+a separate table, and Dave had Laura on one side
+and Jessie on the other. He did his best to make
+himself agreeable to Jessie, but she did not warm
+up as was usual with her, and this made his heart
+feel rather heavy.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Jessie, you don't act like yourself," he
+said, after dinner, and while the others were sitting
+somewhat apart from them in the hotel parlor.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't I?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"No, you don't. What is the matter, don't
+you feel well?" And his face showed his concern.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, I feel very well." Her lips trembled
+a little. "I&mdash;I guess I am out of sorts, that's all."</p>
+
+<p>"It's too bad."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I'll soon get over it, I suppose." Jessie
+gave a sigh. "Tell me about your doings, Dave.
+I suppose you are having hard work at school and
+like to get out and meet some of your Oakdale
+friends."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, yes, I like to get out sometimes."</p>
+
+<p>"Those seem to be very nice girls."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, they are. Phil is quite fond of one of
+them, too."</p>
+
+<p>"Which one?"</p>
+
+<p>"Mary Feversham. We became acquainted
+with them in quite an odd way," and he told of
+the big snowball and the ice-boat.</p>
+
+<p>"That Vera Rockwell seems to think a great
+deal of you, Dave."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think so? Well, I think she is a
+nice&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Dave, there is the expressman now!" called
+out Phil, from his position near a window.
+"Come on, if you want to find out about that
+package."</p>
+
+<p>"All right," answered Dave, and for the time
+being he forgot all about what he was going to
+say to Jessie&mdash;that he thought Vera nice but not
+as nice as Jessie herself&mdash;something which might
+have gone a long way toward heading off the trouble
+that was brewing.</p>
+
+<p>For boys and girls will often think a great deal
+of each other&mdash;and a heartache at fourteen or sixteen
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span>
+is often as real, if not as lasting, as at twenty
+or older. Since the day Dave had saved Jessie's
+life he had been her one hero and her closest boy
+chum, and now to find him in the society of another
+and for him to say she was nice&mdash;&mdash; And
+then there was more than this, an anonymous letter,
+concocted by Link Merwell and Nat Poole
+and sent to her by mail. That letter had said
+some terrible things about Dave&mdash;things she could
+not and would not believe, and yet things which
+made her very miserable.</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose he has a right to make such friends
+as he pleases," she thought. "It is none of my
+affair, and I have no right to spoil his pleasure by
+saying anything." And then she brushed away the
+tears that would come into her eyes in spite of her
+efforts to keep them back.</p>
+
+<p>At the express office Dave and Phil found Mr.
+Goode already questioning the wagon driver about
+the missing package.</p>
+
+<p>"I turned it over to a boy who said he belonged
+to Oak Hall school and would give it to Dave
+Porter," said the driver. "I thought you had it
+by this time. He signed for it&mdash;leastwise he put
+that scrawl on the book."</p>
+
+<p>"What was his name?" asked Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"I asked him, but he mumbled something I
+didn't catch. I didn't pay much attention, for I
+thought it was all right."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"What sort of looking chap was he?" asked
+Phil.</p>
+
+<p>As best he could the wagon driver described the
+individual. The description might have fitted
+half a dozen lads, until he mentioned a four-in-hand
+tie of bright blue with white daggers
+splashed over it.</p>
+
+<p>"Merwell wears a tie like that!" cried Phil.
+"I have seen it several times."</p>
+
+<p>"What would he be doing with my package,
+Phil?"</p>
+
+<p>"What? Why, maybe he knew about the wig
+and wanted to spoil your part of the show. It
+would be like him to play such a trick."</p>
+
+<p>"That's true," answered Dave, and then he
+asked the wagon driver if the boy had worn a ring
+with a ruby.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, a fine large stone," answered the man.</p>
+
+<p>"Then it was Link Merwell," said Dave, decidedly.
+"Now the question is, What has he done
+with the package?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think he'd dare to destroy it," answered
+Phil. "Probably he hid it away somewhere."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll soon find out. Come on, Phil."</p>
+
+<p>"Going to tax him with it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. He hasn't any right to touch my property,
+or to sign my name."</p>
+
+<p>Hurrying back to the hotel, the boys told of
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span>
+what they had learned. Then they got their
+bicycles and pedaled with all speed in the direction
+of Oak Hall. Dave felt very much out of
+sorts, not only because the package was missing
+but also over the meeting with Jessie. It was the
+first time that there had been any coldness between
+them&mdash;for he felt that it was a coldness, although
+he could not explain it.</p>
+
+<p>Arriving at the school, they learned that Link
+Merwell had taken a walk with Nat Poole. Chip
+Macklin pointed out the direction, and Dave and
+Phil went after the pair. They were not surprised
+to catch the cronies smoking on some rocks
+behind a growth of underbrush near the highway
+beyond the campus. As Dave and his chum came
+up Poole and Merwell threw their cigarettes away.</p>
+
+<p>"Merwell, what did you do with my express
+package?" demanded Dave, coming at once to
+the point.</p>
+
+<p>The words made the bully start, but he quickly
+recovered and arose slowly to his feet.</p>
+
+<p>"Want to see me?" he drawled.</p>
+
+<p>"I want my express package."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't know what you are talking about."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, you do. Where is the package? I want
+it at once."</p>
+
+<p>"You took it out of the express office, and we
+can prove it," added Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"Humph!" growled Link Merwell.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Are you going to give up the package or
+not?" demanded Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Who says I&mdash;er&mdash;took, any package of
+yours?" blustered the bully, trying to put on a
+bold front.</p>
+
+<p>"I say so," declared Dave. "And you not
+only took it but you signed for it. Merwell, do
+you know that signing another person's name
+without permission is forgery?" he went on,
+pointedly.</p>
+
+<p>At these plain words Link Merwell grew pale.</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;er&mdash;I didn't sign your name."</p>
+
+<p>"You pretended to sign it, and that's the same
+thing. You got the package from the office by
+fraud."</p>
+
+<p>"No, I didn't. I said I'd take it to the school,
+and I did."</p>
+
+<p>"Then where is it?"</p>
+
+<p>"In your dormitory."</p>
+
+<p>"Where?"</p>
+
+<p>"On the top shelf of the closet&mdash;been there
+since yesterday," and now Link Merwell leered
+over the joke he had played.</p>
+
+<p>"Ha! ha! ha!" came from Nat Poole.
+"That's one on you, Dave Porter."</p>
+
+<p>"It was a mean trick to play," was Phil's comment.</p>
+
+<p>"Did you open that package?" demanded
+Dave.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"No, I didn't touch it, excepting to bring it
+from the express office."</p>
+
+<p>"Very well then, Merwell. If I find anything
+wrong I'll hold you responsible."</p>
+
+<p>"Say, you needn't try to scare me!"</p>
+
+<p>"I am not trying to scare you&mdash;I am merely
+giving you warning. I won't put up with any of
+your underhand work, and I want you to know it,"
+answered Dave, and turning on his heel he walked
+back to the school, followed by Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"He's mad all right," whispered Nat Poole.</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe he has heard from that Crumville girl
+in a way he didn't like," returned Link Merwell,
+and closed one eye suggestively.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, if he did, I hope she didn't say anything
+about the letter," answered Nat Poole, somewhat
+uneasily. "That was awfully strong."</p>
+
+<p>"Pooh! Don't get scared Nat; nobody will
+ever find out who wrote that letter, if we keep
+our mouths shut."</p>
+
+<p>Going up to the dormitory, Dave found the
+package on the shelf of the closet, as Merwell had
+said. It was tucked behind some other things, well
+out of sight.</p>
+
+<p>"It was certainly a well-planned trick," said the
+shipowner's son, while Dave was opening the package.
+"He did this so, if he was found out, he
+could say he gave the package to you and could
+bring the doctor here to prove it. Perhaps he had
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span>
+in mind to add that you had hidden the package
+yourself, just to get him into trouble."</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe you're right, Phil; I believe Merwell
+equal to almost anything."</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately the contents of the package had not
+been disturbed. Having ascertained that much,
+Dave went off to find Gus Plum, so that they might
+have a final rehearsal of the little play they were
+to enact. In the lower hall he ran into Job
+Haskers.</p>
+
+<p>"Porter, I want to see you!" cried the assistant
+teacher, harshly. "You were absent at dinner
+time. You know that is contrary to the rules.
+What have you to say for yourself?"</p>
+
+<p>"I met my father in Oakdale, sir&mdash;he is coming
+to the entertainment to-night. He asked Phil
+Lawrence and myself to dine with him. I have a
+note for the doctor from him explaining the
+matter."</p>
+
+<p>"Hum! Very well," answered Job Haskers,
+and hurried off without another word. Dave
+smiled grimly to himself, and lost no time in taking
+the note to the doctor, who excused him and
+Phil readily.</p>
+
+<p>Dave learned from Shadow that Gus Plum had
+been in the school but had gone off in the direction
+of the old boathouse. Feeling that it was growing
+late Dave hurried after the missing student. Just
+as he neared the old boathouse, which stood partly
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span>
+on some rocks and partly over the river, he heard
+a strange crash of glass.</p>
+
+<p>"Hello, what's that?" he asked himself, and
+ran forward to see.</p>
+
+<p>"There! you'll never tempt me again!" he
+heard, in Gus Plum's voice.</p>
+
+<p>Then he turned the corner of the old boathouse
+and saw the former bully of Oak Hall standing
+near some rocks. At his feet lay the remains of a
+big bottle. Plum looked pale and as if he had
+been fighting.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Gus!" cried Dave, and then stopped short
+and looked at the broken bottle and at the stuff
+flowing over the rocks.</p>
+
+<p>"Dave!" returned the big youth. And then he
+added, simply: "It was a bottle of wine, and
+rather than keep it to be tempted, I smashed it."</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">IN WHICH THE BOYS GIVE AN ENTERTAINMENT</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Gus, that was the bravest thing you ever
+did!"</p>
+
+<p>And so speaking, Dave caught the other youth
+by the hand and shoulder and held him for a
+moment.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I don't know about that," was the hesitating
+reply. "I&mdash;I should have smashed it when
+I received it."</p>
+
+<p>"Where did you get the wine, if I may ask?"</p>
+
+<p>"It was sent to me by Link Merwell."</p>
+
+<p>"What!" Dave's manner showed his great
+astonishment. "Do you mean to say he sent you
+that, knowing that you were trying to give up the
+habit?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. He says I am a fool to listen to you&mdash;said
+I was tied to your coat-tail&mdash;that I ought to be
+independent. He says a little drinking won't hurt
+anybody."</p>
+
+<p>"Gus, he is trying to&mdash;to&mdash;&mdash;" Dave could
+not finish the sentence, for he did not want to hurt
+Plum's feelings.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I know. He'd like to see me down and
+out, as the saying goes. He hates me because I
+won't chum with him any longer."</p>
+
+<p>"The less you have to do with him the better,
+Gus."</p>
+
+<p>"I know that, and just before I came out here to
+break that bottle I sent him a note telling him
+that if he sent me any more such stuff I'd break
+the next bottle over his head!" And Plum's face
+glowed with some of his old-time assertiveness.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I shouldn't blame you for that, Gus. I
+rather think your threat will keep him in the background
+for a while."</p>
+
+<p>Dave could realize something of the struggle
+which the former bully had had, to throw the
+bottle of wine away. But he did not know all&mdash;how
+for three hours the poor lad had wavered
+between drinking and abstaining&mdash;and that it
+was only the thoughts of Dave, and of his
+mother and home, that had kept him in the right
+path.</p>
+
+<p>Leading the way to the new boathouse, Dave
+found a spot where they would not be interrupted,
+and here he and Plum went to work on their
+dialogue, making such final changes as seemed
+best.</p>
+
+<p>"I've had my troubles with Merwell, too," said
+Dave, and told about the express package. "He
+seems bound to bring us to grief."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"He's a bad egg&mdash;the worst in the school," was
+Gus Plum's comment.</p>
+
+<p>It must be confessed that all the boys were a
+little nervous as the time approached for the entertainment.
+It was to take place in the large
+assembly room of Oak Hall, and the platform had
+been transformed into something of a stage, with
+side curtains and a drop, and a back scene hired
+from a distant theater and representing a garden.
+The room itself was decorated with flags and bunting,
+and looked cozy and inviting.</p>
+
+<p>Promptly on time the visitors began to arrive,
+some from Oakdale and others from a distance.
+The boys to take part in the show were behind the
+scenes, while others showed the visitors to seats,
+so that Dave did not see any of his friends or
+relatives until later.</p>
+
+<p>The programme had been divided into two
+parts, of five numbers each, including an opening
+song by all the players, and a closing farce written
+merely to bring in all the characters.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, fellows, do your best," said Luke Watson,
+as the school orchestra played the overture.
+"Make it as near like a professional show as
+possible."</p>
+
+<p>"Say, that puts me in mind of a story," came
+from Shadow. "Once some young ladies&mdash;&mdash; But,
+pshaw! I'll save that for the stage," he
+added, and broke off suddenly.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The opening number went very well, and then
+came a playlet by four of the boys representing
+four sailors ashore after an ocean trip of five years.
+The sailors did not apparently know how to act in
+a big city and did so many ridiculous things that
+the applause was long and loud.</p>
+
+<p>A musical number followed, introducing banjo
+playing by Luke, a guitar solo by Henshaw, a
+cornet solo by a lad named Dixon, and then a trio
+by the three. Then came fancy dumbbell exercises
+and club-swinging by three members of the
+gymnasium club, and this too went very well, the
+exercisers keeping time to a march played by
+the orchestra.</p>
+
+<p>The next number was Shadow's monologue, and
+when that youth came out everybody had to laugh
+before he said a word. He was dressed as an extreme
+dude, with big checked coat and trousers,
+fancy colored vest, a tremendous watch-chain, and
+paste diamond stud, very pointed patent leather
+shoes, a high standing collar, and a highly-polished
+silk hat.</p>
+
+<p>"Ladies and gentlemen, boys, girls, and fellow-weepers,"
+he commenced with a profound bow and
+a flourish of his silk hat, "I have been asked an
+important question, namely, What is the difference
+between a cat and a shotgun? Well, I don't know,
+excepting that both can go off, but it's only the
+feline that comes back. Now, that puts me in
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span>
+mind of a story I once heard while traveling in
+Egypt with Noah, looking for a typewriter which
+was lost overboard from the ark. A little boy
+went to a hardware store for his dad and hung
+around waiting to be waited on. At last a clerk
+asked, 'Well, little boy, what do you want?'
+'Oh,' says the little boy, 'I want a fire engine, an'
+a hobby horse, an' a automobile, an' a lot o' things,
+but papa he wants a bottle of glue, an' he says if
+it don't stick he'll stick you for it!' Now, that's
+the same boy who went to the courthouse to get
+courtplaster for his mother and then went down to
+the henhouse to look for egg plants."</p>
+
+<p>There was considerable applause over this opening,
+and Shadow continued:</p>
+
+<p>"That hand-clapping puts me in mind of another
+story. A would-be actor had joined a barn-storming
+company, and the company opened in a
+little place on Staten Island where the mosquitoes
+are manufactured by the ton, gross, or hogshead,
+just as you want 'em. Well, as soon as the play
+commenced, the would-be actor thought he heard
+a lot of applause. Says he to the scene-shifter:
+'We've got 'em a-going, haven't we?' 'I don't
+know if you have or not,' answered the scene-shifter.
+'I know the mosquitoes have some of 'em
+a-going, by the way they're slapping at 'em!'
+Well, that company busted up and the would-be
+actor had to come home on a trolley-car because he
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span>
+couldn't afford the train. He had only a nickel,
+and that he put into his mouth, and all at once it
+went down. 'What's the matter?' asked the conductor.
+'I&mdash;I swallowed my nickel&mdash;the only
+one I had!' gasped the would-be actor. 'Never
+mind, I'll ring it up,' said the conductor, and he
+did. And then the actor didn't know if he was a
+nickel in or a nickel out."</p>
+
+<p>This brought forth more applause, and Shadow
+continued to tell one story or joke after another, in
+rapid succession, until the entire audience was roaring.
+When he made his bow and disappeared behind
+a side curtain his monologue was voted by all
+one of the hits of the evening.</p>
+
+<p>"It was all right," said Dave. "I only hope
+our playlet goes as well."</p>
+
+<p>The playlet came in the middle of Part Two,
+and the stage was set with a table, two chairs, and
+several other things. The table was a small one
+stored in a side room, and the chairs were common
+kitchen chairs. They were brought out by Chip
+Macklin and Frank Bond, who had been chosen
+to do all kinds of errands.</p>
+
+<p>"I just met Link Merwell in the side room,"
+said Chip, when he came out with the table. "He
+looks as sour as can be. I guess he wishes the
+show would be a failure&mdash;because he wasn't asked
+to take part."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, he'd like to make it a failure," answered
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span>
+Dave; and then, for the time being, turned
+his whole attention to the play and gave his enemy
+no further thought.</p>
+
+<p>Dave and Plum had gotten themselves up with
+great care, as a German immigrant and a darky,
+and when one shuffled on the stage after the other
+there was a good deal of laughing. The playlet
+revolved around the question of getting situations
+as a butler and a footman in a fashionable residence,
+and the lines were humorous in the extreme,
+and both Dave and Gus got about all the fun possible
+from them.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, how very, very funny!" cried Laura, and
+could hardly control her laughter.</p>
+
+<p>"It certainly is funny," answered Jessie, and
+then she glanced over to where Vera Rockwell
+was sitting with some friends. She saw Vera applauding
+vigorously and it piqued her just a little.
+She clapped her hands, too, but her heart was not
+as light as it might have been had Vera not been
+there.</p>
+
+<p>In the course of the playlet, Dave had to stand
+on one of the chairs and then mount to the table,
+to show how he would play the part of a footman.
+As he got up on a chair there was an unexpected
+crack, and down went the back part, letting
+him fall most unexpectedly.</p>
+
+<p>It takes a quick-witted person to do just the
+right thing in a case of emergency. Dave had not
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span>
+looked for this fall, and the play did not call for
+it. Like a flash he felt that this was some trick
+of Link Merwell. But just as quickly as the accident
+came he resolved to make the best of it. In a
+very comical way he rolled over twice, stood partly
+on his head and then sat up with a dazed expression.</p>
+
+<p>"Oxcuse me!" he said, in a German tone of
+voice. "I tidn't know dot chair vos so tired owid
+he tidn't vont to hold me alretty." Then he
+picked up the broken chair. "Vell, of you ton't
+vont to sthand up, chust lay down," and he flung
+the broken article behind him.</p>
+
+<p>This brought forth an extra round of applause
+and in the midst of this Dave began to climb up
+the second chair. That too he felt to be "doctored,"
+and he went up with care and thus managed
+to stand on top without breaking off the legs
+which had been nearly cracked through. Then
+from the chair he went to the table. He knew
+what to expect now and began to prepare for it.</p>
+
+<p>"Dis coach vos got von palky horse," he said.
+"Chust you hold der animile alretty, yah!"</p>
+
+<p>"Dat wot I will, brudder Carl," answered
+Plum, in negro dialect, and wondering what
+was to come next, for those lines were not in the
+playlet.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, dot is der vay I goes me riding py der
+Park," went on Dave, beginning to wabble on the
+
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span>
+
+shaky table. "Whoa mit dot hoss! Tidn't I
+told you he vos balky?" For the table was growing
+weaker and weaker.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter"><a id="Down_went_the"></a>
+<img src="images/p208.jpg" alt=""  width="314" height="500" />
+<div class="topspace1"></div>
+<div class="caption"><span class="smcap">Down went the back part, letting him fall most
+unexpectedly.</span></div>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Say, dun yo' know dat hoss has got de dumb
+ager?" demanded Plum. "Wot yo' want to give
+him is a dose of Plaster of Paris Pills fo' Peevish
+People. If dat hoss should&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"He's running avay! Call der fire engines and
+der hoss-pistol vagons!" bawled Dave, and made
+a movement as if on a runaway coach. Then, as
+the table settled with a final crash, he whispered to
+Plum: "Make believe stop the horse and quarrel
+over it." Then he leaped forward, caught an
+imaginary horse by the tail and struggled to hold
+back. Gus was equally quick-witted and leaped to
+the head of the same imaginary horse and stretched
+up and down, as if he had hold of the bridle.
+Then the two boys backed and "shied" all over
+the stage, overturning the second chair, at which
+Dave yelled, "Dere goes dot peanut stand alretty!"
+Then of a sudden the two young actors
+faced each other.</p>
+
+<p>"Wot's de mattah wid you? Da ain't no hoss
+heah!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yah, dot's so&mdash;he runt avay alretty!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yo' is a fine footman, getting scared at a hoss
+wot ain't no hoss."</p>
+
+<p>"Vell, of he vosn't no hoss vy you cotch him py
+der headt, hey?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Dat's because yo' was a fool an' I had to follow
+yo'&mdash;&mdash; I mean at yo'&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"I know vot you mean. You mean you vos
+der fool und der hoss&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Look heah now, Mr. Dutchy, I wants yo' to
+understand dat I ain't no fool."</p>
+
+<p>"Vell, Mr. Vight, I dake your vord for dot,
+hey? Now, vot you do ven you vos a putler,
+hey?"</p>
+
+<p>And from that point the playlet went on as
+originally intended; the two finally winding up
+when a postman's whistle was heard and each got
+a letter from the same man, stating the one to arrive
+first at a certain house could have a job. Both
+started at the same time and each tripped the
+other up. Then both left the stage on hands and
+knees, each trying to keep the other back. It was
+a truly comical wind-up, and when the curtain went
+down there was a thunder of applause.</p>
+
+<p>"Dave, it was great!" cried Roger. "You
+acted the Dutchman to perfection, and Plum was
+the darky to a T!"</p>
+
+<p>"That's true," added Phil. "But say, didn't
+you change that coach scene some?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, rather," put in Gus. "We had to do
+it on account of&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Link Merwell," finished Dave. "That's another
+black mark I am going to put down to his
+account."</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">FORMING THE BASEBALL CLUB</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>After it was at an end the entertainment was
+voted the best yet given at Oak Hall. Of course
+there had been a few small hitches, such as a wig
+falling off of one actor and another breaking a
+guitar string just when he was playing, but those
+did not count.</p>
+
+<p>"It was splendid!" said Jessie to Dave, when
+they met.</p>
+
+<p>"I am glad you liked it," he answered. "I
+know all the fellows did their best."</p>
+
+<p>"That table scene made me nearly die laughing,"
+said Laura.</p>
+
+<p>"That came in rather unexpectedly, Laura.
+It wasn't on the programme. I think Link Merwell
+is responsible for it." And then her brother
+told of what had been discovered&mdash;the legs of the
+table and chairs nearly split in two.</p>
+
+<p>"He must be a thoroughly bad fellow," was
+Jessie's comment.</p>
+
+<p>"He is, and he would do almost anything to get
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span>
+me and some of the other students into trouble,"
+returned Dave.</p>
+
+<p>Vera and Mary were waiting to speak to some
+of the boys, and Vera laughed heartily when she
+saw Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, but you make a fine German!" she said.
+"I think you ought to go on the stage." And then
+she complimented Phil, Roger, and some of the
+others whom she knew.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Porter had arranged to remain at the hotel
+over night with his party. They left for Oakdale
+shortly after the entertainment, and Vera,
+Mary, and some others went with them, in carriages
+of their own. Dave noticed that Jessie was
+not herself, and when they were alone in a hallway
+for a moment asked the reason.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, it's nothing, Dave," she answered, but
+without looking him squarely in the eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"But I know there is something, Jessie," he
+said, and his voice showed his anxiety. "Have I
+offended you in any way?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, not in the least."</p>
+
+<p>"But you are angry with me."</p>
+
+<p>"No, I am not angry." She kept her eyes hidden
+from his gaze.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, there is something, and I wish you would
+tell me what it is."</p>
+
+<p>"No, I'll not say a word. If you don't know
+what it is, it doesn't matter," said the girl, and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span>
+then rejoined Laura and Mr. Porter. When they
+went away Dave noticed that her hand was icy
+cold, and his heart was deeply troubled. Something
+was certainly wrong and, though he felt
+sorry, he also felt nettled to think Jessie would not
+tell him what it was. It was the first break of
+confidence that had occurred between them.</p>
+
+<p>Although Dave was morally certain Link Merwell
+had "doctored" the chairs and the table, he
+could not prove it, and so he said little concerning
+the episode, although he and Plum talked it
+over thoroughly. Gus was greatly angered, for
+the trick had come close to spoiling the playlet,
+and if Dave had urged it he would have gone and
+fought Merwell before retiring for the night.
+Even as it was, he told Merwell that he had been
+found out and warned him in the future to keep
+his distance.</p>
+
+<p>"Dave Porter and I are going to watch you,"
+said Gus. "And if we find you trying anything
+more on, why, we'll jump on you like a ton of
+bricks, so beware!" And for once Link Merwell
+was so scared that he walked off without making
+any reply.</p>
+
+<p>The entertainment the students had given
+brought the spring holidays to an end, and once
+more the lads of Oak Hall turned their attention
+to their studies. But with the coming of warm
+weather some of the boys got out their kites, balls,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span>
+and other things, while others took to rowing on
+the river.</p>
+
+<p>"Have you heard the news about Nat Poole?"
+asked Buster of Dave and Roger one day.</p>
+
+<p>"I've heard nothing," answered the senator's
+son. "Has he got a new necktie?" For Nat
+loved neckties and had a new one on an average
+every week.</p>
+
+<p>"He is going to get a motor boat&mdash;told Messmer
+all about it. He said his father bought it in
+New York and it cost four hundred dollars."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I never supposed Aaron Poole would
+spend that amount on a boat," was Dave's comment.
+"He is known as one of the most close-fisted
+men in the district where I come from."</p>
+
+<p>"Nat says the boat will beat anything on the
+river," continued Buster. "Wish I had one."</p>
+
+<p>The news that Nat Poole was going to get a
+motor boat proved true. The boat came early in
+April, and was certainly very nice-looking and
+speedy. Nat took out some of the boys, and the
+ownership of such a beautiful craft made him a
+new lot of friends, so he was "quite a toad in a
+puddle," as Ben Basswood declared. Once Nat
+asked Ben to go out with him, but the latter declined,
+and then Nat took Link Merwell.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't care if he has got a new motor boat,"
+said Ben to Dave. "I don't want to be in his company.
+If any of the other fellows want to toady
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span>
+to him they can do it." Merwell was often seen
+with Poole, and the pair became quite expert in
+running the motor and steering. Once they had a
+race with a motor boat belonging to a Military
+Academy student and came in ahead, and of this
+victory Nat Poole never got through boasting.</p>
+
+<p>As was to be expected, warm weather brought
+on talk of baseball. Dave had pitched in more
+than one game for Oak Hall, with Roger behind
+the bat, and he was asked if he would again consent
+to occupy the box for the school, should any
+outside party send in a challenge.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll most likely get a challenge from Rockville
+Military Academy," said Phil. "They are
+aching to make up for old scores."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll pitch if the fellows want me to," answered
+Dave. "But if they want anybody
+else&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"We want you," interrupted Sam Day.
+"You're the best pitcher Oak Hall ever had."</p>
+
+<p>From that time on all of the boys put in part
+of their off-time playing baseball, forming scrub
+nines for that purpose. Link Merwell loved the
+game and liked to cover first base.</p>
+
+<p>"Why don't you play?" asked Dave of Gus
+Plum, one afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I&mdash;I don't want to push myself in," stammered
+Plum. He was now as retiring as he had
+formerly been aggressive.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Come on out," went on Dave, and literally
+dragged him forth. Then he asked Gus to play
+first base, which the latter did in a manner that
+surprised many of the others.</p>
+
+<p>"He's quicker than he used to be," was Phil's
+comment. "I rather think he'll make a good one
+if he keeps on practicing."</p>
+
+<p>One Saturday afternoon a regular match was
+arranged, with Phil as captain on one side and a
+student named Grassman as captain on the other.
+Now, Grassman loved to go out in Nat's motor
+boat and so he put both Nat and Merwell on his
+nine&mdash;the former to cover third base and the latter
+first. He himself pitched, while Dave filled the
+box for Phil.</p>
+
+<p>It was certainly a snappy game from the start
+and at the end of the fourth inning the score stood
+three to three. Then Grassman's nine "took a
+brace" and brought in two more runs, and thus
+the score remained five to three until the end of
+the seventh inning.</p>
+
+<p>"Come, we must do something this trip!" cried
+Roger, who was on Phil's side, and he knocked
+a three-bagger. He was followed by Shadow
+with a single that brought in one run, and then
+came Buster with a hit that took him to second
+and brought in another run. The next man to
+bat knocked a liner to shortstop. The ball was
+sent over to Merwell on first, but he allowed it
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span>
+to slip through his fingers, and another run came
+in. Then Merwell muffed a pop fly, and after that
+the Grassman nine got rattled, so that when Phil's
+nine retired they had ten runs to their credit. To
+this they added three more runs in the ninth. In
+that inning Dave struck out two men and sent a
+third out on a foul; and thus the game ended with
+a score of thirteen to five in favor of Phil's aggregation
+of players.</p>
+
+<p>"Hurrah for Phil Lawrence's nine!" called
+out little Frank Bond, and a great cheer went up.
+Dave was complimented for his pitching and Gus
+Plum also received much praise for catching a
+hot liner ten feet away from the base.</p>
+
+<p>On the following Saturday the Oak Hall Baseball
+Club was formally organized for the season,
+by the election of Phil as president and manager,
+Ben Basswood as secretary, and Shadow as treasurer.
+It was voted to make the manager captain
+of the nine. After much talking Dave was declared
+the choice for pitcher and Roger for
+catcher, while, to the surprise of some, Gus Plum
+was made first baseman, something that greatly
+pleased the big youth. Merwell wanted to be first
+baseman, but he was not even chosen as a substitute,
+much to his disgust. Nat Poole was also left
+in the cold, but this did not worry him so much,
+for he preferred to dress in style and lounge
+around, rather than go in for anything which
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span>
+might dirty his hands or make them callous.
+When he ran his motor boat he always wore
+gloves.</p>
+
+<p>"It's an awful shame they put Gus Plum on
+the nine," said Nat Poole to Merwell. "You
+ought to have that position&mdash;you can cover first
+base better than he can."</p>
+
+<p>"I know it&mdash;but it's all the work of Porter,
+Lawrence, and that crowd," growled Link Merwell.
+"As long as Plum will only toady to them
+they are willing to do anything for him. It makes
+me sick." And he began to puff away vigorously
+on a cigarette he was smoking.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, maybe, if they play Rockville or some
+other club, they'll lose," said Poole. "Then
+they'll be sorry they didn't put on some better
+players."</p>
+
+<p>The baseball club soon got more challenges than
+they had expected. One came from Rockville
+Military Academy, for a series of three games, to
+be played during June, and two others from clubs
+belonging to Oakdale. The latter were for single
+games, and, after some consultation, all of the challenges
+were accepted.</p>
+
+<p>The games with the Oakdale clubs were played
+on the outskirts of the town, where a field had
+been inclosed and a grand stand erected. The
+first was with an aggregation known as the Comets,
+and resulted in a tie&mdash;8 to 8.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Well, we can't complain about that," was
+Dave's comment. "They were all big fellows."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and two of them have played on college
+nines," said Shadow. "We were lucky to hold
+them to a tie;" and in this opinion many of the
+others agreed, and so did Mr. Dale and Doctor
+Clay, both of whom were present. Job Haskers
+never went to games of any sort, for he considered
+athletic contests a waste of time and muscle.</p>
+
+<p>Vera Rockwell and Mary Feversham were at
+the game, and after the contest was over, Phil
+went to talk with them, taking Dave with him.
+While the girls were asking some questions, Roger
+came up, to speak to Vera. He did not see Dave
+at once, but when he did his face fell, and merely
+raising his cap he passed on.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I thought Mr. Morr was going to stop,"
+said Vera, pouting. "I wanted to tell him how
+nicely he did the catching."</p>
+
+<p>Phil and Dave remained with the girls until it
+was time to return to the school. Then they
+learned that Roger had gone to Oak Hall in company
+with Chip Macklin.</p>
+
+<p>"It's queer he didn't wait for the crowd," was
+Dave's comment.</p>
+
+<p>"He's acted queer half a dozen times lately,"
+returned the shipowner's son. "I don't understand
+it myself."</p>
+
+<p>The next game was to take place on the following
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span>
+Saturday, and the students practiced several
+times during the week. Dave noticed that Roger
+took but little interest, yet he said nothing, until he
+felt it his duty to speak up.</p>
+
+<p>"Roger, what's wrong?" he asked, very much
+in the way he had put that question to Jessie.</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing, that I know of," grumbled the senator's
+son.</p>
+
+<p>"You're not catching as well as you did."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps you think the club ought to have another
+catcher!" flared up the other, suddenly. "If
+you do, say the word, and I'll step down and out."</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Roger, I know something is wrong&mdash;&mdash;"
+began Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course you know&mdash;and I know, too!" cried
+the senator's son, and now his cheeks grew crimson.
+"I guess I'll resign from the club&mdash;and then
+you can run things to suit yourself," and to Dave's
+amazement he walked out of the room, banging
+the door after him.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">A GREAT VICTORY</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Dave was much downcast over the way Roger
+acted, the more so because he could not understand
+it. He had half a mind to go after the senator's
+son and demand an explanation, but after thinking
+the matter over concluded that it would do no
+good.</p>
+
+<p>"He'll only get more angry," he reasoned.
+"Perhaps it will be better to speak to Phil about
+it."</p>
+
+<p>But, much to his surprise, when he saw the shipowner's
+son, Phil had also had a "scene" with
+Roger, and the latter had said he was going to
+resign from the baseball club and devote himself
+strictly to his studies.</p>
+
+<p>"I am sure it isn't his studies that are bothering
+him," said Phil. "He can go right ahead with his
+lessons and play baseball, too&mdash;if he wants to."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, but why is he angry at me?" demanded
+Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know." Phil paused for a moment.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span>
+"Perhaps&mdash;but, pshaw! what's the use of mentioning
+that. I know there is nothing in it."</p>
+
+<p>"What, Phil?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think I ought to say anything&mdash;I know
+it's absurd, Dave."</p>
+
+<p>"What is absurd?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why&mdash;er&mdash;that is, you know Roger thinks a
+lot of Vera Rockwell, don't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Does he? I hadn't noticed it particularly&mdash;in
+fact, I thought he treated her rather coolly the
+day we played the game with the Comets."</p>
+
+<p>"That was because you were around."</p>
+
+<p>"Because I was around?" repeated Dave, in a
+puzzled way.</p>
+
+<p>"Exactly."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't catch your meaning, Phil."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't see why you are so thick, Dave."</p>
+
+<p>"Am I thick?"</p>
+
+<p>"You are."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, then, tell me what you mean."</p>
+
+<p>"Didn't I just say that Roger thought a whole
+lot of Vera Rockwell?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well?"</p>
+
+<p>"And weren't you with Vera, Mary, and myself
+after the game?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"When Roger saw you talking to Vera, he
+walked away in the coldest manner possible."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, but, Phil, that is absurd. Hadn't I a
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span>
+right to talk to Vera? I am sure she is a nice
+girl."</p>
+
+<p>"So she is&mdash;a very nice girl&mdash;we think so&mdash;and
+so does Roger."</p>
+
+<p>"And do you seriously think that Roger doesn't
+like it because I made myself agreeable to
+Vera?"</p>
+
+<p>"I guess he thinks you ought to give him a
+show. He has never said anything, but I imagine
+that is what he thinks," concluded Phil; and the
+conversation came to an end as some of the other
+students put in an appearance.</p>
+
+<p>This talk set Dave to thinking in more ways
+than one. He remembered several incidents now
+concerning Roger and Vera, and he also remembered
+how Jessie had acted during her visit to the
+school. Was it possible that Jessie, too, had felt
+offended over the manner of his friendliness to
+Vera?</p>
+
+<p>"I treated her only as a friend&mdash;and I have a
+right to do that," Dave reasoned. "Roger has no
+right to be jealous&mdash;nor has Jessie." He felt
+so hurt that his pride rebelled, and for two days
+he said hardly a word to the senator's son. The
+break between the two threatened to become permanent.</p>
+
+<p>But Roger did not resign from the baseball
+club. He mentioned it to Ben, Shadow, and some
+of the others, but they protested so strongly he
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span>
+had to remain as catcher. In order to do this,
+he had to consult with Dave, but the consultations
+were confined entirely to pitching and catching.
+Roger was not at all like himself, and his irritation
+arose at the slightest provocation.</p>
+
+<p>On the following Saturday the Oak Hall nine
+played the Oakdale Resolutes, on the town
+grounds. As before, a large crowd assembled,
+including some of the cadets from Rockville, who
+were to open their series with Oak Hall the week
+following. From Phil, Dave learned that Mary
+Feversham and Vera Rockwell were to be present.</p>
+
+<p>"All right, Phil, go and do the honors," said
+Dave. "I am going to attend strictly to pitching
+to-day."</p>
+
+<p>"Going to leave the field to Roger, eh?"</p>
+
+<p>"You may put it that way if you wish."</p>
+
+<p>"Shall I tell the girls you don't want to speak
+to them?"</p>
+
+<p>"If you do, Phil, I'll hit you in the head with
+the ball, the first chance I get," was Dave's reply,
+half in jest and half in earnest.</p>
+
+<p>The Oakdale Resolutes were made up of young
+men who had played baseball for several years.
+In the past they had not cared to play "a boys'
+school," as they designated Oak Hall. But since
+the past summer they had come to respect the
+Hall, and they had been forced into the game by
+friends who had said they were afraid to play our
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span>
+friends. They had a great pitcher named Gilroy
+and a catcher named Barwenk, and they relied on
+these two players to "wipe up the ball-field," as
+they put it, with Oak Hall.</p>
+
+<p>During the first four innings honors were about
+even, each side bringing in two runs. Then the
+nines began to see-saw, first one being ahead and
+then the other, until at the end of the eighth inning
+the score stood Oak Hall 7, Resolutes 6. So
+far Dave had struck out five players and Gilroy
+had the same number to his credit. But Gilroy
+had made one wild pitch, which had brought in
+Oak Hall's fifth run.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Dave, see if you can't hold 'em down to
+a goose egg," said Shadow, as the other club went
+to the bat for the last time.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll do what I can," was the reply.</p>
+
+<p>Dave was on his mettle, and so for the matter
+of that was every other Oak Hall player. But
+some were a bit nervous, and as a consequence one
+missed a grounder and another let drop a hot liner.
+The Resolutes got three men on bases, and then,
+with one man out, they got in two runs.</p>
+
+<p>"Hurrah! That gives the Resolutes eight
+runs!" was the cry, and the town rooters cheered
+lustily.</p>
+
+<p>Dave did his best to strike the next man out.
+But with two balls and one strike he sent in a ball
+that was just a little wild, and strange to say, Roger
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span>
+muffed it. Then the man on third came in, giving
+the Resolutes another run.</p>
+
+<p>"Another! That makes the score seven to
+nine!"</p>
+
+<p>"That was a wild pitch."</p>
+
+<p>"Not so wild but that the catcher might have
+got it if he had tried."</p>
+
+<p>"Steady there, Roger!" called out some of the
+Oak Hall boys.</p>
+
+<p>"It wasn't my fault&mdash;the ball was out of my
+reach," grumbled the senator's son.</p>
+
+<p>A quick retort arose to Dave's lips, but he
+checked it. He did not wish to make his quarrel
+with Roger any worse. He walked back to the
+pitcher's box and signed to Roger for a drop ball.
+Roger did not answer at once and he waited a few
+seconds and repeated the sign.</p>
+
+<p>"Play ball!" was the cry. "Don't wait all
+day, Porter." Then the senator's son signed back
+and Dave sent in the ball with precision. The
+batsman swung for it, and missed it.</p>
+
+<p>"Strike two!" called out the umpire.</p>
+
+<p>Dave next signed for an out curve. It was now
+three balls and two strikes and the next delivery
+would "tell the tale." In came the ball with great
+swiftness, and again the batsman tried to connect
+with it&mdash;and failed.</p>
+
+<p>"Three strikes&mdash;batter out!"</p>
+
+<p>"Hurrah, Porter struck him out, after all!"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Now go for the third man, Dave!"</p>
+
+<p>"Lessinger is at the bat. He ought to lift it
+over the back fence."</p>
+
+<p>Lessinger was a heavy batter, yet twice he failed
+in his attempt to hit the sphere. But the third
+time he knocked a low fly to center. It was easily
+caught,&mdash;and the Resolutes went out with the score
+standing 9 to 7 in their favor.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, fellows, we must do our best," said Phil.
+"Don't hit at the ball until you get a good one,
+and then lift it clear over Hamden's stables if you
+can." The stables were two blocks away, and a
+ball sent a quarter of that distance meant a home
+run.</p>
+
+<p>Shadow was first to the bat and got safely to
+first. Then came Gus Plum, and to the wonder of
+many he hit the ball for a two-bagger, bringing
+Shadow in. Then Dave got to first while Plum
+went to third. Next came an out, and then a hit
+by Ben Basswood took Dave to third and brought
+Plum home.</p>
+
+<p>The Oak Hall rooters were now cheering and
+yelling like mad, and this got the Resolute pitcher
+rattled and he gave the next batsman his base on
+balls. Then came another safe hit by Buster
+Beggs, and the game ended with the score standing,
+Oak Hall 10, Resolutes 9.</p>
+
+<p>"Hurrah, Oak Hall wins!"</p>
+
+<p>"That's a close finish right enough, isn't it?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The cheering by the Oak Hall adherents was
+tremendous, while the Resolute followers had little
+to say. Many came to congratulate Dave on his
+excellent pitching and others congratulated Roger
+on his catching. The other players were likewise
+remembered, even Plum coming in for many
+handshakes and thumps on the shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>In the crowd Dave saw Vera and Mary, and
+spoke to them for a minute or two. Both girls
+thought the game the best they had ever
+seen.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I think your pitching was superb!" cried
+Vera, enthusiastically. "I hope you do as well
+when you play Rockville."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll do my best," answered Dave, and then
+turned to rejoin some of his fellow-players. He
+came face to face with Roger and was about to
+speak, when the senator's son turned his head the
+other way and passed on.</p>
+
+<p>The club members had come to Oakdale in the
+carryall and a carriage, and they returned to the
+school in these turnouts. Dave and Phil looked
+for Roger, but he was not to be found. Phil, as
+captain of the club, had had so many details to
+look after that he had not gotten time to speak
+to Mary, much to his disappointment. But she
+had waved her hand to him and smiled, which was
+one consolation.</p>
+
+<p>Link Merwell and Nat Poole had predicted defeat
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span>
+for Oak Hall, and when instead a victory was
+gained this pair did not know what to say.</p>
+
+<p>"I reckon it was a fluke," was Merwell's comment.
+"They couldn't do it again in a hundred
+years. Must have been something wrong with the
+Resolute players."</p>
+
+<p>"I heard their pitcher had a sore arm, and they
+had a substitute first baseman," said Nat Poole.
+"That would make a big difference."</p>
+
+<p>"I hope Rockville Military Academy does 'em
+up brown," went on Link Merwell. The thought
+of having the honor to stand up for his own school
+never entered his head.</p>
+
+<p>"So do I, Link. It will take some of the conceit
+out of Porter and his crowd. As pitcher
+Porter, of course, thinks he is the whole thing."</p>
+
+<p>"Say, did you notice how cold Porter and Morr
+are getting toward each other?" And Link Merwell
+chuckled gleefully.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. I guess they are stirred up over that girl
+right now."</p>
+
+<p>"You bet! And maybe they'll be stirred up
+some more before I am done with them."</p>
+
+<p>On the following Thursday afternoon, Dave,
+Phil, and Plum went out for a row on the river.
+It was a beautiful day, clear and warm, and the
+three got out a boat with two pairs of oars and a
+rudder, so that all might have a share in handling
+the craft at the same time.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Let us row down to Bush Island," suggested
+Plum, naming an island about two miles away,
+which took its name from a patch of huckleberry
+bushes growing there. It was a pleasant spot, and
+one end of the island was occasionally used by the
+folks of Oakdale for picnic grounds.</p>
+
+<p>"That suits me," answered Dave, and soon the
+three boys were off, never dreaming of what this
+little trip was destined to bring forth.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">ON BUSH ISLAND</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The three boys had covered less than a third
+of the distance to Bush Island when they passed
+two rowboats, one containing Roger, Ben, and
+two others, and another containing Doctor Clay
+and Andrew Dale.</p>
+
+<p>"Hello! lots of folks out this afternoon," was
+Phil's comment.</p>
+
+<p>"This is the first time I have seen the doctor
+and Mr. Dale out," said Dave. "They row very
+well, don't they?"</p>
+
+<p>"The doctor was once a college oarsman," put
+in Plum. "I suppose he likes to get out here for
+the sake of old times."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Mr. Dale pulls as well as he does," returned
+Dave. "Both of them pull a perfect
+stroke."</p>
+
+<p>"Wonder if old Haskers ever rows?" mused
+Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"Guess he doesn't do much of anything but
+teach and find fault," grumbled Gus Plum.</p>
+
+<p>The craft containing the doctor and the first assistant
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span>
+was heading for the east shore of the river
+and was soon out of sight around a point of rocks.
+The other boat had turned around, so the boys
+did not have a chance to speak to their fellow-students.</p>
+
+<p>"Here comes a motor boat!" cried Dave, as
+a steady put-put! reached his ears.</p>
+
+<p>"It's Nat Poole's boat," said Phil as the craft
+came into view.</p>
+
+<p>Soon the motor boat came close to them and
+they saw that Poole and Merwell were on board.
+The pair were smoking, as usual, but placed their
+cigarettes on the seats, out of sight.</p>
+
+<p>"Where are you going?" demanded Nat Poole,
+abruptly.</p>
+
+<p>"Rowing," answered Phil, dryly.</p>
+
+<p>"Humph! Don't you wish you had this motor
+boat?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not particularly."</p>
+
+<p>"A motor boat beats a rowboat all hollow,"
+went on the dudish student.</p>
+
+<p>"Not for rowing," vouchsafed Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you can row if you want to," sneered
+Poole. "I prefer to let the motor do the work,"
+and then he steered away, giving the rowboat all
+the wash possible as he passed.</p>
+
+<p>"Wonder where they are going?" said Link
+Merwell, as he looked back to see if the rowboat
+had shipped any water from the wash.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter"><a id="Well_you_can"></a>
+<img src="images/p232.jpg" alt=""  width="315" height="500" />
+<div class="topspace1"></div>
+<div class="caption"><span class="smcap">"Well, you can row if you want to," sneered Poole.</span></div>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I don't know, I'm sure."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps they'll land somewhere. If they do,
+we can play a trick on 'em, Nat."</p>
+
+<p>"How?"</p>
+
+<p>"By taking their rowboat when they are out of
+sight. We can easily tie the boat on behind and
+tow it to the boathouse. Then those fellows would
+have to walk back to Oak Hall."</p>
+
+<p>"Good! That would be great!" ejaculated
+Nat Poole. "I wish they would land and leave
+the boat to itself for a while."</p>
+
+<p>"Let us watch 'em," suggested Merwell, and
+to this his crony readily agreed.</p>
+
+<p>It did not take Dave and his friends long to
+reach Bush Island. Beaching the rowboat, they
+went ashore and took a walk around.</p>
+
+<p>"It certainly is a nice spot for a picnic," was
+Phil's comment. "I don't wonder that the town
+folks come here&mdash;and the Sunday schools. I'd
+like to have a picnic myself here&mdash;when it gets a
+little warmer."</p>
+
+<p>"We might come over some holiday&mdash;and bring
+a basket of grub along," said Plum.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, we'd have to have something good to
+eat," put in Dave. "That's three-quarters of the
+fun."</p>
+
+<p>Much to their surprise, in walking to the center
+of the island, they ran into Doctor Clay and Mr.
+Dale. Both had some bits of rocks in their hands
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span>
+and the doctor had a geologist's hammer as
+well.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, boys, what brought you?" asked the
+head of the school, pleasantly.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, we just stopped for fun," answered Dave.
+"We didn't know you rowed so far."</p>
+
+<p>"We are knocking off a few geological specimens
+for the school cabinet," answered Doctor
+Clay. "These are not particularly valuable&mdash;but
+every little helps."</p>
+
+<p>The boys remained with the men for a quarter
+of an hour, and then walked back to the shore.
+As they did this, Dave suddenly put up his hand.</p>
+
+<p>"What is it?" asked Phil and Plum, in a
+breath.</p>
+
+<p>"Thought I heard a motor boat."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps Nat Poole's boat is near the island,"
+suggested Gus.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, there are a dozen motor boats on the river
+now," answered Phil. "There, I heard it, but it's
+a good distance off."</p>
+
+<p>No more was said about the motor boat, and
+they continued on their walk to the shore. Here
+they found their rowboat as they had left it, and
+entering, shoved off, and continued their row.
+They went a little further than at first anticipated,
+and consequently had to hurry to get back in time
+for supper, and even then were the last students
+to enter the dining hall.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>As he passed to his seat Dave had to walk close
+to Link Merwell. When the bully saw him he
+started and stared in amazement. Then he looked
+around and stared at Phil and Gus. He leaned
+over and spoke to Nat Poole, who sat close at
+hand.</p>
+
+<p>"They are back!" he whispered.</p>
+
+<p>"Who? Porter and his crowd?" And now
+the dudish pupil looked equally amazed.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes,&mdash;look for yourself."</p>
+
+<p>Nat Poole did look, and his face became a study.
+As soon as possible he and Merwell finished their
+evening meal and went outdoors.</p>
+
+<p>"Somebody must have stopped at the island
+and taken them off," said Merwell, when he felt
+safe to speak without being overheard.</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose that must be it or else&mdash;&mdash;" Nat
+Poole stopped short and turned pale.</p>
+
+<p>"Or what?"</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps we took some other boat, Link! Oh,
+if we did that, the owner might have us arrested!"</p>
+
+<p>"Nonsense! It was an Oak Hall boat&mdash;I
+looked to make sure, when I tied it to the motor
+boat."</p>
+
+<p>"Let us go down and see."</p>
+
+<p>"Can't you take my word for it?" asked Merwell,
+roughly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. But I want to know just what boat it
+was."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"If they see you hanging around the boathouse
+they may smell a mouse."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll be careful. I have a right to look after
+my motor boat, you know."</p>
+
+<p>"That's so&mdash;I forgot that."</p>
+
+<p>The youths walked to the boathouse and, on the
+sly, looked at the craft they had towed over from
+Bush Island. It was certainly an Oak Hall rowboat,
+and Nat breathed a little sigh of relief.</p>
+
+<p>The two lads were just on the point of leaving
+the boathouse when Job Haskers came in, followed
+by a man who took care of the boats.</p>
+
+<p>"Siller tells me you were out in your motor boat
+this afternoon," said Job Haskers. "Did you see
+anything of Doctor Clay and Mr. Dale?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, sir," answered Nat Poole.</p>
+
+<p>"Were they out in a boat?" asked Merwell.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, they went for a row about four o'clock,
+and they have not yet got back. It is strange, for
+they said nothing about being away for supper."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, we didn't see them," answered both
+Poole and Merwell. Then both left the boathouse
+and took their way to the gymnasium.</p>
+
+<p>Here, as fate would have it, they ran into Messmer
+and Henshaw, who were doing some turns on
+the bars, in company with Gus Plum, who, since
+his good work on the ball-field, was becoming quite
+a favorite.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think I can do many turns to-night,"
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span>
+they heard Plum say. "I am tired out from a row
+Dave Porter, Phil Lawrence, and myself took to
+Bush Island."</p>
+
+<p>"How did the island look?" asked Messmer,
+carelessly.</p>
+
+<p>"Very nice. We walked all around it and ran
+into Doctor Clay and Mr. Dale. They were there
+gathering geological specimens."</p>
+
+<p>"I'd like to make a collection," put in Henshaw.
+"By the way, Mr. Dale wasn't at supper. Did
+he come home with you?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, we left him and the doctor there knocking
+off the bits of rock," answered Plum.</p>
+
+<p>Merwell and Poole listened to this conversation
+with keen interest. They exchanged glances, and
+then the dudish pupil pulled his crony by the coat-sleeve
+and led the way to a lonely part of the
+campus.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Link, do you think we took the doctor's
+boat by mistake?" asked Poole, with something
+akin to terror in his tones.</p>
+
+<p>"Hush! not so loud!" warned Merwell. "If
+we did, you don't want to let anybody know it."</p>
+
+<p>"But what shall we do? The doctor and Mr.
+Dale can't leave the island without a boat."</p>
+
+<p>"I know that. But don't you say anything&mdash;unless
+you want to get into hot water."</p>
+
+<p>"But they may have to stay there all night!"
+continued the thoroughly frightened Nat.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I reckon somebody will come to take them
+off."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you sup&mdash;suppose they saw us run away
+with their boat?" Poole was now so scared he
+could scarcely talk.</p>
+
+<p>"No. We didn't see them, and consequently I
+can't see how they'd know us. But you want to
+keep mum."</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe somebody saw us bring in the empty
+rowboat."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think so; nobody was around when
+we came in. Now you just keep quiet and it will
+be all right."</p>
+
+<p>"If they have to stay on the island all night
+they'll be as mad as hornets."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't care&mdash;I'd like to pay them both back
+for some of the mean things they've done to us."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know that they've done any mean
+thing to me," answered Nat Poole. He felt that
+he would give a good deal not to have touched
+the rowboat found on the shore of Bush Island
+tied to a tree. That it had been a craft used by
+Doctor Clay and Mr. Dale there was now not the
+slightest doubt.</p>
+
+<p>Dave was in the library of the school, consulting
+a history of Rome, when Ben came in with
+news that Doctor Clay and Mr. Dale were missing.
+It was almost time to go to bed and a number
+of the students had already retired.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Missing!" cried Dave, and put down the
+volume in his hands. "What do you mean,
+Ben?"</p>
+
+<p>"They are missing&mdash;isn't that plain enough?
+They went for a row on the river this afternoon,
+and they have not come back."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, we met them at Bush Island," and
+Dave explained the occurrence. "Maybe I'd better
+tell Haskers," he added, and hurried off.</p>
+
+<p>He found the assistant teacher in the office, considerably
+worried. That evening he and the doctor
+were to have gone over some school matters
+that needed attention. The non-return of the master
+of the Hall was therefore good cause for alarm.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you want, Porter?" he asked, coldly,
+for he had not yet forgotten the quarrel in that
+very room some months previous.</p>
+
+<p>"I understand Doctor Clay and Mr. Dale are
+missing, Mr. Haskers."</p>
+
+<p>"Well?"</p>
+
+<p>"I only wish to tell you that Phil Lawrence,
+Gus Plum, and I were out rowing this afternoon
+and we went to Bush Island, and there we met
+the doctor and Mr. Dale, who had come in a
+rowboat."</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed! Did they say anything about coming
+back?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, sir. We left them there, gathering geological
+specimens."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"They wouldn't stay there unless there was a
+reason for it," mused Job Haskers.</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps their boat sprung a leak, or something
+like that."</p>
+
+<p>"Ahem! Such a thing is possible."</p>
+
+<p>"Would you like some of us to go to the island
+and find out?"</p>
+
+<p>"No. If I want that done I can send Siller."</p>
+
+<p>"You might go to the island in Poole's motor
+boat. She could make the trip in no time."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll think of it," answered Job Haskers,
+shortly. He did not wish to give Dave any credit
+for the suggestion.</p>
+
+<p>Nevertheless, he acted on the advice, and less
+than a quarter of an hour later, with the searchlight
+on, the motor boat left the school dock, carrying
+on board Nat Poole, Siller, and Job Haskers.
+Poole was badly frightened, fearing that what he
+and Merwell had done would be found out.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">WHAT AN AUTOMOBILE DID</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Dave Porter, Doctor Clay wishes to see you
+in his private office immediately."</p>
+
+<p>It was Murphy the monitor who spoke, and he
+addressed Dave just as the latter was getting
+ready to retire for the night. He had already
+called Phil and Gus Plum.</p>
+
+<p>"What does he want, Jim?" questioned Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know, I'm sure. He and Mr. Dale
+just came in, and he is as mad as a hornet."</p>
+
+<p>Without delay Dave put on the coat he had
+taken off, and went below, accompanied by Phil
+and Gus. The door to the private office stood
+open and inside were the master of Oak Hall, Mr.
+Dale, and Job Haskers.</p>
+
+<p>"Come in, young gentlemen," said the doctor,
+somewhat grimly. "I want to ask you a few
+questions."</p>
+
+<p>They walked in and stood in a row, facing the
+master. Certainly Doctor Clay was angry, and
+Andrew Dale looked far from pleased.</p>
+
+<p>"All of you were on Bush Island this afternoon,"
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span>
+went on Doctor Clay. "When you went
+away, did you do anything to the rowboat that
+Mr. Dale and myself took there?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, sir," answered Dave, promptly.</p>
+
+<p>"We didn't see your boat&mdash;at least, I didn't,"
+answered Plum.</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't see it either," came from Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"Porter, did you see the boat?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, sir."</p>
+
+<p>"All of you are positive of this?" went on
+the master of the school, sternly.</p>
+
+<p>"The only time I saw the boat was when you
+and Mr. Dale were on the river rowing&mdash;before
+we got to the island," said Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"That boat was taken by somebody. We tied
+it to a tree and when we went for it, it was gone.
+We had to remain on the island, in the dark and
+cold, until Mr. Haskers came with Poole's motor
+boat and took us off."</p>
+
+<p>"Excuse me, Doctor, may I ask a question?"
+said Andrew Dale.</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you boys see anybody else on the island?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, sir," returned Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Was anybody near there, so far as you
+know?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not very near. We met a number of the fellows
+on the river, while we were rowing toward
+the island."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Who were some of those boys?" asked Doctor
+Clay.</p>
+
+<p>Dave remembered that one of the boats had
+contained Roger, Ben, Sam Day, and Messmer,
+and remained silent.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't any of you remember who were in the
+other boats?" asked the doctor, and his voice was
+sharper than ever.</p>
+
+<p>"Nat Poole and Link Merwell were out in the
+motor boat," answered Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I know that, but both declare they were
+not near the island."</p>
+
+<p>"Roger Morr, Sam Day, and a lot of others
+were out, but they were near the boathouse, and
+I don't think any of them went near Bush Island,"
+answered Gus Plum.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, somebody was there, and took our
+boat," said Doctor Clay. "If I find out who was
+guilty of the trick I shall punish him severely."
+He knew that many of the boys would laugh behind
+his back, and he hated to be the butt of such
+a joke.</p>
+
+<p>After being questioned for quarter of an hour
+the boys were told they could go, and returned to
+their dormitory. Hardly had they left the office
+when Siller, the boatman, came in.</p>
+
+<p>"The boat you had is at the dock," he announced.
+"It was tied up around a corner, where
+I didn't see it before."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"That proves some boys from this school took
+it from the island," said the doctor. "Is the boat
+all right?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, sir. I looked her over, and in the bottom
+I found this case."</p>
+
+<p>As Siller spoke he handed over a small leather
+case, which was empty but smelt strongly of
+tobacco.</p>
+
+<p>"A cigarette case!" cried the master of the
+school. "Could any pupil here have had that?
+They know that smoking is forbidden." He
+turned the case over in the light. "Here is a letter
+painted on the side. It is rather worn."</p>
+
+<p>"It is an M," said Andrew Dale, after an examination.
+"Let me see, what pupils' names begin
+with M?" He mused for a moment. "Morrison,
+Morr, Merwell&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Morrison went home yesterday, to be gone a
+week. Merwell said the motor boat was not near
+the island, and I certainly did not hear it."</p>
+
+<p>"Plum just said Morr and some others were out
+in a rowboat," added Andrew Dale, quickly.
+"This may be his cigarette case."</p>
+
+<p>"We'll question him."</p>
+
+<p>Thereupon Roger was made to visit the office
+and put through a course of questions. He denied
+being near Bush Island and also denied owning
+the cigarette case. He felt angered to think he
+was suspected and answered the doctor so sharply
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span>
+that he was told to translate ten pages of C�sar
+the next afternoon&mdash;a task he hated. And there
+the whole matter rested for the time being. Merwell
+missed his cigarette case, sent to him by a
+friend for his birthday, and he warned Poole not
+to breathe a word about it.</p>
+
+<p>"We have told the doctor we were not near the
+island," said the bully. "Now, if he finds out
+that we were, he'll punish us severely, and maybe
+he'll expel us." This fairly terrorized Nat, and
+he wished he had never seen Bush Island or listened
+to Merwell's plan to rob Dave and his chums of
+their rowboat.</p>
+
+<p>In some way Roger became convinced that Dave
+was responsible for his being hauled up before
+Doctor Clay, and as a consequence he grew colder
+and colder toward his former chum, something that
+hurt Dave very much. Phil, in a roundabout way,
+tried to patch up the matter, but Roger would not
+listen. He spent his entire time in company with
+Shadow, Buster, and some others, and only spoke
+to Dave when the baseball nine did its practicing.</p>
+
+<p>About six miles from Oak Hall was a private
+park known as Hilltop. This belonged to a gentleman
+named Richard Mongrace, who had a
+brother, a man who had once been a college football
+player, but who was now an invalid and could
+not leave the estate. Mr. Mongrace had a fine
+field for all sorts of outdoor sports at Hilltop, with
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span>
+a grand stand and bleachers, and, to please his
+brother, he frequently invited local clubs to use his
+grounds for their contests.</p>
+
+<p>In the past both Oak Hall and Rockville Military
+Academy had played at Hilltop, and now they
+had been invited to do so again, and it had been
+arranged that the baseball series should be played
+there. It may be as well to state here that the
+contest was to consist of two games out of a possible
+three. If either side won the first two games
+the third was not to be played.</p>
+
+<p>The day for the first game proved cloudy and
+windy, yet the Oak Hall boys went to the grounds
+in high spirits. Some went on bicycles, some in
+the carryall, and a few walked, just for the exercise.</p>
+
+<p>Dave was in the carryall, along with Phil,
+Shadow, and ten others. They were a jolly crowd,
+and as the turnout bowled along over the road
+they sang, gave the school yell, and cut up generally.
+The athletic yell was very popular, as
+follows:</p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<div class="poetry">
+<div class="poem">
+<div class="stanza">
+      <span class="i1-5">"Baseball!</span>
+      <span class="i2">Football!</span>
+      <span class="i2">Oak Hall!</span>
+      <span class="i2">Has the call!</span>
+      <span class="i0">Biff! Boom! Bang! Whoop!"</span>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>"This is the day we rip Rockville up the
+back!" cried one of the students.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"And poke holes in the sky with raps for home
+runs," added another.</p>
+
+<p>"And strike out three men every inning!" cried
+a third. "Dave, how is our pitcher to-day?"</p>
+
+<p>"Able to sit up and eat pie," answered Dave,
+with a smile.</p>
+
+<p>"Talking about pitchers puts me in mind of a
+little story I heard yesterday&mdash;&mdash;" began Shadow.
+"A little girl&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Hello, Shadow has hit the story trail once
+more!" sang out Phil. "Thought there must be
+something wrong with him. He hasn't told a
+story for an hour and ten minutes."</p>
+
+<p>"He's thinking of all the outs he is going to
+make," put in Plum, slyly.</p>
+
+<p>"Not an out for yours truly," returned the
+story-teller. "But to get back to the little girl.
+Says she to her papa, 'Papa, did you say a baseball
+club has a pitcher?' 'Yes, my dear,' says
+papa. 'Well, do they have a sugar-bowl too?'"
+And at this anecdote the boys smiled.</p>
+
+<p>Jackson Lemond was driving the carryall. He
+had a team of horses which the doctor had purchased
+only a few weeks before. They were a
+mettlesome pair, and the Hall driver did not altogether
+understand them. At times they went along
+very well, but at others they "cut up simply awful,"
+to use Horsehair's way of expressing it.</p>
+
+<p>"Why don't you let the team out, Horsehair?"
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span>
+asked one of the boys, presently. "We don't
+want to take all day to get to Hilltop."</p>
+
+<p>"I hate to give 'em too much headway," answered
+the driver. "The road ain't none of the
+best along here, and there ain't no telling what
+they might do."</p>
+
+<p>"We'll have to hurry some," said Dave. "I
+want some time to warm up, and so do the others."</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe it will rain and the game will have to
+be called off," was Phil's comment, with an anxious
+look at the overcast sky.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, it's not going to rain just now," answered
+Henshaw.</p>
+
+<p>They had just reached the top of a long hill and
+were preparing to go down the other side, when
+they heard a tooting behind them.</p>
+
+<p>"Here comes an automobile!" cried Phil, looking
+back.</p>
+
+<p>"I know that machine," answered Buster. "It
+belongs to some of the students at Rockville&mdash;two
+cousins, I think. They brought it down from
+Portland, Maine, where they come from."</p>
+
+<p>"It is full of Rockville fellows," said Sam.
+"They want to pass us," he added, as the tooting
+sounded louder.</p>
+
+<p>"It's a narrow road to pass on," grumbled
+Horsehair. "Whoa, there!" he cried to his team.</p>
+
+<p>"Whoa, I say!"</p>
+
+<p>For the horses had begun to prick up their ears
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span>
+and dance about at the sound of the automobile
+horn.</p>
+
+<p>"Clear the road, for we are coming!" came the
+cry from behind, and then with a tooting of the
+horn, a puffing from the engine, and a wild yelling
+from the occupants, the big touring car shot past
+the carryall with less than three inches to spare,
+and plunged down the hill at a speed that soon
+carried it out of sight in a cloud of dust.</p>
+
+<p>It was enough to scare anybody, and the hearts
+of some of the boys beat wildly for the moment.</p>
+
+<p>"That's taking a fearful risk," was the comment
+of one lad. "If they don't look out, they'll
+break their necks."</p>
+
+<p>There was little time to say more, for the students
+now realized that Horsehair was having his
+hands full with the new team. One horse was
+plunging with might and main to break away and
+the other was shying to the left. Then came a
+sudden snap, as a portion of the harness gave way,
+and the next moment the carryall was sweeping
+down the hill on the very heels of the team that
+was running away.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">A DEFEAT FOR OAK HALL</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>It was a time of great peril and all the students
+in the carryall realized it. With a portion of the
+harness broken, the driver could do little or nothing
+to control the team. They had the bits in their
+teeth and plunged down the hill and over the rocks
+in a manner that sent the turnout swinging first to
+one side and then the other.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll go over!"</p>
+
+<p>"We'll be smashed to pieces!"</p>
+
+<p>"We'd better jump, if we want to save our
+lives!"</p>
+
+<p>These and many other cries rang out. Dave
+and Ben were on the front seat with Horsehair,
+but all the others were inside, being thrown
+around like beans in a bag.</p>
+
+<p>"Let them go!" sang out Dave. "Give them
+the middle of the road,&mdash;and put on the brake."</p>
+
+<p>At first the driver was too scared to pay attention
+to Dave's words, and the youth had to lean
+over and pull the brake back. This all but locked
+the wheels and caused the carryall greatly to diminish
+
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span>
+its speed. But the horses kept dancing and
+plunging as madly as ever, and it looked as if at
+any instant they might bring the turnout to grief
+in one or the other of the water gullies lining the
+highway.</p>
+
+<p>"If you fellows want to get off, drop out the
+back one at a time," sang out Dave, when he saw
+that the brake was telling on the speed of both
+team and carryall.</p>
+
+<p>"You had better jump, too," answered one
+youth, as he prepared to do as advised.</p>
+
+<p>"Not yet&mdash;I think the team will stop at the foot
+of the hill," returned Dave.</p>
+
+<p>His coolness restored confidence to the others,
+and all remained in the carryall. Horsehair had
+tight hold of the reins, and now began to talk
+soothingly to the horses&mdash;getting back some of his
+own wits. Then the bottom of the hill was reached;
+and after a few minutes of work the team was
+brought down to a walk and then halted. Without
+waiting for an invitation, the students leaped
+to the ground and the school driver did likewise.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, that was surely a scare," was Jackson
+Lemond's comment. "I'd like to wring the neck
+o' the young rascal who is running that auto!"</p>
+
+<p>"He certainly had no right to rush past us as he
+did," replied Phil. "But how about it, Horsehair;
+can you mend the harness? Remember, we
+want to get to Hilltop."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"I reckon I can mend it&mdash;I've got extry straps
+and buckles under the seat."</p>
+
+<p>Horsehair set to work and Dave and Plum
+aided him, and in a very few minutes they were
+able to proceed on their way. The driver now
+kept the team well in hand, and the boys kept a
+keen lookout for more automobiles, but none
+passed them.</p>
+
+<p>"I've a good mind to report those chaps to the
+constable," said Horsehair, as they neared Hilltop.
+"They ought to be locked up."</p>
+
+<p>"You'll be laughed at for your pains," answered
+Shadow. "Let us wax Rockville at baseball&mdash;that
+will be revenge enough."</p>
+
+<p>The grounds were comfortably filled at the ball-field,
+and by the time the game started nearly every
+seat was taken. In one corner of the grand stand
+was a group of girls and among them Mary
+Feversham and Vera Rockwell, and they had flags
+with the initials O. H. on them.</p>
+
+<p>"They are going to root for us, bless 'em!"
+cried Phil, and he waved his hand at Mary
+and Vera, and Dave did likewise. Roger pretended
+not to see the girls, but hurried immediately
+to the dressing-room to prepare for the
+game.</p>
+
+<p>It had brightened up a little and for a short
+while the sun came out. Promptly at three o'clock
+the game started with Oak Hall at the bat. They
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span>
+were retired in one, two, three order, much to the
+delight of the Rockville contingent.</p>
+
+<p>"That's the way to do it!"</p>
+
+<p>"Now then, fellows, show them how you can
+bat the ball!"</p>
+
+<p>And then arose the Military Academy slogan:</p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<div class="poem">
+<div class="stanza">
+      <span class="i1-5">"Rockville!</span>
+      <span class="i1">Rockville!</span>
+      <span class="i2">You'll get your fill</span>
+      <span class="i2">From Rockville!"</span>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>Dave was certainly in the pink of condition when
+he walked down to the pitcher's box. Yet, despite
+his best efforts, one of the Rockville players
+"found him" for a two-bagger and another for
+a single, and when the side went out it had two
+runs to its credit.</p>
+
+<p>Then what a roar went up from the Military
+Academy boys!</p>
+
+<p>"That's the way! Keep it up!"</p>
+
+<p>"If you make two every inning, you'll have
+eighteen by the time you finish."</p>
+
+<p>During the second, third, and fourth innings
+Oak Hall did its best to score, but though two
+players reached second and one third, it was not
+to be. In the meantime Rockville got four more
+runs, making six in all.</p>
+
+<p>"Six to nothing! That's going some!"</p>
+
+<p>"Here is where we show Oak Hall what we can
+do!"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Phil was very much worried and came to talk
+the matter over with Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Dave, can't you strike some more of 'em out?"
+he asked. So far the pitcher had struck out two
+men.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm doing my best, Phil. They seem to be
+good hitters and no mistake. If you want to try
+somebody else in my place&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"No, no, Dave! Only I'd like to keep down
+that score. Do your best."</p>
+
+<p>In the next two innings Oak Hall managed to
+get two runs&mdash;one by a wild throw to second.
+This was a little encouraging, and the students
+rooted wildly. But in the seventh inning Roger
+made a wild throw to third and that gave the
+Rockvilles two more runs. At the end of the
+eighth the score stood, Rockville 10, Oak Hall 3.</p>
+
+<p>"We ought to have another pitcher and another
+catcher," said some. "Porter and Morr are both
+off to-day."</p>
+
+<p>"Phil, you can put somebody else in my place if
+you wish," said the senator's son, quickly.</p>
+
+<p>"And you can put somebody in my place, too,"
+added Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"No, you stick and do the best you can," answered
+the manager of the nine.</p>
+
+<p>"They can't do anything!" sneered Link Merwell,
+who stood close by.</p>
+
+<p>"They can both play far better ball than you,"
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span>
+retorted Phil. "If you were pitching or catching,
+the Rockvilles would have about fifty runs," and
+then he turned his back on the bully.</p>
+
+<p>It had begun to rain a little, but both clubs decided
+to play the game out unless it came down too
+hard. Oak Hall went to the bat with vigor in
+the ninth and got two men on bases. But then
+came a foul fly, a short hit to first, and a pop fly,
+and there their chances ended. Then, to see what
+they could do, Rockville took the last half of the
+ninth and batted out four more runs, amid the
+wildest kind of yelling from the Military Academy
+cadets and their friends.</p>
+
+<p>Final score, Rockville 14, Oak Hall 3.</p>
+
+<p>The Oak Hall boys felt as gloomy as the sky
+above them and they had little or nothing to say.
+They could now realize how Rockville had felt,
+when defeated on the football field, the season
+before. None of the players gave attention
+to the rain, which was now coming down in
+torrents.</p>
+
+<p>"Told you we'd lose," said Link Merwell, to
+some of the boys near him.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you're a croaker!" cried Messmer.
+"We can't win every time."</p>
+
+<p>"You should have had Purdy in the box," said
+another. Purdy was a new student and it was said
+he could pitch very well.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and Barloe behind the bat," added another.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span>
+Barloe had caught in some games the year
+before and done fairly well.</p>
+
+<p>It must be confessed that both Dave and Roger
+were considerably disheartened by the result of
+the game, and each blamed himself for errors
+made. Gus Plum also bewailed the fact that he
+had missed a foul fly that came down just out of
+his reach.</p>
+
+<p>It was raining so hard the boys had to wait in
+the dressing rooms and on the grand stand for the
+downpour to let up before starting for Oak Hall.
+Here the game was discussed in every particular,
+and each player came in for commingled praise
+and blame.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, if you want my opinion I'll give it," said
+Dave, frankly. "I do not say that I didn't make
+any errors myself, for I did. But I think our nine
+needs team-work&mdash;we don't play well enough
+together."</p>
+
+<p>"That is true," answered Plum. "I go in for
+constant practice between now and the time for the
+next game."</p>
+
+<p>During the wait Phil slipped away from the
+other players and sought out Mary Feversham.
+The girl smiled sadly at his approach.</p>
+
+<p>"I shouldn't have minded the rain at all if you
+had won," she said. "But to have you lose and
+have the rain also is dreadful!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, we still have a chance to win the series,"
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span>
+answered the club captain, bravely. "I am sorry
+you are caught here. Perhaps I can get a covered
+carriage&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, but Vera has a gentleman friend
+here, and he is going to take us home in a coach."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!"</p>
+
+<p>"He's a young man that used to think a lot of
+Vera," went on Mary, in a whisper. "I guess she
+thinks a lot of him, too&mdash;but don't let her know
+I told you."</p>
+
+<p>Soon the young gentleman drove up in a coach
+and Phil was introduced. Then the young ladies
+got in, and off the turnout sped through the rain.
+Then Phil rejoined the others of the club; and a
+little later all were on their way to Oak Hall, in
+the carryall, and in covered carriages and wagons.</p>
+
+<p>"Were Mary Feversham and Vera Rockwell
+here alone?" asked Roger, while on the way.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess so," answered Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"How were they going to get home?"</p>
+
+<p>"A young gentleman, fellow named Greene,&mdash;personal
+friend of Vera's,&mdash;took them home in a
+coach."</p>
+
+<p>"Greene?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, George Greene. Looked like a nice fellow.
+Mary said he and Vera were quite thick."</p>
+
+<p>Phil said this carelessly, but he looked sharply at
+the senator's son as he spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I thought&mdash;&mdash;" Roger broke off short.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span>
+"Didn't you and Dave call on Vera and Mary
+one night last week?" he added, after a long
+pause.</p>
+
+<p>"Why&mdash;er&mdash;I passed Mary's house and spoke
+to her at the gate for a few minutes," stammered
+Phil. "Dave was with me, but he didn't stop&mdash;said
+he wanted to post a letter to his sister."</p>
+
+<p>"Didn't he go to Vera's house?"</p>
+
+<p>"No. I don't think he has seen her since that
+ball game at Oakdale."</p>
+
+<p>"Is that really true, Phil?"</p>
+
+<p>"I believe it is, Roger. And now see here, old
+boy, what is this trouble between you and Dave?
+I'm your chum and I'm Dave's chum, too, and I
+think I have a right to know."</p>
+
+<p>"Why don't you ask Dave?"</p>
+
+<p>"He says he doesn't know&mdash;at least, he says
+the trouble all comes from you&mdash;no, I don't mean
+that either, I mean&mdash;&mdash; Hang it, Roger, what
+do I mean?"</p>
+
+<p>At this outburst the senator's son had to laugh,
+and Phil laughed also, and both boys felt better
+for it. There was a pause.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess I've been&mdash;been&mdash;well, jealous, Phil,"
+said Roger. "I&mdash;I thought Dave was sweet on
+little Jessie Wadsworth&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"So he is."</p>
+
+<p>"And then he got acquainted with Vera Rockwell,
+and&mdash;and&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"And he became friendly with her, nothing
+more, Roger&mdash;just as you became friendly with
+Jessie. Didn't he have a right to do that? Why,
+I don't think&mdash;in fact, I am quite sure,&mdash;she
+doesn't care for him excepting in a general way.
+Why should she? She's young yet, and so is Dave,&mdash;and
+so are all of us. Now, I like Mary Feversham,
+and I guess she likes me, but I am not going
+to let that come between my friendship for you
+and Dave. Really, Roger, you are taking this too
+much to heart. I rather think, if you ought to be
+jealous, it should be of Mr. Greene, not of Dave."</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe you're right, Phil," answered the senator's
+son, slowly and thoughtfully. "And if you
+are&mdash;well, I've been making a fool of myself,
+that's all."</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">STUCK ON A SANDBAR</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Roger seemed to feel much better after his talk
+with Phil, and that evening, when the baseball
+club held a meeting in the gymnasium, he spoke
+pleasantly to Dave. The young pitcher appreciated
+this, and when the meeting was over he and
+Roger walked to the school side by side, something
+they had not done in a long while.</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I guess I've been making a fool of myself,
+Dave," said the senator's son, frankly. "I
+thought&mdash;&mdash;" He hesitated, not knowing how
+to go on.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't say another word about it, Roger!"
+cried Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"You know what it was about."</p>
+
+<p>"I think I can guess. But what is the use of
+chewing it over? I am sure I never wanted to interfere
+with you or your&mdash;friends. If you like
+Vera&mdash;and I think she is certainly a nice girl&mdash;why
+don't you act more friendly when you meet?
+I think you treated her a little bit shabbily the last
+time&mdash;and maybe she thinks so, too."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I was a fool, that's why. I suppose now,
+if I try to make up, she'll cut me dead."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think she is that kind, Roger. Anyway,
+if I were you, I'd try her."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't suppose you know I got a note about
+you and her?" went on the senator's son.</p>
+
+<p>"A note?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, it was only a scrawl in pencil and I was
+so angry at the time I tore it up. It said you were
+making yourself friendly with her just to cut me
+out."</p>
+
+<p>"Who sent the note?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know. Wish I did."</p>
+
+<p>"It was surely some enemy," said Dave; and
+there the talk had to come to an end.</p>
+
+<p>Not much had been said at the meeting of the
+baseball club, but during the next few days many
+of the students of Oak Hall came out against
+Dave, Roger, and Gus Plum, saying they thought
+those three players had lost the game. This was
+not true, but the talk grew, and it made matters
+decidedly unpleasant for the trio of ball players.</p>
+
+<p>"Phil, I think you had better try Purdy in the
+box at the next game," said Dave. "So many of
+the fellows seem to want him."</p>
+
+<p>"And you can put Barloe behind the bat,"
+added Roger. "I don't want to catch if somebody
+can do better."</p>
+
+<p>"And I'll give up first base," said Plum.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"See here, if you are all going to resign I'll
+resign myself!" cried the manager of the nine.
+"This talk is all nonsense."</p>
+
+<p>"But it is growing stronger," answered Dave.
+"And I must admit, Purdy is a good pitcher."</p>
+
+<p>"Can he pitch as well as you?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'd prefer to have others decide that question."</p>
+
+<p>More talks like this followed, and when some
+of the other students got at Phil he began to
+waver.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, regardless of friendships," said he at
+last, "I want to do the best I can for Oak Hall.
+I am willing to put Purdy in the box, Barloe behind
+the bat, and Hissoc on first, provided Dave,
+Roger, and Gus will go on the substitute bench."</p>
+
+<p>"I reckon Porter won't agree to substitute,"
+said one of the club members.</p>
+
+<p>But in this surmise the player was mistaken.
+The young pitcher agreed to do anything the manager
+wished, and so did the senator's son and
+Plum. Thereupon Purdy, Barloe, and Hissoc
+were at once put into training for the next game.</p>
+
+<p>One afternoon Dave, Phil, Roger, and Ben
+Basswood went for a row on the river. They
+took one of the racing boats, and, with each at
+an oar, they made rapid progress up the stream.
+They passed several of the islands, and then
+rounded a point and entered a cove which was
+thickly lined with bushes and trees.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Nat Poole is out in his motor boat," said
+Roger. "He has Link Merwell with him."</p>
+
+<p>"I think the best thing Nat can do is to drop
+Merwell," was Ben's comment. "Merwell is getting
+reckless. I've seen him in town half a dozen
+times, hanging around the poolroom, smoking."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and he drinks," said Roger. "Sometimes
+I really think he ought to be reported to Doctor
+Clay."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but who wants to do it?" asked Phil.
+"Nobody wants the reputation of a tale-bearer."</p>
+
+<p>"He certainly ought to be expelled if he is going
+to lead others astray," was Dave's comment.
+"I suppose some of us ought to talk to Nat about
+it. But Nat is so conceited he thinks he knows it
+all, and it would be mighty hard to tell him anything."</p>
+
+<p>"Hark! I hear a motor boat now!" cried Ben.
+"It must be behind those overhanging trees."</p>
+
+<p>"Here it comes," said Roger. "I declare, it's
+Poole's boat and he and Merwell have several
+young ladies aboard!"</p>
+
+<p>As the motor boat came closer the boys saw that
+the young ladies were Vera Rockwell, Mary
+Feversham, and a stranger.</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't know those girls would go out with
+Poole and Merwell," was Phil's comment.</p>
+
+<p>"Nor I," added Roger.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The motor boat had been headed almost directly
+for the rowboat, but as soon as Merwell recognized
+those in the smaller craft he turned to his
+crony and said something in a whisper, and then
+the motor boat was turned in another direction.</p>
+
+<p>"Motor boat, ahoy!" cried Ben.</p>
+
+<p>To this hail Poole and Merwell paid no attention.
+Poole was steering and the bully was at the
+engine, and the latter advanced the spark and
+turned on more gasoline, in order to increase the
+speed of the craft.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, it's Mr. Lawrence!" cried Mary Feversham.</p>
+
+<p>"And Mr. Porter and Mr. Morr!" added Vera
+Rockwell.</p>
+
+<p>"Please stop the boat, we want to speak to
+them," went on Mary, to Merwell.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't stop just now," grumbled the bully, as
+he tried to make the engine run still faster.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, the idea!" exclaimed the strange girl
+of the party. "I thought you could stop a motor
+boat any time."</p>
+
+<p>"So you can," added Vera Rockwell. "I want
+you to stop," she went on, commandingly.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't do it," answered Merwell, and then he
+winked at Poole, who had turned his head to listen
+to the talk.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I think you are real mean!" pouted
+Mary. "I shall never ask you to take me across
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span>
+the river again. You've kept us on the motor
+boat now nearly an hour!"</p>
+
+<p>"If you don't land us where we want to go, and
+as soon as possible, I'll tell my brother," said Vera.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and we'll tell those students in that rowboat,
+too," said Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"You came for a ride of your own free will,"
+said Merwell.</p>
+
+<p>"We did not. We said we wanted to cross the
+river and you said you'd take us across."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, that's what we intend to do," and Merwell
+grinned in a manner that disgusted all three
+of the fair passengers.</p>
+
+<p>"If you don't land us at once, I shall cry for
+help," said Vera.</p>
+
+<p>"And so will I," added the other girls.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll land you&mdash;after we've had a ride," answered
+Merwell, and continued to crowd the engine
+as best he knew how.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't run too fast&mdash;I don't know the channel
+here!" cried Poole, somewhat alarmed. Had he
+had his way, he would have landed the girls long
+before, but he did not dare to thwart Link Merwell's
+pleasure. The bully took a vast delight in
+teasing the girls and scaring them.</p>
+
+<p>"Help! help!" cried Vera, suddenly. "Help!"
+And then the other girls joined in the call for assistance.</p>
+
+<p>"You shut up!" exclaimed Merwell, sullenly.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span>
+"We are not hurting you. If you don't shut up
+we'll land you on one of the islands and leave you
+there."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" exclaimed the third girl, whose name
+was Sadie Fillmore, and then she nearly fainted
+from fright.</p>
+
+<p>The motor boat was rounding a point of the
+cove when there came an unexpected scraping on
+the bottom. Then suddenly the craft slid up on
+a sandbar and careened to one side, almost tumbling
+some of the occupants into the water.</p>
+
+<p>"Shut her off!" yelled Poole, and in alarm Link
+Merwell stopped the engine. The girls screamed
+and clung to each other in terror. A little water
+entered the boat and this added to their fright.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, see what you did!" cried Nat Poole.
+"We are on a sandbar."</p>
+
+<p>"It wasn't my fault&mdash;I wasn't steering," answered
+Link Merwell.</p>
+
+<p>"I told you to run slow, but you kept piling on
+the speed."</p>
+
+<p>"Are we go&mdash;going to&mdash;to sink?" faltered
+Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"Sink? We can't sink. We are high and dry
+on a sandbar," grumbled Merwell.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I am so thankful!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I'm not."</p>
+
+<p>"But we aren't dry&mdash;the water is all around us,"
+protested Vera.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"There's not enough to float us."</p>
+
+<p>"What are we going to do?" demanded Poole,
+looking at his crony with much concern showing in
+his face.</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps we can back her," suggested Merwell.
+"I'll reverse the engine and try."</p>
+
+<p>This was done, but though the propeller churned
+the water into a foam and sent some sand flying
+into the air, the motor boat remained firmly on the
+bar.</p>
+
+<p>"It's no use," sighed Nat. "Stop the engine,
+or you may break something." And then the
+power was turned off.</p>
+
+<p>"What are we to do?" questioned Sadie Fillmore.
+"We can't stay here forever."</p>
+
+<p>"Here comes that rowboat!" cried Vera, a
+moment later.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, let us signal to them!" exclaimed Mary,
+and standing up she waved her handkerchief, and
+then her big sailor hat.</p>
+
+<p>"We don't want those fellows here!" growled
+Link Merwell. "They can go about their
+business. We'll get the boat off the sandbar
+somehow."</p>
+
+<p>"We do want them," answered Vera, and joined
+her friend in signaling, and Sadie Fillmore did the
+same.</p>
+
+<p>It was not long before the other boat came
+within hailing distance. Seeing that the motor
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span>
+boat was stuck on a sandbar, the rowers took care
+not to ground their craft.</p>
+
+<p>"Help us, won't you, please!" cried Vera.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, yes, take us off!" added Mary.</p>
+
+<p>"We don't want to stay on this motor boat any
+longer!" exclaimed Sadie.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess we can take the girls off," said Phil.
+"But what about Poole and Merwell?"</p>
+
+<p>"We might come back for them," answered
+Ben. "We can't leave them here very
+well."</p>
+
+<p>With care the rowboat was brought to the side
+of the motor boat and the girls were assisted from
+one craft to the other.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't you take us?" asked Poole.</p>
+
+<p>"Not now," said Roger. "We can come back
+later."</p>
+
+<p>The rowboat was rather crowded, but this could
+not be altered. The boys pulled away from the
+motor boat, and then asked the girls where they
+wished to be landed.</p>
+
+<p>"We were going to Perry's Point, across the
+river," explained Vera. "But those boys kept us
+out so long I think we'd better go home." And
+then she and the others told how they had been
+walking toward the place where an old man kept
+a ferry, when they had been hailed by Merwell,
+who had offered to take them across.</p>
+
+<p>"But they didn't take us across at all!" cried
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span>
+Mary. "They took us for a ride instead, although
+we told them we didn't want to go."</p>
+
+<p>"Can that be true?" asked Phil, indignantly.</p>
+
+<p>"It certainly is," said Vera. "Oh, I think they
+were just too mean for anything!"</p>
+
+<p>"It serves them right that their motor boat
+ran on the sandbar. I hope they never get it off,"
+added Sadie Fillmore.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll have to look into this," said Dave. "It
+was contemptible to keep you out on the river
+against your will, and they ought to be made to
+suffer for it."</p>
+
+<p>"And they shall suffer&mdash;just you wait and see,"
+said Roger, firmly.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">LINK MERWELL HAS HIS SAY</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>As swiftly as they could the four boys rowed
+the girls to where they wanted to go. During the
+trip Roger spoke to Vera half a dozen times, and
+the coldness between them became a thing of the
+past. Sadie Fillmore was formally introduced,
+and all three girls said they were going to attend
+the next baseball game at Hilltop.</p>
+
+<p>"My father has a tally-ho and we are going in
+that," said Sadie. Her parents were rich and lived
+in Oakdale in the summer and in New York City
+in the winter.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I hope you see a good game," answered
+Dave. He said nothing about Roger, Plum, and
+himself being only substitutes, for he did not wish
+to place Phil in an awkward position.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as the girls were landed the boys rowed
+out into the river again, and there they held
+what might be termed an impromptu indignation
+meeting.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, what do you think of that?" burst out
+Roger, referring to the conduct of Poole and Merwell.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span>
+"I say such actions are a disgrace to Oak
+Hall."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and those fellows ought to be tarred and
+feathered," added Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"Doctor Clay ought to hear of this," came from
+Ben.</p>
+
+<p>"I think I have a plan to teach them a lesson,"
+said Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"Let's have it," returned the senator's son,
+promptly.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll tell them what we think of them and
+then leave them stuck on the sandbar without sending
+anybody to their assistance. Maybe they'll
+have to stay there all night. They won't like that&mdash;and
+without their supper, too!"</p>
+
+<p>"Good! That's the cheese!" cried Ben, slangily.
+"I hope they have to go without their supper
+and breakfast, too!"</p>
+
+<p>It was decided to refuse all assistance, and this
+agreed upon, the four rowed to the vicinity of the
+stranded motor boat. They found Poole and Merwell
+still on board, both waiting impatiently for
+their return.</p>
+
+<p>"It's a wonder you wouldn't come!" cried
+Poole. "Do you think we want to stay here all
+night?"</p>
+
+<p>"Can you pull us off?" asked Link Merwell.
+"If you can't, Nat and I want you to go to Oakdale
+and get the tug <i>Ella Davis</i> to do the job."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"You talk as if we were hired to work for you,"
+answered Dave.</p>
+
+<p>"I wasn't addressing you, Porter&mdash;I was talking
+to the others."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, we are not in your employ either," answered
+Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"Look here, Merwell, and you, too, Poole,"
+said Roger. "We've got a big bone to pick with
+you, but it won't take long to pick it. We think
+that the way you acted toward those young ladies
+was disgraceful, and it reflects on the honor of
+Oak Hall. For two pins we'd tell some of the
+other students, and you'd be tarred and feathered
+or run out of the school. We&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"It wasn't my fault!" interrupted Nat Poole,
+turning pale. "I&mdash;I was willing enough to take
+them across the riv&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Shut up!" growled Link Merwell. "We are
+not accountable to them for what we do. Don't
+make a fool of yourself."</p>
+
+<p>"It was certainly an outrageous proceeding,"
+said Ben. "If their folks wanted to make you
+suffer for it, they could do so."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, don't gas, Basswood. If you don't want
+to aid us, say so. We are not going to beg you to
+do so." And Link Merwell's face showed his
+hatred.</p>
+
+<p>"We are going to leave you here, as you
+deserve," said Dave.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"No, no! Please don't do that!" pleaded Nat
+Poole. "I don't want to stay in this lonely part of
+the river all night!"</p>
+
+<p>"Shut up&mdash;we can swim ashore!" whispered
+his crony.</p>
+
+<p>"The water is too cold yet&mdash;I felt of it.
+It's like ice," answered Nat. He was plainly
+frightened.</p>
+
+<p>"Listen," said Phil, in a low tone to his chums.
+"Nat says he wanted to take the girls across the
+river. Perhaps he isn't to blame as much as we
+think."</p>
+
+<p>"He stood in with Merwell," answered Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, don't leave us here!" cried the dudish
+student. "It looks as if it might rain to-night,
+and it will be cold, and&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Say, you make me sick," growled Merwell.
+"I wouldn't ask them for a favor now if I was
+dying!"</p>
+
+<p>"See here, Poole," said Dave, after consulting
+his chums. "We'll take you off on one condition."</p>
+
+<p>"What is that?"</p>
+
+<p>"That you will promise to write a letter to each
+of the young ladies, apologizing for your conduct."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I&mdash;er&mdash;I&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"You can take your choice," added Roger.
+"Apologize or stay here."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't mean any harm. I was willing to take
+them across, but Link&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"That's right, blame it all on me!" burst out
+Merwell. "Well, I don't care. I'll not crawl
+to anybody! They can go to Halifax, for all I
+care! I don't want their aid."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll&mdash;I'll apologize, if you'll take me back to
+the school," faltered Poole.</p>
+
+<p>"All right then, get into the rowboat," said
+Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"And mind you keep your promise, or you'll
+catch it!" added the senator's son.</p>
+
+<p>The rowboat was brought close to the stern
+of the larger craft and the dudish student leaped
+on board. As he did this, Merwell caught up a
+boathook, gave the rowboat a shove, and almost
+capsized it.</p>
+
+<p>"Let up, Merwell!" exclaimed Dave, and raising
+his oar, he hit the bully a blow on the shoulder
+and sent him sprawling in the bottom of the motor
+boat. Then the rowboat floated away from the
+larger craft.</p>
+
+<p>If Link Merwell had been angry before, he was
+now in a perfect rage. Scrambling to his feet, he
+shook his fist at the others.</p>
+
+<p>"Just wait!" he roared. "I'll fix you all for
+this, and you particularly, Dave Porter, you poorhouse
+rat! I'll make you wish you had never been
+born!"</p>
+
+<p>"Come away!" cried Nat Poole, badly frightened.
+"Don't listen to him."</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter"><a id="Raising_his_oar"></a>
+<img src="images/p274.jpg" alt=""  width="312" height="500" />
+<div class="topspace1"></div>
+<div class="caption"><span class="smcap">Raising his oar, he hit the bully a blow on the shoulder.</span></div>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"He acts as if he was crazy," was Phil's comment.</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I know what it is," returned Poole.
+"It's&mdash;&mdash;" He hesitated.</p>
+
+<p>"Has he been drinking?" demanded Dave.
+"Come, tell the truth, Nat?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. He had a bottle of stuff with him, and
+he had one drink before we started and two more
+while we were waiting for you to come back. He
+isn't himself at all&mdash;so you mustn't mind what he
+says."</p>
+
+<p>"He's a fool!" came bluntly from Ben.</p>
+
+<p>"I made a mistake to go out with him. He's
+always that way when he's got anything to drink."</p>
+
+<p>Dave's face was a study. When Merwell had
+called him "a poorhouse rat" he had gone white
+and his teeth had closed with a snap, but now,
+when he heard how the misguided youth was the
+victim of his own appetite, the lines softened into
+pity and nothing else.</p>
+
+<p>"It's too bad," he said. "Why can't fellows
+leave drink alone?" And then he thought of poor
+Gus and how he had been tempted.</p>
+
+<p>"We ought to take the stuff away from him,"
+said Roger.</p>
+
+<p>"It's too late for that&mdash;the bottle is empty, and
+Merwell threw it overboard," answered Poole.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think it safe to leave him out on the
+river alone," said Dave.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>But none of the others would agree to go back,
+and so the rowboat was headed for the Oak Hall
+dock. They were just coming in sight of the place
+when they heard a put-put! on the river and looked
+back.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I declare, it's the motor boat!" ejaculated
+Roger.</p>
+
+<p>"He must have got it off the bar somehow,"
+said Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe it slid off of itself," suggested Ben.
+"Although I don't see how it could."</p>
+
+<p>Left to himself Link Merwell had started the
+engine full speed ahead. He was desperate and
+did not care whether he ruined the motor boat or
+not. Lightened of the weight of the other passengers,
+the boat had wormed its way over the bar
+and into deep water, and then he had started in
+pursuit of the rowboat.</p>
+
+<p>"You didn't get the best of me, anyhow!" he
+sang out, as he passed them. Then he ran up to
+the dock, stopped the engine, and leaped ashore,
+and without waiting to tie up the craft, walked
+swiftly toward the school building and disappeared.
+That evening he left Oak Hall, to be
+gone for several days, on business for his father,
+so he told Doctor Clay. Whether this was true or
+not the boys never found out. They suspected,
+however, that he went off to have what he called
+a good time.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Those who had been out in the rowboat saw to
+it that Nat Poole wrote and mailed the letters of
+apology to the three girls, and then Dave and Ben
+gave the lad from Crumville a severe lecture, telling
+him that it would be to his credit to cut such
+a fellow as Merwell, who was bound, sooner or
+later, to drag him down.</p>
+
+<p>"Merwell is by far the worst boy that ever
+came to Oak Hall," said Dave, "and sooner or
+later he will be expelled. What will your father
+say if you are expelled with him?"</p>
+
+<p>"We want you to make a record," said Ben.
+"Not only for your own sake, but also for the
+honor of the town we come from, and for the
+honor of the school. You'll never gain anything
+by sticking in with Merwell. Gus Plum has cut
+him, and so have lots of the fellows, and you
+ought to do it. There are plenty of other good
+fellows in this school, even if you don't want to
+train with our particular crowd. Think it over,
+Nat."</p>
+
+<p>And Nat Poole did think it over, and, as a consequence,
+from that day on he turned his back on
+Merwell and refused to have anything more to
+do with the dissolute bully.</p>
+
+<p>The day for the second ball game with Rockville
+was perfect in every respect. The sun shone
+brightly and there was just sufficient breeze to
+make the air bracing. Everybody turned out to see
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span>
+the contest, and long before the umpire called
+"Play!" grand stand and bleachers were
+crowded.</p>
+
+<p>The Rockville players were rather surprised to
+see Dave, Roger, and Plum on the bench while
+strangers filled their positions on the diamond.
+They asked each other, "What are we up
+against?" but none could answer that question.</p>
+
+<p>The Military Academy nine went to the bat first,
+and much to the delight of Oak Hall, Purdy, the
+new pitcher, struck out two men, while the third
+knocked a foul that was easily gathered in by the
+new first baseman.</p>
+
+<p>"That's the way to hold 'em down!" cried
+several.</p>
+
+<p>"Purdy's a big improvement on Porter, eh?"</p>
+
+<p>"It certainly looks that way."</p>
+
+<p>In this first inning Oak Hall managed to score
+one run, which caused a wild cheering, in which
+Dave, Roger, and Gus readily joined. But in the
+second, third, and fourth they got only "goose
+eggs," while Rockville came in over the home plate
+six times. In the fourth inning the second baseman
+was "spiked" by accident while sliding to
+third, and had to retire, and Plum took his place.
+Then came the fifth inning, with a run for each
+nine, and in that the shortstop was almost knocked
+senseless by a hot liner.</p>
+
+<p>"Roger, you'll have to cover short," said Phil,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span>
+and the senator's son ran out to do so, amid a clapping
+of hands from his friends.</p>
+
+<p>The sixth inning resulted in several hits for the
+nines, but no runs were made. Then came the
+seventh, with another run for each, and in this a
+runner for Rockville bumped into the Oak Hall
+third baseman and both had to retire.</p>
+
+<p>"This is certainly a slaughter!" cried one spectator.
+"If they keep on, somebody will be killed
+before they get through."</p>
+
+<p>The accident took Dave out in the field to cover
+third. As luck would have it, less than a minute
+later he caught a man trying to slide to the bag,
+and when the runner was declared out the Oak
+Hall boys set up a cheer.</p>
+
+<p>"Good for Dave Porter! That's the way to
+cover third!"</p>
+
+<p>The end of the eighth inning found the score
+Rockville 11, Oak Hall 4. It looked as if Oak
+Hall was beaten, yet the nine resolved to do its
+best to win out.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">DAVE MAKES UP HIS MIND</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>With the score eleven to four against his club,
+Purdy, the pitcher, got nervous, and as a consequence
+he allowed the first batter up to walk to first
+on balls. Then the next player met the sphere for
+a base hit, and the man on first ran down to second.</p>
+
+<p>"Steady, Purdy, steady!" was the cry.</p>
+
+<p>"Better put in Dave Porter," advised some of
+Dave's friends.</p>
+
+<p>The next batter got two strikes and two balls
+and then knocked a short fly, which was scooped
+in by Plum at second. Then the runner at second,
+on the next delivery of the ball over the plate,
+tried to steal to third. Over came the ball from
+the catcher. It was fully three feet over Dave's
+head, and many held their breath, expecting the
+run to come in. But with a high jump, Dave
+reached the sphere and brought it down with one
+hand; and the runner was put out.</p>
+
+<p>"Hurrah! What do you think of that for a
+catch!"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Talk about jumping! That's the best I ever
+saw on any ball-field!"</p>
+
+<p>The next man up got to first on balls, and again
+there was a cry to take Purdy out of the box and
+substitute Dave. But Dave shook his head to
+Phil.</p>
+
+<p>"It wouldn't be fair," he said. "Purdy hasn't
+done so badly&mdash;it was a streak of poor luck, that's
+all."</p>
+
+<p>When the next batter came up he waited until
+he had a strike and two balls and then knocked a
+swift liner into the diamond. It came several
+feet from Roger, but now the former catcher
+proved his worth. He made a dive, caught the
+ball, and rolled over, but still held the ball up in
+his left hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Batter out!"</p>
+
+<p>"That ends it for Rockville."</p>
+
+<p>It did end it for Rockville so far as making any
+runs was concerned, but it still looked as if the
+game belonged to them and with it the series.</p>
+
+<p>But the Oak Hall boys went to the bat with a
+"do or die" look on their faces. Phil started the
+ball rolling with a two-bagger and Roger followed
+with a single, taking Phil to third. Then
+came Shadow with another two-bagger, bringing
+in the two runners.</p>
+
+<p>What a cheering and yelling! The Oak Hall
+boys went wild and waved their caps and banners.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span>
+Then, while the noise was still going on, Dave
+came up to the bat, swung the ashen stick at the
+first ball delivered, and sent the sphere down to
+deep center.</p>
+
+<p>"Hurrah! A home run!"</p>
+
+<p>"That's the way to do it! We'll win out yet!"</p>
+
+<p>Dave had, of course, brought in Shadow, and
+this gave Oak Hall eight runs. Seeing the runs
+piling up the Rockville pitcher became rattled, and
+gave two men their base on balls. Then came another
+two bagger, and the men on first and second
+trotted home.</p>
+
+<p>"Ten to eleven! One more run, fellows, and
+you'll tie 'em!"</p>
+
+<p>"Change the pitcher! He's no good!" called
+out some of the Rockville supporters. And another
+pitcher was sent to the box.</p>
+
+<p>Sam Day was now at the bat. Sam was a
+cautious player, not easily rattled. He allowed
+two balls to pass him, and they were called such
+by the umpire. Then, seeing just what he wished
+coming, he "swatted it for keeps," as Phil said,
+and ran for dear life. He reached third and the
+fellow at second came home, tying the score.</p>
+
+<p>Pandemonium now broke forth in earnest, while
+the catcher walked forward to confer with the
+pitcher. Gus Plum was up, and his face was
+deathly white as he faced the pitcher. He felt as
+if the fate of a nation depended upon him.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>In came the ball and with unerring judgment
+Plum struck at it. Down he went to first, safe,
+and in came Sam from third.</p>
+
+<p>The game was won! The supporters of Oak
+Hall rushed upon the field, and the nine was
+warmly congratulated. The Rockville club was
+bitterly disappointed and left as soon as possible.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't tell me that Porter, Morr, and Plum
+are poor players," said Luke Watson. "They
+did more than their share to win this game," and
+in that opinion even Mr. Dale concurred.</p>
+
+<p>The result of the game hit Nat Poole heavily.
+He had counted upon Oak Hall losing, and in
+secret had made several wagers against the school.
+Now all his pocket-money was gone and he was
+about twenty dollars in debt. He wrote to his
+father for money, but, as my old readers know,
+Aaron Poole was very miserly at times, and now
+he pulled his purse-strings tight and declared
+that Nat spent too much entirely, and must do
+without more funds until the summer vacation
+came.</p>
+
+<p>When Link Merwell came back to Oak Hall his
+general manner was worse than before, and even
+Nat was glad that he had cut away from the fellow.
+Merwell was getting to be a thorough sport,
+and a few, but by no means all, of his doings
+reached Doctor Clay's ears. As a consequence the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span>
+master of the school sent a long letter to Merwell's
+father and gave Link himself a stern lecture.
+The lecture was not appreciated, for Merwell
+made no effort to reform.</p>
+
+<p>During the week following the second game of
+ball with Rockville, Dave put the finishing touches
+to his essay on The Past and Future of Our Country.
+It was his masterpiece so far, and when it
+was finished he breathed a sigh of commingled
+relief and satisfaction. He handed in the essay
+to Mr. Dale, and it was filed away with sixteen
+others for examination.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope you win, Dave," said Roger. "I am
+sure you deserve the prize&mdash;you have worked so
+hard."</p>
+
+<p>Roger was now as "chummy" as ever, which
+pleased Dave very much. After the second ball
+game the senator's son and Phil and Shadow had
+sought out Mary, Vera, and Sadie, and the young
+people had spent a pleasant hour together. In a
+roundabout way Roger learned that Mr. Greene
+was nothing more to Vera than an old friend, and
+this, somehow, eased his mind exceedingly.</p>
+
+<p>There was a good deal of talk about putting
+Roger, Dave, and Plum back on the regular nine,
+but the backers of Purdy and Barloe were so insistent
+that they be retained that only Plum was allowed
+to take his old place.</p>
+
+<p>"But I want you two to be substitutes as before,"
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span>
+said Phil, to Dave and Roger. "I'll feel
+safer if I know you are at hand."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, I'll be there," answered Dave,
+cheerfully, and the senator's son nodded to show
+that he agreed to the request. If both were bitterly
+disappointed at not being chosen to pitch
+and to catch at this last game they took good care
+not to show it.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as Link Merwell heard that Gus Plum
+had been put back on the regular nine, he commenced
+to lay plans to make trouble. Since Plum
+had given him the cold shoulder he hated Gus exceedingly.
+He thought he knew Plum's weak
+point, and he acted accordingly.</p>
+
+<p>By the request of the Rockville manager the final
+game of the series had been postponed from Saturday
+to the following Wednesday. On Thursday
+the students of Oak Hall were to have their final
+exercises, and on Friday school was to break up
+for the term. Many visitors had been invited to
+attend the exercises and some of them arrived in
+Oakdale the day before, so as to witness the ball
+game.</p>
+
+<p>Among the latter were Mr. Porter and Laura,
+Mr. Wadsworth and Jessie, and Mr. Lawrence
+and Senator Morr. They had already engaged
+rooms at the Oakdale hotel, and Dave, Phil, and
+Roger went there to meet them on the morning
+previous to the game. There was a general handshaking,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span>
+and then the students were asked a hundred
+and one questions about their studies, games,
+and school life generally.</p>
+
+<p>"It is too bad you are not to pitch, Dave," said
+his sister, when they were alone. "Why don't
+you get Phil to give you the place back?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because it wouldn't be fair, Laura. Purdy has
+as much right to pitch as I have."</p>
+
+<p>"But you are the better pitcher&mdash;Roger says
+so&mdash;and I heard so from Ben Basswood,&mdash;through
+a letter he wrote to his sister."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, maybe I'll get a chance to pitch a few
+innings&mdash;if Purdy breaks down. But I trust he
+doesn't break down&mdash;it's hard luck for any pitcher
+to do that."</p>
+
+<p>There was a pause, and Laura pulled her
+brother further into a corner, away from the
+others.</p>
+
+<p>"I want to speak to you about something," she
+continued in a low tone. "Do you know that Jessie
+got an awful letter about you?"</p>
+
+<p>"A letter? Who from?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know. It came from Oakdale and was
+signed A Friend. It said you were leading a fast
+life here&mdash;drinking and smoking and gambling."</p>
+
+<p>"It's false, Laura&mdash;I don't do any of those
+things."</p>
+
+<p>"I know that."</p>
+
+<p>"Did Jessie believe what the letter said?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"She didn't believe that part, but&mdash;the letter
+said something more."</p>
+
+<p>"What?"</p>
+
+<p>"In a postscript was written, 'You are being
+deceived by him, and he is also deceiving another
+girl, Vera Rockwell. If you don't believe it, come
+to Oakdale and find out.'"</p>
+
+<p>"And that was in a letter sent to Jessie?"
+Dave began to think rapidly. "Did she get that
+letter before she came here that other time?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes,&mdash;but she didn't let me know it then."</p>
+
+<p>"And was that why she was so&mdash;so put out
+when she saw me with Vera and Mary and Phil?"</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose so. You must remember, Dave, that
+Jessie is very sensitive&mdash;the loveliest girl I ever
+met,&mdash;and she looks upon you as her dearest
+friend. Getting that letter and then seeing you
+with Miss Rockwell&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"But Vera is nothing to me but a friend, Laura.
+Why, Roger thinks ten times more of her than I
+do. Just go and pump him about it. Why, to
+me Jessie is worth more than&mdash;than&mdash;anybody,
+outside of my sister, and you must let her know it,
+Laura." Dave paused. "That letter&mdash;has Jessie
+got it yet?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. She was going to burn it up after she
+showed it to me, but I told her not to do it, and I
+made her bring it along. Of course, she feels a
+delicacy about showing it to you&mdash;on account of
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span>
+the postscript&mdash;but I said you ought to have a
+chance of exposing the person who was trying to
+ruin your character."</p>
+
+<p>"I want to see the letter. I've got some idea
+already regarding the writer."</p>
+
+<p>"So have I!"</p>
+
+<p>"Link Merwell?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. Do you know he sent me an unsigned
+letter two days ago."</p>
+
+<p>"He did? I warned him not to send you anything,"
+and now Dave's face grew stern.</p>
+
+<p>"It was only a couple of lines in pencil, and
+said, 'If you want letters, come to Oakdale with
+twenty-five dollars.'"</p>
+
+<p>"The rascal! So he has sunk so low he wants
+to sell you the letters! I knew he was going to the
+bad, but I didn't think he was down as far as that.
+I hope you didn't bring the money."</p>
+
+<p>"But I did, Dave. I&mdash;I was afraid if I didn't
+he might&mdash;might read the letters to others and
+expose me to ridicule," and the girl's face grew
+crimson.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you give him a cent, Laura&mdash;not a cent.
+I'll get hold of him before the term breaks up&mdash;and
+I'll get those letters or know the reason why!"</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">DAVE TAKES THE LAW IN HIS OWN HANDS</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>A quarter of an hour later Dave and Jessie
+took a little walk up to the public park of Oakdale
+and, seated on a bench, they had a confidential
+talk lasting for some time. A great many things
+were said which need not be repeated here. When
+the talk was over Dave's heart felt lighter than
+it had for many weeks and Jessie's beautiful face
+shone with a happiness that had been missing for
+an equal length of time.</p>
+
+<p>"It was awful for that Merwell to send that
+letter," said Jessie. "Of course, Dave, you can
+be sure I didn't believe a word of it,&mdash;about your
+smoking and drinking and gambling."</p>
+
+<p>"I am fairly sure it is his handwriting," answered
+Dave. "He tried to disguise it, but a fellow
+can't always do that. I'll find out pretty quick&mdash;when
+I get back to the Hall."</p>
+
+<p>"And to think he acted so meanly toward
+Laura! He must be perfectly horrid!"</p>
+
+<p>"It's my opinion his days at Oak Hall are numbered,
+Jessie. I have heard the doctor has given
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span>
+him warning to mend his ways, but he doesn't seem
+to care. Well, if he won't do what is right he
+must take the consequences."</p>
+
+<p>Dave, Roger, and Phil had run down to Oakdale
+on their bicycles and now they had to return
+to the school&mdash;to get dinner and leave for the
+baseball grounds at Hilltop.</p>
+
+<p>"Let us go around by way of the Chedwick
+road," suggested the senator's son. "It's much
+better riding than on the main road and we can
+make better time."</p>
+
+<p>The others were willing, and off they sped at a
+speed which soon took them to the outskirts of the
+town. Then they came to a crossroad, on the
+corner of which was situated a roadhouse kept
+by a man named Rafferty. Rafferty's reputation
+was none of the best, and it was reported that the
+resort was used by many who wished to gamble.
+Doctor Clay had warned his pupils not to stop
+there under any circumstances.</p>
+
+<p>Phil and Roger were somewhat in advance of
+Dave, whose front tire was soft and needed pumping
+up. Passing the roadhouse, Dave came to a
+halt at the roadside.</p>
+
+<p>"Going to pump up!" he called out. "Go
+ahead&mdash;I'll catch up with you." And so the others
+went on, leaving him alone.</p>
+
+<p>He was at work with a small hand pump he carried
+when he heard a murmur of voices in the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span>
+bushes and trees back of the roadhouse. The
+murmur grew louder, and presently he made out
+the voices of Gus Plum and Link Merwell.</p>
+
+<p>"You're a fool, Gus, to act this way," Merwell
+was saying. "What's the use of being a softy?
+You are missing a whole lot of fun."</p>
+
+<p>"I tell you I'm not going to do it," answered
+Plum. "I guess I know what is best for me."</p>
+
+<p>"It won't hurt you to have one drink," went
+on Merwell. "Come on in, like a good fellow.
+I hate to drink alone. He's got some prime stuff.
+We've got lots of time to get back to the Hall in
+time for dinner."</p>
+
+<p>"No, I'm done with drinking&mdash;I told you that
+before, Link. Now stop it and let me go."</p>
+
+<p>"See here, Gus, you've got to go with me,"
+stormed Merwell, uglily. "I'll not have you giving
+me the cold shoulder. If you refuse to have
+just one drink, do you know what I'll do? I'll
+let Doctor Clay know about that other time&mdash;the
+time you went to the granary."</p>
+
+<p>"No! no!" pleaded Plum, and now his voice
+trembled. "Please don't do that!"</p>
+
+<p>"Ha! ha! that's where I've got you, haven't
+I? Now, will you take a drink with me, or not?"</p>
+
+<p>"I&mdash;I&mdash;I am afraid. Oh, Merwell, you know
+how it was before. I&mdash;I&mdash;&mdash;" Gus Plum broke
+down completely. "Please don't ask me; please
+don't!"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Of all the fools&mdash;&mdash;" began Link Merwell,
+and then stopped short as a heavy hand was suddenly
+laid on his shoulder. "Dave Porter!"</p>
+
+<p>"Merwell, I want to talk to you," said Dave,
+in a cold, hard tone that caused the big bully to
+start. "Come with me."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Dave&mdash;&mdash;" began Plum, and his face was
+red from confusion.</p>
+
+<p>"Let me do the talking&mdash;and acting, Gus."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you&mdash;er&mdash;hear what was said?"</p>
+
+<p>"I heard enough. Now, Merwell, come with
+me."</p>
+
+<p>"Where to?"</p>
+
+<p>"Away from this roadhouse."</p>
+
+<p>"What for?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell you that later."</p>
+
+<p>"Supposing I refuse to come?" Dave's manner
+began to make the bully feel uncomfortable.
+He felt that something very unusual was about to
+happen.</p>
+
+<p>"If you don't come, I'll make you."</p>
+
+<p>"Will you?" The bully tried to put a sneer
+in the question, but failed.</p>
+
+<p>"I will. Now, are you coming or not?" And
+Dave doubled up his fists and drew back his right
+arm.</p>
+
+<p>"Going to fight?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; I am going to give you the worst licking
+any boy at Oak Hall ever got."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Two can play at that game."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you coming or not, Merwell? This is
+your last chance to say yes."</p>
+
+<p>"No."</p>
+
+<p>Hardly had the word left the bully's lips when
+Dave leaped forward and sent in a crashing blow
+on Merwell's chin. The bully tried to dodge but
+failed, and went over on his back in some brushwood.
+For several moments he lay there dazed.</p>
+
+<p>"See here, I'll fix you!" he roared, as he struggled
+up. "If you want to fight&mdash;&mdash; Oh!"</p>
+
+<p>For again Dave had struck out, and this time the
+blow landed over the bully's left eye, and once
+more he went down in the bushes.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Dave&mdash;&mdash;" began Plum, but received a
+shove back.</p>
+
+<p>"Leave it all to me, Gus&mdash;I owe him this, and
+more. I'll tell you some of the reasons later."</p>
+
+<p>"But&mdash;but he'll give me away to Doctor Clay&mdash;he'll
+tell about my&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"No, he won't&mdash;not after I am through with
+him. And even if he should I can tell the doctor
+the truth&mdash;how he tempted you and even threatened
+you."</p>
+
+<p>Breathing heavily, Link Merwell arose a second
+time. He looked around for something with
+which to attack Dave, and his uninjured eye fell
+upon a stone lying close by. But as he stooped
+to pick it up, Dave gave him a shove that landed
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span>
+him on his face in the dirt. Then Dave leaped
+forward and sat down heavily on the bully's
+back.</p>
+
+<p>"Ough!" roared Merwell. "Let up! Do you
+want to break my ribs? Let up, I say!"</p>
+
+<p>"Will you do as I told you to?" demanded
+Dave, not budging from his position.</p>
+
+<p>"Where do you want me to go?"</p>
+
+<p>"Down into this woods a short distance&mdash;away
+from the roadhouse and the road."</p>
+
+<p>"What for?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'll tell you that when we get there."</p>
+
+<p>Fearing some of his ribs might be broken, Merwell
+said he would do as Dave desired, and the
+latter allowed him to rise, but kept a close watch
+on his every movement. Plum could now see that
+the boy from Crumville was in deadly earnest and
+felt it would be useless to talk or interfere, and so
+followed the two into the woods in silence. Dave
+brought Merwell to a halt in a little glade surrounded
+by hemlocks.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, sit down on that stone while I talk to
+you, Link Merwell," said Dave, pointing to a flat
+rock. "I shan't take long, but you'll find it to
+your interest to listen closely to every word I say."
+And with his handkerchief to the eye that was
+rapidly closing, the bully sat down.</p>
+
+<p>"In the past you've made a lot of trouble for
+me and my friends," commenced Dave. "You
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span>
+were in league with some others to play me foul at
+every opportunity. You sent a letter to Roger
+Morr about me, and another letter to Crumville,
+to a young lady friend of mine&mdash;and you also sent
+a letter to my sister." At these last words Merwell's
+hand went up unconsciously to his breast-pocket.
+"You have blackened my character all
+you possibly could. Now, if I wanted to, I could
+place you in the hands of the law. But instead, I
+am going to take it out of you."</p>
+
+<p>"Wha&mdash;what do you mean?" And the bully
+half arose to his feet.</p>
+
+<p>"I mean just what I say, Merwell. Sit down!"
+And Dave shoved the bully back on the rock.</p>
+
+<p>"I want you to know&mdash;&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Shut up!" And again Dave doubled up his
+fists. "I am not here to listen to you. I'll do the
+talking. Now to come to business. First of all,
+I want those letters."</p>
+
+<p>"What letters?"</p>
+
+<p>"You know well enough."</p>
+
+<p>"I haven't any letters with me."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you want to make it necessary for me to
+search you?"</p>
+
+<p>"You wouldn't dare, Porter!"</p>
+
+<p>"I shall dare. Now hand over those letters,
+and be quick about it!"</p>
+
+<p>Again Dave doubled up his fists and something
+like fire shone in his clear eyes. Merwell hesitated,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span>
+shivered, and slowly his hand went to his
+breast-pocket.</p>
+
+<p>"You'll rue this day!" he muttered, savagely.</p>
+
+<p>Slowly he drew from his pocket the letters Laura
+had so foolishly sent him. Dave snatched them
+from his grasp and looked them over swiftly, then
+stowed them away in his own pocket.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Merwell, I want you to promise by all
+you hold sacred not to say a word to anybody about
+Gus Plum's doings during the past term. For
+the honor of the school I think this matter ought
+to be kept secret."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll promise nothing."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, you will."</p>
+
+<p>Again were Dave's fists doubled up, and again
+that fire showed itself in his determined eyes.
+Merwell shivered&mdash;for once he felt himself utterly
+cornered and beaten.</p>
+
+<p>"All right, I promise," he said, in a low tone.</p>
+
+<p>"And you must also promise that in the future
+you will leave me and my friends alone."</p>
+
+<p>"Have your own way about it."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you promise?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"Then stand up."</p>
+
+<p>"What do you want next?" growled Merwell.
+He was feeling more uncomfortable every minute.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll show you," answered Dave, and leaping
+forward he caught the bully by the collar and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span>
+shook him as a dog might shake a rat. Then he
+cuffed the fellow right and left, gave him another
+shaking, and threw him down violently on the
+ground. Merwell did his best to resist, but Dave's
+muscles were at such a tension that Link was next
+to helpless in the other's grasp.</p>
+
+<p>"For two pins, I'd give you more!" cried Dave.
+"You deserve it. But I'll save the rest&mdash;in case
+you ever attempt to break the promises you've
+made."</p>
+
+<p>And then, taking Plum by the arm, he walked
+off, leaving Link Merwell on the ground, bruised
+and shaken, and as thoroughly cowed, for the time
+being, as a whipped cur.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h3><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI">CHAPTER XXXI</a>
+<br /><br />
+<span class="smaller">MORE VICTORIES&mdash;CONCLUSION</span></h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Once more Oak Hall and Rockville Academy
+were struggling to decide the championship. It
+was a clear day, and as before every nook and
+corner of the grand stand and bleachers was filled.
+In one spot were located the Porters, Jessie, Senator
+Morr, Mr. Lawrence, and many other friends.</p>
+
+<p>It was the beginning of the fifth inning and the
+score stood, Rockville 5, Oak Hall 3. Plum was
+again at first, but Dave and Roger were on the
+bench as substitutes.</p>
+
+<p>It had been a hard-fought battle from the first
+ball pitched. Each pitcher had been hit heavily,
+but good field work had kept the score from going
+higher. Shadow had made a phenomenal catch
+that had brought forth much applause, and Phil
+had brought in the third run when it looked almost
+certain that he would be put out.</p>
+
+<p>It was Oak Hall's turn at the bat, and they did
+their best to score. But with a man on second and
+another on first, their hopes faded, and they retired,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span>
+leaving the figures as before. Then Rockville
+took up the stick, and lined out two singles,
+a three-bagger, and another single before giving
+up, thus adding three to their tally.</p>
+
+<p>"That's the way to do it!"</p>
+
+<p>"Rockville is sure to take this game!"</p>
+
+<p>Messmer was next to the bat, but knocked a
+fly to center, and another player followed with a
+foul that was caught by the third baseman. Then
+Barloe, the catcher, who had made the first run,
+came up with his bat.</p>
+
+<p>"Hurrah for Barloe!" was the cry. "Make
+another this time!"</p>
+
+<p>In came the ball and the batsman tried to hit it
+and failed. Then the sphere came in a second
+time, and of a sudden Barloe uttered a moan and
+sank to the ground.</p>
+
+<p>"Barloe's hit! The ball took him under the
+ribs!"</p>
+
+<p>The report was true, and too weak to run the
+injured catcher was escorted to a bench, while
+Roger took his place at first. By good luck the
+senator's son brought the run in, and he was then
+asked to do the catching as of old, Barloe begging
+to be excused.</p>
+
+<p>With the runs piling up against him, Purdy was
+getting nervous, and in the seventh inning he
+seemed to go all to pieces, much to his own chagrin
+and the disappointment of his many friends. He
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span>
+allowed two singles, and then gave two men their
+base on balls, thus forcing in a run.</p>
+
+<p>"Wake up, Purdy! You'll have to do better
+than that!"</p>
+
+<p>"Dave Porter! Put Dave Porter in!"</p>
+
+<p>"That's it! Porter! Porter! Porter!"</p>
+
+<p>The cry was taken up on all sides, and Phil motioned
+for Purdy to retire and for Dave to come
+out.</p>
+
+<p>"It's too bad, Purdy, old man," whispered
+Dave, as he passed the rattled pitcher.</p>
+
+<p>"Fortune of war," was the grim and plucky
+answer. "I did my best. Go in and wax 'em!"</p>
+
+<p>Dave might have been nervous had he allowed
+himself to think of what was before him. The
+bases were filled and nobody was out. It was
+certainly a trying moment, to say the least. He
+took his place in the box and the umpire called
+out "Play!" Then the ball fairly streaked over
+the plate.</p>
+
+<p>"Strike one!"</p>
+
+<p>"Hurrah! that's the way to do it!"</p>
+
+<p>With the ball again in hand, Dave looked at
+the batter and then cast a swift glance toward
+third. Over to the base went the ball, and much
+to his surprise the runner was caught two feet off
+the bag.</p>
+
+<p>"Runner at third out!"</p>
+
+<p>What a cheering went up! All the Oak Hall
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span>
+supporters felt that Dave meant business, and their
+drooping spirits revived as if by magic.</p>
+
+<p>With care the pitcher delivered one ball after
+another&mdash;a drop, and then one that was as straight
+as it was swift. The batter was struck out, and
+another roar went up from the Oak Hall contingent.
+Laura waved her banner and Jessie her
+handkerchief.</p>
+
+<p>"Two out! Now, Porter, go after the third!"</p>
+
+<p>And Dave did go after the next batter. But
+the fellow was a good hitter and managed to find
+the ball. But no run came in, and the inning was
+saved.</p>
+
+<p>It was a victory in itself and many came up to
+shake Dave by the hand. But he waved them
+aside.</p>
+
+<p>"Hold on," he said. "The game isn't over
+yet&mdash;and please to remember the score is four to
+eight against us."</p>
+
+<p>In the eighth inning the Oak Hall nine managed
+to make two runs. In that inning Dave by clever
+work held the opposition down to one scratch hit
+which went for nothing, and received more applause.
+Then came the ninth inning, and in that
+Oak Hall tied the score, amid a yelling that could
+be heard a mile away. Even Doctor Clay was
+cheering, and in his enthusiasm Andrew Dale completely
+smashed the derby hat he wore.</p>
+
+<p>The tenth inning opened amid a breathless
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span>
+silence. Oak Hall did its best to score, but failed.
+Then Dave walked down to the box once again,
+and in a manner that was certainly wonderful
+struck out two men after one man had been caught
+out on a pop fly.</p>
+
+<p>Ten innings and still a tie. This was certainly
+a game worth seeing and nearly all the spectators
+were now on their feet, talking and shouting
+wildly.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, boys, we must do something!" cried
+Phil.</p>
+
+<p>Ben Basswood was at bat, and with two strikes
+called on him, Ben landed for a two-base hit. Then
+came a single, and taking a perilous chance Ben ran
+around and slid to the plate.</p>
+
+<p>"A run! A run!"</p>
+
+<p>"Now make it two!"</p>
+
+<p>But this was not to be, and Oak Hall retired
+one run "to the good," as Roger said.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, that's enough,&mdash;if we can hold them
+down in their half," said Plum. He had done
+some great work at first, of which he was correspondingly
+proud.</p>
+
+<p>All eyes were on Dave when he entered the
+pitcher's box for the last time. He felt as if he
+had the responsibility of the whole game on his
+shoulders. He pitched quickly, almost bewildering
+the batters. The first man up went out on
+strikes and the second knocked a short fly to third.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span>
+Then came a fellow named Parsons, the best hitter
+of the Rockville club.</p>
+
+<p>"Hurrah! Parsons, show 'em where the back
+fence is!"</p>
+
+<p>With two men out, Dave faced the batter. He
+sent in a low ball which Parsons tried to find&mdash;and
+failed. Then Parsons tried again&mdash;and
+failed. Then Dave sent in the swiftest ball yet
+pitched, giving it all the twist possible.</p>
+
+<p>"Three strikes&mdash;batter out!"</p>
+
+<p>And the game was won, and with it the championship
+of the two schools!</p>
+
+<p>"Beautiful! beautiful!" cried Doctor Clay,
+when he came down into the field to congratulate
+the club. "It was the best exhibition of ball-playing
+I've seen in a long time."</p>
+
+<p>And all the visitors to Oak Hall and many
+others agreed with him. Dave was the lion of the
+occasion, and his many friends nearly wrung his
+hand off. The other members of the nine also
+came in for a share of the praise. The Rockville
+boys felt their defeat keenly, but had to acknowledge
+that they had been beaten fairly.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as he could get away from his chums,
+Dave sought out Laura and Jessie.</p>
+
+<p>"I've got those letters," he whispered to Laura.
+"And I doubt if Link Merwell will ever trouble
+you again."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I am so thankful, Dave!" she answered.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span>
+"I'll never be so foolish again as to write letters
+to a person with whom I am not well acquainted."</p>
+
+<p>"It was grand, Dave!" cried Jessie. "It was
+the best victory that could be!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I am hoping for a greater to-morrow,"
+answered Dave, gravely.</p>
+
+<p>"You mean in school?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I trust with all my heart you have your
+wishes fulfilled," said the girl, and her eyes told
+that she meant what she said.</p>
+
+<p>That night late a report was whispered around
+the school that Link Merwell had gotten into serious
+trouble with Doctor Clay, and the report
+proved true. Angered by the way Dave had
+treated him, and by Plum's refusal to go with him,
+Link Merwell had not witnessed the ball game,
+but had gone to Rafferty's resort instead. Here
+he had smoked, drunk, and gambled, and ended
+by getting into a free fight with several men. One
+man told Horsehair of the trouble and the school
+driver reported at once to Doctor Clay. The doctor
+and Mr. Dale went after the misguided youth,
+and a scene followed which need not be mentioned
+here. The next day Link Merwell was ordered
+to pack his trunk and leave, and a telegram was
+sent to his father in the West stating that he had
+been expelled for violating the school rules. In
+his rage Merwell, before leaving, exposed the doings
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span>
+of both Gus Plum and Nat Poole. At once
+the doctor sent for Plum, and later he interviewed
+Poole.</p>
+
+<p>It was a trying time for Gus, and he broke down
+completely. He mentioned what Dave had done
+for him, and stated he was doing his best to reform.
+Learning of this, the master of the school
+called upon Dave to tell his story, and then the
+depths of Merwell's depravity came out. In the
+end the doctor said he would give Plum another
+chance to redeem himself, and for this the big
+youth was exceedingly grateful.</p>
+
+<p>For having told a falsehood about taking the
+boat from Bush Island, Nat Poole was given a
+severe lecture. He said he had wanted, several
+times, to explain to the doctor, but that Link Merwell
+had threatened to make it unpleasant for him
+if he did so. Because the joke had been directed
+against some of his fellow-students and not against
+Doctor Clay and Mr. Dale, Poole got off easier
+than might otherwise have been the case.</p>
+
+<p>The closing exercises of the school were well
+attended. Sixteen pupils were to graduate, including
+several who had been Dave's warm chums.
+Some of these boys stood high in their class and
+consequently walked off with some prizes.</p>
+
+<p>When the time came for the decision regarding
+the essays on The Past and Future of Our Country
+everybody was on the top-notch of expectation.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span>
+All the teachers had read the various papers
+handed in, and they had been the subject of many
+comments.</p>
+
+<p>"Because of the general excellence of seven of
+the essays," said Doctor Clay, "it has been somewhat
+difficult to pick out that which was the best.
+We have here a fine essay by Bertram Vane, another
+by Samuel Downs, another by Joseph Beggs,
+and others by Chipham Macklin, Giles Cadmore,
+and Devere Peterson. But there is one that seems
+to stand out above the others, both for its
+originality and its literary qualities. That essay
+takes the prize, and it is written by Master David
+Porter. Porter, will you please come forward and
+read your essay."</p>
+
+<p>As Dave walked to the platform a round of
+applause was given and when he bowed there was
+much hand-clapping. Then in a clear, full voice,
+he read the essay on which he had spent so much
+thought and labor. It was certainly a splendid
+piece of literary composition and was listened to
+with great pleasure by all. When he had finished
+Doctor Clay handed him the prize, and then the
+applause broke forth anew.</p>
+
+<p>"Another victory!" whispered Roger, as Dave
+passed to his seat.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, and the best of them all," was Dave's
+reply.</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately, the senator's son also won a prize,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span>
+and Phil came in the third from the highest in his
+class, while Shadow came in fifth and Ben Basswood
+sixth. Even Gus Plum made a good record,
+much to the pleasure of his parents, who had
+feared at one time he would turn out a ne'er-do-well.</p>
+
+<p>"Now the question is, What are we going to do
+during the summer vacation?" said Roger, after
+the exercises were over, and he and the others and
+their friends were indulging in refreshments on the
+campus.</p>
+
+<p>"I am going to Asbury Park with my folks,"
+said Luke Watson.</p>
+
+<p>"And I am going to Maine," added Messmer.
+"My uncle has a camp there. Henshaw is going
+with me, and so is Macklin."</p>
+
+<p>"I have an invitation for Dave," said Laura.
+"The Endicotts want me to come back to their
+ranch and bring my newly-found brother with me."</p>
+
+<p>"That's fine!" cried Phil. "I'd like to try
+ranch life myself just for a change."</p>
+
+<p>"The Endicotts' ranch is next to that owned
+by Merwell's father, so I have been told," added
+Roger. "Maybe if you go out there with Dave,
+you'll meet Link again."</p>
+
+<p>"I never want to see that fellow again," said
+Dave. But this wish was not to be fulfilled, as
+we shall learn in the next volume of this series, to
+be entitled, "Dave Porter at Star Ranch; or, The
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span>
+Cowboy's Secret." In that volume we shall meet
+many of our friends again, and learn what Link
+Merwell did when he and Dave met once more on
+the boundless prairies and in the mountain canyons.</p>
+
+<p>That evening the students held a grand celebration,
+which lasted far into the night. Bonfires
+were lit and the lads danced around and sang songs
+to their hearts' content. Shadow told half a dozen
+of his best stories, and two of the students distinguished
+themselves by giving all their schoolbooks
+to the flames. It was a time none of them
+ever forgot.</p>
+
+<p>"And now for home," said Dave, the next day.
+"Home, and the boundless West."</p>
+
+<p>And here let us leave him, and say good-by.</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<div class="transnote">
+
+<p id="transcriber_notes">Transcriber's Notes.</p>
+
+<p>1. Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as
+    possible.</p>
+
+<p>2. Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical
+    errors.</p>
+
+<p>3. The following 2 illustrations listed in the Index of Illustrations are missing
+   from the original book used to prepare this e-book:<br />
+&nbsp; &nbsp; 3.1. "The big snowball hit the craft and bowled it over," - Page 52.<br />
+&nbsp; &nbsp; 3.2. "Dave pointed out the form of the sleep-walker," - Page 164.</p>
+
+<p>4. The original Illustrations include the page number in the captions.
+   These have been removed as each page is numbered in the righthand margin.</p>
+</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="pg" />
+<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES***</p>
+<p>******* This file should be named 53414-h.htm or 53414-h.zip *******</p>
+<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br />
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+
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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Dave Porter and His Classmates, by Edward
+Stratemeyer, Illustrated by Charles Nuttall
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
+other parts of the world 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.  If you are not located in the United States, you'll have
+to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.
+
+
+
+
+Title: Dave Porter and His Classmates
+       For the Honor of Oak Hall
+
+
+Author: Edward Stratemeyer
+
+
+
+Release Date: October 30, 2016  [eBook #53414]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES***
+
+
+E-text prepared by David Edwards, Brian Wilsden, and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images
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+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+      file which includes the original illustrations.
+      See 53414-h.htm or 53414-h.zip:
+      (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/53414/53414-h/53414-h.htm)
+      or
+      (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/53414/53414-h.zip)
+
+
+      Images of the original pages are available through
+      Internet Archive. See
+      https://archive.org/details/daveporterhiscla00straiala
+
+
+Transcriber's note:
+
+      Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
+
+
+
+
+
+DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES
+
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+EDWARD STRATEMEYER'S BOOKS
+
+
+Old Glory Series
+
+_Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume._
+
+  UNDER DEWEY AT MANILA.      UNDER OTIS IN THE PHILIPPINES.
+  A YOUNG VOLUNTEER IN CUBA.  THE CAMPAIGN OF THE JUNGLE.
+  FIGHTING IN CUBAN WATERS.   UNDER MacARTHUR IN LUZON.
+
+Soldiers of Fortune Series
+
+_Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume._
+
+  ON TO PEKIN.                AT THE FALL OF PORT ARTHUR.
+  UNDER THE MIKADO'S FLAG.    WITH TOGO FOR JAPAN.
+
+Colonial Series
+
+_Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume._
+
+  WITH WASHINGTON IN THE WEST.   ON THE TRAIL OF PONTIAC.
+  MARCHING ON NIAGARA.           THE FORT IN THE WILDERNESS.
+  AT THE FALL OF MONTREAL.       TRAIL AND TRADING POST.
+
+Mexican War Series
+
+_Cloth. Illustrated. Price Per volume $1.00._
+
+  FOR THE LIBERTY OF TEXAS.  WITH TAYLOR ON THE RIO GRANDE.
+                 UNDER SCOTT IN MEXICO.
+
+Pan-American Series
+
+_Cloth. Illustrated. Price per volume $1.00._
+
+  LOST ON THE ORINOCO.              YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE AMAZON.
+  THE YOUNG VOLCANO EXPLORERS.      TREASURE SEEKERS OF THE ANDES.
+  YOUNG EXPLORERS OF THE ISTHMUS.   CHASED ACROSS THE PAMPAS.
+
+Dave Porter Series
+
+_Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume._
+
+  DAVE PORTER AT OAK HALL.        DAVE PORTER ON CAVE ISLAND.
+  DAVE PORTER IN THE SOUTH SEAS.  DAVE PORTER AND THE RUNAWAYS.
+  DAVE PORTER'S RETURN TO SCHOOL. DAVE PORTER IN THE GOLD FIELDS.
+  DAVE PORTER IN THE FAR NORTH.   DAVE PORTER AT BEAR CAMP.
+  DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES. DAVE PORTER AND HIS DOUBLE.
+  DAVE PORTER AT STAR RANCH.      DAVE PORTER'S GREAT SEARCH.
+  DAVE PORTER AND HIS RIVALS.     DAVE PORTER UNDER FIRE.
+                  DAVE PORTER'S WAR HONORS.
+
+Lakeport Series
+
+_Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume._
+
+  THE GUN CLUB BOYS OF LAKEPORT.   THE FOOTBALL BOYS OF LAKEPORT.
+  THE BASEBALL BOYS OF LAKEPORT.   THE AUTOMOBILE BOYS OF LAKEPORT.
+  THE BOAT CLUB BOYS OF LAKEPORT.  THE AIRCRAFT BOYS OF LAKEPORT.
+
+American Boys' Biographical Series
+
+_Cloth. Illustrated. Net $1.75 per volume._
+
+  AMERICAN BOYS' LIFE OF WILLIAM McKINLEY.
+  AMERICAN BOYS' LIFE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
+
+DEFENDING HIS FLAG. _Price $1.75._
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+
+[Illustration: THE BIG TOURING CAR SHOT PAST THE CARRYALL.--_Page
+249._]
+
+
+Dave Porter Series
+
+DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES
+
+Or
+
+For the Honor of Oak Hall
+
+by
+
+EDWARD STRATEMEYER
+
+Author of "Dave Porter at Oak Hall," "The Old Glory Series,"
+"Colonial Series," "Pan-American Series,"
+"Soldiers of Fortune Series," etc.
+
+Illustrated by Charles Nuttall_
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[ILLUSTRATION]
+
+Boston
+Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co.
+
+Published, March, 1909
+
+Copyright, 1909, by Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co.
+
+All rights reserved
+
+DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES
+
+Norwood Press
+Berwick & Smith Co.
+Norwood, Mass.
+U. S. A.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+
+"Dave Porter and His Classmates" is a complete story in itself, but
+forms the fifth volume in a line issued under the general title of
+"Dave Porter Series."
+
+The first book of this series, "Dave Porter at Oak Hall," introduced to
+the reader a typical American youth of to-day, full of vim and vigor,
+and with a true sense of manliness, and related the particulars of some
+doings at a modern boarding school. At this institution of learning
+Dave, by pluck and perseverance, fought his way to the front, and was
+admired accordingly.
+
+There was a cloud on the youth's parentage, and in order to clear this
+away he took a long and eventful sea voyage, as related in the second
+volume of the series, called "Dave Porter in the South Seas." Thousands
+of miles from home he found an uncle and learned something of his
+father and sister, who were then traveling in Europe.
+
+As was but natural, the lad was anxious to meet all his relatives,
+but the address of his father and sister could not be obtained, and
+while waiting for this he returned to Oak Hall, as related in the next
+volume, entitled "Dave Porter's Return to School." At school Dave lived
+a truly strenuous life, becoming innocently involved in some robberies,
+aiding to win some great football games, and helping to bring the bully
+of the academy to a realization of his better self.
+
+In the midst of his school life Dave learned that his father had been
+heard from. More anxious than ever to meet his parent he, in company
+with an old chum, set sail for England, and then went to Norway, as
+related in "Dave Porter in the Far North." Here, amid the ice and snow
+of the Land of the Midnight Sun, Dave found his father, and learned
+much of his sister, which filled him with great satisfaction.
+
+It was now time for the youth to return to school, and in the present
+volume I have related some of the things that took place at Oak Hall
+after Dave got back,--how he worked hard, played hard, overcame his
+enemies, and what he did for the honor of the academy.
+
+Once more I thank the young people for the interest they have shown in
+my books. I trust that the reading of the present volume will do them
+much good.
+
+  EDWARD STRATEMEYER.
+
+_February 1, 1909_
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+  CHAPTER                                         PAGE
+
+  I.      DAVE AND HIS PAST                          1
+
+  II.     WHAT LAURA HAD TO TELL                    11
+
+  III.    ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL                      21
+
+  IV.     THE FUN OF A NIGHT                        31
+
+  V.      WHAT HAPPENED TO NAT POOLE                41
+
+  VI.     WHAT A BIG SNOWBALL DID                   51
+
+  VII.    PRISONERS IN THE SCHOOL                   61
+
+  VIII.   A MOVE IN THE DARK                        71
+
+  IX.     VERA ROCKWELL                             81
+
+  X.      DAVE SPEAKS HIS MIND                      91
+
+  XI.     AT THE OLD GRANARY                       101
+
+  XII.    GUS PLUM'S STORY                         111
+
+  XIII.   THE GEE EYES' INITIATION                 121
+
+  XIV.    IN WHICH JOB HASKERS GETS
+          LEFT IN THE COLD                         131
+
+  XV.     WHAT MIKE MARCY HAD TO TELL              141
+
+  XVI.    SOMETHING ABOUT LESSONS                  151
+
+  XVII.   SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL                  161
+
+  XVIII.  THE BOXING BOUT                          171
+
+  XIX.    AT THE EXPRESS OFFICE                    181
+
+  XX.     A MISUNDERSTANDING                       191
+
+  XXI.    IN WHICH THE BOYS GIVE AN
+          ENTERTAINMENT                            201
+
+  XXII.   FORMING THE BASEBALL CLUB                211
+
+  XXIII.  A GREAT VICTORY                          221
+
+  XXIV.   ON BUSH ISLAND                           231
+
+  XXV.    WHAT AN AUTOMOBILE DID                   241
+
+  XXVI.   A DEFEAT FOR OAK HALL                    250
+
+  XXVII.  STUCK ON A SANDBAR                       260
+
+  XXVIII. LINK MERWELL HAS HIS SAY                 270
+
+  XXIX.   DAVE MAKES UP HIS MIND                   280
+
+  XXX.    DAVE TAKES THE LAW IN HIS OWN HANDS      289
+
+  XXXI.   MORE VICTORIES--CONCLUSION               298
+
+
+
+
+ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+  The big touring car shot past the
+  carryall (page 249)                                  _Frontispiece_
+                                                                 PAGE
+
+  The big snowball hit the craft and bowled it over, (_missing_)   52
+
+  "It's a shame to make you eat without a fork, Phil"              74
+
+  "Now to Jackson's Gully with him!"                              124
+
+  Dave pointed out the form of the sleep-walker, (_missing_)      164
+
+  Down went the back part, letting him fall
+  most unexpectedly                                               208
+
+  "Well, you can row if you want to," sneered Poole               232
+
+  Raising his oar, he hit the bully a blow on the shoulder        274
+
+
+
+
+DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+DAVE AND HIS PAST
+
+
+"I suppose you feel very happy to-day, Dave."
+
+"Yes, Roger, happy and anxious," answered Dave Porter. "And who
+wouldn't feel so if he was in my place? Just think of it! I am to see
+my sister at last--somebody I've never seen before in my life! Why,
+sometimes I have to pinch myself to make certain I am really awake."
+
+"More than likely Laura is just as anxious as you are," went on Roger
+Morr. "She'll surely want to know how her long-missing brother looks.
+Remember, she hasn't had a photograph of you, while you have seen
+several of her."
+
+"That is so," answered Dave. His usually smiling face took on a serious
+look. "I trust she isn't disappointed in me or my looks."
+
+"Oh, she won't be, don't worry about that. You're a good-looking
+fellow, even if I do have to say it for you, Dave. If you don't believe
+it, just ask Jessie Wadsworth." And Roger Morr began to grin. "I know
+Jessie will say at once that you are the dearest, sweetest----"
+
+"Come now, Roger, let up!" interrupted Dave, growing red in the face.
+"Supposing Jessie should hear you?" And he looked anxiously toward the
+sitting-room door, which was partly open.
+
+"There is no harm in telling the truth," returned Roger, with a
+calmness that made Dave blush still more. "But joking aside, Dave, I
+really hope this day proves to be the happiest of your life, and Laura
+turns out to be the jolliest of sisters."
+
+"Hello, in there!" came a pleasant, boyish voice from the doorway, and
+a youth showed himself, with a pair of bright, nickel-plated skates on
+his arm. "Thought you were going skating, Roger?"
+
+"So I am, Phil. I just stopped to speak to Dave for a moment. He is
+going off now to meet his sister."
+
+"Oh!" Phil Lawrence came into the room and faced his chum. "Well,
+I can't say any more than what I've said before, Dave--I wish you
+the best of luck. I am sure you'll find it awfully nice to have a
+sister--especially after what you've had to put up with in the past."
+
+"Don't you fellows really want to go with me?" asked Dave.
+
+"Of course we do, but---- Well, Roger and I talked it over and we--that
+is--well, we thought it would be nice to let you go with your father
+and uncle--kind of family gathering, you know. We'll be on hand by the
+time you get back to the house."
+
+At that moment the merry jingle of sleighbells sounded from outside the
+mansion and a comfortable two-seated sleigh came up to the door, driven
+by one of the men from the barn.
+
+"There is your turnout ready for you!" cried Roger. "What time does
+that Western train get in?"
+
+"Ten-twenty, if it's on time," replied Dave promptly, for he had the
+time-table well in mind. "But the snowstorm may have delayed it."
+
+"Well, I hope for your sake the train is on time," said Phil Lawrence.
+"If it isn't, I suppose every minute's delay will seem like an hour to
+you."
+
+"More like two," answered Dave, and then, as he heard his father
+calling to him, he hurried out into the hall. There stood Mr. David
+Porter and his brother Dunston, both ready for the long drive to the
+depot. Behind the pair were a lady and gentleman of middle age, Mr. and
+Mrs. Wadsworth, and their daughter Jessie, while in the library door,
+holding a ponderous volume on botany in his hands, was an elderly man
+with white hair, Caspar Potts.
+
+All of the party looked at Dave, for they knew what was in the youth's
+mind and what was on his heart. He had waited a long, long time for
+this day to come, and now he was a little timid about the result; why,
+he could not exactly tell. Perhaps because he had pictured his sister
+Laura to be one kind of a person and he was afraid she might prove
+something different.
+
+"We mustn't be late," said Mr. Porter, breaking a momentary silence.
+He, too, was anxious over the coming meeting of son and daughter. It
+made his heart bound with pleasure to think that his little family were
+to be united at last.
+
+"Remember, dinner will be waiting for you, no matter if the train is
+late," said Mrs. Wadsworth.
+
+"And I'm to sit on one side of Laura and Dave on the other," put in
+Jessie, flinging back her curls that insisted at times on falling about
+her face. "Oh, won't it be glorious, Dave! I know I am going to love
+Laura, and I know she is going to love me--at least, I hope so."
+
+Dave looked at her and smiled--he thought a great deal of Jessie, he
+simply couldn't help it. Then he turned and followed his father and
+Uncle Dunston down to the sleigh. The three got in and Mr. Porter took
+up the reins. A word to the stylish team and off they sped, through the
+spacious grounds of the Wadsworth mansion and down the road leading to
+the railroad station.
+
+Dave wanted to talk to his father and uncle, but somehow his heart was
+too full and the words would not come. His whole mind was centered upon
+meeting his sister, whom, so far as he could remember, he had never
+seen. He did not dream of the unexpected news Laura would bring him.
+
+To those who have read the former volumes of this "Dave Porter Series,"
+the characters already mentioned will need no special introduction.
+For the benefit of others let me state that Dave Porter was a youth
+who had had a varied experience in life. When a small boy he had been
+found wandering along the railroad tracks just outside of the village
+of Crumville. Nobody knew who he was or where he came from, and as a
+consequence he was put in the local poorhouse, where he remained until
+about nine years old. Then an old college professor, Caspar Potts, who
+on account of broken health had taken up farming, took the boy to live
+with him.
+
+Caspar Potts meant well, but he got in the grasp of a money-lender,
+Aaron Poole, as related in detail in my first story, called "Dave
+Porter at Oak Hall." Times looked exceedingly black for the old man and
+for Dave when there came a happening which turned the whole aspect of
+affairs.
+
+In an elegant mansion of the outskirts of the town lived Mr. Oliver
+Wadsworth, a rich manufacturer, with his wife and daughter Jessie, the
+latter a beautiful miss some years younger than Dave. One day Dave
+called at the mansion on business. Jessie was waiting for an automobile
+ride, and through an accident to the gasoline tank of the car the
+girl's clothing took fire, and she might have been burned to death had
+not Dave rushed to her assistance and put out the flames.
+
+Of course the Wadsworths were exceedingly grateful, and when the
+gentleman of the place learned that Caspar Potts was one of his old
+college professors he at once interested himself in the old man's
+behalf.
+
+"You must come and live with me," he said. "You can do some work around
+the place and in arranging my library--and you must bring the boy with
+you." He had had a son who had died, and Dave reminded him strongly of
+that offspring.
+
+At the Wadsworth home Dave made himself a great favorite, and he and
+Jessie became the closest of friends. The rich manufacturer wanted the
+lad to have a good education, and so he was sent off to Oak Hall, a
+fine institution of learning. With Dave went Ben Basswood, a youth of
+Crumville who had been the poorhouse lad's chum for some years.
+
+At Oak Hall, Dave proved himself a leader in many sports, and as a
+consequence he gained a host of friends, including Roger Morr, the
+son of a United States senator, and Phil Lawrence, the offspring of a
+wealthy shipowner. He also made several enemies, not the least of whom
+was Nat Poole, the son of the money-lender who had caused Caspar Potts
+so much worry.
+
+One day Dave's enemies raised the cry of "poorhouse nobody" against
+him. This cut the high-spirited lad to the quick. A fight ensued, in
+which Dave was victorious, and then the boy resolved, at any cost, to
+solve the mystery of his parentage.
+
+How this was accomplished has been related in detail in "Dave Porter
+in the South Seas." With information obtained from an old sailor the
+youth journeyed almost half around the world, and there fell in with
+his uncle, Dunston Porter, who gave him much information concerning his
+father, David Breslow Porter, and also about his sister Laura, one year
+younger than himself, and told how the family had become separated.
+
+Happy in the knowledge that he was no longer a "poorhouse nobody," but
+a well-to-do lad with a large sum of money coming to him when he should
+be of age, Dave returned to the United States. His father and sister
+were in Europe, and while waiting to hear from them he went back to Oak
+Hall, as told in "Dave Porter's Return to School." Here he made many
+more friends. His enemies could no longer twit him about his parentage,
+yet some of them, notably a fellow named Jasniff and Nat Poole, and a
+bully named Gus Plum, did what they could to torment him. Plum, when
+Dave did him a great service, tried to reform, but Jasniff, who was a
+hot-tempered fellow, attempted to strike Dave down with a heavy Indian
+club. This was a dastardly attack, roundly condemned by those who saw
+it, and fearful of what might follow, Nick Jasniff ran away from school
+and set sail for England.
+
+Dave had waited long to hear from his father and sister, and at last
+when he learned that Jasniff had met them in London, he resolved to
+go in quest of them, although he did not yet have their address. In
+company with Roger Morr he crossed the Atlantic, only to find that his
+parent had joined an expedition for the upper part of Norway. How he
+and his chum journeyed to the land of the Midnight Sun has been told
+in all its particulars in "Dave Porter in the Far North." Here Dave
+at last met his father face to face,--a joyous reunion no words can
+express. Then the boy learned that his sister Laura had gone to the
+United States some time before, in company with some friends named
+Endicott, who owned a ranch in the Far West.
+
+"We must telegraph at once for Laura," said Mr. Porter, and several
+telegrams were sent without delay, and, as a consequence, word came
+back that Laura would come as fast as the overland express could bring
+her.
+
+When Dave's friends heard the good news that he had found his father
+some of them came to the Wadsworth home to congratulate him. Among the
+number was Phil Lawrence, and he and Roger were invited to remain with
+Dave until the latter returned to Oak Hall.
+
+"You can all go back together--after Dave has seen his sister," said
+Mr. Porter. "I will fix it up with Doctor Clay, so you won't have
+any trouble over staying out of school a week longer." And so it was
+arranged.
+
+Just before leaving school for his trip to Europe Dave had had a
+bitter quarrel with Nat Poole and a new student at Oak Hall named Link
+Merwell. Merwell was an aggressive fellow, tall and powerful, the son
+of a cattle-owner of the West. His taunting remarks to Dave had led to
+a fight in which the cattle-owner's son had gotten the worse of it.
+
+"I'll get square for this," Link Merwell had said to his crony. "I'll
+make Dave Porter eat humble pie before I am done with him." Then had
+come another quarrel between the Western boy and Mr. Dale, the head
+assistant teacher, and Merwell had come close to being expelled. He had
+gone home for a vacation, stating that he believed Phil Lawrence had
+gotten him into "the mess," as he expressed it, and he had added that
+he would not forgive either Dave or Phil as long as he lived.
+
+"Well, what did you do?" questioned Dave, when he and the shipowner's
+son talked this affair over.
+
+"I didn't do anything," answered Phil. "Merwell wanted me to say that
+he hadn't gone out one night when I knew he did go out. I refused,
+and then he was found out. Oh, but wasn't he mad when he left on his
+vacation! He pounded his fist on a desk and vowed he'd fix me as soon
+as he got back,--and then he added that he'd fix you, too, as soon as
+you got back."
+
+"Mighty interesting," said Dave. "We'll have to watch him and see what
+comes of it." And there the subject was dropped. But it was to come up
+very soon again, and in a manner not anticipated.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+WHAT LAURA HAD TO TELL
+
+
+The train was nearly an hour late, and during that time Dave walked
+impatiently up and down the railroad platform. Occasionally he thought
+of school matters, and his friends and enemies, but most of the time
+his mind was on his sister. His father and his uncle talked together
+and did not interrupt his meditations.
+
+At last a far-away whistle proclaimed the coming of the Western
+express, and Dave's face took on a more eager look than ever. His
+father gazed into his clear eyes and caught him by the arm.
+
+"I trust with all my heart you find Laura all you desire," he said in
+a low tone, and Dave nodded, for his throat was so choked up that he
+could not speak.
+
+The long train rolled in and the passengers for Crumville began to
+alight. "There she is!" cried Dunston Porter and ran forward, with his
+brother and Dave at his heels. A mist seemed to come over the boy's
+eyes and his heart thumped furiously. Then he saw a tall girl standing
+before him, her eyes looking deeply into his own.
+
+"Laura, this is Dave," he heard his father say. Then the girl came
+closer, reached out her arms, and in a moment more brother and sister
+were locked in the closest of embraces. It was such a moment Dave had
+longed for--prayed for--and all on the instant he knew that Laura was
+what he had hoped she would be and that they should love each other
+with the sweetest of sisterly and brotherly love as long as they lived.
+
+Laura was handsome rather than pretty. She had an aristocratic air
+which had come down to her from her mother and grandmother. She was
+stately in her movements and her voice charmed Dave the moment he heard
+it.
+
+"Just to think, you are really and truly my brother!" she exclaimed.
+"Isn't it wonderful!"
+
+"It's wonderful for me to find a sister--and a father," answered Dave.
+"Sometimes I am afraid I'll wake up and find it all a dream."
+
+"When I got papa's telegram I thought it was a dream. One of the
+cowboys on the ranch brought it over from the railroad station. At
+first I thought there must be some mistake, but Mr. Endicott said there
+couldn't be, and so I arranged to come east at once. A gentleman and
+his wife, who had been stopping at the ranch, came with me as far as
+Buffalo. Oh, I really couldn't get here fast enough! Did you get the
+telegram I sent from Chicago?"
+
+"Yes," answered her father. "And the one from the ranch, too."
+
+"I want to hear the whole of the wonderful story just as soon as
+possible," continued Laura. "I promised Belle Endicott I'd send her the
+particulars, for she is dying to know. Belle is my friend, you know.
+Her father is a railroad president, but he owns that ranch, too, and
+they go out there whenever they feel like it, winter or summer. Belle
+said she'd rather read my next letter than a story book." And Laura
+smiled brightly.
+
+"And I shall want to hear all about you and your travels," answered
+Dave. "Oh, I guess we'll have enough to talk about to last a week."
+
+The party of four were soon in the sleigh, with Laura and Dave on the
+front seat. The youth showed how he could handle the team, and in a
+short while drove up to the stepping-stone of the Wadsworth mansion. At
+once there was a rush from within, and the girl was introduced to those
+who had in the past done so much for her brother, and those who were
+Dave's chums. Jessie was a trifle shy at first, but this presently wore
+away, and when Laura heard what the Wadsworths had done for her brother
+she speedily took mother and daughter to her heart, and Jessie and she
+became the best of friends.
+
+It was assuredly a grand gathering around the bountiful table which the
+Wadsworths had supplied, and all lingered long, listening to what the
+various members of the Porter family had to tell: of Dave's doings on
+the Potts farm, at school, and in quest of his relatives; of Dunston
+Porter's treasure hunt in the South Seas; of Mr. David Porter's trip
+to Europe with Laura; and of the girl's adventures on the ranch and
+elsewhere.
+
+"Strange as it may seem, I have met two boys who knew Dave," said
+Laura, during the course of the conversation. "One was that scamp, Nick
+Jasniff, who tried to make himself agreeable in London."
+
+"Yes, I know about him," answered Dave. "But who was the other?"
+
+"The other is the son of the man who owns the cattle ranch next to Mr.
+Endicott's, Mr. Felix Merwell."
+
+"Merwell!" cried Dave, Roger, and Phil in a breath.
+
+"Yes. Why do you look so astonished?"
+
+"Do you mean Link Merwell's father?" asked her brother.
+
+"Yes. Link came out there just a few days before I started for the
+East. He seemed to be a nice sort, and he is one of the best horseback
+riders I ever saw."
+
+"Did you--er--go out with him?" stammered Dave.
+
+"Yes, twice, but not alone--Belle was along." Laura looked at her
+brother, whose face was a study. "What makes you look so queer? You
+know Mr. Merwell, don't you?"
+
+"Oh, yes, we know him," answered Phil, before Dave could speak.
+
+"We'd like to know less of him," added Roger.
+
+"Oh!" And now Laura's face showed her wonder.
+
+"You see, it's this way," continued the senator's son, thinking it
+might be difficult for Dave to explain. "Link Merwell tried to lord it
+over a lot of us fellows at Oak Hall. He's a domineering chap, and some
+of us wouldn't stand for it. I gave him a piece of my mind once, and so
+did Phil, and Dave did more--gave him a sound thrashing."
+
+"Oh, Dave, did you really!" Laura's face showed her distress. "Why,
+I--I thought he was nice enough. Maybe it was only a boyish quarrel,"
+she added, hopefully. "I know boys do fight sometimes with hardly a
+reason for it."
+
+"Dave had a good reason for hitting Merwell," said Phil. "The best
+reason in the world." He looked at Jessie and Mrs. Wadsworth and the
+others. "I'll not spoil this gathering by saying what it was. But it
+was something very mean, and Merwell deserved the drubbing he got."
+
+"Oh, I am so sorry! That is, I don't mean I am sorry Dave thrashed
+him--if he deserved it--but I am sorry that I--I went out with him, and
+that I--I started a correspondence with him. I thought he was nice, by
+his general looks."
+
+"Oh, he can make himself look well, when he dresses up," said Roger.
+"And he can act the gentleman on the outside. But if you get to know
+him thoroughly you'll find him a different sort."
+
+"I don't wish to know him if he's that kind," answered Laura, quickly.
+"But I thought he was all right, especially as he was the son of the
+owner of the next ranch. I am sorry now I ever spoke to him."
+
+"And you have been writing to him?" asked Dave. "I thought you said you
+had met him only a few days before you came away?"
+
+"So I did. But he wanted me to buy something for him in Chicago--a lens
+for his camera, and asked me to write from there, and I did. And, just
+for fun, I sent him two letters I wrote on the train--along with some
+letters to Belle and some other folks I know. I did it to pass the
+time,--so I wouldn't know how long it was taking me to get here. It was
+foolish to do so, and it will teach me a lesson to be careful about
+writing in the future."
+
+"I'm sorry you wrote to him," answered Dave, soberly. But how sorry he
+was to be, and how distressed his sister was to become, he was still to
+learn.
+
+Not further to mar the joy of the occasion Link Merwell's name was
+dropped, and Roger and Phil told of some funny initiations into the
+secret society at Oak Hall, which set everybody to laughing, and then
+Dunston Porter related the particulars of a hunt after bears he had
+once made in the Rockies. Thus the afternoon and evening wore away
+swiftly and all too soon it was time to retire. Laura was given a room
+next to that occupied by Dave, and long after the rest of the house was
+quiet brother and sister sat by a window, looking out at the moonlight
+on the snow and discussing the past.
+
+"You look very much like father," said Laura, "and much like Uncle
+Dunston, too. No wonder that old sailor, Billy Dill, thought he had
+seen you when he only saw Uncle Dunston."
+
+"And father tells me you look like mother," answered Dave, softly. "I
+do not remember her, but if she looked like you she must have been
+very handsome," and Dave smiled and brushed a stray lock back from his
+sister's brow.
+
+"It is too bad she cannot see us now, Dave--how happy it would make
+her! I have missed her so much--it is no easy thing to get along
+without a mother's care, is it?--or a father's care, either. Perhaps
+if mamma were alive I'd be different in some things. I shouldn't be so
+careless in what I do--in making friends with that Link Merwell, for
+instance, and sending him letters." Laura looked genuinely distressed
+as she uttered the last words.
+
+"Well, you didn't know him, so you are not to blame. But I shouldn't
+send him any more letters."
+
+"You can depend upon it I won't."
+
+"He is the kind who would laugh at you for doing it, and make fun of
+you to all his friends."
+
+"He'll not get another line from me, and if he writes I'll return the
+letters," answered Laura, firmly.
+
+"Did he say when he was going back to Oak Hall?"
+
+"Inside of two weeks. He said he had had a little trouble with a
+teacher, and the master of the school had advised him to take a short
+vacation and give the matter a chance to blow over."
+
+Laura had arrived at Crumville on Thursday, and it was decided that
+Dave, Roger, and Phil should not return to Oak Hall until the following
+Monday. On Friday and Saturday the young folks went sleighing and
+skating, Jessie being one of the party, and on Sunday the entire
+household attended church. It was a service into which Dave entered
+with all his heart, and he thanked God from the bottom of his soul
+that at last his sister, as well as his father and his uncle, had been
+restored to him.
+
+"After I go back to boarding school where are you and Laura and Uncle
+Dunston going to stay?" questioned Dave of his father.
+
+Mr. Porter smiled faintly. "I have a little secret about that, Dave,"
+he answered. "I'll tell you later--after everything is ripe."
+
+"I know the Wadsworths would hate to have me leave them--and Professor
+Potts won't want me to go either."
+
+"Well, you wait, Dave,--and see what comes," answered his father; and
+with this the lad had to be content.
+
+Bright and early Monday morning the three boys had breakfast and
+started for the depot, to take the train for Oakdale, the nearest town
+to Oak Hall. Laura, Jessie, and Mr. David Porter went along to see them
+off.
+
+"Now, Dave, I want to see you make the most of this term at school,"
+said Mr. Porter. "Now you have Laura and me, you won't have so much to
+worry about."
+
+"I'll do my level best, father," he answered. "We want you to come out
+at the top of the class," said Laura.
+
+"And Dave can do it too--I know he can," remarked Jessie, and gave him
+a sunny smile of encouragement.
+
+"How about us poor chaps?" asked Roger. "Can't we come in somewhere?"
+
+"Yes, you must come in right after Dave," answered Laura, and this made
+everybody laugh.
+
+"The higher we get in school the harder the work becomes," came from
+Phil. "But I am going to peg away at it--provided the other fellows
+will let me."
+
+"Phil always was very studious," said Dave, with an old-time grin
+spreading over his face. "He'd rather study a problem in geometry or
+translate Latin than read a story book or play baseball; wouldn't you,
+Phil?"
+
+"Not much! and you know it. But if a fellow has got to grind, why----"
+
+"He can grind--and play baseball, too," added Mr. Porter. "My parting
+advice is: when you study, study for all you are worth, and when you
+play, play for all you are worth."
+
+"Here comes the train!" cried Laura, and turning, she kissed her
+brother. "Good-bye, Roger; good-bye, Phil!"
+
+"Good-bye!" came from the others, and a general handshaking followed.
+Then the three chums ran for the train, got aboard, and were off for
+school once more.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL
+
+
+"There is one thing I've forgotten to mention to you," said Phil, as
+the train rolled on its way and Crumville was left far behind. "That
+is that this term Doctor Clay has offered a special set of prizes to
+the students standing highest in various subjects. There is a prize
+for history, another for Latin, and a third for English literature
+and theme-writing. In addition there is to be a special prize for the
+student who can write the best paper on 'The Past and Future of our
+Country.' This last contest is open only to those who stand above the
+eighty per cent. level in their classes."
+
+"That's interesting," answered Dave. "How many reach that level, do you
+think, Phil?"
+
+"Not more than thirty all told, and of those I don't believe more than
+twenty will send in papers."
+
+"Dave, you ought to try," said Roger. "You were always good at
+composition."
+
+"So are you, Roger."
+
+"I'm not as good as you, and I know it. I like history more than
+anything else, and I guess I'll try for that prize."
+
+"Well, what is the past of our country but history?" continued Dave,
+with a smile.
+
+"That part might be easy; but what of the future? I'm no good at
+prophesying."
+
+"Oh, couldn't you speak of the recent inventions and of what is
+coming--marvelous submarine boats, airships, wireless telegraphy,
+wonderful cures by means of up-to-date surgery, and then of the big
+cities of the West, of the new railroads stretching out everywhere, and
+of the fast ocean liners, and the Panama Canal, and the irrigation of
+the Western dry lands, and----"
+
+"Hold on, Dave!" cried Phil. "You are giving Roger all your ammunition.
+Put that in your own paper."
+
+"Oh, there's a whole lot more," was the smiling answer. "The thirty-and
+forty-storied buildings in our big cities, the underground railways,
+the tubes under the rivers, the tremendous suspension bridges, the
+automobile carriages and business trucks,--not to mention the railroad
+trains that are to run on one rail at a speed of a hundred miles an
+hour. Oh, there are lots of things--if one only stops to think of them."
+
+"The prize is yours, Dave!" exclaimed the senator's son. "You've
+mentioned more in three minutes than I would have thought of in three
+weeks. I'll stick to history."
+
+"And I'll stick to English literature--I'm pretty well up on that,
+thank goodness!" said the shipowner's son.
+
+After that the talk drifted to other things--of the doings of the
+students at Oak Hall, and of how Job Haskers, one of the assistant
+teachers, had caught some of the lads playing a trick on Pop Swingly,
+the janitor, and punished them severely for it.
+
+"The trick didn't amount to much," said Phil, "and I rather believe
+Swingly enjoyed it. But old Haskers was in a bilious mood and made the
+fellows stay in after school for three days."
+
+"Were you in it?" asked Dave.
+
+"Yes; and all of us have vowed to get square on Haskers."
+
+"It's a wonder Doctor Clay doesn't get rid of Haskers--he is so
+unpopular," was Roger's comment.
+
+"Haskers is a fine teacher, that's why he is kept. But I like Mr. Dale
+much better," said Dave.
+
+"Oh, everybody does!"
+
+"All but Link Merwell," said Phil. "Isn't it strange, he seems to get
+along very well with Haskers."
+
+"Two of a kind maybe," returned the senator's son.
+
+After a long run the Junction was reached, where the boys had to change
+cars for Oakdale. They got off and found they had twenty-five minutes
+to wait.
+
+"Remember the time we were here and had the trouble with Isaac
+Pludding?" asked Roger.
+
+"I'll never forget it," answered Dave, with a grin. "By the way, as we
+have time to spare let us go around to Denman's restaurant and have a
+cup of chocolate and a piece of pie. That car was so cold it chilled
+me."
+
+Growing boys are always hungry, so, despite the generous breakfast they
+had had, they walked over to the restaurant named. The man who kept it
+remembered them well and smiled broadly as they took seats at a table.
+
+"On your way to school, I suppose," he said, as he served them. "Ain't
+following up Ike Pludding this trip, are you?"
+
+"Hardly," answered Dave. "What do you know of him?"
+
+"I know he is about down and out," answered Amos Denman. "And served
+him right too."
+
+The boys were about to leave the restaurant when Dave chanced to glance
+in one of the windows. There, on a big platter, was an inviting heap
+of chicken salad, above which was a sign announcing it was for sale at
+thirty cents a pint.
+
+"Let me try that salad, will you?" Dave asked.
+
+"Certainly. Want to take some along?" And Amos Denman passed over a
+forkful.
+
+"What are you going to do with chicken salad?" questioned Roger.
+
+"Oh, I thought we might want to celebrate our return by a little feast,
+Roger."
+
+"Hurrah! just the thing!" ejaculated the senator's son. "Is it good? It
+is? All right, I'll take a quart."
+
+"I'll take a quart, too," said Dave. "I guess you can put it all
+together."
+
+"Are those mince pies fresh?" asked Phil, pointing to some in a case.
+
+"Just out of the oven. Feel of them."
+
+"Then I'll take two."
+
+In the end the three youths purchased quite a number of things from the
+restaurant keeper, who tied up the articles in pasteboard boxes wrapped
+in brown paper. Then the lads had to run for the train and were the
+last on board.
+
+It had begun to snow again and the white flakes were coming down
+thickly when the train rolled into the neat little station at Oakdale.
+The boys were the only ones to alight and they looked around eagerly to
+see if the school carryall was waiting for them.
+
+"Hello, fellows!" cried a voice from the end of the platform, and
+Joseph Beggs, usually called Buster because of his fatness, waddled up.
+"Thought you'd be on this train."
+
+"How are you, Buster?" answered Dave, shaking hands. "My, but aren't
+you getting thin!" And he looked the fat boy over with a grin.
+
+"It's worry that's doing it," answered Buster, calmly. "Haven't slept a
+night since you went away, Dave. So you really found your dad and your
+sister! Sounds like a regular six-act-and-fourteen-scene drama. We'll
+have to write it up and get Horsehair to star in it. First Act: Found
+on the Railroad Tracks; Second Act: The Faithful Farm Boy; Third Act:
+The King of the School; Fourth Act----"
+
+"Waiting for the Stage," interrupted Dave. "Keep it, Buster, until
+we're on the way to Oak Hall. Did you come down alone?"
+
+"Not much he didn't come down alone!" cried a voice at Dave's elbow,
+and Maurice Hamilton, always called Shadow, appeared. Maurice was as
+tall and thin as Buster was stout. "Let me feel your hand and know you
+are really here, Dave," he went on. "Why, your story is--is--what shall
+I say?"
+
+"Great," suggested Roger.
+
+"Marvelous," added Phil.
+
+"Out of sight," put in Buster Beggs.
+
+"All good--and that puts me in mind of a story. One time there was
+a----"
+
+"Shadow--so early in the day!" cried the senator's son, reproachfully.
+
+"Oh, you can't shut him off," exploded Buster. "He's been telling
+chestnuts ever since we left the Hall."
+
+"This isn't a chestnut, it's a----"
+
+"Hickory nut," finished Phil; "hard to crack--as the darky said of the
+china egg he wanted to fry."
+
+"It isn't a chestnut or a hickory nut either," expostulated the
+story-teller of the school. "It's a brand-new one. One time there was a
+county----"
+
+"If it's new you ought to have it copyrighted, Shadow," said Roger.
+
+"Perhaps a trade-mark might do," added Dave. "You can get one for----"
+
+"Say, don't you want to hear this story?" demanded Shadow.
+
+"Yes, yes, go on!" was the chorus.
+
+"Now we've had the first installment we'll have to have the finish or
+die," continued Phil, tragically.
+
+"Well, one time there was a county fair, with a number of side shows,
+snakes, acrobats, and such things. One tent had a big sign over it,
+'The Greatest and Most Marvelous Wonder of the Age--A man who plays the
+piano better with his feet than most skilled musicians can play with
+their hands. Admission 10 cents.' That sign attracted a big crowd and
+brought in a lot of money. When the folks got inside a man came out,
+sat down in front of a piano that played with paper rolls, and pumped
+the thing for all he was worth with his feet!"
+
+"Oh, what a sell!" roared Phil. "Shadow, that's the worst you ever
+told."
+
+"Quite a feat," said Dave.
+
+"But painful to the understanding," added Roger. He looked around.
+"Hello, here's Horsehair at last."
+
+He referred to Jackson Lemond, the driver for the school, who was
+always called Horsehair because of the hairs which invariably clung to
+his clothing. The driver was coming down the main street of the town
+with a package of harness dressing in his hand.
+
+"Had to git this," he explained. "How de do, young gents? All ready to
+go to the Hall?"
+
+"Horsehair, we're going to write a play about Dave's discoveries," said
+Buster. "We want you to star in it. We know you can make a hit."
+
+"No starrin' fer me," answered the driver, who had once played minor
+parts in a barn-storming theatrical company. "I'll stick to the hosses."
+
+"But think of it, Horsehair," went on Buster. "We'll have you eaten up
+by cannibals of the South Seas, frozen to death in Norway snowstorms,
+shooting bears as big as elephants, and----"
+
+"Oh, Buster, do let up!" cried Dave. "None of those things are true,
+and you know it. Come ahead, I am anxious to see the rest of the
+fellows," and Dave ran for the carryall, with his dress-suit case in
+one hand and one of the packages from the restaurant in the other.
+
+Soon the crowd had piled into the turnout, Phil on the front seat
+beside the driver, and away they went. The carryall had been put on
+runners and ran as easily as a cutter, having two powerful horses to
+pull it.
+
+All of the boys were in high spirits and as they sped over the snow
+they sang and cracked jokes to their hearts' content. They did not
+forget the old school song, sung to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne," and
+sang this with a vigor that tested their lungs to the uttermost:
+
+  "Oak Hall we never shall forget,
+    No matter where we roam;
+  It is the very best of schools,
+    To us it's just like home!
+  Then give three cheers, and let them ring
+    Throughout this world so wide,
+  To let the people know that we
+    Elect to here abide!"
+
+"By the way, how is Gus Plum getting along these days?" asked Dave of
+Shadow Hamilton, during a pause in the fun. He referred, as my old
+readers know, to a youth who in days gone by had been a great bully at
+the Hall.
+
+"Gus Plum needs watching," was the low answer, so that none of the
+other boys might hear. "He is better in some ways, Dave, and much worse
+in others."
+
+"How do you mean, Shadow?"
+
+"I can't explain here--but I'll do it in private some day," answered
+Shadow; and then the carryall swept up to the school steps and
+a number of students ran forth from the building to greet the new
+arrivals.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE FUN OF A NIGHT
+
+
+As my old readers know, Oak Hall was a large structure of brick and
+stone, built in the shape of a broad cross, with wide hallways running
+from north to south and east to west. All of the classrooms were on
+the ground floor, as were also the dining hall and kitchen, and the
+head master's private office. On the second floor were the majority of
+the dormitories, furnished to hold four, six, and eight pupils each.
+The school was surrounded by a wide campus, running down to the Leming
+River, where was located a good-sized boathouse. Some distance away
+from the river was a neat gymnasium, and, to the rear of the school,
+were commodious stables and sheds. At the four corners of the campus
+grew great clumps of giant oaks, and two oaks stood like sentinels on
+either side of the gateway--thus giving the Hall its name.
+
+As Dave leaped to the piazza of the school he was met by Sam Day,
+another of his old chums, who gave his hand a squeeze that made him
+wince. Close by was Chip Macklin, once the toady of Gus Plum, but now
+"quite a decent sort," as most of the lads would say. Further in the
+rear was Gus Plum, looking pale and troubled. Evidently something was
+wrong with him, as Shadow had intimated.
+
+"Sorry I couldn't get down to the depot," said Sam. "But I had some
+examples in algebra to do and they kept me until after the carryall had
+left."
+
+There was more handshaking, and Dave did not forget Macklin or Gus
+Plum. When he took the hand of the former bully he found it icy cold
+and he noticed that it trembled considerably.
+
+"How are you, Gus?" he said, pleasantly.
+
+"Oh, I'm fair," was the hesitating answer. "I--I am glad to see you
+back, and doubly glad to know you found your father."
+
+"And sister, Gus; don't forget that."
+
+"Yes, and your sister." And then Gus Plum let Dave's hand fall and
+stepped back into the crowd and vanished. Dave saw that he had
+something on his mind, and he wondered more than ever what Shadow might
+have to tell him.
+
+Soon Doctor Clay appeared, a man well along in years, with gray,
+penetrating eyes and a face that could be either kindly or stern as the
+occasion demanded.
+
+"As the boys say, it is all very wonderful, and I am rejoiced for your
+sake, Porter," he said. "Your trip to Norway certainly turned out well,
+and you need not begrudge the time lost from school. Now, with your
+mind free, you can go at your studies with vigor, and such a bright
+pupil as you ought to be able to make up all the ground lost."
+
+"I intend to try my best, sir," answered Dave.
+
+The only lad at Oak Hall who did not seem to enjoy Dave's reappearance
+was Nat Poole. The dudish youth from Crumville, whose father had, in
+times past, caused old Caspar Potts so much trouble, kept himself
+aloof, and when he met Dave in a hallway he turned his head the other
+way and pretended not to notice.
+
+"Nat Poole certainly feels sore," said Dave to Ben Basswood, his old
+friend from home, when Ben came to meet him, having been kept in a
+classroom by Job Haskers.
+
+"Yes, he is sore on everybody," answered Ben. "Well, he is having a
+hard time of it, seems to me. First Chip Macklin cut him, and then Gus
+Plum. Then he got mixed up with Nick Jasniff, and Jasniff had to run
+away. Then he and Link Merwell became chums, and you know what happened
+to both. Now Merwell is away and Nat is about left to himself. He is
+a bigger dude than ever, and spends a lot of money that the doctor
+doesn't know anything about, and yet he can't make himself popular."
+
+"Well, I'm glad money doesn't count at Oak Hall, Ben."
+
+"I know you feel that way, Dave, and it does you credit. I guess now
+you are about as rich as anybody, and if money did the trick----"
+
+"I want to stand on my merits, not on my pocketbook. Perhaps Nat would
+make friends if he wasn't forever showing off and telling how wealthy
+his father is."
+
+"I believe you there."
+
+"By the way, Ben, do you know anything about Gus Plum? There seems to
+be a big change in him."
+
+"There is a change, but I can't tell you what it is. Shadow Hamilton
+knows. He and Plum came home late one night, both having been to
+Oakdale, and Shadow was greatly excited and greatly worried. Some of
+us fellows wanted to know what it was about, but Shadow refused to say
+a word, excepting that he was going to let you know some time, because
+you appeared to have some influence over Gus."
+
+Ben's words surprised Dave, coming so shortly after what Shadow himself
+had said. He was on the point of asking Ben some more questions, but
+reconsidered the matter and said nothing. He could wait until such a
+time as Shadow felt in the humor to unburden his mind.
+
+Dave and his chums roomed in dormitories Nos. 11 and 12, two large and
+well-lighted apartments, with a connecting door between. Not far away
+was dormitory No. 13, which was now occupied by Nat Poole and some
+others, including Link Merwell when that individual was at Oak Hall.
+One bed was vacant, that which Nick Jasniff had left so hurriedly.
+
+In a quiet way the news was spread that Dave and his chums had provided
+some good things for a feast, and that night about twenty boys gathered
+in No. 11 and No. 12 to celebrate "the return of our leader," as Luke
+Watson expressed it. Luke was on hand with his banjo and his guitar, to
+add a little music if wanted.
+
+"Say, boys, we couldn't have chosen a better time for this sort of
+thing than to-night," announced Sam Day. "Haskers has gone to town
+and Mr. Dale is paying a visit to a neighbor; I heard the doctor tell
+Mr. Dale he was tired and was going to bed early, and best of all Jim
+Murphy says he won't hear a thing, provided we set out a big piece of
+mince pie for him." Murphy was monitor of the halls.
+
+"Good for Jim!" cried Dave. "I'll cut that piece of pie myself," and he
+did, and placed it where he felt certain that the monitor would find it.
+
+The boys were allowed to do as they pleased until half-past nine, and
+they sang songs and cracked jokes innumerable. But then the monitor
+stuck his head in at the door.
+
+"Got to be a little quiet from now on," he said, in a hoarse whisper
+and with a broad grin on his face. "I'm awfully deaf to-night, but the
+doctor will wake up if there's too much racket."
+
+"Did you get the pie?" questioned Dave.
+
+"Not yet, and I'll take it now, if you don't mind."
+
+"Jim, do you mean to say you didn't get that pie?" demanded Dave.
+
+"Oh, he's fooling," interrupted Phil. "He wants a second piece."
+
+"That's it," came from Shadow. "Puts me in mind of a story about a boy
+who----"
+
+"Never mind the story now, Shadow," interrupted Dave. "Tell me
+honestly, Jim, whether you got the pie or not? Of course you can have
+another piece, or some chicken salad----"
+
+"I didn't get any pie,--or anything else," answered the monitor.
+
+"I put it on the bottom of the stand in the upper hallway."
+
+"Nothing there when I went to look."
+
+"Then somebody took it on the sly," said Roger. "For I was with Dave
+when he put it there. Anybody in these rooms guilty?" And he gazed
+around sternly.
+
+All of the boys shook their heads. Then of a sudden a delicate youth
+who looked like a girl arose in astonishment and held up his hands.
+
+"Well, I declare!" he lisped.
+
+"What now, Polly?" asked Phil.
+
+"I wonder if it is really possible," went on Bertram Vane.
+
+"What possible?" questioned Dave.
+
+"Why, when I was coming through the hall a while ago I almost ran into
+Nat Poole. He had something in one hand, under his handkerchief, and as
+I passed him I really thought I smelt mince pie!"
+
+"Nat Poole!" cried several.
+
+"Oh, the sneak!" burst out Roger. "He must have been watching Dave.
+Maybe he heard us promise Murphy the pie."
+
+"Bad luck to him if he stole what was coming to me," muttered the
+monitor. "I hope the pie choked him."
+
+"If Nat Poole took the pie we'll fix him for it," said Dave. "Just you
+leave it to me." Then he got another portion of the dainty and handed
+it to the monitor, who disappeared immediately.
+
+"What will you do?" questioned Roger.
+
+"Since Nat has had some pie I think I'll treat him to some chicken
+salad," was the reply. "Nothing like being generous, you know."
+
+"Why, Dave, you don't mean you are going to let Nat Poole have any of
+this nice salad!" cried Phil. "I'd see him in Guinea first!"
+
+"He shall have some--after it has been properly doctored."
+
+"Eh? Oh, I see," and the shipowner's son began to grin. "All right
+then. But doctor it good."
+
+"I shall make no mistake about that," returned Dave.
+
+While Shadow was telling a story of a little boy who had fallen down a
+well and wanted somebody to "put the staircase down" so he could climb
+up, Dave went to a small medicine closet which he had purchased during
+his previous term at Oak Hall. From this he got various bottles and
+powders and began to "doctor" a nice portion of the chicken salad.
+
+"Say, Dave, that won't hurt anybody, will it?" asked Ben, who saw the
+movement.
+
+"It may hurt Nat Poole, Ben."
+
+"Oh, you don't want to injure him."
+
+"This won't do any harm. I am going to give him what Professor Potts
+called green peppers. Once, when he was particularly talkative, he
+related how he had played the joke on a fellow-student at college. It
+won't injure Nat Poole, but if he eats this salad there will surely be
+fun, I can promise you that."
+
+"How are you going to get it to him?"
+
+"Take it to him myself."
+
+"You! He'll be suspicious at once and won't touch it."
+
+"Perhaps not--we'll wait and see."
+
+When the feast was practically at an end, Dave put the doctored salad
+in a dessert dish, topping it with some that was sweet and good. On all
+he laid some fancy crackers which one of the boys had contributed.
+
+"Now, here is where I try the trick," he said, and put on a sweater,
+leaving the upper portion partly over his face. Then, leaving his
+dormitory, he tiptoed his way to No. 13 and pushed open the door softly.
+
+As he had surmised, Nat Poole had gone to bed and had just fallen
+asleep. Going noiselessly to his side, Dave bent over him and whispered
+into his ear:
+
+"Here, Nat, is something I stole for you from that crowd that was
+having the feast. Eat it up and don't tell the other fellows."
+
+"Eh, what? The feast?" stammered Nat, and took the plate in his hand.
+"Who are you?"
+
+"Hush!" whispered Dave, warningly. "Don't wake the others. I stole it
+for you. Eat it up. I'll tell you how I did it in the morning. It's a
+joke on Dave Porter!" And then Dave glided away from the bed and out of
+the room like a ghost, shutting the door noiselessly after him.
+
+Half asleep, Nat Poole was completely bewildered by what he heard. In
+the semi-darkness he could not imagine who had brought the dish full
+of stuff. But he remembered the words, "eat it up" and "don't tell the
+other fellows" and "a joke on Dave Porter." That was enough for Nat.
+He sat up, looked at the fancy crackers and the salad, and smacked his
+lips.
+
+"Must have been one of our old crowd," he mused. "Maybe Shingle or
+Remney. Well, it's a joke on Dave Porter right enough, and better than
+taking that pie he left for Murphy." And then he began to munch the
+crackers and eat the salad, using a tiny fork Dave had thoughtfully
+provided. He liked chicken salad very much, and this seemed
+particularly good, although at times it had a bitter flavor for which
+he could not account.
+
+Peering through the keyhole of the door, Dave saw his intended victim
+make way with the salad. Then he ran back to his dormitory.
+
+"It's all right," he said. "Now all of you undress and go to bed,--and
+watch for what comes!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+WHAT HAPPENED TO NAT POOLE
+
+
+The students of dormitories No. 11 and No. 12 scarcely had time to get
+to bed when they heard a noise in the apartment Nat Poole and some
+others occupied. First came a subdued groan, followed by another, and
+then they heard Nat Poole get up.
+
+"What's the matter?" they heard a student named Belcher ask.
+
+"Why--er--I'm burning up!" gasped Nat Poole. "Let me get a drink of
+water!" And he leaped from his bedside to where there was a stand with
+a pitcher of ice-water and a glass.
+
+He was so eager to get the water that, in the semi-darkness, he hit the
+stand with his arm. Over it went, and the pitcher and glass fell to the
+floor with a crash. The noise aroused everybody in the dormitory.
+
+"What's the matter?"
+
+"Are burglars breaking in?"
+
+"Confound the luck!" muttered Nat Poole. "Oh, I must get some water! I
+am burning up alive!"
+
+"What's done it?" questioned Belcher.
+
+"I--er--never mind now. I am burning up and must have some water!"
+roared the dudish pupil, and dashed out of the dormitory in the
+direction of a water tank located at the end of the hall.
+
+Here he was a little more careful and got the drink he desired. But
+scarcely had he taken a mouthful when he ejected it with great force.
+
+"Wow! how bitter that tastes!" he gasped. Then of a sudden he commenced
+to shiver. "Wonder if that salad poisoned me? Who gave it to me,
+anyhow?"
+
+He tried the water again, but it was just as bitter as before. Then
+he ran to a bathroom, to try the water there. By this time his mouth
+and throat felt like fire, and, thoroughly scared, he ran back to his
+sleeping apartment and began to yell for help.
+
+His cries aroused a good portion of the inmates of Oak Hall, and
+students came from all directions to see what was the matter. They
+found poor Nat sitting on a chair, the picture of misery.
+
+"I--I guess I'm poisoned and I'm going to die!" he wailed. "Somebody
+better get a doctor."
+
+"What did you eat?" demanded half a dozen boys.
+
+"I--er--I ate some salad a fellow brought to me in the dark. I don't
+know who he was. Oh, my throat! It feels as if a red-hot poker was in
+it! And I can't drink water either! Oh, I know I am going to die!"
+
+"Try oil--that's good for a burn," suggested one student, and he
+brought forth some cod liver oil. Nat hated cod liver oil almost as
+much as poison, but he was scared and took the dose without a murmur.
+It helped a little, but his throat felt far from comfortable and soon
+it commenced to burn as much as ever.
+
+By this time Doctor Clay had been aroused and he came to the dormitory
+in a dressing gown and slippers.
+
+"Nat Poole has been poisoned!" cried several.
+
+"Poisoned!" ejaculated the master of the Hall. "How is this, Poole?"
+and he strode to the suffering pupil's side.
+
+"I--I don't know," groaned Nat. "I--er--ate some mince pie and some
+salad----"
+
+"Perhaps it is only indigestion," was the doctor's comment. "You may
+get over it in a little while."
+
+"But my throat----" And then the dudish boy stopped short. The fire in
+his mouth and throat had suddenly gone down--like a tooth stopping its
+aching.
+
+"What were you going to say?" asked Doctor Clay.
+
+"Why, I--that is--my throat isn't so bad now." And Nat's face took on a
+sudden sheepish look. In some way he realized he had been more scared
+than hurt.
+
+"Let me have a look at your throat," went on the master of the Hall and
+took his pupil to a strong light. "It is a little red, but that is all.
+Is your stomach all right?"
+
+"It seems to be--and the pain in my throat and mouth is all gone now,"
+added Nat.
+
+The doctor handed him a glass of water a boy had brought and Nat tried
+it. The liquid tasted natural, much to his surprise, and the drink made
+him feel quite like himself once more.
+
+"I--I guess I am all right now," he said after an awkward pause.
+"I--er--am sorry I woke you up."
+
+"After this be careful of how much you eat," said the doctor, stiffly.
+"If a boy stuffs himself on mince pie and salad he is bound to suffer
+for it." Then he directed all the students to go to bed at once, and
+retired to his own apartment.
+
+If ever a lad was puzzled that lad was Nat Poole. For the life of him
+he could not determine whether he had suffered naturally or whether
+a trick had been played on him. He wanted very much to know who had
+brought him the salad, but could not find out. For days after the boys
+would yell "mince pie" and "salad" at him, much to his annoyance.
+
+"That certainly was a good one," was Phil's comment. "I reckon Nat
+will learn to keep his hands off of things after this." And he and the
+others had a good laugh over the trick Dave had played. It proved to be
+perfectly harmless, for the next day Poole felt as well as ever.
+
+As Dave had said, he was determined to make up the lessons lost during
+his trip to England and Norway, and he consequently applied himself
+with vigor to all his studies. At this, Mr. Dale, who was head teacher,
+was particularly pleased, and he did all he could to aid the youth.
+
+As during previous terms, Dave had much trouble with Job Haskers. A
+brilliant teacher, Haskers was as arbitrary and dictatorial as could be
+imagined, and he occasionally said things which were so sarcastic they
+cut to the quick. Very few of the boys liked him, and some positively
+hated him.
+
+"I always feel like fighting when I run up against old Haskers," was
+the way Roger expressed himself. "I'd give ten dollars if he'd pack his
+trunk and leave."
+
+"And then come back the next day," put in Phil, with a grin.
+
+"Not much! When he leaves I want him to stay away!"
+
+"That puts me in mind of a story," said Shadow, who was present.
+
+"What, another!" cried Dave, with a mock groan. "Oh, but this is
+dreadful!"
+
+"Not so bad--as you'll soon see. A boy had a little dog, who could howl
+morning, noon, and night, to beat the band. Next door to the boy lived
+a very nervous man. Said he to the boy one day: 'Will you sell me that
+dog for a dollar?' 'Make it two dollars and the dog is yours,' answered
+the boy. So the man, to get rid of that howling dog, paid the boy the
+two dollars and shipped the dog to the pound. Then he asked the boy:
+'What are you going to do with the two dollars?' 'Buy two more dogs,'
+said the boy. Then the man went away and wept."
+
+"That's all right!" cried Sam Day, and everybody laughed. Then he
+added: "What can disturb a fellow more than a howling dog at night?"
+
+"I know," answered Dave, quietly.
+
+"What?"
+
+"Two dogs," and then Dave ducked to avoid a book that Sam threw at him.
+
+"Speaking of dogs reminds me of something," said Buster Beggs. "You all
+remember Mike Marcy, the miserly old farmer whose mule we returned some
+time ago."
+
+"I am not likely to forget him," answered Dave, who had had more than
+one encounter with the fellow, as my old readers are aware.
+
+"Well, he has got a very savage dog and has posted signs all over his
+place, 'Beware of the Dog!' Two or three of the fellows, who were
+crossing his corner lot one day, came near being bitten."
+
+"Were you one of them?" asked Roger.
+
+"Yes, and we weren't doing anything either--only crossing the vacant
+lot to take a short-cut to the school, to avoid being late."
+
+"I was in the crowd," said Luke Watson, "and I had a good mind to kill
+the dog."
+
+"We'll have to go over some day and see Marcy," said Phil. "I haven't
+forgotten how he accused me of stealing his apples."
+
+"He once accused me of stealing a chicken," put in a boy named Messmer.
+"I'd like to take him down a peg or two for that."
+
+"Let us go over to his place next week some time and tease him,"
+suggested another boy named Henshaw, and some of the others said they
+would bear his words in mind.
+
+Messmer and Henshaw were the owners of an ice-boat named the
+_Snowbird_. They had built the craft themselves, and, while it was not
+very handsome, it had good going qualities, and that was all the boys
+wanted.
+
+"Come on out in the _Snowbird_," said Henshaw, to Dave and several of
+the others, on the following Saturday afternoon, when there was no
+school. "The ice on the river is very good, and the wind is just right
+for a spin."
+
+"Thanks, I'll go with pleasure," answered Dave; and soon the party was
+off. The river, frozen over from end to end, was alive with skaters and
+ice-boats, and presented a scene of light-heartedness and pleasure.
+
+"There goes an ice-boat from the Rockville military academy," said
+Messmer, presently. "I guess they don't want to race. They haven't
+forgotten how we beat them." And he was right; the Rockville ice-boat
+soon tacked to the other side of the river, the cadets on board paying
+no attention to the Oak Hall students.
+
+The boys on the ice-boat did not go to their favorite spot, Robber
+Island, but allowed the _Snowbird_ to sweep up an arm of the river,
+between several large hills. The hills were covered with hemlocks and
+cedars, between which the snow lay to a depth of one or two feet.
+
+"Do you know what I'd like to do some day?" remarked Roger. "Come up
+here after rabbits." He had a shotgun, of which he was quite proud.
+
+"I believe you'd find plenty," answered Dave. "I'd like to go myself. I
+used to hunt, when I was on the farm."
+
+"Let us walk up the hills and take a look around--now we are here,"
+continued the senator's son. "If we see any rabbits' tracks we'll know
+they are on hand."
+
+Dave agreed, and he, Roger, and Phil left the ice-boat, stating they
+would be back in half an hour.
+
+"All right!" sang out Messmer. "We'll cruise around in the meantime.
+When we get back we'll whistle for you."
+
+The tramp through the deep snow was not easy, yet the three chums
+enjoyed it, for it made them feel good to be out in the clear, cold
+atmosphere, every breath of which was invigorating. They went on
+silently, so as not to disturb any game that might be near.
+
+"Here are rabbit tracks!" said Dave, in a low tone, after the top of
+the first hill was gained, and he pointed to the prints, running around
+the trees and bushes. "Shooting ought certainly to be good in this
+neighborhood."
+
+From one hill they tramped to another, the base of which came down to
+the river at a point where there was a deep spot known as Lagger's
+Hole. Here the ice was usually full of air-holes and unsafe, and
+skaters and ice-boats avoided the locality.
+
+From the top of the hill the boys commenced to throw snowballs down on
+the ice, seeing who could throw the farthest. Then Phil suggested they
+make a big snowball and roll it down.
+
+"I'll bet, if it reaches the ice, it will go clear across the river,"
+said the shipowner's son.
+
+"All right, let's try it," answered Dave and Roger, and the three set
+to work to make a round, hard ball. They rolled it around the top of
+the hill until it was all of three feet in diameter and then pushed it
+to the edge.
+
+"Now then, send her down!" cried Phil, and the three boys gave a push
+that took the big snowball over the edge of the hill. Slowly at first
+and then faster and faster, it rolled down the hill, increasing in size
+as it progressed.
+
+"It's getting there!" sang out Roger. "See how it is shooting along!"
+
+"Look!" yelled Dave, pointing up the river. "An ice-boat is coming!"
+
+All looked and saw that he was right. It was a craft from the Rockville
+academy, and it was headed straight for the spot where the big snowball
+was about to cross.
+
+"If the snowball hits them, there will be a smash-up!" cried Roger.
+
+"And that is just what is going to happen, I fear," answered Dave.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+WHAT A BIG SNOWBALL DID
+
+
+As the ice-boat came closer the boys on the hill saw that it contained
+four persons, two cadets and two young ladies. The latter were
+evidently guests, for they sat in the stern and took no part in
+handling the craft.
+
+Dave set up a loud cry of warning and his chums joined in. But if those
+on the ice-boat heard, they paid no heed. On and on they came, heading
+for the very spot for which the great snowball, now all of six feet in
+diameter, was shooting.
+
+"The ice is full of holes, maybe the snowball will drop into one of
+them," said Phil. But this was not to be. The snowball kept straight
+on, until it and the ice-boat were less than a hundred feet apart.
+
+It was then that one of the cadets on the craft saw the peril and
+uttered a cry of alarm. He tried to bring the ice-boat around, and his
+fellow-student aided him. But it was too late, and in a few seconds
+more the big snowball hit the craft, bowled it over, and sent it
+spinning along the ice toward some of the largest of the air-holes.
+
+"They are going into the water!" gasped Roger.
+
+"Come on--let us see if we can help them!" returned Dave, and plunged
+down the hill. He took the course the big snowball had taken, and his
+chums came after him. More than once they fell, but picked themselves
+up quickly and kept on until the ice was gained. At the edge they came
+to a halt, for the air-holes told them plainly of the danger ahead.
+
+"There they go--into the water!" cried Dave, and waiting no longer, he
+ran out on the ice, picking his way between the air-holes as best he
+could. Several times the ice cracked beneath his weight, but he did not
+turn back. He felt that the occupants of the ice-boat were in peril of
+their lives and that in a measure he was responsible for this crisis.
+
+The river at this point was all of a hundred yards wide and the
+accident had occurred close to the farther side. The ice-boat had been
+sent to where two air-holes were close together, and the weight of the
+craft and its occupants had caused it to crack the ice, and it now
+rested half in and half out of the water. One of the cadets and one of
+the young ladies had been flung off to a safe place, but the other pair
+were clinging desperately to the framework.
+
+"Oh, we shall be drowned! We shall be drowned!" cried the maiden in
+distress.
+
+"Can't you jump off?" asked the cadet who was safe on the ice.
+
+"I--I am afraid!" wailed the girl. "Oh, the ice is sinking!" she added,
+as an ominous sound reached her ears.
+
+To the credit of the cadet on the ice-boat, he remained the cooler of
+the two, and he called to his fellow-student to run for a fence-rail
+which might be used to rescue the girl and himself. But the nearest
+fence was a long way off, and time, just then, was precious.
+
+"Cut a couple of ropes!" sang out Dave, as he dashed up. "Cut one and
+throw it over here!"
+
+The cadet left on the overturned craft understood the suggestion, and
+taking out his pocketknife, he cut two of the ropes. He tied one fast
+to the other and sent an end spinning out toward Dave and the cadet
+on the ice. The other end of the united ropes remained fast to the
+ice-boat.
+
+By this time Phil and Roger had come up, and all the lads on the
+firm ice took hold of the rope and pulled with all their might. Dave
+directed the operation, and slowly the ice-boat came up from the hole
+into which it had partly sunk and slid over toward the shore.
+
+"Hurrah! we've got her!" cried Phil.
+
+"Vera, are you hurt?" asked the girl on the ice, anxiously.
+
+"Not at all, Mary; only one foot is wet," answered the girl who had
+been rescued.
+
+"Oh, I'm so glad!" And then the two girls embraced in the joy of their
+escape.
+
+"I'd like to know where that big snowball came from," growled the cadet
+who had been flung off the ice-boat when the shock came. He looked at
+Dave and his companions. "Did you start that thing?"
+
+"We did," answered Dave, "but we didn't know you were coming."
+
+"It was a mighty careless thing to do," put in the cadet who had been
+rescued. "We might have been drowned!"
+
+"I believe they did it on purpose," said the other cadet. He looked at
+the letters on a sweater Roger wore. "You're from Oak Hall, aren't you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Thought you'd have some sport, eh?" This was said with a sneer. "Say,
+Cabot, we ought to give 'em something for this," he added, turning to
+his fellow-cadet.
+
+"So we should," growled Cabot, who chanced to be the owner of the craft
+that had been damaged. "They have got to pay for breaking the ice-boat,
+anyway."
+
+"Oh, Mr. Anderson, please don't get into a quarrel!" pleaded one of the
+girls.
+
+"Well, those rowdies deserve a thrashing," answered Anderson. He was a
+big fellow, with rather a hard look on his face.
+
+"Thank you, but we are not rowdies," retorted Roger. "We were having a
+little fun and did not dream of striking you with the snowball."
+
+"If you know anything about the river, you know ice-boats and skaters
+rarely if ever come this way," added Phil. "The ice around here is
+always full of air-holes and consequently dangerous."
+
+"Oh, you haven't got to teach me where to go," growled Anderson.
+
+"I'm only stating a fact."
+
+"The ice is certainly not very nice around here," said one of the
+girls. "Perhaps we might have gotten into a hole even if the big
+snowball hadn't struck us."
+
+At this remark Dave and his chums gave the girl a grateful look. The
+cadets were annoyed, and one whispered something to the other.
+
+"You fellows get to work and fix the ice-boat," said Cabot.
+
+"And do it quick, too," added Anderson.
+
+"I--I think I'll walk the rest of the way home," said one of the girls.
+"Will you come along, Vera?"
+
+"Yes," answered the other. She stepped up to Dave's side. "Thank you
+for telling Mr. Cabot what to do, and for pulling us out of the hole,"
+she went on, and gave the boys a warm smile.
+
+"Going to leave us?" growled Anderson.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"That ain't fair. You promised----"
+
+"To take a ride on the ice-boat," finished the girl named Vera. "We did
+it, and now I am going home."
+
+"And so am I," added the other girl. "Good-bye."
+
+"But see here----" went on Anderson, and caught the girl named Vera by
+the arm.
+
+"Please let go, Mr. Anderson."
+
+"I want----"
+
+"Let the young lady go if she wishes to," said Dave, stepping up.
+
+"This isn't your affair," blustered Anderson.
+
+"No gentleman would detain a lady against her will."
+
+"Good-bye," said the girl, and stepped back several paces when released
+by the cadet.
+
+"All right, Vera Rockwell, I'll not take you out again," growled
+Anderson, seeing she was bound to go.
+
+"You'll not have the chance, thank you!" flung back the girl, and then
+she joined her companion, and both hurried away from the shore and to a
+road running near by.
+
+After the girls had gone there was an awkward silence. Both Cabot and
+Anderson felt sore to be treated in this fashion, and especially in the
+presence of those from Oak Hall, a rival institution to that where they
+belonged.
+
+"Well, what are you going to do about the damage done?" grumbled
+Anderson.
+
+"I don't think the ice-boat is damaged much," answered Dave. "Let us
+look her over and see."
+
+"If she is, you'll pay the bill," came from Cabot.
+
+"Well, we can do that easily enough," answered Roger lightly.
+
+The craft was righted and inspected. The damage proved to be trifling
+and the ice-boat was speedily made fit for use.
+
+"If I find she isn't all right, I'll make some of you foot the bill,"
+said Cabot.
+
+"I am willing to pay for all damage done," answered Dave. "My name is
+Dave Porter."
+
+"Oh! I've heard of you," said Anderson. "You're on the Oak Hall
+football team."
+
+"Yes, and I've had the pleasure of helping to beat Rockville," answered
+Dave, and could not help grinning.
+
+"Humph! Wait till next season! We'll show you a thing or two," growled
+Anderson, and then he and Cabot boarded the ice-boat, trimmed the sail,
+and stood off down the river.
+
+"Well, they are what I call a couple of pills," was Phil's comment. "I
+don't see how two nice girls could go out with them."
+
+"They certainly were two nice girls," answered Roger. "That Vera
+Rockwell had beautiful eyes and hair. And did you see the smile she
+gave Dave! Dave, you're the lucky one!"
+
+"That other girl is named Mary Feversham," answered Phil. "Her father
+is connected with the express company. I met her once, but she doesn't
+seem to remember me. I think she is better-looking than Miss Rockwell."
+
+"Gracious, Phil must be smitten!" cried Dave.
+
+"When is it to come off, Phil?" asked the senator's son. "We want time
+to buy presents, you know."
+
+"Oh, you can poke fun if you want to," grumbled the shipowner's son.
+"She's a nice girl and I'd like to have the chance to meet her.
+Somebody said she was a good skater."
+
+"Well, if you go skating with her, ask Miss Rockwell to come, too, and
+I'll be at the corner waiting for you," said the senator's son. "That
+is, if Dave don't try to cut me out."
+
+"No danger--Jessie wouldn't allow it," replied Phil.
+
+"You leave Jessie out of it," answered Dave, flushing a trifle. "Just
+the same, I agree with both of you, those girls looked to be very nice."
+
+The three boys walked along the river bank for nearly half a mile
+before they came in sight of the _Snowbird_. Then Messmer and Henshaw
+wanted to know what had kept them so long.
+
+"I'd not go in there with my boat," said Messmer, after he had heard
+their story. "Those air-holes are too dangerous."
+
+When the lads got back to Oak Hall they found a free-for-all snowball
+fight in progress. One crowd was on the campus and the other in the
+road beyond.
+
+"This suits me!" cried Roger. "Come on, Dave," and he joined the force
+on the road. His chums did the same, and sent the snowballs flying at a
+brisk rate.
+
+The fight was a furious one for over an hour. The force on the campus
+outnumbered those in the road and the latter were driven to where the
+highway made a turn and where there were several clumps of trees and
+bushes. Here, Dave called on those around him to make a stand, and the
+other crowd was halted in its onward rush.
+
+"Here comes Horsehair in a cutter!" cried one of the students,
+presently. "Let us give him a salute."
+
+"All right!" called back Dave. "Some snow will make him strong, and
+brush off some of the hair he carries around with him."
+
+The boys made a number of snowballs and, led by Dave, waited for the
+appearance of the cutter. Soon it turned the bend, the horse on a trot
+and the sleighbells jingling merrily.
+
+"Now then, all together!" shouted Dave, and prepared to hurl a snowball
+at the man who was driving.
+
+"Hold on!" yelled Roger, suddenly.
+
+But the warning cry came too late for Dave and Phil, who were in
+the lead. They let fly their snowballs, and the man in the cutter
+was struck in the chin and the ear. He fell backward, but speedily
+recovered and stopped his horse.
+
+"You young rascals!" he spluttered hoarsely. "What do you mean by
+snowballing me in this fashion!"
+
+"Job Haskers!" murmured Dave, in consternation.
+
+"What a mistake!" groaned Phil. "We are in for it now!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+PRISONERS IN THE SCHOOL
+
+
+Dave and Phil had indeed made a serious mistake, and they knew at once
+that they were in for a severe lecture, and worse. Job Haskers was
+naturally an irascible man, and for the past few days he had been in a
+particularly bad humor.
+
+"Excuse me, Mr. Haskers," said Dave, respectfully. "I didn't know you
+were in the cutter."
+
+"You did it on purpose--don't deny it, Porter!" fumed the teacher. "It
+is outrageous, infamous, that a pupil of Oak Hall should act so!"
+
+"Really, Mr. Haskers, it was a mistake," spoke up Phil. "We thought it
+was Horsehair--I mean Lemond, who was driving."
+
+"Bah! Do I look like Lemond? And, anyway, what right would you have to
+snowball the driver for this school? It is scandalous! I shall make an
+example of you. Report to me at the office in five minutes, both of
+you!"
+
+The boys' hearts sank at this order, and they felt worse when they
+suddenly remembered that both Doctor Clay and Mr. Dale were away and
+that, consequently, Job Haskers was, for the time being, in authority.
+The teacher went back to the cutter, took up the reins, and drove out
+of sight around the campus entrance.
+
+"Too bad!" was Roger's comment. "I yelled to you not to throw."
+
+"I know you did, but I had already done so," answered Dave.
+
+"And so had I," added Phil.
+
+"Say, that puts me in mind of a story," exclaimed Shadow, who was in
+the crowd. "A man once had a mule----"
+
+"Who wants to listen to a story at this time?" broke in Ben Basswood.
+
+"Never mind, let's have the yarn," said Dave. "Perhaps it will serve to
+brighten our gloom," and he smiled feebly.
+
+"This man had a mule in which a neighbor was very much interested,"
+continued Shadow. "One day the mule got sick, and every day after that
+the neighbor would tell the owner of some new remedy for curing him.
+One day he came over to where the mule-owner lived. 'Say,' he says,
+'I've got the best remedy a-going. You must try it.' 'Don't think I
+will,' answered the mule-owner. 'Oh, but you must, I insist,' said the
+neighbor. 'It will sure cure your mule and set him on his feet again.'
+'I don't think so,' said the mule-owner. 'But I am positive,' cried the
+neighbor. 'Just give it a trial.' 'Never,' said the mule-owner. Then
+the neighbor got mad. 'Say, why won't you try this remedy?' he growled.
+'I won't because the mule is dead,' answered the other man. Then the
+neighbor went home in deep thought."
+
+"Well, that's to the point," said the senator's son, laughing. "For I
+told them to stop after the damage was done."
+
+In no enviable frame of mind Dave and Phil walked into the school, took
+off their outer garments and caps, and made their way to the office.
+Job Haskers had not yet come in, and they had to wait several minutes
+for him.
+
+As has been said, the teacher was in far from a friendly humor. Some
+months before he had invested a portion of his savings in some mining
+stock, thinking that he would be able to make money fast. Now the stock
+had become practically worthless, and that very morning he had learned
+that he would never be able to get more than ten per cent. of his money
+back.
+
+"You are a couple of scamps," he said, harshly. "I am going to teach
+you a needed lesson." And then the two boys saw that he held behind him
+a carriage-whip.
+
+Dave and Phil were astonished, and with good reason. So far as they
+knew, corporal punishment was not permitted at Oak Hall excepting on
+very rare occasions,--where a pupil had taken his choice of a whipping
+or expulsion. Was it possible that Job Haskers intended to chastise
+them bodily?
+
+"Mr. Haskers, I am very sorry that I hit you with that snowball," said
+Dave. "As I said before, I did not know it was you, and it was only
+thrown in fun."
+
+"What Dave says is true," added Phil. "I hope you will accept my
+apology for what happened."
+
+"I'll accept no apologies!" fumed Job Haskers. "It was done on purpose,
+and you must both suffer for it," and the teacher brandished the whip
+as if to strike them then and there.
+
+"Mr. Haskers, what do you intend to do?" asked Dave, quietly but firmly.
+
+"I intend to give you the thrashing you deserve!"
+
+"With that whip?"
+
+"Yes, with this whip."
+
+"You'll not do it, sir!"
+
+"What!"
+
+"I say, you'll not do it, sir."
+
+"Hum! We'll see about this!" And the teacher glared at Dave as if to
+eat him up.
+
+"You have no authority to whip us," put in Phil.
+
+"Who says so?"
+
+"I say so."
+
+"And Phil is right," added Dave. "I'll not allow it, so you may as well
+put that whip away."
+
+"I'd like to know who is master here, you or I?" demanded Job Haskers,
+turning red with rage.
+
+"Doctor Clay is master here, and we are under his care. If you try to
+strike me with that whip I'll report the matter to him," answered Dave.
+"You may punish me any other way, if you wish, but I won't put up with
+a whipping."
+
+"And I won't be whipped either," added Phil.
+
+"I'll show you!" roared Job Haskers, and raising the whip he tried to
+bring it down on Dave's head. The youth dodged, turned, and caught the
+whip in his hands.
+
+"Let go that whip, Porter!"
+
+"I will not--not until you promise not to strike at me again."
+
+"I'll promise nothing! Let go, I say!"
+
+The teacher struggled to get the whip free of Dave's grasp, and a
+scuffle ensued. Dave was forced up against a side stand, upon which
+stood a beautiful marble statue of Mercury.
+
+"Look out for the statue!" cried Phil, in alarm, but even as he spoke
+Dave was shoved back, and over went the stand and ornament, the statue
+breaking into several pieces.
+
+"There, now see what you've done!" cried Job Haskers, as the battle
+ceased for the moment, and Dave let go the whip.
+
+"It wasn't my fault--you shoved me into it," answered Dave.
+
+"It was your fault, and you'll pay the damages. That statue was worth
+at least fifty dollars. And you'll take your thrashing, too," added the
+teacher, vindictively.
+
+"Don't you dare to hit Dave," cried Phil, "or me either, Mr. Haskers.
+You can punish us, but you can't whip us, so there!"
+
+"Ha! Both of you defy me, eh?"
+
+"We are not to be whipped, and that settles it," said Dave.
+
+"I presume you think, because you are two to one, you can get the
+better of me," sneered the teacher. He knew the two boys were strong,
+and he did not wish to risk a fight with them.
+
+"I don't want to get the better of anybody, but I am not going to let
+you whip me," answered Dave, stubbornly.
+
+"If you are willing, we'll leave the matter to Doctor Clay," suggested
+the shipowner's son.
+
+"You come with me," returned the teacher abruptly, and led the way out
+of the office to a small room used for the storage of schoolbooks and
+writing-pads. The room had nothing but a big closet and had a small
+window, set up high in the wall. The shelves on the walls were full of
+new books and on the floor were piles of volumes that had seen better
+days.
+
+"Going to lock us in, I guess," whispered Phil.
+
+"Well, he can do it if he wants to, but he shan't whip me," answered
+Dave, in an equally low tone.
+
+"Now, you can stay here for the present," growled Job Haskers, as he
+held open the door. "And don't you dare to make any noise either."
+
+"What about supper?" asked Dave, for he was hungry.
+
+"You shall have something to eat when the proper time comes."
+
+The boys walked into the room, and Job Haskers immediately closed the
+door and locked it, placing the key in his pocket. Then the lads heard
+him walk away, and all became silent, for the book-room was located
+between two classrooms which were not in use on Saturdays and Sundays.
+
+"Well, what do you make of this?" asked the shipowner's son, after an
+awkward pause.
+
+"Nothing--what is there to make, Phil? Here we are, and likely to stay
+for a while."
+
+"Are you going to pay for that broken statue?"
+
+"Was it my fault it was broken?"
+
+"No--he ran you into the stand."
+
+"Then I don't see why I ought to pay."
+
+"He may claim you had no right to fight him off."
+
+"He had no right to attack me with the whip. I don't think Doctor Clay
+will stand for that."
+
+"If he does, he isn't the man I thought he was."
+
+The two youths walked around the little room, gazing at the rows of
+books. Then Dave stood on a pile of old books and looked out of the
+small window.
+
+"See anything worth looking at?" asked his chum.
+
+"No, all I can see is a corner of the campus and a lot of snow. Nobody
+is in sight."
+
+"Wonder how long old Haskers intends to keep us here?"
+
+"I'm sure I don't know."
+
+With nothing to do, the boys looked over some schoolbooks. They were
+not of great interest, and soon it grew too dark to read. Phil gave a
+long sigh.
+
+"This is exciting, I must say," he said, sarcastically.
+
+"Never mind, it will be exciting enough when we face Doctor Clay."
+
+"I'd rather face him than old Haskers, Dave."
+
+"Oh, so would I! When will the doctor be back?"
+
+"I don't know."
+
+An hour went by, and the two prisoners heard a muffled tramping of feet
+which told them that the other students had assembled in the dining
+hall for supper. The thought of the bountiful tables made them both
+more hungry than ever.
+
+"I'd give as much as a dollar for a couple of good sandwiches," said
+the shipowner's son, dismally. "Seems to me, I'm hollow clear down to
+my heels!"
+
+"Wait, I've got an idea!" returned Dave.
+
+He felt in his pocket and brought forth several keys. Just as he did
+this they heard footsteps in the hallway, and Dave slipped the keys
+back in his pocket.
+
+The door was flung open and Job Haskers appeared, followed by one of
+the dining room waiters, who carried a tray containing two glasses of
+milk and half a dozen slices of bread and butter.
+
+"Here is something for you to eat," said the teacher, and directed the
+waiter to place the tray on a pile of books.
+
+"Is this all we are to have?" demanded Dave.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I'm hungry!" growled Phil. "That won't satisfy me."
+
+"It will have to satisfy you, Lawrence."
+
+"I think it's a shame!"
+
+"I want no more words with you," retorted Job Haskers, and motioned
+the waiter to leave the room. Then he went out, locking the door and
+pocketing the key as before.
+
+"Well, if this isn't the limit!" growled Phil. "A glass of milk and
+three slices of bread and butter apiece!"
+
+"Well, we shan't starve, Phil," and Dave grinned to himself in the
+semi-darkness.
+
+"And no light to eat by--and the room more than half cold. Dave, are
+you going to stand this?"
+
+"I am not," was the firm response.
+
+"What are you going to do?"
+
+"Get out of here--if I possibly can," was Dave's reply.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+A MOVE IN THE DARK
+
+
+Dave took the bunch of keys from his pocket and approached the door.
+He tried one key after another, but none of them appeared to fit. Then
+Phil brought out such keys as he possessed, but all proved unavailable.
+
+"That is one idea knocked in the head," said Dave, and heaved a sigh.
+
+"I am going to tackle the bread and milk," said Phil. "It is better
+than nothing."
+
+"It won't make us suffer from indigestion either," answered Dave, with
+a short laugh.
+
+Sitting on some of the old schoolbooks the two youths ate the scanty
+meal Job Haskers had provided. To help pass the time they made the meal
+last as long as possible, eating every crumb of the bread and draining
+the milk to the last drop. The bread was stale, and they felt certain
+the teacher had furnished that which was old on purpose.
+
+"I'll wager he'd like to hammer the life out of us," was Phil's
+comment. "Just wait and see the story he cooks up to tell Doctor Clay!"
+
+"Wonder what the other fellows think of our absence, Phil?"
+
+"Maybe they have asked Haskers about it."
+
+Having disposed of all there was to eat and drink, the two lads walked
+around the little room to keep warm. Then Dave went at the door again,
+examining the lock with great care, and feeling of the hinges.
+
+"Well, I declare!" he cried, almost joyfully.
+
+"What now, Dave?"
+
+"This door has hinges that set into this room and are held together by
+little rods running from the top to the bottom of each hinge. If we can
+take out the two rods, I am almost certain we can open the door from
+the hinge side!"
+
+This was interesting news, and Phil came forward to aid Dave in
+removing the tiny rod which held the two parts of each hinge together.
+It was no easy task, for the rods were somewhat rusted, but at last
+both were removed, and then the boys felt the door give way at that
+point.
+
+Now that they could get out, Phil wanted to know what was to be done
+next.
+
+"I think I'll go out and hunt up something to eat on the sly," answered
+Dave. "Then we can come back here and wait for Doctor Clay's arrival."
+
+"Good! I'll go with you. I don't want you to run the risk alone."
+
+They waited until they felt that the dining room was deserted and then
+pried the door open and stole from their prison. Tiptoeing their way
+through the side hall, they reached a door which led to a big pantry,
+connecting the dining room and the kitchen. As they had anticipated,
+the pantry held many good things on its shelves, and a waiter was
+bringing in more food from the tables.
+
+"Quick--take what you want!" whispered Dave, when the waiter had
+disappeared, and catching up a plate that contained some cold sliced
+tongue he added to it some baked beans, some bread and jam, and two
+generous slices of cake.
+
+Phil understood, and taking another plate he got some of the baked
+beans, some cold ham, some bread and cheese, and a pitcher of milk.
+Then the two boys espied some crullers and stuffed several in their
+pockets. Then Dave saw a candle and captured that.
+
+"He's coming back--skip!" whispered Phil, and ran out of the pantry
+with Dave at his heels. A moment later the waiter came in with more
+things, but he did not catch them, nor did he notice what they had
+taken.
+
+As quickly as they could, the two boys returned to the book-room, and
+setting the stuff on the books, they lit the candle, and placed the
+rods back into the hinges of the door. So that nobody might see the
+light, they placed a sheet of paper over the keyhole of the door, and a
+row of books on the floor against the doorsill.
+
+"Now we'll have a little better layout than that provided by Mr.
+Dictatorial Haskers," said Dave, and he proceeded to arrange some of
+the schoolbooks in a square in the center of the floor. "Might as
+well have a table while we are at it."
+
+"And a couple of chairs," added Phil, and arranged more books for that
+purpose. Then they spread a sheet of paper over the "table," put a
+plate at either end, and the two sat down.
+
+"It's a shame to make you eat without a fork, Phil," said Dave,
+solemnly. "But if you'd rather go hungry----"
+
+"Not on your collar-button!" cried the shipowner's son. "A pocketknife
+is good enough for me this trip," and he fell to eating with great
+gusto, and Dave did the same, for what food they had had before had
+only been "a flea bite," as Dave expressed it.
+
+Having eaten the most of the food taken from the pantry they placed the
+remainder on the plates on a bookshelf. Then Dave looked at his watch.
+
+"Half-past eight," he said. "Wonder how long we are to be kept here?"
+
+"Don't ask me, I was never good at conundrums," answered Phil, lightly.
+Plenty to eat had put him in a good humor. "Maybe till morning, Dave."
+
+[Illustration: "It's a shame to make you eat without a fork,
+Phil."]
+
+"I shan't stay here until morning--without a bed or coverings."
+
+"What will you do?"
+
+"Go up to the dormitory--after all the lights are out."
+
+"Good! Wonder why I didn't think of that?"
+
+"You ate too much, that's why." And Dave grinned. He, too, felt better
+now that he had fully satisfied his appetite.
+
+Slowly the time went by till ten o'clock came. The prisoners heard
+tramping overhead, which told them the other students were retiring.
+They looked for a visit from Job Haskers, but the teacher did not show
+himself.
+
+"He is going to keep us here until the doctor gets back, that is
+certain," said Dave.
+
+"But the doctor may not come back to-night. I heard him say something
+the other day about going to Boston."
+
+At last the school became quiet. By this time the boys' candle had
+burnt itself out, leaving them in total darkness. By common impulse
+they moved toward the door.
+
+"What if we meet Murphy?" asked Phil.
+
+"We'll do our best to avoid him, but if we do see him I rather think
+he'll side with us and keep quiet," answered Dave. "I know he hates
+Haskers as much as we do."
+
+Hiding what was left of their meal in a corner of a shelf, behind some
+books, the two lads stole into the semi-dark hall and up one of the
+broad stairs. They met nobody and gained their dormitory with ease.
+Going inside, each undressed in the dark and prepared to retire.
+
+"Who's up?" came sleepily from Roger.
+
+"Hush, Roger," whispered Dave.
+
+"Oh, so it's you! Where have you been, and what did old Haskers do to
+you?"
+
+In a few brief words Dave and Phil explained what had taken place.
+
+"We'll tell you the rest in the morning," said Phil, and then he and
+Dave hopped into bed and under the warm covers. Less than a minute
+later, however, Dave sat up and listened intently. He had heard the
+front door of the school building bang shut in the rising wind.
+
+"Phil!"
+
+"What is it now, Dave?"
+
+"I think I just heard Doctor Clay come in."
+
+"Oh, bother! I'm going to sleep," said the shipowner's son, with a
+yawn. "I don't think he'll trouble us to-night."
+
+"I'm going to see what happens," answered Dave, and got up again. Soon
+he had on a dressing gown and slippers, and was tiptoeing his way down
+the hallway. He heard a murmur of voices below, and knew then that both
+the doctor and Mr. Dale had arrived. Then he heard Mr. Dale walk to
+the rear of the lower floor, and heard somebody else come out of the
+library.
+
+"Mr. Haskers, what is it?" he heard Doctor Clay say.
+
+"I must consult you about two of the students, sir," answered Job
+Haskers. "They have acted in a most disgraceful manner. They attacked
+me on the road with icy snowballs, nearly ruining my right ear, and
+when I called them to account in the office one of them began to fight
+and broke your statue of Mercury."
+
+"Is it possible!" ejaculated the doctor, in pained surprise. "Who were
+the pupils?"
+
+"David Porter and Philip Lawrence."
+
+"Is this true, Mr. Haskers? Porter and Lawrence are usually
+well-behaved students."
+
+"They acted like ruffians, sir--especially Porter, who attacked me and
+broke the statue."
+
+"I will look into this without delay. Where are they now--in their
+room?"
+
+"No, I locked them up in the book-room, to await your arrival. I did
+not deem it wise to give them their liberty."
+
+"Ahem! prisoners in the book-room, eh? This is certainly serious. They
+cannot remain in the room all night."
+
+"It would serve them right to keep them there," grumbled Job Haskers.
+
+"There are no cots in that room for them to rest on."
+
+"Then let them rest on the floor! The young rascals deserve it."
+
+"Perhaps I'd better talk it over with the boys and see what they
+have to say, Mr. Haskers," went on the doctor, in a mild tone. "I do
+not believe in being too harsh with the students. Perhaps they only
+snowballed you as a bit of sport."
+
+"Doctor Clay, do you uphold them in such an action?" demanded the
+irascible instructor.
+
+"By no means, Mr. Haskers, but--boys will be boys, you know, and we
+mustn't be too hard on them if they occasionally go too far."
+
+"Porter broke that statue,--and defied me!"
+
+"If he broke the statue, he'll have to pay for it,--and if he defied
+you in the exercise of your proper authority, he shall be punished.
+But I want to hear what they have to say. We'll go to the book-room at
+once, release them, and take them to my office."
+
+"It won't be necessary to go to the book-room, Doctor Clay," called out
+Dave from the upper landing.
+
+"Why--er--is that you, Porter!"
+
+"How did you get out?" cried Job Haskers, in consternation. "Didn't I
+lock that door?"
+
+"You did, but Phil Lawrence and I got out, nevertheless," answered Dave.
+
+"Where is Lawrence?"
+
+"Up in our room in bed, and I was in bed, too, but got up when the
+doctor came in," added Dave.
+
+"Well, I never!" stormed Job Haskers. "You see how it is, Doctor Clay;
+they have even broken out of the book-room after I told them to stay
+there!"
+
+"We weren't going to stay in a cold room all night with no beds to
+sleep on, and only bread and milk for supper," went on Dave. "I
+wouldn't treat my worst enemy that way."
+
+"Did you say you were in bed when I came in?" questioned Doctor Clay.
+
+"Yes, sir--and Phil is there now, unless he just got up."
+
+"Here I am," came a voice from behind Dave, and the shipowner's son put
+in an appearance. "Do you want us to come downstairs, Doctor? If you
+do, I'll have to go back and put on my clothes and shoes."
+
+"And I'll have to go back and dress, too," added Dave.
+
+Doctor Clay mused a moment.
+
+"As you are undressed you may as well retire," he said. "I will look
+into this matter to-morrow morning, or Monday morning."
+
+"Thank you, sir," said both boys.
+
+"But, sir----" commenced Job Haskers.
+
+"It is too late to take up the case now," interrupted Doctor Clay.
+"There is no use in arousing anybody at this time of night. Besides,
+I am very tired. We'll all go to bed, and sift this thing out later.
+Boys, you may go."
+
+"Thank you, sir. Good-night."
+
+And without waiting for another word the two chums hurried to their
+dormitory, leaving Job Haskers and the doctor alone.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+VERA ROCKWELL
+
+
+Sunday passed, and nothing was said to Dave and Phil concerning the
+unfortunate snowballing incident; but on Monday morning, immediately
+after breakfast, both were summoned to Doctor Clay's office.
+
+"I suppose we are in for it now," said the shipowner's son, dolefully.
+
+"Never mind, Phil; we didn't mean to do wrong, and I am going to tell
+the doctor so. I think he will be fair in the matter."
+
+But though Dave spoke thus, he was by no means easy in his mind. He had
+had trouble with Job Haskers before and he well knew how the teacher
+could distort facts to make himself out to be a much-injured individual.
+
+When the two youths entered the office they found Doctor Clay seated
+at his desk, looking over the mail Jackson Lemond had just brought in
+from town. Job Haskers was not present, which fact caused the boys to
+breathe a sigh of relief.
+
+"Now, boys, I want you to give me the particulars of what occurred
+Saturday afternoon," said the master of the Hall, as he laid down a
+letter he had been perusing. "Porter, you may relate your story first."
+
+Without unnecessary details, Dave told his tale in a straightforward
+manner,--how the boys had been having a snowball fight, how somebody
+had cried out that Horsehair was coming in a cutter, and how they had
+thought to have a little fun with the school driver by pelting him with
+snowballs.
+
+"We have often done it before," went on Dave. "Horsehair--I mean
+Lemond--doesn't seem to mind it, and sometimes he snowballs us in
+return."
+
+"Then you did not know it was Mr. Haskers?"
+
+"No, sir--not until I had thrown the snowball."
+
+Then Dave told of Haskers's anger, and of how they had been ordered to
+the office and had gone there.
+
+"I told him I was sorry I had hit him, but he would not listen to me,
+and he wouldn't listen when Phil apologized. He said he would accept
+no apologies, but was going to give us the thrashing we deserved. Then
+he took the whip he carried and tried to strike me. I wouldn't stand
+for that and I caught hold of the whip. He told me to let go and I
+said I wouldn't unless he promised not to strike at me again. Then
+he struggled to get the whip from my grasp and pushed me backward,
+against the stand with the statue. The stand went over and the statue
+was broken."
+
+"Wait a moment, Porter." Doctor Clay's voice was oddly strained. "Are
+you certain Mr. Haskers tried to strike you with the whip?"
+
+"I certainly am, sir. He raised the whip over my head, and if I hadn't
+dodged I'd have been struck, and struck hard."
+
+"Mr. Haskers tells me that he simply carried the whip to the office to
+subdue you--that he was afraid both of you might jump on him and do him
+bodily injury."
+
+"Does he say he didn't strike at me?" cried Dave, in astonishment, for
+this was a turn of affairs he had not dreamed would occur.
+
+"He says he brandished the whip when you came toward him as if to
+strike him."
+
+"I made no move to strike him, Doctor Clay--Phil will testify to that."
+
+"Dave has told the strict truth, sir," said the shipowner's son. "Mr.
+Haskers did strike at him, and it was only by luck that Dave escaped
+the blow. I thought sure he was going to get a sound whack on the head."
+
+At these words Doctor Clay's face became a study. The teacher had had
+his say on Sunday afternoon, but this version put an entirely different
+aspect on the affair.
+
+"Go on with your story," he said, after a pause.
+
+"I am very sorry that the statue was broken," continued Dave. "And I
+wish to say right here, sir, that if you think it was my fault I will
+willingly pay for the damage done. But I think it was entirely Mr.
+Haskers's fault. I always understood that no corporal punishment was
+permitted in this school."
+
+"Your understanding on that point is correct, Porter. The only
+exception to the rule is when a student becomes violent himself and has
+to be subdued."
+
+"I wasn't violent."
+
+"Please tell the rest of your story."
+
+Then Dave told of the wordy war which had followed, and of how he and
+Phil had been locked up and given bread and milk for supper, and of
+how he and his chum had found the book-room more than cheerless. He
+had resolved to make a clean breast of it, and so gave the particulars
+of taking the door off its hinges, getting extra food, and of finally
+going upstairs to bed. The latter part of the story caused Doctor Clay
+to turn his head away and look out of a window, so that the boys might
+not see the smile that came to his face. In his imagination he could
+see the lads feasting on the purloined things in the book-room by
+candlelight.
+
+"Now, Lawrence, what have you to say?" he asked, when Dave had
+finished.
+
+"I can't say much, sir--excepting that Dave has told you the truth, and
+the whole truth at that. And I might add, sir, had Mr. Dale or yourself
+been in the cutter I think the whole trouble would have been patched
+up very quickly. But Mr. Haskers is so--so--impulsive--he never will
+listen to a fellow,--and he rushed at Dave like a mad bull. I was ready
+to jump on him when the whip went up, and I guess I would have done it
+if Dave had been struck."
+
+"And you are positive you didn't snowball Mr. Haskers on purpose?"
+
+"Positive, sir--and I can prove it by the other boys who were in the
+crowd."
+
+"Hum!" Doctor Clay was silent for fully a minute. "You can both
+go to your classes. If I wish to see you further in regard to
+this--ahem--unfortunate affair I will let you know."
+
+The boys bowed and went out, and quarter of an hour later each was deep
+in the studies for the day. Occasionally their minds wandered to what
+had occurred, and they tried to imagine what the outcome would be.
+
+"I don't think the doctor will stand for the whip," was the way Dave
+expressed himself, and in this surmise he was correct. That very
+afternoon the master of the Hall called the teacher to his office, and
+a warm discussion followed. But what was said was never made public.
+Yet one thing the boys knew--Dave was never called upon to pay for the
+broken statue--Job Haskers had to settle that bill.
+
+With the ice so fine on the river, much of the boys' off-time was spent
+in ice-boating and skating. One afternoon there was an ice-boat race
+between the _Snowbird_ from Oak Hall, a boat from Rockville Military
+Academy, and two craft owned by young men of Oakdale. This brought out
+a large crowd, and each person was enthusiastic over his favorite.
+
+"I hope our boat wins!" said Roger, who was on skates, as were Dave and
+Phil and many others.
+
+"So do I," said Dave. "I don't care who comes in ahead so long as it's
+an ice-boat belonging to Oak Hall."
+
+"That's pretty good!" cried Sam Day, "seeing that we have but one boat
+in the race."
+
+"Say, that puts me in mind of a story," came from Shadow. "One time a
+lot of young fellows in a village organized a fire company. They voted
+to get uniforms and the question came up as to what color of shirts
+they should buy. They talked it over, and at last an old fire-fighter
+in a corner got up. 'Buy any color you please,' said he, 'any color
+you please, but be sure it's red!'" And the story caused a smile to go
+around.
+
+The four ice-boats were soon ready for the contest, and at a pistol
+shot they started on the fivemile course which had been laid out.
+Messmer and Henshaw were on the _Snowbird_, which speedily took the
+second place, one of the town boats, named the _Whistler_, leading.
+
+"Hurrah! they are off!"
+
+"What's the matter with the Military Academy boat? She's a tail-ender."
+
+"The _Lark_ is third!"
+
+So the cries ran on, as the ice-boats skimmed along over the smooth
+ice, swept clear of nearly all the snow by the wind. Dave and his chums
+skated some distance after the boats and then halted, to await their
+return.
+
+"Hurrah, the _Snowbird_ is crawling up on the _Whistler_!" cried Buster
+Beggs.
+
+"They are neck and neck!" said Luke Watson.
+
+"Yes, but the _Venus_ is coming up, too," answered Phil. "Gracious, but
+I'll wager those Rockville fellows would like to win!"
+
+"The _Venus_ must be a new boat," said Ben Basswood. "I never saw her
+before."
+
+"She is new--some of the Military Academy fellows purchased her last
+week," answered another boy.
+
+The crowd moved on, Dave stopping to fix one of his skates, which had
+become loose. As he straightened up, a girl brushed past him and looked
+him full in the face. He saw that she was one of the two who had been
+on the ice-boat at the time of the accident. She gave him a sunny
+smile and he very politely tipped his cap to her.
+
+"I suppose you hope your boat will win," she said, coming to a halt
+near him.
+
+"You mean the Oak Hall boat, I suppose?"
+
+"Of course, Mr. Porter."
+
+"Yes, I hope we do win," answered Dave, and wondered how she had
+learned his name. "Don't you hope we'll win, too, Miss Rockwell?" he
+continued, seeing that the others had gone on and he was practically
+alone with his new acquaintance.
+
+"Well, I--I really don't know," she answered, and smiled again. "You
+see, the _Whistler_ belongs to some friends of my big brother, so I
+suppose I ought to want that to win."
+
+"But if the _Snowbird_ is a better boat----"
+
+Vera Rockwell gave a merry laugh--it was her nature to laugh a good
+deal. "Of course if your boat is the better of the two---- But I am
+keeping you from your friends," she broke off.
+
+"Oh, I shan't mind that," said Dave politely, and he did not mind in
+the least, for Vera seemed so good-natured that he was glad to have a
+chance to talk to her.
+
+"I wanted to meet you," Vera went on, as, without hardly noticing it,
+they skated off side by side. "I wanted to thank you for what you and
+your friend did for us the other day."
+
+"I guess you had better blame us. If we hadn't rolled that big snowball
+down the hill----"
+
+"Oh, but you said you didn't mean to hit the ice-boat----"
+
+"Which was true--we didn't see the ice-boat until it was too late. I
+hope you and your friend got home safely?"
+
+"We did. When we reached the road we met a farmer we knew with a big
+sled, and he took Mary and me right to our doors."
+
+"Do you live in Oakdale?"
+
+"Yes,--just on the outskirts of the town,--the big brick house with the
+iron fence around the garden."
+
+"Oh, I've seen that place often. You used to have a little black dog
+who was very friendly and would sit up on his hind legs and beg."
+
+"Gyp! Yes, and I have him yet--and he's the cutest you ever saw! He can
+do all kinds of tricks. Some day, when you are passing, if you'll stop
+I'll show you."
+
+"Thank you, I'll remember, and I'll be sure to stop," answered Dave,
+much pleased with the invitation.
+
+"Here they come! Here they come!" was the cry, and suddenly the youth
+and the girl found themselves in a big body of skaters. Vera was struck
+on the arm by one burly man, and would have gone down had not Dave
+supported her.
+
+"Better take my hand," said Dave, and the girl did so, for she was a
+little frightened. Then the crowd increased, and they had to fall back
+a little, to get out of the jam. Dave looked around for his chums, but
+they were nowhere in sight. Then all strained their eyes to behold the
+finish of the ice-boat contest.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+DAVE SPEAKS HIS MIND
+
+
+"Here they come!"
+
+"The _Whistler_ is ahead!"
+
+"Yes, but the _Snowbird_ is crawling up!"
+
+"See, the _Venus_ has given up."
+
+So the cries ran on, as the ice-boats drew closer and closer to the
+finishing line of the contest. It was true the _Venus_, the craft from
+the Rockville Military Academy, had fallen far behind and had given up.
+The third boat was also well to the rear, so the struggle was between
+the Oak Hall craft and the _Whistler_ only.
+
+"I hope we win!" cried Dave, enthusiastically.
+
+"Oh, how mean!" answered Vera, reproachfully. "Well, I--er--I don't
+mean that exactly, but I'd like to see my brother's friends come in
+ahead."
+
+"One thing is sure--it's going to be close," continued Dave. "Can you
+see at all?"
+
+"Not much--there is such a crowd in front."
+
+"Too bad! Now if you were a little girl, I'd lift you on my shoulder,"
+and he smiled merrily.
+
+"Oh, the idea!" And Vera laughed roundly. "I can see the tops of the
+masts, anyway. They seem to be about even."
+
+"They are. I think----"
+
+"A tie! a tie!" was the cry. Then a wild cheer went up, as both
+ice-boats crossed the line side by side. A second later the crowd broke
+out on the course and began skating hither and thither.
+
+"Is it really a tie?" asked the girl.
+
+"So it seems."
+
+"Well, I am glad, for now we can both be satisfied." Vera looked around
+somewhat anxiously. "Have you seen anything of Mary Feversham? She came
+skating when I did."
+
+"You mean the other young lady who was with you on that ice-boat?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"No, I haven't seen her. Perhaps we can find her if we skate around a
+bit."
+
+"Oh, but I don't want to trouble you."
+
+"It is no trouble, it will be a pleasure. We might----"
+
+At that moment a number of skaters swept by, including Nat Poole.
+The dudish student smiled at Vera and then, noticing Dave, stared in
+astonishment.
+
+"Do you know him?" asked Vera, and for a moment she frowned.
+
+"Yes, he belongs to our school."
+
+"Oh!" She drew down the corners of her pretty mouth. "I--I didn't know
+that."
+
+"We are not very friendly--he doesn't belong to my set," Dave went on,
+for he had not liked that smile from Poole, and he was sure Vera had
+not liked it either.
+
+"He spoke to us once--Mary and me--one day last week when we were
+skating. He was dressed in the height of fashion, and I suppose he
+thought we would be glad to know him. But we didn't answer him. Ever
+since that time he has been smiling at us. I wish he'd stop. If he
+doesn't I shall tell my big brother about it."
+
+"If he annoys you too much let me know and I'll go at him myself,"
+answered Dave, readily. "I've had plenty of trouble with him in the
+past, but I shan't mind a little more." And then he told of some of the
+encounters with the dudish student. Vera was greatly interested and
+laughed heartily over the jokes that had been played.
+
+"You boys must have splendid times!" she cried. "Oh, don't you know,
+sometimes I wish I were a boy!" And then she told something of her
+own doings and the doings of Mary Feversham, who was her one chum.
+Along with their relatives, the girls had spent the summer on the St.
+Lawrence, and the previous winter they had been to Florida, which made
+Dave conclude that they were well-to-do.
+
+They skated around a little more and soon met Mary Feversham, who was
+with Vera's big brother. Then Roger and Phil came up; and all were
+introduced to each other.
+
+"The girls told me about the big snowball affair," said Rob Rockwell.
+"I told 'em it served 'em right for going out with those Military
+Academy chaps. Those fellows never struck me right--they put on too
+many airs. We wouldn't stand for that sort of thing at my college."
+
+"Well, the race was a tie between our boat and the boat of your
+friend," said Dave, to change the subject. "They'll have to race over
+again some day."
+
+"Jackson let one of his ropes break at the turn," answered Rob
+Rockwell. "That threw his sail over and put him behind--otherwise he
+might have won."
+
+Rob was a college youth, big, round-faced, and with a loud voice
+and somewhat positive manner. But he was a good fellow, and Dave
+and his chums took to him immediately, and the two parties did not
+separate until it was time for the Oak Hall students to return to that
+institution. At parting Vera gave Dave a pleasant smile.
+
+"Remember the dog," she said.
+
+"I certainly shall," he answered, and smiled in return.
+
+"What did she mean about a dog?" questioned Roger, a minute later,
+when the chums were skating for the school dock.
+
+"Oh, not much," answered Dave, evasively. "She told me where she lived
+and I said I remembered seeing her little black dog, and then she said
+he could do all kinds of tricks, and if I'd stop there some time she'd
+show me." And hardly knowing why, Dave blushed slightly.
+
+"Oh, that's it," answered the senator's son, and then said no more.
+But in his heart he was just a little bit jealous because he had not
+been invited to call too. Vera's open-hearted, jolly manner pleased him
+fully as much as it pleased Dave.
+
+"They are all-right girls," was Phil's comment, when the boys were
+taking off their skates. "That Vera Rockwell is full of fun, I suspect.
+But I rather prefer Mary Feversham, even if she is more quiet."
+
+"Going to marry her soon, Phil?" asked Dave, quizzically.
+
+"Sure," was the unabashed reply. "The ceremony will take place on the
+thirty-first of next February, at four minutes past two o'clock in the
+evening. Omit flowers, but send in all the solid silver dollars you
+wish." And this remark caused the others to laugh.
+
+Two days later Link Merwell came back to school. Dave did not see the
+bully on his arrival, and the pair did not meet until Dave went to
+one of the classrooms to recite. Then, much to his surprise, Merwell
+greeted him with a friendly nod.
+
+"How do you do, Porter?" he said, pleasantly.
+
+"How are you, Merwell?" was the cold response.
+
+"Oh, I'm pretty well, thank you," went on Link Merwell, easily. "Fine
+weather we are having. I suppose skating is just elegant. I brought
+along a new pair of skates and I hope to have lots of fun on them." The
+bully came closer. "Had the pleasure of meeting your sister out West,"
+he continued in a lower tone. "My! but I was surprised! You were a
+lucky dog to find your father and Laura. See you later." And the bully
+passed on to his seat.
+
+Dave's face flushed and his heart beat rapidly. As my old readers know
+he had good cause to feel a resentment against Link Merwell, and it
+was maddening to have the bully mention Laura's name. He could see why
+the fellow was acting so cordially--it was solely on Laura's account.
+Evidently he considered his acquaintanceship with Laura quite an
+intimate one.
+
+"I'll have to open his eyes to the truth," thought Dave. "And the
+sooner it is done the better." Then he turned to his lessons. But it
+was hard work to get the bully out of his mind, and he made several
+mistakes in reciting ancient history, much to Mr. Dale's surprise.
+
+"You will have to study this over again," said the head teacher,
+kindly. And he marked a 6 against Dave's name, when the pupil might
+have had a 10.
+
+Dave's opportunity to "have it out" with Link Merwell came the next
+afternoon, when he had gone for a short skate, previous to starting
+work on the essay which he hoped would win the prize. The two met at
+the boathouse, and fortunately nobody else was near.
+
+"Going skating, I see," said Merwell, airily. "Finest sport going, I
+think. I wish your sister was here to enjoy it with us, don't you?
+I sent her a letter to-day. I suppose she told you we were having a
+little correspondence--just for fun, you know."
+
+"See here, Link Merwell, we may as well have an understanding now as
+later," began Dave, earnestly. "I want to talk to you before anybody
+comes. I want you to leave my sister alone,--I want you to stop
+speaking about her, and stop writing to her. She told me about her trip
+west, and how she met you, and all that. At that time she didn't know
+you as I know you. But I've told her about you, and you can take it
+from me that she doesn't want to hear from you again. She is very sorry
+she ever met you and wrote to you."
+
+"Oh, that's it, eh?" Link Merwell's face had grown first red and then
+deathly pale. "So you put in your oar, eh? Blackened my character all
+you could, I suppose." He shut his teeth with a snap. "You'd better
+take care!"
+
+"I simply told her the truth."
+
+"Oh, yes, I know just how you can talk, Porter! And did she say she
+wouldn't write to me any more?"
+
+"She did. Now I want to know something more. What did you do with the
+letters she sent you?"
+
+"I kept them."
+
+"I want you to give them to me."
+
+"To you?"
+
+"Yes, and I will send them to her."
+
+"Not much! They are my letters and I intend to keep them!" cried Link
+Merwell. His face took on a cunning look. "If you think you are going
+to get those letters away from me you are mistaken."
+
+"Maybe I can force you to give them up, Merwell."
+
+"What will you do--fight? If you try that game, Porter, I'll let every
+fellow in this school know what brought the fight about--and let them
+read the letters."
+
+"You are a gentleman, I must say," answered Dave. He paused for a
+moment. "Then you won't give them up?"
+
+"Positively, no."
+
+"Then listen to me, Link Merwell. Sooner or later I'll make you give
+them up. In the meantime, if I hear of your letting anybody else
+read those letters, or know of them, I'll give you a ten times worse
+thrashing than I did before I left this school to go to Europe. Now
+remember that, for I mean every word I say."
+
+"You can't make me give up the letters," said Merwell, doggedly. He was
+somewhat cowed by Dave's earnest manner.
+
+"I can and I will."
+
+"Maybe you think I've got them in my trunk? If so, you are mistaken."
+
+"I don't care where you have them--I'll get them sometime. And
+remember, don't you dare to write to my sister again, or don't you dare
+to speak to her when you meet her."
+
+"To listen to your talk, you'd think you were my master, Porter,"
+sneered the bully, but his lips trembled slightly as he spoke.
+
+"Not at all. But I want you to let my sister alone, that's all. All the
+decent fellows in this school know what you are, and it is no credit to
+any young lady to know you."
+
+"Bah! I consider myself a better fellow than you are," snarled the
+bully. "You are rich now, but we all know how you were brought
+up,--among a lot of poorhou----"
+
+Link Merwell stopped suddenly and took a hasty step backward. At his
+last words Dave's fists had doubled up and a light as of fire had come
+into his eyes.
+
+"Not another word, Merwell," said Dave, in a strained voice. "Not
+one--or I'll bang your head against the wall until you yell for mercy.
+I can stand some things, but I can't stand that--and I won't!"
+
+A silence followed, during which each youth glared at the other.
+Merwell had his skates in his hand and made a movement as if to lift
+them up and bring them down on Dave's head. But then his arm dropped to
+his side, for that terrible look of danger was still in the eyes of the
+youth who had spent some years of his life in the Crumville poorhouse.
+
+"We'll have this out some other time," he muttered, and slunk out of
+the boathouse like a whipped cur.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+AT THE OLD GRANARY
+
+
+There was to be a skating race that afternoon and Dave had thought
+to take part. But now he was in no humor for mingling with his
+fellow-students and so took a long walk, along the snow-covered road
+beyond Oak Hall.
+
+At first his mind was entirely on Link Merwell, and on his sister Laura
+and the letters she had written to the bully. To be sure, Laura had
+told him that the letters contained only a lot of girlish nonsense, yet
+he was more than sorry Merwell held them and he would have given much
+to have gotten them away from the fellow he despised.
+
+Returning to the Hall some time before supper, Dave went up to his
+dormitory. Only Bertram Vane was there, translating Latin.
+
+"Come to study, Dave?" he questioned pleasantly, hardly glancing up
+from his work.
+
+"I've come to work on that essay, Polly," Dave answered.
+
+"You mean the Past and Future of Our Country?"
+
+"Yes. Shall you try for the prize?"
+
+"I may--I haven't got that far yet. It seems to me you are beginning
+early."
+
+"Oh, I am merely going to jot down some ideas I have. Then, from time
+to time, I'll add to those ideas, and do the real writing later."
+
+"That's a good plan. Maybe----" And then Polly Vane stopped speaking
+and lost himself in his Latin lesson. He was very studious as well as
+girlish, but one of the best fellows in the school.
+
+Dave went to work, and so easily did his ideas flow that it was
+supper time before he had them all transferred to paper. The subject
+interested him greatly and he felt in his heart that he could do it
+full justice.
+
+"But I must work carefully," he told himself. "If I don't, some other
+paper may be better than mine."
+
+The students were flocking in from the campus, the gymnasium, and the
+river. Some came upstairs, to wash up before going to the dining room.
+Among the number was Chip Macklin, the young pupil who had in times
+gone by been the toady of Gus Plum when Plum had been the Hall bully.
+
+"Oh, Dave Porter!" cried Chip, and running up, he clutched Dave by the
+arm.
+
+"What is it, Chip?" asked Dave, seeing the little boy was white and
+trembling. "What's wrong?"
+
+"I--I--I don't know whether to tell you or not," whispered Chip. "It's
+awful--dreadful!" He looked around, to make certain nobody else was
+near.
+
+"What is awful?"
+
+Again Chip looked around. "You won't say that I told you, will you? I
+suppose I ought to tell somebody--or do something--but perhaps Plum
+wouldn't like it. He can't be left out where he is,--he might freeze to
+death!"
+
+"See here, Chip, explain yourself," and Dave's voice became somewhat
+stern.
+
+"I will! I will! But it is so awful! Why, the Doctor may suspend Gus!
+And I thought he was going to reform!" Chip Macklin's voice trembled so
+he could hardly frame the words.
+
+"Will you tell me just what you mean?"
+
+"I will if--if you'll try to help Gus, Dave. Oh, I know you'll help
+him--you did before! It's such a shame to see him throw himself away!"
+
+Dave looked the small student in the eyes and there was a moment of
+silence.
+
+"I guess I know what you mean, Chip. Where is Gus?"
+
+"Come on and I'll show you."
+
+The pair hurried downstairs. In the lower hall they ran into Shadow.
+
+"I was looking for you, Dave," said the story-teller of the school. "I
+want you to do something for me and--and for Gus Plum."
+
+"Why, Shadow, Chip---- What do you know about Gus?"
+
+The three boys stared at each other. On the instant they felt all knew
+what was wrong.
+
+"Was that what you said you'd tell me about sometime, Shadow?" asked
+Dave, in a whisper.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then it has happened before?"
+
+"Yes, about three weeks after you and Roger went to Europe. I met him
+on the road, coming to the school after spending several hours at some
+tavern in Oakdale. He wouldn't say where he got the liquor. I wouldn't
+let him come to Oak Hall until late at night. Then we got in by a side
+door and I helped him to get to bed. In the morning he was quite sick,
+but I don't think anybody suspected the cause. That afternoon he told
+me he would never touch liquor again."
+
+While Shadow was talking the three boys had left the school buildings
+and were hurrying around to the rear of one of the carriage sheds. Here
+was a small building which had once been used as a granary but was now
+partly filled with old garden implements and cut wood.
+
+It was dark in the building and from a corner came the sounds of
+somebody breathing heavily. Shadow struck a match and held it up.
+
+There, upon a pile of old potato sacks, lay Gus Plum, sleeping soundly.
+Close at hand lay a small flask which had contained liquor but which
+was now empty. Dave smelt of it, and then, going to the doorway, threw
+it far out into the deep snow.
+
+If Dave's heart had never been heavy before it was heavy now. Gus Plum
+had promised faithfully to reform and he had imagined that the former
+bully would keep his word. But, according to Shadow's statement, Plum
+had fallen from grace twice, and if he would reform at all was now a
+question.
+
+"It's fearful, isn't it, Dave?" said the story-teller of the school, in
+a whisper.
+
+"Yes, Shadow, I--I hardly know what to say--I hoped for so much from
+Gus--I thought he'd make one of the best fellows in this school after
+all--after he had lived down the past. But now----" Dave's voice broke
+and he could not go on for a moment.
+
+"We can't leave him here--and if we take him into the school----" began
+Chip Macklin.
+
+"How long has he been here?"
+
+"Not over an hour or two," answered Shadow.
+
+"He must have gone to town for the liquor."
+
+"Unless he had it on hand--he went to town a couple of days ago," said
+Chip.
+
+"We've got to do something quick--or we'll be missed from the dining
+hall," continued Shadow.
+
+"You fellows can go back, Shadow; I'll take care of him. Make some kind
+of an excuse for my absence--say I didn't care for anything to eat."
+
+"But what will you do, Dave?"
+
+"I don't know yet--but I'll fix it up somehow. This must be kept a
+secret, not only on Gus's account but for the honor of Oak Hall. If
+this got out to the public, it would give the school a terrible black
+eye."
+
+"I know that. Why, my father would never let me attend a school where
+there was any drinking going on."
+
+"Doctor Clay isn't responsible for this--nobody is responsible but Gus
+himself,--unless somebody led him on. But go on, there goes the last
+bell for supper."
+
+Shadow passed over half a dozen matches he carried and went out,
+followed by Chip Macklin. Dave stood in the dark, listening to Gus
+Plum's heavy breathing. He did not know what to do, yet he felt he had
+a duty to perform and he made up his mind to perform it. At any hazard
+he must keep the former bully from public exposure, and he must do his
+best to make Plum reform once more. He uttered a prayer that Heaven
+might help him to do what was best.
+
+Lighting another match, Dave espied an old lantern on a shelf, half
+filled with dirty oil, and lit it. Then he approached Plum and touched
+him on the arm. The sleeping youth did not awaken, and even when Dave
+shook him he still slumbered on.
+
+To take him into the school in that condition was out of the question,
+yet it would not do to let him remain in the old granary, where during
+the night he might freeze to death. Dave thought of the barn, with its
+warm hay, and blowing out the lantern, left the granary and walked to
+the other buildings.
+
+Fortune favored him, for neither Lemond nor the stableman was around,
+both being at supper in the servants' quarters. There was a back door
+and a ladder to the hayloft which might be used. He ran back to the
+granary, picked up Gus Plum and the lantern, and started on the trip.
+The former bully of the school was no light weight and Dave staggered
+under the load. Once he slipped in the snow and almost went down, but
+saved himself in time and kept on. Then came the tug up the ladder.
+During this Plum's hand was pinched and he uttered a grunt.
+
+"Shay--don't touch me," he muttered thickly, but before Dave could
+answer he was slumbering again.
+
+The hayloft gained, Dave deposited his burden in a far corner, where
+nobody was likely to see or hear him. He lit the lantern and made Plum
+a comfortable bed and covered him up, so that he might not take cold.
+Then he took a card from his pocket and wrote on it in leadpencil:
+
+  "GUS:
+
+"I brought you here from the old granary. Nobody but Chip and Shadow
+know and they will keep silent. Please, please brace up and be a man.
+
+  "DAVE."
+
+This card he fastened by a string to Plum's wrist. Then he put out the
+lantern, left the barn, and hurried back to the school. As he entered
+he found Shadow on the watch.
+
+"Just got through with supper," whispered the youth. "Nobody asked
+about you. I guess you can slip into your seat and get something,
+anyway." And Dave did this without trouble. That Job Haskers should
+miss a chance to mark him down for tardiness was remarkable, but the
+fact was Haskers was in a hurry to get away and consequently did not
+notice all that was taking place.
+
+Dave did not sleep well that night, and he roused up a dozen times
+or more, thinking he heard Gus Plum coming in. But all the alarms
+were false, for Gus Plum did not show himself until breakfast time.
+He looked flushed and sick and ate scarcely a mouthful. Some of his
+dormitory mates wanted to know where he had been during the night, but
+he did not tell them.
+
+At first Dave thought he would go to the former bully and talk to him,
+but then he concluded to let the matter rest with Plum. The latter came
+to him just before the noon session.
+
+"Will you take a skate with me after school, Dave?" he asked, very
+humbly.
+
+"Certainly, Gus."
+
+"I--I want to go with you alone," faltered the big lad.
+
+"Very well--I shan't tell any of the others," returned Dave.
+
+A fine snow was falling when the school session was over, but none of
+the pupils minded this. Dave took his skates and went to the river,
+and Plum followed. Soon the pair were skating by themselves. When they
+had turned a bend, Plum led the way to a secluded spot, under the
+wide-spreading branches of an oak, and with a deep sigh threw himself
+down on a rock.
+
+"I suppose you've got your own opinion of me," he began, bitterly, and
+with his face turned away. "I don't blame you--it's what I deserve. I
+hadn't any right to promise you that I'd reform, for it doesn't seem to
+be in me. My appetite for liquor is too strong for me. Now, don't say
+it isn't, for I know it is."
+
+"Why, Gus----"
+
+"Please don't interrupt me, Dave; it's hard enough for me to talk as it
+is. But you've been my one good friend, and I feel I've got to tell you
+the whole truth. I want you to know it all--everything. Will you listen
+until I have finished?"
+
+"Certainly. Go ahead."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+GUS PLUM'S STORY
+
+
+"You may think it strange when I tell you that I come by my appetite
+for liquor naturally, yet such is a fact," began Gus Plum, after a
+pause, during which he seemed to collect his thoughts. "You fellows who
+don't know what such an appetite is are lucky--far more lucky than you
+can realize. It's an awful thing to have such an appetite--it makes one
+feel at times as though he were doomed.
+
+"We always had liquor at our house and my folks drank it at meals, just
+as their folks had done before them, so I heard. When I was a small boy
+I was allowed to have my glass of wine, and on holidays we had punch
+and I got my share. Sometimes, I can remember, friends remonstrated
+with my folks for letting me have the stuff, but my father would laugh
+and say it was all right--that he had had it himself when he was a boy
+and that it wouldn't hurt me. My father never drank to excess, to my
+knowledge, but his brother, my uncle, did, and once when Uncle Jim was
+under the influence of liquor, he slipped under a street car and had
+his arm crushed so badly he had to have it amputated.
+
+"My uncle's losing that arm scared me a little. I was then about ten
+years old, and I made up my mind I wouldn't drink much more. But the
+stuff tasted good to me and I didn't want to break off entirely. So I
+continued to drink a little and then a little more, until I thought I
+couldn't have my dinner without wine, or something like that, to go
+with it."
+
+"When I was about thirteen a lady I knew well gave a New Year's party
+to a lot of young folks, and I was invited. I was one of the youngest
+boys there. The lady had punch, set out in a big cut-glass bowl on a
+stand in a corner of the hall, with sandwiches and cake alongside. I
+tried that punch and liked it, and I drank so much that I got noisy,
+and the lady had to send me home in her carriage."
+
+"I guess that woke my father up to the fact that matters were going too
+far, and he told me I mustn't drink liquor away from home. He couldn't
+stop me from drinking at our house, for he had it himself there. But
+he had helped me to get the appetite, and I couldn't stop. On the next
+Fourth of July I spent my money in a tavern some distance away from
+where we lived, and there some rascals--I can't call them men--treated
+me liberally, just to see me make a fool of myself, I suppose. The
+fellows teased me until I got in a rage and I took up a bottle and
+cracked it to pieces over one fellow's head, injuring him badly.
+
+"This brought matters to a climax and my father told me he was going to
+send me to boarding school. I did not want to go at first, but he said
+he felt sure it would do me good, and finally I went to Sandville, and
+then came to Oak Hall.
+
+"At first all went well, for I saw no liquor and got little chance to
+get any, but after a while the appetite forced itself on me once more,
+and--and you know what followed."
+
+As Gus Plum concluded he covered his face with his hands and looked the
+picture of misery and despair. Dave had sunk down on the rock beside
+him and he placed a hand on the other's shoulder.
+
+"Is that all, Gus?" he asked, quietly.
+
+"About all," was the low answer. "But I want you to know one thing
+more, Dave. When you went away to Europe I intended to keep my promise
+and make a man of myself. I got along all right at first, but one
+Saturday afternoon Link Merwell asked me to go to Rockville with him."
+
+"Merwell!"
+
+"Yes. I don't care for him much, yet he was very friendly and I said
+I'd go. We visited a place where they have a poolroom in the rear,
+and he urged me to play pool with him, and I did. Then he offered
+me a cigar, and finally he treated to liquor. I said I had stopped
+drinking, but he laughed at me and held a glass of strong stuff to my
+face and dared me to take it,--said I was a baby to refuse. And I took
+it,--and then I treated him, and we both took too much. I came back to
+school alone, for we got into a row when he spoke of you and said mean
+things about you. When I got to Oak Hall I might have gotten into more
+trouble, only Shadow Hamilton cared for me, as maybe you know. Merwell
+wasn't under the influence of liquor very much, but he had enough to be
+ugly, and he got into a row with Mr. Dale and came pretty near to being
+sent home. Then he had another row with the teacher and went off on his
+vacation. He somehow blamed Phil Lawrence, but Phil had nothing to do
+with it."
+
+"Yes, Phil wrote to me about that last row," answered Dave. "But to
+come back to yourself, Gus." His face grew sober. "You've certainly had
+a hard time of it, and, somehow, I don't think you alone are to blame
+for all that has happened. I have no appetite for liquor, but I think
+I can understand something of what it means. But let me tell you one
+thing." Dave's voice grew intensely earnest. "It's all nonsense to say
+you are not going to reform--that you can't do it. You can reform if
+you'll only use your whole will power."
+
+"But look at what I've tried already!" Plum's tone was utterly
+hopeless. "Oh, you don't know how I've fought against it! People who
+haven't any appetite for liquor don't know anything about it. It's like
+a snake around your neck strangling you!"
+
+"Well, I wouldn't give up--not as long as I had any backbone left. Just
+make up your mind from this minute on that you won't touch another drop
+of any kind, no matter who offers it. Don't say to yourself, 'Oh, I'll
+take a little now and then, and let it go at that.' Break off clean and
+clear,--and keep away from all places where liquor is sold."
+
+"Yes, but----" Plum's voice was as hopeless as before.
+
+"No 'buts' about it, Gus. I want you to make a man of yourself. You can
+do it if you'll only try. Won't you try?--for your own sake--for my
+sake--for the honor of Oak Hall? Say yes, and then thrust liquor out of
+your mind forever--don't even let yourself think of it. Get interested
+in your studies, in skating, boating, gymnastics, baseball,--anything.
+Before you know it, you'll have a death grip on that habit and it will
+have to die."
+
+"Do you really believe that, Dave?"
+
+"I do. Why, look at it--some men right down in the gutter have
+reformed, and they didn't possess any more backbone than you. All you
+want to do is to exert your will power. Fight the thing just as you
+used to fight me and some of the other fellows, and let that fight be
+one to a finish. Now, come, what do you say?"
+
+"I'll fight!" cried Gus Plum, leaping to his feet and with a new light
+shining in his eyes. "I'll fight! Oh, Dave, you're a wonderful fellow,
+to put new backbone in me! I felt I had to give up--that I couldn't win
+out, that everything was against me. Now I'll do as you say. I won't
+even think of liquor again, and I won't go where I can get it."
+
+"Give me your hand on that, Gus." The pair shook hands. "Now let us
+continue our skate. Perhaps we'll meet Shadow and Chip. I know they'll
+be glad to hear of what you intend to do. They want you to turn over a
+new leaf just as much as I do. And after this, take my advice and drop
+Link Merwell."
+
+"I'll do it. As I said, I never cared much for him."
+
+The two left the spot where the conversation had ensued and skated up
+the river for a considerable distance. As they disappeared another
+youth stole forth from behind some bushes near by and skated off in the
+opposite direction. The youth was Link Merwell.
+
+"So that was the trouble with Gus Plum last night, and that is what he
+has got to say about me!" muttered the bully, savagely. "Well, I am
+glad I know so much of his history--it may come useful some time! He
+may get under Dave Porter's wing, but I am not done with him yet--nor
+done with Porter either!"
+
+It was not long before Dave and Plum met Shadow, and a little later the
+three saw Chip Macklin. All four went off in a bunch, and Dave with
+much tact told of what Gus proposed to do.
+
+"It is very nice of you to keep this a secret," said Plum. "I shall
+always remember it, and if I can ever do anything for any of you I'll
+do it. You are all good friends, and Dave is the best fellow I ever
+met!"
+
+They skated on for fully a mile, the fine snow pelting them in the
+face. But nobody minded this, for all felt happy: Plum to think that he
+was going to have another chance to redeem himself, and the others over
+the consciousness that they had done a fellow-being some good.
+
+"Time to get home!" cried Shadow, looking at his watch. "What do you
+say to a race back?"
+
+"How much of a start will you give me?" asked Chip. "I've got no chance
+otherwise against you big fellows."
+
+"We'll give you fifteen seconds," answered Dave. "One, two, three--go!"
+
+Soon the race was on in earnest. Chip Macklin was well in the lead and
+the others started in a bunch. Gradually Shadow went ahead of Dave and
+Gus Plum, but then Plum drew closer, and when they reached the school
+dock, Plum and Dave were a tie, with Shadow and Chip close on their
+heels.
+
+"That puts new life in a fellow!" declared Dave. "Gus, you came pretty
+near to beating me."
+
+"Your wind is better than mine," was the answer. Plum felt he might
+have won had it not been for the dissipation of the day previous.
+Dissipation and athletic supremacy of any kind never go well together.
+
+A week slipped by quietly and during that time Dave, Roger, and Phil
+got the chance to go rabbit hunting and brought in twelve rabbits. Gus
+Plum stuck to his resolve to do better, and during school hours gave
+his studies all his attention. When not thus employed he spent his time
+in skating, snowballing, and in the gymnasium. He avoided Link Merwell,
+and for the time being the bully left him alone.
+
+During those days Dave received a letter from his sister Laura, to
+whom he had written after his talk with Merwell. Laura stated that all
+was going along finely at the Wadsworth home and that their father was
+thinking seriously of buying a fine mansion located across the street,
+which would keep the friends together. She added that she had received
+a letter from Link Merwell and had sent it back, writing across the
+top, "Please do not send any more."
+
+"No wonder Merwell looks so sour," mused Dave, after reading his
+sister's communication. "I suppose he is mad enough at me to chew me
+up."
+
+As my old readers know, there was at Oak Hall a secret society known
+as the Gee Eyes, this name standing for the initials G. I., which in
+their turn stood for the words Guess It. The society was kept up almost
+solely for the fun of initiating new members. On coming to the school
+Dave had had to submit to a strenuous initiation, which he had accepted
+without a murmur. All his chums were members, and the boys had gotten
+much fun out of the organization.
+
+"Call for a special meeting of the Gee Eyes to-night," said Ben
+Basswood, one afternoon. "Going to initiate three new members--Tom
+Atwood and the Soden brothers. Be on hand early, at the old boathouse."
+
+"What are we going to do to 'em?" asked Dave, with a grin.
+
+"That is something Sam, Buster, and some of the others want to talk
+over. They'd like to do something brand-new."
+
+"I think I can tell them of one thing to try," said Dave.
+
+"What?"
+
+"Make one of 'em think he is crossing Jackson's Gully on a narrow
+board."
+
+"Good, Dave; that will do first-rate!" cried Ben. "I hope we can think
+of two other things equally good."
+
+About an hour later Dave met some of the others, and a general
+discussion regarding the initiations for that evening took place. A
+score of "stunts" were suggested, and at last three were selected, and
+the committee got ready to carry out their plans.
+
+Link Merwell was not a member of the Gee Eyes. He had once been
+proposed and been rejected, which had made him very angry. In some
+manner he heard of the proposed initiations, and he did his best to
+learn what was going on. As we know, he was not above playing the
+eavesdropper, and now he followed Dave and his friends to learn their
+secrets.
+
+"So that is what they are up to," he said. "Well, let them go ahead.
+Perhaps I can put a spoke in their wheel when they least expect it!"
+And then he chuckled to himself as he thought of a plan to make the
+initiations end in disaster.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+THE GEE EYES' INITIATION
+
+
+"Well, you're a sight!"
+
+"I don't look any more stylish than yourself, Roger."
+
+"Stylish is good, Dave. I guess both of us look like circus clowns."
+
+"Whoop la!" shouted Buster Beggs. "Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to
+introduce to you the renowned Oak Hall Company of Left-Over Clowns and
+Monkeys--the most unique aggregation of monstrosities on the face of
+the globe. This one has the reputation of----"
+
+"Hush, not so loud, Buster!" cried Dave, "or you'll have old Haskers
+down on us, and that will spoil the fun."
+
+"Speaking of looking like clowns puts me in mind of a story," came from
+Shadow, who was still struggling to get into his club outfit. "One time
+a country fellow who wasn't a bit good-looking wanted to join a circus
+as a clown. He went to see the manager. 'Can I have a job as a clown?'
+he asked. 'Well, I don't know,' answered the manager, slowly, as he
+looked him over. 'Who showed you how to make up your face? It's pretty
+well done.'" And the usual short laugh went up.
+
+The Gee Eyes in the past had worn simple robes of red with black hoods
+over their heads. Now, by a special vote, they had purchased robes that
+were striped--red, white, and yellow. For headgear each member had a
+box-like contrivance, cubical in shape, with holes in the front for the
+eyes and an orange-like lantern on top, with a candle in it. This box
+rested on the shoulders of the wearer, thus concealing his identity
+completely.
+
+In the past, Phil Lawrence had been president of the organization,
+but now that office was filled by Sam Day, under the title of Right
+Honorable Muck-a-Muck. Ben Basswood was secretary, and was called the
+Lord of the Penwiper; Buster Beggs was treasurer, known as the Guardian
+of the Dimes, and Luke Watson was sergeant-at-arms under the title of
+Captain Doorkeep.
+
+The organization met whenever and wherever it was convenient. This was
+done for two reasons: first, because the members did not wish their
+enemies to know what they were doing, or otherwise information might be
+imparted to the teachers; and, second, they never met unless they were
+going to initiate a new member or were going to have some sort of a
+feast.
+
+"Where are the intended victims?" asked Dave, after he had adjusted
+his robe and his headgear to his satisfaction, and possessed himself of
+a long stuffed club.
+
+"They were told to wait in the old granary until called for," answered
+Messmer.
+
+"Do they seem to be timid about joining?" asked Ben.
+
+"Tom Atwood is a little timid,--he heard how little Frank Bond was
+almost scared to death by Gus Plum's crowd one term."
+
+"By the way, where is Gus?" asked Henshaw.
+
+"He said he wanted to study," answered Dave. "I asked him to come, but
+he wouldn't."
+
+"My, but didn't Gus give us a funny story the time we initiated him!"
+cried one of the students.
+
+"Yes, and do you remember how Link Merwell and Nat Poole placed those
+big firecrackers under our fire and nearly blew us all to pieces,"
+added another.
+
+"Never mind--we got square," said Buster. "I guess they haven't
+forgotten yet the drubbing we gave them."
+
+It was late at night, and the boys had had not a little difficulty in
+stealing away from the school unobserved. With all in readiness, the
+three boys who were awaiting to be initiated were sent for, and they
+presently appeared, escorted by four of the club members, each carrying
+a bright and very blunt sword. As they came into the old boathouse,
+lit up by various fantastic lanterns representing skulls, dragons, and
+the like, the Gee Eyes set up a low chant:
+
+  "Hail the victims! Let them come!
+  Let them enter, one by one!
+  Let them bow the humble knee!
+  Let them now forsake all glee!
+    Death! Blood! Tomb!"
+
+And then arose a weird groaning, calculated to make any lad feel
+uneasy. The three victims were forced to their knees and made to
+touch three chalk-marks on the floor with their noses. Then one of
+the members of the club came forward with a big tin wash-basin and
+sprinkled them with what looked to be water but was really ammonia.
+This caused some coughing and some tears commenced to flow. But the
+victims were "game" and said nothing.
+
+"Lock two of them in yonder dungeon cell," commanded the Right
+Honorable Muck-a-Muck. "They shall be led to their fate later." And the
+Soden brothers, twins named Joe and Henry, were led to a big closet of
+the old boathouse and thrust inside.
+
+Then Tom Atwood was taken outside, and a long march commenced behind
+the school grounds and leading to a secluded spot among some bushes.
+Here Atwood was suddenly blindfolded and his hands tied behind him.
+
+[Illustration: "NOW TO JACKSON'S GULLY WITH HIM!"]
+
+"Now to Jackson's Gully with him," cried several, and then the party
+proceeded a little further into the bushes.
+
+"Look out, don't slip into the gully," whispered one member, but loud
+enough for Tom Atwood to hear.
+
+"Oh, I'll take care!" whispered another. "Why, the gully is a hundred
+feet deep around here."
+
+Then Tom Atwood was led up and over some rocks and halted a short
+distance beyond.
+
+"Say, that looks mighty dangerous to me," whispered Roger.
+
+"Oh, he'll get over if he's got nerve," answered Dave.
+
+"Base slave, list thou to me!" cried the president of the Gee Eyes.
+"We have brought thee to the edge of a gully some hundred feet
+deep. If thou wouldst become a member of this notorious--I mean
+illustrious--organization thou must cross the gully on the bridge we
+have provided. Dost thou accept the condition?"
+
+"I--I don't know," faltered Tom Atwood. "I--I can't see a thing."
+
+"Nor wilt thou until thy task is accomplished. The gully must be
+crossed, otherwise thou canst not be of us."
+
+"How big is the bridge?"
+
+"One board wide."
+
+"Any--er--handrail?" went on the victim.
+
+"Nary a handrail," piped up a small voice from the rear. "What do you
+want for your money, anyway?"
+
+"Say, that puts me in mind of a story----" came from another, but he
+stopped short as a fellow-member hit him with a stuffed club.
+
+"I--I don't know about this----" began Tom Atwood. "I--oh, say, let
+up!" he cried, as he received several blows from stuffed clubs. "I--oh,
+my back!"
+
+"Wilt try the bridge?" demanded the Right Honorable Muck-a-Muck.
+
+"Yes, yes, but can't I--I crawl if I want to?"
+
+"Thou canst, after thou hast taken seven steps."
+
+"All right, here goes then."
+
+Tom Atwood was led forward to the end of a long plank.
+
+"Be careful," he was cautioned. "There, put your foot there and the
+other one right there. Now you are all right."
+
+"And must I really--er--stand up and take seven steps?"
+
+"Yes, exactly seven, or woe betide thee!" came the answering cry.
+
+With great caution the blindfolded victim took a step and then another.
+He was trembling visibly, which caused the club members to shake with
+silent laughter. He counted the steps and when he had taken just
+seven he fell on his hands and knees, clutching the sides of the plank
+tightly.
+
+"Ho--how long is--is it?" he asked, his teeth commencing to chatter.
+"I--I ain't used to climbing in such places. It--it makes me dizzy!"
+
+"Go on! go on!"
+
+"The plank is only fifty-four feet long," said one boy.
+
+"Oh, my! fifty-four feet; I'll go down--I know I will!"
+
+Slowly, and clutching the plank with a death-like grip, Tom Atwood
+moved forward a distance of eighteen feet. Then the plank came to an
+end. He put out one hand after the other, but felt only the empty air.
+
+"I--I don't feel the rest o--of th--the bridge!" he chattered.
+
+"It is gone!" cried one boy, in a disguised voice. "Turn around and
+come back."
+
+"But be careful how you turn, or the board may wabble and let you
+drop," added another.
+
+More scared than ever, Tom Atwood turned around very gingerly. Once he
+thought the board was going over, and he set up a yell of fright. Then
+slowly and painfully he came back over the plank until he reached the
+solid ground once more.
+
+"Hurrah!" cried the Gee Eyes. "Bravely done, Tom!"
+
+"Now you are one of us!"
+
+"He didn't mind that deep gully at all!"
+
+"Yes, but I did mind it," answered the victim, as they were taking the
+cover from his eyes. "I wouldn't do that again for a hundred dollars in
+cash!"
+
+"It was certainly the bravest thing to do I ever heard of," was Dave's
+comment, and then he tore the bandage away. Immediately, by the light
+of the lanterns the boys had on their headpieces, Tom Atwood looked at
+the plank which had cost him so much worry and fright.
+
+"Well, I never!" he gasped.
+
+And then what a roar of laughter went up! And well it might, for the
+plank rested on nothing but two blocks of wood and was less than a foot
+from the solid ground! The location was nowhere near Jackson's Gully.
+
+"Tom, you'll do it for a hundred dollars now, won't you?" questioned
+Roger, earnestly.
+
+"Oh, what a sell!" answered the victim, sheepishly. "Say, please don't
+tell the other fellows of this," he pleaded. "I'll never hear the end
+of it!"
+
+"The secrets of the Gee Eyes are never told outside," answered Phil.
+"But there is one more thing you must do," he added.
+
+"What?"
+
+"Carry that plank back to the boathouse."
+
+"All right."
+
+"And here is a suit for you," said Ben. "Put that on, and then you can
+participate in the initiation of the Soden brothers."
+
+"Where are they?"
+
+"Locked up in the closet at the old boathouse."
+
+"What are you going to do with them?"
+
+"You'll see when you get back."
+
+With Tom Atwood and the plank between them, the members of the Gee Eyes
+took up the long march back to the old boathouse. To do this they had
+to cross a country road which was but little used. As they did this
+they heard an unusual sound from a clump of trees near by.
+
+"There they are!" a voice called out. "I told you I had seen some
+ghosts."
+
+"Sure enough, Billy, they must be ghosts," was the reply, in a deeper
+voice. "It's a good thing I brung my shotgun with me."
+
+"Are you goin' to shoot at 'em?"
+
+"That's what, Billy."
+
+Hardly had the words been spoken when, to the consternation of the Gee
+Eyes, a shotgun was discharged, the load whistling through the trees
+over the lads' heads.
+
+"Hi! hi! stop that!" yelled Buster Beggs. "We are not ghosts! We
+are----"
+
+Bang! spoke up the shotgun a second time, and the load went clipping
+through the bushes on the left.
+
+"Hand me your shotgun, Billy," said one of the voices. "I don't know
+if I hit 'em or not, but this'll fetch 'em!"
+
+"Run!" cried Dave. "Run for your lives! That old farmer is so scared he
+doesn't know what he is doing!"
+
+And then all the boys ran across the roadway and dove into the woods
+beyond. They heard another report, but the contents of the gun did not
+reach them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+IN WHICH JOB HASKERS GETS LEFT IN THE COLD
+
+
+The boys kept on running for fully a hundred yards, plunging deeper and
+deeper into the woods which lined the roadway. Tom Atwood had dropped
+the plank and two of the club members had lost their headpieces, but
+nobody dreamed of going back for the articles.
+
+"I think I know who that man is," said Phil, when the crowd came to a
+halt.
+
+"Mike Marcy?" questioned Dave.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I thought that, too, but I wasn't sure. He called the other fellow
+Billy."
+
+"He has a boy working for him now and his name is Billy," said Shadow.
+"I met him on the road several times, driving cows. He isn't just right
+in his mind. I suppose Marcy got him to work cheap."
+
+"I wonder if Marcy really thought we were ghosts?" mused the senator's
+son. "Maybe he only said that to scare us. He might have thought we
+were up to some kind of a job around his farm."
+
+"Well, whether he thought we were ghosts or not, he certainly shot at
+us," was Phil's comment. "Ugh! I am glad I didn't get a dose of the
+shot!"
+
+"And so am I," answered several others.
+
+"That is one more black mark against Mike Marcy," said Luke Watson.
+"We'll have to remember to pay him back."
+
+"Never mind about paying him back just now," answered Roger. "The
+question is, What's to do next? That run warmed me up and I'll take
+cold if I stand here long doing nothing."
+
+"We must get back to the boathouse. Remember, the Soden boys are still
+locked up in that closet. It hasn't much ventilation and we don't want
+them to smother."
+
+"I'm not going around by the road," said Henshaw.
+
+"Not on your life!" exclaimed Ben. "I'd rather go down to the river and
+walk over the ice."
+
+It was finally decided to follow Ben's suggestion, and the crowd
+continued on their way through the brushwood until the Leming River was
+reached. They saw or heard nothing more of Mike Marcy and his hired
+boy, for which they were thankful. Reaching the ice, they set off at a
+dog-trot for the old boathouse.
+
+"If we only had skates this would be fine," declared Dave. "But as we
+haven't any we've got to make the best of it."
+
+"As the servant girl said, when she told her mistress that she couldn't
+make sponge cake because they didn't have any sponges," answered the
+senator's son.
+
+"Say, that puts me in mind of a story about a----" began Shadow.
+But just then one of the boys put out his foot and down went the
+story-teller of the school on the ice. "Hi, you!" he roared and pulled
+the other youth on top of him. Then began a wild scramble on the part
+of both to see who could get up first, and the story was forgotten.
+
+When the Gee Eyes came in sight of the old boathouse they were
+surprised to learn it was well past midnight.
+
+"We'll have to rush matters," said Dave. "If we don't, somebody may
+report us, and the doctor won't let us off very easily if we stay out
+too late."
+
+"Maybe we'd better postpone the other initiations," suggested Luke.
+
+"Oh, no, go ahead!" cried half a dozen. "We are safe enough."
+
+Entering the old boathouse, the boys lit all the lanterns they
+possessed, and those who had lost their head-coverings tied masks over
+their faces. Then some approached the closet in which the Soden twins
+had been confined.
+
+
+"Hello!"
+
+"They are gone!"
+
+"What does this mean?"
+
+"They must have broken out and run away!"
+
+Such were some of the exclamations indulged in when it was found that
+the apartment was empty. A hasty examination was made of the hasp and
+staple of the door, and they were found intact. A wooden peg had served
+to keep the hasp in place.
+
+"It looks to me as if somebody had let them out," said Dave, after an
+examination.
+
+"But who would do that, Dave?" questioned Phil.
+
+"Somebody not a member of the Gee Eyes--some enemy of the club."
+
+"But why should the Soden boys run away?" asked Shadow. "They were
+willing to be initiated."
+
+"Perhaps they got cold feet--mentally as well as physically," ventured
+Henshaw. "They may have got to talking things over in the dark and got
+scared."
+
+"They didn't break out, that's sure," declared the senator's son.
+"Somebody on the outside removed that wooden peg."
+
+"Well, we didn't do it," said one of the boys.
+
+"Can they be anywhere around?"
+
+Some of the boys began a search, but this was in vain--the twins had
+disappeared.
+
+
+"We may as well give up for to-night," said the president at last.
+
+"I move we adjourn to bed," said Ben, and this was put and carried, and
+without delay the robes, headgears, and stuffed clubs and swords were
+hidden away, and the students hurried to Oak Hall.
+
+Here another setback awaited them. The side door was locked, and the
+false key they had put on a convenient nail was missing.
+
+"Somebody is playing us tricks," said Dave. "I thought so before and
+now I am certain of it. I shouldn't wonder if that somebody had gone
+and told Mike Marcy to look out for ghosts at the end of his lot."
+
+"Who would do it?"
+
+"Several fellows--Link Merwell, Nat Poole, and their cronies."
+
+"Never mind that crowd now," said Shadow. "How are we to get into the
+school without waking anybody up?"
+
+"Let us try all the doors and lower windows," suggested the shipowner's
+son.
+
+This was done, and at last one of the boys found a basement window
+unfastened. He notified the others.
+
+"I know where that leads to," said Dave. "The laundry."
+
+"Yes, I've been in the laundry, too," added the senator's son.
+
+
+"Then one of you see if you can get upstairs through the laundry and
+let us in," said Buster. "And please don't be all night about it
+either, for I am getting cold."
+
+"Don't say a word," came from Messmer. "My ears are about frozen
+already."
+
+"I'll go," said Dave.
+
+"I'll go along," returned Roger.
+
+Both climbed down through the basement window, to find themselves in a
+place that was pitch-dark. Here Dave struck a match and by its faint
+rays led the way to an open cellar and then to a stairs running up to
+the kitchen.
+
+Tiptoeing their way up the stairs, they tried the door at the top, and
+to their joy found it unlocked. They stepped into the kitchen, and just
+then the match went out, leaving them again in the dark.
+
+"I know the way now, so there is no need to make another light," said
+Roger.
+
+"Wait,--better have a light," answered Dave. "You don't want to stumble
+over anything and make a noise."
+
+He found a candle and lit it, and then the chums crept silently from
+the kitchen, through the pantry and dining room to the side hall. They
+wanted to stop for something to eat from the pantry, but did not wish
+to keep their friends waiting out in the cold.
+
+The two youths were just on the point of turning a corner of the hall
+when a sound struck their ears. Somebody was close at hand, snoring
+lustily!
+
+"Who can it be?" asked Roger, in a faint whisper, when both realized
+what the sound meant.
+
+"I'll soon find out," answered Dave, and held up the candle.
+
+"Don't wake him up, or there'll be trouble!"
+
+Step by step they drew closer to the sleeping person. It was a man,
+wearing an overcoat and a skullcap. He was seated in a comfortable
+armchair taken from the parlor.
+
+"Old Haskers!" cried Dave.
+
+"He must have been on the watch for us and fallen asleep," was the
+comment of the senator's son.
+
+"Don't wake him--let him sleep."
+
+"To be sure, Dave--I'd like to chloroform him!"
+
+The boys passed the snoring teacher and reached a side door. Unlocking
+it, they slipped without, and closed the door again. Then they summoned
+the members of the Gee Eyes and told them of what they had discovered.
+
+"You'll have to go in as quietly as mice," said Dave. "Otherwise he'll
+wake up and catch us,--and then the fat will be in the fire."
+
+"Dave, somebody has surely been spying on us," said Phil.
+
+"Exactly--but we can't take that up now. In you go, and take off your
+shoes before you start upstairs. Maybe----" Dave paused.
+
+"What, Dave?"
+
+"Maybe we can play a joke on Haskers, when we are about safe."
+
+"How?" asked several.
+
+"We might carry him out on the piazza and lock the door on him. Under
+that overcoat he has on only his night clothes and a pair of slippers."
+
+"If we only could do it!" murmured Phil, gleefully.
+
+One by one the members of the Gee Eyes entered the school building,
+slipped off their shoes, and went upstairs. Then, wrapping their
+coats around their heads, Dave, Roger, Phil, and Shadow came back and
+surrounded Job Haskers.
+
+"Now listen," said Dave, who still held the candle. "If he wakes
+up, drop him. I'll blow out the candle, and all scoot for the
+dormitories,--but without noise, remember that!" And so it was agreed.
+
+As carefully as possible they raised up the sleeping man, armchair and
+all, and carried him to the side door, which Dave opened. Then they
+took their burden outside and put the chair down in the snow at the
+foot of the piazza steps. This accomplished, they ran back into the
+school, closed and locked the door, and threw the key in a dark corner.
+
+
+"Now for the dormitory!" cried Dave, and blew out the light. "And
+everybody undress in jig-time!"
+
+All understood, and the way they flew up the stairs was a wonder. Like
+lightning-change actors they threw off their garments and got into
+their sleeping clothes. The other boys were already disrobed, and some
+were at the windows, looking down through shade cracks, to see what
+might happen below.
+
+They had not long to wait. Job Haskers speedily grew cold and woke up
+with a start. In the darkness he stared around in perplexity and then
+leaped to his feet.
+
+"Oh!" the boys heard him mutter, as some of the loose snow got into his
+slippers. "What can this mean? Where am I?"
+
+He took several steps, and more snow got into his slippers. Then he
+slipped on a patch of ice and plunged straight into the snow with his
+arms and shoulders.
+
+"Confound the luck!" the boys heard him say. "Boys, what does this
+mean? Who put me here? Oh, but won't I make you suffer for this! Oh, my
+feet!" And then he rushed for the piazza steps. Here he slipped again,
+and the students heard him yell as he came down on his left elbow. Then
+he disappeared from sight under the roof of the piazza.
+
+
+"He won't get in right away!" whispered Roger. "Oh, this is the best
+yet!"
+
+They heard Job Haskers fumble at the knob of the door. He tried to turn
+it several times and then shook it violently. Finding the door would
+not open, he began to pound upon the barrier with his fist.
+
+"He's making noise enough to wake the dead!" whispered Phil.
+
+"Somebody is going below," said Dave, a moment later. "Now I guess
+there will be more fun!"
+
+"If only we aren't caught!" murmured Shadow, who was a bit afraid that
+the fun had been carried too far.
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+WHAT MIKE MARCY HAD TO TELL
+
+
+It was Murphy the monitor who let the assistant teacher in. Job Haskers
+entered stamping his feet loudly, for they were decidedly cold.
+
+"Why, Mr. Haskers, what does this mean?" asked the monitor, in
+amazement. "I didn't know you were out. And in slippers, too!"
+
+"I--er--I----" stammered the teacher, and then he stopped, for he did
+not know how to proceed. He realized that he occupied a very ridiculous
+position.
+
+"Can I do anything for you?" went on the monitor.
+
+"Murphy, have you seen any boys come in since lights were out?"
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"Nobody at all?"
+
+"Not a soul."
+
+"It is queer. They must have come in, and finding me asleep----" Job
+Haskers did not finish.
+
+"Where were you asleep, sir?"
+
+"Never mind--if you saw nobody. But listen, I want you to make the
+rounds, and see if every boy is in his dormitory. If any are absent,
+report to me in my room at once."
+
+"Yes, sir," returned the monitor, and hurried off.
+
+"He'll not find us missing," whispered Dave. "All hands in bed and
+eyes shut. No fooling now, for if you are caught something serious may
+happen."
+
+The others understood, and when Jim Murphy came with a light to look
+into dormitories No. 11 and No. 12 he found every lad tucked in under
+the blankets and looking as if he had been slumbering for several hours.
+
+"That was what I call a narrow escape," whispered Phil, after the
+monitor had departed. "Somebody surely spied on us."
+
+"We'll look into the matter to-morrow," answered Luke Watson. "I'm in
+for sleep now." And a little later all the lads were in the land of
+dreams.
+
+The next morning the members of the Gee Eyes looked for an
+investigation from Job Haskers, but no such thing occurred. The fact
+of the matter was that the teacher realized fully what a joke had been
+played on him while he was asleep, and he was afraid to stir the matter
+up for fear the entire school would be laughing at him. He made a few
+very cautious inquiries, which gave him no clew, and then, for the time
+being, dropped the matter.
+
+The Gee Eyes were anxious to know how the Soden brothers had gotten out
+of the closet at the old boathouse, and were amazed when the answer
+came.
+
+"Why, two of you fellows came back and let us out," said Henry Soden.
+
+"Let you out?" asked Buster Beggs.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"One of the fellows said that Mr. Haskers was onto the game and that no
+initiations would be attempted," explained Joe Soden. "He said we had
+better get back to our dormitory as quickly as we could, so we scooted."
+
+"Who were those chaps?" demanded Dave.
+
+"I don't know. They wore their coats inside out and big paper bags over
+their heads."
+
+"They were no members of the Gee Eyes," said Phil. "They were some
+outsiders who wanted to spoil our fun."
+
+"Well, I must confess we were glad enough to get out of the closet,--it
+was so cold," said Henry Soden. "But just the same I shouldn't have
+run away if I had known the truth. Both of us are anxious to join your
+club."
+
+"I'll tell you what I think," said Dave. "It was a put-up job all
+around. Some enemy told Mike Marcy about ghosts, sent word to old
+Haskers to be on guard, and released Joe and Henry."
+
+"If that is true, we want to find out who that enemy was," answered
+Roger. "No student of Oak Hall can play such a trick on the Gee Eyes
+without suffering for it."
+
+"So say we all of us!" sang out several.
+
+"I have a plan," went on Dave. "Let us lay for that hired boy of
+Marcy's--the lad called Billy. Maybe he can tell us who told Marcy--if
+anybody did tell him." And so it was arranged.
+
+The opportunity to interview the farm boy Billy did not occur until
+about a week later, when Dave and Ben Basswood were walking to Oakdale
+to buy some film rolls for their cameras. They took a side road leading
+past the Marcy farm, and caught sight of Billy down by a cowshed and
+beckoned to him.
+
+"Is your name Billy?" asked Dave, kindly, for he could easily see that
+the lad was somewhat simple-minded, by the way he clasped and unclasped
+his hands, twisted his shoulders, and twitched his mouth.
+
+"Yes, Billy Sankers, from Lundytown," was the boy's reply.
+
+"Do you work for Mr. Marcy?"
+
+"Do I? Sure I do--an' he works for me," and Billy grinned at what he
+thought was a joke.
+
+"You went after ghosts the other night, didn't you?" continued Dave.
+
+"Yes, we did, an' we bagged a lot of 'em, too--shot 'em full of holes
+an' they disappeared into the sky," and the poor deluded boy began to
+wave his arms as if flying.
+
+"Who told Mr. Marcy that the ghosts were coming?" asked Ben.
+
+"Two boys from the school over there," and now Billy jerked his thumb
+in the direction of Oak Hall. "They said to keep still about it, but
+what's the use? The ghosts are shot full of holes, shot full of holes,
+holes, holes!"
+
+"Did you know the boys?" asked Dave.
+
+At this question Billy shook his head. "I don't go to school there--I
+know too much. Maybe some day I'll go over and teach the teachers. One
+boy called the other Nat," he added, suddenly.
+
+"Nat!" cried Dave. He turned to his chum. "Can it have been Nat Poole?"
+
+"That's it, Nat Poole!" cried Billy. "You're a wise owl to guess it."
+
+"What was the other boy called?" continued Ben.
+
+"Called? Nothing. Yes, he was, too, he was called Link. That's it,
+Link, Blink, Hink! Funny name, eh?"
+
+"Link!" cried Dave. "Can it have been Link Merwell?"
+
+"More than likely," answered his chum. "Nat and Link travel together,
+and both are down on our crowd."
+
+"Did they tell Mr. Marcy that the ghosts would be schoolboys?" asked
+Dave.
+
+"No, ghosts," answered Billy, nodding his head gravely. "They told Mike
+an' he told me, an' we got the shotguns to scare 'em off. Mike don't
+want ghosts around this place."
+
+"Here comes Mike Marcy now," whispered Ben. "Had we better get out?"
+
+"I'll not run for him," was Dave's answer.
+
+"Sure, an' what do you fellers want here?" demanded the big, brawny
+Irish-American farmer as he strode up, horsewhip in hand.
+
+"Mr. Marcy, we want to have a talk with you," said Dave, coldly. "I
+guess you remember me."
+
+"I do. You're the lad I once had locked up in my smokehouse," and the
+farmer grinned slightly.
+
+"Yes. But I am not here about that now,--nor am I here to tell you that
+I was one of the boys that found your mule when he was lost and sent
+you word. I am here to ask you about the shooting that took place about
+a week ago."
+
+"Shooting!"
+
+"Exactly. Who were the boys who came here and told you to go to the end
+of your farm and shoot at a lot of innocent lads having a little fun by
+themselves?"
+
+"Why--er---- See here, what do you mean?" blustered Mike Marcy.
+
+"I mean just what I say, Mr. Marcy, and I want you to answer my
+question."
+
+"Eh! Say, do you see this whip?" stormed the farmer. "I'll let ye taste
+it in a minit!"
+
+"You'll do nothing of the kind," answered Dave, coolly. "I ask you a
+question and you must answer it. This is a serious business. You fired
+three shots at a crowd of innocent schoolboys who were harming nobody.
+You cannot deny it."
+
+"They were on my land."
+
+"Some of them were on the road, and they were doing absolutely no harm.
+You merely fired at them out of pure ugliness."
+
+"See here, do ye want this?" And now the horsewhip was raised.
+
+"If you strike either of us, I shall at once have you arrested. How
+many students do you suppose are now in bed under the doctor's care
+because of the shooting you did?"
+
+At this question Mike Marcy turned suddenly pale.
+
+"I--er--was anybody hurt? I--er--I fired into the air--just to scare
+'em," he faltered.
+
+"I ask you a question and I want you to answer it, and you had better
+do it unless you want to get into more trouble. Who told you to go out
+and do the shooting?"
+
+"We want their names and we are bound to have them," put in Ben,
+following up Dave's bold manner, now that he saw the farmer was growing
+uneasy.
+
+"The boys were named Nat Poole and Link Merwell. But they wanted their
+names kept secret."
+
+"What did they tell you?"
+
+"They said a lot of the toughest lads in the school were going to
+disguise themselves an' come down here and cut up like Indians, and
+maybe rob me of some chickens, an' I had better be on the watch for
+'em. One said I might scare 'em by saying I saw ghosts, and I said that
+was a good idee. So I called Billy an' told him about the ghosts, an'
+we got the shotguns. But as true as I stand here I shot up into the
+air. I didn't want to hit anybody, an' if any lad got as much as one
+shot in him I'm sorry."
+
+"That is all we want to know, Mr. Marcy," returned Dave. "We thank you
+for the information," and he started to walk away, followed by Ben.
+
+"But see here--if anybody is hurted----" cried Mike Marcy. "Sure, I
+don't want trouble----"
+
+"We won't say any more about it--since you didn't mean to hit anybody,"
+answered Dave. "But after this never shoot at us again."
+
+"I won't, ye can be certain of that," answered the farmer, with a sigh
+of relief.
+
+"And another thing, Mr. Marcy," added Ben. "If you see Nat Poole or
+Link Merwell do not tell them that you saw us or told us the truth."
+
+"I'll remember." And with this promise from the farmer the boys took
+their departure. But they had not gone a hundred feet when Mike Marcy
+came running after them.
+
+"Tell me," said he; "was anybody really hit?"
+
+"Nobody was seriously hurt," answered Dave. "But you scared some of the
+boys nearly to death, and they tumbled all over the rocks and bushes,
+in trying to get out of range of the shots."
+
+"I see. Well, I won't do any more shooting," answered Mike Marcy, and
+walked back to his house, looking very thoughtful.
+
+"It is just as we supposed," said Dave, when he and his chum were
+alone. "Nat Poole and Link Merwell are responsible for everything. They
+got Marcy to do the shooting, released the Soden brothers, and somehow
+put Haskers on guard."
+
+"Well, the Gee Eyes will have to square accounts with them," replied
+Ben. "We'll make a report at the next meeting of the club, and then the
+club can take what action it likes in the matter. For my part, I think
+such sneaks ought to be drummed out of the school."
+
+"And I agree with you, Ben. But let me tell you one thing. Link Merwell
+is ten times worse than Nat Poole. Nat is a dude and a fool and easily
+led around by others, but Link Merwell is a knave, as black-hearted as
+any boy I can name. Look out for him, or when you least expect it he
+will play you foul."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+SOMETHING ABOUT LESSONS
+
+
+At Oakdale the two students ran into Phil, who had come to town
+earlier, to see about a pair of skating shoes. They told their chum of
+what they had learned, and the shipowner's son agreed that the Gee Eyes
+ought in some way to punish the offenders.
+
+"I just met two friends," went on Phil. "I stopped at the candy store
+for some chocolates and ran into Mary Feversham and Vera Rockwell. Vera
+wanted to know how you were, Dave," and Phil grinned.
+
+"I trust you told her I was very sick, Phil," was Dave's quick reply.
+
+"I did--I said you were crying your eyes out for another sight of her,"
+and then Phil dodged, to escape a blow Dave playfully aimed at his head.
+
+The boys procured the articles for which they had come, and then took a
+stroll through the town. At one store an auction sale was in progress
+and here they met the two girls Phil had mentioned. Both were dressed
+in fur coats, with dainty fur caps to match, and both looked very sweet.
+
+"We watched them selling some bric-a-brac," said Mary. "It was real
+fun. A beautiful statue of Apollo went for two dollars--just think of
+it!"
+
+"Might get one of those statues to replace the broken one," said Ben to
+Dave.
+
+"Oh, did somebody break a statue?" cried Vera.
+
+"Yes,--and there was quite an exciting time doing it," said Phil. "Dave
+was the hero of the occasion."
+
+"Oh, tell me about it, Mr. Porter!" And Vera bent her eyes full upon
+Dave.
+
+"Oh, it didn't amount to much," answered Dave.
+
+"But please tell me, won't you?" pleaded Vera.
+
+Then both girls teased him, until at last he related some of the
+particulars of the encounter with Job Haskers. Mary and Vera were
+deeply interested, Vera especially.
+
+"I am glad you did not give in to him," said Vera. "I like a boy who
+can stand up for his rights."
+
+"You can trust Dave to do that," said Ben. "He doesn't take water for
+anybody."
+
+"Oh, come now, Ben----" murmured Dave.
+
+"I believe Mr. Basswood," said Vera. "I hope Mr. Porter always does
+stick up for himself. I never liked a boy or a man--or a girl
+either--who was cowardly."
+
+After that the boys and girls listened to the auctioneer for several
+minutes. Then Phil suggested soda to Mary Feversham, and all of the
+party walked over to a corner drug store, where hot chocolate was to be
+had, and there Phil and Dave treated.
+
+The crowd was in the act of drinking the beverage, and Dave had just
+handed Vera her glass, when, glancing toward the doorway, he saw Link
+Merwell and a strange young man standing there. Link started and stared
+rudely at the girls. Then he whispered something to his companion, and
+both turned from the drug store and disappeared up the street.
+
+"Did you see them?" whispered Dave to Phil.
+
+"I saw somebody look in and walk away. Who was it?"
+
+"Link Merwell and a stranger."
+
+"Humph! I suppose Merwell didn't want to come in while we were here,"
+murmured the shipowner's son. And there the subject was dropped.
+Little did Dave dream of what was to be the result of Link Merwell's
+unexpected appearance while he was in the company of Vera Rockwell.
+
+The boys did not have much time to spend in town, and soon they bade
+the girls good-by and hurried back to Oak Hall. It was plain to be
+seen that Phil thought the trip an extra pleasant one.
+
+"No use in talking; Mary Feversham is all right," he said to Dave,
+enthusiastically. "Finest girl I ever ran across."
+
+"Phil, I'm afraid you're smitten," answered Dave, with a laugh. "You'll
+be dreaming about her next."
+
+"Perhaps--I don't care if I do," was the reply, which showed that Phil
+was pretty far "gone" indeed. "But say," he went on, suddenly. "Talking
+about dreaming, I want to tell you something. Do you remember how
+Shadow Hamilton used to walk in his sleep?"
+
+"I don't think anybody is liable to forget it," answered Dave, thinking
+of Shadow's theft, during his sleep-walking, of Doctor Clay's valuable
+collection of rare postage stamps as related in a previous volume of
+this series.
+
+"Shadow is at it again--although not so bad as before."
+
+"How do you know?" asked Ben.
+
+"Because the other night I woke up and heard him getting something
+out of his trunk. He was at the trunk about ten minutes and then went
+to bed again. In the morning I asked him about it and he declared
+positively that he hadn't gotten up at all. He was much disturbed over
+what I told him."
+
+"Maybe you were only dreaming," suggested Dave.
+
+"No, I wasn't--I was as wide awake as I am now."
+
+"It would be too bad if Shadow got to sleep-walking again," said Dave.
+"We'll have to watch him a little. We don't want him to get into
+trouble."
+
+During the next two weeks Dave found but little time for recreation.
+A test in two studies was in progress, and he made up his mind to
+pass with flying colors. He went in for a regular "grind," as Roger
+expressed it, and was at his books fully as much as was Polly Vane;
+indeed, the two often studied together.
+
+"Come on out for a skate--it may be the last of the season," said the
+senator's son, one afternoon, but Dave shook his head.
+
+"Can't do it, Roger--I've got my Latin to do, and four of those
+problems in geometry,--and some German."
+
+"Oh, bother the lessons! Can't you let the geometry and the German
+slide?"
+
+"Oh, I've made up my mind to get not less than ninety per cent. in the
+test this week."
+
+"Then you won't really come?" Roger lingered in the doorway as he spoke.
+
+"Not to-day. Have you got that geometry?"
+
+"No--I thought I might do it this evening."
+
+"What about the German?"
+
+"Oh, perhaps I'll do that, too. I don't care much for the German,
+anyway."
+
+"But you ought to study your lesson, now you have taken it up, Roger."
+
+There was a minute of silence, and Dave turned to his text-books and
+papers and began to write. Roger drummed on the door and heaved a deep
+sigh. The ice on the river was growing soft--in a few days skating
+might be a thing of the past.
+
+"It seems to me you don't care for skating as much as you did, Dave,"
+he said, presently.
+
+"Oh, yes, I do, Roger; but I'm not going to think about it while I have
+studying to do. I can't forget that, after all is said and done, I am
+here to get a good education, and that both my father and Mr. Wadsworth
+expect me to make the most of my opportunities."
+
+Dave returned again to his books and papers and another silence
+followed. Then the senator's son came in, hung up his skates in the
+closet, and got out his own schoolbooks and papers.
+
+"Well, if we've got to grind, I suppose it is up to me to do my share,"
+he remarked, with another sigh. "But that ice----"
+
+"Don't do it on my account, Roger."
+
+"Yes, but, Dave, I can't stand it to see you grinding alone--when I
+know I ought to grind too. My father wants me to get a good education,
+too. So here goes," and then Roger began to study just as hard as Dave
+and Polly. Then Phil came in, and Shadow, and seeing the condition of
+affairs, went at it like the rest. Dave's example certainly carried
+a wonderful influence with it, even though the youth himself did not
+fully realize it.
+
+"This fifth problem in geometry is a corker," observed Shadow,
+presently. "If the gable of a house is fourteen feet long on one side,
+and the angle at the top is one of forty degrees, and the other side is
+but eleven feet long, how----"
+
+"Don't say a word, I've been working on that for half an hour," said
+Phil. "Tried it this noon, after dinner, and couldn't get it."
+
+"It's very easy," answered Polly.
+
+"Have you got it, Dave?" asked Roger.
+
+"Yes, but I didn't find it so easy."
+
+"Guess I'll climb up some gable and measure it," said Shadow. He began
+suddenly to grin. "That puts me in mind of a story. Once a college
+professor----"
+
+"Don't!" begged Polly. "I have some figures in my head I don't wish to
+lose!"
+
+"Then nail 'em down," answered the story-teller of the school, calmly.
+"This college professor was paying a visit to some lumbermen and
+he was trying to convince one old tree-chopper of the value of an
+education. Says he, 'Now, look at it. You don't know how to measure
+a plank accurately.' 'Don't I, though?' says the lumberman. 'No,
+you don't, and I can prove it,' says the professor. 'Now, supposing
+you had a plank twenty feet long and one foot wide at one end and
+running up evenly to two feet wide at the other end. Where would you
+saw that plank crosswise so that one end would contain as much wood
+as the other? You can't do that problem and I know it, because you
+never studied higher mathematics.' 'That's dead easy,' says the old
+lumberman. 'I don't even need a pencil to figger it out,' says he.
+'Jest balance thet plank on a bit of stick, an' cut her where she
+balances!' And then the college professor didn't have anything more to
+say, for he made out the lumberman was a hopeless case." And at this
+tale all the boys present snickered.
+
+"Shadow would have a job climbing up on a gable to measure it," said
+Phil. "I'd rather do it on paper." Then Polly Vane and Dave gave Shadow
+some points as to how the problem should be worked out.
+
+In some way Link Merwell and Nat Poole got an inkling of the fact
+that it was known they had done all in their power to break up the
+initiation ceremonies of the Gee Eyes, and, not to be cornered, both
+of the boys did all they could to keep out of the reach of their
+fellow-students. But the Gee Eyes did not forget, and at a special
+meeting of the club it was voted to give both Poole and Merwell "the
+cold shoulder" until something more definite could be done. By "the
+cold shoulder" was meant that no member of the club was to associate
+with Poole or Merwell or speak to them unless required to do so during
+school sessions. Outside of the schoolrooms they were to be as utterly
+ignored as though they did not exist.
+
+"I think that will bring Nat Poole to terms, without going further,"
+said Roger. "He hates to be left to himself--I've noticed that many
+times."
+
+"Well, it may have that effect on Nat," answered Dave. "But I think it
+will only make Merwell more savage," and in this surmise he was correct.
+
+The tests proved a severe strain on many of the boys, and Dave was glad
+when they were over. What the standing of each student was would not be
+known until later.
+
+"Now I'd like to go skating," said he to Roger, but this could not be,
+for warm weather had set in and the ice and snow were rapidly passing
+away. That night it rained, and this made everything outside very
+sloppy.
+
+Dave went to bed early, for he was tired out. He slept soundly for
+several hours and then awoke with a start, for something had brushed
+his face. He sat up, and was just in time to see a form gliding from
+the dormitory.
+
+"Hello! what can that mean?" he murmured to himself, and then he sprang
+up. "Guess I'll investigate." And then, putting on a pair of slippers
+and donning a long overcoat that was handy, he made after the person
+who had just disappeared.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+SHADOW HAMILTON'S PERIL
+
+
+When Dave reached the hallway he saw, by a dim light that was burning,
+a form at the lower end, moving toward a back stairs. An instant later
+the form glided up the stairs toward the third floor of the school
+building. The form was in white, and Dave knew it must be one of the
+students in his nightdress.
+
+"Something is going on," he thought. "Wonder if that is Phil or Roger?"
+
+Curious to learn what the midnight prowler was up to, Dave followed
+the unknown to the third story of the building. He saw the fellow walk
+to a side hall. Here it was almost dark, for the servants' rooms were
+in that part of the building. He stopped and listened and heard an odd
+creaking and a scraping sound. Then he went forward once more.
+
+Turning into the side hall, a gust of cold wind struck him. He knew
+it came from overhead, and then he remembered that at the end of the
+side hall was a ladder leading to a scuttle of the roof. The scuttle
+had been thrown open, and wind and rain were coming down through the
+opening.
+
+Dave's curiosity was now excited to the top pitch. He felt sure that
+the servants had not left the scuttle open on retiring or that it had
+been blown open by the wind. Consequently, the midnight prowler must
+have opened it, and if so, for what purpose excepting to get out on the
+wet and slippery roof?
+
+Suddenly an idea flashed into Dave's mind, and without further ado he
+ran to the ladder and mounted it with all speed. At the top he thrust
+his head through the scuttle opening and looked around that portion of
+the school roof which was visible from that point.
+
+He had expected to see a certain person, but he was disappointed. Yet
+this did not make him hesitate regarding his course of action. He
+crawled out on the roof, slippery and treacherous with slush, and made
+his way cautiously but rapidly to where there were an angle and a high
+gable, with a wide chimney between.
+
+As he gained the side of the chimney and stood there in the rain,
+slush, and wind, he saw a sight that both thrilled and chilled him. The
+mysterious student in white was crawling up the gable and was already
+close to the ridge!
+
+"Shadow Hamilton!" murmured Dave. "He is sleep-walking again!"
+
+Dave was right--it was indeed poor Shadow, and as fast asleep as a
+sleep-walker can get. The lad had a tape measure in one hand and was
+muttering to himself:
+
+"If the gable of a house is fourteen feet long on one side, and the
+angle at the top----" And then the rest was lost in the wind.
+
+"He's dreaming of that problem in geometry," said Dave to himself.
+"It's got on his nerves."
+
+He wondered what he could do to aid the sleep-walker. He was afraid to
+call to Shadow, for fear the boy might awaken suddenly and tumble off
+the roof. Shadow was now on the ridge, and, to Dave's added horror, he
+stood upright, the tape measure in his hands. Then he began to walk to
+the very end of the ridgepole.
+
+"If he falls into the yard he'll break his neck sure!"
+
+Such was Dave's agonizing thought, and despite the cold, the heavy
+perspiration stood out on his forehead.
+
+"Dave!"
+
+It was a voice from the scuttle opening and came so unexpectedly it
+made the youth start. Turning back, he made out Phil in the dim light.
+
+"Phil!" he whispered.
+
+"What are you doing up there, Dave?"
+
+"I followed Shadow Hamilton."
+
+"Shadow?"
+
+"Yes. He is sleep-walking again and has climbed to the ridge of the
+gable roof. I don't dare to awaken him for fear of an accident."
+
+"I saw you go out and I was wondering what was up. Then I missed Shadow
+and came after you. It's too bad, Dave! But I imagine the very best
+thing you can do is to let him alone until he comes back."
+
+"I don't like to take the responsibility, Phil. If anything should
+happen I'd never forgive myself. I'll tell you what I wish you'd do."
+
+"What?"
+
+"Run and call Mr. Dale. He knows something about these cases. He once
+told me he had a brother who walked in his sleep and did all sorts of
+strange things."
+
+"All right, I'll call him," answered the shipowner's son, and
+disappeared down the scuttle ladder.
+
+Going back to the chimney, Dave now saw that Shadow had reached the end
+of the ridgepole and was kneeling down upon it. Holding out the tape
+measure he proceeded to make several imaginary measurements, all the
+while muttering to himself. The sight almost caused Dave's heart to
+stop beating, for the slightest miscalculation on the sleep-walker's
+part would have caused a serious if not fatal accident.
+
+After what seemed a long time Dave heard Phil coming back. He was
+accompanied by Andrew Dale, the head teacher, who had stopped just long
+enough to get on some of his clothing.
+
+"Where is he?" whispered Mr. Dale, as he came out in the wind and rain.
+
+"There," answered Dave, and pointed out the form of the sleep-walker.
+
+"Have you tried to speak to him?"
+
+"No, I was afraid."
+
+"Then, don't say a word till he comes down to a safer place."
+
+After that the three watched Shadow Hamilton for several minutes while
+he continued his calculation and used the tape measure. Then they saw
+the sleep-walker wind up the measure.
+
+"He is coming down!" whispered Phil, and he was right. Slowly Shadow
+climbed down from the gable roof and made his way toward the scuttle.
+He had taken but a few steps when suddenly he slipped and fell.
+
+"Oh!" he cried, and looked around in bewilderment. "Where----"
+
+"Shadow!" cried Dave, and caught him by the arm. "You are all right, so
+don't worry."
+
+"But where am I?" insisted the sleep-walker.
+
+"On the roof."
+
+"You have been walking in your sleep, Hamilton," explained Mr. Dale.
+"Come, let me help you down the ladder. You are soaked through, and if
+you don't get into a warm bed very quickly you may catch your death of
+cold."
+
+Completely bewildered, Shadow allowed himself to be taken to the ladder
+and aided to descend. Then the scuttle was closed and hooked.
+
+"I do not think it best for you to go back to the dormitory," said the
+head teacher. "I'll put you in a warm room by yourself. But perhaps
+it would be as well for somebody to stay with you for the rest of the
+night," and Andrew Dale looked questioningly at Dave and Phil.
+
+"I'll stay," said Dave, quickly.
+
+"Very well. To-morrow we'll talk this over and see what is best to do.
+There is no use in trying to do so now, when we are all cold, wet, and
+tired."
+
+The head teacher led the way to a private bedroom that was well heated
+and had Dave go back to the dormitory for some extra clothing. Then he
+left Dave and Shadow to themselves.
+
+"This breaks me all up," said Shadow, moodily. "I thought I was all
+over those tricks."
+
+"It was the hard study did it, and the tests," answered Dave. "You had
+that geometrical problem in your mind and couldn't get rid of it. Maybe
+you'll never walk in your sleep again."
+
+"I sincerely trust not, Dave. It was good of you and the others to help
+me," and Shadow gave his chum a grateful look.
+
+"We did very little, Shadow--indeed, I didn't know what to do. But when
+I saw you on the very end of the ridge I can tell you my heart was in
+my throat."
+
+Before going to bed both boys indulged in a good rubbing down and
+consequently the exposure to the elements did them no harm. In the
+morning Shadow was excused from attending school and Horsehair was sent
+to town to get some of the medicine which the sleep-walker had taken in
+the past, after the exposure of his former exploits during the night.
+
+With the coming of spring the boys had a vacation of several days.
+A few of the students went home, but the majority remained at Oak
+Hall, and, to pass away the time, indulged in all sorts of sports and
+pastimes, including a funny initiation of the Soden brothers.
+
+At New Year a new gymnasium teacher had been engaged,--a fine man,
+who was an expert gymnast and also a good boxer and fencer. Since
+coming back to the Hall, Dave had become interested in both boxing and
+fencing, and spent some time under the new instructor.
+
+"I believe a chap ought to know how to defend himself," he said to
+Roger. "In knocking around one doesn't know what kind of a hole he may
+be placed in,--and you can never know too much."
+
+"Well, I like boxing and fencing myself," answered the senator's son,
+and after that he and Dave had many a time together, with the foils and
+gloves.
+
+Link Merwell did not care much for fencing, but he took readily to
+boxing, and he caused Nat Poole to take up the sport. As the pair were
+still totally ignored by the Gee Eyes they had to box against one
+another or with some of the younger lads.
+
+"Those fellows are afraid to box with me," said Link Merwell, on
+several occasions. "They know that I can do every one of them up in
+short order." He referred to Dave and his chums, and made the assertion
+in the presence of a large crowd of students.
+
+At first none of the Gee Eyes paid any attention to the bully, but
+gradually the boasting nettled them, and some of them talked it over.
+Then came a report from little Frank Bond to the effect that Link
+Merwell was saying he had asked Dave to box him and the latter had
+declined because he was afraid.
+
+"Dave, if I were you, I wouldn't stand for that," said Buster Beggs.
+
+"What am I to do?" asked Dave. "The Gee Eyes voted to leave Merwell and
+Poole severely alone, and I've got to stick by my word."
+
+"Well, I guess they'll vote for the boxing contest--if you want to
+stand up before him."
+
+"I certainly am not afraid to do so."
+
+As a consequence of this talk, Buster spoke to Luke Watson, and there
+was a hasty meeting of the Gee Eyes and it was voted that Dave should
+box Merwell if he so desired.
+
+Not knowing of this meeting and of its result, Link Merwell strode
+into the gymnasium the next afternoon, in company with Nat Poole, and
+proceeded to put on a pair of boxing gloves.
+
+"Too bad, Nat, but I can't wake any of those fellows up," he said,
+loudly. "Every one of 'em is afraid to face me."
+
+"How about Dave Porter?" asked Nat Poole, in an equally loud tone.
+
+"Worst of the bunch. I guess he's afraid I'll knock the head off of
+him."
+
+These words were spoken so that Dave might hear them. There were a few
+seconds of silence, and then Dave walked up to Merwell.
+
+"So you think I am afraid to box you, Merwell?" he said, quietly.
+
+"Oh, so you've woke up, eh?" sneered the bully. "Thought you and your
+crowd had gone to sleep."
+
+"I want to know if you think I am afraid to box you?"
+
+"Of course you are afraid."
+
+"You are mistaken--and I'll prove it to you in very short order. How
+soon do you want to box?"
+
+At this Link Merwell was taken by surprise, and his face showed it. But
+he was "game," and drew himself up.
+
+"Any time you want me to box you I'll be ready."
+
+"Then we'll box right now," answered Dave.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+THE BOXING BOUT
+
+
+"A boxing match!"
+
+"I think Dave Porter will win."
+
+"I don't know about that. Link Merwell has been doing a great deal of
+boxing lately and has it down pretty fine."
+
+"That may be, but Dave is as quick as they make them."
+
+So the talk ran on, as the boys in the gymnasium gathered around the
+would-be contestants. They felt that, no matter who won, they were
+going to see something worth while. Many secretly hoped that the boxing
+match would degenerate into a regular fight, for they knew that Dave
+and Merwell were bitter enemies, and the majority wanted to see the big
+bully soundly whipped.
+
+"We'll have to have a referee and a timekeeper," said Dave. "Who shall
+they be?"
+
+"A referee and a timekeeper?" repeated Link Merwell. "Why don't you
+start her up and have done with it?"
+
+"This is to be no prize fight, Merwell. I shall box you for points
+only."
+
+"Oh!" The bully put as much of a sneer into the exclamation as
+possible. "Afraid to finish it up, eh?"
+
+"Perhaps you'll get all you want before we stop," answered Dave, calmly.
+
+"What kind of gloves do you want? The thickest in the place, I suppose."
+
+"No, a medium glove will do for me. Mr. Dodsworth recommends the number
+five."
+
+"Humph! I'm willing to box with a number one if you wish!"
+
+"We might as well box without gloves as with number ones. This is to be
+no slugging match, as I intimated before. If you are afraid to box for
+points say so."
+
+"Oh, I'll box you any way you please. Who do you want for timekeeper
+and referee?"
+
+"Any boy with a good watch can keep time. I think Mr. Dodsworth ought
+to be the referee."
+
+"Nat Poole can judge it all right," growled Merwell.
+
+"He's not acceptable to me," answered Dave, promptly.
+
+"The gym. teacher is all right," said Roger. "He'll know just what
+every move counts."
+
+Link Merwell wished to argue, but Dave would not listen, and in the
+end the services of the new gymnasium teacher were called in. Mr.
+Dodsworth smiled when told of what was on foot.
+
+"Very well, I'll be referee," he said. "Now, let me warn you against
+all foul moves. You both know the rules. Let this be a purely
+scientific struggle for points. Length of each round two minutes, with
+two minutes intermission. How many rounds do you want to have?"
+
+"To a finish," said Link Merwell, and he glared wickedly at Dave.
+
+"No, I'll not allow that, for it is too exhausting. Let us say ten
+rounds. That will give you twenty minutes of hot work. Here, I will
+give my watch to Lambertson and he can keep the time." And he passed
+the watch over to the student mentioned.
+
+The way matters had been arranged did not suit Link Merwell at all, yet
+he felt forced to submit or acknowledge that he was afraid of Dave. He
+had wished for a free-and-easy match and had hoped, on the sly, to get
+in a foul blow or two which might knock Dave out. Now, under the keen
+eyes of the gymnasium instructor, he knew he would have to be careful
+of his every movement.
+
+The preliminaries arranged, the two boxers faced each other, while the
+students gathered thickly in a large circle around them. The circle was
+protected by benches, giving to the scene something of the air of a
+professional boxing ring.
+
+"Ready!" called out Mr. Dodsworth. "Go!" he cried.
+
+But there was very little "go" at the start. Both boxers were on the
+alert and they circled around slowly, looking for an opening. Then
+Merwell made a pass, which Dave warded off easily. Then Dave landed on
+his opponent's breast, Merwell came back with a blow in the shoulder,
+and Dave, ducking, sent in two in quick succession on the bully's neck
+and ear. Then time was called.
+
+"How does that stand?" asked some of the boys.
+
+"I'll tell you later," said Mr. Dodsworth, as he penciled something on
+a bit of paper.
+
+"Oh, tell us now!" they pleaded.
+
+But the instructor was obdurate. And while the lads were pleading round
+two was called.
+
+The contestants were now warming up, and blows were given and taken
+freely. Link Merwell was forced back twice, and was glad when time was
+called by Lambertson.
+
+"Don't get too anxious," said the instructor, during the recess.
+"Remember, this is for points."
+
+Again the two boys went at it, and the third, fourth, and fifth rounds
+were mixed up freely. All present had to acknowledge that Link Merwell
+boxed quite well, but they saw that the points were in Dave's favor.
+Dave had perfect control of himself, while the bully was getting
+excited.
+
+"I'll show you something now!" cried Merwell as they came up for round
+six. He flew at Dave like a wild animal. But Dave was on the alert and
+dodged and ducked in a manner that brought constant applause. Then,
+almost before anybody knew it, he landed on the bully's jaw, his cheek,
+and then his nose.
+
+"O my! Look at that!"
+
+"Say, that was swift, wasn't it?"
+
+The three blows had thrown Merwell off his balance, and he recovered
+with difficulty.
+
+"He--he fouled me!" he panted.
+
+"No foul!" answered the gymnasium instructor, and just then time was
+called.
+
+"Maybe Merwell would like to call it off," suggested Dave.
+
+"Not much! I'll show you yet!" roared the bully. "I'll have you to
+know----"
+
+"Merwell, you'll do better if you'll keep your excitement down,"
+advised the instructor. "'Keep cool,' is an excellent motto."
+
+"Dave, you're doing well," whispered Roger. "Keep it up and Merwell
+won't know where he is at by the end of the tenth round."
+
+"I intend to keep it up," was the answer. "I started out to teach that
+bully a lesson and I'll do it--if it is in me."
+
+And it was in Dave--as the seventh and eighth rounds showed. In the
+latter round he practically had the bully at his mercy, and boxed him
+all around the ring. The calling of time found Merwell panting for
+breath and so confused he could hardly see.
+
+"I think you had better give it up," said the gymnasium instructor.
+"Merwell, you have had enough."
+
+"Say, are you going to give this boxing match to Porter?" roared the
+bully.
+
+"Yes, for he has won it fairly. He already has twenty-six points to
+your seven."
+
+"It ain't fair! I can lick him any day!"
+
+"It is not a question of 'licking' anybody, Merwell. This was a boxing
+bout for points, and you are no longer in condition to box. I declare
+Porter the winner, and I congratulate him on his clean and clever work
+with the gloves."
+
+"He--he fouled me."
+
+"Not at all. If there was any fouling it was done by you in the sixth
+and seventh rounds. I might have disqualified you then if I had been
+very particular about it. But I saw that Porter was willing to let you
+go on."
+
+This was the bitterest pill of all for Link Merwell to swallow. To
+think he might have been disqualified but that Dave Porter had been
+given the chance to continue hammering him! He wanted to argue, but no
+one except Nat Poole would listen to him, and so he strode out of the
+gymnasium in disgust, accompanied by his crony.
+
+"It makes me sick," he muttered. "Everybody stands up for Porter, no
+matter what he does!"
+
+"Well, you see he has a way of worming in with everybody," answered Nat
+Poole. "A decent chap wouldn't do it, but you couldn't expect anything
+different from a poorhouse boy, could you?" When alone he and Merwell
+frequently referred to Dave as "a poorhouse boy," but both took good
+care not to use that term in public, remembering what punishment it had
+brought down on their heads.
+
+"He'll crow over us worse than ever now," resumed Merwell. "Oh, but
+don't I wish I could square up with him and the rest of the Gee Eyes!"
+
+"We'll do it some day,--when we get the chance," said Poole. "Come on
+and have a smoke; it will help to quiet you." And then he and the bully
+walked away from Oak Hall to a secluded spot, where they might indulge
+themselves in the forbidden pastime of smoking cigarettes. Both were
+inveterate smokers and had to exercise extreme caution that knowledge
+of the offense might not reach Doctor Clay or his assistants.
+
+Finding a comfortable spot, the boys sat down on a fallen tree and
+there consumed one cigarette after another, trying to be real "mannish"
+by inhaling the smoke and blowing it through the nose. As they smoked
+they talked of many things, the conversation finally drifting around to
+Vera Rockwell and Mary Feversham.
+
+"I understand Phil Lawrence is daffy over that Feversham girl,"
+remarked Poole. "She is a fairly good sort, but she wouldn't suit me."
+He said this because Mary had snubbed him on several occasions when
+they had met in Oakdale.
+
+"Well, I heard Roger Morr was daffy over that Rockwell girl," answered
+Merwell. "And I heard, too, that Porter was likely to cut him out."
+
+"Porter cut him out!" exclaimed Nat Poole. "Who told you that? Why,
+Dave Porter is too thick with Jessie Wadsworth to think much of anybody
+else."
+
+"Are you sure of that?"
+
+"Yes. Why, when Porter is home the two are as thick as can be. I am
+sure that Jessie Wadsworth thinks the world of him, too, although why
+is beyond my comprehension," added the dudish student. He had not
+forgotten how Jessie had also snubbed him, when invitations were being
+sent out for her party.
+
+"Humph!" Link Merwell puffed at his cigarette in silence for a moment.
+"You say they are thick,--and still he goes out with this Vera
+Rockwell. Kind of funny mix-up, eh?"
+
+"Oh, I suppose he has a right to do as he pleases," drawled Nat.
+
+"Say, we might----" Merwell stopped short and blew a quantity of
+cigarette smoke from his nose.
+
+"Might what?"
+
+"Oh, I was just thinking, Nat----" And the bully stopped again.
+
+"If you don't want me to know, say so," returned the dudish student,
+crossly.
+
+"I was thinking that perhaps we could put a spoke in Dave Porter's
+wheel in a manner that he'd never suspect. If he's somewhat sweet on
+that Wadsworth girl, and at the same time giving his attention to Vera
+Rockwell, we ought to be able to do something."
+
+"What?"
+
+"Supposing that Wadsworth girl heard he was running around with a girl
+up here, and supposing Vera Rockwell heard about the Crumville maiden?
+Maybe Dave Porter would have some work straightening matters out, eh?"
+
+"By Jove, you're right!" cried Nat Poole. "It's a great scheme,
+Link! If we work it right, we can get him in the hottest kind of
+water--especially if he thinks a good deal of both girls."
+
+"And that isn't all," added Link Merwell, lighting a fresh cigarette.
+"Don't forget Roger Morr. If he thinks a good deal of Vera Rockwell
+we'll manage to put a flea in his ear,--that Porter is trying to
+cut him out in an underhanded way. I reckon that will split up the
+friendship between Porter and Morr pretty quick."
+
+"So it will!" Nat Poole's eyes fairly beamed. "This is the best plan
+yet, Link! Let us put it into execution at once. How shall we go at it?"
+
+"That remains to be seen," said Merwell.
+
+And then and there the pair plotted to get Dave and his friends into
+"the hottest kind of water," as the bully expressed it, and break up
+the closest of friendships.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+AT THE EXPRESS OFFICE
+
+
+"Dave, we want you to take part in the entertainment we are getting up."
+
+It was Luke Watson who spoke. Luke had been working like a Trojan to
+get all the talent of the school into line for what he said was going
+to be "the best show Oak Hall ever put up, and don't you forget it."
+
+"I'm willing to help you out, Luke, but what do you want me to do?"
+returned Dave. "I am no actor."
+
+"I know what he can do," said Buster. "He and Link Merwell can give a
+boxing match." And this caused a short laugh.
+
+"Say, that puts me in mind of a story," came from Shadow. "One day a
+very nice lady----"
+
+"Say, Shadow, remember what I told you," broke in Luke. "If you've got
+any real good, new stories keep them until the entertainment. You are
+down for a ten-minutes' monologue, and it will take quite a few yarns
+to fill the time."
+
+"Huh! Don't you worry--I can tell stories for ten hours," answered
+the story-teller of the school. "Well, as I was saying, one day a very
+nice lady called on another lady with a friend. Says she, 'Mrs. Smith,
+allow me to introduce my friend, Miss Tarnose.' Now, as it happened,
+Mrs. Smith was rather deaf so she says, 'Excuse me, but I didn't catch
+the name.' 'Miss Tarnose,' repeated the lady, a little louder. 'I
+really can't hear you,' says Mrs. Smith. Then the lady fairly bawled,
+'I said Miss Tarnose!' But Mrs. Smith only looked puzzled. 'I'm sorry,'
+she said at last. 'My hearing must be worse. I'd hate to say what it
+sounded like to me. It was just like Tarnose!'" And then there was
+another short laugh.
+
+"I asked Plum to take part," went on Luke. "He said he'd like to do a
+dialogue, if he could get anybody to assist. He said he had a pretty
+good piece."
+
+"I might do that," answered Dave, readily.
+
+"Would you go on with Plum?"
+
+"Certainly, Luke."
+
+"Well, I thought----" Luke Watson stopped short and shrugged his
+shoulders.
+
+"I feel that Gus is now one of us, Luke, and I wish the other fellows
+would feel the same."
+
+"Here he comes now," said Buster, in a low tone, as Gus Plum came into
+sight at the door of the schoolroom in which the talk was taking place.
+Gus looked pale and somewhat disturbed.
+
+"Hello, Plum!" sang out Luke. "Come here, we want you."
+
+"Luke says you think of doing a dialogue for the show," said Dave.
+"What have you got? If it's something I can do, I may go in with you."
+
+"Will you, Dave?" The face of the former bully of Oak Hall brightened
+instantly. "I'd like that first-rate. The dialogue I have is called
+'Looking for a Job.' I think it is very funny, and we might make it
+still more funny if both of us spoke in a brogue, or if one of us
+blacked up as a darky."
+
+"Let me read the dialogue," said Dave. "And if I think I can do it,
+I'll go in with you."
+
+The upshot of this conversation was that Dave and Plum went over the
+dialogue with care. Between them they made some changes and added a few
+lines, bringing in some fun of a local nature. Then it was decided that
+Gus Plum should assume the character of a darky and Dave should fix up
+as a German immigrant.
+
+"Maybe, if we work hard, we can make our piece the hit of the show,"
+said Dave. That afternoon he wrote a letter to his sister Laura and
+also one to Jessie, telling them of what was going on and adding he was
+sorry they would not be there to see the entertainment.
+
+By hard work Luke Watson got over twenty boys of Oak Hall to take part
+in the show. There were to be several dialogues as well as Shadow's
+monologue, some singing, and some banjo and guitar playing, also a
+humorous drill, given by six youths who called themselves The Rough
+Walkers, in place of The Rough Riders. One student also promised a set
+of lantern pictures, from photographs taken in and near Oak Hall during
+the past term.
+
+At first Doctor Clay said the show must be for the students only, but
+the boys begged to have a few outsiders, and in the end each lad was
+told he could invite three outsiders, and was given three tickets for
+that purpose. Dave sent his tickets to his father, but he doubted if
+any one at home would make use of them.
+
+"I sent one ticket home," said Phil, "and I sent the other two to Mary
+Feversham. I hope she comes."
+
+"Want her to come with the other fellow?" queried Dave, with a twinkle
+in his eye.
+
+"Oh, I thought maybe she'd come with Vera Rockwell."
+
+"That would suit Roger, Phil."
+
+"Yes, and it would suit you, too, Dave. Oh, you needn't look that way.
+I know you think Vera Rockwell is a nice girl."
+
+"That's true, but----"
+
+"No 'buts' about it, my boy. I know a thing when I see it. I guess she
+thinks a lot of you, too."
+
+"Now, Phil----" began Dave; but just then some other boys appeared and
+the rather delicate subject had to be dropped.
+
+Dave had procured a theatrical book on how to make up for all sorts of
+characters, and he and Plum studied this and got their costumes ready.
+Both were truly comical outfits, and each lad had to laugh at the other
+when they put them on.
+
+"We must keep them a secret," said Dave. "It will spoil half the fun
+to let the others know how we are going to be dressed. We don't want a
+soul to know until we step on the stage." And so it was agreed.
+
+Several of the boys had ordered face paints and some other things from
+the city, to be sent by mail and express, and when some of the articles
+did not come to hand, there was a good deal of anxiety. Dave was minus
+a red wig which he had ordered and paid for, and Phil wanted some paint
+and a rubber bulldog.
+
+"Let us go to Oakdale and stir up the postmaster and the express
+agent," said Dave, and he and the shipowner's son set out for the
+town directly after breakfast on the morning of the day that the
+entertainment was to come off.
+
+As the roads were in fairly good condition, the strong winds having
+dried them up, the two lads made the trip to town on their bicycles.
+This did not take long, and reaching Oakdale they left their wheels at
+a drug store, where they stopped to get some red fire that was to be
+burned during a tableau.
+
+At the post office they were in luck, for two packages had just come
+in, containing some things for which they had been waiting.
+
+"I hope we have as good luck at the express office," said Phil.
+
+The office mentioned was located at one end of the depot. Here they met
+Mr. Goode, the agent, with whom they were fairly well acquainted.
+
+"A package for you?" said the agent, looking speculatively at Dave.
+"Why, yes, I've got a package for you. Come in. I was going to send it
+up some time to-day or to-morrow."
+
+"To-morrow would have been too late," answered Dave. "I need the stuff
+to-day."
+
+The boys followed the agent into the stuffy little express office. Mr.
+Goode walked to a heap of packages lying in a corner and began to turn
+them over.
+
+"Hum!" he murmured. "Don't seem to be here. I had it yesterday."
+
+He continued to hunt around, and then went to a receipt book lying on
+his desk. He studied several pages for some minutes.
+
+"Why, you must have gotten it," he said.
+
+"No, I didn't."
+
+"It's signed for."
+
+"Well, I didn't sign for it," answered Dave, positively. And then he
+added, "Let me see that signature."
+
+Mr. Goode shoved the receipt book toward him and pointed out the
+signature. It was a mere scrawl in leadpencil, that might stand
+for almost anything. It was certainly not in the least like Dave's
+handwriting.
+
+"I was out yesterday afternoon," continued the express agent. "Went to
+a funeral. Dave Case kept office for me. Maybe he can tell you about
+it. Probably some of the other students got the package for you."
+
+Dave Case was the driver of the local express wagon. He was out on a
+trip and would not be back for half an hour. This being so, there was
+nothing for Phil and Dave to do but to wait.
+
+"If some of the other fellows got that package it's queer they didn't
+say anything," said Dave, as he and his chum walked slowly down the
+main street. "They must know I am anxious--with the show to come off
+to-night. If I don't get that wig my part won't be nearly so good."
+
+The boys reached a corner and were standing there, not knowing what to
+do, when two girls crossed over, coming from a dry-goods store.
+
+"Hello!" cried Phil, and his face lit up with pleasure. "Here are Mary
+Feversham and Vera Rockwell."
+
+He stepped forward, tipped his hat and shook hands, and then Dave did
+the same.
+
+"I must thank you for the tickets, Mr. Lawrence," said Mary, sweetly.
+"It was very kind of you to send them."
+
+"I hope you will come," returned the shipowner's son, eagerly.
+
+"Yes, I shall be there, for I do want to hear you boys sing and act. I
+am coming with my mother."
+
+"I am going, too," added Vera. "Roger Morr sent my brother two tickets
+and invited us. Bob is home for a couple of days, so it comes in real
+handy." And Vera smiled at both Dave and Phil. "I suppose you are going
+to give us something fine--a real city vaudeville show."
+
+"We are going to do our best," answered Dave, modestly.
+
+"Dave is in a little trouble," continued the shipowner's son, and told
+about the missing express package.
+
+"Oh, I hope you get the wig!" cried Vera. "A red one will look so
+becoming!" And she laughed heartily.
+
+"And he is to have a big red mustache, too," said Phil.
+
+"Hold on, Phil, you mustn't give away any professional secrets!" cried
+Dave.
+
+"Oh, I just dote on red mustaches," exclaimed Vera. "They make a man
+look like a--a---- Oh, I don't know what!"
+
+"Oh, Vera, you're awful!" interposed Mary. "What do you know about red
+mustaches, anyway?"
+
+"She never had one, did she?" remarked Dave, calmly, and at this both
+girls shrieked with laughter. "But never mind," he went on. "After I am
+done with it, she can have mine." And this brought forth more laughter.
+
+The girls and boys had come to a halt directly in front of a new candy
+and ice-cream establishment, and it was but natural that Phil should
+suggest to Dave that they go in and get some candy. The girls demurred
+at first at being treated, but then consented, and all went into the
+store. Dave purchased some assorted chocolates and Phil some fancy fig
+pastes, the girls saying they liked both.
+
+"As it's a new store, the candies ought to be fresh," remarked Dave.
+
+"Well, I like them best that way," answered Vera, as she helped herself
+to a chocolate. "I don't care for them when they are stale--and it
+is sometimes hard to get them fresh in a small town like this. The
+stores----"
+
+She stopped short, for at the door of the candy establishment they
+almost ran into a party of two girls and a man. One of the girls--the
+younger--was staring very hard at Dave.
+
+"Why, father!" cried Dave, in astonishment. "And you, too, Laura and
+Jessie! Why, this is a surprise!" And he hastened to shake hands all
+around. "I didn't dream of your coming."
+
+"I just made them come," said Laura, giving him a kiss. "How are you,
+Phil?" and she shook hands with the shipowner's son.
+
+When Dave took Jessie's hand he felt it tremble a little. The girl said
+a few commonplace words but all the time kept looking at Vera.
+
+"Let me introduce our friends," said Phil, and proceeded to go through
+the ceremony. "We have just been buying some candy. Come, have some,"
+and he held out the box he had bought. Laura took some, but Jessie
+shook her head.
+
+"Thank you, not to-day, Phil," Jessie said, and there seemed to be a
+little catch in her throat. Then Dave looked at her fully in the eyes,
+and of a sudden she turned her head away. Somehow he suspected that
+Jessie wanted to cry, and he wondered why.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+A MISUNDERSTANDING
+
+
+Mr. Porter explained that they had just come in on the train, and were
+looking for some conveyance to take them to Oak Hall.
+
+"We thought we might call on you for an hour or so and then come back
+and put up at the Oakdale Hotel," he said.
+
+"I'll certainly be glad to have you call," answered Dave.
+
+Then he told about the missing express package. In the meantime Laura
+conversed with Mary and Vera, but nothing was said about how the boys
+and girls had chanced to meet. Then Mary and Vera said they must attend
+to some errands and get home.
+
+"Well, we'll look for you to-night, sure!" cried Phil.
+
+"We'll be there," answered Mary.
+
+"I wouldn't miss it for a good deal," said Vera. "I want to see that
+red mustache and wig, if nothing else!" And she laughed, merrily.
+
+"You won't see the wig unless my package is found," answered Dave; and
+then the two girls hurried away.
+
+Mr. Porter led the way to the local hotel, situated close to the depot,
+and there registered his party for dinner and supper.
+
+"You can take dinner with us," said he to his son and Phil. "I'll write
+a note to Doctor Clay, so there will be no trouble."
+
+"We can't stay very long after dinner," answered Dave. "I must look up
+that package,--and all hands want some kind of a rehearsal."
+
+The boys walked to the express office, but Case had not come back, so
+they had to go to dinner without hearing from the driver. The five sat
+at a separate table, and Dave had Laura on one side and Jessie on the
+other. He did his best to make himself agreeable to Jessie, but she did
+not warm up as was usual with her, and this made his heart feel rather
+heavy.
+
+"Why, Jessie, you don't act like yourself," he said, after dinner, and
+while the others were sitting somewhat apart from them in the hotel
+parlor.
+
+"Don't I?" she asked.
+
+"No, you don't. What is the matter, don't you feel well?" And his face
+showed his concern.
+
+"Oh, yes, I feel very well." Her lips trembled a little. "I--I guess I
+am out of sorts, that's all."
+
+"It's too bad."
+
+"Oh, I'll soon get over it, I suppose." Jessie gave a sigh. "Tell me
+about your doings, Dave. I suppose you are having hard work at school
+and like to get out and meet some of your Oakdale friends."
+
+"Why, yes, I like to get out sometimes."
+
+"Those seem to be very nice girls."
+
+"Yes, they are. Phil is quite fond of one of them, too."
+
+"Which one?"
+
+"Mary Feversham. We became acquainted with them in quite an odd way,"
+and he told of the big snowball and the ice-boat.
+
+"That Vera Rockwell seems to think a great deal of you, Dave."
+
+"Do you think so? Well, I think she is a nice----"
+
+"Dave, there is the expressman now!" called out Phil, from his position
+near a window. "Come on, if you want to find out about that package."
+
+"All right," answered Dave, and for the time being he forgot all about
+what he was going to say to Jessie--that he thought Vera nice but not
+as nice as Jessie herself--something which might have gone a long way
+toward heading off the trouble that was brewing.
+
+For boys and girls will often think a great deal of each other--and a
+heartache at fourteen or sixteen is often as real, if not as lasting,
+as at twenty or older. Since the day Dave had saved Jessie's life he
+had been her one hero and her closest boy chum, and now to find him
+in the society of another and for him to say she was nice---- And
+then there was more than this, an anonymous letter, concocted by Link
+Merwell and Nat Poole and sent to her by mail. That letter had said
+some terrible things about Dave--things she could not and would not
+believe, and yet things which made her very miserable.
+
+"I suppose he has a right to make such friends as he pleases," she
+thought. "It is none of my affair, and I have no right to spoil his
+pleasure by saying anything." And then she brushed away the tears that
+would come into her eyes in spite of her efforts to keep them back.
+
+At the express office Dave and Phil found Mr. Goode already questioning
+the wagon driver about the missing package.
+
+"I turned it over to a boy who said he belonged to Oak Hall school and
+would give it to Dave Porter," said the driver. "I thought you had it
+by this time. He signed for it--leastwise he put that scrawl on the
+book."
+
+"What was his name?" asked Dave.
+
+"I asked him, but he mumbled something I didn't catch. I didn't pay
+much attention, for I thought it was all right."
+
+"What sort of looking chap was he?" asked Phil.
+
+As best he could the wagon driver described the individual. The
+description might have fitted half a dozen lads, until he mentioned a
+four-in-hand tie of bright blue with white daggers splashed over it.
+
+"Merwell wears a tie like that!" cried Phil. "I have seen it several
+times."
+
+"What would he be doing with my package, Phil?"
+
+"What? Why, maybe he knew about the wig and wanted to spoil your part
+of the show. It would be like him to play such a trick."
+
+"That's true," answered Dave, and then he asked the wagon driver if the
+boy had worn a ring with a ruby.
+
+"Yes, a fine large stone," answered the man.
+
+"Then it was Link Merwell," said Dave, decidedly. "Now the question is,
+What has he done with the package?"
+
+"I don't think he'd dare to destroy it," answered Phil. "Probably he
+hid it away somewhere."
+
+"I'll soon find out. Come on, Phil."
+
+"Going to tax him with it?"
+
+"Yes. He hasn't any right to touch my property, or to sign my name."
+
+Hurrying back to the hotel, the boys told of what they had learned.
+Then they got their bicycles and pedaled with all speed in the
+direction of Oak Hall. Dave felt very much out of sorts, not only
+because the package was missing but also over the meeting with Jessie.
+It was the first time that there had been any coldness between
+them--for he felt that it was a coldness, although he could not explain
+it.
+
+Arriving at the school, they learned that Link Merwell had taken a walk
+with Nat Poole. Chip Macklin pointed out the direction, and Dave and
+Phil went after the pair. They were not surprised to catch the cronies
+smoking on some rocks behind a growth of underbrush near the highway
+beyond the campus. As Dave and his chum came up Poole and Merwell threw
+their cigarettes away.
+
+"Merwell, what did you do with my express package?" demanded Dave,
+coming at once to the point.
+
+The words made the bully start, but he quickly recovered and arose
+slowly to his feet.
+
+"Want to see me?" he drawled.
+
+"I want my express package."
+
+"Don't know what you are talking about."
+
+"Yes, you do. Where is the package? I want it at once."
+
+"You took it out of the express office, and we can prove it," added
+Phil.
+
+"Humph!" growled Link Merwell.
+
+"Are you going to give up the package or not?" demanded Dave.
+
+"Who says I--er--took, any package of yours?" blustered the bully,
+trying to put on a bold front.
+
+"I say so," declared Dave. "And you not only took it but you signed for
+it. Merwell, do you know that signing another person's name without
+permission is forgery?" he went on, pointedly.
+
+At these plain words Link Merwell grew pale.
+
+"I--er--I didn't sign your name."
+
+"You pretended to sign it, and that's the same thing. You got the
+package from the office by fraud."
+
+"No, I didn't. I said I'd take it to the school, and I did."
+
+"Then where is it?"
+
+"In your dormitory."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"On the top shelf of the closet--been there since yesterday," and now
+Link Merwell leered over the joke he had played.
+
+"Ha! ha! ha!" came from Nat Poole. "That's one on you, Dave Porter."
+
+"It was a mean trick to play," was Phil's comment.
+
+"Did you open that package?" demanded Dave.
+
+"No, I didn't touch it, excepting to bring it from the express office."
+
+"Very well then, Merwell. If I find anything wrong I'll hold you
+responsible."
+
+"Say, you needn't try to scare me!"
+
+"I am not trying to scare you--I am merely giving you warning. I won't
+put up with any of your underhand work, and I want you to know it,"
+answered Dave, and turning on his heel he walked back to the school,
+followed by Phil.
+
+"He's mad all right," whispered Nat Poole.
+
+"Maybe he has heard from that Crumville girl in a way he didn't like,"
+returned Link Merwell, and closed one eye suggestively.
+
+"Well, if he did, I hope she didn't say anything about the letter,"
+answered Nat Poole, somewhat uneasily. "That was awfully strong."
+
+"Pooh! Don't get scared Nat; nobody will ever find out who wrote that
+letter, if we keep our mouths shut."
+
+Going up to the dormitory, Dave found the package on the shelf of the
+closet, as Merwell had said. It was tucked behind some other things,
+well out of sight.
+
+"It was certainly a well-planned trick," said the shipowner's son,
+while Dave was opening the package. "He did this so, if he was found
+out, he could say he gave the package to you and could bring the doctor
+here to prove it. Perhaps he had in mind to add that you had hidden
+the package yourself, just to get him into trouble."
+
+"Maybe you're right, Phil; I believe Merwell equal to almost anything."
+
+Fortunately the contents of the package had not been disturbed. Having
+ascertained that much, Dave went off to find Gus Plum, so that they
+might have a final rehearsal of the little play they were to enact. In
+the lower hall he ran into Job Haskers.
+
+"Porter, I want to see you!" cried the assistant teacher, harshly. "You
+were absent at dinner time. You know that is contrary to the rules.
+What have you to say for yourself?"
+
+"I met my father in Oakdale, sir--he is coming to the entertainment
+to-night. He asked Phil Lawrence and myself to dine with him. I have a
+note for the doctor from him explaining the matter."
+
+"Hum! Very well," answered Job Haskers, and hurried off without another
+word. Dave smiled grimly to himself, and lost no time in taking the
+note to the doctor, who excused him and Phil readily.
+
+Dave learned from Shadow that Gus Plum had been in the school but had
+gone off in the direction of the old boathouse. Feeling that it was
+growing late Dave hurried after the missing student. Just as he neared
+the old boathouse, which stood partly on some rocks and partly over
+the river, he heard a strange crash of glass.
+
+"Hello, what's that?" he asked himself, and ran forward to see.
+
+"There! you'll never tempt me again!" he heard, in Gus Plum's voice.
+
+Then he turned the corner of the old boathouse and saw the former bully
+of Oak Hall standing near some rocks. At his feet lay the remains of a
+big bottle. Plum looked pale and as if he had been fighting.
+
+"Oh, Gus!" cried Dave, and then stopped short and looked at the broken
+bottle and at the stuff flowing over the rocks.
+
+"Dave!" returned the big youth. And then he added, simply: "It was a
+bottle of wine, and rather than keep it to be tempted, I smashed it."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+IN WHICH THE BOYS GIVE AN ENTERTAINMENT
+
+
+"Gus, that was the bravest thing you ever did!"
+
+And so speaking, Dave caught the other youth by the hand and shoulder
+and held him for a moment.
+
+"Oh, I don't know about that," was the hesitating reply. "I--I should
+have smashed it when I received it."
+
+"Where did you get the wine, if I may ask?"
+
+"It was sent to me by Link Merwell."
+
+"What!" Dave's manner showed his great astonishment. "Do you mean to
+say he sent you that, knowing that you were trying to give up the
+habit?"
+
+"Yes. He says I am a fool to listen to you--said I was tied to your
+coat-tail--that I ought to be independent. He says a little drinking
+won't hurt anybody."
+
+"Gus, he is trying to--to----" Dave could not finish the sentence, for
+he did not want to hurt Plum's feelings.
+
+"Yes, I know. He'd like to see me down and out, as the saying goes. He
+hates me because I won't chum with him any longer."
+
+"The less you have to do with him the better, Gus."
+
+"I know that, and just before I came out here to break that bottle I
+sent him a note telling him that if he sent me any more such stuff I'd
+break the next bottle over his head!" And Plum's face glowed with some
+of his old-time assertiveness.
+
+"Well, I shouldn't blame you for that, Gus. I rather think your threat
+will keep him in the background for a while."
+
+Dave could realize something of the struggle which the former bully
+had had, to throw the bottle of wine away. But he did not know
+all--how for three hours the poor lad had wavered between drinking
+and abstaining--and that it was only the thoughts of Dave, and of his
+mother and home, that had kept him in the right path.
+
+Leading the way to the new boathouse, Dave found a spot where they
+would not be interrupted, and here he and Plum went to work on their
+dialogue, making such final changes as seemed best.
+
+"I've had my troubles with Merwell, too," said Dave, and told about the
+express package. "He seems bound to bring us to grief."
+
+"He's a bad egg--the worst in the school," was Gus Plum's comment.
+
+It must be confessed that all the boys were a little nervous as the
+time approached for the entertainment. It was to take place in the
+large assembly room of Oak Hall, and the platform had been transformed
+into something of a stage, with side curtains and a drop, and a back
+scene hired from a distant theater and representing a garden. The
+room itself was decorated with flags and bunting, and looked cozy and
+inviting.
+
+Promptly on time the visitors began to arrive, some from Oakdale and
+others from a distance. The boys to take part in the show were behind
+the scenes, while others showed the visitors to seats, so that Dave did
+not see any of his friends or relatives until later.
+
+The programme had been divided into two parts, of five numbers each,
+including an opening song by all the players, and a closing farce
+written merely to bring in all the characters.
+
+"Now, fellows, do your best," said Luke Watson, as the school orchestra
+played the overture. "Make it as near like a professional show as
+possible."
+
+"Say, that puts me in mind of a story," came from Shadow. "Once some
+young ladies---- But, pshaw! I'll save that for the stage," he added,
+and broke off suddenly.
+
+The opening number went very well, and then came a playlet by four of
+the boys representing four sailors ashore after an ocean trip of five
+years. The sailors did not apparently know how to act in a big city and
+did so many ridiculous things that the applause was long and loud.
+
+A musical number followed, introducing banjo playing by Luke, a guitar
+solo by Henshaw, a cornet solo by a lad named Dixon, and then a trio
+by the three. Then came fancy dumbbell exercises and club-swinging by
+three members of the gymnasium club, and this too went very well, the
+exercisers keeping time to a march played by the orchestra.
+
+The next number was Shadow's monologue, and when that youth came out
+everybody had to laugh before he said a word. He was dressed as an
+extreme dude, with big checked coat and trousers, fancy colored vest,
+a tremendous watch-chain, and paste diamond stud, very pointed patent
+leather shoes, a high standing collar, and a highly-polished silk hat.
+
+"Ladies and gentlemen, boys, girls, and fellow-weepers," he commenced
+with a profound bow and a flourish of his silk hat, "I have been asked
+an important question, namely, What is the difference between a cat
+and a shotgun? Well, I don't know, excepting that both can go off, but
+it's only the feline that comes back. Now, that puts me in mind of a
+story I once heard while traveling in Egypt with Noah, looking for a
+typewriter which was lost overboard from the ark. A little boy went
+to a hardware store for his dad and hung around waiting to be waited
+on. At last a clerk asked, 'Well, little boy, what do you want?' 'Oh,'
+says the little boy, 'I want a fire engine, an' a hobby horse, an' a
+automobile, an' a lot o' things, but papa he wants a bottle of glue,
+an' he says if it don't stick he'll stick you for it!' Now, that's the
+same boy who went to the courthouse to get courtplaster for his mother
+and then went down to the henhouse to look for egg plants."
+
+There was considerable applause over this opening, and Shadow continued:
+
+"That hand-clapping puts me in mind of another story. A would-be actor
+had joined a barn-storming company, and the company opened in a little
+place on Staten Island where the mosquitoes are manufactured by the
+ton, gross, or hogshead, just as you want 'em. Well, as soon as the
+play commenced, the would-be actor thought he heard a lot of applause.
+Says he to the scene-shifter: 'We've got 'em a-going, haven't we?' 'I
+don't know if you have or not,' answered the scene-shifter. 'I know
+the mosquitoes have some of 'em a-going, by the way they're slapping
+at 'em!' Well, that company busted up and the would-be actor had to
+come home on a trolley-car because he couldn't afford the train. He
+had only a nickel, and that he put into his mouth, and all at once it
+went down. 'What's the matter?' asked the conductor. 'I--I swallowed my
+nickel--the only one I had!' gasped the would-be actor. 'Never mind,
+I'll ring it up,' said the conductor, and he did. And then the actor
+didn't know if he was a nickel in or a nickel out."
+
+This brought forth more applause, and Shadow continued to tell one
+story or joke after another, in rapid succession, until the entire
+audience was roaring. When he made his bow and disappeared behind a
+side curtain his monologue was voted by all one of the hits of the
+evening.
+
+"It was all right," said Dave. "I only hope our playlet goes as well."
+
+The playlet came in the middle of Part Two, and the stage was set with
+a table, two chairs, and several other things. The table was a small
+one stored in a side room, and the chairs were common kitchen chairs.
+They were brought out by Chip Macklin and Frank Bond, who had been
+chosen to do all kinds of errands.
+
+"I just met Link Merwell in the side room," said Chip, when he came out
+with the table. "He looks as sour as can be. I guess he wishes the show
+would be a failure--because he wasn't asked to take part."
+
+"Yes, he'd like to make it a failure," answered Dave; and then, for
+the time being, turned his whole attention to the play and gave his
+enemy no further thought.
+
+Dave and Plum had gotten themselves up with great care, as a German
+immigrant and a darky, and when one shuffled on the stage after the
+other there was a good deal of laughing. The playlet revolved around
+the question of getting situations as a butler and a footman in a
+fashionable residence, and the lines were humorous in the extreme, and
+both Dave and Gus got about all the fun possible from them.
+
+"Oh, how very, very funny!" cried Laura, and could hardly control her
+laughter.
+
+"It certainly is funny," answered Jessie, and then she glanced over
+to where Vera Rockwell was sitting with some friends. She saw Vera
+applauding vigorously and it piqued her just a little. She clapped her
+hands, too, but her heart was not as light as it might have been had
+Vera not been there.
+
+In the course of the playlet, Dave had to stand on one of the chairs
+and then mount to the table, to show how he would play the part of a
+footman. As he got up on a chair there was an unexpected crack, and
+down went the back part, letting him fall most unexpectedly.
+
+It takes a quick-witted person to do just the right thing in a case of
+emergency. Dave had not looked for this fall, and the play did not
+call for it. Like a flash he felt that this was some trick of Link
+Merwell. But just as quickly as the accident came he resolved to make
+the best of it. In a very comical way he rolled over twice, stood
+partly on his head and then sat up with a dazed expression.
+
+"Oxcuse me!" he said, in a German tone of voice. "I tidn't know dot
+chair vos so tired owid he tidn't vont to hold me alretty." Then he
+picked up the broken chair. "Vell, of you ton't vont to sthand up,
+chust lay down," and he flung the broken article behind him.
+
+This brought forth an extra round of applause and in the midst of
+this Dave began to climb up the second chair. That too he felt to be
+"doctored," and he went up with care and thus managed to stand on top
+without breaking off the legs which had been nearly cracked through.
+Then from the chair he went to the table. He knew what to expect now
+and began to prepare for it.
+
+"Dis coach vos got von palky horse," he said. "Chust you hold der
+animile alretty, yah!"
+
+"Dat wot I will, brudder Carl," answered Plum, in negro dialect, and
+wondering what was to come next, for those lines were not in the
+playlet.
+
+"Now, dot is der vay I goes me riding py der Park," went on Dave,
+beginning to wabble on the shaky table. "Whoa mit dot hoss! Tidn't I
+told you he vos balky?" For the table was growing weaker and weaker.
+
+[Illustration:DOWN WENT THE BACK PART, LETTING HIM FALL MOST
+UNEXPECTEDLY.]
+
+"Say, dun yo' know dat hoss has got de dumb ager?" demanded Plum. "Wot
+yo' want to give him is a dose of Plaster of Paris Pills fo' Peevish
+People. If dat hoss should----"
+
+"He's running avay! Call der fire engines and der hoss-pistol vagons!"
+bawled Dave, and made a movement as if on a runaway coach. Then, as the
+table settled with a final crash, he whispered to Plum: "Make believe
+stop the horse and quarrel over it." Then he leaped forward, caught an
+imaginary horse by the tail and struggled to hold back. Gus was equally
+quick-witted and leaped to the head of the same imaginary horse and
+stretched up and down, as if he had hold of the bridle. Then the two
+boys backed and "shied" all over the stage, overturning the second
+chair, at which Dave yelled, "Dere goes dot peanut stand alretty!" Then
+of a sudden the two young actors faced each other.
+
+"Wot's de mattah wid you? Da ain't no hoss heah!"
+
+"Yah, dot's so--he runt avay alretty!"
+
+"Yo' is a fine footman, getting scared at a hoss wot ain't no hoss."
+
+"Vell, of he vosn't no hoss vy you cotch him py der headt, hey?"
+
+"Dat's because yo' was a fool an' I had to follow yo'---- I mean at
+yo'----"
+
+"I know vot you mean. You mean you vos der fool und der hoss----"
+
+"Look heah now, Mr. Dutchy, I wants yo' to understand dat I ain't no
+fool."
+
+"Vell, Mr. Vight, I dake your vord for dot, hey? Now, vot you do ven
+you vos a putler, hey?"
+
+And from that point the playlet went on as originally intended; the two
+finally winding up when a postman's whistle was heard and each got a
+letter from the same man, stating the one to arrive first at a certain
+house could have a job. Both started at the same time and each tripped
+the other up. Then both left the stage on hands and knees, each trying
+to keep the other back. It was a truly comical wind-up, and when the
+curtain went down there was a thunder of applause.
+
+"Dave, it was great!" cried Roger. "You acted the Dutchman to
+perfection, and Plum was the darky to a T!"
+
+"That's true," added Phil. "But say, didn't you change that coach scene
+some?"
+
+"Well, rather," put in Gus. "We had to do it on account of----"
+
+"Link Merwell," finished Dave. "That's another black mark I am going to
+put down to his account."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+FORMING THE BASEBALL CLUB
+
+
+After it was at an end the entertainment was voted the best yet given
+at Oak Hall. Of course there had been a few small hitches, such as a
+wig falling off of one actor and another breaking a guitar string just
+when he was playing, but those did not count.
+
+"It was splendid!" said Jessie to Dave, when they met.
+
+"I am glad you liked it," he answered. "I know all the fellows did
+their best."
+
+"That table scene made me nearly die laughing," said Laura.
+
+"That came in rather unexpectedly, Laura. It wasn't on the programme. I
+think Link Merwell is responsible for it." And then her brother told of
+what had been discovered--the legs of the table and chairs nearly split
+in two.
+
+"He must be a thoroughly bad fellow," was Jessie's comment.
+
+"He is, and he would do almost anything to get me and some of the
+other students into trouble," returned Dave.
+
+Vera and Mary were waiting to speak to some of the boys, and Vera
+laughed heartily when she saw Dave.
+
+"Oh, but you make a fine German!" she said. "I think you ought to go
+on the stage." And then she complimented Phil, Roger, and some of the
+others whom she knew.
+
+Mr. Porter had arranged to remain at the hotel over night with his
+party. They left for Oakdale shortly after the entertainment, and Vera,
+Mary, and some others went with them, in carriages of their own. Dave
+noticed that Jessie was not herself, and when they were alone in a
+hallway for a moment asked the reason.
+
+"Oh, it's nothing, Dave," she answered, but without looking him
+squarely in the eyes.
+
+"But I know there is something, Jessie," he said, and his voice showed
+his anxiety. "Have I offended you in any way?"
+
+"No, not in the least."
+
+"But you are angry with me."
+
+"No, I am not angry." She kept her eyes hidden from his gaze.
+
+"Well, there is something, and I wish you would tell me what it is."
+
+"No, I'll not say a word. If you don't know what it is, it doesn't
+matter," said the girl, and then rejoined Laura and Mr. Porter. When
+they went away Dave noticed that her hand was icy cold, and his heart
+was deeply troubled. Something was certainly wrong and, though he felt
+sorry, he also felt nettled to think Jessie would not tell him what it
+was. It was the first break of confidence that had occurred between
+them.
+
+Although Dave was morally certain Link Merwell had "doctored" the
+chairs and the table, he could not prove it, and so he said little
+concerning the episode, although he and Plum talked it over thoroughly.
+Gus was greatly angered, for the trick had come close to spoiling the
+playlet, and if Dave had urged it he would have gone and fought Merwell
+before retiring for the night. Even as it was, he told Merwell that he
+had been found out and warned him in the future to keep his distance.
+
+"Dave Porter and I are going to watch you," said Gus. "And if we find
+you trying anything more on, why, we'll jump on you like a ton of
+bricks, so beware!" And for once Link Merwell was so scared that he
+walked off without making any reply.
+
+The entertainment the students had given brought the spring holidays to
+an end, and once more the lads of Oak Hall turned their attention to
+their studies. But with the coming of warm weather some of the boys got
+out their kites, balls, and other things, while others took to rowing
+on the river.
+
+"Have you heard the news about Nat Poole?" asked Buster of Dave and
+Roger one day.
+
+"I've heard nothing," answered the senator's son. "Has he got a new
+necktie?" For Nat loved neckties and had a new one on an average every
+week.
+
+"He is going to get a motor boat--told Messmer all about it. He said
+his father bought it in New York and it cost four hundred dollars."
+
+"Well, I never supposed Aaron Poole would spend that amount on a boat,"
+was Dave's comment. "He is known as one of the most close-fisted men in
+the district where I come from."
+
+"Nat says the boat will beat anything on the river," continued Buster.
+"Wish I had one."
+
+The news that Nat Poole was going to get a motor boat proved true.
+The boat came early in April, and was certainly very nice-looking and
+speedy. Nat took out some of the boys, and the ownership of such a
+beautiful craft made him a new lot of friends, so he was "quite a toad
+in a puddle," as Ben Basswood declared. Once Nat asked Ben to go out
+with him, but the latter declined, and then Nat took Link Merwell.
+
+"I don't care if he has got a new motor boat," said Ben to Dave. "I
+don't want to be in his company. If any of the other fellows want to
+toady to him they can do it." Merwell was often seen with Poole, and
+the pair became quite expert in running the motor and steering. Once
+they had a race with a motor boat belonging to a Military Academy
+student and came in ahead, and of this victory Nat Poole never got
+through boasting.
+
+As was to be expected, warm weather brought on talk of baseball. Dave
+had pitched in more than one game for Oak Hall, with Roger behind the
+bat, and he was asked if he would again consent to occupy the box for
+the school, should any outside party send in a challenge.
+
+"We'll most likely get a challenge from Rockville Military Academy,"
+said Phil. "They are aching to make up for old scores."
+
+"I'll pitch if the fellows want me to," answered Dave. "But if they
+want anybody else----"
+
+"We want you," interrupted Sam Day. "You're the best pitcher Oak Hall
+ever had."
+
+From that time on all of the boys put in part of their off-time playing
+baseball, forming scrub nines for that purpose. Link Merwell loved the
+game and liked to cover first base.
+
+"Why don't you play?" asked Dave of Gus Plum, one afternoon.
+
+"Oh, I--I don't want to push myself in," stammered Plum. He was now as
+retiring as he had formerly been aggressive.
+
+"Come on out," went on Dave, and literally dragged him forth. Then he
+asked Gus to play first base, which the latter did in a manner that
+surprised many of the others.
+
+"He's quicker than he used to be," was Phil's comment. "I rather think
+he'll make a good one if he keeps on practicing."
+
+One Saturday afternoon a regular match was arranged, with Phil as
+captain on one side and a student named Grassman as captain on the
+other. Now, Grassman loved to go out in Nat's motor boat and so he put
+both Nat and Merwell on his nine--the former to cover third base and
+the latter first. He himself pitched, while Dave filled the box for
+Phil.
+
+It was certainly a snappy game from the start and at the end of the
+fourth inning the score stood three to three. Then Grassman's nine
+"took a brace" and brought in two more runs, and thus the score
+remained five to three until the end of the seventh inning.
+
+"Come, we must do something this trip!" cried Roger, who was on Phil's
+side, and he knocked a three-bagger. He was followed by Shadow with a
+single that brought in one run, and then came Buster with a hit that
+took him to second and brought in another run. The next man to bat
+knocked a liner to shortstop. The ball was sent over to Merwell on
+first, but he allowed it to slip through his fingers, and another run
+came in. Then Merwell muffed a pop fly, and after that the Grassman
+nine got rattled, so that when Phil's nine retired they had ten runs
+to their credit. To this they added three more runs in the ninth. In
+that inning Dave struck out two men and sent a third out on a foul; and
+thus the game ended with a score of thirteen to five in favor of Phil's
+aggregation of players.
+
+"Hurrah for Phil Lawrence's nine!" called out little Frank Bond, and
+a great cheer went up. Dave was complimented for his pitching and Gus
+Plum also received much praise for catching a hot liner ten feet away
+from the base.
+
+On the following Saturday the Oak Hall Baseball Club was formally
+organized for the season, by the election of Phil as president and
+manager, Ben Basswood as secretary, and Shadow as treasurer. It was
+voted to make the manager captain of the nine. After much talking Dave
+was declared the choice for pitcher and Roger for catcher, while, to
+the surprise of some, Gus Plum was made first baseman, something that
+greatly pleased the big youth. Merwell wanted to be first baseman, but
+he was not even chosen as a substitute, much to his disgust. Nat Poole
+was also left in the cold, but this did not worry him so much, for he
+preferred to dress in style and lounge around, rather than go in for
+anything which might dirty his hands or make them callous. When he ran
+his motor boat he always wore gloves.
+
+"It's an awful shame they put Gus Plum on the nine," said Nat Poole to
+Merwell. "You ought to have that position--you can cover first base
+better than he can."
+
+"I know it--but it's all the work of Porter, Lawrence, and that crowd,"
+growled Link Merwell. "As long as Plum will only toady to them they are
+willing to do anything for him. It makes me sick." And he began to puff
+away vigorously on a cigarette he was smoking.
+
+"Well, maybe, if they play Rockville or some other club, they'll lose,"
+said Poole. "Then they'll be sorry they didn't put on some better
+players."
+
+The baseball club soon got more challenges than they had expected. One
+came from Rockville Military Academy, for a series of three games, to
+be played during June, and two others from clubs belonging to Oakdale.
+The latter were for single games, and, after some consultation, all of
+the challenges were accepted.
+
+The games with the Oakdale clubs were played on the outskirts of the
+town, where a field had been inclosed and a grand stand erected. The
+first was with an aggregation known as the Comets, and resulted in a
+tie--8 to 8.
+
+"Well, we can't complain about that," was Dave's comment. "They were
+all big fellows."
+
+"Yes, and two of them have played on college nines," said Shadow. "We
+were lucky to hold them to a tie;" and in this opinion many of the
+others agreed, and so did Mr. Dale and Doctor Clay, both of whom were
+present. Job Haskers never went to games of any sort, for he considered
+athletic contests a waste of time and muscle.
+
+Vera Rockwell and Mary Feversham were at the game, and after the
+contest was over, Phil went to talk with them, taking Dave with him.
+While the girls were asking some questions, Roger came up, to speak to
+Vera. He did not see Dave at once, but when he did his face fell, and
+merely raising his cap he passed on.
+
+"Oh, I thought Mr. Morr was going to stop," said Vera, pouting. "I
+wanted to tell him how nicely he did the catching."
+
+Phil and Dave remained with the girls until it was time to return
+to the school. Then they learned that Roger had gone to Oak Hall in
+company with Chip Macklin.
+
+"It's queer he didn't wait for the crowd," was Dave's comment.
+
+"He's acted queer half a dozen times lately," returned the shipowner's
+son. "I don't understand it myself."
+
+The next game was to take place on the following Saturday, and the
+students practiced several times during the week. Dave noticed that
+Roger took but little interest, yet he said nothing, until he felt it
+his duty to speak up.
+
+"Roger, what's wrong?" he asked, very much in the way he had put that
+question to Jessie.
+
+"Nothing, that I know of," grumbled the senator's son.
+
+"You're not catching as well as you did."
+
+"Perhaps you think the club ought to have another catcher!" flared up
+the other, suddenly. "If you do, say the word, and I'll step down and
+out."
+
+"Now, Roger, I know something is wrong----" began Dave.
+
+"Of course you know--and I know, too!" cried the senator's son, and now
+his cheeks grew crimson. "I guess I'll resign from the club--and then
+you can run things to suit yourself," and to Dave's amazement he walked
+out of the room, banging the door after him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+A GREAT VICTORY
+
+
+Dave was much downcast over the way Roger acted, the more so because he
+could not understand it. He had half a mind to go after the senator's
+son and demand an explanation, but after thinking the matter over
+concluded that it would do no good.
+
+"He'll only get more angry," he reasoned. "Perhaps it will be better to
+speak to Phil about it."
+
+But, much to his surprise, when he saw the shipowner's son, Phil had
+also had a "scene" with Roger, and the latter had said he was going
+to resign from the baseball club and devote himself strictly to his
+studies.
+
+"I am sure it isn't his studies that are bothering him," said Phil. "He
+can go right ahead with his lessons and play baseball, too--if he wants
+to."
+
+"Well, but why is he angry at me?" demanded Dave.
+
+"I don't know." Phil paused for a moment. "Perhaps--but, pshaw! what's
+the use of mentioning that. I know there is nothing in it."
+
+"What, Phil?"
+
+"I don't think I ought to say anything--I know it's absurd, Dave."
+
+"What is absurd?"
+
+"Why--er--that is, you know Roger thinks a lot of Vera Rockwell, don't
+you?"
+
+"Does he? I hadn't noticed it particularly--in fact, I thought he
+treated her rather coolly the day we played the game with the Comets."
+
+"That was because you were around."
+
+"Because I was around?" repeated Dave, in a puzzled way.
+
+"Exactly."
+
+"I don't catch your meaning, Phil."
+
+"I don't see why you are so thick, Dave."
+
+"Am I thick?"
+
+"You are."
+
+"Well, then, tell me what you mean."
+
+"Didn't I just say that Roger thought a whole lot of Vera Rockwell?"
+
+"Well?"
+
+"And weren't you with Vera, Mary, and myself after the game?"
+
+"Yes, but----"
+
+"When Roger saw you talking to Vera, he walked away in the coldest
+manner possible."
+
+"Oh, but, Phil, that is absurd. Hadn't I a right to talk to Vera? I am
+sure she is a nice girl."
+
+"So she is--a very nice girl--we think so--and so does Roger."
+
+"And do you seriously think that Roger doesn't like it because I made
+myself agreeable to Vera?"
+
+"I guess he thinks you ought to give him a show. He has never said
+anything, but I imagine that is what he thinks," concluded Phil; and
+the conversation came to an end as some of the other students put in an
+appearance.
+
+This talk set Dave to thinking in more ways than one. He remembered
+several incidents now concerning Roger and Vera, and he also remembered
+how Jessie had acted during her visit to the school. Was it possible
+that Jessie, too, had felt offended over the manner of his friendliness
+to Vera?
+
+"I treated her only as a friend--and I have a right to do that," Dave
+reasoned. "Roger has no right to be jealous--nor has Jessie." He felt
+so hurt that his pride rebelled, and for two days he said hardly a word
+to the senator's son. The break between the two threatened to become
+permanent.
+
+But Roger did not resign from the baseball club. He mentioned it to
+Ben, Shadow, and some of the others, but they protested so strongly
+he had to remain as catcher. In order to do this, he had to consult
+with Dave, but the consultations were confined entirely to pitching and
+catching. Roger was not at all like himself, and his irritation arose
+at the slightest provocation.
+
+On the following Saturday the Oak Hall nine played the Oakdale
+Resolutes, on the town grounds. As before, a large crowd assembled,
+including some of the cadets from Rockville, who were to open their
+series with Oak Hall the week following. From Phil, Dave learned that
+Mary Feversham and Vera Rockwell were to be present.
+
+"All right, Phil, go and do the honors," said Dave. "I am going to
+attend strictly to pitching to-day."
+
+"Going to leave the field to Roger, eh?"
+
+"You may put it that way if you wish."
+
+"Shall I tell the girls you don't want to speak to them?"
+
+"If you do, Phil, I'll hit you in the head with the ball, the first
+chance I get," was Dave's reply, half in jest and half in earnest.
+
+The Oakdale Resolutes were made up of young men who had played baseball
+for several years. In the past they had not cared to play "a boys'
+school," as they designated Oak Hall. But since the past summer they
+had come to respect the Hall, and they had been forced into the game by
+friends who had said they were afraid to play our friends. They had a
+great pitcher named Gilroy and a catcher named Barwenk, and they relied
+on these two players to "wipe up the ball-field," as they put it, with
+Oak Hall.
+
+During the first four innings honors were about even, each side
+bringing in two runs. Then the nines began to see-saw, first one being
+ahead and then the other, until at the end of the eighth inning the
+score stood Oak Hall 7, Resolutes 6. So far Dave had struck out five
+players and Gilroy had the same number to his credit. But Gilroy had
+made one wild pitch, which had brought in Oak Hall's fifth run.
+
+"Now, Dave, see if you can't hold 'em down to a goose egg," said
+Shadow, as the other club went to the bat for the last time.
+
+"I'll do what I can," was the reply.
+
+Dave was on his mettle, and so for the matter of that was every other
+Oak Hall player. But some were a bit nervous, and as a consequence one
+missed a grounder and another let drop a hot liner. The Resolutes got
+three men on bases, and then, with one man out, they got in two runs.
+
+"Hurrah! That gives the Resolutes eight runs!" was the cry, and the
+town rooters cheered lustily.
+
+Dave did his best to strike the next man out. But with two balls and
+one strike he sent in a ball that was just a little wild, and strange
+to say, Roger muffed it. Then the man on third came in, giving the
+Resolutes another run.
+
+"Another! That makes the score seven to nine!"
+
+"That was a wild pitch."
+
+"Not so wild but that the catcher might have got it if he had tried."
+
+"Steady there, Roger!" called out some of the Oak Hall boys.
+
+"It wasn't my fault--the ball was out of my reach," grumbled the
+senator's son.
+
+A quick retort arose to Dave's lips, but he checked it. He did not
+wish to make his quarrel with Roger any worse. He walked back to the
+pitcher's box and signed to Roger for a drop ball. Roger did not answer
+at once and he waited a few seconds and repeated the sign.
+
+"Play ball!" was the cry. "Don't wait all day, Porter." Then the
+senator's son signed back and Dave sent in the ball with precision. The
+batsman swung for it, and missed it.
+
+"Strike two!" called out the umpire.
+
+Dave next signed for an out curve. It was now three balls and two
+strikes and the next delivery would "tell the tale." In came the ball
+with great swiftness, and again the batsman tried to connect with
+it--and failed.
+
+"Three strikes--batter out!"
+
+"Hurrah, Porter struck him out, after all!"
+
+"Now go for the third man, Dave!"
+
+"Lessinger is at the bat. He ought to lift it over the back fence."
+
+Lessinger was a heavy batter, yet twice he failed in his attempt to hit
+the sphere. But the third time he knocked a low fly to center. It was
+easily caught,--and the Resolutes went out with the score standing 9 to
+7 in their favor.
+
+"Now, fellows, we must do our best," said Phil. "Don't hit at the ball
+until you get a good one, and then lift it clear over Hamden's stables
+if you can." The stables were two blocks away, and a ball sent a
+quarter of that distance meant a home run.
+
+Shadow was first to the bat and got safely to first. Then came Gus
+Plum, and to the wonder of many he hit the ball for a two-bagger,
+bringing Shadow in. Then Dave got to first while Plum went to third.
+Next came an out, and then a hit by Ben Basswood took Dave to third and
+brought Plum home.
+
+The Oak Hall rooters were now cheering and yelling like mad, and this
+got the Resolute pitcher rattled and he gave the next batsman his base
+on balls. Then came another safe hit by Buster Beggs, and the game
+ended with the score standing, Oak Hall 10, Resolutes 9.
+
+"Hurrah, Oak Hall wins!"
+
+"That's a close finish right enough, isn't it?"
+
+The cheering by the Oak Hall adherents was tremendous, while the
+Resolute followers had little to say. Many came to congratulate Dave on
+his excellent pitching and others congratulated Roger on his catching.
+The other players were likewise remembered, even Plum coming in for
+many handshakes and thumps on the shoulder.
+
+In the crowd Dave saw Vera and Mary, and spoke to them for a minute or
+two. Both girls thought the game the best they had ever seen.
+
+"Oh, I think your pitching was superb!" cried Vera, enthusiastically.
+"I hope you do as well when you play Rockville."
+
+"I'll do my best," answered Dave, and then turned to rejoin some of his
+fellow-players. He came face to face with Roger and was about to speak,
+when the senator's son turned his head the other way and passed on.
+
+The club members had come to Oakdale in the carryall and a carriage,
+and they returned to the school in these turnouts. Dave and Phil looked
+for Roger, but he was not to be found. Phil, as captain of the club,
+had had so many details to look after that he had not gotten time to
+speak to Mary, much to his disappointment. But she had waved her hand
+to him and smiled, which was one consolation.
+
+Link Merwell and Nat Poole had predicted defeat for Oak Hall, and when
+instead a victory was gained this pair did not know what to say.
+
+"I reckon it was a fluke," was Merwell's comment. "They couldn't do
+it again in a hundred years. Must have been something wrong with the
+Resolute players."
+
+"I heard their pitcher had a sore arm, and they had a substitute first
+baseman," said Nat Poole. "That would make a big difference."
+
+"I hope Rockville Military Academy does 'em up brown," went on Link
+Merwell. The thought of having the honor to stand up for his own school
+never entered his head.
+
+"So do I, Link. It will take some of the conceit out of Porter and his
+crowd. As pitcher Porter, of course, thinks he is the whole thing."
+
+"Say, did you notice how cold Porter and Morr are getting toward each
+other?" And Link Merwell chuckled gleefully.
+
+"Yes. I guess they are stirred up over that girl right now."
+
+"You bet! And maybe they'll be stirred up some more before I am done
+with them."
+
+On the following Thursday afternoon, Dave, Phil, and Plum went out for
+a row on the river. It was a beautiful day, clear and warm, and the
+three got out a boat with two pairs of oars and a rudder, so that all
+might have a share in handling the craft at the same time.
+
+"Let us row down to Bush Island," suggested Plum, naming an island
+about two miles away, which took its name from a patch of huckleberry
+bushes growing there. It was a pleasant spot, and one end of the island
+was occasionally used by the folks of Oakdale for picnic grounds.
+
+"That suits me," answered Dave, and soon the three boys were off, never
+dreaming of what this little trip was destined to bring forth.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+ON BUSH ISLAND
+
+
+The three boys had covered less than a third of the distance to Bush
+Island when they passed two rowboats, one containing Roger, Ben, and
+two others, and another containing Doctor Clay and Andrew Dale.
+
+"Hello! lots of folks out this afternoon," was Phil's comment.
+
+"This is the first time I have seen the doctor and Mr. Dale out," said
+Dave. "They row very well, don't they?"
+
+"The doctor was once a college oarsman," put in Plum. "I suppose he
+likes to get out here for the sake of old times."
+
+"Well, Mr. Dale pulls as well as he does," returned Dave. "Both of them
+pull a perfect stroke."
+
+"Wonder if old Haskers ever rows?" mused Phil.
+
+"Guess he doesn't do much of anything but teach and find fault,"
+grumbled Gus Plum.
+
+The craft containing the doctor and the first assistant was heading
+for the east shore of the river and was soon out of sight around a
+point of rocks. The other boat had turned around, so the boys did not
+have a chance to speak to their fellow-students.
+
+"Here comes a motor boat!" cried Dave, as a steady put-put! reached his
+ears.
+
+"It's Nat Poole's boat," said Phil as the craft came into view.
+
+Soon the motor boat came close to them and they saw that Poole and
+Merwell were on board. The pair were smoking, as usual, but placed
+their cigarettes on the seats, out of sight.
+
+"Where are you going?" demanded Nat Poole, abruptly.
+
+"Rowing," answered Phil, dryly.
+
+"Humph! Don't you wish you had this motor boat?"
+
+"Not particularly."
+
+"A motor boat beats a rowboat all hollow," went on the dudish student.
+
+"Not for rowing," vouchsafed Dave.
+
+"Well, you can row if you want to," sneered Poole. "I prefer to let the
+motor do the work," and then he steered away, giving the rowboat all
+the wash possible as he passed.
+
+"Wonder where they are going?" said Link Merwell, as he looked back to
+see if the rowboat had shipped any water from the wash.
+
+[Illustration:"WELL, YOU CAN ROW IF YOU WANT TO," SNEERED POOLE.]
+
+"I don't know, I'm sure."
+
+"Perhaps they'll land somewhere. If they do, we can play a trick on
+'em, Nat."
+
+"How?"
+
+"By taking their rowboat when they are out of sight. We can easily tie
+the boat on behind and tow it to the boathouse. Then those fellows
+would have to walk back to Oak Hall."
+
+"Good! That would be great!" ejaculated Nat Poole. "I wish they would
+land and leave the boat to itself for a while."
+
+"Let us watch 'em," suggested Merwell, and to this his crony readily
+agreed.
+
+It did not take Dave and his friends long to reach Bush Island.
+Beaching the rowboat, they went ashore and took a walk around.
+
+"It certainly is a nice spot for a picnic," was Phil's comment. "I
+don't wonder that the town folks come here--and the Sunday schools. I'd
+like to have a picnic myself here--when it gets a little warmer."
+
+"We might come over some holiday--and bring a basket of grub along,"
+said Plum.
+
+"Oh, we'd have to have something good to eat," put in Dave. "That's
+three-quarters of the fun."
+
+Much to their surprise, in walking to the center of the island, they
+ran into Doctor Clay and Mr. Dale. Both had some bits of rocks in their
+hands and the doctor had a geologist's hammer as well.
+
+"Well, boys, what brought you?" asked the head of the school,
+pleasantly.
+
+"Oh, we just stopped for fun," answered Dave. "We didn't know you rowed
+so far."
+
+"We are knocking off a few geological specimens for the school
+cabinet," answered Doctor Clay. "These are not particularly
+valuable--but every little helps."
+
+The boys remained with the men for a quarter of an hour, and then
+walked back to the shore. As they did this, Dave suddenly put up his
+hand.
+
+"What is it?" asked Phil and Plum, in a breath.
+
+"Thought I heard a motor boat."
+
+"Perhaps Nat Poole's boat is near the island," suggested Gus.
+
+"Oh, there are a dozen motor boats on the river now," answered Phil.
+"There, I heard it, but it's a good distance off."
+
+No more was said about the motor boat, and they continued on their
+walk to the shore. Here they found their rowboat as they had left it,
+and entering, shoved off, and continued their row. They went a little
+further than at first anticipated, and consequently had to hurry to get
+back in time for supper, and even then were the last students to enter
+the dining hall.
+
+As he passed to his seat Dave had to walk close to Link Merwell. When
+the bully saw him he started and stared in amazement. Then he looked
+around and stared at Phil and Gus. He leaned over and spoke to Nat
+Poole, who sat close at hand.
+
+"They are back!" he whispered.
+
+"Who? Porter and his crowd?" And now the dudish pupil looked equally
+amazed.
+
+"Yes,--look for yourself."
+
+Nat Poole did look, and his face became a study. As soon as possible he
+and Merwell finished their evening meal and went outdoors.
+
+"Somebody must have stopped at the island and taken them off," said
+Merwell, when he felt safe to speak without being overheard.
+
+"I suppose that must be it or else----" Nat Poole stopped short and
+turned pale.
+
+"Or what?"
+
+"Perhaps we took some other boat, Link! Oh, if we did that, the owner
+might have us arrested!"
+
+"Nonsense! It was an Oak Hall boat--I looked to make sure, when I tied
+it to the motor boat."
+
+"Let us go down and see."
+
+"Can't you take my word for it?" asked Merwell, roughly.
+
+"Yes. But I want to know just what boat it was."
+
+"If they see you hanging around the boathouse they may smell a mouse."
+
+"I'll be careful. I have a right to look after my motor boat, you know."
+
+"That's so--I forgot that."
+
+The youths walked to the boathouse and, on the sly, looked at the craft
+they had towed over from Bush Island. It was certainly an Oak Hall
+rowboat, and Nat breathed a little sigh of relief.
+
+The two lads were just on the point of leaving the boathouse when Job
+Haskers came in, followed by a man who took care of the boats.
+
+"Siller tells me you were out in your motor boat this afternoon," said
+Job Haskers. "Did you see anything of Doctor Clay and Mr. Dale?"
+
+"No, sir," answered Nat Poole.
+
+"Were they out in a boat?" asked Merwell.
+
+"Yes, they went for a row about four o'clock, and they have not yet got
+back. It is strange, for they said nothing about being away for supper."
+
+"Well, we didn't see them," answered both Poole and Merwell. Then both
+left the boathouse and took their way to the gymnasium.
+
+Here, as fate would have it, they ran into Messmer and Henshaw, who
+were doing some turns on the bars, in company with Gus Plum, who, since
+his good work on the ball-field, was becoming quite a favorite.
+
+"I don't think I can do many turns to-night," they heard Plum say. "I
+am tired out from a row Dave Porter, Phil Lawrence, and myself took to
+Bush Island."
+
+"How did the island look?" asked Messmer, carelessly.
+
+"Very nice. We walked all around it and ran into Doctor Clay and Mr.
+Dale. They were there gathering geological specimens."
+
+"I'd like to make a collection," put in Henshaw. "By the way, Mr. Dale
+wasn't at supper. Did he come home with you?"
+
+"No, we left him and the doctor there knocking off the bits of rock,"
+answered Plum.
+
+Merwell and Poole listened to this conversation with keen interest.
+They exchanged glances, and then the dudish pupil pulled his crony by
+the coat-sleeve and led the way to a lonely part of the campus.
+
+"Oh, Link, do you think we took the doctor's boat by mistake?" asked
+Poole, with something akin to terror in his tones.
+
+"Hush! not so loud!" warned Merwell. "If we did, you don't want to let
+anybody know it."
+
+"But what shall we do? The doctor and Mr. Dale can't leave the island
+without a boat."
+
+"I know that. But don't you say anything--unless you want to get into
+hot water."
+
+"But they may have to stay there all night!" continued the thoroughly
+frightened Nat.
+
+"Oh, I reckon somebody will come to take them off."
+
+"Do you sup--suppose they saw us run away with their boat?" Poole was
+now so scared he could scarcely talk.
+
+"No. We didn't see them, and consequently I can't see how they'd know
+us. But you want to keep mum."
+
+"Maybe somebody saw us bring in the empty rowboat."
+
+"I don't think so; nobody was around when we came in. Now you just keep
+quiet and it will be all right."
+
+"If they have to stay on the island all night they'll be as mad as
+hornets."
+
+"I don't care--I'd like to pay them both back for some of the mean
+things they've done to us."
+
+"I don't know that they've done any mean thing to me," answered Nat
+Poole. He felt that he would give a good deal not to have touched the
+rowboat found on the shore of Bush Island tied to a tree. That it had
+been a craft used by Doctor Clay and Mr. Dale there was now not the
+slightest doubt.
+
+Dave was in the library of the school, consulting a history of Rome,
+when Ben came in with news that Doctor Clay and Mr. Dale were missing.
+It was almost time to go to bed and a number of the students had
+already retired.
+
+"Missing!" cried Dave, and put down the volume in his hands. "What do
+you mean, Ben?"
+
+"They are missing--isn't that plain enough? They went for a row on the
+river this afternoon, and they have not come back."
+
+"Why, we met them at Bush Island," and Dave explained the occurrence.
+"Maybe I'd better tell Haskers," he added, and hurried off.
+
+He found the assistant teacher in the office, considerably worried.
+That evening he and the doctor were to have gone over some school
+matters that needed attention. The non-return of the master of the Hall
+was therefore good cause for alarm.
+
+"What do you want, Porter?" he asked, coldly, for he had not yet
+forgotten the quarrel in that very room some months previous.
+
+"I understand Doctor Clay and Mr. Dale are missing, Mr. Haskers."
+
+"Well?"
+
+"I only wish to tell you that Phil Lawrence, Gus Plum, and I were out
+rowing this afternoon and we went to Bush Island, and there we met the
+doctor and Mr. Dale, who had come in a rowboat."
+
+"Indeed! Did they say anything about coming back?"
+
+"No, sir. We left them there, gathering geological specimens."
+
+"They wouldn't stay there unless there was a reason for it," mused Job
+Haskers.
+
+"Perhaps their boat sprung a leak, or something like that."
+
+"Ahem! Such a thing is possible."
+
+"Would you like some of us to go to the island and find out?"
+
+"No. If I want that done I can send Siller."
+
+"You might go to the island in Poole's motor boat. She could make the
+trip in no time."
+
+"I'll think of it," answered Job Haskers, shortly. He did not wish to
+give Dave any credit for the suggestion.
+
+Nevertheless, he acted on the advice, and less than a quarter of an
+hour later, with the searchlight on, the motor boat left the school
+dock, carrying on board Nat Poole, Siller, and Job Haskers. Poole was
+badly frightened, fearing that what he and Merwell had done would be
+found out.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+WHAT AN AUTOMOBILE DID
+
+
+"Dave Porter, Doctor Clay wishes to see you in his private office
+immediately."
+
+It was Murphy the monitor who spoke, and he addressed Dave just as the
+latter was getting ready to retire for the night. He had already called
+Phil and Gus Plum.
+
+"What does he want, Jim?" questioned Dave.
+
+"I don't know, I'm sure. He and Mr. Dale just came in, and he is as mad
+as a hornet."
+
+Without delay Dave put on the coat he had taken off, and went below,
+accompanied by Phil and Gus. The door to the private office stood open
+and inside were the master of Oak Hall, Mr. Dale, and Job Haskers.
+
+"Come in, young gentlemen," said the doctor, somewhat grimly. "I want
+to ask you a few questions."
+
+They walked in and stood in a row, facing the master. Certainly Doctor
+Clay was angry, and Andrew Dale looked far from pleased.
+
+"All of you were on Bush Island this afternoon," went on Doctor Clay.
+"When you went away, did you do anything to the rowboat that Mr. Dale
+and myself took there?"
+
+"No, sir," answered Dave, promptly.
+
+"We didn't see your boat--at least, I didn't," answered Plum.
+
+"I didn't see it either," came from Phil.
+
+"Porter, did you see the boat?"
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"All of you are positive of this?" went on the master of the school,
+sternly.
+
+"The only time I saw the boat was when you and Mr. Dale were on the
+river rowing--before we got to the island," said Dave.
+
+"That boat was taken by somebody. We tied it to a tree and when we went
+for it, it was gone. We had to remain on the island, in the dark and
+cold, until Mr. Haskers came with Poole's motor boat and took us off."
+
+"Excuse me, Doctor, may I ask a question?" said Andrew Dale.
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"Did you boys see anybody else on the island?"
+
+"No, sir," returned Dave.
+
+"Was anybody near there, so far as you know?"
+
+"Not very near. We met a number of the fellows on the river, while we
+were rowing toward the island."
+
+"Who were some of those boys?" asked Doctor Clay.
+
+Dave remembered that one of the boats had contained Roger, Ben, Sam
+Day, and Messmer, and remained silent.
+
+"Don't any of you remember who were in the other boats?" asked the
+doctor, and his voice was sharper than ever.
+
+"Nat Poole and Link Merwell were out in the motor boat," answered Phil.
+
+"Yes, I know that, but both declare they were not near the island."
+
+"Roger Morr, Sam Day, and a lot of others were out, but they were near
+the boathouse, and I don't think any of them went near Bush Island,"
+answered Gus Plum.
+
+"Well, somebody was there, and took our boat," said Doctor Clay. "If I
+find out who was guilty of the trick I shall punish him severely." He
+knew that many of the boys would laugh behind his back, and he hated to
+be the butt of such a joke.
+
+After being questioned for quarter of an hour the boys were told they
+could go, and returned to their dormitory. Hardly had they left the
+office when Siller, the boatman, came in.
+
+"The boat you had is at the dock," he announced. "It was tied up around
+a corner, where I didn't see it before."
+
+"That proves some boys from this school took it from the island," said
+the doctor. "Is the boat all right?"
+
+"Yes, sir. I looked her over, and in the bottom I found this case."
+
+As Siller spoke he handed over a small leather case, which was empty
+but smelt strongly of tobacco.
+
+"A cigarette case!" cried the master of the school. "Could any pupil
+here have had that? They know that smoking is forbidden." He turned the
+case over in the light. "Here is a letter painted on the side. It is
+rather worn."
+
+"It is an M," said Andrew Dale, after an examination. "Let me see, what
+pupils' names begin with M?" He mused for a moment. "Morrison, Morr,
+Merwell----"
+
+"Morrison went home yesterday, to be gone a week. Merwell said the
+motor boat was not near the island, and I certainly did not hear it."
+
+"Plum just said Morr and some others were out in a rowboat," added
+Andrew Dale, quickly. "This may be his cigarette case."
+
+"We'll question him."
+
+Thereupon Roger was made to visit the office and put through a course
+of questions. He denied being near Bush Island and also denied owning
+the cigarette case. He felt angered to think he was suspected and
+answered the doctor so sharply that he was told to translate ten pages
+of Caesar the next afternoon--a task he hated. And there the whole
+matter rested for the time being. Merwell missed his cigarette case,
+sent to him by a friend for his birthday, and he warned Poole not to
+breathe a word about it.
+
+"We have told the doctor we were not near the island," said the bully.
+"Now, if he finds out that we were, he'll punish us severely, and maybe
+he'll expel us." This fairly terrorized Nat, and he wished he had never
+seen Bush Island or listened to Merwell's plan to rob Dave and his
+chums of their rowboat.
+
+In some way Roger became convinced that Dave was responsible for his
+being hauled up before Doctor Clay, and as a consequence he grew colder
+and colder toward his former chum, something that hurt Dave very much.
+Phil, in a roundabout way, tried to patch up the matter, but Roger
+would not listen. He spent his entire time in company with Shadow,
+Buster, and some others, and only spoke to Dave when the baseball nine
+did its practicing.
+
+About six miles from Oak Hall was a private park known as Hilltop. This
+belonged to a gentleman named Richard Mongrace, who had a brother, a
+man who had once been a college football player, but who was now an
+invalid and could not leave the estate. Mr. Mongrace had a fine field
+for all sorts of outdoor sports at Hilltop, with a grand stand and
+bleachers, and, to please his brother, he frequently invited local
+clubs to use his grounds for their contests.
+
+In the past both Oak Hall and Rockville Military Academy had played at
+Hilltop, and now they had been invited to do so again, and it had been
+arranged that the baseball series should be played there. It may be as
+well to state here that the contest was to consist of two games out of
+a possible three. If either side won the first two games the third was
+not to be played.
+
+The day for the first game proved cloudy and windy, yet the Oak Hall
+boys went to the grounds in high spirits. Some went on bicycles, some
+in the carryall, and a few walked, just for the exercise.
+
+Dave was in the carryall, along with Phil, Shadow, and ten others. They
+were a jolly crowd, and as the turnout bowled along over the road they
+sang, gave the school yell, and cut up generally. The athletic yell was
+very popular, as follows:
+
+      "Baseball!
+      Football!
+      Oak Hall!
+      Has the call!
+  Biff! Boom! Bang! Whoop!"
+
+"This is the day we rip Rockville up the back!" cried one of the
+students.
+
+"And poke holes in the sky with raps for home runs," added another.
+
+"And strike out three men every inning!" cried a third. "Dave, how is
+our pitcher to-day?"
+
+"Able to sit up and eat pie," answered Dave, with a smile.
+
+"Talking about pitchers puts me in mind of a little story I heard
+yesterday----" began Shadow. "A little girl----"
+
+"Hello, Shadow has hit the story trail once more!" sang out Phil.
+"Thought there must be something wrong with him. He hasn't told a story
+for an hour and ten minutes."
+
+"He's thinking of all the outs he is going to make," put in Plum, slyly.
+
+"Not an out for yours truly," returned the story-teller. "But to get
+back to the little girl. Says she to her papa, 'Papa, did you say a
+baseball club has a pitcher?' 'Yes, my dear,' says papa. 'Well, do they
+have a sugar-bowl too?'" And at this anecdote the boys smiled.
+
+Jackson Lemond was driving the carryall. He had a team of horses
+which the doctor had purchased only a few weeks before. They were a
+mettlesome pair, and the Hall driver did not altogether understand
+them. At times they went along very well, but at others they "cut up
+simply awful," to use Horsehair's way of expressing it.
+
+"Why don't you let the team out, Horsehair?" asked one of the boys,
+presently. "We don't want to take all day to get to Hilltop."
+
+"I hate to give 'em too much headway," answered the driver. "The road
+ain't none of the best along here, and there ain't no telling what they
+might do."
+
+"We'll have to hurry some," said Dave. "I want some time to warm up,
+and so do the others."
+
+"Maybe it will rain and the game will have to be called off," was
+Phil's comment, with an anxious look at the overcast sky.
+
+"Oh, it's not going to rain just now," answered Henshaw.
+
+They had just reached the top of a long hill and were preparing to go
+down the other side, when they heard a tooting behind them.
+
+"Here comes an automobile!" cried Phil, looking back.
+
+"I know that machine," answered Buster. "It belongs to some of the
+students at Rockville--two cousins, I think. They brought it down from
+Portland, Maine, where they come from."
+
+"It is full of Rockville fellows," said Sam. "They want to pass us," he
+added, as the tooting sounded louder.
+
+"It's a narrow road to pass on," grumbled Horsehair. "Whoa, there!" he
+cried to his team.
+
+"Whoa, I say!"
+
+For the horses had begun to prick up their ears and dance about at the
+sound of the automobile horn.
+
+"Clear the road, for we are coming!" came the cry from behind, and
+then with a tooting of the horn, a puffing from the engine, and a wild
+yelling from the occupants, the big touring car shot past the carryall
+with less than three inches to spare, and plunged down the hill at a
+speed that soon carried it out of sight in a cloud of dust.
+
+It was enough to scare anybody, and the hearts of some of the boys beat
+wildly for the moment.
+
+"That's taking a fearful risk," was the comment of one lad. "If they
+don't look out, they'll break their necks."
+
+There was little time to say more, for the students now realized that
+Horsehair was having his hands full with the new team. One horse was
+plunging with might and main to break away and the other was shying to
+the left. Then came a sudden snap, as a portion of the harness gave
+way, and the next moment the carryall was sweeping down the hill on the
+very heels of the team that was running away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+A DEFEAT FOR OAK HALL
+
+
+It was a time of great peril and all the students in the carryall
+realized it. With a portion of the harness broken, the driver could do
+little or nothing to control the team. They had the bits in their teeth
+and plunged down the hill and over the rocks in a manner that sent the
+turnout swinging first to one side and then the other.
+
+"We'll go over!"
+
+"We'll be smashed to pieces!"
+
+"We'd better jump, if we want to save our lives!"
+
+These and many other cries rang out. Dave and Ben were on the front
+seat with Horsehair, but all the others were inside, being thrown
+around like beans in a bag.
+
+"Let them go!" sang out Dave. "Give them the middle of the road,--and
+put on the brake."
+
+At first the driver was too scared to pay attention to Dave's words,
+and the youth had to lean over and pull the brake back. This all but
+locked the wheels and caused the carryall greatly to diminish its
+speed. But the horses kept dancing and plunging as madly as ever, and
+it looked as if at any instant they might bring the turnout to grief in
+one or the other of the water gullies lining the highway.
+
+"If you fellows want to get off, drop out the back one at a time," sang
+out Dave, when he saw that the brake was telling on the speed of both
+team and carryall.
+
+"You had better jump, too," answered one youth, as he prepared to do as
+advised.
+
+"Not yet--I think the team will stop at the foot of the hill," returned
+Dave.
+
+His coolness restored confidence to the others, and all remained in the
+carryall. Horsehair had tight hold of the reins, and now began to talk
+soothingly to the horses--getting back some of his own wits. Then the
+bottom of the hill was reached; and after a few minutes of work the
+team was brought down to a walk and then halted. Without waiting for an
+invitation, the students leaped to the ground and the school driver did
+likewise.
+
+"Say, that was surely a scare," was Jackson Lemond's comment. "I'd like
+to wring the neck o' the young rascal who is running that auto!"
+
+"He certainly had no right to rush past us as he did," replied Phil.
+"But how about it, Horsehair; can you mend the harness? Remember, we
+want to get to Hilltop."
+
+"I reckon I can mend it--I've got extry straps and buckles under the
+seat."
+
+Horsehair set to work and Dave and Plum aided him, and in a very few
+minutes they were able to proceed on their way. The driver now kept
+the team well in hand, and the boys kept a keen lookout for more
+automobiles, but none passed them.
+
+"I've a good mind to report those chaps to the constable," said
+Horsehair, as they neared Hilltop. "They ought to be locked up."
+
+"You'll be laughed at for your pains," answered Shadow. "Let us wax
+Rockville at baseball--that will be revenge enough."
+
+The grounds were comfortably filled at the ball-field, and by the time
+the game started nearly every seat was taken. In one corner of the
+grand stand was a group of girls and among them Mary Feversham and Vera
+Rockwell, and they had flags with the initials O. H. on them.
+
+"They are going to root for us, bless 'em!" cried Phil, and he waved
+his hand at Mary and Vera, and Dave did likewise. Roger pretended not
+to see the girls, but hurried immediately to the dressing-room to
+prepare for the game.
+
+It had brightened up a little and for a short while the sun came out.
+Promptly at three o'clock the game started with Oak Hall at the bat.
+They were retired in one, two, three order, much to the delight of the
+Rockville contingent.
+
+"That's the way to do it!"
+
+"Now then, fellows, show them how you can bat the ball!"
+
+And then arose the Military Academy slogan:
+
+    "Rockville!
+    Rockville!
+  You'll get your fill
+  From Rockville!"
+
+Dave was certainly in the pink of condition when he walked down to the
+pitcher's box. Yet, despite his best efforts, one of the Rockville
+players "found him" for a two-bagger and another for a single, and when
+the side went out it had two runs to its credit.
+
+Then what a roar went up from the Military Academy boys!
+
+"That's the way! Keep it up!"
+
+"If you make two every inning, you'll have eighteen by the time you
+finish."
+
+During the second, third, and fourth innings Oak Hall did its best to
+score, but though two players reached second and one third, it was not
+to be. In the meantime Rockville got four more runs, making six in all.
+
+"Six to nothing! That's going some!"
+
+"Here is where we show Oak Hall what we can do!"
+
+Phil was very much worried and came to talk the matter over with Dave.
+
+"Dave, can't you strike some more of 'em out?" he asked. So far the
+pitcher had struck out two men.
+
+"I'm doing my best, Phil. They seem to be good hitters and no mistake.
+If you want to try somebody else in my place----"
+
+"No, no, Dave! Only I'd like to keep down that score. Do your best."
+
+In the next two innings Oak Hall managed to get two runs--one by a wild
+throw to second. This was a little encouraging, and the students rooted
+wildly. But in the seventh inning Roger made a wild throw to third and
+that gave the Rockvilles two more runs. At the end of the eighth the
+score stood, Rockville 10, Oak Hall 3.
+
+"We ought to have another pitcher and another catcher," said some.
+"Porter and Morr are both off to-day."
+
+"Phil, you can put somebody else in my place if you wish," said the
+senator's son, quickly.
+
+"And you can put somebody in my place, too," added Dave.
+
+"No, you stick and do the best you can," answered the manager of the
+nine.
+
+"They can't do anything!" sneered Link Merwell, who stood close by.
+
+"They can both play far better ball than you," retorted Phil. "If you
+were pitching or catching, the Rockvilles would have about fifty runs,"
+and then he turned his back on the bully.
+
+It had begun to rain a little, but both clubs decided to play the game
+out unless it came down too hard. Oak Hall went to the bat with vigor
+in the ninth and got two men on bases. But then came a foul fly, a
+short hit to first, and a pop fly, and there their chances ended. Then,
+to see what they could do, Rockville took the last half of the ninth
+and batted out four more runs, amid the wildest kind of yelling from
+the Military Academy cadets and their friends.
+
+Final score, Rockville 14, Oak Hall 3.
+
+The Oak Hall boys felt as gloomy as the sky above them and they had
+little or nothing to say. They could now realize how Rockville had
+felt, when defeated on the football field, the season before. None of
+the players gave attention to the rain, which was now coming down in
+torrents.
+
+"Told you we'd lose," said Link Merwell, to some of the boys near him.
+
+"Oh, you're a croaker!" cried Messmer. "We can't win every time."
+
+"You should have had Purdy in the box," said another. Purdy was a new
+student and it was said he could pitch very well.
+
+"Yes, and Barloe behind the bat," added another. Barloe had caught in
+some games the year before and done fairly well.
+
+It must be confessed that both Dave and Roger were considerably
+disheartened by the result of the game, and each blamed himself for
+errors made. Gus Plum also bewailed the fact that he had missed a foul
+fly that came down just out of his reach.
+
+It was raining so hard the boys had to wait in the dressing rooms and
+on the grand stand for the downpour to let up before starting for Oak
+Hall. Here the game was discussed in every particular, and each player
+came in for commingled praise and blame.
+
+"Well, if you want my opinion I'll give it," said Dave, frankly. "I do
+not say that I didn't make any errors myself, for I did. But I think
+our nine needs team-work--we don't play well enough together."
+
+"That is true," answered Plum. "I go in for constant practice between
+now and the time for the next game."
+
+During the wait Phil slipped away from the other players and sought out
+Mary Feversham. The girl smiled sadly at his approach.
+
+"I shouldn't have minded the rain at all if you had won," she said.
+"But to have you lose and have the rain also is dreadful!"
+
+"Well, we still have a chance to win the series," answered the club
+captain, bravely. "I am sorry you are caught here. Perhaps I can get a
+covered carriage----"
+
+"Thank you, but Vera has a gentleman friend here, and he is going to
+take us home in a coach."
+
+"Oh!"
+
+"He's a young man that used to think a lot of Vera," went on Mary, in a
+whisper. "I guess she thinks a lot of him, too--but don't let her know
+I told you."
+
+Soon the young gentleman drove up in a coach and Phil was introduced.
+Then the young ladies got in, and off the turnout sped through the
+rain. Then Phil rejoined the others of the club; and a little later
+all were on their way to Oak Hall, in the carryall, and in covered
+carriages and wagons.
+
+"Were Mary Feversham and Vera Rockwell here alone?" asked Roger, while
+on the way.
+
+"I guess so," answered Phil.
+
+"How were they going to get home?"
+
+"A young gentleman, fellow named Greene,--personal friend of
+Vera's,--took them home in a coach."
+
+"Greene?"
+
+"Yes, George Greene. Looked like a nice fellow. Mary said he and Vera
+were quite thick."
+
+Phil said this carelessly, but he looked sharply at the senator's son
+as he spoke.
+
+"Why, I thought----" Roger broke off short. "Didn't you and Dave call
+on Vera and Mary one night last week?" he added, after a long pause.
+
+"Why--er--I passed Mary's house and spoke to her at the gate for a few
+minutes," stammered Phil. "Dave was with me, but he didn't stop--said
+he wanted to post a letter to his sister."
+
+"Didn't he go to Vera's house?"
+
+"No. I don't think he has seen her since that ball game at Oakdale."
+
+"Is that really true, Phil?"
+
+"I believe it is, Roger. And now see here, old boy, what is this
+trouble between you and Dave? I'm your chum and I'm Dave's chum, too,
+and I think I have a right to know."
+
+"Why don't you ask Dave?"
+
+"He says he doesn't know--at least, he says the trouble all comes from
+you--no, I don't mean that either, I mean---- Hang it, Roger, what do I
+mean?"
+
+At this outburst the senator's son had to laugh, and Phil laughed also,
+and both boys felt better for it. There was a pause.
+
+"I guess I've been--been--well, jealous, Phil," said Roger. "I--I
+thought Dave was sweet on little Jessie Wadsworth----"
+
+"So he is."
+
+"And then he got acquainted with Vera Rockwell, and--and----"
+
+"And he became friendly with her, nothing more, Roger--just as you
+became friendly with Jessie. Didn't he have a right to do that? Why,
+I don't think--in fact, I am quite sure,--she doesn't care for him
+excepting in a general way. Why should she? She's young yet, and so is
+Dave,--and so are all of us. Now, I like Mary Feversham, and I guess
+she likes me, but I am not going to let that come between my friendship
+for you and Dave. Really, Roger, you are taking this too much to heart.
+I rather think, if you ought to be jealous, it should be of Mr. Greene,
+not of Dave."
+
+"Maybe you're right, Phil," answered the senator's son, slowly and
+thoughtfully. "And if you are--well, I've been making a fool of myself,
+that's all."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+STUCK ON A SANDBAR
+
+
+Roger seemed to feel much better after his talk with Phil, and that
+evening, when the baseball club held a meeting in the gymnasium, he
+spoke pleasantly to Dave. The young pitcher appreciated this, and when
+the meeting was over he and Roger walked to the school side by side,
+something they had not done in a long while.
+
+"I--I guess I've been making a fool of myself, Dave," said the
+senator's son, frankly. "I thought----" He hesitated, not knowing how
+to go on.
+
+"Don't say another word about it, Roger!" cried Dave.
+
+"You know what it was about."
+
+"I think I can guess. But what is the use of chewing it over? I am sure
+I never wanted to interfere with you or your--friends. If you like
+Vera--and I think she is certainly a nice girl--why don't you act more
+friendly when you meet? I think you treated her a little bit shabbily
+the last time--and maybe she thinks so, too."
+
+"Oh, I was a fool, that's why. I suppose now, if I try to make up,
+she'll cut me dead."
+
+"I don't think she is that kind, Roger. Anyway, if I were you, I'd try
+her."
+
+"I don't suppose you know I got a note about you and her?" went on the
+senator's son.
+
+"A note?"
+
+"Yes, it was only a scrawl in pencil and I was so angry at the time I
+tore it up. It said you were making yourself friendly with her just to
+cut me out."
+
+"Who sent the note?"
+
+"I don't know. Wish I did."
+
+"It was surely some enemy," said Dave; and there the talk had to come
+to an end.
+
+Not much had been said at the meeting of the baseball club, but during
+the next few days many of the students of Oak Hall came out against
+Dave, Roger, and Gus Plum, saying they thought those three players
+had lost the game. This was not true, but the talk grew, and it made
+matters decidedly unpleasant for the trio of ball players.
+
+"Phil, I think you had better try Purdy in the box at the next game,"
+said Dave. "So many of the fellows seem to want him."
+
+"And you can put Barloe behind the bat," added Roger. "I don't want to
+catch if somebody can do better."
+
+"And I'll give up first base," said Plum.
+
+"See here, if you are all going to resign I'll resign myself!" cried
+the manager of the nine. "This talk is all nonsense."
+
+"But it is growing stronger," answered Dave. "And I must admit, Purdy
+is a good pitcher."
+
+"Can he pitch as well as you?"
+
+"I'd prefer to have others decide that question."
+
+More talks like this followed, and when some of the other students got
+at Phil he began to waver.
+
+"Well, regardless of friendships," said he at last, "I want to do the
+best I can for Oak Hall. I am willing to put Purdy in the box, Barloe
+behind the bat, and Hissoc on first, provided Dave, Roger, and Gus will
+go on the substitute bench."
+
+"I reckon Porter won't agree to substitute," said one of the club
+members.
+
+But in this surmise the player was mistaken. The young pitcher agreed
+to do anything the manager wished, and so did the senator's son and
+Plum. Thereupon Purdy, Barloe, and Hissoc were at once put into
+training for the next game.
+
+One afternoon Dave, Phil, Roger, and Ben Basswood went for a row on the
+river. They took one of the racing boats, and, with each at an oar,
+they made rapid progress up the stream. They passed several of the
+islands, and then rounded a point and entered a cove which was thickly
+lined with bushes and trees.
+
+"Nat Poole is out in his motor boat," said Roger. "He has Link Merwell
+with him."
+
+"I think the best thing Nat can do is to drop Merwell," was Ben's
+comment. "Merwell is getting reckless. I've seen him in town half a
+dozen times, hanging around the poolroom, smoking."
+
+"Yes, and he drinks," said Roger. "Sometimes I really think he ought to
+be reported to Doctor Clay."
+
+"Yes, but who wants to do it?" asked Phil. "Nobody wants the reputation
+of a tale-bearer."
+
+"He certainly ought to be expelled if he is going to lead others
+astray," was Dave's comment. "I suppose some of us ought to talk to Nat
+about it. But Nat is so conceited he thinks he knows it all, and it
+would be mighty hard to tell him anything."
+
+"Hark! I hear a motor boat now!" cried Ben. "It must be behind those
+overhanging trees."
+
+"Here it comes," said Roger. "I declare, it's Poole's boat and he and
+Merwell have several young ladies aboard!"
+
+As the motor boat came closer the boys saw that the young ladies were
+Vera Rockwell, Mary Feversham, and a stranger.
+
+"I didn't know those girls would go out with Poole and Merwell," was
+Phil's comment.
+
+"Nor I," added Roger.
+
+The motor boat had been headed almost directly for the rowboat, but
+as soon as Merwell recognized those in the smaller craft he turned to
+his crony and said something in a whisper, and then the motor boat was
+turned in another direction.
+
+"Motor boat, ahoy!" cried Ben.
+
+To this hail Poole and Merwell paid no attention. Poole was steering
+and the bully was at the engine, and the latter advanced the spark and
+turned on more gasoline, in order to increase the speed of the craft.
+
+"Oh, it's Mr. Lawrence!" cried Mary Feversham.
+
+"And Mr. Porter and Mr. Morr!" added Vera Rockwell.
+
+"Please stop the boat, we want to speak to them," went on Mary, to
+Merwell.
+
+"Can't stop just now," grumbled the bully, as he tried to make the
+engine run still faster.
+
+"Why, the idea!" exclaimed the strange girl of the party. "I thought
+you could stop a motor boat any time."
+
+"So you can," added Vera Rockwell. "I want you to stop," she went on,
+commandingly.
+
+"Can't do it," answered Merwell, and then he winked at Poole, who had
+turned his head to listen to the talk.
+
+"Well, I think you are real mean!" pouted Mary. "I shall never ask you
+to take me across the river again. You've kept us on the motor boat
+now nearly an hour!"
+
+"If you don't land us where we want to go, and as soon as possible,
+I'll tell my brother," said Vera.
+
+"Yes, and we'll tell those students in that rowboat, too," said Mary.
+
+"You came for a ride of your own free will," said Merwell.
+
+"We did not. We said we wanted to cross the river and you said you'd
+take us across."
+
+"Well, that's what we intend to do," and Merwell grinned in a manner
+that disgusted all three of the fair passengers.
+
+"If you don't land us at once, I shall cry for help," said Vera.
+
+"And so will I," added the other girls.
+
+"We'll land you--after we've had a ride," answered Merwell, and
+continued to crowd the engine as best he knew how.
+
+"Don't run too fast--I don't know the channel here!" cried Poole,
+somewhat alarmed. Had he had his way, he would have landed the girls
+long before, but he did not dare to thwart Link Merwell's pleasure. The
+bully took a vast delight in teasing the girls and scaring them.
+
+"Help! help!" cried Vera, suddenly. "Help!" And then the other girls
+joined in the call for assistance.
+
+"You shut up!" exclaimed Merwell, sullenly. "We are not hurting you.
+If you don't shut up we'll land you on one of the islands and leave you
+there."
+
+"Oh!" exclaimed the third girl, whose name was Sadie Fillmore, and then
+she nearly fainted from fright.
+
+The motor boat was rounding a point of the cove when there came an
+unexpected scraping on the bottom. Then suddenly the craft slid up on a
+sandbar and careened to one side, almost tumbling some of the occupants
+into the water.
+
+"Shut her off!" yelled Poole, and in alarm Link Merwell stopped the
+engine. The girls screamed and clung to each other in terror. A little
+water entered the boat and this added to their fright.
+
+"Now, see what you did!" cried Nat Poole. "We are on a sandbar."
+
+"It wasn't my fault--I wasn't steering," answered Link Merwell.
+
+"I told you to run slow, but you kept piling on the speed."
+
+"Are we go--going to--to sink?" faltered Mary.
+
+"Sink? We can't sink. We are high and dry on a sandbar," grumbled
+Merwell.
+
+"Oh, I am so thankful!"
+
+"Well, I'm not."
+
+"But we aren't dry--the water is all around us," protested Vera.
+
+"There's not enough to float us."
+
+"What are we going to do?" demanded Poole, looking at his crony with
+much concern showing in his face.
+
+"Perhaps we can back her," suggested Merwell. "I'll reverse the engine
+and try."
+
+This was done, but though the propeller churned the water into a foam
+and sent some sand flying into the air, the motor boat remained firmly
+on the bar.
+
+"It's no use," sighed Nat. "Stop the engine, or you may break
+something." And then the power was turned off.
+
+"What are we to do?" questioned Sadie Fillmore. "We can't stay here
+forever."
+
+"Here comes that rowboat!" cried Vera, a moment later.
+
+"Oh, let us signal to them!" exclaimed Mary, and standing up she waved
+her handkerchief, and then her big sailor hat.
+
+"We don't want those fellows here!" growled Link Merwell. "They can go
+about their business. We'll get the boat off the sandbar somehow."
+
+"We do want them," answered Vera, and joined her friend in signaling,
+and Sadie Fillmore did the same.
+
+It was not long before the other boat came within hailing distance.
+Seeing that the motor boat was stuck on a sandbar, the rowers took
+care not to ground their craft.
+
+"Help us, won't you, please!" cried Vera.
+
+"Yes, yes, take us off!" added Mary.
+
+"We don't want to stay on this motor boat any longer!" exclaimed Sadie.
+
+"I guess we can take the girls off," said Phil. "But what about Poole
+and Merwell?"
+
+"We might come back for them," answered Ben. "We can't leave them here
+very well."
+
+With care the rowboat was brought to the side of the motor boat and the
+girls were assisted from one craft to the other.
+
+"Can't you take us?" asked Poole.
+
+"Not now," said Roger. "We can come back later."
+
+The rowboat was rather crowded, but this could not be altered. The boys
+pulled away from the motor boat, and then asked the girls where they
+wished to be landed.
+
+"We were going to Perry's Point, across the river," explained Vera.
+"But those boys kept us out so long I think we'd better go home." And
+then she and the others told how they had been walking toward the place
+where an old man kept a ferry, when they had been hailed by Merwell,
+who had offered to take them across.
+
+"But they didn't take us across at all!" cried Mary. "They took us for
+a ride instead, although we told them we didn't want to go."
+
+"Can that be true?" asked Phil, indignantly.
+
+"It certainly is," said Vera. "Oh, I think they were just too mean for
+anything!"
+
+"It serves them right that their motor boat ran on the sandbar. I hope
+they never get it off," added Sadie Fillmore.
+
+"We'll have to look into this," said Dave. "It was contemptible to keep
+you out on the river against your will, and they ought to be made to
+suffer for it."
+
+"And they shall suffer--just you wait and see," said Roger, firmly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII
+
+LINK MERWELL HAS HIS SAY
+
+
+As swiftly as they could the four boys rowed the girls to where they
+wanted to go. During the trip Roger spoke to Vera half a dozen times,
+and the coldness between them became a thing of the past. Sadie
+Fillmore was formally introduced, and all three girls said they were
+going to attend the next baseball game at Hilltop.
+
+"My father has a tally-ho and we are going in that," said Sadie. Her
+parents were rich and lived in Oakdale in the summer and in New York
+City in the winter.
+
+"Well, I hope you see a good game," answered Dave. He said nothing
+about Roger, Plum, and himself being only substitutes, for he did not
+wish to place Phil in an awkward position.
+
+As soon as the girls were landed the boys rowed out into the river
+again, and there they held what might be termed an impromptu
+indignation meeting.
+
+"Now, what do you think of that?" burst out Roger, referring to the
+conduct of Poole and Merwell. "I say such actions are a disgrace to
+Oak Hall."
+
+"Yes, and those fellows ought to be tarred and feathered," added Phil.
+
+"Doctor Clay ought to hear of this," came from Ben.
+
+"I think I have a plan to teach them a lesson," said Dave.
+
+"Let's have it," returned the senator's son, promptly.
+
+"We'll tell them what we think of them and then leave them stuck on
+the sandbar without sending anybody to their assistance. Maybe they'll
+have to stay there all night. They won't like that--and without their
+supper, too!"
+
+"Good! That's the cheese!" cried Ben, slangily. "I hope they have to go
+without their supper and breakfast, too!"
+
+It was decided to refuse all assistance, and this agreed upon, the four
+rowed to the vicinity of the stranded motor boat. They found Poole and
+Merwell still on board, both waiting impatiently for their return.
+
+"It's a wonder you wouldn't come!" cried Poole. "Do you think we want
+to stay here all night?"
+
+"Can you pull us off?" asked Link Merwell. "If you can't, Nat and I
+want you to go to Oakdale and get the tug _Ella Davis_ to do the job."
+
+"You talk as if we were hired to work for you," answered Dave.
+
+"I wasn't addressing you, Porter--I was talking to the others."
+
+"Well, we are not in your employ either," answered Phil.
+
+"Look here, Merwell, and you, too, Poole," said Roger. "We've got a
+big bone to pick with you, but it won't take long to pick it. We think
+that the way you acted toward those young ladies was disgraceful, and
+it reflects on the honor of Oak Hall. For two pins we'd tell some of
+the other students, and you'd be tarred and feathered or run out of the
+school. We----"
+
+"It wasn't my fault!" interrupted Nat Poole, turning pale. "I--I was
+willing enough to take them across the riv----"
+
+"Shut up!" growled Link Merwell. "We are not accountable to them for
+what we do. Don't make a fool of yourself."
+
+"It was certainly an outrageous proceeding," said Ben. "If their folks
+wanted to make you suffer for it, they could do so."
+
+"Oh, don't gas, Basswood. If you don't want to aid us, say so. We are
+not going to beg you to do so." And Link Merwell's face showed his
+hatred.
+
+"We are going to leave you here, as you deserve," said Dave.
+
+"No, no! Please don't do that!" pleaded Nat Poole. "I don't want to
+stay in this lonely part of the river all night!"
+
+"Shut up--we can swim ashore!" whispered his crony.
+
+"The water is too cold yet--I felt of it. It's like ice," answered Nat.
+He was plainly frightened.
+
+"Listen," said Phil, in a low tone to his chums. "Nat says he wanted to
+take the girls across the river. Perhaps he isn't to blame as much as
+we think."
+
+"He stood in with Merwell," answered Phil.
+
+"Oh, don't leave us here!" cried the dudish student. "It looks as if it
+might rain to-night, and it will be cold, and----"
+
+"Say, you make me sick," growled Merwell. "I wouldn't ask them for a
+favor now if I was dying!"
+
+"See here, Poole," said Dave, after consulting his chums. "We'll take
+you off on one condition."
+
+"What is that?"
+
+"That you will promise to write a letter to each of the young ladies,
+apologizing for your conduct."
+
+"Why, I--er--I----"
+
+"You can take your choice," added Roger. "Apologize or stay here."
+
+"I didn't mean any harm. I was willing to take them across, but
+Link----"
+
+"That's right, blame it all on me!" burst out Merwell. "Well, I don't
+care. I'll not crawl to anybody! They can go to Halifax, for all I
+care! I don't want their aid."
+
+"I'll--I'll apologize, if you'll take me back to the school," faltered
+Poole.
+
+"All right then, get into the rowboat," said Phil.
+
+"And mind you keep your promise, or you'll catch it!" added the
+senator's son.
+
+The rowboat was brought close to the stern of the larger craft and the
+dudish student leaped on board. As he did this, Merwell caught up a
+boathook, gave the rowboat a shove, and almost capsized it.
+
+"Let up, Merwell!" exclaimed Dave, and raising his oar, he hit the
+bully a blow on the shoulder and sent him sprawling in the bottom of
+the motor boat. Then the rowboat floated away from the larger craft.
+
+If Link Merwell had been angry before, he was now in a perfect rage.
+Scrambling to his feet, he shook his fist at the others.
+
+"Just wait!" he roared. "I'll fix you all for this, and you
+particularly, Dave Porter, you poorhouse rat! I'll make you wish you
+had never been born!"
+
+"Come away!" cried Nat Poole, badly frightened. "Don't listen to him."
+
+[Illustration:RAISING HIS OAR, HE HIT THE BULLY A BLOW ON THE SHOULDER.]
+
+"He acts as if he was crazy," was Phil's comment.
+
+"I--I know what it is," returned Poole. "It's----" He hesitated.
+
+"Has he been drinking?" demanded Dave. "Come, tell the truth, Nat?"
+
+"Yes. He had a bottle of stuff with him, and he had one drink before
+we started and two more while we were waiting for you to come back. He
+isn't himself at all--so you mustn't mind what he says."
+
+"He's a fool!" came bluntly from Ben.
+
+"I made a mistake to go out with him. He's always that way when he's
+got anything to drink."
+
+Dave's face was a study. When Merwell had called him "a poorhouse rat"
+he had gone white and his teeth had closed with a snap, but now, when
+he heard how the misguided youth was the victim of his own appetite,
+the lines softened into pity and nothing else.
+
+"It's too bad," he said. "Why can't fellows leave drink alone?" And
+then he thought of poor Gus and how he had been tempted.
+
+"We ought to take the stuff away from him," said Roger.
+
+"It's too late for that--the bottle is empty, and Merwell threw it
+overboard," answered Poole.
+
+"I don't think it safe to leave him out on the river alone," said Dave.
+
+But none of the others would agree to go back, and so the rowboat was
+headed for the Oak Hall dock. They were just coming in sight of the
+place when they heard a put-put! on the river and looked back.
+
+"Well, I declare, it's the motor boat!" ejaculated Roger.
+
+"He must have got it off the bar somehow," said Phil.
+
+"Maybe it slid off of itself," suggested Ben. "Although I don't see how
+it could."
+
+Left to himself Link Merwell had started the engine full speed ahead.
+He was desperate and did not care whether he ruined the motor boat
+or not. Lightened of the weight of the other passengers, the boat
+had wormed its way over the bar and into deep water, and then he had
+started in pursuit of the rowboat.
+
+"You didn't get the best of me, anyhow!" he sang out, as he passed
+them. Then he ran up to the dock, stopped the engine, and leaped
+ashore, and without waiting to tie up the craft, walked swiftly toward
+the school building and disappeared. That evening he left Oak Hall,
+to be gone for several days, on business for his father, so he told
+Doctor Clay. Whether this was true or not the boys never found out.
+They suspected, however, that he went off to have what he called a good
+time.
+
+Those who had been out in the rowboat saw to it that Nat Poole wrote
+and mailed the letters of apology to the three girls, and then Dave and
+Ben gave the lad from Crumville a severe lecture, telling him that it
+would be to his credit to cut such a fellow as Merwell, who was bound,
+sooner or later, to drag him down.
+
+"Merwell is by far the worst boy that ever came to Oak Hall," said
+Dave, "and sooner or later he will be expelled. What will your father
+say if you are expelled with him?"
+
+"We want you to make a record," said Ben. "Not only for your own sake,
+but also for the honor of the town we come from, and for the honor of
+the school. You'll never gain anything by sticking in with Merwell. Gus
+Plum has cut him, and so have lots of the fellows, and you ought to do
+it. There are plenty of other good fellows in this school, even if you
+don't want to train with our particular crowd. Think it over, Nat."
+
+And Nat Poole did think it over, and, as a consequence, from that day
+on he turned his back on Merwell and refused to have anything more to
+do with the dissolute bully.
+
+The day for the second ball game with Rockville was perfect in every
+respect. The sun shone brightly and there was just sufficient breeze
+to make the air bracing. Everybody turned out to see the contest, and
+long before the umpire called "Play!" grand stand and bleachers were
+crowded.
+
+The Rockville players were rather surprised to see Dave, Roger, and
+Plum on the bench while strangers filled their positions on the
+diamond. They asked each other, "What are we up against?" but none
+could answer that question.
+
+The Military Academy nine went to the bat first, and much to the
+delight of Oak Hall, Purdy, the new pitcher, struck out two men, while
+the third knocked a foul that was easily gathered in by the new first
+baseman.
+
+"That's the way to hold 'em down!" cried several.
+
+"Purdy's a big improvement on Porter, eh?"
+
+"It certainly looks that way."
+
+In this first inning Oak Hall managed to score one run, which caused a
+wild cheering, in which Dave, Roger, and Gus readily joined. But in the
+second, third, and fourth they got only "goose eggs," while Rockville
+came in over the home plate six times. In the fourth inning the second
+baseman was "spiked" by accident while sliding to third, and had to
+retire, and Plum took his place. Then came the fifth inning, with a run
+for each nine, and in that the shortstop was almost knocked senseless
+by a hot liner.
+
+"Roger, you'll have to cover short," said Phil, and the senator's son
+ran out to do so, amid a clapping of hands from his friends.
+
+The sixth inning resulted in several hits for the nines, but no runs
+were made. Then came the seventh, with another run for each, and in
+this a runner for Rockville bumped into the Oak Hall third baseman and
+both had to retire.
+
+"This is certainly a slaughter!" cried one spectator. "If they keep on,
+somebody will be killed before they get through."
+
+The accident took Dave out in the field to cover third. As luck would
+have it, less than a minute later he caught a man trying to slide to
+the bag, and when the runner was declared out the Oak Hall boys set up
+a cheer.
+
+"Good for Dave Porter! That's the way to cover third!"
+
+The end of the eighth inning found the score Rockville 11, Oak Hall 4.
+It looked as if Oak Hall was beaten, yet the nine resolved to do its
+best to win out.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX
+
+DAVE MAKES UP HIS MIND
+
+
+With the score eleven to four against his club, Purdy, the pitcher, got
+nervous, and as a consequence he allowed the first batter up to walk to
+first on balls. Then the next player met the sphere for a base hit, and
+the man on first ran down to second.
+
+"Steady, Purdy, steady!" was the cry.
+
+"Better put in Dave Porter," advised some of Dave's friends.
+
+The next batter got two strikes and two balls and then knocked a short
+fly, which was scooped in by Plum at second. Then the runner at second,
+on the next delivery of the ball over the plate, tried to steal to
+third. Over came the ball from the catcher. It was fully three feet
+over Dave's head, and many held their breath, expecting the run to come
+in. But with a high jump, Dave reached the sphere and brought it down
+with one hand; and the runner was put out.
+
+"Hurrah! What do you think of that for a catch!"
+
+"Talk about jumping! That's the best I ever saw on any ball-field!"
+
+The next man up got to first on balls, and again there was a cry to
+take Purdy out of the box and substitute Dave. But Dave shook his head
+to Phil.
+
+"It wouldn't be fair," he said. "Purdy hasn't done so badly--it was a
+streak of poor luck, that's all."
+
+When the next batter came up he waited until he had a strike and two
+balls and then knocked a swift liner into the diamond. It came several
+feet from Roger, but now the former catcher proved his worth. He made a
+dive, caught the ball, and rolled over, but still held the ball up in
+his left hand.
+
+"Batter out!"
+
+"That ends it for Rockville."
+
+It did end it for Rockville so far as making any runs was concerned,
+but it still looked as if the game belonged to them and with it the
+series.
+
+But the Oak Hall boys went to the bat with a "do or die" look on their
+faces. Phil started the ball rolling with a two-bagger and Roger
+followed with a single, taking Phil to third. Then came Shadow with
+another two-bagger, bringing in the two runners.
+
+What a cheering and yelling! The Oak Hall boys went wild and waved
+their caps and banners. Then, while the noise was still going on, Dave
+came up to the bat, swung the ashen stick at the first ball delivered,
+and sent the sphere down to deep center.
+
+"Hurrah! A home run!"
+
+"That's the way to do it! We'll win out yet!"
+
+Dave had, of course, brought in Shadow, and this gave Oak Hall eight
+runs. Seeing the runs piling up the Rockville pitcher became rattled,
+and gave two men their base on balls. Then came another two bagger, and
+the men on first and second trotted home.
+
+"Ten to eleven! One more run, fellows, and you'll tie 'em!"
+
+"Change the pitcher! He's no good!" called out some of the Rockville
+supporters. And another pitcher was sent to the box.
+
+Sam Day was now at the bat. Sam was a cautious player, not easily
+rattled. He allowed two balls to pass him, and they were called such by
+the umpire. Then, seeing just what he wished coming, he "swatted it for
+keeps," as Phil said, and ran for dear life. He reached third and the
+fellow at second came home, tying the score.
+
+Pandemonium now broke forth in earnest, while the catcher walked
+forward to confer with the pitcher. Gus Plum was up, and his face was
+deathly white as he faced the pitcher. He felt as if the fate of a
+nation depended upon him.
+
+In came the ball and with unerring judgment Plum struck at it. Down he
+went to first, safe, and in came Sam from third.
+
+The game was won! The supporters of Oak Hall rushed upon the field,
+and the nine was warmly congratulated. The Rockville club was bitterly
+disappointed and left as soon as possible.
+
+"Don't tell me that Porter, Morr, and Plum are poor players," said Luke
+Watson. "They did more than their share to win this game," and in that
+opinion even Mr. Dale concurred.
+
+The result of the game hit Nat Poole heavily. He had counted upon Oak
+Hall losing, and in secret had made several wagers against the school.
+Now all his pocket-money was gone and he was about twenty dollars
+in debt. He wrote to his father for money, but, as my old readers
+know, Aaron Poole was very miserly at times, and now he pulled his
+purse-strings tight and declared that Nat spent too much entirely, and
+must do without more funds until the summer vacation came.
+
+When Link Merwell came back to Oak Hall his general manner was worse
+than before, and even Nat was glad that he had cut away from the
+fellow. Merwell was getting to be a thorough sport, and a few, but
+by no means all, of his doings reached Doctor Clay's ears. As a
+consequence the master of the school sent a long letter to Merwell's
+father and gave Link himself a stern lecture. The lecture was not
+appreciated, for Merwell made no effort to reform.
+
+During the week following the second game of ball with Rockville, Dave
+put the finishing touches to his essay on The Past and Future of Our
+Country. It was his masterpiece so far, and when it was finished he
+breathed a sigh of commingled relief and satisfaction. He handed in
+the essay to Mr. Dale, and it was filed away with sixteen others for
+examination.
+
+"I hope you win, Dave," said Roger. "I am sure you deserve the
+prize--you have worked so hard."
+
+Roger was now as "chummy" as ever, which pleased Dave very much. After
+the second ball game the senator's son and Phil and Shadow had sought
+out Mary, Vera, and Sadie, and the young people had spent a pleasant
+hour together. In a roundabout way Roger learned that Mr. Greene was
+nothing more to Vera than an old friend, and this, somehow, eased his
+mind exceedingly.
+
+There was a good deal of talk about putting Roger, Dave, and Plum
+back on the regular nine, but the backers of Purdy and Barloe were so
+insistent that they be retained that only Plum was allowed to take his
+old place.
+
+"But I want you two to be substitutes as before," said Phil, to Dave
+and Roger. "I'll feel safer if I know you are at hand."
+
+"All right, I'll be there," answered Dave, cheerfully, and the
+senator's son nodded to show that he agreed to the request. If both
+were bitterly disappointed at not being chosen to pitch and to catch at
+this last game they took good care not to show it.
+
+As soon as Link Merwell heard that Gus Plum had been put back on the
+regular nine, he commenced to lay plans to make trouble. Since Plum had
+given him the cold shoulder he hated Gus exceedingly. He thought he
+knew Plum's weak point, and he acted accordingly.
+
+By the request of the Rockville manager the final game of the series
+had been postponed from Saturday to the following Wednesday. On
+Thursday the students of Oak Hall were to have their final exercises,
+and on Friday school was to break up for the term. Many visitors had
+been invited to attend the exercises and some of them arrived in
+Oakdale the day before, so as to witness the ball game.
+
+Among the latter were Mr. Porter and Laura, Mr. Wadsworth and Jessie,
+and Mr. Lawrence and Senator Morr. They had already engaged rooms at
+the Oakdale hotel, and Dave, Phil, and Roger went there to meet them on
+the morning previous to the game. There was a general handshaking, and
+then the students were asked a hundred and one questions about their
+studies, games, and school life generally.
+
+"It is too bad you are not to pitch, Dave," said his sister, when they
+were alone. "Why don't you get Phil to give you the place back?"
+
+"Because it wouldn't be fair, Laura. Purdy has as much right to pitch
+as I have."
+
+"But you are the better pitcher--Roger says so--and I heard so from Ben
+Basswood,--through a letter he wrote to his sister."
+
+"Well, maybe I'll get a chance to pitch a few innings--if Purdy breaks
+down. But I trust he doesn't break down--it's hard luck for any pitcher
+to do that."
+
+There was a pause, and Laura pulled her brother further into a corner,
+away from the others.
+
+"I want to speak to you about something," she continued in a low tone.
+"Do you know that Jessie got an awful letter about you?"
+
+"A letter? Who from?"
+
+"I don't know. It came from Oakdale and was signed A Friend. It said
+you were leading a fast life here--drinking and smoking and gambling."
+
+"It's false, Laura--I don't do any of those things."
+
+"I know that."
+
+"Did Jessie believe what the letter said?"
+
+"She didn't believe that part, but--the letter said something more."
+
+"What?"
+
+"In a postscript was written, 'You are being deceived by him, and he is
+also deceiving another girl, Vera Rockwell. If you don't believe it,
+come to Oakdale and find out.'"
+
+"And that was in a letter sent to Jessie?" Dave began to think rapidly.
+"Did she get that letter before she came here that other time?"
+
+"Yes,--but she didn't let me know it then."
+
+"And was that why she was so--so put out when she saw me with Vera and
+Mary and Phil?"
+
+"I suppose so. You must remember, Dave, that Jessie is very
+sensitive--the loveliest girl I ever met,--and she looks upon you as
+her dearest friend. Getting that letter and then seeing you with Miss
+Rockwell----"
+
+"But Vera is nothing to me but a friend, Laura. Why, Roger thinks ten
+times more of her than I do. Just go and pump him about it. Why, to me
+Jessie is worth more than--than--anybody, outside of my sister, and you
+must let her know it, Laura." Dave paused. "That letter--has Jessie got
+it yet?"
+
+"Yes. She was going to burn it up after she showed it to me, but I told
+her not to do it, and I made her bring it along. Of course, she feels a
+delicacy about showing it to you--on account of the postscript--but I
+said you ought to have a chance of exposing the person who was trying
+to ruin your character."
+
+"I want to see the letter. I've got some idea already regarding the
+writer."
+
+"So have I!"
+
+"Link Merwell?"
+
+"Yes. Do you know he sent me an unsigned letter two days ago."
+
+"He did? I warned him not to send you anything," and now Dave's face
+grew stern.
+
+"It was only a couple of lines in pencil, and said, 'If you want
+letters, come to Oakdale with twenty-five dollars.'"
+
+"The rascal! So he has sunk so low he wants to sell you the letters! I
+knew he was going to the bad, but I didn't think he was down as far as
+that. I hope you didn't bring the money."
+
+"But I did, Dave. I--I was afraid if I didn't he might--might read the
+letters to others and expose me to ridicule," and the girl's face grew
+crimson.
+
+"Don't you give him a cent, Laura--not a cent. I'll get hold of him
+before the term breaks up--and I'll get those letters or know the
+reason why!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX
+
+DAVE TAKES THE LAW IN HIS OWN HANDS
+
+
+A quarter of an hour later Dave and Jessie took a little walk up to the
+public park of Oakdale and, seated on a bench, they had a confidential
+talk lasting for some time. A great many things were said which need
+not be repeated here. When the talk was over Dave's heart felt lighter
+than it had for many weeks and Jessie's beautiful face shone with a
+happiness that had been missing for an equal length of time.
+
+"It was awful for that Merwell to send that letter," said Jessie. "Of
+course, Dave, you can be sure I didn't believe a word of it,--about
+your smoking and drinking and gambling."
+
+"I am fairly sure it is his handwriting," answered Dave. "He tried to
+disguise it, but a fellow can't always do that. I'll find out pretty
+quick--when I get back to the Hall."
+
+"And to think he acted so meanly toward Laura! He must be perfectly
+horrid!"
+
+"It's my opinion his days at Oak Hall are numbered, Jessie. I have
+heard the doctor has given him warning to mend his ways, but he
+doesn't seem to care. Well, if he won't do what is right he must take
+the consequences."
+
+Dave, Roger, and Phil had run down to Oakdale on their bicycles and
+now they had to return to the school--to get dinner and leave for the
+baseball grounds at Hilltop.
+
+"Let us go around by way of the Chedwick road," suggested the senator's
+son. "It's much better riding than on the main road and we can make
+better time."
+
+The others were willing, and off they sped at a speed which soon took
+them to the outskirts of the town. Then they came to a crossroad,
+on the corner of which was situated a roadhouse kept by a man named
+Rafferty. Rafferty's reputation was none of the best, and it was
+reported that the resort was used by many who wished to gamble. Doctor
+Clay had warned his pupils not to stop there under any circumstances.
+
+Phil and Roger were somewhat in advance of Dave, whose front tire was
+soft and needed pumping up. Passing the roadhouse, Dave came to a halt
+at the roadside.
+
+"Going to pump up!" he called out. "Go ahead--I'll catch up with you."
+And so the others went on, leaving him alone.
+
+He was at work with a small hand pump he carried when he heard a murmur
+of voices in the bushes and trees back of the roadhouse. The murmur
+grew louder, and presently he made out the voices of Gus Plum and Link
+Merwell.
+
+"You're a fool, Gus, to act this way," Merwell was saying. "What's the
+use of being a softy? You are missing a whole lot of fun."
+
+"I tell you I'm not going to do it," answered Plum. "I guess I know
+what is best for me."
+
+"It won't hurt you to have one drink," went on Merwell. "Come on in,
+like a good fellow. I hate to drink alone. He's got some prime stuff.
+We've got lots of time to get back to the Hall in time for dinner."
+
+"No, I'm done with drinking--I told you that before, Link. Now stop it
+and let me go."
+
+"See here, Gus, you've got to go with me," stormed Merwell, uglily.
+"I'll not have you giving me the cold shoulder. If you refuse to have
+just one drink, do you know what I'll do? I'll let Doctor Clay know
+about that other time--the time you went to the granary."
+
+"No! no!" pleaded Plum, and now his voice trembled. "Please don't do
+that!"
+
+"Ha! ha! that's where I've got you, haven't I? Now, will you take a
+drink with me, or not?"
+
+"I--I--I am afraid. Oh, Merwell, you know how it was before. I--I----"
+Gus Plum broke down completely. "Please don't ask me; please don't!"
+
+"Of all the fools----" began Link Merwell, and then stopped short as a
+heavy hand was suddenly laid on his shoulder. "Dave Porter!"
+
+"Merwell, I want to talk to you," said Dave, in a cold, hard tone that
+caused the big bully to start. "Come with me."
+
+"Oh, Dave----" began Plum, and his face was red from confusion.
+
+"Let me do the talking--and acting, Gus."
+
+"Did you--er--hear what was said?"
+
+"I heard enough. Now, Merwell, come with me."
+
+"Where to?"
+
+"Away from this roadhouse."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"I'll tell you that later."
+
+"Supposing I refuse to come?" Dave's manner began to make the bully
+feel uncomfortable. He felt that something very unusual was about to
+happen.
+
+"If you don't come, I'll make you."
+
+"Will you?" The bully tried to put a sneer in the question, but failed.
+
+"I will. Now, are you coming or not?" And Dave doubled up his fists and
+drew back his right arm.
+
+"Going to fight?"
+
+"No; I am going to give you the worst licking any boy at Oak Hall ever
+got."
+
+"Two can play at that game."
+
+"Are you coming or not, Merwell? This is your last chance to say yes."
+
+"No."
+
+Hardly had the word left the bully's lips when Dave leaped forward and
+sent in a crashing blow on Merwell's chin. The bully tried to dodge
+but failed, and went over on his back in some brushwood. For several
+moments he lay there dazed.
+
+"See here, I'll fix you!" he roared, as he struggled up. "If you want
+to fight---- Oh!"
+
+For again Dave had struck out, and this time the blow landed over the
+bully's left eye, and once more he went down in the bushes.
+
+"Oh, Dave----" began Plum, but received a shove back.
+
+"Leave it all to me, Gus--I owe him this, and more. I'll tell you some
+of the reasons later."
+
+"But--but he'll give me away to Doctor Clay--he'll tell about my----"
+
+"No, he won't--not after I am through with him. And even if he should I
+can tell the doctor the truth--how he tempted you and even threatened
+you."
+
+Breathing heavily, Link Merwell arose a second time. He looked around
+for something with which to attack Dave, and his uninjured eye fell
+upon a stone lying close by. But as he stooped to pick it up, Dave gave
+him a shove that landed him on his face in the dirt. Then Dave leaped
+forward and sat down heavily on the bully's back.
+
+"Ough!" roared Merwell. "Let up! Do you want to break my ribs? Let up,
+I say!"
+
+"Will you do as I told you to?" demanded Dave, not budging from his
+position.
+
+"Where do you want me to go?"
+
+"Down into this woods a short distance--away from the roadhouse and the
+road."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"I'll tell you that when we get there."
+
+Fearing some of his ribs might be broken, Merwell said he would do as
+Dave desired, and the latter allowed him to rise, but kept a close
+watch on his every movement. Plum could now see that the boy from
+Crumville was in deadly earnest and felt it would be useless to talk
+or interfere, and so followed the two into the woods in silence. Dave
+brought Merwell to a halt in a little glade surrounded by hemlocks.
+
+"Now, sit down on that stone while I talk to you, Link Merwell," said
+Dave, pointing to a flat rock. "I shan't take long, but you'll find it
+to your interest to listen closely to every word I say." And with his
+handkerchief to the eye that was rapidly closing, the bully sat down.
+
+"In the past you've made a lot of trouble for me and my friends,"
+commenced Dave. "You were in league with some others to play me foul
+at every opportunity. You sent a letter to Roger Morr about me, and
+another letter to Crumville, to a young lady friend of mine--and you
+also sent a letter to my sister." At these last words Merwell's hand
+went up unconsciously to his breast-pocket. "You have blackened my
+character all you possibly could. Now, if I wanted to, I could place
+you in the hands of the law. But instead, I am going to take it out of
+you."
+
+"Wha--what do you mean?" And the bully half arose to his feet.
+
+"I mean just what I say, Merwell. Sit down!" And Dave shoved the bully
+back on the rock.
+
+"I want you to know----"
+
+"Shut up!" And again Dave doubled up his fists. "I am not here to
+listen to you. I'll do the talking. Now to come to business. First of
+all, I want those letters."
+
+"What letters?"
+
+"You know well enough."
+
+"I haven't any letters with me."
+
+"Do you want to make it necessary for me to search you?"
+
+"You wouldn't dare, Porter!"
+
+"I shall dare. Now hand over those letters, and be quick about it!"
+
+Again Dave doubled up his fists and something like fire shone in his
+clear eyes. Merwell hesitated, shivered, and slowly his hand went to
+his breast-pocket.
+
+"You'll rue this day!" he muttered, savagely.
+
+Slowly he drew from his pocket the letters Laura had so foolishly sent
+him. Dave snatched them from his grasp and looked them over swiftly,
+then stowed them away in his own pocket.
+
+"Now, Merwell, I want you to promise by all you hold sacred not to say
+a word to anybody about Gus Plum's doings during the past term. For the
+honor of the school I think this matter ought to be kept secret."
+
+"I'll promise nothing."
+
+"Yes, you will."
+
+Again were Dave's fists doubled up, and again that fire showed itself
+in his determined eyes. Merwell shivered--for once he felt himself
+utterly cornered and beaten.
+
+"All right, I promise," he said, in a low tone.
+
+"And you must also promise that in the future you will leave me and my
+friends alone."
+
+"Have your own way about it."
+
+"Do you promise?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then stand up."
+
+"What do you want next?" growled Merwell. He was feeling more
+uncomfortable every minute.
+
+"I'll show you," answered Dave, and leaping forward he caught the bully
+by the collar and shook him as a dog might shake a rat. Then he cuffed
+the fellow right and left, gave him another shaking, and threw him down
+violently on the ground. Merwell did his best to resist, but Dave's
+muscles were at such a tension that Link was next to helpless in the
+other's grasp.
+
+"For two pins, I'd give you more!" cried Dave. "You deserve it. But
+I'll save the rest--in case you ever attempt to break the promises
+you've made."
+
+And then, taking Plum by the arm, he walked off, leaving Link Merwell
+on the ground, bruised and shaken, and as thoroughly cowed, for the
+time being, as a whipped cur.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI
+
+MORE VICTORIES--CONCLUSION
+
+
+Once more Oak Hall and Rockville Academy were struggling to decide the
+championship. It was a clear day, and as before every nook and corner
+of the grand stand and bleachers was filled. In one spot were located
+the Porters, Jessie, Senator Morr, Mr. Lawrence, and many other friends.
+
+It was the beginning of the fifth inning and the score stood, Rockville
+5, Oak Hall 3. Plum was again at first, but Dave and Roger were on the
+bench as substitutes.
+
+It had been a hard-fought battle from the first ball pitched. Each
+pitcher had been hit heavily, but good field work had kept the score
+from going higher. Shadow had made a phenomenal catch that had brought
+forth much applause, and Phil had brought in the third run when it
+looked almost certain that he would be put out.
+
+It was Oak Hall's turn at the bat, and they did their best to score.
+But with a man on second and another on first, their hopes faded, and
+they retired, leaving the figures as before. Then Rockville took up
+the stick, and lined out two singles, a three-bagger, and another
+single before giving up, thus adding three to their tally.
+
+"That's the way to do it!"
+
+"Rockville is sure to take this game!"
+
+Messmer was next to the bat, but knocked a fly to center, and another
+player followed with a foul that was caught by the third baseman. Then
+Barloe, the catcher, who had made the first run, came up with his bat.
+
+"Hurrah for Barloe!" was the cry. "Make another this time!"
+
+In came the ball and the batsman tried to hit it and failed. Then the
+sphere came in a second time, and of a sudden Barloe uttered a moan and
+sank to the ground.
+
+"Barloe's hit! The ball took him under the ribs!"
+
+The report was true, and too weak to run the injured catcher was
+escorted to a bench, while Roger took his place at first. By good luck
+the senator's son brought the run in, and he was then asked to do the
+catching as of old, Barloe begging to be excused.
+
+With the runs piling up against him, Purdy was getting nervous, and
+in the seventh inning he seemed to go all to pieces, much to his own
+chagrin and the disappointment of his many friends. He allowed two
+singles, and then gave two men their base on balls, thus forcing in a
+run.
+
+"Wake up, Purdy! You'll have to do better than that!"
+
+"Dave Porter! Put Dave Porter in!"
+
+"That's it! Porter! Porter! Porter!"
+
+The cry was taken up on all sides, and Phil motioned for Purdy to
+retire and for Dave to come out.
+
+"It's too bad, Purdy, old man," whispered Dave, as he passed the
+rattled pitcher.
+
+"Fortune of war," was the grim and plucky answer. "I did my best. Go in
+and wax 'em!"
+
+Dave might have been nervous had he allowed himself to think of what
+was before him. The bases were filled and nobody was out. It was
+certainly a trying moment, to say the least. He took his place in the
+box and the umpire called out "Play!" Then the ball fairly streaked
+over the plate.
+
+"Strike one!"
+
+"Hurrah! that's the way to do it!"
+
+With the ball again in hand, Dave looked at the batter and then cast a
+swift glance toward third. Over to the base went the ball, and much to
+his surprise the runner was caught two feet off the bag.
+
+"Runner at third out!"
+
+What a cheering went up! All the Oak Hall supporters felt that Dave
+meant business, and their drooping spirits revived as if by magic.
+
+With care the pitcher delivered one ball after another--a drop, and
+then one that was as straight as it was swift. The batter was struck
+out, and another roar went up from the Oak Hall contingent. Laura waved
+her banner and Jessie her handkerchief.
+
+"Two out! Now, Porter, go after the third!"
+
+And Dave did go after the next batter. But the fellow was a good hitter
+and managed to find the ball. But no run came in, and the inning was
+saved.
+
+It was a victory in itself and many came up to shake Dave by the hand.
+But he waved them aside.
+
+"Hold on," he said. "The game isn't over yet--and please to remember
+the score is four to eight against us."
+
+In the eighth inning the Oak Hall nine managed to make two runs. In
+that inning Dave by clever work held the opposition down to one scratch
+hit which went for nothing, and received more applause. Then came the
+ninth inning, and in that Oak Hall tied the score, amid a yelling that
+could be heard a mile away. Even Doctor Clay was cheering, and in his
+enthusiasm Andrew Dale completely smashed the derby hat he wore.
+
+The tenth inning opened amid a breathless silence. Oak Hall did its
+best to score, but failed. Then Dave walked down to the box once again,
+and in a manner that was certainly wonderful struck out two men after
+one man had been caught out on a pop fly.
+
+Ten innings and still a tie. This was certainly a game worth seeing and
+nearly all the spectators were now on their feet, talking and shouting
+wildly.
+
+"Now, boys, we must do something!" cried Phil.
+
+Ben Basswood was at bat, and with two strikes called on him, Ben landed
+for a two-base hit. Then came a single, and taking a perilous chance
+Ben ran around and slid to the plate.
+
+"A run! A run!"
+
+"Now make it two!"
+
+But this was not to be, and Oak Hall retired one run "to the good," as
+Roger said.
+
+"Well, that's enough,--if we can hold them down in their half,"
+said Plum. He had done some great work at first, of which he was
+correspondingly proud.
+
+All eyes were on Dave when he entered the pitcher's box for the last
+time. He felt as if he had the responsibility of the whole game on his
+shoulders. He pitched quickly, almost bewildering the batters. The
+first man up went out on strikes and the second knocked a short fly
+to third. Then came a fellow named Parsons, the best hitter of the
+Rockville club.
+
+"Hurrah! Parsons, show 'em where the back fence is!"
+
+With two men out, Dave faced the batter. He sent in a low ball which
+Parsons tried to find--and failed. Then Parsons tried again--and
+failed. Then Dave sent in the swiftest ball yet pitched, giving it all
+the twist possible.
+
+"Three strikes--batter out!"
+
+And the game was won, and with it the championship of the two schools!
+
+"Beautiful! beautiful!" cried Doctor Clay, when he came down into
+the field to congratulate the club. "It was the best exhibition of
+ball-playing I've seen in a long time."
+
+And all the visitors to Oak Hall and many others agreed with him. Dave
+was the lion of the occasion, and his many friends nearly wrung his
+hand off. The other members of the nine also came in for a share of
+the praise. The Rockville boys felt their defeat keenly, but had to
+acknowledge that they had been beaten fairly.
+
+As soon as he could get away from his chums, Dave sought out Laura and
+Jessie.
+
+"I've got those letters," he whispered to Laura. "And I doubt if Link
+Merwell will ever trouble you again."
+
+"Oh, I am so thankful, Dave!" she answered. "I'll never be so
+foolish again as to write letters to a person with whom I am not well
+acquainted."
+
+"It was grand, Dave!" cried Jessie. "It was the best victory that could
+be!"
+
+"Well, I am hoping for a greater to-morrow," answered Dave, gravely.
+
+"You mean in school?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, I trust with all my heart you have your wishes fulfilled," said
+the girl, and her eyes told that she meant what she said.
+
+That night late a report was whispered around the school that Link
+Merwell had gotten into serious trouble with Doctor Clay, and the
+report proved true. Angered by the way Dave had treated him, and by
+Plum's refusal to go with him, Link Merwell had not witnessed the ball
+game, but had gone to Rafferty's resort instead. Here he had smoked,
+drunk, and gambled, and ended by getting into a free fight with several
+men. One man told Horsehair of the trouble and the school driver
+reported at once to Doctor Clay. The doctor and Mr. Dale went after the
+misguided youth, and a scene followed which need not be mentioned here.
+The next day Link Merwell was ordered to pack his trunk and leave, and
+a telegram was sent to his father in the West stating that he had been
+expelled for violating the school rules. In his rage Merwell, before
+leaving, exposed the doings of both Gus Plum and Nat Poole. At once
+the doctor sent for Plum, and later he interviewed Poole.
+
+It was a trying time for Gus, and he broke down completely. He
+mentioned what Dave had done for him, and stated he was doing his best
+to reform. Learning of this, the master of the school called upon Dave
+to tell his story, and then the depths of Merwell's depravity came out.
+In the end the doctor said he would give Plum another chance to redeem
+himself, and for this the big youth was exceedingly grateful.
+
+For having told a falsehood about taking the boat from Bush Island, Nat
+Poole was given a severe lecture. He said he had wanted, several times,
+to explain to the doctor, but that Link Merwell had threatened to make
+it unpleasant for him if he did so. Because the joke had been directed
+against some of his fellow-students and not against Doctor Clay and Mr.
+Dale, Poole got off easier than might otherwise have been the case.
+
+The closing exercises of the school were well attended. Sixteen pupils
+were to graduate, including several who had been Dave's warm chums.
+Some of these boys stood high in their class and consequently walked
+off with some prizes.
+
+When the time came for the decision regarding the essays on The
+Past and Future of Our Country everybody was on the top-notch of
+expectation. All the teachers had read the various papers handed in,
+and they had been the subject of many comments.
+
+"Because of the general excellence of seven of the essays," said Doctor
+Clay, "it has been somewhat difficult to pick out that which was the
+best. We have here a fine essay by Bertram Vane, another by Samuel
+Downs, another by Joseph Beggs, and others by Chipham Macklin, Giles
+Cadmore, and Devere Peterson. But there is one that seems to stand out
+above the others, both for its originality and its literary qualities.
+That essay takes the prize, and it is written by Master David Porter.
+Porter, will you please come forward and read your essay."
+
+As Dave walked to the platform a round of applause was given and when
+he bowed there was much hand-clapping. Then in a clear, full voice, he
+read the essay on which he had spent so much thought and labor. It was
+certainly a splendid piece of literary composition and was listened to
+with great pleasure by all. When he had finished Doctor Clay handed him
+the prize, and then the applause broke forth anew.
+
+"Another victory!" whispered Roger, as Dave passed to his seat.
+
+"Yes, and the best of them all," was Dave's reply.
+
+Fortunately, the senator's son also won a prize, and Phil came in
+the third from the highest in his class, while Shadow came in fifth
+and Ben Basswood sixth. Even Gus Plum made a good record, much to the
+pleasure of his parents, who had feared at one time he would turn out a
+ne'er-do-well.
+
+"Now the question is, What are we going to do during the summer
+vacation?" said Roger, after the exercises were over, and he and the
+others and their friends were indulging in refreshments on the campus.
+
+"I am going to Asbury Park with my folks," said Luke Watson.
+
+"And I am going to Maine," added Messmer. "My uncle has a camp there.
+Henshaw is going with me, and so is Macklin."
+
+"I have an invitation for Dave," said Laura. "The Endicotts want me to
+come back to their ranch and bring my newly-found brother with me."
+
+"That's fine!" cried Phil. "I'd like to try ranch life myself just for
+a change."
+
+"The Endicotts' ranch is next to that owned by Merwell's father, so I
+have been told," added Roger. "Maybe if you go out there with Dave,
+you'll meet Link again."
+
+"I never want to see that fellow again," said Dave. But this wish was
+not to be fulfilled, as we shall learn in the next volume of this
+series, to be entitled, "Dave Porter at Star Ranch; or, The Cowboy's
+Secret." In that volume we shall meet many of our friends again, and
+learn what Link Merwell did when he and Dave met once more on the
+boundless prairies and in the mountain canyons.
+
+That evening the students held a grand celebration, which lasted far
+into the night. Bonfires were lit and the lads danced around and sang
+songs to their hearts' content. Shadow told half a dozen of his best
+stories, and two of the students distinguished themselves by giving all
+their schoolbooks to the flames. It was a time none of them ever forgot.
+
+"And now for home," said Dave, the next day. "Home, and the boundless
+West."
+
+And here let us leave him, and say good-by.
+
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's note:
+
+1. Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as
+    possible.
+
+2. Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical
+    errors.
+
+3. The following two illustrations listed in the Index of Illustrations
+    are missing from the original book used to prepare this e-book:
+
+    3.1. "The big snowball hit the craft and bowled it over," - Page 52.
+    3.2. "Dave pointed out the form of the sleep-walker," - Page 164.
+
+4. The original Illustrations include the page number in the captions.
+    These have been removed as each page is numbered in the righthand
+    margin.
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE PORTER AND HIS CLASSMATES***
+
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