Cyril Burleigh

“ Do you recognize the man, boys?”
“I never saw him,” said Percival, “but if that is not the man with the white mustache and the black eyebrows I am very much mistaken. My! but how he glares!”
“It is the man with the white mustache,” said Jack. “I have reason to recognize him. That is the bank robber. He is glaring, as you say, Dick. There was something on his mind. What do you suppose it was?”
“I am sure I don’t know. Do you suppose he was afraid we might find his hiding place. By Jove! we found the burglars’ tools, Jack, and now you have found the burglar himself on Billy’s plate.” ”

“ When the boys were on their way back to the wharf they met Herring and Merritt in the motorboat they had seen, Herring shouting out with his usual sneer and a contemptuous look:
"We'll race you for ten dollars, Percival, if you think you can trust your helper. Two to one we'll beat you hands down."
"This happens not to be my boat," said Percival, "and I would not race with you if it was."
"Ah, go on! You can't make us believe that Sheldon can earn money to buy a motor-boat by picking fruit!"
Jack did not say anything, and the others turned and came after them so as to force them into a race. ”

“ The only treasure you dig out of the earth is the good crop you get by working at your corn and potatoes."
"That's true philosophy, Jack. I have never had to dig anything for myself, having rich folks who always looked after me. Perhaps it would have been better for me if I had had to do more for myself."
"Well, you are not a spoiled child, Dick," said Jack, "as some sons of rich parents are. You are not idle nor vicious, and you know the value of money. You will do for yourself when you leave school. ”

“ Because Jack Sheldon had to work you think he is no good, but he has you fellows skinned, in studies and in everything else. You never did any work in your lives, you're too——-"
"Don't answer them, Dick," said Jack quietly, heading for the middle of the river. "It won't do any good, and they'll talk all the more. I don't mind it, and neither should you."
"Come and chuck us in the river, why don't you?" jeered the first of the boys on shore, Peter Herring by name, and the chief bully of the school. "You daren't! You're afraid of wetting your pretty clothes. Yah! what an old tub! ”

“ The boys kept hard at work removing the debris that had fallen into the entrance of the cave, but some of this consisted of great rocks, which were impossible to get rid of with the means at their disposal, and Harry presently growled, as he wiped his perspiring forehead with one hand while he leaned against the ledge with the other:
“We’ll have to blow this stuff up. If it were only earth and gravel we could do something, but there are rocks as big as a house in the hole, and we can never get rid of them.” ”

“ I have enough friends among the boys of
Hilltop, and the faculty, not to mind the rest."
"True enough, Jack. Hello! there are some of those fellows now looking for a race if not trouble."
Herring and Merritt just now appeared in their boat off the railroad dock, and waited till Jack and Percival came up when Herring shouted:
"Come on if you want to race. We'll meet you on the way back."
"Race 'em, Jack, just to show them you can beat 'em!" whispered
Dick hoarsely.
"No, Dick, I won't," said Jack with emphasis. "I'll race any one else for the fun of it, but I will not race with those fellows." ”

“ Billy got down from the tree, and all hands laughed again, but Jack said thoughtfully:
"That was not a wild calf, and the question naturally arises, what is a domesticated calf doing on a supposedly uninhabited island? If there is a calf there must be a cow and if a cow, then people who own and take care of her. There must be people on the island after all, although we have never seen them."
"We have not been all over the island," said Percival, "and it is likely that in the very parts where we have not been we shall find the people who own the calf." ”

“ The majority agreed that Jack would make a better editor but there were some who opposed this choice, not openly but in a sneering, underhand way that was harder to combat than if they had put on an attitude of bold defiance.
“You don’t want a mere clerk for an editor,” said Peter Herring to a number of his cronies. “If we did we could hire a six-dollar-a-week typewriter girl to do the work. Any one can work a machine with a little practice but it takes brains to run a high-class magazine like ours.” ”

“ Just let me look around a bit, Dick."
"All right, I'll let you do all the looking you want, but I'd like to buy you a boat just the same."
"No doubt you would, and so would Jesse W. and Harry and Arthur and a dozen other boys, but I am going to get one myself, and it will not cost me much either, and will give me all the service I want. We don't go into camp under a week, and that will give me all the time I want to build—-"
"You are not going to build you a motor-boat, are you, Jack Sheldon?" asked Dick Percival in the greatest surprise. ”

“ Instead of doing anything the boys only stood there and laughed, and when Bucephalus and Ben Bowline came up in great haste they did the same, all joining in a full-voiced laughing chorus.
"Why don't you help a fellow?" wailed Billy. "There you all are, laughing to beat the band, and I can't get down on account of this wild bull at the foot of the tree."
"Wild bull nothing!" exclaimed Percival. "It is a three months' old calf, and you're another, only you are a bit older than that. ”

“ Percival said nothing to Jack about his past life, preferring to let the boy take his own time about clearing up the mystery which was no clearer than before.
“I’ll get even with Sheldon before I leave the Academy,” declared Herring to Ernest Merritt and another of his satellites a day or so after the exciting scene in front of the school. “He can’t walk over me if he has got Dick Percival for his friend.”
“You can’t lick him,” laughed Merritt, who did not have the same fear of his associate that he formerly had. “He has a fist like a rock for all that he looks so slight. ”

“ The boys kept going down and at length Jack said, pausing and trying to pierce the darkness, the light that Percival had spoken of not being visible at that moment:
"I think we would better get a light, Dick. We don't know where we are going, and it is dark. It is never safe to go anywhere in the dark unless one is familiar with his surroundings."
"That's true enough, Jack. Have you any matches? The next time we come this way, if we do, we had better take a flashlight along." ”

“ Half an hour later Bucephalus called Percival to the edge of the camp, telling him that he was wanted, Jack and Billy going with Dick.
"Did you want to see me?" he asked, seeing Jenkins and Calthorpe.
"Yes, I guess so," stammered Jenkins. "You're at the head of the ingineers, ain't ye?"
"I am with them," Percival replied. "You are one of the men who tried to stop us, aren't you? You are Jenkins, I believe?" ”

“ The stench was something dreadful, and two of the hazers got full doses of the stuff directly in their faces.
Jack was on the windward side of it or he could not have endured the horrible smell.
The victims simply fell on the ground and began to vomit in spite of themselves.
“Oh! Oh! Oh! I’m poisoned!” wailed Holt, who was one of the fellows dosed. “Oh! get me some water. Oh, dear! I shall die, I know I shall!”
“You need a good cleaning out,” laughed Jack, who had no sympathy whatever for the sneak. “You are dirty enough inside and out to make it necessary. Turn yourself inside out. ”

“ Dick and Jack were both laughing heartily now, much to young Smith's amazement, Billy's surprise and the disgust of Ben Bowline, Bucephalus looking on and wondering what had come over his "young gentlemen" as he was accustomed to call them.
"What are you two fellows laughing at?" asked Billy.
"I don't see anything funny in it!" sputtered Ben.
"I think it's awful!" murmured Jesse W.
"Why, those are not men talking," laughed Dick.
"They aren't!" exclaimed Billy.
"Mebby dat am all imagination, sah!" added Bucephalus.
"What is it if it isn't men!" asked Ben.
"Parrots!" laughed Jack. ”

“ He can't bully the colonel if he can bully the small boys."
"He can't bully all of them either," said Harry, "for some of them won't take it from him even if they can't fight him."
As it happened to be pleasant in the afternoon, and many of the boys were out on the river in boats, Herring felt the effect of his foolish boasting, and was greatly chagrined that he was cut off from a very enjoyable sport.
Jack took Percival's boat out and made very good speed with it so that Dick said with a grin:
"Well, the boat is all right, I see, and I am the fellow that needs to take a lesson, not the boat. ”

“ This thing was done to throw discredit on me and to stop the life of the Gazette.”
“That’s just what it would mean if the thing had gone through.”
“It was done by some one who knows the Academy and the fellows,” declared Harry. “It was aimed at Jack, principally. We know who does not like him here and it should not be a hard matter to find who is responsible.”
“It may be one for all that,” replied Jack. “This is a serious business and the perpetrators will cover their tracks. One thing is certain. You must watch every boy that reads the Gazette to-morrow. ”

“ The sound he had heard was the splash of oars and the hum of voices, and in a few moments he saw a boat containing two men appear around a corner of the higher rock, which descended sheer to the water's edge, and make its way slowly toward the open bay.
"I tell you there is one, Davis," Jack heard one of the men say, recognizing the voice as that of the man with the white mustache, as he always thought of him, and not as his stepfather. ”

“ One of the big river steamers was coming up, but Jack kept far enough away from her and managed his head so that her wash did not affect him, and the boat passed without causing him any trouble.
"That was well done, Jack," said Percival when the boat was well up the river, and Jack went in nearer shore. "I would not be afraid to trust myself in any boat with you. Run 'em before, have you?"
"Not this sort, Dick, but a boat is a boat whether you run her by gas or pull the oars or have sails. You must look out for yourself." ”

“ After school was over that day Percival came to Jack and said:
“We are going off into the woods, some of us, to explore things generally. Won’t you come along, Jack?”
“Of course he will,” put in Billy Manners, who came along at that moment with Harry and Arthur. “He will want to make some more discoveries to add to those he has already made. The place is new to us where we are going and, consequently, will be new to him.” ”

“ The devil fish, even with the loss of two of its arms, was still powerful enough to make all his efforts futile, and he felt himself being drawn into some recess beyond where he had first seen the octopus squatting on the rock and glaring at them with its horrible eyes.
Percival, having found Jack's electric torch and searching the cave below and above water for a sign of his friend, suddenly saw the devil fish rise to the ledge where he had first seen it. ”

“ Why, she's a beauty and no mistake. And you did all the work on her yourself?"
"I did not build the boat, Dick, but I fixed her up, caulked, painted, and decked her over forward, put the rail around the standing room, and put in the seats, installed the engine, set the propeller, and got her in the shape you see her now. She's all right?"
"All right? Well, I should say she was. I'd never believe that you hadn't just got her brand new from the shop. No wonder you get along, Jack. A fellow who shows a knack for doing things that you do and goes ahead in spite of all obstacles is bound to get on. ”

“ Dick said. “I fancied I could run a car anywhere but you can beat me all to bits. Herring can say what he likes but a fellow that can run a car as steadily and coolly as you can is good enough to associate with the president himself.”
“I am glad you like it,” said Jack, smiling, “but [70] long use has made me well accustomed to our Hudson valley hills and I really do not mind them nor think them so bad as a stranger would.” ”

“ They hurried along the passage by which they had entered the cabin, reached the hole in the bow by which they had entered and then, as Percival turned on his flashlight, which he had extinguished after entering the cabin aft, they hurried forward toward the hole in the rocks.
"There is no water here, Dick, at any rate," said Jack.
"No, there is not, but I can't think what made—hello!"
"What's the matter, Dick?"
"Where is the way up? I can't find it. The passage was not a wide one, was it? We cannot have gone astray?" ”

“ They said you were strong and wiry, and I expected to see a giant. Why, you are no bigger than I am. And you can run a motor-boat?"
"Certainly he can," replied Dick. "Size does not count in a thing like that. Why, I am bigger than Jack, but he can beat me running a boat. Then there is little Jesse W. Smith, who is the smallest thing in the way of a boy in the Academy, and he has beaten boys twice his size."
"And you will be down?" to Jack himself.
"If I am chosen to represent the Hilltop boys, I will certainly be on hand," Jack replied. "I should like nothing better." ”

“ Jack and Percival now quickly joined their companions, who were eager to learn of their experiences in the cave.
The boys were greatly interested in hearing of what Jack and Dick had discovered in the cave, and speculated about the presence of the burglars’ tools, some of them wondering if the bank robbers made the cave their headquarters, and why the tools had not been taken away before.
“Well, if the place is closed I shall have a picture of it at any rate,” declared Billy.
“Which cannot amount to much,” laughed Harry, “seeing that your camera has neither shutter nor lens.” ”

“ Leaving the hill after getting a good view of the surrounding sea and the island, the boys took a course which would lead them to the part of the reefs, which they had not before visited.
They were pushing on leisurely when they suddenly stopped and listened, having heard what seemed to be a cry for help.
"Somebody is in trouble," said Jack. "Where is it, straight ahead?"
"It sounds like it, and that sounds like the voice of Billy Manners."
"Maybe he is joking," said young Smith. "He always is." ”

“ What is he, pork merchant or something like that?"
"Pretty good, Jack," said Percival with a grin. "He was a butcher at one time, but don't mention it if you don't want to earn his everlasting scorn. It is never spoken of. He is one of the wealthiest men along the river, and employs a man to do nothing but cut off his stock coupons. They may invite us to the house, although they are a very exclusive sort and are supposed to associate only with millionaires, and the descendants of the oldest and best families." ”

“ The captain and mate, followed by four men from each boat, scrambled up the side like monkeys, and made a dash for the cabin as a man came out and demanded gruffly:
"Hello! who are you, and what do you want?"
"That's Davis," said Jack. "I know his voice. We have made no mistake."
"Of course not," said Percival "Do you see that fender hanging over the side? These fellows have forgotten it. There is your name Circe, as plain as you please."
"Yes, I see it."
"There are lively times up there, Jack," Dick continued. "I'd like to join in it."
"Let the men go instead," laughed Jack. ”

“ Why, he is full of it!"
"Somehow he never seems to lose his head when it is most required," added Percival, "although to look at him you would not suppose that he had such a command over himself. It's when you get to know him that you find these things out."
"Why, he would as soon jump into a flying machine as get in a motor-boat," said Billy, "provided there was something to be done. He is a bird as well as a fish, and just as good at either."
The sports were closed by a tub race, every one being desirous of seeing Billy Manners in another of these amusing contests. ”

“ It doesn't belong to us."
"That would be reason enough for not daring, with some persons," said Jack with a low laugh. "They will take care of their own things, but are careless with those belonging to others."
"The woods are full of such, Jack."
Jack rowed with one hand, drawing in his other oar so that it might not strike the rocks in case the passage narrowed, and then got out his pocket flash and shot a strong ray ahead of him.
"Good gracious! what's that?" suddenly exclaimed Percival in accents of terror. "Back water, Jack, for heaven's sake!"
"What is it, Dick?" ”

“ Wise does not care anything about genealogy, Father," spoke up Miss Margaret, daughter of the proud descendant of the Van der Donks, "and you should not have spoken of the Academy boys as boarding school boys. They attend a military Academy, the fame of which is as great as that of your ancestors. Everybody along the Hudson valley knows the Hilltop boys and any young gentleman might be proud to be one of them." ”

“ Bucephalus and old Ben Bowline were in the boat, the old sailor hailing them when he neared the shore.
"Well, mateys, did you think you'd walk out to the yacht?" he asked. "The old man was afraid you'd fallen in, and been gobbled up by sharks. Some of the boys found the boat adrift, and brought it in. Don't you know how to tie up a boat yet? I'll show you some knots if you don't know them."
"We know all the knots you can show us, Ben, and perhaps a good many more," grunted Percival. "The boat was tied all right, but——"
"Wha' was yo' goin' to say, sah?" asked Bucephalus. ”

“ The smaller boy was taking Jack's advice by this time, and there was need of it, for there was a squall coming and all the boys were making for the shore.
"Huh! you fellows are all afraid!" shouted Herring. "What's a little blow to fellows like us? Go on shore, you weaklings."
"There is danger, isn't there, Jack?" asked Percival, as Jack was running for shore, having seen that young Smith was safe.
"Yes, there is," shortly, "and those fellows will find it out before long. They should be told of it."
"Yes, and get abuse for our trouble," snapped Dick. "I won't do it for one." ”