Arthur M. Winfield

“ Again Baxter launched out, and now Dick was hit on the arm. He slipped to one side, and struck out like lightning, and the bully caught it in the neck, something which spun him around like a top.
"Another for Dick!" cried Frank Harrington. "Keep it up!"
Again the two boys faced each other. But only for an instant. With a savage cry Baxter sprang upon Dick as if to fairly tear him apart. One blow landed upon Dick's arm and a second on his chest.
"It's Baxter's fight!"
"Baxter is still king of this school!"
"You might as well give it up, Rover; he's too many for you!" ”

“ Your mother has given me her word, and you ought to bow to the inevitable."
"She has not yet married you, sir, and until she is actually bound to you there will still be hope for her."
"This is—is outrageous!" cried Josiah Crabtree wrathfully. "Do you think I will allow a mere slip of a girl to stand between me and my plans? Just wait until I am your father——"
"You shall never take the place of my dear dead father, Mr. Crabtree—never!" and now Dora's eyes filled with tears. "He was ten thousand times better than you can ever be!" ”

“ Dick was swimming manfully, but was now all but exhausted.
"You can't make it, Dick," groaned Tom. "Better save yourself."
"And let you go? No indeed, Tom. I have a little strength left and—— Hurrah, I've struck bottom!"
Dick was right: his feet had landed on a sand-bar; and, standing up, both boys found the water only to their armpits. Under such circumstances they waded ashore with ease, and here threw themselves down to rest.
"That thief is gone," said Dick dismally. "And my watch too!"
"But where is Sam?" questioned Tom, then looked at his brother meaningly. ”

“ While Fred was speaking the tail of the snake came up on the side of the rock.
Setting his teeth, Sam bent down and made a clutch for the slippery thing, and caught it tight.
With a hiss the snake raised its head, its diamond-like eyes shining like twin stars.
"You'll be poisoned!" shrieked Fred, when, whack! Sam gave the body of the reptile a swing and brought the head down with great force on the edge of the rock.
One blow was enough, for the head was mashed flat. Then Sam threw the body into the bushes, there to quiver and twist for several hours to come, although life was extinct. ”

“ Sam was right; it was a snake—an angry-looking reptile all of six feet long, and as thick as Sam's wrist. It hissed savagely as it advanced, first upon Sam and then upon Fred.
If there was one thing which could fill Fred Garrison full of terror it was a snake, and the yell he gave would have outmatched that of an Indian on the warpath.
"Save me!" he screamed. "Don't let him touch me!"
"Jump back!" cried Sam, and leaped himself. Then, seeing a tall rock handy, he sprang upon it, and here Fred joined him. ”

“ Crabtree," said Tom steadily.
"You shan't run away again!"
"That's true—now Captain Putnam is here."
"So this is Thomas Rover," said Captain Victor Putnam, with something like a twinkle in his clear eyes. "Rover, I have heard a rather serious report about you and your brother Richard."
"What kind of a report, if I may ask, sir?"
"Mr. Crabtree says you have been impudent to him, and that when he locked you in the guardroom for breaking the rules you attacked him and knocked him down."
"He attacked me first. If anybody attacked you, wouldn't you be apt to knock him down—if you could?" ”

“ If you wish to come along and see the ceremony performed, put on your things."
"I do not wish to go."
"Very well, then; you had best return to the house."
"It is a shame!" cried the girl, and burst into tears.
"We will be back by seven o'clock," said Josiah Crabtree, and led the widow down the garden path to where the carriage was standing.
"I wish I could stop this wedding," whispered Sam to his chum.
"I am with you on that," returned Fred. "Creation, here come the hounds! Just the thing!"
He looked at Sam, and his chum instantly understood. ”

“ You shall not say a word against my father."
"Good for Dora!" thought Dick. "She's the right kind."
"Your mother is quite willing to marry me, and as a dutiful daughter you should bow to her wishes."
"Mother is not herself, Mr. Crabtree. Ever since father died she has been upset by business matters, and you have pestered the life out of her. ”

“ The drums struck up, and away went the columns of each company, to the front of the parade ground. Then they wheeled to the right, the fifers started up a lively air, and the cadets marched around the hall three times, and at last into the door nearest to the mess-hall or dining room,
"By Jinks, that's fine!" cried Sam. "Cadet life will suit me, I'm sure of it."
The cadets had hardly disappeared before one of the waiters in the mess-hall came forward. "Please come right in, gents," he said. Mr. Strong will give you places at the tables." ”

“ Dick and Sam sat astride of the tree in the water, and Tom stood against an upright branch and shoved off. The river was not deep, and he kept on reaching bottom without difficulty.
By this time the tramp was halfway across the stream, which was flowing rapidly and carrying both boat and tree down toward a bend quarter of a mile below.
"Go on back, unless you want to be shot!" cried the man savagely, but they paid no attention to the threat as no pistol appeared; and, seeing this, the thief redoubled his efforts to get away. ”

“ If a man attacked me on the street I would certainly endeavor to defend myself to the best of my ability. But you must remember that you are a pupil here, and Mr. Crabtree is one of your masters, appointed by me."
"I am not a pupil yet, sir—although I hope to be very soon."
"Why, what do you mean? " demanded Victor Putnam, and now his voice grew stern. Many a boy would have flinched, but Tom had determined to say just what he thought of Crabtree, and he stood his ground. ”

“ Being on the bars, Dick could not ward off the blow, but he immediately sprang down, and with flushed cheeks leaped in front of Baxter.
"You seem very anxious to fight," he said in a low, steady voice. "You can, therefore, take that for a starter!" And hauling off with his right fist, he struck Dan Baxter fairly and squarely upon the nose, causing the blood to spurt and sending the bully to the floor like a shot.
If ever there was an individual taken by surprise it was the bully of Putnam Hall. ”

“ They were passing down the main street when Sam uttered a short cry.
"Hullo, there is Josiah Crabtree!"
"Where?" questioned Dick with deep interest.
"Across the way. He has just entered the jewelry store on the corner."
"Say, perhaps he's buying a wedding ring," blurted out Tom before he stopped to think twice.
"Tom, that matter is no joke," came from Dick, as his face grew red. "I sincerely hope, for Dora Stanhope's sake, that he never marries Dora's mother."
"Oh, so do I," answered Tom readily. "Why, he isn't fit to be stepfather to a dog!" ”

“ I will leave it to you, Captain Putnam, if I was really a pupil when Mr. Crabtree hauled me off to the guardroom?"
At this plain question the face of the owner of the Hall became a study.
"You make a very fine distinction, Rover," he answered slowly.
"Perhaps so, sir; and I do it because I want to begin right here. If I am to be handicapped at the start of my career, what is the use of my trying to make a record for myself?" and Tom looked the master of Putnam Hall full in the face. ”

“ It will be only another of his lies."
"Then you shall go to the guardroom," said the teacher. "Rover, you may go to see the captain alone."
"I will, sir—at once," and Tom made away. He had no sooner departed than George Strong marched Baxter off to the guardroom previously described. As the pair passed down the stairs they encountered Mumps coming up.
"Hullo, Dan, what does this mean?" asked Mumps in wonder.
"I'm under arrest," laughed Baxter bitterly. "And for nothing, too."
"Silence!" commanded George Strong. "If you have done nothing wrong, you will soon be released." ”

“ At that moment Fred Garrison stepped forward.
"Fellow students!" he cried. "One word before you vote. I wish to withdraw from the contest, doing so in favor of two of my friends, Dick Rover and George Granbury. I thank those who voted for me before from the bottom of my heart."
"Hurrah for Fred!" came from a score of throats, and a cheer rent the air. "We won't forget you next time, old man!"
Soon the second ballot was cast, and amid another silence Captain Putnam read it off:
Richard Rover is declared elected second lieutenant of Company A for the balance of this term." ”

“ When Ithaca was reached a surprise awaited the crowd. The weather was so cold that the ice impeded transportation, and the Golden Star was not making her usual trips to Cedarville and other points.
"Here's a state of things!" cried Tom. "What's to do—walk to Putnam Hall?"
"Well, hardly, seeing that it is a good number of miles and the weather is bitterly cold."
"Well, if we can't walk and can't ride, how are we to get there?" came from Sam.
"That's the conundrum, Brudder Bones," laughed Larry, imitating a negro minstrel. "I'se gib it up, sah!"
"It's no laughing matter," said Dick. ”

“ He was going to lock up my brother first, but I said I had fired the cracker, and so he compelled me to go to the guardroom with him. I was locked in and treated to bread and milk for supper, and he wanted to steal the keys of my trunk and valise from me."
"Steal!" ejaculated Josiah Crabtree.
"That is what it amounted to, for the keys and boxes are my property."
"Mr. Crabtree merely wanted to see that your baggage contained nothing improper," put in Captain Putnam. "There are certain things we do not allow boys to bring into the institution." ”

“ Laning went off on one horse, and the livery-stable driver on another, each to borrow a sleigh elsewhere.
This left the boys in the company of the girls for over an hour, and during that time Dick, Tom, and Sam asked a great many questions, especially about Mrs. Stanhope and Dora.
"Yes, the marriage is to come off next week, Thursday,—unless something prevents it," said Nellie. "Dora is fairly sick over the prospect. What Aunt Lucy can see in Mr. Crabtree is more than any of us can understand."
"He must have hypnotized her," observed Dick. "It's a shame! I wish old Crabtree was in Jericho!" ”

“ Poor Tom will be half smothered to death!"
"Wait till I attract his attention," said Sam.
Catching up a clod of grass and dirt he threw it against one of the window panes.
A minute of suspense followed, but no face appeared at the window.
"That's queer," said Fred. "It seems to me he would show himself if he was there."
"Perhaps he can't," said Sam. "He may be chained up in the other end of the room."
"I'm going to make sure," said Dick determinedly. "Sam and Fred, both of you give me a boost up." ”

“ I believe you are all friends, at least Harrington and Colby intimated as much in their letters."
"They told the truth," cried Sam. "This just suits me, and we owe Captain Putnam and Mrs. Green one for doing it."
George Strong smiled. Then the smile faded as he remembered how Josiah Crabtree had once told Captain Putnam that he did not believe in letting chums room together. "Place each boy among strangers," Crabtree had said. "It will make him more reliant." But Captain Putnam had not listened to the crabbed old fellow, and Strong was glad of it. ”

“ When he left his heart was all aglow, while Dora was blushing deeply. "Best girl in the world," he murmured. "What an awfully nice young fellow," was Dora's thought.
"Hurry up!" cried Tom from the sleigh, when his big brother put in an appearance again. "I'm most frozen stiff! " And on went the cutter, the horse feeling quite fresh after his rest.
"I'll go ahead and see if the coast is clear," said Dick, when they reached the vicinity of the stable, and he leaped into the snow. ”

“ Then his eyes fell upon the fallen tree. "I have an idea! Let us try to get across on that! I won't mind a wetting if only we can get Dick's watch back."
"Yes, yes; just the thing!" put in his elder brother quickly.
All hands ran down to the fallen tree, which was about a foot in diameter and not over twenty-five or thirty feet in length. It lay half in the water already, and it was an easy matter to shove it off.
"We can't do much without oars or a pole," said Tom. "Wait a moment," and he ran back to where he had seen another fallen tree, a tall, slender maple sapling. ”

“ As he paused, he saw Dora push Crabtree back and leap to the opposite side of the center table.
"Don't you dare to touch me, Mr. Crabtree!" came loud enough for Dick to hear quite plainly.
"I want you to behave yourself, young lady," stormed Josiah Crabtree.
"I know how to do that without your advice."
"No, you don't. You have set your mother against me. If it hadn't been for you, we would be married long ago."
"I believe a daughter has a right to advise her mother concerning a stranger, Mr. Crabtree." ”

“ The elderly gentleman continued to keep his handkerchief to his nose, and adjusted his spectacles. "Thank fortune, you are all to go to boarding school next week, and we will once more have a little peace and quietness around Valley Brook!"
"Where are we to go, Uncle Randolph?" asked Sam.
"You will learn that Monday morning, when you start off."
"It wouldn't hurt to tell us now," grumbled Tom.
"You must learn to be patient, Thomas. My one hope is that life at boarding school makes a real man of you." ”

“ As soon as they could recover, the whole party made after the carriage, now disappearing around a bend.
"They'll never get around the next turn alive!" said Captain Harry Blossom, who was running beside Tom. Soon Dick joined the pair.
In the meantime Josiah Crabtree was filled with terror over the sudden turn of affairs. He dropped the whip and tugged first at one rein and then the ether.
"Whoa! whoa!" he cried in a hoarse whisper. "Whoa!"
But instead of slackening their speed, the team moved on faster than ever, the carriage rocking violently from side to side.
"We will be killed!" ”