Edward Stratemeyer

“ Plum was in a deeply penitent mood and during the course of the conversation told how he and Jasniff and Poole had cut down the tree and let it fall on the roadway, so that Dave and Babcock had been pitched off their wheels, and he also told of how Henshaw had been drugged previous to the football game, and of several other mean things that had been accomplished.
"And then to think that on top of it all you saved my life," Plum went on. "Oh, Dave, I can't understand it! You're the best boy alive!" ”

“ In an extreme corner of the Oak Hall end of the stand sat Gus Plum, Nat Poole, and Nick Jasniff. They were awaiting the outcome of the game with deep interest, although sure that their school would lose. Through a friend in Oakdale they had placed practically all their spending money on bets in favor of Rockville,—in fact Gus Plum had gone into debt twenty dollars, borrowing the amount from a student named Chadworth.
"Say, are you sure you fixed Henshaw?" whispered the bully of the Hall to Jasniff. "He doesn't look to be very sick or dizzy-headed." ”

“ Sam did not know that Gus Plum had been seen in Rockville the night the robbery occurred, and Dave did not feel called upon to enlighten him. But Ben knew, and he and Dave walked away to talk the matter over, being joined a moment later by Roger and Shadow.
"Plum was certainly in Rockville," said Shadow, "but I don't see how that connects him with the robbery." He was voicing a thought that had come to the minds of all.
"I don't believe he was connected with it," said Dave. "It's an awful thing to think a fellow is a thief." ”

“ DAVE'S RETURN TO OAK HALL
The carryall containing Dave and his friends soon left Oakdale behind and was bowling swiftly along over the smooth highway leading to Oak Hall. The boys were all inside, leaving the driver to manage his team in any way that suited him. Usually they loved to torment Horsehair, as they called him, but now they had other matters on their minds.
"The same old Plum," said Ben, with a sigh. "Doesn't it make one weary to listen to him?"
"Better try to forget him, and Nat Poole too," answered Dave.
"That is easier said than done," said Shadow Hamilton. ”

“ During those days Roger Morr and Phil Lawrence arrived, both hale and hearty from their trip with Dave across the Pacific. The senator's son had spent two days in Washington with his father, while Phil had been settling up some affairs with his parent regarding the cargo of the Stormy Petrel.
"This is certainly like old times," remarked Roger, as the crowd sat in their dormitory. "I hope we have as much sport as we did last season."
"We will have, don't worry," answered Phil.
"Provided Job Haskers doesn't stop us," said Buster Beggs, who was lying across one of the beds. ”

“ After the practice was over Babcock left the field in company with Dave. As the two strolled across the campus they passed Gus Plum, who scowled deeply at his former player.
"Plum doesn't like it that you've come over to us," observed Dave. "He looked like a regular thundercloud."
"He has nobody to blame but himself," answered Paul Babcock. "Even if his team were still in existence I'd never play with him again. I want to act on the square, and that is more than he wants to do." ”

“ Two of Roger's players had been slightly hurt, and their places were filled by two substitutes, which weakened the eleven still more.
"Henshaw and Babcock are out of it!" cried Phil, to Roger and Dave.
"That gives us a better chance to win," said the senator's son.
"If it isn't too late," returned Sam Day; "12 to 0 is a pretty hard lead to overcome."
"We'll do our best," said Dave. "Let every man go in for all he is worth!"
The play was fast and furious from the very start, and inside of two minutes Roger's players had the leather close to the Arrows' goal line. ”

“ The touchdown was turned into a goal, giving Rockville 16 points as against 0 for Oak Hall. Things certainly did look blue.
"Come, fellows, we've got to do something!" urged Roger. "Everybody play for all he is worth. Don't let a single chance escape you!"
"I am going to do something if I die for it," said Babcock, and went in with a vigor that nothing could resist. Inside of two minutes he secured the ball, dove to the left, turned, and started for the right. Two Rockville players tackled him, but Dave and Buster Beggs came between and Babcock went on. ”

“ Once more the ball went into play, and this time Oak Hall sent it into the Rockville territory in a grim, stone-wall way that could not be resisted. But when it lacked still ten yards of the goal line, the whistle blew, telling that time was up and the first half of the game had come to an end.
"Hard luck to-day," said Phil, grimly. "They are certainly putting up a great game."
"They have more weight than we have," answered Shadow. "And I must say, their tackling is first-class."
"I think it is rough," said Buster Beggs. "I got a kick in the shin that wasn't pleasant." ”

“ As a consequence, when the time came to play, a goodly crowd had assembled on the football field. There was cheering for both sides and the waving of a good many Oak Hall banners. In the small stand that had been put up sat Dr. Clay and about twenty visitors.
"I don't see anything of Henshaw and Babcock," said Dave, looking over the field. "They must be going to play."
"There they are, over in the corner, talking to Plum and Poole," answered Roger, pointing with his hand.
"They must be planning some new move," said Phil. "We'll have to watch out for them." ”

“ The faces of Gus Plum and his associates showed their disappointment.
"Going to play us, eh?" said the bully, slowly.
"You'll be beaten out of your boots," said Nat Poole, with a sneer.
"That remains to be seen," answered Roger. "We accept the challenge and we are here to arrange all the details of the game."
A talk lasting nearly a quarter of an hour followed, in which they went over such details as seemed necessary. Plainly Plum was ill at ease. He wanted to chose an umpire, referee, and linesmen from outside of Oak Hall, but the senator's son would not consent to this. ”

“ His manner was so offensive that it caused the quick blood to rush to Dave's face. Plum fell back and so did Frank Bond. There was a moment of suggestive silence.
"Jasniff, I never took any unfair advantage of Plum, and everybody in this school knows it," said Dave, steadily. "Plum is a bully,—and you appear to be built the same way." ”

“ The three students approached the orchard from the rear and after looking around located the silken kite in the limbs of an apple tree. The tree was bare of fruit, but close at hand were other trees loaded with golden russets.
"Wonder if we can get that kite without being seen," mused Phil, as he gazed longingly at his property, dangling downward by its gorgeous tail of fancy ribbons.
"I don't see anybody around," answered Dave. "And I don't hear any of his dogs either."
"You want to go slow," cautioned the senator's son. "He may be around, watching us on the sly." ”

“ Dave was aiding Phil to manage his big kite and so did not notice the assistant teacher until Job Haskers passed close by.
"My! but he is dressed up!" Dave remarked to his chum.
"Must be going to see his best lady friend," was Phil's comment. "Oh, look at Nat Poole's kite!" he added, suddenly.
Dave looked and saw the kite in question far up in the sky and swooping wildly from side to side. Then the kite made a downward plunge, skimming over the meadow like a wild bird.
[83]
"Look out, or somebody will get hit!" cried Dave, and fell down as the kite passed within a foot of his head. ”

“ The start of the trip was made in fine shape, and for a little while they sailed along in company with two other ice-boats belonging to other students. But then the others turned back, and the Snowbird continued on the course alone.
"This is certainly grand!" cried Dave, enthusiastically. He was sitting at the bow, holding fast with one hand and holding on his cap with the other. "My! but we are rushing along."
"It's just the right kind of a breeze," said Henshaw.
"Beats skating, doesn't it?" came from Roger. "We must be making about a mile a minute!" ”

“ They were all good players individually, but team work is what counts in a modern game of football. He went to consult his friends.
"We can't do it," said Sam, shaking his head. "Why, some of us scarcely know the new rules yet, much less our signals."
"We need at least two weeks of good, snappy [64] practice," put in another of the players. "None of us are hard enough yet."
"This is a plan to get us into a hole," declared Dave. "If we back out Plum will challenge the Rockville boys and make out that his eleven is the representative one from this school. It's just like one of his dirty tricks." ”

“ They are the only ones to handle such a coward and brute as you."
Everybody heard the words and many applauded them. Plum and Poole fell back and the face of each grew scarlet. Nick Jasniff stood stock still, breathing heavily. He wanted to do something terrible,—but he did not dare. Dave was pale and his jaws were firmly set. The tension all around was extreme.
Then Jasniff moved, turning his back on Dave. He looked at Plum and Poole, but they cast their eyes to the ground. The crowd parted and Jasniff walked away, slowly and unsteadily. ”

“ The youth who had taken Dave's place on the eleven was perfectly willing to retire, feeling that Oak Hall was going to lose anyway. Babcock took his old place.
"I am sorry for Spud," he said, referring to Henshaw. "It appears to me that something is wrong all around."
With the appearance of Dave and Babcock the spirits of Roger, Phil, and the others arose wonderfully.
"Now, boys, play for all you are worth," said the senator's son. "Make every scrimmage count, and if you get hold of the ball run like all-possessed. We must get something this half, or we'll never hear the end of it." ”

“ A cold north wind caused all to shiver.
"It will be no easy job steering back to the Hall in this darkness," said Messmer. "A fellow can't see fifty feet ahead of him."
"Oh, I know the course well enough," answered Henshaw.
The ice-boat was found exactly as they had left it, and soon the craft was shoved out on the lake. [277] Then all got aboard, the sail was hoisted, and off they started for Oak Hall.
"Phew! but it is getting cold!" was Dave's remark, as he buttoned up his overcoat.
"Those men will have a cold walk, wherever they may be going," returned Messmer. ”

“ He may reform. If he wants to reform, I'd like to give him the chance."
"He'll never reform," said Roger, decidedly. "He is a bad egg through and through."
"Just what I think," said Shadow. "To my mind, he is much worse than Plum or Poole."
"Oh, I know that," returned Dave. ”

“ And he smiled brightly.
"No, it has been dead slow since you and Roger and Phil went away," answered Sam Day. "How are you, Ben?" he added, to the second youth from the train. "I hope you've come back to stir things up."
"Oh, Dave will stir 'em up, don't you worry," replied Ben Basswood. "He feels like a two-year-old colt since—well, you know," he added, in a lower voice.
"Any one would," responded Sam Day, heartily. "My, but what a trip you must have had to the South Seas!" he added, to Dave. "Wish I had been along!"
"Every one of our crowd has been wishing [3] that," said Shadow Hamilton. ”

“ A full minute passed and neither Dave nor Babcock offered to get up. Then from out of the bushes near by Plum, Poole, and Jasniff emerged.
"We caught 'em right enough," muttered Jasniff. "The tree came down just in time."
"Ar—are they hu—hurt much!" faltered Nat Poole. His face was as white as death itself.
"They are certainly knocked out," answered Nick Jasniff, coolly.
"Oh, I hope they ain't dead!" gasped Poole, his knees beginning to shake.
"They are not dead," announced Gus Plum, who [121] was bending over the fallen youths. "They are stunned, that's all." ”

“ Jasniff smoked, and played pool when he got the chance, and so did they, and, in addition, the new student was fond of drinking and horse races,—a poor sort of a companion for any youth who wanted to make a man of himself.
"You've got them dead to rights," said Nick Jasniff. "They'll crawl, see if they don't."
"I'll give them until Thursday to accept," said Gus Plum. "If they don't, I'll send a challenge to Rockville on Friday."
"Will Rockville play us?" asked Poole. "They may put up some sort of a kick." ”

“ A moment later the ice-boat was thrown over on the other reach and came close to the island. Then Roger uttered an exclamation:
"The tall man and the short man!"
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"Can they be the robbers?" queried Dave, quickly.
He watched the pair, and saw them disappear behind some bare bushes which fringed the shore of the island.
"Roger, I think we ought to try to find out something about those fellows."
"I think so myself."
"If those are the rascals who robbed the Rockville railroad station, we ought to try to capture them," said Henshaw.
"How can we do that?" asked Messmer. "We are not armed." ”