Edward Stratemeyer

“ If the young major was really dying—well, perhaps it would be best to run away from Putnam Hall rather than run the risk of exposure and arrest. This showed that at heart Reff Ritter was a thorough coward.
Scarcely daring to breathe, the bully tip-toed his way along one hallway after another until he came to the door of the room in which Jack lay. Listening, he heard a murmur of voices.
“He is alive, he is talking, he is not going to die!” he thought, and a wave of relief swept over him. Then, with bated breath, he listened to what the cadets and Captain Putnam had to say. ”

“ AT THE CHETWOOD COTTAGE
The cottage mentioned by Andy was located about a hundred and fifty feet from the road. It was set among some small trees, and a roadway led to the front door. Along this roadway dashed Jack and the acrobatic youth.
The boy who had uttered the cry for help was a tall, thin lad, with a shock of black hair and deep, black eyes. He was a cripple, walking with a crutch, one leg being bent at the knee. He had come out of the cottage hopping on his good limb and flourishing his crutch menacingly at the two individuals in the green masks and hoods. ”

“ The anchor was hoisted and the line attached to the dock cast off. Then they raised the mainsail and stood out into the darkness of the lake. Soon Putnam Hall and the boathouse were lost in the gloom.
“Now lower the sail and let her drift while we talk,” said Ritter.
“She may go on the rocks,” warned Coulter.
“If she does she won’t hit hard enough to hurt. The breeze has about died out.”
In the cuddy Pepper had regained his senses. With the door shut the place was suffocating, and all the two cadets could think of was to get out. ”

“ Every sword shone like silver, every gun was bright, and every uniform was brushed to its best. At the head of the command was Major Jack Ruddy, as stiff as a ramrod, looking the equal of any West Point cadet.
“Battalion, attention! Carry arms! Support arms! Shoulder arms! Right face! Left face! About face. Load! Aim! Fire!”
One order after another was delivered by Jack, and the cadets of the two companies obeyed like one big machine. Only two boys were a little slow, Reff Ritter and Gus Coulter. Paxton wanted to drag, too, but did not dare. ”

“ Cheering loudly and blowing their horns, the cadets of Putnam Hall swept into the grounds of Pornell Academy. They expected the students of the rival academy to be lined up, waiting for them, but in this they were disappointed. Only a few lads were outside, and they took but little interest in the newcomers.
“Hullo, what’s this, a frost?” queried Jack.
“Looks like it,” answered Pepper. “I told you to beware of Roy Bock and his crowd. They may be rich, but they are no gentlemen.”
“Where is your bowling team?” demanded Dale of the first student he met. ”

“ At last, just as it began to rain in torrents, the three cadets saw, fifty feet above them, the top of the hill. To reach it each had to climb some rocks that were now wet and slippery.
“Don’t break your neck, whatever you do!” cried Jack. “The race isn’t worth it.”
“I am safe enough!” panted Pepper, as he pulled himself up with vigor. “Hurrah, I’m up!” he added, a moment later. “Where’s the rock?”
“There it is!” shouted Andy, coming to the top and racing off. Jack was beside him, and away the three started for the flat rock less than twenty yards away. ”

“ The Alice had a little cuddy, just large enough to accommodate two, and into this the boys crawled, to get out of the night air, which was damp. Andy was the first to rest, while Pepper sat up, his eyes trained on the dimly-lit shore.
An hour passed and the Imp was growing decidedly sleepy. He scanned his watch closely by the light of the stars and saw it was not yet time to awaken his companion. Then he trained his eyes on shore once more.
What was that, a dog or a person, crawling steadily forward from behind the trees which lined that side of the campus? He sat up and peered forth eagerly. ”

“ THE PUTNAM HALL CADETS Or, Good Times in School and Out
The cadets are lively, flesh-and-blood fellows, bound to make friends from the start. There are some keen rivalries, in school and out and something is told of a remarkable midnight feast and a hazing that had an unlooked-for ending. ”

“ The Putnam Hall cadets had left the school with no idea of a contest of any sort, but now that the race was in progress they were keenly interested.
“I’ve heard about this Fred Century,” remarked Dale, as the Alice sped on her course. “They tell me his father is next door to being a millionaire.”
“One thing is certain—he has a good opinion of his boat,” added Pepper.
“Well, I’ve got a good opinion of my boat, too,” answered the young major. “I want her to win.”
“Oh, she must win!” cried Stuffer. “Why, don’t you know that those Pornell fellows are just aching for a chance to crow over us?” ”

“ The two cadets became silent, as they heard a door close rather sharply. Looking through the clump of bushes, they saw two figures stealing from the school building towards them.
“Some of the other fellows are coming,” cried Pepper.
“Why should they bother, Pep?”
“I don’t know, I’m sure. But I think—Well, I never! It is Gus Coulter and Reff Ritter! What can they be doing out here to-night?”
“Let us get out of sight and find out,” answered Henry, and dragged his chum to a clump of bushes still farther back from the campus. He had hardly done this when Gus Coulter and Reff Ritter came up. ”

“ At this came a wild cheering from the supporters of Pornell Academy, and the steamer engaged by Doctor Pornell blew her whistle loudly.
“It’s nip and tuck between the Neptune and the Ajax,” said some on shore. “The Alice doesn’t seem to be in it.”
“Queer, too,” said one man. “I thought she looked as good as any of them.”
“Jack, do you think Reff Ritter put some kind of a drag on us after all?” asked Pepper anxiously.
“No,” was the prompt answer.
“Then why are we falling behind?”
“Fortunes of war I suppose,” and the young major heaved a deep sigh.
“We have got to win!” shouted Andy. ”

“ Ever since the scare over the use of the French headache powder Ritter had been more or less nervous and afraid of exposure.
All unconscious of any plot being hatched out to make them lose the bicycle contest, Jack, Pepper and Andy spent their spare time in exercising on their wheels. A prize of a fine story book had been put up by the club for the winner, and all three were determined to do what they could to come in ahead.
“One of us must win,” said Jack. “I don’t care who it is. But I do want to see Ritter and his cronies defeated.” ”

“ During the week Jack met Fred Century, and from the latter learned that the owner of a sloop up the lake was also anxious for a race.
“His name is Bob Anderson,” said Century. “He owns a sloop named the Neptune.”
“I have seen the boat,” answered Jack. “Rather a rakish-looking craft.”
“So she is. Well, Anderson is very anxious for a race, and I was wondering if we couldn’t make ours a three-handed affair.”
“I am willing if you are,” said Jack, promptly. “I am not afraid of anything on the lake.” ”

“ A CANNON AND A FLAGSTAFF DISAPPEAR
“Jack!”
“What is it, Andy? You look as excited as if you had met a lion face to face.” And the young major sat up in bed in wonder.
“Hustle into your clothing and come downstairs. Something awful has happened.”
“What’s up?” asked Pepper, who had overheard the talk.
“The cannon is gone, and so is the flagstaff!”
“What!” came in a chorus from several cadets. “The cannon and the flagstaff gone?”
“Exactly.”
“Do you mean the new cannon?” queried the young major.
“To be sure I do. The old one is back in the barn.”
“Where has it gone to?” asked Stuffer. ”

“ And then she gave Andy a warm look, for she had not forgotten what a great service he and his chums had done her and her sister on that occasion.
“I only hope we have a spanking breeze,” said Jack to Pepper, as they and Andy took a short sail in the Alice on Friday afternoon. “If there is one thing I despise in a race it is a drifting match.”
“Maybe you’ll get too much wind,” said Pepper.
“Can’t get too much for me—I know how to handle my boat. She’ll not go over with me, as the Ajax did with Fred Century.”
“Does Century think he can beat the Neptune?” asked Andy. ”

“ The three chums had soon passed all but Reff Ritter and Joe Nelson. Of these two, Ritter was in the lead, with Joe clinging to him stubbornly.
“Good for Joe!” sang out Andy. “I didn’t think he could ride so well.”
“He looks less used up than anybody,” declared Andy.
It was now a fierce grind. They were on the road leading to Point View Lodge and Jack and his chums looked out eagerly for the Ford girls. They were at the gateway, holding a pitcher of lemonade and glasses.
“Awfully sorry, but if we stop we may lose the race!” shouted Jack, slackening his speed a bit. “It’s nip and tuck!” ”

“ It’s against the rules,” insisted the gardener.
“Oh, that’s it,” said Jack. “Will you kindly point out the way we can walk?” he added, sarcastically.
“Keep to the paths. This grass is only to look at, not to walk on.”
“Glad you told us,” said Pepper. “I might have picked a blade for my buttonhole. Andy,” he went on, “don’t look at the grass plot sideways, you may be taxed for it.”
The crowd hurried over to the gymnasium. There they found the Pornell students assembled. All the best seats facing the bowling alleys were filled.
“So you’ve got here, eh?” said Roy Bock, with no show of cordiality. ”

“ The third lad was nowhere to be seen.
“What shall we do?” yelled Paul, to make himself heard above the wind.
“I’ll try to bring the sloop around,” answered Jack. “Stand ready to throw them some ropes and those life-preservers.”
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As well as the squall would permit, the young major sent the Alice around. Even with only the jib set this was a dangerous operation, and he would not have undertaken it had he not thought it a case of life or death. As the sloop came broadside to the squall a wave struck her and broke over the deck. ”

“ Then they poled silently to the side of the Alice and peered over the guard rail. Andy and Pepper were out of sight, under some sailcloth. But their eyes and ears were on the alert in the semi-darkness.
“I guess the coast is clear,” they heard Ritter say. “Come on aboard. We can doctor up those ropes and the rudder in no time if we get right at them.”
“Did you bring your file?” asked Paxton.
“Yes. I hope you didn’t forget yours.”
“I’ve got it.”
“And I’ve got mine,” put in Coulter. “And here is the pot of stuff for the rudder.”
“I’ll put that drag on the keel the last thing,” said Ritter. ”

“ The point of land mentioned having been gained, the Ajax was towed around as Fred Century desired, and then the young owner was loaned a number of ropes and a pail for bailing.
“If I can’t right her I’ll tie her fast and send some boat builder after her,” he announced. “I am much obliged for what you’ve done. Some day I’ll race you again.”
“Willingly!” cried Jack.
“I still think the Ajax a better boat than the Alice.”
“She certainly isn’t a bad boat,” put in Pepper. “A real race to a finish will have to decide which is the better of the two.” ”

“ The bully was ill at ease. He had not expected the grave turn affairs had taken. Jack was certainly in bad shape. What if the young major should die? A shiver ran down Ritter’s backbone, which he tried in vain to conceal.
“What’s the matter, are you cold?” asked Coulter.
“No, I—er—I’m a little upset,” answered the bully.
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“Well, you needn’t be,” declared Paxton. “It wasn’t your fault that Ruddy fainted and fell.”
“Oh, I know that.”
“It’s a pity he had to faint,” went on Coulter. “You would have won that contest beyond the shadow of a doubt.” ”

“ All sprang to obey his order—for to do anything was better than to do nothing. Jack had his eyes on a spot ahead on the surface of the lake. He was watching the water very intently and at the same time speculating on the clouds that were piling up to the westward.
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A moment later he gave the order to shift the sail. Over it went with a crack, and the Alice’s rudder came around like lightning. The craft quickly veered, leaving the course taken by the two sloops ahead.
“Why, you are out of the course!” shouted Andy. “Oh, Jack, this won’t do at all!”
“We’ll lose ground,” added Stuffer. ”

“ But Jack, Andy and Pepper paid no attention to this—their one thought was to reach the top of Devery Hill first.
They had spread out along the hillside, each seeking the easiest way up the steep rocks. Pepper was slightly ahead, with Jack and Andy an equal distance behind him. The other contestants were considerably to the rear.
“We are in for a big thunderstorm!” cried Andy.
“Who cares?” flung back Pepper. “I am going to win this race no matter what happens.”
“Not if I know it!” came from the young major.
“The fellow to win will be the one to get there first,” said Andy. ”

“ At first the chemicals will not show at all, but after the proper length of time they will turn everything they are on a sickly green. I know the action of the chemicals well, for I have used them in photography.”
“That’s a great idea!” cried Coulter. “Let us try it by all means. And we’ll put some on Andy Snow’s outfit, too!”
“Yes, and on Pepper Ditmore’s things,” broke in Paxton. “What’s the matter with doing up the whole Ruddy crowd while we are at it?”
“We will,” answered Reff Ritter. “We’ll make that inspection drill the worst looking affair that ever took place at Putnam Hall!” ”

“ The bracelet was inside and all right. I took it out and started for the Ford place, intending to give it back to Flossie. On the road I met those two masked men, and they held me up and took the bracelet and a ruby ring away from me.”
“Is this true?” asked Pepper. “You are sure you are not fooling?”
“It is the positive truth—hope to die if it isn’t. The men had clubs and one had a butcher knife, and I admit they scared me half to death. They acted as if they were about half crazy. One said he was going to give the bracelet to the queen of the North Pole, or something like that.” ”

“ A hunt was instituted by Captain Putnam, and in this he was joined by Jack, Pepper, Dale, and an acrobatic pupil named Andy Snow. George Strong was found to be a prisoner in a hut in the woods, and it was learned that his captors were the two strange men. These men were related distantly to the teacher and both were insane—their minds having been affected by the loss of their fortunes.
After the insane men were cared for George Strong told the cadets about a pot of gold which his ancestors had buried during the Revolutionary War. ”