The Putnam Hall Cadets: or, Good Times in School and Out

CHAPTER XXII
JOSIAH CRABTREE IS NONPLUSED

“What’s to do next, Mr. Crabtree?”

“I – er – I don’t know,” stammered the enraged teacher. He gave a shiver. “I am wet to the skin!”

“So am I,” came from Peleg Snuggers.

“I shall take cold.”

“An’ I’ll be after gitting the rheumatism.”

“I am half of a mind to invoke the aid of the law,” went on Josiah Crabtree, stalking around the barn to keep himself warm. “This is preposterous, outrageous, extraordinary!”

“It’s a blessed shame, sir, that’s wot it is.”

“It is strange that Mrs. Green was not aroused.”

“No ’tain’t, sir – she’s a heavy sleeper. She sleeps with an alarm clock on a chair beside her bed, to wake her up in the mornin’.”

“Snuggers, we must get into the school building in some manner.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Let us go around to the front once more.”

“I don’t want another duckin’, sir. It was terribul, that was!” And the general utility man shivered.

“Perhaps we can get under the shelter of the doorway.”

They left the barn once more, and sneaking around the campus, came at last to the front of the hall.

“Why, the door’s on a crack!” ejaculated the hired man. “I thought it was locked!”

“So it was locked!” returned Josiah Crabtree. “Can it be possible that the rascals have left the building?”

“Oh, Mr. Crabtree, perhaps they are after us with them guns!”

“I – I don’t think so. Anyway, let us get inside. Then we can lock the door on them. Some of the cadets must have gone crazy!”

The two passed into the Hall, and the teacher lost no time in locking and bolting the door. All was pitch-dark, and Josiah Crabtree scarcely knew what to do next.

“I don’t see nuthin’,” was Peleg Snuggers’ comment.

“It is not to be expected without a light,” answered the teacher, sarcastically. “Have you a match?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then light up, and I’ll try to get to the bottom of this piece of villainy.”

“Are you certain we ain’t in danger o’ bein’ shot?” queried the hired man.

“Light up, I tell you!” thundered the teacher.

The hallway was soon a blaze of lights. Nothing appeared to be out of its place, and Josiah Crabtree passed from one classroom to the next, and then to the messroom, the kitchen, and to Captain Putnam’s private office.

“They have gone!” murmured Snuggers, and breathed a sigh of relief.

“They are either outside or upstairs,” answered Josiah Crabtree. “Come, we will go up.”

“Hadn’t you better get a club – or somethin’?”

“I’ll take this,” answered the teacher, and brought forth a heavy ruler. Then he gave the hired man a cane, and both mounted to the second floor of the Hall. Here all was as dark as it had been below, and again Snuggers was called on to light up.

Without further hesitation Josiah Crabtree pushed open the door of Dormitory No. 1. A glance inside showed him all of the cadets in bed, apparently fast asleep. He scratched his head in amazement.

“Am I dreaming, or is this a trick?” he murmured.

“Are the rascals there?” queried Peleg Snuggers.

“These – er – cadets seem to be asleep.”

“Asleep!”

“Yes, let us look in the next dormitory,” said Crabtree.

This was done, and then the other sleeping rooms were visited. Not a bed was found vacant, and all of the boys looked as if they were sleeping soundly.

“Snuggers, am I awake?” demanded the teacher.

“I reckon you are, sir. I know I ain’t asleep – an’ I ain’t dry nuther.”

“But what do you make of this?”

“I dunno, unless they be a-playin’ off on you, sir.”

“Did you recognize any of those who – er – attacked us?”

“No, sir.”

“But we were attacked?”

“Yes, sir.”

“We were doused with water?”

“Yes, sir – very cold water at that.”

“And we were fired upon?”

“Yes, sir – I heard the bullets whistle past our heads, sir,” added the hired man, drawing on his imagination.

“And yet all of these cadets are asleep – or pretend to be.”

“It’s a mystery, sir, that’s wot it is, sir. But what’s to do?” and the general utility man scratched his head.

For once in his life Josiah Crabtree was nonplused. He rubbed his chin and cleared his throat several times.

“If I thought they were playing off on me – ” he began.

“They couldn’t have all been in it, sir,” interrupted Snuggers.

“I don’t know about that. But that’s the point – I do not know which to accuse.”

“Well, what do you want me to do?”

“I – er – I don’t know.”

“Hadn’t we better change our clothes an’ go to bed?”

“You may change your clothes, and I’ll do the same. But I am going to investigate further before I retire for the night.”

The pair separated, and Peleg Snuggers lost no time in getting to his room. Josiah Crabtree stalked to his own apartment and there proceeded to don dry clothing.

The head teacher was furious, but the more he mused over the problem before him, the more was he perplexed. He could not call all of the boys to account, and, to tell the truth, he was just a bit afraid of the whole school. With Captain Putnam and George Strong absent, there was no telling what the pupils might do.

“I don’t want to get shot, or something like that,” he told himself. “Perhaps I had better wait until the captain gets back.”

“Do you want me again?” came presently from Peleg Snuggers, from outside the door.

“No, you can go to bed. But sleep with one ear open, in case there are more disturbances.”

“Yes, sir; good-night, sir,” and the general utility man tiptoed away. “Don’t catch me a-gittin’ up again to-night,” he muttered to himself. “One sech duckin’ is enough fer me.”

“I fancy he has given up the battle,” said Pepper to his chums, after a long spell of silence.

“He is afraid of us.” came from Andy. “Those shots frightened him.”

“I’ll wager we hear something in the morning,” put in Jack. “We ought to bind every fellow to absolute secrecy.”

“Let’s do it!” cried Pepper. “We can visit every dormitory.”

This plan was agreed to, and soon a dozen cadets were making the rounds, and each student was made to promise on his honor not to say a word concerning the doings of the night.

“Let me catch you opening your trap and I’ll make it warm for you,” said Jack to Mumps, and the sneak promised faithfully to keep mum.

In the morning the cadets were on hand as usual, and they came down to roll call as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Josiah Crabtree was on hand, looking as dark as a thunder cloud.

“Phew, but his face is enough to sour the milk!” whispered Andy.

“Take care, he is watching us,” returned Pepper, and then the chums became silent.

Nothing was said during breakfast, and it was not until the school was assembled for the first session of the day that Josiah Crabtree opened up upon them.

“Last night a most disgraceful thing happened at this academy,” he began. “A number of headstrong pupils locked me out of this building, and attacked me with their guns. I have some information concerning this affair, but I am bound to get at all the details. I, therefore, demand that each pupil tell all he knows of the affair. I shall ask each pupil by roll order. Dale Blackmore, what have you to say?”

“Nothing, sir,” answered Dale, rising.

“Don’t you know anything of this affair?”

“I have nothing to say,” returned the cadet, stiffly.

“Um! Sit down. Harry Blossom.”

“I have nothing to say, sir,” answered Harry, as he arose.

“You know nothing?”

“I have nothing to say.”

“Bart Conners!”

“I have nothing to say, Mr. Crabtree,” answered the captain of Company B.

“Augustus Coulter!”

As Coulter arose, Jack, Pepper, Andy, and a number of others eyed him sharply.

“I – er – I don’t know anything much,” stammered Dan Baxter’s crony. “I was – er – very sleepy last night. I heard some noise, but I didn’t pay any attention.”

“Really?” returned the teacher, sarcastically. “You must have slept very sound, indeed, not to have heard the gun-shots.”

“That wasn’t so bad for Coulter,” whispered Jack to Pepper.

One after another the pupils were questioned, but all had nothing to say. Even Mumps said “Nothing to say!” in a voice that was as stiff as starch.

“He’s afraid of his life,” whispered Andy. “I told him he’d be treated to an icy bath if he said two words.”

“School will come to order!” thundered Josiah Crabtree, after the name of the last cadet had been called out. “I shall inquire into this later on. We will now take up our studies for the day.”

“He’s beaten!” said Jack, and the young major spoke the truth. Try his best Josiah Crabtree could not get at the bottom of the mystery, and at last he had to give it up, for fear of being ridiculed by Captain Putnam and George Strong.

CHAPTER XXIII
BURIED UNDER THE SNOW

One morning the cadets of Putnam Hall awoke to find the ground covered with snow. The storm had started in about midnight, and was still raging, the wind sending the flakes whirling in all directions.

“Hurrah for the snow!” shouted Andy, as he rushed to one of the windows to look out. “Pep, this is glorious!”

“Fine!” came from the Imp. “Oh, but won’t we have a dandy time snowballing each other!”

“And building a snow house,” put in Stuffer. “I love to build a snow house, and after it’s all done, we can put benches inside, and a little table, and have – ”

“Something to eat,” interrupted Jack. “Wasn’t you going to say that, Stuffer?”

“Yes, but – but how did you guess it?”

“Oh, I’ve got a way of knowing things,” returned the young major. “But this is grand and no mistake. Somehow, a good old snowstorm always makes me feel jolly.”

Pepper was at the window, and opening it a few inches he brought in a handful of snow. Gazing around he saw that Henry Lee was still sleeping peacefully.

“Hush!” he whispered, and going up to Henry laid the soft snow directly over his mouth. “Hi, wake up!” he shouted.

Henry started, and opened his eyes. Then he started to speak, when some of the snow dropped into his mouth, and he commenced to splutter.

“Wha – what – who – gug – gug – who put snow in my mouth?” he gasped, at last.

“Wake up, Henry!” sang out Pepper. “Don’t you see how it’s snowing?”

“Oh, well, you needn’t try to fill me up with it, Pep.”

“Get up, you’re missing it.”

Slowly Henry Lee arose and started to dress himself. Then Pepper turned away. Like a flash Henry ran to a window, got some snow, and whacked it on Pepper’s neck, allowing some to run down the Imp’s backbone.

“Great mackerels!” howled Pepper. “Let up! I’ll turn into an icicle!” And he began to dance around.

“It’s all right – you don’t want to miss the benefits of the storm,” said Henry, calmly.

The cadets were soon below, and snowballs flew fast and furious across the campus. All of the boys were happy, and all too soon they had to go in to breakfast and then take up their studies.

“I wish old Crabtree would come outside during recess,” murmured Pepper to Jack. “Maybe we wouldn’t do a thing to him, eh?”

“He’ll know better than to show himself,” answered Jack, and he was right, the teacher kept indoors all day.

But George Strong came out, and took a snowballing in good part. He even threw a few balls himself, showing that his aim was as good as any of the boys.

“He’s the kind of a teacher to have,” was Andy’s comment. “A fellow can’t help but take to him.”

The snow continued all of that day, and by nightfall was nearly a foot deep. It was very blustery, and in some spots the drifts reached up to one’s head.

“This will make traveling bad,” said Jack, and he was right. On the roads in that vicinity horses with their turnouts could scarcely get through.

Poor Peleg Snuggers came in for his full share of the snowballing. As soon as the general utility man appeared, he was bombarded from all sides, and had to run for his life.

“Let up, please let up!” he bawled. “You ain’t fer killin’ an old man, be you?”

“The snow will do you good, Peleg. It will make you grow,” sang out Pepper.

“It will make you handsome,” put in Dave Kearney. “You want to be handsome, don’t you, Peleg?”

“It will teach you how to dance,” came from Harry Blossom. “See, he is dancing already.” And Peleg was dancing, with pain, for a big snowball had just landed in his left ear.

“Oh, dear, I knowed it!” he groaned. “The minit the snow comes, there ain’t no rest fer me. I’m goin’ to resign!” And then he rushed for the barn.

On the following day the sun shone brightly, and this caused the snow to pack down. A dozen of the boys set to work to build a snow house and a fort.

“This is going to be the biggest house yet,” announced Pepper. And he and his chums worked with a will. They kept at it during all of their spare time for two days, and when done the top of the house was fifteen feet high.

“This is a regular snow palace,” cried Andy. “Let us stick a flag on the top.”

“I don’t see how you are going to get it up there,” returned Jack. “If you climb up, now the windows are cut out, you’ll cave in the roof.”

“I’ll be careful,” said Andy, and ran off to get a small flag which they had had on their tent during the brief encampment.

In the meantime, Pepper and Harry Blossom were inside of the snow house, leveling off the flooring with their shovels. Jack went off to get a bench, and Dale to get a stool.

Having procured his flag, Andy crawled up on the top of the house with care and placed it in position. Then he came down and went around to the doorway.

“Our colors are up,” he announced. “Say, it’s all right in here,” he added, looking around. “A fellow could live in here if he had to.”

“Why not, since the Esquimaux live in snow huts,” returned Harry. “It might prove pretty cold, unless a fellow could start up a fire.”

While the friends were talking, Dan Baxter came up, accompanied by Paxton and Coulter.

“Hullo, look at the snow house!” exclaimed the bully. “Let us make one.”

“I guess we can make a better one than this,” growled Paxton.

“Say, let us cave it in on ’em,” whispered Coulter.

“All right,” answered Baxter, eagerly. “How shall we do it?”

“Let’s all run up to the top. Come on!”

Andy had gone into the house, to aid Pepper and Harry, and nobody was near. Looking around, to make sure they were not observed, Baxter, Paxton, and Coulter ran up on the snow house and began to jump up and down. There came a crack, several others, and then with scarcely a sound the top of the snow house went down, burying the boys above up to their knees.

“Get out of this!” exclaimed Baxter, and pulled himself free, followed by his cronies. Soon they were clear of the snow and running across the campus.

It was at that moment that Jack re-appeared, followed by Dale.

“Hullo, the house has caved in!” ejaculated the young major.

“Somebody is under the snow,” came from Dale. “Don’t you see the end of that shovel moving?”

“Whoever is in there will be smothered to death, if we don’t get him out,” went on Jack. “Come, get the snow out of the way as fast as you can.”

The pair set to work, and in a moment more several other cadets were helping them. Then somebody ran off and called George Strong, who came to the spot on the double-quick.

“Yes, yes, we must get them out at once,” said the assistant teacher. “It doesn’t take much to smother a person under the snow. Work lively, boys!”

They did work lively, throwing the snow on all sides. The teacher worked with them.

“Look out that you don’t hurt somebody with your shovels,” said Jack, cautiously.

Soon he caught sight of a foot and then a leg. He began to pull, and George Strong aided him, and up came Harry Blossom, almost black in the face.

“Oh!” gasped the cadet.

“Who is under there?” demanded George Strong.

“Andy Snow and Pepper Ditmore,” answered Harry. “Oh, get them out if you can! If you don’t, they’ll surely be smothered to death!”

“Yes, we must get them out,” came from Jack. “Come on – work harder than ever!”

CHAPTER XXIV
A CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

It was soon noised around the Hall that two of the cadets had been buried alive in the snow, and the whole school gathered around the collapsed snow house, and as many went to work to dig out Pepper and Andy as could get close enough.

On the outside of the crowd stood Baxter, Paxton, and Coulter, and the face of each was pale and full of fear.

“I – I didn’t think it was going to end this way,” muttered Coulter, hoarsely.

“Hush!” returned the bully, fiercely. “Do you want to be found out?”

“That’s it – mum’s the word,” put in Paxton. “If we are found out, it may mean our dismissal from the school.”

“But if one or the other is dead – ” Coulter could not finish the sentence. Baxter clapped a hand over his mouth.

“Shut up, I say!” he cried. “Not a word more.”

The workers had now gotten almost to the bottom of the snow house. Presently they uncovered the form of Pepper. Close beside him lay Andy. Both were partly unconscious.

“Give them air!” ordered George Strong. “Get back, boys!” And then the two sufferers were laid out on the snow and several went to work to revive them.

“Oh, I hope they get over it!” murmured Jack. He could not bear to think of anything serious happening to his chums.

For several minutes all were in doubt. Then Pepper began to move, and Andy gave a faint gasp.

“They are reviving!”

“Thank Heaven for that!” murmured Jack.

A little later the two sufferers sat up and stared around them.

“How do you feel, Pepper?” asked Dale.

“I – I don’t know. The – the house came down on our heads, didn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“I remember now,” came from Andy. “It came down awful sudden like, too.”

“Do you feel anyway ill, boys?” questioned George Strong, kindly.

“I – I’m weak in the knees,” answered Pepper, and Andy said the same.

“We’ll carry them into the Hall,” said Jack, and soon the two sufferers were made comfortable indoors. Andy soon declared he felt as well as ever.

“How did the snow house come to cave in?” questioned Jack, after the excitement had somewhat subsided.

“I give it up,” answered Andy. “The roof came down on us without warning.”

“Some fellows climbed up on the snow house,” put in Bart Conners.

“Climbed up on it?” queried Jack.

“Yes, three fellows. I saw it go down with them. Then the three fellows ran away as fast as they could go.”

“Who were those three fellows?” questioned Andy.

“I can’t tell you. I had been down to the lake looking to see if there was any clear ice for skating. I was too far off to recognize them.”

“Humph! that explains it,” murmured the young major. “The snow house was caved in on purpose.”

“I’d like to know who would be so mean!” exclaimed Andy. “Those chaps must have known that we were inside.”

“Perhaps they didn’t think it would be anything serious,” came from Stuffer, who was near. “Maybe they got scared after it went down, and then they ran away.”

The news that three cadets had caved in the snow house spread, and before the day was over Captain Putnam did his best to locate the offenders. But Baxter, Paxton, and Coulter said nothing, and they were not exposed.

“This was a mean and serious trick to play,” said the captain, on addressing the scholars. “Had it not been for the prompt work done to rescue those under the snow, one or more lives might have been lost. I wish to hear of no more such actions at Putnam Hall. If I learn who is responsible I shall punish that party severely.”

“Phew! we had a narrow escape,” said Baxter, when he and his cronies were safe in their dormitory. “Bart Conners saw us from the lake shore.”

“Yes, but he didn’t recognize us,” added Coulter.

“I hope no one else saw us,” said Paxton.

“I reckon we are safe. But we want to stop talking of it, or somebody may overhear us,” said the bully; and there the subject was dropped.

On the following day the boys had a big snow fight. Company A went into the snow fort to defend it, while Company B did its best to capture the stronghold. Andy and Pepper did not take part, as Captain Putnam thought it best for them to keep quiet. But the other lads went at the fight with a will, and the contest lasted for three hours, when the fort capitulated. During the fight Stuffer was hit a heavy blow in the ear, and Dan Baxter got a black eye from a “soaker.”

“I wish I knew who threw that soaker!” howled the bully of Putnam Hall. “I’d give him something, and don’t you forget it!”

“I think Jack Ruddy threw it,” said Mumps, although he had no reason for such a statement.

During the fort fight Jack and Baxter had had something of a row, and the bully was willing enough to believe what the sneak said. When Jack went down to the gymnasium after the fight was over, the bully followed him.

“You think you’re smart to hit me with a soaker,” he said harshly. “For two pins I’d knock you down.”

Jack was angry, too, and without answering he took two pins from his coat lapel and held them out.

“Do you mean that?” blustered the bully. He had not expected to have his challenge accepted thus quickly.

“I do,” was Jack’s cool answer. “You are itching for a thrashing, Baxter, and if you don’t shut up pretty quick you’ll get it.”

“A fight! A fight!” cried several cadets, and the news spread like wildfire that the young major was going to fight the bully of Putnam Hall.

“Baxter is too heavy for Major Ruddy,” said one.

“Jack will be knocked out clean and clear.”

“I don’t know about that. Jack can do some pretty good bag-punching,” said another, which was true.

“Don’t fight here, Jack,” whispered Dale, who was present. “You are sure to be found out, and then there will be a big row. Baxter wouldn’t like anything better than to see you lose your majorship.”

“But I am not going to take his insults, Dale,” returned Jack.

“Then fight some other place. I know a good spot. Down back of the bathing houses. There is a clear space there.”

“Are you going to fight?” blustered Baxter, doubling up his fists.

“If you wish to, Baxter.”

“But not here,” broke in Dale. “Come on back of the bathing houses.”

“Yes, yes, that’s a good spot!” came from several. “Come on!” And they hurried from the gymnasium.

“I’d just as soon fight here,” said the bully.

“Because you have nothing to lose by being found out,” retorted Dale. “Come on – unless you are afraid.” And he led Jack out of the building.

“I won’t – ” began Baxter.

“Don’t be a quitter, Baxter!” cried several. “Come on – unless you really are afraid.”

“I’m afraid of nobody in this school!” roared Baxter. “I’ll fight him here or anywhere he wants. Just you see me do him up in no time!”

“Talk is cheap,” said Stuffer, who had come up. “After Jack is down and out I’ll believe you, not before.”

The crowd was soon at a convenient spot behind the bathing houses. Here the wind had swept the snow from the ground. The word had circulated thoroughly, and fully fifty cadets were assembled to see the fight.

“Watch him closely, Jack!” whispered Andy. “He may try to play you foul.”

“I’ll be on my guard,” answered the young major.

Each of the contestants took off his coat, and likewise his collar. Then they faced each other; and the all-important fight was on.