CHAPTER VII
PEPPER MAKES A DISCOVERY
"You do not--er--wish me present?" came rather awkwardly from JosiahCrabtree.
"Oh, that won't matter, Mr. Crabtree," answered George Strong. "I didnot desire any of the cadets present, that was all."
"I do not care to intrude----" commenced the dictatorial teacher.
"As you please," answered Mr. Strong, with a shrug of his shoulders.
At first Josiah Crabtree was inclined to stand on his dignity and walkoff, but his curiosity got the better of him and he followed CaptainPutnam and George Strong into another office.
"I went after Coulter and Paxton, as you directed me," said the secondassistant teacher, when they were alone, and the door had been closed."At first I could not find them, but at last I located Paxton and thenCoulter. Where do you suppose they were?"
"I have no idea," answered Captain Putnam.
"Paxton was under the window of the office, listening to all that wasgoing on. He was partly hidden behind a bush, so that nobody might seehim."
"Indeed! That is not to his credit. And Coulter?"
"Coulter was at another window, talking to Ritter. Ritter was giving himsome instructions, and as I came up unnoticed I heard Ritter say, 'Now,don't make a mess of it. Tell the story just as I told it, and be sureto stick to it that Ruddy hit me first, and tell Nick to stick to that,too.' Those were his very words."
"Is it possible! And what did Coulter say?"
"He promised to tell the story as Ritter wanted it, and said he wouldtell Paxton also to say that Ruddy struck the first blow."
"Then he virtually admitted that he struck the first blow himself."
"I should judge so, from his talk."
"Major Ruddy said he did."
"But Ruddy insulted him by talking of Mr. Ritter's losses----" beganJosiah Crabtree.
"We'll look into that, Mr. Crabtree. Is that all, Mr. Strong?"
"No, I waited until Coulter joined Paxton. The two walked out on thecampus, so I didn't catch what they said. I told them to follow me, andthey are now out in the hall."
"I will listen to what each of them has to say--and then I will examineCentury and Ditmore again."
Coulter was called into the main office and asked a great number ofquestions. Captain Putnam was very stern, and soon had the cadet badlytwisted in his statements. Then Paxton was told to come in, and on beingquestioned he became more confused even than Coulter. Then both wereconfronted by George Strong, and at last they virtually admitted thatRitter had struck the first blow, and that they knew nothing of thequarrel previous to that time.
"You may go," said Captain Putnam, at length. "Your efforts to shieldRitter do you no credit." And Coulter and Paxton slunk out of the officesilently and much worried over the thought of what punishment they mightreceive for trying to deceive the master of the Hall.
After that Pepper and Fred were again interviewed and cross-questioned.But they stuck to their original story, and as that was the story toldby Jack, Captain Putnam felt that it must be true.
"You may go," said the captain, presently.
"Have I got to go back to the dormitory?" queried Pepper.
"No, you may join the other cadets," answered the head of the school.
"But, sir----" commenced Josiah Crabtree.
"I do not see as he merits punishment, Mr. Crabtree," said the captain,coldly. "We will let it pass." And he spoke so firmly that thedictatorial teacher said no more on the subject.
When Jack was again called into the presence of the teachers it must beadmitted that he was a good deal worried. There was a strict rule atPutnam Hall against fighting, and that rule had been violated by him.Yet he felt he had been justified.
"Major Ruddy, I have examined several witnesses to this affair and Ifind that your story of the occurrence is substantially correct," beganthe head of the school. "Ritter struck the first blow."
"He did. He slapped me in the face. That angered me so greatly that Ipitched into him without thinking twice. It was all done in a fewseconds. But I guess I'd do it again," added Jack. "I wouldn't letanybody slap me without getting back at him. I guess if I did that I'dmake a mighty poor soldier."
At these words Captain Putnam's face became a study. He had been on thepoint of reading Jack a stern lecture on the disgrace of breaking theschool rules, but now he paused. When at West Point a certain upperclassman had once pulled his nose and, regardless of consequences, hehad knocked the fellow down and dragged him by the heels through thedirt of the road. He had considered himself justified in his actions,and his whole class has stood by him. That being so, he did not have itin his heart to punish Jack, or even to find fault with him. Yet thediscipline of the school must be maintained.
"Major Ruddy, do you know what the first duty of a soldier is?" heasked, but his voice was soft and easy.
"Yes, sir; to obey orders."
"Exactly."
"But there is no rule about what to do if a fellow slaps your face,"added Jack, quickly.
"That is true." Captain Putnam had to turn away to conceal a suddensmile. "And, in one way, let me say I do not blame you for what you did,especially as you acted on the spur of the moment. But fighting muststop. If I dismiss this case against you, will you promise to leaveRitter alone in the future?"
"I will if he leaves me alone. If he attacks me, I'll defend myself tothe best of my ability."
"He won't attack you--I'll see to that," answered the captain, grimly."You may go. But remember, no more fighting."
"Thank you, sir," answered Jack, and lost no time in leaving the office.
"Well, how did you make out?" questioned Pepper, eagerly, when Jackjoined him on the campus.
"Case dismissed, Pep."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Hurrah! That's the best news yet. I was in fear that you would at leastbe cut off from your holidays."
"What about Ritter?" asked Fred.
"I don't know what Captain Putnam is going to do with him."
The fight and the doings in the office had put Jack out of the notion oftaking a sail, and the crowd of boys took a walk instead, that lasteduntil it was time for the evening parade.
"Wonder if Ritter will show up for drill?" came from Dale.
"We'll know soon," answered Jack.
In a few minutes the drums commenced to roll and out on the paradeground poured the cadets and their officers. Jack had buckled on hissword, and so had Henry Lee and Bart Conners. The cadets had their guns,that is all but the band, who carried their drums and fifes, and thecolor sergeants, who carried Old Glory and the Putnam Hall banner.
"Battalion, attention!" came firmly from Major Jack Ruddy, and all theyoung soldiers stiffened up in their places.
He ran his eyes over the two companies, to see that every cadet was"toeing the mark." He did not see Reff Ritter.
"Present arms! Carry arms! Shoulder arms!" came the various commands,and the cadets made the movements with their guns. The drilling was sowell done that Captain Putnam, who always looked on, nodded in approval.
"By column of fours, forward march!" came the next command, and then thedrums struck up once more, the fifes joined in, and four abreast thecadets moved off, down the parade ground. They marched up and downseveral times, and executed various movements, and then marched into themess-hall, or dining-room, put away their guns, and took their seats.
"Ritter isn't here," whispered Pepper to Jack.
"So I see," was the reply.
"I'll bet he caught it from Captain Putnam," put in Dale.
"Silence at the table!" came harshly from Josiah Crabtree. "I want lesstalking at meals!"
"My, but he's a cheerful beggar!" muttered Dale.
"Imagine him at the head of the school," observed Pepper.
"Ditmore, did you hear me?" snarled the teacher. "I want you to keepquiet."
"All right, Mr. Crabtree; sorry I spoke," answered The Imp, cheerfully.
"Then remember
to keep your mouth closed after this."
"Ahem! how am I to eat if I keep my mouth closed?" asked Pepper,innocently.
"Ha! I want none of your jokes, Ditmore! Leave the table!" thunderedJosiah Crabtree.
"I'm not through yet."
"Never mind, leave the table at once!" And the teacher glared at Pepperas if to eat him up.
"Just my luck!" muttered The Imp, and got up.
"Here's a sandwich for you," whispered Dale, who sat near, and he passedover two slices of bread with some cold meat between.
"And here's a piece of cake," added Jack, and slid it along, under theedge of the table. Then Pepper got up and left the room. He did not knowwhere to go and so walked slowly in the direction of the boathouse.
As he neared the building, he saw a boy come out of the structure andhurry across the float to where the _Alice_ and the _Ajax_ were tiedup. The boy was Reff Ritter.
The bully of the school was in a great rage. Captain Putnam had givenhim a stern lecture and told him if he did not behave in the future hewould be dismissed from the school. The captain had also cut him offfrom all holidays up to Christmas, and added that he must expect to takeno part in Putnam Hall athletics. The latter was the hardest blow ofall, for Ritter had hoped that Fall to make the football team.
"Now, what is he up to?" Pepper asked himself, and stuffing the napkinthat held the cake and sandwich into his pocket, he moved forward on arun.
Reff Ritter had crossed the float and now he stood beside the sloop thatwas Jack's property. As Pepper came closer he saw that the bully held anax in his hand, the handle shoved up the sleeve of his jacket.
"He is up to no good," thought Pepper. "I'll watch him and see what hedoes."
Pepper stepped out of sight behind the boathouse. Looking through awindow and a door, he saw Ritter walk up and down the float. Evidentlythe bully wanted to make certain that he was not being observed. Then,with a swift movement, he leaped aboard the sloop and crouched down outof sight.
"Guess it's time I got busy!" muttered Pepper to himself, and ran aroundthe boathouse and out on the float. He was soon at the side of the_Alice_. He heard a blow sound out. Ritter was using the ax, apparentlyin an endeavor to chop a hole in the bottom of the sloop!
"Of all the mean things!" muttered Pepper to himself. "I'll soon stopthat!" And he made a leap over the guard-rail of the craft. The ax wasraised for another blow, but before it could be delivered, Pepper caughtthe bully by the shoulders and sent him sprawling on his back.