CHAPTER XXI HOW THE CADETS RAN AWAY
While the uproar below was still in progress, Jack and Pepper climbeddown to the dormitory, and there the young major told of all that hadoccurred since his departure.
“Old Crabtree and Pluxton Cuddle are carrying matters with a high hand,”he went on, “and we have decided to stand it no longer.”
“Well, we about reached the same conclusion here,” said Andy. “Pepperwas going to try to find you, and then we were going to see if wecouldn’t get the whole crowd to run away.”
“I hope none of the fellows who were in the guardroom with me arecaptured,” continued Jack. “If Crabtree or Cuddle laid his hands onanyone it will go hard with that cadet, I know.”
The guards had all gone below, so the cadets in the dormitories wereleft to themselves. They crowded to the various windows and soon espiedBob Grenwood, Reff Ritter and two others on the road beyond the campus.As soon as the runaway cadets saw that they were noticed they raisedtheir hands and beckoned for those left behind to join them. At this thecadets in the windows nodded vigorously. And so the plan to run awayfrom Putnam Hall grew rapidly.
“I see two of the guards going after those cadets,” said one student whochanced to have a field glass. “But I doubt if they catch our fellows.”
“It will soon be night,” said Dale. “In the darkness getting away oughtto be easy.”
“Provided the teachers don’t get a stronger guard,” answered Stuffer.“Now they are on the warpath there is no telling how far they will go. Iexpect to see one of the cadets beheaded next.”
“Or made to learn ten pages of Latin backward,” put in Joe Nelson, andthis remark caused everybody to laugh.
“If we are going to run away, we want some definite plan of action,”said Jack. “I’ve got my own idea, but I don’t know if it will suit therest.”
“What is the plan?” asked several.
“That we get away as best we can, and, if possible, get some tents andrations, too. If we can’t get the rations from the pantry and thestorehouse, get them from the storekeepers of Cedarville. I am sure wecan raise some money, and we can get trust for the rest. Then we can gooff and establish a regular camp until we hear from Captain Putnam.”
This plan met with instant favor, and the idea was quickly circulated tosome of the other dormitories. Fully three-quarters of the cadets agreedto run away, if the chance offered. The others, including Mumps andBilly Sabine, were too timid and said they would not go.
Of the lads who had broken out of the guardroom only one was capturedand that was Frank Barringer. He and Josiah Crabtree had a warmdiscussion after the capture, and what Barringer said made the teachersomewhat nervous.
“You are carrying matters with a high hand, Mr. Crabtree, and whenCaptain Putnam comes back I feel certain he will not uphold you,” saidBarringer.
“We must have order,” grumbled the teacher.
“That is true, but you must try to get it in the right way. To treat thecadets as if they were hoodlums is not the right way.”
“We know what we are doing,” interposed Pluxton Cuddle. “You boys eattoo much, and——”
“Mr. Cuddle, I am talking to Mr. Crabtree,” said Barringer, withdignity. “He is the oldest teacher in the Hall, and he is responsiblefor what is happening.”
“I am responsible for what happened in the classrooms,” said JosiahCrabtree, quickly. “The outside care of the students was left to Mr.Cuddle.”
“And I know what I am doing,” said that individual, pompously. “I amwilling to assume all responsibility, and I want no advice from you.”
“All right—we’ll wait till Captain Putnam gets back,” said Frank; andthere the discussion ended. But the talk made Josiah Crabtree nervousand after that he left the management of affairs largely in PluxtonCuddle’s hands. Perhaps he was “casting an anchor to windward,” and hehad need to, as later events proved.
Before the excitement attending the escape from the guardroom came to anend, it was growing dark. When it was time for supper the door to eachdormitory was suddenly thrust open and a basket was set inside,containing bread and butter and a tin pail full of milk, with a glass.
“Hello, they have given up the idea of starving us!” cried Dale.
“Huh! Nothing but bread and butter!” grumbled Stuffer. “I’m glad some ofthat other grub is left.”
“They are afraid to let us go without food,” said Andy. “Perhaps theythink we’ll grow desperate on empty stomachs and break down the doorsand create trouble generally.”
“’Tis a great shame old Crabtree is so pig-headed,” observed Emerald. “Ishall be greatly surprised if the captain is afther upholdin’ him init.”
While it was growing dark the boys completed, as far as they could,their plans for leaving Putnam Hall. Of course, much depended on chanceand there was considerable fear that their actions might fail. Word wascirculated that the movement should commence at exactly midnight, and inthe meanwhile every cadet should pretend to go to sleep.
Fortunately for the boys, nature aided them in their undertaking. Heavyclouds obscured the sky, making it very dark outside of the school. Froma distance came the low rumble of thunder, drowning out many othersounds.
“I hope it doesn’t rain,” said Pepper.
“I don’t think it will,” said Jack. “That storm is passing off to thewestward.” And he was right, hardly a drop of rain fell in the vicinityof the lake.
A heavy rope had been procured and this was strung along the windows ofthe various dormitories and by its aid many of the cadets climbed intothe room occupied by Jack and his chums. Then Andy went through thetrunk room to the upper hall and from thence, by a ladder, to the roof.From that point of vantage he let down the rope to the window of adormitory on the other side of the building. To the end of the rope wasa note reading as follows:
“Use this to get down to the ground. Wait until we make a noise down by the gym., to attract the guards. Meet us at the old Bailey barn. Bring camping outfit with you, if possible.
“The Putnam Hall Rebels.”
To deceive the guards in the hallways, many of the cadets pretended togo to bed about eleven o’clock.
“Might as well get a good night’s rest,” said Jack loudly. “We can’t doanything more until morning.”
“Right you are,” answered Bart Conners, in an equally loud voice. “Callit off, boys, and get to bed.” And this ruse was worked in everydormitory from which the cadets hoped to escape. It deceived the guardscompletely, and when Pluxton Cuddle came up to learn how matters wereprogressing he was informed that the cadets had retired.
At one minute after twelve the boys arose from the beds upon which theyhad been resting, and with their shoes and various bundles in theirhands crawled silently through the hole in the ceiling to the trunk roomabove. Then, with Jack to lead them, they tiptoed their way through theback hall and down the rear stairs, and then to the kitchen. Here theback door was opened, and ten of the lads went out and in the directionof the barn and storehouse. This detail was led by Andy.
“We want at least ten tents,” said the acrobatic youth. “And as muchfood as we can lug along.”
“Say, why can’t we get a horse and wagon?” suggested Stuffer, who hatedto carry anything.
“Maybe we can—if Jack is willing. But get out the tents and foodfirst—so we can dust with them if there is any alarm.”
“We might take to the boats,” said Dale.
“No, Jack said that wouldn’t be safe. Old Crabtree would hire a steamtug and come after us in no time. But say, I’ll tell you what we cando—hide the boats in the creek! That will throw them off the scent.”
In the storehouse were packed a number of army tents, to be used whenthe cadets went out on the annual encampment. Here were also boxes andbarrels of provisions, for use in the school. Making certain nobody wasaround, the boys shut the
door, pinned some empty potato bags over thewindows, and lighted a lantern. Then, with great rapidity, they got outsome of the tents, and in them rolled up various kinds of rations,beans, bacon, dried fish, coffee, sugar, butter, crackers and so forth.They also took along a small sack of potatoes and another of apples.Then they got out a camp cook stove, and some tinware, including cupsand plates, and pots, kettles and frying pans.
“We can’t carry all this,” said Dale, in dismay. “We’ll simply have toget a horse and wagon.”
“Very well then, we’ll do it,” said Andy. “But it is running an extrarisk.”