CHAPTER XXX
TURNING A NEW LEAF--CONCLUSION
The night was a long one for Dick Rover and he was glad when the stormcleared away and the first streaks of dawn began to show themselves inthe eastern sky.
Arnold Baxter had recovered consciousness, but was evidently in greatpain, for he moaned almost constantly. Dick was willing to aid thesufferer, yet could do little or nothing.
"Tell me the way to our camp and I will get help," said Dick at last.And Arnold Baxter gave him the directions as best he could.
"I must have a doctor," whispered the man hoarsely. "If not, I'llsurely die. And I don't want to die yet, Rover!"
As well as he was able, Dick set off for the lake shore and then beganto move in the direction of Bass Island.
He had not gone very far when he heard somebody calling his name.
"Rover! Dick Rover!" was the cry. "Dick Rover!"
"It must be a searching party," he thought, and he was right. The partycontained Tom and Sam, and Mr. Strong, and they said that two otherparties were out, one headed by Captain Putnam and the other by anassistant.
"Where in the world have you been?" asked Tom. "We have been scaredalmost to death over your absence."
"It's a long story," answered Dick. "What I want just now is a doctorand a lot of salve. Just look at me, will you?"
"Blisters!" ejaculated Sam. "Where did you get those?"
"In a fire that nearly burnt Arnold Baxter to death. I want the doctorfor him."
And then Dick had to tell the particulars of how he had run across thecottage in the woods and of what had followed.
"And Dan Baxter is here!" ejaculated Tom. "It doesn't seem possible."
"He ought to be locked up," put in Sam.
It was decided by Mr. Strong that Arnold Baxter should be removed tothe camp on a stretcher, and four boys, including Sam and Tom,volunteered for the service. In the meantime Dick went to camp, toattend to his hurts, and a cadet was sent to Oakville for a doctor.
"Hullo, here comes Rover!" whispered Lew Flapp to Pender, as Dickappeared. "Wonder what sort of a story he will have to tell?"
"One thing is certain, we made a mess of our plans," muttered Pender.
"Perhaps Rover won't give us away," put in Rockley hopefully.
On returning to camp word had been sent to Captain Putnam that DickRover was at the den in a condition not fit to be seen.
Mr. Strong and another teacher had gone to the place mentioned in theanonymous communication only to find the den empty.
A general alarm was sent out, and the search for the missing captain ofCompany A was begun as recorded. Captain Putnam also began toinvestigate on his private account, with results that were assurprising as they were dismaying. He learned the several cadets hadleft camp early in the night and among them Ben Hurdy, Lew Flapp,Pender, and Jackson. Without delay he summoned Ben Hurdy to his privatetent and made the young cadet undergo a strict cross-examination.
At first Hurdy would not talk, but soon he became frightened and brokedown utterly. He told of the plot against Dick, and of how Flapp andthe others had carried it out.
"I didn't want to go into it," he whined. "But Flapp said he wouldthrash me if I didn't do my share. They wanted to get square withCaptain Rover because he had won at the athletic contests and at thedrill."
"I see," said Captain Putnam grimly, and then he ordered Ben Hurdy tokeep absolutely silent until called on to speak. "If you say a word nowI'll dismiss you at once," he concluded.
When Dick arrived Captain Putnam saw to it that his blisters weredressed with care, and then he asked the eldest Rover to tell his wholestory.
"I do not know as I can do that, Captain Putnam," said the youngcaptain, blushing. "I don't care to become a tale-bearer."
"Did you leave camp of your own free will, Rover?"
"I did not, sir."
"You were carried away to be hazed, then?"
"Yes, sir; but I would prefer not to speak of that part of myadventures."
"Those who carried you off drugged you."
"How do you know that?" asked Dick, in surprise.
"Never mind that now, Rover. Did they drug you or not?"
"No, sir."
"What!"
"They tried to drug me, but I threw the liquor over my shoulder whenthey weren't looking."
"Oh, I see," and Captain Putnam smiled. "They tried to trick you andyou ended by tricking them, is that it?"
"That's about the size of it, sir. They thought I was in a stupor whenthey left me, but as soon as they were gone I began to shift formyself. But I don't understand how you know about this, CaptainPutnam."
"One of the party to this outrage has confessed, so I know all aboutit, Rover. The leader, I believe, was Lew Flapp, and his mainsupporters were Pender, Rockley, and Jackson."
To this Dick did not say a word.
"I know you would speak if I were accusing anybody wrongly, Rover. Inone way I can appreciate your silence. But this affair was carried toofar. It was not an ordinary hazing. The plot was one to blast yourhonest name and bring you into disgrace. Such things cannot bepermitted at any school of which I am the head. I will hear the rest ofyour strange tale."
In as few words as possible Dick told how he had wandered around untilhe had reached the cottage, and what had happened afterward.
"It was assuredly a remarkable adventure," said Captain Putnam. "Ithought I had about seen the last of Daniel Baxter."
"Perhaps Dan Baxter will keep shady when he finds out what hashappened."
"Perhaps. And you think Arnold Baxter is in a bad way?"
"Yes, sir. He came pretty close to being burnt up."
"We will do our best for him, and notify the authorities withoutdelay."
An hour later the disabled man was brought into camp and the doctorcame to attend him.
Under the physician's directions Arnold Baxter was made fairlycomfortable in one of the tents of the camp.
"He is in a bad way," said the doctor. "He will probably recover, butit will take weeks and perhaps months."
Arnold Baxter asked for Dick and the eldest Rover went in to see him.
"I--I want to thank you for what you did, Rover," said the criminal in alow voice. "It--it was noble, very noble. I shan't forget it."
"Mr. Baxter, why don't you try to turn over a new leaf?" questionedDick. "Haven't you found out that it doesn't pay to be bad?"
"Yes, I have found it out, and the lesson has been dearly bought," saidArnold Baxter with a sigh. "In the future I shall try to--to do better.Here, I want you to give these to your father, and tell him I--I amsorry that I visited your house some time ago," went on the disabledman.
He gave Dick an envelope containing some pawn tickets which called forthe things stolen from the Rover homestead, and also a pocketbook withsome money in it.
"That is all I have left of the cash," he said. "I'm sorry I haven'tevery cent of it. Tell him he can do as he pleases about me. I deserveno pity."
"I think he'd like to see you turn over a new leaf, too. He hates tosee people on the downward path, Mr. Baxter."
"You are a good boy, Dick Rover. I am sorry that my son Dan isn't likeyou. Has he been caught yet?"
"I believe not."
"If he is caught, let me know," concluded Arnold Baxter, and there thetalk ended.
"I imagine he really intends to turn over a new leaf," said Dick to Tomand Sam, a little later.
"Hope he does," replied Tom.
"So do I," added Sam.