CHAPTER XXX A LUCKY ESCAPE--CONCLUSION
"Those men must be crazy!" cried Jack.
"I believe both of them are as mad as March hares," returned CaptainPutnam.
He tried the door, to find it locked. Putting his shoulder to the barrierhe burst it open, and the whole party stormed into the shanty.
"Oh, Captain Putnam!" cried George Strong, joyfully. "I am very glad thatyou have come."
"Put down that pistol!" ordered the master of the Hall, sternly, andlooking the man named Bart straight in the eyes. "Put it down, I say!"
The man hesitated an instant, and then allowed the weapon to drop at hisside.
"I wasn't going to shoot anybody," he said, humbly.
"You had better give me the weapon," went on Captain Putnam, and wrenchedit from the man's grasp.
"Ha! they are attacking us!" shouted the other man. "Bart, we must fightfor it!" And with a wild spring he leaped upon Jack, and caught the youngmajor by the throat.
"Le--let up!" gasped Jack, and then he could say no more, for his windwas completely cut off. Then the other man began to fight, so that thecaptain and the blacksmith had their hands full trying to subdue him.
Seeing Jack's predicament, Pepper, Andy, and Dale rushed at the fellowcalled Paul and dragged him backward. But he would not let go his holdupon the young major, and Pepper hit him over the wrist with the stick.Then the man's hand dropped, and Jack staggered back.
"We must make him a prisoner!" cried Andy, and they caught the man andheld him, while Jack got a rope from the sleigh. Soon the other man wasalso bound. George Strong had had his hands tied behind him, and he wasquickly released.
"You do not know how thankful I am that you came," said the assistant,warmly. "I--I imagine things were getting black for me."
"Let me go!" thundered the man called Bart. "I want my million dollars!"And he glared wildly at George Strong and at the others.
"Do you know these men at all?" questioned Captain Putnam.
"I do, sir. I am sorry to say they are distant relatives of mine--thirdcousins. Both of them used to be rich, but they went into an oilspeculation, and it failed, and they lost almost all of their money. Thatseemed to turn their heads, and somehow they got a notion that I washolding back a family treasure from them, a treasure they said was worthone or two million dollars."
"Is there such a treasure?" asked Jack, curiously.
"I don't think so, although the story is told in our family that one ofmy ancestors, during the Revolution, buried a pot of gold to keep theEnglish soldiers from getting it. But the amount could not have beenanything like a million."
"Those men were around the Hall a number of times," said Jack. "They werethe mysterious fellows I mentioned a long time ago."
"Yes, they came to see me on the sly if they could. I believe, had theygotten the chance, they would have carried me off in their sloop."
"They ought to be put in an asylum," said Captain Putnam. "It is not safeto allow them their liberty."
"With your permission. I'll turn them over to some of my relatives in theWest," answered George Strong. "I know they can manage them."
"As you please--but keep them away from the Hall in the future."
At first the two prisoners were furious, but when their fury subsidedthey became very humble, and both began to cry.
"We wanted only our rights," whined one. "If I had a million dollars, Icould take an air-ship to the North Pole or the moon, or anywhere."
"He is certainly mad," said Andy. "What a dreadful condition to be in."
Late in the day the prisoners were taken to Cedarville, and George Strongtelegraphed for a relative to come at once and take charge of them.
"They may be crazy, but they told me something which I think may betrue," said the assistant teacher to the boys. "They said they werewatching around the school at the time you had the big snow house, andthey saw three cadets run up on top and cave it in. I questioned them,and I am almost certain Coulter was one of the boys and Baxter another."
"It would be just like that crowd," exclaimed Pepper, bitterly. "IfBaxter and Coulter were in it the other fellow must have been Paxton orMumps,--I mean Fenwick, sir."
"They said they were all big boys."
"Then it must have been Paxton. That crowd always hangs together formischief."
As soon as they arrived at the Hall, Pepper tried to locate the bully andhis chums. The only cadet he could find of the crowd was Coulter.
"So, Coulter, it was you who helped to cave in that snow house, eh?" hesaid, catching the cadet by the arm.
"Who--er--told you," stammered Coulter.
"Oh, don't deny it."
"I'm not denying it," was the bold reply. "What are you going to do aboutit?"
"That!" cried Pepper, and hit Coulter a stinging blow in the mouth, whichloosened two front teeth. Then a regular fight ensued, and Coulter wasbadly whipped. Paxton also received a thrashing at the hands of Andy,while Baxter only escaped punishment by keeping out of sight exceptingduring school hours.
"Now, maybe, they'll keep their distance for a while," said Pepper. Buthe was mistaken, the bully of the Hall and his cronies were not subdued,and what they did in retaliation will be told in another volume, to becalled "The Putnam Hall Rivals; or, Fun and Sport Afloat and Ashore." Inthis book we will meet all of our friends once more, in games andadventures as exciting as any of the past.
George Strong felt much relieved when a relative from the West came totake the two crazy men away.
"I never want to see them again," said the assistant teacher. But he didsee them, and they did their best to cause him no end of trouble.
A week after the rescue of George Strong some of the cadets learned thatCaptain Putnam's birthday was at hand. They asked the master of the Hallif they could celebrate, and he gave the desired permission. Money wasraised among the cadets to present the captain with a fine set ofencyclopedias, and of this gift Captain Putnam was justly proud.
"All things considered, you are doing very well," said the master to hispupils. "I am proud of you, and happy to think that Putnam Hall isearning such a good reputation for itself."
"I shouldn't want to go to a better school," said Jack. "It just suits meexactly."
"So say I," came from Pepper. "Of course we might do without Baxter andthat crowd----"
"Every school seems to have its bully," put in Andy. "All we can do is tomake him keep his place."
"Don't bother with Baxter!" broke in Dale. "Let us enjoy ourselves."
Just then Stuffer burst into the dormitory, his face wreathed in smiles.
"Come to the mess-hall!" he called out. "Such a spread! I'm going to eatthe meal of my life!"
"That settles it," laughed Jack. "Hurry up, all of you. If Stuffer getsthere first, there will be nothing left!"
And they rushed down the stairs pell-mell; and here let us leave them andsay good-bye.
THE END
The Famous Rover Boys Series
By ARTHUR W. WINFIELD Each volume is hailed with delight by boys and girls everywhere 12mo. Cloth. Handsomely printed and illustrated. Price, 60 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.
THE ROVER BOYS DOWN EAST Or, The Struggle for the Stanhope Fortune Old enemies try again to injure our friends.
THE ROVER BOYS AT COLLEGE Or, The Right Road and the Wrong Brimming over with good nature and excitement.
THE ROVER BOYS ON TREASURE ISLE Or, The Strange Cruise of the Steam Yacht A search for treasure; a particularly fascinating volume.
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE FARM Or, The Last Days at Putnam Hall The boys find a mysterious cave used by freight thieves.
THE ROVER BOYS IN SOUTHERN WATERS Or, The Deserted Steam Yacht A trip to the coast of Florida.
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS Or, The Mystery of Red Rock Ranc
h Relates adventures on the mighty Mississippi River.
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER Or, The Search for the Missing Houseboat The Ohio River is the theme of this spirited story.
THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP Or, The Rivals of Pine Island At the annual school encampment.
THE ROVER BOYS ON LAND AND SEA Or, The Crusoes of Seven Islands Full of strange and surprising adventures.
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE MOUNTAINS Or, A Hunt for Fame and Fortune The boys in the Adirondacks at a Winter camp.
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES Or, The Secret of the Island Cave A story of a remarkable Summer outing; full of fun.
THE ROVER BOYS OUT WEST Or, The Search for a Lost Mine A graphic description of the mines of the great Rockies.
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE JUNGLE Or, Stirring Adventures in Africa The boys journey to the Dark Continent in search of their father.
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN Or, A Chase for a Fortune From school to the Atlantic Ocean.
THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL Or, The Cadets of Putnam Hall The doings of Dick, Tom, and Sam Rover.
The Rise in Life Series
By Horatio Alger, Jr.
These are Copyrighted Stories which cannot be obtained elsewhere. Theyare the stories last written by this famous author.
12mo. Handsomely printed and illustrated. Bound in cloth, stamped incolored inks.
Price. 40 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.
THE YOUNG BOOK AGENT Or, Frank Hardy's Road to Success
A plain but uncommonly interesting tale of everyday life, describing the ups and downs of a boy book-agent.
FROM FARM TO FORTUNE: Or, Nat Nason's Strange Experience
Nat was a poor country lad. Work on the farm was hard, and after a quarrel with his uncle, with whom he resided, he struck out for himself.
OUT FOR BUSINESS: Or, Robert Frost's Strange Career
Relates the adventures of a country boy who is compelled to leave home and seek his fortune in the great world at large. How he wins success we must leave to the reader to discover.
FALLING IN WITH FORTUNE Or, The Experiences of a Young Secretary
This is a companion tale to "Out for Business," but complete in itself, and tells of the further doings of Robert Frost as private secretary.
YOUNG CAPTAIN JACK: Or, The Son of a Soldier
The scene is laid in the South during the Civil War, and the hero is a waif who was cast up by the sea and adopted by a rich Southern planter.
NELSON THE NEWSBOY: Or, Afloat in New York
Mr. Alger is always at his best in the portrayal of life in New York City, and this story is among the best he has given our young readers.
LOST AT SEA: Or, Robert Roscoe's Strange Cruise
A sea story of uncommon interest. The hero falls in with a strange derelict--a ship given over to the wild animals of a menagerie.
JERRY, THE BACKWOODS BOY Or, The Parkhurst Treasure
Depicts life on a farm of New York State. The mystery of the treasure will fascinate every boy. Jerry is a character well worth knowing.
RANDY OF THE RIVER Or, The Adventures of a Young Deckhand
Life on a river steamboat is not so romantic as some young people may imagine. There is hard work, and plenty of it, and the remuneration is not of the best. But Randy Thompson wanted work and took what was offered. His success in the end was well deserved, and perhaps the lesson his doings teach will not be lost upon those who peruse these pages.
GROSSET & DUNLAP, . NEW YORK
* * * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Obvious typographical errors were corrected without note.
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends