CHAPTER XIV
THE ELECTION
Dick was seen to stagger, and it was no wonder, for Ray Dutton was nolight weight.
"Let me help you!" shouted Paul, as he ran toward his chum. He graspedthe limp legs of the unconscious cadet, while Dick carried theshoulders, and together they hastened on.
"Back! Get back!" cried Dick again, as his schoolmates crowded up aroundhim and Paul. "The explosion will come any minute! There's fire inthere!"
"Back this instant, every one of you! You can't do anything more!" criedColonel Masterly sternly, and the boys knew it was now time to obey.Those holding the hose lines dropped them, and the crowd offire-fighters surged back.
"Is Dutton dead?" gasped Paul.
"Not dead--and not hurt much, I hope," answered Dick. "He was overcomeby the powder fumes--there was a little explosion almost as soon as hegot inside--some sparks must have blown in the window. But he savedGrit."
"And you saved him."
"Come on, we'd better get farther back!" cried the young millionaire asPaul hesitated, and was about to lay Dutton down. "The force of itwill----"
His voice was drowned in a detonating report, and the darkness of thenight was lighted by an intense glare. The powder house had blown up,and the wind of the concussion knocked down Paul and Dick in a heap withthe unconscious Dutton. Other cadets who had not run far enough backwere also bowled over.
Then came intense blackness, following the bright flash and this wassucceeded by the patter of small missiles tossed into the air by theforce of the powder.
"Jove, I hope none of the chunks of concrete come this way!" cried Paulas he got up. "Are you hurt, Dick?"
"Not a bit of it. Look at Dutton though."
"He doesn't seem to be," answered Paul, as he looked at the unconsciouscadet as well as he could in the dim light that came from a fewscattered and burning embers blown here and there by the explosion.
"Oh--I'm--I'm all right," gasped Dutton, as he slowly sat up. "Whathappened?"
"My it sounds good to hear you speak again!" cried Dick, as he put hisarms around his friend and assisted him to arise. "You were overcome inthere when you went in to get Grit, and I took you out. Now the wholething has gone up, but it doesn't seem to have done much damage."
Scores of cadets now crowded around the three lads. The rain of missileshad ceased, and quick inquiries showed that beyond a few scratches orbruises no one was seriously hurt. The heavy concrete side of the wallsof the powder house had merely toppled outward, almost in four solidpieces, and it was only the light wooden roof, purposely made so, thathad been much shattered. It was the fragments of this that had raineddown.
The fire was effectually scattered by the explosion and what littleremained was quickly extinguished by the janitors with pails of water,and one hose line. The other had been blown apart and was useless.
Colonel Masterly and the other instructors went about among the lads,making sure that none needed hospital treatment. They came to whereDick, Paul and Ray stood.
"Hamilton, let me congratulate you on your pluck and daring in savingyour comrade's life," said the colonel gravely, as he shook hands withDick in the light of several lanterns that had been brought up. "It wasa brave act."
"Well, he saved Grit, and it was the only way I could pay him back,"replied our hero simply, as he fondled the dog that leaped up on himwith demonstrative affection.
"I couldn't bear to hear Grit howl," explained Ray, who had nowrecovered from the powder fumes. "Let's go see if the Sacred Pig ismuch damaged," he added quickly, for neither he nor Dick liked to poseas heroes.
"I fancy the building is not much harmed," spoke the colonel. "Most ofthe force of the explosion was upward. You young gentlemen deserve avote of thanks from the faculty for the manner in which you acquittedyourselves to-night, and I will see that you get it. Now we had bettergo back to the dormitories. The night is rather chilly." Indeed it was,lightly clad as everyone was.
Beyond a few shattered windows, and some broken glassware in the pantry,the society house of the Sacred Pig was not damaged, at which the cadetswere very glad. The excitement quieted down, and after the doctor hadlooked over Dutton, and pronounced him safe and sound, the students wentback to their beds, but hardly to sleep much.
An investigation was made the next day, to discover if possible thecause of the fire, but beyond the fact that it had started in somerefuse of the shed nothing could be learned.
"It was careless on my part to allow the shed to be there," said thecolonel. "When we rebuild the ammunition house I will have it placedfarther off, and there will be no wooden structures attached to it. Wemust not risk another accident like this."
In view of the fire, lessons were suspended that day, and only a shortdrill ordered. When this was over the electioneering began again, forin the afternoon the selection of the football captain was to be made.
There was quite a change of sentiment, and Paul Drew found that he hadto do very little pleading now to get the promise of votes for Dick.
"It was the pluckiest and nerviest thing I ever saw done," declaredHarvey Nolan, one of the new cadets, who had hitherto resisted Paul'spleadings, being firm for Dutton. "I like Ray immensely, but I thinkI'll vote for Hamilton."
"If this keeps on it will be unanimous for him," said Paul in delight.He was hardly prepared for what followed.
The cadets were assembled in the gymnasium, and Mr. Martin, by request,was presiding over the important session.
"I understand you are now ready to proceed with the election for acaptain and a manager," began the Yale coach.
"Sure," came the inelegant but hearty reply from several.
"There are three candidates," went on the coach. "Mr. Hamilton, Mr.Dutton and Mr. Rutley. How will you vote, by ballot or acclimation?"
"Ballot--ballot!" came the cry.
"Very well, then I will appoint the tellers, and you----"
"One moment, if you please," interrupted Dutton, as he arose. "Therehas been a slight mistake made. There are only two candidates in thefield--Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Rutley. I wish to withdraw in favor of Mr.Hamilton. You--you all know what he did last night--for me," falteredRay, and his voice was a trifle husky. "After that I could not standagainst him in the election."
"Yes, you will--I insist!" cried Dick, jumping up. "I don't want you towithdraw."
"You can't help yourself, old man!" cried Ray heartily, playfullyshaking his fist at Dick. "I want all you fellows who were going to votefor me to vote for Dick Hamilton--that is unless you are committed toFrank Rutley," and he bowed in the direction of that cadet.
"No one can vote for me--I'm out of it!" called out Frank. "I'm forHamilton."
"Hurray!" cried Paul Drew.
"Three cheers for Dick Hamilton!" sung out someone, and how those cheerswere given!
"Do I understand that both you young gentlemen withdraw?" asked Mr.Martin.
"I do," answered Ray.
"Same here!" called Frank.
"Then, as there is but one candidate in the field, perhaps it isunnecessary----"
"I move that Dick Hamilton be unanimously elected captain of theKentfield football eleven, by acclimation, and long may he wave o'erthe team of the strong and the team of the brave!" cried Dutton.
"Second it!" cried Frank.
"All those in favor of this motion will signify it by saying 'yes,'"called the coach.
"YES!" was the reverbrating shout that fairly made the walls ring.
"Then Dick Hamilton is the football captain, and I beg to extend him mycongratulations," said Mr. Martin.
"And I, also," added his colleague, and the two coaches stepped from theplatform, and advanced toward the blushing young millionaire, while hisfriends crowded around him to do him honor.