CHAPTER XXVI THE MEN IN THE WOODS
Jack's announcement filled Andy and Pepper with surprise. They had notdreamed that the two missing men could be anywhere in that vicinity.
"You didn't make any mistake?" said Pepper.
"No, you can go and see for yourself. They have a regular camp locatedthere."
The other boys were curious, and followed the young major along thebrook and to the campfire beyond. True enough, Shaff and Callax werethere, taking it easy beside the campfire. They had built themselves arude shelter of tree-boughs and brushwood, in front of which was abeautiful rug. In front of a tree hung a looking-glass and on a benchrested a washbowl and a shoe-blacking outfit.
"Lay low--we don't want them to spot us," whispered Jack.
"What are they talking about?" whispered Andy.
"Everything in general. They are certainly crazy."
"We ought to let Mr. Strong know of this," said Pepper.
The boys watched the two men for some time and saw that it was probablethey would remain in the camp that night.
"I have an idea," said Pepper. "Andy can ride to the school and tell Mr.Strong, while Jack and I watch the men. If they go away we can followand see where they go to."
So it was arranged, and a little later Andy rode off on Jack's wheel.Jack and Pepper kept well out of sight, but made certain that Shaff andCallax should not slip them in the darkness which was now settling downupon all sides.
Andy took care that he should have no more accidents, and as aconsequence it took him quite a while to reach Putnam Hall. Once therehe asked at once for George Strong. The assistant teacher was in thelibrary.
"I wish to see you in private, Mr. Strong," said the cadet, and havingwalked outside with the instructor, the acrobatic youth told his tale.
"This is indeed news," said George Strong. "We must capture them by allmeans. It is criminal to leave such dangerous characters at large."
Captain Putnam was informed of the affair, and he told Peleg Snuggersand another man around the place to go with George Strong and Andy. Thecarryall was brought out, with a pair of good horses, and away theystarted on a good gait for the camp in the woods.
They had just reached the spot where the bicycles had been left whenthey heard a blood-curdling cry. Then came a shout in Jack's voice.
"They have been discovered!" cried Andy, and leaped from the carryall,followed by George Strong and Peleg Snuggers.
"Look out, or they may shoot you!" said the general-utility man, takinggood care to keep well to the rear.
Another shout, this time from Pepper, rang out, and then those who hadjust come up saw two men rush through the forest in the direction of thelake.
"There they go!" cried George Strong. "Stop, Paul! Stop, Bart!" headded.
"Let us alone!" said Callax. "Let us alone!"
"We don't want anything to do with you!" put in Shaff.
They made rapid progress through the forest and soon George Strong losttrack of them. But then Jack sighted them again.
"There they go--straight for the lake!" shouted the young major.
"I see them," answered the teacher.
"They are getting into a boat," said Pepper, and he was right.
By the time the party gained the lake shore the two crazy men were in arowboat and pulling rapidly across the lake. The others looked around,but not another craft of any sort was in sight.
"We have lost them again!" said George Strong, with something like agroan. "Too bad!"
"How did they discover you?" asked Andy, after the darkness had hiddenthe fleeing men.
"In the oddest kind of a way," explained Jack. "We were resting behindsome bushes, when of a sudden the man named Callax leaped up and beganto prance around the camp like a horse. He came straight for us, andlanded within a few inches of my head. Then he let out a yell and thatbrought Shaff, and off they went like a pair of frightened rabbits."
Curious to know what sort of a camp the crazy men had had, George Strongwent back to the spot and stirred up the campfire. He found there a goodsupply of clothing and also many odds and ends which made the boyssmile.
"Perhaps they will come back," suggested Pepper.
"I will place a guard here," answered the teacher. "They may come backlater. I doubt if they do so right away."
There was nothing to do but to return to Putnam Hall. The bicycles werestrapped on the back of the carryall and all piled into the turnout. Thelantern had already been lit; and thus they rode to the school, reachingthe place a little after midnight.
"Keeping early hours, I see," remarked Dale, when Pepper came into thedormitory.
"Tell you about it in the morning," answered the Imp, and lost no timein getting to bed and to sleep.
"Those fellows will be the terror of this neighborhood if they keep on,"said Dale, when he heard of what had occurred.
"Mr. Strong is going to set a sharper watch than ever," answered Jack."Those men will be caught sooner or later."
Many of the cadets had heard of the soldiers' reunion at Datport, on thefollowing Saturday, and also of the proposed balloon ascension, and theybegged Captain Putnam for permission to visit the town and see what wasgoing on.
"I'll tell you what I'll do," said the master of the school at last."Every student who gets an average of eighty per cent. this week can go,if he wishes."
This put the students on their mettle, and never did cadets study harderthan during that week. As a consequence about forty passed, and it wasdecided that they should visit Datport in the Hall carryall and the twoCedarville stages. The start was to be made at half-past six in themorning.
"Hurrah, we are to go!" shouted Andy. "Aren't you glad, Pep?"
"To be sure I am."
"It's Reff Ritter an' Coulter who are mad, so they are," came fromEmerald.
"Didn't they pass?" asked Stuffer.
"They did not."
"I had a tight squeeze, with old Crabtree," came from Bart Conners. "Hecame close to cutting me out of the fun."
"The same here," said Henry Lee. "Oh, but I do wish we could get rid ofhim."
"Your wish is to be gratified--at least for awhile," said Joe Nelson. "Ijust got the news. Mr. Crabtree is going to Boston on business and maynot come back for the balance of this term."
"Hurrah!" shouted several students in unison.
"I thought you would like to get up a petition, asking him to remain,"went on Joe, with a wink.
"Great hambones!" gasped Pepper. "Remain? Not for a thousand plates ofice cream!"
"He can stay away and he never will be missed," added Andy.
The boys were on hand promptly on Saturday morning, and after an earlybreakfast they piled into the carryall and the stages, and with shoutsand cheers set off for Datport. Not one of them dreamed of the strangeadventures and odd discovery ahead of them.
The way to Datport was level for the most part and the three turnoutsmade good time, the boys singing and cheering as they passed throughvillages and by prosperous farms. Many cheered and waved their hands inreturn. They were beginning to be known far and wide as "those PutnamHall soldier boys."
"I see some of the old soldiers now!" cried Jack, as the turnoutsapproached the town where the reunion was to occur. And soon theyreached a green where many old veterans were assembled. The cadets, intheir neat uniforms, were given a warm welcome and soon made themselvesat home.
"This is all right," said Pepper, as a fine band struck up a patrioticair. "I am glad I came."
"I want to see that balloon ascension," returned Andy.
"Wouldn't you like to go up, Andy?" asked Jack, by way of a joke.
"Sure I would," was the quick answer.
"Do you really mean it, Andy?" asked Dale.
"I certainly do--I shouldn't like anything better."
"I'd be afraid to go up," said Hogan. "I'll take my balloon trips on theground, so I will!"
The balloon ascension was advertised
for two o'clock in the afternoon,and after listening to an address by an old army general, and gettingsome lunch, the cadets walked to the field where the balloon waslocated.
"Hullo! How are you?" said a man to Jack, and the young major recognizedhim as one of the pair who had come out in the farm-wagon after theballoon when the battalion had been on the march.
"First-rate," answered Jack. "Found your balloon, eh?"
"Oh, yes, and all right, too. Much obliged."
"Say, doesn't the professor want somebody to go up with him?" askedAndy, brushing forward.
"I guess not!" said another man, standing by. "Not a greenhorn, anyway."
"Where is the professor?"
"In his tent yonder, getting ready for the exhibition."
The balloon was in a small roped-off enclosure and some men were at workfilling it with hot air. Beside the balloon rested a big basket. It hadbeen advertised that the professor would take somebody up with himprovided that person would remain in the balloon after the aeronaut cutloose with his parachute, but so far nobody had come forward to take upthe offer.