CHAPTER XXIV FRED CENTURY MAKES A CHANGE
It was a great victory for Jack and his chums, and when they came ashorethey were almost hugged to death by their friends.
"When I saw you drop behind my heart went down into my shoes," saidHarry Blossom. "But when you came in ahead my heart----"
"Climbed out of your cap, I suppose," finished Pepper.
"Just about. Oh, it's a dandy victory," and Harry's face fairly beamed.
"Boys, you did very well--very well indeed!" exclaimed Captain Putnam,coming up and extending his hands. "Major Ruddy, you have a sloop to beproud of."
"I am proud of the _Alice_," answered Jack. "She did all that I expectedof her."
Bob Anderson took his defeat calmly, but the Pornell Academy studentswere very bitter, Roy Bock and his cronies especially. Bock and theothers had lost considerable money on the contest and this galled themexceedingly. They could not understand how the _Alice_ had forged aheadwhen it looked as if she was beaten.
"Guess Century must have stood in with the Putnam Hall fellows," growledBock.
"That is absolutely false!" cried one of the students who had helped tosail the _Ajax_. A wordy war followed, and in the end Roy Bock got hisnose punched, which made him more angry than ever.
Ritter, Paxton and Coulter were much downcast by the way the race hadterminated. All their plans to do Jack's boat an injury had failed, andhow they were going to meet their money obligations they did not know.
"We are up against it good and hard," said Ritter.
"I've got a plan," said Coulter. "Roy Bock is dead sore over this. Hethinks there was some understanding between Century and Jack Ruddy. Letus see if we can't get him to make some kind of a protest, and we canback him up in it. Perhaps we can have the bets declared off."
This plot met with instant favor at Reff Ritter's hands and he lost notime in interviewing Roy Bock. Bock did not want to run the risk ofanother encounter with the Century crowd, yet he, too, could not affordto lose the money he had staked on the contest.
"Let us talk this over all around," said he, and called in several ofhis cronies. Later he and his friends, with Ritter, Paxton and Coulter,went to one of the judges of the contest.
"We think this race ought to be declared off," said Bock.
"For what reason?" demanded the gentleman, in astonishment.
"We think the _Ajax_ lost the race on purpose," went on Bock, and thenhe told of how Jack and Fred Century were friends, and how the youngmajor had assisted those on the _Ajax_ when that craft had capsized.
"Fred Century does not like it at Pornell Academy and is going to leaveat the end of this term," Bock went on. "I am certain he threw the raceinto the hands of the Putnam Hall cadets."
"So am I," added Ritter boldly, and then he spoke of a talk he hadoverheard between Jack, Pepper and Fred Century. He said that therecould not be the slightest doubt but what Century had played into JackRuddy's hands, and Coulter and Paxton said the same.
This statement aroused a hot discussion, in which all the judges andseveral outsiders took part.
"I consider every sloop was sailed honestly," said one judge. "If ever arace was won fairly this was won by the _Alice_." Bock and Rittercontinued to talk, but the judges would not consider their protest, andat last they had to withdraw much crestfallen.
Bock's actions made a large number of the Putnam Hall cadets verybitter, and on Saturday night there was something of a pitched battlebetween Andy, Pepper, Dale and six other of the Putnam Hall boys and RoyBock and his gang. Blows were freely exchanged, and sticks and stoneswere used, and Bock and his cohorts were forced to run away. Bock got ablack eye and Grimes had two of his front teeth loosened, while Gussichad his coat split up the back from bottom to top. Of course the PutnamHall cadets suffered somewhat, but they went back to the school happy,having driven the enemy from the field.
"We must get square for this," said Grimes. "I'll never rest until I paythem back."
"Right you are," returned Roy Bock. "I wish I could get back at thewhole school."
"That's the talk," added Gussic. "We ought to do something that willmake the whole crowd sore."
"I'll think up something," said Bock. "Just give me a couple of days todo it in."
The report that Fred Century was going to leave Pornell Academy wastrue. Fred was a bright, clean-hearted lad, and the manners of suchfellows as Bock and Grimes did not please him. More than this, when hewent to Doctor Pornell that individual treated him coolly.
"I have heard what Roy Bock has said," said the doctor. "And I mustconfess I am inclined to think that you sailed the race in such afashion as to please Putnam Hall."
"Doctor Pornell, this is--is infamous!" cried Fred. "If you are going toside with Bock I am going to leave this school at once!"
"As you please," answered the master of the academy. He was in aparticularly bad humor that morning.
Fred Century was as good as his word. He walked to Cedarville that noonand sent a special message to his father, relating what had occurred.Mr. Century arrived at Pornell Academy the next morning, and a warmdiscussion between him and Doctor Pornell followed, lasting an hour.Then Fred packed his trunk and left the academy never to return.
"This disarranges my plans, Fred," said his father, on the way toCedarville. "Your mother and I were going to Rome, you know. I do notknow what to do with you."
"I know what I'd like to do," answered Fred. "I'd like to go to PutnamHall. The fellows there are bright and up-to-date, and not such cads asBock and Grimes."
"Hum!" mused Mr. Century. "Well, that might be arranged. I know PutnamHall has a fine reputation. I thought of sending you there in the firstplace."
The carriage was halted, and soon it was turned around and driven in thedirection of Putnam Hall. Arriving at that institution, Mr. Century wentin to interview Captain Putnam. When he came out to call his son he wassmiling.
"It is arranged, Fred, and you are to be a cadet here from to-day on."
"Good enough!" cried the youth. "That suits me right down to the ground,father!"
"In taking you as a pupil I think Captain Putnam is making something ofa sacrifice," continued Mr. Century. "You know of this talk about theboat race. Well, now some folks will cry 'fraud' louder than ever. ButCaptain Putnam says he is willing to stand by what the judges decided,especially as he has received word from Bob Anderson that he thinks therace was a fair one."
Fred was taken to the private office, and he shook hands warmly withCaptain Putnam.
"I know you are doing me a favor, Captain Putnam," said the boy. "Inreturn I shall do all in my power to make myself a credit to yourschool."
"That is all I ask, Century," answered the master of the Hall. "Ipresume it will not be necessary for anybody to introduce you," headded, with a faint smile.
"No, sir--I know about a dozen of the boys already."
"I will have your measure taken for a uniform--and have you assigned toone of the dormitories," went on Captain Putnam, and called in one ofhis assistants. After Fred had been measured and his trunk had beentaken upstairs, Captain Putnam called in Jack.
"Major Ruddy, allow me to acquaint you with a new pupil, FredericCentury," he said.
"A new pupil!" cried the young major. "Why--er--is Fred coming to schoolhere?"
"I am, Jack. Aren't you glad to have me?"
"I am delighted!" cried Jack, and smiled warmly. "But this is thegreatest surprise yet," he continued. "I thought you were at Pornell."
"Quit yesterday--and mighty glad to do it. I'll tell you all about itsome other time."
Fred Century was warmly welcomed by Pepper, Andy and the others. He wasput in a dormitory next to that occupied by Jack and his chums, the twoapartments being connected by a door which was rarely locked. He wasmade to feel at home, and said over and over again he was more thanpleased over the change he had made.
"Doctor Pornell is as great a cad as some of his pupils," said he
toPepper. "How some of the better class of boys can stand him is more thanI can comprehend."
"Well, some folks have more money than brains," answered the Imp. "Andthat's the case with many of the Pornellites, I imagine."
"Bock is down on Putnam Hall," went on Fred. "He vows he will getsquare."
"We'll watch out for him," answered Pepper. "I reckon we can give him asgood as he sends."