WHAT THE PLOT LED TO
It was a clear night, with no moon, but with countless stars bespangling
the heavens. All was quiet around Oak Hall, and the three boys found it
an easy matter to steal across the campus, gain the shade of a row of
oaks, and get out on the side road leading to the Cadmore farm.
"We don't want to get nabbed at this," was Phil's comment. "If Farmer
Cadmore caught us, he would make it mighty warm. He's as irritable as
old Farmer Brown, and you'll remember what a time we had with him and
his calf."
"Does he keep a dog?" asked Dave. "I haven't any use for that sort of an
animal, if he is savage."
"No, he hasn't any dog," answered Phil. "I was asking about it last
week." But Phil was mistaken; Jabez Cadmore did have a dog--one he had
purchased a few days before. He was a good-sized mastiff, and far from
gentle.
Walking rapidly, it did not take the three boys long to reach the first
of Farmer Cadmore's fields. This was of corn, and passing through it
and over a potato patch, they came to an orchard, wherein they knew the
ram was tied to one of the trees.
"Now, be careful!" whispered Dave, as he leaped the rail-fence of the
orchard. "Somebody may be stirring around the farmhouse"--pointing to
the structure some distance away.
"Oh, they must be in bed by this time," said Phil. "Farmers usually
retire early. Cadmore is a close-fisted chap, and he won't want to burn
up his oil or his candles."
With hearts which beat rather rapidly, the boys stole along from one
tree to another. Then they saw a form rise out of the orchard grass, and
all gave a jump. But it was only the ram, and the animal was more
frightened than themselves.
"Look out that he doesn't butt you," warned Dave. "Some of 'em are
pretty _ram_bunctious."
They approached the ram with caution, and untied him. Then Phil started
to lead him out of the orchard, with Dave and Sam following. At first he
would not go, but then began to run, so that Phil kept up with
difficulty.
"Stop!" cried the boy. "Not so fast! Don't you hear?" But the ram paid
no attention, and now turned to the very end of the orchard. Here the
ground was rough, and in a twinkling all three of the boys went down in
a hollow and rolled over and over, while the ram, finding himself free,
plunged on, and was hidden from view in the darkness.
"He got away!" gasped Phil, scrambling up. "We must--Hark!"
He stopped short, and all of the boys listened. From a distance came the
deep baying of the mastiff. The sounds drew closer rapidly.
"A dog--and he is after us!" cried Dave. "Fellows, we have got to get
out of this!"
"If we can!" replied Sam Day. "Which is the way out? I am all turned
around."
So were the others, and they stared into the darkness under the apple
trees in perplexity. The dog was coming closer, and to get away by
running appeared to be out of the question.
"Jump into a tree!" cried Dave, and showed the way. The others followed,
clutching at some low-hanging branches and pulling themselves up as
rapidly as possible. Dave and Sam were soon safe, but the mastiff,
making a bound, caught Phil by the sole of his shoe.
"Hi!" roared Phil. "Let go!" And he kicked out with the other foot. This
made the mastiff make another snap, but his aim was poor, and he dropped
back to the ground, while Phil hauled himself up beside his companions.
"Phew! but that was a narrow escape and no mistake," was the comment of
the big youth, after he could catch his breath. "I thought sure he had
me by the foot!"
"We are in a pickle," groaned Sam. "I suppose that dog will camp right
at the foot of this tree till Farmer Cadmore comes."
"Yes, he is camping now," announced Dave, peering down into the gloom.
The moment the mastiff saw him, the canine set up a loud barking.
For a full minute after that none of the boys spoke, each being busy
with his thoughts.
"We are treed, that is certain," said Phil, soberly. "And I must say I
don't see any way to escape."
"Yes, and don't forget about the ram," added Sam. "Old Jabez Cadmore
will want to know about him, too."
"I've got an idea," said Dave, presently. "Perhaps it won't work, but it
won't do any harm to try it."
"Give it to us, by all means!"
"The trees are pretty thick in this orchard. Let us try to work our way
from one tree to another until we can reach the fence. Then, perhaps, we
can drop outside and get out of the way of that animal."
This was considered a good plan, and they proceeded to put it into
execution at once. It was no easy matter to climb from tree to tree, and
each got a small rent in his clothing, and Sam came near falling to the
ground. The mastiff watched them curiously, barking but little, much to
their satisfaction.
At last, they came to the final row of apple trees. A long limb hung
over a barbed-wire fence, and the boys paused, wondering if it would be
safe to drop to the ground.
"If that mastiff should come through the fence, it would go hard with
us," was Phil's comment. "I'd rather stay up here and take what comes."
"I am going to risk it," answered Dave. "I see a stick down there, and
I'll grab that as soon as I land," and down he dropped, and caught up
the stick with alacrity. The dog pounced forward, struck the sharp barbs
of the fence, and retreated, howling dismally with pain. Then he made
another advance, with like results.
"Hurrah! he can't get through!" ejaculated Dave. "Come on, fellows, it's
perfectly safe." And down his chums dropped, and all hurried away from
the vicinity of the orchard.
"We had better be getting back," said Sam, after the orchard and potato
patch had been left behind. "That farmer may be coming after us before
we know it. He must have heard the dog." But in this he was mistaken,
the distance from the house was too great, and the farmer and his family
slept too soundly to be disturbed.
"It's too bad we must go back without the ram," observed Dave. "The
other fellows will think we got scared and threw up the job."
"Well, it can't be helped," began Phil, when he caught sight of
something moving along the road ahead of them. "Look! Is that the ram?"
"It is!" exclaimed Dave. "Wait! If you are not careful, he'll run away
again. Stay here, and I'll catch him. I was brought up on a farm, and I
know all about sheep."
The others came to a halt, and Dave advanced with caution until he was
within a few feet of the ram. Then he held out his hand and made a
peculiar sound. The ram grew curious and remained quiet, while the youth
picked up the end of the rope which was around the animal's neck.
"I've got him," he said, in a low, even tone. "Now, keep to the rear and
I'll manage him." And on they went. Once in a while the ram showed a
disposition to butt and to stop short, but Dave coaxed him, and the
trouble was not great.
When they came in sight of the school building, they realized that the
most difficult part of the task lay before them. It was decided that
Dave should keep the ram behind the gymnasium building until Sam and
Phil ascertained that the coast was clear.
Left to himself, Dave tied the ram to a post and crawled into the
gymnasium by one of the windows. He procured several broad straps, and
also a small blanket. Just as he came out with the things, Sam and Phil
came hurrying back, each with a look of deep concern on his face.
"The jig is up!" groaned Sam. "Plum and Poole are on to our racket, and
they won't let us in!"
"Plum and Poole!" exclaimed Dave. "Are they at that back door?"
"Yes, and when we came up, they jeered us," said Phil. "Oh, but wasn't I
mad! They said if we tried to force our way in, they'd ring up the
doctor, or Mr. Dale."
"Does our crowd know about this?"
"I don't think they do."
"Plum and Poole intend to keep us out all night, eh?"
"It looks that way. They said we could ask Haskers to let us in when he
came."
"I am not going to Haskers," said Dave, firmly. "Sam, you look after
this ram for a few minutes. I'll make them let us in, and not give us
away, either. Phil, you come along."
"But I don't see how you are going to do it," expostulated the big boy.
"Never mind; just come on, that's all. Plum isn't going to have a
walk-over to-night."
Somewhat mystified, Phil accompanied Dave across the campus and to the
rear door of the Hall. Here the barrier was open only a few inches,
with Plum peering out, and Poole behind him. The face of the bully wore
a look of triumph.
"How do you like staying out?" he whispered, hoarsely. "Fine night for a
ramble, eh? You can tell old Haskers what a fine walk you have had!
He'll be sure to reward you handsomely!"
"See here, Plum, I am not going to waste words with you to-night," said
Dave, in a low, but intense, tone. "You let us in, and at once, or
you'll regret it."
"Will I?"
"You will. And what is more: don't you dare to say a word to anybody
about what is happening now."
"Oh, dear, but you can talk big! Maybe you want me to get down on my
knees as you pass in," added the bully, mockingly.
"If you don't let us in, do you know what I shall do?" continued Dave,
in a whisper. "I shall go to Doctor Clay and tell him that you are in
the habit of going out after midnight to row on the river."
If Dave had expected this statement to have an effect upon the bully,
his anticipations were more than realized. Gus Plum uttered a cry of
dismay and fell back on Nat Poole's shoulder. His face lost its color,
and he shook from head to foot.
"Yo-you----" he began. "Wha-what do you know about my--my rowing on the
river?"
"I know a good deal."
"Yo-you've been--following--me?" For once the bully could scarcely
speak.
"I shan't say any more," said Dave, giving his chum a pinch in the arm
to keep quiet. "Only, are you going to let us in or not?"
"N-no--I mean, yes," stammered Gus Plum. He could scarcely collect
himself, he seemed so upset. "You can come in. Poole, we'll have to let
them in this time."
"And you will keep still about this?" demanded Dave.
"Yes, yes! I won't say a word, Porter, not a word! And--and I'll see you
to-morrow after school. I--that is--I want to talk to you. Until then,
mum's the word on both sides." And then, to the astonishment of both
Dave and Phil, Gus Plum hurried away, dragging Nat Poole with him.