HOW THE CADETS RAN AWAY
While the uproar below was still in progress, Jack and Pepper climbed
down to the dormitory, and there the young major told of all that had
occurred since his departure.
“Old Crabtree and Pluxton Cuddle are carrying matters with a high hand,”
he went on, “and we have decided to stand it no longer.”
“Well, we about reached the same conclusion here,” said Andy. “Pepper
was going to try to find you, and then we were going to see if we
couldn’t get the whole crowd to run away.”
“I hope none of the fellows who were in the guardroom with me are
captured,” continued Jack. “If Crabtree or Cuddle laid his hands on
anyone it will go hard with that cadet, I know.”
The guards had all gone below, so the cadets in the dormitories were
left to themselves. They crowded to the various windows and soon espied
Bob Grenwood, Reff Ritter and two others on the road beyond the campus.
As soon as the runaway cadets saw that they were noticed they raised
their hands and beckoned for those left behind to join them. At this the
cadets in the windows nodded vigorously. And so the plan to run away
from Putnam Hall grew rapidly.
“I see two of the guards going after those cadets,” said one student who
chanced to have a field glass. “But I doubt if they catch our fellows.”
“It will soon be night,” said Dale. “In the darkness getting away ought
to be easy.”
“Provided the teachers don’t get a stronger guard,” answered Stuffer.
“Now they are on the warpath there is no telling how far they will go. I
expect to see one of the cadets beheaded next.”
“Or made to learn ten pages of Latin backward,” put in Joe Nelson, and
this remark caused everybody to laugh.
“If we are going to run away, we want some definite plan of action,”
said Jack. “I’ve got my own idea, but I don’t know if it will suit the
rest.”
“What is the plan?” asked several.
“That we get away as best we can, and, if possible, get some tents and
rations, too. If we can’t get the rations from the pantry and the
storehouse, get them from the storekeepers of Cedarville. I am sure we
can raise some money, and we can get trust for the rest. Then we can go
off and establish a regular camp until we hear from Captain Putnam.”
This plan met with instant favor, and the idea was quickly circulated to
some of the other dormitories. Fully three-quarters of the cadets agreed
to run away, if the chance offered. The others, including Mumps and
Billy Sabine, were too timid and said they would not go.
Of the lads who had broken out of the guardroom only one was captured
and that was Frank Barringer. He and Josiah Crabtree had a warm
discussion after the capture, and what Barringer said made the teacher
somewhat nervous.
“You are carrying matters with a high hand, Mr. Crabtree, and when
Captain Putnam comes back I feel certain he will not uphold you,” said
Barringer.
“We must have order,” grumbled the teacher.
“That is true, but you must try to get it in the right way. To treat the
cadets as if they were hoodlums is not the right way.”
“We know what we are doing,” interposed Pluxton Cuddle. “You boys eat
too much, and——”
“Mr. Cuddle, I am talking to Mr. Crabtree,” said Barringer, with
dignity. “He is the oldest teacher in the Hall, and he is responsible
for what is happening.”
“I am responsible for what happened in the classrooms,” said Josiah
Crabtree, quickly. “The outside care of the students was left to Mr.
Cuddle.”
“And I know what I am doing,” said that individual, pompously. “I am
willing to assume all responsibility, and I want no advice from you.”
“All right—we’ll wait till Captain Putnam gets back,” said Frank; and
there the discussion ended. But the talk made Josiah Crabtree nervous
and after that he left the management of affairs largely in Pluxton
Cuddle’s hands. Perhaps he was “casting an anchor to windward,” and he
had need to, as later events proved.
Before the excitement attending the escape from the guardroom came to an
end, it was growing dark. When it was time for supper the door to each
dormitory was suddenly thrust open and a basket was set inside,
containing bread and butter and a tin pail full of milk, with a glass.
“Hello, they have given up the idea of starving us!” cried Dale.
“Huh! Nothing but bread and butter!” grumbled Stuffer. “I’m glad some of
that other grub is left.”
“They are afraid to let us go without food,” said Andy. “Perhaps they
think we’ll grow desperate on empty stomachs and break down the doors
and create trouble generally.”
“’Tis a great shame old Crabtree is so pig-headed,” observed Emerald. “I
shall be greatly surprised if the captain is afther upholdin’ him in
it.”
While it was growing dark the boys completed, as far as they could,
their plans for leaving Putnam Hall. Of course, much depended on chance
and there was considerable fear that their actions might fail. Word was
circulated that the movement should commence at exactly midnight, and in
the meanwhile every cadet should pretend to go to sleep.
Fortunately for the boys, nature aided them in their undertaking. Heavy
clouds obscured the sky, making it very dark outside of the school. From
a distance came the low rumble of thunder, drowning out many other
sounds.
“I hope it doesn’t rain,” said Pepper.
“I don’t think it will,” said Jack. “That storm is passing off to the
westward.” And he was right, hardly a drop of rain fell in the vicinity
of the lake.
A heavy rope had been procured and this was strung along the windows of
the various dormitories and by its aid many of the cadets climbed into
the room occupied by Jack and his chums. Then Andy went through the
trunk room to the upper hall and from thence, by a ladder, to the roof.
From that point of vantage he let down the rope to the window of a
dormitory on the other side of the building. To the end of the rope was
a note reading as follows:
“Use this to get down to the ground. Wait until we make a noise down
by the gym., to attract the guards. Meet us at the old Bailey barn.
Bring camping outfit with you, if possible.
“The Putnam Hall Rebels.”
To deceive the guards in the hallways, many of the cadets pretended to
go to bed about eleven o’clock.
“Might as well get a good night’s rest,” said Jack loudly. “We can’t do
anything more until morning.”
“Right you are,” answered Bart Conners, in an equally loud voice. “Call
it off, boys, and get to bed.” And this ruse was worked in every
dormitory from which the cadets hoped to escape. It deceived the guards
completely, and when Pluxton Cuddle came up to learn how matters were
progressing he was informed that the cadets had retired.
At one minute after twelve the boys arose from the beds upon which they
had been resting, and with their shoes and various bundles in their
hands crawled silently through the hole in the ceiling to the trunk room
above. Then, with Jack to lead them, they tiptoed their way through the
back hall and down the rear stairs, and then to the kitchen. Here the
back door was opened, and ten of the lads went out and in the direction
of the barn and storehouse. This detail was led by Andy.
“We want at least ten tents,” said the acrobatic youth. “And as much
food as we can lug along.”
“Say, why can’t we get a horse and wagon?” suggested Stuffer, who hated
to carry anything.
“Maybe we can—if Jack is willing. But get out the tents and food
first—so we can dust with them if there is any alarm.”
“We might take to the boats,” said Dale.
“No, Jack said that wouldn’t be safe. Old Crabtree would hire a steam
tug and come after us in no time. But say, I’ll tell you what we can
do—hide the boats in the creek! That will throw them off the scent.”
In the storehouse were packed a number of army tents, to be used when
the cadets went out on the annual encampment. Here were also boxes and
barrels of provisions, for use in the school. Making certain nobody was
around, the boys shut the door, pinned some empty potato bags over the
windows, and lighted a lantern. Then, with great rapidity, they got out
some of the tents, and in them rolled up various kinds of rations,
beans, bacon, dried fish, coffee, sugar, butter, crackers and so forth.
They also took along a small sack of potatoes and another of apples.
Then they got out a camp cook stove, and some tinware, including cups
and plates, and pots, kettles and frying pans.
“We can’t carry all this,” said Dale, in dismay. “We’ll simply have to
get a horse and wagon.”
“Very well then, we’ll do it,” said Andy. “But it is running an extra
risk.”