A FEW SPRING HAPPENINGS
Luckily for the boys the barn was blown clean over on its side, its
roof falling some distance away, so that none of the wreckage came
down on top of the crowd.
But the sounds of the beams and boards breaking were so terrifying
that for several minutes after the damage was done none of the
crowd dared to move. Each felt as though the next second might be
his last.
At length Dick pulled himself together and peered forth.
"Any--anybody hurt?" he panted.
"I'm not," came from Tom. "But, say, wasn't--"
A splutter, coming from Hans, interrupted him. In his eagerness to
escape the fall of the barn the German cadet had plunged into the
hay open-mouthed, and now some of the stuff had entered his throat
and was almost choking him.
"Clap him on the back!" cried Dick, and Tom did as requested. Then
came several gulps and Hans began to cough. But the danger from
strangulation was over.
All were soon out of the wreckage, and thankful that they had
escaped thus easily.
"But we won't have the barn to shelter us," said Frank ruefully.
"What will we do next?"
"Push on until another shelter appears," said Dick. "We can't
remain here, to be frozen to death."
"Yes, but be careful that we don't get on to the lake again,"
cautioned Sam.
"No fear of that, Sam."
After the terrific blow which laid low the old barn, the wind
appeared to let up a bit, and consequently moving was not so
difficult. They struck out across the meadow, and presently gained
a clump of trees.
"Dis vos besser as noddings," said Hans. "Supposing ve stay here
for der night?"
"I'm going to see what's on the other side of the woods first,"
replied Dick, and stalked off, Tom at his heels. Presently the
others heard both Rover boys set up a shout.
"A house, fellows! Come on!"
They made a rush forward, and soon they reached a stone fence. On
the other side was what had been a planted field, and beyond this a
house and several outbuildings.
With hearts greatly lightened they climbed over the fence and made
for the house. They were still some distance from the dwelling
when they heard the bark of a dog.
"Hullo! I hope he isn't loose," cried Frank.
"But he is," ejaculated Tom; "and he is coming this way too!"
"Du meine zeit!" shrieked Hans. "He vill chew us all up! Vot
shall ve do?" And he looked ready to collapse.
"Perhaps we can snowball him--" began Sam, when Dick set up another
cry.
"It's Laning's dog, boys. What fools we are! This is Mr. Laning's
place."
"Laning's place," burst out Tom. "Why, to be sure it is. And that
is Leo! Leo! Leo! old boy, don't you know us?" he cried.
On bounded the dog, and then began to bark again, but this time
joyously. He came up to Tom and leaped all around him, wagging his
brush as he did so. Then he came to Sam and to Dick, for he knew
them all very well.
"It's a good thing the old barn blew down," said Tom, for he could
not help but think of the greeting the Laning girls would give him.
They were soon at the back door of the farmer's cottage. It was
opened by Mrs. Laning, who stared at them in astonishment.
"Can we come in?" asked Dick. "We are nearly frozen."
"Well, I never! Out in all this storm! It's a wonder the captain
would allow it. Why, come in of course, and get thawed out by the
fire." And then they went in to meet Mr. Laning, and also the two
girls.
Their story was soon told, and meanwhile the lady of the house
prepared a hot supper for them. As they sat eating they discussed
the question of whether it would be better to return to Putnam Hall
that night or wait until morning.
"I would say stay here," said Mr. Laning, "but Captain Putnam will
be worried about you and start out in search of you."
"That's just it," answered Dick. "I think one of us, at least,
ought to return."
"Let us draw straws for it," said Frank, and so it was agreed.
From the Laning place each knew the road well, so there was no
danger of going astray. Besides, the storm was now letting up in
violence.
It fell to Frank's choice to go, and as he was about to leave Hans
decided to keep him company. The pair was soon off, and this left
the Rover boys and the Lanings to themselves.
Satisfied that all was now right, the three brothers made the most
of the evening thus afforded them, and so did the two girls, and
all played, sang, and went in for various games until eleven
o'clock. Then the lads retired to a room assigned to them.
"I say," said Tom, as he prepared to turn in. "That adventure
started queer-like, but we came out of it all right."
"Yes, it couldn't be better," added Sam.
At this Dick winked. "Especially as we landed at the Lanings'
home," he observed.
"What a pity it wasn't Dora's home, too," drawled Tom, and then as
Dick shied a shoe at him he turned over and dropped off into the
land of dreams.
Early the next morning they started for Putnam Hall, John Laning
driving them thither in his sleigh. It was a ride they enjoyed.
The farmer dropped them at the door, and Captain Putnam stood ready
to receive them.
"I am glad you are safe back," he said, with some display of
emotion. "Harrington and Mueller have given me the particulars of
your night's adventure. Hereafter I want all of the cadets to
remain off the lake during a snowstorm."
"You may be sure we will remain off, captain," answered Dick. "One
such adventure is enough for any fellow."
After this happening nothing of special interest occurred until
Christmas. Then the cadets gave their usual entertainment,
including a little domestic drama called "Looking for a Quiet
Boarding House." In this drama Tom and Larry acted the parts of
two old maids who were taking boarders, while Dick, Sam, and eight
others were the so-called boarders, or those looking for board.
The play was filled with humorous situations, and the audience, in
which were the Stanhopes and the Lanings, enjoyed it hugely.
"If you fail in everything else, you had better go on the stage,
Tom," said Nellie to that youth. "You make a splendid actor--or I
should say actress," and she laughed.
"How would you like to have me for a sister?" minced Tom, in the
voice he had used in acting.
"Thank you, but I don't want an old maid for a sister."
"Then perhaps you don't want to be an old maid yourself," he
retorted. "All right, I'll see to it that you are spared that
annoyance." And then she boxed him playfully on the ears. She
could not help but think a good deal of this open-hearted,
fun-loving fellow.
After the entertainment the boys went home, to remain over New
Year's Day. Jack Ness, the hired man, met them at the railroad
station in Oak Run and drove them through Dexter's Corners to
Valley Brook farm.
"It's good fer sore eyes to see ye back," said the hired man. "The
folks is waitin' fer ye like a set o' children."
When they came in sight of the farmhouse there were Mr. Rover,
Uncle Randolph, and Aunt Martha all on the porch to receive them.
Anderson Rover could not help rushing forward to embrace his
sons, and the greetings of uncle and aunt were scarcely less
affectionate.
"My own boys!" was all that Anderson Rover said, but the manner of
speaking meant a good deal.
"The house is yours, boys," said their Aunt Martha. "I used to
think you were a bother, but now I'd rather have the bother than
miss you," and she smiled so sweetly that Dick gave her an extra
hug.
"Yes, yes, do what you please, lads," put in Randolph Rover. "I
shall not be annoyed. We understand each other a great deal better
than we did before we went to Africa, eh?"
"Right you are, uncle!" cried Tom. "We found you out to be a
regular brick."
Christmas presents were numerous, including some jewelry for all of
the boys and a ring to replace the one Tom had lost, and some
games, and half a dozen story books, not to mention other things
more useful, as, for instance, some socks Mrs. Randolph Rover had,
herself, made. For the aunt there was a new breastpin from the
three boys, and for the uncle a set of scientific works just to his
liking. For their father the lads had purchased a gold-headed
cane, the stick of which was made of some wood they had brought
with them from the banks of the Congo.
The time at home passed all too quickly, and soon it was necessary
for the boys to return to Putnam Hall. Dora Stanhope and the
Laning girls had not been forgotten, and now these young folks sent
gifts of dainty embroidered handkerchiefs, of which the boys were
very proud. Tom and Sam had sent Nellie and Grace two elegant
Christmas cards. What Dick had sent Dora he would not tell. Being
behind the scenes we may state that it was a tiny gold locket,
heart-shaped, and that Dora treasured the gift highly.
The second week after New Year found them at the Hall once more,
pegging away at their studies harder than ever, for they were bound
to make the record their father desired of them.
But the time spent at school was not without its sport and fun, for
there was plenty of sleighing and skating, and the gymnasium was
always open during the off hours.
"No enemies at the Hall this season," remarked Fred Garrison, "no
Baxters or Cavens, or fellows of that sort."
"No, and I am glad of it," answered Dick. "It's a big relief."
"Have you any idea what became of Baxter?"
"Not the slightest."
"And of Mumps, the fellow who used to be his toady?"
"Oh, Mumps reformed, after that chase on the ocean, and I've since
heard that he went West, struck some sort of a job as a bookkeeper,
or something like that."
"Well, old Crabtree is safe. He won't bother you any more,"
concluded Fred, and there the subject dropped.
The weeks glided by quickly, until spring was at hand, and the
green grass began to cover the bills and fields surrounding Cayuga
Lake. Still the Rover boys pegged away, and it must be admitted
that even Captain Putnam was astonished at their progress.
"They are whole-souled fellows," he said to George Strong. "They
put their whole mind into everything they go into."
"And those are the boys who afterward make their mark in the
world," answered the head assistant. "The Rover boys are all
right."