THE CONSPIRATORS.
“Now, then, Newcombe,” said Miller, as he seated himself on the
grass, under one of the trees, “let us hear what you have to say.”
“Before I begin,” said Tom, “I want you to promise, that if you don’t
see fit to join my enterprise, you won’t split on me.”
“Split on you!” echoed Miller. “Don’t we know, as well as you do,
that it is against the laws of our society to divulge secrets? There
are no tell-tales among us.”
Tom turned away his head as his companion said this, for he knew, if
no one else did, that there was one tale-bearer, at least, in the
society. What would Rich, and Miller, and all the other faithful
Night-hawks have thought, had they known that the one who held the
highest office in the gift of the organization, had been trying to
better his condition by carrying tales to the principal?
“No, sir; I don’t think there is a single fellow among us who would
be mean enough to split on you,” continued Miller. “If there is, I
know I am not the one, for I have shown, more than once, that I can
be trusted.”
“Speak it out, Newcombe,” said Rich. “We have all made solemn
promises to stand by each other through thick and thin, and we are
all true blue.”
“Well, to begin with,” said Tom; “I know very well that I can’t pass
a decent examination, and I don’t want to be confined in the academy
building, while all the other fellows are having a jolly time in
camp.”
“Neither do I,” said Rich. “But we can’t help ourselves.”
“Perhaps we can,” said Tom, shaking his head knowingly; “perhaps we
can. If I haven’t succeeded in my arithmetic and geography lessons,
I’ve got something better worked out. You have been to sea on three
or four voyages, haven’t you, Rich?”
“Yes,” answered that worthy, “and I am a good sailor--better than any
other boy in the academy.”
“But could you take command of a vessel--say of the size of the
Swallow?”
“Command a sloop like that! Yes, of course I could. If I knew that
she was sea-worthy, I wouldn’t be afraid to take her to Europe.”
“That’s all right!” said Tom, evidently very much relieved. “That’s
one difficulty out of the way. I knew I would be certain to succeed.”
“But, Newcombe, what’s all this got to do with your grand idea?”
asked Miller, impatiently. “Why don’t you tell us what you intend to
do?”
“Well, I am going to tell you now,” replied Tom. “I propose that we
escape the examination, by taking the Swallow and going to sea in
her.”
The boys were all very much astonished at this proposition; but,
without allowing them time to raise any objections, Tom pulled out
his pocket-book, and, producing the piece of newspaper which had
so excited the curiosity of his companions, he handed it to Miller,
saying, “Read that.”
The latter took the paper, looked at it a moment, and then, springing
to his feet, seized Tom’s hand, shouting:
“Newcombe, you’re a brick! Your idea is a glorious one! I see it all,
now!”
“Read it! Read it!” exclaimed Rich and Martin. “Let us hear it.”
Thus appealed to, Miller again seated himself, and read aloud as
follows:
“PLUCKY SAILOR BOYS.--Two lads, each about fourteen years of age,
living in Marblehead, Mass., undertook a daring exploit about
three weeks ago. They, by some means or other, got possession of
a small yacht in the harbor, and after laying in a good supply
of provisions, which took them three days, they set sail and put
out to sea. They were picked up, five miles outside, by a revenue
cutter, and, after being taken on board, stated that they had laid
their plans to go to Europe. They were taken back to the city and
restored to their parents.”
“There! what do you think of that?” asked Tom, when Miller had
finished reading the article.
“It’s gay,” said Rich. “They were plucky chaps indeed.”
“Why don’t you say something?” inquired Miller, turning to Martin,
who sat gazing thoughtfully at the ground. “Don’t you see through the
thing yet?”
“Yes,” replied the latter; “what you intend to do is as plain as
daylight. But I don’t think the idea is so very gay, after all.”
“Why not?” asked Tom.
“Because those ‘plucky sailor boys’ did not get very far on their
way toward Europe before they were overtaken and carried back. Their
scheme failed.”
“That’s because they didn’t know any thing,” said Rich, promptly.
“They ought to have looked out for that.”
“And there’s one thing the paper forgot to speak about,” continued
Martin. “It doesn’t say whether or not those two fellows were
punished when they got home. If we should be caught in a scrape like
that, we never would be released from the lock-up, or get through
standing guard, and performing the extra duties that would be imposed
upon us.”
“Now, don’t squeal before you are hurt,” said Miller. “If I had known
that you were so chicken-hearted, I never would have proposed you as
a member of our society.”
“I am no coward!” replied Martin, angrily; “but I have common sense
enough to know that we had better look before we leap. Before we
attempt to carry out Tom’s idea, we must see exactly how the land
lays. In the first place, we have no boat, and, in the next place, it
would be of no use to us if we had; for we are not the ones who get
furloughs whenever we ask for them.”
“O, Newcombe has got that all worked out,” said Miller, who was
impatient to hear the details of the plan. “Give us all the
particulars, Tom.”
“I can do that in a very few words,” said the latter. “We will get
together all the members of our society who are willing to go with
us, escape from the academy some night, take the Swallow, or some
other little trading vessel, and go on a cruise. We’ll stay out until
the examination is over, and then come back.”
“That’s it!” exclaimed Miller. “I’m in for it. But suppose we should
be captured and brought back?”
“We don’t intend to come back to the academy until we get ready!”
said Rich. “We’ll look out for that. But, boys, don’t begin to raise
objections now. We must get rid of that examination, if possible, and
Tom is just the chap to show us how to do it.”
“Go on, Newcombe--what next?”
“I have but one thing more to say,” continued Tom, “and that is, I
will engineer this thing through if you want me to. You know that I
can call upon any member of the society for assistance.”
“But how will we get the boat?” asked Rich.
“That’s my business. There are fourteen fellows in the academy whom
we can trust, and I want to know how many of them are willing to
go with us; and then I must have authority to do as I please, or I
won’t budge an inch. I’ll go on my own hook. I have a boat of my own,
and I am bound to get away from here before that examination comes
off. What would my father say if he should happen to visit the camp,
and the colonel should tell him that I was at the academy, ‘under
arrest?’”
“Well, Tom,” said Martin, after thinking a moment, “I, for one, am
perfectly willing that you should boss this job, but you know the
government of our society is democratic, and we all have a hand in
whatever is going on. I shall do just as the majority say. If they
think the scheme can be successfully carried out, I am in for it;
and, in order to get the most of the boys on your side, you ought to
tell us exactly what you are going to do, and how you intend to do
it.”
Tom could not very well resist the force of this reasoning. The
scheme he had proposed was rather different from any thing the
Night-hawks had ever before thought of; and, knowing that if it
proved successful it would throw all their former exploits into
the shade, Tom wanted the honor of carrying it through alone and
unaided. He had not the least idea of going off by himself in the
Mystery, but he thought that, by threatening to leave his companions
to themselves, he might frighten them into allowing him to have his
own way. But it was plain that the boys were not in favor of “buying
a cat in a bag;” they did not intend to give their consent to Tom’s
scheme until they understood all about it.
“Now, Newcombe,” said Rich, “tell us how we are to get the Swallow.
We want to know all the particulars.”
“We must have help,” replied Tom. “It was my intention to write to
some of the boys in the village.”
“Then it’s lucky that we didn’t give you authority to do as you
pleased, for you would have knocked the whole thing into a cocked
hat in no time,” said Miller, decidedly. “Suppose the letter should
fall into the hands of the Philistines? That would be the end of your
cruise, and you would find a boy about your size in the guard-house,
living on bread and water. I’ve got an idea,” he continued. “I
propose that we all study hard, and behave ourselves this week, and,
perhaps, some of us can manage to get a furlough next Saturday. If
one fails, another may succeed, you know, and we’ll give the lucky
ones authority to call on the boys in the village and talk the matter
over with them. And now about the Swallow! Do you propose to hire
her?”
“Of course not!” replied Tom. “We’ll take her and welcome.”
“Steal her!” ejaculated Rich. “That plan won’t work, either. If we
should do that, old ’Squire Thompson would have his hands on us the
moment we got back. I propose that we charter her. We’ve all got some
money.”
“Let us speak to the other fellows, and see what they have to say on
the subject,” said Martin, who, for some time, had remained silent.
“That’s a sensible idea!” exclaimed Tom, who was obliged to confess
to himself that he had made two great mistakes in his calculations.
“But go about it easy. Be careful that no one overhears you. Tell
them to meet us here in a quarter of an hour.”
The others agreeing to this proposal, the four conspirators returned
to the building to hunt up all the members of their society. The
Night-hawks were scattered about over the grounds, some engaged in
a game of ball; some lying in the shade of the trees; others were
in the gymnasium, and two of their number, for some violation of
the rules of the academy, had received orders to remain in their
dormitories. The schemers worked to such good advantage that, at the
end of a quarter of an hour, ten boys belonging to the society were
gathered in a remote corner of the grounds, awaiting the appearance
of Tom and Miller, who had been commissioned to obtain the opinions
of the culprits in the dormitories. Thus far every thing appeared to
be working smoothly, for all the members had, without hesitation,
agreed to join the expedition.
“Hold on a minute!” said Miller, suddenly, as he and Tom started to
join their companions. “Don’t you see the colonel looking out of his
window? That old fellow is as sharp as a steel-trap; and, if he sees
so many of us talking in an out-of-the-way place, he’ll certainly
snuff something. Go and get your foot-ball, and we’ll fool him
nicely.”
Tom ran up to his dormitory, took the ball from his trunk, and,
kicking it along the ground before them, they walked toward the
place where their companions were gathered, leading the principal
to infer that they were simply going out there to amuse themselves.
In order to keep up the deception, a game of foot-ball was started,
but continued only for a short time, when the Night-hawks seated
themselves on the ground to discuss the question in hand. Tom, in
a few words, explained the object of the proposed expedition, as
well as the manner in which it ought to be conducted to make it
successful. So delighted were the boys with the idea, that not a
single objection was raised, and, in ten minutes, the business was
finished, and the meeting was adjourned. It was decided that the
first step should be to obtain the help of the Night-hawks in the
village; and, in order to accomplish this, it was resolved that
each member of the society in the academy should endeavor to behave
himself properly during the remainder of the week, so that, on
Saturday, he might be granted a furlough. It was not expected that
all would succeed in this, but those who did were to be appointed
“commissioners,” to state the matter to the village boys, and
request their assistance in chartering a vessel, laying in a stock
of provisions for the cruise (which would last at least two weeks),
and, in fact, completing all the out-door business. The much-dreaded
examination was still three weeks distant; so they would have
plenty of time in which to complete all their arrangements. When
the eventful night arrived, they would make their escape from the
academy through the dormitory windows; and, in order to accomplish
this, it was necessary for them to have a rope long enough to reach
from the third story of the building to the ground, and strong enough
to bear their weights. This rope would be furnished by the boys in
the village. When Tom made this suggestion, it created something
of an uproar among the Night-hawks, several of whom declared that
if they were expected to risk their necks by crawling out of a
second or third story window, they would have nothing to do with the
expedition. But Tom insisted that the rope be procured, saying that
“there was no knowing what might happen,” and that it was “always
well enough to be prepared for any emergency;” and he finally carried
his point.
“Now, Martin,” said Tom, after the meeting broke up, and the
Night-hawks were walking about the grounds in groups of twos and
threes, talking over their plans, in excited whispers, “you said you
didn’t see any use in joining our society. What do you think of it
now?”
“If those fellows in the village will help us, I shall say it is a
good thing,” replied Martin.
“Help us! Of course they will. They dare not refuse. You know that it
is one of our laws, that when any member is in trouble, the others
must assist him if they can. Now, we are in trouble--or we shall be,
if we don’t get away from here before that examination comes off--and
they must help us.”
During the remainder of the week, the Night-hawks, as they imagined,
conducted themselves with the utmost propriety. Each of them had
secretly determined that he would obtain a furlough, if within the
bounds of possibility, for that would insure him the appointment
of “commissioner”--an honor which they all regarded as well worth
working for. Tom, with the others, had resolved that he would not
waste a single moment; that he would study constantly; pay strict
attention to all his duties, and use his best endeavors to have his
name placed on the list with those who were to be allowed liberty.
He held manfully to his resolution, and surprised his teacher by
coming in to his recitations with perfect lessons. But the rules of
the academy were very strict, and Tom was an unlucky boy. Although he
made improvements in one respect, he fell behind in others; and when
Saturday came, and the names of those who were to receive furloughs
were posted in the hall, Tom, to his disappointment and indignation,
found that his name was not among them.
“Mr. Hudson!” said he, entering the school-room, where his teacher
was busy at his desk, “I would like to know what I have done, sir,
that I can’t have a furlough, like the rest of the boys? I understood
you to say that I had made twenty-four extras this week by perfect
lessons.”
“Yes,” replied Mr. Hudson, “you have made excellent progress, as
far as your lessons are concerned, and I assure you I am very
glad to be able to say so. But you must remember that, in order
to receive liberty, you must strictly conform to _all_ the rules
and regulations. Didn’t you know that it was contrary to law for
you to play marbles in your dormitory? and who was it that knocked
that picket off the fence, and went outside the grounds without
permission?”
“I did, sir,” answered Tom. “But I went after my ball.”
“That’s no excuse; and, more than that, can you tell me the name of
the student who went on dress parade with a rusty musket; who left
his trunk open, and his clothing scattered about over the floor of
his dormitory, and who lost his broadsword besides? The rules do
not recognize any mistakes, you know. They call all such things
‘disobedience of orders.’ But don’t be discouraged; try it again,
Newcombe.”
“O, now, I won’t do it,” said Tom to himself, as he walked out of
the school-room. “There’s no use in crying. The more I try to behave
myself, the more I fall behind. I knew I never could be a soldier,
and I don’t see what father wanted to send me to this school for.”
When Tom reached the end of the hall, he found the Night-hawks
gathered on the porch. They were all disappointed, not one of them
having received a furlough. Some had fallen behind in their lessons,
while the majority, like Tom, had disobeyed some “little” rule.
“What shall we do now, Newcombe?” asked Miller, in a gloomy voice.
“We’re up stump, easy enough.”
“And all on account of those useless rules,” said Rich. “What good
does it do to bind a fellow down so tight? If they are so strict now,
what will they be during the examination, when we receive visitors?”
“There is but one way out now, that I can see,” replied Tom, “and
that is, to write a letter to our friends in the village.”
“But suppose it should fall into the hands of the Philistines?” said
Miller. “What, then?”
“Just leave that to me,” said Tom; “I’ll not put the letter in the
mail-box; I’ll send it through in some other way.”
There were a good many objections raised to this arrangement, for the
Night-hawks all knew that there was danger in it; but, after a little
argument, they concluded that Tom’s plan was the only one left them,
and he and Miller being the oldest members of the society, as well
as the highest in rank in the academy, were instructed to write the
letter. So, that afternoon, during play-hours, Miller visited Tom in
his dormitory, and, after the latter had produced writing materials,
they sat down to study up the important document.
“Now, Newcombe,” said Miller, “you ought to write that letter. You
understand the business better than I do, and, besides, you are the
highest officer in the society.”
But this was not the reason why the fourth colonel wanted Tom to do
the work. He doubted the latter’s ability to get the letter safely
into the hands of the village boys; and, if it should happen to fall
into the possession of the principal, the handwriting would tell him
where to look to find the guilty one. Thus, Tom was again used as a
“cat’s paw.”
“That’s one point settled,” continued Miller. “Now, to whom shall we
send it?”
“Johnny Harding is the best fellow,” answered Tom. “I know he’ll help
us. But how shall we address him?”
“Why, as it is an official letter from you, as the grand commander of
the council, you ought to address him according to his rank. Is he
still second corporal?”
“O, no, he made a big jump; one night, when his mother told him to
stay in the house, he crawled out of his window and came down the
lightning-rod. As his room was in the second story of the building,
it was something of a job, I tell you. When he told us about it, we
offered to make him a lieutenant, but Johnny said the reward wasn’t
big enough; and he told us that if we didn’t give him something
better than that, he would stay in the house the next time his mother
ordered him to do so. Well, we couldn’t afford to lose Johnny, you
know; so the next evening, after school, we all went up to look at
the house and the lightning-rod, and we came to the conclusion that
there was not another fellow in the society who would dare to attempt
a thing like that; so we created the office of fifth captain, and
gave it to him.”
“Well, he earned it,” said Miller. “But if he carries this thing
through for us, he will want something higher.”
“He ought to have it,” replied Tom. “I’ll be willing to promise
anything, if he’ll only help us.”
The Night-hawks then turned their attention to the letter, and at
the end of half an hour it was finished. Miller proved to be an
invaluable assistant, and Tom got along much better than he would,
had he been left to himself.
The letter ran as follows:
MILITARY ACADEMY, }
NEWPORT, August 28, 18--. }
_Fifth Captain John W. Harding_--
SIR: I have been instructed to ask your assistance, according to
article fifth of our laws. We are in trouble, and you are in duty
bound to help us out. When we tell you that in two weeks from this
date we shall be called upon to stand an examination, for which we
are totally unprepared, we know that you will sympathize with us.
We have decided upon a plan to escape from our troubles, and, with
the assistance you can easily render us, it can be successfully
carried out.
We intend to desert the academy and go to sea; and, in order to
do that, it is, of course, necessary that we should have a vessel
large enough to accommodate all the members of our society who
may desire to go with us. We wish you to visit the captain of the
Swallow, and ask him on what terms he will let us have his sloop
for three weeks. Get it as cheap as possible, for we are not very
flush of money just at present. We are perfectly willing to pay
him in advance, and will promise to take the very best care of his
boat. When you hire it, give him to understand that you want it for
yourself, to go off on a fishing excursion or something of that
kind (which, by the way, will be the truth), and that you don’t
want any of his crew on board. We can manage her ourselves. After
this has been done, ascertain how many of your boys will accompany
us (and we hereby extend an invitation to them all), and then make
an estimate of the amount of provisions we shall require. Each boy
is expected to furnish an equal share of money with which to foot
all our bills.
Please answer as soon as possible, and bring or send your letter to
the south side of the grounds, outside the fence; but don’t speak
to any one unless he proves himself to be a friend. We have lately
admitted some new members to our society; and, as you fellows in
the village are not acquainted with them, it is necessary that you
should be very careful.
We also need a long rope, strong enough to bear one’s weight, to
assist us in making our escape from the building.
Now, captain, look alive. Remember, we want the boat and provisions
ready two weeks from next Monday. Also bear in mind that the
success of our expedition depends upon you alone.
Very respectfully,
THOMAS NEWCOMBE,
_Grand Commander of the Council_.
“There!” said Tom, with a long breath of relief, “it’s finished at
last. That’s a splendid letter, and it covers all the ground. Now,”
he continued, as he folded it up and placed it in an envelope, “the
next thing is to get it safely to the post-office.”
“Yes; and that’s the most dangerous part of the undertaking,” said
Miller. “That’s a useless rule the colonel made, about putting all
letters in the mail-box. Now, Newcombe, mind what you are about,
or you’ll be brought up with a round turn. Then look out for the
guard-house.”
“Never mind me,” said Tom, as he put a stamp on the envelope. “I’ll
fix that all right.”
After the letter had been sealed and addressed, the two conspirators
left the dormitory, and Miller walked off toward the ball-ground,
while Tom loitered about in the hall. The students whose names were
on the “liberty list,” were leaving the academy to visit the village,
and, among them were several who had but recently been admitted to
the school. Presently a new scholar, who belonged to dormitory H,
came out of the principal’s room with a pass in his hand; and Tom,
walking carelessly toward him, accosted him with:
“Hallo, Simmonds! Off for the village, I suppose?”
“Yes,” replied the new student. “I am one of the lucky ones this
week.”
“You are fortunate, that’s a fact,” said Tom. “But Simmonds,” he
continued, as he accompanied the new scholar toward the gate, “will
you do a favor for me?”
“I will,” replied the other, readily.
“Then mail this letter for me,” said Tom, producing it.
“Isn’t that against the rules?” asked Simmonds, hesitatingly.
“What! mailing a letter? Now, Bill, who’s been stuffing you? Here,
take it, and don’t be a greeny!”
The new student evidently did not like to be considered a “greeny,”
for, without further hesitation, he took the letter and put it into
his pocket. Tom stood watching him until he had closed the gate, and
was well on his way toward the village; and then, congratulating
himself on the success of his plans, walked toward the ball-ground
and joined his companions.