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THE PUTNAM HALL CADETS
Or, Good Times in School and Out
by
ARTHUR M. WINFIELD
Author of "The Rover Boys Series," "Bob, The Photographer," etc.
Illustrated
Grosset & Dunlap
Publishers · New York
* * * * * *
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
THE PUTNAM HALL RIVALS;
Or, Fun and Sport Afloat and Ashore.
THE PUTNAM HALL CADETS;
Or, Good Times in School and Out.
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS;
Or, The Mystery of Red Rock Ranch.
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER;
Or, The Search for the Missing Houseboat.
THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP;
Or, The Rivals of Pine Island.
THE ROVER BOYS ON LAND AND SEA;
Or, The Crusoes of Seven Islands.
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE MOUNTAINS;
Or, A Hunt for Fun and Fortune.
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES;
Or, The Secret of the Island Cave.
THE ROVER BOYS OUT WEST;
Or, The Search for a Lost Mine.
THE ROVER BOYS IN THE JUNGLE;
Or, Stirring Adventures in Africa.
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN;
Or, A Chase for a Fortune.
THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL;
Or, The Cadets of Putnam Hall.
_12mo, finely illustrated and bound in cloth._
_Price, per volume, 60 cents._
GROSSET & DUNLAP
PUBLISHERS · NEW YORK
* * * * * *
Copyright, 1901
by
The Mershon Company
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. Introducing Some Cadets 1
II. The Mysterious Sloop 10
III. A Case of Bribery 19
IV. Electing a Major 29
V. Off on a Picnic 38
VI. An Odd Bit of Punishment 47
VII. How the Boat Races were Won 56
VIII. The Cadets to the Rescue 66
IX. The Chums Make a Call 74
X. In the Hands of the Enemy 84
XI. A Great Game of Football 92
XII. Happenings after the Game 101
XIII. The Circus, and a Monkey 110
XIV. All about a Tiger 120
XV. Prisoners of a Wild Beast 129
XVI. Off on a Long March 138
XVII. Mumps Sees a Ghost 147
XVIII. The Young Major Shows His Courage 156
XIX. The Result of the Nutting Party 165
XX. Out in the Cold 175
XXI. The Boys "Hold the Fort" 185
XXII. Josiah Crabtree is Nonplused 194
XXIII. Buried under the Snow 203
XXIV. A Challenge Accepted 210
XXV. How the Fight Ended 217
XXVI. Friends in Need 225
XXVII. The Punishment of a Bully 233
XXVIII. The Results of a Fire 241
XXIX. The Disappearance of George Strong 249
XXX. A Lucky Escape--Conclusion 257
INTRODUCTION
My Dear Boys: In bringing out this story, "The Putnam Hall Cadets," the
initial volume in the "Putnam Hall Series," I feel it necessary to make
an explanation why it is that this tale is brought out when I have
already written so much concerning the doings of the students at Putnam
Hall.
Ever since I presented to the boys the first volume in the "Rover Boys
Series," I have been urged by the boys--and girls, too, for the matter of
that--to write something concerning the doings of the students at the
Hall previous to the coming of the Rover boys on the scene. When the
Rovers arrived they found a wide-awake, jolly crowd of cadets already
there, some of whom had been at the academy several years. My young
friends wished to know more about these, and it is for their benefit that
I have instituted this new series, which will tell of many things that
happened at the famous seat of learning from the time it was first opened
to the present day.
Putnam Hall is an ideal boarding school for boys, located on the shore of
a beautiful lake in upper New York State. The students there are bright,
manly fellows, full of vigor and fun, and bound to get the best there is
out of school life. There are some keen rivalries, and in the story are
related the particulars of a mystery which had an unlooked-for ending.
In offering this first book of the new series I wish to thank the
thousands everywhere who have written to me regarding the "Rover Boys
Series." It does my heart good to know that the tales have been so well
liked. I trust sincerely that the present story meets with equal
approbation.
Affectionately and sincerely yours,
Arthur M. Winfield.
_July 25, 1905._
THE PUTNAM HALL CADETS
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCING SOME CADETS
"Hurrah, Jack, I've got news! To-morrow we are going to ballot for
officers!"
"I'm glad to hear that," answered Jack Ruddy, as he threw down the
algebra he had been studying. "I was almost afraid we weren't going to
have officers this term."
"I suppose Captain Putnam wanted to find out if there was any military
material here before he let us fellows take charge," went on Pepper
Ditmore, as he swung himself up on a corner of the dormitory table. "Tell
you what, Jack, it's a great thing to organize a school like this, and
get everything in working order, all in six weeks."
"Do you think you are organized, Pep?" queried Jack Ruddy, with a twinkle
in his eyes.
"I'm organized about as much as I'll ever be," returned Pepper Ditmore.
"You can't expect a fellow like me to settle down and be as quiet as a
lamb, can you?"
"No, you're more like a jumping-jack. The fellows don't call you the Imp
for nothing."
"It's a base slander," returned Pepper Ditmore, with an injured air. "I'm
as meek, sometimes----"
"When you are asleep."
"As a--a----"
"Circus clown. By the way, have they found out yet who mixed the salt and
sugar last Saturday?"
"Can't say as they have."
"And who put that little bulldog in Josiah Crabtree's bedroom in the
dark?"
"They haven't asked me about it," and now Pepper Ditmore began to grin.
"Then let me congratulate you on your escape," and Jack Ruddy smiled
broadly.
"Let's change the subject, Jack. Don't you want to be an officer of the
Putnam Hall Cadet Corps? I should think that would just suit you. Your
father was an army officer."
"It would suit me first-rate. But the fellows don't know much about me.
Most of them are strangers to me."
"Well, they are mostly strangers to each other. If you want to become an
officer, say the word and I'll do the electioneering for you."
"Don't you want to be an officer yourself?"
At this question Pepper Ditmore gave a merry laugh.
"I'd make a fine-looking officer, wouldn't I?" he returned. "No, I'll
remain a high private in the rear rank--and take my sport in some other
way."
"And you expect me to be an officer over you, Pep? How in the world will
I manage you?"
"By not trying, Jack. But come, are you going to be an officer or not? As
a battalion, we are to have a major, two captains, two first lieutenants,
two second lieutenants, and a lot of sergeants and corporals. I want to
see you a captain at least."
"That's kind."
"I'd rather see you an officer than that Dan Baxter. Do you know, Jack, I
don't like that chap at all."
"No more do I. He is very overbearing. I heard him bossing some of the
little fellows around in regular slave-driver style."
"Well, he shan't boss me around."
"Oh, it's not likely he'll bother the big boys," came from Jack Ruddy, as
he arose from his chair and stretched himself. "Those chaps usually make
the little fellows toady to them. What time is it?"
"Just five o'clock."
"Then come on down to the lake and have a row before supper."
At that moment something soft, thrown up through the open dormitory
window, struck Jack Ruddy on the shirt bosom. It was a lump of mud, and
it left quite a mark behind.
"Hi, there, who threw that?" he cried, angrily, as he rushed for the
window. He was just in time to see a lank youth diving out of sight
behind some bushes.
"I know that lad," came from Pepper Ditmore. "His name is John Fenwick,
but they call him Mumps."
"I'll Mumps him!" retorted Jack Ruddy. "Come on!" And he rushed out of
the dormitory, and down the broad stairway three steps at a time. He was
just near the bottom when he passed a tall and rather sour-looking
teacher, who was coming up.
"Master Ruddy, not so fast----" began the teacher, when of a sudden
Pepper Ditmore struck the man on the shoulder, hurling him flat on his
back at the foot of the stairs.
"Oh, excuse me, Mr. Crabtree!" burst out the cadet. "I--er--I didn't mean
to run into you!"
"Yo--you imp!" spluttered Josiah Crabtree. "What do you mean by tearing
downstairs like a--a cyclone?"
"We're after a fellow who threw some mud up into our room," explained
Jack Ruddy.
"I didn't see you coming," added Pepper. "Very sorry--it shan't occur
again."
"This jumping downstairs has got to be stopped!" fumed Josiah Crabtree.
"I shall make an example of you, Ditmore. Go back to your classroom and
write this sentence one hundred times: 'It is best to walk with care.'"
"Have I got to go back now?" cried Pepper.
"At once."
"It isn't fair, Mr. Crabtree. I didn't mean to run into you; really, I
didn't."
"Stop! I want no back talk. To the classroom instantly."
"Mr. Crabtree," put in Jack Ruddy, "please----"
"Silence, Master Ruddy, or I shall send you, too."
"Catch that boy if you can, Jack," said Pepper, and walked slowly towards
his classroom. Josiah Crabtree saw him enter, and saw Jack Ruddy leave
the building, and then continued on his way upstairs.
Jack Ruddy and Pepper Ditmore were chums. Both hailed from the western
part of New York State, and they had arrived at Putnam Hall about a month
before this tale opens. Jack was a few months older than Pepper, but the
youths were of the same size and weight. Jack was of a serious turn and
studious, while Pepper was rightly called the Imp, on account of his
fun-loving disposition.
At the time of which I write, Putnam Hall was a new institution of
learning. It was located on Cayuga Lake, in New York State, not many
miles from the village of Cedarville. It was a handsome structure of
brick and stone, standing in the middle of a parade ground of about ten
acres. In front was a well-kept wagon road, and beyond this the grounds
sloped down to the lake, where were located the academy boathouse and
bathing houses. To the rear of the school were the barns and a
storehouse, and on one side a well-fitted-up gymnasium, all backed up by
a stretch of thick woods.
On the ground floor of the Hall, which was built in the shape of the
letter E, were located the classrooms and also a drillroom and a
messroom, all reached by three entrances, each of imposing appearance.
Above the ground floor were the sleeping apartments, those for the
students divided into dormitories holding four, six, or eight cadets.
The master of the school was Captain Victor Putnam, a bachelor, and a
West Point graduate. The captain had seen strenuous service in the West,
where he had fought under the gallant General Custer during several
Indian uprisings. But a fall from a horse had placed him on a sick bed,
and when he regained his health he decided to give up army life, and go
back to his former profession of teaching. Money had been left to him,
and with this he purchased the grounds and built the academy.
As was to be expected from a military man, the school was organized upon
military lines, and each cadet was given instructions in military duties
daily. All were clothed in neat but serviceable uniforms, and there was a
general parade each day, just before supper.
To get the school into proper shape, Captain Putnam had hired three
retired officers of the army to drill the boys daily. Under their tuition
all of the scholars had learned rapidly, and now the master of the Hall
was about to let the cadets choose their own officers and do their own
drilling, under his sole management.
Captain Putnam was a well-educated man, and taught several classes in the
school, besides looking after the general management. His head assistant
was Josiah Crabtree, just introduced, and his second assistant was George
Strong, whom we shall meet later.
Josiah Crabtree was a morose individual, with a very exalted opinion of
himself. He had come to the Hall with high recommendations, but it cannot
be said that Captain Putnam liked the man, and as for the cadets, they
nearly all hated him.
Leaving the building, Jack Ruddy hurried to the spot where his chum had
seen the boy called Mumps. He found the boy talking earnestly to a big,
burly youth, who carried a baseball bat in his hand.
"It was lots of fun," Mumps was saying, as Jack strode up. "I struck Andy
Snow, and Hen Lee, and some fellows in dormitory No. 4, and----"
"And you struck me, you sneak!" cried Jack, catching the boy by the arm.
"I suppose you thought it fine fun to cover me with mud."
"Hi! let me go!" cried Mumps, in sudden alarm. "Let me go. I--I--didn't
do anything."
"You threw a lump of mud up into our room and struck me."
"I--I--didn't----"
"You can't get out of it. I've a good mind to box your ears, Mumps."
"Say, you let that kid alone," came from the big boy with the baseball
bat. "Leave him alone, I say!"
"See here, Dan Baxter, this is none of your quarrel," retorted Jack.
"Let him alone."
"I'll let him alone when I feel like it."
"You'll let him alone now."
"Will I?" Jack caught Mumps by the collar and shook him thoroughly. "Now,
after this, you behave yourself, or I'll thrash you good," he went on.
"Oh! oh!" screamed the boy. "Le--let up! Don't--don't shake my head off!"
"Stop it!" roared Dan Baxter. "Stop it!" And rushing in he took hold of
Jack and tried to draw him back.
"Baxter, let go of me," said Jack, quietly, but with determination. "If
you don't----"
"What?" came from the big youth with a sneer.
"That!" retorted Jack, and turning from Mumps, he gave a quick push that
sent Dan Baxter flat on the turf.