THE MYSTERIOUS SLOOP
The attack had come so unexpectedly that for the moment Dan Baxter did
not know what to do. In a dazed fashion he sat up, and finally scrambled
to his feet. Mumps, the toady and sneak, gazed at Jack Ruddy in wonder.
"You'll catch it for that!" he cried. "Dan Baxter'll most kill you!"
"He has got to spell able first," murmured Jack.
"See here, what did you do that for?" spluttered Dan Baxter, when he
could collect himself sufficiently to speak.
"I told you this was none of your affair!" answered Jack. "After this you
attend to your own business, and I'll attend to mine."
"I told you to let up on Mumps."
"Well, you are not my master, Baxter."
"Mumps is under my protection."
"What you mean is, that he is one of your toadies."
"I ain't anybody's toady," came from John Fenwick, but his face grew as
red as a beet.
"Yes, you are, and you're a sneak in the bargain," said Jack.
"I've a good mind to give you a crack with this," burst out Dan Baxter,
as he swung his baseball bat aloft.
"Here, don't you hit Jack Ruddy with that!" came a voice from the rear,
and on the instant another cadet caught hold of the bat.
"Thanks, Andy," came from Jack. "But I don't think he'd dare."
"So you're going to take part in this too, eh?" said Dan Baxter, turning
to the newcomer.
"Oh, I only want to see fair play," answered Andy Snow, a tall, slender
boy, who was a good deal of an acrobat, and at the head of the gymnasium
class.
"Andy, were you up in your dormitory a while ago?" questioned Jack.
"Yes."
"Did you get hit with a lump of mud?"
"Yes. I'd like to spot the rascal that threw it."
"I was hit myself. That's why I came down after Mumps."
"So you're the guilty party, eh?" cried Andy Snow, stepping up to John
Fenwick.
"Don't!" screamed the lank boy, and turning, he ran off at top speed.
"Come on, Dan!" he called out, when at a safe distance. "Don't have
anything more to do with 'em!"
By this time a crowd of a dozen was beginning to collect. Dan Baxter
gazed around uneasily.
"We'll settle this some other time," he muttered, and edged away.
"Better settle it now," retorted Jack.
"I--I've got something else to do," faltered Dan Baxter, and then he
turned and followed his toady.
"Baxter is afraid of you, Jack," came from Andy Snow. "He's a bully if
ever there was one."
"He certainly is a bully."
"A thrashing would do him good."
"Well, he'll get it unless he minds what he is doing."
"It was a mean trick of Mumps to throw mud in at the windows," went on
Andy Snow, as they walked away. "I had just put on a clean shirt when it
hit me in the shoulder."
"Mumps is as much of a mean sneak as Baxter is a bully, Andy. They make a
fine team."
"Where are you bound?"
"Pepper Ditmore and I were going for a row on the lake, but Pep got into
trouble with Mr. Crabtree and had to go to the classroom."
"I'll go for a row if you wish."
"All right. We haven't much time, but we can take a short row anyway.
It's a pity Pep isn't along."
"You and he are great chums, aren't you?"
"Yes. You see, it is this way: His father and mine were old college
chums, and we take after them. Besides that, his father and mine are
associated in several business affairs."
The boathouse was soon gained, and the two cadets brought forth a rowboat
of fair size, and two pairs of oars.
"Hullo, you fellers!" came from back of the boathouse. "Is it yerselves
that's afther wantin' company, I don't know? If yez do, it's meself will
be afther comin' along."
"Hullo, Emerald!" returned Jack. "Yes, come on if you wish--there is room
enough."
"It's meself that would loike to learn how to row," said Joseph Hogan, as
he stepped into the craft. He was a pleasant-faced Irish lad, who had
come to Putnam Hall on the day the institution opened.
"All right, Emerald, we'll give you lessons," came from Andy Snow. "Wait
till we get out on the lake."
The craft was shoved off, and Jack and Andy seated themselves at the
oars. Soon they were gliding over the surface of Cayuga Lake in fine
style.
"Sure, an' it looks aisy enough," said Hogan.
"It is easy--after you know how," answered Andy. "By the way," he went on
to Jack, "are you going in for that boat race next week?"
"Yes, and so is Pepper."
"Good enough. I hope you both win."
As soon as they were well out on the lake both boys stopped rowing, and
allowed Joseph Hogan to take a pair of the oars.
"Now, take hold this way," said Andy Snow, "and pull like this."
The Irish lad tried. At first his blades slipped quite frequently, and
once he splashed some water into the craft.
"Look out!" cried Jack. "Emerald, we've had all the bath we want."
"Sure, an' I didn't mane to wet yez," was the answer. "The oars schlipped
before I knew it!"
In a few minutes the Irish boy was doing better, and they turned down the
lake. As they did this they noticed a small sailing boat approaching.
"There's that craft again!" cried Jack.
"What craft is that, Jack?"
"Oh, I forgot, Andy. It's a sloop Pepper and I saw day before yesterday.
We thought the fellows on board acted queerly."
"In what way?"
"They sailed up and down the shore at least ten times, as if they were on
the lookout for something or somebody."
"Who was on board?"
"Two men. I tried to catch a good look at their faces, but they wouldn't
give me a chance."
"It's certainly queer they should sail up and down here," was Andy's
comment. "Did they come from Cedarville?"
"I don't know."
By this time the strange sloop was close at hand. The same two men were
in command, but both kept their faces turned away as the rowboat glided
by.
"Did you notice how they kept their faces hidden?" queried Jack.
"Sure, I did that," answered Hogan. "B'ys, they are up to some thrick."
"It certainly is strange," said Andy, thoughtfully. "See, they are
turning back once more."
"Perhaps they know some of the cadets, and would like to meet them."
"More than likely they want to steal some of our boats."
The sloop turned again on her course, and it was not long before both
craft were only a short distance apart.
"I'm going to hail them, and learn what they have to say for themselves,"
whispered Jack.
"Do it," answered Andy.
"Sloop ahoy!"
At first there was no reply to this shout. Jack repeated the call, and
Andy brought the rowboat still closer.
"What do you want?" growled one of the men on the sloop, finally.
"Fine day," said Jack, brightly.
To this there was no answer.
"Looking for anybody around here?" came from Andy.
"No."
"Saw you cruising around here day before yesterday, didn't I?" continued
Jack.
"Maybe you did. We've been out on the lake quite some the past week,"
answered the second man.
"Thought, if you were looking for somebody, I might help you."
"No, you can't help us," growled the one who had first spoken.
"Do you belong at Putnam Hall?" questioned the other occupant of the
sloop.
"Sure, we do that," answered Hogan.
"Got many pupils there now?"
"Forty or fifty so far," said Jack.
"Humph! How many teachers?"
"Two regular teachers, besides Captain Putnam. Then we have others for
French, and German, and music."
"Who are the regular teachers?"
"Mr. Crabtree and Mr. Strong."
"Do they stay there all the time?"
"Yes."
"It must grow rather monotonous for them."
"Oh, we try to make it lively enough."
"Don't they ever go to town, or go boating?"
"Of course. Mr. Strong is quite an oarsman," came from Andy, who had been
out with the second assistant on more than one occasion.
At this announcement both of the men exchanged glances.
"You can come ashore and look at the school if you wish," said Jack.
"No, thank you, we don't care to do so," was the hasty answer; and a
moment later the sloop veered off, and was soon out of speaking distance.
"Well, they are a queer pair and no mistake," murmured Jack. "Did you
notice how one kept his hand over his forehead?"
"And how the other had his cap pulled far down over his eyes," added
Andy.
"Sure, an nayther of 'em looked roight sharp to me," put in Hogan. "I'd
not like to be spendin' much toime in their company."
"I believe they are up to something," said Jack. "I'd like to know what
it is."
"Perhaps we'll find out later," answered Andy. And they did find out, in
a manner that was as thrilling as it was astonishing.