OFF ON A PICNIC
As soon as the excitement attending Jack's election had subsided, Captain
Putnam announced that they would proceed next to the election of two
captains, one for Company A, and one for Company B. For this purpose each
student was allowed to put down two names, making the total number of
votes cast one hundred and fifty-four.
True to their promise, many who had supported Jack voted in favor of
Henry Lee, and as a consequence he was made captain of the first company.
Bart Conners became captain of Company B. Later still, Harry Blossom
became first lieutenant, and Dave Kearney a second lieutenant. For all of
these positions Dan Baxter received not more than six votes, much to his
disgust.
"It's a put-up job," he growled. "But just wait--I'll fix them!" And then
he and his cronies said no more.
After the voting was over, Captain Putnam called the newly elected
officers together and gave them their instructions.
"I shall leave the battalion in your hands from now on," he said to them.
"On parade and during drill you must see to it that every cadet does his
duty. Of course, during school hours and off hours, you will have no more
authority than any of your fellow pupils."
"I understand," said Jack, "and I don't want any authority excepting on
parade and during drill."
That evening the battalion celebrated on the campus of the Hall, with a
big bonfire and singing. There was also a fancy drill and a short parade,
and all enjoyed it excepting Baxter and his cronies. As soon as possible
the latter sneaked off in a little crowd by themselves.
"I'm satisfied that Ruddy and his crowd cooked this whole thing up
against you, Dan," said Coulter. "Look at Lee. He sold out the majorship
just to get a captaincy."
"And Dave Kearney sold out so he could be sure of becoming a lieutenant,"
put in Paxton. "It makes me sick."
"Well, some of the others sold me out," growled the bully. "I know twelve
fellows who said they'd vote for me, and the most votes I got were
seven!"
"Jack Ruddy must have bought them up," put in Mumps. "He's a slippery
one, he is!"
The majority of the cadets, however, were well satisfied over Jack's
election, and they told the newly elected major so. All shook him by the
hand, and wished him the best of success in his position. He was called
on to speak and made a neat speech.
"I thank you all for electing me," said he. "I trust we shall all be
friends, and that our relations with one another will be pleasant from
beginning to end. I am going to try to do my duty, and I know you will
try to do yours. And because you have made me major, don't forget
that--during school hours and off hours--I am one of you anyway."
"That's the way to talk!" called out a cadet. "Jack's the right kind of a
major."
"Three cheers for Major Ruddy," was the cry, and they were given loudly,
and a tiger followed.
A number of the boys, including Pepper and Andy, had worked hard to elect
Jack and he felt that he ought to do something for them in return. He
thought the matter over carefully and then decided to ask a dozen of the
cadets to go off on a picnic with him on the following Saturday
afternoon, which would be a half-holiday.
"Just the thing, Jack," said Pepper, when the thing was mentioned. "We
can have a jolly time, in the woods and along the lake shore."
"Do we take any grub along?" came from Stuffer Singleton, anxiously.
"It's no picnic without grub."
"Trust Stuffer to remember about food!" laughed Andy.
"To be sure we shall take something to eat along," answered Jack. "I'll
arrange it with the captain and Mrs. Green, and I'll buy some extras at
Cedarville."
As soon as the picnic, as it was called, was announced those to take part
became enthusiastic. Not to make the other cadets feel bad, it was kept a
secret among those concerned. Captain Putnam allowed the housekeeper to
have two baskets of provisions packed for Jack, and the young major took
Andy and Pepper with him to town, where they purchased some extra
dainties.
"This is going to be the dandiest of all picnics," declared Pepper. "A
red-letter day for Putnam Hall."
"Don't you want to invite Dan Baxter?" said Andy, with a sly grin.
"Not on your life, Andy!" cried Jack.
"Oh, I was only joking."
"He wouldn't come," put in Henry Lee. "He is as mad as hops because he
wasn't elected an officer."
"I don't want any such bully as he is to be an officer over me," came
from Stuffer Singleton.
There were signs of rain in the air on Friday and the students to
participate in the picnic grew anxious, fearing they would have bad
weather. But by the next morning the sun was shining as brightly as ever,
and soon all were ready for the start, which was to be made at one
o'clock.
"Say, what do you think?" cried Mumps, coming up to where Baxter and
Paxton were standing. "Jack Ruddy is going to take some of the fellows
out to the woods for a spread."
"Who told you?" queried the bully of Putnam Hall.
"I overheard them talking about it in the gym. They're going to take two
or three baskets of good things with them."
"That's a shame!" cried Paxton.
"We ought to spoil their game," suggested Gus Coulter. "Can't we do it,
Dan?"
"I don't know." Baxter became thoughtful. "Where are they going, Mumps?"
"Up to Gerry's Point, on the lake. It's about two miles from here."
"We might row up in one of the boats and see what we can do," answered
the bully. So it was arranged, and Baxter, Paxton, and Mumps set off
without delay. Coulter wished to go along but could not because he had an
extra lesson to do, he having missed several times during the week.
Jack and his friends started in high glee. They had three baskets filled
with good things to eat and to drink, and each basket was carried by two
boys, the handle having a stick passed through it for that purpose.
"I'm going to have a swim," declared Andy. "I know it's a little late in
the season, but the water is pretty warm."
"I'm with you," said Pepper. "I shan't mind the cold water. Why, I take a
cold bath two or three times a week, in the bathtub."
"Cold baths are very healthy," came from another of the crowd. "My father
used to be quite weak, but now he takes a cold bath every morning and it
is wonderful how strong he is getting."
The path led back of the Hall grounds and then through a dense woods
fronting the lake, where the shore made a sweeping turn. As the boys were
all good walkers, they covered the two miles with ease, reaching Gerry's
Point inside of an hour after starting.
"Now then for a rest and a swim," cried Pepper.
"And then we'll sample some of the good things Jack has provided," added
Stuffer, smacking his lips.
"Say, Stuffer, you could eat about all the time, couldn't you?" queried
Andy.
"No, not all the time--he must sleep," put in Jack, and this brought
forth a laugh.
"I caught myself eating once in my sleep," said Stuffer. "I began to
cough and woke up with a piece of pie in my hand. I had had the
nightmare, gone down to the kitchen pantry, and helped myself. After that
ma locked the pantry up and hid the key." And at this tale there was
another laugh.
After a short rest the boys went in bathing, placing their baskets in a
secluded spot behind some bushes. Not far away was a small stream of
water, and they did not know that in this one of the Hall rowboats was
hidden, containing Baxter, Paxton, and Mumps, who had watched their
arrival.
"Now is our chance!" cried Baxter, when all but two of the boys had gone
in bathing. "Let us take their baskets and make off with them. We can go
up the lake shore and have a dandy time on the good things!"
"Right you are," put in Paxton. "And won't Jack Ruddy and the others be
mad!"
"Be careful, or they'll spot you!" whispered Mumps, in a trembling tone.
"Oh, don't get scared, Mumps," said Baxter. "They can't see us--the
bushes are too thick."
Leaving the rowboat, the party of three stole to the spot where the
baskets were resting.
"Say but they are heavy," remarked Paxton in a low voice.
"Hush!" came warningly from the bully, and then nothing further was said.
Each took a basket, and started back for the rowboat as fast as he could
carry the load.
Baxter and Paxton had just placed their baskets in the boat when there
came a crash. Mumps, who was bringing up the rear, had slipped and let
his basket fall, breaking a drinking glass and a bottle of ginger ale.
"Hi, there, what's that?" came from Jack, who was standing in the water
up to his waist. "Who's breaking glass?"
"I'm not," answered one of the cadets on shore. "It was----"
"Hullo, there is Dan Baxter!" yelled Pepper. "He's got one of our
baskets!"
"They are running off with our things!" broke in Andy. "Hi, stop, Baxter!
Stop, Paxton!"
"Go to grass!" roared the bully of Putnam Hall. He flung himself into the
rowboat. "Quick, Paxton; quick, Mumps!"
Paxton leaped in, basket in hand. But Mumps, becoming frightened, let his
load remain where it had fallen and scrambled in headlong. Then the oars
were taken up and the craft shoved out into the stream.
"Stop them! Stop them!" came from Jack. "Don't let them get away, boys!"
"Swim for the boat," said another cadet. "Come on!"
"Baxter, stop your rowing!" called a cadet on shore. "Stop, or I'll throw
this!" And he held up a large and sharp stone.
"Ain't going to stop!" muttered the bully. "Clear the track, you
fellows!" And he shook his head at those in the water. "If you don't get
out of the way, I'll run over you!" And then he began to pull with might
and main, while Paxton did the same.