"What will you do?" questioned Pender. "Remember, I"m just as down on him as you are."
"I don"t know yet, Gus. But I"ll do something."
"All right; when you are ready to act, let me know, and I"ll help you all I can," answered Gus Pender.
CHAPTER XIII
THE FIGHT AT THE BOATHOUSE
Inside of a week the newly-elected officers felt perfectly at home in their various positions. Captain Putnam"s idea of allowing only such cadets to be candidates as could fill the positions properly had borne good fruit, and the battalion was now in better condition than ever before.
Contrary to general expectations, Larry Colby, as major, proved a strict disciplinarian when on parade. In the playground he was as "chummy" as ever, but this was cast aside when he buckled on his sword and took command.
"This is as it should be," was Captain Putnam"s comment. "And it is the same throughout life: play is play and business is business."
As a captain d.i.c.k was equally successful and Tom also made a good second lieutenant. Company A was speedily voted superior to the others, when drilling and when on the march, and consequently became the flag bearer for the term.
"This is splendid!" said d.i.c.k, when the announcement was made. And then he went at Company A, to make the cadets drill and march better than ever.
But though the students gave considerable time to military matters, they were not permitted to neglect their regular studies, and to their honor be it said that the three Rover boys pitched in with a will.
"If I can"t be an officer I"m going to be a high grade student anyway,"
said Sam, and kept his word. Books suited him better than did military glories, and soon he was at the top of his cla.s.s in almost every branch of learning.
Many of the cadets were anxious to know where the annual encampment would be held, but for the time being Captain Putnam declined to discuss the subject.
"We will talk about that as soon as lessons are done for the term,"
said he.
"I don"t believe we"ll go to Brierroot Grove again," said Powell to d.i.c.k. "A farmer has built a house up there and is clearing off the land as fast as he can."
"I wish we could go to some place at a distance," returned d.i.c.k. "All of us know this territory pretty well. I like to visit new localities."
"So do I."
During those days the Rover boys received a letter from their father which proved unusually interesting. Anderson Rover wrote, in part, as follows:
"You will be surprised to learn, at this late day, that something had been heard about Arnold Baxter. A man who knows him fairly well met him a few nights ago in Owego. The news was telegraphed to me at once, and the local police were informed, but since that time nothing more has been seen or heard of the rascal. The man said he was well dressed and had been stopping at a leading hotel. Evidently he is using what was stolen."
"In Owego!" cried Sam. "Why, that city isn"t over fifty miles from here."
"This is his old stamping ground," put in Tom. "For all we know he may now be hanging around Ithaca or Cedarville."
"I don"t believe he"ll come here," said d.i.c.k. "He is too well known."
"Oh, if only we could lay hands on him, d.i.c.k!"
"Wish we could, Tom. But Arnold Baxter knows enough to keep out of our clutches."
"Wonder if he knows what became of Dan?"
"Like as not our story was in all the newspapers, and they mentioned Dan too."
"If that is so, it"s more than likely he thinks we are responsible for Dan being left behind on the island."
"I"m not going to bother my head about Arnold Baxter," put in Sam. "If he shows himself I"ll have him arrested, that"s all."
One day after another slipped by and all of the boys continued to study with a will. Once they received long letters from Dora Stanhope and Nellie and Grace Laning, and sent long letters in return.
"Wish the girls were back here," said d.i.c.k. But this could not be, as they had decided to remain in California for a while longer, and the boys had to content themselves by sending the girls keepsakes by which to be remembered.
On the Friday afternoon preceding the final week of the term Tom and Sam walked down to the lake, intending to go out in a boat for a short row.
As they drew close to the boathouse they heard loud talking and then a cry of pain.
"Please don"t," came in the voice of a young cadet. "Please, please don"t, Flapp!"
"But I just will, you little imp!" came in Lew Flapp"s harsh voice.
"I"ll teach you to play the sneak!"
"But I--I didn"t mean to do anything, really I didn"t," answered the other. "But I felt so sick, and I--"
"Oh, I know you, Moss. For two pins I"d break your head for you!" And then came the sounds of several blows in quick succession.
"It"s Flapp!" cried Sam. "He is beating somebody most shamefully."
"It"s little Harry Moss," returned Tom, leaping to the front. "The big bully! Why can"t he take a fellow of his own size?"
He rushed around the corner of the boathouse and there beheld a scene that aroused his warmest indignation. Harry Moss was crowded into a corner and over him stood Lew Flapp, beating him with a heavy boat chain.
Flapp had just raised the chain for another blow when Tom ran in and caught his arm.
"Stop!" he cried. "You let Harry Moss alone!"
Startled at the interruption Lew Flapp turned. When he saw both Tom and Sam his face fell.
"What do you want here?" he asked sulkily.
"I want you to leave Harry Moss alone," answered Tom.
"Oh, Rover, please make him stop," pleaded Harry. "He"s trying to kill me!"
"No, I ain"t," retorted Flapp. "I"m only giving him a whipping that he deserves."