well packed with the marriage-train. The Collieston weddings are
remarkable for the hilarity which ensues after the company return
from the ceremony. After a sumptuous dinner the company adjourn to
the links to a place which is smooth and level, and which lies at
no very great distance from the Coast-Guard station at the end of
the sands of Forvie, and there, to the inspiriting strains of the
violin, dance the ancient, picturesque, and intricate “Lang Reel o’
Collieston”—a reel danced by their forefathers and each succeeding
generation from time immemorial. To those who are fond of “tripping the
light fantastic toe,” and who never had the fortune to see it danced,
it would doubtless be interesting were we to give a description of
this “The Lang Reel o’ Collieston;” but, although fond of that sort
of exercise, we do not boast professional skill, and consequently are
unacquainted with the technical names of the various movements in this
particular department of the worship of Terpsichore. We may, however,
mention that, as indicated by its name, the _lang reel_ o’ Collieston
is a _lang reel_ in a double sense. It is of long duration and lengthy
in its dimensions, for all the wedding party join in dancing the “lang
reel.” It is commenced by the bride and her “best man,” and pair after
pair link into its links as the dance proceeds, until all have linked
themselves into it, and then pair after pair drop off, as in some
country-dances, until none are left dancing but the bride and “best
man” who commenced it. As may be supposed, this extended saltatory
effort is rather trying for the bride; and we heard one sonsy wife of
forty declare, in recapitulating the share she had on her wedding-day,
that “the back of her legs didna cour (recover) the lang reel for a
month afterwards.” The dance movement is very curious. The dancers
“reel, set, and cross, and cleek,” and change places in such a way as
to take them by degrees from the head of the dance to the foot, and
back to the head again, and so on, the whole being like the links of
a chain when reeling. When the couples are dancing, the lang reel o’
Collieston looks like a series of common Highland reels, and it is in
the reeling that the peculiarity and intricacy of indescribableness of
the dance exists. This reel is quite indispensable at marriages, and
after it has been danced other reels and dances are enjoyed and kept up
with very great spirit—natural and imbibed; and to see the lang reel o’
Collieston danced on the greensward under the blue canopy of heaven,
on a sweet afternoon in summer, is a treat worth going many miles to
enjoy. Not only would the eye enjoy a rare feast, but what with the
sweet music of the violin, the merry song of the lark in mid-heaven
right overhead, the ringing guffaws of the juvenile spectators, the
clapping of hands, and the loud _hoochs_ or whoops of the dancing
fishermen, all commingling and commingled with the murmur of billows
breaking among the rocks, the ear would have a banquet of no ordinary
kind nor of everyday occurrence.—_Banffshire Journal._

[18] In the fishing villages on the Firths of Forth and Tay, as well as
elsewhere in Scotland, the government is gynecocracy. In the course of
the late war, and during the alarm of invasion, a fleet of transports
entered the Firth of Forth, under the convoy of some ships of war which
would reply to no signals. A general alarm was excited, in consequence
of which all the fishers who were enrolled as sea-fencibles got on
board the gunboats, which they were to man as occasion should require,
and sailed to oppose the supposed enemy. The foreigners proved to be
Russians, with whom we were then at peace. The county gentlemen of
Mid-Lothian, pleased with the zeal displayed by the sea-fencibles at a
critical moment, passed a vote for presenting the community of fishers
with a silver punch-bowl, to be used on occasions of festivity. But
the fisherwomen, on hearing what was intended, put in their claim to
have some separate share in the intended honorary reward. The men, they
said, were their husbands; it was they who would have been sufferers
if their husbands had been killed, and it was by their permission and
injunctions that they embarked on board the gunboats for the public
service. They therefore claimed to share the reward in some manner
which should distinguish the female patriotism which they had shown on
the occasion. The gentlemen of the county willingly admitted the claim;
and, without diminishing the value of their compliment to the men, they
made the females a present of a valuable brooch, to fasten the plaid of
the queen of the fisherwomen for the time.

It may be further remarked, that these Nereids are punctillious among
themselves, and observe different ranks according to the commodities
they deal in. One experienced dame was heard to characterise a younger
damsel as “a puir silly thing, who had no ambition, and would never,”
she prophesied, “rise above the _mussel-line_ of business.”—_Note to
Antiquary._

[19] “The Scottish fishwomen, or “fishwives” of Newhaven and Fisherrow,
as they are usually designated, wear a dress of a peculiar and
appropriate fashion, consisting of a long blue duffle jacket, with wide
sleeves, a blue petticoat usually tucked up so as to form a pocket, and
in order to show off their ample under petticoats of bright-coloured
woollen stripe, reaching to the calf of the leg. It may be remarked
that the upper petticoats are of a striped sort of stuff technically
called, we believe, drugget, and are always of different colours. As
the women carry their load of fish on their backs in creels, supported
by a broad leather belt resting forwards on the forehead, a thick
napkin is their usual headdress, although often a muslin cap, or mutch,
with a very broad frill, edged with lace, and turned back on the head,
is seen peeping from under the napkin. A variety of kerchiefs or small
shawls similar to that on the head encircle the neck and bosom, which,
with thick worsted stockings, and a pair of stout shoes, complete the
costume.”

[20] “There fishermen and fishermen’s daughters marry and are given in
marriage to each other with a sacredness only second to the strictness
of intermarriage observed among the Jews. On making inquiry we find
that occasionally one of these buxom young damsels chooses a husband
for herself elsewhere than from among her own community; but we
understand that when this occurs the bride loses caste, and has to
follow the future fortunes of the bridegroom, whatever these may turn
out to be. Speaking of marriages, the present great scarcity both
of beef and mutton, and the consequent high price of these articles
of food, seems in no way to terrify the denizens of Newhaven, for
there the matrimonial knot is being briskly tied. While chatting with
some of the fishermen just the other day we heard that two of these
celebrations had taken place the night before, and that other four
weddings were expected to come off during this week; and we both heard
and saw the fag end of the musical and dancing jollification, which
was held in a public-house on these two recent occasions, and which
was kept up until far on in the next afternoon. We can see little to
tempt the young women of Newhaven to enter into the marriage state,
for it seems only to increase their bodily labour. This circumstance,
however, would appear to be no obstacle in the way, but rather to spur
them on; and we recollect of once actually hearing, when a girl rather
delicate for a Newhaven young woman was about to be married, another
girl, a strapping lass of about eighteen, thus express herself:—“Jenny
Flucker takin’ a man! she’s a gude cheek; hoo is she tae keep him? the
puir man’ll hae tae sell his fish as weel as catch them.” When upon
this subject of intermarriages among the Newhaven people it is proper
to mention that we heard contradictory accounts regarding the point;
some saying that no such custom existed, or at least that no such
rule was enforced by the community, while another account was that
only one marriage out of the community had, so far as had come to the
knowledge of our informant, taken place during the last eight or nine
years.”—_North Briton._

[21] Some of this information about Fisherrow is from _Chambers’
Journal_.

[22] From a private letter by Mr. Donald Bain.

End of Project Gutenberg's The Harvest of the Sea, by James Glass Bertram


we can fix it so they won’t have an easy time to find us.”

It was nearly noon when the boys came into their camp with the horse and
wagon. The other searching party had come back a few minutes before,
much discouraged.

“Good for you!” said one of the other searchers. “I’m glad we didn’t all
fail.”

“Jack, don’t forget that we expect visitors,” said Andy, a little later.

“Of course!” exclaimed the young major. “Boys, I want you to put this
camp into first-class shape immediately,” he added, and then proceeded
to wash up and brush his hair before the one tiny mirror brought along
from the Hall.

It was not long after this that a call sounded through the woods, and
then the cadets saw two men and two girls approaching, each carrying a
basket covered with a napkin. The party consisted of Mr. Rossmore Ford
and his two daughters, and the family coachman.

“So this is where you are stopping!” cried Mr. Ford, after the greetings
were over. “An ideal spot, I must say, and one pretty well hidden from
the carriage road. I take it that your teachers haven’t found you yet.”

“No, sir,” answered Jack.

“Would you mind telling me why you rebelled? I am very much interested,”
went on the gentleman.

In as few words as possible the young major told the particulars of the
trouble with Josiah Crabtree and Pluxton Cuddle. Mr. Ford, Laura and
Flossie listened with close attention.

“Well, if all this is true, I do not wonder at your running away,” said
Rossmore Ford. “I rather think I should have run away myself.”

“Here are the pies, and some cakes and fresh rolls,” said Laura. “The
pies are apple, lemon and cocoanut, and we hope you’ll like them.”

“Like them!” cried a dozen cadets in chorus. “Just you wait till you see
us eat them!”

“We have only one lad here who doesn’t like pie,” went on Pepper,
soberly. “That’s Paul Singleton. He——”

“Hi, you!” cried Stuffer. “I like pie as well as anybody, and you know
it. Miss Ford, don’t you pay attention to what he says!”

“Maybe he wants all the pie to himself,” answered Flossie.

“We’d feel honored to have you take dinner with us,” said Jack to Mr.
Ford, after consulting some of his chums.

“Oh, let us stay, papa! It would be such fun!” pleaded Laura.

“Yes! yes!” added her sister.

“Well, if it is not too much trouble——” murmured Rossmore Ford.

“No trouble at all!” cried the cadets and then it was arranged that all
of the visitors should remain for the midday meal. This settled, Stuffer
and the other cooks bustled about to get the repast ready.

                             CHAPTER XXVIII
                            AFTER THE TRAMPS

It was pleasant for Jack and his chums to have the Fords with them, and
all spent an agreeable hour together, while waiting for the meal and
during the repast. The pies and fresh rolls proved highly acceptable.
The cake Stuffer wanted to cut, too, but the young major said that must
be kept for supper.

“He’d put on everything in camp, if I let him,” Jack explained to the
girls. “He’s the greatest eater in the school, and that’s why we call
him Stuffer. But he’s a good fellow all the same,” he added, hastily.

During the meal the boys told Mr. Ford of the tramps, and what was to be
done that afternoon to capture the fellows. The gentleman was much
interested.

“We have lost fowls over to my place,” he said. “Perhaps these men are
guilty of the depredations. If so, I think I ought to have a hand in
this round-up,” and he smiled faintly.

“You can go along if you wish, Mr. Ford,” answered Jack, readily.

“Then I will. The girls can drive home with Michael.” And so it was
arranged.

“Papa, I want you to keep out of harm,” said Laura, on parting. “And you
boys had better take care, too,” she continued.

“We’ll be on our guard, don’t fear,” answered Pepper, and then he and
Andy saw the girls to the carriage, and saw Michael the coachman drive
off with them.

While the cadets were awaiting the arrival of Landerson the butcher and
Peters and Robinson, two farmers who had lately lost chickens by
stealing, the young major gave some of them directions where to go and
establish a new camp. This was a spot known to but a few, and he felt
certain that Reff Ritter would not be able to follow them to it.

“Take the horse and wagon along over the stones,” he said, “and then
drive them down Baker’s brook. Water leaves a mighty poor trail.”

“All right, we’ll do the best we can,” said Bob Grenwood, who was placed
at the head of the cadets to superintend the removal.

About half-past two the butcher and the two farmers arrived, in company
with a small, fat man who gravely announced himself as one of the deputy
sheriffs of the county.

“Great Cæsar! Has he come to arrest us!” whispered Bart Conners, as the
deputy sheriff eyed the boys in a suspicious manner.

“No, he has come to arrest the chicken thieves—if he can find them,”
answered Jack.

It looked as if a storm might be brewing, so no time was lost in
starting in the direction of the tramps’ camp. Andy and Stuffer, knowing
the trail, led the way, and the men from Cedarville and Mr. Ford and six
of the cadets followed. The deputy sheriff and the two farmers carried
shotguns, and the butcher boastfully exhibited a pistol of the old
“hoss” variety, and nearly two feet long.

“We may as well arm ourselves,” suggested Rossmore Ford. “There is no
telling what may happen, if those rascals show fight.” And he cut
himself a stout stick, and the cadets did likewise.

The deputy sheriff being fat was also short of wind, so the party had to
move slowly. Once they came to a halt, Andy and Stuffer being a little
doubtful of the trail.

“Don’t—er—take us off the road,” panted the deputy sheriff. “This
walk—er—is bad enough as it is,” and he gave a deep sigh. Walking had
never been his strong point.

At last they came in sight of the hollow and Andy pointed out the rude
shelter and the remains of a campfire. Not a soul was to be seen.

“Perhaps they have deserted the spot,” said Jack. “If they have it’s too
bad.”

“Ha! don’t tell me you have brought me here on a fool’s errand!” puffed
the deputy sheriff.

“If you are fooled, Mr. Nugg, so are we,” answered Rossmore Ford.

“I think I see somebody sleeping under that shelter,” said the butcher.
“Yes, I do! It’s a man—and a tramp, by the looks of his ragged
clothing!”

“Then some of them must be on hand,” answered Pepper.

“I hope the man I am after is there,” put in Andy. He was thinking more
of the things he had lost than of capturing the rascals on account of
the chickens that had been stolen.

“Hadn’t we better surround the place?” suggested Jack, with true
military instinct.

“Just—er—what I was going to suggest,” said Mr. Nugg, quickly. “But
don’t do any shooting unless I give the command,” he continued
warningly.

“I doubt if it will be necessary to do any shooting,” said Rossmore
Ford. “Tramps are usually cowards and give up at the sight of firearms.
If we do any shooting somebody of our own party may get hurt.”

They spread out in a circle and with caution drew closer to the tramps’
camp. As they approached they saw that three men were resting under the
rude shelter. Presently one of the men raised his head, looked around
and uttered a cry of warning. Then all leaped to their feet, gazing at
the approaching men and boys in consternation.

“Surrender, in the name of the law!” shouted the fat deputy sheriff.

“Wot’s dis anyhow?” demanded one of the tramps, trying to retreat, and
finding himself hemmed in.

“Do you surrender, or do you want to be shot?” asked the butcher.

“Surrender?” asked a second tramp. “Wot’s dis? We ain’t done nuthin.”

“Up with your hands!” went on the deputy sheriff, who was bound to make
the capture as dramatic as possible, and up into the air went three very
dirty pairs of hands.

“Any more of you around here?” asked Andy, quickly, for he saw that not
one of the fellows present was the individual he had met at the jewelry
store.

“De udders have——” began the third tramp, a nervous looking young
fellow.

“You shut yer mouth, Bug!” cried the first tramp who had spoken,
warningly.

“Let him speak if he wants to,” said Jack, stepping forward. At the
sight of the military uniform the rascals looked much worried.

“So youse is bringin’ de soldiers here, hey?” said one.

“Da ain’t soldiers, da are cadets from a school,” said one tramp. “Don’t
yer know Flatnose told us about ’em?”

“Where is Flatnose?” asked Andy eagerly. He remembered that the tramp he
was after had a somewhat flat nose.

“He’ll be back in about——” began the younger of the three tramps, when a
warning look from both of the others halted him as before.

“When will he be back—answer me?” said Rossmore Ford sternly.

“Don’t youse say a word more!” growled the largest of the tramps.

“Here comes some men now—over yonder hill!” cried Dale, who chanced to
look back.

“Yes—and there is the rascal I want to catch!” returned Andy. “Come on,
Jack and Pepper, will you help me?”

“We will!” answered his two chums.

“There are four men!” cried the butcher.

“I know one of ’em!” yelled one of the farmers. “I saw him around my
henhouse one evening! He’s the chap I want to catch!” And away he went
with his shotgun.

“Hi! Wot’s dis?” cried one of the tramps in the distance.

“I know wot’s up,” answered another. “Da are after us! Our hangout has
been discovered! Say, boys, we have got to dust if we want to keep out
o’ jail!”

And then off they ran, in several different directions, and after them
went Andy, Jack and Pepper, and two other cadets, and Mr. Ford and one
of the farmers did likewise.

                              CHAPTER XXIX
                       SOMETHING OF A CONFESSION

“I want to get hold of that fellow with the flat nose!” cried Andy to
his chums. “I don’t care so much about the others.”

“We are with you, Andy,” answered the young major.

“We are bound to catch him sooner or later,” added Pepper.

The tramps had a start of at least a hundred yards and lost no time in
trying to escape. The fellow called Flatnose made for a dense patch of
woods behind the spring and was soon lost to sight. But the cadets heard
him as he crashed and plunged through brushwood and over rocks, and
slowly but steadily they drew nearer to the rascal.

“You might as well stop!” cried Andy. “We are bound to catch you.”

“If you come any closer somebody will git hurt,” called back the tramp
roughly. “You ain’t goin’ to catch me, not much you ain’t!”

“Do you think he’ll dare to shoot at us?” asked one of the cadets.

“No,” answered Jack. “I believe they are all cowards.”

On and on plunged the tramp, with the boys after him. He was now
ascending a small hill. Beyond, the cadets knew, was a cliff, fringed
with brushwood.

“Wonder if he knows about the cliff?” said Pepper.

“He must—since he has been in this neighborhood so long,” answered Jack.
“But if he doesn’t he may take a nasty tumble.”

“Maybe he is hoping to make us take the tumble,” came from Andy.

This was a trick the tramp had in mind, and reaching the edge of the
cliff, he darted to the right and crouched down under some thick bushes.

The cadets ran on at full speed until they neared the cliff and then
slowed up. They peered over the edge of the height into the little
valley below but could see no one.

“He’s around here somewhere,” declared Jack, and just then saw a bush
that had been caught back switch itself into place. He leaped into the
direction.

“Here he is, fellows!”

“Where?” asked Andy and Pepper in a breath.

“Under a bush. Come out of that!” Jack added to the fugitive.

“I ain’t comin’ out,” whined the tramp. He was out of wind and
crestfallen.

“If you don’t come out, we’ll kick you out,” answered Andy, and then he
shook his stick at the fellow. “Come out of that, and be quick about
it.”

The tramp looked at the acrobatic youth and he gave a little gasp.
Evidently he recognized Andy.

“I ain’t done nuthin,” he grumbled. “I’m an honest fellow, I am.”

“You certainly look it,” answered Jack. “Come, get up.” And he, too,
raised his stick as if to hit the rascal over the head.

“Don’t—don’t strike me!” was the cry. “I’ll come out! But I ain’t done
nuthin’.”

Very reluctantly the tramp crawled out from under the bushes and faced
the boys. When Andy looked at him his eyes fell.

“I guess you know me,” said Andy, sternly.

“You? I ain’t never seen you before.”

“Oh, yes, you have. We met in the jewelry store in Cedarville one
evening.”

“Not me. You’ve got the wrong man.”

“No, you are the fellow. And after we met at the jewelry store you
attacked me on the road, threw me off my bicycle, and robbed me.”

“No, I didn’t!” cried the tramp, but his manner showed that he was much
dismayed by the accusation.

“What I want to know is, What did you do with the things you took from
me?” continued Andy.

“Didn’t I say you had the wrong man?”

“Will you give up the stuff or not?”

“Say, I ain’t——”

“Answer my question.” And Andy raised his stick as if to hit the fellow
on the head.

“I—I ain’t got the stuff,” cried the tramp in alarm. “Don’t hit me. I—I
turned the stuff over to Levi, the fence.”

“Levi, the fence?” queried Andy.

“A fence, in criminals’ language, is a receiver of stolen goods,”
explained Jack. “Where is this Levi?” he asked.

“Over in Albany. He was in Cedarville when I give him the goods. He
promised me twenty dollars, but I only got five. He ought to be
pinched,” went on the tramp, meaning by “pinched” he should be arrested.

“You come with us,” said Andy, and between them the cadets marched the
tramp back to the camp in the hollow.

At the hangout they found that four of the tramps had been caught and
made prisoners. The others had escaped, and what became of them nobody
found out.

“I have heard of that fellow Levi,” said the deputy sheriff. “He has
been wanted for some time. I think the Albany police are now after him.”

Seeing it would be useless to conceal matters longer, the tramp called
Flatnose made a full confession, in which he told of attacking Andy just
as had been supposed. He had found the tree limb in the woods near the
road, and had thrust it out from the bushes just when the bicyclist was
passing.

“I got scared when you didn’t come to your senses,” he said. “I didn’t
mean to do nuthin’ but knock you into the road an’ take the things.”

“Well, that was enough,” said Andy, grimly. “But I must say I am
thankful I wasn’t killed.”

“These men are all rascals,” said Rossmore Ford. “They are petty
thieves, and they have terrorized the women and children for several
miles around. We’ll see to it that they all get what they deserve.” And
it may be added here that every one of the tramps was sent, later on, to
jail. At the camp were found ample proofs of how they had been robbing
not only henroosts and sheepfolds, but also houses and barns. The
butcher and the farmers were glad to see the rascals rounded up, and the
deputy sheriff was proud of the part he had played in the affair.

“We’ll look out for your things,” said the deputy to Andy. “And as soon
as we get them we’ll let you know.”

It was not deemed necessary for the cadets to help get the tramps to the
Cedarville lock-up and so, after bidding the men good-bye, the boys
started off in the direction where the new camp of the school runaways
was to be located.

“I’ll wager Reff Ritter was mad when he found the horse and wagon and
all those things gone,” said Pepper.

“He’ll do his best to find our new camp,” answered Jack. “Perhaps he’ll
want to fight next.”

“If he does, I reckon we can give him all he wants,” said Andy.

The sky was much overcast and it looked as if it might rain at any
moment. This caused the cadets to increase their speed, and soon they
were past the spot where the first camp had been located.

“Hello, look there!” cried Pepper, presently, and pointed among the
trees.

“It’s Gus Coulter!” answered another cadet “What is he doing here?”

“They must be looking for us already,” exclaimed Jack.

All ran up to Coulter, to learn that he was alone—some others who had
been with him having scattered to look for the new camp of the crowd
under the young major.

“See here, Coulter, I want to talk to you!” cried Jack, grabbing the
cadet by the arm. “Come here, boys!” he added, to his friends.

Thus caught alone, Coulter was much frightened and when the young major
began to talk to him he trembled in every limb.

“What do you want?” he faltered.

“I want to talk to you, Coulter.”

“What about?”

“About a certain talk you had with Reff Ritter.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Well, you will know before I am done with you.”

“You let me go,” said Coulter, uneasily. “You haven’t got any right to
detain me in this fashion.”

“Well, I am taking the right,” answered the young major sturdily. “I
want you to understand——”

Jack got no further, for with a sudden twist and a push Gus Coulter
freed himself, leaped through the crowd, and dashed away.

“After him!” yelled Pepper. “He mustn’t get away like this!”

“I reckon we can catch him,” put in Andy, and then all of the cadets
started in pursuit of the fleeing one.

Coulter was badly scared—why he could not exactly tell—and he ran like a
deer. But the others kept on his track.

“There he goes!” cried Jack, as the running lad darted behind a heavy
clump of bushes.

The next instant there arose on the air a wild cry of dismay and alarm.

“Oh, dear! Help me, somebody!”

“He’s in trouble!” said Andy.

“Go slow—or somebody else may get into trouble, too,” cautioned the
young major.

Slackening their pace, the crowd approached the clump of bushes and
passed around to one side. They then saw what had caused Coulter to cry
for assistance.

On the other side of the bushes was a big swamp hole, filled with muck,
dead leaves and water. In his anxiety to escape Gus Coulter had plunged
into the swamp hole and was now up to his waist and rapidly sinking.

“Ge—get m—me out, somebody!” he gasped. “Quick, or I’ll—I’ll go down
an—and be smothered!”

The others saw that Coulter’s plight was serious and something must be
done to save him.

“I’ve got it!” cried Andy, as he looked around. “I reckon I can get him
out.”

“How?” questioned Pepper.

“Wait—I’ll show you.”

The acrobatic youth ran to a big tree growing close to the edge of the
swamp. He climbed up with marvellous rapidity, and then worked his way
out on a branch that grew over Coulter’s head.

“Good for Andy!” cried Jack.

“If only the limb will bend down far enough,” added Pepper.

Soon the acrobatic youth was close to the outer end of the limb. He bent
down, but his hand did not come within a foot of Gus Coulter’s reach.

“I—I can’t ma—make it!” gasped the boy below. His face was full of
abject fear.

“Wait a minute,” answered Andy.

He turned over, and the next moment was hanging from the limb by his
feet, which he had crossed one over the other. Thus he was able to reach
Coulter with ease.

“Look out, Andy, that you don’t go down, too,” cautioned Jack.

“And take care that the limb doesn’t break,” added Pepper.

Slowly but surely Andy began to draw poor Gus Coulter from the muck. It
was a severe strain on the acrobatic youth, and his muscles stood out
like whipcords, while his face, from hanging down, became purple. The
tree limb bent low, until the outer leaves swept the swamp hole.

“I don’t think he’ll make it,” was the comment of one of the cadets, but
even as he spoke there was a sucking sound and up came Coulter, and the
tree limb bounded several feet higher.

“Hurrah! He’s got him!” yelled Pepper, and his cheer was echoed by the
others.

Both boys in the tree were somewhat out of breath and they did not
descend at once. Finally Andy slid down and Coulter followed.

The lad who had the accident presented a most woebegone appearance. He
was covered with black muck up to his armpits, and some of the muck was
on his hands and face. Now that the danger was over the others had all
they could do to keep from laughing at the unfortunate one.

“Coulter, you can thank Andy for saving your life,” remarked Pepper.

“I—er—I wouldn’t have tumbled into the hole if you hadn’t chased me,”
grumbled Coulter.

“And we wouldn’t have chased you if you hadn’t tried to run away,” came
from the young major.

“You had no right to stop me.”

“As I said before, I am taking the right, Coulter. I want you to confess
something.”

“Me? I haven’t done anything.”

“You know what Reff Ritter did. I heard you talk it over.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean just this,” answered Jack, and then spoke about the talk he had
heard between Reff Ritter and Coulter concerning the use of the French
headache powders.

“Now I want you to tell the truth, Coulter,” said the young major,
finally. “Who put those powders into my drinking water? Answer, or I’ll
give you the biggest thrashing you ever had in your life!”

“Don’t—don’t hit me!” cried the cadet.

“Then answer—and tell the strict truth.”

“Reff Ritter. But if he learns I told on him he’ll hammer me to death,”
added Coulter, with a very white face.

And then he told the particulars, just as Ritter had given them. All of
the cadets present listened with interest. When Coulter had finished
Jack caught him by the shoulder.

“Now get out!” he cried. “Go back to Ritter, and don’t you show your
face near our camp!” And Coulter lost no time in disappearing.

Five minutes later the cadets came in sight of the new camp. As they
entered the clearing Pepper gave a gasp.

“Look! There is Captain Putnam!”

“You are right,” answered Jack. “Now we’ve got to face the music!”

                              CHAPTER XXX
                      BACK TO THE HALL—CONCLUSION

“Well, young gentlemen, it would seem that you have been taking matters
into your own hands,” remarked Captain Putnam, as he faced those who had
just arrived. He looked stern, yet not as angry as they had sometimes
seen him.

“Captain Putnam, we felt it was absolutely necessary to do what we have
done,” answered Jack.

“Have the others told you how we were treated?” asked Pepper.

“In part, yes. But I wish to hear what you have to say also.”

“And I suppose you’d like to hear what Mr. Crabtree and Mr. Cuddle have
to say,” put in Andy.

“Never mind that just now,” said the master of the Hall. “Major Ruddy, I
will listen to your story.”

In a plain, straightforward manner Jack told his story from beginning to
end, very much as I have set it down here. He did not omit a single
important detail. He told of the throwing of the inkwell, the hot
potatoes and the bread, but mentioned no names. He also related the
particulars of the trouble in the classrooms, and of how Pluxton Cuddle
had endeavored to starve them into submission, aided in this work by
Josiah Crabtree. When this was told the captain drew down the corners of
his mouth and frowned.

“He won’t stand for that—I knew he wouldn’t,” whispered Dale to Stuffer.

“Nobody would stand for starving!” cried the lad who loved to eat.

After Jack had finished, several other cadets were interviewed. Then
Captain Putnam wanted to know the whereabouts of Ritter and his crowd.

“We can take you to them,” said Dale.

“That will not be necessary, Blackmore. You may go to their camp and
tell them that I want them to return to Putnam Hall at once.” And
somewhat against his will, Dale departed on the errand.

“What are we to do?” asked Andy.

“Break camp and return to the school, now,” Captain Putnam turned to
Jack. “Major Ruddy, you will give the necessary orders.”

“Gladly, sir—now that you are back, Captain Putnam,” cried Jack.

“Are you really glad that I am back, Ruddy?”

“Yes, sir—and I know the others are glad, too. We didn’t run away just
for the fun of it,” he added, earnestly.

“It may give my school a black eye.”

“Not as much of a black eye as the teachers gave it by hiring those men
from Cedarville to come down and play guard.”

“This is true—and I have already told Mr. Crabtree so.”

“Oh, then you’ve been to the school?”

“Yes.”

“Then—then——” The young major hesitated.

“We’ll thrash this whole thing out later, Ruddy. It is too serious a
matter to decide now. A storm is coming and I want you to get back if
possible before it breaks. Start for the school as soon as you can.”

In less than quarter of an hour the cadets were on the march. Andy drove
the wagon, which was piled high with the outfit. Captain Putnam walked
by the young major’s side, and the cadets kept step as if on dress
parade. All wondered what would be the end of the affair. Would any of
them be expelled?

At the entrance to the campus they were met by Peleg Snuggers, and he
was directed to take charge of the wagon and its contents. Then the
cadets entered the Hall. All was silent within, and neither Josiah
Crabtree nor Pluxton Cuddle showed himself. The boys were told to go
straight to the general assembly room.

It had begun to rain and soon it was pouring in torrents, while the
lightning flashed and the thunder roared incessantly. In the midst of
the storm Dale dashed in.

“I went to their old camp, but Ritter and his crowd had moved,” he said.
“I couldn’t find them, and not wishing to get soaked I came to the
school.”

“It is too bad,” said Captain Putnam. “But it cannot be helped. I will
send for them again after the storm clears off.” Then the captain left
the cadets in the assembly room, telling them to keep quiet until his
return.

“I guess he is going to have it out with Crabtree and Cuddle,” whispered
Pepper. And he was right.

An hour passed, and then a side door opened and Captain Putnam entered,
followed by Josiah Crabtree and Frank Barringer. The boys started on
seeing the teacher for he seemed suddenly to have grown several years
older. The master of the Hall ascended the platform and made a speech.

“I have heard both sides of this controversy,” said he. “Mistakes have
been made all around. It was a mistake for you cadets to become
disorderly in the classrooms and in the mess hall—and it was a mistake
on the part of the teachers to attempt to starve you into submission.
For trying to starve you I find Mr. Cuddle responsible, and he has this
day severed his connection with Putnam Hall.”

“Good!” whispered Andy. “Good-bye to Cuddle, and may we never see his
like again!”

“Mr. Crabtree is willing to let bygones be bygones,” went on Captain
Putnam. “He realizes his mistakes and regrets them. Supposing I am
willing to overlook what you have done, young gentlemen, are you willing
to start in to-morrow morning as if nothing unusual had occurred? If so,
stand up.”

One after another the cadets stood up until not one remained seated. A
smile spread over Captain Putnam’s face, and this was reflected on the
face of Josiah Crabtree. The cadets did not know it, but their standing
up saved for the teacher his position. Had they not been willing to
forgive and forget Crabtree would have been discharged.

“Three cheers for Captain Putnam!” cried Pepper, and though the master
of the Hall raised his hand to protest the cheers were given with a
will. A faint cheer followed for Crabtree and the teacher arose and very
awkwardly bowed his acknowledgement. Then the cadets were dismissed and
the bell rang for supper.

“I reckon we won’t see Pluxton Cuddle,” said Andy, and he was right,
that unpopular teacher left early the next morning, before any of the
cadets were around.

It was not until the next afternoon that Reff Ritter and his crowd
showed themselves, and they brought the mail taken from the post-office.
They had heard of Captain Putnam’s return and had come in of their own
accord. The storm had blown down their tents and they were wet to the
skin and terribly hungry. There had been a bitter quarrel among the
crowd, and this was kept up after they got back. One of the boys had
heard Ritter speak about the exchanging of blank cartridges for those
containing bullets at the target practice and immediately upon his
return to Putnam Hall he sought out Captain Putnam.

“Well, what do you want, Akers?” demanded the master of the school,
sternly.

“I know I have done wrong, sir,” said Akers. “But, Captain Putnam, I
came to speak of something else.”

“What is it?”

“It concerns Bob Grenwood, our former quartermaster.”

“What of Grenwood?”

“I suppose you remember about those blank cartridges that were dealt out
to some of us when we had target practice.”

“Perfectly.”

“Well, I want to tell you positively, sir, that Grenwood is not
guilty—that he had nothing to do with handing them out.”

“How do you know this?”

“Because, when we were out camping, Reff Ritter got to boasting, and he
told how he and another fellow got the blanks and distributed them. It
was done at the time of the snake scare. There was no snake—the scare
was gotten up merely to attract our attention, so that the blanks could
be taken from the box.”

“Humph! You are sure of this?” demanded Captain Putnam.

“Yes, sir.”

“Tell me all the particulars.”

Thereupon Akers told his story in detail, to which the master of the
Hall listened with close attention. Then several other boys came in,
among them Andy and Pepper.

“I want to speak to you about the time Major Jack Ruddy fell from the
flying rings and came pretty close to being dangerously hurt,” said
Andy. “I guess you remember that, sir.”

“Indeed I do—since he was very sick at the time,” answered Captain
Putnam.

“We know just how he got sick.”

“What was the cause, Snow?”

“Reff Ritter put some French headache powders in his drinking water. The
powders made him dizzy, and that is how he came to fall from the rings.”

“Can this be true?” And the captain’s face grew very stern.

“Yes, sir, it is—and we can prove it by several boys,” put in Pepper.

“It would seem that Ritter is responsible for many wrongdoings,” mused
the master of the school.

“He’s a bad egg,” said Andy. “My own opinion is that he ought to be
expelled.”

“We’ll see about that later. Now tell me all you know.”

Andy and Pepper related what they had heard, and then several other boys
were called in.

An hour later Captain Putnam sent for Reff Ritter. The moment the bully
entered the office he knew that something had gone wrong.

“I have had some very bad reports about you, Ritter,” said the master
sternly. “I have a mind to expel you on the spot.”

“What for?” asked Ritter. His voice shook as he spoke.

“For doing some very wicked and mean things.”

“I—I haven’t done anything, sir.”

“You have—and it is useless for you to deny it.”

“Wh—what—er—do you mean?”

“I am speaking of how you took those blank cartridges and used them, and
of how you dosed Major Ruddy with those French headache powders.”

“Captain Putnam, I didn’t——”

“Stop, Ritter, don’t add falsehoods to your other faults. I am positive
that you are guilty. And as I said before, I have a good mind to expel
you here and now.”

“Don’t! Please don’t!” cried the bully, breaking down. “I—I didn’t mean
any harm—it was only done in fun, sir! I—er—I’ll never do such things
again! Please don’t expel me!”

“You might have killed Ruddy!”

“I—er—I thought the powders would make him a little sick—so he—er—he
wouldn’t want to compete with me—for I was afraid of being beaten. And
the blanks——”

“Made me take Greenwood’s office away from him. But he shall be
restored.”

“Please, please, Captain Putnam, don’t expel me!” groaned Ritter.

“Are you willing to apologize to Grenwood?”

“Yes, yes!”

“And to Ruddy?”

“Ye—yes.” It was like pulling teeth for Ritter to utter that last word.

“Ruddy’s folks may want to prosecute you criminally,” continued the
captain.

“Oh! I—I hope not.” And now Ritter grew deadly pale.

After that Captain Putnam gave the misguided youth a stern lecture and
then sent him to his room. Then Jack was called in.

“I don’t think I’ll make a complaint,” said the young major. “Perhaps,
after all, it was only a boyish prank. But I don’t want him to try such
a prank again.”

“It was a dastardly piece of business,” was Captain Putnam’s comment.

“I believe Ritter often acts before he thinks,” went on Jack.

“Then you want me to give him another chance?”

“Yes—as far as I am concerned.”

“This is generous of you, Ruddy.”

“I don’t want to be the means of casting Ritter out, sir. Maybe if he
was expelled, he’d go to the bad utterly.”

“That is true, too,—yet this school cannot afford to suffer from the
actions of such a fellow. But I will give him one more chance,”
concluded the master of Putnam Hall. And so the matter rested.

Andy was anxious to hear from the authorities, and one day came word
that the man named Levi had been caught. In his possession were the
medal and the ring taken from the acrobatic youth, so Andy got back what
belonged to Joe Nelson and himself, much to his satisfaction. Levi
followed the tramps to prison.

“Well, I am rather glad our running away is at an end,” said Jack, two
days after the return to Putnam Hall. “Although I did like the camping
out.”

“We are to go camping soon, Captain Putnam said so,” returned Pepper.
“We are to go out in true military style too,” he added. How the cadets
went out, and what sports and adventures they had, will be told in
another volume of this series, to be entitled “The Putnam Hall
Encampment; or, The Secret of the Old Mill.” In that book we shall meet
all our old friends again, and likewise some of their enemies.

“I don’t think running away did us any harm,” said Dale.

“It was fun,” put in Bob Grenwood, who had been restored to his position
as quartermaster of the school battalion.

“Just what I say,” declared Pepper.

And then the drum rolled for the evening parade and the cadets rushed
off to get their guns and swords; and here we will leave them, wishing
them well.

                                THE END

                      Books by Arthur M. Winfield

                         THE PUTNAM HALL SERIES

  THE PUTNAM HALL CADETS.
  THE PUTNAM HALL RIVALS.
  THE PUTNAM HALL CHAMPIONS.
  THE PUTNAM HALL REBELLION.

                    (Other volumes in preparation.)

                      THE FAMOUS ROVER BOYS SERIES

  THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL.
  THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN.
  THE ROVER BOYS IN THE JUNGLE.
  THE ROVER BOYS OUT WEST.
  THE ROVER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES
  THE ROVER BOYS IN THE MOUNTAINS.
  THE ROVER BOYS ON LAND AND SEA.
  THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP.
  THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER.
  THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS.
  THE ROVER BOYS IN SOUTHERN WATERS.
  THE ROVER BOYS ON THE FARM.
  THE ROVER BOYS ON TREASURE ISLE.

                    (Other volumes in preparation.)

                       _12mo, Cloth, Illustrated.
                Price, per volume, 60 cents, postpaid._

                            GROSSET & DUNLAP
                         PUBLISHERS    NEW YORK

                      The Famous Rover Boys Series

                         By ARTHUR M. WINFIELD

No stories for boys’ Reading ever published have attained the immense
popularity of this new and extremely favorite series. They are full of
fun, fancy, enterprise, and adventure, and each volume is hailed with
delight by boys and girls everywhere.

12mo. Cloth. Handsomely printed and illustrated.

                 Price, 60 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.

  THE ROVER BOYS ON THE FARM
    Or, The Last Days at Putnam Hall
      The latest and best of all the Rover Boy Books.
  THE ROVER BOYS IN SOUTHERN WATERS
    Or, The Deserted Steam Yacht
      A trip to the coast of Florida.
  THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS
    Or, The Mystery of Red Rock Ranch
      Relates adventures on the mighty Mississippi River.
  THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER
    Or, The Search for the Missing Houseboat
      The Ohio River is the theme of this spirited story.
  THE ROVER BOYS IN CAMP
    Or, The Rivals of Pine Island
      At the annual school encampment.
  THE ROVER BOYS ON LAND AND SEA
    Or, The Crusoes of Seven Islands
      Full of strange and surprising adventures.
  THE ROVER BOYS IN THE MOUNTAINS
    Or, A Hunt for Fame and Fortune
      The boys in the Adirondacks at a Winter camp.
  THE ROVER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES
    Or, The Secret of the Island Cave
      A story of a remarkable Summer outing; full of fun.
  THE ROVER BOYS OUT WEST
    Or, The Search for a Lost Mine
      A graphic description of the mines of the great Rockies.
  THE ROVER BOYS IN THE JUNGLE
    Or, Stirring Adventures in Africa
      The boys journey to the Dark Continent in search of their father.
  THE ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN
    Or, A Chase for a Fortune
      From school to the Atlantic Ocean.
  THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL
    Or, the Cadets of Putnam Hall
      The doings of Dick, Tom, and Sam Rover.

              Always Ask for the Grosset & Dunlap Editions

                         The Putnam Hall Series

           Companion Stories to the Famous Rover Boys Series

                         By ARTHUR M. WINFIELD

Open-air pastimes have always been popular with boys, and should always
be encouraged, as they provide healthy recreation both for the body and
the mind. These books mingle adventure and fact, and will appeal to
every healthy and manly boy.

12mo. Handsomely printed and illustrated. Bound in cloth, with stampings
in Colors.

                 Price, 60 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.

  THE PUTNAM HALL CHAMPIONS
    Or, Bound to Win Out

In this new tale the Putnam Hall Cadets show what they can do in various
keen rivalries on the athletic field and elsewhere. There is one victory
which leads to a most unlooked-for discovery. The volume is full of fun
and good fellowship, calculated to make the Putnam Hall Series more
popular than ever.

  THE PUTNAM HALL CADETS
    Or, Good Times in School and Out

The cadets are lively, flesh-and-blood fellows, bound to make friends
from the start. There are some keen rivalries, in school and out, and
something is told of a remarkable midnight feast and a hazing that had
an unlooked-for ending.

  THE PUTNAM HALL RIVALS
    Or, Fun and Sport Afloat and Ashore

It is a lively, rattling, breezy story of school life in this country,
written by one who knows all about its ways, its snowball fights, its
baseball matches, its pleasures and its perplexities, its glorious
excitements, its rivalries, and its chilling disappointments. It is a
capitally written story which will interest boys vastly.

                     Other Volumes in Preparation.

                        The Rise in Life Series

                         By Horatio Alger, Jr.

These are Copyrighted Stories which cannot be obtained elsewhere. They
are the stories last written by this famous author.

12mo. Handsomely printed and illustrated. Bound in cloth, stamped in
colored inks.

                 Price, 60 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.

  THE YOUNG BOOK AGENT: Or, Frank Hardy’s Road to Success

A plain but uncommonly interesting tale of everyday life, describing the
ups and downs of a boy book-agent.

  FROM FARM TO FORTUNE: Or, Nat Nason’s Strange Experience

Nat was a poor country lad. Work on the farm was hard, and after a
quarrel with his uncle, with whom be resided, he struck out for himself.

  OUT FOR BUSINESS: Or, Robert Frost’s Strange Career

Relates the adventures of a country boy who is compelled to leave home
and seek his fortune in the great world at large. How he wins success we
must leave to the reader to discover.

  FALLING IN WITH FORTUNE: Or, The Experiences of a Young Secretary

This is a companion tale to “Out for Business,” but complete in itself,
and tells of the further doings of Robert Frost as private secretary.

  YOUNG CAPTAIN JACK: Or, The Son of a Soldier

The scene is laid in the South during the Civil War, and the hero is a
waif who was cast up by the sea and adopted by a rich Southern planter.

  NELSON THE NEWSBOY: Or, Afloat in New York

Mr. Alger is always at his best in the portrayal of life in New York
City, and this story is among the best he has given our young readers.

  LOST AT SEA: Or, Robert Roscoe’s Strange Cruise

A sea story of uncommon interest. The hero falls in with a strange
derelict—a ship given over to the wild animals of a menagerie.

  JERRY, THE BACKWOODS BOY: Or, The Parkhurst Treasure

Depicts life on a farm of New York State. The mystery of the treasure
will fascinate every boy. Jerry is a character well worth knowing.

  RANDY OF THE RIVER: Or, The Adventures of a Young Deckhand

Life on a river steamboat is not so romantic as some young people may
imagine. There is hard work, and plenty of it, and the remuneration is
not of the best. But Randy Thompson wanted work and took what was
offered. His success in the end was well deserved, and perhaps the
lesson his doings teach will not be lost upon those who peruse these
pages.

                       The Flag of Freedom Series

                       By CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL.

A favorite Line of American Stories for American Boys. Every volume
complete in itself, and handsomely illustrated. 12mo. Bound in cloth.
Stamped in Colors.

                 Price, 60 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.

  WITH CUSTER IN THE BLACK HILLS
    Or, A Young Scout among the Indians.

Tells of the remarkable experiences of a youth who, with his parents,
goes to the Black Hills in search of gold. Custer’s last battle is well
described. A volume every lad fond of Indian stories should possess.

  BOYS OF THE FORT
    Or, A Young Captain’s Pluck.

This story of stirring doings at one of our well-known forts in the Wild
West is of more than ordinary interest. The young captain had a
difficult task to accomplish, but he had been drilled to do his duty,
and does it thoroughly. Gives a good insight into army life of to-day.

  THE YOUNG BANDMASTER
    Or, Concert, Stage, and Battlefield.

The hero is a youth with a passion for music, who becomes a cornetist in
an orchestra, and works his way up to the leadership of a brass band. He
is carried off to sea and falls in with a secret service cutter bound
for Cuba, and while there joins a military band which accompanies our
soldiers in the never-to-be-forgotten attack on Santiago.

  OFF FOR HAWAII
    Or, The Mystery of a Great Volcano.

Here we have fact and romance cleverly interwoven. Several boys start on
a tour of the Hawaiian Islands. They have heard that there is a treasure
located in the vicinity of Kilauea, the largest active volcano in the
world, and go in search of it. Their numerous adventures will be
followed with much interest.

  A SAILOR BOY WITH DEWEY
    Or, Afloat in the Philippines.

The story of Dewey’s victory in Manila Bay will never grow old, but here
we have it told in a new form—as it appeared to a real, live American
youth who was in the navy at the time. Many adventures in Manila and in
the interior follow, give true-to-life scenes from this portion of the
globe.

  WHEN SANTIAGO FELL
    Or, the War Adventures of Two Chums.

Two boys, an American and his Cuban chum, leave New York to join their
parents in the interior of Cuba. The war between Spain and the Cubans is
on, and the boys are detained at Santiago, but escape by crossing the
bay at night. Many adventures between the lines follow, and a good
pen-picture of General Garcia is given.

                          The Frontier Series
     Stories of Early American Exploration and Adventure for Boys.

                       By CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL

The Historical Background Is Absolutely Correct.

12mo. Well printed and well illustrated. Handsomely bound in cloth,
stamped in Colors.

                 Price, 60 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.

  PIONEER BOYS OF THE GOLD FIELDS:
    Or, The Nugget Hunters of ’49

A tale complete in itself, giving the particulars of the great rush of
the gold seekers to California in 1849. In the party making its way
across the continent are three boys, one from the country, another from
the city, and a third just home from a long voyage on a whaling ship.
They become chums, and share in no end of adventures.

  PIONEER BOYS OF THE GREAT NORTHWEST:
    Or, With Lewis and Clark Across the Rockies

A splendid story describing in detail the great expedition formed under
the leadership of Lewis and Clark, and telling what was done by the
pioneer boys who were first to penetrate the wilderness of the northwest
and push over the Rocky Mountains. The book possesses a permanent
historical value and the story should be known by every bright American
boy.

  WITH BOONE ON THE FRONTIER
    Or, The Pioneer Boys of Old Kentucky

Relates the true-to-life adventures of two boys who, in company with
their folks, move westward with Daniel Boone. Contains many thrilling
scenes among the Indians and encounters with wild animals. It is
excellently told.

                       The Great Newspaper Series

                           By HOWARD R. GARIS

The incidents in these clever stories are taken from life. Beside being
a popular writer of books for boys’ reading, the author is a practised
journalist, and these stories will convey an absolutely true picture of
the workings of a great metropolitan newspaper in its entirety. Cheery,
sensible, healthy stories, all finely illustrated.

  FROM OFFICE BOY TO REPORTER
    Or, The First Step in Journalism
  LARRY DEXTER, REPORTER
    Or, Strange Adventures in a Great City
  LARRY DEXTER’S GREAT SEARCH
    Or, The Hunt for a Missing Millionaire

12mo. Handsomely printed and illustrated. Bound in cloth with decorative
cover.

                      Price, 60 Cents per Volume.

                        The Dick Hamilton Series

                           By HOWARD R. GARIS

A new series that is bound to become immensely popular. The author has
vivid powers of description and uses them to excellent effect. Will hold
the attention of the reader from start to finish.

  DICK HAMILTON’S FORTUNE
    Or, The Stirring Doings of a Millionaire’s Son

Dick was left a fortune by his mother, but before he could obtain
possession of the wealth, he had to fulfil several conditions. If he
failed he had to go live with a miserly uncle whom he despised. A volume
that is full of snap and “ginger.”

12mo. Cloth, with decorative cover. Well illustrated.

                            Price, 60 Cents.

                          The Enterprise Books

         Captivating Stories for Boys by Justly Popular Writers

The episodes are graphic, exciting, realistic—the tendency of the tales
is to the formation of an honorable and manly character. They are
unusually interesting, and convey lessons of pluck, perseverance and
manly independence.

12mo. Handsomely illustrated. Printed on excellent paper, and
attractively bound in colored cloth, stamped in Colors.

                 Price, 60 Cents per Volume. Postpaid.

  MOFFAT, WILLIAM D.
      THE CRIMSON BANNER.
        A Story of College Baseball

Books have been written about college baseball, but it remained for Mr.
Moffat, a Princeton man, to come forward with a tale that grips one from
start to finish. The students are almost flesh and blood, and the
contests become real as we read about them. The best all-around college
and baseball tale yet presented.

  GRAYDON, WILLIAM MURRAY
      CANOE BOYS AND CAMP FIRES.
        Or, Adventures in Winding Waters

Where is there a youth who does not love a gun, a fishing rod, a canoe,
or a roaring camp-fire? In this book we have the doings of several
bright and lively boys, who go on a canoeing trip on a winding stream,
and meet with many exciting happenings. The breath of the forest blows
through this tale, and every boy who reads it will be sorry that he was
not a member of the canoe club that took that never-to-be-forgotten
outing.

  HARKNESS, PETER T.
      ANDY, THE ACROBAT.
        Or, With the Greatest Show on Earth

Andy is as bright as a silver dollar. In the book we can smell the
sawdust, hear the flapping of the big white canvas and the roaring of
the lions, and listen to the merry “hoop la!” of the clown.

  FOSTER, W. BERT
      THE QUEST OF THE SILVER SWAN.
        A Tale of Ocean Adventure

A Youth’s story of the deep blue sea—of the search for a derelict
carrying a fortune. Brandon Tarr is a manly lad, and all lads will be
eager to learn whether he failed or succeeded in his mission.

  WHITE, MATTHEW, Jr.
      TWO BOYS AND A FORTUNE.
        Or, The Tyler Will

If you had been poor and were suddenly left a half-million dollars, what
would you do with it? Do you think the money would bring you happiness,
or would it bring only increased cares? That was the problem that
confronted the Pell family, and especially the twin brothers, Rex and
Roy. A strong, helpful story, that should be read by every boy and every
young man in our land.

  WINFIELD, ARTHUR M.
      BOB, THE PHOTOGRAPHER.
        Or, A Hero in Spite of Himself

Relates the experiences of a poor boy who falls in with a “camera
fiend,” and develops a liking for photography. After a number of
stirring adventures Bob becomes photographer for a railroad, and while
taking pictures along the line thwarts the plan of those who would
injure the railroad corporation and incidentally clears a mystery
surrounding his parentage.

  ROCKWOOD, ROY
      JACK NORTH’S TREASURE HUNT.
        A Story of South American Adventure

Jack is sent to South America on a business trip, and while there he
hears of the wonderful treasure of the Incas located in the Andes. He
learns also of a lake that appears and disappears. He resolves to
investigate, and organizes an expedition for that purpose. The book is a
thriller.

  BONEHILL, CAPTAIN RALPH
      LOST IN THE LAND OF ICE.
        Or, Daring Adventures Round the South Pole

An expedition is fitted out by a rich young man who loves the ocean, and
with him goes the hero of the tale, a lad who has some knowledge of a
treasure ship said to be cast away in the land of ice. On the way the
expedition is stopped by enemies, and the heroes land among the wild
Indians of Patagonia. When the ship approaches the South Pole it is
caught in a huge iceberg, and several of those on board become truly
lost in the land of ice.

                   GROSSET & DUNLAP,    -    NEW YORK

                          Transcriber’s Notes

--Copyright notice provided as in the original printed text—this e-text
  is public domain in the country of publication.

--Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and
  dialect unchanged.

--Moved promotional material to the end of the text.

--In the text versions, included italics inside _underscores_ (the HTML
  version replicates the format of the original.)

End of Project Gutenberg's The Putnam Hall Rebellion, by Arthur M. Winfield