“Better go home and learn to row!”

The rivals felt sheepish enough, and without loss of time they rowed ashore and the members of the crew disappeared, followed by those who had come from Pornell Academy to see them win.

“You have certainly done very well,” said Captain Putnam, to the winning crew. “Your stroke was almost perfect.”

“And it was well kept up,” came from George Strong. “I never saw a prettier race in my life.”

Josiah Crabtree had nothing to say, for he took no interest in sports. But nobody paid attention to the crabbed teacher.

The races were followed by a general holiday time, in which nearly all of the cadets participated. Only Dan Baxter and his crowd went away. They departed for a deserted boathouse, and there sat talking and smoking cigarettes.

“I suppose those fellows will have swelled heads after this,” muttered the bully.

“Sure,” grumbled Paxton. “But I don’t care. If they try to crow over me——”

“What will you do?” asked Mumps.

“Never mind, I’ll do something.”

“And I’ll help,” came from the bully of the school. “We have got to take them down a peg or two, or else they’ll be running the whole Hall to suit themselves.”

CHAPTER IX THE CHUMS MAKE A CALL

THE CHUMS MAKE A CALL

For a week after the races, matters at Putnam Hall ran along smoothly. Captain Putnam insisted upon it that the students attend to their studies and our friends pitched in with vigor, so that Jack stood first in his class, Pepper third, and Andy fourth, which was certainly fine.

During that time Dan Baxter had a sharp “run-in” with the master of the Hall, who gave the bully a stern lecture. As a consequence Baxter was quite humble for the time being and did not risk doing anything to bring him into further disgrace.

On a Tuesday morning Captain Putnam called Jack, Pepper, and Andy into his private office.

“Gracious, I hope we aren’t in for a lecture!” whispered Andy while on the way.

“Have you been doing anything wrong?” asked Pepper with a wink.

 Prev. P 45/150 next