The Adventures of Rover Boys: 26 Illustrated Adventure Novels. Stratemeyer Edward

— er — fell asleep on the trip."

      "Indeed! Well, when next you travel you had better try to keep awake," was George Strong's comment, and a titter passed along the table, which made Dan Baxter very angry.

      "Sit down here. Alexander, help Baxter to some supper."

      "Yes, sah," came from the waiter; and no more was said. Presently Baxter caught sight of Dick at the table opposite, and he looked daggers at the youth. "He's got it in for me," thought Dick; and he was right.

      The supper at an end, the pupils were allowed two hours to themselves — one hour outdoors if they wished it, or both hours in the reading room, which was well supplied with books and all of the best magazines. The newcomers went out in a bunch, and Captain Harry Blossom accompanied them.

      "I'll show you the gymnasium, if you wish to see it," he said.

      "I would like to know something about Tom first," replied Dick. "Where have they placed him?"

      "Undoubtedly in the guardroom."

      "Where is that?"

      "Do you see that window over there?" and Captain Harry pointed with his hand.

      "Yes," came from Dick and Sam together.

      "Well, that's the window to the place."

      "I wonder if I can't talk to my brother?" went on Dick.

      "It's against the rules to talk to a prisoner."

      "Well, I'm going to talk anyway." said Dick with a recklessness which was unusual to him. "I want to find out just what they are doing with him."

      "I guess I had best leave this crowd," remarked the young captain of Company A.

      Dick was about to ask why, when Sam nudged him on the arm. "Let him go," whispered the younger brother.

      In a moment more Captain Harry had walked away.

      "Don't you see what he meant?" asked Sam aloud.

      "Well hardly."

      "Then you are losing some of your wit, Dick. He didn't want to see us break the rules. I suppose if he had seen us he would have felt it his duty to report us."

      "That's so, Sam. How thick I was! I'm going over to the window now."

      "So am I."

      "And I'll go too," added Fred.

      Off the three hurried across the parade ground, the other new cadets watching them curiously, for all had heard of what Tom had done and how Josiah Crabtree had treated him.

      The window of the guardroom was but five feet from the ground. In front of it, however, was an iron fence, placed in the form of a semi-circle, at a distance of about ten feet from the opening. The fence was higher than Dick's head, and the iron pickets were sharp-pointed.

      "The window to the room is shut," announced the elder Rover, after an inspection in the semi-darkness. "It's a shame, in this warm weather. Poor Tom will be half smothered to death!"

      "Wait till I attract his attention," said Sam.

      Catching up a clod of grass and dirt he threw it against one of the window panes.

      A minute of suspense followed, but no face appeared at the window.

      "That's queer," said Fred. "It seems to me he would show himself if he was there."

      "Perhaps he can't," said Sam. "He may be chained up in the other end of the room."

      "I'm going to make sure," said Dick determinedly. "Sam and Fred, both of you give me a boost up."

      "But how will you get back?"

      "You can give me another boost through the pickets."

      "Hurrah! so we can!" cried Sam. "All right; up you go!"

      And up Dick did go, so rapidly that he almost fell over the top of the iron barrier.

      "Now, who has a match?" he asked.

      "Here you are," said Fred, and passed over several.

      Stepping to the window, Dick tapped upon it, and at the same time struck a light, for the room within was pitch-dark.

      The next instant he muttered a cry of disgust.

      "Sold!"

      "What's that?" came from Sam and Fred.

      "The room is empty."

      "Then there must be some mistake," said Fred. "Can you see all over inside?"

      "Yes."

      "Sure Tom isn't asleep in a corner or on a couch — if there is one?" put in Sam. "He would go to sleep if he could."

      "He isn't here — no doubt of it," answered Dick, after striking a second match and making another inspection. "Oh!"

      Dick blew out the match in a hurry and started back for the fence.

      He had seen the door of the guardroom open and Josiah Crabtree come in.

      The head assistant of Putnam Hall saw the light of the match and by it obtained a good view of Dick's face.

      "Ha! that youth has come here to assist his brother to escape!" was the conclusion he reached

      He darted for the window and threw it up.

      "Come back here, Master Rover!" he cried, as he saw Dick trying to mount the fence.

      "Don't you go!" whispered Sam, and tried to assist Dick from the other side, while Fred did the same.

      Josiah Crabtree would have leaped from the window, but the bars held him back.

      "I'll get you yet!" he ejaculated wrathfully, and, turning, ran from the guardroom, with the intention of capturing Dick on the parade ground.

      CHAPTER IX

       A STRANGE MEETING IN THE WOODS

       Table of Contents

      To go back to Tom, at the time he was left alone by the head assistant of Putnam Hall, after refusing to give up the keys to his satchel and trunk.

      "I've put my foot into it now," thought the boy dismally. " I wonder what Captain Putnam will say to all this when he hears of it? Of course old Crabtree will make out the worst possible case against me."

      It was too dark to see much, and he dropped on the couch. He was worried a good deal, yet he was not one to take anything too deeply to heart.

      Before long a waiter appeared with a tray containing a big bowl of bread and milk. Had Josiah Crabtree had his own way, he would have sent only bread and water for the lad's supper, but such a proceeding would have been contrary to Captain Putnam's rule. The kind captain realized that his pupils were but boys and should not be treated as real prisoners, even when they did break the academy rules.

      "Heah is yo' suppah, sah!" announced Alexander, the waiter, as he set the tray on the table. " Sorry I can't leave the light, sah." He referred to a lamp, also on the tray, which he now removed.

      "What have you got?" asked Tom, sitting up.

      "Bowl of bread and milk, sah."

      "Is that what they give visitors for supper?"

      "Gracious, sah, is yo' a visitah, sah?"

      "I consider myself as such until I am placed on the muster roll."

      At this Alexander scratched his woolly head.

      "Well, sah, I don't know nuffin about dat, sah. I has to obey Mr. Crabtree's oahdahs, sah."

      "Has Captain Putnam come back yet?"

      "No, sah, an' he sent word dat he didn't think he could git back, sah, before morning, sah."

      "Humph!