The Putnam Hall Cadets: or, Good Times in School and Out. Stratemeyer Edward

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.

      CHAPTER VI

      AN ODD BIT OF PUNISHMENT

      For the moment the declaration by the bully that he would run the boat into those in the water kept the swimmers back.

      “Look out, fellows!” cried Stuffer, in alarm. “That boat has got a pretty sharp bow. If it hits you it will cut you deep!”

      “I’m going to stop the boat anyway,” cried Jack, and continued to swim toward the craft.

      As Jack did this, Andy measured his distance and suddenly dove out of sight. Andy was as good at swimming as he was at acrobatic feats, and he did not come up until he was close to the side of the rowboat. Then, before Baxter knew what was up, he had hold of one of the oars and jerked it out of the bully’s hand.

      “Hi, give me back that oar!” cried Baxter, in alarm.

      “Not much,” said Andy. And then, as Baxter tried to hit him with the other oar, he dove under the boat and gave it a sudden push that nearly upset the craft.

      “Oh!” yelled Mumps, in alarm. “Don’t! We are going over! Help!”

      By this time all of the crowd in the water were surrounding the rowboat,