It took the boys but a minute to reach the end of the hallway where
their suitcases had been left. Those of the twins were still there, and
also that belonging to Jack; but Fred's was missing.

"Hello! what's become of my suitcase?" questioned the youngest Rover,
anxiously.

"Maybe somebody carried it upstairs for you," suggested Jack.

All looked around the hallway and in the nearby rooms, but the suitcase
could not be found.

"Well, I don't think you need to worry," said Professor Brice lightly.
"There is no danger of thieves around here. Probably some boy picked up
the suitcase by mistake."

"Maybe," returned Fred; but then he looked at his cousins and shook his
head slowly.

"I guess you suspect Nappy Martell and his cronies," whispered Randy on
the way upstairs.

"I do!" answered Fred. "I think they took that suitcase to play a trick
on me."




CHAPTER IX

THE MISSING SUITCASE


In the letters sent to Colby Hall the Rover boys had requested that
they be placed in rooms close to those occupied by Spouter Powell, Gif
Garrison and their chums, and Colonel Colby had replied that he would
do what he could for them in the matter, although many of the choicest
rooms at the Hall had already been assigned to the old cadets.

"I can give you a choice of several rooms," said Professor Brice, as he
led the way to the second floor of the school. "Come this way, please."

He took them down a long corridor and into a wing of the building.

"This is our hallway," whispered Spouter to Jack. "I guess you'll get
pretty close to Gif and me after all."

Spouter and Gif had rooms numbered 19 and 21. Across the hall, Fatty
had number 16. 18, 20 and 22 were as yet unassigned.

"I can give you these three rooms," announced Paul Brice.

"But what about the fourth?" queried Jack. "There are four of us, you
see, and all these are single rooms."

"For a fourth room you might take the one next to that occupied by
Powell on the other side of the hallway," answered the teacher.

"That might do," returned Fred. "But we would prefer to be
together--especially as these rooms all connect."

"I think I can help you out if you want me to," came from Fatty,
good-naturedly. "If Professor Brice is willing, I'll move over to
number twenty-three, and that will give you four fellows numbers
sixteen, eighteen, twenty, and twenty-two."

"Oh, we don't want to disturb you, although it's very kind of you to
make the offer," remonstrated Jack.

"That's all right," answered Fatty. "I'd just as lief be next to
Spouter. The room is just as good, and I know you four cousins would
like to keep together." And so, after a little more talk, the matter
was arranged.

"Now the question is: How are we going to assign these rooms?" came
from Randy.

"I've got an idea," returned his twin.

"All right; out with it!" came from Fred. "I'd like to get settled so
that I can make another hunt for my missing suitcase."

"Why not live here just as we live on Riverside Drive?" answered Andy.
"Jack can take one of the middle rooms, with Fred on one side of him
and Randy and myself on the other."

"You've solved it, Andy!" exclaimed Jack, and so without further ado
the matter was settled.

"Now I'll institute a hunt for that missing suitcase," said Professor
Brice after he had made a note of the room assignments. "Most likely
some boy picked it up by mistake."

"If he did that, why didn't he leave his own suitcase behind?" queried
Fred.

"I'll look it up. Don't worry," said the professor, and then hurried
away, for there were many other matters demanding his attention.

The boys found the rooms small but pleasant. Each contained a single
bed, a desk, and a chiffonier, and also a small clothing closet. In one
corner was a bowl with running water, and each room contained two
electric lights. All of the rooms had connecting doors, but these, for
the most part, were kept closed, some of the pupils having their beds
or chiffoniers in front of them.

"You see, you are permitted to arrange your room to suit yourselves,"
explained Spouter, "so some of the boys have them one way and some
another. Some of the boys are even permitted to double up--that is, put
two of the beds in one room and use the other room exclusively for
dressing and studying."

"That's an idea," answered Randy. "Maybe Andy and I will do that." This
plan was followed out by the twins, who used the last room of the four
for a sleeping apartment and made of the other room a sort of general
meeting place for all of the Rovers.

"Where does that Nappy Martell hold forth?" questioned Fred of Fatty,
while he was helping the stout youth transfer his belongings across the
hallway.

"He and Slugger Brown and Codfish and that gang are all around the
corner, on the main corridor," was the reply. "That is, Nappy was there
last season. I don't know whether somebody else used his room after he
left or not."

"It was room sixty," put in Spouter. "Slugger has sixty-two. I don't
believe anyone went into sixty after Nappy left. You see, it was almost
the end of the term and all the cadets were settled."

"I'm going to take a look around," answered Fred. "I can't do anything
here anyway, with no suitcase and no trunk."

"I guess I'd better go with you," came from Jack. He did not wish to
allow his cousin to interview the big, over-dressed youth alone.

Leaving the others to settle down in the rooms as best they could, Fred
and Jack hurried through the hallway to the main corridor of the second
floor of the Hall. Old cadets and new pupils were coming and going in
all directions, and many were the glances of curiosity directed towards
the Rovers.

"Gee! some of those fellows certainly look nifty in their uniforms,"
was Fred's comment.

"They look like the uniforms our folks brought home from Putnam Hall,"
answered Jack. "My father's old uniform is up in our storeroom now. I
tried it on one day just for fun. They tell me they are patterned after
the uniforms worn at West Point."

"There goes an officer," whispered Fred, as a tall youth went by with a
sword dangling from his belt. "Look at the gold braid, will you? Isn't
it swell?" he added, in deep admiration.

"I can see your finish, Fred," laughed his cousin. "If you stay here,
you'll want to be an officer with a sword, and with lots of gold lace."

"I don't know about that," answered the youngest Rover, seriously. "I
guess all the officers have to be big boys."

"Nonsense! Size has nothing to do with it. Why, some of the greatest
military men in the world have been very small. Look at Napoleon, for
instance."

"Well, I'll see about that later, Jack. Just now I'd rather get on the
track of that suitcase."

It did not take the two Rovers long to reach that part of the corridor
where was located the room formerly occupied by Nappy Martell. The door
was open several inches, and Fred and Jack saw that three boys were
present--Nappy, Slugger, and a small, round-faced youth with a
particularly broad mouth.

"That little chap must be the sneak Spouter mentioned--the boy they
call Codfish," whispered Jack.

"That was a good joke all right, Nappy," piped out the small cadet, as
the Rovers came closer. "A fine joke all right all right!"

"You keep your mouth shut about it, Codfish," retorted Nappy Martell,
quickly.

"Oh, I won't say a word, believe me!" returned the other quickly.

Just then Slugger Brown peered out into the hallway and saw the two
Rover boys. He looked somewhat startled, and immediately placed his
hand over Nappy Martell's mouth.

"I want to see you, Martell," cried Fred without hesitation. "I want to
know what you did with my suitcase."

"I don't know anything about your suitcase," growled the loudly dressed
youth in surly tones.

"Yes, you do! You took it; and I want you to return it," answered Fred,
boldly.

"See here! do you want a licking?" burst out the New York boy, as he
doubled up his fists. "You deserve one for the way you tripped me up in
that mud puddle. You say another word, and I'll give you what's coming
to you," and his manner was very threatening.

"No use of fighting here, Nappy," remonstrated Slugger Brown. "Keep it
until some time when you can meet him outside."

"I didn't come here to fight," answered Fred. "But I want my suitcase."

"I don't know anything about your suitcase. Who says I took it?" added
Nappy Martell with sudden suspicion.

"I say you took it. There wouldn't be anyone else here to play such a
trick on me. Now, you must hand it over!"

"You go on about your business!" roared the New York boy; and as Fred,
followed by Jack, attempted to enter the room, he slammed the door in
their faces and shot the bolt into place.

Fred was thoroughly angry, and if it had not been for his cousin he
would have tried then and there to batter the door down. But Jack
caught him by the arm and pulled him back.

"No use of creating a disturbance so soon," said Jack. "We'd only get
into hot water, and maybe Colonel Colby would become so disgusted he
would send us right home. If Martell took that suitcase, he won't dare
to keep it, for that would be stealing. More than likely he'll sneak it
back to you by to-morrow."

"He ought to have his head knocked off of him," muttered the youngest
Rover. "Jack, I feel in my bones that that fellow is going to cause us
a lot of trouble."

"I shouldn't wonder," was the answer. "Remember, Fred; he is as angry
at me for the row we had down in Wall Street as he is at you over that
mud-puddle affair."

"Oh, dear! And I thought everything was going to be lovely when we got
here," sighed Fred.

There seemed nothing else to do, and so the two boys returned to where
they had left the others. A little while later their trunks came in,
and all spent an hour or more in unpacking these and stowing away the
various articles brought along.

"You'll be measured for your uniforms to-morrow," announced Spouter.
"And then, if the school has the right sizes on hand, you'll get them
at once. Otherwise, they'll be made to order and you'll have to wait at
least ten days for them."

"Oh, I hope they've got my size in stock!" cried Andy. "I'd like to see
how it feels being a cadet."

"Don't worry," answered his twin. "I guess we'll get enough of that
before we leave Colby Hall. Remember, you've got to learn how to drill,
and march, and shoot at a target, and all that."

"I think it'll be lots of fun," broke in Jack. "My father told me he
liked that part of the life at Putnam Hall very much."

"We're pretty well filled up here, it seems to me," came from Fred, as
he sat on his empty trunk surveying his surroundings.

"The men will come to take the trunks away in a little while," answered
Fatty; and this proved to be so. With the trunks gone the boys had more
room in which to move about, for which they were thankful.

"How about supper?" questioned Andy, presently, as a bell rang out
sharply.

"We have supper at six o'clock sharp," returned Fatty, quickly.

"Last year we were at a table with Professor Grawson," put in Spouter.
"He's a pretty nice man. I hope I get at his table again."

"Excuse me from getting at a table with a man like Professor Lemm,"
burst out Andy. "Gee! what will I do if they put me with him?" he
continued dolefully.

"Well, you'll have to sit wherever you are placed," answered Spouter.

"And what do you care so long as you get enough to eat?" questioned
Fatty.

But Andy shook his head. He thought if he were placed at the same table
with Professor Asa Lemm, it would be an actual hardship.




CHAPTER X

GETTING ACQUAINTED


"I don't see him anywhere," remarked Andy, as he and his cousins
approached the mess hall of the school.

The cadets were entering in little groups of twos and threes, for as
yet the regular term at Colby Hall had not begun. With the real opening
of the school, the cadets would have a dress parade previous to dining
and would then stack their arms outside and march in in regular order.

"Who are you talking about?" questioned Fred.

"Professor Asa Lemm. I don't see him at any of the tables."

"Maybe he didn't come to the Hall to-night. He might have had quite
some business to transact with that man who left the train with him."

As there were more tables than professors, some of the boards were
presided over by the senior cadets. There was a little confusion, due
to the entrance of so many new pupils, and then the Rovers were
assigned to a table presided over by a senior named Ralph Mason, who
was the major of the school battalion.

"I am glad to meet you," said Major Mason, as he shook hands cordially.
"I hope you will make yourselves at home," and he smiled in a manner
that won the confidence of all the boys at once.

The meal was a good, substantial one--for Colonel Colby believed in
setting a homelike table--and soon the clatter of knives and forks and
the rattle of dishes filled the air. Most of the boys had come in from
long journeys and were, consequently, hungry, so but little was said
while the meal progressed. Spouter and Fatty and several other boys
they had met sat at a table next to that occupied by the Rovers, but
Nappy Martell and his cronies were on the opposite side of the mess
hall, for which our friends were thankful.

"I think if I had to look at the face of Codfish while I was eating, it
would spoil my appetite," was Andy's comment during the meal. "They
ought to photograph his mouth and put it in the comic supplements."

"Yes. Or else they ought to get him to act in some of the funny
movies," returned his twin.

As soon as the repast was at an end, Fred sought out Professor Brice
and asked him if anything had been learned concerning the missing
suitcase.

"I am sorry to say I haven't learned anything," answered the professor,
a troubled look coming over his face. "I really must say, Rover, I
don't know what to make of it. Do you suspect anyone in particular of
having taken it?"

Fred was on the point of mentioning Nappy Martell's name, but suddenly
held himself in check.

"I wouldn't like to say anything about that, Professor," he answered
slowly. "I might be accusing a fellow cadet unfairly. If the suitcase
isn't returned by to-morrow I may have something to say about it."

"Very well. I think I understand how you feel about it," and the young
professor looked knowingly at the boy. "Did you have much in the
suitcase?"

"Yes, sir. It was well packed. You see, I wasn't sure whether my trunk
would come right along, so I carried all I could in my handbaggage."

When Fred joined the others, all of the crowd, led by Spouter, walked
down to the gymnasium. Here the Rovers were introduced to a number of
other pupils, including Ned Lowe, who was quite a mandolin player and
also a good singer, and a tall, studious youth named Dan Soppinger.

"Ned is our great singer," announced Spouter. "We expect some day that
he'll be singing in grand opera on the Metropolitan stage."

"Did you say grand opera or grand uproar?" questioned Andy, slyly.

"Opera, my boy! Opera!" repeated Spouter. "I expect some day that he
will thrill great audiences with exquisite renderings of the famous
solos by Wagner, Beethoven, Mozart, Donizetti----"

"Great mackerel, Spouter! what are you giving us--a musical directory?"
interrupted Randy.

"No. I was only giving you a list of the things I expect to hear Ned
sing sooner or later. Now, as for Dan here--he is the human
encyclopedia."

"If there is anything you don't want to know, ask Dan and he'll be sure
to tell you all about it," put in Fatty with a grin. "How about it,
Dan?"

"Say! that's a fine way to introduce a fellow," cried Dan Soppinger,
with a doubtful grin on his studious face. "Of course, I'm trying to
learn as much as possible, but there are a whole lot of things that I
don't know, and I'm not ashamed to acknowledge it. But say! by the way,
can any of you tell me what the date was when Jefferson was inaugurated
president?"

At this question there came a sudden groan, not only from Fatty, but
also from Spouter and Ned Lowe. Then with one voice the three shouted:

"Down with him! He's at it again!"

"I don't believe any of you know the date," retorted Dan Soppinger. "If
you did, you'd tell me. I am writing an article about the presidents,
and I've got to put that in. And then, here's another thing. Can any of
you tell me who crossed the Pacific Ocean to----"

But whatever the question was, it was never finished, for at that
moment Spouter, Fatty, Ned and several others piled on Dan Soppinger
and brought him to the gymnasium floor.

"Hi! You let up!" cried the victim, squirming from under the others as
best he could. "Can't a fellow ask a question or two without you
starting such a rough-house as this?"

"No questions to be asked, Dan, until the regular school term begins,"
answered Spouter. "Then all you've got to do is to go to the Rover
boys----"

"Not much!" came simultaneously from Andy and Randy.

"Do you take us for a school library?" questioned Fred, gaily.

"I'll answer all the easy ones, Dan," said Jack, good-naturedly. "The
hard ones I'll turn over to Spouter. If the question is a real sensible
one, he'll give you a nice little answer--one about twelve hundred
words long."

"Hurrah! Spouter is discovered at last!" cried Fatty. "Twelve hundred
words long just fits it--that is, if Spouter is in a hurry to cut it
short."

The Rover boys were much interested in what was taking place in the
gymnasium, and they even tried out some of the bars and swinging rings,
as well as one of the exercising machines.

"This is certainly an up-to-date institution," remarked Jack. "This gym
couldn't be better."

"How about the boats?" questioned Randy. He and his brother had owned a
rowboat on the Hudson River, and had often gone out in the craft.

"Oh, we've got half a dozen good rowboats, as well as several racing
shells," answered Spouter. "You'll probably get a chance to look them
over later."

While the Rover boys were taking in the sights to be seen in and around
the gymnasium, their attention was attracted to a tall, well-formed
cadet who was doing some clever work on one of the bars.

"He's doing that almost as well as a circus performer," was Fred's
comment.

"Yes; he's certainly very graceful," returned Jack. "I wonder who he
is."

"That is Walt Baxter," announced a cadet who had heard the talk.

"Walt Baxter!" exclaimed Randy. "I wonder if he can be the son of Dan
Baxter, the man who made so much trouble for our fathers while at
Putnam Hall."

"I'll soon find out," returned Jack. "But please remember--Dan Baxter
reformed, and more than likely his son is a first-rate fellow."

As soon as Walter Baxter had gotten through with his exercise and had
dropped to the floor, Jack, followed by his cousins, went up to him.

"Are you Walt Baxter--the son of Mr. Daniel Baxter?" he questioned.

"Yes," returned the other, and looked at Jack and the others with him
curiously.

"I am Jack Rover--the son of Mr. Richard Rover. These are my cousins,"
and Jack introduced them.

"Oh! is that so?" answered Walt Baxter, and shook hands rather
doubtfully. "I--I--am glad to know you," he stammered.

"And we are real glad to know you, Baxter," answered Randy, readily.
"We heard you were at this school. We hope that we'll all be good
friends."

"If we are not, it won't be my fault," and now there was a ring of
relief in Walter Baxter's voice. He lowered his tone a trifle. "I know
your fathers did a lot for my father, and I am very thankful for it. If
I can do anything for you fellows here, I'll certainly do it."

"And we'll do what we can for you, Baxter," answered Jack, quickly.

After that the talk became general, and Walt Baxter told much about
himself and the doings of the cadets at Colby Hall. When Nappy
Martell's name was mentioned, he drew down the corners of his mouth.

"I never had any use for that chap," he declared. "Once or twice my hot
temper got the better of me and we came pretty near having a fight. But
after that Martell gave me a wide berth."

"I think I've got Martell to thank for something that is missing," said
Fred, and thereupon related the particulars regarding the lost
suitcase.

"Say! I think I know something about that!" cried Walter Baxter,
quickly. "Yes, I'm sure I do!"

"Did you see Martell take the suitcase?" demanded the youngest Rover,
quickly.

"I can't say as to that, exactly. But I did see Martell sneaking off
through the backyard, past the stable, with something under his arm--a
big package wrapped up in a couple of newspapers."

"When was this?" questioned Jack, quickly.

"About four o'clock this afternoon."

"Just after we arrived at the Hall!" burst out Randy.

"What did he do with what package?" asked Jack.

"I don't know exactly, excepting that he went down past the stable on
to the roadway that leads to the farm fields."

"Maybe he took the suitcase and threw it down in one of the fields,"
ventured Andy.

"You didn't see him come back?" asked Fred.

"Yes, come to think of it, I did--about a quarter of an hour after
that," answered Walt Baxter.

"And did he have the package then?"

"No."

"Then I'll wager it was the suitcase and he left it somewhere down on
the farm!" cried Randy. "Let us go and take a look. We are permitted to
go out in the farm fields, aren't we?" he asked of Walt.

"Oh, yes. You can go anywhere you please during off hours so long as
you don't go out of bounds," was the reply. "If you want to go out of
bounds, you have to report at the office and get permission."

The matter was talked over for a few minutes more, and Walt Baxter said
he would gladly go along with the Rovers to show them just where he had
seen Nappy Martell with the bundle. The five boys were soon in the
neighborhood of the Hall stable, and then they passed beyond this to a
roadway which ran between the fields attached to the school farm.

"It's a pity it's so dark," declared Jack. "I doubt if we'll be able to
locate that suitcase even if we get quite close to it."

"I'll tell you what I'll do," declared Randy. "I'll run back to my room
and get my pocket flashlight. That will be just the thing."

It took him but a few minutes to obtain the article he had mentioned,
and with the flashlight to guide them, the five boys started along the
roadway behind the school. The light was flashed first on one side and
then on the other.

"Looks like a wild goose chase," declared Andy, after they had passed
two farm fields. "I don't think he would come this far with that heavy
suitcase."

"Here is a cornfield full of stacks," said Walt Baxter. "The stacks
would afford a dandy hiding place for almost anything."

They approached the first of the stacks, and Fred kicked some of the
corn stalks aside, but without result. Then they passed on to the next
stack.

"Hello! here is something!" exclaimed Jack, as the rays of the
flashlight fell upon the object. "Fred, I guess we've found it all
right enough."

"So we have!" cried the youngest Rover; and in a moment more he thrust
his hand in between the cornstalks and pulled out the missing suitcase.




CHAPTER XI

DOWN IN THE CORNFIELD


The other boys gathered around in curiosity as Fred brought forth from
the stack of cornstalks his missing suitcase. Beside the bag were
several newspapers crumpled up into a wad.

"Those must be the newspapers he had the suitcase wrapped in," remarked
Walt Baxter.

"More than likely," answered Jack. He picked up the wad of papers and
glanced at them. "New York newspapers, too," he cried. "Nappy must have
brought them with him from home."

"Was the suitcase locked, Fred?" questioned Randy.

"No. I didn't bother to lock it, because, you see, I had it with me. I
only lock a suitcase when I check it."

"Then you'd better take a look inside and see if your duds are all
right," advised Andy.

The youngest Rover quickly unstrapped the suitcase and threw back the
catch. Then, as Randy sent the rays of the flashlight into the bag, he,
as well as the others, uttered various exclamations.

"The mean fellow!"

"Fred, you ought to get after him for this!"

For a quick look inside the suitcase had revealed the fact that Nappy
Martell had opened the bag and thrown handfuls of dirt amid the pieces
of clothing and the various other articles Fred had packed therein.

"You'll have to have all that laundered stuff done over again before
you can wear it," declared Jack. "And you'll have to have those
neckties cleaned, too, I am afraid. Say! this is a shame!"

"Just wait! I think I'll be able to get square with Nappy Martell,"
muttered the youngest Rover.

"He ought to be reported for this," broke in Walt Baxter. "This isn't a
joke. It's a low-down, dirty trick."

At this remark all of the other Rover boys looked at Fred, and he
looked at his cousins in return.

"I don't know about reporting this," he answered slowly. "I rather
think I prefer to settle with Martell myself."

"That's the talk!" cried Andy. "If you reported this, some of the
fellows might put you down for a softy and a sneak. I'd rather watch my
chance and give Martell as good as he sent."

"And with interest," added his twin.

"If you fellows are anything like your fathers were before you, I
reckon you'll know how to get square with Nappy," remarked Walt Baxter.
"I've heard that the Rovers never took a back seat for anybody."

"I'll figure out what I'm going to do after I get settled here,"
returned Fred. He suddenly began to smile. "Say! things have been
happening since we left home, haven't they?"

"I should say yes!" answered Andy.

With Jack assisting his cousin in carrying the suitcase, the whole
crowd returned to Colby Hall, and here the Rovers started to separate
from Walt Baxter, first requesting him to remain silent regarding the
finding of the handbaggage.

"If we don't say a word about it, maybe Nappy will get worried," said
Fred; "and that is what I want him to do."

"He may go down to the cornfield to see if the bag is still there."

"Hold on!" burst out Randy, suddenly. "I've got an idea!" and then in a
few words he explained what had occurred to him. The others listened
with interest, and even Walt Baxter had to laugh outright over what he
proposed.

"I'll do it!" declared the son of Dan Baxter, readily. "I'll do it the
first chance I get. And, believe me, I'll fix it so Nappy Martell gets
into hot water!"

"I'd like to see what effect the story has on Martell," said Andy,
grinning broadly. "Can't you fix it so we can be around at the time?"

"Sure! When I get the chance, I'll drop you a hint."

"And now I must get this bag to my room without anyone seeing me," said
Fred.

"Better let Spouter or Fatty carry it up," advised Jack. "Then, if
Martell sees it, he won't know that it is your suitcase."

It was an easy matter to get Spouter to do what was required, although
he insisted upon knowing what was in the wind. When he was told, he,
too, laughed heartily.

"It will serve Martell right," he said. "I hope it worries him to
death."

As soon as the suitcase was safe in Fred's room, he sought out
Professor Brice, who was busy arranging the order of some classes.

"I wish to report that I've got my suitcase back, Professor," said the
youth.

"Ah, indeed!" was the teacher's reply, and his face showed his relief.
"I'm glad to know it. Did you--er--have any trouble?"

"Nothing that I care to mention--at least at this time," answered Fred.
"If you don't mind, Professor, we'll drop the matter."

"Oh, very well, Rover. Just as you please." The young professor looked
at Fred rather knowingly. "Of course, if there is anything wrong, you
can report it later," he added hesitatingly.

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir," answered the youth, and then bowed himself
out of the office. In the hallway he was joined by Andy.

"Did he make you squeal?" questioned the cousin quickly.

"Not much!" was the reply. "He's a good sport. I guess he's been
through the mill himself."

Fred spent some time over the contents of the suitcase, brushing the
dirt from some of the articles and sorting the rest out to be cleaned
or laundered.

"It's going to cost two or three dollars to fix this up," he declared
to Randy. "I really ought to send the bill to Martell."

"Well, just wait first and see if we get any fun out of this," answered
the joke-loving cousin.

As was to be expected, there was far from a full night's sleep coming
to the Rover boys that night. The quarters were strange to them, and
there was more or less noise throughout the school building, a bunch of
scholars coming in on a late train and not getting settled down until
after midnight. There was also something of horseplay, although the
majority of the cadets were too tired from their journeys to be very
active.

"I suppose we'll have to stand some hazing and all that sort of thing
later on," remarked Jack before retiring.

About one o'clock the school seemed to settle down, and then one after
another the Rover boys fell asleep, not to awaken until the autumn sun
was showing well above the hills beyond Clearwater Lake.

"This certainly is a splendid location," remarked Jack, as he went to
the open window, stretched himself, and filled his lungs with the fresh
morning air.

"I don't wonder Colonel Colby picked this place out for a school,"
answered Andy, who had come in. "He couldn't have done better."

Not being accustomed to their surroundings, it took the Rovers a little
longer than usual to get washed and dressed. They were just finishing
their toilets when there came a light knock on Randy's door. He opened
it to find Walt Baxter standing there.

"Nappy Martell just went downstairs, and I've fixed that matter up with
Ned Lowe," said Walt. "Come on down if you want to see what takes
place."

He led the way, and all of the Rover boys followed at a safe distance.
They saw Walt enter one of the big living-rooms of the Hall, to one end
of which was attached the school library. Nappy Martell was at one of
the library tables glancing carelessly over a magazine. In the
living-room Walt was joined by Ned Lowe, and the pair walked up behind
Nappy.

"Why, yes, it was the strangest thing I ever saw," said Walt to Ned in
a loud voice so that Nappy Martell could not help but hear. "The fellow
seemed to come from a stack of cornstalks down in the cornfield."

"It wasn't one of the cadets, was it?" questioned Ned, innocently.

"Oh, no. I think this fellow was some kind of a tramp--maybe some
fellow who had been sleeping under the stack all night. But what he was
doing with such a fine suitcase gets me."

"That's right. Tramps don't generally have suitcases," returned the
other boy. "Did he come toward the school?"

"No. He dug out the other way just as fast as he could go."

"Poor fellow! maybe he was afraid if he came towards the school he
would be arrested. If he had a suitcase he couldn't have been just an
ordinary tramp. Maybe he was some working man looking for a job and
without the price of a night's lodging."

"Perhaps, Ned. At the same time, I don't think Colonel Colby wants his
cornstalks used for a hotel," returned Walt; and then he and Ned walked
through the library and went outside on the campus.

During this conversation the Rover boys, hidden behind some open doors,
had watched Nappy Martell closely. They had seen that he had caught
what was being said and had immediately lost all interest in the
magazine he was perusing. His face took on a worried look, and he
glanced inquiringly after Walt and Ned. Then he threw down his magazine
and started to leave the room.

"Come on, let us watch him," whispered Jack.

"Yes. But keep out of his sight," returned Randy. "We don't want this
joke spoiled."

Keeping well in the background, they saw Nappy Martell ascend the
stairs to his room. A moment later he came forth with his hat in his
hand.

"I bet an oyster against a soda cracker he's going down to that
cornfield!" cried Andy.

"Right you are!" answered Fred. "Come on, let's follow him;" and
rushing up to their own rooms the Rover boys donned their caps and
sweaters, for the day was unusually cool.

Nappy Martell left the Hall by a rear door, and the Rovers followed.
They saw the loudly dressed youth hurry toward the stable and then
disappear to the rear. Soon he was on the highway leading to the
cornfield.

"There is no use of our following him, for he might see us and that
would spoil everything," said Randy. "Let's wait here at the stable
until he comes back."

It did not take Nappy Martell long to reach the cornfield; and from a
distance the Rovers saw him rush around, first to one stack of
cornstalks and then to another. He was gone fully a quarter of an hour,
and came back looking decidedly worried.

"He thinks some tramp got that suitcase and went off with it," said
Fred, grinning. "Randy, that certainly was one great joke."

"Don't say a word," answered Randy. "Just let him keep on worrying for
a while. Maybe it will do him good."

As Martell passed the stable, the Rover boys stepped out of sight in
the building. They saw him re-enter the Hall, and then they took a
roundabout course which soon brought them to the campus, where they
joined Fatty and Ned.

"It's certainly a good joke," was Fatty's comment. "And any fellow who
would be mean enough to dirty a fellow's clothing like that ought to
suffer for it. Gee! I'll bet he's worried!"

Of course, such a joke could not be kept entirely secret, and before
long it was spread among a good many of the cadets. But great care was
taken to keep it from Slugger Brown, Codfish and all the others
belonging to the Martell crowd.

"And now to pay Martell back for his meanness!" said Fred a little
later. "This joke of Randy's is all right as far as it goes, but I
think I'm going to go him one better--that is, if I can get into
Martell's room."

"All right, Fred. Anything you say goes," added Andy, quickly. "Isn't
that so, Randy?"

"Sure thing!"

"Look here! You don't want to get into trouble," warned Jack.

"There won't be much trouble about this," answered Fred. "I am only
going to give Nappy Martell something to think about."




CHAPTER XII

LEARNING TO DRILL


While the Rover boys were talking matters over among themselves, Nappy
Martell had returned to his room, which was connected by a door with
that occupied by Slugger Brown.

"What in thunder made you run off in such a hurry, Nappy?" demanded the
other cadet somewhat surlily. "You didn't answer that question I put to
you at all."

"I had something else to think about," was the reply. "It looks to me
as if I'm in hot water."

"How's that?"

"Do you remember I told you that I placed that Fred Rover's suitcase
down under a stack in the cornfield?"

"Yes."

"Well, I heard Walt Baxter telling Ned Lowe that he had seen a tramp
down in the cornfield running away from one of the stacks with a
suitcase in his hand; so I went down to the cornfield to find out if
the suitcase was still where I had hidden it. It was gone."

"Whew!" Slugger Brown gave a prolonged whistle. "That certainly does
look bad. Did Baxter say where the tramp went?"

"He told Lowe that he had not come towards the Hall, but had gone off
in the opposite direction."

"Then that looks as if the suitcase was gone for good."

"So it does. And I don't know what I'm going to do about it," answered
Nappy Martell, gloomily. "Of course, I didn't think the suitcase would
be stolen."

"And the worst part of it is, the Rovers suspect you of having taken
it," was the comment of Slugger.

"Yes. But they can't prove it," cried Nappy, quickly. "That is, they
won't be able to do it unless you or Codfish give me away."

"You know me well enough to know I won't say a word, Nappy. And as for
Codfish, just give him to understand if he opens his trap you'll fix
him for it."

A little while later Martell and Brown went below. In the lower hallway
they met Fred and some of the others.

"Well, Martell, when are you going to return that suitcase?" demanded
the youngest Rover.

"I told you I haven't got your suitcase and don't know anything about
it," cried the loudly dressed youth. But at the same time his face grew
flushed and he could not look Fred in the eyes.

"You took that suitcase, and if you don't return it pretty quick you'll
see what will happen," warned Fred; and then he walked away with his
cousins, leaving Nappy Martell gazing at Slugger Brown, questioningly.
The pair conversed in a low tone, and passed on out of the hall on to
the campus.

"Now's your time, Fred, if you're going to do as you said," whispered
Randy.

"Right you are!" was the quick reply. "Come on;" and Fred led the way
upstairs again, his cousins following.

When they reached Nappy Martell's room, they found the door locked. But
the door to Slugger Brown's apartment was unfastened, and they quickly
entered this and passed into the room beyond.

"Say, Jack, won't you stand on guard?" questioned Fred. "They might
come back while we're at work."

"All right, boys. But be careful what you do. You don't want to spoil
anything. A joke is a joke, but it loses its flavor if it is carried
too far."

With Jack standing in the hallway on guard, Fred and the twins took
possession of Nappy Martell's room. The boy who loved to dress so
loudly was rather methodical in his habits, and had arranged all of his
clothing and other articles with great nicety in his chiffonier and his
closet.

"The bed first," whispered Fred; and in a trice the boys had taken off
the bed clothing and turned up the mattress. On the springs they placed
one of the bedsheets and on the top of this they distributed all of
Nappy's choice neckties and also his fancy-colored socks. Then to this
they added his cuffs, his fancy underwear, and all of his loose
jewelry. The articles were spread over the bed with care, so that they
rested as flat as possible.

"Now, we'll put the mattress back and then make up the bed as nicely as
possible," said Randy, who, of course, in a joke of this sort directed
operations.

"Gee! I don't believe he'll find those articles in a hurry," chuckled
Fred.

"They'll never find them until they come to turn the mattress over,"
vouchsafed Andy. "Some joke, believe me!"

"I was thinking about that clothing in the closet. I wonder if we can't
fix that up some way," mused Randy. Then he began to grin. "Just the
thing!" he continued, and walked to the chiffonier, from a drawer in
which he brought out a package of safety pins.

"What are you going to do with those?" questioned Fred.

"We'll pin up all the ends of the sleeves and the trouser legs, from
the inside," was the quick reply. "Come, hurry up!" and then the three
boys lost no time in doing as Randy had suggested. This done, they left
the room, leaving it, so far as looks in general went, just as when
they had entered it.

"There'll be some fun when Nappy wants one of those neckties or a pair
of those fancy socks," laughed Andy. "I wish I could be on hand to see
him."

"Don't you worry--we'll hear about it," returned Fred. "He'll suspect
me on account of that suitcase affair."

While it was true that the regular school term had not yet opened, the
new arrivals had been informed that they must be on hand to be measured
for their uniforms and also to be instructed by some of the seniors who
were present in drilling. The measurements of the boys were taken down
in the gymnasium under the directions of Mr. Silas Crews, who was the
gymnasium instructor and also the husband of Mrs. Crews, the matron for
the younger cadets.

"I hope they've got a suit on hand that fits me," was Jack's comment,
as he and his cousins walked to the gymnasium. "I'd like to see how it
feels to be in a uniform."

His wish was gratified, for a little later he was given an entire
outfit, which consisted of both a fulldress uniform and a fatigue suit,
as well as belt, shoulder straps, cap, and hat, and several other
things. Uniforms were also found for the others, and the entire crowd
lost no time in hurrying back to their rooms to dress up. In this they
were aided by Spouter, who had donned his uniform immediately upon his
arrival.

"Some brass buttons, believe me!" was Andy's comment, as he strode
around the rooms.

"Say! you put me in mind of a peacock," said the twin. "My, just see
how he swells up!" and Randy himself raised his chest as high as
possible.

"What are you going to be, Jack--fifth corporal or first admiral of the
rear guard?" questioned Fred.

"I'm going to be head soup-carrier for the bayonet squad," returned his
cousin gaily.

As soon as they had donned their uniforms, the boys returned to the
gymnasium, where they were placed in what was called an awkward squad,
and which was under the direction of Dan Soppinger. Here they quickly
learned how to stand erect with their toes on a chalk mark, and how to
hold their hands properly. Then they were given directions how to cast
their eyes "To the right," "To the left," and "Front." Then they
learned the meaning of "Right face," "Left face," and "About face."

[Illustration: THEY WERE PLACED IN WHAT WAS CALLED AN AWKWARD SQUAD.
_Page_ 125]

"All of you are doing pretty well," remarked Dan Soppinger to the squad
of eight under him. "Now then, we'll see what you can do when it comes
to marching. When I give the order 'Forward,' you balance on your right
foot, and when the word comes 'March!' you step out with your left
foot. And when you step out, do it like this," and he gave an
illustration by marching up and down in front of the squad.

To the Rover boys all this was very interesting, and they learned with
comparative ease. Only one of the awkward squad seemed to have
difficulty in marching just right, a lad named White.

"Don't lag behind, White!" cried Dan Soppinger, sharply. "Step right
out as if you meant it;" and after that White did a little better.

While the drilling was in progress, Colonel Colby came down to the
gymnasium to look on. He was pleased with the general results.

"I think you are doing very well, boys," he said. "Of course, you can't
learn to become first-class soldiers in a day. It takes hard practising
to do anything just right."

"When do we get guns?" questioned Andy, after the drilling had come to
an end.

"You won't get guns until you have learned how to march and how to turn
properly," answered Dan. "Then, when you do get guns, you'll have to go
in for the manual of arms."

"And how about learning how to shoot?" questioned Jack.

"That will come still later--after you have had experience in marching
and in handling your guns."

"Whoop! Me for a real soldier boy!" cried Andy, his eyes sparkling, and
then he began to hum a bit of doggerel he had made up on the spur of
the moment.

    "Johnny, get your musket--
    You must get your musket.
    Johnny, get your musket--
    You must get it now!"

"Wow! that's some song," was Fred's comment. "Better have it
copyrighted, Andy."

"Oh, I've already got a double-barreled patent on it," was the light
answer. "Anybody who steals it will get ten years in a bathing suit at
the north pole;" and at this there was a general laugh.

The boys were awaiting the arrival of Gif Garrison, who came in about
noon of that day. Gif was a big boy, and, as mentioned before, was at
the head of a great many of the athletic doings of the school.

"Glad to see you fellows here," said Gif, as he shook hands all around.
"My! but we're going to have some good times now, aren't we?"

"If we don't, it won't be our fault," responded Jack.

"We've just been learning how to become soldiers," explained Randy. "My
head is full of 'Eyes right,' 'Left face,' 'Forward march,' and all
that sort of thing."

"Oh, you'll get used to that, Randy, before you've been here very
long," returned Gif.

"Did you have a nice time getting here?" questioned Fred.

"I might have had a nice time if it hadn't been for one thing," was the
answer. "I came in on the same train with a professor that none of us
like."

"Oh! Do you mean Asa Lemm?" questioned Andy, quickly.

"That's it! What do you know of him?"

"We know quite a little," answered Jack, and related some of the
particulars of what had happened on the train.

"Oh, I can see your finish," said Gif with a serious look on his face.
"Old Lemon will never forget that happening. He'll be down on you for
it all the term."




CHAPTER XIII

FRED IS FOLLOWED


It took the Rover boys several days to settle down at Colby Hall.
Everything, of course, was new to them, and they took great delight in
roaming around the place in company with Spouter, Gif and the various
new friends they had made. During that time they continued to drill,
both in the morning and the afternoon; and it was surprising how
quickly they learned the manual of arms and also the other tactics
which go to make up the discipline of a cadet.

"This life is all to the merry," was Andy's comment one day, while he
and the others were down at the shore of the river inspecting the
boathouse with its numerous craft.

"It certainly is one fine place," answered Jack. "If Putnam Hall was
anything like this, no wonder our fathers thought so much of it."

Since Fred had asked Nappy Martell for the suitcase, the boy who was
addicted to loud clothing had avoided the Rovers. But through the cadet
named White they had learned much of what had happened in Nappy's room
when he came in after it had been "rearranged" by the Rovers.

"Nappy Martell was the maddest fellow you ever saw," Bart White had
declared. "He stormed all around the corridor, accusing nearly
everybody in that vicinity of having taken his neckties and his
underwear and a lot of jewelry. He even came to my room and threatened
to tell Colonel Colby if I didn't tell him where the things were."

"And, of course, you couldn't do that," had been Randy's reply, with a
side wink at the others.

"No. I told him I didn't know where the things were--because, you see,
I really didn't know," went on Bart White, innocently.

"And after that?" queried Jack.

"Oh, he stormed around, accusing this one and that one until some of
the boys got sick of listening and told him to shut up. Then he went
back to his room and slammed the door hard enough to burst it off its
hinges."

"Do you suppose he reported the matter to Colonel Colby?" had been
Fred's question.

"I don't know about that. You see, when a fellow gets as mad as Martell
was he's liable to do almost anything." And that was all Bart White had
had to relate concerning the affair.

So far, the Rover boys had not had anything to do with Asa Lemm. They
had met the sharp-faced professor once in the hallway and he had stared
at them in a fashion which made Andy shiver.

"He's got it in for me all right!" had been the declaration of the
fun-loving youth.

"I guess Gif was right," had been Jack's comment. "He'll have it in for
us the whole term. Too bad! I'd rather be friendly with every one than
have any enemies."

The Rover boys were just leaving the boathouse after having admired the
beautiful four- and eight-oared shells stored there, when they saw
Fatty Hendry coming towards them as rapidly as his stoutness permitted.

"Say! I've got something to tell you fellows," puffed the fat boy as he
came closer. "I just saw that sneak of a Codfish coming from Fred's
room. He looked awful sneakish, and I'm sure he was up to no good."

"I'll go up to my room at once and see," answered the youngest Rover,
and lost no time in speeding back to the Hall.

He bounded up the stairs two steps at a time. But when he reached the
room he occupied, a surprise awaited him. Everything was exactly as he
had left it. It may be as well to state here that every cadet at Colby
Hall was required to keep his room in absolute order, and a monitor
came around twice a day to see that this regulation was carried out. If
a pupil was lax in any particular regarding his room, he was given a
demerit in consequence thereof.

"Well, thank goodness! he didn't upset anything, even if he was here,"
murmured Fred to himself. "I wonder what the little imp was up to?"
Then a sudden thought struck him and he walked to the clothes closet in
the bottom of which he had deposited his suitcase. He found the bag in
the closet, but it was placed there in such a way that he was sure it
had been handled.

"Well, what have you found?" questioned Andy, who had followed his
cousin to the room.

"I think I know why he came here," declared Fred. "More than likely
Martell sent him here to find out whether I really had the suitcase or
not. The bag I know has been handled. When I placed it in the closet I
put the open end of the straps against the wall. Now the open ends are
on this side."

"Say! you're some detective, Fred!"

"I know how I left the bag. And he certainly had it out of the closet
and put it back."

"See if he did anything to it," went on Andy, quickly; and thereupon
Fred brought the bag forth and examined it. It was empty, just as he
had left it.

"Well, that will take the worry of the missing bag from Martell's
mind," was Fred's comment, as he and Andy left the room, this time
locking the door.

"Martell must have had some kind of a clue to the truth or he wouldn't
have sent Codfish here," was Andy's comment. "Maybe he got on to what
part Walt Baxter and Ned Lowe played in the trick." And in this surmise
Andy was correct. By the merest accident Codfish had overheard Walt and
Ned speaking about the joke, and at once he had gone to Nappy with the
news; and the upshot had been that Nappy had sent the sneak to Fred's
room to learn if the suitcase with Fred's initials upon it was there.

Late that afternoon both the old and the new cadets were assigned to
their places in the various classrooms and also given the text-books
which they were to study during the term.

"This begins to look like work," sighed Randy.

"Well, we didn't come here just for the fun of it," declared Jack. "We
came here, if you'll remember, to get an education."

"Oh, I'm not going to complain," returned his cousin quickly. "I'm
willing to do my share of studying. But after the splendid vacation we
had this Summer it will be a little tough at the beginning to get down
to the grind."