The old farmer would not stop for the boys on the roadside, but drove
directly to the Colby Hall entrance.

"Why! what's the matter?" exclaimed Randy to the military instructor.

"A little trouble, boys," was Captain Dale's answer. "You'll hear about
it later." And then he went after the wagon, and the boys took to their
heels and followed.

"Now then, you do what you promised!" snapped Elias Lacy, after Jack
and Fred had jumped from the wagon. "Don't let 'em run away, nohow!"

"You can rest assured that I will take care of them, Mr. Lacy,"
answered the captain coldly.

"When do you expect Colonel Colby back?"

"Some time this afternoon."

"Then I guess I'll be back by that time to see him. An' I guess I'll be
able to prove them boys is guilty, too."

"Why, Jack! what is it all about?" demanded Randy, while his twin
looked on questioningly. The boys' shotguns and game had been taken
from the farm wagon, and now the pair from the Lacy farm drove away.

"You've got to search me!" declared Jack. "Old Lacy accuses Fred and me
of shooting two of his cows."

"You didn't do it, though, did you?" queried Andy.

"Certainly not!" burst out Fred. "All we know about it is what he has
told us. We weren't even near the pasture where the cows were kept."

As well as they were able, Jack and Fred explained the situation to
their cousins and also answered a number of questions put to them by
Captain Dale. The military instructor was much puzzled over the
situation, and hardly knew what to do.

"You heard what I promised Mr. Lacy," he said finally. "I'll have to
place you in the guardroom until Colonel Colby gets back. But I imagine
you would rather be kept there than let Mr. Lacy take you down to the
town lock-up."

"It isn't fair to lock us up at all," grumbled Fred. "We have done no
wrong. Of course we stayed away from the Hall over night, but that
couldn't be helped. It was no fun staying outdoors on such a cold night
without shelter."

"Can't you parole us, Captain?" queried Jack.

"No. I gave Mr. Lacy my word that I would lock you up, and I'll have to
do it. I'll see to it, however, that you suffer no discomforts while
you are in the guardroom."

After this there seemed no help for it, and, turning their guns and
game over to the twins, Jack and Fred followed Captain Dale through one
of the lower corridors and then into a wing of the building. Here there
was a room about twelve feet square, the one window of which was
barred, and this was known officially as the school guardroom, or
prison.

"You may wash up if you care to do so, and I will send you some
breakfast," announced Captain Dale, and then left them in the room,
locking the door behind him.

The apartment was but scantily furnished, containing an iron cot, a
couple of stools, a table, and, in one corner, a wash bowl with running
water. There was a small steam radiator in the room, and this the boys
lost no time in turning on, for the air was damp and cold.

"This is a fine prospect, truly," remarked Fred, as he sank down on one
of the stools. "I wonder how long we'll have to stay in this hole."

"That remains to be seen, Fred. I wish Colonel Colby were here. I think
he would give us some good advice--being such an old friend of our
fathers."

"Gee! I'd hate to have him send a letter home telling the folks that we
were guilty of shooting a farmer's cows."

"So would I. I don't see how we are going to clear ourselves. You can
bet Lacy will make out the blackest possible case against us."

After their outing in the woods the boys were glad enough to wash
themselves. They had hardly finished when one of the waiters of the
Hall came in with a large tray filled with an appetizing breakfast.

"This isn't so bad," declared Jack, when they had been left once more
alone. The boys ate heartily, yet they were so much troubled that it is
not likely the food did them any good.

The report soon circulated throughout Colby Hall that Jack and Fred had
been placed under arrest, and many of the cadets wanted to know what it
meant.

"They've been arrested for shooting two of old Lacy's cows!" said
Codfish, who had heard the news and had started to circulate it as
quickly as possible. "They say old Lacy is going to send them to
state's prison for it."

"Spikeless mosquitoes!" cried Fatty. "Do you think they really went
over there and shot the cows?"

"I don't know, I'm sure," answered Walt Baxter, who was present. "I
know they didn't bear old Lacy much good-will. They felt rather raw
over the way the old man held 'em up with his shotgun when they were
having their Hallowe'en fun."

"Yes. And they were down on Lacy because he once took away some
chestnuts they had gathered from one of his trees," put in another
cadet.

"Shooting cows is rather a serious business," was Bart White's comment.

This talk took place on the campus. Down in the gymnasium another group
of cadets had gathered, including Nappy Martell and Slugger Brown.

"Locked up for killing old Lacy's cows, eh?" cried Martell, with a
satisfied grin on his face. "They'll catch it for that, all right
enough!"

"I don't see why Colonel Colby don't fire 'em out of the school for
it," said Slugger Brown.

"Maybe he will dismiss 'em if he finds out the report is true,"
ventured another cadet.

"Of course the report is true!" put in Codfish, who had come up.
"Didn't one of the hired men see 'em do it?"

"Is that so, Codfish?"

"So they say."

"Oh, it would be just like those Rovers to do something like that,"
came from Nappy Martell. "They are that kind of fellows."

"I always thought they were pretty good chaps," was the comment of
another cadet.

"Good chaps!" sneered Slugger Brown. "That shows you don't know 'em as
well as we do. They are sneaks--all of 'em--and wouldn't hesitate a
minute to do anything underhanded. I hope Colonel Colby gets after them
and fires 'em out;" and then, with a knowing look at Martell, Slugger
passed on, and presently his crony followed him.

A good deal of this talk drifted to the ears of the Rover twins and
hurt them not a little. But they were in no position to combat what was
said.

"Of course we know Jack and Fred are innocent," remarked Randy to his
brother. "But in a court of law it is one thing to know it and quite
another thing to prove it."

"Yet I've always heard it said that a man was innocent until he was
proved guilty," asserted Andy.

"Very true. Just the same, many a man has been convicted on what they
call circumstantial evidence; and evidently the circumstantial evidence
against Jack and Fred is pretty strong."

In the guardroom the time for Jack and Fred passed slowly. They
discussed the situation from every possible point of view, but without
arriving at any satisfactory conclusion.

"Even if they don't send us to prison for the crime, they may make our
fathers' pay for the cows," said Jack.

"Yes. And Colonel Colby may send us home," added Fred, dismally. "Oh,
dear! wouldn't that be the worst ever?" and he sank down on the cot and
covered his face with his hands.

It was Martell and Brown, aided by Codfish, who saw to it that the
report of Jack and Fred's arrest was carried to Clearwater Hall. This
brought consternation to the girls, particularly to Ruth and May.

"I won't believe it!" declared Ruth. "I don't believe Jack and Fred
would be so mean."

"I don't believe it either!" cried Spouter's cousin. "Somebody else
must have done it!"

In the middle of the afternoon Colonel Colby returned to the Hall and
was at once acquainted with the affair by Captain Dale. The colonel was
on the point of questioning the two prisoners when a servant came in,
announcing the arrival of Elias Lacy. The farmer was as wildly excited
as he had been in the morning.

"I knowed I was right!" he cried, flourishing a letter in the colonel's
face. "Here's something I got to prove it! It come by mail this mornin'
when I was bringin' them young whelps over here. I put the letter in my
pocket, an' I forgot all about it until an hour ago. Jest read that,
will you?" and he thrust the communication into Colonel Colby's hand.

The letter was postmarked at Beach Haven, and had been mailed the
evening previous. It was written in a slanting backhand, evidently
disguised, and ran as follows:

    "Dear Mr. Lacy:

    "Your two cows were shot by Jack Rover and Fred Rover. They were
    out in the woods hunting when we saw them go towards your pasture
    lot. We thought they were up to some trick, so watched them. They
    drove the two cows from the rest of the herd, and then Jack Rover
    gave one cow two shots and Fred Rover gave the other cow two shots.
    Then they ran back into the woods as tight as they could go. They
    didn't join the other hunters they had gone out with, most likely
    because they were afraid.

    "You had better go to Colby Hall and have them arrested before they
    run away.

    "Yours truly,

    "Three boys who know, but who do not dare to give you their names."




CHAPTER XXIX

THE EXPOSURE


"There! what do you think of that letter?" demanded Elias Lacy, after
Colonel Colby had read the communication.

"I don't know what to think of it, Mr. Lacy," was the slow reply. "I
have not yet had an opportunity to interview the two Rovers. If you
will sit down here in my office, I'll talk to them and try to settle
this matter with you."

"Don't you want me to go with you?" questioned the old farmer quickly.

"No. I prefer to interview them alone."

"All right then, I'll stay here. But don't be too long, 'cause I want
to drive down to the town an' git Bill Pixley, the chief o' police, or
one of his men."

"I don't think you'll need any police, Mr. Lacy. I think we'll be able
to fix this matter up to your entire satisfaction," answered Colonel
Colby; and then left the office and made his way along the corridors to
the guardroom.

His coming was a great relief to Jack and Fred, for they felt that in
Colonel Colby they had a real friend. Yet they were much troubled, for
they realized that the case looked black against them.

"Now tell me everything you know. Don't hold back a single item," said
the colonel, as he seated himself on one of the stools.

Thereupon both cadets related their story in detail--how they had gone
out with Frank Newberry and the others, how the two parties had become
separated, and how they had lost their way, camped out over night, and
finally found the woods road leading down to the Lacy farm, and then
how Elias Lacy and his hired man had held them up and threatened them
with arrest.

"And you do not know a single thing about the shooting of the cows?"
questioned the colonel, eyeing them sternly.

"Not a thing, sir," responded Jack, promptly.

"We don't know anything more about those cows than you do, sir," added
Fred, vehemently. "We weren't anywhere near his place when they were
shot."

"Then what do you two say to this letter?" continued the master of
Colby Hall, and presented the communication to them.

Jack read the letter with Fred looking over his shoulder. Then, of a
sudden, Fred gave a cry of amazement.

"I think I know who wrote that letter!" he exclaimed.

"You do!" returned Colonel Colby and Jack, simultaneously.

"I think so; although, of course, I am not sure." Fred looked at his
cousin. "It would be just like him to do it."

"Who are you talking about, Fred?"

"I'm talking about Slugger Brown."

"Slugger Brown!"

"Do you mean Slogwell Brown?" queried the master of the school.

"Yes, sir."

"And what makes you think Brown wrote that communication?" demanded
Colonel Colby. And now, somewhat to their wonder, the Rovers realized
that the colonel seemed to be unusually interested.

"Because I once saw Brown writing in backhand fashion on the blackboard
in the gymnasium," explained Fred. "He wrote a hand almost identical
with that. I noticed it particularly, because he was amusing himself by
writing one line slanting backward and the next line slanting forward."

"Did he know you were watching him?"

"Oh, no! I didn't stay there long enough for that. He was all alone,
and as I didn't care to speak to him, I passed out without his noticing
it."

"How long ago was this?"

"Only about a week ago."

"Hum!" The colonel mused for a moment, knitting his brows closely as he
did so. "That is worth investigating." He thought for another moment.
"You have nothing more to add to your story?"

"No, sir," answered Fred.

"I think we've told you everything, Colonel Colby," returned Jack. "We
are innocent, and I trust you will do all you can to help us prove it."

"I shall do what is absolutely fair in the matter," answered Colonel
Colby; and then left the two boys once more to themselves.

Andy and Randy had begged for permission to talk things over with their
cousins, and they came in to see Jack and Fred almost immediately after
Colonel Colby left.

"If Slugger Brown wrote that letter, maybe he and Nappy Martell did the
shooting," remarked Randy.

"They would be just mean enough to do it," added his twin. "They'd do
anything to get our crowd into trouble."

"Why can't you two fellows watch Brown and Martell?" questioned Jack.
"You might tell Gif and Spouter and Ned about it, too. Find out where
those two fellows were yesterday afternoon, and find out if they used
any of the shotguns."

"Say! that's an idea!" cried Randy, enthusiastically. "I'll go at it
right away!"

"And so will I!" declared his brother. "Maybe we'll be able to lay the
whole blame on that pair."

The twins talked it over with the others for a little while longer, and
then were let out of the guardroom by a servant, who locked the door
after them. As they came out into the main corridor of the Hall, they
saw that Elias Lacy was just leaving Colonel Colby's office.

"All right, then, I'll wait," the old farmer was saying. "But I'll be
back by to-morrow afternoon, an' if you can't prove by that time that
them Rover boys is innercent, I'm a-goin' to have 'em locked up."

"Very well, Mr. Lacy," the colonel replied, and bowed his visitor out
of the door.

"Well, anyway, the colonel has got old Lacy to wait another day,"
whispered Randy. "That will give us just so much more time to get on
the track of what Martell and Brown have been doing."

"All provided they are really guilty of playing this dirty trick,"
answered his brother.

In the upper hallway the twins ran across Ned Lowe, and immediately
took that cadet into their confidence, and asked him if he would not
try to find out for them where Brown and Martell had been the previous
afternoon.

"For, you see, we can't ask them ourselves," explained Randy. "If we
did that they would become suspicious at once."

"All right, I'll do what I can," answered Ned, and made off without
delay. He came back in less than fifteen minutes, looking much excited.

"How did you make out?" queried Randy, eagerly.

"Great! I want you two fellows to come upstairs at once while Brown and
Martell are out of their rooms. And I think you had better bring along
one of the teachers as a witness."

"Why, what have you learned, Ned?" questioned Andy.

"I saw them down near the gymnasium, and sneaked up behind them, and by
rare good luck heard them talking about two shotguns that belonged in
the gun rack. They were wondering how they could get them from their
rooms back into the gun rack without detection."

"Hurrah! I wager we have found 'em out!" ejaculated Randy, excitedly.
"Come on! let's get one of the teachers at once!"

The boys were fortunate enough to fall in with Professor Brice a minute
later, and in a rather excited fashion they told the teacher of what
they had learned and what they proposed to do.

"Why, certainly, I'll go with you," said Paul Brice, quickly. "I want
just as much as anybody to get at the bottom of this affair."

Accompanied by the professor, the three cadets hurried to the second
floor of the Hall and then to the rooms occupied by Slugger Brown and
Nappy Martell. The door to each was locked, but one of them was opened
for the crowd by an assistant janitor. A hasty search revealed nothing
in the shape of a firearm in either room, and the Rover boys were much
disappointed. But then Randy thought of the bed, and quickly raised the
mattress. On the springs rested a shotgun.

"And I'll bet the other shotgun is in the other bed!" cried Andy, and
he and the professor made an investigation. The fun-loving Rover's
surmise was correct.

"These are guns belonging to the Hall, too!" cried Ned, pointing out
the mark of the school on the stocks. "They must belong down in the gun
rack, just as Slugger and Martell said."

"Bring those guns along, boys, and we'll go directly to Colonel Colby's
office," said Professor Brice; and the cadets lost no time in doing as
he directed.

They found the master of the school seated at his desk, looking over a
mass of papers. He gazed in wonder at the three lads and Professor
Brice.

"We found the shotguns that were used on those cows!" cried Randy, his
eyes sparkling.

"And do you know where we found 'em? In the beds that Slugger Brown and
Nappy Martell use!" broke in Andy.

"What's this?" And now the colonel was really startled.

"You had better let the boys tell the beginning of the story, and I
will tell the end," said Professor Brice.

Thereupon, the two Rovers repeated the talk that had taken place in the
guardroom, and then told how they had gotten Ned to spy on Brown and
Martell. Then Ned told of what he had heard, and of how the three had
called on Professor Brice for assistance. After that the teacher took
up the narrative, ending with the finding of the shotguns in the beds.

"It looks like a pretty clear case against Brown and Martell," remarked
the colonel slowly. "However, I shall have to make a further
investigation. I will send for Brown and Martell at once."

The colonel was as good as his word, and inside of five minutes Slugger
and Nappy came into the office together. They looked much disturbed,
and this look increased when they saw Andy and Randy.

"Brown and Martell, I have sent for you to answer a few questions,"
began Colonel Colby, sternly, as the two cadets faced him. "I want you
to answer me directly and truthfully. What was your object in taking
two of our shotguns from the gun rack and going over to Mr. Lacy's farm
and shooting down two of his cows?"

"Wh--wh--why, wh--wh--what do you mean?" faltered Brown.

"We didn't--er--shoot--er--any cows," stammered Martell.

Both boys were thrown into utter confusion, and showed it plainly. Then
Slugger Brown suddenly turned to glare at the Rovers.

"Is this some of your work?" he demanded. "If it is, let me tell you
I'll pay you back for it!"

"Stop that talk, Brown!" commanded Colonel Colby. "I want you and
Martell to answer my question. Why did you go over there and shoot
those cows?"

"Who says we shot the cows?" questioned Nappy, faintly.

"Never mind who says so. You did it, and it is useless for you to deny
it. Here are the two guns you took from the gun rack and afterwards hid
in your beds. And here is the despicable note you, Brown, wrote and
mailed to Mr. Lacy," and the colonel held out the communication.

"Oh, Colonel Colby, I di--di--didn't do it!" faltered Slugger Brown.
His face had suddenly gone white, and he could scarcely speak.

"Do you deny that this is your handwriting?"

"I--I----Oh, is----I--I--didn't----That is----" and here Slugger Brown
broke down absolutely, not knowing what to say.

"Did you mail that letter or did Brown do it?" questioned the colonel,
quickly turning to Martell.

"He did it! I didn't have anything to do with it!" burst out Nappy,
breaking down completely.

"It ain't so!" cried Slugger. "He was with me, and he dropped the
letter in the post-office!"

"And so you killed the cows to get the Rovers into trouble?" said
Colonel Colby; and now his eyes glittered like steel. "A fine thing to
do, truly! I did not think any of our cadets would stoop to such a base
action."

"It was a--er--a joke," gasped Nappy.

"A joke! To kill two valuable cows? Martell, if you talk that way, I'll
be inclined to think you are losing your senses. But evidently there is
something radically wrong with both you and Brown," went on the master
of the Hall. "This case of the cows and the plot against the Rovers is
bad enough, but I have another matter against you which may prove even
worse."

"What is that?" questioned Slugger, very faintly.

"It is a case that Captain Larkins of the steam tug, _Mary D._, has
lodged against you. He says he has absolute proof that both of you went
out in a motor boat one day and tampered with the towing line and the
chains of a large lumber raft, so that when a sudden squall came up on
the lake, the towing line parted and the lumber raft went to pieces."

"Oh, say! that must have been the squall we were out in!" exclaimed
Randy. "And we got caught among that floating lumber, too!"

"Yes, that was the time," answered Colonel Colby.

"Oh, Colonel! can't we go to our cousins and tell them that they can
have their freedom?" questioned Andy, with a sudden thought of those
left in the guardroom.

"Yes, Rover. Both of you and also Lowe can go," was the colonel's
reply. "I will settle this affair with Brown and Martell."

"And will you settle it with Mr. Lacy, too?" queried Randy, quickly.

"Yes. I will fix the whole matter up. You may tell Jack and Fred that
they need not worry any further on this score." And thereupon Andy,
Randy and Ned hurried away to bear the glad tidings to the prisoners.

Of course Jack and Fred were greatly pleased to be released. They
listened eagerly to all the twins and Ned had to relate.

"So Nappy and Slugger are guilty!" cried Jack. "What a mean way to
act!"

"And to think they are also guilty of sending that lumber adrift," said
Fred. "They'll suffer for that."

"They ought to suffer," answered his cousin.




CHAPTER XXX

A FOOTBALL VICTORY--CONCLUSION


"Whoop her up for Colby Hall!"

"This is the time Columbus Academy wins!"

"Not on your life! This is Colby Hall day!"

"You'll sing a different tune after the game is over!"

"Hurrah! here come the elevens now!"

And then a wild shouting, intermingled with the tooting of horns and
the sounding of rattles, rent the air, while banners went waving on
every side.

It was the day of the great game between Colby Hall and Columbus
Academy. It had been decided that the contest should take place on the
field belonging to the military academy, and once again everything had
been put in the best of order for this gala occasion. The grandstand
and the bleachers were overflowing with spectators, and in a distant
field were parked a hundred automobiles or more, while in another field
were numerous carriages and farm wagons.

"We've certainly got a crowd to-day," remarked Randy, who, with his
brother, was in the section of the stand reserved for the Colbyites and
their friends. In front of the twins and their chums sat Ruth, May, and
half a dozen other girls from Clearwater Hall.

"I don't see anything of Nappy Martell or Slugger Brown," remarked Ida
Brierley, who was with the girls.

"I hope you don't want to see them, Ida," returned Ruth, promptly.

"Indeed, I do not!" answered the other girl. "I was only wondering what
had become of them."

"Jack told me they had both left the Hall for the term. They shot those
cows, you know, and they had some other trouble which was hushed up."

"Oh, that was the trouble over that lumber raft," put in Jennie Mason.

"Right you are!" answered Andy, bending over and speaking in a low tone
so that no outsider might hear. "Their folks had to pony up a pretty
penny, too, for the lumber and for the cows."

"Oh, well, let's forget Martell and Brown," broke in May. "I want to
enjoy this game."

"And that's what we all want to do," said Alice Strobell.

What had been said concerning Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell was true.
Questioned by Colonel Colby, the two misguided cadets had finally
broken down utterly and confessed everything, telling how they had once
gotten into a quarrel with Captain Larkins on the lake and how they had
sought to get square by tampering with the fastenings of the lumber
raft and the towline; and they had also related the particulars of how
they had watched Jack and Fred go out shooting and had then purloined
the two shotguns from the gun rack and hurried over to the Lacy farm to
shoot the cows. Mr. Brown and Mr. Martell had been called upon to pay
both the lake captain and the old farmer heavy damages; and thereupon
they had withdrawn their sons from the Hall for the time being.

"And I'm glad they're gone," had been Fred's comment. "I hope they
never come back here again."

"Yes, we could do without Brown and Martell very well," had been Jack's
answer.

Both of the cousins were particularly happy on this day. Jack occupied
his former position on the eleven, and Fred had been drafted from the
scrub team and put on the substitutes' bench in place of Brown.

"Maybe I'll get a chance to play!" cried the youngest Rover eagerly,
when the football captain brought him the news.

"Perhaps so, Fred," answered Gif. "Although, of course, I hope none of
our players get hurt."

As the Colby Hall eleven marched out on the gridiron, Jack glanced
towards the grandstand and caught Ruth's eye. The girl gaily waved a
Colby Hall banner at him. Then May caught sight of Fred on the side
lines, and shook her hand at him.

Spectators from the town were almost as much interested in the contest
as were the two schools. This football game was always the big match of
the season, and many wagers were placed on the result. In the past the
contests had always been exceedingly bitter, with the various scores
almost a tie, Columbus Academy winning by a narrow margin one year and
Colby Hall taking the lead by an equally narrow margin the following
year.

When the Columbus Academy boys came out on the field, it was seen that
they were good, husky fellows, every bit as heavy as the Colby Hall
eleven. They looked in the pink of condition.

"I am afraid our boys will have their work cut out for them in this
game," remarked Mr. Crews to Colonel Colby.

"Well, our boys look pretty fit," answered the master of the Hall.

By the toss of a coin, Columbus Academy won the choice of position, and
took the west goal, the slight wind that was blowing being in their
favor. Then the two teams lined up for the kick-off.

"Now then, boys, show 'em what you can do!" yelled the Colby Hall
cadets, and then the school slogan rang out on the air.

"Put it all over 'em, boys!" yelled one of the Columbus Academy
followers. "Come on now, all together!" he added, and started up a
song, the refrain of which contained the line: "We're here to-day to
bury them!"

"What an awful song to sing!" remarked Ruth.

"Oh, you mustn't mind that," returned Andy, gaily. "He sings best who
sings last, as the cat said to the bird."

It must be confessed that both teams were rather nervous at the outset
of the contest. The play was decidedly ragged, and one or two mistakes
were made, which, however, profited neither side anything. The ball was
carried first to the Colby Hall 10-yard line, and from there it went
back to the Columbus 15-yard line, and then it sawed back and forth
until eight minutes of the first quarter had passed.

"Gee! this begins to look like a blank," was Spouter's comment.

"So it does," returned Dan Soppinger. "Say! can any of you tell me why
the----"

"Don't ask questions now, Dan," interrupted Randy. "Oh, look! look!" he
burst out suddenly. "Isn't that great!"

The ball had dribbled back and forth until, by a punt, it reached Colby
Hall's 20-yard line. It landed close to Jack, and like a flash he
gathered it to his breast and started for the Columbus goal.

"Go it, Rover! go it!"

"Don't let 'em down you, Jack!"

With his friends cheering lustily, Jack sped on, dodging many
straight-arm tackles, and skipping from right to left and then back
again in order to avoid the numerous players who seemed to confront him
as if by magic. Then somebody appeared on his left, and the next moment
he went down with a thud, not knowing where he had landed.

"It's a touchdown!" was the cry, and then the Colby Hall followers went
wild with delight, while Columbus Academy was mute. The girls stood up
in the grandstand and waved their banners gaily.

"Oh, just to think, Jack did it!" murmured Ruth, and her face showed
her intense satisfaction.

"Now if only Walt Baxter can kick a goal!" cried Randy.

But this was not to be, for at the moment the leather sailed through
the air, a strong puff of wind came up and the ball went just outside
the posts.

"Well, never mind," cried Randy, consolingly; "that puts us in the
lead."

The run had somewhat exhausted Jack, but still he insisted upon keeping
on playing, and after the wonderful exhibition he had made, Gif had not
the heart to call in a substitute to take his place.

But if, with a touchdown in their favor, Colby thought to remain in the
lead, they soon had this hope shattered. The Columbus Academy eleven
played a fast and snappy second quarter, and, as a result, before it
was half over they took the ball on a fumble and circled the left end
for twelve yards.

"Say, that's going some," remarked Fatty.

"Oh, it won't net them anything," responded Andy.

But in this he was wrong, for on the next two plays Columbus carried
the ball over the line for a touchdown.

"A tie! A tie!" yelled the followers of the Academy.

"Now then, boys, don't miss the goal!"

"It isn't likely they'll miss it," grumbled Andy. "The wind is in their
favor." The goal was kicked with ease, and then the score stood:
Columbus Academy--7, Colby Hall--6.

During the intermission between the second and third quarters, Gif and
Mr. Crews gave the eleven some very pointed instructions. One player
had hurt his ankle slightly, and he was taken out and a substitute took
his place. But the substitute was not Fred, much to that youth's
disappointment.

If the first and second quarters had been fast and snappy, the third
quarter was even more so. Back and forth went the ball, and it was lost
both by Colby Hall and by the Academy team. There were some really fine
tackles and splendid runs, but all of these availed nothing. And when
the whistle blew the score still stood 6 for Colby Hall as against 7
for Columbus Academy.

"Tough luck!" groaned Ned.

"Oh, we're going to win--I'm sure of it!" answered Randy.

"I hope what you say proves true," returned Ruth, hopefully.

Just before the whistle was given for the end of the third quarter
there had been a grand crash and a fierce mix-up on the field. Then it
was found that both a Columbus Academy player and a Colby Hall youth
would have to be taken out of the game.

"Now then, Fred, here's your chance," said Gif, coming up to the
youngest Rover. "I'm going to put you in, and I want you to help us win
the game."

"Win it is!" cried Fred, his eyes shining eagerly. "We'll either win or
we'll die!"

When the whistle blew for the final quarter, all of the players who
trooped on the field had a do-or-die expression on their faces. Once
more the play became fast and furious, and, as a result, in less than
three minutes Columbus Academy scored another touchdown, which,
however, failed of a goal.

"Hurrah! That's the way to do it!" yelled their followers in keen
delight.

"Brace up, boys! brace up! This won't do at all. Come on now, all
together!" And then Colby Hall went in with renewed vigor so that
inside of a few minutes more they, too, had scored another touchdown,
and from this they managed to kick a goal.

"Hello! what do you know about that! Another tie!"

"Thirteen to thirteen! Same as that other game! Say, this is getting
mighty interesting!"

So far, Fred, although he had played as hard as anybody in the game,
had failed to make any appreciable showing. Now, however, with only a
few minutes to spare, he saw his chance.

One of the Columbus Academy players had dropped back for a punt. Fred,
who was close at hand, made a sudden leap over a protecting half back
and blocked the kick.

"Say, look at that! Fred Rover is in the game for keeps!"

"Send it back, Fred! Send it back!"

The words were scarcely spoken when the thrilled spectators saw that
the youngest Rover boy had the leather. Like a flash he sent it rolling
back, Gif coming to his aid.

"A safety! A safety for Colby Hall!"

"Hurrah! that puts Colby two points ahead!"

"Good work for Fred Rover!"

"Now then, Colby Hall, you've got 'em a-going! Keep it up!"

"Pitch into 'em, Columbus! Pitch into 'em!"

So the yelling went on while all of the spectators stood up in their
seats, anxious to see what might be accomplished next. But there was no
time to do more. The whistle blew and the great game was over.

Colby Hall had won!

In a twinkling the huge field was covered with spectators running in
all directions, and the victorious eleven was surrounded. Many were the
congratulations showered on all the players, and it may well be
believed that Jack and Fred came in for their full share.

"The finest game I ever saw," declared Colonel Colby, as he shook hands
with all his youthful players.

"Oh, Jack! It was simply grand--that run you made!" exclaimed Ruth,
when she saw him.

"Yes. And the way you played for that safety!" put in May to Fred.

Columbus Academy was much disheartened over its defeat, yet it cheered
the victors and was cheered in return; and then the great crowd
gradually dispersed.

"Bonfire to-night, boys! And a big one, too!" cried Andy, as he rushed
up to fairly embrace both his cousins. Then, to work off some of his
high spirits, the acrobatic youth turned several cartwheels and
handsprings.

"What a pity our folks weren't here to see this game," said Jack,
wistfully.

"Never mind, we'll write them all the particulars," announced Randy.
"And we'll send them copies of the local paper, too. That will have a
full account of it," and this was done as soon as possible.

After the game refreshments were served to the cadets and their
particular friends, and in this, of course, the Rovers and the girls
from Clearwater Hall joined. Then the boys took the girls back to their
school in an automobile.

"We are certainly having one dandy time at this school," remarked Fred,
on the way back to Colby Hall.

"Right you are!" answered Randy.

"If only we hadn't had that trouble with Slugger and Nappy," remarked
Jack.

"Oh, don't bother about those fellows!" cried Andy. "I don't believe
they'll ever trouble any of us again."

But in this he was mistaken. Brown and Martell did trouble them, and in
what manner will be related in the next volume of this series, to be
entitled: "The Rover Boys on Snowshoe Island; or, The Old Lumberman's
Treasure Box."

In that volume we shall meet all the boys and their chums again, and
also learn the particulars of a queer mystery, and also of a great joke
played upon Professor Asa Lemm.

The cadets of Colby Hall were a happy crowd that night. A great bonfire
blazed along the bank of the river, and around this the boys cut up to
their hearts' content. Then they marched around and around the Hall,
singing loudly.

"It's certainly a dandy school, isn't it?" remarked Jack to his
cousins.

"The best ever!" they answered in a chorus. And here for the present we
will leave the Rover boys and say good-bye.


THE END




This Isn't All!

Would you like to know what became of the good friends you have made in
this book?

Would you like to read other stories continuing their adventures and
experiences, or other books quite as entertaining by the same author?

On the _reverse side_ of the wrapper which comes with this book, you
will find a wonderful list of stories which you can buy at the same
store where you got this book.

Don't throw away the Wrapper

_Use it as a handy catalog of the books you want some day to have.
But in case you do mislay it, write to the Publishers for a complete
catalog._




THE HARDY BOYS SERIES

By FRANKLIN W. DIXON

Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself

The Hardy Boys are sons of a celebrated American detective, and during
vacations and their off time from school they help their father by
hunting down clues themselves.


THE TOWER TREASURE--A dying criminal confessed that his loot had been
secreted "in the tower." It remained for the Hardy Boys to clear up the
mystery.

THE HOUSE ON THE CLIFF--Mr. Hardy started to investigate--and
disappeared! An odd tale, with plenty of excitement.

THE SECRET OF THE OLD MILL--Counterfeit money was in circulation, and
the limit was reached when Mrs. Hardy took some from a stranger. A tale
full of thrills.

THE MISSING CHUMS--Two of the Hardy Boys' chums disappear and are
almost rescued by their friends when all are captured. A thrilling
story of adventure.

HUNTING FOR HIDDEN GOLD--In tracing some stolen gold the trail leads
the boys to an abandoned mine, and there things start to happen.

THE SHORE ROAD MYSTERY--Automobiles were disappearing most mysteriously
from the Shore Road. It remained for the Hardy Boys to solve the
mystery.

THE SECRET OF THE CAVES--When the boys reached the caves they came
unexpectedly upon a queer old hermit.

THE MYSTERY OF CABIN ISLAND--A story of queer adventures on a rockbound
island.

THE GREAT AIRPORT MYSTERY--The Hardy Boys solve the mystery of the
disappearance of some valuable mail.

WHAT HAPPENED AT MIDNIGHT--The boys follow a trail that ends in a
strange and exciting situation.

WHILE THE CLOCK TICKED--The Hardy Boys aid in vindicating a man who has
been wrongly accused of a crime.

FOOTPRINTS UNDER THE WINDOW--The Smuggling of Chinese into this country
is the basis of this story in which the boys find thrills and
excitement aplenty.


GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK




TED SCOTT FLYING STORIES

By FRANKLIN W. DIXON

Illustrated. Each Volume Complete in Itself.

No subject has so thoroughly caught the imagination of young America as
aviation. This series has been inspired by recent daring feats of the
air, and is dedicated to Lindbergh, Byrd, Chamberlin and other heroes
of the skies.


OVER THE OCEAN TO PARIS;
_or, Ted Scott's Daring Long Distance Flight._

RESCUED IN THE CLOUDS;
_or, Ted Scott, Hero of the Air._

OVER THE ROCKIES WITH THE AIR MAIL;
_or, Ted Scott Lost in the Wilderness._

FIRST STOP HONOLULU;
_or, Ted Scott Over the Pacific._

THE SEARCH FOR THE LOST FLYERS;
_or, Ted Scott Over the West Indies._

SOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE;
_or, Ted Scott On a Secret Mission._

ACROSS THE PACIFIC;
_or, Ted Scott's Hop to Australia._

THE LONE EAGLE OF THE BORDER;
_or, Ted Scott and the Diamond Smugglers._

FLYING AGAINST TIME;
_or, Breaking the Ocean to Ocean Record._

OVER THE JUNGLE TRAILS;
_or, Ted Scott and the Missing Explorers._

LOST AT THE SOUTH POLE;
_or, Ted Scott in Blizzard Land._

THROUGH THE AIR TO ALASKA;
_or, Ted Scott's Search in Nugget Valley._

FLYING TO THE RESCUE;
_or, Ted Scott and the Big Dirigible._

DANGER TRAILS OF THE SKY;
_or, Ted Scott's Great Mountain Climb._

FOLLOWING THE SUN SHADOW;
_or, Ted Scott and the Great Eclipse._

BATTLING THE WIND;
_or, Ted Scott Flying Around Cape Horn._


GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK




THE AVIATION SERIES

By JOHN PRENTICE LANGLEY

Here is an intensely exciting series on a topic of worldwide
interest--Aviation. Every day one hears of new stunts accomplished by
pilots. With the passing of each year new records in altitude and long
distance are made. In these stories Amos Green and his chum, Danny
Cooper, accomplish all the thrilling deeds of the air that have been
done before only by hardened veterans. Moreover, backed by the
mysterious "Mr. Carstairs" they succeed in doing stunts new to the
history of aviation. You'll find them vastly exciting.


TRAIL BLAZERS OF THE SKIES

SPANNING THE PACIFIC

MASTERS THE AIR-LANES

THE PATHFINDER'S GREAT FLIGHT

AIR VOYAGERS OF THE ARCTIC

DESERT HAWKS ON THE WING

CHASING THE SETTING SUN

BRIDGING THE SEVEN SEAS

THE STAIRCASE OF THE WIND


GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK




BOB CHASE BIG GAME SERIES

By FRANK A. WARNER

In these thrilling stories of outdoor life the hero is a young
lumberjack who is a crack rifle shot. While tracking game in the Maine
woods he does some rich hunters a great service. They become interested
in him and take him on various hunting expeditions in this country and
abroad. Bob learns what it is to face not only wildcats, foxes and deer
but also bull moose, Rocky Mountain grizzly bears and many other
species of big game.


BOB CHASE WITH THE BIG MOOSE HUNTERS

BOB CHASE AFTER GRIZZLY BEARS

BOB CHASE IN THE TIGER'S LAIR

BOB CHASE WITH THE LION HUNTERS


GROSSET & DUNLAP, Publishers, NEW YORK




BUDDY BOOKS FOR BOYS

Illustrated. Individual Colored Wrappers

Tales of Western pioneer days and the California gold fields; tales of
mystery, humor, adventure; thrilling stories of sports and aviation.
There is a wide range of subjects in this list of titles--all by
well-known authors of books for boys.


HOT DOG PARTNERS                         By William Heyliger

YOUNG EAGLE OF THE TRAIL                 By J. Allan Dunn

THE LAND OF MONSTERS                     By Harold M. Sherman

QUARTERBACK HOTHEAD                      By William Heyliger

LEFTY LEIGHTON                           By Percy Keese Fitzhugh

NUMBER 44                                By Harold M. Sherman

BILL DARROW'S VICTORY                    By William Heyliger

THE STORY OF TERRIBLE TERRY              By Percy Keese Fitzhugh

BEYOND THE DOG'S NOSE                    By Harold M. Sherman

DING PALMER, AIR DETECTIVE               By Harold M. Sherman

BEAN-BALL BILL                           By William Heyliger

CAMERON MacBAIN, BACKWOODSMAN            By Harold M. Sherman

FLYING HEELS                             By Harold M. Sherman

FLASHING STEEL                           By Harold M. Sherman

BUFFALO BOY                              By J. Allan Dunn

THE CLOUD PATROL                         By Irving Crump

SPIFFY HENSHAW                           By Percy Keese Fitzhugh

THE PILOT OF THE CLOUD PATROL            By Irving Crump

DON RADER, TRAIL BLAZER                  By Harold M. Sherman

TUCK SIMMS, FORTY-NINER                  By Edward Leonard

WIGWAG WEIGAND                           By Percy Keese Fitzhugh

HERVEY WILLETTS                          By Percy Keese Fitzhugh

SKINNY McCORD                            By Percy Keese Fitzhugh


GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK