"I can't believe that, Glutts," answered Major Mason flatly. "I looked
over the course, and it was just as clear on one side as it was on the
other."

"Don't be a sorehead, Bill, just because you lost," put in Fatty Hendry.
"Be a good sport and shake hands with Jack over your defeat."

"I'll do as I please," roared the bully. "I don't need any advice from
you. You fellows are all against me." And with this remark he turned his
back on the crowd, and soon he and his cronies were making their way up
along the lake shore, dragging the _Yellow Streak_ behind them.

"It was a well won race, Captain Rover," said Professor Grawson. "You
can be proud of being the possessor of such a speedy bobsled. On Monday
I shall take great pleasure in getting that knife for you."

"Thank you, Professor. And I'll take great pleasure in accepting the
knife," said Jack, with a grin.

"Well, that's the time you squared up with Bill Glutts," remarked
Spouter, after the fun on Long Hill had come to an end and the boys had
said good-bye to the girls and were on the return to Colby Hall. "You
certainly paid him back for shoving you into that snowbank."

"I don't know whether I did or not," answered the young captain.
"Evidently Glutts doesn't know when he's had enough. I suppose he'll be
more bitter now than ever against me."

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about Glutts," put in Gif. "He's nothing but a
great big overgrown butcher boy." He said this because it was a
well-known fact that Bill Glutts was the only son of a wholesale butcher
who had made a small fortune in manufacturing and selling frankfurters.

"I don't see how a fellow like Nick Carncross can take up with him,"
remarked Fatty Hendry.

"I know why he does that," came from Ned Lowe. "Bill has had plenty of
money to spend lately--an uncle or somebody sent him quite a wad--and
Nick's pocketbook, I imagine, is rather thin."

"Say, Ned, come around to our rooms to-night and give us some music just
to celebrate this glorious event!" cried Fred, for Ned Lowe was quite a
performer on the mandolin and usually had some very funny songs to sing.

"All right, I'll be glad to come," answered the mandolin player. "Any
eats?"

"Oh, maybe we can scrape up something," answered Randy. The idea of a
little spread on the quiet appealed to him.

The idea of a little spread appealed to the others, too, and as a
consequence it was arranged between the Rovers and their chums that two
of them should go to Haven Point for some things for the spread. This
task was delegated to Andy and Fred, and they hurried off early in the
evening, returning with several packages containing sandwiches, cake,
candy, nuts and a large hand of bananas. In the meantime, the other
Rover boys and Ned Lowe had gathered in Gif Garrison's room, and there
enjoyed themselves singing and listening to Ned's playing of the
mandolin.

As soon as the monitors had gone their rounds to see that everything was
quiet for the night, Spouter, Gif, Fatty, Ned, Dan, Walt and several
others found their way to the Rover boys' suite.

"Now, don't make too much noise," admonished Fred, who let them in.
"Remember Bill Glutts and his gang will be only too glad to find out
what is going on and report us."

"And we don't want to get any black marks when it's so near the end of
the term," added Jack.

"Right-o," came from Andy.

The new arrivals proceeded to make themselves at home, and then the
Rovers passed around the good things which had been obtained.

"Say, this is all right," declared Walt, munching a tongue sandwich.

"Couldn't be beat," came from Gif, who had his mouth full of layer cake.

"Here, Fatty, have some nuts!" cried Andy gayly, and let several almonds
slide down the fat youth's collar.

"Hi, there! Let up!" cried Fatty. "I don't eat nuts that way," and he
made a pass at Andy with a pillow.

"No horseplay, now! Cut it out, Andy," warned Jack.

After that the cadets conversed in low tones and at the same time
enjoyed the many good things to eat.

"What are you going to do with those banana skins, Andy?" questioned his
twin, as he saw the youth place several of the skins in a bit of
newspaper.

"Oh, I've got a plan to use them," was the answer.

"Well, if there is any fun on foot, let me in on it," went on Randy
promptly.

"I was thinking we might send some of these good things over to Bill
Glutts, Codfish and Nick Carncross," went on the fun-loving Rover. "It
might make 'em feel better over their defeat."

"What! Give up some of these good eats to them?" demanded Fred.

"Well, I don't know whether they would be very good eats or not,"
answered Andy, closing one eye suggestively. "Do you see what I've got
in this little package?" he went on, bringing a small paper bag from his
pocket. "Smell it."

Fred did so, but with caution. Then he gave a sudden sneeze.

"Cayenne pepper!"

"Right you are, Freddie boy! How did you guess it?" and Andy grinned
broadly.

"Say, that's the talk!" burst out Randy. "Let's send them over a few
sandwiches and a couple of slices of cake, all well doctored with
cayenne pepper."

"They'll be suspicious, especially if you take them over," remarked
Jack. "We ought to get some outsider to do the job."

"I'll do it if you want me too," responded Walt Baxter promptly. "I
don't love those chaps any more than you do. You just fix up some
sandwiches and the cake, and I'll go around and explain that Dan and Ned
and Fatty, and some of the rest of us, are giving the Rovers a little
spread in honor of the victory and that we don't think it any more than
right that they should have some of the good things."

So it was decided, and a little while later the cover of a pasteboard
box was fixed up as a tray, containing several tempting looking
sandwiches, some slices of layer cake, and two bananas. Then Walt Baxter
marched off with the things in the direction of the room occupied by
Bill Glutts.

"Come on and listen to what happens," said Andy, and presently, having
slipped off their shoes, he and the others followed Walt down the
corridor, but kept well in the background.

When Baxter arrived at Bill Glutts' room he heard low voices, and was
much pleased to learn that Glutts was talking to Nick Carncross. When he
knocked lightly on the door there was an uneasy stir within.

"Maybe it's one of the monitors come back," whispered Carncross
uneasily.

"Who is there?" questioned Glutts sharply.

"It's I--Walt Baxter," was the answer. "Open the door, Glutts. I've got
something good for you fellows."

The door was opened cautiously, and Walt explained his errand, at the
same time holding out the improvised tray.

"I don't know that we want anything," said Glutts rather sourly.

"Oh, well, we might as well take it," put in Carncross hastily. He was a
growing cadet, and always hungry.

"We'd like to have Codfish have some of this, too," said Walt. "Will you
see that he gets some?"

"Sure!" answered Carncross readily. "He's right across the hall. I'll
call him."

In a few minutes more Codfish came from his room clad in his pajamas and
slippers. He sneaked over into the room occupied by Glutts and
Carncross, and then the three began dividing the things Walt had brought
for them.

"I'll have to go now," said Walt hastily. "Remember, this is with
regards from our whole crowd," he added significantly.

"Thanks," muttered Carncross briefly, while Glutts and Codfish said
nothing.

Then the bully closed the door and he and his cronies prepared to enjoy
the things which had been brought to them.




CHAPTER VI

AT THE MOVING PICTURE THEATRE


"There'll be something doing in a minute or two," murmured Randy, as he
and the others came to a halt before Bill Glutts' door.

"You fellows be careful and don't step on any of these," whispered Andy,
as he bent down and laid the banana skins he had saved on the floor.
"Splendid doormat for them when they come out," he added, grinning.

Fortunately, those within the room were so busy dividing the sandwiches
and cake that they paid no attention to what was going on outside.

"Rather nice of them to remember us," remarked Codfish. "Thank you, I
don't think I care for any sandwiches, but I'll take that piece of cake
instead."

"Me for a sandwich, Bill," murmured Carncross. "I'm quite hungry."

Then the three began to munch away on the sandwiches and the cake at a
lively rate.

All had their mouths full when suddenly Codfish began to splutter.

"Hello! what's the matter?" cried Glutts. "Trying to swallow too much at
once?"

"You don't want to make a pig of yourself, Codfish," admonished
Carncross.

"Oh! Oh!" cried the sneak of the school. "Oh!"

"What's wrong?"

"Oh, I'm burning up! Oh, they must have poisoned me!"

"Gee! do you suppose they put something in that cake?" cried Carncross,
in sudden alarm.

"Oh, my mouth is on fire!" groaned Codfish.

To this neither Glutts nor Carncross made any answer. Each was beginning
to feel a sudden strange sensation on his tongue and in his throat. Both
began to feel as if their mouths were burning up.

"It's something they've put in the eats!" exclaimed Glutts. "They're
trying to poison us, or something!"

"It's pepper! That's what it is--cayenne pepper!" came from Codfish.
"Oh, give me a drink of water, or something! This is dreadful!"

The sneak made a dash across the room to where a water pitcher stood on
a stand with a glass beside it. But the pitcher proved to be empty.

"My gracious, this is terrible!" spluttered Carncross, and began to
cough.

In the meantime Glutts smelled of the food that remained on the
improvised tray, and suddenly gave a loud sneeze, followed by several
others.

"Hurrah! they are enjoying it all right enough," remarked Jack, in a low
tone.

"I've got to have a drink!" yelled Carncross recklessly. "Gee! I'm
burning up clean from my mouth to my stomach!"

"You're no worse off than I am," spluttered Glutts. "Oh, just wait until
I get hold of that Walt Baxter!"

"It was the whole bunch that did it. I'll bet the trick was gotten up by
those Rovers!"

The door was flung open, and all of the occupants of the room dashed out
into the hallway, bent upon getting to the nearest bathroom or water
cooler for a drink. Not one of them noticed the slippery banana skins
spread out on the floor, and on the instant Bill Glutts went sliding
along and came down flat on his back. Carncross did likewise, Codfish
tripping over him and pitching headlong.

"Say! what's this?" exploded Glutts. "Oh, my back! I guess I've broken
my shoulder."

"They must have soaked the floor," came from Carncross. "No! It's banana
skins," he added, in deep disgust. "Say, Codfish, take your feet off my
stomach, will you?"

"I--I couldn't help falling over you, you went down so suddenly,"
apologized the sneak. "Oh dear! let me get a drink of water--I'm all on
fire inside."

The Rovers and their chums had retreated to a distance, and this was
wise, for, had Glutts and Carncross been able to get hold of them, there
would certainly have been a fight. But as it was, the bully and his
cronies passed down a back corridor to the nearest bathroom, where they
proceeded to wash out their mouths and get a long drink.

"Now we'd better get back to our rooms and get into bed as soon as
possible," said Jack. "They may report us, and some of the professors
may come around to investigate."

"Let them come! We'll all be asleep like so many innocent lambs,"
remarked Randy.

"They'll find that I've been asleep for the last two hours," added Walt
Baxter, and at this the others had to smile.

The crowd separated, and the four Rovers returned to their rooms, where
they lost no time in getting rid of all the evidences of the feast. Then
they undressed, turned out the lights, and crept into their beds.

"I don't believe they'll dare to report this," whispered Andy to his
twin. And in this surmise the fun-loving Rover was correct. Glutts and
his cronies did a good deal of grumbling, but there the matter, for the
time being, ended.

"But I'll get square some day! You just wait and see!" Glutts told the
others.

The school term was now drawing to an end, and it was definitely
announced that, owing to the war conditions, Colby Hall would remain
closed for a period of six weeks for the winter holidays. This would
give the Rovers and their chums a full month's vacation after New
Year's.

"And what a good time we will have up at Cedar Lodge!" cried Fred.

"It certainly was grand of Gif to ask us to go up there with him and
Spouter," added Jack.

The Rovers and their chums, and especially Walt Baxter, kept a close eye
on Bill Glutts and his cronies. But beyond scowling at them whenever
they passed, the bully did nothing regarding the peppered food which had
been presented.

"He's laying low for something, I suppose," said Walt. "However, I'm not
going to worry."

One day he received a "soaker" of a snowball in his left ear while
hurrying to the gymnasium. He did not know who threw the missile, but
was satisfied in his mind that it came from either Glutts or Carncross.

The examinations for the term were held, and much to the Rover boys'
satisfaction all acquitted themselves creditably. Spouter and Gif did
very well too, and were equally elated.

"Let us go down to town this evening and celebrate," suggested Jack that
afternoon. "I think Captain Dale will let us go, and I understand they
are giving a very good war picture at Mr. Falstein's moving picture
theater."

"That will suit me," answered Fred.

The matter was talked over by a number of the cadets, and they went to
see Captain Dale about it; and as a result nine of them set out for
Haven Point, where was located the moving picture theater at which Jack
and his cousins first met the girls from Clearwater Hall.

"This looks like a pretty good picture," remarked Gif, as he pointed to
one advertised on the billboards. "A real war play with some of the
scenes taken at the front."

"Either at the front or on the Hackensack Meadows," remarked Randy
dryly. "They tell me that more than three-fourths of those so-called war
pictures are faked up."

"Well, you wouldn't expect the moving picture actors to go right out in
the middle of a battlefield and perform, would you?" queried Jack.

"Here's a good comic, too!" put in Fatty Hendry. "That suits me all
right. I like a good laugh."

"Fatty, you ought to go in the movies," remarked Fred. "You would make a
hit as the Living Skeleton."

"He would unless his face broke the camera," added Ned Lowe.

"I understand some of those fat fellows in the movies get a couple of
hundred dollars a week for acting," said Fatty. "I wouldn't mind doing
some of those stunts myself at that price."

The cadets purchased their tickets and were soon inside the showhouse.
An educational film was being thrown on the screen, and they were much
interested in seeing the details of tanning leather and making leather
belts, handbags, and shoes.

"Gee! how easy it is to learn about these things in a moving picture,"
remarked Gif.

"What a pity it is they can't teach a fellow algebra and geometry in the
same way," sighed Randy.

The educational film was followed by the war play, and whether this was
given with faked-up backgrounds or not, it proved to be a very
interesting production, especially to the Rover boys. There were
pictures of life in the soldiers' camps and on the transports bound for
Europe, and then scenes of life in the French trenches, culminating in a
terrific bombardment by big cannons, and then a thrilling charge over
No-Man's Land.

"Gee, isn't that immense!" murmured Fred. "Think of dad being in such a
charge as that!"

"It brings the war pretty close, doesn't it, Fred?" asked Jack.

The scenes of the mighty conflict not alone thrilled the Rover boys but
also sobered them, especially when there came a picture of the dead and
the dying, with the ambulances rushing hither and thither to take the
wounded to the field hospitals.

Poor Fred felt the tears coming into his eyes, and was glad that the
moving picture house was rather dark, so that he might use his
handkerchief without being noticed.

The war picture was followed immediately by one depicting the trials and
tribulations of a fat man who obtained a position as a bell-boy in a
country hotel. He did some wonderful stunts, and managed to break up a
great deal of crockeryware and innumerable pies, and this set all the
cadets, as well as the majority of the audience, to roaring with
laughter.

"I guess those fellows earn their money," remarked Spouter to Fatty.
"Just think of being slammed around in front of the camera like that!"

"Yes. And think of having three or four pies plastered all over your
face," returned the stout youth. "I guess, after all, I'd rather go into
ordinary business."

"I imagine some of those so-called stunts are only trick pictures--I
mean those things like climbing up the side of a house and holding on to
the top of a church steeple," remarked Jack. "Just the same, those
moving picture actors have to risk their lives more than once,
especially when they take wild rides on horse-back or in automobiles, or
get in railroad smash-ups."

Immediately following the comic picture, all the lights in the theater
were turned on and a gentleman stepped on the stage to address the
audience.

"I wonder what he's going to talk about," whispered Randy.

"Liberty Loan, or something like that, I suppose," answered his twin.

He was right. There was a new drive on to raise money for the Government
to be used for war purposes, and this gentleman, as a member of the
local committee, had come forth to urge every man and woman in the
audience to invest in Liberty Bonds.

"That is what my father was doing in and around New York before he went
to war," explained Andy to Walt Baxter. "He made quite a success of it,
too. He was on a whole lot of committees."

"And he did a lot of work for the Red Cross, too," added Randy.

While the lights were turned on the cadets had a chance to look around
the showhouse. They thought that possibly some of the girls from
Clearwater Hall might be present, but they were disappointed.

The talk about Liberty Bonds had come to an end, and several men and
women were passing through the audience trying to get subscribers for
the bonds when half a dozen newcomers entered the moving picture
theater. One of the number was in cadet uniform, and as he came down the
aisle and took a seat on the other side of the showhouse, Jack caught
Fred by the arm.

"Look who's here, will you?" he whispered excitedly.

"Why, it's Bill Glutts!" returned Fred.

"Exactly! And do you see who is with him?"

"No. I can't make out. Who is it?"

"Gabe Werner!"

"Gabe Werner! Are you sure, Jack?"

"Positive! I saw him full in the face just before he sat down."

Soon the lights in the showhouse went out once more, and the moving
picture performance continued.




CHAPTER VII

THE END OF THE TERM


"What can Gabe Werner be doing around here?" questioned Randy, who had
heard the conversation between his two cousins.

"I'm sure I don't know," answered Jack. "He doesn't live anywhere in
this vicinity, and I thought after he left the school he went home."

"Evidently Glutts must have known about his being here, otherwise they
wouldn't be together," said Andy.

Jack stood up so that he might get a better view of the other side of
the showhouse. He noticed several vacant seats directly behind those
occupied by Glutts and Werner.

"I'm going to slip over there just as soon as the lights are turned
down," he said to Fred. "If they are hatching out any mischief perhaps
we'll hear something worth listening to."

"I'll go with you," was the ready reply.

The pair explained to the others what they were about to do, and then
slipped out of their seats and made their way to the back of the moving
picture theater. Then, when the lights were being turned out, they moved
forward and slipped into two seats directly behind Glutts and Werner
without being noticed by the two bullies.

The educational film was now being shown again, and this caused Glutts
to give a snort of disgust.

"I don't care for that sort of stuff," said the wholesale butcher's son.
"I wish they would put on the war play. Tell me some more about this
scheme you've got for spending the winter holidays."

"Oh, it's a dandy scheme, all right, Bill," responded Werner. And then
he began a description of a winter's camp and told how he had permission
to go there and how he wanted Glutts to go with him.

While Gabe Werner was speaking some people sitting next to him had
arisen and were trying to get out. Gabe and Bill arose, and as they did
so the former turned around and caught sight of the two Rovers.

"Say! what do you know about this?" he cried in astonishment.

"Jack Rover and Fred Rover!" murmured Glutts, and his face likewise
betrayed astonishment.

"Did you fellows follow us into the theater?" demanded Werner.

"We certainly did not," returned Fred quickly. "We were in the theater
long before you came in."

"Huh!" Werner was stumped for a moment. "I didn't notice them here, did
you?" he questioned his crony.

"If I had I should have taken a seat elsewhere," was Glutts' ready
reply. He glared at the Rovers. "I suppose you have been listening to
everything we said."

"If you don't want to be heard you had better not talk in a place like
this," replied Jack.

"I don't care what they did hear," grumbled Werner. "I'm not ashamed of
what I am doing or intend to do."

"If I were you, Glutts, I'd cut Werner," advised Fred. "Captain Dale
won't give you any credit for sticking to him after what happened at the
encampment."

"I suppose you are going to tell Captain Dale you saw me with him,"
retorted Glutts.

"I shan't say a word unless I am questioned."

"I haven't forgotten what happened at the encampment," said Gabe Werner,
turning to Jack. "Some day I'm going to square accounts with you."

"When that time comes I think I'll be able to defend myself, Werner,"
answered the young captain coldly.

By this time a number of people in the audience were turning around,
evidently annoyed by the conversation. One heavy-set man turned back and
tapped Werner on the shoulder.

"Say, if you fellows want to hold a talk-fest, go outside and do it," he
growled. "We want to look at the pictures."

"Come ahead, Jack," whispered Fred. "It won't do us any good to stay
here, now that Glutts and Werner have discovered our presence."

"Right you are," was the answer. And a moment later the two Rovers
slipped out of their seats and made their way to the rear of the
showhouse. Here they were joined by the others of their crowd; and all
went outside and across the street to a drugstore, where Jack treated
the others to hot chocolate soda.

"They are hatching out something, that is sure," remarked Jack.

"As near as I could make out, Werner is going off into the woods on a
hunt and wants Glutts to go with him," returned Fred. "I wonder where
they are going?"

No one could answer that question, and presently the crowd began to talk
of other things, and especially of the war play they had just witnessed.

"Gosh! but a play like that brings the war pretty close to a fellow,"
said Randy, with a sigh.

"Makes a fellow think of how our dads are making out over there, doesn't
it?" said Fred.

"When they showed those ambulance scenes with all the dead and dying
lying around it gave me the cold shivers," came from Andy. "I tell you
what--war is a terrible thing."

"Yes, and you have got to see something like that to realize how really
terrible it is," put in Jack.

Several days later the term at Colby Hall came to an end. There was
something of an entertainment, with prize speaking in which Spouter
distinguished himself, and then came the final drill and parade around
the campus. Following this the cadets indulged in several snowball
fights and in quite some horseplay, and then rushed off to their rooms
to pack their suitcases and other baggage so as to be ready to depart
for home in the early morning.

"Wow! but it feels good to know I haven't got to look at a grammar or an
algebra for the next few weeks," cried Randy, with satisfaction.

"Say! it makes me feel as happy as a clown in a circus," declared Andy,
and, in high spirits, he began a jig and ended by turning a flip-flap
over one of the beds. Then he and his twin indulged in a pillow fight,
in which Fred joined.

"Hi, you fellows! stop your rumpus," cried Jack, who was trying to pack
his suitcase. "You keep on, and you'll have the ceiling of the floor
below down."

"Can't help it!" cried Andy gayly. "We've got to break loose once in a
while," and he playfully landed a cake of soap in the open suitcase.

"I'll soap you!" cried the young captain, and, taking the article in
question, he made a leap over the bed, caught his cousin by the neck,
and allowed the cake of soap to slip down Andy's back.

"Great salt mackerel!" ejaculated the fun-loving Rover, and, pulling his
coat tight, he arched his back. "Anybody notice the camel's hump?"

"It isn't a hump, Andy. It's only a wart on your backbone," answered his
twin.

"Well, hump or wart, it isn't going to stay there very long," remarked
the other, and immediately proceeded to stand on his hands, shaking his
body in such a manner that presently the soap rattled out on the floor.
Then quietness was restored for the time being, and the Rovers continued
their packing.

A conference was held with Gif, and it was decided that all of the crowd
were to go home for Christmas. Several days later the Rovers were to
meet Gif and Spouter at Portview, and then all would proceed to Cedar
Lodge.

"And don't forget to bring your guns and all your other traps," said
Gif.

"You trust us for that!" responded Fred.

"We'll be there with everything that is necessary outside of the
provisions. Those, of course, we can get at Portview or at Timminsport."

"I hope we get a chance at a moose," sighed Randy.

"Gee! Why don't you make it a lion or an elephant or a polar bear while
you are at it?" cried his twin. "Might as well wish for everything in
the menagerie. It doesn't cost any more," and at this there was a
general smile.

"I know what I'd like to get," said Jack. "I was reading about one in
the paper the other day. They must be beautiful creatures."

"What's that?" questioned Gif.

"A silver fox."

"Oh, say, Jack! that would be fine. But I imagine silver foxes are
exceedingly rare."

"Oh, I know that. Just the same, I'd like to bag one. The fur would make
a very fine piece for some lady to wear."

"Ruth Stevenson, for instance," murmured Andy; and at this his cousin
made a playful pass at him with his fist, which the fun-loving Rover
easily dodged.

The next morning the cadets had an early breakfast, and a short while
later saw many of them on their way by carriage and automobile to Haven
Point. Many girls were also coming in from Clearwater Hall, so that the
railroad station present an unusually lively appearance.

In the crowd was Bill Glutts, but he took care to keep away from the
Rovers. Gabe Werner was nowhere to be seen, and the Rovers rightfully
conjectured that he had left the town.

The boys had hardly arrived when a carry-all came in from Clearwater
Hall containing Mary and Martha, as well as Ruth and May and a dozen
other girl students. There was a general handshaking, and then all took
a stand on the station platform to wait for the coming of two trains
which were to bear the various students in opposite directions.
Everybody had already procured a ticket, and the trains which were
expected were extras, for it would have been impossible for the ordinary
locals to have taken care of such heavy traffic.

"I am sorry you're not going to travel with us to New York," said Jack
to Ruth.

"Well, I'm sorry you're not coming my way," answered the girl, with a
smile.

"But you'll be down to our house directly after Christmas, won't you?"

"Yes, we'll be down the day after--May and I."

"Well, that will give us a whole day together, anyhow, before us fellows
start for Cedar Lodge," went on the young captain. Then he nudged Ruth
in the elbow. "Come over here," he whispered. "I want to show you
something that I don't want the others to see."

Together they slipped out of the crowd and around the corner of the
little railroad station. Then Jack brought out a large flat package from
an inner pocket of his overcoat. "I had these taken as a Christmas
surprise to mother and Martha. What do you think of them?" and he
brought forth several photographs of himself taken in his cadet uniform.
They had been taken by the leading photographer of Haven Point who made
a specialty of work for the two schools, and they certainly showed the
young captain at his best.

"Oh, how lovely, Jack!" cried Ruth in genuine pleasure. "I declare, they
are splendid pictures."

"Then you like them?" he queried anxiously.

"I certainly do! I don't think they could be better." She looked at the
three poses presented critically. "If it's all the same to you, I'll
keep this one," she said finally.

"Oh, Ruth, you don't want my picture, do you?" he questioned, and there
was a trace of wistfulness in his voice.

"Of course I do, Jack. I can keep this one, can't I?" and the girl
looked full at him in a manner that spoke volumes.

"Why, sure! if you want it," he answered quickly. "But, say! don't I get
one of yours in return?" he added.

"Well, I'll see about that," she hesitated.

"Oh, now, Ruth--"

"I haven't had one taken in an awfully long time, Jack."

"Never mind, you will let me have one of them anyhow, won't you?"

"I--I guess--maybe so. I'll give it to you for a Christmas present. Only
don't tell the others."

"I won't, Ruth. And you can keep about my picture to yourself, too,"
added the captain. And thereupon the decidedly interesting conversation
between the pair had to come to an end as one of the trains came puffing
in--that which was to carry Ruth and some of the other girls, as well as
many of the cadets, away.




CHAPTER VIII

CHRISTMAS AT HOME


"Well, here we are at last. I wonder if anybody will be at the station
to meet us," said Martha Rover.

"Oh, I'm sure somebody will come down," answered Mary.

The six Rovers had had a long and uneventful train ride from Haven Point
to the Grand Central Terminal, Forty-second Street, New York City. They
had had to change cars at the Junction, where some months before they
had had such fun with Mr. Asa Lemm, the discharged teacher of the Hall,
as related in detail in the volume previous to this. The train had been
crowded with passengers, but the Rovers had managed to get seats
together, much to their satisfaction; and they had also managed to get
pretty fair accommodations when it came time to go into the diner.

They had telegraphed ahead concerning their coming, and found two
chauffeurs employed by Dick Rover and Tom Rover on hand to receive them
and take charge of their baggage. Then they went out to the street,
where they found two automobiles awaiting them, one containing Jack's
mother and the other the mothers of Fred and the twins.

"Hello, Ma!" cried the young captain, as he rushed forward to embrace
his parent. "How are you? You are looking pretty good."

"Oh, I am feeling quite fair," answered Mrs. Dick Rover with a smile.

"Home again, and glad of it!" exclaimed Fred, as he embraced his mother.

"My, my, but I'm glad that that term at the school is at an end!" cried
Andy, as he gave Mrs. Tom Rover the hug he knew she would be expecting,
a hug which was speedily duplicated by his twin. "Hope you've got a good
big dinner waiting for us. Traveling has made me hungry."

"Not but what we had a pretty good meal on the train," added his twin.

"You'll get all you want to-night," answered Mrs. Tom Rover
affectionately.

In the meantime Mary and Martha had come up and joined their parents.
There was a good deal of kissing and questioning, and while this was
going on the chauffeurs assisted the young people to their seats and
stowed away their handbaggage. There were no trunks to come, for all the
young folks had left a large part of the belongings at the schools.

There was only one thing which saddened the home-coming of the young
people, and that was the absence of their fathers. Although Jack had
said that his mother was looking well, still he had not failed to notice
that her face showed a certain paleness and some lines of care.

"Don't worry, Mother. I'm sure dad will come back all right," he said
later on, in an endeavor to comfort her.

"I am hoping so, Jack. But, oh! how I wish this awful war would come to
an end," and Mrs. Dick Rover sighed deeply.

All too quickly the next few days passed. Young folks and old folks were
busy doing their shopping for Christmas, and in addition to this, the
boys went out to purchase a number of things they thought they might
need while at the camp.

"I'm afraid we're in for it," said Randy dismally, on the afternoon
before Christmas. "This looks like a regular blizzard."

It certainly did look like a blizzard, with the snow coming down thickly
and the wind blowing it first in one direction then in another. By
nightfall the streets were almost impassable, and in the morning traffic
along Riverside Drive was practically suspended.

"Merry Christmas!" shouted Randy, who was the first to get up.

"Merry Christmas!" replied Andy. "And how do you like to live at the
North Pole?" he added, as he glanced out of the window at the
storm-bound street and the river and the Palisades beyond.

There was a grand reunion of the three families in the Dick Rover
residence, and presents were exchanged all around. The boys had
purchased a number of small but appropriate gifts for their mothers and
the two girls, and also for the various servants of the families. In
return they received a number of gifts, both useful and ornamental,
including gold-mounted stylographic pens, which each one had desired,
and also some new hockey skates and story books.

Martha had knit a bright sweater for her brother, and Mary had done the
same for Fred, and the girls between them had likewise knit sweaters for
the twins.

"We sure are the lucky kids," remarked Andy, when all of them were
looking over their gifts. "This sweater suits me to a T. And, my! just
wait until I get on those hockey skates. There won't be a thing in New
York or on Clearwater Lake that will beat me."

"I see you doing some tall skating to-day," replied his twin, with a
grin. "What you will need is a snow shovel if you want to get anywhere."

The storm kept up until noon of Christmas, and then cleared away almost
as rapidly as it had come, the night being clear and cold, with a
beautiful moon and twinkling stars shining from above.

"I hope it stays clear so that May and Ruth will have a chance to come
down," remarked Fred during the course of the afternoon.

"I guess we all hope that," answered Jack.

With so much to think of in connection with their proposed trip to Cedar
Lodge, the Rover boys put in a busy time all of that day and part of the
next. Then they went down to the Grand Central Terminal with the girls
to meet the expected visitors.

"There they are!" cried Martha, after the long train had rolled into the
station. And a moment later she and Ruth were in each other's arms,
while Mary was embracing May. Then the boys shook hands, and all drove
away to the Rover residences.

"Did you get that picture for me, Ruth?" questioned Jack, as soon as he
could get a chance to speak to the girl in private.

"Oh, you don't want any picture," she declared mischievously.

"Aw, come now," he pleaded, "don't try to put me off that way. You know
what you promised."

"Well, can't you wait until we get to the house?"

"Oh, sure! But I wanted to make certain that you had brought the picture
along."

"You'll be scared when you see it," declared Ruth. "I look a perfect
fright. The man snapped the picture before I was half ready."

But later on, when Jack received the gift, he declared that the picture
was a very good one indeed, although it did not look half as pretty as
Ruth did herself. The two had quite a little fun over the picture, and
then Jack placed it in his pocket.

"Now you've got it, what are you going to do with it?" questioned Ruth
curiously.

"I'm going to carry it right here," he declared, for he had it in an
inside pocket over his heart.

"Oh, you big goose!" cried Ruth, but then she blushed and looked pleased
nevertheless.

It was announced that part of the lake in Central Park had been scraped
clear of the snow, and the following day the young folks went skating
and had a most glorious time. Then in the evening all attended a
theatrical performance at one of the leading theaters.

"Oh, my! but I am having a splendid time," said Ruth to Martha.

"It's too bad the boys are going away," was the answer. "But I don't
blame them for wanting to go on a hunt. If I were a boy I'd like to go
on a hunt myself."

On the following morning came a letter from Dick Rover, stating that
matters were still somewhat quiet in the sector in France where they
were located, but that word was being passed around that they were to
make an advance in the near future.

"Hurrah! I guess they'll show those Huns what Americans can do," cried
Jack.

"Oh, I dread to think of their going into battle!" said his mother.

"Ma, while we are away don't forget to send us any news that may come
in," said Jack quickly. "You can telegraph to Timminsport, and we will
leave word there at the telegraph office so that any important message
will be delivered to us."

"I'll certainly do that, Jack." And later on Mrs. Tom Rover and Mrs. Sam
Rover promised to do the same thing.

"There is no telling what may happen to our dads if they get into a
regular first-class battle," remarked Fred, that night when the four
boys were holding a little conference among themselves.

"Well, we've got to take what comes," returned Randy briefly. "However,
I'll be as much worried as ma until this war is at an end or until our
dads come home."

The boys had looked over their traps with care and examined their rifles
and shotguns, and had even gone down into the cellar of one of their
residences to try out the weapons to make certain that they were in
working order.

With a shotgun in his hand Andy wanted to have some fun with one of the
servant girls, but Randy quickly stopped him.

"Nothing doing, Andy," he said. "You'll only make ma nervous, and she is
nervous enough already, thinking about dad. You save your tomfoolery
until we are on the way or up at the camp."

At length came the time for the boys to take their departure. Jack hated
to think of running away from Ruth, and Fred was equally sorry to leave
May Powell behind, yet the thought of what was ahead brightened all of
the lads considerably.

"We ought to have the time of our lives," declared Fred. "That is, if
hunting is half as good as Gif Garrison said it was."

"And if I can get that silver fox," added Jack.

"Nothing but a moose for me," declared Randy. "Either a moose or a
six-legged jack rabbit."

"Wouldn't you like to shoot a bear that weighed about a thousand
pounds?" questioned Jack.

"And lug the carcass to camp yourself?" came from Fred.

"Speaking about carrying a thousand-pound bear puts me in mind of
something," cried Randy quickly. "A fellow was telling me of a man here
in the city who carried twelve hundred pounds."

"Twelve hundred pounds!" exclaimed his twin. "It can't be done."

"Why, that's more than a half a ton!" said Jack incredulously.

"Never mind, the fellow carried the twelve hundred pounds," went on
Randy. "A whole lot of people saw him do it."

"Where was this?" questioned Fred.

"It was down at one of the Broadway banks," answered Randy innocently.
"The fellow was an English army officer. He had twelve hundred pounds in
English money that he was exchanging for good old U. S. A. coin."

"Fooled!" cried Fred, and this was followed by a general laugh.




CHAPTER IX

THE RAILROAD ACCIDENT


The four Rover boys journeyed from New York City to Baxton and there
changed from one station to another nearby and took the next train for
Portview.

Arriving in Portview they took a taxicab to the leading hotel, and were
there met by Gif and Spouter, who had come in a few hours earlier and
had already signed for their accommodations.

"Mighty glad to see you got here," declared Gif. "I read about the awful
storm you had down around New York, and I thought you might be delayed."

"Well, I see they have had some of the snow up here," answered Jack.
"Although it isn't as heavy as it was down our way."

"Don't worry about snow, Jack. You'll get all you want of it after we
reach Cedar Lodge."

The Rover boys were tired out from their all-day trip, and as Gif and
Spouter had likewise had their fill of traveling for the time being, all
were glad enough to retire for a good night's rest, even Andy being too
worn out to play any of his jokes. But the following morning found the
youths as bright and fresh as ever and eager to continue their journey.

"We can get a train for Timminsport at ten-thirty," announced Gif. "That
will give us plenty of time for breakfast and to do a little shopping if
we need anything. Portview has as good stores as many big towns. When
you get to Timminsport, you will find it nothing but a one-horse country
town."

They had a substantial breakfast, and then wandered down the main street
as far as a small park, and then came back on the other side of the
thoroughfare. They made a number of small purchases, including some
cakes of choice chocolate and a bag of almonds, of which Spouter and
Randy were particularly fond.

"When we get to Timminsport don't forget to add a good big bag of sugar
to our stores," said Randy. "Then, if we are snowed in sometime, we can
spend a few hours making some home-made candy."

"Yes, and we can try our hands at some cookies," added Fred. "I've
watched our cook make them quite a few times, and I think I could make
some myself if I tried real hard."

"Anyway, you might be able to turn out some sinkers," said Andy, with a
grin. "And if we couldn't eat 'em we could take 'em back to Colby Hall
and present 'em to some of the teachers for paperweights." And at this
there was a laugh.

With the bundles the boys returned to the hotel, paid their bill, and
with their suitcases in hand, returned once more to the depot. Here in
the smoky trainshed the cars were already waiting, and they climbed
aboard; and a few minutes later were on their way to Timminsport.

The coast in this vicinity is very irregular, so that the train did not
run close to the shore. They skirted a bay, and then branched off at a
small place called Leeways for the town for which they were bound. At
Leeways they met several heavy lumber trains, and also met a gang of men
bound for one of the lumber camps.

"We are certainly getting away from the big towns now," remarked Fred.

"I just saw a few hunters with their guns!" cried Randy. "That looks
interesting to me!"

There was no diner on the train, but around noon it stopped at a
way-station where there was a lunch counter, and here the young
travelers had ten minutes in which to satisfy their appetites.

"Maybe we'd better take a few sandwiches along," remarked Jack. "We may
not have another chance to eat until we get to the Lodge."

"Oh, there is a little restaurant at Timminsport," declared Gif. "It's
not a very nice place, but we'll be able to get as much as we want
there."

Soon the train was on its way again, having backed up at Leeways to drop
a passenger car and take on one of mixed freight. The character of the
passengers had largely changed, and most of them were now country folks,
lumberjacks, and city people bound for a season of hunting. The steam
heat had died out in the car which the boys occupied, and it was growing
colder and colder.

"The train doesn't go any farther than Timminsport," explained Gif, "and
I suppose the engineer is saving on steam."

"Say, Gif, I didn't think you were going to give us such a cold
reception!" cried Randy.

"Never mind the cold reception!" exclaimed Spouter, who was gazing out
of the window at the scenery. "Just look at this truly wonderful
picture! See those hillsides with massive pines, and those clusters of
bushes, all bent down with their weight of snow. And see how the
sunshine sparkles, making each snowdrop look like a diamond. It's a
wonderful sight, and it fills one's soul with a feeling of awe and
admiration for--"

"Hurrah! Spouter has come into his own again," cried Andy. "That's
right, Spout, warm up good, and maybe you'll help warm this car."

"If those snowdrops were really diamonds, Spouter, what do you thing
they'd be worth a dozen?" came from Randy.

"Aw, that's just like you fellows!" grumbled the would-be orator, in
disgust. "You haven't any poetry in your souls."

"Haven't any poetry in my soul?" cried Andy. "You bet I have--tons and
tons of it! Just listen to this," and he chanted gayly:

    "I love to see a snowdrop
       Ahanging on a tree,
     Aglistening in the sunshine
       As happy as can be."

"Great red-headed snakes!" burst out Jack. "Andy has turned poet!"

"Don't you think you ought to take something for it, Andy? Cough
mixture, or measles eradicator, or something like that?" questioned
Fred.

"I think what he needs is a good dose of codliver oil, served hot," came
from Gif.

"No codliver oil for me!" cried the fun-loving Rover. "You deal that out
to Spouter. It will help oil his tongue and make his flow of oratory
better."

"Speaking of cough mixtures, I think I'll get a bottle of some sort when
we get to Timminsport if they have a drugstore," said Jack. "Some of us
may catch cold and need it."

With such talk going on, the journey continued. They were now running
for a small station named Enwood, where they were to pick up two extra
cars from a small side road coming down from the north. In this section
there was a good deal of snow, and the train, consequently, had to run
rather slowly.

"I think I could get out and walk almost as fast as this train is
moving," remarked Spouter presently.

"It isn't as bad as that, Spouter," returned Jack, looking out of the
window. "We are making at least fifteen miles an hour, and you couldn't
hoof it as quick as that."

"It certainly seems awfully slow," remarked Fred. He was beginning to
grow sleepy, and now he rested his head on the back of the seat and
closed his eyes.

"Perhaps we won't be able to get through to Timminsport," came from
Randy. "That would be a fine state of affairs, eh?"

"I don't see any houses along the line. We'd have one sweet job finding
a place to go to if the train became snowbound," said Andy.

"They generally manage to keep this road open, no matter how bad the
storms are," declared Gif. "You see, the hunters are coming and going
all the time, as well as the lumbermen and the folks that live in and
around Timminsport and Enwood. They don't like to be cut off from the
rest of the world, even for a day or two."

"I hope we don't have to wait for that other train when we get to
Enwood," said Spouter. "That may be awfully late, you know."

"I asked the conductor awhile ago, and he said they hoped it would be on
time. It comes down hill most of the way, and that is in its favor. If
they had to pull uphill much, they might get stuck."

Presently they passed a small lumber camp, and one of the other
passengers told the boys they were now within half a mile of Enwood.

"And that is only twelve miles from Timminsport," said Gif. "We ought to
be there in about half an hour or so."

They had struck a portion of the track which was comparatively free of
snow, and the engineer of the train was now trying to make up some of
the lost time. The boys were congratulating themselves on this when they
suddenly heard a shriek of the locomotive whistle, followed instantly by
the sudden application of the steam brakes. The train shuddered and
shook, and two seconds later there came a crash from the front, and then
the train came to a sudden stop.

The Rover boys and their chums had leaped to their feet at the first
shock. The second threw Spouter headlong, and Randy went down almost on
top of him. Fred was awakened from his brief nap by having his forehead
bumped upon the seat ahead of him.

"What's the matter?"

"What did we strike?"

"Are we going to upset?"

"Let me get out of here! I don't want to be smashed up!"

Such were some of the cries which rent the air while the train was still
in motion and after it came to a standstill. Every passenger had been
shaken up, and not a few were knocked down. Fortunately, however, no one
in that particular car seemed to be much hurt, although several were
bruised and every one was more or less nervous.

"Are you hurt, Fred?" questioned Jack quickly, as he saw his young
cousin feeling of his forehead.

"Well, I got a pretty good bump," answered the youngest Rover, "and I
guess I'm going to have a lump there as a consequence."

"We'll get out and see what's doing, and then you can put some snow on
it."

Some of the passengers were already leaving the car, and the Rover boys
and their chums quickly followed. The trouble was all ahead, and they
had some difficulty in wading through the snow alongside the track to
get to the front of the train.

Here it was plain to be seen what had happened. The train from the north
had come in and tried to take the siding, as was the custom. But the
switch had become blocked with snow, and the train had been thrown out
on the main track, which at this point, crossed the track on which the
train from Portview was coming. The big locomotive of the latter train
had ploughed through the middle of the train from the north, hitting the
latter between two of the cars and sending those cars in either
direction to the sides of the track.

"Gee! this is some wreck!" exclaimed Gif.

"I should say it was!" declared Jack. "It looks to me as if somebody
might be killed."