CHAPTER XVIII

IN WHICH TAD SOBBER DISAPPEARS


All standing near Nick Pell were amazed to see the boy fall to the
floor. Captain Putnam and Dick Rover raised him up. His eyes were
rolling frightfully and his jaws opened and shut with a snap that was
sickening.

"Something is certainly wrong with him," whispered Sam to Tom.

"Yes, he wouldn't act that way if he was simply frightened," was the
reply. "And see his hand!"

"We will carry him up to one of the spare bedrooms," said Captain
Putnam. "And, Mr. Strong, see to it that we get a doctor here as soon as
possible. Tell him it is a case of snake poisoning, and ask him over the
telephone what we had best do."

Nick Pell was carried upstairs. By this time he had ceased to move and
lay like a log in the hands of those who supported him.

Many had heard him mention Tad Sobber and all looked at the bully
inquiringly. Sobber was deadly pale, but managed to keep up a bold
front.

"I am not to blame," he said, in answer to a question from one of the
teachers. "I didn't put the snake in Pell's desk."

"Did you bring the snake into the school?"

"Certainly not," answered the bully shamelessly. He made up his mind to
keep out of "hot water" even if it was necessary to lie to do it.

A hurry call was sent to Doctor Fremley of Cedarville and he came as
quickly as his mare could bring him. Only the teachers and the physician
were allowed in the bedroom with Pell, so the cadets did not know what
took place.

"It's as plain as day," said Dick to his brother and his chums. "Sobber
got the snake and put it in the box. That is why Pell said he was to
blame."

"But Sobber told a teacher he did not bring the snake into the Hall,"
answered Songbird.

"I do not believe him," came from Tom.

"Nor do I," added Sam. "He's a bad egg, if ever there was one."

The poisoning of Nick Pell cast a damper over the whole school, and
neither the teachers nor the pupils could settle down to lessons. The
doctor remained with the sufferer for two hours, and when he went away
he looked very grave.

"He is by no means out of danger," announced the physician. "But let us
hope for the best. I think his parents ought to be notified."

This was done, and Mr. and Mrs. Pell came on the very next day to see
their son. They found him in something of a fever and out of his mind,
crying continually for Sobber to take the snake away.

"Richard, I want to see you," said Captain Putnam that evening, and led
Dick to his private office. There he demanded to know what the eldest
Rover knew of the snake incident.

"Captain Putnam, I will tell you everything from beginning to end,"
answered Dick. "If I am to suffer I'll take my punishment, and Tom and
Sam say they stand ready to do the same." And thereupon Dick related the
particulars of the trouble with the bully and Pell, and of how he and
his brothers and Songbird and Hans had seen Sobber and Pell at the
museum where the snakes had been. Then he told of the feast, and how the
snake had been discovered in the box.

"I have kept the box," he added, "and you can look at the writing if you
wish. I think it is in Tad Sobber's hand, although somewhat disguised."

The address on the box was investigated by the master of the Hall, who
sent for several compositions Tad Sobber had written. The bully was much
disturbed when he had to give up the compositions to George Strong.

"What's that for?" he asked, with a scowl on his face.

"Captain Putnam wants them," answered the teacher, and would say no
more.

With anxious eyes the bully watched the first assistant disappear into
the office with the compositions. Then, looking to make sure that he was
not observed, he stole up to the door and applied his ear to the
keyhole. What he heard filled him with increased alarm.

"It is Sobber's handwriting beyond a doubt," said Captain Putnam, after
comparing the compositions with the address on the box cover. "I wonder
if he knew that the snake was a poisonous one?"

"Perhaps Nick Pell can tell that--after he gets over his trouble,"
returned Dick.

"Provided he does get over it, Richard."

"Don't you think he'll recover?" cried Dick, in consternation.

"He may not. It is a very serious case, so Doctor Fremley informs me."

"What does Mr. Pell say about it?"

"He wants me to investigate. He says he may have somebody arrested for
this--and I can hardly blame him. It was a vile thing to do--bring a
poisonous snake into the school."

At the mention of arrest Tad Sobber shut his teeth hard.

"I guess it's about time I made myself scarce," he muttered. "Perhaps I
had better leave and join Uncle Sid." And he walked away silently and up
to his room. He remained there about ten minutes, then stole forth and
down a back way, a fair-sized bundle under his arm.

At the conclusion of the interview in the office Captain Putnam sent for
Tad Sobber. One of the monitors went on the errand and came back in
quarter of an hour with the information that the youth could not be
found.

"Did he have permission to leave the grounds?" asked the captain of the
teachers.

"Not from me," said one instructor after another.

Then Peleg Snuggers was sent out to hunt the bully up and soon came back
with the information that Sobber was not around the grounds, but had
been seen by two of the cadets walking in the direction of Cedarville.
Sobber had given one of the cadets a note for the master of the Hall.
This ran as follows:

     "Must go to the village on a matter of great importance. Will
     explain when I return.--T. Sobber."

"Maybe he has gone to find out about that snake," suggested Tom.

"How could he?" came from his younger brother. "The museum keeper has
moved away."

"Tad may know where he moved to," put in Larry.

A whole day passed and the bully did not show himself. Then Captain
Putnam drove over to the village and attempted to hunt him up, but
without success. He learned that the museum man had shipped his outfit
to Boston.

"He has run away," said the master of the Hall to Mr. Pell and George
Strong. "I am satisfied now that he was guilty. But as Nick knew of it,
he must have had something to do with it," he added.

"I trust my son recovers," answered Mr. Pell, with a deep sigh. But the
days went by and Nick Pell still remained in bad shape, very weak and
out of his mind for the greater part of the time. During his lucid
intervals he told how Sobber had purchased the snake for five dollars,
the owner saying it was sick and liable to die in the near future. He
added that the bully had said he hoped the snake would bite one of the
Rovers.

"I didn't want him to use the snake," said the sufferer, "but he
insisted, and told me to keep my mouth shut about it." After that poor
Nick began to rave again and had to be given some medicine to keep him
quiet. During one of his good spells he was removed to a house located
about half a mile from Putnam Hall, where he could get the benefit of
absolute quietness. His father went back to business, but his mother
remained behind to nurse her boy.

The Thanksgiving holidays were now at hand, but the Rover boys decided
to remain at the Hall and not go home until Christmas. Besides, they
were preparing for the party at the Stanhope cottage, which was to come
off on the following Wednesday evening. They had seen Dora, Nellie and
Grace several times, and all had prepared for "the best time ever," as
the girls put it. Captain Putnam gave the boys permission to take the
carryall and allowed them to leave the school on the day of the party at
six o'clock.

"Whoop! here we go!" cried Tom, as he took the whip and cracked it
loudly. "Hold on, everybody! Peleg, don't let the team lag," he went on,
to the driver.

"An' don't you go for to make 'em run away, Master Tom," answered the
driver, grimly.

"It's a pretty long drive and we don't want to be late," said Dick. "So
push ahead as fast as you can."

"Say, Tubby, where's your stovepipe hat?" asked Sam of the dude cadet,
who formed one of the party.

"I--ah--thought it would not be--ah--quite appropriate," lisped William
Philander. "Not--ah--being full dress, you know."

"He was afraid of having it mashed," said Fred. "Hurrah! We're off! Now
for a good night's fun!"

They were to have a good night's fun--and a most unusual adventure with
it.




CHAPTER XIX

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE PARTY


It was a clear, bright evening when the boys drove over to the Stanhope
cottage. All were in high spirits and sang and joked to their hearts'
content. For the time being the trouble with Tad Sobber was totally
forgotten. So far nothing more had been heard of the bully, and all were
satisfied that he had left both Putnam Hall and Cedarville and perhaps
for good.

"One boy told me he used to live with an uncle in New York City," said
Larry. "He didn't know the uncle's name."

When the carryall arrived at the Stanhope place they found the cottage
well lit up. Dora had invited a number of her girl friends and these,
with her cousins, Grace and Nellie, were already on hand. The boys let
out a ringing cheer as they stopped at the horse-block, and the girls
came out to greet them.

"All here?" cried Dora.

"All here," was the answer.

"Good!" cried several of the girls.

"I guess we are a bit early," observed Dick. "But we wanted to make sure
we wouldn't be late, and it's a long drive over."

"You are not a bit too early," answered Dora, and gave him her dainty
hand which he squeezed ardently.

Soon the boys were piling out on the ground, and a general handshaking
followed. Those who did not know each other were introduced, and
everybody walked into the house, where a room upstairs had been prepared
for the cadets' reception.

"Now, everyone must feel perfectly at home," said Mrs. Stanhope, who was
being assisted by Mrs. Laning and Mr. Laning. The older folks prepared
the refreshments while the young people sat down in the parlor and the
sitting room.

At first, as at all parties, there was a little stiffness, but this was
soon broken by Tom asking in a solemn voice:

"Say, did anybody bring an iceberg in his pocket? If he did he will
please set it on the kitchen stove to thaw out."

"Oh, Tom!" shrieked Nellie, and all the girls giggled. Then the "ice was
broken" and everybody started to talk at once. Even William Philander
was pleased, for he had discovered a tall, willowy girl who exactly
suited him and who thought him charming.

At first they played half a dozen different games and gave out riddles,
and Songbird recited a poem written in honor of the occasion. The poem
was the best effort he had yet made in the verse line and of course
everybody applauded. Then Grace said he ought to have it published in
the Cedarville weekly paper, and this pleased the poet very much.

"Maybe you can get a dollar a line for it, Songbird," suggested Dick.

"If he can we'll let him divide up with us," added Tom, and this caused
a laugh.

Presently refreshments were announced, and the boys and girls paired off
and entered the dining room. Here a long table was spread, decorated
with autumn leaves and the Putnam Hall colors. There were six colored
candles on the table, each with an elaborate red shade, and the general
effect was warm and pleasing. There were plenty of good things to eat,
including ice-cream frozen into all sorts of forms. When the forms were
passed around, Dick got a drum major, Tom an Uncle Sam, and Sam an
airship. Hans got a fat Dutch boy, which tickled him immensely.

"Dot vos look chust like some poys by der Fadderlandt," he observed.

With the ice-cream came snapper bonbons, filled with all sorts of things
made of paper, and soon one boy was wearing an apron, another a
nightcap, and the like. Dora got a yellow jacket, and Nellie a baker's
cap, while Grace skipped around wearing a poke hat over a foot high.
There was plenty of laughter, and the old folks did not hesitate to join
in. Nuts and raisins followed the ice-cream, and then the young folks
went back to the sitting room and the parlor to finish their games and
have some music.

"Dora, you must play for us," said Dick, and led her to the piano. Then,
while some of the others gathered around the girl played "Waiting for
the Wagon," "Aunt Dinah's Quilting Party," and a number of other
favorites, and these the crowd sang lustily.

"Guess it is about time for us to leave," whispered Fred to Dick,
presently. "I know you'll like to have Dora play all night for you, but
it can't be done."

Dick looked at his watch.

"Phew! as late as this!" he exclaimed softly. "Yes, we'll have to go."

"Let us sing 'Home, Sweet Home,'" suggested one of the boys, and Dora
struck up the opening chords. They were in the midst of the first verse
when Dick chanced to glance towards one of the windows and stopped
short.

A man was outside peering in at the party.

[Illustration: A MAN WAS OUTSIDE PEERING IN AT THE PARTY.]

It was Merrick!

"Well, I never!" burst out the eldest Rover boy, and his sudden
exclamation caused Dora to look at him curiously and stop playing.

"What is the matter, Dick?"

"Did you see that man at the window? He is gone now."

"I didn't see anybody."

"Who was it?" asked Tom, quickly.

"It was that rascal Merrick!"

"Merrick!" ejaculated Sam. "The fellow who took Uncle Randolph's bonds?"

"The same."

"Oh, Dick, you must be mistaken."

"I was not mistaken--I saw him as plain as day. I am going to look for
him," added the eldest Rover, for the man had now disappeared.

He ran for the hall door, and the other boys followed. The girls
remained in the parlor, much frightened, for it was after midnight.

As Dick reached the piazza he saw a dark form stealing along a row of
bushes near the garden fence.

"There he is!" he exclaimed. "Stop!" he called out, loudly. "Stop, I
tell you!"

"Who did you say it was?" asked John Laning, as he came from the kitchen
with a stout cane in his hand.

"That rascal Merrick, one of the two men who stole my uncle's traction
company bonds," explained Dick.

"What can he be doing here?"

"I don't know. There he goes, over the fence!"

"He is running towards the side road!" exclaimed Sam. "Come on after
him!"

"Wait till we get our hats and coats," said Tom, and ran back to pick up
the articles mentioned. This took a couple of minutes, and by the time
he came back Merrick was out of sight.

The three Rovers ran to the side road, Fred Garrison and Mr. Laning with
them.

"I wish I had a pistol," remarked John Laning. "No telling how desperate
a character that villain may be."

"I'd like to know if he came on foot or with a horse," said Dick.

"Do you think he followed us to this place?" asked Sam.

"I am sure I don't know. The whole thing looks mighty queer to me."

There was no moon, but the stars were shining brightly, so they could
see fairly well on the road. As they reached a bend Tom pointed forward.

"There he is, just going into the bushes!"

"He had better not go that way," was Mr. Laning's remark, "unless he
knows the ground well."

"Why not?" asked Sam.

"Just beyond that patch of timber is Nixon's Swamp, as it is called--as
boggy and treacherous a spot as can be found for miles around. If he
don't look out he'll get stuck there and never get out."

"Do you know the swamp?" asked Dick. "I mean the good spots?"

"Fairly well--I used to come over here when I was a boy--to pick
huckleberries. They are plentiful on the other side of the swamp."

"Then supposing you lead the way and we'll follow."

They were soon in the woods and saw a well-defined path running to the
eastward. Beyond was Nixon's Swamp, and still further on another woods.

They were afraid they had lost track of the man they were after when
they heard a crack ahead of them, followed by a short yell of alarm.
Merrick had stumbled over a fallen log and pitched headlong into some
thorny bushes. It took him some time to extricate himself, and meanwhile
the pursuers drew closer.

"I see him!" cried Tom. "He is turning to the right!"

"He is headed for the worst part of the swamp," was Mr. Laning's
comment. "If he doesn't look out----"

A minute later a wild cry rang out from ahead. The cry was repeated
twice, and then all became as silent as the grave.

"He must have gone down into the swamp," exclaimed Dick.

"Yes, and more than likely he is drowning to death," added John Laning.




CHAPTER XX

DICK AND DORA


The boys were almost afraid to penetrate further into the woods, for
they found the ground growing wet and spongy under their feet. All
halted and gathered around Mr. Laning.

"Do you think he has really been drowned?" asked Sam, with a slight
shiver.

"It may be," was the farmer's reply. "I know of one man who was drowned
here some years ago, and every year cattle are lost here. The bottom of
the swamp is very sticky, and once a person gets in he sinks down and
under."

"What shall we do?" questioned Tom.

"We can go ahead, but we want to be mighty careful. Don't take a step
until you are sure of your footing. If you find yourself sinking, grab
hold of some tree or bush."

Mr. Laning led the way and the boys followed, until they had covered a
distance of fifty or sixty feet. Here the ground was so soft they had to
leap from one tree root or clump of bushes to another. As they moved
forward they listened intently for some further sound from Merrick, but
none came.

"Hullo, what's this?" cried Dick, presently, and moved to one side,
close to a pool of dark and treacherous-looking water. "A man's hat!"

He picked it up and turned it over. On the inside were the initials, S.
A. M.

"It must be Merrick's," he went on. "Can he have gone down here?"

The others came at his call and all looked at the hat, which had been
lying in the mud at the side of the pool. Then a match was struck, and
all gazed around and into the pool while this faint illumination lasted.
No other trace of the missing man was to be seen.

"Merrick, where are you?" called out Dick. "If you need help, say so,
and we'll try to get you out."

"Do you think he'd answer that call?" asked Fred.

"I think he'd rather go to prison than die in this swamp," was the
reply.

The students and Mr. Laning moved cautiously around the edge of the
swamp for half an hour and then returned to the roadway. To mark the
spot where the hat had been found Dick hung the head covering on a tree
limb.

"We can come back in the daylight and make another search," said he.
"And we can notify the authorities, too."

When they got back to the Stanhope cottage they found the others
anxiously awaiting their return.

"Did you catch him?"

"Did he hurt you?"

"No, we didn't catch him, and nobody is hurt," answered Mr. Laning. "We
lost him in the swamp, and there is no telling where he is now."

"I want to get hold of him for two reasons--that is, if he is alive,"
said Dick. "I want to get back those bonds and I want to know what
brought him to this cottage."

"Maybe he came here to rob the Stanhopes," whispered Tom. "But I
shouldn't tell them, for it will frighten them too much."

"No, don't say a word, Tom. If you do, Mrs. Stanhope will be just as
nervous as she ever was."

"I and my family are going to stay here to-night," announced Mr. Laning;
"so we can go on a hunt for that man first thing in the morning."

"And I'll drive over, if Captain Putnam will let me," answered Dick.

The appearance of Merrick had put a damper on the breaking up of the
party, and the Rovers were rather silent as they went back to the
school. It was too late to speak to Captain Putnam that night, but Dick
was up early and saw the master of the Hall before breakfast.

"I trust you had a good time last night," said Captain Putnam, smiling.

"We did have, sir," said Dick. "But our party broke up in a way we
didn't anticipate," and then he told of what had occurred.

The captain had heard of the missing traction company bonds, and he
readily allowed Dick to go back to the cottage, using a horse and buggy
for that purpose. Sam and Tom wanted to go, too, but to this Captain
Putnam demurred.

"I think one is enough, especially as Mr. Laning is there, too," he
said.

With a good horse and a light buggy, it did not take long for the eldest
Rover boy to reach the Stanhope cottage. The family had just had
breakfast and were surprised to see him so early.

"Didn't you have anything to eat?" questioned Dora. "If you didn't, come
right in, and I'll make you an omelet and some coffee."

"No, thank you, Dora," he whispered. "I'll have to wait for that until
we're keeping house together. Then----"

"Oh, Dick!" she cried and blushed like a rose.

"I had breakfast while driving over,--an orange and some sandwiches,"
went on the youth. "Mrs. Green got them ready for me. Is there anything
new?"

"No. Uncle John is waiting for you. He is in the woodshed, trying on
some old rubber boots. He says one ought to have rubber boots to go into
the swamp with."

Dick hurried to the woodshed and there found that Mr. Laning had
unearthed two pairs of boots, and he donned one pair while the farmer
put on the other. A little later both got in the buggy and drove up the
road they had traveled the night previous. Then they tied the horse to a
tree, and followed the path leading to the edge of the swamp.

"Hullo, the hat is gone!" exclaimed Dick, as he came close to the black
pool.

"Maybe it dropped to the ground," suggested John Laning.

Both looked around, but could see nothing of the missing head covering.
Then Dick caught sight of a slip of paper pinned to the tree.

"Here is a message of some kind," he said, and read it. The message ran
as follows:

     "I reckon I fooled you this trip. I was up in the tree all the
     time. By the time you get this I shall be miles away. Ta ta until
     the next time."

"Humph!" muttered Dick. "What do you think of that?" And he passed the
message to his companion.

"He certainly fooled us," answered Mr. Laning. "I suppose those yells
were only to put us off our guard. It's a pity we didn't carry his hat
off for a souvenir of the occasion--as you youngsters put it." And the
farmer grinned.

"Perhaps he is still around," suggested Dick. "If he tried to fool us
once he might try to fool us again."

"That's so, too. It won't do any harm to take a good look around while
we are at it, Dick."

They spent the whole of the morning walking around the swamp and in
trying to trace the movements of Merrick, but without success. Nothing
concerning the rascal was to be found, and when they felt both tired out
and hungry they returned to the Stanhope cottage. Here the girls and the
ladies had a hot dinner awaiting them and served them liberally,
finishing up with apple pie that Dora had made for Dick's especial
benefit.

"It's fine!" he said to her, on the sly.

"Then you like it?" she answered, with a smile.

"Do I? Dora, when we're keeping house you shall make me a pie like this
twice a week," he added, earnestly.

"Dick, if you don't stop your joking----"

"Oh, I'm not joking, Dora. Of course, if you're not willing to make me a
pie now and then----"

"Oh, it isn't that--I'll make all the pies you want. But--but----" And
then Dora blushed so furiously that she had to run from the room. Dick
looked after her longingly and heaved a mountainous sigh. He wished that
all his academy days were over and that he was engaged in business and
settled down in life. He knew just what kind of a home he wanted, and
who he wanted in it besides himself--and perhaps Dora knew, too.

"But I can't think of those things yet," he mused, as he finished his
dinner. "I've got to go out into the world first, get into business, and
prove my worth."

The meal over, it was decided that Dick and Mr. Laning should drive to
Cedarville and get into communication with the local authorities and
also the authorities at Ithaca. This was done, and the following day
another hunt was made for Merrick. But he could not be found; and there,
for the time being, the affair rested.

"I think we'll hear from him again some day," said Dick, and he was
right; they did hear from the swindler, and when they least expected it.




CHAPTER XXI

A BOB SLED RACE


"Whoop! hurrah! it's snowing!"

Thus shouted Tom one day, as he burst into the library of the Hall,
where Dick, Sam and a number of others were perusing books and the
latest magazines.

"Hard?" queried Sam, dropping the magazine he held.

"No, but steady. Peleg Snuggers says it is going to be a heavy fall, and
he generally knows."

"And he loves snowstorms so," put in Fred, with a laugh. "Do you
remember the time we made a big fort and had a regular battle?"

"Indeed I do!" cried Larry. "It was great! We ought to have something of
that sort this winter."

"I was hoping we'd get skating before it snowed," put in Songbird.

"Well, we can't have all the good things at once," answered Dick. "I
think a heavy snowstorm is jolly. Somehow, when it snows I always feel
like whistling and singing."

"And I feel like making up verses," murmured the poet of the school, and
went on:

    "Oh, the snow, the beautiful snow,
    Coming down when the wind does blow.
    Coming down both day and night,
    Leaving the earth a wonderful sight!
    Oh, the snow, the heavenly snow!----"

    "Wetting our feet wherever we go!"

continued Tom, and added:

    "Oh, the snow,
    When the wind doth blow,
    It sets a pace
    And hits our face
    And we are froze
    Down to the toes
    And in the slush,
    That's just like mush,
    We cannot stop,
    But go ker-flop!"

"Tom, the first thing you know, you'll be taking Songbird's laurels away
from him," observed Larry.

"Perish the thought!" answered the fun-loving Rover, tragically.

"I don't hope you call that poetry," came from Songbird, in deep
disgust. "Why, Hans can do better than that; can't you, Dutchy?"

"Sure, I can make up some find boetry," answered Hans. "Chust you listen
to dis. I make him ub von night ven I couldn't go to sleep."

    "Der vos a leetle pird,
         He sits ubon a dree,
    Dot leetle pird vos habby
         Like von leetle pird could be
    A hunter mit a gun
         Py dot tree did lay,
    He shoot his awful gun,
         And dot pird--he fly avay!

"Good for Hans!" cried Dick, and there was a general laugh. Then the
gathering in the library broke up and all the cadets went outside to see
how the snow looked. Before long there was enough on the ground to make
snowballs, and then a battle royal all around ensued. So long as they
took care not to break any windows, Captain Putnam did not mind this,
and from his office the master of the Hall and George Strong watched the
sport.

"Makes one feel young again," remarked the captain to his first
assistant.

"I'd half like to go out myself," answered George Strong.

"I remember one year we had a great snowball fight at West Point," went
on the captain. "It was carried out in regular army fashion and lasted
half a day. Our side was victorious, but we had to fight desperately to
win. I was struck in the chin and the ear, and three of the cadets were
knocked unconscious. But it was good practice, for it showed us
something of what a hand-to-hand struggle meant."

The snow came down all that day and night, and by the following morning
covered the ground to the depth of about a foot. It was somewhat moist
and first-class for the making of snow men and snowballs.

"Let's make a statue of Captain Putnam," said Fred, and this was done,
the statue being nearly ten feet high. It must be confessed it was not a
very good likeness, but it looked remarkably fierce with some straws for
a moustache, a flat wooden stick for a sword, and an old army cap on the
top of the head. When he saw it, Captain Putnam laughed as heartily as
anybody. Old as he was getting, he never allowed himself to forget the
time when he was a boy.

Some distance from the Hall was a fair-sized hill and this was used by
the cadets for coasting. As soon as school was over that day the lads
brought out their sleds and bobs, and soon the hill was filled with
boys, their merry laughter ringing far and wide. The Rovers had a big
bob and this was used by the three and also by several of their friends.

"I'll race you!" shouted Dick, who was in charge of the bob. He
addressed another student named Peter Slade. Slade had a big bob and had
been boasting that this could beat any other bob on the hill.

"All right," answered Slade. He was a lanky youth, rather lazy, and
given to much boasting.

It was soon arranged that each bob should carry six boys, and Fred, Hans
and Songbird went with the Rovers. The two bobs lined up side by side,
and Larry Colby gave the word to go.

"We're off!" shouted Tom, giving a shove, and leaping on behind.

At first the two bobs kept side by side. The slide was in fine
condition, and all the other cadets lined up on either side to watch the
outcome of the race.

"Hurrah for the Rovers!"

"Hurrah for Peter Slade!"

"May the best bob win!" cried one student, enthusiastically.

"Here's luck to you, Tom!" shouted George Granbury, and threw a snowball
that caught Tom in the neck.

"Thanks!" shouted Tom, shaking his fist. "I'll pay that back with
interest when I get the chance."

Half of the course was soon covered and still the bobs kept side by
side. But then the Rovers' bob began to drag behind.

"Hurrah, we are going to win!" cried one of the boys on the other bob.

"Said I could beat you!" yelled Peter Slade to Dick.

"The race isn't ended yet," flung back the eldest Rover boy.

On and on went the two bobs, and gradually that belonging to Peter Slade
drew a full length ahead. Dick glanced back anxiously.

"Something seems to be catching under the runners," he said, "Look and
see if everything is clear."

The boys behind looked, and then of a sudden Songbird let out a cry.

"It is Hans' tippet! Hans, go and put that tippet end around your neck
and don't let it drag under the bob!"

The German youth was wearing an old-fashion tippet around his neck, the
loose ends flying behind. One end had gotten under the bob runners and
was scratching along in the snow.

"Vell I neffer!" cried Hans, and pulled on the tippet so vigorously that
the long bob began to switch around sideways.

"Look out there!" sang out Sam. "Don't throw us off!"

"Wait, I'll loosen the tippet," came from Songbird, and guided the
muffler free of the bob. Then Hans took up the ends and tied them around
his waist.

The drag had caused the Rovers' bob to get two lengths behind the other,
and Peter Slade and his companions felt certain of winning.

"You can't touch us, Dick Rover!" called Slade, triumphantly.

"Good-bye!" called another boy. "We'll tell those at the bottom of the
hill that you are coming."

"Are we making better time?" questioned Tom, anxiously. "If we are not
I'll get off and shove," he added, jokingly.

"You hold tight now!" yelled Dick, and an instant later the bob went
down over a ridge of the hill. Free of the drag, it shot forth like an
arrow from a bow, and soon began to crawl up to Peter Slade's turnout.

"The Rovers are crawling up!"

"Yes, but it's too late to win!"

"We've got to win!" called out Sam.

And then both bobs took another ridge and rushed on to the end of the
course, less than a hundred yards away.




CHAPTER XXII

PELEG SNUGGERS' QUEER RIDE


The race had now reached its critical point and all of the cadets on the
hill waited for the outcome with keen interest. The bob owned by Peter
Slade was still two lengths in advance, and it looked very much as if
Peter would be the victor.

But with the passing of the last ridge the Rovers' bob seemed to become
endowed with new life. With no drag on the runners, it shot forward with
a speed that surprised even Dick. Steadily it gained on the other bob,
until, when the end of the course was but fifty yards away, the two were
almost side by side.

"Let her out, Pete!" cried one of the boys on Slade's bob, but Peter
could do no more.

"It's a tie race!" called several, but hardly had the words been spoken
when the Rovers' bob shot ahead, and reached the end of the course a
winner by twenty-five feet.

"Hurrah! the Rovers win!"

"I tell you what, you can't get ahead of Dick Rover and his crowd!"

Peter Slade was much chagrinned to have the victory snatched from him,
and began to mutter something about the race not being a fair one.

"I agree with you, it was not fair," answered Sam. "Hans' tippet caught
under our runners and held us up a good deal."

"If it hadn't been for that we would have won by three times the
distance," added Tom.

"Humph!" muttered Peter Slade. "I guess you jumped off once and pushed."

"I did not," answered Tom, hotly.

"I think you did."

"And I say I didn't," and now Tom doubled up his fists.

"Oh, don't quarrel," put in Larry, who was near. "If Peter isn't
satisfied why not race over again?"

"I am willing," answered Dick, promptly.

"I'm tired of riding," said Slade. "I--er--I am not feeling extra well
and it shakes me up too much."

"Then let some of the others use the bob."

"No, it needs overhauling, and I am going to have it fixed up," was
Slade's answer, and began to move off toward the Hall, dragging his bob
after him.

"He's afraid to race," said George. "My! how mad it makes some fellows
to get beaten!"

It may be mentioned here that Peter Slade had been one of Tad Sobber's
cronies, and now that Sobber was gone he took it on his shoulders to
fill the bully's place in the particular set to which he belonged. He
was a quick-tempered youth, and had been in more than one fight since
his arrival at Putnam Hall.

The boys who could not ride on the hill amused themselves by making some
big snowballs, which they allowed to roll down another hill. One of the
snowballs made was fully eight feet in diameter, and it was a great
sight to see this go down, getting bigger and bigger as it progressed.

"Hello, I've got an idea!" cried Tom, as he watched the rolling of the
big snowballs.

"Something brand new, Tom?" queried Larry.

"I think so. Let us give Peleg Snuggers a roll. It will do him
good--shake up his liver, and all that."

"You mean to roll him down this hill?" asked a student named Morley.

"That's it."

"Might hurt him."

"Not if we put a snow overcoat on him first," answered Tom.

"What do you mean?" asked another student.

"Let us roll a big ball the shape of an egg and hollow out the middle.
Then by some trick we can get Peleg to crawl inside, and----"

"That's the thing!" cried George Garrison. "Come on. Where is Peleg?"

"Down at the stables."

With eager hands the cadets set to work and rolled up a big ball in the
shape of an egg and then dug out the middle with a shovel. In the
meantime a message was sent to the general utility man that he was
wanted at the top of the hill at once.

"Must want me to mend a sled," he mused, and hurried off, taking with
him some tools, nails and cord. He often did favors for the cadets, who
gave him "tips" in return.

When Peleg Snuggers arrived at the top of the hill the big snowball was
ready for use.

"Here is Peleg!" cried Tom. "He can do the trick for us. Can't you,
Peleg?"

"What is that, Tom?" asked the general utility man, innocently.

"We want to fasten this cord in the hole through that big snowball, but
we don't want to get it crossed," went on Tom, anxiously. "Will you take
the cord, crawl in there and then pass the end out and over the end of
this shovel, and then loop it over to the other end?"

"Why--er--I don't understand," stammered Peleg Snuggers.

"I'll explain after you are inside the ball," said Tom. "Here's the
cord," and he led the general utility man to the hole and helped him to
get down.

Not suspecting a trick, Snuggers crawled into the big snowball. Before
he could do anything with the cord given to him the cadets rushed
forward and gave the snowball a push toward the edge of the hill.

"Hi! stop that!" roared the general utility man, trying to back out.

"Hold tight--the snowball is getting away from us!" yelled Tom.
"Somebody keep it from going down the hill!"

"We can't hold it back!" screamed Larry, grinning at the same time.

"It's bound to go--too bad!" wailed another.

"Say, let me git out!" yelled Peleg Snuggers, but at that moment the
snowball began to turn over. "I'll be killed! Oh, dear, I think you did
this a-purpose, you rascals!"

"Never!" came back promptly.

"Enjoy the ride while you have the chance, Peleg!"

"You've got a free ticket to the bottom of the hill!"

"Let me out! Stop her!" yelled Snuggers, and they saw his feet at one
end of the big snowball and his hands at the other. "I can't stand
rollin', nohow!"

"You're not standing," called Sam. "You are just rolling."

Away went the big snowball, down the long hill, and the cadets after it.
As it progressed it grew larger and larger. They saw Peleg Snuggers
shove out his head from one end, and the head went around and around
like a top.

"I guess he'll be rather dizzy when the trip's ended," observed
Songbird.

At last the snowball came to a stop in a stretch of meadow land. The
students rushed up just in time to see Peleg Snuggers crawl out on his
hands and knees. When he arose he staggered around as if intoxicated.

"Say, you young villains!" he gasped, and then had to stop to catch his
breath.

"Oh, Peleg, why did you run away with our snowball?" asked Tom,
innocently.

"It was a mean thing to do," put in Dick.

"We wanted some fun with that ball," added Sam.

"I--run--off--with the--the snowball?" gasped the general utility man.
"I want you to know----"

"Oh, we know all about it," interrupted Tom. "I know what's the matter.
You've been drinking, and didn't know what you were doing."

"Perhaps we had better report this to Captain Putnam," said Larry.
"Drinking isn't allowed around here, you know."

"I hain't drunk a drop--it's the rollin' as made me dizzy," roared Peleg
Snuggers. "Oh, dear, I can't stand straight," and he bumped up against
the big snowball and sat down in a heap.

"I'll tell you what I think you ought to do," proceeded Tom, calmly. "I
think you ought to roll our snowball back up the hill for us."

"Roll it back?" snorted Snuggers. "Why, four hosses couldn't pull that
weight o' snow up the hill! I ain't going to tech the snowball."

"Then at least pay us for the ride you've had," suggested Sam.

"I ain't goin' to do that nuther! It's a trick that's what it is!"
growled the general utility man, and arose unsteadily. "I'll be sick for
a week after this, I know I will!"

"Never mind," said Dick, soothingly. "Just get Mrs. Green to give you a
dose of pink Whirl Around Pills, and you'll be all right again."

"I shan't never come out to this hill again, not fer nobody," grumbled
the general utility man, and walked off. Then he turned to gaze at the
cadets. "You do anything like that again an' I'll tell Captain Putnam on
ye, see if I don't. I ain't going to be no merry-go-'round, or spinnin'
top fer nobody!" And then he hurried for the stables and disappeared.




CHAPTER XXIII

HOLIDAYS AT THE FARM


Almost before they knew it, the mid-winter holidays were at hand, and
the Rover boys went home to enjoy Christmas and New Year. On their way
they stopped at several stores in Ithaca, where they purchased a number
of Christmas presents. Some of these they mailed at the post-office.
Dick sent a nice book to Dora, and Tom and Sam sent books to Grace and
Nellie. The boys also united in the gift of a stick pin to Mrs. Stanhope
and another to Mrs. Laning, and sent Mr. Laning a necktie. Captain
Putnam was not forgotten, and they likewise remembered George Strong.
The rest of their purchases they took home, for distribution there.

A number of the other students had come as far as Ithaca with them, and
here the crowd had dinner at one of the hotels,--the same place where
Tom had once played his great joke on Josiah Crabtree.

"By the way, who knows anything about Nick Pell?" asked one of the
students, while dining.

"He has been removed to his home in the city," answered George Granbury.

"Is he better?" questioned Dick.

"They say he is better some days, but at other times he is worse. The
poison somehow affected his mind."

"What a terrible thing to happen," murmured the eldest Rover, and then
shuddered to think what might have ensued had the snake bitten him.

"Any news of Tad Sobber?" asked another cadet. He looked at each of the
others, but all shook their heads.

"It's queer where he went to," said Songbird. "Wonder if Captain Putnam
tried to communicate with his folks?"

"He has only an uncle, and the captain couldn't find him," answered
another youth who was present.

As the dinner progressed the boys warmed up, and at the conclusion they
sang several songs. Then the Rovers had to rush for their train and they
caught it just as it was pulling out of the station.

"Hullo!" cried Sam, as he dropped into a seat, and he pointed out of the
car window.

"What's up now?" queried Tom.

"I saw a fellow on the depot platform who looked like Tad Sobber!"

"Are you sure it was Sobber?" demanded Dick.

"No, I am not dead certain--but the fellow looked a good deal like Tad."

"Must have been a mistake," was Tom's comment. "What would he be doing
around Ithaca?"

"Well, he's got to stay somewhere, Tom."

"But he wouldn't stay so close to Cedarville--he'd probably go to some
big city," put in Dick.

As the train rushed on the Rover boys talked the matter over, but could
make nothing out of it.

"I suppose he is in hiding waiting to see if Nick Pell will recover,"
said Dick. "He knows that if Nick doesn't get over his trouble he'll be
liable to prosecution."

At the station at Oak Run the boys found their father awaiting them with
the big family sleigh. All piled in, and over the crisp snow they
started for Valley Brook farm.

"I need not ask how you are feeling," said Anderson Rover. "Every one of
you looks the picture of health."

"I never felt better in my life," declared Dick, and Tom and Sam said
the same.

"Has Uncle Randolph heard anything more of his traction company bonds?"
asked Tom, as they drove along.

"Not a word more," answered his father. "It is a great loss to him."

"Do you suppose the game was tried on anybody else?" asked Sam.

"We have not heard of it."

Arriving at home, the boys were warmly greeted by their uncle and their
aunt and also by the others around the house. Their aunt had a hot
supper awaiting them, and while they ate this the whole subject of the
missing bonds was thoroughly discussed. The boys learned that a private
detective was still on the trail of Merrick and Pike, but so far had
reported nothing of importance.

"I believe those rascals,--or at least Merrick--must belong around Lake
Cayuga," observed Dick. "Otherwise we shouldn't have seen Merrick in
Ithaca and up at the Stanhope place."

"I was very simple to let them get the best of me. The next time I shall
be more careful," said Randolph Rover.

The boys learned from Jack Ness that hunting in the woods back of the
farm was good, and two days before Christmas they went out with the
hired man. They went for rabbits and squirrels, and each took his
shotgun along and a substantial lunch, for they expected to be out the
greater part of the day.

It was clear, cold weather, the sun glistening brightly on the snow.
They journeyed directly for a portion of the woods they knew was a
favorite spot for rabbits, and it was not long before they started up
several.

"There they go!" cried Dick, and took aim. Bang! bang! went his gun, and
the reports of Tom's firearm followed. Three rabbits came down, and a
few minutes later Sam brought another one low.

"Four for a starter are not so bad," remarked Tom, as the game was
placed in their bags. "Even if we don't get any more we won't have to go
home empty-handed."

By noon they had made their way directly through the woods and had
eleven rabbits and three squirrels to their credit. Then Tom suggested
they build a campfire and rest while eating their lunch and this was
done.

"I wish we could bring down a fox or two," said Jack Ness. "They have
been bothering the chickens again lately--carried off two only night
before last."

"Do you know where they hang out?" asked Dick.

"I think they come from over yonder," and the hired man pointed with his
hand to the northward.

"Let us travel in that direction after dinner," suggested Sam. "Even if
we don't spot any foxes we may find as many rabbits and squirrels there
as anywhere else."

The others were willing, and half of the afternoon was spent by the four
hunters in a locality that was new to them. One fox was sighted, and
Jack Ness shot the animal in the hind quarters, and then Sam finished
him by a shot in the side.

"Well, that makes one fox less anyway," said the hired man.

They kept on, and brought down two rabbits and a wild turkey. By this
time they were pretty well tired out, and Tom suggested that they start
for home.

"It's a long tramp," he said, "and by the time we get back I guess we'll
all be ready to rest."

"As for that, I am ready to rest now," said Sam. "Tramping through the
snow is no easy task."

"Especially if a fellow's legs aren't very long," returned Dick, with a
grin.

"Well, mine are as long as they ought to be," came from Sam, promptly.
"They reach to the ground, and yours don't reach any further," and then
there was a general laugh, Jack Ness guffawing loudly.

The hired man said he knew of a short cut to the farm, and they followed
him to something of a path through the woods and then out on a trail
made years before by charcoal burners. Soon they came in sight of a
cabin, from the chimney of which the smoke was curling.

"Who lives here?" asked Dick.

"An old man named Derringham," answered Jack Ness. "He is very old and
somewhat out of his head. He makes his living by selling herbs and barks
for medicine. Years ago, so they say, he was an herb doctor, but he
didn't have a certificate, or something like that, so the authorities
drove him out of business. After that he got queer and took to the
woods."

"Let us go in and see him," said Tom, whose curiosity was aroused. He
walked boldly up to the hut and knocked loudly on the dilapidated door.

"Who is that, Pop?" he heard somebody ask, in a startled voice.

"I don't know, sir," was the answer, in the voice of an old man.

"I don't want to see anybody," went on the first speaker. "Send him
away, whoever he is."

"Go away!" cried the old man. "I don't want anybody around here."

By this time all of the party outside were at the door. Tom's face
showed that he was laboring under sudden surprise.

"Evidently the old man doesn't want visitors," was Dick's comment.

"There is somebody else in there with him," whispered Tom. "From his
voice I should say it was Bill Dangler!"




CHAPTER XXIV

A CAPTURE AND A SURPRISE


The others were much astonished by what Tom said, and they could
scarcely believe that they had heard aright.

"Bill Dangler!" cried Sam, but Tom put his hand over his brother's mouth
to silence him. Then he nodded vigorously.

"What would that freight thief be doing here?" questioned Dick, in a
whisper.

"I am sure I don't know. But I am almost certain it was Dangler's voice.
If you will remember, it has a certain shrillness to it."

"Yes, I know that."

During this talk there were murmurs in the cabin which those outside
could not understand. Then the old man came towards the door and slipped
a bolt into place.

"I want you to go away!" he said sharply. "I don't like strangers around
here."

"We won't hurt you, Mr. Derringham," said Dick. "We came to pay you a
friendly visit."

"Wouldn't you like a nice rabbit from us?" asked Tom, bound to get into
the cabin somehow.

"I have no money with which to buy rabbits."

"We'll make you a present of one," said Sam.

"I want no presents from anybody. I want you to go away," said the old
man, in a high-pitched, nervous tone.

"Mr. Derringham, don't you remember me?" asked Jack Ness. "I used to buy
herbs and watercress from you. I'd like to speak to you for a minute."

"Who are you?"

"I am Jack Ness, the man who works over on the Rover farm."

"The Rover farm!" muttered a voice in the cabin. "Don't let them in!
Don't you do it!"

"I am sure that is Dangler!" cried Tom, whose ears were on the alert.
"If he is really there we have him cornered!"

"Yes, and he shan't get away from us again," added Dick.

"If he tries it we can halt him with a dose of buckshot," put in Sam.

After that there was a pause, the boys not knowing exactly how to
proceed. Tom pressed on the door, but it refused to give way.

"I tell you I want you to leave!" cried the old man, after some more
whispering in the cabin. "If you don't go away I'll get my gun."

"There are four of us and all armed," answered Dick. "So you had better
not do any shooting. But you have got to open that door. We will do you
no harm."

"What do you want in here?"

"We want to see who is in there with you?" answered Tom, boldly.

"Don't you know that I am alone?"

"You are not alone," said Sam.

"Well, I know best," was the hesitating answer. "If I was sure you
wouldn't hurt me I'd let you in."

"We will not harm you in the least," answered Dick.

There was a moving around in the cabin and what seemed to be the
dropping of a door. Then old Derringham came forward again.

"You are sure you won't rob me if I open the door?" he asked.

"We mean you no harm--if you will do what is right," said Tom.

Then the door was thrown open and the Rover boys and Jack Ness were
confronted by a man at least seventy years of age. He had snow-white
hair and a snowy beard that reached to his waist.

The boys and the hired man went hastily into the cabin and looked
around. Nobody but Derringham was in sight. Dick looked at the floor
under the table and saw something which looked like a trap door.

"He must have gone into the cellar," said he to the others, and made a
movement forward.

"Stop, do not touch that table!" cried the old man, in alarm.

"Mr. Derringham, listen to me," said the eldest Rover boy firmly. "We
are after a criminal--a man who for years robbed the railroad company of
valuable freight. We know he is somewhere around your place. If you
shield this criminal, or aid him in getting away, you will be guilty of
a crime."