CHAPTER XVI
ABOUT A MAD DOG
“Where is the mad dog?” cried Dan Baxter, in alarm.
“There he is!” shouted Gus Coulter, turning pale. “Oh, I do hope he doesn’t come this way!”
All of the cadets and the others present looked in the direction from whence the cries proceeded. They saw a middle-aged woman running along a footpath to the side of the field. Behind her was a big dog, who was frothing at the mouth and snapping his teeth together viciously.
“Help me! Save me from the dog!” cried the woman. She was evidently some farmer’s wife who lived in the neighborhood. She had been carrying a basket, but had thrown the article at the dog, in a weak effort to stay his progress.
When the alarm came Jack had one of the rifles in his hand. It was loaded, and now he turned quickly with the weapon.
“Take care! Don’t hit the woman!” began Captain Putnam, when the crack of the weapon cut short his warning. Taking hasty aim, the young major had fired at the mad animal. A yelp followed, the dog leaped high in the air, and then came down and lay still.
“Good! Jack nailed him!” shouted Andy. “A fine shot!”
“Let me see if he is dead,” said Captain Putnam, and catching up another rifle he ran forward, followed by half a dozen cadets. Soon they reached the woman, who was on the point of fainting from fright and from running.
“Is he – he – dead?” she faltered.
“Yes, he is dead,” announced the master of the Hall, making a close examination. “The bullet must have gone straight through his brain.”
“He was mad, wasn’t he?” went on the woman, recovering a bit.
“Beyond a doubt, and very violent, too.”
“He scared me nearly to death. When I first saw him he was tangled up in some old fence-wire. It seemed to have set him crazy. I tried to get away from him, but as soon as he got shut of the wire he came after me.”
“It was lucky that this young man shot him,” said the captain, and pointed at Jack.
“Oh, did he do it?” cried the woman. “I thought you did it.” She turned to the young major. “I am very much obliged, I am sure.”
“And you are welcome,” said Jack, blushing like a girl.
“Whose dog is it?” asked Andy.
“It belongs to Mr. Haverick, the horse-dealer. I suppose it was quite valuable.”
“Let me see – are you not Mrs. Bennington?”
“I am. My husband sold you some wood last winter.”
“Yes, I remember. Well, Mrs. Bennington, I do not know what to do with the dog excepting to have my man bury him.”
“I think we had better let Mr. Haverick see him first. He thought a good deal of the animal. I’ll have my husband tell him.”
“Very well, we’ll leave him where he is then – at least for the present.”
The woman went on her way slowly, and the target practice was resumed. It soon became noised around what Jack had done, and many, including Pepper and Dale, came out to see the slain animal.
“That was all right, Jack!” cried Pepper. “That’s better than hitting the target.”
“I’ve been thinking of something,” said Jack, in a serious tone. “Don’t you remember that horse-dealer we once met on the boat, down at Cedarville?”
“Is that the same chap?”
“I think so. He was very overbearing, and I am afraid he will try to make trouble.”
“Humph! He ought to be very glad that his dog didn’t bite somebody,” answered the Imp.
Dan Baxter had been much disturbed by the appearance of the mad dog, and his nerves were not yet settled. Consequently, when he came up to shoot he only made thirty-three out of a possible fifty points.
“This rifle is no good!” he growled. “It doesn’t shoot straight.”
“It is the rifle I used,” said a student who had made forty-six points.
“And I used it too,” said another, who had made forty-two points.
“I don’t care, it doesn’t shoot straight,” growled the bully.
“You do not hold the rifle just right, Baxter,” said Captain Putnam. “Take it this way,” and he illustrated what he was saying.
Jack was right when he said the horse-dealer, Haverick, would try to make trouble. Early the following morning the man called at the Hall and demanded to see Captain Putnam.
“I understand one of your scholars shot my dog,” said Sam Haverick. His face wore a deep scowl.
“You are Mr. Haverick, the horse-dealer?” questioned the captain, politely.
“I am.”
“Yes, the dog was shot because he was mad and wanted to bite Mrs. Bennington.”
“He wasn’t mad at all! He was playful, that’s all. That dog cost me fifty dollars. Somebody has got to pay for him.”
“I don’t think I shall pay for him,” said the captain, stiffly. “He was mad beyond a doubt, and had to be shot. Had he bitten Mrs. Bennington it might have made a lot of trouble for you.”
“Bah! I say he wasn’t mad. I want pay for the dog.”
“You’ll not get it from me.”
“Then I’ll sue!”
“That is your privilege,” answered Captain Putnam, with a shrug of his broad shoulders. “But I don’t think you’ll gain anything by it.”
“And I’ll have the boy who shot the dog arrested,” went on Sam Haverick, roughly.
The man’s manner made the captain angry, and he stiffened up.
“If you do that, sir, I’ll have you arrested also,” he said.
“Me?”
“Yes, – for allowing a mad dog at large.”
The captain’s manner did not suit the horse-dealer. He saw that he could not bulldoze the master of the Hall, and his manner changed.
“Then you ain’t going to pay no damages?”
“Not a cent. I do not think you are entitled to anything. If I thought you were I’d settle in a minute.”
“We’ll see! We’ll see!” grumbled Haverick, and stalked out of the building much discomfited.
As soon as the horse-dealer was gone, Captain Putnam called Jack into his private office and related what had occurred.
“Do not be alarmed, in case he tries to do anything,” said the captain. “I will protect you.”
“Can he do anything?”
“He can make us a little trouble, that is all. He is a foolish man.”
The horse-dealer consulted a lawyer. But the legal light gave him small hope, and he finally concluded that he would not bring suit nor would he have Jack arrested. But he was very bitter, and vowed that sooner or later he would “make Captain Putnam smart, and that young cub of a shooter, too!”
On the following Saturday Jack, Pepper, and Dale went on a long tramp over the hills with George Strong. The teacher was looking for certain botanical specimens, and the boys assisted him all they could. The lads were glad to go out with the second assistant teacher, for his talks were always of interest and profit. By going with him they learned more of botany and geology than they did from their schoolbooks.
“By the way, Mr. Strong,” said Jack, as they were coming home, “have you learned anything more concerning that hidden pot of gold that your ancestors buried during the Revolutionary War?”
“Not a great deal, Ruddy. I have gained what looks like a clew to me. That is, that the pot of gold was buried in the hills some distance to the south of this spot.”
“But you have no idea of the exact location?” said Pepper.
“I have not. If I had I’d certainly go and dig for it.” And George Strong gave a short laugh.
“When you get time you ought to organize a regular treasure hunt,” put in Dale.
“I’ve been thinking of that. But I do not like to waste time on a wild-goose chase,” answered the teacher.
“What has become of those crazy men, Bart Callax and Paul Shaff?”
“I believe they are still out west, under the care of a distant relative.”
“I suppose you don’t want to meet them again,” said Jack.
“No, never!” said George Strong, with a shiver. He had not yet forgotten his terrible experience with his insane relatives.
The party of four had made a long detour and were returning to the Hall by a route that was somewhat new to them. They had a large hill to cross, the other side of which was filled with thick trees growing among some large rocks.
“This is wild enough for anything,” said Pepper. “I didn’t know there was any ground around here so rough.”
“Be careful that you don’t sprain an ankle,” cautioned the teacher.
“Hullo, what’s this?” cried Dale, coming to a sudden halt.
“A cave!” ejaculated Pepper. “A regular cave,” he added, peering into the opening.
“Let’s explore it,” said Jack. “We’ve got time enough.”
George Strong was willing, and a minute later the exploration of the cave began.
CHAPTER XVII
IN THE CAVE
The cave was an irregular one of uncertain depth. The opening lay under a big, jagged rock, with other rocks on either side. One after another they passed into the underground chamber without much trouble.
“It’s rather dark,” said Jack. “Hadn’t we better light a torch?”
“By all means,” said the teacher, and went out and got a pine branch. This burnt very well, although it made quite some smoke. They advanced with caution, for the cave was not very high and nobody wanted to strike his head on the sharp rocks above. In some places the tree-roots hung down like so many snakes.
“By the way, I wonder if there are any snakes in here?” observed Dale, when from under a rock glided a reptile about two feet long, followed by another a trifle smaller. Dale let out a yell and retreated, and so did the other boys.
“They are harmless,” called out George Strong. “They are common wood-snakes. See, they have crawled out of sight already. They are more scared than you are.”
“I must say I hate snakes,” said Jack. “I am willing to leave them alone if only they will leave me alone.”
“The trouble is, most folks know very little about snakes,” said the teacher. “Why, a snake can be made a great pet, just like a cat or a dog, or a bird. Many snake-charmers really make pets of their snakes.”
“Excuse me, I’d rather have a dog or a bird any day,” said Dale.
“Or even an old tomcat,” put in Pepper.
The cave was not very wide, indeed it seemed to be merely a split in the rocks and dirt. In one spot the tree-roots were so thick the party had to literally force its way along.
“Be careful,” came in a warning from George Strong. “Don’t get stuck so tight that you can’t get out again.”
“I’ll look out for that,” said Pepper who was in advance.
Presently they reached a spot where the cave divided into three parts. At the bottom of one part flowed a spring of clear, cold water.
“This is fine!” declared Dale, after taking a drink.
“Look out that you don’t swallow a lizard,” said Jack.
“I can tell you what,” declared Pepper, gazing around by the light of the smoky torch, “this would make quite a retreat if it was cleaned out.”
At last they could go no further and began to retrace their steps. At one point they had to crawl over some rocks and under some tree-roots.
“Wonder if I can push the tree up?” cried Dale, by way of a joke, and pressed upward with his back.
“Take care!” cried George Strong, “You may loosen something and get hurt.”
“The rock is shifting!” yelled Jack. “Look out!”
There was a grinding, and all saw that a rock above them was settling down. The teacher, Jack, and Pepper ran in one direction and Dale in another.
An awful noise followed, and the loose dirt flew in all directions. For a minute all were greatly confused.
“Are you boys hurt?” was the first question asked by the assistant teacher.
“I’m all right,” said Pepper.
“So am I,” added Jack.
“Where is Dale?”
“He slipped back, the way he had come.”
“Dale! Dale!” shouted the teacher. No answer came back to the summons.
“Perhaps he was killed!” gasped Pepper.
“Oh, don’t say that,” came from Jack. “Dale! Dale!” he went on loudly.
Still there was no answer, and now all became thoroughly alarmed. George Strong moved over to the rock that had fallen and examined it with care.
“I don’t believe he is under this,” he said. “But he may be caught in some way on the other side.”
“How are we to get at him?” was the question from Pepper.
The torch was dying down and Jack had to work his way out of the cave and find a new pine bough for a light.
“Maybe we can get at him from the top,” suggested Jack. “There seemed to be quite a cave-in there.”
“I will look,” said the teacher.
All hurried outside and to the spot the young major had noticed. The ground was much sunken.
“He is literally buried alive!” cried George, Strong. “We must dig him out, and be quick about it!”
They went at the stones and dirt with vigor, yet taking care that no additional cave-in should result. All they had to work with was a trowel George Strong had brought along and their hands, but despite this drawback they made fair progress.
“I see a hole!” cried Jack, after five minutes of hard work.
“Be careful!” cautioned George Strong again. “Call down to Dale.”
The young major did so, but still there was no answer. The hole was increased in size until it was big enough to admit the passage of a human form. Then the torch was flared below.
“I see him!” said Jack. “He is flat on his back.”
“Does he seem to be caught by the rocks?”
“No.”
The teacher took a look and then ordered that the hole be made a little larger.
“I will lower myself to him,” said George Strong. “Then I will pass him up to you.”
He disappeared into the hole and took the torch with him. Presently he called out, and then they saw him lifting up Dale’s limp form. They caught hold of their chum’s body and drew it to a place of safety.
“He seems to be knocked unconscious,” said Jack, soberly.
They assisted the teacher to the surface above the cave, and then all three turned their attention to Dale. There was a lump on the unconscious boy’s head and a scratch on his chin.
“Get some water and we’ll bathe him,” said George Strong, and this was done, and presently Dale opened his eyes.
“Take it away!” he murmured. “It’s too heavy for me!”
“You’re all right, Dale,” said Jack. “You’re safe.” And then Dale stared around him.
“Wha – what did you say?” he stammered. “Oh, my head!” And he put up his hand.
“You are safe,” said the teacher.
“Didn’t that rock come down on me?”
“It came pretty close to you. It must have grazed your head, and that is what made you unconscious.”
“And how – how did I get here?”
“We dug you out,” said Pepper.
“Oh!” And for the time being the suffering youth said no more.
They continued to bathe his face and wrists, and presently he said he felt better. But George Strong made him wait half an hour before standing on his feet.
“I’m a bit dizzy and light-headed, but that’s all,” declared Dale, when they finally set out for Putnam Hall. “Say, I reckon I had a narrow escape, didn’t I?”
“You did,” answered the teacher.
“Weren’t you caught at all?”
“No.”
“That’s what I get for trying to lift up a tree,” pursued Dale, with a sorry little grin. “No more such foolishness for me!”
They took their time about getting back, and it was long after the supper hour when the academy was reached. George Strong explained matters to Captain Putnam and they had the meal in private.
“That was certainly quite an adventure,” remarked Jack.
“Yes, and one I shouldn’t wish to experience again,” answered Dale. “I shan’t go into another cave in a hurry, take my word on that!”
“I wonder if the cave was ever used for anything?” asked Pepper.
“I do not think so,” returned George Strong. “It was merely a split in the rocks, probably caused by a landslide.”
CHAPTER XVIII
SEEN THROUGH A SPYGLASS
Three days later Jack came to Pepper, Andy, and Dale, who were out on the campus catching ball.
“Mr. Strong is in trouble,” he announced, and the ball catching came to an end at once.
“What’s up, Jack?”
“Somebody I think has been playing tricks on him.”
“What did they do?”
“Order a lot of things in his name.”
“I must say I don’t understand,” said Andy, with a puzzled look.
“Day before yesterday there came an elegant set of Cooper’s works by express with a C. O. D. charge of thirty-two dollars. Mr. Strong never ordered the books.”
“That’s mean, to play a trick like that on him,” said Dale. “Now if it was old Crabtree I wouldn’t say a word.”
“Yesterday came a bookcase, also C. O. D., at eighteen dollars, and then he got three fountain pens by mail, with a bill for twelve dollars.”
“Has he any idea who ordered the things?” asked Andy.
“Not the slightest idea in the world.”
“He must be mad.”
“He said he was very much annoyed and could not imagine who would be mean enough to play such tricks on him.”
“If they signed his name to the orders that would be forgery,” was Dale’s comment.
“So it would.”
“Why doesn’t he send for the orders?”
“He is going to do it.”
The second assistant teacher was indeed in trouble. On the day following the above conversation a parrot arrived in a cage for him, followed by a canary bird. Then came a canoe and a rifle, both, sent “on approval.” The next day he got a letter from a city firm, asking how he wished them to send the automobile that he desired.
“This is too much!” said the teacher, as he read the letter to Captain Putnam.
“It is an outrage,” answered the master of the Hall, warmly. “We must find out who is up to these tricks.”
“It will keep me busy a long time explaining matters,” went on George Strong, with a troubled look on his face.
“You had better refuse all goods after this, unless you are certain they are all right.”
“I’ll do it.”
The next day seemed to cap the climax, for that morning there came a crate of dishes, two boxes of mineral water of the most expensive kind, and a folding baby carriage. George Strong was desperate and refused to accept anything, despite the protestation of the express driver from Cedarville.
“I didn’t order the things and I won’t accept them!” cried the teacher. “Send them back!”
“And about the charges?” asked the expressman.
“Collect at the other end. I have nothing whatever to do with the orders.” And the expressman went away grumbling loudly to himself.
As was to be expected, the refusal to accept goods brought a great deal of trouble. George Strong received some harsh letters and in some cases was threatened with suits-at-law. In three instances he received the original orders for inspection, but they were poorly written, in pencil, and he could make little or nothing out of them. Goods had been sent to him because he referred to Captain Putnam as to his responsibility to make payments. This brought the master of the Hall into the mix-up, and he had to do what he could to explain matters.
“We must certainly locate the party or parties who are guilty,” said the captain. “Mr. Strong, have you any especial enemies among the students?”
“I think not, captain.”
“Have you had occasion to reprimand any of them, or keep them in after regular hours?”
“Oh, yes, I have kept some of them in.”
“Who?”
The teacher named over seven or eight, among them being Reff Ritter, Dan Baxter, and Gus Coulter.
“Any others?”
“I once had to keep in Dale Blackmore and Andy Snow for talking together. But I do not think they can be guilty.”
“Perhaps not, although Snow is rather full of fun.”
The matter was talked over and the teacher said he would watch the boys he had mentioned closely.
On the following Saturday Jack and Andy got permission to go to Top Rock Hill, located not many miles from the academy. They wanted some of the others to go along, but there was a “scrub” baseball game on and they declined.
“Do you remember how Baxter got into trouble at Top Rock Hill last fall?” said Jack, as they trudged along.
“Indeed I do, Jack,” returned Andy. “I don’t think he’ll try to take any more nuts from private property.”
Jack had with him a new spyglass and wanted to test it. The boys climbed to the very top of the hill, where a grand panorama was spread before them. On one side were the rolling hills and on the other the slope running down to the lake, which lay glistening like silver in its rim of green.
“I can see the Hall with this glass,” said Jack. “And I can see some of the fellows out on the lake in boats.”
He allowed Andy to take a look, and after a while they turned the glass in the direction of the somewhat dusty road that wound around the foot of Top Rock Hill.
“I can see a buggy coming along the road,” said Jack. “There is a man in it.”
Andy took a look at the turnout.
“Why, that is one of our horses!” he exclaimed. “The spotted white, Billy Boy. Can it be the captain who is out driving?”
“No, he was in his office when we came away.”
“Maybe it is old Crabtree.”
“I think it is Mr. Strong by his hat,” said Jack, handling the glass. “I can’t see his face very clearly. He is slowing up and – Well, I declare!”
Jack stopped suddenly and gave another long look.
“See! see!” he exclaimed. “Two men are on the road. What are they doing?”
“They seem to be quarreling with the carriage driver,” answered Andy. “They are hauling him out of the carriage, and, yes, it is Mr. Strong!”
“If he is in trouble, we ought to help him!”
“Right you are! Come on!”
Shutting up the spyglass, the two cadets hurried from the top of the hill in the direction of the wagon-road. The way was rough and uncertain and they had to beware of dangerous holes. Once they got caught in a tangle of bushes and had to go back.
“I hope we are not losing the right direction,” panted Andy, as he paused to gaze round.
“We are all right,” answered the young major. “Hurry up! He may be in peril of his life!”
At last they gained the bottom of the rocky hill. There was a small meadow to cross, beyond which was the wagon-road, lined with trees and bushes.
“Help!” they heard somebody cry. “Help! help!”
“That is Mr. Strong’s voice!” exclaimed Andy.
“I see the horse and carriage!” answered Jack, pointing down the road. “Look, the carriage is empty!”
“And the horse is running away!” finished his chum, as they saw the steed dash onward at a gallop.
“Help! help!” came the cry again. Both boys looked around, but could see no one.
“Shall we call to him?” asked Andy.
“No! no!” answered Jack, hastily. “That will put his assailants on guard. Come, the cry came from yonder.”
Forward the two boys darted once more, and then Andy called a halt.
“We haven’t anything in the way of weapons,” said he. “Let us get clubs.”
This advice was followed promptly. Fortunately heavy sticks were readily to be had, so but little time was lost. Then, as they heard another cry, they darted into a thicket along the roadside.
A moment later they came upon a thrilling scene. George Strong was in the grasp of one man, who held him from the back, while a second man was going through his pockets.