The doctor had all the manuscripts in his study, and was to go over them with the professors, the majority to decide which was the best.

On the night when the various manuscripts were in the doctor’s study in the little cottage he occupied in the camp, Billy Manners was a bit restless, not from his literary efforts, but from having eaten something which greatly disagreed with him.

He occupied a tent with young Smith, and at a late hour awoke for the third or fourth time, and suddenly heard some one say in a whisper: 

“It’s all right, I’ve got it!”

Billy thought the voice was Herring’s, but was not certain in his sleepy condition, and with pains gripping his bowels.

“Can you fix it?” somebody asked, and Billy thought this might be either Holt or Merritt, not being sure which it was, for the same reason that made him uncertain of the other.

“Fix it?” the first speaker retorted with a low chuckle, “of course I can fix it, and fix his winning the prize, too.”

“There’s some mischief going on,” thought the young joker.  “I wonder what it is?”

The voices he had heard had come from the next tent, but whether it was the next on the right or the left he could not tell, not knowing whether he may have turned in his sleep or not, having a habit of finding himself in all sorts of queer positions when he awoke.

While he was thinking the matter over, and trying to locate the tent from which the voices proceeded he fell asleep, his pain having left him for a time.

He did not know how long it was when he was awakened again, as well by the pain as by hearing voices.

“That will do first rate,” he heard some one say, and then he thought he detected a light in the tent next to his.

Young Smith was fast asleep, and oblivious of everything, “and Billy did not think it worth while to arouse him.

“They won’t notice the difference?” asked either Merritt or Holt, Billy was not certain which.

“No, and now to put it back.”

“Put what back, I wonder?” said Billy to himself, as he sat up.

“And give the doctor a surprise.”

“Huh! he won’t be the only one surprised!” growled some one, and Billy thought it was Herring this time.

“That fellow is up to some mischief,” he muttered, “and I must find out what it is.”

Then he jumped out of bed, put on his trousers and shoes, and crept softly outside.

CHAPTER XIV

BILLY’S NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE

It was dark in the camp, but Billy, as he stole out of the tent, could distinguish a dark form moving swiftly down the camp street, and followed without making any noise, taking care to keep as much as possible in the shadow.

Unless the person he was following should happen to look around, there was very little danger of his being seen, but he took all the precautions he could to avoid being detected.