“I see the Hall!” shouted half a dozen voices in chorus.  And in a few seconds they came out into full view of the broad brick and stone building, with its well-kept parade ground, and its trees and shrubbery.  The parade ground came down to the edge of the wagon road, and off to the other side the land sloped gradually down to the lake, glistening like a sheet of gold in the rays of the setting sun.

The boys set up a loud shout and a wild blowing of horns, and in a moment a score of cadets came running forward to greet them, followed by Captain Victor Putnam, the master of the academy, and George Strong, his head assistant.

“I am glad to see you, young gentlemen,” said Captain Putnam, as he shook one and another by the hand.  “You look as if your vacation had done you good.”

“It’s done me a pile of good,” said Sam.  “But I don’t know as I want another like it.”

“You Rover boys have certainly had some remarkable experiences,” continued the captain.  “I congratulate you on escaping so many grave perils.  Sometime you must give me all the particulars.  But now it is time to prepare for supper.  I dare say the trip on the lake has made you hungry.”

“Dot is so,” came from Hans Mueller.  “I vos so hungry like four lions alretty.”

“I have made some slight changes in your sleeping accommodations,” went on Captain Putnam.  “Mr. Strong will show you to your rooms.”  Then the boys marched into the academy, led by the head assistant.

The majority of the cadets had their dormitories on the second floor of the building.  Each room held from four to eight students, and was both bright and clean.  The rules of Putnam Hall were similar to those in force at West Point, and every pupil was expected to keep his clothing, his books, and his other possessions in perfect order.  Each had a cot, a chair, and a clothes closet to himself, extra closets having been introduced in the rooms for that purpose, and each was allowed the use of his trunk in addition.  Each cadet had to take his turn at keeping the room in order, although the dormitories were given a regular sweeping and cleaning once a week by the servants.

As before, the Rover boys were placed in one room, and into this came also Larry Colby, Fred Garrison, and George Granbury.  The apartment was at an angle of the building, and next to it was another occupied by Songbird Powell, Tubbs, Hans, and three other cadets.  Between the two rooms was a door, but this was closed, and was supposed to be kept locked.

“This makes one feel like home,” said Sam, as he began to wash up for supper.

“Right you are,” answered Larry Colby.  “No matter where I go during a vacation, I am always glad to get back to Putnam Hall.”

A little later came the evening parade of the cadets, who marched around the parade ground several times before entering the messroom, as the dining hall was termed.  The late arrivals did not join in the parade, but they watched it with interest, and then hurried to their accustomed places at the long tables, where a plain, but substantial supper awaited them.