“Right you are.  But the question is, How are we to get hold of him, and what are we to do?” put in Jackson.

“I’ve got a plan, but I don’t know exactly how it will work.”

“Let us have it, Lew,” came from Gus Pender.

“Some dark night we’ll go to Rover’s tent and haul him from his cot.  We’ll wear masks and he’ll think he’s in for a bit of hazing and won’t squeal very loud.  Then we can blindfold him and bring him here.”

“So far, so good,” put in Rockley.  “And after that?”

“You know how he hates liquor?”

“Does he, or is it all put on?” questioned Ben Hurdy.

“I can’t say as to that, but anyway he pretends to hate it, so it amounts to the same thing.  Well, after we have him here we can get him to drink something by hook or by crook, and when he falls asleep we can put an empty bottle in his hand and then somebody can bring Captain Putnam to the spot.  That will wipe out Dick Rover’s record as a model pupil all in a minute.”

“Good!” almost shouted Rockley.  “We can dose him easily.  You just leave that for me.”

“Wish we could get his brothers into it, too,” came from Pender.

“Oh, we can serve them out some other way,” answered Lew Flapp.  “At the start, we don’t want to bite off more than we can chew,” he added slangily.

The matter was discussed for fully an hour, and when the meeting broke up each member understood fully what was to be accomplished.

Two days after the athletic contests the cadets had a prize drill.  The cadets had been preparing for this for some time and each company did its best to win.

“I am greatly pleased with the showing made by all three companies,” said Captain Putnam after the drilling and marching were at an end.  “Companies B and C have done very well indeed.  But for general excellence the average of Company A is a little above the others, so the prize must go to Captain Rover’s command.”

“Hurrah for Dick Rover!” was the cry, and this was followed by a cheer for First Lieutenant Powell and for Second Lieutenant Tom Rover.

“Humph!  Forever cheering those Rovers!” muttered Flapp, who was in Company C.  “My, but it makes me sick!”

“Never mind,” whispered Rockley.  “Just wait till we get the chance to work our little game.”

At once Lew Flapp’s face took on a cunning look.

“I’ve got an idea,” he whispered in return.  “Why not try it on to-night?  Then Captain Putnam would say Rover had been celebrating because his company won the prize.”

“You are right there, Lew, I didn’t think of that.  Wait till I sound the other fellows.”

It did not take Rockley long to talk to his cronies, and presently he came back with a knowing look on his face.

“It’s settled,” he said.  “By to-morrow morning Dick Rover will be in disgrace and will lose his position as captain of Company A.”