“Hullo, here comes Rover!” whispered Lew Flapp to Pender, as Dick appeared.  “Wonder what sort of a story he will have to tell?”

“One thing is certain, we made a mess of our plans,” muttered Pender.

“Perhaps Rover won’t give us away,” put in Rockley hopefully.

On returning to camp word had been sent to Captain Putnam that Dick Rover was at the den in a condition not fit to be seen.

Mr. Strong and another teacher had gone to the place mentioned in the anonymous communication only to find the den empty.

A general alarm was sent out, and the search for the missing captain of Company A was begun as recorded.  Captain Putnam also began to investigate on his private account, with results that were as surprising as they were dismaying.  He learned the several cadets had left camp early in the night and among them Ben Hurdy, Lew Flapp, Pender, and Jackson.  Without delay he summoned Ben Hurdy to his private tent and made the young cadet undergo a strict cross-examination.

At first Hurdy would not talk, but soon he became frightened and broke down utterly.  He told of the plot against Dick, and of how Flapp and the others had carried it out.

“I didn’t want to go into it,” he whined.  “But Flapp said he would thrash me if I didn’t do my share.  They wanted to get square with Captain Rover because he had won at the athletic contests and at the drill.”

“I see,” said Captain Putnam grimly, and then he ordered Ben Hurdy to keep absolutely silent until called on to speak.  “If you say a word now I’ll dismiss you at once,” he concluded.

When Dick arrived Captain Putnam saw to it that his blisters were dressed with care, and then he asked the eldest Rover to tell his whole story.

“I do not know as I can do that, Captain Putnam,” said the young captain, blushing.  “I don’t care to become a tale-bearer.”

“Did you leave camp of your own free will, Rover?”

“I did not, sir.”

“You were carried away to be hazed, then?”

“Yes, sir; but I would prefer not to speak of that part of my adventures.”

“Those who carried you off drugged you.”

“How do you know that?” asked Dick, in surprise.

“Never mind that now, Rover.  Did they drug you or not?”

“No, sir.”

“What!”

“They tried to drug me, but I threw the liquor over my shoulder when they weren’t looking.”

“Oh, I see,” and Captain Putnam smiled.  “They tried to trick you and you ended by tricking them, is that it?”

“That’s about the size of it, sir.  They thought I was in a stupor when they left me, but as soon as they were gone I began to shift for myself.  But I don’t understand how you know about this, Captain Putnam.”

“One of the party to this outrage has confessed, so I know all about it, Rover.  The leader, I believe, was Lew Flapp, and his main supporters were Pender, Rockley, and Jackson.”