“I’ll make a fresh start,” came from Powell, and he warbled: 

“Old Putnam Hall I do adore,
And love the place as ne’er before,
The campus, boathouse, fishing pier—­
The roads that run from far and near—­
Each classroom is a hallowed spot,
Though many lessons are forgot! 
The dormitories, bright and clean—­
No better rooms were ever seen! 
The mess-room, where we gathered oft—­”

“To eat our eggs both hard and soft!”

finished up Tom, and then went on: 

“The prison wherein I was cast,
And thought that day would be my last,
The teachers sweet and the teachers sour,
And the feasts we held at the midnight hour,
The games of ball we lost and won,
And the jubilees!  What lots of fun! 
And then the skating on the ice—­”

“When we broke in, ’twas not so nice:” 

interrupted George Granbury, referring to a calamity the particulars of which have already been related in “The Rover Boys in the Mountains.”  And then Songbird Powell took up the strain once more: 

“I love each corner and each nook,
I love the lake and love the brook,
I love the cedars waving high—­”

“And love the dinners with mince pie,”

interrupted Tom once more, and continued: 

“In fact, I love it one and all,
There is no spot like Putnam Hall!”

And then, with one accord, all standing around joined in the academy cheer: 

“Zip, boom, bang!  Ding, dong!  Ding, dong!  Bang!  Hurrah for Putnam Hall!” Then the fire was stirred up, more boxes and barrels piled on top, and the cadets danced around more wildly than ever.  They were allowed to keep up the fun until midnight, when all were so tired that further sport was out of the question, and all went sound asleep.

Bright and early the next morning the cadets assembled for their last breakfast in the mess-room.  The parade was dispensed with, for some had to leave by the early boat on the lake in order to make the proper connections.  Many were the handshakings and the kind words of farewell.  Some of the students had graduated and were not to come back.  Of these a few were bound for college, while others were going into various lines of business.

“We shall never forget our days at Putnam .Hall!” said more than one.

“And I shall never forget you, boys,” answered Captain Putnam.  “I wish all of you the best of success in life.”

It was not until ten o’clock that the three Rover boys left for Cedarville in the big school stage.  As was usual, Peleg Snuggers drove the turnout, which was filled to overflowing with cadets.  Behind the stage came a big wagon, heavily loaded with trunks and boxes.

“Now, young gents, no cutting up,” pleaded the general-utility man.  “The hosses won’t stand it, nowhow!”

“That’s an old scare, Peleg,” replied Tom.  He had a tin horn and gave a loud blast.  “That will let folks know we are coming.”  And then a dozen other horns sounded out, while some of the cadets began to sing.