When Reff Ritter heard about the accidents he shrugged his shoulders and tossed his head.

“That’s what they get for crowding us out of the carryall,” he said to Coulter and Paxton, who roomed with him.

“Yes, and it serves ’em right,” grumbled Coulter.

“That’s what!” chimed in Paxton.

CHAPTER V

THE FIGHT IN THE GYMNASIUM

It was not until two days later that Andy Snow felt like himself again.  No bones had been broken, but the acrobatic youth had received a shaking up that was severe.

So far he had not been told of his loss, and when he asked for his belongings he was much depressed by the news.

“Couldn’t find them anywhere?” he repeated, to Pepper.  “Oh, are you sure you made a good search?”

“We certainly did, Andy,” returned Pepper.  “We went back the next day, early in the morning.”

“And you didn’t find a thing?”

“Only this button and lead pencil, and this buckle.”

“The pencil is mine, but not the button and the buckle.”  Andy heaved a sigh.  “Then I am out my watch and chain, the stickpin, and eight dollars!  Was there ever such luck!”

“Andy, was anybody near you when you had the tumble?” asked Pepper.

“Near me?  Why, yes, there was a man on the road just ahead of me!  I had forgotten all about it until now.”

“Who was he?”

“I don’t know.  A tall fellow, with a thin, leathery face.”

“A farmer?”

“No, he looked more like a city man.  He had on a regular sack suit and a derby hat.”

“I was thinking that possibly somebody robbed you while you were unconscious.”

“Perhaps that is so, Pep.  I’d like to see that man.”

“You never saw him before?”

“Not that I can remember.”

“Would you know him if you saw him again?

“I don’t know about that.  I didn’t have much time to look at him.  I was busy trying to escape being hit by the tree branches.”

“You must have been lying on the road five or ten minutes before we found you,” pursued Pepper.  “If that stranger was a rascal he would have had plenty of time to go through your pockets.  I don’t see how riding could make you lose all those things at once.”

“If he robbed me, I’d like to get hold of him,” cried Andy.

“More than likely, if he did rob you, he’ll take good care to keep out of your reach.”

“What of the horse?  Did they catch him?”

“Not yet.  Most likely he left the road after he got tired of running and wandered into the woods.  He was a valuable animal and Captain Putnam is worried about him.”

“Will he hold me for that loss?”

“I don’t think so—­you didn’t run away with him—­he ran away with you.”

The report of the loss of Andy’s valuables was thoroughly circulated around Putnam Hall and Cedarville, and a reward of ten dollars for the return of the things was posted.