“Battalion, attention!” came firmly from Major Jack Ruddy, and all the young soldiers stiffened up in their places.

He ran his eyes over the two companies, to see that every cadet was “toeing the mark.”  He did not see Reff Ritter.

“Present arms!  Carry arms!  Shoulder arms!” came the various commands, and the cadets made the movements with their guns.  The drilling was so well done that Captain Putnam, who always looked on, nodded in approval.

“By column of fours, forward march!” came the next command, and then the drums struck up once more, the fifes joined in, and four abreast the cadets moved off, down the parade ground.  They marched up and down several times, and executed various movements, and then marched into the mess-hall, or dining-room, put away their guns, and took their seats.

“Ritter isn’t here,” whispered Pepper to Jack.

“So I see,” was the reply.

“I’ll bet he caught it from Captain Putnam,” put in Dale.

“Silence at the table!” came harshly from Josiah Crabtree.  “I want less talking at meals!”

“My, but he’s a cheerful beggar!” muttered Dale.

“Imagine him at the head of the school,” observed Pepper.

“Ditmore, did you hear me?” snarled the teacher.  “I want you to keep quiet.”

“All right, Mr. Crabtree; sorry I spoke,” answered The Imp, cheerfully.

“Then remember to keep your mouth closed after this.”

“Ahem! how am I to eat if I keep my mouth closed?” asked Pepper, innocently.

“Ha!  I want none of your jokes, Ditmore!  Leave the table!” thundered Josiah Crabtree.

“I’m not through yet.”

“Never mind, leave the table at once!” And the teacher glared at Pepper as if to eat him up.

“Just my luck!” muttered The Imp, and got up.

“Here’s a sandwich for you,” whispered Dale, who sat near, and he passed over two slices of bread with some cold meat between.

“And here’s a piece of cake,” added Jack, and slid it along, under the edge of the table.  Then Pepper got up and left the room.  He did not know where to go and so walked slowly in the direction of the boathouse.

As he neared the building, he saw a boy come out of the structure and hurry across the float to where the Alice and the Ajax were tied up.  The boy was Reff Ritter.

The bully of the school was in a great rage.  Captain Putnam had given him a stern lecture and told him if he did not behave in the future he would be dismissed from the school.  The captain had also cut him off from all holidays up to Christmas, and added that he must expect to take no part in Putnam Hall athletics.  The latter was the hardest blow of all, for Ritter had hoped that Fall to make the football team.

“Now, what is he up to?” Pepper asked himself, and stuffing the napkin that held the cake and sandwich into his pocket, he moved forward on a run.