“I want none of your impudence, Ditmore.”

“Oh, dear, was I impudent?” murmured The Imp.  “I didn’t know it.  I beg ten thousand pardons—­yes, a million, if you’d rather, sir.”

“Be quiet, you—­you forward boy!  Something was going on in here!  If I find out what it was, I shall punish all of you!” And having thus delivered himself, Josiah Crabtree strode out of the dormitory, banging the door after him.

“Isn’t he an angel!” murmured Andy.

“The sweetest teacher that ever grew!” returned Pepper.

“I’d like to know how long Captain Putnam will put up with him,” was Jack’s comment.

“I don’t believe it will be very long,” answered Fred.

The cadets finished their dressing and hurried below.  On account of the storm the morning drill was held in the gymnasium, and then the young soldiers marched to the mess-room.  On the way several could not resist the temptation to pick up some snow and throw it at each other.

“Hi, you stop that!” roared Reff Ritter, as a snowball took him in the neck.  “Who threw that?” he demanded; but nobody answered him.  “I believe it was you, Ditmore!” he went on, turning an ugly look on Pepper.

“That’s one for tampering with our bicycles, Ritter,” retorted Pepper.

It was a chance shot, taken on the spur of the moment, but it told.  Reff Ritter started and turned pale.

“Who—­er—­told you I—­er—­tampered with your bicycles?” he stammered.

“Never mind who told me, Ritter.  We are going to get square with you, and don’t you forget it.”

“Who said I touched ’em?” grumbled the bully.

“Never mind about that.”

“You are trying to corner me, that what’s you are up to!” grumbled Ritter.  “But you shan’t do it!  I never touched your wheels, and you can’t prove that I did.  Now don’t you throw any more snowballs at me, or I’ll report you.”  And then Ritter hurried into the mess-room as fast as he could.

Pepper, Jack and Andy looked at each other.

“He is guilty, I know it!” said Pepper firmly.

“I believe you,” answered the young major; and Andy nodded his head to show that he agreed with his chums.

CHAPTER XV

THE SNOWBALL BATTLE

“Now then, fellows, for the greatest snowball battle of the age!”

“Here is where Company A smothers Company B!”

“Rats!  You mean that Company B will bury Company A out of sight!”

“Hi, Major Ruddy!  What side are you going on?” queried Bart Conners, who still commanded Company B.

“He is coming on our side!” answered Henry Lee, the captain of the other company.

“Well, I can’t fight on both sides,” answered the young major with a laugh.

“Go with the company that wins!” suggested Pepper, with a grin.

“Toss up a cent for it,” suggested Andy.