“Ha!  So he is complaining, eh?  Well, I’ll attend to him.  You may go.”

“Are you going to give him his breakfast?”

“Yes—­when he deserves it—­not before.”

“How about keeping him in such a cold room?”

“That is my affair.”

“If he gets sick will you take the blame?”

“Major Ruddy, I am not here to be questioned by you!” snapped the dictatorial teacher.

“Pepper belongs to my command and he is my personal friend.  I don’t think you have any right to starve him and keep him in a cold room in such weather as this.  I shall complain to Captain Putnam as soon as he gets back, and, in the meantime, complain to Mr. Strong.”

“I am in charge while Captain Putnam is away.”

“Then, if Pepper takes cold from this, you’ll be to blame, and you’ll foot the doctor’s bill,” answered Jack, and walked away.

He spoke so sharply that Josiah Crabtree became worried, and, a little later, Pepper was served with a cup of black coffee and several slices of bread without butter.  It was a meager meal, but it was better than nothing, and The Imp disposed of all there was of it.  Then a servant appeared with a couple of blankets used by the cadets when in camp.

“You can wrap yourself in these if you are cold, so Mr. Crabtree says,” said the servant.  And he went out again, locking the door as before.

“Humph!  Must take me for an Indian!” muttered Pepper.  Nevertheless, he wrapped the blankets around him and then felt considerably warmer.

The morning passed slowly, and at noon Pepper was given a bowl of soup and several additional slices of unbuttered bread.  The soup was hot and good, and he wished there was more of it.

“Mr. Crabtree says that is all you can have,” said the waiter who served him.

“Crabbed Crabtree!” muttered Pepper, and said no more.

In the middle of the afternoon, directly after school was over, Josiah Crabtree appeared.  This time he was accompanied by George Strong.

“Ditmore, we have come to have a talk with you!” cried Crabtree.  “And let me say at the start that I want the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, as they say in court.”

“Are you going to try me for my life?” demanded The Imp.

“I am going to try you on a very serious charge,” snapped Josiah Crabtree.

“Do not be too hasty, Mr. Crabtree,” put in George Strong, mildly.

“Mr. Crabtree, if you want to know about the teeth, let me confess that I took them and hung them up where they were found,” said Pepper.

“Ha! so you are willing to confess, eh?”

“I am.  I did it for fun—­but I suppose you don’t see the fun,” added Pepper, dryly, so dryly in fact that George Strong had to turn away to hide a sudden smile.

“It was a low, contemptible trick!” returned Josiah Crabtree.  “But I must say I do not think it quite as bad as your other doings.”