CHAPTER III

AN OLD ENEMY TURNS UP

“That was certainly an odd dream,” said Dick, after a short pause.  “I am sure I never want to meet Josiah Crabtree under such circumstances.”

“It was silly, Dick —­ I’d forget it if I was you.”

“And she never mentioned the man at any other time?”

“No.  But I am certain she is glad he has left for parts unknown.  I never, never, want to see him again,” and the girl shivered.

“Don’t be alarmed, Dora; I don’t think he will dare to show himself,” answered Dick, and on the sly gave her hand a tight squeeze.  They were warmer friends than ever since Dick had rescued her from those who had abducted her.

The kite-flying was now in “full blast,” as Sam expressed it, and the boys had all they could do to keep the various lines from becoming tangled up.  His own kite and Fred’s were side by side and for a long time it looked as if neither would mount above the other.

“Run her up, Fred!  You can win if you try!” cried several of the cadets.

“Play out a bit more, Sam; you haven’t given your kite all the slack she wants,” said others.  So the talk ran on, while each contestant did the best to make his kite mount higher.  In the meantime the wind kept increasing in violence, making each kite pull harder than ever.

“It’s a dandy for flying,” panted Tom, who was holding his kite with all the strength he possessed.  “Something must give way soon,” and something did give way.  It was the string he was holding, and as it snapped he went over on his back in such a comical fashion that all, even to the girls, had to laugh.

“Torn!  Tom!  What a sight!” burst out Nellie Laning.  “You should have brought a stronger cord.”

“If I had I’d a-gone up in the clouds,” answered Tom ruefully.  “That’s the last of that kite, I suppose; if I -”

“The string has caught on Sam’s kite!” interrupted Grace Laning.  “Oh, my!  See both of them going up!”

“Now you can win, Sam!” laughed Dora.  “Fred, your flying is nowhere now.”

“He didn’t calculate to fly one kite against two,” answered Fred.  “Hold on, Sam, where are you going?  The cliff is over in that direction!” he yelled suddenly.

“I —­ I know it!” came back the alarming answer.  “But I can’t stop myself!”

“He can’t stop himself!” repeated Dora.

“Oh, stop him somebody, before he goes over the cliff!”

“Let go of the line!” shouted Dick.  “Don’t go any closer to the cliff!”

“I —­ I can’t let go!  The line is fast around my wrist!” gasped poor Sam.  “Oh, dear, it’s cutting me like a knife!”

“He’s in a mess,” came from Frank.  “If he isn’t careful he’ll go over the cliff, as sure as he’s born!”

“Throw yourself down!” went on Dick, and, leaving his kite in Hans Mueller’s care, he ran after his brother.