“Hullo, you fellers!” came from back of the boathouse. “Is it yerselves that’s afther wantin’ company, I don’t know? If yez do, it’s meself will be afther comin’ along.”
“Hullo, Emerald!” returned Jack. “Yes, come on if you wish – there is room enough.”
“It’s meself that would loike to learn how to row,” said Joseph Hogan, as he stepped into the craft. He was a pleasant-faced Irish lad, who had come to Putnam Hall on the day the institution opened.
“All right, Emerald, we’ll give you lessons,” came from Andy Snow. “Wait till we get out on the lake.”
The craft was shoved off, and Jack and Andy seated themselves at the oars. Soon they were gliding over the surface of Cayuga Lake in fine style.
“Sure, an’ it looks aisy enough,” said Hogan.
“It is easy – after you know how,” answered Andy. “By the way,” he went on to Jack, “are you going in for that boat race next week?”
“Yes, and so is Pepper.”
“Good enough. I hope you both win.”
As soon as they were well out on the lake both boys stopped rowing, and allowed Joseph Hogan to take a pair of the oars.
“Now, take hold this way,” said Andy Snow, “and pull like this.”
The Irish lad tried. At first his blades slipped quite frequently, and once he splashed some water into the craft.
“Look out!” cried Jack. “Emerald, we’ve had all the bath we want.”
“Sure, an’ I didn’t mane to wet yez,” was the answer. “The oars schlipped before I knew it!”
In a few minutes the Irish boy was doing better, and they turned down the lake. As they did this they noticed a small sailing boat approaching.
“There’s that craft again!” cried Jack.
“What craft is that, Jack?”
“Oh, I forgot, Andy. It’s a sloop Pepper and I saw day before yesterday. We thought the fellows on board acted queerly.”
“In what way?”
“They sailed up and down the shore at least ten times, as if they were on the lookout for something or somebody.”
“Who was on board?”
“Two men. I tried to catch a good look at their faces, but they wouldn’t give me a chance.”
“It’s certainly queer they should sail up and down here,” was Andy’s comment. “Did they come from Cedarville?”
“I don’t know.”
By this time the strange sloop was close at hand. The same two men were in command, but both kept their faces turned away as the rowboat glided by.
“Did you notice how they kept their faces hidden?” queried Jack.
“Sure, I did that,” answered Hogan. “B’ys, they are up to some thrick.”
“It certainly is strange,” said Andy, thoughtfully. “See, they are turning back once more.”
“Perhaps they know some of the cadets, and would like to meet them.”
“More than likely they want to steal some of our boats.”
The sloop turned again on her course, and it was not long before both craft were only a short distance apart.
“I’m going to hail them, and learn what they have to say for themselves,” whispered Jack.
“Do it,” answered Andy.
“Sloop ahoy!”
At first there was no reply to this shout. Jack repeated the call, and Andy brought the rowboat still closer.
“What do you want?” growled one of the men on the sloop, finally.
“Fine day,” said Jack, brightly.
To this there was no answer.
“Looking for anybody around here?” came from Andy.
“No.”
“Saw you cruising around here day before yesterday, didn’t I?” continued Jack.
“Maybe you did. We’ve been out on the lake quite some the past week,” answered the second man.
“Thought, if you were looking for somebody, I might help you.”
“No, you can’t help us,” growled the one who had first spoken.
“Do you belong at Putnam Hall?” questioned the other occupant of the sloop.
“Sure, we do that,” answered Hogan.
“Got many pupils there now?”
“Forty or fifty so far,” said Jack.
“Humph! How many teachers?”
“Two regular teachers, besides Captain Putnam. Then we have others for French, and German, and music.”
“Who are the regular teachers?”
“Mr. Crabtree and Mr. Strong.”
“Do they stay there all the time?”
“Yes.”
“It must grow rather monotonous for them.”
“Oh, we try to make it lively enough.”
“Don’t they ever go to town, or go boating?”
“Of course. Mr. Strong is quite an oarsman,” came from Andy, who had been out with the second assistant on more than one occasion.
At this announcement both of the men exchanged glances.
“You can come ashore and look at the school if you wish,” said Jack.
“No, thank you, we don’t care to do so,” was the hasty answer; and a moment later the sloop veered off, and was soon out of speaking distance.
“Well, they are a queer pair and no mistake,” murmured Jack. “Did you notice how one kept his hand over his forehead?”
“And how the other had his cap pulled far down over his eyes,” added Andy.
“Sure, an nayther of ’em looked roight sharp to me,” put in Hogan. “I’d not like to be spendin’ much toime in their company.”
“I believe they are up to something,” said Jack. “I’d like to know what it is.”
“Perhaps we’ll find out later,” answered Andy. And they did find out, in a manner that was as thrilling as it was astonishing.
CHAPTER III
A CASE OF BRIBERY
When the boys got back to the boathouse they found Pepper Ditmore awaiting them.
“Dashed off that bit of writing as soon as I could,” said he. “My, but wasn’t it mean of old Crabtree to make me do it! But wait, I’ll get square on him!”
“Pep, we met that strange sloop again,” said Jack, and told of what had been said.
“There’s a mystery there, that’s certain,” answered Pepper. “Perhaps we had better report to Captain Putnam.”
“It won’t do any harm.”
“Then come on now. We’ve got ten minutes before parade.”
Captain Putnam’s office was a finely furnished apartment, just off the main classroom. They found the master of the school engaged in writing a letter.
“Well, young gentlemen, what can I do for you?” he said cheerily as they entered.
“We’ve got something to tell you, sir,” they answered, and then Jack quietly related their