"I don't know anything about them," answered the boy named Hickley.
"Brainard, do you know?"
"No, sir."
"Parkham?"
"I know they had a little set-to in the gymnasium, but that's all. The whole thing was a friendly bout, I guess."
"I am the best judge of that. It was a disgraceful fight. What have you to say, Griggs?"
"If you say it was disgraceful I suppose it was, sir. I thought it was only a friendly dispute —— "
"Stop! I want you to answer the original questions, yes, or no."
"No."
"No, what?"
"No, to both original questions."
"No, sir!" and Jasper Grinder stamped his foot.
"Oh! All right, sir. No, sir, to both questions, sir."
There was a titter at this, which caused Jasper Grinder to grow red in the face.
"Boys, be quiet!" he shouted. "If you do not be still I will keep all of you in to-morrow."
As this would have spoiled the chances for a good skate and some exciting races, the boys immediately subsided. Then the questioning went on until Dick Rover was reached.
"I don't know where Sam and Tubbs are now," said Dick. "Perhaps they are frozen stiff."
"Did you aid them in escaping from the stone cell and the storeroom?"
"No, sir."
"Have you seen them since I placed them there?"
"Yes, I have," answered Dick boldly, seeing it was useless to beat about the bush longer.
"Oh! Then you did aid them to escape?"
"Not from the stone cell and the storeroom. I met them after they had escaped."
"Where did you see them last?"
"I decline to answer that question."
"Decline!" thundered Jasper Grinder.
"I do, sir. As soon as Captain Putnam arrives I shall lay this whole matter before him, and learn if you have any authority for placing my brother in a place where he is liable to catch a cold which may give him pneumonia and be the cause of his death. As it is, my brother suffered a great deal, and so did Tubbs, and if they get sick from it you may be sure that you will be held legally accountable. It was an inhuman thing to do."
As Dick finished there was a murmur, and then a number of the students broke out into applause, while Tom clapped his hands as hard as he could. Jasper Grinder stood at his desk dumbstruck, with his face growing paler each instant.
"Silence! silence!" he exclaimed, when he could control his voice. "Silence, I say, or I will cane you all! This is — is most unseemly — it is — er — mutiny! Silence!"
"I mean just what I say, Mr. Grinder," went on Dick, when he could be heard. "You are master here, and we are bound to obey you, in certain things. But you shan't keep my brother in an icy room all night, and on a supper of stale bread and cold water. Such treatment would almost make a mule sick."
"Rover, will you be silent, or must I get the cane?" gasped Jasper Grinder, almost beside himself with rage.
"If you get your cane, sir, you won't hit me more than once with it."
"Won't I? We'll see who is master here."
"My gracious! Is he really going to try to cane you, Dick!" exclaimed Tom.
"I suppose he is," was the cool answer. "He is so angry he doesn't know what he is doing."
Rushing from the classroom Jasper Grinder presently reappeared, carrying a cane which looked as if it might hurt a good deal, if vigorously applied.
Tom could not hdp but grin. Dick was almost as tall as the school-teacher, and probably just as strong, and the idea of a caning appeared ridiculous in the extreme.
Caning was not allowed at Putnam Hall, but evidently Jasper Grinder meant to take matters in his own hands.
"Richard Rover, come up here," he thundered.
"What for, sir?"
"To receive the punishment you so richly deserve."
"Mr. Grinder, you haven't any right to cane me. It's against Captain Putnam's rules."
"I don't care for the rules — I mean, you have acted in such an outrageous manner that I must do whatever I think necessary to uphold law and order."
"I am willing to stand whatever punishment Captain Putnam sees fit to inflict. But I shall not take a caning from you."
"Won't you? We'll see."
As Jasper Grinder spoke lie leaped from the olatform and strode rapidly toward the spot where Dick was standing.
The eldest Rover did not budge, but remained where he was, eying the enraged school-teacher determinedly.
"Don't you dare to strike!" he said warningly, as the cane was raised over his head.
"I will!" cried Jasper Grinder, and was about to bring the cane down with all force when Tom caught it from behind and wrenched it from his grasp.
CHAPTER VI
NEWS OF AN OLD ENEMY
Dick had not intended that the cane should hit him. He was prepared to dodge. But he wanted to make certain that Jasper Grinder would really try to carry out his ill-advised threat.
"Hi! give me that cane!" cried the school-master, as he whirled around.
"I shall not," answered Tom, and began to run down one of the aisles to the door.
Instantly Jasper Grinder made after him. But the boys had gathered in a crowd, and it was with difficulty that the man could get through.
As Tom ran for one door Dick ran for another, and it was not long before both met in a hallway leading to the mess hall and the dormitories.
"Dick, what shall we do next?" questioned Tom. "We can't stay here, that's certain."
"We'll get out," answered Dick. "I think Mrs. Stanhope will keep us all night."
"And if she won't, I know the Lanings will," said Tom, with a grin.
"We must let Sam know," went on Dick. "He can go along. I shan't come back until Captain Putnam returns."
"Right you are."
Up the stairs they rushed, and into the dormitory where Sam and Tubbs were in hiding.
"Sam!" called Dick, and the youngest Rover at once appeared.
"What's up now? What are you in such a hurry for?"
"Get your overcoat and hat, and come on. We are going to the Stanhopes for the night. Here, Tubbs, is some supper," and Dick passed over what he had in the napkins, while Tom did the same.
"Thanks," said the rich boy. "But — but must I stay here alone?"
"I don't think we can take you along," answered Dick. "But you want to be careful. Old Grinder is as mad as a hornet. He was going to cane me for helping you two. Come, Sam, there is no time to waste. Tubbs, you had better let Fred Garrison know where you are. He's all right."
In a moment more Dick, Tom, and Sam were in their own room and putting on their heavy overcoats and their hats. They lost no time, and as they heard Jasper Grinder coming up one flight of stairs they ran down another pair leading into the kitchen.