is compositors had written it, he said. I said a few things myself."

"I imagine you did!" chuckled Dick. "Well, I am glad we have
settled this matter. We might not have known anything about it
only for a blunder made by a fellow who has not the sense to read
the News every week."

The editor looked puzzled and Percival explained briefly, Brooke
laughing and adding:

"That was very funny, accusing Sheldon of plagiarizing his own stuff.
I never heard anything quite so queer."

"And all on account of his not reading your paper," rejoined Percival
with a wink at Jack. "You should make an editorial of this, Mr.
Brooke."

"Thank you, I think maybe I will," replied the editor, beginning to
peck savagely at his typewriter, and the boys left the office.

When they returned to camp after doing a few errands they were met
at the landing by Billy Manners, who said with a grin:

"Well, it is settled. Pete Herring and Merritt have gone to Saratoga,
so we will not be bothered with them any longer."

"Just as I thought," said Jack.

CHAPTER XVIII

THE DEPARTURE OF THE BULLIES

Dr. Wise had had something to do with the going away of Herring and
Merritt, although the two bullies had already decided that the camp
on the river would not be a very pleasant place for them in view of
what had occurred in the matter of the prize poem.

While the boys were out on the river and in the woods the doctor
called Herring into his study, and looking at him fixedly through
his big black-rimmed spectacles, said slowly:

"Don't you think there are some very peculiar circumstances connected
with your discovery of Sheldon's supposed plagiarism, Herring? It
strikes me that there are."

Herring said nothing, but looked very surly, and the doctor went on.

"Does it not strike you as peculiar that you should have a week old
paper in your pocket at the very time we were to pronounce upon the
poems submitted by the students? And also that you had not noticed
these verses before when they were published in a town paper? You
can imitate different hand writings, can't you?" the doctor suddenly
broke off.

Herring flushed, but said nothing.

"You have never liked Sheldon," said the doctor, going on to another
side of the subject, "and have tried to injure him in many ways.
This is known to all the Hilltop boys. Would it not be natural,
therefore, that you would try to throw discredit on him at this time?"

"It would not do m