n hour longer easily."

"I saw that you were beginning to yawn, and I must confess that I felt
a bit drowsy myself."

"We won't find out anything about the watch through that girl, Jack,"
said Percival a little later. "Our plans of being cautious and all
that did not amount to anything."

"No, and we are as much in the dark as before regarding the real
owner. We may never know who he is, Dick."

"It looks like that," said Dick.

CHAPTER XI

THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG

As the boys were nearing the camp on their way back they suddenly
heard the sound of angry voices, and Percival whispered:

"Wait a minute, Jack. Some of the boys are having a quarrel, and I
believe I know who they are."

"I told you to let my boat alone, you idiot!" the boys heard Herring
say just ahead of them.

They were in the woods adjoining the camp, and the two quarreling
boys were very close to them.

"Well, I didn't hurt it!" they heard Merritt say angrily. "You
are making a lot of fuss over an old tub that isn't any good anyhow.
Look how little Smith beat us this afternoon, and he the smallest
boy in the Academy. I didn't hurt your boat."

"I say you did, and I told you not to go out with it. You've busted
the engine."

"No, I didn't. It wasn't any good anyhow. You tried to put Sheldon's
boat out of business, but you couldn't."

"You had as much to do with that as I did!" sputtered Herring.

"Well, you started it, same as you started telling that detective
that Sheldon had a bad name in the Academy, and---"

"Shut up! Somebody will hear you. You had as much to do with
that as-----"

Percival suddenly let out a great bellow, such as a calf in search
of its mother might make.

"Gracious! what's that?" cried Herring in alarm, making a dash for
the camp, the lights of which could be plainly seen.

Merritt followed in hot haste, frightened out of his wits, and
Percival broke into a hearty laugh, not caring if the two conspirators
heard him or not, and greatly enjoying their terror.

They may have done so, but they did not pause until they reached the
camp, and were challenged by the sentry.

"That's good!" laughed Dick. "And we have found out something as
well. Now we know who it was who tried to put your boat out of
commission. I have always suspected those rascals of having had
something to do with it, and now I am certain."

"Yes, but that was not as bad as-----"

"As trying to make you out a bad char