"I can see your finish, Fred," laughed his cousin. "If you stay here,
you'll want to be an officer with a sword, and with lots of gold lace."

"I don't know about that," answered the youngest Rover, seriously. "I
guess all the officers have to be big boys."

"Nonsense! Size has nothing to do with it. Why, some of the greatest
military men in the world have been very small. Look at Napoleon, for
instance."

"Well, I'll see about that later, Jack. Just now I'd rather get on the
track of that suitcase."

It did not take the two Rovers long to reach that part of the corridor
where was located the room formerly occupied by Nappy Martell. The door
was open several inches, and Fred and Jack saw that three boys were
present--Nappy, Slugger, and a small, round-faced youth with a
particularly broad mouth.

"That little chap must be the sneak Spouter mentioned--the boy they
call Codfish," whispered Jack.

"That was a good joke all right, Nappy," piped out the small cadet, as
the Rovers came closer. "A fine joke all right all right!"

"You keep your mouth shut about it, Codfish," retorted Nappy Martell,
quickly.

"Oh, I won't say a word, believe me!" returned the other quickly.

Just then Slugger Brown peered out into the hallway and saw the two
Rover boys. He looked somewhat startled, and immediately placed his
hand over Nappy Martell's mouth.

"I want to see you, Martell," cried Fred without hesitation. "I want to
know what you did with my suitcase."

"I don't know anything about your suitcase," growled the loudly dressed
youth in surly tones.

"Yes, you do! You took it; and I want you to return it," answered Fred,
boldly.

"See here! do you want a licking?" burst out the New York boy, as he
doubled up his fists. "You deserve one for the way you tripped me up in
that mud puddle. You say another word, and I'll give you what's coming
to you," and his manner was very threatening.

"No use of fighting here, Nappy," remonstrated Slugger Brown. "Keep it
until some time when you can meet him outside."

"I didn't come here to fight," answered Fred. "But I want my suitcase."

"I don't know anything about your suitcase. Who says I took it?" added
Nappy Martell with sudden suspicion.

"I say you took it. There wouldn't be anyone else here to play such a
trick on me. Now, you must hand it over!"

"You go on about your business!" roared the New York boy; and as Fred,
followed by Jack, attempted to enter the room, he