t; but I feel
confident I can check it," and he left some medicine and some plasters.

As soon as the doctor was gone Dick announced his intention of returning
to Putnam Academy. "The captain has got back, and I want to lay the
whole case before him, and do it, too while Sam is still sick."

"Shall I go along?" asked Tom.

"No, I'll go alone. They may need you here on Sam's account."

Dick was soon on the way, riding another horse, for the Stanhopes now
kept two. He had had a fine dinner, and felt in the best of spirits,
despite the disagreeable task before him. He did not doubt for a moment
but that Captain Putnam would side with him and condemn the actions of
Jasper Grinder.

He was still out of sight of the Hall when he saw Peleg Snuggers riding
toward him in the captain's cutter.

"Is that you, Master Rover!" sang out the man of all work. "Where are
your brothers?"

"Safe, Snuggers. Has the captain got back?"

"Yes--got in a couple of hours ago."

"Has he said anything about our going away?"

"Said anything? Just guess he has. Why, the whole school is so upset
nobody knows what he is doing. Do you know what happened after you and
your brothers ran away?"

"Of course I don't. What did happen?"

"Mr. Grinder had a terrible row with more than a dozen of the boys, who
sided with what you had done. He got awfully mad at them, and was going
to cane the lot, when all of a sudden he fell down in a fit, just like
he was going to die, and we had to work over him most an hour before we
could bring him around."

CHAPTER VIII.

JASPER GRINDER IS DISMISSED.

Dick was greatly surprised over the news which Peleg Snuggers conveyed
to him. He knew that Jasper Grinder was an intensely passionate man when
aroused, as on the occasion of the attempted caning, but he had not
imagined that the man would fall into a fit while in such a condition.

"Did he come out of the fit all right?" he questioned soberly.

"When he came around he was as weak as a rag, and I and one of the big
boys had to help him up to his room. He stayed there the rest of the
evening, and the other teachers had to take charge."

"What do they say about the matter?"

"As soon as the captain got back all of 'em got in the private office
and held a long talk. Then the captain had a talk with Mr. Grinder, and
after that the captain sent me off to look for you. He said you must be
at the Lanings, or at Mrs. Stanhope's, or else somewhere in Ce