oven!"

He had been told of the strange noises heard in the cavern at the bay
front, and had been much interested. The boys had also spoken to
Captain Dale, who had promised an investigation.

When the hour came for the cadets to retire the sky was so overcast
that not a star was showing. A breeze had sprung up, and this was
growing brisker every minute.

"I think we are in for a storm, and a good big blow with it,"
announced Captain Dale. And then he told Major Ralph Mason to give
orders that all the tent fastenings should be looked to.

"I'm sure our tent is down tight enough," announced Randy, after he
and his tent-mates had made an investigation.

"Well, you want to be sure of it," remarked Fred, who was making the
round of the tents. "You don't want that canvas to be sailing skyward
or out into the bay."

As was usual with them, Gabe Werner and Bill Glutts growled when
ordered to look to the fastenings of the tent they and their cronies
occupied. But as the wind increased Glutts pulled Gabe to one side and
whispered something into his ear.

"All right--I'm with you," answered Werner promptly. "Let's do it at
once. Got your pocketknife handy?"

"Yes. Have you?"

"I have. And it's as sharp as a razor. All we'll have to do is to cut
the ropes about half way through. The wind will do the rest,"
announced Gabe gleefully.

"What's the matter with fixing up both tents?" went on the wholesale
butcher's son. "You can slide over to the officers' quarters while I
attend to the tent down in the Company C line."

"All right! But hurry up. And come back as soon as you're through,"
cautioned Werner.

He reached the vicinity of the tent occupied by Jack and Fred just as
the first of the rain drops began to come down. The wind was now
blowing half a gale, and the canvases of the encampment were flapping
and slapping loudly.

Werner had his pocketknife open, and it did not take him long to begin
operations. Five of the ropes which held the tent to the pegs were all
but severed, and then he began work on the next.

"Stop that! What do you mean, you rascal?"

Gabe Werner turned, and as he straightened up he found himself face to
face with Jack. The young captain had been on an errand to the next
tent, and had seen the rascally ex-lieutenant in the darkness more by
chance than by anything else.

"What's the matter out there?" called Fred from the interior of the
tent.

"Here is Gabe Werner! He's cutting the rope