r--only a bit of fun," stammered Werner, not
knowing what else to say. "And Jack Rover had no right to pitch into
me the way he did!"

"I had a perfect right to do so, Professor Brice," announced Jack. "If
I wanted to say more--- But I won't do it now," he added. "I'll make a
report to you in private."

By this time the camp was in an uproar, for down the line where
Company C was located there had been another rumpus. Gif, going out on
guard duty, had caught sight of Bill Glutts just as the latter had cut
two of the ropes to the tent occupied by him and Spouter and the
twins. Gif had treated the wholesale butcher's son rather roughly, and
Glutts had finally yelled for mercy, bringing out a crowd of twenty or
thirty, including the twins.

"This is a despicable piece of business, Werner," said Professor Brice
sternly. "I will at once report the matter to Captain Dale, who, as
you know, is in authority in this camp. Come along with me."

Captain Dale had been down to the shore of the bay, to make certain
that there was no danger of the tents which were used for bath houses
being blown away. He soon came up and looked closely at the ropes
which Werner had partly severed.

"I don't like this sort of thing at all," he said to the
ex-lieutenant. "If that tent had come down while those inside were
asleep somebody might have been seriously injured. More than that,
nobody would care to be without shelter on such a night as this, and
with all their possessions getting wet. You will report to the
corporal of the guard at once." Then Captain Dale passed on to where
the others were having trouble with Glutts, and he was also ordered to
report to the guard.

In the meanwhile, as the storm seemed to be increasing, Captain Dale
gave orders that the fastenings of every tent should be inspected
thoroughly and extra ropes and pegs should be put down wherever
necessary. He did not want any of the school property damaged.

"Gee, we'll catch it for this!" growled Bill Glutts, when he and
Werner had been placed in a small wooden shanty, designated a
guardhouse. "I suppose they'll make us do all sorts of disagreeable
things as a punishment."

"I won't stand for it!" stormed Werner, whose nose was still bleeding
from the blow Jack had dealt. "They can't make me the laughingstock
of this camp."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going home," announced the ex-lieutenant.

And that is what he did, stealing away from the camp early in