m into trouble and that
they were not to blame."

"Oh, Jack! if you go back to Colby Hall by way of the town, I hope you
don't get into any trouble with those horrid fellows," said his
sister.

"Don't worry about that, Martha," answered her brother quickly. "I'm
not afraid of Slugger or Nappy either. They have got to behave
themselves; otherwise we may bring up one of the old charges against
them."

Of course the girls wanted to know more concerning what had happened
to the Rover boys while they were out on the lake, and they related
many of the particulars.

"And do you really think those two Germans that that Jed Kessler spoke
about set fire to the munition plant?" questioned Ruth.

"I don't know what to think, Ruth," answered Jack. "One thing is
certain: If the first explosions weren't accidental, then they must
have been due to some underhand work."

During the time the boys spent with the girls at the boathouse there
were no more explosions, and now the fire on the opposite shore of the
lake was dying out, while only a small part of the pall of
curious-colored smoke remained.

"I guess it's about over," was Randy's comment.

Feeling that those at Clearwater Hall would be safe, at least for the
time being, the Rovers decided to return to Colby Hall, knowing that
Colonel Colby and his assistants would be anxious concerning the
welfare of all the cadets.

Spouter and those with him had taken one automobile, but the other
remained, and, bidding the girls good-bye, the Rover boys jumped into
this and were soon off. Jack was at the wheel, and in spite of the
numerous machines on the road, for the blowing-up of the shell-loading
plant had caused great excitement for many miles around, he drove the
car with considerable speed in the direction of Haven Point.

"Let us stop at the town for a few minutes and find out, if we can,
just how bad this affair has been," said Fred.

"That's it!" returned Randy. "I'd like to know if anyone has been
killed or seriously hurt."

They stopped on the main street close to where were located a number
of the stores and also the moving-picture theater where the cadets had
first met Ruth Stevenson and her chums.

"It's a pretty bad affair," said one of the storekeepers, with whom in
the past the boys had done some trading. "I was just down to police
headquarters, and they say there that two workmen were killed and
about fifteen injured. It certainly is a rascally piece of bus