arked
Fred.

"One thing is certain--Colonel Colby must have laid down the law pretty
severely to them; otherwise they would never have gotten out of this
school in such a hurry," came from Jack.

"I'm mighty glad I got that one crack in on Martell," remarked Fred.
"Some day I'll give that fellow a licking, big as he is," continued the
youngest of the Rover boys.

"The only fellow I'm sorry for is Codfish," came from Randy. "That poor
little rat looks about as miserable as any kid could look."

"He ought to be thankful that he wasn't kicked out with the others,"
said Spouter. "He certainly deserved it."

"He did," agreed Jack. "Just the same, now that Slugger and Nappy are
gone, if Codfish wants to turn over a new leaf and make a man of
himself, I'm not going to stand in his way."

Twenty-four hours had passed since the events recorded in the previous
chapter. They had been filled with both mystery and excitement for the
Rover boys and their chums. Only a little of what had taken place in
Colonel Colby's office had filtered out to the cadets, but it was enough
to show them that the master of the Hall had dealt severely with Slugger
and Nappy. Those two unworthies had come forth looking both cowed and
excited, and they had rushed up to their rooms to pack their belongings
without delay.

In the meanwhile, Codfish had come forth sobbing, and had been allowed
to go to his room, where he locked himself in and denied himself even to
Mrs. Crews, the matron who looked after the younger scholars.

"I--I don't want to see no--nobody!" Codfish had cried out. "Go away and
leave me alone! I--I didn't mean to do anything! It was Brown and
Martell made me do it!" and then he had burst into another fit of
weeping.

Both the Rover boys and their chums had wanted to see how the bully and
his crony would act after their interview with Colonel Colby. They met
Slugger and Nappy in the hall as they were on the point of leaving the
school, and some sharp words had passed. Nappy had threatened Fred, and
made a savage pass at him with his fist. In return, the youngest Rover
had landed on the other's chin, and sent Nappy staggering up against the
wall.

In the meanwhile, there had been a set-to between Slugger and Jack, and
although the oldest Rover boy was struck on the shoulder, he had had the
satisfaction of making the bully measure his length on his back. Then
the approach of Professor Brice, backed up by Captain Dale and Bob
N