Let me add a few words more and then bring this story of life in campto a conclusion.
On the day following Dick's return to camp Captain Putnam summoned LewFlapp, Pender, Rockley, and Jackson before him.
"I presume you know why I have sent for you," said the captain briefly."Since the disappearance of Captain Rover I have been making aninvestigation. Rover himself would not talk, but others have spoken,and Rover has not denied the truth. All of you have been guilty of suchserious misconduct that to overlook it would be almost criminal on mypart."
"What have I done?" asked Lew Flapp brazenly.
"You have earned your dismissal from Putnam Hall, Flapp, and you leavethis camp as soon as arrangements can be made."
"Going to fire me out, eh?"
"You are dismissed. I will not allow such a boy as you to mingle longerwith the rest of my pupils."
"What are you going to do with the others? I wasn't to blame alone."
"Pender, Rockley, and Jackson shall go, too. The others, includingHurdy, shall have another chance, for I believe they were dragged intothe affair unwillingly by you and your particular cronies."
"If we have got to go, don't let's listen to any more gas," growledRockley, and stalked away with a very white face, followed by Flapp.Pender and Jackson pleaded for another chance, but Captain Putnam wouldnot listen, and in the end the evil-minded cadets had to leave theschool, never to return.
"Putnam Hall is well rid of that crowd," said Songbird Powell, and themajority of the students agreed with him.
Munro Staton, the local constable, was much chagrined to think that hehad not had a hand in finding Arnold Baxter, and he at once set out tolocate Dan. But Dan Baxter knew enough to leave the vicinity, and thatwas the last heard of him for some time.
Through the pawn tickets given to Dick, Mr. Anderson Rover recoveredthe spoons, napkin rings and other things taken from the homestead byArnold Baxter. Mr. Rover visited Baxter before the latter was returnedto the hospital from which he had escaped.
"I believe the man really intends to reform," said Anderson Roverafterwards. "But he is in a bad condition physically and may die beforehis term of imprisonment is at an end."
"I hope he lives," said Sam. "I'd like to see him lead an upright,honest life."
"I don't think we'll be bothered much with Dan Baxter after this," saidTom, but he was mistaken, Dan Baxter bothered them a great deal, and sodid Lew Flapp, and how will be told in the next volume of this series,to be entitled, "The Rover Boys on the River; Or, The Search for theMissing Houseboat," in which we shall meet our old friends in a seriesof adventures as interesting as those already related.
As was the custom at Putnam Hall the encampment came to an end on theFourth of July. This was a gala day for the cadets and they wereallowed to invite both friends and relatives to the affair.
The Rover boys had the Statons over and also had their father and theirUncle Randolph and Aunt Martha participate.
"Never saw such a time in my life!" declared Aunt Martha. "Music andmarching, and such fireworks! And such a spread out under the trees! Nowonder our boys like to go to Putnam Hall."
"It's a good place for them," came from the father of the boys. "It ismaking good men of them."
After the fireworks big bonfires were lit, and the cadets were allowedto do pretty much as they pleased. As they gathered around the largestof the fires all joined hands in a big circle, and it was Tom whostarted the Putnam Hall cheer:
"Zip, boom, bang! Ding, dong! Ding, dong! Boom, bang, bang! Hurrah forPutnam Hall!"
"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" came from all sides; and here let us saygood-by.
The Rover Boys in Camp; or, The Rivals of Pine Island Page 31