“News from home.”
“From your dad?” questioned Randy.
“Exactly.”
“What has he done now—bought you an automobile?”questioned Gif.
“Better than that!”
“For goodness’ sake, spill out what you’ve got to say!” returned Fred, in exasperation.
“When we went to Cedar Lodge on our grand hunt we were Gif’s guests,” resumed Spouter.“This summer the tables are to be turned, and all of you are to be the guests of yours truly.”
“Gee, that sounds interesting, Spouter!” cried Randy.
“Where do we go and when?” questioned his twin.
“You’re to go just as soon as school shuts down and you can get ready.”
“And where to?” questioned Jack curiously.
“Ha! that’s the deep, dark and delightful secret,”returned Spouter. “You’re all to be my guests, and I’ll promise you the time of your lives. Oh, boys, but this is going to be something great!”And the cadet playfully pounded one and another on the shoulder with his fist.
“But how can we go if we don’t know where we’re going?” asked Fred.
“You’ll know, Fred, before you’re on the way,”was the mysterious answer. “And, believe me, after you’ve found out you won’t want to turn back.”
“What! do you mean you’re not going to tell us where we’re going?” demanded Jack, in astonishment.
“Exactly, Jack. That’s going to be my little secret until this school shuts up,” and Spouter folded his arms calmly and grinned at all his chums.
They looked at him in blank amazement. This was a proceeding that had never happened before. Suddenly Gif made a dash forward.
“Let’s pound it out of him!”
“That’s the talk! We’ll make him tell!”
“Pull him down and sit on him!”
“Pull off his shoes and tickle his feet! He’s got to tell!”
“Poke him in the ribs!”
“He got a letter this morning. I’ll bet the news is in that!” shouted Gif. “It’s in his pocket now!”
All attempted to pounce upon Spouter, but he was too quick for them, and, dashing across the room, he shot into Fred’s bedroom, banging the door after him. Then, as the others followed, he ran out into the corridor and then sped for his own room, where he locked the door behind him. Then he hid the letter in a place where he was sure none of his chums would find it.
“Well, this takes the bakery!” announced Randy, after all of them had pounded on Spouter’s door in vain. “What do you suppose it means?”
“It’s simple enough,” remarked Jack. “Spouter is going to invite us on some sort of outing this summer, but he doesn’t want to tell us yet what sort it’s to be.”
“He spoke about mountains and rivers and horseback riding,” said Randy. “That looks like some sort of outdoor affair,” and his eyes glistened.
“Come on out, Spouter, and let us love you a little,” called Fred through the keyhole.
“You go on down and I’ll meet you downstairs,”was the reply. “And remember, you’re not to know another word about this until vacation comes.”
“Going to take us away in a submarine, Spouter?” demanded Andy.
“No, he’s going to take us in an airship to the south pole,” declared his twin.
“Never mind where I’m going to take you,”answered Spouter. “You just keep calm until vacation time comes, and then you’ll learn fast enough in what direction you’re going to travel. And, believe me, we’ll have some outing, or else I’ll miss my guess.”
And with this statement the Rover boys and Gif had to be content.
CHAPTER XI
THE ELECTION FOR OFFICERS
“Company attention! Shoulder arms! Forward march!”
Boom! Boom! Boom, boom, boom!
The drums rang out clearly on the morning air and the Colby Hall battalion swung into line on a march that carried it around the school buildings and then to the lake shore. Here Colonel Colby and Captain Dale inspected the three companies. Then the retiring major, Ralph Mason, was called on for a little speech which brought forth many cheers, and after this the command was dismissed.
It was the day for the election, and there was to be no school session until the afternoon.
At the last election there had been a total of votes cast. But now there were one hundred and twenty-five cadets at the institution. There had been some talk of organizing a new command to be known as Company D, but so far this had not materialized.
As was the custom, the election was held in the main hall of the school and was presided over by Captain Dale and Professor Brice.
“I see they expect a hundred and twenty-five votes,” remarked Randy. “That means sixty-three will be necessary to a choice.”
“Well, I’m sure Jack will get at least forty on the first vote,” returned his brother.
“I hope he gets the whole sixty-three,” put in Dan Soppinger. Dan had once run for a captaincy, but had dropped out and turned most of his attention to athletics.
As at other elections, it was decided by Colonel Colby that each officer should be voted for separately.
“We’ll try for a new major first,” announced the head of the Hall.
The ballot box was placed on the table, and after a short intermission during which there was some very active electioneering among the various groups assembled, a bell rang and the cadets were formed in one long line and told to march up and deposit their ballots in the box.
It must be admitted that Jack was rather anxious, although he did his best to conceal it. He smiled at Captain Glasby, who smiled back. Then he smiled at Lieutenant Harkness, but that under-officer only favored him with a scowl.
“Harkness will never win anything with that look on his face,” was Gif’s comment, as he noticed the scowl. “The fellows like an officer who can take things pleasantly.”
It did not take the cadets long to vote, and as soon as all of the ballots had been cast Captain Dale, assisted by Professor Brice, began to tabulate the vote. In less than ten minutes they had finished. Then a bell rang and Captain Dale came forward to read the result.
“Total number of votes cast: 125
Necessary to a choice: 63
Louis Glasby has: 51
Jack Rover has: 50
Darrell Harkness has: 24”
“What do you know about that!” exclaimed Fred. “Jack and Glasby are within one vote of each other!”
“I’ll say that’s getting pretty close,” answered Randy.
“As no cadet has received the number of votes necessary to a choice, I will give the school a recess for fifteen minutes. Then we will vote again—for the same cadets or for new ones if you feel so inclined.”
After this brief announcement by Captain Dale came a hum of voices and there was some strenuous electioneering in all parts of the hall and also in the corridors and out on the campus.
“Glasby is stronger than I thought he was,”remarked Gif to Jack. “We’ll have to do some tall work to overcome his vote.”
“I think we can get some of the Harkness fellows to come over to us,” put in Spouter. “I don’t believe he’s as popular as he thinks.”
“Maybe we can get him to withdraw,” suggested Andy, with a grin.
“Withdraw, not!” broke out Fred. “He’s not that sort.”
While the conversation was going on somebody touched Jack on the shoulder, and turning he found himself confronted by Paul Halliday.
“Say, see here, Rover! I’d like a word with you,” whispered Halliday somewhat excitedly.
“All right, shoot!” answered the young captain.
“This is a little private matter,” went on Halliday.“You can bring your cousins along if you want to,” he adde
d.
Wondering what Halliday had in his mind, Jack, along with Fred and Andy who happened to be close by, followed him to an out-of-the-way corner of a corridor.
“We want to know if you’re willing to make a deal with us,” said Halliday in a low, nervous tone of voice. “You know Harkness got twenty-four votes. Well, he’s willing to throw those votes to you if you are willing to back him for the new captain of Company C.”
“I can’t do that,” answered Jack quickly. “If I get to be major I’m going to back Fred here for the captaincy.”
“Oh, but, Jack, I could drop out of that!” put in his cousin quickly.
“Not much, Fred! I said I was going to do it, and I’m going to stick to my word. Besides that, I might as well tell you, Halliday, that I don’t believe Harkness is the best fellow for the position.”
“Then you won’t consider my offer?” demanded Halliday sourly.
“Certainly not!”
“I don’t believe you can control the Harkness votes,” put in Andy. “I believe Jack will get a whole lot of them on the next ballot.”
“He won’t get a one of them, and he’ll lose some of his own!” answered Paul Halliday.“You just wait and see!” And then he walked away.
“Jack, that move might have given you the majorship,” said Fred.
“If I’ve got to get it that way, Fred, I don’t want it,” was the prompt reply. “I wouldn’t vote for Harkness under any circumstances. He’s in hand and glove with Brassy Bangs, Halliday, Sands, and that whole bunch; and I don’t believe he ought to be an officer.”
A few minutes later came a commotion near the main entrance of the Hall. A cadet named Gibson who was doing some electioneering for Glasby had knocked Paul Halliday down, and there was every prospect of a fight when the two cadets were separated by a number of friends.
“He offered to sell the Harkness vote if our crowd would vote later on the way he wanted us to!” declared Gibson. “You would think he had half the vote of the Hall in his pocket,” and he glared at Halliday, who thereupon lost no time in sneaking out of sight.
The report that Halliday, Sands, and even Brassy Bangs were trying to sell the Harkness vote in exchange for some votes for a captaincy soon spread, and a number of the cadets who had voted for the lieutenant became disgusted and promptly said they were going to change. A lively discussion followed, in the midst of which the bell rang for the second ballot.
“Gee, Jack! if some of those fellows do change their votes I hope they come to you,” murmured Gif.
“Well, I must confess I’m hoping that myself,”answered the young captain, with a smile.
Once more the boys lined up and deposited their ballots. Then came some anxious waiting, and finally Captain Dale announced the result:
“Total number of votes cast..... Necessary to a choice............63 Jack Rover has...................67 Louis Glasby has.................46 Darrell Harkness has..............9 Peter Floyd has...................3”
“Hurrah! Jack wins!” cried Fred enthusiastically, and was the first person to grab his cousin by the hand and shake it warmly.
“That’s great, Jack!” exclaimed Gif, slapping him on the shoulder. “Let me congratulate you!”
“It’s just the result I was looking for!” burst in Spouter, his face wreathed in smiles.
Of course, Louis Glasby was much disappointed, but he took his defeat in good part and came up bravely to shake Jack by the hand.
“It was a fair and square contest, Jack,” he said. “And I congratulate you.” And then turning to the other cadets he called out: “Three cheers for Major Rover!” They were given with a will; and then Colonel Colby, Captain Dale, and many of the older persons came forward to congratulate the newly-elected head of the school battalion.
“Speech! Speech!” came the cry from the students. “A speech from the new major!” and almost before he was aware of it Jack was escorted to the platform.
“I don’t know what to say to you,” he said, as he faced his fellow-students. “I thank you very heartily for your support and I will do my best to deserve it. I want to say that I am particularly pleased at the nice manner in which Louis Glasby has taken his defeat. He’s a fine fellow and I hope I shall always have him for my friend.” And following these words there was more cheering.
“Evidently the Harkness combination went to pieces,” remarked Randy. “He polled only nine votes.”
“And that was nine too many,” murmured his brother.
Following the election for major, Captain Dale announced that they would next vote for a new captain for Company A.
“I don’t know what you fellows are going to do, but I know I’m going to vote for Louis Glasby,” announced Jack.
“I think a whole lot of fellows will do that,” answered Fred. “He’ll probably get every one of his original fifty-one votes.”
Again there was an intermission of a quarter of an hour, and then the boys were lined up for the vote to fill the vacancy in Company A. On the first ballot Glasby got 60 votes while Fred poled 18 votes, the rest being scattering. Then on the second ballot Glasby was declared elected with 69 votes in his favor.
“Three cheers for Captain Glasby of Company A!” called out Jack quickly, as he shook hands with his late rival, and the cheers were given with as much of a will as they had been for the newly-elected major.
“Well, I got thirty-two votes on that last ballot,”announced Fred. “That shows I’ve got some friends in this school. I don’t want to be the captain of Company A. I’d rather remain a lieutenant of Company C.”
“But we’ve got to have a new captain for Company C now that Jack has stepped out,” put in Phil Franklin.
A quarter of an hour later the balloting began for a new captain for the company Jack had commanded. Here developed a spirited rivalry, and it was not until the fifth ballot that the final vote was taken. Then Fred won by 64 votes with the other votes scattered among eight contestants.
“Three cheers for Captain Fred Rover!”shouted Phil Franklin enthusiastically, and threw his cap high in the air. He had electioneered as hard as anybody for the youngest Rover.
Then Fred was called on for a little speech, and after that there was another election for lieutenants and a number of minor officers.
“It certainly was our day, Fred,” said Jack, as he and his cousin shook hands.
“Right you are, Major Rover,” and Fred saluted in the most precise military fashion.
“Bonfires to-night, boys!” sang out Andy.“And we’ll have some big doings, believe me!”
“Right you are!” declared his twin.
CHAPTER XII
BONFIRE NIGHT
It was the custom at Colby Hall for the officers of the battalion to take dinner with Colonel Colby on the day of an election. This was quite a formal affair and the cadets to participate made it a point to look their best.
“Say, Jack, you’re going to make a stunning looking major,” remarked Fred, as he watched his cousin dressing.
“How about yourself as captain?” was the reply.
“Just wait till Ruth Stevenson sees Jack in his new uniform!” cried Randy.
“Say, Jack, why not have a life-sized photo taken and give it to her to hang over her dressing table?” put in Andy, with a grin.
“You beware, Andy,” admonished his cousin, waving a finger severely at him. “Remember, as the commandant of the battalion, I can throw you into a dungeon cell if I feel so inclined,” and Jack strutted around grandly in the privacy of the Rovers’ sitting room.
“I’ll be good, oh, Most Noble One,” answered the fun-loving Rover, bowing down until his head almost touched his feet.
Jack and Fred had already sent word to Martha and Mary, and they, of course, had told Ruth and the others. It is needless to say that the Rover girls and their chums w
ere almost as much pleased over the results of the election as the boys had been.
“I’m just dying to see them on parade with Jack at the head,” confided Martha to the others.
“Yes, and Fred in command of Company C,”added Mary. “Just to think of it! And he so much younger than the others!”
“I hope I’m on hand to see their first parade,”said Ruth, her eyes beaming with pleasure.
“I thought you were going to write Jack a letter about that party,” said Martha in a low tone.
“I am. To-night. And I’ll let him know that I’ve wanted to do it ever since the party was talked of,” went on Ruth.
The officers’ dinner was a great success. Every one present made a little speech and Colonel Colby and Captain Dale made addresses to which the cadets listened with keen attention.
“It is my desire to make this military academy one of the best in the country,” declared the colonel earnestly. “And I cannot do that without the sincere coöperation of every cadet attending the institution. As many of you know”—and here he glanced at Jack and Fred—“when I was about your age I attended Putnam Hall Military Academy. I am sure the training I received there did me much good, and I am also sure that I made many friends who will stand by me as long as I live.
“I want this institution to be one of good-fellowship all around, and I am relying upon all of you to do your best. At Putnam Hall in many respects we followed the honor system which I have put into operation here. That honor system did not fail there, and I do not look for it to fail here. I want you all to have a good time; but there is a limit, and every one of you knows what that limit is just as well as I do. In the late war the training which some of our soldiers had received at Putnam Hall stood them in good stead. And I want the training received here to be of equal benefit if any of my cadets should ever be called upon to fight for our country.”
“Three cheers for Colonel Colby!” came from Jack a minute later, and the boys assembled nearly split their throats trying to do justice to their feelings.
While this dinner was going on the other cadets had their repast in the mess hall and then flew off in all directions to prepare for the real festivities of the evening. They had gotten together several piles of barrels and boxes, as well as brushwood from the forest behind the school, and these were soon heaped up along the river bank into great bonfires, the light of which could be seen a long distance.
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