to go to bed when, on passing through the hallwa

up to the floor above, but could see nobody.

to the old, disused boathouse at once if yo

Fri

" said the Imp to himself

communication. Jack read it with care. It was w

get us to the old boathouse, Pep,"

think it

one of Baxter's tricks I'll sh

ake the oth

you and me only.

a b

enough," said the young major,

y were soon out into the night without anybody seeing them depart but the boy upstairs who had d

oon now," he said to himself, as

d Pepper hurried towards the old, disused boathouse. It was a d

came close to the building. "We d

he side of the building. All wa

anybody," whi

ow somebody that we are not

cigarette smoke greeted them. Then Pepper ste

crowd has been here again,"

d Jack, pointing to a c

he might, for as if by magic there came a spurt of flame

led out Jack. "Take care, or y

increased, and in a twinkling the old boa

here!" exclaimed Pepper. "

do I. C

the door shut behin

!" ejaculated the young

ushed with all of their might. The

s never before. In the meantime the flame

d a final attack was made on the door, and it went back,

and then they saw three forms sneaking

all, and from the school poured some students

," said George Strong.

re!" exclaimed Josiah Crabtree

per and Jack. "The old b

and it was not long before Capta

Putnam Hall. He was the calmest man present. "The Hall hose

in Putnam they ran for their buckets and formed a line from the barn to the burning building. At the barn there was a big tub of water, an

adet, who was not in the bucket line, and

G THE SNOWBAL

said Dale, passing the buckets to George Strong

," answered

nal damper on the fire. Presently the flames died down and ten minutes later

. It soon became noised around that Jack and Pepp

Major Ruddy?" asked Captain P

hat to say. He

" went on the mas

ee if we could find som

his hand in his pocket and drew out the fo

s it, D

g at the sheet. It was almost blank, onl

m Captain Putnam, and now his

t that!" and he h

glanced at

othing b

mething written on it awh

the wrong paper,

began to search his pockets.

g ink," said the young major. "It'

oon," murmured Peppe

boys explain?" wen

rabtree, who stood near. "They have been up to misch

t so!" c

even have

e boys explain," said

explain," retorted the teache

el

the habit of going down to the ol

ried the master of the Hal

m, s

not report to

noon. I was on my way to speak to you a

r. Crabtree--?" The cap

. They were smoking and they set the

a word of truth in that!" c

adict me!" cried

d Pepper. "We have not been smokin

the old boathouse,"

ack. "We went down ther

s that p

tell you,

students," said Pepper. "Some

ou fin

N

ng on fire when

't see a

Hall mused for a moment.

ed and started to run away. Then we found the door cl

ee. "Captain Putnam, if I were you, I'd place them in

r. Crab

on the assistant teacher. And then he whispered

me, boys," he added, to Jack and Pepper, and led th

utnam--" b

Major Ruddy," said the master of the Hall. "

e door after him, and leaving Jack and Pep