The racket was soon heard in the classrooms, and presently Josiah Crabtree came rushing to the place, a heavy switch in his hand.
“Hi! hi! stop that noise!” thundered the assistant teacher. “Stop it, I say!” And he threw open the door and confronted the pair, with snapping eyes and with a face red from indignation.
As soon as the door was opened Jack and Pepper stopped kicking and pounding. Both faced the instructor fearlessly.
“What do you mean by such a noise?” demanded Josiah Crabtree, after an ominous pause.
“We wanted to attract attention,” answered Pepper, calmly.
“Mr. Crabtree, will you tell us why we are prisoners here?” asked Jack.
“You are prisoners because you have disobeyed the rules of this institution,” snapped the instructor, and there was a certain gleam of triumph in his eyes.
“Don’t contradict, Ditmore! Captain Putnam and myself have found you out.”
“Won’t you please explain?” asked Jack, as calmly as he could.
“Well, in the first place, you are responsible for the fire at the boathouse.”
“We have made a rigid investigation,” returned Josiah Crabtree. “It is useless to deny it,” he continued. “But that is not the worst of it, in the eyes of myself and Captain Putnam.”
“Well, what is the worst?” asked Jack, curiously, and wondering what was coming.
“Both of you went down to the old boathouse to smoke and drink.”
“I deny that flatly,” said the young major.
“Denials will do you no good. We have the evidence,” returned Josiah Crabtree, and once again his rather fishy eyes showed a gleam of triumph.
“After we locked you up here, I suggested to the captain that we search your dormitory. This was done, and we have uncovered your secrets. The captain is amazed, and so am I. We did not dream that any cadet at this school would be guilty of such a thing.”
“Guilty of what?” asked Jack and Pepper, in a breath.
“Guilty of such bad habits. We went into your lockers and your trunks, and we discovered two bottles of liquor, eight packages of cigarettes, and three packs of playing-cards, all belonging to you two students. You know our rules. You have broken them, and you must either be punished or else be dismissed from this school!”
For the moment after Josiah Crabtree made this declaration Jack and Pepper were so amazed that they could not speak. They stared at the teacher as if they had not heard aright.