Dave Porter on Cave Island Part 7

"Have you any idea where they went?" asked the shipowner's son.

"No, they skated away behind an island and that's the last we saw of them," answered Mallory.

"Yes, and I reckon it's the last we'll hear of our things," returned Buster, mournfully. "But come on, let us see about getting back," he continued. "It's 'most time for supper now."

"Mr. Opper, can you take us back to Oak Hall?" asked Dave. "We'll pay you for your trouble."

The farmer looked at the students and rubbed his chin reflectively. Then he gazed out at the storm and the snow-covered ground.

"Might hook up my big sleigh and do it," he said. "But it would be quite a job."

"What would it be worth?" asked Ben.

"Oh, I dunno-three or four dollars, at least. It's a tough night to be out in-an' I'd have to drive back, or put up at the town all night."

"Supposing we gave you fifty cents apiece," suggested Roger.

"And we'll go along-as far as Rockville, at the same price-if you'll have us," added Mallory, quickly.

"Why, yes, Mallory, and welcome," answered Dave cordially. "That is, if the turnout will hold us all."

"Sure it will," answered Homer Opper. "An' if ye all go an' pay fifty cents each,"-he counted them mentally as he spoke-"I'll hook up my four hosses an' git ye there in jig time."

"Then it's a go," answered Dave, after his chums and the Rockville cadets had nodded their approval.

"And do hurry," called out Buster, as the farmer moved away to prepare for the journey. "We don't want to miss our suppers."

"Ye ain't goin' to miss nuthin'," called the farmer.

Inside of fifteen minutes he came around to the cow-shed with a big, low sleigh, to which were attached four fine-looking horses. The sleigh contained two lanterns and a quant.i.ty of wraps and robes.

"Don't want ye to catch cold, when we're a-drivin' fast," chuckled Homer Opper. "Now pile right in, an' we'll be movin'."

The boys needed no second invitation, and soon all were aboard-Dave and Roger on the front seat with the driver and the others behind, including the Rockville cadets. Then came a crack of the whip, and away through the swirling snow moved the big sleigh, bound for the two schools.

CHAPTER VI-GOOD-BY TO OAK HALL

"Where in the world have you boys been? Why didn't you come back in time for supper? Don't you know it is against the rules to stay away like this?"

Thus it was that Job Haskers, the second a.s.sistant teacher of Oak Hall, greeted Dave and his chums as they came in, after leaving the big sleigh and settling with Homer Opper.

"We are sorry that we couldn't get here before, Mr. Haskers," answered Dave. "But something unusual happened and we were delayed."

"I'll not accept any excuses!" snapped the teacher, who had not forgotten how the boys had hurried away without listening to his call from the window. "I think I'll send you to bed supperless. It is no more than you deserve."

"Supperless!" gasped Buster, in dismay. "Oh, Mr. Haskers, we don't deserve such treatment, really we don't!"

"We have been robbed-that is what delayed us," declared Phil. "I guess we had better report to Doctor Clay, or Mr. Dale," he went on, significantly.

"You can report to me," answered Job Haskers, with increased severity.

"There is no need to bother the doctor, and Mr. Dale has gone away for over Sunday."

"Well, boys, back again!" cried a cheery voice from an upper landing, and then Doctor Clay came down, wearing his gown and slippers. "A wild storm to be out in. I am glad you got back safely."

"They are late-and you said you gave them no permission to be out after hours," said Job Haskers, tartly.

"Hum! Did I?" mused the kindly head of the school. "Well, when it storms like this it, of course, makes some difference."

"We would have been back in time only we were robbed of our skates and some other things," answered Dave. "We had to walk a long distance through the storm, and we'd not be here yet if we hadn't managed to hire a farmer to bring us in his sleigh."

"Robbed!" echoed Doctor Clay, catching at the word. "How was that?" And he listened with keen interest to what the boys had to tell. Even Job Haskers became curious, and said no more about penalizing them for being late.

"And you are sure the fellows were Merwell and Jasniff?" asked the a.s.sistant teacher.

"All I know on that point is what Mallory and his chums had to say,"

answered Dave.

"I think it would be like that pair to follow you up," said Doctor Clay, with a grave shake of his head. "They are two very bad boys,-worse, Porter, than you can imagine," and he looked knowingly at Job Haskers as he spoke. "Now go in to supper, and after that, you, Porter, Morr, and Lawrence, may come to my study and talk the matter over further."

Wondering what else had happened to upset the head of the school, Dave followed his chums to the dining-hall. Here a late supper awaited the crowd, to which, it is perhaps needless to state, all did full justice.

"Do you think we can track Jasniff and Merwell?" asked the senator's son, during the course of the repast.

"I don't," answered Dave frankly. "For they will do their best to keep out of our way."

A little later found Dave, Phil, and Roger in the doctor's private study, a sort of library connected with his regular office. The head of Oak Hall was reading a German historical work, but laid the volume down as they filed in.

"Sit down, boys," said Doctor Clay, pleasantly, and when they were seated, he added: "Now kindly tell me all you know about Merwell and Jasniff."

"Do you want to know everything, Doctor?" asked Dave, in some surprise.

"Yes,-and later on, I'll tell you why."

"All right," answered the youth from Crumville, and he told of the many things that had happened, both at the school and at home-not forgetting about the auto ride in which Laura and Jessie were supposed to have partic.i.p.ated.

"It all fits in!" cried Doctor Clay, drawing a deep sigh. He tapped the table with the tips of his fingers. "I wonder where it will end?" he mused, half to himself.

"You said that Merwell and Jasniff were worse than we imagined,"

suggested Dave, to draw the doctor out.

"So I did, Porter. I will tell you boys something, but please do not let it go any further. Since Jasniff and Merwell became pupils at Rockville Military Academy and since they ran away from that inst.i.tution they have been doing everything they could think of to annoy me. They have sent farmers here with produce that I never ordered, and have had publishers send me schoolbooks that I did not want. Worse than that, they have circulated reports to my scholars' parents that this school was running down, that it was in debt, and that some pupils were getting sick because the sewerage system was out of order. Some of the parents have written to me, and two were on the point of taking their boys away, thinking the reports were true. Fortunately I was able to prove the reports false, and the boys remained here. But I do not know how far these slanders are being circulated and what the effect will be in the future."

"And you are sure they come from Merwell and Jasniff?" questioned Phil.