Chapter XIV Back to Colby Hall - The Rover Boys under Canvas by Edward Stratemeyer
"Well, that is where we got back at Asa Lemm!" cried Randy, after all of the Rovers had gazed out of the car windows as long as the scene near the auto-stage remained in view.
"I'll wager that stand keeper is mad," said Jack.
"And what a beautiful coat old Lemm has, with the tail torn to ribbons!" Fred added.
"Oh, I think you boys are simply dreadful!" cried Mary, but she smiled as she spoke.
"Don't you think you were rather hard on the professor?" questioned Martha dubiously.
"No, I don't!" answered Andy promptly. "He treated us as mean as dirt while he was at Colby Hall. He was more than stern--he was thoroughly unreasonable! That's why Colonel Colby discharged him."
"And please to remember how he backed up Slugger Brown's father on Snowshoe Island," added Randy. "He was perfectly willing to swindle old Barney Stevenson out of his property. He deserves no sympathy."
The remainder of the journey to Haven Point passed without special incident. The boys and the girls had sent word ahead that they were coming, and when they reached the town they found Bob Nixon there with one of the Colby Hall turnouts, and also a driver with a stage from the girls' school.
"Well, here is where we part and get back to the grind," said Fred, after he and Jack had placed their sisters' baggage in the proper car.
"Good luck to both of you girls!" cried Jack.
The girls were soon started off in one direction, and then the boys started off in the other. The latter were still some distance from Colby Hall when they saw Spouter Powell and Gif Garrison approaching on foot.
"Glad to see you back!" cried Spouter, as he climbed into the machine.
"We've got great news," announced Gif, his eyes beaming.
"Our fathers have volunteered for the war!" broke out Spouter.
"Really?" came from the Rover boys.
All were much interested, although Andy and Randy looked a trifle disturbed. The fact that their own father would have to remain behind while all of the others were going to the front was continually in the minds of the twins. They felt much disappointed.
"When did you get the news?" questioned Jack.
"It came in by the first mail this morning," returned Spouter. "I got a letter, and so did Gif. My father and Mr. Garrison are both going to do their best to join the crowd from Putnam Hall and Brill College."
Of course the Rovers wanted to know more particulars, and they were given so far as Spouter and Gif knew them.
"And we've got more news, too," announced Gif. "They've finally settled on the place where we are to have our annual encampment."
"And where will that be?" asked Randy eagerly.
"We're to go to Barlight Bay on the Atlantic coast. It's quite a distance from here."
"Barlight Bay!" exclaimed Jack. And then he looked inquiringly at Fred. "Isn't that in the vicinity of Camp Huxwell?"
"Sure it is!" answered Fred. "They are almost side by side."
"I asked about that," said Spouter; "and Captain Dale told me that our camp and the government camp will be not very far apart. There is a thick belt of timber and some rocky land between."
"Why then, we'll be close to our fathers!" cried Fred joyfully. "This suits me right down to the ground!" and his face showed his delight.
"Gee, I wish we were going under canvas to-morrow!" sighed Jack.
The next day found the Rovers deep in their studies. The examinations previous to the annual encampment were now close at hand, and all were anxious to make a good showing.
"Because, you see, it's this way," said Jack to his cousins, and especially to the fun-loving twins. "We didn't come here merely to cut up and have a good time. Our folks sent us to Colby Hall so that we would settle down and get good educations. If we don't make a good showing, you know how disappointed every one of them will be."
"Oh, I'm going to study like an Indian," answered Andy quickly. "I'm going to cut out every bit of horseplay until after the examinations are over."
"And so am I," added Randy.
And, strange as it may seem, the twins kept their word, and as a result, when the examinations were held for the term, both came through with markings which were exceedingly gratifying.
Jack and Fred likewise did very well, for which they were thankful.
They telephoned the results to their sisters, and got back word from Clearwater Hall that Martha and Mary were also coming through finely.
"And what about Ruth and May?" questioned Jack, who was on the 'phone, with Fred beside him.
"Ruth is at the head of the class," announced Martha, over the telephone. "May will stand third or fourth."
"Then give them both our congratulations," said Jack.
"And also our best regards," added Fred, crowding his cousin to one side.
"Hold the wire a minute and you can talk to them yourselves," said Martha. And a minute later Jack was talking to Ruth and later still Fred managed to get in a few words with May.
Following the examinations, Colonel Colby called the entire school together, and then announced that he was going to take his departure for Camp Huxwell and would leave the scholars in charge of Captain Dale and Professors Grawson and Brice.
"I am sorry to leave you," announced the colonel, "but I have accepted the call of our country and shall go to the training camp without further delay. But you all know Captain Dale very well, and I feel sure that you will be glad to learn that he will have charge during the annual encampment. He will be assisted by the professors and some others, and all arrangements have been perfected for making this outing a great success.
"With talk of war filling the air, we shall try to show what Colby Hall can do in the way of first-class military training. Captain Dale will see to it that you are given an opportunity to show what you can do at target and bayonet practice, and in marching and other camp activities. There will, of course, be the usual athletic contests, and as you are going down to the coast, you will likewise have an opportunity to make use of the water."
Here the colonel paused, and there was a faint handclapping, quickly followed by a generous round of applause.
"Evidently you all like the idea of going in camp near the water,"
said Colonel Colby, smiling.
"It's dandy!" called out Andy, and at this there was a general laugh.
"Before you depart for Camp Barlight, as the place will be called, Captain Dale will hold the annual election of officers. As the old cadets here know, no cadet who has not been at this school for at least six months can hold any office in the battalion. Apart from that rule, the cadets can make up their tickets to suit themselves. You will first vote for a major, then for three captains, one each for Companies A, B, and C, and then for two lieutenants for each company.
The other officers, including the quartermaster, will be selected by Captain Dale and the professors.
"And now, young gentlemen, I must bid you good-bye, and I trust that you have a good time during the encampment. As I expect to be at Camp Huxwell for some weeks at least, I shall probably have the opportunity from time to time of coming over to see how you are getting along."
Colonel Colby bowed and stepped back, and again there was a round of applause. In the midst of this Major Ralph Mason arose and walked to the front.
"Colonel Colby," he said in a loud voice, as soon as the applause had subsided, "in the name of the battalion which I have the honor to command, I wish to thank you for all your kindness to us as students here, and we trust you will accept our best wishes for good luck to you in the course you are taking. We feel sure that with such men as you in our army Uncle Sam is bound to help very materially in winning this World War.
"And now, sir, as a token of our esteem, and also as a reminder of what we hope you will do to the enemy, allow me, sir, in the name of all the cadets of Colby Hall, to present you with this."
As the young major concluded he drew from behind him a leather case which he sprung open as he presented it to the astonished master of the institution. There, in the case, rested a very fine automatic pistol, its polished handle engraved with Colonel Colby's name and also the fact that it was presented to him by the school, with the date. The hat had been passed around among the boys for contributions to this gift, and every cadet had given something.
Though the colonel was much astonished, he was likewise greatly pleased at this evidence of their friendliness and interest in him, and he accepted the gift in a few words which showed his emotion.
"If I ever get to France this automatic shall go with me," he announced. "And you can rest assured that if ever the opportunity comes, the weapon shall render a good account for itself." And following these remarks there was another round of applause, and then the school was dismissed.
Of course the boys had known about the annual election for a long time, and there had been a good deal of wire-pulling over the question of candidates for the various offices. It was felt by many, including the Rovers, that Ralph Mason should remain the major of the school battalion, because he was so well liked and was such a thoroughly good officer. It was also felt that the captains of Company A and Company B should remain, and likewise several of the lieutenants.
"What we want most is a new captain for Company C," said Spouter.
"Yes, and we want two lieutenants for that company, too," put in Walt Baxter.
"And the whole company wants to be jacked up," added Don Soppinger.
"The way they have been drilling has been a disgrace to this school.
They don't do half as well as the other companies."
"Well, you must remember one thing," said Jack. "Company C was formed long after they had Company A and Company B. That company always got all the new fellows, and you can't expect new cadets to do as well as the old ones."
"Yes, but now that they are getting ready to form a Company D, the fellows in Company C ought to be jacked up," said Fatty Hendry. "They need it."
"Say, Fatty, do you want to become an officer of them?" queried Randy slyly.
"Well, I wouldn't mind the job," answered the stout cadet. "I think I could boss 'em around a little better than Phil Huber did." Huber had been the former captain, but he had left the school, and the command was now in charge of the first lieutenant, a fellow named Gabe Werner.
Now it chanced that Lieutenant Werner was not very well liked at Colby Hall. He was a tall, angular youth, with watery blue eyes and straw-colored hair, and he had a general manner about him which was anything but inviting. How he had ever gotten to be a lieutenant of the cadets was a mystery.
"I think they'll dump Lieutenant Werner," remarked Fred. "I don't believe anybody wants him for an officer again."
"I guess you're right," answered Dan Soppinger. "If anybody at all voted for Werner, it would be Bill Glutts."
"Well, Glutts isn't any better than Werner," was Jack's reply. "He's a regular blockhead, in my opinion."
Glutts was a youth who had come from the Middle West, and it was said that his father was in the wholesale butcher business. He was a broad-shouldered, beefy-looking youth, with prominent front teeth and a face that was far from inviting.
"Say, Jack, why don't you run for captain?" queried Gif. "I'm sure our whole crowd would stand by you."
"Oh, I don't know, Gif," returned Jack modestly. "I didn't expect to become an officer yet. Let some of the older cadets take hold. You might run yourself."
"No, I don't think I want the job," answered Gif.
"Maybe you'd like it, Spouter?" said Jack.
"No, I'll give it up in your favor, Jack," was the prompt response.
Spouter looked at the assembled crowd. "Say, fellows, what do you think of it? Shall we put up Jack Rover for captain of Company C?"
"Sure!"
"Jack will be sure to run well!"
So the comments ran on, and almost before he knew it, Jack had been nominated by his friends for the position of captain of Company C.
Then began an animated discussion over the other offices to be filled, and a little later Fred was nominated for a lieutenancy.