"And Dan Baxter is here!" ejaculated Tom. "It doesn't seem possible."
"He ought to be locked up," put in Sam.
It was decided by Mr. Strong that Arnold Baxter should be removed to the camp on a stretcher, and four boys, including Sam and Tom, volunteered for the service. In the meantime Dick went to camp, to attend to his hurts, and a cadet was sent to Oakville for a doctor.
"Hullo, here comes Rover!" whispered Lew Flapp to Pender, as Dick appeared. "Wonder what sort of a story he will have to tell?"
"One thing is certain, we made a mess of our plans," muttered Pender.
"Perhaps Rover won't give us away," put in Rockley hopefully.
On returning to camp word had been sent to Captain Putnam that Dick Rover was at the den in a condition not fit to be seen.
Mr. Strong and another teacher had gone to the place mentioned in the anonymous communication only to find the den empty.
A general alarm was sent out, and the search for the missing captain of Company A was begun as recorded. Captain Putnam also began to investigate on his private account, with results that were as surprising as they were dismaying. He learned the several cadets had left camp early in the night and among them Ben Hurdy, Lew Flapp, Pender, and Jackson. Without delay he summoned Ben Hurdy to his private tent and made the young cadet undergo a strict cross-examination.
At first Hurdy would not talk, but soon he became frightened and broke down utterly. He told of the plot against Dick, and of how Flapp and the others had carried it out.
"I didn't want to go into it," he whined. "But Flapp said he would thrash me if I didn't do my share. They wanted to get square with Captain Rover because he had won at the athletic contests and at the drill."
"I see," said Captain Putnam grimly, and then he ordered Ben Hurdy to keep absolutely silent until called on to speak. "If you say a word now I'll dismiss you at once," he concluded.
When Dick arrived Captain Putnam saw to it that his blisters were dressed with care, and then he asked the eldest Rover to tell his whole story.
"I do not know as I can do that, Captain Putnam," said the young captain, blushing. "I don't care to become a tale-bearer."
"Did you leave camp of your own free will, Rover?"
"I did not, sir."
"You were carried away to be hazed, then?"
"Yes, sir; but I would prefer not to speak of that part of my adventures."
"Those who carried you off drugged you."
"How do you know that?" asked Dick, in surprise.
"Never mind that now, Rover. Did they drug you or not?"
"No, sir."
"What!"
"They tried to drug me, but I threw the liquor over my shoulder when they weren't looking."
"Oh, I see," and Captain Putnam smiled. "They tried to trick you and you ended by tricking them, is that it?"
"That's about the size of it, sir. They thought I was in a stupor when they left me, but as soon as they were gone I began to shift for myself. But I don't understand how you know about this, Captain Putnam."
"One of the party to this outrage has confessed, so I know all about it, Rover. The leader, I believe, was Lew Flapp, and his main supporters were Pender, Rockley, and Jackson."
To this Dick did not say a word.
"I know you would speak if I were accusing anybody wrongly, Rover. In one way I can appreciate your silence. But this affair was carried too far. It was not an ordinary hazing. The plot was one to blast your honest name and bring you into disgrace. Such things cannot be permitted at any school of which I am the head. I will hear the rest of your strange tale."
In as few words as possible Dick told how he had wandered around until he had reached the cottage, and what had happened afterward.
"It was assuredly a remarkable adventure," said Captain Putnam. "I thought I had about seen the last of Daniel Baxter."
"Perhaps Dan Baxter will keep shady when he finds out what has happened."
"Perhaps. And you think Arnold Baxter is in a bad way?"
"Yes, sir. He came pretty close to being burnt up."
"We will do our best for him, and notify the authorities without delay."
An hour later the disabled man was brought into camp and the doctor came to attend him.
Under the physician's directions Arnold Baxter was made fairly comfortable in one of the tents of the camp.
"He is in a bad way," said the doctor. "He will probably recover, but it will take weeks and perhaps months."
Arnold Baxter asked for Dick and the eldest Rover went in to see him.
"I--I want to thank you for what you did, Rover," said the criminal in a low voice. "It--it was noble, very noble. I shan't forget it."
"Mr. Baxter, why don't you try to turn over a new leaf?" questioned Dick. "Haven't you found out that it doesn't pay to be bad?"
"Yes, I have found it out, and the lesson has been dearly bought," said Arnold Baxter with a sigh. "In the future I shall try to--to do better.
Here, I want you to give these to your father, and tell him I--I am sorry that I visited your house some time ago," went on the disabled man.
He gave Dick an envelope containing some pawn tickets which called for the things stolen from the Rover homestead, and also a pocketbook with some money in it.
"That is all I have left of the cash," he said. "I'm sorry I haven't every cent of it. Tell him he can do as he pleases about me. I deserve no pity."
"I think he'd like to see you turn over a new leaf, too. He hates to see people on the downward path, Mr. Baxter."
"You are a good boy, Dick Rover. I am sorry that my son Dan isn't like you. Has he been caught yet?"
"I believe not."
"If he is caught, let me know," concluded Arnold Baxter, and there the talk ended.
"I imagine he really intends to turn over a new leaf," said Dick to Tom and Sam, a little later.