"Well, you started it, same as you started telling that detective that Sheldon had a bad name in the Academy, and—-"
"Shut up! Somebody will hear you. You had as much to do with that as——-"
Percival suddenly let out a great bellow, such as a calf in search of its mother might make.
"Gracious! what's that?" cried Herring in alarm, making a dash for the camp, the lights of which could be plainly seen.
Merritt followed in hot haste, frightened out of his wits, and Percival broke into a hearty laugh, not caring if the two conspirators heard him or not, and greatly enjoying their terror.
They may have done so, but they did not pause until they reached the camp, and were challenged by the sentry.
"That's good!" laughed Dick. "And we have found out something as well. Now we know who it was who tried to put your boat out of commission. I have always suspected those rascals of having had something to do with it, and now I am certain."
"Yes, but that was not as bad as——-"
"As trying to make you out a bad character. No, it is not. I had my suspicions on that score, too. If you had asked me to name the fellows who were most likely to do a thing of that sort I would have named them in a moment. They are just mean enough."
"Well, it does not matter," said Jack. "No one would believe them who knows me. It is not worth thinking about."