But the young lieutenant did not intend to allow the would-be joker to escape thus easily. Thinking it might be somebody from his own command, he leaped quickly over the rocks and caught Nat by the arm just as the latter was trying to worm his way into the bushes.
“Nat Poole!” he ejaculated, as he brought the soldier around with a twist of the arm. “So this is what you are up to, eh?”
“Aw! it was only a joke,” pleaded the money lender’s son.
“You were going to run away with my uniform and all the rest of my things!”
“Didn’t I say it was only a joke? Can’t you take a little fun, Dave Porter?”
“I don’t like that kind of fun, Nat Poole! I would have cut a fine spectacle if you had gotten away with my clothing. You just come along and explain yourself;” and thus speaking, Dave dragged the unwilling soldier out from the bushes and down to the side of the stream. Then he let out a low but well-known whistle, to which his chums immediately responded, that having been the “get-together” call at Oak Hall.
“Hello, it’s Nat Poole!” cried Phil.
“What are you doing here, Nat?” questioned Roger.
“I just caught him trying to steal my things,” explained Dave.
“I wasn’t going to steal ’em!” stormed Nat. “I was just going to hide ’em behind the bushes.”