"Pepper!" cried the young major in horror, and started to rush to his chum's assistance, when another snowball came flying through the air. It struck Jack over the ear, and he, too, went down, all but knocked unconscious.
A bugle blew, and the great snowballing contest came to an end.
"A tie! A tie!" was the cry. "Neither side wins!"
"Let the two captains shake hands and call it off!" said one cadet.
"I'm willing!" cried Bart, readily.
"So am I," added Henry, and then the pair shook hands, while a great cheer rolled up from both sides. But the cheer came to an abrupt end when Fred Century cried out:
"Pepper Ditmore is hurt!"
"And so is Major Ruddy!" came from Emerald Hogan.
A crowd quickly gathered around each wounded cadet. Pepper had a nasty cut over the left eye and Jack had a lump behind his right ear.
"They must have been hit with soakers," was Dale's comment, as he bent over Pepper.