"It would be a bad thing for Stuffer to get the reward," came from Andy.
"Why, I'd like to know?" demanded that cadet.
"Because you'd eat yourself into a state of acute indigestion."
"Rats! I don't eat any more than you do," grumbled Stuffer.
"Well, I don't see any chance of your getting the reward," was Jack's comment. "That thief had hidden his tracks well."
With the deep snow on the ground, drills had to be held in the gymnasium, and several contests were also arranged. The cadets got up a tug-of-war between one team headed by Pepper and another headed by Dale, and the excitement over this contest waged so high, that the thefts were, for the time being, forgotten.
The tug-of-war was held late one afternoon in the gymnasium. A line was drawn on the floor and the long rope laid across this. On either side wooden cleats were nailed down, so that the contestants might brace their feet.
The two teams consisted of eight cadets each. With Pepper were Andy, Jack, and Fred Century, while on Dale's side were Bart Field, Bart Conners and some other cadets already introduced.
"Now, then, Pepper!" cried one of his friends. "See what you can do!"
"Don't give him a chance, Dale! Yank him right over the line!" cried one of Dale's friends.