One after another the cadets went to bed. Jack was the last to retire, and it was a long while before he dropped off to sleep. Then he dreamed about Pepper up in the far North, sitting on a cake of ice in a bathing-suit, which showed how much he had the welfare of his chum at heart.
In the morning Josiah Crabtree went below early. He expected Captain Putnam back by noon and wished to be prepared to make a proper report to the head of the school on his arrival.
He had just seated himself at the desk in the office when there came a knock on the door.
"Come in!" he said shortly, thinking it might be a servant. The newcomer was Bart Conners.
"Well, Conners, what is it?" demanded the head teacher.
"I want to report that I was robbed last night," answered the captain of Company B.
"Robbed!" ejaculated Josiah Crabtree. "Did you say robbed?"
"Yes, sir."
"What of? Where? When?" Josiah Crabtree's manner showed his tremendous excitement.
"Of a diamond stickpin. I left it in one of my scarfs last night and this morning it was gone. I've looked all over, but I can't find it."