“Hullo, is that you, Captain Putnam?” called out Mr. Ringwood, in a far from pleasant tone.

“It is, Mr. Ringwood, and I wish to talk to you.”

“I’ve got one of your students here.”

“So I see.”

“He’s a bad egg, captain. I caught him stealing my nuts. After that he was impudent to me.”

“I wasn’t impudent,” grumbled the bully.

“I just heard about it and I came out to meet you,” answered Captain Putnam. “Won’t you drive over to the Hall, and we’ll try to settle this matter.”

“If you wish it, captain. I had half a mind to have the young rascal arrested.”

“There will be no need to do that, Mr. Ringwood. I think I can punish him sufficiently for what he has done.”

“Very well, then; I’ll drive over.” And in a moment more the carriage was headed for Putnam Hall, and the captain and our friends trudged after it.