“He said he was going on business,” said Pepper. “Perhaps the business took longer than he expected.”
Another day passed, and both the master of the hall and his cadets grew worried. Josiah Crabtree was very sour, for he had to perform some of the duties assigned to the missing teacher.
“He should have sense enough to come back,” said he severely.
“Something is wrong, that is certain,” answered Captain Putnam. “I am going to investigate to-day.”
When the boys heard that the captain was going to drive to Malville Jack, Pepper, and Andy begged to be taken along.
“Perhaps we can be of assistance,” suggested the young major. “That is, if anything has happened to him on the road.”
“Very well, I’ll take the big sleigh and a team, and you can accompany me,” answered the captain.
In the end the party to go out numbered five, for Dale went along also. The team was powerful, and in spite of the hills and the snow Malville was reached in three hours. They found the cottage of George Strong’s relative, and were surprised to find it locked up.
“Nobody has been at home for a month,” said a neighbor.
“Did you see anything of a man with a cutter around here yesterday, or a day or two before?”