“They ought to be put in an asylum,” said Captain Putnam. “It is not safe to allow them their liberty.”
“With your permission. I’ll turn them over to some of my relatives in the West,” answered George Strong. “I know they can manage them.”
“As you please—but keep them away from the Hall in the future.”
At first the two prisoners were furious, but when their fury subsided they became very humble, and both began to cry.
“We wanted only our rights,” whined one. “If I had a million dollars, I could take an air-ship to the North Pole or the moon, or anywhere.”
“He is certainly mad,” said Andy. “What a dreadful condition to be in.”
Late in the day the prisoners were taken to Cedarville, and George Strong telegraphed for a relative to come at once and take charge of them.
“They may be crazy, but they told me something which I think may be true,” said the assistant teacher to the boys. “They said they were watching around the school at the time you had the big snow house, and they saw three cadets run up on top and cave it in. I questioned them, and I am almost certain Coulter was one of the boys and Baxter another.”
“It would be just like that crowd,” exclaimed Pepper, bitterly. “If Baxter and Coulter were in it the other fellow must have been Paxton or Mumps,—I mean Fenwick, sir.”
“They said they were all big boys.”