“Out on a hunt for it.”
“Let’s fire a salute,” suggested Pepper. “That will let everybody know the cannon is found.”
The teacher was willing, and the piece was quickly cleaned and loaded. Jack touched it off, and the report echoed far and wide across the lake and the hills around.
“There, that will tell everybody we’re on deck,” cried Andy, with a happy laugh.
“I hope they heard it at Pornell Academy,” said Dale.
“They must have—unless they are all deaf,” said Stuffer. “Gosh! say that work makes a fellow hungry, doesn’t it?” he added, and hurried off to get a bite to eat.
Captain Putnam came in shortly after the cannon was fired and viewed the piece with pleasure. He had to smile when he heard how the cannon had been discovered swung up in the tree.
“Certainly a schoolboy’s prank,” he said. “But not the kind I admire.”
Fred Century and the others on the Ajax did not come in until dark. They had hunted along the lake shore for several miles, but without success.
“Maybe they hung the flagpole in a tree, too,” suggested Pepper, with a grin.