“No more of this for me!” came from Stuffer, after two-thirds of the distance had been covered. “I am going to stop off to rest,” and he threw himself down on the grass under a tree. Another cadet did likewise.
At the foot of the last hill Jack, Andy and Pepper found themselves pretty well bunched. In front of them were Ritter and Paxton. The rest were a good bit behind.
“I am going to get ahead of those fellows!” cried the young major, and commenced to climb with renewed vigor. Soon he passed Paxton, who scowled darkly at him, but said nothing.
Pepper was close behind Jack and Andy, but a few yards to one side, when the three heard a noise above them. Looking upward, they saw several stones of good size rolling down the hillside.
“Beware of the rocks!” sang out Jack, and leaped aside just in time. Pepper was grazed on the shoulder and Andy got a pinched foot. Then they heard a yell from Paxton.
“Oh, my foot! The rock has mashed my foot!”
“It was Ritter’s fault!” called back Jack. “He sent the rocks down on us! I guess he wanted to injure me.”
He had hardly spoken when he heard a sudden exclamation of terror. Ritter had slipped and was rolling over and over down the hillside. He passed Jack and Pepper and then came toward Andy. The latter reached out and caught the bully by the arm and held him.
“Don’t let me go down!” screamed Ritter, in fright.
“You are safe,” answered Andy. “Pick yourself up and take care of Paxton—he needs you. Some of the rocks you rolled down struck him.”