“I cannot understand this,” he said to George Strong. “He looked to be the picture of health this afternoon.”
“I know it, sir,” answered the assistant teacher.
“Maybe he ate or drank something that didn’t agree with him,” suggested Andy.
“He complained of the water at supper,” came from Dale. “I told him it might be the ice in it.”
“Our ice is of the best,” answered Captain Putnam. “It may have been the food, but if so, why has not somebody else been taken sick?”
After what seemed to be an unusually long time, Doctor Fremley appeared. He had driven at top speed to the Hall, and the team was covered with lather. By this time Jack had been removed to a private bedroom and undressed. He lay like a log, breathing heavily.
The physician was almost as much puzzled as were the others. But acting on the theory that Jack might have been poisoned by something he had eaten the doctor used a stomach pump. This brought up something of a peculiar bluish color, which surprised the medical man a great deal. He nodded his head knowingly and then proceeded to give Jack a dose of medicine from the little case he carried. In a short while the young major gasped loudly and opened his eyes.
“What is it, doctor?” asked the master of the Hall.
“I am not quite sure, but it looks to me like an overdose of French headache powders.”
“You mean the Saligne preparation?”