It was not until midnight that Jack began to feel something like himself. He was still weak, but he could now breathe regularly, and Doctor Fremley pronounced him out of danger.
Pepper and Andy had begged to be allowed to remain with their chum, and they were in the room with Captain Putnam. Leaving some medicine to be taken regularly every hour, the physician departed.
“Major Ruddy, the next time you take any medicine beware and not take an overdose,” said Captain Putnam.
“I haven’t taken any medicine, Captain Putnam,” answered Jack.
“Didn’t you take some powder for headache, or for nervousness?”
“No, sir.”
“What!”
“I haven’t taken a thing, sir. Why should I? I felt first-rate up to the time I went to the gym. Then, all of a sudden, I seemed to get dizzy and sleepy,” explained the sufferer.
“I knew he hadn’t taken anything,” broke in Pepper. “I mean knowingly,” he hastened to add.
“Do you mean to say, Ditmore, that you think Major Ruddy took the powder without knowing what it was?” demanded the master of the Hall.