“We don’t want Ritter,” said Henry Lee. “He might give up right in the middle of the race. And we have better oarsmen than Gus Coulter.”
Late in the week Pepper heard through Mumps that Paxton and Ritter were going after the nest of hornets that had been discovered in the woods. He at once went to Jack and Andy with the information.
“I think we might as well secure that nest,” said the young major. “If the Ritter crowd get it, there is no telling what they will do with it.”
“Come on—I’m willing to get it,” said The Imp.
The three cadets walked into the woods and then made the discovery that Ritter and Paxton were just ahead of them. Paxton had a big, white paper bag in his hand.
“We are too late!” cried Andy in dismay.
“Wait, if they get the nest let us see what they do with it,” whispered Jack.
Taking care not to be seen, the young major and his chums followed the bully and Paxton through the woods until they came to the spot where the hornets’ nest was located. It was after sundown and the hornets had gone into the nest.
Paxton had a veil and this he put over his face and then put on his white cadet gloves. This done he climbed the tree from which the nest was suspended and over the nest slipped his big paper bag. Then he broke the nest loose and tied the bag shut.
“I’ve got it!” he cried in triumph! “Now we can have dead loads of fun!”