“Ritter, stop your talking!” said George Strong, who was near.
“I—er—I only wanted the window closed,” stammered the bully. “I feel cold.”
“Couldn’t you close it yourself?”
“Coulter was right there—I thought he could do it.” Then the window was closed, and the conversation came to an end.
“I have a few words to say to you young gentlemen,” said Captain Putnam, coming to the front of the platform. His eyes swept the auditorium and Jack and Pepper felt something cold run up and down their backbones. “As you all know, the clapper of the bell of the Union Church was taken night before last, and the deed was done by some cadets of this institution.”
The captain paused, and the silence was so intense that the ticking of the clock could be plainly heard.
“The taking of the clapper was a foolish prank, and it was an equally foolish prank to place it where it was found,” continued Captain Putnam. “Yesterday I resolved to make a thorough investigation and punish the offenders.”
“Quite right, eminently proper,” murmured Josiah Crabtree.
“I heard, too, that a plan had been put through by you cadets to stand together—that everybody was to keep mum, as it is called. This you know is a violation of the agreement made after the—er—the unfortunate affair which—er—led to a rebellion among you.”
“I didn’t hear of that,” murmured one of the cadets.