“Nor I,” added another.
“What did you say, Farhaven?” asked the captain quickly.
“I didn’t hear of any agreement to keep mum,” replied the cadet addressed.
“Nor did I,” put in Bob Grenwood, the quartermaster of the battalion.
“Nor I,” came from several others.
At these words the captain’s face showed relief.
“All who have not agreed to band together will raise their hands,” said the captain loudly, and instantly nearly every cadet raised his hand.
“This is really gratifying,” went on Captain Putnam, with almost a smile on his face. “To my mind, to take the clapper was bad enough, but to band together to overthrow the discipline of the school would be much worse. I am glad to learn you young gentlemen have not done such a thing.”
Again the head of the school paused, and the boys wondered what was coming next.
“Now, to return to the clapper. I have received a communication from one of the officers of the church and he had made an earnest request that the whole matter be dropped. The church has the clapper back, and the ones who took it have expressed their regrets over the affair, and have made the church a donation which had been gratefully received. Under the circumstances, I am going to leave this matter in the hands of yourselves.”