“Hurrah! that’s the idea!” exclaimed another cadet. “We could remain out till Captain Putnam came back.”
“What of the other fellows?” asked Reff Ritter.
“They can join us if they want to,” answered the young major.
“That will be a regular rebellion,” said Frank Barringer.
“Don’t you think we are justified, Frank?”
“Oh, yes, Jack—under the circumstances we are justified in doing almost anything. Besides, if we get away, I’ll have a chance to send that telegram to Captain Putnam. It ought to be sent at once.”
“We ought to have some plan of action,” said Bob Grenwood. “After we break away what shall we do?”
“We ought to fix it so that the fellows left behind will know what we are up to,” said the young major. “Perhaps they might get out tonight and follow us—if they wanted to.”
After considerable discussion it was decided that, given the chance, each cadet should get out of the Hall as best he could. All were to meet later at the ruins of an old barn, half a mile up the lake shore.
“Don’t be worried if I don’t show up on time,” said Jack. “If I can I want to let the other fellows know what is going on.” And then he told of the hole in the closet ceiling and of how it led to the trunk room above.