With this addition to the food already on hand, the boys started in to have a real good dinner. They were enjoying it thoroughly and cracking all kinds of jokes when they suddenly heard a commotion in the corridor outside.
“I’ve caught you, have I?” they heard Snopper Duke exclaim. “What business have you up here, anyway?”
“I wasn’t doing any harm, Professor,” came in the voice of Dan Soppinger.
“What is that you have behind your back? Give it to me this instant,” went on the teacher.
“Gee! that’s Dan Soppinger, and he’s got himself into trouble!” exclaimed Jack, in alarm.
“I really didn’t mean to do any harm,” the imprisoned cadets heard Dan answer.
“What is that you are trying to hide? Give it to me!” There was a brief silence, and then those in the room heard the teacher continue: “A pumpkin pie and almost a pound of cheese! Where did you get those things, Soppinger? And what were you going to do with them? Come, answer me!”
“If you want to know, I was going to try to get them to those fellows you locked up,” answered Dan Soppinger, in desperation. “I heard you were just about starving them to death.”
“What’s that? Starving them to death? Stuff and nonsense! They are getting all that they need, and it’s not for you to interfere in my business,” went on Snopper Duke, his high-pitched voice rising still higher in anger. “You should be down in your classroom. Give me those things and go downstairs at once. I’ll attend to your case later.”
“Gee! poor Dan is certainly in hot water,” whispered Jack.