"It's ours!" screamed Tom, and with a final haul brought the opponents over the line with a rush. Rockley, flat on his back on the grass, trying in vain to dig his heels into the soil, and the others floundering just as vainly.
A cheer went up for Tom's team, while Rockley and his followers left the field in disgust.
"It was well won, Tom!" said Dick enthusiastically. "I never saw a better tug of war in my life."
"I'd like to know who threw that pepper," answered Tom, with an angry glance toward Lew Flapp and his cronies.
"Did somebody throw pepper?" asked Mr. Strong.
"I think they did, although I'm not sure. Anyway, something came along and made the most of us sneeze."
"It's too bad, Rover. I'll try to make sure of this," said the teacher.
But though he made an investigation nothing came of it.
Some of the cadets were so delighted with the success of Tom's team that they took Tom on their shoulders and marched around the entire encampment with him.
"I tell you, Rockley feels sore," said Sam, a little later.
"Around the belt?" asked Tom with a grin.