Dick's heart seemed to stop beating as he read the lines.
"Attacked by rascal who tried to ransack the house," he murmured.
"It must have been Arnold Baxter."
"No bad news, I trust, Master Dick," observed Snuggers.
"Yes, Peleg, very bad. Take this back to the Hall and give it to my brothers, and tell them I am going to Ithaca by the first boat, and there take the midnight train for home. Tell them to explain to Captain Putnam and then to follow me. Do you understand?"
"Well—I—er—I guess I do," stammered the workingman. "Be you going home, then?"
"At once." Dick turned to the operator.
"The boat for Ithaca is almost due, isn't it?"
"Yes, sir, in five minutes."
"Take me to the wharf, Peleg, and hurry up about it."
"Got to go, then?"
"I have," and Dick leaped into the carriage. Peleg Snuggers saw that the young cadet was in earnest, and made the boat landing in less than three minutes.