“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going home,” announced the ex-lieutenant.
And that is what he did, stealing away from the camp early in the morning just as the heavy storm of the night was passing away. He managed to get a few of his possessions, but the others had to be left behind. He wanted Glutts to go with him, but the son of the wholesale butcher was afraid to do so.
In the morning Jack and the others had to make a full report to Captain Dale of what had occurred. The young captain mentioned the fact that Werner had had his pocketknife in his hand.
“I’m not sure that he was going to use it,” said Jack. “In fact, I would rather think that he wouldn’t do so. But I wasn’t going to take any chances, and so I hit him. Then he hit back, and—well, we mixed it up pretty freely. Finally I gave him a blow that knocked him flat, and then the others came up.”
“Captain Rover, you know I do not approve of fighting, especially among officers,” declared Captain Dale sternly. “However, the introduction of the pocketknife changes the situation somewhat. I will hear what Werner has to say.”
Then it was discovered that Gabe Werner had left the camp. He had written a note saying that he was going home and that he guessed he would never come back to Colby Hall again. This being so, the matter was dropped so far as Jack was concerned. Nor was Gif punished for the way he had treated Bill Glutts. Captain Dale read a stern lecture to that unworthy, and for the remainder of the camp term Glutts was deprived of many liberties he might otherwise have enjoyed.
It must not be supposed that the boys had forgotten the strange noises they had heard while in the woods and in the cavern at the front of the cliff. They had reported to Captain Dale, and several investigations had been made, but without results. The captain had also communicated with the authorities at Rackville, and likewise with the Secret Service men stationed at Camp Huxwell.
“Well, I see they haven’t made any progress in the matter of that explosion at the Hasley Shell Loading plant,” remarked Spouter one day, after reading a copy of the Haven Point newspaper which had come in. “They are looking all over for those two Germans, but have been unable to spot ’em.”
“I see the company is offering a reward of ten thousand dollars for the apprehension of the men,” came from Fred, who had likewise read the sheet. “Gee, I’d like to get a chance at that reward!”