"Say, if they were tipped off that something like this was going to take place, they know who was in it," said Paul, as he and Dick headed across the ice which covered the inlet at one side of the wooded point.
Dick thought of the conversation he had seen taking place between Miss Hanford and the major, and a light came to him.
"She must have overheard the talk about swords, and she got frightened," he said to himself. "That's how the major knew."
On came the dark figures over the snow, but the cadets had a good start. Across the ice they went, and were soon lost in the depths of a little grove of trees. From there they managed to gain the barracks.
"Queer they didn't call after us," said Dick, as he and Paul were safe in their room.
"That is sort of funny. Say, where's the other bladder?"
"Dutton must have it."
But Dutton didn't have it. He had dropped it as he ran, and Major Webster picked it up a little later on the dueling ground. The major held it out to Colonel Masterly.
"What's this?" asked the colonel.
"One of their weapons, I fancy."