And the snow, which had begun in a light flurry, was coming down heavily now, covering the woods and the road before them with a white fleecy blanket.
The wind had risen, too, and they were forced to stop time and time again to straighten hats and shake the clinging snow from their skirts.
And because of the wind they did not hear the sound of voices. So that Chet and Teddy, coming back from their errand to town, were almost upon them before they knew it.
And then something happened that made the girls drop their bags and stare in stupid amazement.
Out from the bushes straight in front of them sprang the figure of a man. And at the same moment Chet and Teddy rounded the curve of the road.
The man straightened and looked wildly from one group to the other, and then made as though to double on his tracks and dive into the woods again.
"Stop that man!" shouted Teddy. "He robbed our Academy! That's right, girls—head him off!"
For Billie, with a gasp of astonishment, had recognized the Codfish, and seeing what he was about to do had darted forward straight in his path. A score of the other girls followed her example, and so quickly was the move made that the man found his escape cut off entirely.
Wildly he looked about him, started in the other direction, but found his path blocked there also.
With a snarl of rage he flung himself forward, resolved to break his way through by force, but Teddy and Chet were too quick for him.