“Great heavens, man!” he gasped. “Don’t you see? Don’t you see? Those plebes are the seven lunatics!”
The Seven saw no reason for stopping because the yearlings were lost to view for a moment. They knew where the yearlings were going, and all they had to do was to go there, too. In a minute or two more they were out of sight in the darkness, and Bull and his gang were left alone once more.
Bull said not a word for some minutes. He was too busy thinking, trying to realize what that extraordinary revelation meant. So it was Mallory who had caused all this excitement! Mallory who had gotten up that gigantic hoax! Mallory whom the sheriff and every one else were hunting for! Bull took in the situation in all its amazing details, and the more he thought of it the angrier he got.
But then suddenly Bull got an inspiration. He leaped to his feet, whacked his knee with his fist, and with a whoop of joy seized his companions and forced them hastily along. It was back toward West Point he started; the rest were naturally mystified at that.
“Where are you going?” demanded Vance.
“You wait and see,” chuckled Bull. “Wait and see, if you haven’t got sense enough to guess. By jingo, I’ve got him!”
“Got him! Who?”
“Mallory, you idiot!” roared the other. “Don’t ask so many stupid questions; hurry up.”
After that the party pressed on in silence. The three were too much puzzled to say anything more or to do anything but obey. Their curiosity was destined to be set at rest very soon, however.
They had not walked a hundred yards before they caught sight of some dark figures walking about in the woods. There was a lantern, too, and then suddenly came a voice: