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This was agreed to, and a little later the Skimmer was on the way to the school. It was now after eight o'clock and the cadets were hungry. Andy and Pepper were to have their meals sent to them from the Fasick farmhouse. Tying up at the boathouse landing, Jack and Fred hurried into the Hall. As they passed one of the classrooms they came face to face with Reff Ritter.
"Got back late, didn't you?" said the bully to Fred. "Yes," was the short reply. The bully passed on without another word. Jack was in a quandary. What should he tell Captain Putnam? If he told of his suspicions concerning Cameron Smith he would drag Reff Ritter into the mix-up. "I guess I had better wait until something more turns up," he thought.
"The rascal!" cried Jack. "If he hurts my boat he shall pay for it!" "Captain Putnam must have given him a good dressing down to make him so ugly." "Well, he deserved it." "Say," put in Dale. "That was mean of old Crabtree to send you away from the table." "Never mind, I'll pay him back," answered The Imp, grimly. Several days passed and during that time Reff Ritter kept his distance.
But I am not going to leave, and if you dare to open your mouth against me I'll punch your head." "You'll not punch my head, Reff!" answered Jack, and now his tones grew stern. "If you don't want to believe me, you needn't. But I'll not let you threaten me." "Humph! You can't boss me, even if you are major of the battalion." "I don't want to 'boss' anybody.
"He went to Ireland this summer, and his brogue is worse than ever." "Never mind, Emerald is a good fellow," said Major Jack. "His heart is as big as a barrel." "Say, but wasn't Reff Ritter mad!" came from Dale. "Oh, he makes me tired," answered Pepper. "After all that happened last term wouldn't you think he'd behave himself better?" "It isn't in him to behave himself," answered Fred Century.
"You may remain in the hallway until I call you, Major Ruddy," said Captain Putnam, when Jack appeared, and the young major had to go outside, closing the door after him. The telling of Reff Ritter's story took some time, and he was asked several questions by Captain Putnam and Josiah Crabtree.
"Why, you see, sir, some of the cadets in this school are not good friends with me and Major Ruddy, and maybe they thought they would play a trick on us by taking his watch and chain and my scarfpin." "Humph! a mighty poor trick! Who are those cadets?" "I don't want to accuse them, Captain Putnam." "I understand. But who are the cadets?" "Reff Ritter and Gus Coulter." "Oh, yes, I remember now.
"But, Andy, did you Hi, look where you are going, will you, Ritter!" cried Jack, rather angrily. A tall youth, carrying a big dress-suit case, had forced his way through the crowd, hitting Jack in the knee with his baggage. "What do you want to block the way for?" demanded Reff Ritter, sourly. "Think you own the dock?"
And then Reff Ritter appeared, minus his coat, vest and collar, and his face distorted with rage. "I didn't say your father was dishonest, Reff," returned Jack, as calmly as he could. "I was simply going to state " "Oh, you needn't try to smooth it over, Jack Ruddy," fumed the bully. "Don't imagine that I don't know all about the mean stories you and others are circulating about my family.
The encounters that Jack and his chums had with Reff Ritter and his cronies were numerous, and more than once Ritter did his best to get the young major into serious trouble. Once he drugged Jack with some French headache powders, and when he was exposed Captain Putnam would have expelled him had not Jack very generously asked that he be given another chance.
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