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A diligent search had been made for the other stolen articles, but nothing more was brought to light. If Pop had taken the things he had either hidden them well or else disposed of them. It was nearly nightfall when Peleg Snuggers drove back to the Hall. Dick and Tom met him just outside the gates and saw that the man-of-all-work looked much dejected.
"It must have been Arnold Baxter." "No bad news, I trust, Master Dick," observed Snuggers. "Yes, Peleg, very bad. Take this back to the Hall and give it to my brothers, and tell them I am going to Ithaca by the first boat, and there take the midnight train for home. Tell them to explain to Captain Putnam and then to follow me. Do you understand?"
Of course Peleg Snuggers came in for his full share of attention, and the utility man had all sorts of jokes played on him until he was almost in despair. "Don't, young gents, don't!" he would plead. "Oh, my! An' to think the term's just begun!" And he mopped his brow with his red bandanna handkerchief. "Peleg, you are getting handsomer every day," remarked Sam.
"It's good for the lumbago, too." "Ain't got no lumba Oh, crickey! Let me down, boys. I don't want a ride!" "Behold, the conquering hero comes!" announced Sam, as six of the boys hoisted poor Snuggers up into the air. "Now, sit up straight, Peleg. Don't you want a sword?" "Here's a broom," put in Fred Garrison, and handed over an article which was worn to a stump. "Present arms! Forward, march!
"There you are, Peleg, and all for nothing." "I don't see any picture," growled Snuggers, looking at the square blankly. "You must breathe on it, Peleg; then the picture will come out beautifully. It's a little fresh yet." Peleg Snuggers breathed on the square of tin as directed, and then there slowly came to view the picture of a donkey's head! The boys gathered around set up a shout.
General Washtub will lead the funeral procession." "If you let me tumble I'll break my neck!" gasped Peleg Snuggers. "Oh, creation! How can I carry that broom and hold on, too! This is awful! Shall I call the captain? Let up, I say!" "Send for Mrs. Green to give him some soothing syrup, he's got the fits," came from a cadet in the crowd. "I'll get her," cried Tom, struck with a new idea.
"Yes, sir," answered the general utility man. "Here is a pistol. If it does break out, fire two shots for an alarm." "Yes, sir." "I'll send Alexander Pop here with more water and with some lunch, for you'll have to stay all night," went on the owner of the school. Alexander Pop was a colored man who had come to the school to wait on the table. "Yes, sir," answered Snuggers.
"Oh, I remember now!" And he feel back again. "He thinks he's still in the football game," whispered Harry Blossom. "Oh, but he's a plucky one." All of the other lads had been severely shaken up, but nobody had been hurt excepting Frank, as before mentioned. Soon he came limping up, followed by Peleg Snuggers. "I missed it by jumping," he observed ruefully. "Hullo, is Dick knocked out?"
At the top of the first long rise Peleg Snuggers stopped the team for a few minutes' rest. Here the view was magnificent, and many a cadet stopped his idle talk to gaze at the mountains to the westward and the sparkling lake winding along in the opposite direction.
He was gone but a few minutes, and came back on a run. "We are in for it!" he cried. "Mr. Strong is down at the stable talking to Peleg Snuggers." "Great Caesar! What's to do?" "Get the stuff out of the sleigh first and hide it near the Hall in the snow," answered Dick. Be quick!" His advice was followed, Tom carrying the soda water and root beer and Dick the other things.
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