ttle village, made a few trifling
purchases and then returned to the Academy, Jack managing the car and
quite exciting Dick's admiration by the cool manner in which he took the
trying hills, sharp turns and steep ascents.

"I'd like to have you with me whenever I go to the station, Jack," Dick
said. "I fancied I could run a car anywhere but you can beat me all to
bits. Herring can say what he likes but a fellow that can run a car as
steadily and coolly as you can is good enough to associate with the
president himself."

"I am glad you like it," said Jack, smiling, "but long use has made me
well accustomed to our Hudson valley hills and I really do not mind them
nor think them so bad as a stranger would."

The story of the robbery was added to the next day and many conflicting
accounts were related so that one could not readily find out what was
true and what was not.

The man that Jones had seen was identified as a former prisoner in one
of the State institutions but whether he had escaped or had served his
term was very much in doubt.

On the second afternoon succeeding Jack's visit to the station he was
taking a stroll through the woods in the rear of the Academy, expecting
Percival to join him, the two often taking walks together.

He suddenly observed that he was quite near to the bank of the ravine
and was about to turn when all at once a form flew out of the bushes
close at hand, rushed violently against him and sent him in an instant
off his feet and down the steep incline.

CHAPTER VIII

WHAT JACK FOUND IN THE RAVINE

Jack Sheldon uttered a startled cry as he found himself darting through
space and then he struck on his back and went sliding down the bank
toward the creek below unable to stop himself.

Many thoughts passed rapidly through his mind as he went on down the
bank, narrowly missing great rocks, stumps of fallen trees and clumps of
thorn bushes, feeling no pain but wondering where he would land.

What occurred to him with the most startling distinctness, however, was
the fact that he had not lost his footing through his own carelessness
but that some one had pushed him from the bank.

Speculation as to who this person might be seemed absolutely useless for
he had not seen him and had not known of his presence until the very
instant before he had fallen.

What might eventually happen to him did not occupy his thoughts so much
as the identity of this person and it seemed as if he