rmit them to give Bud a whack or two
with the butts of their muskets just to teach him to mind his own
business in future? Probably not; and if Captain Wilson forbade it Bud
would be safe, for the boys thought too much of him to rebel against his
orders.

"We will wait a few minutes for the officers," said the Captain, "and in
the meantime--count fours."

But the boy officers did not "show up." They had concealed themselves so
effectually that the orderlies sent out by the colonel could not find
them, and so the captain was obliged to go without them. They would be
disappointed when they came out of their hiding-places and found that
their company had gone off with the colonel's permission, but that could
not be helped. Caleb Judson was much surprised when he found himself at
the head of the column, surrounded by a corporal's guard who were
instructed, in his hearing, to see that he did not give them the slip,
but he did not refuse to act as guide.

"All I ask of you, capting," said he, "is to let me stay back out of
sight when you grab Bud, so't he won't suspicion that I had anything to
do with bringin' you-uns onto him. He's a bad man when he's mad--"

"So I have heard," said the captain dryly. "He must be a terrible fellow
to let Elder Bowen walk him out of the yard by the back of the neck. But
your wishes shall be respected, and my boys will never mention your name
in connection with this business."

This satisfied Caleb, who strode ahead as if he were in a great hurry to
reach his destination.

"It's queer doings, this taking nearly a hundred boys to capture two
vagabonds," whispered Dixon, who had taken pains to secure a place in
the ranks next to Marcy Gray. "But it's the best thing that could be
done. If any of us had been ordered to stay behind, there might have
been another rebellion. Besides, Bud and Silas are Injuns, and I
shouldn't be surprised if they slipped through our fingers."

"I hope they will," said Marcy honestly. "Bad as they are, I shouldn't
want to see them hurt."

The students marched through the principal street of Barrington, but if
any one saw then! they never heard of it. There was but one man
stirring, and that was old Mr. Bailey, who devoted a wakeful half-hour
to patroling his premises with his revolver in his hand. If he was
surprised to see the boys he did not say anything about it, for the
rapidity of their movements and the strict silence they maintained were
indications th