scarce," he muttered. "Perhaps I
had better leave and join Uncle Sid." And he walked away silently and up
to his room. He remained there about ten minutes, then stole forth and
down a back way, a fair-sized bundle under his arm.

At the conclusion of the interview in the office Captain Putnam sent for
Tad Sobber. One of the monitors went on the errand and came back in
quarter of an hour with the information that the youth could not be
found.

"Did he have permission to leave the grounds?" asked the captain of the
teachers.

"Not from me," said one instructor after another.

Then Peleg Snuggers was sent out to hunt the bully up and soon came back
with the information that Sobber was not around the grounds, but had
been seen by two of the cadets walking in the direction of Cedarville.
Sobber had given one of the cadets a note for the master of the Hall.
This ran as follows:

"Must go to the village on a matter of great importance. Will
explain when I return.--T. Sobber."

"Maybe he has gone to find out about that snake," suggested Tom.

"How could he?" came from his younger brother. "The museum keeper has
moved away."

"Tad may know where he moved to," put in Larry.

A whole day passed and the bully did not show himself. Then Captain
Putnam drove over to the village and attempted to hunt him up, but
without success. He learned that the museum man had shipped his outfit
to Boston.

"He has run away," said the master of the Hall to Mr. Pell and George
Strong. "I am satisfied now that he was guilty. But as Nick knew of it,
he must have had something to do with it," he added.

"I trust my son recovers," answered Mr. Pell, with a deep sigh. But the
days went by and Nick Pell still remained in bad shape, very weak and
out of his mind for the greater part of the time. During his lucid
intervals he told how Sobber had purchased the snake for five dollars,
the owner saying it was sick and liable to die in the near future. He
added that the bully had said he hoped the snake would bite one of the
Rovers.

"I didn't want him to use the snake," said the sufferer, "but he
insisted, and told me to keep my mouth shut about it." After that poor
Nick began to rave again and had to be given some medicine to keep him
quiet. During one of his good spells he was removed to a house located
about half a mile from Putnam Hall, where he could get the benefit of
absolute quietness. His father went back to business, but his