o is to have those three cadets watched
closely, to see if they really intend to carry out their nefarious
plot."

"Exactly what I was thinking, Colonel Colby."

"First, however, you may send Randy Rover and his Cousin Fred to me. I
want to question them, so as to make sure of my ground."

Expecting this call, Randy and Fred kept themselves in readiness, and as
soon as Professor Brice came for them they hurried off to the office,
taking care that none of their enemies should see them. Slugger, Nappy
and Codfish, however, were out of sight, having gone upstairs to their
rooms.

"Now, I want you to tell me exactly what was said," announced Colonel
Colby, as soon as the two cadets appeared.

They had their story well in mind, and it did not take long to give the
master of the Hall all of the details. In the midst of the conversation,
Fred let drop accidentally that the three unworthy cadets had been
smoking.

"They were smoking?" interrupted the colonel.

"Yes, sir. But--I--I--didn't mean to mention that," stammered Fred.

"What were they smoking, Rover?"

"Cigarettes."

"All of them?"

"Yes, sir. Although, to tell the truth, Codfish--I mean Stowell--didn't
seem to want to smoke, but Slugger--that is, Brown--urged him, so that
he didn't know how to get out of it. I guess the cigarette made him
sick."

"I see." Colonel Colby nodded his head slowly. "Now go on;" and then the
story of what had been overheard in the upper room of the gymnasium was
finished.

"It's an outrage! an outrage! if what you say is true; and I have no
reason to doubt your word," went on the master of the Hall, after the
cadets had finished. "I am sorry now that I gave Brown and Martell this
chance to return to our school."

To this neither of the Rovers made any reply. For an instant both of
them thought of the trick they had played on Asa Lemm. Colonel Colby
seemed to follow their thought.

"Your trick and this thing are two entirely different affairs,"
continued the colonel. "In the one case, you, in your boyish fashion,
tried to square up for the way you had been mistreated. In this case,
however, these cadets are trying to get you into trouble, and if this
trick had succeeded, it is just possible that I might have been angry
enough to send you and the rest of your family home."

"Well, don't send Brown and Martell home on our account," announced
Randy. "We are not afraid of them."

"That may be, Rover. But I cannot have such