Part 32 (2/2)
CHAPTER XXIV
JOSIAH CRABTREE MAKES A MOVE
As quick as a flash of lightning d.i.c.k saw through Josiah Crabtree's scheme for, letting matters Of the past drop. The former teacher of Putnam Hall was afraid the youth would hunt up the college students from Yale and expose him to them.
As a matter of fact, Crabtree was already ”on the outs” with two of the students, and he was afraid that if the truth regarding his character became known his present position would be lost to him and he would be cast off to s.h.i.+ft for himself.
”You don't want me to speak to the students under your charge?”
said d.i.c.k slowly.
”Oh, of course you can speak to them, if you wish. But I--ahem--I would not care to--er--er--”
”To let them know what a rascal you are,” finished d.i.c.k.
”Crabtree, let me tell you once for all, that you can expect no friends.h.i.+p, from me. You are not worthy of it. When I meet those students I will tell them whatever I see fit.”
At these words Josiah Crabtree grew as white as a sheet. Then, setting his teeth, he suddenly recovered. ”Are those your friends?” he demanded, pointing up the lake sh.o.r.e.
As was perfectly natural, d.i.c.k turned to gaze in the direction.
As he did so, Crabtree swung a stick that he carried into the air and brought it down with all force on the youth's head. d.i.c.k felt a terrific pain, saw a million or more dancing lights flash through his brain--and then he knew no more.
”I guess I've fixed him,” muttered the former teacher of Putnam Hall grimly. He knelt beside the fallen boy and felt of his heart. ”Not dead, but pretty well knocked out. Now what had I best do with him?”
He thought for a moment, then remembered a deep hollow which he had encountered but a short while before. Gazing around, to make certain that n.o.body was watching him, he picked up the unconscious lad and stalked off with the form, back into the jungle and up a small hill.
At the top there was a split between the rocks and dirt, and into this he dropped poor d.i.c.k, a distance of twenty or more feet.
Then he threw down some loose leaves and dead tree branches.
”Now I reckon I am getting square with those Rovers,” he muttered, as he hurried away.
The others of the Rover party wondered why d.i.c.k did not join them when they gathered around the camp-fire that night.
”He must be done fis.h.i.+ng by this time,” said Tom. ”I wonder if anything has happened to him?”
”Let us take a walk up de lake an' see,” put in Aleck, and the pair started off without delay.
They soon found the spot where d.i.c.k had been fis.h.i.+ng. His rod and line lay on the bank, just as he had dropped it upon Josiah Crabtree's approach.
”d.i.c.k! d.i.c.k! Where are you?” called out Tom.
No answer came back at first. Then, to Tom's astonishment, a strange voice answered from the woods: ”Here I am! Where are you?”
”Dat aint d.i.c.k,” muttered Aleck. ”Dat's sumbuddy else, Ma.s.sah Tom.”
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