“At least two weeks, Major Ruddy, and perhaps longer—if the carpenters and masons do not finish up here in time. I do not want the students to come back here until the alterations are complete. To-morrow I shall announce more of the details. The students will now go to their classes as usual.” As the boys poured forth from the chapel exercises Jack and Pepper worked their way over to Dale and Fred. “Your visit to Deacon Pelham did the trick,” whispered the young major. “I am a thousand times obliged to you.” “And so am I,” added The Imp. “I want to know about this banding together the captain mentioned,” said Fred. “I never heard of it before.” “I think I can put you wise,” came from Bob Grenwood, who was near. “I overheard Ritter and Coulter talking about it.” “It would be like Ritter to get up that report!” cried Pepper. “He would do anything to get our crowd into trouble.” “I know it,” said Grenwood, who had once suffered greatly at the hands of the bully, as I have related in detail in “The Putnam Hall Rebellion.” “We’ll have to watch Ritter as closely as we ever did,” said Jack. “The trouble he got into a few weeks ago doesn’t seem to have made him a bit better than he was before.” Ordinarily the clapper incident would have been the main topic of conversation among the cadets. But the announcement that the term encampment was to start in the near future turned the thoughts of the students in that direction. “We’ll have the time of our lives,” declared Andy. “Just think of the fine swimming and fishing!” “And no lessons!” put in Dale. “And the baseball and track athletics!” said Stuffer. “Thought you were going to say the eating,” came slyly from Pepper. “When we talk about going camping you usually talk grub the first thing.” “Oh, of course, I expect to have plenty to eat,” added Stuffer hastily. “I know one thing will happen during the encampment,” said one of the other cadets. “What’s that?” asked Dale. “There will be more or less hazing.” “Right you are.” “We ought to haze Ritter & Company,” cried Pepper. “They richly deserve it.” “Right you are!” cried several. “Maybe Ritter & Company will try to haze us,” said Fred. “All right, let them try it,” answered Andy. “I reckon we can give them as good as they send, every time!” CHAPTER VII WHAT THE GIRLS HAD TO TELL “What do you say, Jack, to a spin on our wheels?” “That suits me, Pepper. Shall we go alone, or ask some of the others?” “I have already asked Andy and Dale.” “Good enough.” It was after school hours and still light. As the cadets had good bicycles they often took rides up and down the lake road, or out in the country back of Cedarville. All of the cadets were soon ready for the spin, and off they went, Jack and Pepper abreast, with Andy and Dale close behind. “Want a race?” asked Andy. “I feel as if I could ride like the wind.” “Well, I’ll go you!” cried Pepper.