All looked around in perplexity, and while doing so were approached by a farmer who lived in the vicinity. He said he had seen nothing of the wagons, although he had looked for them. To this farmer belonged the field which Captain Putnam had rented for the night. “We may as well scatter and make a search,” said the young major, after talking the matter over with the master of Putnam Hall. “Perhaps the wagons took to some side road.” It was agreed that the cadets should look for the wagons, and permission was given to stay away for two hours, no longer. Several parties were formed, one being made up of Jack, Pepper, Andy and Stuffer. “Say, I’ve got an idea,” said the youth who loved to eat, when the party was out of hearing of the others. “I may be away off, but it won’t do any harm to tell what I think.” “Well, what is in your brain, Stuffer?” asked the young major. “I think some of the Pornell Academy students are responsible for the non-appearance of those wagons,” answered Stuffer, as he commenced to chew on some gum in lieu of eating. “What makes you think that?” demanded Pepper. “Because I was down to Cedarville last night, and I saw Roy Bock, Bat Sedley, and several others quizzing Peleg Snuggers about where we were going to camp and all that. As I passed them I heard Bock mention the wagons, and he asked who was going to drive ’em.” “It would be just like the Bock crowd to do such a thing!” cried Andy. “Just to get square with us for the tricks we have played on ’em in the past.” “But how could they get possession of the wagons?” asked Pepper. “Do you suppose they played highwaymen?” “I don’t know. Bock and his gang are willing to do anything, I guess, to square old scores. But most likely they directed the drivers to the wrong road. They could easily do that, if the men didn’t know the road in the first place.” “If that’s the case it is up to us to find those wagons as soon as possible,” cried Jack. “If we had to stay out all night without tents the Pornell students would have the laugh on us.” The boys were walking along the road by which they had come. They kept their eyes on the ground, and presently saw some tracks that interested them. “Here is where some wagons turned off into yonder field,” said Andy. “The question is, Were they our wagons or not?” “Let us follow the tracks and see,” returned Pepper. They crossed the field and came out on a back road that led through a dense patch of trees. Beyond this were two other roads. “The wagons took that to the left,” announced Stuffer. “Oh, dear!” he added. “Wish we could find them and get supper! I’m mortally hungry!” “Were you ever otherwise?” asked Jack “Come on, we’ll not have anything to eat until this mystery is cleared up.” They walked on for over a mile, and came to a spot where the trees were interspersed with heavy brushwood. “Here is one of the wagons,” shouted Andy. “Here is another!” cried the young major.