“And then you were going to put the blame of taking it on us,” broke in Pepper quickly. “A fine trick, I must say! Why, Mr. Strong might have had us locked up for stealing!” “It was only a trick!” cried Paxton. “We would have explained it afterwards.” “Perhaps,—but most likely not,” said Andy. “It was a dirty trick, to say the least. You had no business to touch the money.” “Oh, you needn’t preach to us, Andy Snow!” cried Ritter. “I—I wish I hadn’t touched the money!” whined Paxton. “I didn’t want to do it in the first place!” “Oh, you make me sick!” roared Ritter. “Well, we’re in a mess, and now we have to get out of it,” muttered Coulter. “We can’t stay here all night.” “Better collect all that money first,” suggested Jack. “Yes, that would be the best plan,” said a voice from the doorway of the tent, and looking around all of the cadets saw George Strong confronting them. The teacher had donned his long mackintosh and a pair of shoes. “Oh, Mr. Strong!” cried Pepper. “I presume none of you expected to see me,” went on the teacher. “Well, hardly,” stammered Jack. “I happened to wake up, and hearing you talking thought I would get up and see what was the matter. I listened to your conversation and found out that the collection of paper money I brought with me to-day has been—what shall I say?—appropriated or borrowed? That collection is very valuable and is not mine, and I am under a promise to return it intact. I wish you would return the money to me, every bill, and each in good condition.” “Mr. Strong, I wish to state that neither Ditmore, Snow, Blackmore nor myself had anything to do with the taking of that money,” said the young major. “So I judged, by the talk I overheard,” answered the teacher, and his words gave Jack and his chums great relief. More lanterns were lit, and Coulter, Paxton and Ritter were forced to hunt up all the bills, both in the young major’s tent and in that occupied by his friends. The corporal of the guard came along, to find out what was going on, but when he saw the teacher in charge he retired. It took some time to collect all the paper money, and while this was going on Mr. Strong was grimly silent. He looked over the collection with care. “Every bill seems to be here,” he said, at last. “Now all of you young gentlemen can go to bed. In the morning I will investigate further, and report to Captain Putnam.” Much worried, Ritter, Coulter and Paxton withdrew to their quarters. They had been caught in their own trap, and wondered what punishment would be meted out to them. “Well, we’ve got to answer a few questions, too,” said Jack. “Don’t forget that we were found fully dressed when we should have been in bed and asleep.” “That is true,” answered Pepper. “But, nevertheless, I am mighty glad Mr. Strong came in as he did. If he hadn’t Ritter and his gang might have gotten us into no end of trouble.” “Ritter is a bad egg—I wish we were rid of him,” was Andy’s comment.