Coulter and Paxton promised to keep their eyes open, and as silently as a shadow Reff Ritter walked around to the front of the tent, untied the flap and peered inside. All was dark, yet in a faint way he discerned George Strong resting on a cot and sleeping soundly. He tiptoed his way into the tent and felt around. He knew the collection of rare paper money was in a square wooden box with a brass handle. It rested on a campchair close to the head of the cot. As Ritter touched the wooden box the teacher gave a heavy sigh and turned over. With his heart in his throat the bully crouched down on the floor in a corner. But the teacher did not awaken, and soon commenced to breathe as regularly as ever. Once Ritter had the wooden box in his grasp he lost no time in quitting the tent. As he came outside Paxton gave a low whistle. “What’s wrong?” “A guard is coming this way—lay low!” The three boys threw themselves flat on the ground and remained there, scarcely daring to breathe. It was the corporal of the guard who was approaching, and he had another cadet with him. “You say you saw somebody sneaking around here?” asked the corporal. “I did,” answered the guard. “Who was it?” “I don’t know.” “Well, I’ll take a walk through the whole camp,” said the corporal. “You can go back to your post.” The guard left, and the corporal walked off in the direction of the tent occupied by Captain Putnam. Then he went down one of the company streets, and at last disappeared into his own quarters. “Say, that was a close shave!” muttered Coulter. “Well, a miss is as good as a mile,” answered Ritter, coolly. “Come on, if we want to get some sleep to-night.” “Say, I’m beginning to think this is a dangerous piece of business,” was Paxton’s comment. His teeth were chattering, but not from cold. “You can’t back out now,” answered the bully, quickly. “But if we are found out——” “We won’t be found out—unless you blab.” “Oh, I’ll not say a word,” answered Paxton hastily. “Then come into the tent.” They entered the tent occupied by the bully, and Coulter lit a candle. By the faint light afforded Ritter opened the wooden box, took out the paper money and divided it into three parts. “Now, I’ll take my share and hide it in Ruddy’s things,” said Ritter. “And what do you want us to do?” asked Coulter. “Put your share in Ditmore’s clothing and in his dress-suit case.” “Supposing he is awake?” asked Paxton. “He won’t be—he’ll be asleep and snoring like a top.” “All right. But if he is awake I’ll not go in,” said Paxton. “Don’t be chicken-hearted, Nick.” “I don’t want to be caught.” “You won’t be caught.” “Come on,” said Coulter. “We’ll do our share, you do yours,” he added, to Ritter. The cadets separated, each with the old paper money stuck in the bosom of his coat, where he could get at it easily. Ritter hurried directly to the tent occupied by the young major of the school battalion.