The young major allowed the bully to get up and caught him tightly by the arm. The two walked over to the other tent, and there beheld Coulter and Paxton surrounded by Andy, Dale and Pepper. Paxton was trembling as if with the ague, and Coulter was also much disturbed. “We caught them in our tent at our things,” said Pepper. “At least, they were at my things.” “And Ritter was in my tent, putting something in my bed,” answered Jack. “Coulter dropped something. Make a light and see what it was,” suggested Andy. “Oh, don’t make a noise! You’ll have the guard down on us! And Captain Putnam and Mr. Strong!” cried Paxton, hoarsely. “We don’t want to get caught!” “You are making as much noise as anybody,” answered Ritter. He was much disturbed, but tried not to show it. “We were only playing a little joke,” he continued. “Just to square up for that launch affair.” Andy had struck a match and lit a lantern that was handy. He cast the rays on the flooring of the tent. “Here is what Coulter dropped,” said Dale, and picked the object up. “A twenty-five cent bill, I declare! Where did that old-time money come from?” “Here is another bill—a ten-cent one,” added Pepper, taking it from his suit-case, which Coulter had not had time to close. “Where did they get this stuff?” “Let me see those bills,” cried Jack. “Keep your eyes on Ritter as well as Coulter and Paxton,” he added, to his chums. The young major took the paper money and examined it with care. He gave a start and then turned sternly to Ritter. “Where did that money come from, Ritter?” he demanded. “Don’t ask me,” returned the bully as coolly as he could. “You took it from Mr. Strong’s collection.” “How do you know?” “I feel sure of it. Shall I call Mr. Strong and find out?” “No! no!” cried Paxton. “Don’t call him! Don’t call anybody, please!” And he fell on his knees before the young major. “Paxton, tell me the whole truth of this,” said Jack. “Don’t you say a word, Nick!” cried Ritter. “Remember your promise.” “But—but if they call Captain Putnam—” stammered the frightened cadet. “Our word is as good as theirs,” answered the bully. “Then you are willing to tell falsehoods to get out of this affair, eh?” said Jack, in disgust. To this Ritter did not reply. Coulter looked at Paxton and then at the other cadets. Evidently he was trying to think out a way to escape punishment. “See here,” he said, in a low, nervous voice. “If we tell the truth about this, and fix everything as it was before, will you let us go?” “That depends,” answered Jack. “You tell us what you were up to first. I know this paper money belongs to the collection Mr. Strong brought from Ithaca. I saw it this afternoon.” “All we were doing was to play a trick on you, and Mr. Strong,” went on Coulter. “We took the old paper money and hid it in your tent.”