CHAPTER XVIII

IN WHICH TAD SOBBER DISAPPEARS

All standing near Nick Pell were amazed to see the boy fall to the

floor. Captain Putnam and Dick Rover raised him up. His eyes were

rolling frightfully and his jaws opened and shut with a snap that was

sickening.

"Something is certainly wrong with him," whispered Sam to Tom.

"Yes, he wouldn't act that way if he was simply frightened," was the

reply. "And see his hand!"

"We will carry him up to one of the spare bedrooms," said Captain

Putnam. "And, Mr. Strong, see to it that we get a doctor here as soon as

possible. Tell him it is a case of snake poisoning, and ask him over the

telephone what we had best do."

Nick Pell was carried upstairs. By this time he had ceased to move and

lay like a log in the hands of those who supported him.

Many had heard him mention Tad Sobber and all looked at the bully

inquiringly. Sobber was deadly pale, but managed to keep up a bold

front.

"I am not to blame," he said, in answer to a question from one of the

teachers. "I didn't put the snake in Pell's desk."

"Did you bring the snake into the school?"

"Certainly not," answered the bully shamelessly. He made up his mind to

keep out of "hot water" even if it was necessary to lie to do it.

A hurry call was sent to Doctor Fremley of Cedarville and he came as

quickly as his mare could bring him. Only the teachers and the physician

were allowed in the bedroom with Pell, so the cadets did not know what

took place.

"It's as plain as day," said Dick to his brother and his chums. "Sobber

got the snake and put it in the box. That is why Pell said he was to

blame."

"But Sobber told a teacher he did not bring the snake into the Hall,"

answered Songbird.

"I do not believe him," came from Tom.

"Nor do I," added Sam. "He's a bad egg, if ever there was one."

The poisoning of Nick Pell cast a damper over the whole school, and

neither the teachers nor the pupils could settle down to lessons. The

doctor remained with the sufferer for two hours, and when he went away

he looked very grave.

"He is by no means out of danger," announced the physician. "But let us

hope for the best. I think his parents ought to be notified."

This was done, and Mr. and Mrs. Pell came on the very next day to see

their son. They found him in something of a fever and out of his mind,

crying continually for Sobber to take the snake away.

"Richard, I want to see you," said Captain Putnam that evening, and led

Dick to his private office. There he demanded to know what the eldest

Rover knew of the snake incident.

"Captain Putnam, I will tell you everything from beginning to end,"

answered Dick. "If I am to suffer I'll take my punishment, and Tom and

Sam say they stand ready to do the same." And thereupon Dick related the

particulars of the trouble with the bully and Pell, and of how he and

his brothers and Songbird and Hans had seen Sobber and Pell at the

museum where the snakes had been. Then he told of the feast, and how the

snake had been discovered in the box.

"I have kept the box," he added, "and you can look at the writing if you

wish. I think it is in Tad Sobber's hand, although somewhat disguised."

The address on the box was investigated by the master of the Hall, who

sent for several compositions Tad Sobber had written. The bully was much

disturbed when he had to give up the compositions to George Strong.

"What's that for?" he asked, with a scowl on his face.

"Captain Putnam wants them," answered the teacher, and would say no

more.

With anxious eyes the bully watched the first assistant disappear into

the office with the compositions. Then, looking to make sure that he was

not observed, he stole up to the door and applied his ear to the

keyhole. What he heard filled him with increased alarm.

"It is Sobber's handwriting beyond a doubt," said Captain Putnam, after

comparing the compositions with the address on the box cover. "I wonder

if he knew that the snake was a poisonous one?"

"Perhaps Nick Pell can tell that--after he gets over his trouble,"

returned Dick.

"Provided he does get over it, Richard."

"Don't you think he'll recover?" cried Dick, in consternation.

"He may not. It is a very serious case, so Doctor Fremley informs me."

"What does Mr. Pell say about it?"

"He wants me to investigate. He says he may have somebody arrested for

this--and I can hardly blame him. It was a vile thing to do--bring a

poisonous snake into the school."

At the mention of arrest Tad Sobber shut his teeth hard.

"I guess it's about time I made myself scarce," he muttered. "Perhaps I

had better leave and join Uncle Sid." And he walked away silently and up

to his room. He remained there about ten minutes, then stole forth and

down a back way, a fair-sized bundle under his arm.

At the conclusion of the interview in the office Captain Putnam sent for

Tad Sobber. One of the monitors went on the errand and came back in

quarter of an hour with the information that the youth could not be

found.

"Did he have permission to leave the grounds?" asked the captain of the

teachers.

"Not from me," said one instructor after another.

Then Peleg Snuggers was sent out to hunt the bully up and soon came back

with the information that Sobber was not around the grounds, but had

been seen by two of the cadets walking in the direction of Cedarville.

Sobber had given one of the cadets a note for the master of the Hall.

This ran as follows:

"Must go to the village on a matter of great importance. Will

explain when I return.--T. Sobber."

"Maybe he has gone to find out about that snake," suggested Tom.

"How could he?" came from his younger brother. "The museum keeper has

moved away."

"Tad may know where he moved to," put in Larry.

A whole day passed and the bully did not show himself. Then Captain

Putnam drove over to the village and attempted to hunt him up, but

without success. He learned that the museum man had shipped his outfit

to Boston.

"He has run away," said the master of the Hall to Mr. Pell and George

Strong. "I am satisfied now that he was guilty. But as Nick knew of it,

he must have had something to do with it," he added.

"I trust my son recovers," answered Mr. Pell, with a deep sigh. But the

days went by and Nick Pell still remained in bad shape, very weak and

out of his mind for the greater part of the time. During his lucid

intervals he told how Sobber had purchased the snake for five dollars,

the owner saying it was sick and liable to die in the near future. He

added that the bully had said he hoped the snake would bite one of the

Rovers.

"I didn't want him to use the snake," said the sufferer, "but he

insisted, and told me to keep my mouth shut about it." After that poor

Nick began to rave again and had to be given some medicine to keep him

quiet. During one of his good spells he was removed to a house located

about half a mile from Putnam Hall, where he could get the benefit of

absolute quietness. His father went back to business, but his mother

remained behind to nurse her boy.

The Thanksgiving holidays were now at hand, but the Rover boys decided

to remain at the Hall and not go home until Christmas. Besides, they

were preparing for the party at the Stanhope cottage, which was to come

off on the following Wednesday evening. They had seen Dora, Nellie and

Grace several times, and all had prepared for "the best time ever," as

the girls put it. Captain Putnam gave the boys permission to take the

carryall and allowed them to leave the school on the day of the party at

six o'clock.

"Whoop! here we go!" cried Tom, as he took the whip and cracked it

loudly. "Hold on, everybody! Peleg, don't let the team lag," he went on,

to the driver.

"An' don't you go for to make 'em run away, Master Tom," answered the

driver, grimly.

"It's a pretty long drive and we don't want to be late," said Dick. "So

push ahead as fast as you can."

"Say, Tubby, where's your stovepipe hat?" asked Sam of the dude cadet,

who formed one of the party.

"I--ah--thought it would not be--ah--quite appropriate," lisped William

Philander. "Not--ah--being full dress, you know."

"He was afraid of having it mashed," said Fred. "Hurrah! We're off! Now

for a good night's fun!"

They were to have a good night's fun--and a most unusual adventure with

it.