The Rover Boys on a Hunt | Page 4

with those who had come down on
the Blue Moon, now turned back to see what had happened to the Glutts
party. They found the cadets who had been spilled picking themselves
up and brushing the snow from their garments. One was nursing a
bruised ankle, and another a bruised elbow, while Bill Glutts was
wiping some blood from a scratch on his chin.
"Well, we won the race," said Jack briefly. He had no desire to crow
over his opponents.
"Huh! you didn't win it fairly," growled Glutts, glaring at him.
"Didn't win it fairly!" exclaimed Jack. "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean you got in our way so we couldn't get past you--that's what I
mean!" growled the other.
"That is false, Glutts, and you know it," retorted the oldest Rover boy.
"See here, Jack Rover! you can't talk to me in that fashion," roared Bill
Glutts. He had been in a more or less bad humor all the afternoon, and

the defeat had not improved his temper. "I say you got in my way, and
that is why I lost the race."
"And I say your statement isn't true," returned Jack sturdily.
"It is true! And I won't let you or anybody else say any different," said
Bill Glutts. And then, in sudden passion, he stepped forward and gave
Jack a shove which sent the oldest Rover boy flat on his back in a
snowbank.
CHAPTER II
ABOUT THE ROVERS
The attack upon Jack Rover was so unexpected that he had no chance
to save himself from going down into the snowbank. He went down so
hard and the snow was so soft that for the moment he was almost
covered and had to flounder around quite some to regain his feet.
"See here, Bill Glutts! what do you mean by attacking my cousin?"
cried Randy, leaping forward and catching the bully by the arm.
"He had no right to talk to me the way he did," retorted Glutts. "Let go
of me!" and he shook himself free.
"What Jack said was true," put in Fred quickly. "I was on the back of
our bobsled and watched you nearly all the time. You came over on our
side of the road at least three different times."
By this time half a dozen of the cadets were speaking at once,
Carncross and several others upholding Bill Glutts. In the midst of the
discussion Jack managed to regain his feet, and, leaping forward, he
caught Bill Glutts firmly by both wrists.
"Glutts, you listen to me," said he sternly, looking the bully in the eyes.
"If I wasn't an officer at the Hall, I'd give you a sound thrashing for
what you just did. As it is, I expect you to apologize or else take the
consequences."

"Huh! I suppose you mean by that you'll play sissy and report me," said
the bully.
"No, I won't report you, but I'll see to it that you get what is coming to
you," answered Jack.
"Knowing he is an officer and can't fight you, you took a mean
advantage of Jack," broke in Gif Garrison. "You ought to be thrashed
for it, Glutts."
"I don't think Bill meant to shove him down into the snow," put in
Codfish, somewhat timidly.
"He did mean to do it!" said Jack quickly. "And he'll either apologize
for his actions or he'll take the consequences."
"Well, I'll take the consequences, whatever they are," retorted Bill
Glutts, with a sickly grin. "I know that race wasn't a fair one. Come on,
fellows, let's get back to the Hall, it's almost supper time," and with that
he trudged away, he and his cronies pulling the Yellow Streak behind
them.
"He sure is one sweet-tempered fellow," was Spouter's comment.
"Jack, why didn't you pitch into him, anyway?" questioned Andy
anxiously.
"I didn't have to," returned Jack briefly. "Just the same, I won't forget
the way he has acted. If it wasn't that I am captain of Company C, and
am expected not to fight, I'd have given him the thrashing of his life."
To the many young folks who have read the former volumes in this
series, the Rover boys will not need an introduction. But for the benefit
of new readers a few words concerning my characters will be
necessary.
In the first volume, entitled "The Rover Boys at School," I related how
three brothers, Dick, Tom, and Sam Rover, were sent to Putnam Hall

Military Academy, where they made a great number of friends,
including a cadet named Lawrence Colby.
From Putnam Hall the boys went to Brill College, and, after leaving
that institution of learning, joined their father in business in New York
City, with offices on Wall Street. They organized The Rover Company,
of which