The Rover Boys on the River | Page 8

you know me, Link?"
"Lew Flapp!" cried the weak-minded cadet.

"Hush, not so loud, Link. Somebody might hear you."
"What do you want?"
"I want to visit the camp," answered Lew Flapp.

CHAPTER IV
WHAT THE MORNING BROUGHT FORTH
Link Smith was much surprised by Lew Flapp's assertion that he
wanted to visit the camp during the middle of the night and when
practically everybody was asleep.
"What do you want to come in for?" he asked, feeling fairly certain that
Flapp's mission could not be as upright and honest as desired.
"Oh, it's all right, Link," answered the big bully, smoothly.
"But what do you want?"
"Well, if you must know, I want to talk to a couple of my old friends."
"Why can't you talk to them to-morrow, after they leave school?"
"That won't do. I want them to do something for me before they leave
the academy."
"It's a strange request to make, Lew."
"Oh, it's perfectly square, I assure you. You see, it's this way: I want
them to get some proofs for me,--to prove that I am not as black as the
follows reported to Captain Putnam."
Now, it is possible that some other cadet would not have been
hoodwinked in this fashion by the bully, but Link Smith swallowed the
explanation without a second thought.

"Oh, if that's what you want, go ahead," said he. "But don't tell anybody
I let you in."
"I shan't say a word if you don't," answered Lew Flapp. "By the way,"
he went on, with assumed indifference, "they tell me the Rover boys
have cleared out and gone home."
"No, they haven't," was Link Smith's prompt answer.--They are right
here."
"Are you sure, Link?"
"Of course I am. They are bunking together in the last tent in Street B,
over yonder," and the feeble-minded cadet pointed with his hand as he
spoke.
"Is that so! Well, I don't care. I don't want to see them again until I can
prove to Captain Putnam that they are a set of rascals."
"Are you going to try to get into the academy again, Lew?" asked Link,
curiously.
"Not much! I'll be done with Captain Putnam just as soon as I can show
him how he mistreated me and how the Rovers are pulling the wool
over his eyes."
"Everybody here thinks the Rovers about perfect."
"That's because they don't know them as well as I and Rockley do."
A few words more passed, and then Lew Flapp slipped into the camp
lines and made his way between the long rows of tents.
He had gained from Link Smith just the information he desired, namely,
the location of the Rover boys' sleeping quarters. He looked back, to
make certain that Link was not watching him, and then hurried on to
where the Rovers rested, totally unconscious of the proximity of their
enemy.

"I'll show them what I can do," muttered Lew Flapp to himself. "I'll
make them wish they had never been born!"
At last the tent was reached and with caution he opened the flap and
peered inside. All was dark, and with a hand that was none too steady
he struck a match and held it up.
Each of the Rover boys lay sleeping peacefully on his cot, with his
clothing hung up on one of the tent poles.
"Now for working my little plan," murmured Flapp, and allowed the
match to go out. In a second more he was inside the tent, moving
around cautiously so as not to disturb the sleepers.
The bully remained in the tent all of ten minutes. Then he came out as
cautiously as he had entered, and fairly ran to where Link Smith was
still on guard.
"Did you see them?" asked the feeble-minded cadet.
"I did, and it's all right, Link. Now, don't tell anybody I visited the
camp."
"Humph! do you think I want to get myself in trouble?"
"Good-night."
"Good-night."
And in a moment more Lew Flapp was out of sight down the country
roadway and Link Smith was pacing his post as before.
Bright and early the camp was astir, and at half-past seven o'clock a
good hot breakfast was served, the cadets pitching into the food
provided with a will.
"And now for Putnam Hall and the grand wind-up," said Tom, as he
finished his repast.

"And then to go home and prepare for that grand trip on the
houseboat," came from Sam.
"Which puts me in mind that we must see who will go with us," said
Dick.
"Songbird Powell says he is more than willing," answered Tom. "And I
know Dutchy will fall all over himself to become one of the party."
"I think Fred Garrison will go," said Sam. "He said he would let me
know as