CHAPTER II
THE WRECK OF THE BED
Andy's question was not answered immediately. He and Frank were busily engaged in thinking. The scene through which they had just passed with Professor Callum and Miss Gertrude Morton, and the surprising announcement of the man who had told them about Riverview Hall gave them plenty about which to reflect.
And I shall have no better opportunity than this of telling you a little more about the two lads, for they are seldom quiet long enough at a time to enable one to get an idea of their characters. They are always on the go, Andy especially, for he never misses a chance to have some fun or play a joke.
Frank and Andy Racer were fine fellows. They were the sons of Mr. Richard Racer, and his wife, Olivia. Mr. Racer was a wholesale silk merchant, in business in New York, where his winter home was located. His summer residence was at Harbor View, a coast resort about thirty miles from the metropolis.
There, as told in the first volume of this series, entitled "Frank and Andy Afloat" the boys had many adventures. They were out rowing one day when a whale attacked them. Andy's boat was hit, but his brother saved him. Later they went for a sail, and discovered a wrecked motor boat, containing an injured lad.
They saved him, but the lad had passed through such danger that he lost his memory and did not know who he was. The boys gave themselves up to solving the mystery of his identity and to learn the secret of the motor craft.
How they succeeded, how they were in danger from the man who sought to injure Paul, which they learned was the name of the mysterious lad, how they foiled the schemes of the villain and how, after being cast away on a desolate island they were finally rescued—all this you will find set down in the first book.
The Racer boys were so active, and ran into so much danger, though with the best intentions in the world, that their parents did not know what to do with them. After a consultation Mr. and Mrs. Racer decided to send the lads to a boarding school, hoping this would tame their lively spirits.
For this purpose Mrs. Racer selected Riverview Hall. She had never seen the place, but she had heard of Dr. Wesley Doolittle, the head of the school, who had a fine reputation as a scholar, whatever were his shortcomings as a financial manager. One of Mrs. Racer's clubwomen friends had sent her son to the school some years before, when the lad had decided to enter the ministry, and this lady spoke so highly of the classical atmosphere at Riverview that Mrs. Racer thought it would be just the place for Andy and Frank.
"They will quiet down," she told her husband. "It will be the very thing for them."
"It may betooquiet," objected the silk merchant. "You know boys have to havesomefun and—er—excitement."
"Excitement! I should say they had enough in getting that horrid whale ashore. But I've no doubt that Andy and Frank will have a good time at Riverview Hall. They can make amusements for themselves."
"Yes, I guess they can," answered Mr. Racer with the trace of a smile.
So it had come about that, on their return to their New York home, preparations were made to send our heroes to boarding school. Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Racer had time to visit the place of learning, the arrangements being concluded by letters. There was no question about the reputation of the school as far as learning was concerned. The boys would also be assured of proper care and good food. That was as far as the parents went.
Now we shall see what sort of a place it was to which Frank and Andy Racer were consigned.
"Couldn't be much worse; could it?" asked Andy after a pause.
"It sounds pretty dubious," admitted Frank, with a shake of his head.
They hurried out of the cabin, where they had remained after Miss Gertrude Morton had left them. They found the steamer approaching a wharf at a small town. There was no sign of a school.
"Good-bye!" a voice called to them, and they looked to see the pretty girl going ashore.
"This must be Dailsburg—where she lives," said Frank.
"Yes, this is Dailsburg," spoke a gentleman standing near them. "Riverview is the next stop."
They thanked him, and waved to Miss Gertrude. She was the only passenger to go ashore and the steamer was soon on its way again. The boys saw nothing of Mr. Callum.
"We'd better get our baggage together, if the next stop is ours," suggested Frank to his brother. Then he and Andy became busy. They were on deck as the boat approached the dock of Riverview, a town of considerable size. Eagerly they looked about for a sign of the school.
"I wonder where it can be?" asked Frank. "Gee whizz! I hope it isn't back in the woods. I was thinking it might be on the river shore, so we could go boating."
"Same here," put in Andy. "Let's ask some one."
From a deckhand they learned that their boarding school was about a quarter of a mile from the pier where the steamer had stopped.
"And is it on the river?" asked Andy.
"Yes, right on the shore," replied the deckhand. "You just keep along the water road and you'll come to it."
"Good!" cried Frank. "Then we can have some rowing races. I hope they have a good crew at Riverview."
The deckhand looked at the lads; and a smile came over his tanned face. He seemed about to say something, but was called away. The boys quickly made arrangements about having their trunks put off, and then, each carrying a suit case, they walked down the gangplank. They had a glimpse of Professor Callum gathering his baggage together ready to go ashore.
"Well, we're here," said Frank, as they started off up the river road, as directed. It ran close to the water's edge, and was a fine highway. Halcyon river, in fact, was an important stream, and was beautiful, for it had not been polluted by factory waste or refuse.
"Yes, we're here," admitted Andy, and he seemed down-hearted. "I wonder what sort of a place it is. Funny there is no carriage to take us."
In silence they tramped on. Each step they took nearer to the school appeared to make them more gloomy, though they could not tell why. The place seemed very silent and deserted for the vicinity of a boarding school attended by up-to-date boys. There were no lively groups of students to be seen, and the river was deserted of rowing craft from the institution.
As they made a turn of the road, Riverview Hall came into their line of vision. The school buildings were situated on a large hill, which gave a fine view of the water. All about the structures were extensive grounds, extending down to the edge of the stream.
"There she is!" exclaimed Frank, coming to a halt.
"Yes, it's a big enough place," admitted Andy, "but—"
He did not finish. He saw, as did his brother, that there was something the matter. The buildings though substantially built seemed greatly in need of attention. There was an air about them as if they were neglected and were destined to go to ruin.
The campus was littered with paper and the grass had not been cut in some time. There was an air of desolation about the place. Now that they were near enough the brothers could make out groups of students strolling about, but there seemed to be no life in them. They were not playing ball, running, leaping or doing any of the things dear to boyish hearts.
"Say, what's the matter with this place, anyhow?" suddenly asked Andy. "Is it hoodooed?"
"Give it up," answered Frank. "Come on, I see a boathouse. Maybe it isn't so bad after all. We can join the crew."
Their hearts fell at the sight of the boathouse. The roof needed shingling, and the structure would have been much improved by a coat of paint. Then, as they moved around to the other side of it they saw a big hole in the roof.
"Say, that will leak like a sieve," remarked Andy.
"Yes, and I don't see any boats," added Frank gloomily.
The two boys strolled down to the water's edge.
"Here are some barges," called Frank. "But great Scott! Look at 'em! It would be as much as your life was worth to go out in 'em. They'd sink in ten minutes. Oh, this is fierce!"
Despondently, and more and more impressed with the desolation of the place, the Racer boys walked on toward the main group of school buildings.
"There's a fine diamond—if it was put in shape," said Frank, motioning toward the ball field.
"Yes, but look at it!" exclaimed his brother. "It's all overgrown with grass, and you can't tell third base from home plate. It hasn't been used at all lately. What's the matter with the fellows here, I wonder?"
Frank shook his head. He did not know what to say.
There was a murmur of voices on the other side of a neglected hedge, much in want of trimming, which bordered a walk that led up to the main building. As Andy and Frank entered the opening in the natural fence they came face to face with a group of lads, evidently students. Frank addressed them.
"Is this Riverview Hall?" he asked, hoping he might be mistaken.
"Yes—this is the place—what's left of it," replied a tall lad, in the centre of the group. He spoke listlessly.
"We're newcomers," added Andy. "We've just come, but—er—that is—"
He stopped in some confusion.
"It seems as if there was something the matter with the place," broke in Frank. "What's the trouble? Has the school been closed suddenly for some reason?" He almost hoped it had.
"Oh, no, school's going on," replied another lad, indifferently chewing on a blade of grass. "The term has just opened. But it's this way always—no fun here. I wish I didn't have to come, but dad thinks it's all right."
"Why—what is the matter?" insisted the elder Racer lad.
"Oh, you'll find out soon enough, if you stay," was the significant answer. "Won't he, fellows?"
"Sure!" came in a chorus, but even that was given with no enthusiasm.
"Well, I guess we've got to stay," said Frank. "Can you tell us where to find Dr. Doolittle?"
"Here he comes now," answered one lad, motioning to the somewhat bent figure of an elderly gentleman approaching. He had one book under his arm, and was reading another as he walked along. Andy and Frank were struck by a peculiar pathos about the head of the school. He looked to be a fine scholar, but there seemed to be something worrying him. They were sure of this a little later as they approached closer to speak to him. Dr. Doolittle appeared to be struggling with some difficult, problem that he had tried in vain to solve for a long time.
He caught sight of our heroes, and a kindly smile came over his face.
"We are the Racer boys, Dr. Doolittle," said Frank, "and we—"
"Oh, yes, glad to see you back," said the doctor kindly. "You did very well last term. I suppose you are ready to resume your studies and—"
"We weren't here last term," interrupted Frank. "We have just come, and we'd like to know where our rooms are."
"Oh, yes! To be sure! I remember now. Your father wrote me about you. Hum! Yes. I hope you will like it here. We think we have a very fine school."
"You've got another think coming," whispered Andy.
"Well, I am glad to have met you," went on the principal. "I shall see you again. Very glad, hum!" He opened his book, and was about to pass on.
"But about our rooms," insisted Frank gently. "We don't know where to go."
"Why, take the same rooms you had last year," said Dr. Doolittle, in evident surprise at the question. "Yes, the same rooms. Hum!"
Once more he was about to turn away.
"But we weren't here last year!" exclaimed Andy.
"Oh, no. You're right. So you weren't. I remember now. I knew there was something about you that I was trying to recall. Well, just go up to the main dormitory, and report to the housekeeper, Mrs. Stone. She will assign you to rooms. I am very glad to have met you. Hum! Yes! I hope you will like it here. We have a very fine school," and this time the doctor succeeded in getting away. He was deep in his book once more.
"I think he must be a bit absent-minded," said Frank.
"Youthinkit!" exclaimed Andy. "Iknowit. He's a nice old man all right, but—a 'fine school'! Wow! This is the limit, and there may be worse to come. Let's go see Mrs. Stone. I hope she's not as hard as her name. But I don't know as there's any hurry. There doesn't appear to be any great rush for the sleeping quarters."
There were several groups of students in view now, but none of them seemed to be in any hurry. In fact there was a listlessness about the whole school that boded no good.
"Well, come on, anyhow," suggested Frank. "We want to get settled and then look about. I hope they have plenty for supper. I'm half starved."
"Same here. Gee! But this is a lonesome place!"
"Maybe they're not all here yet," put in his brother.
"Let us hope so. This looks like the main dormitory. Let's go in."
They found Mrs. Stone a pleasant faced matron, who welcomed them kindly and made them feel at home.
"Let me see!" she exclaimed in a thoughtful manner. "I don't know just where to put you yet. The rooms have not all been assigned. I have tried to talk to Dr. Doolittle about it, but every time I approach him he seems to be thinking of something else. But I know what I can do. I'll give you a temporary room for to-night, and to-morrow we'll settle the matter. Come this way."
She led them up a flight of stairs and down a long corridor. Frank and Andy noted that however neglected the outside of the place was, the interior was clean and neat, though it was badly in need of repairs. Evidently Mrs. Stone was an energetic housekeeper, doing the best she could under the circumstances.
"There, this will have to do for the present," she said, as she threw open the door of a room. "Perhaps I can find a better apartment for you to-morrow. Supper is served at six o'clock. The warning bell rings a quarter of an hour before that. All the boys dine together in the main hall. You will sit at the freshman table."
"How will we know which it is?" asked Andy.
"Oh, some of the students will show you. Now I must leave you. I think you will find all that you need. If not, let me know."
The boys gazed at each other, and then around the room. It was not a very inviting place. The wall paper was old and dingy, but it seemed clean. There were no ornaments in the apartment, and the beds, of which there were two, were old, as were the washstands and bureaus.
"Well, I guess we can stand it, but it's going to be quite a struggle," said Frank with a sigh.
"Dad and mother never knew what sort of a place this is or they'd never have sent us here," was Andy's opinion. "It may be all right for Greek, Latin and mathematics, but a fellow can't live on them. It's going to be punk here for fun, I'm afraid."
Frank crossed over and looked out of the window. He heard a movement from his brother.
"Gee whizz! I've got to do something or bust!" cried the younger lad. "Here goes for a handspring on the bed! Wow!"
He gave a little run and a jump. Then he landed in the middle of the bed on his hands.
Down into the mattress he sank with his feet wiggling in the air. Then there came a mighty crash. The bed collapsed under the weight and sudden impact of the sturdy youth, and a moment later he came to the floor amid a confusion of pillows, sheets, springs, mattress and the wrecked bed, while the racket echoed and re-echoed throughout the corridor of the dormitory.