CHAPTER XIX.THE CONSPIRATORS.
“N
“NOW, then, Newcombe,” said Miller, as he seated himself on the grass, under one of the trees, “let us hear what you have to say.”
“Before I begin,” said Tom, “I want you to promise, that if you don’t see fit to join my enterprise, you won’t split on me.”
“Split on you!” echoed Miller. “Don’t we know, as well as you do, that it is against the laws of our society to divulge secrets? There are no tell-tales among us.”
Tom turned away his head as his companion said this, for he knew, if no one else did, that there was one tale-bearer, at least, in the society. What would Rich, and Miller, and all the other faithful Night-hawks have thought, had they known that the one who held the highest office in the gift of the organization, had been trying to better his condition by carrying tales to the principal?
“No, sir; I don’t think there is a single fellow among us who would be mean enough to split on you,” continued Miller. “If there is, I know I am not the one, for I have shown, more than once, that I can be trusted.”
“Speak it out, Newcombe,” said Rich. “We haveall made solemn promises to stand by each other through thick and thin, and we are all true blue.”
“Well, to begin with,” said Tom; “I know very well that I can’t pass a decent examination, and I don’t want to be confined in the academy building, while all the other fellows are having a jolly time in camp.”
“Neither do I,” said Rich. “But we can’t help ourselves.”
“Perhaps we can,” said Tom, shaking his head knowingly; “perhaps we can. If I haven’t succeeded in my arithmetic and geography lessons, I’ve got something better worked out. You have been to sea on three or four voyages, haven’t you, Rich?”
“Yes,” answered that worthy, “and I am a good sailor—better than any other boy in the academy.”
“But could you take command of a vessel—say of the size of the Swallow?”
“Command a sloop like that! Yes, of course I could. If I knew that she was sea-worthy, I wouldn’t be afraid to take her to Europe.”
“That’s all right!” said Tom, evidently very much relieved. “That’s one difficulty out of the way. I knew I would be certain to succeed.”
“But, Newcombe, what’s all this got to do with your grand idea?” asked Miller, impatiently. “Why don’t you tell us what you intend to do?”
“Well, I am going to tell you now,” replied Tom. “I propose that we escape the examination, by taking the Swallow and going to sea in her.”
The boys were all very much astonished at this proposition; but, without allowing them time to raise any objections, Tom pulled out his pocket-book, and, producingthe piece of newspaper which had so excited the curiosity of his companions, he handed it to Miller, saying, “Read that.”
The latter took the paper, looked at it a moment, and then, springing to his feet, seized Tom’s hand, shouting:
“Newcombe, you’re a brick! Your idea is a glorious one! I see it all, now!”
“Read it! Read it!” exclaimed Rich and Martin. “Let us hear it.”
Thus appealed to, Miller again seated himself, and read aloud as follows:
“Plucky Sailor Boys.—Two lads, each about fourteen years of age, living in Marblehead, Mass., undertook a daring exploit about three weeks ago. They, by some means or other, got possession of a small yacht in the harbor, and after laying in a good supply of provisions, which took them three days, they set sail and put out to sea. They were picked up, five miles outside, by a revenue cutter, and, after being taken on board, stated that they had laid their plans to go to Europe. They were taken back to the city and restored to their parents.”
“Plucky Sailor Boys.—Two lads, each about fourteen years of age, living in Marblehead, Mass., undertook a daring exploit about three weeks ago. They, by some means or other, got possession of a small yacht in the harbor, and after laying in a good supply of provisions, which took them three days, they set sail and put out to sea. They were picked up, five miles outside, by a revenue cutter, and, after being taken on board, stated that they had laid their plans to go to Europe. They were taken back to the city and restored to their parents.”
“There! what do you think of that?” asked Tom, when Miller had finished reading the article.
“It’s gay,” said Rich. “They were plucky chaps indeed.”
“Why don’t you say something?” inquired Miller, turning to Martin, who sat gazing thoughtfully at the ground. “Don’t you see through the thing yet?”
“Yes,” replied the latter; “what you intend to do is as plain as daylight. But I don’t think the idea is so very gay, after all.”
“Why not?” asked Tom.
“Because those ‘plucky sailor boys’ did not get very far on their way toward Europe before they were overtaken and carried back. Their scheme failed.”
“That’s because they didn’t know any thing,” said Rich, promptly. “They ought to have looked out for that.”
“And there’s one thing the paper forgot to speak about,” continued Martin. “It doesn’t say whether or not those two fellows were punished when they got home. If we should be caught in a scrape like that, we never would be released from the lock-up, or get through standing guard, and performing the extra duties that would be imposed upon us.”
“Now, don’t squeal before you are hurt,” said Miller. “If I had known that you were so chicken-hearted, I never would have proposed you as a member of our society.”
“I am no coward!” replied Martin, angrily; “but I have common sense enough to know that we had better look before we leap. Before we attempt to carry out Tom’s idea, we must see exactly how the land lays. In the first place, we have no boat, and, in the next place, it would be of no use to us if we had; for we are not the ones who get furloughs whenever we ask for them.”
“O, Newcombe has got that all worked out,” said Miller, who was impatient to hear the details of the plan. “Give us all the particulars, Tom.”
“I can do that in a very few words,” said the latter.“We will get together all the members of our society who are willing to go with us, escape from the academy some night, take the Swallow, or some other little trading vessel, and go on a cruise. We’ll stay out until the examination is over, and then come back.”
“That’s it!” exclaimed Miller. “I’m in for it. But suppose we should be captured and brought back?”
“We don’t intend to come back to the academy until we get ready!” said Rich. “We’ll look out for that. But, boys, don’t begin to raise objections now. We must get rid of that examination, if possible, and Tom is just the chap to show us how to do it.”
“Go on, Newcombe—what next?”
“I have but one thing more to say,” continued Tom, “and that is, I will engineer this thing through if you want me to. You know that I can call upon any member of the society for assistance.”
“But how will we get the boat?” asked Rich.
“That’s my business. There are fourteen fellows in the academy whom we can trust, and I want to know how many of them are willing to go with us; and then I must have authority to do as I please, or I won’t budge an inch. I’ll go on my own hook. I have a boat of my own, and I am bound to get away from here before that examination comes off. What would my father say if he should happen to visit the camp, and the colonel should tell him that I was at the academy, ‘under arrest?’”
“Well, Tom,” said Martin, after thinking a moment, “I, for one, am perfectly willing that you should boss this job, but you know the government of our society is democratic, and we all have a hand in whatever isgoing on. I shall do just as the majority say. If they think the scheme can be successfully carried out, I am in for it; and, in order to get the most of the boys on your side, you ought to tell us exactly what you are going to do, and how you intend to do it.”
Tom could not very well resist the force of this reasoning. The scheme he had proposed was rather different from any thing the Night-hawks had ever before thought of; and, knowing that if it proved successful it would throw all their former exploits into the shade, Tom wanted the honor of carrying it through alone and unaided. He had not the least idea of going off by himself in the Mystery, but he thought that, by threatening to leave his companions to themselves, he might frighten them into allowing him to have his own way. But it was plain that the boys were not in favor of “buying a cat in a bag;” they did not intend to give their consent to Tom’s scheme until they understood all about it.
“Now, Newcombe,” said Rich, “tell us how we are to get the Swallow. We want to know all the particulars.”
“We must have help,” replied Tom. “It was my intention to write to some of the boys in the village.”
“Then it’s lucky that we didn’t give you authority to do as you pleased, for you would have knocked the whole thing into a cocked hat in no time,” said Miller, decidedly. “Suppose the letter should fall into the hands of the Philistines? That would be the end of your cruise, and you would find a boy about your size in the guard-house, living on bread and water. I’ve got an idea,” he continued. “I propose that we allstudy hard, and behave ourselves this week, and, perhaps, some of us can manage to get a furlough next Saturday. If one fails, another may succeed, you know, and we’ll give the lucky ones authority to call on the boys in the village and talk the matter over with them. And now about the Swallow! Do you propose to hire her?”
“Of course not!” replied Tom. “We’ll take her and welcome.”
“Steal her!” ejaculated Rich. “That plan won’t work, either. If we should do that, old ’Squire Thompson would have his hands on us the moment we got back. I propose that we charter her. We’ve all got some money.”
“Let us speak to the other fellows, and see what they have to say on the subject,” said Martin, who, for some time, had remained silent.
“That’s a sensible idea!” exclaimed Tom, who was obliged to confess to himself that he had made two great mistakes in his calculations. “But go about it easy. Be careful that no one overhears you. Tell them to meet us here in a quarter of an hour.”
The others agreeing to this proposal, the four conspirators returned to the building to hunt up all the members of their society. The Night-hawks were scattered about over the grounds, some engaged in a game of ball; some lying in the shade of the trees; others were in the gymnasium, and two of their number, for some violation of the rules of the academy, had received orders to remain in their dormitories. The schemers worked to such good advantage that, at the end of a quarter of an hour, ten boys belonging to the societywere gathered in a remote corner of the grounds, awaiting the appearance of Tom and Miller, who had been commissioned to obtain the opinions of the culprits in the dormitories. Thus far every thing appeared to be working smoothly, for all the members had, without hesitation, agreed to join the expedition.
“Hold on a minute!” said Miller, suddenly, as he and Tom started to join their companions. “Don’t you see the colonel looking out of his window? That old fellow is as sharp as a steel-trap; and, if he sees so many of us talking in an out-of-the-way place, he’ll certainly snuff something. Go and get your foot-ball, and we’ll fool him nicely.”
Tom ran up to his dormitory, took the ball from his trunk, and, kicking it along the ground before them, they walked toward the place where their companions were gathered, leading the principal to infer that they were simply going out there to amuse themselves. In order to keep up the deception, a game of foot-ball was started, but continued only for a short time, when the Night-hawks seated themselves on the ground to discuss the question in hand. Tom, in a few words, explained the object of the proposed expedition, as well as the manner in which it ought to be conducted to make it successful. So delighted were the boys with the idea, that not a single objection was raised, and, in ten minutes, the business was finished, and the meeting was adjourned. It was decided that the first step should be to obtain the help of the Night-hawks in the village; and, in order to accomplish this, it was resolved that each member of the society in the academy should endeavor to behave himself properly during the remainderof the week, so that, on Saturday, he might be granted a furlough. It was not expected that all would succeed in this, but those who did were to be appointed “commissioners,” to state the matter to the village boys, and request their assistance in chartering a vessel, laying in a stock of provisions for the cruise (which would last at least two weeks), and, in fact, completing all the out-door business. The much-dreaded examination was still three weeks distant; so they would have plenty of time in which to complete all their arrangements. When the eventful night arrived, they would make their escape from the academy through the dormitory windows; and, in order to accomplish this, it was necessary for them to have a rope long enough to reach from the third story of the building to the ground, and strong enough to bear their weights. This rope would be furnished by the boys in the village. When Tom made this suggestion, it created something of an uproar among the Night-hawks, several of whom declared that if they were expected to risk their necks by crawling out of a second or third story window, they would have nothing to do with the expedition. But Tom insisted that the rope be procured, saying that “there was no knowing what might happen,” and that it was “always well enough to be prepared for any emergency;” and he finally carried his point.
“Now, Martin,” said Tom, after the meeting broke up, and the Night-hawks were walking about the grounds in groups of twos and threes, talking over their plans, in excited whispers, “you said you didn’t see any use in joining our society. What do you think of it now?”
“If those fellows in the village will help us, I shall say it is a good thing,” replied Martin.
“Help us! Of course they will. They dare not refuse. You know that it is one of our laws, that when any member is in trouble, the others must assist him if they can. Now, we are in trouble—or we shall be, if we don’t get away from here before that examination comes off—and they must help us.”
During the remainder of the week, the Night-hawks, as they imagined, conducted themselves with the utmost propriety. Each of them had secretly determined that he would obtain a furlough, if within the bounds of possibility, for that would insure him the appointment of “commissioner”—an honor which they all regarded as well worth working for. Tom, with the others, had resolved that he would not waste a single moment; that he would study constantly; pay strict attention to all his duties, and use his best endeavors to have his name placed on the list with those who were to be allowed liberty. He held manfully to his resolution, and surprised his teacher by coming in to his recitations with perfect lessons. But the rules of the academy were very strict, and Tom was an unlucky boy. Although he made improvements in one respect, he fell behind in others; and when Saturday came, and the names of those who were to receive furloughs were posted in the hall, Tom, to his disappointment and indignation, found that his name was not among them.
“Mr. Hudson!” said he, entering the school-room, where his teacher was busy at his desk, “I would like to know what I have done, sir, that I can’t have a furlough, like the rest of the boys? I understood you to say thatI had made twenty-four extras this week by perfect lessons.”
“Yes,” replied Mr. Hudson, “you have made excellent progress, as far as your lessons are concerned, and I assure you I am very glad to be able to say so. But you must remember that, in order to receive liberty, you must strictly conform toallthe rules and regulations. Didn’t you know that it was contrary to law for you to play marbles in your dormitory? and who was it that knocked that picket off the fence, and went outside the grounds without permission?”
“I did, sir,” answered Tom. “But I went after my ball.”
“That’s no excuse; and, more than that, can you tell me the name of the student who went on dress parade with a rusty musket; who left his trunk open, and his clothing scattered about over the floor of his dormitory, and who lost his broadsword besides? The rules do not recognize any mistakes, you know. They call all such things ‘disobedience of orders.’ But don’t be discouraged; try it again, Newcombe.”
“O, now, I won’t do it,” said Tom to himself, as he walked out of the school-room. “There’s no use in crying. The more I try to behave myself, the more I fall behind. I knew I never could be a soldier, and I don’t see what father wanted to send me to this school for.”
When Tom reached the end of the hall, he found the Night-hawks gathered on the porch. They were all disappointed, not one of them having received a furlough. Some had fallen behind in their lessons, while the majority, like Tom, had disobeyed some “little” rule.
“What shall we do now, Newcombe?” asked Miller, in a gloomy voice. “We’re up stump, easy enough.”
“And all on account of those useless rules,” said Rich. “What good does it do to bind a fellow down so tight? If they are so strict now, what will they be during the examination, when we receive visitors?”
“There is but one way out now, that I can see,” replied Tom, “and that is, to write a letter to our friends in the village.”
“But suppose it should fall into the hands of the Philistines?” said Miller. “What, then?”
“Just leave that to me,” said Tom; “I’ll not put the letter in the mail-box; I’ll send it through in some other way.”
There were a good many objections raised to this arrangement, for the Night-hawks all knew that there was danger in it; but, after a little argument, they concluded that Tom’s plan was the only one left them, and he and Miller being the oldest members of the society, as well as the highest in rank in the academy, were instructed to write the letter. So, that afternoon, during play-hours,Miller visited Tom in his dormitory, and, after the latter had produced writing materials, they sat down to study up the important document.
“Now, Newcombe,” said Miller, “you ought to write that letter. You understand the business better than I do, and, besides, you are the highest officer in the society.”
But this was not the reason why the fourth colonel wanted Tom to do the work. He doubted the latter’s ability to get the letter safely into the hands of the village boys; and, if it should happen to fall into the possessionof the principal, the handwriting would tell him where to look to find the guilty one. Thus, Tom was again used as a “cat’s paw.”
“That’s one point settled,” continued Miller. “Now, to whom shall we send it?”
“Johnny Harding is the best fellow,” answered Tom. “I know he’ll help us. But how shall we address him?”
“Why, as it is an official letter from you, as the grand commander of the council, you ought to address him according to his rank. Is he still second corporal?”
“O, no, he made a big jump; one night, when his mother told him to stay in the house, he crawled out of his window and came down the lightning-rod. As his room was in the second story of the building, it was something of a job, I tell you. When he told us about it, we offered to make him a lieutenant, but Johnny said the reward wasn’t big enough; and he told us that if we didn’t give him something better than that, he would stay in the house the next time his mother ordered him to do so. Well, we couldn’t afford to lose Johnny, you know; so the next evening, after school, we all went up to look at the house and the lightning-rod, and we came to the conclusion that there was not another fellow in the society who would dare to attempt a thing like that; so we created the office of fifth captain, and gave it to him.”
“Well, he earned it,” said Miller. “But if he carries this thing through for us, he will want something higher.”
“He ought to have it,” replied Tom. “I’ll be willing to promise anything, if he’ll only help us.”
The Night-hawks then turned their attention to theletter, and at the end of half an hour it was finished. Miller proved to be an invaluable assistant, and Tom got along much better than he would, had he been left to himself.
The letter ran as follows:
Military Academy,}Newport, August 28, 18—.Fifth Captain John W. Harding—Sir: I have been instructed to ask your assistance, according to article fifth of our laws. We are in trouble, and you are in duty bound to help us out. When we tell you that in two weeks from this date we shall be called upon to stand an examination, for which we are totally unprepared, we know that you will sympathize with us. We have decided upon a plan to escape from our troubles, and, with the assistance you can easily render us, it can be successfully carried out.We intend to desert the academy and go to sea; and, in order to do that, it is, of course, necessary that we should have a vessel large enough to accommodate all the members of our society who may desire to go with us. We wish you to visit the captain of the Swallow, and ask him on what terms he will let us have his sloop for three weeks. Get it as cheap as possible, for we are not very flush of money just at present. We are perfectly willing to pay him in advance, and will promise to take the very best care of his boat. When you hire it, give him to understand that you want it for yourself, to go off on a fishing excursion or something of that kind (which, by the way, will be the truth), and that you don’t want any of his crew on board. We can manage her ourselves. After this has been done, ascertain how many of your boys will accompany us (and we hereby extend an invitation to them all), and then make an estimate of the amount of provisions we shall require. Each boy is expected to furnish an equal share of money with which to foot all our bills.Please answer as soon as possible, and bring or send your letter to the south side of the grounds, outside the fence; but don’tspeak to any one unless he proves himself to be a friend. We have lately admitted some new members to our society; and, as you fellows in the village are not acquainted with them, it is necessary that you should be very careful.We also need a long rope, strong enough to bear one’s weight, to assist us in making our escape from the building.Now, captain, look alive. Remember, we want the boat and provisions ready two weeks from next Monday. Also bear in mind that the success of our expedition depends upon you alone.Very respectfully,THOMAS NEWCOMBE,Grand Commander of the Council.
Fifth Captain John W. Harding—
Sir: I have been instructed to ask your assistance, according to article fifth of our laws. We are in trouble, and you are in duty bound to help us out. When we tell you that in two weeks from this date we shall be called upon to stand an examination, for which we are totally unprepared, we know that you will sympathize with us. We have decided upon a plan to escape from our troubles, and, with the assistance you can easily render us, it can be successfully carried out.
We intend to desert the academy and go to sea; and, in order to do that, it is, of course, necessary that we should have a vessel large enough to accommodate all the members of our society who may desire to go with us. We wish you to visit the captain of the Swallow, and ask him on what terms he will let us have his sloop for three weeks. Get it as cheap as possible, for we are not very flush of money just at present. We are perfectly willing to pay him in advance, and will promise to take the very best care of his boat. When you hire it, give him to understand that you want it for yourself, to go off on a fishing excursion or something of that kind (which, by the way, will be the truth), and that you don’t want any of his crew on board. We can manage her ourselves. After this has been done, ascertain how many of your boys will accompany us (and we hereby extend an invitation to them all), and then make an estimate of the amount of provisions we shall require. Each boy is expected to furnish an equal share of money with which to foot all our bills.
Please answer as soon as possible, and bring or send your letter to the south side of the grounds, outside the fence; but don’tspeak to any one unless he proves himself to be a friend. We have lately admitted some new members to our society; and, as you fellows in the village are not acquainted with them, it is necessary that you should be very careful.
We also need a long rope, strong enough to bear one’s weight, to assist us in making our escape from the building.
Now, captain, look alive. Remember, we want the boat and provisions ready two weeks from next Monday. Also bear in mind that the success of our expedition depends upon you alone.
Very respectfully,THOMAS NEWCOMBE,Grand Commander of the Council.
“There!” said Tom, with a long breath of relief, “it’s finished at last. That’s a splendid letter, and it covers all the ground. Now,” he continued, as he folded it up and placed it in an envelope, “the next thing is to get it safely to the post-office.”
“Yes; and that’s the most dangerous part of the undertaking,” said Miller. “That’s a useless rule the colonel made, about putting all letters in the mail-box. Now, Newcombe, mind what you are about, or you’ll be brought up with a round turn. Then look out for the guard-house.”
“Never mind me,” said Tom, as he put a stamp on the envelope. “I’ll fix that all right.”
After the letter had been sealed and addressed, the two conspirators left the dormitory, and Miller walked off toward the ball-ground, while Tom loitered about in the hall. The students whose names were on the “liberty list,” were leaving the academy to visit the village, and, among them were several who had but recently been admitted to the school. Presently a new scholar, who belonged to dormitory H, came out of the principal’sroom with a pass in his hand; and Tom, walking carelessly toward him, accosted him with:
“Hallo, Simmonds! Off for the village, I suppose?”
“Yes,” replied the new student. “I am one of the lucky ones this week.”
“You are fortunate, that’s a fact,” said Tom. “But Simmonds,” he continued, as he accompanied the new scholar toward the gate, “will you do a favor for me?”
“I will,” replied the other, readily.
“Then mail this letter for me,” said Tom, producing it.
“Isn’t that against the rules?” asked Simmonds, hesitatingly.
“What! mailing a letter? Now, Bill, who’s been stuffing you? Here, take it, and don’t be a greeny!”
The new student evidently did not like to be considered a “greeny,” for, without further hesitation, he took the letter and put it into his pocket. Tom stood watching him until he had closed the gate, and was well on his way toward the village; and then, congratulating himself on the success of his plans, walked toward the ball-ground and joined his companions.