The Putnam Hall Rivals

“Where?”

“On the ground. There, that pays you back for telling me we were in the air awhile ago.”

“We must have sailed seven or eight miles at least,” said Andy. “Remember, the breeze was a pretty fair one.”

“I thought we came about fifty miles,” answered Pepper. “And we seemed to be about five miles high.”

“You couldn’t live at five miles, you know that,” answered Jack, quickly. “Science teaches that – ”

“Oh, bother science, unless it can connect us with a refreshment stand,” interrupted Pepper. “I am awfully dry, and hungry too.”

They gazed around them. On all sides was the tall timber. The ground was very uneven and rocky in spots. Some of the rocks were damp, but they could not locate any spring or brook.

“The first thing to do is to get out of this woods,” said Jack. “Then perhaps we can strike a farmhouse and get some refreshments. I am not hungry, but I’d like to have a drink of cold water.”

“Maybe you’d refuse a nice piece of pie?” said Pepper, sarcastically. “Or some fresh doughnuts?”

“Stop, Pep!” cried Andy. “I am getting hungry now. Come on!”

“Where to?”

“Out of the woods.”

“Which way?”

That was the question, and the three cadets stared around them helplessly.

“By the sun the lake must be in that direction,” said Jack. “Let us try to reach the water. Perhaps we can hail some passing boat.”

The others agreed, and leaving the balloon where it was, they made their way among the tall trees for a distance of several rods.

“Hullo! here’s a road!” cried Andy. “This must lead to somewhere. We are in luck.”

“But it doesn’t lead down to the lake,” said Jack.

However, it was decided to follow the road for awhile, which seemed to pass from the woods quarter of a mile further on. Then they came to an apple orchard, but, of course, none of the apples were ripe.

“Hark! I hear some dogs approaching!” ejaculated Jack, a few minutes later. “I hope they are not unfriendly.”

“They are bulldogs!” came from Pepper. “Say, I don’t like this at all!”

“Nor I,” added Andy, as the dogs came closer. There were three bulldogs, all of large size, and each looked particularly savage.

The three boys did not know what to do, but as the bulldogs came closer, Andy ran for a nearby tree. The others followed, and all got up into the tree just as the animals reached the vicinity.

The dogs were baying loudly, and as they gathered under the tree, they snapped and snarled in anything but a pleasant fashion. They had evidently run quite a distance, for they looked hot.

“Here’s a pretty kettle of fish,” remarked Jack. “We got out of one difficulty only to tumble into another.”

“Thanks, but I don’t want to tumble just now,” answered Pepper, with a shake of his head. “I don’t think those brutes would like anything better than to chew us up.”

“I wonder if I can beat them off with a stick?” said Andy, beginning to cut off a tree-bough with his pocketknife.

“I don’t think so, but you can try it,” answered the young major.

The stick was cut and Andy let himself down to a lower limb. He hit one of the dogs just once. Then the animal made a leap, caught hold of the stick, and had not Andy let go he would have been jerked to the ground. As it was he swung clear around the limb and only his acrobatic skill saved him.

“Don’t you try that again,” warned Pepper.

“Don’t think I will. Gosh! he almost had me; didn’t he?”

The dogs made themselves at home under the tree, lying down, but keeping their eyes fixed on the prisoners. The moment one of the lads moved there would be a growl from below.

“They’d make good camp guards, if they were trained,” said Pepper, with a sorry kind of a grin.

“This is no laughing matter,” expostulated Jack.

“Don’t think I’m laughing. I’d give a week’s spending money to be out of this right now.”

“Ditto here,” said Andy.

A half-hour went by and still the dogs remained at the foot of the tree. Occasionally one would walk around a bit and growl, but that was all. The boys tried everything they could think of to chase the brutes away, but without avail.

“I think I see somebody coming!” said Andy, later on. He had climbed to the top of the tree to make observations.

“Let us yell for help,” suggested Pepper, and all three immediately set up as loud a shout as their lungs would permit. At first there was no reply, but then a faint hello came back, and Andy saw the man running towards them.

“If he owns the dogs he’ll aid us,” said the acrobatic youth.

“Yes, but if he doesn’t what is he to do?” asked Jack, quickly. “We ought to warn him.”

Again they set up a shout:

“Look out for the dogs!”

“What’s that?” asked the man, coming to a halt.

“Look out for the dogs.”

“Three bulldogs?”

“Yes.”

“That’s all right – the dogs are mine.”

“Good enough,” murmured Jack. “Now we’ll get some help, I hope.”

The man came nearer. He was dressed in a riding-suit and carried a short whip in one hand. As he came closer the bulldogs ran towards him in a friendly way.