"I don't like to say, sir."

"Very likely not, but you must."

"It was--it was Hamilton, sir."

"Ha!" exclaimed the head master.

"I went to the three elms to get my algebra which I had forgotten," said d.i.c.k.

"After taps?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then you broke one of the rules."

"Yes, sir, but I thought that if it rained, and my book got wet, I'd get a demerit for that, so I decided I would take a chance on going after taps. I started before the bugle sounded."

"Ha! I will look into that afterward. You are sure you were not near the gun?"

"Yes, sir."

"I might add," went on Stiver, "that, after I called to Hamilton to halt, and he would not, I saw his dog running after him, and the animal seemed to have something tied to its tail."

"To it's tail?"

"Yes, sir."

"What was it?"

"It seemed like a piece of string."

"A piece of string. That may explain it. Hamilton, what do you know of this?"

"Nothing, Captain Hayden. Grit was not with me. I left him in his kennel, in the stable, chained up."

"We must look into this. Lieutenant Stiver, tell Sander to bring the bulldog here."

"Perhaps I had better go along," suggested d.i.c.k. "Grit might make a fuss."

"If he goes, you had better make sure he doesn't slip the string off the dog's tail," put in Dutton, with a sneer.

d.i.c.k started, and looked angrily at his enemy.

"That will do, Dutton," said Captain Hayden quietly. "You may accompany Sander, Hamilton."

Toots, who was on hand, started for the stables, followed by d.i.c.k.

"Are you going to get into trouble?" asked the old man, who had taken quite a fancy to our hero.

"I hope not. If Grit had anything to do with firing the gun, by means of a string tied to his tail, some one who had a grudge against me is responsible for it."

"I'm sure of it, Mr. Hamilton," and Toots marched on, whistling "Dixy Land," ending up with a series of bugle calls.

They found Grit cowering in his kennel, as if much frightened. d.i.c.k and Toots looked him over. Sure enough there was a stout piece of cord tied to his stump of a tail.

"It looks bad," commented Toots.

"I'm not worried," declared d.i.c.k.

Captain Hayden looked grave, when Toots handed him the bit of cord. He sent Sander to the saluting gun, and Toots returned presently with same cord, which matched that taken from Grit's tail.

"Was this on the gun?" asked the head master.

"Attached to a primer, that had been fired," replied Toots.

"Hamilton," began Captain Hayden, "I don't like to accuse you on such circ.u.mstantial evidence, but it looks--"

"I had nothing to do with firing the gun," said d.i.c.k quickly. "If my dog did it, some one else tied the string to his tail."

"Whom do you suspect?"

"I don't know."

"If you please, sir," spoke up Graham, "I don't think Hamilton had anything to do with firing the gun."

"Why not?"

"Because my window is right opposite it. I was looking out, just before it went off, and I saw a crowd of students near it. They had a dog, for I could hear him growl, and I heard some one say 'look out or the brute will put his teeth in you.' Then some one else said, 'I guess I can manage him.' If Hamilton had been there I don't believe Grit would have growled."

"He certainly would not," said d.i.c.k, noticing that Dutton was scowling at Graham.

"Ha! Hum," mused the head master. "I believe you are right, Graham.

Hamilton, you are practically exonerated, but this matter will not be allowed to drop. Firing the gun was a serious infraction of the rules, and dangerous in the bargain. Whoever fired it must have stolen into the ammunition house, which is a risky thing to do, especially in the dark."

"I am glad you don't think I did it, sir," said d.i.c.k to Captain Hayden.

"I am glad, also, but I shall have to mark you five off for being out after taps. When I find out who fired the gun I shall punish them severely. It seems as though it was done to throw suspicion on you."

"That is what I think," said d.i.c.k quickly.

"Whom do you suspect?"

"I had rather not say, sir."

"Of course not, no, I wouldn't want you to on mere suspicion. You young gentlemen may retire to your rooms, now. I will look into this matter further."

The cadets filed out, all of them breathing easier. As Dutton pa.s.sed d.i.c.k in the hall, he said:

"Did you refer to me when you said you suspected some one?"