"All right. Give him a good lesson, d.i.c.k."

Paul went off to carry the message, and d.i.c.k, seeing Miss Hanford, went up to her for the waltz. She gave him a place made vacant by the inability of her partner to claim her, as he was on the supper committee. d.i.c.k thought the girl seemed nervous and alarmed, but he did not speak of it.

The dance lasted until two o'clock in the morning, and then the guests began leaving. d.i.c.k was somewhat surprised to see Miss Hanford in apparently earnest conversation with grizzled Major Webster, but he concluded that she was only telling him what a good time she had had.

"Won't you call and see me sometime?" she asked d.i.c.k, as she bade him good-night.

"I will be pleased to," he said.

"And don't--don't have any quarrel with Captain Dutton," she said, with a little smile.

"Er--oh, no, I--I--er--I won't," was all d.i.c.k could stammer. He resolved that he would have no more quarrels, but it was too late to stop this one.

As the last of the guests were leaving, Paul sought out his roommate.

"The clump of trees, down by the lagoon," he whispered. "In an hour.

What about weapons? Dutton wants to know."

"He'll have to wait. I'll bring them with me. It's my privilege."

A little later d.i.c.k went to his room, where he was busy for some time.

When he emerged he was accompanied by Paul. He wore his long cape overcoat, and something bulged beneath it.

"I guess he'll be surprised," commented Paul.

The clump of trees, which Dutton had selected as the place for the duel, was located on a little point of land that jutted out into the lake, and near a small lagoon. It was some distance from the academy buildings, and out of sight. The trees had kept most of the snow from the ground, and it was a sheltered place. As there was a full moon there was no need of other light.

As d.i.c.k and Paul approached the place they saw several dark figures moving about.

"They're on time," whispered Paul.

"Yes. I hope the Colonel doesn't hear of it."

As they drew nearer, Stiver stepped forward and said:

"Is your man ready, Drew?"

"All ready."

"Then we demand to know the weapons. My princ.i.p.al will object to pistols, as they make too much noise."

"My princ.i.p.al has the choice of weapons, as you know, and unless he is allowed to exercise it we must decline to fight."

Paul spoke as though it was very serious.

"I know, but, hang it all, man, we can't fight with pistols. We'd have the whole crowd down on us," objected Stiver, in some alarm.

"I'll not fight with pistols," put in Dutton, which was a wrong thing for a brave duelist to do.

"Don't be worried," replied d.i.c.k coolly "I have not selected pistols.

But we are delaying too long. I am ready."

"So are we," said Stiver, but it was observed that his voice was not very steady. He was beginning to wish he had had nothing to do with this. It seemed to be getting serious, and he, as well as Dutton, wondered what d.i.c.k could be carrying under his overcoat.

"Take your places," said Paul.

"But the weapons," insisted Stiver.

"My princ.i.p.al will hand one to your princ.i.p.al as soon as he takes his place," went on Paul. "We seconds must retire to a safe distance."

"They--they aren't rifles, are they?" asked Stiver, and this time his voice was very shaky.

"They are not rifles," said d.i.c.k, somewhat solemnly. "Come, I can't stay here all night. I want to write an account of this to Miss Hanford."

"Don't you dare!" cried Dutton.

"Hush! Take your place," said his second.

Dutton approached d.i.c.k, and held out his hand to receive his weapon.

d.i.c.k unfolded his coat and extended--not a sword or gun, but a big bladder, fully blown up, and tied to a short stick. He kept a similar one for himself.

"These are my weapons," he said.

"I won't fight with those! It's an insult! I demand satisfaction!"

fairly shouted Dutton.

"Hush!" cried Stiver. "Someone is coming!"

But it was too late. Several figures could be seen running over the snow toward the duelists.

CHAPTER XXIII

A WINTER MARCH

"Quick! Here comes Major Webster!" cried Stiver. There was no mistaking the soldierly figure who was approaching.

"And Colonel Masterly is with him!" added Paul.

"Some one has squealed!" added Dutton, but he seemed rather glad than otherwise that the duel had been interrupted.

"Cut for it!" said d.i.c.k. "Across the ice, and into the grove! We can get in the back way, and they won't know who it was out here."

"Say, if they were tipped off that something like this was going to take place, they know who was in it," said Paul, as he and d.i.c.k headed across the ice which covered the inlet at one side of the wooded point.

d.i.c.k thought of the conversation he had seen taking place between Miss Hanford and the major, and a light came to him.