Then he ran to the boathouse and placed the ax inside.

"Don't you dare to mention this to anybody!" he shouted as he reappeared.

"If you do, you'll get yourself in hot water.

My word is as good as yours." And then he turned and ran towards the school building.
Pepper watched him out of sight.
"No use of reporting this to Captain Putnam," he reasoned.

"Ritter would, of course, deny everything.