Wonder if he did much damage ?" Pepper made an examination.

Luckily the bully had not had time to get in his nefarious work to any extent, and the bottom of the sloop showed only two slight ax cuts, not deep enough to do harm.
"Caught him just in time," thought Pepper, and then he sat down on the stern seat and munched away at the sandwich and cake, washing the stuff down with a drink from the cooler in the boathouse.
By the time he had finished, the other cadets were coming from their supper, and soon he was joined by Jack, Dale and several others.

In private, he told the young major of what had occurred.
"The rascal!" cried Jack.

"If he hurts my boat he shall pay for it!" "Captain Putnam must have given him a good dressing down to make him so ugly." "Well, he deserved it." "Say," put in Dale.

"That was mean of old Crabtree to send you away from the table." "Never mind, I'll pay him back," answered The Imp, grimly.
Several days passed and during that time Reff Ritter kept his distance.
The bully was in a bitter mood, and even his cronies could get little out of him.
The reason for this was twofold.