Jack was slightly the older of the two and was of rather a serious turn of mind.

Pepper was full of fun, and on that account was frequently called "The Imp." As related in my first volume, entitled "The Putnam Hall Cadets," the lads left home to become cadets at a new institution of learning located on Cayuga Lake.

This new school was presided over by Captain Victor Putnam, a retired army officer, who had modeled his institution somewhat after the famous military academy at West Point.

It was a large school, ideally located on the shore of the lake, and had attached to it a gymnasium, a boathouse, and several other buildings.

On the lower floor of the main building were the classrooms, the mess-hall, and the offices, and upstairs were the dormitories.
Arriving at the school, Jack and Pepper soon made a host of friends, including the acrobatic Andy Snow; Dale Blackmore, who was a great football player; Paul Singleton, who was usually called "Stuffer" because of his constant desire to eat; Joseph Hogan, commonly addressed as "Emerald" because of his Irish blood, and Joe Nelson, who was one of the best scholars the school ever had.