They rebelled, left the school by stealth, and marched away, to camp in the woods.

There the rebels split up, one party under Major Jack and the other under Ritter.

At last Captain Putnam put in an appearance, and Major Jack explained matters.

As a consequence, the cadets went back to the Hall, and then Josiah Crabtree and Pluxton were called on to explain.

Crabtree was retained, after a stern lecture from the master of the school, but Cuddle was discharged.
It was Captain Putnam's custom to take his students out once or twice a year to what was called an encampment--the lads marching to some spot where they could pitch their tents and go in for a touch of real army life, with target shooting, sham battles, and the like.