He did not know where to go and so walked slowly in the direction of the boathouse.
As he neared the building, he saw a boy come out of the structure and hurry across the float to where the _Alice_ and the _Ajax_ were tied up.

The boy was Reff Ritter.
The bully of the school was in a great rage.

Captain Putnam had given him a stern lecture and told him if he did not behave in the future he would be dismissed from the school.

The captain had also cut him off from all holidays up to Christmas, and added that he must expect to take no part in Putnam Hall athletics.

The latter was the hardest blow of all, for Ritter had hoped that Fall to make the football team.
"Now, what is he up to ?" Pepper asked himself, and stuffing the napkin that held the cake and sandwich into his pocket, he moved forward on a run.
Reff Ritter had crossed the float and now he stood beside the sloop that was Jack's property.