The Rover Boys in Camp/Chapter 16
CHAPTER XVI
THE FIRST DAY ON PINE ISLAND
"Can anybody tell me where the—er—looking glass is?"
It was William Philander Tubbs who asked the question. He stood in the middle of one of the tents, gazing helplessly about him.
"Beastly way to live, really now it is," he continued. "How is a fellow to arrange his toilet without a glass?"
"Better run down to the lake and look into the water," suggested Sam, who occupied a cot in the tent.
"Look into the water? Beastly!" murmured Tubbs. "Really now, this isn't like home, is it?" he continued.
"It suits me well enough," went on Sam, leaping up and beginning to dress. "You'll get used to it before long."
"Never, my dear boy, never!"
As Tubbs spoke he began to put on his coat, but failed to get either of his hands further than the elbows of the sleeves.
"What's the matter with this coat?" he ejaculated. "Well, I declare!"
"What's up now?" asked another cadet.
"Somebody has gone and sewed up the sleeves."
There was a roar of laughter at this.
"Mustn't mind a little thing like that," said Sam, and he sat down on the edge of his cot to put on his shoes. "Great Scott, what's this?"
He had forced his foot into one shoe and now withdrew it covered with soft soap.
"Haw! haw!" roared Tubbs. "Rather fancy the laugh is on you now, Rover."
"That's a fact," muttered Sam, and began to clean out the shoe as quickly as he could.
Several other small jokes had been played, showing that the cadets were "tuning up," as Major Larry expressed it.
"I guess I'll have my hands full before the week is out," he said to Dick, in private. "Keeping order will be no fool of a job."
"Well, you must remember that you liked to have your fling too, when you were a private, major," answered the captain of Company A.
The cooking detail were already preparing breakfast and the aroma of hot coffee floated throughout the camp. Immediately after roll-call breakfast was served, of fruit, fish, eggs, bread, and coffee, and the cadets pitched in with a will.
"Gives one an appetite to live out in the open," said Lieutenant Tom.
"As if you didn't carry your appetite with you wherever you go," grinned Sam.
"Silence, Private Rover, or I'll fine you half a day's pay," flung back Tom with a similar grin.
"My, but we are some pumpkins," went on Sam, squaring his shoulders. "Wonder how soon we'll get to be a general."
"Perhaps at the next general election," suggested George Granbury.
"Lieutenant Granbury is fined a peanut for punning," said Tom severely. "Don't do it again and the fine will be remitted."
"That's a fine way to do," murmured George, and then Sam shied a tin plate at him.
As soon as the meal was over there was a drill lasting half an hour, and then the cadets were permitted to do as they pleased until noon. Some went boating, some fishing, while others took a swim, or simply "knocked around" as Sam expressed it.
"I shouldn't mind a swim," said Tom. "Who will go in with me?"
A dozen cadets were willing, including Dick, Larry, and Fred Garrison. As it was off time, Larry, even though major, did not feel it necessary to "stand on his dignity."
"I'm just going to be as I've always been," he told the others. "If I can't be that, I don't want to be major."
Several tents had been erected close to the water's edge, where the cadets might undress and don their bathing suits. Tom was the first ready, and with a run he plunged into the lake head-first.
"It's glorious!" he shouted, as he came up and shook the water from his head. "Worth a dollar a minute. Come on in!" And they came, one after another, without loss of more time. The water was slightly cool, but the students at Putnam Hall were required to take cold baths weekly, so they did not mind the temperature. Laughing and shouting gleefully they dove around in all directions, and then Tom suggested a race.
"Just the thing!" said another cadet. "Where shall we race to?"
"Over to yonder rock and back," answered Tom. "Line up, everybody. A stale biscuit to the winner and a sour cream puff for the last man. All ready?"
There was a pause.
"Start!" yelled Tom, and made a wild splash that sent the water flying in all directions.
"A race! A race!" shouted one of the students on the shore, and his cry soon brought a score or more of the others to the spot.
"I think Tom Rover will win that race."
"I'll bet on Major Larry."
"Fred Garrison is ahead. He's the best swimmer in the school."
"He can't swim as well as Dick Rover."
"I'll bet Jackson wins," came from Lew Flapp, who was in the crowd on the beach. Jackson, it will be remembered, was one of his particular cronies.
"Jackson can't swim against Dick Rover," came from Songbird Powell, who had hardly spoken to Flapp since the row at Mike Sherry's resort.
"I'll bet you a dollar he beats Rover," replied the tall boy, in a low tone.
"I don't bet, Flapp."
"You're afraid to bet," sneered the tall boy.
This statement angered Powell and he quickly dove into his pocket and pulled out the sum mentioned.
"This is the time you lose, Flapp," he said quietly.
Another student was made stakeholder and each boy passed over his money.
By this time the race was well underway. Tom was still in the lead, but Jackson was close behind him, with Larry Colby third and Dick fourth.
"Go it, Tom, you are sure to win!" shouted one of his friends.
"Don't know about that," Tom returned pantingly. "Guess I started too hard!" And soon he began to drop behind.
"Jackson is ahead!" was the next cry.
"Major Colby is a close second!"
"That is true, but Dick Rover is crawling up!"
So the cries went on until the big rock that was the turning point was gained.
Jackson touched the rock first, several seconds before either Larry or Dick came up. It certainly looked as if Lew Flapp's crony had a good chance of winning.
"Told you he would win," said Flapp to Powell.
"The race isn't over yet," answered Songbird briefly.
"Humph! Do you think Dick Rover can catch Jackson when he is five yards behind?"
"Not quite as much as that, Flapp, and he is gradually crawling up."
"He won't make it, I tell you."
"Perhaps he will."
"I'll bet you five to one that he won't," insisted the big boy.
"I won't bet any more."
"You're afraid," sneered Flapp.
Again Powell went down into his pocket and, drew forth another dollar.
"There you are," he said to the stakeholder.
Lew Flapp had not expected this, but he quickly covered the one dollar with a five, feeling sure he was going to win.
"You'll never see your two dollars again, Powell," he said.
"Perhaps you'll never see your six again," answered Songbird, and moved away to watch the race from another point along the island shore.
Jackson was certainly swimming well, although the terrific strain was beginning to tell upon him.
"Go it, Jackson," roared Lew Flapp. "Go it, old Moneybags!"
"Moneybags" was a signal among many of the cadets, signifying that the speaker had bet money on the result. Betting at the academy was strictly prohibited, but wagers were often made on the sly.
Hearing this cry, Jackson renewed his struggles and for a few seconds held his lead.
But now Dick Rover was crawling up inch by inch. He had passed Tom, who was left hopelessly in the rear, and now he was pressing Larry.
"The major and the captain are tie!"
"See, Captein Rover is crawling ahead!"
"Swim, Jackson, swim!" yelled Lew Flapp frantically. "You must win!" And Pender took up the call, and so did Rockley.
Again Jackson did his best. The finish of the race was now but twenty yards off.
"Go in and win, Dick," came from Larry Colby. "I'm about used up," and he let Dick go ahead.
Dick was almost as fresh as at the start and slowly but surely he kept gaining upon Jackson until the two were not over two yards apart.
"Hurrah, Captain Rover is crawling up!"
"Don't give up, Jackson, you can win out yet!" screamed Lew Flapp.
"Go it, Dick!" yelled Sam. "Go it, I say! The race is yours!"
Cheered by the last cry Dick increased his stroke and in a second more he was alongside of Jackson.
The latter made a side kick, intending to catch Dick in the stomach, but the eldest Rover was wise enough to keep out of his opponent's reach.
The kick made Jackson lose ground, and like a flash Dick passed him.
"Dick Rover is ahead!"
"See, Jackson is played out! He can hardly take another stroke!"
"Major Colby is crawling up! See, he is passing Jackson!"
"And here comes Tom Rover, too."
"Wake up, Tom!" cried Sam. "You can beat Jackson yet!"
At this cry Tom did wake up, and seeing Jackson floundering around put on a final spurt and passed him.
"Dick Rover has won the race!"
"And Major Colby is second, and Tom Rover third."
"Poor Jackson wasn't in it, after all!"