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  THEY PACKED AWAY NEARLY EVERY TROPHY THE ROOM CONTAINED.--_Page 249._

_The Putnam Hall Champions._]




                            THE PUTNAM HALL
                               CHAMPIONS
                         _Or, Bound to Win Out_


                                   BY
                           ARTHUR M. WINFIELD
AUTHOR OF "THE PUTNAM HALL CADETS," "THE PUTNAM HALL RIVALS," "THE ROVER
                           BOYS SERIES," ETC.


                             _ILLUSTRATED_


                                NEW YORK
                            GROSSET & DUNLAP
                               PUBLISHERS

                          Copyright, 1908, by
                          EDWARD STRATEMEYER.




                               CONTENTS.


  CHAPTER                                                           PAGE
  I. A Race on the Lake                                                1
  II. What the Wind Did                                               11
  III. About a Gymnastic Contest                                      22
  IV. Shortcake and Lemonade                                          32
  V. The Interview in the Office                                      43
  VI. Andy Snow's Victory                                             54
  VII. At the Drug Store                                              64
  VIII. A Scare on the Road                                           75
  IX. The Inspection                                                  85
  X. What Happened to Jack                                            96
  XI. A Challenge from Pornell Academy                               106
  XII. The Bowling Match                                             116
  XIII. Fun with Peleg Snuggers                                      126
  XIV. The Mystery of a Bracelet                                     136
  XV. The Great Bicycle Race                                         146
  XVI. At the Chetwood Cottage                                       157
  XVII. An Interview with George Strong                              165
  XVIII. Searching the Woods                                         173
  XIX. The Bone and Blood Club                                       181
  XX. The End of the Search                                          189
  XXI. Surprises of a Night                                          197
  XXII. Prisoners on the Sloop                                       205
  XXIII. The Race of the Sloops                                      213
  XXIV. Fred Century Makes a Change                                  221
  XXV. A Cannon and a Flagstaff Disappear                            229
  XXVI. A Conference of Importance                                   237
  XXVII. In the Trophy Room                                          245
  XXVIII. An Unlooked-for Disappearance                              253
  XXIX. The Hill Climbing Contest                                    261
  XXX. A Capture--Conclusion                                          269




                              INTRODUCTION


My Dear Boys:

This tale is complete in itself, but forms volume three in a line issued
under the general title of "Putnam Hall Series."

This series was started at the request of many boys and girls who had
read some volumes of the "Rover Boys' Series," and who wanted to know
what had taken place at Putnam Hall previous to the arrival there of the
three Rover brothers. When the Rovers came on the scene Putnam Hall had
been flourishing for some time and was filled with bright, go-ahead
cadets, who had been mixed up in innumerable scrapes, and who had gone
through quite a few adventures. My young friends wanted to hear all
about these wideawake lads, and for their benefit I started this series.

In the first volume, called "The Putnam Hall Cadets," I told just how
the school came to be founded, and related many of the adventures of
Jack Ruddy, Pepper Ditmore, and their chums. In the second volume,
entitled "The Putnam Hall Rivals," the doings of these cadets were again
followed, and I also told the particulars of a queer balloon ride and of
a remarkable discovery in the woods.

In the present story I have endeavored to show something of what the
Putnam Hall boys could do when it came to contests on the lake, in the
gymnasium, and elsewhere. A large portion of the cadets' "off time" was
devoted to sports, and the rivalry, both in the academy and against
other schools, was of the keenest. Mixed in with the rivalry was a
generous share of fun, and what some of this hilarity led to I leave the
pages which follow to tell.

Once again I thank my young friends for the interest they have shown in
my stories. I trust the reading of this volume will please you all.

Affectionately and sincerely yours,

                                                     Arthur M. Winfield.




                       THE PUTNAM HALL CHAMPIONS




                               CHAPTER I
                           A RACE ON THE LAKE


"Talk about a life on the ocean wave, Pep; isn't this good enough for
anybody?"

"It certainly is, Jack," answered Pepper Ditmore. "And I think the
_Alice_ is going to prove a dandy."

"The _Alice_ a dandy?" came from a third youth aboard the sloop. "How
can you make that out? Girls aren't dandies."

"But this girl is a boat," put in a fourth youth. "Say, has anybody got
an apple he doesn't want?" he went on, looking from one to another of
his companions.

"What, Stuffer, aren't you filled up yet?" demanded Jack Ruddy, who had
