



Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net






 THE HEROES
 OF THE SCHOOL

 Or

 The Darewell Chums
 Through Thick and Thin

 BY
 ALLEN CHAPMAN

 AUTHOR OF "BART STIRLING'S ROAD TO SUCCESS," "WORKING
 HARD TO WIN," "BOUND TO SUCCEED," "THE YOUNG
 STOREKEEPER," "NAT BORDEN'S FIND," ETC.

 [Illustration:

 _The_
 GOLDSMITH
 _Publishing Co._

 CLEVELAND   OHIO

 MADE IN U.S.A.]




 Copyright, 1908, by
 Cupples & Leon Company




CONTENTS


 CHAPTER                                 PAGE
       I. Expelling a Pupil                 1
      II. The Wrong Slide                   9
     III. A Queer Character                15
      IV. A Hut in the Woods               22
       V. The Challenge                    30
      VI. A Great Game of Ball             38
     VII. Alice has a Chance               47
    VIII. The Strange Boatman              52
      IX. A Plot Against Bart              59
       X. A Cow in School                  67
      XI. Honoring the Seniors             73
     XII. Frank's Queer Letter             82
    XIII. Sandy on Guard                   89
     XIV. Peculiar Operations              96
      XV. Ned Stops a Panic               104
     XVI. A River Trip                    111
    XVII. The Tramp's Headquarters        116
   XVIII. A Night Scare                   123
     XIX. The Farmer and the Bull         130
      XX. Followed by Sandy               137
     XXI. At the Fair                     143
    XXII. Up in a Balloon                 149
   XXIII. Above the Clouds                157
    XXIV. Into the River                  164
     XXV. Captured                        175
    XXVI. Planning to Escape              183
   XXVII. The Escape                      192
  XXVIII. The Pursuit                     199
    XXIX. An Unexpected Meeting           208
     XXX. Striking Oil--Conclusion        215




THE HEROES OF THE SCHOOL




CHAPTER I

EXPELLING A PUPIL


"What are you looking so glum about this morning, Stumpy?" asked Ned
Wilding as he greeted his chum, Fenn Masterson, otherwise known as
"Stumpy" because of his short, stout figure. "Haven't you got your
lessons, or are you going to be expelled?"

"I'm not to be expelled but some one else is, Ned."

"What's that? Some one going to be expelled?" asked Bart Keene, coming
up in time to hear what Fenn said.

"John Newton is," replied Stumpy.

"What's that got to do with you?" asked Bart, for, as had Ned, he
noticed that Fenn looked worried.

"It might have something to do with me if John--"

Just then the bell of the Darewell High School began to ring, and, as it
was the final summons to classes the three boys and several other pupils
hurried into the building. On the way up the stairs Ned Wilding was
joined by a tall youth with dark hair and eyes.

"What's this I hear about John Newton?" asked the tall lad.

"Hello, Frank! Why Stumpy says John's got to leave the school, but it's
the first I heard about it."

"Are they going to expel him this morning?"

"Seems so. We'll soon know."

A little later several hundred boys and girls were gathered in the
auditorium of the school for the usual morning exercises. When they were
over the principal, Professor McCloud, came to the edge of the platform.

"I have a very unpleasant duty to perform," he began.

Most of the boys and girls knew what was coming. The principal never
prefaced his remarks that way unless he had to expel a pupil. Ned and
Bart looked over toward where Fenn sat. They wanted to see if there was
any reason for Stumpy's seeming apprehension.

"John Newton!" called Professor McCloud, and a tall youth, with eyes
that squinted slightly, left his seat and shambled forward.

"It's coming now," whispered Fenn, and Frank Roscoe, who was sitting
beside him, looked at his chum and wondered.

"Any one would think it was you who had to face the music," declared
Frank.

By this time John Newton was standing in front of the raised platform on
which the principal and teachers sat during the morning exercises. He
did not seem to mind the humility or disgrace of his position. He turned
half around and looked toward Fenn.

"If he says anything--" began Stumpy, whispering to himself, but he did
not finish the sentence for Professor McCloud was speaking.

"John Newton," the principal said, "I am deeply grieved that I have to
do this. It is very painful." It was the same speech the pupils had
heard before. The principal always used it, with such slight variations
as might be necessary. "You have been dilatory in your studies. You have
been insubordinate. You have played mean tricks. You have refused to
mend your ways."

The principal took a long breath. He always did at this particular point
in his painful duty. But this time there was a variation from the usual
scene. John Newton stepped forward and addressed the principal. It was a
thing unheard of in the Darewell school.

"Professor McCloud," said John, "I want to say that while I'm partly to
blame in this matter, Fenn Mas--"

"That will do! That will do!" interrupted Mr. McCloud so sharply that
John started. A number of the pupils turned in their seats to gaze at
Stumpy, who looked painfully self-conscious.

"There's something in the wind," whispered Ned to Bart.

"I'm not going to take all the blame," persisted John, ignoring the
principal's command to remain silent. "Fenn Mast--"

"I said that would do," and Mr. McCloud spoke so decisively that John
remained silent. "I know what you would say," the professor went on.
"I have looked into that matter thoroughly. No one is to blame but
yourself, and your effort to shift the punishment to some other boy
does not do you any good. You should not have attempted to mention any
pupil's name. I will not refer to it again, except to say that no one
is involved but yourself. I am fully satisfied on this point."

Frank noticed that Fenn seemed much relieved at the professor's
announcement, and he wondered what connection there could have been
between his chum and John Newton.

"You have been given several opportunities to reform," the principal
went on, "but you have refused to profit by them. You are a dangerous
element to have in this school. Therefore, we return you to your
friends," and, with a wave of his glasses toward the door to emphasize
his remark, the principal indicated that John Newton might go. That
ended it. John was expelled.

The pupils went to their various classes, and, though there was
considerable whispering back and forth during the morning session as to
what caused John's expulsion, and what his reference to Fenn might mean,
there was no chance to discuss the matter until the noon recess. Then
questions and answers flew thick and fast.

"Now Fenn, tell us all about it," said Ned Wilding when he and the two
other boys who had remarked Stumpy's apprehension, were gathered in the
basement where lunches were usually eaten. "What was John driving at?
What were you afraid of