soldiers each; and the soldiers elect their own officers, to serve
during the school term. Tom, perhaps you may turn out captain of
Company B."

"And you may be Major Dick Rover of the first battalion," returned
Tom. "Say, but this suits me to death, Uncle Randolph."

"I am glad to hear it, Thomas. But I want you to promise me to
attend to your studies. Military matters are all well enough in
their way, but I want you to have the benefits of a good
education."

"Oh, I fancy Captain Victor Putnam will attend to that," put in
Sam.

The circular was read from end to end, and it was after ten
o'clock before the boys got done talking about it and went to bed.
Certainly the prospect was a bright one, and if poor Dick had only
had his watch the three would have been in high feather. Little
did they dream, of all the startling adventures in store for them
during their term at Putnam Hall.

It must not be supposed that Mr. Randolph Rover intended to allow
the theft of Dick's watch to pass without a strong effort being
made to recover the article. Early in the morning he drove to the
Corners, and to Oak Run and another village called Bender's, and
at each place had a notice posted, mentioning the loss and
offering a reward of fifty dollars for the recovery of the
property and of one hundred dollars if the thief was captured in
addition. This offer, however, proved of no avail, and Dick had