True Blue: Stirring Stories of Naval Academy Life — page 27: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

—_ vant add 7? >" ¢ _ tS _— : « sa : * % * RUE BLUE. Then, on true scouting tactics, in which he was an ex- pert, he made for the spot under suspicion. 3 Clif came alongside a perfect breastwork of stunted bushes to be enabled a peer through and beyond without his approach being observed or his presence detected. Some astonishment filled his mind as he stared. One of his recent assailants was in view—Clif recog- nized him from his attire. Another .thing: The mask he had worn lay on the ground at_his feet, carelessly trodden on as he moved about briskly. Like three mummies, three suits of clothes lay spread out on the grass. The man had been smoothing them out, and, it was evi- dent preparatory to rolling them up into one bundle. These suits were the ones the three recent companions of the fellow had worn—again Clif’s keen sight and mem- ory helped him out. The man, now unmasked, had nothing murderous, sin- ister or formidable in his face or manner. 3 He struck Clif as an ordinary farmer of the district, and a smile wreathed his lips as if he had just been 1n- dulging in some folly or fun that pleased him. Clif instantly placed the man as an innocent helper of the cadet conspirators. He decitled to tackle him without delay, and he forced his way through the bushes and stood in plain view before the fellow had been well warned by the rustling of the twigs. “Hello!” plumped the man, turning sharply. ) He looked pretty blank as he apparently recognized Clif. and his face lengthened as he met the stern, accus- ing look fixed full upon him. “Where are. they?” demanded Clif, pointing a steady finger at the outstretched clothes. “Hum!” stammered the man, and turned red as a beet. “Can’t you spéak?” urged Clif. “You seem to know how to act!” “Tal” breathed the fellow with an uneasy tremble. “You see e “Well?” “Larks is larks!” “The winged ones are.” t-. - * ‘ in : > * ‘ q . } . i ty in, a - Z F &, a . A a 7 % . nd om J 2 Pp ° me comicbooks.c ry 7 ~*~! * om