The paper contained pepper and it set several of Tom's men to sneezing.
This trick had been arranged between Flapp and Rockley, the latter feeling certain that Tom and his followers could not sneeze and pull at the same time.
"Up!" yelled Rockley.

"Pull! pull! pull!" "Stay down!" roared Tom.

"Down! Don't give in an inch!" But the cry could not be obeyed.

Half the team was up and sneezing and before order could be restored the rope had gone over to the Rockleys' side a distance of two and a half feet.
"Hurrah, the Rockleys are winning!" yelled Ben Hurdy.

"Haul 'em over, boys!" "Down!" ordered Tom.
"What on earth made the men sneeze ?" demanded Dick, gazing around sharply.
"Smells like pepper," replied Major Larry Colby, who was close at hand.
"Would anybody be mean enough to use that ?" "Perhaps." "Up!" cried Rockley once more.