But the cheer came to an abrupt end when Fred Century cried out: "Pepper Ditmore is hurt!" "And so is Major Ruddy!" came from Emerald Hogan.
A crowd quickly gathered around each wounded cadet.

Pepper had a nasty cut over the left eye and Jack had a lump behind his right ear.
"They must have been hit with soakers," was Dale's comment, as he bent over Pepper.
"Looks as if Pepper was hit with a stone," came from Andy.
"A stone!" cried Bart Field.
"Yes, a stone! That cut was never made by a snowball, or a piece of ice, either!" "Shall I get a doctor ?" asked Stuffer, anxiously.
"Oh, are they as bad as that ?" asked Bob Grenwood.
"I don't know," answered Bert, soberly.

"Wait a minute and we'll see if they come around." "Oh, what a crack!" murmured Jack, and then he sat up and stared around him.

Pepper was also stirring and he slowly put one hand to the cut on his temple.
"Let us carry 'em to the Hall," suggested Bert.

"It's getting too cold out here and besides, they are all in a sweat from the snowballing." When Pepper was picked up, Andy saw something lying beneath him in the snow.