light had
been turned on, he and the others saw the two big snowballs resting on
either side of the bed.

"Stowell, you must have had something to do with this," cried Snopper
Duke savagely.

"No, sir. Not at all, sir," answered the sneak in a trembling voice. "I
don't know a thing about it."

"Where did you come from just now?"

"I--I came up the back stairs. I was just coming through the corridor
when I heard the noise and came to see what it meant."

"The back stairs, eh?" put in Professor Grawson. "What were you doing on
the back stairs this time in the evening?"

"I--I was down in the kitchen." And now Codfish grew pale.

"And what called you to the kitchen?"

"I--I was hungry, and so I asked one of the servants for something to
eat." And now Codfish was fairly whining.

"Humph! didn't you have any supper?"

"Yes, sir. But I wasn't feeling extra well just then and I didn't eat
very much, and that made me hungry afterwards. And, oh, say! I guess I
can tell you something about those snowballs," and Codfish's face lit up
suddenly.

"What do you know?"

"When I was passing through the little entryway that leads into the
kitchen I happened to glance out of the window and I saw four or five
fellows down at the foot of the fire-escape."

"What were they doing?"

"When I looked at them they were just talking among themselves. I only
looked for a moment because I was in a hurry to get to the kitchen and
get back again."

"Did you recognize any of the cadets?"

At this direct question, Codfish hesitated and showed that he felt far
from comfortable.

"I don't like to tell on anybody," he whined. "If I do that they'll be
sure to lick me later on--I know they will!"

"You tell me who they were and I'll see to it that they do not harm you,"
put in Professor Duke quickly.

"I only saw two of the fellows real plainly," answered Stowell. "They
were standing in the light from one of the windows."

"And who were they? Tell me! I want no nonsense now," and Snopper Duke
caught the sneak firmly by the shoulder.

"Ouch! Please don't hurt me!" cried Codfish, in added alarm.

"Then answer me!"

"The two fellows I recognized were Captain Jack Rover and his cousin,
Lieutenant Fred Rover."

"You didn't know the others?" put in Professor Grawson.

"No, sir. I didn't see them well enough. They were all in the shadows."

"I'll investigate this," cried Professor Duke. "Stowell, you come with
me."

"Oh, pleas