ng they could lay their hands on, with much gusto. They did
their utmost to pry up the trap door, but were beaten back. Suddenly
to the "Wild Geese's" surprise, the lower part of the cabin was
abandoned by the Hens. They thought it a ruse to draw them out, so I
they lay quiet for some time. There were no windows in the loft. Bye and
bye Paul knocked a hole through the shingles of the roof. Protruding his
head he saw the Hens in a wild flight towards the forest. He could see
no cause for this until he knocked a hole through the other side of the
cabin roof. What he beheld was not calculated to cheer his heart.
Eight or ten of the professors were almost on the cabin. There was no
time or chance to escape. Paul commanded all hands to lie down and
keep still while himself and lieutenants sat on the trap door. The house
was quickly entered by the professors. Remarks such as "They must be
here," "The fire is still burning," "See the chicken feathers," etc.,
etc. ascended to the trembling urchins above.

"Is there no loft or upper story?" said one finally.

"I don't think so," responded another; "There is no means of getting up
there. They have all left. Here is their trail in the snow leading to
the woods."

All would have been well with the "Wild Geese" had not the unlucky
Stockie at this moment, given a loud sneeze. At which some of the
minor members of the company giggled. The chief looked sternly at the
culprit. He saw Stockie about to repeat the involuntary sneeze and
grabbed him by the nose and throat. Too late! The noise had been heard
below and the imperative command was given to "come down." Slowly the
trap-door was opened and the ladder descended. Then a scuffle ensued to
see who would go down last. The consequence was that two or three of the
Geese went down at the same time. Slowly and sorrowfully the prisoners
marched to the college where to add to their misery they beheld the
faces of the smiling and triumphant "Wild Hens." These had regained
"bounds" without being discovered and their loud cackling grated
discordantly on the nerves of the late banqueters. That evening,
singly and in pairs were the "Wild Geese" called over and interviewed by
the president. On their return to the study hall their flushed faces
and reddened eyes accompanied by rapid, mysterious signals, gave warning
to the waiting ones of the wrath to come. Paul and Stockie were the
last to be summoned. They