en wearing, and hurried along, to the path
leading beside the dam.

"Hi, Stanley!" he called out, as the others came from the mill. "Get
my cap, will you? The wind blew it off. It's back there somewhere."

"I see it!" shouted Stanley.

"I see it, too," came from Spud, who was close by. "I'll race you for
it, Stan."

"Done!" was the reply, and side by side the two collegians raced for
the cap.

"An apple for the fellow who wins!" shouted Sam, who saw nothing wrong
in what was going on.

"Leg it, both of you!" added Songbird.

Side by side Stanley and Spud sped over the uneven ground in the
direction of the cap. Then both made a plunge forward in true football
style. In a heap they landed on the rotted boards, each catching hold
of the coveted headwear. Then came an ominous crash, and both boys
disappeared headlong into the well hole!

"Look! Look what has happened!" shrieked Sam, in dismay.

"They are in the old well!" gasped Songbird.

"Ha! ha! ha! Ho! ho!" came from Tom, and he shook with laughter.
"Isn't that the dandy joke? I thought Stanley would go in, but I
didn't expect to catch the pair of 'em."

"Tom!" cried Sam, in new horror. "You didn't really mean----"

"Sure I did. I put my cap there on purpose. Say, they had some
tumble, didn't they?" And Tom commenced to laugh again--a strange
laugh that didn't sound like him at all.

"They'll be drowned--we must save them!" exclaimed Sam, hoarsely.
"Songbird, what can we do?" he added, turning to his chum.

"I don't know--maybe we can throw 'em a rope--if there is one around."

"Let 'em crawl out--it's easy enough," came from Tom. "Don't you spoil
the joke." And he commenced to laugh again.

"Tom, don't act as if you were crazy!" said Sam, catching him by the
arm and shaking him. "Those fellows can't get out without help--it's
too deep! And the sides may cave in on top of them! And there is
water down there, too! We must help them, and at once."

Tom stared at his brother in bewilderment. Then of a sudden the look
of fun died out of his face and was succeeded by a look of horror and
terror combined.

"Did I do that, Sam? Oh, what a foolish thing to do! Yes, we must
help them! What shall I do? I'll jump down after them if you say so!"
And Tom started forward.

"No, don't do that!" Sam held him back. "We'll get a rope, or a long
pole. Don't go too close or you may cave the top of the well in on
'em."

"Yes, we must ge