ghbourhood was quiet and still.

"We must get to the town some other way," said Jack. "Doesn't the road
to Hornalby pass somewhere here on the right?"

"I don't know," answered Rosher; "we ought to strike some road or other
if we keep going in that direction."

The boys continued their flight, varying their walk by occasionally
breaking into a jog-trot. At length they found themselves in a narrow
lane; but after wandering down it for nearly half a mile, their further
progress was barred by the appearance of a private gate.

"Botheration!" cried Jack, "we've come wrong; this leads to some farm.
We shall never get home at this rate."

Retracing their steps the way they had come, the two unfortunate
adventurers at length found themselves on the Hornalby road; but when
they reached Melchester, and were hurrying down the side street past
"Duster's" shop, the cathedral clock struck half-past eleven.

"Oh, my!" said Rosher; "how shall we get in? Everybody will be in bed.
We shall have to knock up old Mullins at the lodge."

"No fear," answered Jack. "We must get into Westford's garden, and
from there into the quad; then we'll try some of the windows."

The plan was carried out, and a few moments later the two boys were
standing in the dark and deserted playground. Jack made a circuit of
the buildings on tiptoe, and then returned to his companion.

"All the classroom windows are fast," he said, "but there's one on the
first landing belonging to the bathroom that's open. What we must do
is this. Under the bench in the workshop is that ladder thing that
Preston and I made last year. We must fetch it, and you must hold it
while I get up to the window. Then you must put the ladder back, and
I'll creep down and let you in at the side door. The workshop's
locked, but luckily I've got the key in my pocket!"

The scheme was successful, and ten minutes later the two wanderers were
creeping up the main staircase. Rosher had a private bedroom; and
Jack, moving softly, and undressing in the dark, managed to get into
bed without awakening any of the other boys in his dormitory.

CHAPTER XII.

"--INTO THE FIRE."

"One of the little boys took up the tin soldier and threw him into the
stove."--_The Brave Tin Soldier_.

"Hallo, Fenleigh! You were back precious late last night," said
Walker, the Sixth Form boy in charge of the dormitory.

"Yes," answered the other carelessly. "I had leave to go out to tea."