re was a moment's silence, then a sudden clicking of a ratchet wheel,
and Allison began to rise rapidly towards the ceiling.

"A-ay!" cried Allison in amazement.

The boys burst out in delighted laughter.

"Westby! Westby! Stop that!" Irving's voice was shrill with anger.

Allison became stationary once more, and Westby displayed an innocent,
surprised face at the loft opening.

"If there is any more nonsense in letting Allison down, I shall really
have to report you." Irving's voice rose tremulously to a high key; he
was trying hard to control it.

Westby gazed down with surprise. "Why, I guess I must have turned the
crank the wrong way, don't you suppose I did, Mr. Upton?--Don't worry,
Allison, old man; I'll rescue you, never fear. I'll try to lower you
gently, so that you won't get hurt; you'll call out if you find you're
coming down too fast, won't you?"

He withdrew his head, and presently the ratchet wheel clicked and
slowly, very slowly, Allison began to descend. When his feet were a
couple of inches from the floor, the descent stopped.

"All right now?" called Westby from above.

"No!" bawled Allison.

"Ve-ry gently then, ve-ry gently," replied Westby; and Allison, reaching
for the floor with his toes, had at last the satisfaction of feeling it.
He wriggled out of the noose and smoothed out his rumpled coat.

"Saved!" exclaimed Westby, peering down from the opening, and then he
added sorrowfully, "Saved, and no word of gratitude to his rescuer!"

"Now, boys, don't stand round here any longer; we've had enough
nonsense; go to your rooms," said Irving.

"Mr. Upton, Mr. Upton, Mr. Upton, sir!" clamored Westby, and the boys
lingered.

Irving looked up in exasperation. "What is it now?"

"May I come down, please, sir?"

"Yes."

"Thank you, sir."

Carefully Westby descended the ladder, mumbling all the time sentences
of which the lingerers caught fragmentary scraps: "Horrible experience
that of Allison's--dreadful situation to have been in--so fortunate that I
was at hand--the man who dares--reckless courage, ready resource--home
again!" He dropped to the floor, and raising his hand to his forehead,
saluted Irving.

"Come, move on, all you fellows," said Irving; the others were still
hanging about and laughing; "move on, move on! Carroll, you and Westby
take that ladder down and put it back where you got it."

He stayed to see that the order was carried out; then he returned to his
room. He f