dor. It was true that
they had come down for an hour's Nap and cigarettes; well, and there
was no denying that there was whiskey in the glasses. The boys were now
all back in their class-room, I think entirely for the sake of warmth;
but Raffles and I were in knickerbockers and Norfolk jackets, and very
naturally remained without, while the army-crammer (who wore bedroom
slippers) stood on the threshold, with an eye each way. The more I saw
of the man the better I liked and the more I feared him. His chief
annoyance thus far was that they had not called him when they heard the
noise, that they had dreamt of leaving him out of the fun. But he
seemed more hurt than angry about that.

"Well, sir," concluded Olphert, "we left old Beefy Smith hanging on to
his hand, and this gentleman with him, so perhaps he can tell us what
happened next?"

"I wish I could," I cried with all their eyes upon me, for I had had
time to think. "Some of you must have heard me say I'd fetch my friend
in from the road?"

"Yes, I did," piped an innocent from within.

"Well, and when I came back with him things were exactly as you see
them now. Evidently the man's strength was too much for the boy's; but
whether he ran upstairs or outside I know no more than you do."

"It wasn't like that boy to run either way," said the crammer, cocking
a clear blue eye on me.

"But if he gave chase!"

"It wasn't like him even to let go."

"I don't believe Beefy ever would," put in Olphert. "That's why we
gave him the billet."

"He may have followed him through the pantry window," I suggested
wildly.

"But the door's shut," put in a boy.

"I'll have a look at it," said the crammer.

And the key no longer in the lock, and the insensible youth within!
The key would be missed, the door kicked in; nay, with the man's eye
still upon me, I thought I could smell the chloroform.

I thought I could hear a moan, and prepared for either any moment. And
how he did stare! I have detested blue eyes ever since, and blonde
moustaches, and the whole stout easy-going type that is not such a fool
as it looks. I had brazened it out with the boys, but the first grown
man wa too many for me, and the blood ran out of my heart as though
there was no Raffles at my back. Indeed, I had forgotten him. I had
so longed to put this thing through by myself! Even in my extremity it
was almost a disappointment to me when his dear, cool voice fell like a
delicious