Part 19 (1/2)

”The fire escape--it is the only way out!” he muttered to himself, and as the boys continued to jerk the bedstead around, he ran to the window and threw out a rope, fastened to a ring in the floor. Then out of the window he bounced and slid down the rope with a speed that blistered his hands.

”He has gone out of the window!” cried Roger, who had his eye glued to the keyhole. ”Wait a minute, fellows!”

”Quick! We must take away the cord,” said Dave, and in a trice the door of the bedroom was unlocked, the bed shoved into place, and the cord removed. Then the students scampered away, turning down the light as before.

Once on the ground Job Haskers lost no time in getting away from the building. Each instant he expected another quake that would bring that n.o.ble pile of bricks, stone, and mortar to the ground. But the quake did not come.

”Queer!” he murmured, presently. ”Didn't anybody else feel that awful shock?”

”Hi, you, throw up your hands, or I'll fill ye full o' buckshot!”

The cry came from behind him, and it caused Job Haskers to leap with a new fear. He turned, and in the gloom of the night saw a man approaching with a gun pointed full at him.

”Don't--don't sho--shoot me!” he gasped.

”Up with yer hands!” came from the man. ”I cotches ye that time, didn't I? Now, wot are ye, a ghost, a burglar, or a student on a lark?”

”Wh--who are yo--you?” stammered Job Haskers. ”Did you--er--feel the earthquake?”

Instead of answering the questions, the man came closer, until the barrel of his shotgun was within a foot of the teacher's head. Then he gave a cry of astonishment.

”Why, if it ain't Mr. Haskers! Wot in the world are you a-doin' out this time o' night, sir?”

”Lemond!” faltered the teacher, as he recognized the driver for the Hall. ”Did you--er--did you feel the earthquake?”

”Earthquake? No, sir.”

”It is strange.”

”Did you feel any of 'em, sir?” Horsehair had lowered his gun and was gazing fixedly at the teacher. ”Say, you ain't walking in your sleep, are ye?” he questioned, abruptly.

”No, no--I--er--I am sure I am not,” stammered Job Haskers, yet in secret he pinched himself to make certain. ”I was--er--in bed, and I thought I felt an earthquake--the bed swayed, and I heard a cry----” The teacher stopped suddenly. ”Perhaps it was those rascally boys!” he cried, abruptly.

”Boys! Did they play a joke on yer? They wouldn't be above it, sir--they are as full of 'em this term as ever, sir. How did you git out o' the building--down that rope?”

”Ye-as. You see, the bed moved--or I thought it did--and blocked the doorway, and I----But never mind, Lemond, don't say anything about this.

I'll go in.” And the teacher started rapidly across the campus. He was, of course, in his bare feet, and was finding his pajamas anything but warm in this frosty fall air.

”You can't get in that way, 'less you have a key!” called out Horsehair.

”I have no key,” and Job Haskers stopped abruptly.

”I can let ye in the back way.”

”That will do. Come, let us hurry--I am getting cold.”

The back door was gained, and Job Haskers entered and felt his way up the semi-dark stairs. As he reached the upper hallway he found himself confronted by Doctor Clay, who had come in rather late, and who had been on the point of retiring when certain strange sounds had disturbed him and caused him to start an investigation.

”Why, Mr. Haskers, where have you been?” asked the doctor in astonishment. ”I heard a noise, but I did not know you were stirring.”