Part 36 (1/2)

Satisfied that he had been successful he resigned himself to his watch.

The long hours dragged on until at last Will found it almost impossible to keep himself awake. Desperately he strove to keep his eyes open, but his feeling of drowsiness increased until at last it overpowered him and the weary freshman was fast asleep.

He was rudely awakened by sounds that came from the room below. He sat quickly erect, and though the light was clearer now he at first could not collect his thoughts sufficiently to show him where he was. Quickly, however, as the sounds from below became louder, it all came back to him, and he ran to the ladder and peered through the opening. What he saw evidently startled him, for instantly he threw himself upon the ladder and almost leaped to the floor below.

CHAPTER XXVI

ST. PATRICK'S DAY

The door in the rear of the barn was open and on the floor before it stood Foster and Mott facing each other. Whether or not the soph.o.m.ore who had been left as a guard was still in the barn Will could not determine, but, without waiting to find out, he almost leaped to the floor below, and before Mott could recover from his surprise he was helpless in the hands of his enemies. It was but the work of a moment securely to bind his hands and feet, and the leading spirit of the soph.o.m.ore cla.s.s was soon a helpless captive.

Excited though the boys were, the entire adventure was completed in a very brief time, and Will and Foster were both laughing when they gazed at their helpless prisoner. Even Mott smiled as he said ruefully:

”You've scored, freshmen. What are you going to do with me?”

”Nothing,” said Will quickly.

Mott drew down the corners of his mouth and then a sudden light appeared in his eyes that caused Will to look keenly at him for a moment. ”Come on, Foster,” he said simply; ”let's put this fellow where he won't do any more harm, at least until after St. Patrick's Day.”

”Where'll we put him?” inquired Foster.

Will turned and looked about him and perceived a small harness room on the ground floor near him, and upon his suggestion the helpless soph.o.m.ore was placed within it for safe keeping.

”Now then, Foster,” said Will when he had closed the door of the room, ”we've just got to find the place where these canes are hidden. Mott has come here to take the place of the guard that was here last night and n.o.body knows how long it'll be before some one else comes. Come on, let's get about it.”

At once the two freshmen began their search. Beginning near the entrance, they examined every bin and peered into every possible place of concealment. Even in the mangers before which the horses were tied they peered and searched, but when they had carefully examined the entire floor they had not been able to discover the place where the coveted canes had been concealed.

”What are we to do, Will?” demanded Foster at last.

”Let's ask Mott.”

”He'll never let on.”

”Try it, anyway.”

The two boys returned to the harness room and Will at once addressed their prisoner.

”Mott,” he said, ”where are those canes?”

The soph.o.m.ore laughed loudly as he replied, ”You certainly are the two most innocent freshmen I have ever struck yet. Perhaps you'd like to have me help you carry them back to the college.”

”We'll let you go if you'll tell us where they are.”

”Thanks muchly,” replied Mott dryly.

”Come on, Will,” said Foster. ”We can find them ourselves. No use in wasting time here with this fellow. We'll get them ourselves.”

”You're certain they're here?” laughed Mott.