“What is it?  What can be the matter?” all the girls wanted to know.

But Dick called out, loudly enough to make himself heard: 

“Young ladies, it is highly important that the music and the sounds of moving feet be kept up.  Won’t you young ladies please dance with each other until we bet back?  Then we’ll tell you an interesting story—–­if you’re good.”

In the meantime Tom Reade was telling Thompson, Badger and Edgeworth, and as many more as could get close enough, what had happened.

“See here, fellows,” spoke Thomp, “there’s a big chance fer the crowd to win fun and glory for good old Gridley H.S.  Seniors and Dick & Co. will steal down the alleyway, and be upon that lookout before he can say ‘batter-cakes and coffee.’  Juniors and sophs go in a bunch, prepared to catch the lookout on Main Street.  All get your coats and come softly down the side stairs!”

In many gatherings the speed and comprehension with which all the Gridley High School boys acted would have been regarded as marvelous.  But they were always in training for athletics.  Team work and the spirit of speed and discipline prevailed among them.

Almost in a jiffy, so it seemed, the masculine part of the senior dance party was out on the sidewalk of the side street.

“Don’t you juniors and sophs show yourselves on Main Street for a full sixty seconds, unless you hear us raise a row at the back of the bank,” advised Dick.

Somehow, none of the upper classmen seemed to think it strange for young Prescott thus to take command.  He and his chums had discovered the attempt on the bank, and it seemed natural, just now, for the freshman leader to lead the whole school.

On tiptoe Dick and his chums led the way into the alley, the seniors following just as stealthily.

When the freshmen were within thirty feet of the lane Dick Prescott held up his hand, then signed to all hands to make the grand rush forward.

Just an instant before the High School boys could start, the earth suddenly shook and swayed under them, while on the frosty night air there came a great, sullen, fearsome—–­

BOOM!

That was the explosion designed to blow open the door of the bank’s vault.

CHAPTER XXIV

THE CAPTURE OF THE BANK ROBBERS

In answer, a rousing defiance, the Gridley H.S. yell was roared out.  And by this time, seniors Dick & Co. were in full motion.

“Four—–­thirteen—–­eleven!” bellowed Sam Edgeworth.

The football men heard that signal and understood the application of it.

Though the flying wedge is now no longer tolerated in football, there are other plays evolved from it, and the signal called for one.  Edgeworth himself formed the point of the wedge.

“Freshies in the center!” he bawled back lustily.