“Now is our time!” whispered Tom, as soon as he was certain the man of all work was gone.

“But which way shall we go?” questioned Sam

“Follow me, and I’ll show you.”

Leaving the storeroom, Tom led the way through the semi-dark hallway and up the stairs.  At the rear of the upper hall was a bedroom reserved for the captain’s private guests.

“Come in here for the present,” said Tom.  And when I tap on the window unlock the sash and be prepared to climb from the window to the next, which connects with Dormitory No. 2.”

“Good for you!” said Sam.  “But how are you going to get to the dormitory?”

“Leave that to me.”

Leaving Sam and Tubbs to take care of themselves, Tom left the bedroom and walked out in the upper hall once more.

He was just in time to hear Peleg Snuggers returning with Jasper Grinder.

“It’s all nonsense,” he heard, in the teacher’? harsh voice.  “The cold will do both of the boys good.”

“He said he was half frozen,” insisted Snuggers.  “If anything serious-like happened to them, I dunno what the captain would say.”

“I know nothing serious will happen,” growled Jasper Grinder.  “He was merely trying to work upon your sympathies.  Both could stay there till morning easily enough.”

“The wretch!” murmured Tom to himself.  “I’m mighty glad I let them out!”

A few seconds later he heard a cry of dismay.

“Rover is gone!”

“Gone?” came from Snuggers.

“Yes, gone.  Snuggers did you leave the door unlocked?”

“No, sir, I couldn’t get the key in the lock Here it is.”  And the general utility man produced it.

“Ah! here is a key on the inside.  What can this mean?”

“I don’t know, sir.  I left him a-groanin’ only a few minutes ago.”

“It is very strange.”  Jasper Grinder gazed around the empty storeroom.  “Did you hear anything from Master Tubbs?”

“No, sir.”

The teacher stepped out of the storeroom and made his way to the stone cell.

“He is gone too!” he ejaculated.

“Really, sir, did you say ’gone’?” cried Peleg Snuggers, in dismay.

“Yes.  This is—­ah—­outrageous, Snuggers.  Where can they be?”

“I’m sure I don’t know, sir.  Master Rover got out mighty quick.”

“Look for them among the students, and if you find them bring them to me at once.”

“I will, sir.”

As soon as Peleg Snuggers had departed Jasper Grinder looked around the storeroom and the stone cell to learn if he could find any trace of the boys.

This gave Tom the chance to slip through the captain’s private rooms and into the students’ quarters.

“Well, how did you make out?” was Dick’s impatient question.  “You’ve been gone an age.”

“Come with me and I’ll tell you,” said Tom, and taking his brother and several chums aside he related what had occurred.