As soon as Tom went below Dick locked the door, then turned again to the window.  Sam was trying to climb from one room to the next, but could not get a satisfactory hold.

“Here, give me your hand,” cried Dick softly, and reaching forth he soon helped his brother to a position of safety.

“Say, aint it dangerous?” asked Tubbs anxiously, as he gazed to the ground, twenty feet below.

“You’ve got to run some risks, Tubbs,” said Dick.  “Quick, or you may be too late.”

Fearful of a fall, the rich youth put out one foot and a hand.  Dick tried to reach him, but was unable to do so.

“A little further, Tubbs,” he said encouragingly.

[Illustration:  A perilous climb. Rover Boys in the Mountains.]

“I—­I’m afraid I’ll fall,” was the trembling answer.  Then the rich youth let out a cry of alarm.  “Somebody is coming!”

“Come” cried Dick, and reached out a trifle further.  As Tubbs gave the eldest Rover his fingers Dick hauled him from the window and literally swung him into the dormitory.  Then, as Tubbs landed in a heap on the floor, Sam closed the window and locked it.

“Now you must clear out to another room!” cried Dick.  “Whoever was coming will find that window wide open, and guess you have escaped in this direction.”

“But where can we go to?” asked the rich youth.

“Go to Dormitory No. 6.  Only young Adler is in there, and Hemmingway, and they are on a vacation until after Christmas.  The closet is a big one, and you can both hide on the upper shelf.  Quick!  I’ll bring you some supper.”

All three left the dormitory, and Sam and Tubbs scurried off in the direction indicated.  As for Dick, he lost no time in reaching the mess hall.

“Sorry, sir,” he said to the under-teacher.  “The bell couldn’t have rung very loud.”

“It rang as loud as usual,” was the answer, and no more was said, the teacher’s head being just then full of other matters.

Glad to get off so easily, Dick lost no time in eating his supper.  While making way with the food he stowed a goodly portion in his pockets, in a couple of spare napkins, and by some silent motions from Tom learned that his brother was doing the same.

Just as the students were finishing the meal, Jasper Grinder came in and walked down the aisles between the tables.  He looked both angry and perplexed.  As he came close to Tom he paused.

“Excuse me, Mr. Grinder, but won’t you let Sam out of the stone cell?” asked Tom, to avoid being questioned.

“You be silent Rover,” muttered the teacher, and passed on without saying more.

After the supper hour it was usual for the students to have half an hour to themselves, during which they might read, play games, or do as they pleased.  But now Mr. Grinder called them together in the main classroom.

“I wish to talk to you young gentlemen,” said the teacher, when all were seated.