“I’d like to know what he is going to do with Sam,” said Dick, with a serious look on his face.  “Sam has made such a good record this term I hate to see it broken.”

“He’ll do something to punish ’em both,” came from Fred.  “It will be too bad, though, if he puts ’em in the stone cell.  They’ll freeze to death such a night as this is going to be.”

“I won’t allow it,” ejaculated Dick.  “Why, that would be inhuman!”

“I’m going in by the back way and find out what’s going on,” said Tom, and promptly disappeared around the corner of the Hall.  He was soon inside the building, but to his chagrin found every door leading to Captain Putnam’s private apartments and to the stone cell and the storeroom locked.  Having gone through the mess-rooms and through several of the classrooms, he rejoined the others, who had gathered around the fire in what was called the students’ general living room,—­an apartment set aside during cold weather solely for the boys’ comfort, where they might read, study, play quiet games, or do similar things in order to make themselves feel at home.

“How did you make out?” was the question immediately put.

“Made out, and that’s all,” said Tom gloomily.

“What do you mean?” came from Dick.

“Every blessed door is locked, and so are the windows.  I can’t get within two rooms of the office.”

“Did you hear anything?” asked George.

“Yes; I heard a noise like somebody stamping.”

“Where did it come from?”

“I think it came from the stone cell.  But it sounded like somebody stamping on wood.”

“Perhaps it came from the empty storeroom,” cried Dick.  “More than likely Mr. Grinder has placed Sam and Tubby there.  I wish he’d come here.  I’d question him.”

“Your wish is gratified,” whispered George.  “Here he comes now!”

The door at the far end of the room had opened, and now Jasper Grinder came forth in a hurry.  He was about to pass to another room at the rear of the school when Dick stopped him.

“Mr. Grinder, may I ask what you have done with Sam?” he asked.

“I have placed him in confinement until Captain Putnam returns,” was the snappy answer.

“Did you put him in the stone cell?”

“It is not for you to question me, Rover.”

“In this cold weather it isn’t fit for anybody to be in that stone cell.  Sam may catch his death of cold.”

“I am the best judge of my own actions, Rover, and need no advice from you.  Your brother has broken the rules of this school, and must suffer for so doing.”

“It’s inhuman to make a fellow freeze,” burst out Tom.  “I don’t believe Captain Putnam would do that.”

“Not another word from either of you,” came sharply from the teacher.  “Your brother will not freeze to death, but the cold may teach him a useful lesson.”

“If he gets sick, I’ll get my father to hold you legally responsible,” went on Tom.