Foster seized the scoop that was near the improvised oat bin and with feverish haste threw the oats up on one side and then said exultantly, “Here’s something!  Here they are!”

Leaning over the box, he drew forth a bundle of canes carefully tied together and partly hidden from sight beneath the oats.

“Are they all there?” demanded Will in a hoarse whisper.  He hastily inspected the bundle and then exclaimed, “Here’s only a part of them, Foster!”

“Where some are it’s likely there are more,” and Will at once resumed his search.  His efforts were speedily rewarded by the discovery of another bundle similar to the one that had already been found, and, dropping his scoop, he hastily began to count the canes.

“Here they are!” he exclaimed joyfully.  “Every last one of them is here!”

“Then the sophs must have been to both places where we had them.”

“Yes, but it’s all the better for us.  We’ll now be—­”

Foster stopped abruptly as the farmer that owned the buildings appeared in the doorway and for a moment stared blankly at them.

“Good morning,” said Will cheerfully.  “We’re here after these canes.”

“So I see,” replied the farmer.  “The freshmans didn’t find ye out, then?”

“It’s all right,” responded Will glibly.  “How much are we to pay you?”

“They paid me last night.  I guess ’twas ’beout right.  I don’t want nothin’ more.”

“We’ve tumbled your hay over more than we thought,” said Will, as he thrust a bill into the man’s hand.

“I don’t know ’beout it,” drawled the farmer, nevertheless thrusting the money into his pocket.  “Putty good pay, but I don’t know but I might’s well take it.”

“Of course you’re to take it!” said Will eagerly.  “All we ask of you now is not to tell anybody—­anybody,” he added with special emphasis, “that we’ve taken the canes away.  Don’t tell any one of it or the whole game will be spoiled.”

“I’ll be as mum as a hitchin’ post.”

Without waiting for any further words the two boys seized the bundles and at once departed from the barn.  When they came out into the lane they looked carefully about them in every direction, but no one could be seen and they soon came out into the open road.

“What are we going to do with them now?” inquired Foster, as they halted for a moment.

“We can’t take them back to our rooms,” said Will.

“No!  No!  That would never do.”

“I’ll tell you,” said Will quickly.  “Let’s take them down to that old bridge yonder,” pointing as he spoke toward a rude bridge that spanned the stream not far away.

“All right.  Come along, then,” responded Foster.

Instantly the two boys began to run and in a brief time arrived at the rude structure, and after a hasty inspection they placed the two bundles on the piers beneath the bridge and then covered them with the driftwood that had been cast up on the bank of the stream when its waters had been swelled by the passing storms.