“They’re gone?  They’ve been taken away?  Is that what you mean?” demanded the astonished sophomore.

“Precisely.”

“Let’s go in and search anyway,” said one of the party now thoroughly angry.

“I advise you not to attempt that,” said the minister quietly.

“Why not?” said the sophomore impudently.

“Because one of my neighbors is a deputy sheriff and housebreaking is a somewhat serious offense.”

For a moment the assembly was nonplussed, but their uncertainty was speedily relieved, or at least interrupted, by an occurrence that instantly caused them all to turn and flee from the place at their utmost speed.

CHAPTER XXIV

THE MYSTERY OF THE CANES

At the very moment when the consternation of the sophomores was keenest the sound of a sleigh turning into the yard in which they were standing caused them all to look quickly toward the gateway.  The ground was bare in places, and the runners of the sleigh, as the iron bands passed over the gravel, emitted shrieks and groans as if they were striving to warn the sophomores of the impending peril.

Seated in the sleigh were three men whom the assembly speedily recognized as members of the freshman class, and their own fears for a moment doubtless caused the sophomores to magnify the numbers as well as the danger.

“Look out, fellows!  Here they come!” said one in a low voice whom Will and Hawley recognized.  It was Mott, who was again the spokesman and leader of the little band.

“Let’s get out of this,” responded one whose voice Will could not determine, and as if a sudden panic had seized upon them the young men turned and began to run swiftly.

“Hold on!  Hold on, fellows!” called Mott savagely, although his voice was not loud.  “Hold on!  What are you running for?  There are only three of them, and we’re good for any three freshmen in Winthrop.  Don’t run.  Come on back!”

Mott’s appeal served to restore a measure of confidence among his companions, and instantly the flight was abandoned and all turned slowly back toward the yard.  Neither Will nor Hawley had yet moved from his hiding-place, though they were leaning farther out from the corner of the barn in their eagerness to discover what was occurring in the yard before them.  They could see that the driver in the sleigh was Foster, and he had leaped out and was now as calmly tying his horse and fastening the blanket upon it as if never a thought of his rival class had entered his mind.  Beside him two young men were standing, but in the dim light it was impossible to determine just who they were.  The returning sophomores were now near the new arrivals, and the genial old minister could also be seen, still standing on the piazza and evidently not uninterested in the sight and presence of the young men before him.

“What are you doing here, Bennett?” demanded Mott of Foster.