"I've seen things myself that I like better!" grunted Browning.
"You can bet your life that Merry will go wherever a friend is in danger!" said Rattleton.
"Or a foe, either!" added Diamond.
"Fuf-fellows, I'm worried abub bub-bout this!" stuttered Joe Gamp.
"I'd feel easier a good deal if we had all stayed home to-night!" droned Dismal.
For once, neither Danny nor Bink had any comment to offer, funny or otherwise. A feeling that something awful was about to happen stilled their chatter.
Then all started, leaping as if they had been shot at, and pushed back into the retreating and startled crowd. A furnace or something of the kind had given way in the basement with a thunderous report. A great gap showed in one of the walls, and the wall itself seemed on the point of toppling down.
"Sounded like a siege-gun!" chirped a well-known voice. "Fellows, I'm glad I wasn't in there then! Had the greatest time you ever saw—narrow escape and all that; but here I am again, with my stomach filled with cake and my head intoxicated with tea. All right side up, you see!"
The speaker was Jack Ready!
"Where is Merriwell?" Bart asked.