"It is strange."
"Did you feel any of 'em, sir?" Horsehair had lowered his gun and was gazing fixedly at the teacher. "Say, you ain't walking in your sleep, are ye?" he questioned, abruptly.
"No, no—I—er—I am sure I am not," stammered Job Haskers, yet in secret he pinched himself to make certain. "I was—er—in bed, and I thought I felt an earthquake—the bed swayed, and I heard a cry——" The teacher stopped suddenly. "Perhaps it was those rascally boys!" he cried, abruptly.
"Boys! Did they play a joke on yer? They wouldn't be above it, sir—they are as full of 'em this term as ever, sir. How did you git out o' the building—down that rope?"
"Ye-as. You see, the bed moved—or I thought it did—and blocked the doorway, and I——But never mind, Lemond, don't say anything about this. I'll go in." And the teacher started rapidly across the campus. He was, of course, in his bare feet, and was finding his pajamas anything but warm in this frosty fall air.
"You can't get in that way, 'less you have a key!" called out Horsehair.
"I have no key," and Job Haskers stopped abruptly.
"I can let ye in the back way."
"That will do. Come, let us hurry—I am getting cold."
The back door was gained, and Job Haskers entered and felt his way up the semi-dark stairs. As he reached the upper hallway he found himself confronted by Doctor Clay, who had come in rather late, and who had been on the point of retiring when certain strange sounds had disturbed him and caused him to start an investigation.