"He has placed a guard in front of the door, so nobody can open it."
"A guard?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
"Two cadets—Crane and Barlow. They are to remain on guard three hours and then some others are to relieve them."
"Then we can't do a thing!" groaned Andy. "We might bribe Crane, but nobody could bribe Barlow. He's a sticker on everything he does."
Jack went below and found that the report about the guard was true. The cadets were on duty, and he was not allowed to even speak to Pepper.
"It's too bad," he said, on returning to the dormitory. "I guess poor Pepper will have to remain where he is."
"We might protest to Mr. Strong?" suggested Bart Conners.
"It wouldn't do any good. Crabtree is in charge during Captain Putnam's absence."