No more was said, and Pepper hurried back for the bird cage containing the monkey, and also for an old school-book he had brought up from below.
Opening the door with caution, they took the monkey from the cage and placed him at the foot of Josiah Crabtree’s bed. Then they hurried to the doorway once more, and went outside.
“Wait!” whispered Pepper, and taking aim, he sent the book flying at Josiah Crabtree. Then the chums scampered for their dormitory with might and main.
The book landed on Josiah Crabtree’s somewhat bald head, and he awoke with a start and sat up.
“What in the world was that?” he muttered. “Is the ceiling falling down?”
He stared around him. The moon was coming up, and it cast considerable light into the apartment. He saw a dark object moving around.
“Hi! What’s that?” he called out. “Scat!”
Thinking it might be a cat, he made a wild pass at the monkey. At once the frisky animal caught him by the finger and gave him a nip.
“Oh, oh!” roared the teacher. “He has bitten me! Take him off! Help! Robbers! Help!” And he flung the bedclothes aside and began to dance around.
At the excitement of the man the monkey also became excited, and leaped upon the top of a bookcase in a corner, which contained some volumes belonging to the teacher. Down came a bust on the bookcase with a crash. Then the monkey took up a book and flung it at the man.