“Hi! hi! who did this? Who upset me?” he screamed wrathfully. “Stop, you young rascals! If you don’t stop I’ll have you all expelled!”
He picked himself up after an effort and got back his wind, but by that time all of the cadets were out of sight. The Ritter contingent went to an angle of the school building, where hung a rope running up to a dormitory. Jack, Pepper and Stuffer followed Andy to the washshed and there secured the key left by Peleg Snuggers.
“Hurry up, Andy,” cried Pepper, who was looking back to see if they were being followed. “Remember, old Crabtree is on the warpath!”
The kitchen door was quickly opened, the key being left in the lock, and up a back stairs sped the four cadets, Pepper leading the way.
“Wait a minute!” whispered The Imp, when the upper hallway was gained.
“What do you want?” questioned Stuffer.
“Here is the bell clapper. Crabtree is out of his room, and we might—”
“Hurrah! just the thing!” cried Andy. “Give it to me, Pep. You have done enough for one night.”
“I’ll go with Andy,” put in Stuffer. “You and Jack go to bed.”
And while the young major and his chum sped for their dormitory Andy and Stuffer ran down a side hall leading to the apartment occupied by Josiah Crabtree. As expected, the door was unlocked and they quickly stepped inside the room.