“Are you going to put us down in the cellar?” cried Jack.
“March, and do not ask any more questions,” said Josiah Crabtree.
The boys tried to argue, but the assistant teacher would not listen. Down into the cellar went the party and walked along until they came to a square stone room that was built close to one of the big heaters.
“You won’t freeze here,” said the teacher, and shoved them inside. “Now, if you make any more noise, you shall not have a mouthful of dinner.”
Again the door was closed and locked on the two unfortunates. They heard the others hurry away, and faced each other in the gloom.
“This is the worst yet,” said Pepper. “It’s a regular dungeon cell!”
“It is an outrage and I shall not stand for it,” was his chum’s comment. “Phew! how hot it is! That furnace is a regular bake-oven!”
“First he freezes us and then he bakes us,” muttered Pepper. “Oh, but he is a hard-hearted wretch!”
“Here is something to make you feel better,” said Jack, when he felt certain nobody was watching them. “Hold out your hands, Pep.”
The Imp did so and Jack commenced to feel of the lock of the handcuffs. Soon Pepper was at liberty.