“I saw a streak of light and then it suddenly disappeared. I think—— There it is again!”
Jack turned his eye upward, and now Pepper saw the light also. It lasted about half a minute and then disappeared, and the boys heard the slamming of a door.
“I know what it is now,” said Jack. “The flooring above is that of some storeroom or closet. Somebody opened the door, letting in some light. Then the door was closed again.”
“Maybe we can get up into the room or closet. Are any of the boards loose?”
“I’ll try them and find out.”
Jack began to press upward and soon found a board that was loose at one end. He worked at it and soon had an opening large enough to admit the passage of his body.
“Give me your hand,” he whispered to Pepper. “Don’t make any noise.”
Soon the Imp was standing beside his chum on the upturned end of the bench. Then both crawled through the opening above. As Pepper followed Jack the bench fell over with a crash.
“Quick, put the board down! Somebody may come!” ejaculated Jack, and they replaced the flooring of the closet in which they now found themselves. It was partly filled with clothing for outdoor wear, and also held rubbers, rubber boots, and umbrellas.
The cadets waited, and as nobody came they gradually breathed more freely. They tried the door to the closet, to find it unlocked.