But Enoch declared over and over again that they were not going to be caught, and spoke so confidently, and drew so glowing a picture of the rage and mortification that would be displayed by the first-class boys when they discovered how they had been duped, that he succeeded in infusing a little of his own courage into his timid companion.
When the time for action arrived, Enoch, who ought to have been studying his lessons for the next day, came softly out of his dormitory and was promptly halted by Charley Porter, the guard who had charge of that floor until midnight. We have seen Charley before, and know that he was a boy after Enoch’s own heart.
“Where are you going?” he asked, in a cautious tone, after he had looked up and down the hall to made sure that he and the spy were the only occupants of it. He knew at once that there was something afoot. He judged from Enoch’s stealthy movements that guard-running was about to be inaugurated again, and wondered how any boy could have the temerity to attempt it. “You can’t get out,” he added, a moment later, “and if you make the effort, you will only get yourself and me into trouble. I am afraid to let you pass.”
“It will be for only half an hour,” was Enoch’s whispered response. “I assure you that I don’t intend to go out of the building.”
“What’s going on?” demanded the guard.
“Something that will astonish you when you hear the full particulars of it,” answered Enoch. “You know about that dinner, of course? Well, some of our old crowd have made up their minds that Mack and his friends shan’t eat it—that we will eat it ourselves.”
Charley smiled, and looked incredulous.
“It’s a fact,” said Enoch, earnestly. “Lester Brigham got up the scheme, and I think it a splendid one.”
“It would be, if it could be carried out,” replied the guard.
“It can be,” said Enoch, in a confident tone. “In the first place we must learn all about their plans, and then we shall know just what to do.”