"Stanley must answer it; not I. I will give it to his cousin."
As he passed along the corridor a deep groan came from one of the dormitories. It sounded like some one in pain. He stopped and listened. A few seconds more, and the groaning was repeated. He opened the door softly and looked in. The dormitory was to all appearances empty.
"Strange! My ears must have deceived me," thought Paul.
He was on the point of retreating when the sound came again to his ears.
"No; I wasn't mistaken," he said, stepping softly into the room and closing the door after him. "It was somebody, but who?"
He looked round, puzzled. There was no one visible. He stood perfectly still and waited. A few seconds more, and the groaning was repeated. But this time he detected whence it came. It came from under one of the cubicles. He crossed to it and looked underneath. A boy was huddled up on the floor. One glance was sufficient to tell him who it was—it was Master Plunger.
"Here. Plunger, come out of that!"
Plunger did not attempt to move.
"Come out of that, I tell you!"
As Plunger still refused to move, Paul took him by the leg and hauled him out.