Bernard made a dash for the plank. Seeing him coming, Bridget was seized with a panic and hastily dismounted from the ladder.
Bernard took advantage of this, and descending to the barn floor, seized the ladder and carried it out of doors, leaving Professor Snowdon a prisoner in the barn loft.
Septimus, who was prudently standing just outside, called out, in alarm, “Where’s my pa? What have you done to him?”
Bernard was not called upon to answer, as there was an angry roar from inside the barn.
“Bring back the ladder, you audacious young ruffian!”
Bridget had fled to the house, and Septimus, who was far from courageous, ran out behind the barn.
“I think the place is too hot to hold me,” thought Bernard, and he struck for the road on a half run.
He had managed to catch up his bundle of clothes when fleeing from the angry teacher, and there was nothing to prevent his bidding a final farewell to the Snowdon Institute.
Meanwhile Professor Snowdon found himself in a quandary. He was in the hay loft, unable to descend to the barn floor.
He could indeed walk across the plank to the opposite scaffold, but that would not help him. It was certainly very aggravating. Bernard, he had no doubt, was in full flight, while he was unable to follow him.