"And what did you make of that, Mr. Butler?" inquired the Doctor in a cool and even voice.
"They said that they had been chasing a cat and that Turner had fallen and hurt himself, and put the blame for meddling with the Chapel bell onto some unknown boys who had preceded them," Mr. Butler finished, smiling sarcastically.
"Well," said Dr. Hobart, turning to the boys; "what have you to say to this?"
"What Mr. Butler says is the truth," answered Frank, looking the Doctor steadily in the eye; "but there were a number of things that happened before he came."
"Yes, and what were they?"
"We went up to find Mrs. Bowser's cat, which had come into the Chapel in the morning——"
"Or was brought in," interrupted Mr. Butler.
"I do not know how she got in, but she got in somehow, and when the boys tried to catch her she became frightened and hid."
"And you came to the conclusion that she liked belfries and had hidden up there."