"'Who? Fred?' asked Al.
"'Ay, it's Fred I mane,' said Pat.
"Having by this time rubbed my bruises sufficiently and picked myself up, I led them to Fred's place of concealment. His feet and legs were in plain sight, for, ostrich-like, he seemed to have imagined that if his head alone were covered, he was perfectly safe. Pat grasped him by the ankle, and despite of his kicking hauled him out.
"'Oh,' cried Fred, in abject terror, supposing it was the burglar who had caught him, 'don't kill me! don't kill me! My money is all in the trunk in the opposite room!'
"'Do keep still, and don't make such a fool of yourself! It's only Pat,' said Al, with suppressed laughter, while Pat and I indulged in laughter that was far from suppressed.
"In the midst of this racket we heard a door open below, and the doctor's voice called,—
"'What is the matter up there?'
"'Nothin', sur,' replied Pat, with Irish readiness, 'only the lads got freighted as I was comin' to bed.'
"'Tell them to be quiet, or I shall come up,' said doctor.
"'D'ye hear that, b'ys?' said Pat. 'Get to bed now; ye'll tak' your death runnin' round in the cowld widout your clothes on.'