A stifled groan from the prisoner indicated that he had heard the instructions.
“You don’t like the prospect, eh?” grinned Crane. “Just wait, my fresh youngster. You’ll like it still less before we get through with you. Come, fellows, we’ll——”
Crane never finished the sentence, for a light suddenly appeared at the top of the ladder and a stern voice called out:
“Below there, what are you doing in the orlop? Come up here and report for investigation.”
Clif, peering through the crack in the door, saw the cadets fall over each other in their sudden panic. He felt the door snatched from his grasp, thrown back, a figure slipped in, then it was hastily closed again.
“Jumping Moses! what a snap,” came to Clif’s ears in a familiar tone. “What a snap to find this place open. That’s the officer of the watch!”
It was Crane!