"Cheese it, you fellows, or he'll hear you!" hoarsely whispered Frank. "Here he comes!" he added a moment later after a quick observation. "Get ready to tip it, Andy!"
The younger lad, who was vigorously brushing the chaff and bran from his clothes, moved a little nearer the door. Then, by leaning out; he had a glimpse of Mr. Callum. The instructor was just then immediately beneath the opening. The new moon, for it was now quite dark, glistened on his shiny silk hat and Andy could see that Mr. Callum had on his best clothes.
An instant later the basket of dry and dusty chaff and bran went toppling out, and fell like a miniature snow storm all about the teacher. In a moment he was covered from head to foot with the stuff, while the basket itself, turning upside down, was inverted over his head, silk hat and all.
"Oh wow!" exclaimed Andy in a whisper. "It worked like a charm. Listen to him!"
From below came a confusion of sounds.
"Help! Thieves! I'm attacked! Help! What has happened? The barn has toppled over!"
"His hat is smashed!" exulted Andy.
"Come on!" suddenly exclaimed Frank. "We've got to get out of here or he'll be up."
Indeed it was high time, for Professor Callum, after the first shock, was beginning to reason out certain things. Baskets of chaff did not fall from the hay windows of deserted barns without some human agency, he reflected.
"Who did that? Who is up there?" he demanded, gazing upward as well as his eyes, smarting from the chaff, would let him. "I insist on knowing."