"Oh no!" said Eric, shaking off unpleasant memories. "Look," he continued, pointing out of the window to change the subject, "what a glorious night it is! Nothing but stars, stars, stars." "Yes," said Duncan, yawning, "this smoking makes one very thirsty. I wish I'd some beer." "Well, why shouldn't we get some?" said Wildney; "it would be very jolly." "Get some! What! at this time of night?" "Yes; I'll go now, if you like, to Ellan, and be back before ten." "Nonsense," said Eric; "it ain't worth while." "I believe you think I'm afraid," said Wildney, laughing, and looking at Eric with his dark eyes; "and what's more, I believe _you're_ afraid." "Little whippersnapper!" said Eric, colouring, "as if I was afraid to do anything you dare do. I'll go with you at once, if you like." "What are you thinking of?" asked Duncan; "I don't care twopence about the beer, and I hope you won't go." "But I will, though," said Eric, a little nettled that Wildney, of all people, should think him wanting in pluck. "But how will you get out?" "Oh, _I'll_ show you a dodge there," said Wildney. "Come along. Have you a dark lantern?" "No, but I'll get Llewellyn's." "Come along, then." So the little boy of twelve took the initiative, and, carrying the dark lantern, initiated the two study-boys of sixteen into a secret which had long been known to the lower part of the school. "Ibant obscuri dubia sub luce." He led them quietly down stairs, stole with them noiselessly past the library door, and took them to a window in the passage, where a pane was broken. "Could you get through that?" he whispered to Eric, "if we broke away the rest of the glass?" "I don't know. But then, there's the bar outside." "Oh, I'll manage that. But will you go and peep through the key-hole of the library, and see who's there, Duncan?" "No," said Duncan bluntly, "no key-holes for me." "Hush! then _I_ will," and he glided away, while Eric, as quietly as he could, broke away the glass until it was all removed. "There's only old Stupid," whispered he, irreverently designating an under-master named Harley, "and he's asleep before the fire. Now, then, just lift me up, Eric, will you?" Eric lifted him, and he removed the nails which fastened the end of the bar. They looked secure enough, and were nails an inch long driven into the mortar; but they had been successfully loosened, and only wanted a little pull to bring them out. In one minute Wildney had unfastened and pushed down one end of the bar. He then got through the broken pane and dropped down outside. Eric followed with some little difficulty, for the aperture would only just admit his passage; and Duncan, going back to the study, anxiously awaited their return.