"Oh, heavens! Whatever is the matter?" screamed Sadie, starting up in affright. "Are you there, Katharine?" "Yes." "What was that noise? Did you hear it?" "Indeed I did." They listened for a moment or two, but there was no sound. Then it seemed as if some commotion had arisen somewhere, and a medley of muffled voices was borne to their ears. Presently steps were heard on the stairs, whereupon Sadie sprang out of bed, slipped on a wrapper, and, opening her door a crack, saw the watchman with his lantern just mounting into view. Then the voice of one of the teachers--Miss Clark--rang out excitedly, while she vainly tugged at her door which had been connected with the one opposite by a piece of clothesline: "Young ladies, what is the meaning of this outrage? Release me immediately." "Ye'll just hev to wait a minute, marm," said the watchman, with an audible chuckle of amusement as he comprehended the situation, while he put down his lantern and plunged his hand into various pockets in search of his knife. Looking farther down the hall, Sadie saw that Miss Williams had been imprisoned in the same manner, while a promiscuous assortment of tin pans, covers and plates lay in a heap upon the floor, and telling their own story regarding the recent crash. There was not a person, save the watchman, in sight. But, presently, doors were cautiously opened and tousled heads appeared in the apertures, while timid voices made inquiries as to what had happened. The watchman--who had been making his rounds, as was his custom at midnight, hence his timely appearance upon the scene--soon had the indignant teachers released, and then went on to the next floor, where similar conditions prevailed. On being given their liberty, Miss Clark and Miss Williams immediately bestirred themselves to ferret out the culprits; but, of course, everybody was innocent and as eager as themselves to ascertain "who could have been guilty of so daring an escapade at that hour of the night." Poor Jennie, however, was destined to pay the penalty of her temerity. A moment or two after Katherine left her, she had also stolen cautiously up the stairs, but on moving farther down the hall had run against one of the ropes. Like a flash she comprehended something of the nature of the joke, and, hearing steps and smothered laughter above, turned back and slipped into a closet at the end of the hall, where she shrank into a corner and waited with eager ears and bated breath for the denouement.