"Dry up, Mack! I am running this machine, and I shall see you through," replied Angy sharply. The leader took the prisoner by the collar of his coat, and led him to the boat, which the wind had driven back to the beach. He was placed in the bow, while Angy seated himself in the stern. The other two took the oars, and the boat was shoved off. CHAPTER VII. THE EFFECTS OF THE EXPLOSION. Captain Gildrock seemed to sleep the sleep of the just while he was still in the flesh, for he did not immediately appear at the office, as Dory expected. The mansion was some distance from the scene of operations. He heard the earliest peals of the bell on the dormitory; but, unfortunately, Mrs. Dornwood had also heard it, and had been terribly excited by it. The explosion had roused her from her slumbers, though the distance made it less effective at the mansion than at the dormitory. The good lady was almost in hysterics; and it had taken the captain some time to quiet her, though at last he was able to leave her in the care of Marian. She was sure that the students would all be burned to death, her son among them; for the idea of any other calamity than fire, had not occurred to them. Captain Gildrock had not heard the explosion; and the ringing of the bell had assured him that no one would be burned to death, though he found it very difficult to make his sister comprehend the absurdity of her fears. He looked out of the window as soon as he left his bed; and, as he could see no light, he was satisfied that the fire had not yet made much progress. He was a man of discipline, and had trained the students to fire-duty. His sister had mentioned the explosion, but she could not tell any thing about it, except that it was a loud noise. The principal hastened from the house as soon as he could leave Mrs. Dornwood, and he expected to discover the light of the fire as soon as he reached the main avenue that extended through the grounds. He saw nothing to throw any light on his path, or on the cause of the alarm. When he reached the shops, he found a crowd there, and realized that he was about the last one to reach the scene of the disturbance. There was no fire, and this fact stimulated his curiosity. The bell was to be rung at night, only in case of fire; and it had been pealing out its notes for some time before his arrival.