"But they made a noise like an earthquake, when there was no need of it. It is a wonder to me that they didn't blow the safe all to pieces, and destroy whatever there was in it." "As I did not hear it, I am not a competent judge of the power of the explosion," added the principal, as he proceeded to examine the interior of the safe. "I hope the safe did not contain much money," said Mr. Brookbine. "Over two thousand dollars," replied the captain, with a smile. "I sold a house here, day before yesterday; and, as I have not been to the bank since, the entire payment was in the safe, as well as about one hundred and fifty dollars that was there before." "Whew!" exclaimed the master-carpenter. "Then, it amounts to a big loss." "Big enough, though I shall not be ruined by it," answered the principal. "I have ten times that amount in bonds in this safe; and here they are," he continued, as he took a large package of papers from one of the small drawers, one of which had contained the money. "Either the robbers did not want the bonds, or they had not time to find them." "I don't think they had much time to spare after the racket of the explosion," said Mr. Jepson. "When I got here, the students said Dory was after the robbers back of the shops; and Randolph was leading a boat's crew to the lake." "It looks as though the robbers had seized the money as soon as they got at it, and did not wait for any thing more. Now, what has been done here?" asked the principal, when he had got possession of the main facts. "Dory and Matt Randolph were the first to come out of the dormitory, and I think I was the next one," said Oscar Chester. "Tell me what you know about the matter, Chester," continued the principal. "Dory and Matt went to the office, and found it had been broken into, and that the explosion had come from there. I thought it was an earthquake. Matt came back after the lanterns just as I came down-stairs, and I helped him light them. He went out then, and I followed him. Then he came back, and rang the bell. I took the rope when he asked me to do so, and he called away a crew for the boat. He told me that Dory was following the burglars back of the shop, and that he was to see that they did not get away in a boat. That is all I know about it, sir." It was a rather confused statement, though it was correct in the main. Dory was pursuing the marauders alone on foot, and Matt was patrolling the lake to prevent their escape by water. "I am sorry the students did any thing," said Captain Gildrock. "I should not like to have any of them encounter these villains. Without a doubt, they are armed, and they will fire if they are in danger." "Don't you think some of us had better see if we can find Dory, sir? He may need some help," suggested Oscar Chester, who had been making up a party to follow Dory when the principal arrived.