“Then they may be wanted!” responded old Ketch in a muffled tone, as if he were speaking from under the bed-clothes. “I’ll see you all furder before you get the keys from me.” “Ketch, produce the keys this instant!” interposed the master. “You know my voice; Mr. Pye’s. How dare you?” “I’ll ‘dare’ you all, if you don’t go away!” raved old Ketch, mistaking, or pretending to mistake, the disturbers for his enemies, the college boys. “It’s a second edition of the trick you played me this evening, is it? I’ll go to the dean with the first glimmer o’ daylight--” “Ketch, I am the head-master. I have come for the cloister keys. There’s a boy locked in the cloisters!” “Is there? Praise be given up for that! I wouldn’t unlock him for a mint o’ diaments. If you don’t be off, I’ll call the police.” “Fire! fire!” shouted Judy, in a shrill tone, putting her mouth to the keyhole; for she despaired of gaining Ketch by any other means. “What an idiot you are, old Ketch! Do you want to be burnt up alive?” “Fire!” shouted Tom, in stentorian tones. “Fire! fire!” And Ketch, whether he was really alarmed, or whether he recognized the head-master’s voice, and thought it imprudent to hold out any longer, tumbled out of bed, opened the door, and appeared before them in attire more airy than elegant. Another minute, and impetuous Tom would have burst the window in. “Beg pardon,” said Ketch, ungraciously, to the master. “Them boys play me up such tricks, that I’m always thinking of ‘em. Where’s the fire?” “I don’t think it’s anywhere,” said the master. “The cloister keys, Ketch: and make haste. Which of the boys played you that trick to-night?” Ketch gave a yell, for the point was a sore one. “I never set eyes on one of ‘em! They’re too cunning for me.” “Was my brother Charles one?” asked Tom, while Mr. Pye hastened away with the cloister keys. “I tell ye I never see’d one! Can’t you believe?” Tom did believe, and went after the master and Judy. They entered the cloisters, and shouted for Charles. Nothing answered them but the echoes. To _see_ whether he was there, was impossible. Judy thought he might be lying somewhere, insensible from fright, and she ran up and down feeling into niches, as one demented. Mr. Pye sent Tom back to old Ketch’s for a light, which was not supplied without difficulty. He was turning away with it, when Hamish came up. Hamish had been with all speed to Mr. Huntley’s, to question Harry, as senior of the school, whether he knew what the trick of the night had been, and what boys were in it. Harry, however, who was in bed, assured Hamish of his complete ignorance. But for Mr. Huntley’s veto, he would have got up and gone out to join in the search, and enjoyed it amazingly.