“I think Reff came back. I don’t know about the others. You’ll remember Reff is just aching to do something to get us into trouble.” “Wonder if we can’t pry the door up in some way.” “We can try. But what is there to work with?” Cautiously the two cadets allowed the light from the lantern to flash around the interior of the belfry. They had to be careful, for fear somebody below would see the light and wonder what it meant, for the belfry was never illuminated. An investigation by the sexton or some officers of the church might lead to arrest. Once some students from Pornell Academy had painted the porch of the church red and this had caused a great commotion in the community, and arrests might have been made had not one of the pupils’ fathers come forward, paid for repainting the porch, and made the church a handsome donation in the bargain. But even with this, some folks were still “sore,” and ready to pounce down on any boys who might do the property an injury. Jack and Pepper knew well enough that they had no right to touch the bell clapper, and I am not upholding them in their actions. But they were wide-awake boys, always ready for fun, and saw no great harm in what they proposed to do. Sooner or later the clapper would be returned to its proper place—in fact it looked now as if it would be returned much quicker than originally intended. The two boys allowed the rays from the lantern to sweep the floor and walls of the belfry, but without bringing to view anything with which to pry up the trap door. Then they set the lantern down and both got hold of the iron ring in the door. “Pull with all your might!” exclaimed the young major. “All right, here goes!” cried Pepper. Both gave “a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether.” At first there was no result, then of a sudden the iron ring broke from the door. The cadets were not prepared for this, and over both went backwards. Pepper landed on the lantern, knocking it over and breaking the glass and bending the top. Fortunately the light went out, so there was no danger of fire. “Wow!” spluttered the mischievous youth, as he rolled over. “Oh, what luck!” “Are you hurt?” questioned the young major quickly. “Did the glass cut you?” “I guess not, but I’ve got some of it in my jacket, Jack. I didn’t think the ring would break away like that; did you?” “No.” The broken glass had scattered all over the floor and the belfry was now dark excepting for the light from the moon that shone in the window. “Got a match?” asked Jack, after a brief pause, during which he searched his pockets in vain for what he wanted. His chum felt in first one pocket and then another. “Nary a one,” he answered. “But what’s the use anyway? The lantern is busted, we can’t use it.” “We might get a little light.” “Well, I haven’t even a piece of a match. I meant to bring a pocketful, but I forgot it.”