“No!” was the surprising answer. “I’m stuck!” “Stuck!” “Yes. A knot on the lower end of the rope has caught on some kind of a brace, and I’m stuck.” “Where?” “Down here, on the front of the church!” “Can’t you climb back?” “N—no, I—ain’t go—got th—the—strength!” The words came in jerks and showed that the young major was all but exhausted. He had done what he could to loosen the lower end of the rope but without success. Climbing back to the tower had proved equally difficult. Now he was sitting astride of the rope, clutching it with both hands and leaning against the building for support. Pepper was frantic, but could do nothing to aid his chum. Had the lower end of the rope been loose he might have raised Jack to the belfry. He climbed out of the window as far as he dared and looked over the edge of the roof. “Jack, can I do anything?” he asked, frantically. “I—I do—don’t know,” was the gasped-out reply. “Can’t you get that end of the rope loose somehow?” “No, it won’t budge.” It made Pepper a little dizzy to look directly downward over the edge of the gutter and for a moment he allowed his gaze to stray to the roadway beyond the church. In the moonlight he saw the figure of a man or boy approaching. “Here comes somebody!” he cried. “I’m going to call for help.” “We’ll be caught,” faltered Jack. “I don’t care. I am not going to keep quiet and see you run the risk of breaking your neck.” Pepper set up a loud call. At first the person in the road paid no attention, but presently he stopped short and looked upward in wonder. “What’s the matter?” he asked, as he came closer. “We are in trouble and we want you to help us,” answered Pepper. “Hurry up, before my friend tumbles down and kills himself.” “Why, you are on a rope, aren’t you?” asked the person below, and now Pepper and Jack saw that he was a boy, very tall and thin. “Yes, and I am caught fast,” answered Jack. “How did you get there, this time of night? What do you want me to do?” fired back the tall boy. “Come into the church, run up to the belfry, and unfasten the trap door!” called Pepper. “I am a prisoner, otherwise I’d go to my friend’s aid.” “How can I get in?” asked the strange boy, noting that the church doors were closed. “Climb through the side window which is open.” The newcomer started for the side of the building, but suddenly halted. “See here, this is a mighty queer proceedings,” he said slowly. “I don’t know but what you are thieves. Maybe I had better go for outside help.” “We are not thieves—we are military school cadets, out on a lark,” answered Jack. “Can’t you see my uniform? Help me to get down and I’ll tell you all about it.”