“Right in the middle of the steps,” suggested Cap, and they bent their course in that direction. A little later the heavy stone, weighing several tons, was carefully lowered on the big paving flag that marked the beginning of the main school entrance. “I rather guess they’ll open their eyes when they see that,” said Cap, as he wheeled the machine away, and stood off to observe the effect. Truly the meteor rested in a strange place. “Come on—no time for artistic observation,” suggested Bill. “We may get caught. Let’s make a get-away.” “Sure,” agreed Whistle-Breeches, and silently through the darkness they sped with the wheeled affair. As they were leaving the college grounds they heard some one approaching along the road which they must take to return the lifter. “Some one’s coming! Duck!” whispered Cap hoarsely. “And leave this?” asked Bill. “Sure. Shove it into the bushes.” They tried to carry out this plan, but, even as they were doing so some one came into sight. There was just light enough to see that the man was Professor Landmore of the science class, and at the sight of him the four lads, abandoning the machine, made a headlong dive for the bushes. “Who’s there?” demanded the professor, suddenly halting. No answer, of course; only the sound of hurried flight. “I demand to know if you are Westfield lads!” went on the instructor vigorously. “Think he recognized us?” asked Bill, as they paused for breath, for they were now well hidden. “I don’t think so,” answered Cap, peering through the bushes. “He’s gone to look at the two wheels,” reported Bill, who was also making an observation. “Then we’re safe,” decided Cap. “He’ll make a book of notes about it, and calculate how much more weight it could lift if it had bigger wheels, and a lever twice as long. Come on, we’ll get back to our little beds,” and he started away as stealthily as possible. “But won’t he see the machine, and know how the stone was moved?” asked Pete. “What of it? We can’t help it, and even a member of the Senior class in differential calculus and strength of material will know that meteor couldn’t move of itself. As long as Prof. didn’t see us I don’t care. Come on.” And, before they made their silent ways into their rooms that night, the four conspirators took another look at the big stone of Senior fame, resting in its unaccustomed place. “There’ll be a row in the morning,” was Cap’s opinion. CHAPTER VIII ORGANIZING THE NINE Nobody was late for chapel next day—a most unusual occurrence. But the news of the removal of the stone had early become known, and before the first call for breakfast almost the entire school was out on the campus, gazing at the work of the Smith boys and Whistle-Breeches. “Say, that was a peach of a stunt all right,” was the general comment. “Who did it?”