His words were cut short by the boat slipping from Tinkle's hands and extinguishing them both. They lay side by side. They were quite safe, for it was most unlikely that Elgert or the man would look beneath it. One of the planks had started, and they could hear plainly, and even see a good deal of the interior of the place. They did see--saw Elgert and the man enter; and Horace Elgert sat down on the top of that boat. "If I only had a pin!" muttered Green. And Tinkle dug him in the ribs and breathed in his ear-- "Be quiet, or I will punch your head when I get you out!" "You are an impertinent rascal!" was Elgert's first polite remark. "But don't you forget the book I have, with the confession in it. It may get you into trouble yet." "And don't you forget, Mr. Horace, that it was your own father who put me up to it. He wanted Charlton got out of the way, and he showed me how to make a hundred pounds for myself, and make an innocent man get the blame. I haven't had a single day's peace of mind since. My conscience has accused me." "Your conscience! Where do you keep it?" laughed Elgert, while the ears of the two hidden boys were strained to their utmost. "A pretty sort of fellow you are. My father put you up to it! How can you prove that?" "I cannot," was the sulky answer. "He was too clever for that. I wrote the truth in my pocket-book----" "Like the ass you are! What good would that do to you, or to Charlton?" "It did no good. But it made me feel better, even to confess it like that. You stole the book--you, a fine gentleman! You stole it from my coat!" "Yes; it was safer in my keeping than in yours. Such things are dangerous if they are left lying about." "And you have used it as a threat to me ever since; and have ordered me about as if I were a dog!" was the angry retort. And Elgert laughed. "I have found it useful certainly. And, my man, do you see that scar on the back of your hand? It was a bad cut, I think. How did you manage it?" The man, with a swift motion, put his hand in his pocket. "I cut it," he said. And Elgert laughed again. "Yes. Do you know what housebreaking is? I suppose you know nothing of some one who broke into the school, the beginning of this term; and who was found near my bed, with a pillow; it looked very much as if he were going to try and kill me by smothering me. I wonder what that man wanted. He was frightened away by one of our boys, and he cut his hand getting over the wall. I wonder who that man was?" "You know it was me. I would have done it, too, if I had not been found. I was frightened then, but I am not now. I am not in your power any more." "Oh, and what has happened to change things?" inquired Horace Elgert mockingly. "This," said the man fiercely. "If I have done wrong, what about you? There was a five-pound note stolen at your school----" "What do you know about that?" cried Elgert quickly.