"What?" demanded the entire party almost together. "That is what I said. The canes are not in my house." "In the barn, then?" said the leader suspiciously. "No, they are not in the barn, either. There is not a cane on my place except the one I occasionally use myself. If you think that will do--" "But, Mr. Whitaker, the man was seen when he brought the canes here." "Quite likely." "And yet you say they are not here?" "That is what I said. And what I still say." "I don't understand--" "I do not say they _were_ not here. All I say is that they _are_ not here." "They're gone? They've been taken away? Is that what you mean?" demanded the astonished sophomore. "Precisely." "Let's go in and search anyway," said one of the party now thoroughly angry. "I advise you not to attempt that," said the minister quietly. "Why not?" said the sophomore impudently. "Because one of my neighbors is a deputy sheriff and housebreaking is a somewhat serious offense." For a moment the assembly was nonplussed, but their uncertainty was speedily relieved, or at least interrupted, by an occurrence that instantly caused them all to turn and flee from the place at their utmost speed. CHAPTER XXIV THE MYSTERY OF THE CANES At the very moment when the consternation of the sophomores was keenest the sound of a sleigh turning into the yard in which they were standing caused them all to look quickly toward the gateway. The ground was bare in places, and the runners of the sleigh, as the iron bands passed over the gravel, emitted shrieks and groans as if they were striving to warn the sophomores of the impending peril. Seated in the sleigh were three men whom the assembly speedily recognized as members of the freshman class, and their own fears for a moment doubtless caused the sophomores to magnify the numbers as well as the danger. "Look out, fellows! Here they come!" said one in a low voice whom Will and Hawley recognized. It was Mott, who was again the spokesman and leader of the little band. "Let's get out of this," responded one whose voice Will could not determine, and as if a sudden panic had seized upon them the young men turned and began to run swiftly. "Hold on! Hold on, fellows!" called Mott savagely, although his voice was not loud. "Hold on! What are you running for? There are only three of them, and we're good for any three freshmen in Winthrop. Don't run. Come on back!"