He sprang back. For a moment he stood paralyzed. Then he jumped at the door. He tore it open. He leaped down the stairs. Bart’s room was at the bottom. He opened the door, burst in, and banged it, and locked it behind him. Then he stood against the door, making the pressure of his back an additional barrier against the entrance of any pursuer. XX. _Full, complete, and final Revelation of the Great Garret Mystery.--Confession of Pat--Indignation of Solomon.--His Speech on the Occasion.--The Authorities of the School roused.--Pat and the “B. O. W. C.” are hauled up to give an Account._ “HALLO!” cried Bart, who was roused by the noise. “Who’s that out there? What’s the row?” “It’s ony me,” said Pat, in a faint voice. “You, Pat! Is it you? Well, I’d say I’m very glad to see you, only it happens to be too dark to see anything. Well, Pat, what’s up?” By this time Bart had got out of bed, and had reached the sitting-room, where Pat was still standing against the door. “Didn’t ye hair it?” he said. “Hear it? Hear what?” “It!” cried Pat. “There’s no mistake this time.” “O, come, Pat, none of that nonsense. That does very well for the little boys; but I understand it all.” “Didn’t ye hair it?” cried Pat. “It nairly blew me head off, so it did. An doun hair I coom wid wan lape, so I did--an it afther me.” “It? What It?” “Shure you know what.” “You don’t mean that rubbish about a ghost. I know all about that. You needn’t talk to me that way.” At this moment the distant bray of the donkey sounded once more. Pat clutched Bart’s arm, and cried,-- “There it is agin. It’s a coomin. O, I knowed it.” “That!” said Bart, opening the door and listening. “Why, that’s only the bray of a donkey. You’ve heard it often enough---haven’t you?” “The bray of a donkey!” faltered Pat. “Sure it’s me that’s heard it.” “Well, this must be one.” “But who ivir heard of a donkey in a garret?” “O, I dare say he’s strolled up there to visit your friend in the cupola.” And now, Bart, not caring to prolong Pat’s terror, explained the cause of the noise that had terrified him, letting him know at the same time why it was done. He told Pat that they found out about the screech, and the bell, and sent up the donkey so as to give him a little taste of that fear which he was so anxious to give to others. As they had given him a shock, he was satisfied. Had Pat been at all an ill-tempered fellow; he might have resented all this; but as he was one of the best-natured fellows in the world, he showed not the smallest particle of resentment. On the contrary, the moment the load of horror was lifted off by Bart’s disclosure, his buoyant spirits rose at once, and all burst forth to the full swing of his jovial, mirthful, ridiculous, reckless Irish temperament.