“Much obliged!” added Jack. And then the tall, thin boy turned out of the churchyard and hurried along the country road, some bushes and trees soon hiding him from view. The young major gazed after him curiously and so did Pepper. “That’s a strange fellow,” was Jack’s comment. “But he certainly did us a good turn.” “He sure did,” answered Pepper. “Wonder what he wants of this Jabez Trask?” “Something important, you may be certain of that, or he wouldn’t be so secret about it.” The two cadets walked to the roadway and then both stopped short and looked at each other. The same thought had occurred to each. “We came for that clapper and we might as well have it,” declared Pepper. “I’ll go back and get it, Jack. You can rest behind the bushes, where nobody will see you.” “All right—and I’ll watch out,—that nobody comes up to fasten that trap door again.” “By jove! that’s so! Maybe the Ritter crowd is hanging around yet!” “If they are, it was mighty mean of them not to come to my assistance when I was in peril of my life!” “Maybe they were too scared and ran away.” Jack found a convenient spot behind some bushes and Pepper disappeared once more inside the church. In less than ten minutes The Imp reappeared with both the bell clapper and the battered lantern. “I shoved the broken glass into a corner with my foot,” he said. “And I pulled the rope back into the belfry. The lower end came loose easily when I pulled it up.” “To be sure,” answered Jack. “A knot was caught in a crotch and that is why it held when the pull was downward. But come on, we’d better be getting back, or we’ll have trouble getting into the Hall.” “I am not going to carry this busted lantern,” said Pepper, and threw the thing behind some bushes. Then, with the clapper of the bell done up in a newspaper he had brought along, he struck out for Putnam Hall, with Jack beside him. “There will be a big row when they find the clapper gone, that’s certain,” mused the young major. “Maybe they’ll lay it to the Pornell fellows,” answered Pepper, with a broad grin. “Hope they do! It will pay back Roy Bock and his crowd for their meanness to us.” Jack had now fully recovered his strength and both boys kept up a rapid gait until more than half the distance to Putnam Hall had been covered. Then, of a sudden, the young major called a halt. “What’s the trouble?” demanded his chum. “Somebody is coming! Maybe some of the teachers!” Both of the cadets leaped from the roadway to some convenient bushes. It was after hours and they well knew that to be caught by Captain Putnam or any of his assistants would mean severe punishment. Jack might even be reduced to the ranks, something that would have hurt the major’s feelings exceedingly. A whistle arose on the air, a peculiar whistle, thrice repeated. Pepper answered it at once, and he and Jack stepped back to the roadway. In a moment they were confronted by Andy Snow and Stuffer Singleton. “Did you get it?” demanded Andy, eagerly.