igate," came resolutely from
Professor Gunn's lips.

"All right," said High Jinks, bravely. "Lead the way, sir."

"Be cautious, gentlemen--be cautious!" urged Hot Scotch, his face pale
and his teeth rattling together. "Such dreadful shrieks have never
before assailed my ears--never! They are certainly cries of mortal
agony!"

"Oh, you can go to your room, and lock yourself in, if you are afraid!"
came scornfully from the tall professor's lips.

"Who's afraid!" bristled the little man, instantly. "You will find I
am not afraid of you, sir! I am ready to----"

"Gentlemen! gentlemen, silence!" came commandingly from Professor
Gunn's lips. "I will not have this unseemly bickering! If you are
ready, come on."

So they moved toward the stairs, High Jinks resolutely keeping by
Professor Gunn's side, while Hot Scotch lingered a little in the rear,
clinging to the tail of the head professor's coat.

Just as they reached the foot of the stairs and were about to ascend,
feet were heard rushing along the corridor above, and then Barney
Mulloy came plunging down the stairs, with Hans Dunnerwust riding
astride his neck, both in their nightclothes, with a few crawfish still
clinging to them.

The three professors were unable to get out of the way, so the frantic
boys plunged straight into them, and all fell in a struggling,
squirming mass on the floor.

CHAPTER XV.

WARNED.

At the head of the stairs swarmed the plebes, who were convulsed with
laughter.

"Oh! oh! oh!" gasped Sammy Smiles, clinging to his sides. "Somebody
please do something to stop me from laughing! Ha! ha! ha! If I don't
stop soon, I'll die! Oh, dear! oh, dear! I am sore all over!"

"Help!" cried Professor Gunn.

The boys on the floor below the Cockloft were out by this time, and
they were enjoying the spectacle quite as much as the plebes above.

Frank had rushed into his room, and he came forth with a bag that
contained something that moved and snarled. Reaching the head of the
stairs, he quickly opened the mouth of the bag and extracted two cats.
He had slipped on a pair of heavy gloves, and he succeeded in holding
the cats securely, while he said to Ned Gray:

"Quick--take the string that held the mouth of the bag--tie their tails
together! Lively!"

Ned caught up the string, and worked swiftly, tying the cats' tails
tightly together.

When this was accomplished, Frank gave the felines a fling toward the
group at the