though, did you?" queried Andy.

"Certainly not!" burst out Fred. "All we know about it is what he has
told us. We weren't even near the pasture where the cows were kept."

As well as they were able, Jack and Fred explained the situation to
their cousins and also answered a number of questions put to them by
Captain Dale. The military instructor was much puzzled over the
situation, and hardly knew what to do.

"You heard what I promised Mr. Lacy," he said finally. "I'll have to
place you in the guardroom until Colonel Colby gets back. But I imagine
you would rather be kept there than let Mr. Lacy take you down to the
town lock-up."

"It isn't fair to lock us up at all," grumbled Fred. "We have done no
wrong. Of course we stayed away from the Hall over night, but that
couldn't be helped. It was no fun staying outdoors on such a cold night
without shelter."

"Can't you parole us, Captain?" queried Jack.

"No. I gave Mr. Lacy my word that I would lock you up, and I'll have to
do it. I'll see to it, however, that you suffer no discomforts while
you are in the guardroom."

After this there seemed no help for it, and, turning their guns and
game over to the twins, Jack and Fred followed Captain Dale through one
of the lower corridors and then into a wing of the building. Here there
was a room about twelve feet square, the one window of which was
barred, and this was known officially as the school guardroom, or
prison.

"You may wash up if you care to do so, and I will send you some
breakfast," announced Captain Dale, and then left them in the room,
locking the door behind him.

The apartment was but scantily furnished, containing an iron cot, a
couple of stools, a table, and, in one corner, a wash bowl with running
water. There was a small steam radiator in the room, and this the boys
lost no time in turning on, for the air was damp and cold.

"This is a fine prospect, truly," remarked Fred, as he sank down on one
of the stools. "I wonder how long we'll have to stay in this hole."

"That remains to be seen, Fred. I wish Colonel Colby were here. I think
he would give us some good advice--being such an old friend of our
fathers."

"Gee! I'd hate to have him send a letter home telling the folks that we
were guilty of shooting a farmer's cows."

"So would I. I don't see how we are going to clear ourselves. You can
bet Lacy will make out the blackest possible case against us."

After their outing in the woods the