as anybody to get at the bottom of this affair."

Accompanied by the professor, the three cadets hurried to the second
floor of the Hall and then to the rooms occupied by Slugger Brown and
Nappy Martell. The door to each was locked, but one of them was opened
for the crowd by an assistant janitor. A hasty search revealed nothing
in the shape of a firearm in either room, and the Rover boys were much
disappointed. But then Randy thought of the bed, and quickly raised the
mattress. On the springs rested a shotgun.

"And I'll bet the other shotgun is in the other bed!" cried Andy, and
he and the professor made an investigation. The fun-loving Rover's
surmise was correct.

"These are guns belonging to the Hall, too!" cried Ned, pointing out
the mark of the school on the stocks. "They must belong down in the gun
rack, just as Slugger and Martell said."

"Bring those guns along, boys, and we'll go directly to Colonel Colby's
office," said Professor Brice; and the cadets lost no time in doing as
he directed.

They found the master of the school seated at his desk, looking over a
mass of papers. He gazed in wonder at the three lads and Professor
Brice.

"We found the shotguns that were used on those cows!" cried Randy, his
eyes sparkling.

"And do you know where we found 'em? In the beds that Slugger Brown and
Nappy Martell use!" broke in Andy.

"What's this?" And now the colonel was really startled.

"You had better let the boys tell the beginning of the story, and I
will tell the end," said Professor Brice.

Thereupon, the two Rovers repeated the talk that had taken place in the
guardroom, and then told how they had gotten Ned to spy on Brown and
Martell. Then Ned told of what he had heard, and of how the three had
called on Professor Brice for assistance. After that the teacher took
up the narrative, ending with the finding of the shotguns in the beds.

"It looks like a pretty clear case against Brown and Martell," remarked
the colonel slowly. "However, I shall have to make a further
investigation. I will send for Brown and Martell at once."

The colonel was as good as his word, and inside of five minutes Slugger
and Nappy came into the office together. They looked much disturbed,
and this look increased when they saw Andy and Randy.

"Brown and Martell, I have sent for you to answer a few questions,"
began Colonel Colby, sternly, as the two cadets faced him. "I want you
to answer me directly and truthfully.