Usually this portion of the Hall was forbidden ground to the scholars.
But Tom had been inside the rooms a number of times, so knew the way
well. Passing through a private sitting room and a small library, he
came to a narrow hall connecting with the main hall, at the end of which
were the stone cell and the empty storeroom.

He was just about to step into the main hall when he heard somebody
coming down from the floor above. The party was Mrs. Green, the
housekeeper, a good-natured lady upon whom Tom had played many a joke in
the past.

"Gosh! I mustn't be discovered!" he muttered, and looked around for some
place to hide. Under the staircase was a recess containing a number of
hooks with cloaks and overcoats, and into this he crowded, drawing one
of the overcoats so as to completely cover the upper portion of his
body.

Hardly had he gained the hiding place when Mrs. Green reached the lower
hallway. Tom heard her pause at the foot of the stairs, strike a match,
and light the big swinging lamp hanging from overhead.

"I might as well mend that overcoat now, while the captain is away," Tom
heard her murmur to herself. "It's only a buttonhole that's torn out,
and a tailor would charge him four times what it's worth--and he always
so good at Christmas-time!"

"She's looking out for her present," thought Tom, with a grin. "But
that's none of my affair. If only she isn't after this overcoat!"

He heard the housekeeper approach the recess and pause for a moment in
front of it. He hardly dared to breathe, fearing that he would surely be
discovered.

"Well, I declare, if he hasn't gone and worn the very overcoat itself!"
he heard Mrs. Green cry. "Just like him, and two good coats a-hanging
here. Well, I suppose it's the warmest he's got, and he'll have a cold
ride back, especially if he returns to-night." And so speaking Mrs.
Green hurried away.

"A narrow shave, and no mistake," murmured Tom to himself, and listened
until he heard a distant door close. Then all was quiet, save the
distant murmur of the student's voices, coming from the sitting room.

Without losing more time, Tom left the recess and hurried to the door of
the stone cell.

"Sam!" he called out softly. "Are you in there?"

"No; _I'm_ in here," came in the voice of Tubbs. "And--I'm almost frozen
to--to--death." The last words with a chattering of teeth that told only
too plainly how the rich youth was suffering.

"Sorry for you, Tubby, really I a