m. But where is Sam?"

"In the--the storeroom. Oh, Rover, won't you please ask Mr. Grinder to
let me out? I'll freeze to death here, I know I will!"

"I'll do what I can. But he won't let you out. He isn't that kind of a
fellow."

"You might buy him off, Rover. I've heard he's a regular miser, and I'll
give you five dollars of my Christmas money if he'll let me go."

"I'll see what I can do after I've talked to Sam." And so speaking Tom
hurried to the door of the storeroom.

"Tom, is it really you?" cried the youngest Rover joyfully.

"Yes. How are you making out?"

"Horribly. I believe my feet and ears are already frozen!"

"Grinder is a beast to put you in here, Sam."

"I know that well enough. He won't give me any supper, I'm afraid."

"Then I'll try to get some supper to you."

"Is the key of this door on a hook outside?"

"No. If it was I'd have the door open long ago."

Sam gave a deep sigh, and then began to dance around once more to keep
warm.

"Perhaps I can find a key to fit this lock," went on Tom. "I know there
are keys in some of the other doors."

He ran off and soon returned with four keys, which he tried, one after
another. The third was a fair fit, and with an effort the bolt of the
lock was forced back.

"Hurrah! the door's open!" exclaimed Tom. "Now you can go where you
please."

"Then you wouldn't stay here?" questioned Sam anxiously.

"Not much! I'd hide in one of the dormitories, and I wouldn't show
myself until Captain Putnam gets back. I'll see to it that you get
something to eat, and when the captain returns you can tell him that if
you had remained in this place all night you would have been frozen to
death."

Sam was willing enough to take Tom's advice, and was soon in the
hallway. Then the door was locked again.

"It's heartless to leave poor Tubby in that cell," said Tom. "Let's get
him out too."

"All right--if you can find a key to fit the lock."

Losing no time, the brothers tried one key after another in the lock to
the door of the stone cell.

"Who's that?" came in a chatter from Tubbs.

"Tom Rover," was the answer. "I've just released Sam, and now we are
going to release you, if we can."

"Good for you Rover."

"There she goes!" cried Tom a few seconds later, and in a moment more
the door was opened and Tubbs stood in the hallway with the Rover boys.

Tubbs was about to say something, when Sam suddenly caught him by the
arm.

"Hush!" he whispered.