Hawley perceived that the way
was clear, after looking up for a moment and glancing keenly at his
classmate, he suddenly leaped to his feet and Will instantly followed
his example. Before the astonished sophomores were fully aware of what
was occurring both had darted through the doorway after Hawley had with
almost incredible quickness flung open the door. Instantly it was
closed, and Hawley, seizing the iron handle of the catch and putting
forth all his strength, braced his feet against the wall and prepared to
hold the inmates prisoners in the room.

"Get Andrews and Briggs!" whispered Hawley, and Will quickly darted
across the hallway to the room of his two classmates. A word was
sufficient to inform them of what was occurring, and in an incredibly
brief time all three were standing beside Hawley.

The giant freshman was holding the door, which opened inward, easily,
though the sophomores in the room were striving desperately on their
side. But Hawley had the strong handle and only the tiny latch could be
seized from within. Numbers counted for nothing in this struggle, as
only one could pull at a time.

The silence in the building was unbroken, though the first thought of
the bold freshmen had been that their sophs would throw open the window
and summon their classmates to their aid. Whether it was due to their
excitement or to the fact that they did not wish to have their
predicament known, Will Phelps never learned, but no outcry was made,
though the steady pull upon the door continued.

"I've got 'em!" whispered Hawley gleefully. "If the latch doesn't give
way they won't see outdoors again till I give 'em leave. Run, Will!" he
added hastily. "Get twenty of our fellows here as soon as you can and
we'll fix 'em yet. I can hold on here forever!"

Leaving his classmates at the doorway, Will Phelps ran swiftly down the
stairs and sped across the campus to his own room. He found his
room-mate seated at his desk, evidently hard at work. Foster glanced up
reprovingly as Will burst into the room and said, "I thought, Will, you
were--"

He stopped abruptly as he perceived how excited his classmate was, but
before he could make any inquiries Will broke in: "We've got a lot of
sophs shut up in Peter John's room! Get some of the fellows and make for
the room! Hawley's holding 'em in! Tell Jones and Camp to come and then
tell them to get some more and every one to bring two or three with him.
Get some more yourself and