Dick, older and more thoughtful, mused for a moment.

"I'd certainly like to help Sam," he said. "But we must be careful and
not get into trouble with Captain Putnam."

"I'm going to find my way to the door of the cell somehow," went on Tom.

"Old Grinder left that door unlocked when he! came out," said George,
who had joined them.

"Good? I'm going through before he comes back."

As good as his word, Tom slipped past the various tables at which the
students were sitting, until he reached the door which connected with
Captain Putnam's private apartments.

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