"Why, that would be inhuman!" "I'm going in by the back way and find out what's going on," said Tom, and promptly disappeared around the corner of the Hall.

He was soon inside the building, but to his chagrin found every door leading to Captain Putnam's private apartments and to the stone cell and the storeroom locked.

Having gone through the mess-rooms and through several of the classrooms, he rejoined the others, who had gathered around the fire in what was called the students' general living room,--an apartment set aside during cold weather solely for the boys' comfort, where they might read, study, play quiet games, or do similar things in order to make themselves feel at home.
"How did you make out ?" was the question immediately put.
"Made out, and that's all," said Tom gloomily.
"What do you mean ?" came from Dick.
"Every blessed door is locked, and so are the windows.

I can't get within two rooms of the office." "Did you hear anything ?" asked George.
"Yes; I heard a noise like somebody stamping." "Where did it come from ?" "I think it came from the stone cell.

But it sounded like somebody stamping on wood." "Perhaps it came from the empty storeroom," cried Dick.