If they were missed, a professor was sent to ascertain their whereabouts.

He was generally discovered in time by the boy detailed by his companions as look out.
The study hall and dormitories formed a building separate from the rest of the college.

As the professor approached from the main building, the boys would leap from the low windows of the study hall into the snow.
Sometimes the professor was suspicious and would reconnoiter outside the study hall; but the boys were alert and as he passed around a corner, they would get around another and so they often escaped to the chapel.
One morning the president missed several of his jewels and started himself for the study hall determined to capture them.

As usual, the boys clambered through the windows and escaped in different directions always keeping the hall between them and their pursuer.
Stockie, Billy O'Meara and Paul adopted the old rule of sneaking away from one corner of the hall, while the president advanced around another.

The pursuit was very close, for the president was sure from the tracks in the snow, that some of the boys were dodging him.
Stockie and O'Meara broke for the shelter of another building; but Paul continued to dodge around the study hall.