Oh, girls! it may gnaw our cloaks; mine is under there, I know." "Well, let us drive it out." "Oh! oh! oh! I'm afraid!" "I'm not; I'm going to see what is under there." My heart ceased to beat.

Should I live to the next centennial, I shall never forget that moment.
The girl who had spoken last stooped and looked under the bed; this motion was followed by a thrilling shriek.
"There's a _man_ under the bed!" she screamed.
The other girls joined in; a wild chorus of shrieks arose, commingled with cries of "Robber!" "Thief!" "Burglar!" Urged to desperation, I was about to roll out from my hiding-place and make a rush to get out, hoping to pass unrecognized by covering my face with my hands, when two or three dozen young men swooped into the room.
"What is it ?" "Where ?" "A man under the bed!" "Let me at the rascal!" "Ha! come out here, you villain!" All was over.

They dragged me out, covered with dust and feathers, and, pulling my despairing hands from over my miserable face, they turned me to the light.

Then the fury and the threats subsided.

There was a moment's profound silence--girls and fellows stared in mute astonishment, and then--then broke from one and all a burst of convulsive laughter.