CHAPTER XXI
THE ESCAPE
Surprise, for a moment, held the boys dumb, and then a storm of protestsbroke out.
"We'll not stand it!"
"Let's raid the pantry!"
"They're trying to starve us into submission!"
"It's a relic of the dark ages, boys!" cried Bert Wilson. "A prison dietof bread and water."
"Let's break out, and go over to the Seniors' place in Elmwood Hall!"suggested Jack. "They'll feed us."
"That's right!" cried several.
"Hold on, fellows," called Tom.
At the sound of his calm voice the rush that had begun toward the doorof the dining room, was halted. A look of relief came over the face ofMonitor Blackford.
"Fellows!" said Tom, "this thing has come to a crisis. They're tryingto break this strike by unfair means. I've no doubt that the suggestioncame from Skeel. Doctor Meredith never would have done it of his ownaccord. Skeel has a bad influence over him. Now then, it's up to us tobeat 'em at their own game!"
"But we can't live on bread and water!" declared Ned Wilton. "At leastI won't. I'm not used to such fare. I always want fruit in the morning,and eggs."
"So do lots of us," said Tom quietly. "But we're not going to get itthis morning, at least. Now then, let's look at this thing quietly.Let's accept it. It can't last forever. Sooner or later the story willget out, and the college faculty will have to give in. Our cause isright, and we'll win. All we ask is civil treatment, as the old sailorsaid after the whale chase, and blamed little of that. Here's for ahearty breakfast of bread and water."
He made a move toward his place.
"But there's not even butter on the bread!" cried Jack.
"Prisoners aren't usually furnished with luxuries," commented Tom,quietly.
"Oh, say, I'm not going to stand for this!" burst out Bert Wilson. "I'mgoing to leave, and wire home for permission to resign from ElmwoodHall."
He strode toward the front door, intending to see if he could get out,but Mr. Blackford stood on guard, and he was not a small man.
"It's no use, Mr. Wilson," said the monitor, quietly. "The door islocked, and you can't go out unless you break out. And it's a verystrong door," he added, significantly.
With a gesture of impatience Bert turned toward a window. To hissurprise he noted that the usual fastenings had been replaced by newones, and, in addition, the casements were screwed down. Then, to theastonishment of the boys, who had not noticed it before, they becameaware that bars of wood had been screwed in place across the outside ofthe frames.
"By Jove! They have us boxed in, all right!" cried Tom, as his attentionwas called to the precautions taken to keep the lads in Opus Manor."This is what they were doing last night when we were having our fun.I've no doubt but that the spy came into the hall to see if we werelikely to stay up there eating, while they got in their fine work. Oh,but we were chumps not to think of this!"
"No one would," said Jack Fitch. "I say, though, I believe if we all gotogether we can break out. We can handle Blackford!"
Tom shook his head. He did not intend to submit quietly, but he knewbetter than to act before he had a good plan.
At that moment several of the men monitors from the other dormitorieswere seen in the lower hall, and one or two were at a rear door.
"They're prepared to meet force with force," said Tom to his chums."Just wait a bit, and there may be something doing. Meanwhile, eat yourgrub."
"Hot grub this!" exclaimed Jack. "I wish we'd saved some from lastnight. Any left, Tom?"
"Not a crumb. Never mind, this is good for a change," and Tom proceededto munch the dry bread, and sip the water.
Monitor Blackford's face showed relief. He had been prepared to carryout the orders of the faculty with force, if necessary, but he ratherhoped he would not have to do so, for he knew how lads can fight whenthey want to. Still he was glad they had submitted quietly. And he wasnot altogether on the side of the faculty, either.
"I guess it won't be for long, young gentlemen," he said, as he passedaround the table. "I'm sure I'm very sorry to have to do it, but I'm apoor man, and my living----"
"That's all right," interrupted Tom good-naturedly. "We're not blamingyou. And, as you say, it won't be for long."
"Then you're going to give in?" asked the monitor eagerly.
"Not much!" exclaimed Tom. "The faculty is, and we'll make Skeel beg ourpardons. Then we'll have a roast turkey feast on Merry."
"I'm afraid you never will," spoke the monitor. "The professor is verydetermined. I expect he'll be over before long."
"We'll be ready for him," said Tom grimly.
Once they had made up their minds to accept the situation the boys mademerry over the meager breakfast.
"Anyhow, we can cut all lectures!" exulted several who were not fond ofstudy.
"And we'll have to pull our belts in a few holes if this sort of grubkeeps up long," commented Jack.
"Yes, a fine sort of strike this is!" sneered Sam Heller. "I neveragreed to starve, Tom Fairfield." He glared at his rival.
"You can starve with the rest of us," spoke our hero, grimly. "Besides,you can live a long time on bread and water. I forget the exact figures,but I think it is something over a month."
"A month!" cried Jack. "I'll never last that long."
"Neither will the strike," answered Tom, coolly. "I have something up mysleeve."
"What is it?" clamored half a dozen.
"I'll tell you later. Now to get what amusement we can. Come on up to myroom, and we'll talk it over."
They did talk it over, from all standpoints, but they could not agree onwhat was best to be done. It was a cold, blowy, blustery day outside,the storm being not far short of a blizzard.
The dormitory was warm, but soon the healthy appetites of the ladsasserted themselves, and they felt the lack of their usual goodbreakfast. Still, save for Sam Heller, no one thought of giving in. Allstuck by Tom.
During the morning, groups of students from other dormitories, theSenior, Junior and Sophomore, came past Opus Manor, and cruelly madesigns of eating, for of course the story of the imprisonment of theFreshman class was known all through the college.
"Say, I've got an idea!" exclaimed Jack, as he saw some of his friendsin the upper classes standing under his window in an angle of thebuilding. "Why can't they smuggle us something to eat? We can let down abasket or a box, and haul it up."
"That's the stuff!" cried Bert Wilson. "Let's drop 'em a note."
One was written and tossed out to Bruce Bennington and some friendlySeniors. They nodded assent as they read it, and hurried off.
"Now to make a basket of some sort!" exclaimed Jack.
"Take our fishing creels," suggested Tom, who seemed to be busilyengaged in thinking out something. Accordingly the fishing baskets weretied to strings, which the boys collected from many pockets, and weremade ready to be lowered for food.
In due time, under cover of the storm, which had grown so bad that theswirling flakes hid objects ten feet away, the Seniors returned withfood which they had somehow obtained. There were also bottles of coldcoffee and soft drinks.
"This is great!" cried Jack, as he hauled up the creels, several times,well laden. "There isn't going to be a feast, but it's something."
"And it has given me the idea I wanted!" cried Tom.
"What is it?" demanded several.
"We'll escape from the second story windows to-night! We can make ropesof the bed clothes, in real story-book fashion, lower ourselves down,and hie into town. We'll put up at some hotel or boarding houses there,and the school can get along without us until they recognize our rights."
"Good!" came in an enthusiastic chorus. "Let's start right away," addedJack.
"No, not until after dark," advised Tom. "We will be caught if we gobefore."
The sandwiches and other things which the Seniors had provided made awelcome addition to the slim dinner. Professor Skeel came in as the boyswere about to arise fro
m the table, probably to gloat over them. He wasreceived with a storm of hisses.
"Stop that, instantly!" he cried, his face pale with anger.
"Keep it up," ordered Tom, and keep it up the boys did, until thediscomfited instructor had to withdraw, vowing vengeance on the ladswhom even a diet of bread and water, and the humiliation of being madeprisoners, could not subdue.
"But I'll break their spirit yet!" said the professor, grimly.
The preparations for the escape went on. Several ropes were made fromtorn sheets and light blankets, and fastened to heavy objects asanchors, in various room whence the lads were to take French leave.Several were to drop from Tom's window.
The storm grew worse, and the boys put on their heaviest garments. Nightapproached, the bread and water supper was served, and Mr. Blackfordremarked to his wife:
"I don't see what makes the boys so cheerful."
"Maybe they are up to some mischief," she suggested.
"How could they be?" he asked. "They can't get out to get anything toeat, for the doors and windows are all fastened."
"Well, you never can tell what boys are going to do," she said. "I'd beon the watch."
"I will," agreed her husband, and he and the other monitors looked wellto the fastening of the doors and casements.
"All ready now, boys?" asked Tom, as it grew darker.
"All ready," answered Jack. "I don't believe they can see us now."
"Go easy," advised Tom. "Hold on tight going down, and don't slip.One at a time, and we'll meet at the twin oaks on the far edge of thecampus, and tramp into town. The car line is blocked, I guess, with allthis snow."
One by one the boys slid down the improvised ropes, going from roomswhere they could drop to the ground unobserved from any of the lowerwindows.
"Are we all here?" asked Tom, when the escape was finally concluded, andthe crowd of students had assembled under the oak trees, the few brownleaves of which rustled in the wintry blast.
"I guess so," answered Jack. "But I didn't see Sam Heller."
"I saw him slide down a rope from Pete Black's room," remarked BertWilson, "and then I noticed that he sneaked off by himself."
"Let him go," suggested Tom. "We're better off without him."
"Unless he's going to squeal on us," came from Jack, suddenly.