Page:The Rover Boys at School.djvu/239

Rh whose bed was nearest to him. "Pretend you have just awoke," and he flung himself on the floor, with one of a pair of big rubber boots in each hand.

"Wha&mdash;what's that?" demanded Larry sleepily.

"I say, open the door!" repeated the assistant teacher.

"Oh&mdash;er&mdash;Mr. Strong, is that you?"

"Yes, open the door."

"Why&mdash;er&mdash;is it locked?"

"Yes."

At once Larry tumbled from his bed, unlocked the door and stood there rubbing his eyes. "Excuse me, sir, for not hearing you before."

"I want to know what the meaning is of the noise in here?" said George Strong severely, as he gazed around the dimly lit apartment, for the lamp was turned low. "You boys are&mdash;gracious me! What's this?"

The teacher started back in genuine surprise, and his words aroused all of the boys in the beds, who followed his gaze in equal wonder.

For in the center of the floor sat Tom, his eyes tightly closed, a rubber boot in each hand, and rocking backward and forward with great rapidity, as if rowing.

"Two lengths ahead!" muttered Tom.