"I couldn't have done it if you and Jim hadn't been so prompt to warn me of what was going on down there," said Don. "I had no idea, from up in the tree, that there was anyone else down there with you."
"He must have been prowling around and heard us up there," Jim said. "I didn't hear him come up and the first thing I knew about him was when he grabbed my shoulder. It was a good thing that he thought there were only two of us."
"When I dropped out of the tree I saw him, but it was too late to do anything about it," explained Terry. "My first impulse was to yell to Don, but that would have been the worst thing I could have done."
"Yes," smiled Don. "As it was, it turned out for the best. He certainly went flying. Somebody coming fellows, and it looks like a policeman!"
"I think we had," admitted Don. "He must know that cadets aren't usually on the streets at this hour and the least he'll do is to question us. He may even want to go up to the school with us, and we don't want that."
"No, we don't," Terry supplied. "He hasn't seen us yet, so let's slide in here."
There was a garage close by with a narrow alley running alongside it and the boys quickly glided into it. But this particular policeman strolled right by the place and was soon lost in the darkness of the long street. When they were sure that he was safely out of sight they emerged from their hiding places.
"Whew, that was close, too," commented Terry, as they resumed their way.
"It would have been bad for us if we had been caught," admitted Jim. "Let's hustle up to the school."
The streets were all deserted and the houses black, for the hour was late. The three cadets met no one else as they hastened on to the school. They entered the grounds with a sense of profound relief.
"I hope that the colonel is still up," Don said.
"He will be," predicted Terry. "He knew what an errand we went on and he'll be waiting for us."
Terry proved to be a true prophet. When they entered the school office they found the colonel there waiting for them. He was impatiently tapping a long letter-opener on the desk, and at the sound of their entrance he sprang to his feet, glancing sharply at the clock.
"We beg to report ourselves back, Colonel Morrell," said Don, saluting and smiling at the same time. The others saluted at once and the colonel somewhat hastily returned it.