They lifted him and made a rush for the cab.

He was bundled in, and away went the cab.
Frank rushed into Billy's and gave the alarm.

He was out again in a very few seconds, with a crowd of excited freshmen at his heels; but when they came to look for the sophomores and Rattleton they found nothing.
"Confound it!" exclaimed Frank in dismay.

"How could they get him away so quick?
I can't understand it." The freshmen searched, but they found nothing to reward them.

Rattleton was in the toils of the enemy, and the would-be rescuers were given no opportunity to rescue him.
Then Merriwell blamed himself for leaving his roommate at all.