lowing trumpets. Oh, there's one thing more,"
continued the captain--"positively the last--(laughter)--about this row
we're all in. It was a caddish thing, whoever did it, to maul a man
about in the dark when he couldn't defend himself--(cheers)--and a low
thing, whoever did it, to tell a lie about it. (Cheers.) But my advice
is, let the beggar alone. He's an enemy to our house, but we aren't
going to make ourselves miserable on his account. Let him alone. Don't
go poking and sniffing about to try to smell him out. (Arthur blushed
violently here.) Think of something better. In spite of him we're
going to make Railsford's the cock house at Grandcourt! That will be
the best way to pay him out, and it will take us all our time to do it,
without dirtying our fingers over him."

Ainger concluded amidst a burst of cheers which quite took him aback,
and the meeting dispersed enthusiastically to talk over the wonderful
programme, and take the first steps towards carrying it out.

The captain's words came upon most of the fellows as a surprise that
there could be any other way out of their present misfortunes than by
submitting to them tamely and giving up the glory of their house as a
bad job. The audacious proposal first took their breath away, and then
took possession of them. They would have their revenge; and here was a
way open to them. It scarcely occurred to any but the experienced
seniors that there would be any difficulty in making Ainger's bold
predictions true. Arthur for instance, having heard it publicly
announced that he was about to win the Swift Exhibition, thought and
behaved as if the prize were already in his hands.

"Twenty pounds a-year for three years," said he complacently, to his
ally. "Not a bad pot. Tell you what, Dig, well get a tandem tricycle,
my boy, with the first year's money. Hope they'll pay it in advance,
don't you? then we can get it after break-up, and have some ripping
spins in the summer holidays. Better fun than fooling about in
Switzerland with Marky and Daisy. We'll either get that, or I know a
jolly little boat Punter has for sale at Teddington, with a towing-line
and double sculls, and a locker under the stern seat for grub. He
wanted L22 for it, but I expect he'll come down the L2 for ready money.
Perhaps it would be better to buy it this summer, and get the tricycle
with next year's money. I've a good mind to write to Punter to-night."

"Hadn't you better ge