et's pretend we can't hear."

They walked steadily on for a few paces, Severn making-believe to be
talking earnestly to his companion, when:

"Do you hear, there, you, sirs? Come here directly. I want you to
field!"

"I dare say you do; cheeky great bully!" said Glyn softly. "I shan't
come and field for you. The Doctor did not give us a holiday to-day to
come and be your slaves."

"Hi, there! Are you coming, or am I to come and fetch you?" shouted
Slegge, without any effect, and the big lad turned to Burney and gave
him an order. The next minute the boy, armed with a stump, came running
at full speed across the grass, shouting to the two companions to stop,
but without their paying the slightest heed or increasing their pace.

The consequence was that the lad soon overtook them, to cry, rather out
of breath, "Did you hear the captain call to you to come and field?"

Singh glanced at Glyn, who gave him a sharp look as he replied, "Yes, I
heard him quite plainly."

The messenger stared with open eyes and mouth, as if it was beyond his
comprehension.

"Then, why don't you come?" he cried.

"Because we are going up to the house," replied Glyn coolly, "to our
dormitory."

"That you are not," cried Burney. "The rules say that the fellows are
not to go up to their rooms between hours, and you have been here long
enough to know that. Now then, no nonsense. Here, you, Singh, you've
got to come and field while old Slegge practises batting, and Tompkins
has got to bowl."

As the boy spoke in an unpleasant dictatorial way he made a thrust at
Singh with the pointed stump he held; but quick as thought and before it
was driven home, this third-part of a wicket was wrenched from his hand
by Severn and sent flying through the air.

"How dare you!" shouted Burney, and he made a rush at Glyn to collar him
and make him prisoner; but before he could reach the offending lad a
foot was thrust out by Singh, over which he tripped and fell sprawling
upon his face.

"Oh!" he shouted, half-beside himself with rage; and, scrambling up, he
made a rush with clenched fists at the two boys, who now stood perfectly
still awaiting his onslaught.

It was a thoroughly angry charge, but not a charge home; for Burney
stopped some three or four yards short of the distance, with his rage
evaporating fast and beginning to feel quite discreet.

For quite a minute the opponents stood gazing fiercely, and then what
had threatened to be