it up, and joined the Den, who were waiting about, in
anxious groups, near the door of the Hall, with their ornaments in their
hands, ready to put on at a moment's notice if necessary.

Presently Dick strolled up and joined them.

Hurrah! he had not got his patent leather boots on, after all! A weight
fell from the minds of half the beholders as they cast their eyes down
at his dusty double soles. And yet, if he wasn't going in, what was he
hanging about there for?

Dick would have been very sorry if any of the Den had guessed what was
passing in his mind. He didn't know what to do. If there had been no
one but himself, it wouldn't have mattered. But there was that young
ass Heathcote, and Coote too, who were certain to do as he did; and the
fag of making up his mind for three people was not fair to a fellow.

And yet the Ghost's letter somehow stuck in his mind, and the ballast he
had taken on board during the holidays made it harder to play pitch and
toss with himself than it had been. He didn't like the way Mansfield
had almost dared them to stay away. Because, if it came to that, he
would just as soon let fellows see he wasn't going to be bullied. On
the other hand, the Captain had as good as said it wanted some pluck to
stand out against the rowdies, and that was an argument in favour of
showing up at levee. The worst of it was, when once you showed up, you
were committed to the steady lot, and couldn't well back out. If young
Heathcote--no, he was bound to look after Heathcote.

So, to the amazement and consternation of the Den, after loafing about
at the door for ten minutes, Dick strolled into the Hall, and made his
way up to the platform.

One or two, including Coote, followed him immediately. Others remained
long enough to put on their cuffs and chokers, and then followed suit.
One or two looked at the door, and went back again, and a few talked
about treason and Rule 5.

Heathcote alone was aghast and dumbfounded. For he had never seriously
calculated on his leader's decision; and, being himself under vow not to
present himself, his dilemma was terrible.

Perjury or treason? That was the problem he had to decide at half a
minute's notice, and it was no joke.

As he watched Dick slowly advance up the room, dogged by the faithful
Coote and supported by a bodyguard of loyal followers, his courage
failed, and he could hardly restrain himself from rushing after him.

And yet, the memory of