ly one in
the shop, and that he missed it as soon as I had gone; but really and
truly I didn't take it; I never did such a thing in my life."

"Of course you didn't. He's a cad and has got a spite against us,
that's what it is. What's he going to do?"

"He says unless I take it to him by this time to-morrow, he'll send a
policeman to take me up," and the unhappy youth's voice choked with the
words.

Heathcote gave a long, dismal whistle.

"Whatever will you do?" he asked, in tones of deep concern.

"How can I take it back?" asked Coote, "if I hadn't got it. I wish to
goodness I had got it!"

"You'll have to square him, somehow," said Georgie. "You're positive it
hasn't dropped into your shoes, or anywhere, by accident."

The bare suggestion sent Coote up to the dormitory, where he undressed,
and shook out each article of his toilet, in the hope of discovering the
lost treasure.

Alas! high or low, there was no _sign_ of it.

He spent a terrible afternoon, wondering where he should be that time
to-morrow, or whether possibly Mr Webster would alter his mind, and
send a policeman up forthwith.

He was in no humour for tennis, or a row in the Den, or a "Sociable"
concert after school, and avoided them all. And to add to his troubles,
Heathcote was detained two hours for some offence; so that he was
deprived for an equal length of time of the consolation of that hero's
sympathy and advice.

He spent the interval dismally in a retired corner of the field, where
he hoped to be able to collect his shattered wits in peace. But it was
no good. He could see no way through it.

"Oh!" thought he, for the hundredth time, "how I wish I had really taken
it!"

He had just arrived at this conclusion, when a light step approaching,
caused him to look up, and see Dick.

"Hullo, old man," said the latter, "how jolly blue you look. What's the
row?"

Coote repeated his dismal story, and marked the dismay which crept over
his leader's face as he told it.

"By Jove, old man," said Dick, "it's a mess. How ever are you to get
out?"

"That's just what I don't know," groaned Coote. "If I only had the
pencil it would be all right. But, really and truly, Dick, I never took
it; did I?"

"All serene," said Dick. "But, I say, if you can't give him the pencil
back, perhaps you can pay him for it."

"It cost thirty shillings; and I've only got seven-and-six."

"I've got ten shillings," said Dick. "That's seventeen-