to kick up a row."

We laughed at this ingenuous admission, and Smith said, "Well, I think
we've a better chance of bringing them to book if we keep it in. What
do you say, Flanagan?"

"Oh yes, keep it in. You know I like rows as well as anybody, but
what's the use of them when there's nothing to make them about?"

"I think it had better stay in," said I. "What do you say, Hawkesbury?"

Hawkesbury smiled in an amused way, as if it was a joke.

This appeared to incense Smith greatly, as usual.

"Why ever don't you say what you think instead of grinning?" he blurted
out.

"Why, you know, my dear fellow, we leave it all to you. I agree to
anything!"

I verily believe if Smith had had a boot in his hand it would have found
its way in the direction of his enemy's smile. Happily he hadn't; so he
turned his back on the speaker, and proceeded, "Very well, then we'd
better sign these at once. I've got a pen and ink here. Look sharp,
you fellows."

"Don't you think," said Hawkesbury, blandly, once more, "as it's all
been left to the captain, he had better sign the paper in the name of
the school? You don't mind, Smith, I'm sure?"

Smith snatched up the pen hastily, and signed his name at the foot of
each document.

"I'm not afraid, if that's what you mean."

I could watch the working of his face as he hurriedly folded each paper
up into the form of a note, and knew the storm that was going on in his
own breast. Certainly Hawkesbury, however good his intentions, was a
little aggravating.

"Perhaps you'll throw that in over the Henniker's door?" said Smith,
handing one of the notes to Hawkesbury.

Again Hawkesbury smiled as he replied, "Really, I'm such a bad shot; I'd
much rather you did it."

"Give it me," I cried, interposing before my friend could retort. "I'll
throw it in."

Saying which I took the missive, and after one or two bad shots,
succeeded in getting it through the ventilator and hearing it drop in
the middle of the Henniker's floor.

"A letter for you," I cried by way of explanation. "You've an hour to
give an answer."

"Batchelor," replied Miss Henniker from within, in what seemed rather a
subdued voice, "you are doing very wrong. Let me out immediately,
Batchelor."

"Not till you promise what's written in the note," replied I, quitting
the place.

A similar ceremony was enacted by Smith in delivering the "ultimatum" to
the two masters, and we then adjourned for breakfast.