picturesque and contained such gems as 'Intrepid
aeronaut' and 'Bird-man.'

"That's not English and it isn't in the Latin," said Finney sharply.

"I don't know, sir," said Cartwright weightily. "'Praepetibus pennis
ausus'--note of daring. Intrepid. Intrepid aeronaut. Why not, sir?
And then 'levis super astitit'--note of hovering over. Bird-man. Why
not, sir?"

Finney paused in silence. The Upper Sixth were tittering like infants
of twelve, with the exception of Martin, who stared self-consciously at
his desk, hating every moment and dreading what was to come.
Fortunately Finney controlled his temper and said quickly:

"Don't be childish, Cartwright. Translate, Warren."

Warren was an intelligent youth and gifted with endless audacity. A
week or two later they turned back to the first book (Finney couldn't
tolerate their assault on the second half of Book VI.), and Warren had
in his section the line:

"Succinctam pharetra et maculoso tegmine lyncis."

This he rendered: "With a check golf-skirt and a bag of clubs."

There was a wild roar of laughter and Finney went very red. Again he
controlled himself and merely said: "Quite good. But you might keep
your jokes till the end of the hour."

At last an event occurred which he could not overlook. Cartwright was
translating Tacitus and he had a book open under his desk. The words
flowed smoothly, with unwonted smoothness, for Cartwright was slow of
wit. At the end of the chapter Finney remarked: "Are you aware,
Cartwright, that you have reproduced the excellent translation by
Messrs Church and Brobribb word for word?"

"Have I, sir?" answered Cartwright with astonishment.

"You have. And what is your explanation?"

Cartwright reflected.

"Only that great minds think alike," he said at last.

"I shall report you to the headmaster," shouted Finney above the roar
of laughter.

Hitherto he had shrunk from informing Foskett of the way things went.
He had been afraid that any such move might be taken as a proof of his
own incompetence. Foskett might reasonably hold that it was a master's
business to look after himself and that a man who couldn't deal with an
Upper Sixth couldn't deal with anyone. And he had heard in the
common-room that Foskett was remarkably fond of his prefects and would
even back them against the masters, because he regarded them as more
valuable allies in strengthening his own position with the rank and
file of the school