rived to greet him.

"Why ever can't you chaps be in the way when you're wanted?" prowled
Percy. "There was Clapperton in here just now talking rot about the
meeting next week. What do you think? He says we're not to go to it."

"Why not?"

Percy in his lucid manner tried to explain.

"All gammon," said Lickford. "If we're to be stopped going to Hall, we
shall be stopped grub next."

This was an argument that went home.

"If Clapperton had made it worth our while, you know," said Cottle, "it
might have been different. I don't care much about the meeting; but if
I stop away for him, I'll get something for it."

This mercenary view of the subject was new to Percy, but he frankly
accepted it.

"I tell you what," said he; "here, give us a pen; we'll just draw up a
few conditions. If he accepts them we'll stay away; if he don't, he may
hang himself before we sit out."

After much deliberation, the following charter of six points was drawn
up and laid on Clapperton's table.

"On the following conditions the undersigned will stop out of Hall on
October 3,--namely, to wit, viz., i.e.:--

"1. No more fagging.

"2. Don't go to bed till 9:30.

"3. A study a-piece.

"4. The prefects shall be abolished. Any prefect reporting to Forder
to be kicked.

"5. Except between 9:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. we do as we like.

"6. That the four following Classic cads get their noses pulled; namely
Wheatfield, W., D'Arcy, Ashby, and Fisher minor.

"If these are agreed to, we won't go to the meeting."

(Signed by) Wheatfield, P., M.P.
Cottle, Major-General.
Lickford, D.D.
Ramshaw minor, F.S.A.
Cash, LL.D., etcetera, etcetera.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

CORDER TO THE FRONT.

The morning of the return match with Rendlesham was damp and muggy, and
so assorted well with the spirits of Fellsgarth generally.

The juniors of course were cheerful--everything came in the day's work
for them--but among the seniors on either side gloom prevailed. Even
Ranger, the lighthearted, was snappish, as his fag discovered; and
Denton, the amiable, hoped he would not, for his temper's sake, meet too
many Moderns between morning and evening. The captain, though he kept
up his usual show of serenity, was evidently worried. But he had no
notion of giving in. No! If the School was to be thrashed let them
take their thrashing like men, and not whine about like the "other
boys."

"After all," said he to Ranger, "we may n