u don't suppose we're going to cave in to Clapperton, do
you?"

"But we shan't want enough for two days, shall we?"

"Shan't we, that's all! To-morrow's exeat day, and no school. Next
day's Sunday, and next day exeat doesn't end till twelve. We may have
to stick out three days."

"Whew! we _shall_ want a lot of grub," said Cash.

"You young pig; that's all you think about. You'll have to go on jolly
short rations, I can promise you. Do you know what we're going to do?"

No one had an idea what they were going to do.

"Do you know those four Classic kids," said Percy, "my younger brother
and his lot? They've not been quite such cads lately as they used to
be, have they?"

"They've been a bit more civil," said Cottle. "I suppose that's because
of the shop."

"What about them?" asked Ramshaw.

"Why, I fancy if we asked them, they might come over and back us up. Of
course they'd have to bring their own grub; and we'd kick them out if
they weren't civil. What do you say?"

"Rather a lark," said Lickford.

"All serene. I'll go and see about it. Keep it dark, whatever you do,
and mind you scrape up all the grub that's owing us. There's no time to
lose, I say; Clapperton expects us in half an hour. Wire in!"

By the end of half an hour the larder had been fairly well replenished.
Lickford and Cash had gone round on a general raid; recovering by force,
where persuasion failed, their outstanding loans, and in other cases
borrowing additional supplies in the same genial manner. Among other
booty, they secured a tin of pressed beef from Spanker, who had to be
clouted on the head before he would "lend it," and some sardines from
another boy, who was thankful to find any one to take them off his hands
at any price.

Cottle and Ramshaw, acting on sealed orders from their leader, had been
round borrowing a screw-driver and screws, a few yards of rope, and
other material of war, among which was a squirt belonging to Reynolds,
who had been pleased to "swap" it for a couple of Greek stamps which
Cottle had to dispose of.

Many were the fears lest not only should Percy fail to secure the
services of the Classic juniors, but should himself be too late to take
part in the siege. However, much to their relief, this was not so; as
presently he came over arm in arm with Wally (who carried a parcel under
his arm), followed at a respectful distance by D'Arcy, Ashby, and Fisher
minor, the bulkiness of whose pockets