nxiously for the attack.

Percy was specially anxious, for he had enlisted his four recruits on
the distinct understanding there would be a row, and all the blame would
fall on his head if by any ill-luck the evening passed off quietly.

Already the Classic juniors were beginning to get impatient, and hinting
that they saw no fun in the proceeding so far, when Fisher minor
scrambled down from his perch and cried:

"Sh!--here comes somebody."

"About time," said Wally, taking possession of the squirt.

As he spoke, the footsteps halted at the door, and the handle turned.

"Lie low, you chaps," whispered Percy. "Don't let them know you're here
to begin with. Hullo! who's that?"

"Let me in!" cried Gamble, outside.

"Can't; we're busy," replied Lickford.

"We've got a committee meeting, and you'd better cut," cried Percy.

"Do you hear?" replied the ambassador; "let me in."

"There's plenty of room in your own study, ain't there? Why don't you
go there? We don't want you here."

"Cut your sticks, and learn your rotten Modern lessons," shouted Wally,
who began to be tired of being a listener.

Luckily, Cottle knocked over one of the chairs at this juncture, which
served to conceal the voice of the speaker from the ears outside.

"All right," said Gamble; "you'll catch it. Clapperton sent me to tell
you if you don't come to his room directly, he'll come and fetch you
himself. There!"

"Good evening," cried Ramshaw. "Our love to them all at home."

D'Arcy, meanwhile, had mounted the bed, and by means of a pea-shooter
materially assisted in the departure of the discomfited envoy.

"Now we're getting livery," said Wally, proceeding to load his squirt
out of the jug. "Better light the candle, one of you, and have some
light on the subject."

A terrible discovery ensued. Neither candle nor matches could be found!
In a quarter of an hour daylight would depart, and after that--well,
the prospect was not brilliant, at any rate. However, there was no time
to do anything but recriminate, which the company industriously did
until the sentinel again gave the signal to stand by.

"Look here," said Percy, "we'd better keep him jawing as long as he'll
stand it, and not let fly till he begins to get violent--eh?"

"All serene," said Wally; "that won't be long."

"No; and he'll bring the whole kit of prefects with him. What a high
old time there'll be!" chuckled D'Arcy.

"There's one lucky thing," said Ca