sh. "Forder and his dame have gone
out for the evening; so we shan't hurt _their_ feelings."

"Look out--it's Clapperton," whispered the sentinel.

Clapperton tried the door, and on finding it fast, gave it a kick.

"Hello! who's there?"

"Open the door; let me in!"

"Who is it? that young cad Gamble again?" cried Percy, with a wink; the
company generally.

"No. Do you hear? Let me in!"

"Say what your name is. How do we know you aren't a Classic cad? Oh!
ow!"

This last interjection was in answer to a fraternal kick from behind.

"You know who I am," replied Clapperton. "Let me in!"

"Very sorry, Corder, we can't let you in. Clapperton says we're to cut
you, because you played a jolly sight too well last week."

"It's not Corder, it's me--Clapperton."

"Go on! no larks, whoever you are. Clapperton's got something better to
do than go to tea-parties in fags' rooms. Go and tell that to the
Clap-- Oh! ow! I mean, try it on next door!"

"I tell you what," said Clapperton, whose temper, none of the best, was
rapidly evaporating, "if you young cads don't open the door instantly,
I'll break it open."

"If you do, we'll tell Clapperton. He'll welt you for it. _He_ won't
let you spoil our new paint, not if he knows it. Good old Clappy?"

A thundering kick was the only reply, which shook the plaster of the
walls, and nearly sent Fisher minor headlong with terror off his perch.

This was getting serious. But in Percy's judgment the time was not even
yet ripe for extreme measures. The assailant might be given a little
rope yet.

He took it, and worked himself into a childish passion against the
refractory door, encouraged by the friendly gibes of the besieged. "Go
it!"

"Two to one on his boots!"

"Keep your temper!"

"Come in!" "Stick to it!" "One more and you'll do it!" and so on.

It was hardly likely that the spectacle of the captain of the house in a
towering rage, toying to kick his way into a fag's room, would long be
allowed to continue unheeded by the rest of the inhabitants of Forder's,
and in a very short time new voices without apprised the beleaguered
garrison that the enemy was sitting down in force.

Brinkman's voice could be heard demanding admission, and presently
Dangle's; while a _posse_ of mercenary middle-boys relieved Clapperton
of the kicking. The stout old door held out bravely and defied all
their efforts.

Presently a pause was made, and Dangle's voice outs