ing out with a rod early in the day, but no one had seen
any of the juniors since last night, when they had prematurely gone to
bed in their own dormitory. A consultation was held, in which all sorts
of conjectures were put forward, the most plausible of which was that
the juniors had organised an expedition to Seastrand, a fashionable
watering-place an hour distant on the railway, which both Wally and
Lickford had separately been heard to express a desire to visit. It
seemed probable that they had lost the last train back, and would
literally "not come home till morning."

In which case warm things were promised to be ready for my gentlemen.

As to Rollitt, his vagaries were consistent with any explanation. He
may have gone to Penchurch in mistake for Fellsgarth, and curled himself
up in the church porch, mistaking it for his bed.

In any case the general impression was that nothing could be done till
morning, and that the juniors at least were making themselves pretty
comfortable, wherever they might be.

Still, Fisher major felt a vague uneasiness. Had he been quite sure his
brother was in the capable company of his fellow-fags, he would have
been comparatively comfortable. But the possibility of the feckless
youngster wandering about benighted somewhere on his own account added a
new weight to the burden which already lay on the spirit of the luckless
treasurer of the School clubs.

"I've a good mind to turn out and look for my minor," said he to Denton.

"What could you do? He's all right. You couldn't do anything in the
dark, and on a night like this. I'm game to turn out any hour you like
in the morning, if he's not come by then. I bet you the four young
scamps will all stroll in for call-over, and wonder whatever the fuss
was about."

There was nothing to be done, and Fisher lay awake all night, listening
to every sound, and reproaching himself over and over again (as one will
do when everything goes wrong) that he had made such a mess of
everything this term.

About daybreak there came a ring at the school-bell, and half the school
jumped to its feet. Fisher was down on the Green among the first, in
slippers and ulster.

Five shivering youngsters were standing inside the gate, with dripping
garments and chattering teeth and white faces--D'Arcy, Lickford,
Ramshaw, Cottle, and Cash--but no Fisher minor.

"Where's my minor?" asked the senior.

"What! hasn't he turned up?" said D'Arcy. "Have