n't Wally and Percy and
Ashby turned up? We got lost on Hawk's Pike. I'm awfully hungry, I
say."

"No one's turned up. Do you mean to say he's out on the hill a night
like this?"

"He was behind--he and Ashby. He was a lame duck, you know. The others
were in front."

"Were they together?"

"Who? Young Fisher minor and Ashby? I don't think so."

"Ashby yelled to see if we knew where he was, and must have gone to look
for him. We made sure they'd be back long ago, didn't we, you chaps?"

Here the doctor and several of the prefects came on the scene. The
truants were ordered to the hot bath and bed at once, and a council was
held as to what should be done. Fisher major did not wait to take part
in it. He rushed to his room, flung on his clothes and boots, and
started off, accompanied by Denton, at full speed, in the direction of
the mountain.

Neither spoke a word. As they passed Widow Wisdom's, Denton darted in.

"Have your fire alight and some food ready. Some of our youngsters have
been all night on the mountain. We're going to look for them."

Half-way to the lake, they were pulled up by a shout from across the
stream. It was Percy Wheatfield, dead beat, sitting on a log, as white
and miserable as a ghost.

"I say, have you chaps seen Wally?" he called.

"No; we're off to look. Some of them have turned up. Can you get as
far as Widow Wisdom's? There's a roaring fire and some grub waiting
there. We'll see after Wally."

Percy staggered to his feet. He had been wandering, he could not say
where, all night. The very mention of the words "fire" and "food"
revived him.

"Get up to school as soon as you can and get to bed. You can't be any
use looking for the rest. There's plenty of us to do that. Good-bye."

It was half-past seven when they reached the lake and turned up the
mountain path. The mist had vanished, and the late autumn sun was
shining brightly on the hill-side. The distant barking of a dog above
apprised them that some one was abroad already, and the hopes of the
searchers rose within them as they struck up the steep slope.

Half-way up they stood and shouted; but no reply came except the far-
away barking of the shepherd's dogs. "We shall be able to see a good
way all round when we get on to the ridge," said Denton.

Almost as he spoke, a shout close by startled them. Looking up they
perceived emerging from behind some boulders a little procession.

Fisher majo