o allow Mr Rollitt to inspect with the end
of a lucifer one of the loophole windows, "why, look up there--there's a
light!"

They looked. And there, struggling apparently from under a door which
closed the head of the stairs, came a streak of light.

"I say--it's ghosts," said Fisher minor. "Let's go back."

"More likely it's my Alf," said Mr Rollitt. "I know'd he was
somewheres not fur off."

He went up, followed at a more respectful distance than before by the
boys, and pushed open the door.

They heard the sound of an exclamation within, and a noise as of some
one starting to his feet. Next moment, as the light streamed down the
staircase, they heard a familiar voice say--

"Father!"

"That's me, Alf, my boy; I know'd you was somewheres 'andy."

"I say," said Wally, in an excited whisper to his followers, "we'd best
cut back, you chaps. They don't want us up there."

The delicate suggestion was appreciated by the party, who forthwith made
a precipitate retreat.

"We as good as found him, that's one thing, and nobody else was in it,"
said Percy triumphantly.

"Rather not. Keep it mum. Let's go and light the fire in his room, and
have some grub ready for him. Good old Rollitt, I'm jolly glad he's
turned up!"

"That's how he got the Abernethys," said D'Arcy. "Jolly honest to pay
for them."

"You don't suppose anybody would collar things out of the shop and not
pay for them, you lout, do you?"

Whereat, leaving the door on the latch, they marched arm in arm across
the School Green kicking every junior they met, and mystifying everybody
by whistling at the top of their voices, "See the conquering hero
comes."

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

THE FINAL KICK.

Rollitt's return to Fellsgarth was almost as mysterious as his
disappearance. He answered to his name at call-over next morning as if
he had never missed a day this term. And as Dr Ringwood and the other
masters were present, and made no remark, it was generally concluded
that the truant had turned up over-night, and had had it out with the
authorities before bedtime.

Mr Rollitt, Senior, had departed. He had looked into Wally's study
after the owner and his crew were in bed to get his bag, and had been
driven down in the doctor's fly to Penchurch.

It was also understood that most of the Classic seniors had dropped into
Rollitt's study early that morning. To some he had said, "Get out";
with others he had shaken hands. The captain ha