h, excellent," exclaimed Bouldon, rubbing his hands; "I wish that he'd
just begin trying it on. Won't I aggravate him by what I say and do;
I'll tell him my mind more than he ever before heard it in his life."

"No, no, don't enrage him; that's not right," observed Bracebridge; but
Tom, as he went off, shook his head as if he intended to follow his own
ideas on the subject.

While Bouldon, followed at a distance by Eden, strolled about the
playground and fields as usual, hoping that Blackall would meet him,
Ernest went round to a number of boys who had combined with him to
resist any aggression which the big fellows might make upon their
rights, and told them to keep together, some in the gymnastic court, and
the rest in the fencing-room. Meantime he and Buttar, and a few others
on whose judgment he most relied, met together and consulted as to the
best course to pursue under the present emergency.

"I've an idea," said Buttar; "let us get some ropes and bind our tyrant.
He dare not interfere with me now, but I am determined that he shall
not treat others as he treated me."

Some ropes were easily found which had been used to lash up their
play-boxes. Ernest and Buttar were to be the leaders. Ernest went to
the fencing-room to take command of the boys there; Buttar to the
gymnastic court. They did not remain there idle. One company began
twisting and turning and leaping on the poles, while Ernest got his
followers to practise with their basket-sticks and single-sticks. Then
he proposed a drill, and they all fell in and went through their
exercises with as much precision as if Sergeant Dibble himself had been
present. They marched and wheeled, and formed in close order and
extended order, and various other simple manoeuvres, in very good style.
While they were thus engaged, Eden rushed into the room, exclaiming,
"Blackall has caught Bouldon, and is half-killing him; he says that he
will teach him to disobey his orders. Haste--haste, or I really believe
he will do him an injury. I never saw a fellow in such a rage."

No one needed a second summons. Bracebridge put himself at the head of
his companions, who kept their ranks, and, marching out in good order,
they met the party in the gymnastic court, whom Eden had likewise
summoned.

"Double quick march," cried Bracebridge; and the two bands rushed on
towards the extreme end of the grounds, where Eden told them the bully
had encountered poor Tom. The spot