nd
celebrated by general orgies on the spot.

"I sha'n't do my lines, shall you?" said Dicky, as we trotted down to
the boats.

"Rather not. And I don't think our chaps will turn up for extra drill."

"Just like old Tempest," said Brown. "He enjoys a row of this kind."

"He didn't look as if he did," remarked I. "Perhaps that was because
such a lot of day chaps are mixed up in it."

Brown looked a little glum at this.

"He needn't bother about us unless he likes," said he. "We can take
care of ourselves, I fancy."

Luckily at this stage we reached the boats, and further discussion was
interrupted.

The voyage home was comparatively uneventful. It was of course
enlivened by a desultory race with the Urbans all the way, in which, I
regret to say, Mr Jorrocks's boats received a few scratches, owing to
the desire of each boat to take the water of its opponent before it was
clear ahead. The town-boys unrighteously claimed in the end to have won
by a quarter of a length, but as in passing our leader they had pulled
away one of our bow oars and further turned the nose of the _Sarah_ into
the bank, we stoutly resisted their claim, and a very lively argument
ensued, in which Mr Jorrocks lost a good deal of varnish, and most of
the combatants became rather wet. However, we were back in school
within half an hour of embarking, which on the whole was not a bad
record.

Curiosity to know what Tempest would do prevented us from so much as
thinking of our "lines." I took an early opportunity of presenting
myself in Pridgin's study, feeling sure I should be likely to hear
something of the matter there.

As it happened, Tempest and Wales were there too, in deep confabulation.

"Look here, old chap," Pridgin was saying, "don't spoil your term for a
parcel of yelping young puppies like this kid here and his lot. They're
not worth it."

"For all that," said Wales, "it's a question of whether the cock of a
house is to be allowed his rights or not."

"It's more a question whether Jarman is to be allowed his rights," said
Tempest. "I quite agree that these young muffs are a nuisance, and it's
all the more aggravating to be dragged into a mess by them. But he'd no
right to interfere."

"Strictly speaking, I suppose he was right," said Pridgin. "There is a
rule about juniors being in by 6:30; although every one knows half an
hour's grace is given on half-holidays. And I suppose he's right about
the fireworks."