er than it can Tempest. It
strikes me you'd better fetch down one or two of your lot to corroborate
you. It sounds too neat a story as it is."

Whereupon I sought out Langrish and Trimble, and had the satisfaction of
making their hair stand on end for once. At first they flatly refused
to come, and reminded me that, as President of the Conversation Club,
the entire responsibility for the guy rested on me.

"All serene," said I, "only come and let them know how Jarman brought it
all on. The more we go for him, the better for our man."

They failed to see the force of my logic, but curiosity and love of
adventure induced them to venture into the lion's den. On our way,
moreover, we captured Dicky Brown, who, to do him credit, was only too
eager to come with us and stand by his old Dux.

Contrary to our expectations, when we arrived, instead of finding a
crowded court, we were ushered into the magistrate's parlour, where, to
judge by appearances, a comfortable little party was going on.

The captain, a cheery old boy, familiar to all Low Heathens for his
presence on speech day, sat at a table with his clerk beside him. The
doctor and Mr Jarman were also sitting down, and Tempest was standing
restlessly near the window. The lodge-keeper's son, with his head bound
up (for he was the victim of the explosion, and I suppose, the
prosecutor), was standing beside the policeman, cap in hand, on the mat.

At the sight of the three juniors the doctor frowned a little, and Mr
Jarman scowled.

"What are these boys doing here?" said the former.

"Please, sir, we thought you wanted to hear how it went off," said
Langrish.

"So we do," said the magistrate; "sit down, my lads. Well hear what you
have to say in time."

"Please, sir," said Tempest, "may I speak to Pridgin?"

"Certainly, my lad," said the captain again.

So the two friends hastily conferred together in the window, while we
stared round with an awestruck, and apparently disconcerting, gaze at
the gentlemen on the doormat, who severally represented the majesty of
the law and injured innocence.

"Now, then," said the magistrate presently, "let us hear what this is
all about. One of your boys, doctor, I see, is charged with attempting
to blow up part of the school gymnasium last night, and injuring this
poor fellow here. Who makes the charge, by the way? Do you?"

"No," said the doctor, "I understand Mr Jarman does."

"Which is Mr Jarman?" said the c