Crofter; and as Tempest was apparently content to be
second, Pridgin had come to the painful conclusion that the only
comfortable place for him in Sharpe's was Number One. It was extremely
inconvenient all round; for it made it necessary for Crofter to bestir
himself, while of course it seemed to threaten Tempest's chance of
recovering his place.

A few of the shrewdest held that Pridgin was merely forcing the pace in
order to punish Crofter for his usurpation. It may have been so; but,
whatever the motive, it quite upset the normal flow of things at
Sharpe's.

Another change was a marked reaction of public opinion in favour of
Tempest and against Crofter. This was probably due, in the first place,
to Tempest's exploit in rescuing me from the fire; and secondly, to
Crofter's caution in declining to enter for the Mile race at the coming
Sports. A few weeks had dispelled the little glamour which the latter
had derived from his apparently public-spirited conduct last term, and
the attitude of the Philosophers had effectually deprived him of any
opportunity of exercising his authority, and left him to the enjoyment
of an altogether barren honour.

One other change was that Tempest's necessity to live very economically
in order to repay his grandfather for advances made, had produced a
coolness between him and Wales, who had now retired from the
triumvirate, and attached himself to the cause of Crofter.

Lastly, Mr Jarman had suffered a shock, and taken on badly about his
accidental part in the recent fire. It had knocked all the vice out of
him, for the time being at any rate, and left him quite meek and limp.

Just now, however, the only topic about which any one cared was, as I
speedily discovered, the Sports.

Unusual keenness was being displayed everywhere. The seniors were
deeply concerned in the issue of the Mile. Would Redwood, who had
hitherto held his own easily, save his laurels this time? Would
Tempest, with his damaged hand, be able to run his hardest? Would any
dark horse, at the last moment, enter to divide the interest? And so
on.

Among the middle boys considerable excitement was afoot, especially in
Selkirk's house, where it was reported a boy of fifteen and a half was
going to beat the senior record in the Jump, and perhaps run the public
school record very close.

But the chief excitement was among us juniors. We had modestly set
before ourselves the task of winning every event under