help us to keep order, we can consider him captain whether he's
called so or not. If once the fellows know they'll get reported to him,
we shall have some sort of authority."

"Of course," said Bloomfield, who had not yet spoken, "I'll do my best
to keep order and all that; but as I'm not captain, it's no use to
pretend being it."

"Oh, we'll see about that," said Ashley. "If you choose to work for the
school after what has happened, all I can say is you deserve to be
backed up, and I'll back you up for one."

"So will I," said Wibberly.

Bloomfield could not resist flattery. As soon as it was represented to
him that the hope of Willoughby centred in him, and that he was acting a
beautiful and Christian part in still taking an interest in its welfare
after the way he had been treated, he felt as if he really ought to meet
his admirers half-way.

"Already a lot of the kids consider you as captain," said Game. "Didn't
you hear a boatful of them cheering you yesterday?"

"Yes," said Bloomfield, "I heard that."

"Very well, they're much more likely to keep order for you than for that
other fellow. We'll try it anyhow."

"I know a lot of the schoolhouse monitors think just the same as we do,"
said Tipper, "but they're so precious jealous for their house. They'd
sooner stick to Riddell than allow a Parrett's fellow to be cock of the
school."

"A Parrett's fellow is cock of the school all the same," said Wibberly.
"I wish the regatta was over. That will put things right."

"Yes; when once Parrett's boat is at the head of the river the
schoolhouse won't have much to crow for," said Ashley.

"For all that," replied Bloomfield, "they seem to be grinding a bit with
the crew they have got."

"Let them grind," said Game, laughing. "I'd as soon back Welch's boat
as theirs. Fairbairn's the only man that does any work, and he's no
form at all. Why don't they put the new captain in the boat, I wonder?"

The bare idea was sufficient to set the company laughing, in the midst
of which the assembly-dispersed.

"By the way," said Game to Ashley, as they went into the "Big," "to-
night is the opening meeting of the School Parliament. I mean to
propose Bloomfield for president; will you second it?"

"Rather," said Ashley.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

THE NEW CAPTAIN ENTERS ON HIS DUTIES.

The morning that witnessed the collapse of the famous Monitors' Petition
had not been idly spent by the new captain. He had made t