e melodious juniors had their reward.
Before the last line was reached the door of the new captain's study
opened, and Riddell appeared in the passage. His first appearance in
his new capacity was naturally a matter of curiosity on every hand; and
as he approached the scene of the noise he became aware that almost
every occupant of the passage was standing at his door, watching
curiously for what was to happen.

He certainly did not look, as he walked nervously down the corridor, the
sort of fellow to quell a riot; and any one might have prophesied that
he was not likely to come off any better now than he did when he once
went on a similar errand to the stronghold of the Limpets.

And yet the weeks that had elapsed since then had not been thrown away
on Riddell. Would the reader like to hear what his thoughts were as he
neared the scene of his trial?

"What had I better do? If I get in a rage I shall only make a fool of
myself; if I report them to the doctor I shall be shirking my own work;
if I remonstrate mildly and do no more, my chances in Welch's are done
for, and these fellows who are on the lookout for my failure will get
their crow. I _must_ get on the right side of these youngsters if I
can, so here goes!"

With this reflection he reached the door just as the third verse of
"Bouncer" commenced, the performers having carefully turned their backs
so as to appear wholly unconscious of a visitor. Verse three referred
altogether to the intellectual attainments of the wonderful Bouncer.

"Bouncer was the cock of the school, sir,
Bouncer! Bouncer! Bouncer!
And Socrates to him was a fool, sir,
Bouncer! Bouncer! Bouncer!
He could cross the `asses' bridge in the dark,
And `Hic Haec Hoc' he thought a lark.
And swallowed irregular verbs like a shark,
Bouncer! Bouncer! Bouncer!"

Before this spirit-stirring recital had reached its climax one or two of
the performers had found it impossible to resist a look round to see how
the captain took it. So that the "surprise" at finding him standing
there at its conclusion fell rather flat.

Much to the disappointment of the spectators outside, moreover, Riddell
shut the door behind him. The juniors eyed him curiously. Contrary to
their expectation, he neither looked frightened nor confused, but his
face was as cheery as his voice as he said, "You see, I couldn't resist
your beautiful music."

Was he in jest or earnest? Did he really mean he