rodigiously.

Paul, though highly indignant, allowed himself to be led along without
resistance. It was safest to humour them, for after all it would not
last long, and when they were tired of baiting him he could watch his
time and slip quietly away.

When they reached the goal-posts Siggers arranged them in a circle,
placing himself, the hapless Paul, and his accusers in the centre. "You
chaps had better all be jurymen," he said. "I'll be judge, and unless he
makes a clean breast of it," he added with judicial impartiality, "the
court will jolly well punch his ugly young head off."

Siggers' father was an Old Bailey barrister in good and rather sharp
practice, so that it was clearly the son's mission to preside on this
occasion. But unfortunately his hour of office was doomed to be a brief
one, for Mr. Blinkhorn, becoming aware that the game was being still
more scantily supported, and noticing the crowd at the goal, came up to
know the reason of it at a long camel-like trot, his hat on the back of
his head, his mild face flushed with exertion, and his pebble glasses
gleaming in the winter sunshine.

"What are you all doing here? Why don't you join the game? I've come
here to play football with you, and how can I do it if you all slink off
and leave me to play by myself?" he asked with pathos.

"Please, sir," said Siggers, alarmed at the threatened loss of his
dignity, "it's a trial, and I'm judge."

"Yes, sir," the whole ring shouted together. "We're trying Bultitude,
sir."

On the whole, perhaps, Mr. Bultitude was glad of this interference. At
least justice would be done now, although this usher had blundered so
unpardonably that morning.

"This is childish, you know," said Mr. Blinkhorn, "and it's not
football. The Doctor will be seriously angry if he comes and sees you
trifling here. Let the boy go."

"But he's cheated some of the fellows, sir," grumbled Tipping and
Siggers together.

"Well, _you_'ve no right to punish him if he has. Leave him to me."

"Will you see fair play between them, sir? He oughtn't to be let off
without being made to keep his word."

"If there is any dispute between you and Bultitude," said Mr. Blinkhorn,
"I have no objection to settle it--provided it is within my province."

"Settle it without me," said Paul hurriedly. "I've leave to go home. I'm
ill."

"Who gave you leave to go home?" asked the master.

"That young man over there on the rails," said Paul.

"I am the