ll be tossing to-night, most likely, before the sixth come
up to bed. So if you funk, you just come along and hide, or else they'll
catch you and toss you."

"Were you ever tossed? Does it hurt?" inquired Tom.

"Oh yes, bless you, a dozen times," said East, as he hobbled along by
Tom's side upstairs. "It don't hurt unless you fall on the floor. But
most fellows don't like it."

They stopped at the fireplace in the top passage, where were a crowd of
small boys whispering together, and evidently unwilling to go up
into the bedrooms. In a minute, however, a study door opened, and a
sixth-form boy came out, and off they all scuttled up the stairs, and
then noiselessly dispersed to their different rooms. Tom's heart beat
rather quick as he and East reached their room, but he had made up his
mind. "I shan't hide, East," said he.

"Very well, old fellow," replied East, evidently pleased; "no more shall
I. They'll be here for us directly."

The room was a great big one, with a dozen beds in it, but not a boy
that Tom could see except East and himself. East pulled off his coat and
waistcoat, and then sat on the bottom of his bed whistling and pulling
off his boots. Tom followed his example.

A noise and steps are heard in the passage, the door opens, and in rush
four or five great fifth-form boys, headed by Flashman in his glory.

Tom and East slept in the farther corner of the room, and were not seen
at first.

"Gone to ground, eh?" roared Flashman. "Push 'em out then, boys; look
under the beds." And he pulled up the little white curtain of the one
nearest him. "Who-o-op!" he roared, pulling away at the leg of a small
boy, who held on tight to the leg of the bed, and sang out lustily for
mercy.

"Here, lend a hand, one of you, and help me pull out this young howling
brute.--Hold your tongue, sir, or I'll kill you."

"Oh, please, Flashman, please, Walker, don't toss me! I'll fag for
you--I'll do anything--only don't toss me."

"You be hanged," said Flashman, lugging the wretched boy along; "'twon't
hurt you,--you!--Come along, boys; here he is."

"I say, Flashey," sang out another of the big boys; "drop that; you
heard what old Pater Brooke said to-night. I'll be hanged if we'll toss
any one against their will. No more bullying. Let him go, I say."

Flashman, with an oath and a kick, released his prey, who rushed
headlong under his bed again, for fear they should change their minds,
and crept along underneath the