d Bindle, "so's Reggie. No
one would know yer was gents, yer behave so nicely." Bindle grinned
broadly as he raised his glass. "Well, 'ere's to us, mates," he cried.

With a roar the company once more sprang to its feet and, assisted by
bells, rattles, whistles, a tray, a phonograph which played "You Made
Me Love You," combs and mouth-organs, sang in various keys, "For He's a
Jolly Good Fellow."

Bindle was at that moment the most popular man in Oxford. He was one
of the greatest successes that Bungem's had ever known. He was hoisted
on brawny shoulders and borne in triumph round the room. In his hand
he held a finger-bowl full of champagne, the contents of which slopped
over the heads and persons of his bearers at every step.

"If only 'Earty could see me now," he murmured happily. "These chaps
'ud make a man of 'Earty 'fore 'e knew it. Leggo my leg!" he yelled
suddenly, as one enthusiast seized his right leg and strove to divert
the procession from its course. "You funny 'Uggins, you! Think I'm
made o' rubber? Leggo!"

Too excited for mere words to penetrate to his brain, the youth
continued to pull, and Bindle poured the rest of the champagne over his
upturned face. With a yelp the youth released Bindle's leg.

In the excitement that followed Bindle's speech Graves saw his
opportunity. Guggers' eye was momentarily off him and he slipped
towards the door unnoticed. He had almost reached safety when Bindle,
who was the first to observe the manoeuvre, uttered a yell.

"Stop 'im! stop 'im! 'Ere, let me down," he shouted, and by pounding
on the head of one of his bearers with the finger-bowl and with a kick
that found the stomach of another, he disengaged himself.

Bindle's cry had attracted general attention to Graves, but too late to
stop him. With a bound he reached the door and tore down the stairs.

"After him, you chaps," cried Guggers, and with yells and cries ranging
from "Tally-ho!" to the "Bushmen's war-cry" the whole company streamed
out of Bungem's and tore down "the High" in hot pursuit.

That night those who were late out beheld the strange sight of a
white-faced man in evening-dress running apparently for his life,
pursued by a pack of some two hundred other men similarly garbed and
uttering the most horrible shouts and threats. Windows were thrown up
and heads thrust out, and all wondered what could be the meaning of
what the oldest, and consequently longest-suffering, townsman
s