oud and prolonged whistle. Twice
he repeated it, and after a minute's silence shouted "Rags! Rags! where
are you?"

In the distance a series of short barks answered, and very soon a
fox-terrier dog came racing across the grass.

"Ah, he's waiting all right for his master!" exclaimed Phil, with a
short grunt of satisfaction. "Good dog!--the best in the whole of
Riddington. Now, you fellows," he went on, after having greeted his
canine friend with a pat, "what's the order for to-day? We're all
agreed to give that old concern an airing. The last time the good
people of this town had a chance of looking at it was in the year of the
queen's coronation; and that was thirteen years ago. It's getting
musty, and must certainly have an airing."

"That's exactly what we think, Phil," chimed in one of the other lads, a
merry-looking youngster of fifteen. "Riddington started a state barge a
hundred years ago, to take the mayor and councillors across the river to
the church on great occasions. On other days they rowed over in
ordinary boats or went by the bridge--when it wasn't washed away by the
floods. Then a new stone bridge was built, and for a few years they
kept up the old custom. But for a long while now it has fallen
through--sunk into oblivion, as `old Tommy' would say. It is clearly
our duty to revive this extremely interesting--I may say this unique--
old custom."

"Bah! Stop it!" exclaimed Phil, with a laugh, snatching his comrade's
hat from his head and throwing it at his face. "Tell me what
arrangements you have made."

"Simple. Simple as daylight, Phil. We saunter down to the river-side,
and as soon as Peter looks the other way we enter the boat-house.
Here's the key. It hangs over the pater's mantel-piece, where it has
been for the last two years. He's keeper of the state barge and the
bargemen's costumes."

"Splendid, Tommy! Splendid! We'll be off at once. Come on, you
fellows. Here, Rags!"

Phil hurried off with his companions in mischief towards an old and
somewhat dilapidated boat-house. The lad who had been addressed as
Tommy slipped up to the door, and a few moments later all three entered
and closed it behind them.

A match was produced and a small piece of candle lighted.

"This way, you fellows," cried Tommy, leading the way along a narrow
shelf to the back of the house. Here there was a small room with a
worm-eaten table and chairs and a heavy oak chest.

"It's no use do