n't go alone," called Dig; "he's too stiff. Won't it bear both of
us?"

The unanimous opinion below was that it would not. Even Dig's weight as
he went up had been as much as they could manage.

Finally Railsford suggested that a rope should be thrown up, which Dig
could tie round Arthur's body, and so support him from above as he came
down.

The plan was a good one, and Arthur contrived by its help to lower
himself down the steps into the arms of his rescuers.

Dig was not long in following; and five minutes later the party was
standing, safe and sound and thankful, on the greensward of the abbey
floor. The farmer insisted on taking them all to his house, and
comforting their souls and bodies with a hot breakfast in front of a
blazing fire. After which he ordered out his trap and drove them
himself up to Grandcourt.

The first getting-up bell was ringing as they drove into the quadrangle,
and at the sound of the wheels half a dozen anxious watchers darted out
to welcome their return. Still more shouted down greetings from the
dormitory window, and Arthur and Dig, had they been in the mood for
lionising, might have had their heads turned by the excitement which
their reappearance seemed to produce. But they were neither of them in
a mood for anything but going to bed. For, after the excitement of the
night and morning, a reaction had set in, and their heads ached and
their bodies were done out. They even resisted Railsford's
recommendation of a hot bath, and took possession of the dormitory and
curled themselves up to sleep, leaving Fate or anyone else to explain
their absence for the next few hours to the authorities below.

As for Railsford, after seeing his young charges stowed away in their
berths, he shook himself together, took his cold bath, and walked over
to breakfast with Grover, none the worse for the fatigues and exposure
of that eventful night.

"Have you seen the doctor yet?" inquired Grover, when the meal was over.
"I suppose not. He was asking for you particularly last night."

"What for, do you know?"

"I don't. I was wondering if you did, for I imagine from his manner it
is something important."

"Oh, I know; I had to report one of my prefects yesterday for gambling.
No doubt it is in connection with that."

"Perhaps. You know it seems a great pity you and Bickers hit it so
badly. Bickers seems to have a preposterous notion in his head that you
are in some way responsible for