e doing who came up
on my left. They would have been entirely wiped out. I considered it
somewhat foolish."

A contemptuous titter broke from the School House platoon, in which
amusement and annoyance were equally mixed.

"What is the good of trying at all?" said Gordon at tea that night.
"There were we, sweating over ploughed fields, banging through fences,
racing up beastly paths, and then that mouthing prelate says 'rather
silly'! What's the use of trying?"

"There is none," said Betteridge. "I am going to conduct this platoon in
future on different lines. 'Evil be thou my good,' as the lad Milton
said. We will be unorthodox, original and rebellious."

A few days later, Gordon and Rudd saw displayed in a boot-shop window a
wondrous collection of coloured silk shoe-laces.

"Does anyone really wear those things?" said Gordon.

"I suppose so, or they wouldn't show them."

"They are certainly amazing."

They stood looking at them as one would at a heathen god. Then suddenly
Gordon clutched Rudd's sleeve.

"A notion! My word, a notion! Let's buy some pairs and wear them at
platoon drill to-morrow."

Gordon was about to burst in to the shop when Rudd detained him.

"Steady, man, this is a great idea. Let's buy enough for the whole
platoon. It will be a gorgeous sight! Let's fetch Betteridge."

Flinging prefectorial dignity to the winds, they rushed down to the
studies.

"Betteridge, you've got to let us draw upon the House funds for a good
cause."

They poured out the idea. Betteridge was enthusiastic. For six shillings
they bought forty pairs of coloured laces.

At twelve-thirty next morning a huge crowd lined up under the lindens to
watch the School House parade. Rumour had flown round.

It was a noble spectacle. Each section wore a different coloured
shoe-lace. Gordon's wore pale blue, Rudd's pink, Foster's green, and
Collin's orange. Everyone was shaking with laughter. Betteridge formed
the platoon up in line facing the School House dormitories; sooner or
later Rogers would pass by on his way from the common room. At last he
was sighted turning the corner of the Chief's drive. Half the school had
assembled by the gates.

"Private Morgan," shouted Betteridge, "fall out and do up your
shoe-lace.

"Remainder--present ARMS!"

Rogers was far too self-satisfied and certain of his own importance to
see that the demonstration was meant for him. But the school saw it, and
so did certain members of the