ched another note, which contained the
words: "Very well. I'll smash you."

Later on a third epistle was handed over: "Don't tell any one, or
there'll be too much of a crowd."

It was not until the interval that the two other members of the Triple
Alliance were informed of the coming conflict.

"You don't really mean you're going to fight him?" said Mugford.

"Of course I am."

"You'll get licked!" added Diggory, with a sigh.

"I don't care if I am. If I land him one or two, he won't be in a hurry
to lick me again. Don't you remember what you said ages ago at The
Birches, Diggy, when you went down that slide on skates? Well, it's the
same thing with me now. I'm going to show him, once and for all, that
he's not going to ride rough-shod over me for nothing."

During the last hour of school, which happened to be devoted to algebra,
the only member of the Triple Alliance who seemed able to work was Jack
Vance. Diggory made a hash of nearly every sum, while Mugford simply
collapsed, and could not even remember that like signs made _plus_, and
unlike _minus_.

"I say, Diggy," whispered the latter, "don't you think Grundy'll lick
him?"

"I don't know," returned the other, with a desperate attempt to be
cheerful; "you never know what may happen. He may--"

"Trevanock, stop talking," interrupted Mr. Greyling. "If I have to
speak to you again for inattention, you'll stay in and work out these
examples after twelve."

At length the faint jangle of the bell announced the fact that the
eventful hour had arrived: the Lower Fourth passed on into the big
schoolroom, and were dismissed with the other classes.

Jack betrayed not the least sign of excitement, and insisted on going
down into the grub-room to feed two white mice before setting out for
the "front." His two friends, however, weighed down with anxiety, and
with dismal forebodings as to the result of the coming conflict, were
obliged to seek support by informing "Rats" of what was about to take
place, and begging him to give them the benefit of his cheering company.

Young "Rats," who was always ready to take part in anything from a
garden party to a game of marbles, immediately accepted the invitation.

"Jolly glad you told me," he cried; "wouldn't have missed seeing it for
anything. Jack Vance and Grundy--whew-w-w!"

The long whistle with which he concluded the sentence had certainly an
ominous sound, but the appearance of their principal was the