l politics at Templeton, when Dick and
Heathcote obeyed the summons to attend their first Elections, on the
first Saturday of the new term.

They found the Great Hall crowded with benches, rather like chapel, with
a raised dais at the upper end for the Sixth, a long table in front for
the 'reporters,' and the rest of the space divided into clusters of
seats, occupied by members of the various school organisations
represented. Of these clusters, by far the largest was that devoted to
the accommodation of the Den, towards which our heroes, actively piloted
by Raggles and Gosse, and a few kindred spirits, were conducted in
state, just as the proceedings were about to begin.

"Come and squash up in the corner," said Raggles; "we're well behind,
and shan't be seen if we want to shine."

"Shine," as our heroes discovered in due time, was a poetical way of
expressing what in commonplace language would be called, "kicking up a
shine."

"Shall you cheer Ponty?" asked Gosse of his friend.

"Rather. He's a muff. I shall howl at Mansfield, though, and
Cresswell."

"I shan't howl at Cresswell," said Dick boldly.

"Why not? He's a beast. You'll get kicked, if you don't, I say."

"I suppose they'll make him Whipper-in again," said another boy near
them. Dick looked uncomfortable for a moment. But the indifferent
looks on his neighbours' faces convinced him the story had not yet
reached the Den.

"Cazenove thinks _he_ ought to get it," said Gosse, amid a general
laugh, for Cazenove was almost as round as he was high. "Shall I put
you up, old man? Hullo, here they come! There's Ponty. Clap up, you
fellows."

A big cheer greeted Pontifex, the captain of the school, as he strolled
on to the dais, and took the chair of state.

The new boys eyed him curiously. He was a burly, good-humoured, easy-
going fellow, with an "anything for a quiet life" look about him, as he
stretched himself comfortably in his seat, and looked placidly round the
hall. The cheering had very little effect on his composure. Indeed, he
may not have taken in that it was intended for him at all; for he took
no notice of it, and appeared to be quite as much amused at the noise as
any one else.

A great contrast to Pontifex was Mansfield, the vice-captain, who, with
quick eye, and cool, determined mouth, sat next, and eyed the scene like
a general who parades his forces and waits to give them the word of
command. Like Pontifex, he seemed but