ed by Templeton in full cry as
far as the great gate, where they parted company, amid shouts that
brought all the town to its windows.

Once clear of the school, our heroes breathed more freely in more senses
than one. As long as Hooker kept guard of the lower step, and
Duffield's legs swayed about on the other, they were unable to do more
than quietly push back the coats and put their heads out. But both
these amateur conductors were too much occupied in hailing passers-by
and protecting their caps from the assaults of their own friends above
to bestow much attention to the inside of a coat-strewn, stuffy vehicle;
and in time our heroes found they might venture to whisper across the
floor and attempt in a quiet way to make themselves more comfortable;
"Beastly dusty," said Heathcote; "it gets in my mouth."

"Wouldn't mind that," said Dick, "if I didn't get pins-and-needles in my
arms. I've a good mind to turn over."

Here they were sent back like rabbits to their holes by the scare of a
free fight taking place on the lower step between Hooker and a town
youth, whom he had aggrieved by discharging a broadside of peas on a
tender portion of his visage.

The fight was a sharp one, for the burly town youth was a "tartar," and
had more than one grudge to settle with the Templeton boys. He managed
to get a footing on the step, and hooking one elbow securely over the
door, worked his other arm with great effect on the unfortunate Hooker.
The whole fray was so suddenly got up that those on the roof knew
nothing about it, and Duffield was so occupied with kicking at the
intruder with his one spare leg that he quite forgot to raise a war cry.

The town boy proved equal to his two antagonists. Duffield was early
rendered _hors de combat_ by his spare foot being captured and tucked
under the arm by which the enemy hung on to the door. And Hooker
himself was gradually getting ousted from his perch, and might have been
finally dropped on to the road, had not an unexpected diversion in his
favour rescued him.

This was made by no one less than Dick, who, having taken in with a
quick eye the position of affairs, saw that Templeton demanded his
services, cost him what they might. He, therefore, summoned Heathcote
to back him up, and taking an overcoat from the pile, cast it adroitly
over the head of the town boy just as he had edged Hooker on to the very
margin of the step. This, of course, settled the business. Duffield