advance-guard of the hungry tyrant appeared in their midst.

This was no other than a truck-load of trunks, portmanteaux, bags and
hat-boxes sent up from the station, the owners of which, so the alarming
rumour spread, were on the road.

It was an agitated meal our heroes partook of with the spectacle of that
truck before their eyes, and many an anxious ear was pricked for the
first sound of the approaching horde.

But the horde, being aware that nothing was expected of it till mid-day,
by no means saw the fun of surrendering its liberty at 10 o'clock, and
went down to bathe in the harbour on the way up, so that the fate which
impended was kept for two good hours in suspense.

Meanwhile, the interview with the Doctor was accomplished. It was not
very alarming. Your new boy would sooner face twenty doctors than one
hero of the middle Fifth. The head master asked a few kindly questions
of each boy, and, so to speak, took stock of him before adding his name
formally to the school list. He also added a few words of advice to the
company generally, and enlightened them as to a few of the chief school
rules. The others, he said, they would learn soon enough.

Whereat they all said, "Thank you, sir," and retired.

Dick and Heathcote, with young Aspinall in tow, walked back to
Westover's house together, and were nearly half-way there, when Aspinall
suddenly clutched Dick's arm and whispered--

"There's one!"

They all stood still and gazed as if it was a spectre, not a human
being, they expected.

What they really did see was a rather nice-looking boy of sixteen or
seventeen lounging in at the great gateway, looking about him with a
familiar air, and apparently bending his steps straight for Westover's.

It was an awkward situation for our three new boys. Every step brought
them nearer under the observation of the "Assyrian," and at every step
they felt more awkward and abashed.

Dick did his best to put on a little swagger. He stuck one hand in his
pocket, and twitched his hat a trifle on one side. Heathcote, too,
instinctively let slip his jacket button so as to betray his watch-
chain, and laughed rather loudly at something which nobody said. Poor
young Aspinall attempted no such demonstration, but slipped under the
lee of his protectors, and wondered what would become of him.

The old boy and the new foregathered just at the door of Westover's, and
it was not till they actually stood face to face that