how he managed it?"

"By hiding down a well."

"Right! But there was a boy who helped him to this queer hiding-place.
That boy was me!"

"You?"

"Yes. On the day Percival came to the sand-pits to meet the champion of
the Beetles, he little knew whom he was to meet. I knew as little whom I
was to meet. He looked upon me as one who had saved his life. How could
he fight me? So he turned away."

"Why didn't he explain?" asked Stanley.

"And give away his secret, or, rather, your father's secret, before that
mob of boys? You--you ask that?"

"But after----"

"After? From what he has told me, he made more than one effort to
explain to you, but you would never listen to him."

It was true enough. Stanley remembered it all--the effort Paul had made
to speak to him immediately after the fight, and later. Everything was
now clear. How noble Paul had been! How he had wronged him! He covered
his face with his hands. He could not speak. Wyndham respected his
silence.

At length he placed his hand upon the bowed shoulder. Stanley did not
shrink from it.

"I'm sorry if I've caused you pain; but it was the only way. Mischief is
being done. You must prevent it from going any further."

"I will--I will! You can trust me," cried Stanley, fervently. "Paul,
Paul, how I've wronged you!"

"I'm glad you see that. You will make it up with him--you will be
friends with him once more?"

"Yes, yes; if he will have my friendship. But I don't deserve it. I
deserve kicking. It was kind of you to take so much trouble."

Wyndham turned on his heel, but as suddenly turned round again.

"Would you mind taking my hand, Moncrief?" he said.

Stanley took it in his, and shook it heartily.

"Thanks; I am very sorry it was raised against you. But we understand
one another better now."

Stanley wiped away the mist that had somehow gathered in his eyes, and
when he could see clear Wyndham had gone.

Then he went in search of Paul, anxious to ask his forgiveness, and
undo, as best he could, the mischief that had been done. But he could
not find him.

He searched everywhere with the same result. And, what was still more
astonishing, his cousin was also missing.

Night came on, and still Paul and Harry were missing from the school.

Mr. Weevil began to get alarmed. It was past ten, and still no news of
the missing boys. What had become of them?

CHAPTER XLVII

IN THE FOX'S HOLE

What had become of Paul? What was the cau