asily slide down, if we
could only get at it. Look!"

I looked over too. The ground seemed a long way below, and I felt a
trifle nervous at the prospect of trying to reach it by such unorthodox
means as a water-pipe, even could we get at that pipe. But the ledge on
which we were overhung the side of the house, and the pipe began under
it, just below where we stood.

"We must try, anyhow," said Jack, desperately. "I'll go first; catch
hold of my hands, Fred."

And he was actually going to attempt to scramble over and round under
the ledge, when he suddenly paused, and cried, "Hold hard. I do believe
this bit of ledge is loose!"

So it was. It shook as we stood upon it.

"We might be able to move it," said Jack.

So we knelt down and with all our might tugged away at the stone that
divided us from our water-pipe. It was obstinate at first, but by dint
of perseverance it yielded to pressure at last, and we were able
triumphantly to lift it from its place.

It was easy enough now reaching the pipe. But here a new peril arose.
Sliding down water-pipes is an acquired art, and not nearly as easy as
it seems. Jack, who volunteered to make the first descent, looked a
little blue as he found the pipe was so close to the wall that he
couldn't get his hands round, much less his feet.

"You'll have to grip it hard with your ankles and elbows," he said,
beginning to slide down an inch or two; "and go slow, whatever you do."

It was nervous work watching him, and still more nervous work when at
length I braced myself up to the effort and proceeded to embrace the
slender pipe. How I ever managed to get to the bottom I can't say. I
remember reflecting about half way down that this would be good daily
exercise for the Henniker, and the mere thought of her almost sent me
headlong to the bottom.

At last, however, I stood safe beside my chum on the gravel walk.

"Now!" said he.

"Now," I replied, "where shall we go?"

"London, I think," said he, solemnly as ever, "All right--how many
miles?"

"Eighty or ninety, I fancy--but where's your coat?"

"In the dormitory. I was too much flurried to put it on."

"Never mind, we can use mine turn about. But I wish we'd got boots
instead of slippers."

"So do I," replied I, who even as I stood felt the sharp gravel cutting
my feet; "ninety miles in slippers will be rather rough."

"Never mind," said Jack, "come on."

"Come on," said I.

At that moment, to our di