k round the rooms and find out which one was absent. He had begun
with Scaife. Next to Scaife was the room belonging to the Head of the
House; then came John's room, and then Caesar's. Long before Warde
reached Caesar's room, Caesar would have heard him. Caesar, at any
rate, was saved. John crept back under cover of the shrubberies. He
saw the light flicker out of Scaife's window, and shine more steadily
in the next room. The window of this room was open, and John could
hear the voice of Warde and the Head of the House. John waited. And
then the light shone in Desmond's room. John crouched against the
wall, trembling. If Caesar had not heard the voices, if he were fully
dressed, if---- Suddenly he caught Warde's reassuring words: "Ah,
Desmond, sorry to disturb you. Good night."

John waited. Very soon Scaife would come to Desmond's room. Ah! Just
so. The night was so still that he could hear quite plainly the boys'
muffled voices.

"What's up?"

"Warde is going his rounds. Perhaps he smells a rat."

And then whispers! John strained his ears. Only a word or two more
reached him. "Verney---- D--d interfering sneak! Let's see!" It was
Scaife who was speaking.

John heard his own door opened and shut. Scaife, then, had discovered
his absence, and naturally leaped to the conclusion that he had warned
Warde. Let him think so! The boys were still whispering together.
"Not to-night," Scaife said decisively. "No, no," Desmond replied.

John wondered what remained to be done. Warde, of course, would
satisfy himself that no boy in his house was missing except John,
before he pronounced him the absentee. Poor Warde! This would be a
hard knock for him. John's thoughts were jostling each other freely,
when he recalled Desmond's words: "I have one more chance before the
term is over." He had wished to clear the way for his friend, not to
block it. Then he remembered the terms of the bet, and laughed.

He ran back to the wicket, found the bicycle, lit the lamp, and hoisted
the machine over the gate. Then he laughed again. After all, this
escaping from bondage, this midnight adventure beneath the impending
sword of expulsion, thrilled him to the marrow.

When John returned on Sunday to the Manor, shortly after the doors were
unlocked in the morning, he found Dumbleton awaiting him. Dumber's
face expressed such amazement and consternation that John nearly
laughed in spite of himself.

"It