down yourself."

"Right. I will. Hah! we've been longer than I thought, for the boys
are coming out of school. Then down you come, and good morning."

I leaped off the horse, not feeling a bit stiff. Lomax replaced the
stirrups, mounted, and went off again in the upright, steady way I had
before admired, while I stood there listening to the shouting of the
boys, and thinking of the thrashing I was bound to receive.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

I had not been standing in the field many minutes, shut in by the hedge,
and trying to rouse myself to go, before I heard a familiar voice
calling me, and I answered with a feeling of relief, for anything was
better than that sensation of shrinking expectancy, and, drawing a deep
breath, I prepared myself for the plunge.

"Oh, here you are!" cried Mercer, running up to me excitedly. "I say,
here's a go! You've got to come up into the loft directly."

"The loft!" I said, feeling that here was something fresh. "What for?"

"Eely wants us. He sent Dicksee to me to say that we were to go to him
directly."

"Do you know what for?" I said huskily.

"Yes, Dicksee told me. He said he was going to punch our heads for
being cheeky. But I say, Frank, we're not obliged to go, are we?"

I was silent for a few moments, and then said, with an effort,--

"Yes, I suppose we must."

"But he isn't everybody."

"If we don't go, they'll come and fetch us."

"But you're not going to let him punch your head, are you?"

"I suppose so," I said dismally, for my anger had faded away, and I was
quite cool.

"But I'm sick of being knocked about."

"So am I."

"Then don't let's have it. The time isn't anything like ripe, I know,
and I don't believe a bit in being able to fight, but--"

"But what?" I said, after a pause.

"I don't know. I hate fighting."

"So do I, Tom," I said dismally. "I wish they'd leave us alone."

"I wish they only would."

"But why does Burr major want us to go into the loft? Why couldn't he
come here?"

"Because he thinks he can lick us quietly up there, with only a few of
his chaps with him, and two to be scouts. Oh dear me, school ain't
nice!"

"Come on, Tom," I said, "and let's get it over."

"What? do you mean to go?"

"Yes," I said gloomily, "I suppose so."

"And do you mean to fight?"

"If I'm obliged. You may just as well have a few cracks at him as take
it all for nothing. You'll come?"

"Oh, all right, but we shall get an a