ocket. "Look here, Fenleigh; as you've done me a good
turn, I'll let you into a secret, only you must promise not to let my
brother know who told you. He and Teal and Rosher are going to give
your cousin a licking."

"How d'you know?"

"I heard them talking about it. They said, 'We'll lick Valentine
Fenleigh. If we touched Hollis, he'd sneak; but it'll frighten him if
we thrash the other chap.'"

"When are they going to do it?"

"Now--some time; they said soon after tea."

"Where?" cried Jack.

"I can't tell you; they didn't say. That's all I know."

Jack exploded with wrath. He had talked calmly enough to Valentine
about his getting licked, and was inclined to think he deserved it; but
now that it had come to the point, he found that the idea of his cousin
being thrashed was not at all to his liking. Even at that very moment
the outrage might be taking place. The victim was not equal to any one
of his three assailants, and stood much less chance of escaping from
their combined attack.

Fenleigh J. rushed off down the passage on a wild-goose chase after his
chum, but nowhere was the latter to be found. As a last resource, he
ran into the schoolroom. Valentine's seat was empty, but a boy sat
reading at the next desk but one.

"Have you seen my cousin?"

"Yes, he was here a minute ago."

"Where's he gone?"

"Bother you!--let's see--oh, I know; some one came in to say Darlton
wanted him in the little music-room."

"Darlton never gives lessons after tea. Phew! I see what's up!"

The boy looked up from his reading with a grunt of astonishment as his
questioner turned sharply on his heel and dashed out of the room. Jack
had his faults, but he was loyal-hearted enough to remember those who
had at any time proved themselves to be his friends, and not to leave
them in the lurch when an opportunity offered for rendering them some
assistance. He was a strong boy, but the back desk trio were also
good-sized fellows for their age. Had it, however, been the whole of
the Sixth Form who were licking Valentine, Jack in his present state of
mind would have charged in among them and attempted a rescue.

"It's clear enough," he muttered to himself, as he turned off down a
short, narrow passage; "that message was a trap to catch him alone.
But wait a minute, and I'll surprise the beggars."

He paused outside a door, and hearing voices within tried the handle.
It was locked.

"Hallo! who's there? You ca