him staggering back against the wall gasping for breath.

"Just keep your dirty paws off me. I tell you I didn't burn your coat;
though to look at it, I should think burning's about all it's good for."

This was not at all the usual line of conduct which new boys adopted
when brought to book by an oldster. Pilson felt aggrieved, but made no
attempt to follow up his attack.

"All right," he said. "You're a liar, and I'll tell all the other
fellows."

"You can tell 'em what you please," returned the other, and taking hold
of Garston's arm he walked away.

Valentine turned on his heel with a doubtful look on his face; his
cousin evidently knew how to take care of himself, yet the latter's
conduct was not altogether satisfactory. It was Garston who had burnt
the coat, and it was like him to let another boy bear the blame; while
Jack evidently cared as little for being thought a liar as he did for
any other misfortune that might befall him.

During the next few days the cousins met every now and again in the
playground, or about the school buildings, but it was only to exchange
a nod or a few words on some subject of general interest. There seemed
to be little in common between them; and Jack, though willing enough to
be friendly and forget the family feud, evidently found the society of
the three unruly members of the Upper Fourth more to his liking than
that of a steady-going boy like Valentine.

For nearly a month the latter did his best to form the friendship which
his aunt had desired; then an event happened which caused him to almost
regard the task as hopeless. Jack had been steadily winning for
himself the reputation of a black sheep; but the climax was reached
when he further distinguished himself in connection with certain
extraordinary proceedings known and remembered long afterwards as the
"Long Dormitory Sports."

It was Rosher's idea. The chamber in question was called "Long" from
the fact that it contained sixteen beds, eight on a side, all of which
were occupied by members of the Upper Fourth. Skeat, the Sixth Form
boy in charge, was ill, and had gone to the infirmary; and in the
absence of the proverbial cat, the mice determined to get in as much
play as possible, only stopping short at performances which might
attract the attention of the master on duty.

It was one Tuesday night. Garston and Teal had had a quarter mile
walking race up and down the centre aisle, which had ended, to the