ully kind of Trevelyan to answer for his conscience."

"You won't refuse the merry-thought--just for luck, Jack!"

"I have too many of my own generally, specially at Pepper's classes."

"Oh, pinch Brady, somebody! He's punning!" cried Cadbury. "There! it's
come in two at last!" and he surveyed his handiwork with great pride.
"Now to send along the next room's share!"

Wrapping it in the torn newspaper, he tied it to the string once more,
opened the window very gently, and after several unsuccessful efforts
whirled it thump against the adjoining window, and waited till a pull at
the line showed that it was received.

After a few minutes there came a faint whip at their own window-pane,
and Trevelyan took in a scrap of paper weighted with a bull's-eye.
Seeing there was some writing on it, he struck a match, and read:

_You've bagged the biggest half._

_Send us some salt._

_Please return bull's-eye._

_Where's our leg?_

In answer Cadbury screwed up a pinch of salt, and scribbled on the
paper:

_Ask the cat._

_Mind you don't leave your bones about._

Needless to say, the bull's-eye was not returned.

The packet was tossed on to the neighbouring sill, and then they settled
down to enjoy their meal in peace. It was well that there was not
overmuch light, for they could not consume it elegantly. As a matter of
fact, they gnawed it in an ogreish fashion, and in such haste that they
could scarcely stop to plunge their bones into the salt for a
flavouring.

"I suppose you're quite sure this is chicken, Cadbury?" said Vickers
presently.

"Quite. Why do you ask?" mumbled Cadbury.

"It struck me as being rather--well, a trifle gamy, nothing more."

"Pretend it's pheasant, then," said Cadbury.

"Mayn't I have a little bit?"

The sleepy voice came from Toppin's bed.

"Certainly not," replied his elder brother promptly. "Chicken at night
is bad for little boys--high chicken especially. Tuck your head in, and
don't let me hear you speak again, or I'll come to you with a slipper."

Toppin was kept in very strict order by his brother, and the boys, who
were used to his methods, made no remark.

Suddenly, in the midst of the cracking and munching, Jack exclaimed in a
whisper, "Cave! I hear feet!"

In an instant all the chicken-bones, salt, paper, and penknives were
swooped off the counterpanes, and every boy lay flat and shut his eyes.

That same moment, to their untold vexation, a merry peal of laughter