ed to a
washhand-stand and selected a large sponge-dish. Depositing in it the
greasy parcel he was carrying, he handed it gravely to Trevelyan.

"Put all your bones--your chicken bones--in this, please!" he said.

Trevelyan obeyed, and passed it to Vickers, and so the collection went
the round of the room, only passing over Toppin, who was asleep, with
his arm tossed above his head. Mr. Peace handed the dish to Jack, but he
shook his head:

"Haven't got any, sir."

"Who cooked it?" enquired the master.

"I don't know, sir," answered Trevelyan.

"Brady?"

"Nor do I, sir."

"Vickers?"

"Honestly, I haven't the dimmest notion, sir, though it sounds funny to
say so."

"I'm glad you can see the fun. I'm sorry to say it sounds to me too much
like lying."

"Sir!" Escombe Trevelyan sat up in bed with flashing eyes to emphasize
his indignation.

Mr. Peace turned to him, and stamped his foot angrily.

"Lie down, Trevelyan, at once! You dare to speak to me like that!
Cadbury, you're the only one I haven't asked. Who cooked this fowl?"

"A woman, sir. I--don't know her name."

"All right! We'll reserve further enquiries till the morning. If you
take my advice, you'll all make up your minds to speak the truth then."

Having delivered this cutting speech, Mr. Peace left the bedroom with
the bones.

CHAPTER V

THE STORM BREAKS

Ten of the Brincliffe boys passed a very bad night. The nightmare, at
which Jack had jokingly hinted, was unpleasantly real; there was no
dispelling it. Everybody knew that everybody around him was wide awake,
but nobody felt inclined to speak.

By and by the daylight came, and brought a little more courage with it.

"After all, I don't care two straws!" exclaimed Cadbury abruptly.

"Who do you suppose does?" said Trevelyan.

Vickers raised himself on his elbow.

"I suggest, Cadbury, that you give us no more information than you have
done (which is practically nothing) regarding the source of the supper."

"It should have been bread-sauce," put in Cadbury.

"This isn't the time for puns," said Vickers severely. "I was going to
add that in our ignorance lies our only chance of safety. There is
certain to be trouble over this affair, and there are three or four
points about it which seem to aggravate our case. You see,
first"--bringing his fingers into action--"it was Pepper who caught us,
and he's a Tartar at all times. Would that it had been Andy! Second,
West may tak