ets fire to a building to
remain in the Institute. If guilty, he must be expelled. But Grant
assures me this is a conspiracy to injure him. He declares that there
is a secret organization in the Institute called the Regulators, who
have determined to drive him away from the school. Some of us have
heard of such an institution before, but its existence has never been
clearly proved. Redman, do you know any thing of such an association."

"I never heard of it before, sir," replied Redman.

"Do you, Nevers?"

"No, sir."

"Grant charges you both with being connected with the Regulators."

"Let him prove it," said Nevers, in defiant tones.

"Who is Dobbin?" asked the principal.

"I never heard the name before," answered Nevers. "I think it is very
hard to be accused without evidence. I hope you will make Grant prove
what he says, sir."

"I will, my chief," said Richard, at a nod from the colonel; and,
without giving the source of his information, he told all he knew about
the Regulators.

"How many officers have the Regulators?" asked Mr. Gault, rising from
his chair, at the farther end of the room.

"_One, whom all obey_," replied Richard, repeating what he had heard on
the island.

"Who is he?"

"_Nevers._"

"Are there traitors among us?" continued Mr. Gault.

"_Not a traitor._"

"What shall be done to him who discloses the secrets of the
Regulators?" asked the teacher.

"_He shall be pounded till he is black and blue, and, as man and boy,
be despised till the end of his life_," replied Richard, repeating
the words of the Regulators as nearly as he could remember them.

"What do you think of this, Nevers?" asked the colonel.

"I don't know what it all means, sir," answered he, with a
well-counterfeited look of astonishment.

There were a great many pale faces, beating hearts, and quivering lips
in the seats, for it was certain that the daylight had been shining in
upon the dark doings of the Regulators. Who was the traitor? who had
betrayed the secrets of the fraternity? Confusion and trembling
overwhelmed the Regulators.

"Before we proceed any farther," continued the principal, "if there are
any of this secret band present who wish to acknowledge their guilt,
and are willing to be forgiven, they may stand."

The silence was intense and deep. Nevers and Redman did not move a
muscle, but some of the mutineers glanced at each other, and seemed to
be in doubt.

"Now is the only time for confess