obody
the worse for it; though some of them do look hot and excited. So the
Doctor sees nothing, but fascinates Tom in a horrible manner as he
stands there, and reads out the Psalm in that deep, ringing, searching
voice of his. Prayers are over, and Tom still stares open-mouthed after
the Doctor's retiring figure, when he feels a pull at his sleeve, and
turning round, sees East.

"I say, were you ever tossed in a blanket?"

"No," said Tom; "why?"

"'Cause there'll be tossing to-night, most likely, before the sixth come
up to bed. So if you funk, you just come along and hide, or else they'll
catch you and toss you."

"Were you ever tossed? Does it hurt?" inquired Tom.

"Oh yes, bless you, a dozen times," said East, as he hobbled along by
Tom's side up-stairs. "It don't hurt unless you fall on the floor. But
most fellows don't like it."

They stopped at the fireplace in the top passage, where were a crowd of
small boys whispering together, and evidently unwilling to go up into
the bedrooms. In a minute, however, a study door opened, and a
sixth-form boy came out, and off they all scuttled up the stairs, and
then noiselessly dispersed to their different rooms. Tom's heart beat
rather quick as he and East reached their room, but he had made up his
mind. "I shan't hide, East," said he.

"Very well, old fellow," replied East, evidently pleased; "no more shall
I--they'll be here for us directly."

The room was a great big one, with a dozen beds in it, but not a boy
that Tom could see, except East and himself. East pulled off his coat
and waistcoat, and then sat on the bottom of his bed, whistling, and
pulling off his boots; Tom followed his example.

A noise and steps are heard in the passage, the door opens, and in rush
four or five great fifth-form boys, headed by Flashman in his glory.

Tom and East slept in the further corner of the room, and were not seen
at first.

"Gone to ground, eh?" roared Flashman; "push 'em out then, boys! look
under the beds:" and he pulled up the little white curtain of the one
nearest him. "Who-o-op," he roared, pulling away at the leg of a small
boy, who held on tight to the leg of the bed, and sung out lustily for
mercy.

"Here, lend a hand, one of you, and help me pull out this young howling
brute. Hold your tongue, sir, or I'll kill you."

"Oh, please, Flashman, please, Walker, don't toss me! I'll fag for you,
I'll do anything, only don't toss me."

"You be hanged," said F