d Riddell, thinking it right
to interpose. "I've given him lines for fighting in the `Big,' and
there's really no reason for his going to Bloomfield."

"I told him to come to Bloomfield, and he ought to have come."

"I don't think you had any right to tell him to go to Bloomfield,"
replied Riddell, with a boldness which astonished himself. "I'm
responsible for stopping fights."

"I don't want you to tell me my business," retorted Game, hotly; "who
are you?"

Game could have thrashed the captain as easily as he could Telson, and
the thought flashed through Riddell's mind as he paused to reply. He
would much have preferred saying nothing, but somehow the present seemed
to be a sort of crisis in his life. If he gave in now, the chance of
asserting himself in Willoughby might never return.

"I'm the captain," he replied, steadily, "and as long as I am captain
I'm responsible for the order of the school, and I prefer to do my own
work!"

There was something in his look and tone as he uttered these inoffensive
words which took Game aback and even startled Telson. It was not at all
like what fellows had been used to from Riddell, certainly very unlike
the manner he was generally credited with. But neither Telson nor Game
were half so amazed at this little outburst as was the speaker himself.
He was half frightened the moment he had uttered it. Now he was in for
it with a vengeance! It would go out to all Willoughby, he knew, that
he meant to stand by his guns. What an awful failure, if, after all, he
should not be able to keep his word!

Game, with a forced smile which ill accorded with his inward
astonishment, left the study without another word, heedless even of the
laugh which Telson could no longer repress.

Of course many perverted stories of their adventure immediately got
abroad in Willoughby. Telson's highly-coloured version made it appear
that a pitched battle had been fought between Game and the new captain,
resulting in the defeat of the former chiefly through Telson's
instrumentality and assistance. As, however, this narrative did not
appear in the same dress two hours running, it was soon taken for what
it was worth, and most fellows preferred to believe the Parretts'
version of the story, which stated that Riddell had announced his
intention of keeping order in Willoughby without the help of the
monitors, and had had the cheek to tell Bloomfield to mind his own
business.

The indignation of