s to be lost; in another minute it might be too late to
do any good, and, with a tremendous shout of "Rescue, Willoughby!" the
school turned as wildly to get out of the playground as it had just now
struggled to get in.

The captain and Fairbairn were the first to get through the gate,
followed closely by the other seniors. Riddell was conscious of seeing
young Wyndham lying a few yards off among the feet of the roughs, and of
being himself carried forward to within reach of him; then of a blow
from behind, which sent him forward, half-stunned, right on to the top
of his young friend.

After that Riddell was only dimly conscious of what passed, and it was
not until he found himself once more in the playground, being helped
along by Fairbairn towards the house, that he took in the fact that the
rescue had been accomplished, and that the battle was at an end.

"Did they get Wyndham in all right?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Was he much damaged?"

"Very little. You got it worse than he did."

"Some fellow got behind me and sent me over," said Riddell.

"Some fellow did," said Fairbairn, fiercely, "and I know who."

"Who?"

"Silk."

"What! are you sure?"

"I was as close to you at the time as I am now--I'm quite sure."

"The coward! Did any one else see it?"

"No, I think not."

The two walked on in silence to Welch's house, and once more reached the
study they had so abruptly quitted.

"Are you badly hurt?" asked Fairbairn.

"Not a bit; my shin is a little barked, that's all."

"What a bulldog you can be when you like, old man," said Fairbairn,
laughing. "I never saw any one go into battle so gamely. Why, the
whole glory of the rescue belongs to you."

"What bosh! You had to rescue me as well as Wyndham. But I'm thankful
he's safe."

"You're awfully sweet about that precious youngster," said Fairbairn.
"I hope he'll be grateful to you, that's all."

Riddell said nothing, and shortly afterwards Fairbairn said he must go.
As he was leaving Riddell called him back.

"I say, Fairbairn," said he, in his half-nervous way, "you needn't say
anything about Silk, there's a good fellow; it wouldn't do any good."

"He deserves a good thrashing," said Fairbairn, wrathfully.

"Never mind; don't say anything about it, please."

And Fairbairn promised and went.

It was quite a novel sensation for the captain to find himself figuring
in the eyes of Willoughby as a "bulldog." He knew he was about the last