finding out who really cut the rudder-lines."

"Yes. My knife is the only clue, and that proves nothing, for I was
always leaving it about, or lending it, or losing it. I don't suppose I
kept it one entire week in my pocket all the time I had it. And, for
the matter of that, it's not at all impossible I may have dropped it in
the boat-house myself some time. I often used to change my jacket
there."

Riddell had half expected Wyndham would be able to afford some clue as
to who had borrowed or taken the knife at that particular time. He was
rather relieved to find that he could not.

"Tom the boat-boy," said he, "distinctly says that the fellow who was
getting out of the window dropped the knife as he did so. Of course
that may be his fancy. Anyhow, I don't want the knife any more, so you
may as well take it."

So saying he produced the knife from his pocket, and handed it to his
companion.

"I don't want the beastly thing," cried Wyndham, taking it and pitching
it into the middle of the river. "Goodness knows it's done mischief
enough! But, I say, whoever wrote that note must have known something
about it."

"Of course," said the captain, "but he evidently intends the thing to be
found out without his help."

"Never mind," said Wyndham, cheerily, "give yourself a little rest, old
man, and come down and see the second-eleven practise. I've been too
much up a tree to turn up lately, but I mean to do so this evening. I
say, won't it be jolly if my brother can come down to umpire in the
match."

"It _will_," said Riddell, and the pair forthwith launched out into a
discussion of the virtues of Wyndham senior, in which one was scarcely
more enthusiastic than the other.

On their way back to the Big they met Parson and Telson, trotting down
to the bathing sheds.

The faces of these two young gentlemen looked considerably perplexed as
they saw the captain and his supposed victim walking arm-in-arm.
However, with the delightful simplicity of youth they thought it must be
all right somehow, and having important news of some sort to relate,
they made no scruple about intruding on the interview.

"Oh, I say, Riddell," began Telson, "we've just come from the
Parliament. No end of a row. Last time was nothing to it!"

"What happened?" asked the captain.

"Why, you know," said Parson, "it was Game and Ashley's affair summoning
this meeting. They sent round a private note or something telling the
fellows