other.

"He wanted me to let him blab about something--about Beamish's it was."

"And did you tell him he might?"

"Yes. I said he might blab about me too for all I cared. And so he
may. I wish to goodness he would."

"And whatever business had you to tell him he might say a word about
it?" demanded Silk, angrily.

"What business? A good deal more business than you've got to ask me
questions."

"Do you know what he's done?"

"No, I don't; and I don't care."

"Don't you care?" snarled Silk, fast losing his temper; "that foolery of
yours has spoiled everything."

"So much the better. _I_ don't care."

"But _I_ care!" exclaimed Silk, furiously, "and I'll see you care too,
you fool!"

"What's happened, then?" asked Gilks.

"Why, Riddell--"

"For goodness' sake don't start on him!" cried Gilks, viciously; "he's
nothing to do with it."

"Hasn't he? That's all you know, you blockhead! He suspected Wyndham
of that boat-race business. I can't make out how, but he did. And the
young fool all along thought it was Beamish's he was in a row about.
But Riddell wouldn't have known it to this day if you hadn't given the
young idiot leave to go and blab, and so clear it up."

"Let him blab. I wish he'd clear up everything," growled, or rather
groaned, Gilks.

"Look here!" said Silk, stopping short in his walk and rounding on his
victim. "I've had quite enough of this, and you'd better shut up. You
know I could make you sorry for it if I chose."

Gilks said nothing, but walked on sullenly.

"And the worse thing about it," continued Silk, "is that now Wyndham and
Riddell are as thick as brothers, and the young toady's sure to tell him
everything."

"And suppose he does?"

"There's no suppose about it. I don't choose to have it, I tell you."

"How can you help it?" said Gilks.

"We must get hold of the young 'un again," said Silk, "and you'll have
to manage it."

"Who?--I?" said Gilks, with a bitter laugh.

"Yes, you. And don't talk so loud, do you hear? You'll have to manage
it, and I think I can put you up to a way for getting hold of him."

"You can spare yourself the trouble," said Gilks, stopping short and
folding his arms doggedly. "I won't do it."

"What!" cried Silk, in a passion.

It was the second time in one week that Silk had been thus defied--each
time by a boy whom he had imagined to be completely in his power.
Wyndham's mutiny had not wholly surprised him, but from Gilks