next morning.

Silk did not get the message till late, as he had been absent most of
the evening in Tucker's study, who was an expert at repairing the damage
incurred in a pugilistic encounter.

When about bedtime he returned to his own study and found the captain's
note lying on the table, he broke out into a state of fury which, to say
the least of it, it was well there was no one at hand to witness.

Late as the hour was, he went at once to Riddell's study.

Riddell was half-undressed as his visitor entered. "What do you want?"
he inquired.

"I want you! Do you mean to say you've reported me to the doctor?"

"Of course. It was a fight. I'm bound to report it."

"_Bound_ to report it. You snivelling humbug! Have you sent the name
up yet?"

"Why do you want to know?" said Riddell, who had ceased to be in bodily
fear of Silk for some time past.

"Because I want to know. Have you sent it up?"

"I have."

"All right, you'll be sorry for it," said Silk.

"I _am_ sorry for it," replied the captain.

Silk saw at a glance that the captain was not to be bullied, and changed
his tone.

"I suppose you know," said he, "we shall both be expelled?"

"The doctor doesn't usually expel for fighting," said the captain.

"Of course not. But you remember getting a note from me a little time
ago."

"From you? No; I never had a note from you."

"What, not one telling you to go down and see Tom the boat-boy?"

"Was that from you?" exclaimed Riddell, in astonishment.

"Of course it was. And of course you know now what I mean."

"I don't. I could discover nothing," said the captain.

"You mean to say you don't know who cut the rudder-lines?"

"No; who?"

"Gilks!"

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

A TREATY OF PEACE.

The captain's first impulse on receiving from Silk this astounding piece
of information was to go at once to the schoolhouse and confront Gilks
with his accuser.

But his second impulse was to doubt the whole story and look upon it as
a mere fabrication got up in the vague hope of preventing him from
reporting the fight to the doctor.

It was absurd to suppose Gilks had cut the rudder-lines. Not that it
was an action of which he would be incapable. On that score the
accusation was likely enough. But then, Riddell remembered, Gilks,
though a schoolhouse boy, had all along been a strong partisan of the
Parretts' boat, and, ever since he had been turned out of his own boat,
had made no