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"Then Marky came and patted me on the back. `Splendid, old fellow, said he. `How do you mean? said I; `ain't I licked into a cocked hat? `You've done it in nineteen seconds, said he. `Go on! said I. And then the other fellows came up and cheered, and then Violet called out, `Bravo, Herapath, and Ainger said, `Run indeed, young 'un. So I had to believe it; and I can tell you I was a bit pleased.
The result was that the next week my chiefs showed me a letter one of them had received from Canon Ainger, asking for the name of the "evidently new hand" who had written on Barnes, and making some very complimentary remarks on his work.
"Something ought to be done to prevent our house being interfered with by Mr Bickers," said he; "there are sure to be rows while that lasts." "Oh," said Railsford, who had heard rumours of this feud already; "how are we interfered with?" "Oh, every way," replied Ainger; "but we needn't trouble you about that, sir. We can take care of ourselves."
Ainger laughed rather spitefully. "It strikes me he'll find us four fairly tough flies. I mean to go. I want to see what he's like; I'm not at all sure that I like him." "Poor beggar!" murmured Barnworth. "Now my doubt is whether he likes me. He ought to, oughtn't he, Staff?" "Why, yes!" replied that amiable youth; "he doesn't look as if he was very particular."
"There are one or two of these records we shall not beat," said the master to Ainger; "but the majority of them we should be able to manage." He spoke so hopefully that Ainger's spirits went up decidedly. A final overhaul of the list was made, and the times registered compared with the times on the School list.
"Yes, but are you sure he won't back us up?" drawled Barnworth. "I'm not a betting man, like Stafford, but I have a notion he'll come out on our side." Ainger grunted sceptically, and announced that he had to unpack; whereat his comrades left him.
Every one saw now what was coming, and pricked up his ears in anticipation. Ainger, who had had as little idea of the turn things were going to take as anybody else, grew fidgety, and wished Wake had shown more discretion. But it was too late to stop the case now. "This assault occurred, I believe, on the 2nd of February."
A week ago this speech would have seemed a mere commonplace exhortation, but under present circumstances it had a double meaning for those present. "He's a brick," said Ainger, as they returned to their studies. "He means to back us up, after all, and pay Bickers out."
Arthur proposed telegraphing to Railsford something in this form: "Ainger says Smiley's against rules. Wire him you allow." But when the form was filled up and ready to send, the chance of it succeeding seemed hardly worth the cost. Finally they went down sadly after tea to the school farm and hired a kennel, and arranged for the board and lodging of their exiled pets at so much a week.
"Never mind, we got the mile, and that was the crackest thing of all. We had to beat Smedley and Branscombe, both only Branscombe he's Bickers's prefect didn't run it out last week. Smedley's time was 4.50. Ainger and Stafford ran for us; and Ranger was put on the track with 200 yards start to force the pace. "Stafford was out of it easily; but Ranger stuck to it like a Trojan.