The Triple Alliance

not even on that memorable occasion when the intelligence arrived that Scourer, one of the past seniors, had ridde

their minds all thought of the disagreement which had lately estranged them from their unfor

that very moment languishing, a prisoner of war, in

one could answer. It seemed altogether beyond their power to do anything, and yet there was not a boy who would not have given his dearest

id Vance, looking up at the clock; "if any

ely to serve the purpose they had in view. The first wild suggestion, that they should go in a body and carry Horace House by storm,

a sound of footsteps hurrying along the passage, the door b

y?"-"What have they been do

d the boy. "They'll wis

u all about

seized, hurried up into the schoolroom,

g beggar who tied that rope to the scrapers; I vote we give him a jolly good licking.' I told them that my father was a lawyer, and if any of them touched me he'd take a

et a jolly row for being late when he gets back, and he won't dare to say where he's been; because I know it's against their rules to co

as only a staple on th

the padlock off his pl

king.' After that they left me, and went back to the house; and as soon as they'd gone, I began to try to find some way of escape, but it was so dark inside the shed I couldn't see anything. Presently I heard a knocking on the boards. There was a wide crack between them

hilips's. He happened to be knocking about when they took me prisoner, and he couldn't see who it was in the dark, and thoug

the boards, and vowed I wouldn't say who'd done it, and then he undid the door. I fastened the padlock again, and threw the key into the hedge, for Noaks had left it in the keyhole; so now

bird had flown, and the chagrin of young Noaks when he found that his play-box padlock was fastened to the door of the shed, was simply delightful;

ng Noaks is going to leave at the end of this term, and he's been telling the Philistines that before he goes he means to do something that'll pay us out for his being sent off the field

a corker!" and the bell now commencing to ring

were let off in the playground under the superintendence of Mr. Blake. The head-master himself gave a donation

library to formally ask permission that the celebrat

repeated thefts-as, for example, this recent instance of Morris's watch and chain-I do not

n-top," who were still in the position of scapegoats, were hunted round the place by an indignant mob, and fled, vainly protesting their innocence, from one

the house, "there's only one thing to be done, and that is, we must set Miss Eleanor on old Welsby's tra

d to face the trio, and walking backwards up the p

d Diggory. "She'd be sure to do it for you; why, the l

heekiest little imp I ever came across," he said. "I've a jolly good mind to

s cap, which had fallen to the ground; "and if you're afraid to go alon

g his ears boxed for picking plums out of the dough. But no one ever appealed to Miss Eleanor without being sure, at all events, of a patient hearing, and the following

the morning of the fourth. Miss Eleanor had a dread of gunpowder, and Mr. Bla

t I should have to fetch and carry all your fooling playthings for you; it's a pi

rders," answered Jac

l right, I'll do it whe

ds overhead threatening rain. Mr. Blake sent for Noaks, and a rather sharp passage of arms took place between

oison, and I believe it's all because his son's at the other school. D'you remember what a row he k

t worse. He's been like it ever since that football match; and he'll get

n on any previous occasion, and every one was looking forward w

nto the playground and bring up that football flag that's got to be mended; I left it

tering about one of the passages, accompanied him down into the pl

ndid night for the fireworks if it's like th

t hear a

of a rapping sound. H

knocking very gently against that door l

hed the wall. There was no mistake about it-some one was ge

re?" asked

d up t'other day in the cow-shed," was the answer, gi

"it's Joe Crump. Here

r the wall.-All righ

member you offered me a bob if I could find out an

hat's th

ey first, and th

uired coin in his pocket, and Digg

w tone-"that there Noaks and Hogson are coming up here to-night ju

How do they know we've got any fireworks? and how

ks is a-going to do it; 'drown 'em all in a bucket of water,' was what he said.

he darkness, and Diggory d

are we to do? there's no time to lose.

g the intelligence which Diggory had to impart, he threw the unfinished epi

p or Bump or whatever you call him, trying to take a

e reason or other, he's at daggers drawn with young Noaks and Hogson.

nd how do they reckon they're going to get them out

ays anything about Joe Crump, it'll all come out about his having been in Lock

he say they m

quarter

ch lasted for over a mi

he match that they go to bed at nine. We won't tell any one, but as soon as 'prep' is over we'll cut down into the playground, and when they come we'll kick up a ro

r if we all three stop out from supper; two's eno

e anxious to take part in the adventure. Acton's word, however, was

ly locked, as also was the one leading into Locker's Lane, and it seemed impo

rolled back towards the house. "However, we'll come

dventure looming in the near future. How would the Philistines get at the fireworks? Would they change their minds, and instead of drowning them apply a

seemed to go slower and slower, until they really began to wonder whether it had stopped. At length the long hand

when the coast was clear, they slipped out into the garden, and hurried down the sloping path. It was cons

ading into Locker's Lane. "I don't believe there's anything in it. They might get over

ing in it," answered D

we had any fireworks in

what's

down the path from the house. "Cave!"

round into deep shadow. The boys rushed into the angle, and, crouching down in the inky darkness, were a

ust make out in the gloom, came through the garden door, and, advancing a few yards, stood still

talking," whi

, and the next moment there was the sound of a key being fitted into the lock. At that instant Diggory, who had been craning his neck f

d, as his companion made a movement as though he meant to

le all those things!" a

key, and he's going

shed; but in a few seconds he was out again, and once

e counted ten, there was

ry. "He's got the key of the do

visit being at once made evident by the fact that one of them was carrying a bucket. It was too dark to distingui

aks, "if you're going to

he new-comers. "Lend us a hand, and we'll dip

ned the man. "I don't

all I promised was

is.-Come on, Hogson; don't ma

owed by the two Philistines entered the shed. Hardly had they crossed the threshold when Diggory started up, kicked off his slippers, crept swiftly and noiseless

yground; of old Noaks being peremptorily ordered to "clear out," and on attempting to bandy words with Mr. Blake, being taken by the scruff of the neck and "chucked out;" of the two Philistines being conducted, under a strong escort, to Mr. Welsby's study; of a polite note being dispatched by the latter to Mr. Philips; and of the unmitigated delight of the Birchites when Hogson and Noaks junior were delivered over into the hands of Mr. Fox, and marched off by that gentleman to take their trial at Horace House. Every one

the Philistines, and was cheered accordingly. I say final triumph, for the removal of young Noaks and Hogson from the rival school caused a great change for the better among the ranks of

, and for a connecting-link to join this chapter to those th

ce were sauntering arm in arm across one

ght the Philistines bagging our fireworks, you said, 'Well, I

g his shoulders. "My eye, I ough