The Triple Alliance

ir feet at Ronleigh, and the sense of being "outsiders" in everything was

and their loyalty to Mugford caused the latter's path to be much smoothe

e of "Rats," took a great fancy to Jack; while Maxton repeated his assertion that young Trevanock was "the right sort," and as a further mark

ough to make a good impression on the minds of the great men, who, as a rule, took no further notice of the small f

ound Carton's desk in the big school-room, discussing the value

ll, Acton wants you no

he sheet of specimens in front of him-"

g," answered the other. "What

nts, you'd better hurry up; prefects don't thank you for keeping them

door, and in answer to the loud "Come in!" which greeted his knock turned the h

otographs of cricket and football teams, and a miscellaneous pile of bats, fencing-sticks, Indian clubs, etc., standing in one corner, all spoke of the athlete; while carelessly thrown down on the top of a cupboard was an a

as as hard and tough as whip-cord, was standing leaning on the end of the mantelpiece talking to another of the seniors, who sat sprawling in a folding-chair on the other si

y with him when we were in the Fifth, and he was all right then, but now he seems to be running to seed as

ted to see me," sai

young brother had with the old chap's daughter.-It was an awful joke," added the speaker, addressing his companions. "H

ry. "We tossed up whether

a burst of

see the

es

did he

't tel

don't you

letter on condition I wouldn't e

can tell me; I'm his br

told. Diggory shifted uneasily from one foot to another, and then glancing up he became aware of the fact that Allingford was gazing at him across the table

he repeated; "it was

were a bit more careful to keep their promises.-Acton, you beggar, you swore

igger-driver you are!-Hullo, there's the bell!-Here, k

s; for as he closed the door Allingford laughed again, and rising from his

e big school for assembly, when some one took hold of his arm, and glancing round he was startled to see

the latter, "have

ter? what have you

y row with Noaks. I'll

lling his companion aside into a cor

re on the mouth. I told him he was a cad, and said something about his father being only a man-servant, and having stolen our things. I'm sorry now, for it was rather a low thing to do, but I was in such a wax I didn't

nd the two boys had to rush away to their se

ncient foe the former leader of the Philistines, and they knew enough of their adversary's charac

licking as soon as the classes were dismissed; but a few very plain and forcible words spoken b

out me and my father. I've got two or three accounts to settle with you chaps already; just mind what you're up t

the school magazine. Important events connected with a later period of their life at Ronleigh render it necessary that we should not linger too long over the account of their first term; but some mention, however brief, sh

TIC

be held in the '

day, to make pla

pposition to

e Third Form are

att

II." "J.

"Rats" to Diggory; "it

t's it a

xton's cousin; so Maxton's going to interrupt and get some other fellows to do the same. I'm going to be part of the opposition," add

one was, for the time being, unused. It was not more than about fifteen feet long by seven or eight feet wide; and as "The Happy Family" mustered in force, the place was crowded t

'tisn't," and the bursting of a paper bag.) "You shut up there! I say it is a swindle: they didn't give any account of that fourth eleven match against Robertson's second, and t

at every fellow promise to take that, and never to buy a copy of the other. We mi

by the sound of "Rats" blowing up another

ribe?" once more de

d a stentorian yell of "No, you cuckoo! of cour

your head.-I forgot to say, gentlemen, that Mr. Bibbs has promised to assist in editing

ick and clever enough in some things, and equally dull and stupid in others. The announcement that he would address the meeting had no sooner been made than half a dozen willing pair

proceedings, now joined the opposition, and the unfortunate Bibbs was subjected to a brisk fire of chaff. One facetious class-mate, standing close to the sink, offered t

at are you grinning at?" demanded a third; while the object of these pleasantries

ded from the platform to make room for

, and had only got thus far when he was interrupted by a perfect sa

hering was in a state of confusion. The majority of those present siding with "Rats," began to hustle Fletcher, w

s way through the crush, and having pushed the t

bs wants to start a new magazine is because he wrote a novel once, and sent

g to the spot; "you've only come here on

re just in the spirit for "ragging," and would have ejected f

n, struggling all the way, was dragged to the door, and cast out into the playground. Most of the restless spirits in the audience requiring a short breathing-space to rec

cise-book paper. Any one who likes can contribute, and it

lting suggestions, pencilled on the margins, that the authors should devote some of their spare time and energy to the study of their English grammars and spelling-books. The Third Form Chronicle, as it w

of the end wall there had formerly been a ventilator; this, for one reason or another, had been removed, and in the brickwork an open space about a foot square had been left

ne of the mains close to the building, and had immediately seized upon it as an instrumen

fastened on the outside. The water flew all over the small building, drenching every one in turn. Some howled, some laughed, and o

an instant later the door was flung open, and the f

oungsters making this awful row for? I've

ence. Then Fletcher's vo

old 'Thirsty;'

e doorway as some boys tried to escape; "what are you cha

through the crowd, and taking hold of the b

me inside, and some one squirted water all over us,

find any of you in here again, I'll help you out with

d forth and qui

ent chap," said Diggory; "I didn'

doesn't seem to care now what fellows do. He's very thick with Fletcher's brother-that's one reason why

ng on his heel caught sight of our three friends

w kids! what a

nd of the year for remembering the names of the trio, and altogether unaware of the prominent part which the T