The Willoughby Captains Part 25

In about ten minutes King entered and said, "I say, Telson, you're in for it! You're to go to Bloomfield directly."

"What's he given you?"

"A licking!" said King; "and stopped my play half a week. But I say, you'd better go--sharp!"

"I'm not going," said Telson.

"What!" exclaimed King, in amazement.

"Cut it," said Telson; "I'm busy."

"He sent me to fetch you," said King.

"Don't I tell you I'm not coming? I'll lick you, King, if you don't cut it!"

King did "cut it" in a considerable state of alarm at the foolhardiness of his youthful comrade.

But Telson knew his business. No sooner had King gone than he took up his Virgil and paper, and repaired once more to Riddell's study.

"Please, Riddell," said he, meekly, "do you mind me writing my lines here?"

"Not a bit," said Riddell, whose study was always open house to his youthful f.a.g.

Telson said "Thank you," and immediately deposited himself at the table, and quietly continued his work, awaiting the result of King's message.

The result was not long in coming.

"Telson!" shouted a voice down the pa.s.sage in less than five minutes.

Telson went to the door and shouted back, "What's the row?"

"Where are you?" said the voice.

"Here," replied Telson, shutting the door and resuming his work.

"Who's that?" asked Riddell of his f.a.g.

"I don't know, unless it's Game," said Telson.

"Now then, Telson," cried the voice again, "come here."

"I can't--I'm busy!" shouted Telson back from where he sat. At the same moment the door opened, and Game entered in a great state of wrath.

The appearance of a Parrett monitor "on duty" in the schoolhouse was always a strange spectacle; and Game, when he discovered into whose study he had marched, was a trifle embarra.s.sed.

"What is it, Game?" asked Riddell, civilly.

"I want Telson," said Game, who, by the way, had scarcely spoken to the new captain since his appointment.

"What do you want?" said Telson, boldly.

"Why didn't you come when you were sent for?" demanded Game.

"Who sent for me?"

"Bloomfield."

"I'm not Bloomfield's f.a.g," retorted Telson. "I'm Riddell's."

"What did I tell you this afternoon?" said Game, beginning to suspect that he had fallen into a trap.

"Told me to go to the captain after chapel."

"And what do you mean by not going?"

"I did go--I went to Riddell."

"I told you to go to Bloomfield," said Game, growing hot.

"Bloomfield's not the captain," retorted Telson, beginning to enjoy himself. "Riddell's captain."

"You were fighting in the `Big,'" said Game, looking uneasily at Riddell while he spoke.

"I know I was. Riddell's potted me for it, haven't you, Riddell?"

"I've given Telson fifty lines, and stopped his play two days," said Riddell, quietly.

"Yes, and I'm writing the lines now," said Telson, dipping his pen in the ink, and scarcely smothering a laugh.

Game, now fully aware of his rebuff, was glad of an opportunity of covering his defeat by a diversion.

"Look here," said he, walking up to Telson, "I didn't come here to be cheeked by you, I can tell you."

"Who's cheeking you?" said Telson. "I'm not."

"Yes, you are," said Game. "I'm not going to be humbugged about by you."

"I don't want to humbug you about," replied the junior, defiantly.

"I think there's a mistake, you know," said Riddell, thinking it right to interpose. "I've given him lines for fighting in the `Big,' and there's really no reason for his going to Bloomfield."

"I told him to come to Bloomfield, and he ought to have come."

"I don't think you had any right to tell him to go to Bloomfield,"

replied Riddell, with a boldness which astonished himself. "I'm responsible for stopping fights."

"I don't want you to tell me my business," retorted Game, hotly; "who are you?"