Mike

clearly. The main point, the kernel of the whole thing, was that he must get into the garden somehow, and warn Wyatt. And

It was open now, and he could hear somebody moving inside

t the door,

of his anxiety, could barely check a laugh. Mr. Wain was a tall, thin man, with a serious face partially obscured by a grizzled beard. He wore spect

hought I heard a

continued

doing here?" s

ard a noise,

noi

, sir,

ught you

med to be wor

down, sir,"

somewhat clouded. He looked about him, and, catchi

on the gramoph

air of a bishop accused of co

edly. "Of course not. I don't know why I asked. All

ard a noise,

noi

ow,

to his Massa Bones, it was not for him to baulk the house-master's innocent p

have been a burgla

like it

the win

bly in the

xpression, as if its behaviour in letting burglars be

n the house," said M

ikely,

think

fool, sir. I mean,

u are right

if he was hiding in

shrubbery, as who sho

Wain, rendered speechless by this move just as he had been beginning to recover his faculties, and he was running across the lawn into t

dining-room window. Fortunately a belt of evergreens ran along the path right up to the house. Mike w

way through the bushes. Twice branches sprang out from nowhere, a

asions a low voice spoke f

rth's that

sto

ou, Wyatt?

cks

ly. His knees were covered with mould. He had evi

att. "You promised me th

know,

elephants. If you must get out at night and chance being

you don't

dly explained

in the dining-room?" asked Wyatt. "It's miles fr

it was rather a rotten thing to do, I s

--wh

ing 'The Quaint Old Bird.' Rippi

up with nois

ever saw such a man. Well, what'

to the dining-room. Then it'll be all right if Wain comes and looks into the dorm. Or, if

All right. You dash al

the beauties of the summer night through the open

ort the matter to the headmaster. I will not have boys rushing about the garden in their pyjamas. You will catch an exceedingly b

said Mike, standing outside

ited. I will not have it. It is

sir, may

u no sense, boy? You are laying the s

red through

sir. He must have go

It was very wrong of you to search for him. Y

nto the room. Wyatt wore the rather dazed expression of one w

eard a noise,

ate, "sir" in public. The presence

e been a

ike, "only he

den, and have a look round,

Mr. Wain into activ

y so. Both of you go to bed immediately. I shall not speak to you again on this subject. I must be obeyed instantly. You hear me, Jackson? James, you understand me? To

rglar, sir?

tch him, sir

ely sarcasm, in much the same way as a motor

d ordered you to retire immediately to your dormitory. It is possible that you mistook my meaning. In that case I shall be happy to repeat what I said. It is also in my mind that I threate

made