Oliver was in no humour for an argument, so he gave Paul a light box on his ears and advised him to go home quietly unless he wanted a thrashing, and not say a word to any one about what had occurred.
Paul had nothing for it but sulkily to obey, and walk back. At last the others got on board and put off homeward.
"Now," said Oliver, presently, resting on his oar and bending forward towards Stephen.
"Oh, Noll!" began that unhappy youngster, "I am so very, very sorry! it was all--"
"None of that," angrily interrupted the elder brother. "Just tell me how it came about."
Stephen, quite cowed by his brother"s angry manner, told his story shortly and hurriedly.
"Why," he said, "you know I promised you never to go to the c.o.c.kchafer again, and I didn"t, but I thought I ought to see Cripps and give him back the bicycle-lamp."
"Young m.u.f.f!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed his brother.
"So," pursued Stephen, still more falteringly, "I thought I"d come up this afternoon."
"Well, go on, can"t you?" said Oliver, losing his temper at the poor boy"s evident uneasiness.
"Cripps asked me into the cottage, and there were some fellows there, smoking and drinking and playing cards."
"Was Loman one of them?" put in Wraysford.
"I think so," said poor Stephen, who had evidently started his story in the hope of keeping Loman"s name quiet.
"_Think_ so, you young cad!" cried Oliver. "Why can"t you tell the truth straight out? Was he there or not?"
"Yes, he was. I did mean to tell the truth, Noll, really, only--only there"s no need to get Loman in a row."
"Go on," said Oliver.
"They made fun of me because I wouldn"t smoke and play with them. You know I promised mother not to play cards, Noll. I didn"t mind that, though, but when I wanted to go away they--that is, Cripps--wouldn"t let me. I tried to get away, but he stopped me, and they said they"d make me play."
"Who said? Did Loman?" inquired Oliver, again. "Why--yes," said Stephen falteringly, "he and the rest. They held me down in a chair, and made me take hold of the cards, and one of them opened my mouth and shouted beastly words down into it--ugh!"
"Was that Loman?"
"No," said Stephen, relieved to be able to deny it.
"What did he do?" demanded Oliver.
"They all--"
"What did Loman do, I say?" again asked Oliver.
It was no use trying to keep back anything.
"He pulled my ears, but not very hard. Really I expect it was only fun, Noll." This was said quite beseechingly. "I said I thought they were very wicked to be doing what they did; but they only laughed at that, and called me a prig."
"Much better if you"d kept what you thought to yourself," said Wraysford. "Well?"
"Oh, then they did a lot of things to rile me, and knocked me about because I wouldn"t drink their stuff, and they swore too."
"Did Loman swear?"
"They all swore, I think," said Stephen; "and then, you know, when I wouldn"t do what they wanted they said they"d throw me in the river, and then you fellows turned up."
"Did Loman tell them to throw you in the river?" said Oliver, whose brow had been growing darker and darker.
"Oh, no," exclaimed Stephen, "he didn"t, really! I think he was sorry."
"Did he try to prevent it, then?" asked Oliver.
"Well, no; I didn"t hear him say--" faltered Stephen; but Oliver shut him up, and turning to Wraysford said, "Wray, I shall thrash Loman."
"All serene," replied Wraysford; "you"d better have it out to-night."
"Oh, Noll!" cried Stephen in great distress; "don"t fight, please. It was all my fault, for--"
"Shut up, Stee," said Oliver, quietly, but not unkindly. Then turning to Wraysford, he added, "After tea, then, Wray, in the gymnasium."
"Right you are!" replied his friend.
And then, without another word, the three rowed back to Saint Dominic"s.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
THE FIGHT THAT DID NOT COME OFF.
On reaching Saint Dominic"s the three boys discovered that the news of their afternoon"s adventure had arrived there before them. Paul, despite his promise of secrecy, had not been able to refrain from confiding to one or two bosom friends, in strict confidence, his version of the _fracas_ on the tow-path. Of course the story became frightfully distorted in its progress from mouth to mouth, but it flew like wildfire through Saint Dominic"s all the same.
When Oliver and his friend with Stephen entered the school-house, groups of inquisitive boys eyed them askance and whispered as they went by. It seemed quite a disappointment to not a few that the three did not appear covered with blood, or as pale as sheets, or with broken limbs. No one knew exactly what had happened, but every one knew something had happened, and it would have been much more satisfactory if the heroes of the hour had had something to show for it.
Oliver was in no mood for gratifying the curiosity of anybody, and stalked off to his study in gloomy silence, attended by his chum and the anxious Stephen.
A hurried council of war ensued.
"I must go and challenge Loman at once," said Oliver.
"Let me go," said Wraysford.
"Why?"
"Because most likely if you go you"ll have a row in his study. Much better wait and have it out decently in the gymnasium. I"ll go and tell him."
Oliver yielded to this advice.