CHAPTER IX.
A HOLIDAY ADVENTURE.
The weeks slipped away, and the Triple Alliance soon got over their new-boy trials, and began to enjoy all the rights and privileges of Ronleigh College boys.

They wrote letters to Miss Eleanor and to their former schoolfellows, and received in reply the latest news from The Birches.
"The Philistines are quite friendly now," wrote Acton.

"We had a match against them last week on their ground, and they gave us tea after.
It's awfully slow; I almost wish that chap Noaks was back." "So do I," added Diggory, as he finished the sentence; "we could very well spare him." "Oh, he's all right," answered Jack Vance; "that row's blown over now.
As long as we leave him alone he won't interfere with us." "Won't he!" returned the other; "you take my word for it, he hasn't forgotten what you said about his father, and he's only waiting for a chance to pay us out.

Whenever I go near him he looks as black as ink." It was customary at Ronleigh to have what was called a half-term holiday.

This was usually given on a Monday, to enable those boys who lived within a short distance of the school to spend the week end at home; while, in the winter or spring terms, the boarders who remained at the school usually devoted the greater portion of the day to a paper-chase.
"I shall go home," said Jack Vance to his two chums; "Todderton's only about half an hour's ride from here on the railway.