Very likely not.' All this in an airy whisper.
'Halves!' hissed Jacker.
'Quarters!' murmured Peterson from his hiding place behind the desk.
'P'raps I don't know somethin' too,' continued Jacker mysteriously.
Dick Haddon cocked his eye.
'Pompey, the woodjammer, tol' me he see that bandy whimboy what you fought at the picnic ridin' your billy down to Cow Flat, an' Butts seemed to like it.' This was serious.

The idea of Butts becoming attached to another master gave Dick a real pang.

Already he had suffered many twinges of conscience in consequence of his neglect of the goat in captivity.
'Wait till r get hold o' that cove,' he said bitterly.

'I'll murder him.' 'Ain't we never goin' after them goats ?' asked Jacker.
Dick nodded emphatically.
'My oath, I'll fix it.' 'An' you'll shell out wif the strawb'ries ?' Dick nodded again; Jacker went peacefully to his work and Peterson crawled back to his seat.

Confidence was restored.
CHAPTER X.
HARRY HARDY'S first few shifts below only served to convince him of the difficulties of the task he had set himself.