"We can take care of ourselves, I fancy." Luckily at this stage we reached the boats, and further discussion was interrupted.
The voyage home was comparatively uneventful.

It was of course enlivened by a desultory race with the Urbans all the way, in which, I regret to say, Mr Jorrocks's boats received a few scratches, owing to the desire of each boat to take the water of its opponent before it was clear ahead.

The town-boys unrighteously claimed in the end to have won by a quarter of a length, but as in passing our leader they had pulled away one of our bow oars and further turned the nose of the _Sarah_ into the bank, we stoutly resisted their claim, and a very lively argument ensued, in which Mr Jorrocks lost a good deal of varnish, and most of the combatants became rather wet.

However, we were back in school within half an hour of embarking, which on the whole was not a bad record.
Curiosity to know what Tempest would do prevented us from so much as thinking of our "lines." I took an early opportunity of presenting myself in Pridgin's study, feeling sure I should be likely to hear something of the matter there.
As it happened, Tempest and Wales were there too, in deep confabulation.
"Look here, old chap," Pridgin was saying, "don't spoil your term for a parcel of yelping young puppies like this kid here and his lot.

They're not worth it." "For all that," said Wales, "it's a question of whether the cock of a house is to be allowed his rights or not." "It's more a question whether Jarman is to be allowed his rights," said Tempest.