We failed to dislodge the enemy by a forward attack, and for some time it seemed as if our flank movements would be equally unsuccessful.

At length, by a great effort, we succeeded in cutting off a few of them from the main body, and were applying ourselves to the task of annihilating the rest when Tempest appeared on the scene.
He looked fagged and harassed, and was evidently not much interested in our battle.

A row was now too common a thing in Sharpe's to be an event, and he allowed it to proceed with complete unconcern.
Just, however, as he was taming to enter the house, Mr Jarman came up.
It was almost the first time we had met officially since our encounter in the magistrate's room, and as with one accord we ceased hostilities and stared at him, one or two of the more audacious of our party indulged in a low hiss.
"Come in, you fellows, at once," said Tempest, turning on his heel.
"Wait, you boys," said Mr Jarman, taking out his pencil.

"Wait, Tempest." But Tempest did not wait, nor did we, but made a deliberate rush into our house, and in less than a minute were safely stowed away in our several studies, secure from all immediate arrest.
It was an act of open rebellion such as Sharpe's had not yet ventured on.

There was no excuse that any of us had not heard the order.