"Who got licked by our chap and had to squeal for a prefect to come and help them?
Oh my--waterspouts!" "Ya--_how now_--_oh no, not me_!" Percy shouted for the special benefit of Fisher minor.
"Look at them! They daren't come our side.

Cowards!--daren't come on to our side of the path," chimed in Cash.
"Look at their short legs," called Ramshaw; "only useful for cutting away when they see a Modern." "Who got licked on the hands for cheating at Elections, and blubbed like anything!" put in Cottle.
The four heroes walked on, hearing every word and trying to appear as if they did not.

They spoke to one another with forced voices and mechanical smiles, and did their best not to be self-conscious in the matter of their legs.
But as the defiance grew bolder in proportion as they walked further, Wally said-- "I say, this is a drop too much.

We can't stand this, eh ?" "No; the cads!" chimed in the other three.
"Tell you what," said Wally, "it wouldn't be a bad joke to have a punt- about with their football right under their noses, would it ?" "How if they bag it ?" "Bother!--we must chance that." "I say," said Ashby, "if we could bag their boots first!" "Can't do that; but we might wait till they're in their class after breakfast in the morning.

They go in half an hour before us.