There's no time to lose, I say; Clapperton expects us in half an hour.

Wire in!" By the end of half an hour the larder had been fairly well replenished.
Lickford and Cash had gone round on a general raid; recovering by force, where persuasion failed, their outstanding loans, and in other cases borrowing additional supplies in the same genial manner.

Among other booty, they secured a tin of pressed beef from Spanker, who had to be clouted on the head before he would "lend it," and some sardines from another boy, who was thankful to find any one to take them off his hands at any price.
Cottle and Ramshaw, acting on sealed orders from their leader, had been round borrowing a screw-driver and screws, a few yards of rope, and other material of war, among which was a squirt belonging to Reynolds, who had been pleased to "swap" it for a couple of Greek stamps which Cottle had to dispose of.
Many were the fears lest not only should Percy fail to secure the services of the Classic juniors, but should himself be too late to take part in the siege.

However, much to their relief, this was not so; as presently he came over arm in arm with Wally (who carried a parcel under his arm), followed at a respectful distance by D'Arcy, Ashby, and Fisher minor, the bulkiness of whose pockets gave promise of a further addition to the sinews of war.
By general consent the visitors slipped in, not in a body, but casually one by one, and so escaped special observation.

As soon as they were all assembled, Percy gave the order to screw up, and pile on the barricades.
_Wally_, who was disposed to be patronising, snuffed up somewhat at his brother's calm assumption of the command.
"Why didn't you say you wanted screws ?" said he; "we've got one or two long ones.