Two of mine are new kids--they came easy enough; but the other's a regular badger." The badger in question seemed determined to maintain his reputation, for he flew upon his captor, calling upon his fellow-prisoners to do the same.

All but the new boys obeyed, and the two "canvassers" were very hard put to it for a while, and might have fared yet worse, had not D'Arcy astutely hung out a flag of truce.

"Look here," said he; "I never knew such idiots as you Modern kids are.

Here I've done my best to be friends and invited you to a spread in my room; and now you won't even let me go to the cupboard and get out the black currant jam and cake." "You're telling crams; that's not why you brought us here.

You're a howling--" "Yes, really," said D'Arcy, in quite a friendly tone, "Cry _pax_ for one minute, and if I don't hand out the things you may go; honour bright.
I've a good mind to kick you out without giving you anything." The caged animals sullenly fell back and eyed the cupboard which D'Arcy leisurely opened.