Bloomfield's sure to be in his study." The two boys went accordingly, and found the Parrett's captain in his study along with Game and Ashley.

It was rarely indeed that the schoolhouse seniors penetrated uninvited into the headquarters of their rivals.

But on this occasion they had a right cause at heart and honest consciences to back them.
But it was evident at a glance they had fallen on unfriendly society.
Game, quite apart from his state of mind with regard to the accident, had not forgotten his repulse at the hands of the new captain a week or two ago, nor had Bloomfield quite got over the indirect snub he had received on the same occasion.
Riddell himself had almost forgotten the circumstance, and attributed the unencouraging aspect of the rival seniors entirely to the day's misadventure.
"Excuse us coming over," said he, feeling that a beginning must be made to the interview, "but we wanted to tell you how sorry our fellows are about the race." "Have you found out who did it ?" asked Bloomfield.
"No," said Riddell, "and we can't even guess." "But what we came for specially," broke in Fairbairn at this point, "was to say we are quite ready to row you again any day you like." There was a touch of defiance in the tone of the schoolhouse stroke which was particularly irritating to the Parrett's boys.
"Of course, we would row you--" began Bloomfield.
"But we don't mean to," broke in Game, "till this ugly business is cleared up." "What do you mean ?" asked Fairbairn.
"You know what we mean," said Game, warmly.

"As soon as you find out who cut our line we'll go out on the river again." "Yes; we don't mean to row you till that's done," said Ashley.
"How on earth are we to find out who cut your line any more than you ?" said Fairbairn, losing his temper.
"There's no doubt he must be a schoolhouse fellow," said Bloomfield, who but for his friends would have been disposed to accept the challenge.
"I'm afraid he is," said Riddell.
"Well, I won't row again till we know who he is," repeated Ashley.
"Do you suppose _we_ know who he is ?" demanded Fairbairn.
"You're the proper people to find out, that's all I know," said Ashley.
"Then you mean to say you won't row again ?" asked Fairbairn.
"No, if it comes to that," said Bloomfield.
"Why," said Game, "the same thing might happen again." "If you'd looked to your lines before you started," said Fairbairn, hotly, "it wouldn't have happened." "We shall certainly make a point of looking at them again when next we row you," said Ashley, with a sneer.
Fairbairn seemed inclined to retort, but a look from Riddell deterred him.
"Then you won't row again ?" he repeated once more.
"No." "Then we claim to-day's race," said Fairbairn.
"You can claim what you like," said Game.
"And our boat remains at the head of the river." "It doesn't matter to us where it remains," replied Ashley.

"You may think what you like and we'll think what we like." It was evidently useless to attempt further parley, and the two schoolhouse boys accordingly retired, bitterly disappointed to be thwarted of their only chance of righting themselves and their house in the eyes of Willoughby.
It soon got to be known there was to be no second race, and, as usual, all sorts of stories accompanied the rumour.