CHAPTER SEVEN.
THE NEW CAPTAIN ENTERS ON HIS DUTIES.
The morning that witnessed the collapse of the famous Monitors' Petition had not been idly spent by the new captain.

He had made the worst possible preparation for his new duties by lying awake half the night, brooding over his difficulties and working himself into a state of nervous misery very unlike what one would expect of the captain of a great public school.
What worried him was not so much that he felt himself unpopular, or that he knew all Willoughby was in arms against him.

That wasn't cheerful, certainly, or precisely solacing to a fellow's self-esteem; but it was not nearly so disheartening as the feeling that he himself was unequal to cope with the difficulties he would have to face.

How could he cope with them?
He had never succeeded yet in keeping Telson, his own fag, in order.

How was he to expect to administer discipline to all the scapegraces of Willoughby?
It would be bad enough, even if the monitors as a body were working with him, but when he was left almost single- handed, as seemed probable, what chance was there?
Whatever would he do supposing a boy was reported to him for some offence, such as going out of bounds or-- By the way! And here a horrible thought flashed across his mind.