in silence for some minutes" if the fellows chaff you this afternoon, don't get mad, only makes 'em worse; and, besides, you won't have any chance with so many. Talk back and laugh at them, they'll soon get tired."

"Trust me," Phil replied with a grin, "I'm not green; if they fool too much though," and he shook his head threateningly. Crawford laughed:-"You'll have a fight anyway, so it don't make much difference whether it's with Wilman or not."

"What kind of a chap is that new chum of your's?" said half a dozen of the boys together, assembling about Crawford in the lower field the same afternoon: "He seems independent enough. "So he is, and as far as I can see, a real good sort. I only came across him yesterday on the wharf. He crickets, and rows too. I asked him to join the cricket club."

"Is he going to, what's his name, where does he belong, what class is he in?" exclaimed half a dozen voices together.

"Go ahead, ask a few more questions, and before I can answer one lot, ask another batch," Crawford replied provokingly.

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Stop that rubbish and tell us; here he comes now to speak for himself; we'll find out for ourselves, hey, boys?"

"I guess so," and a mischievous laugh ran through the group. Crawford discreetly held his tongue, knowing that all he could say would not save Phil from a "roasting," as they elegantly phrased it.

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"I say, what's your name?" queried several boys, as Phil joined them.

"Philip Blair," in a steady voice, but with just the faintest suspicion of a twinkle in his eyes, as he remembered Crawford's advice of the morning and comprehended the situation.

"Where do you come from?"

"Croasdale," and he looked quietly around at his questioners with a grin.

"Going to study for a Parson?" suggested one boy in an insinuating voice, slightly tinged with contempt.

"And make a Christian of you," replied Phil solemnly; whereat there was a laugh. He had the best of it as yet.

"He's one of the Clargy!" exclaimed a tall fellow who had lounged leisurely up during the conversation.

"Oh, no! if you'll be kind enough to say the Navy, the Dominion Navy I mean; or the Army, a commission in Brindler's

T

Pets, for instance; he don't seem to be fool enough though, he'll hardly come to that," shaking his head slowly and speaking in a meditative way that started a laugh. "You see," he explained, that's one of the crack regiments, that when they march slide along sideways like a dog after his dinner."

Phil flushed hotly at this. It was mean, he thought, for one of the big ones to go at him; he underwent the catechising from the youngsters quite composedly, but this was more than he bargained for. Looking squarely at his last assailant, he said in a matter of fact way: "You're about twice as big as I am,

ain't you?"

Terrence, that was his name, raised his eyebrows, and admitted such was the case, with a stare of surprise at such audacity, and looked as if he wondered what in the mischief was coming next. "Well, then, if you want to chaff a new boy, wait till you get hold of one something like your own size."

"Phew" whistled Terrence, from between his lips, "It's a little rooster to crow so loud;" but he flushed, nevertheless.

The youngsters were astounded.

the upper boys got talked to that way.

It was not often that one of

To tell the truth, Phil was a little alarmed himself after he said what he did, and saw the result. Fortunately for him it was a manly fellow he had to deal with.

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Terrence passing through the group and laying his hand on Phil's shoulder said, while a little spot burned on either cheek, you are right, youngster, it was hardly fair for me when so many of your own age were at you; but I like you all the better for the way you have acted; it would'nt go down with some though," he added in an under tone. "What's your name?"

"Blair."

"You will get on well enough, if I am not mistaken; I don't think they'll trouble you much more," and he looked significantly at the boys; saying this he strolled off as leisurely as he came.

It was marvellous to observe the effect of this little episode on the manner of the same boys who, a few moments before, had hinted their intention to roast him unmercifully.

There was a certain respect, if I can so term it, for the boy that could break a lance against such odds and come out unscathed. Nevertheless, if Terrence had cuffed him, the verdict of the majority would have been, served him right for his cheek; but he

did not, and consequently the respect and our hero obtaining a standing among the boys that half a term's residence would hardly give.

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By George! but you're lucky," said Crawford, taking our hero aside after Terrence left them, "not for getting off so easy, for he is a regular brick, but for having pluck enough to say what you did."

"I'd do it again," said Phil in a don't care tone.

Crawford eyed him a moment, then said, "No, you would'nt, you looked half scared after you said it, I noticed, so don't put on airs, that sort of thing won't do here."

Phil flushed a little, but he was wise enough to know that he deserved the rebuke, also to take the advice it contained, so he dropped that part of the subject.

"What's his name?" he asked after a moment's silence.

"Terrence, and it's good for you he is one of the best fellows here; all of us like him he is such a jolly one; you don't see him putting on like some of them I could name, that would have given you a clip on the ear if you said half as much to them; that sort will hear of what he said about you, so they'll not trouble you unless you deserve it."

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Why what did he say ?" said Phil, slightly bewildered at Crawford's comments; certainly he heard nothing that would warrant him in supposing that Terrence had constituted himself his protector.

"He said he thought they would not trouble you any more, did'nt he?"

"Yes, but that meant only the lot."

"Did it; you'll see, I know as much about this place as you, I think."

"Bully for me!" exclaimed Phil, with a laugh. "I don't mind, that will come in first-rate if they try to bully."

"How did you get along this afternoon with your examination, what class are you in?"

"Miserable; in the fourth. I thought I would get in with you. I would have too, only I slipped up in Algebra. I missed like the mischief in History too. I did'nt mind that so much as I never could remember dates; but I knew the Algebra questions well enough, somehow I could not get the answers out; such luck, and

I got Wilman for a desk-mate too." Here Phil seemed almost overpowered by his feelings, he looked so exceedingly disgusted.

Crawford laughed merrily.

"When will I have another chance?" continued Phil when Crawford stopped laughing, but in such a forlorn tone as to cause his companion to explode again.

"Not till the end of the term, unless you apply for an examination at the end of the month: you can do that. If you could only get rid of Wilman now it would'nt be so bad."

"I'll do it," said Phil, with determination in every line of his face.

"What, get rid of Wilman?"

"Yes, I suppose that's part of the programme; but go in for another examination. That Wilman is a nasty beggar though; do you know, I believe, he has a notion that I had something to do with that picture."

"Pretty near right if he has, but I don't think; how would he hear? what makes you think so?"

"So crusty, hardly speak to a fellow; I don't care though, but I am sorry I did it. I thought we were going to have a game of cricket this afternoon!"

"So we can, there are lots of fellows about. Let's see what they say to it?"

"Who'll go in for a game of cricket?" queries Crawford, rejoining the boys from whom they had wandered during the conversation."

"I don't mind if I do," said one, "we haven't had the things out since the holidays;"-" and that's so long," interposed another, laughing, "day before yesterday."

"Haven't the first eleven been out?"

"No, and they have got the return match to play with the town fellows; they'll get a beating, too, if they don't look out."

"Never mind that," said Crawford, impatiently, "will you have a game?"

"All right," exclaimed a lot, "get the rigging." "Who'll go for it?"

"Go yourself."

"So I mean to, but I am not going to lug it alone."

Phil signifying his willingness to assist, they started off on their errand.

"Did you bring that left hand bat ?" inquired one of the boys, Johnson by name, when they returned.

"Yes, and pads, too."

"Stick up the wickets, then, and let us get at it; I suppose the first eleven will be wanting this ground about the time we get started," he grumbled.

"What is it to be, tip and run?"

"No! No! A scratch match, there are plenty to choose up sides."

"All right, go ahead; Ferris, you and Qurlett choose," said Crawford."

"Toss you for innings," said Ferris, "first toss, flat or round?" "Round!" as the bat went spinning in the air.

"Round it is, what do you do?"

"We'll go in," replied Qurlett, who had won the toss.

"We've got to field, Phil," said Crawford, both being on the outside.

"I wish we had Wilman here to back-stop for us,” said Ferris. "I asked Qurlett to lend us Johnson, he is about next best, but he won't. They are going to count byes, and I bowl pretty fast, you know. What will we do ?"

"Here's Blair," suggested Crawford, "try him, he has longstopped."

Ferris looked doubtfully at Phil, an instant, and said: "I suppose that will do; do you think you could manage it, I'm fast?" "I am not anxious," replied Phil, stiffly, a trifle offended at Ferris' manner, "I don't mind how fast it is though.

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"Put on the pads, then, get out the rest of your fellows; Crawford point and bowl at the other end." Everything was arranged, and the game commenced, Ferris taking the ball. The first two or three he delivered were straight for the wickets, and neatly stopped; the next was at his best pace, but a little wide, and it rattled past the wickets with a rush.

"Look out, Phil!" exclaimed Crawford, feeling naturally anxious that he should do well, as he had recommended him.

He did look out, but being nervous, let the ball pass him for three byes.

Crawford looked disappointed, and Phil distressed.

"Never mind," said Ferris, "that's nothing, often miss the first ball, look out for the rest."