"Well, read on," shouted Arbery. "We're dying to hear who the Missing Link can be."
"You'd better get a paper of your own, then; I'm not going to read any more of the trash."
"Thought it was a slashing number? What's come over you, Freddy?" asked Baldry.
"Shut up—oh!"
The exclamation came from Plunger as he felt the paper snatched from behind him by Leveson; then, as he tried to regain possession of it, his arms were pinioned behind him by one of the Fifth Form boys.
"Oh, oh, just listen!" laughed Leveson, "and see if you can guess why Plunger put the brake on. 'Lost, stolen, or strayed. Missing Link from the Third. Last seen in all his native beauty in the Forum. Believed to have hidden himself in a box so as to escape the notice of his pursuers.'"
There was an outburst of laughter, as all eyes went to Plunger, who was making furious efforts to get away.
"When it's a question of beauty, there's only one person in it," went on Leveson calmly, "and that is——"
"Plunger!" came in a chorus.
"When we do agree, our unanimity is wonderful, as the Head used to tell us," went on Leveson. "Any other pretty bits? Oh—ah! Listen to this: 'Notice. Our poet is stuck for a rhyme to "hunger." If any one can oblige the poet, we'll give him a paragraph all to himself in the next number. N.B.—The rhyme must be a name of some kind—bird, beast, or fish.' Ho, ho! Don't squirm so, Plunger. What branch of the animal kingdom do you belong to?"