"Percival's inside?"
"Percival's inside, ramping about like mad, and Plunger, Viner, and Bember are holding the door outside like grim death, and laughing like hyenas over 'old Baldy.' Good, isn't it?"
On that Baldry was seized with a fit of laughter too.
"Good? The best joke we've had at Garside for a long time," answered Baldry, between gasps. "My, what will happen when they find out their mistake? What will they say when they see Percival stagger out instead of 'old Baldy?'"
"Plunger will stagger the most of the two, I reckon," laughed Harry.
"I just reckon he will."
"And I reckon also that he'd better keep out of the reach of Percival."
"Percival!" echoed Baldry contemptuously. "Percival may ramp a good deal, but he's not likely to do much, I'm thinking, after his exhibition at the sand-pits. Percival is——"
"I beg pardon, but did I hear some one mention my name?" came a quiet voice in the rear of Baldry.
Both boys turned promptly round at the voice. To their amazement Percival was standing before them.