The intelligence was so remarkable, that Plunger and Harry raced into the grounds. A minute later they returned.
"Viner's quite right. It's gone," they exclaimed in a breath.
"But how—where—when?" questioned Sedgefield. "Who has taken it?"
"No one knows. It must have happened while we were on the river, so we could know nothing about it. Somebody must have stolen up the turret stair and got on to the roof. That's the only possible way it could be done. The senior Forms are in a rare wax over it."
"I should think so," burst out Plunger. "What fellow can rest easy now that our flag's been hauled down? I only wish that I had hold of the one who did it."
"You'd give him a lesson in punting, wouldn't you, Freddy?" observed Baldry, with a wink at those around him.
Plunger glared at Baldry. He would have brought his knuckles down on his head, only he remembered what Baldry had done for him.
"Seriously," said Sedgefield, "it can't have walked. There's not a fellow in Garside who would have pulled down the old flag, even for a joke; I'm certain of that."
"And I." "And I." "And I," came in a chorus.
"A Beetle must have sneaked in. It must be the work of a Beetle."