“Well, you are a stupe,” said Val. “Really you are.” They all laughed at Cecil.
“But I don’t know,” said Ted Pompey. “You just think, how shall we know who’s beat? Cecil’s not so silly.”
“No more he is,” said Mark. “Bevis, how is it to be managed?”
“Those who run away are beaten,” said Charlie. “You’ll see Ted run fast enough.” Away he scampered himself to escape punishment.
“Of course,” said Bevis. “One way will be if people run away. O! I know, if the camp is taken.”
“Or if the captain is taken prisoner,” said Phil; “and tied up with a cord.”
“Yes,” continued Bevis. “If the captain is taken prisoner, and if the eagles are captured—”
“Eagles,” said Ted Pompey.
“Standards,” said Phil. “That’s right: are we to have proper eagles, Caesar Bevis?”
“Yes,” said Bevis. “Three brass rings round sticks will do. Two eagles each, don’t you see, Ted, like flags, only eagles, that’s proper.”