“Crumbs!” but no words could describe the tone in which he said it.
“They’re—they’re comin’ after us,” gasped Ginger.
“Smith must have told him where we’d gone,” gasped Henry.
Ginger, recovering something of his self-possession, turned to William.
“I said you din’ oughter’ve told him,” he said with spirit.
“B-but,” gasped William, still paralysed with amazement, “how’d he know we’re Outlaws an’ never goin’ back?”
“Prob’ly Smith heard us sayin’ it,” said Ginger. “Well, it’s a nice set-out, isn’t it? What we goin’ to do? Fight him?”
Even William’s proud spirit quailed at the thought of doing that.
“If—if only——” he began.
Then his speech died on his lips. His mouth dropped open again. His eyes dilated with horror and amazement. Behind the figure of the head-master and second master came other figures—the mathematical master, the gym master, three or four prefects.