One evening it happened that Nora was in a particularly slashing and reckless mood, and she sent no less than three balls flying straight over the wall that bordered the tennis courts. They fell into the premises of old Dr. Broadfield, whose garden adjoined that of the school. They were not the first that had done so, indeed so many balls had gone over lately that the loss was growing serious. At one time the girls had been wont to ring Dr. Broadfield's front-door bell and beg permission to pick up their property, but they had been received so sourly by his elderly housekeeper, that they hardly dared to ask again. "Three good balls gone in half an hour!" grieved Verity. "There'll soon be none left at this rate. I believe there must be a dozen at least lying on the grass over there, only that stingy old thing won't throw them back. It's really too bad." "How could we possibly get them?" ruminated Doreen. "Sham ill, get Dr. Broadfield to attend, and coax them out of him," suggested Fil. Doreen shook her head. "He's not the school doctor, unfortunately. When Millie sprained her ankle, Miss Burd sent for Dr. Harrison. We might fish for them with a butterfly net tied to the end of a drilling pole, if they're anywhere near enough." "They're not. I peeped over the wall and they've rolled quite a long way off." "How weak! What are we to do?" "There's nothing for it," said Ingred slowly, "but to make a sally into the enemy's trenches and fetch them back!" "Oh! I dare say! But who's going to do the sallying business?" "_I_ will, if you like." "_You!_" "Yes; I don't mind a scrap." "You heroine!" "Don't mensh!" "But suppose you're caught?" "I shall have to risk that, of course. I'll reconnoiter carefully first." The boundary between the College premises and the property of Dr. Broadfield was part of the old Abbey wall. The mortar had crumbled away from the stones, leaving large interstices, so it was quite easy to climb. With a little boosting from Verity and Nora, Ingred successfully reached the top, and peered over into the neighboring garden. Just below her was a rockery, which offered not only an easy means of descent, but a quick mode of egress in the case of the necessity of beating a hasty retreat.