Finch now on the top of the bank, stopped again. Our two friends out of breath, paused at the bottom. Hardly a dozen yards divided them. “Wait a second! What’s your hurry?” Tony repeated, starting forward again, but at that very moment his foot caught in a loose stone and he went sprawling, and Jimmie, too late to turn aside, fell on top of him. Finch did not move, but waited a moment, while the two picked themselves up. No damage was done, but they were windless. “Who are you?” Finch called down. “It’s me—Tony Deering.” Again they started to climb the bank. Finch stooped quickly and picked up a couple of enormous stones. “Stop there!” he cried. “If you come up that bank, I’ll fire this at your head. I mean it.” The two pursuers stopped involuntarily. “Throw that rock down. What’s the matter with you?” cried Tony sharply. “It don’t make any difference. What are you following me for? What do you want with me?” “I want to know what on earth you are cutting out for like this. What’s the matter? we’re not going to hurt you.” “No, I know you’re not. Mind—don’t take a step, or I’ll fire this at your head. I’ve chucked the whole thing. I’m clearing out, d’ye hear? I won’t be stopped.” “Look here, Jake; you’re crazy. Don’t act like——” “Maybe I am, but that don’t alter the fact that you are not coming up that bank without getting this in your head. I won’t be followed.” “For goodness’ sake, Jake, listen to reason.” Tony began to advance cautiously. “Back!” cried Finch. “Get back, if you’ve anything to say.” And he poised the rock threateningly. Tony stopped a moment, willing to accomplish by persuasion what he was determined to effect by force if need be. “All right,” he agreed. “We’ll cry a truce for a minute. Don’t be an ass, now—tell me what’s the trouble and where you are cutting out to.” “Who sent you after me?” demanded Finch. “Mr. Roylston came——” “Pah!” Jake uttered an exclamation of profound disgust. “Mr. Roylston,” Tony repeated, “burst into Doctor Forester’s study, and said that you had been abusing him, and that you had lit out some place, and then he came near falling into a faint. So we started after you. This is no way to——” “Well, I don’t care whether it’s a way or not,” interrupted Finch. “I’m done with the school. I’m chucking it.” “Well, for goodness’ sake, don’t do it in a fool way like this. Come back and take your medicine like a man.” “I’m tired of taking medicine,” Finch replied bitterly. “I’ve taken all I ever mean to in that school, anyway.” “Where are you going?” “That’s my affair.” “Well, come back, and you can go off decently to-morrow.” “No—I’d back down to-morrow like the shivering scared fool I’ve always been. To-night, I’m up to it. I’m going now—to-night.” “Where?” “Oh, I dunno—it don’t make any difference—away from here.” “Look here, Jake; that’s a pretty mean way to treat me—to say nothing of the school.” “Well, I’m sorry if you feel that way. But I don’t owe the school anything.”