Ralph was at the spot in a moment. The man was stunned and at his mercy. The rope had done its duty as a lasso, and was now used to bind Lord Elgert. Ralph felt no remorse or compunction about that. He must take this man to his father, and his father must declare what should next be done. "He isn't much hurt," he muttered; "nor are you, you poor thing," he added, turning to the plunging mare. "There you are"--as he cut her free from the ruin of the trap. "Now I reckon that you can find your own way home, and, in the meantime, I will wait here." He placed his hands to his mouth, and gave his old wild call, and from the distance it was answered by his father. They would soon be here now. Ralph tethered the horse, and seated himself on the grass. Lord Elgert opened his eyes, and looked at him with an expression of the deepest hate; but Ralph little heeded that. His father was safe, and that was all he thought of then. Ralph Rexworth felt happier at that moment than he had done for many a day, and, paying no attention to his fallen foe, save to take care that he did not get free, he waited until the police, people, and Mr. Rexworth arrived upon the scene. Yes, the tables were turned now; and had he but known it, they were turned at school also. CHAPTER XXXII FLOGGED AND EXPELLED "The whole school to assemble in the hall!" The order was received in every class-room, and masters and boys looked surprised. It was generally known that Ralph Rexworth had been absent all night, and that a message had been sent over to Mr. St. Clive's asking whether the boy had been detained there. It was also known that Charlton was in disgrace--that he had been accused of stealing Ralph's examination papers, for the purpose of correcting them from a crib. The idea was that it must be on one of these accounts that the school was summoned--either Ralph had got into trouble, or Charlton was to be punished. But there was no time for speculation. Into the hall the boys trooped, class by class--juniors, middle division, and seniors--their masters following, and their monitors leading the way; and there upon the doctor's desk an ominous object was to be seen--the school birch, rarely taken from its resting-place in the cupboard, rarely used, and, if the truth must be told, rarely needing to be used. Woe betide the unlucky boy who so far disgraced the honour of Marlthorpe as to render its presence needful, for what he got from the Head was as nothing to what he would receive from the angry scholars later on. "Silence!" Kesterway's voice rang out as Dr. Beverly entered and an expectant hush fell upon the whole school. "Frederick Charlton, stand out!" Charlton obeyed. Boys who knew how nervous he was were surprised to see him quite calm now. He moved forward towards the Head's desk and saluted; and then the Headmaster of Marlthorpe spoke.