his new purchase, came first, and with a struggle and a scramble 

 got over the yawning chasm. Earle, on " Starveacre," followed, 

 and then the fun commenced. In went a Crammer's boy, in went 

 Percival, in went the thrusters of the " Queens," the head boy 

 meant to go in, but the mare didn't, she firmly planted her feet on 

 the brink and the Major sprawled on his back in the hedge. 



The ditch was now a seething mass of men and horses, among 

 them Spearman and Ewbank, who, half-an-hour later, pulled their 

 mounts over. By this time the fortunate negotiators were well on 

 their way in the second line ; here grief also was conspicuous, and 

 when the " Green Man," Easthampstead, was at last reached, 

 some twenty-five of a field of seventy had been in close touch with 

 mother earth. 



Two boys from Shinfield went home to their mother sadder, 

 wiser and dirtier men. 



( 6 ) 



