“Verywell，oldfellow，“repliedEast，evidentlypleased；“nomoreshallI。They’llbehereforusdirectly。“
Theroomwasagreatbigone，withadozenbedsinit，butnotaboythatTomcouldseeexceptEastandhimself。Eastpulledoffhiscoatandwaistcoat，andthensatonthebottomofhisbedwhistlingandpullingoffhisboots。Tomfollowedhisexample。
Anoiseandstepsareheardinthepassage，thedooropens，andinrushfourorfivegreatfifth-formboys，headedbyFlashmaninhisglory。
TomandEastsleptinthefarthercorneroftheroom，andwerenotseenatfirst。
“Gonetoground，eh？“roaredFlashman。“Push’emoutthen，boys；lookunderthebeds。“Andhepulledupthelittlewhitecurtainoftheonenearesthim。“Who-o-op！“heroared，pullingawayatthelegofasmallboy，whoheldontighttothelegofthebed，andsangoutlustilyformercy。