"It don't hurt unless you fall on the floor. But
most fellows don't like it."
They stopped at the fireplace in the top passage, where were a crowd of
small boys whispering together, and evidently unwilling to go up
into the bedrooms. In a minute, however, a study door opened, and a
sixth-form boy came out, and off they all scuttled up the stairs, and
then noiselessly dispersed to their different rooms. Tom's heart beat
rather quick as he and East reached their room, but he had made up his
mind. "I shan't hide, East," said he.
"Very well, old fellow," replied East, evidently pleased; "no more shall
I. They'll be here for us directly."
The room was a great big one, with a dozen beds in it, but not a boy
that Tom could see except East and himself. East pulled off his coat and
waistcoat, and then sat on the bottom of his bed whistling and pulling
off his boots. Tom followed his example.
A noise and steps are heard in the passage, the door opens, and in rush
four or five great fifth-form boys, headed by Flashman in his glory.
Tom and East slept in the farther corner of the room, and were not seen
at first.
"Gone to ground, eh?" roared Flashman. "Push 'em out then, boys; look
under the beds." And he pulled up the little white curtain of the one
nearest him. "Who-o-op!" he roared, pulling away at the leg of a small
boy, who held on tight to the leg of the bed, and sang out lustily for
mercy.
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