However slowly the rumour of Rollitt's dishonesty had spread through the
School, the news of his disappearance spread like wildfire.
Mr Forder's desire to keep the matter from being talked about was
eminently futile, for Wally and Percy Wheatfield both knew all about it
five minutes after Fisher major had discovered the absence of the
"suspect."
By everybody except a very few infatuated persons, such as Yorke and
Fisher minor, Rollitt's flight was taken as conclusive evidence of his
guilt.
"If he hadn't done it, why shouldn't he stay and face it?" asked
Clapperton.
"The wonder to me is," sneered Dangle, "that he brazened it out as long
as he did."
"Suppose you were in his shoes," said Yorke, "suspected by every one,
with the evidence black against you, and Dangle in charge of the
prosecution, how would you like it?"
"If I'm in charge of the prosecution," said Dangle, colouring up, "it's
because _you_, whose duty it was to see the matter put right, were doing
all you could to shield the scoundrel."
"I did nothing because I didn't believe him guilty, and I don't yet,"
said the captain hotly; "and if you call him scoundrel again in my
hearing, I'll knock you down."
"Keep your temper," said Dangle, glad, all the same, that there were one
or two fellows between him and the captain. "_You_ may not care about
the credit of Fellsgarth. We do."
"You!" retorted Yorke, with such withering contempt that Dangle half
wished he had left the matter alone.
"The thing is," said Ranger, "what is to be done!"
"Nothing," said Yorke. "Forder has gone to tell the doctor all about
it. They'll take it into their own hands to hunt him down--perhaps with
Dangle's assistance. All we've got to do is--"