Bunter the Caravanner - Friardale

'Have what out?' asked Harry Wharton, mildly.
'I don't like the way you fellows carry on!' said Bunter,
severely. 'Laughing at a fellow when he gets ants in his pants—'
'Ha, ha, ha!'
'There you go again!' hooted Bunter. 'A fellow can't open his
mouth without some of you cackling. And when we run into old
Quelch, you want to give him a lift in my van. Whose van is it,
I'd like to know, yours or mine?'
'Yours, old fat man,' said Bob.
'Well, you just remember that!' said Bunter. 'You fellows may be
top dogs in the Remove when we're at school, but we ain't at
school now, and I'm top dog here—See? I'm running this show! I'm
standing you fellows an expensive caravanning holiday,
everything of the best and lots of it, and are you grateful?'
'Eh!'
'Are you grateful?' demanded Billy Bunter, scornfully. 'You're
not! If I hadn't asked you for the hols, where would you be? I'm
treating you generously. I always was a generous chap, as you
know. But if you want me to go on treating you generously,
you've got to mind your p's and q's. If I have any more cheek
from you, I may chuck you. How would you like that?'
They gazed at him.
'That's that!' said Bunter, loftily. 'You can go to bed now if
you like. But you'd better think over what I've said. I mean it!
If you want to hang on to me for the hols, no more cheek, and no
more back-chat! Just toe the line, and remember that I'm running
this show. That's all.
Bunter waved a fat hand in dismissal.
They still gazed at him. They had wondered whether, and how
long, patience would hold out. Now they knew.
'Sure that's all?' asked Harry Wharton, very mildly.
'That's the lot! Better chew on it! You can cut off to the tent
now.'
'Thanks.'
The Famous Five cut off to the tent. Johnny Bull was frowning,
Bob Cherry grinning, the other three smiling. They disappeared
into the tent, leaving Billy Bunter following up the meat pie
with a few jam tarts. Billy Bunter was looking, and feeling,
satisfied. He had told those fellows off. He had put them
properly in their place. He had made it absolutely clear that
he, William George Bunter, was boss of the show, monarch of all
he surveyed, and that he spoke as one having authority, saying
'Do this! and he doeth it!' And if they did not like it, they
could lump it!
But, to Bunter's surprise, the Famous Five did not remain long
in the tent. They emerged again, carrying bags. Apparently they
had been packing.
The fat Owl blinked at them.
'I say, you fellows, what are you up to?' he asked.