Burr Junior, by George Manville Fenn. 

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I thought that it was unusual for Manville Fenn to set a novel in aboys' boarding school, since I had become used to exotic settings inMalaysia, or South America, for his tension-filled novels. Here hecertainly does not disappoint if it's tension and suspense you areexpecting of him. The last few chapters, in particular, are extremelynail-biting, but the book is quite hard to put down at any point. 

It is Burr who is telling the story, and from his first day at theschool he is friendly with Mercer, who is not good at his school work, but who knows a great deal about natural history, and imparts it toBurr, and of course to the readers as well. There is a gang of otherboys who are inclined to bully, and at first they make life misery forBurr and Mercer--but this is soon got over. 

Other important figures are Hopley, the gamekeeper; his daughter Polly;the school Cook; Lomax, the school drill-sergeant; Magglin, ane'er-do-well and poacher; Dr Browne, the headmaster, and Mrs Browne;Rebble and Hasnip, ushers at the school; Burr's mother, and his uncle, Colonel Seaborough; and the local big landowner, General Sir HawkhurstRye. 

It was a very enjoyable book to transcribe, and I am sure you will enjoyit. NH________________________________________________________________________

BURR JUNIOR, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

"There'll be such a game directly. Just listen to old Dicksee. "

I was very low-spirited, but, as the bright, good-looking lad at my sidenudged me with his elbow, I turned from casting my eyes round the greatbare oak-panelled room, with its long desks, to the kind of pulpit atthe lower end, facing a bigger and more important-looking erection atthe upper end, standing upon a broad dais raised a foot above the restof the room. For this had been the banqueting hall of Meade Place, inthe good old times of James the First, when its owner little thought itwould ever be the schoolroom of Dr Browne's "Boarding Establishment forGentlemen's Sons. " In fact, there was a broad opening now, with asliding door, right through the thick wall into the kitchen, so mycompanion told me, and that I should see the shoulders of mutton slipthrough there at dinner-time. 

So I looked at the lower pulpit, in which sat Mr Rebble, one of theushers, a lank, pale-faced, haggard man, with a dotting of freckles, light eyebrows, and pale red hair which stood up straight like that upona clothes-brush. 

He was resting his elbows on the desk and wiping his hands one over theother, as if the air was water and he had a piece of soap between hispalms. By him was a boy with a book, reading in a highly-pitched voicewhich did not seem to fit him, being, like his clothes, too small forsuch a big fellow, with his broad face and forehead all wrinkled up intopuckers with the exertion of reading. 

"Tchish! tchish! Silence!" said Mr Rebble, giving three stamps on thefloor. "Now go on, Dicksee. "

"I say, do listen, " said the boy by my side. "He isn't well, and I gavehim a dose this morning. "

"You did?" I said. "You hit him?"

"No, no, " said the boy, laughing. "I often do though--a miserablesneak. I gave him a dose of medicine. He had been eating too many ofPolly Hopley's cakes. My father is a doctor!" he added importantly. 

"Oh!" I said. 

"I say, do listen. Did you ever hear such a whine?"

As he spoke, I heard the big, stoutly-built boy give a tremendous sniff, and then go on reading. 

"I love Penny Lope--Penny Lope is loved by me. "

"Pen-el-o-pe!" cried the usher angrily, as he snatched the book from theboy's hands, closed it, and boxed his ears with it, right and left, overand over again. "You _dumkopf_!" he shouted; "you muddy-brained ass!you'll never learn anything. You're more trouble than all the rest ofthe boys put together. There, be off to your seat, and write that pieceout twenty-five times, and then learn it by heart. "

"Ow, ow, ow! sniff, sniff, snork!"

"Silence, sir, or I'll make the imposition fifty times!"

The howl subsided into a series of subdued sniffs as the big fellow wentback to his place, amidst the humming noise made by some fifty boys, who, under the pretence of studying their lessons, kept upconversations, played at odd or even for marbles, or flicked peas ateach other across the school. 

"Old Reb wouldn't dare to hit him like that if the Doctor was here. "

"Your father?" I said. 

"No, no--old Swish! Doctor Browne. "

_Flick-tip_. 

A pea struck my companion on the ear, and dropped on the floor. 

"All right, Burr, " said my neighbour; "did that with a pea-shooter. Iowe you one. "

"I didn't do it!" I whispered eagerly. 

"Of course you didn't. It was that long, thin boy yonder. His name'sBurr too. He'll be Burr major now, and you'll be Burr junior. "

"Oh!" I said, feeling much relieved. 

"You'll have to lick him. Regular old bully. Your name's Frank, isn'tit?"

"Yes. "

"His name's Eliezer. We call him Eely, because he's such a lanky, thin, snaky chap. I say, his father's a tailor in Cork Street, he's got suchlots of clothes in his box. He has a bob-tail coat and black kerseysit-upon-'ems, and a vesky with glass buttons, and all covered withembroidery. Such a dandy!--What's your father?"

I did not answer for a few moments, and he looked at me sharply. 

"Dead, " I said in a low voice. 

"Oh!" said my companion softly too. "I didn't know. "

"He was shot--out in India--Chillianwallah, " I said. --"Died of hiswounds. "

"Oh, I am sorry! I wish my father had been there. "

"Why?"

"He'd have cured him. There's nobody like him for wounds. But, I say, Chillian what's its name?"

"Chillianwallah, " I said. 

"Why, what a game! That's where old Lomax was. I remember now. "

"Is Lomax one of the boys, " I asked wonderingly. 

"Yah! no. You saw him last night, when you came in the fly. That bigchap who lives at the lodge, and helped lift down your box. He had ashot through him, and nearly had his head cut off with a tullysomething. He'll tell you. He has a pension, and is our drill-master, and teaches boys riding. "

This was interesting, and I felt a desire to know old Lomax. 

"What's your mother?" said my companion, breaking in upon my musing. 

"A lady, " I said proudly. 

"So's mine. She's the nicest and best and--" At that moment I heard aloud, deep-throated cough, which was followed by a shuffling andstamping, as I saw all the boys rise in their places. 

"Get up--get up, " whispered my neighbour. "The Doctor. "

I rose in my place, and saw the tall, stout, clerical-looking gentlemanI had seen when I reached Meade Place on the previous night, enter bythe middle door, and look gravely and smilingly round. 

"Good morning, gentlemen, " he said. "Good morning, Mr Rebble;" andthen he marched solemnly to the pulpit on the dais, took his place, waved his hand, there was a repetition of the rustling and shuffling asthe boys reseated themselves, and then the humming murmur of the schoolrecommenced. 

"I say, how old are you?" whispered my companion. 

"Sixteen--nearly, " I replied. 

"Well, that is rum. So am I. So's lots of fellows here. Where did yougo to school before?"

"Nowhere. Had a private tutor at home. "

"Well, you must be a muff. "

"Why?"

"To give up a private tutor all to yourself to come to school here. "

"Obliged to. Uncle said I should grow into a--"

I stopped short. 

"Well, what?"

"Less talking there, " said Mr Rebble. 

"Mind your own business, " muttered my neighbour. "What did he say you'dgrow into?"

"A milksop; and that I must come and rough it among other boys. "

"Ha! ha! what a game! You will have to rough it too, here. I say, who's uncle?"

"My uncle, Colonel Seaborough. "

"What's he?--a soldier too?"

"Yes; and I'm going to be a soldier by and by. "

"Well, you are a lucky one! Wish I had an uncle who said I should be asoldier. I shall have to be a doctor, I suppose. "

Just then, the tall, thin boy pointed out to me a few minutes before asBurr major, came across in a bending, undulating way, with an open bookin his hand, glanced up and down to see that the Doctor and hislieutenant were both occupied, and then slipped into the seat at ourlong desk on the other side of my neighbour, who did not give him timeto speak, but began rapidly, --

"I say, this new chap says he'll give you such a leathering if you shootpeas at him. "

"Eh? Like to see him begin, " said the fresh comer, with a contemptuouslook at me. "I say, Senna T, you're in for it. "

"What for?"

"Old Dicksee says you gave him some stuff last night, and it's made himso bad he can't learn his lessons. He's going to tell the Doctor. "

"Gammon! What do you want?"

"Less talking there, " said Mr Rebble sharply. 

"Hark at old Reb!" whispered the new-comer. "I say, we're going to havea holiday to-day, ain't we?"

"No such luck. "

"Oh, but we must! I've written this out. You'll sign, won't you?"

My neighbour snatched a document consisting of about half a dozen lines, and pushed it back. 

"He'll keep us in if we do. "

"Not he. I know he wants to drive over to Hastings with the girls. Sign, there's a good chap. "

"But you haven't signed. "

"No. I shall put my name last. "

"Yah! Can't catch old birds with chaff, Eely. "

"If you call me Eely again, I'll punch your head. "

"You sign first, and I'll put my name next. "

"Shan't! and if you don't put your name at once, I'll tear up the paper. I don't want a holiday; it was all for you boys. "

"Thank-ye, " said my neighbour derisively. 

"Just you wait till we're out in the field, Jalap, and I'll serve youout for this. "

"Burr junior, " said a rich, deep, unctuous voice, which seemed to rollthrough the school, and there was a dead silence. 

"Here, you!--get up. Go on. "

"Burr junior!" came in a louder, deeper voice. 

"He means you, " whispered my neighbour. 

"Say _Adsum_, " whispered the tall, thin boy, and, on the impulse given, I repeated the Latin word feebly. 

"Go up to him, " whispered my neighbour, and, pulling my legs out frombetween the form and the desk, I walked up through the centre openingbetween the two rows of desks, conscious of tittering and whispering, two or three words reaching my ears, such as "cane, " "pickle, " "catch itcertain. "

Then, feeling hot and confused, I found myself on the dais in front ofthe desk, where the Doctor was looking searchingly at me through hisgold-rimmed spectacles. Then, turning himself round, he slowly andponderously crossed one leg over the other, and waved his hand. 

"Come to the side, " he said, and feeling more conscious up there on thedais, I moved round, and he took my hand. 

"I am glad to welcome you among us, Frank, to join in our curriculum ofstudy, and I hope you will do us all credit. Er--rum! Let me see. Burr--Frank Burr. We have another Burr here, who has stuck among us forsome years. "

The Doctor paused and looked round with a very fat smile, in the midstof a peculiar silence, till Mr Rebble at the other end said loudly, --

"Ha! ha! Excellent!" and there was now a loud burst of laughter. 

I thought that I should not like Mr Rebble, but I saw that the Doctorliked his appreciation of his joke, for he smiled pleasantly, andcontinued, --

"Let me see. I think we have a pleasant little custom here, not morehonoured in the breach than in the observance. Eh, Mr Rebble?"

"Certainly, sir, certainly, " said that gentleman, and the Doctor frownedat his leg, as he smoothed it down. But his face cleared directly. 

"Er--rum!" he continued, clearing his voice. "Of having a briefcessation from our studies upon the advent of a new boy. Younggentlemen, you may close your books for to-day. "

There was a hearty cheer at this, and the Doctor rose, thrust his handinto his breast beside his white shirt-frill, then, waving the othermajestically, he turned to me as the cheering ceased. 

"Burr junior, " he said, "you can return to your seat. "

I stepped back, forgetting all about the dais, and fell rather heavily, but sprang up again, scarlet with mortification. 

"Not hurt? No? That's right, " said the Doctor; and amid a chorus of"Thank you, sir! thank you, sir!" he marched slowly out of the greatroom, closely followed by Mr Rebble, while I stood, shaken by my fall, and half dazed by the uproar. 

CHAPTER TWO. 

How strange it all seemed! I had ridden down the previous day by theHastings coach, which had left me with my big box at the old inn atMiddlehurst. Here the fly had been ordered to take me the remaining tenmiles on to the school, where I had arrived just at dusk, and, after asupper of bread and milk, I was shown my bed, one of six in a largeroom, and made the acquaintance of Mercer, who, after pretty wellpeppering me with questions, allowed me to go to sleep in peace, tillthe bell rang at six, when I sprang out of bed, confused and puzzled atfinding myself there instead of at home. Then, as the reality forceditself upon me, and I was scowled at by five sleepy boys, all in theill-humoured state caused by being obliged to get up before theypleased, I hurriedly dressed, thinking that I could never settle down tosuch a life as that, and wondering what my uncle and my mother would sayif I started off, went straight back, and told them I did not mean tostop at school. 

Everything looked cheerless and miserable, for there was a thick fogoutside, one which had been wafted over from the sea, so that there wasno temptation to go out, and, in spite of my low spirits, I was hungryenough to make me long for breakfast. 

This was laid for us in the schoolroom, to which the boys flocked, asthe big bell on the top of the building rang out again, and here I foundthat there were two long tables, as I supposed, till I was warned aboutbeing careful, when I found that they were not tables, but the doubleschool-desks with the lids of the boys' lockers propped up horizontal. 

"And if you don't mind, down they come, and your breakfast goes outsideinstead of in, " said Mercer. 

Milk and water and bread and butter, but they were good and plentiful, and though I was disappointed at first, and began thinking of the hotcoffee at home, I made a better breakfast than I had expected; and indue course, after a walk round the big building, of which I could seenothing for the chilly fog, the bell rang again, and I had to hurry backinto the schoolroom, taking a seat pointed out for me by Mercer, withthe result related in the last chapter. 

"Here, come along!" cried my new friend: "What a game! You are a goodchap. I wish a new boy would come every day. Hooray! old Rebble's off. Bet sixpence he goes down to the river bottom-fishing. He nevercatches anything. Goes and sits in his spectacles, blinking at hisfloat, and the roach come and give it a bob and are off again longbefore he strikes. Hi yi yi yi!" he shouted; "here we are again!" and, jumping on to the form and from there to the desk, he bent down, tooklightly hold of the sides, threw up his heels, and stood on his head. 

"Here, look at old Mercer!" cried a boy. 

"Bravo, Senna T!" cried another. 

A dictionary flew across the room, struck the amateur acrobat in theback, and fell on the floor, but not much more quickly than my newfriend went over backwards, the blow having made him overbalance so thathis feet came with a crash on the desk, the ink flew out of two littleleaden wells, and the performer rolled off on to the form, and then tothe floor, with a crash. 

"Here!" he cried, springing up. "Who did that? Give me that book. Oh, I know!" he cried, snatching the little fat dictionary, and turning overthe leaves quickly. "`Eely-hezer Burr. ' Thanky, I wanted some paper. I'm all over ink. What a jolly mess!"

As he spoke, he tore out three or four leaves, and began to wipe the inkoff his jacket. 

"I say, Burr, " cried the big boy who had read about Penelope, "Mercer'stearing up your dictionary. "

"You mind your own business!" cried Mercer, tearing out some moreleaves, and then throwing the book at the tale-teller just as the tall, thin boy, who bore the same name as I, came striding up with his faceflushed and fists doubled, to plant three or four vigorous blows inMercer's chest and back. 

"How dare you tear my book?" he cried. "Here, you, fat Dicksee, bringit here. "

"Thought you meant me to use it, " cried Mercer, taking the blowsgood-humouredly enough. "Oh, I say, don't! you hurt!"

"Mischievous beggar!" said my senior taking the book and marching off. 

"Go on! Ask your father to buy you a new one, " cried Mercer derisively, as he applied a piece of blotting-paper to one leg of his trousers. "Hiss! Goose!"

"Do you wish me to come back and thrash you, Tom Mercer, " said the tallboy, with a lordly manner. 

"No, sir, thank-ye, sir; please don't, and I'll never do so no more, sir. "

"Miserable beggar, " said Burr major. "Here, Dicksee, come down thefield and bowl for me. Bring five or six little uns to field. "

"Yah! Tailor!" said Mercer, as his bully marched out. 

"I'll tell him what you said, " cried Dicksee. 

"Hullo, Penny loaf! you there? Yes, you'd better tell him. Just youcome to me for some physic, and you'll see how I'll serve you. "

"Don't ketch me taking any of your stuff again, " cried the big, fat, sneering-looking fellow. "I'll tell him, and you'll see. "

"Go and tell him then, " said Mercer contemptuously. "So he is a tailor, and his father's a tailor. Why, I saw his name on a brass plate in CorkStreet. "

"So's your father got his name on a brass plate, " sneered Dicksee. 

"Well, what of that? My father's a professional gentleman. Here, comeon, Burr, and I'll show you round. Hooray! the sun's come through themist. Where's your cap? All right. You'll have to get a squaretrencher by next Sunday. This way. "

He led me out into the big playground, and turned. 

"Ain't a bad house, is it? Some big lord used to live here, and Magglinsays his father says it was empty for years, and it was sold cheap atlast to the Doctor, who only used to have four boys at first. "

"Who's Magglin?"

"Ha, ha!" laughed Mercer; "he calls himself a gardener because he comeshere to help dig, but I know: he's a poacher, that's what he is. Youask Hopley. "

"But I don't know Hopley, " I said, laughing. 

"You soon will. He's General Rye's keeper. I buy birds off him tostuff. "

"What, geese?" I said, as I recalled that my companion spoke about agoose just before. 

"Geese? no. Magpies and jays and hawks. I stuff 'em with tow; I'llshow you how. Old Hopley says Magglin's a rank poacher, and first timehe catches him on their grounds he'll pull him up before his master, youknow. General's a magistrate. But he won't catch him. Magg's tooartful. I say, got any money?"

"Yes, I have some, " I said. 

"That's right. Don't you spend it. You save up same as I am. Magg'sgot a gun I want to buy of him. He says he won't sell it, but I knowbetter. He will when we offer him enough. I did offer him tenshillings, but he laughed at me. I say!"

"Yes. "

"It's such a beauty. Single barrel, with a flint lock, so that it neverwants no caps, and it comes out of the stock quite easy, and the barrelunscrews in the middle, and the ramrod too, so that you can put it allin your pocket, and nobody knows that you're carrying a gun. "

"But what's the good of a gun here at school?"

"What? Oh, you don't know because it's all new to you. Why, there arehares in the fields, and pheasants in the coppices, and partridges inthe hop-gardens, and the rabbits swarm in the hill-sides down toward thesea. "

"But you don't shoot!"

"Not much, because I have no gun, only a pistol, and it don't carrystraight. I did nearly hit a rabbit, though, with it. "

"But can you get away shooting?"

"Can I? Should think I can. We have all sorts of fun down here. Canyou fish?"

"I went once, " I said, "on the river. "

"But you didn't catch anything, " said Mercer, grinning. 

"No, " I said; "I don't think I had a bite. "

"Not you. Just you wait a bit, I'll take you fishing. There's theriver where old Rebble goes, and the mill-pond where old Martin gives meleave, and a big old hammer pond out in the middle of General Rye'swoods where nobody gives me leave, but I go. It's full of great carpand tench and eels big as boa-constrictors. "

"Oh, come!" I said. 

"I didn't say big boa-constrictors, did I? there's little ones, Idaresay. Here we are. That's Magglin--didn't know he was here to-day. "

He pointed out a rough, shambling-looking young man down the greatkitchen garden into which he had led me. This gentleman was in hiscoat, and he was apparently busy doing nothing with a hoe, upon which herested himself, and took off a very ragged fur cap to wipe his brow aswe came up, saluting us with a broad grin. 

"Hallo, Magg! you here? This is the new boy, Burr. "

"Nay, " said the man in a harsh, saw-sharpening voice, "think I don'tknow better than that? That aren't Master Burr. "

"No, not that one. This is the new one. This is Burr junior. "

"Oh, I see, " said the man. "Mornin', Mr Burr juner. Hope I see youwell, sir?"

"Oh, he's all right, " said Mercer. "Give him a penny to buy a screw oftobacco, Frank. "

I gave the required coin, and Mr Magglin spat on it, spun it in theair, caught it, and placed it in his pocket. 

"Thank-ye, " he said. 

"Got any birds for me?"

"Nay, nary one; but I knows of a beauty you'd give your ears to get. "

"What is it?" cried Mercer eagerly. 

"All bootiful green, with a head as red as carrots. "

"Get out! Gammon! Think I don't know better than that? He means aparrot he's seen in its cage. "

"Nay, I don't, " said the man. "I mean a big woodpecker down in SquireHawkus Rye's woods. "

"Oh, Magg: get it for me!"

"Nay, I dunno as I can. Old Hopley's on the look-out for me, and if Iwas to shoot that there bird, he'd swear it was a fezzan. "

"Perhaps it is, " said Mercer, laughing. 

"Nay, not it, my lad, " said the man, with a sly-looking smile. "If itwas a fezzan I shouldn't bring it to you. "

"Why not? I should like to stuff it. "

"Daresay you would, my lad, but if I did that, somebody would stuff me. "

"Ha, ha!" laughed Mercer. "You'd look well in a glass case, Magg. "

"Shouldn't look well in prison, " said the man, laughing. "Why, what'dbecome o' the Doctor's taters?"

"Oh, bother the taters. I say, what about that gun, Magg?"

"What about what gun?" said the man softly, as he gave a sharp glanceround. 

"Get out! You know. "

"Whish!" said the man. "Don't you get thinking about no guns. Iwouldn't ha' showed it to you if I'd known. Why, if folks knew I had agun, there'd be no end of bother, so don't you say nothing about itagain. "

"Well, then, sell it to me. Burr here's going to join me. "

The man gave me a quick glance, and shook his head. "I don't sellguns, " he said. 

"Then will you shoot that woodpecker for me?"

"Nay, I mustn't shoot, they'd say I was a poacher. I'll try and get itfor you, though, only it'll be a shilling. "

"Can't afford more than ninepence, Magg. "

"Ninepence it is then; I don't want to be hard on a young gentleman. "

"But if it's all knocked to pieces and covered with blood, I shall onlygive you sixpence. "

"Oh, this'll be all right, sir. "

"When shall you shoot it?"

"Ha'n't I told you I aren't going to shoot it?"

"How will you get it, then?"

"Put some salt on its tail, " said the man grinning. "Get out! Here, Isay, could we catch some tench in the mill-pond to-day?"

"Mebbe yes, mebbe no. "

"Well, we're going to try. You have some worms ready for me--apenn'orth. "

"Tuppence, sir. "

"A penny. Why, you've just had a penny for nothing. "

"All right, master. Going?"

"Yes, I'm showing him round, " said Mercer. "Come along, Burry, we'll goand see old Lomax now. "

He led the way out of the kitchen garden, and round by a field where theDoctor's Alderney cows were grazing, then through a shrubbery to theback of the thatched cottage I had dimly seen as the fly drove by theprevious night. 

"Left, right! Three quarters half face. As you never were. Leftcounter-jumper march! Halt stare at pease!"

All this was shouted by Mercer as we approached the cottage door, andhad the effect of bringing out a stiff-looking, sturdy, middle-aged manwith a short pipe in his mouth, which he removed, carried one hand tohis forehead in a salute, and then stood stiff and erect before us, looking sharply at me. 

"Mornin', gentlemen, " he said. 

"Morning, " cried Mercer. "'Tention! Parade for introductions. This isField-Marshal Commander-in-Chief Drill-master and Riding-master Lomax. This is Burr junior, new boy, come to see you. I say, Lom, he's goingto be a soldier. His father was a soldier in India. He was killed atwhat's-its-name?--Chilly winegar. "

"Eh?" cried the old soldier. "Glad to see you, sir. Shake hands, andwelcome to your new quarters. Come inside. "

"No, not now, I'm showing him round. We'll come another time, and bringyou some tobacco, and you shall tell us the story about the fight withthe Indian rajahs. "

"To be sure I will, lads. Where are you going now?"

"Going? Let's see. Oh, I know. We'll go to Polly Hopley's. "

"Ah, I suppose so. You boys are always going to Polly Hopley's. Good-bye. "

He shook hands with us, then drew himself up and saluted usceremoniously, and, as I glanced back, I could see him still standingupright in his erect, military fashion. 

"You'll like old As-you-were, " said Mercer, as we went on, now along theroad. "The Doctor got hold of him cheap, and he does all sorts ofthings. Cuts and nails the trees, and goes messages to the town. He'sa splendid chap to get things for you. "

"But may we go right away like this?" I said, as I saw we were now farfrom the grounds. 

"Oh yes, to-day. He's very strict at other times, and we have to getleave when we want to go out, but this is free day, and I want to showyou everything because you're new. Nobody showed me anything. I had tofind it all out, and I was so jolly miserable at first that I made up mymind to run away and go back home. "

"But you did not?" I said eagerly, for, though I felt better now in theinterest of meeting fresh people and learning something about the place, I could fully appreciate his words. 

"No, I didn't, " he said thoughtfully. "You see, I knew I must come toschool, and if I ran away from this one, if I hadn't been sent back, Ishould have been sent back to another one, and there would have beenwhackings at home, and they would have hurt my mother, who always hatedto see me have it, though I always deserved it: father said so. Thenthere would have been whackings here, and they'd have hurt me, so I madeup my mind to stay. "

"That was wise, " I said, laughing. 

"Oh, I don't know, " he replied, wrinkling up his face; "the cane onlyhurts you outside, and it soon goes off, but being miserable hurts youinside, and lasts ever so long. I say, don't you be miserable aboutcoming away from home. You'll soon get over it, and there's lots ofthings to see. Look there, " he cried, stopping at the edge of the road, "you can see the sea here. The doctor will give us leave to go someday, and we shall bathe. There it is. Don't look far off, does it? butit's six miles. But we've got a bathing pool, too. See those woods?"

"Yes, " I said, as I gazed over the beautiful expanse of hill and dale, with a valley sweeping right away to the glittering sea. 

"Those are the General's, where the pheasants are, and if you lookbetween those fir-trees you can just get a peep of the hammer pond wherethe big eels are. "

"Yes, I can see the water shining in the sun, " I said eagerly. 

"Yes, that's it; and those fields where you see the tall poles dottedover in threes and fours are--I say, did you ever see hops?"

"Yes, often, " I said; "great, long, tight, round sacks piled-up onwaggons. "

"Yes, that's how they go to market. I mean growing?"

"No. "

"Those are hops, then, climbing up the poles. That's where thepartridges get. Oh, I say, I wish old Magg would sell us that gun. We'd go halves in buying it, and I'd play fair; you should shoot just asoften as I did. "

"But he will not sell it, " I said. 

"Oh, he will some day, when he wants some money. "

"And what would Doctor Browne do if he knew?"

"Smug it!" said Mercer, with a comical look, "when he knew. Look! seethat open ground there with the clump of fir-trees and the long slope ofsand going down to that hollow place!"

"Yes. "

"Rabbits, and blackberries. Such fine ones when they're ripe! And justbeyond there, at the sandy patch at the edge of the wood, snakes!--bigones, too. I'm going to catch one and stuff it. "

"But can you?"

"I should think so--badly, you know, but I'm getting better. I had tofind all this out that I'm telling you, but perhaps you don't care aboutit, and want to go back to the cricket-field?"

"No, no, " I cried; "I do like it. "

"That's right. If we went back we should only have to bowl for oldEely. Everybody has to bowl for him, and he thinks he's such a dabsterwith the bat, but he's a regular muff. Never carried the bat out in hislife. Like hedgehogs?"

"Well, I don't know, " I said. "They're so prickly. "

"Yes; but they can't help it, poor things. There's lots about here. Wish we could find one now, we'd take it back and hide it in old Eely'sbed. I don't know though, it wouldn't be much fun now, because he'dknow directly that I did it. I say, you never saw a dog with ahedgehog. Did you?"

"No, " I said. 

"It's the finest of fun. Piggy rolls himself up tight like a ball, andNip, --that's Magg's dog, you know, --he tries to open him, and pricks hisnose, and dances round him and barks, but it's no good, piggy knowsbetter than to open out. I've had three. Magg gets them for me. Hetold me for sixpence how he got them. "

"And how's that?" I said, eager to become a master in all thiswoodcraft. 

"Why, you catch a hedgehog first. "

"Yes, " I said, "but how?"

Mercer looked at me, and rubbed his ear. 

"Oh, that is only the first one, " he said hurriedly. 

"But you must know how to catch the first one first. "

"Oh, I say, don't argue like that. It is like doing propositions inEuclid. You have to begin with one hedgehog, that's an axiom. Then youtake him in your pocket. "

"Doesn't it prick?" I said. 

"Oh, I don't know. How you keep interrupting! And you go out at nightwhen it's full moon, and then go and sit down on a felled tree right inthe middle of an open place in the wood. You get a bit of stick, arough bit, and take hold of piggy's foot and rub his hind leg with thestick. "

"But suppose he curls up, " I said. 

"Oh, bother! Don't! How am I to tell you? You mustn't let him curlup. You rub his hind leg with the stick, and then he begins to sing. "

"Oh, come!" I said, bursting out laughing. 

"Well, squeal, then, ever so loud, and the louder he squeals, the harderyou must rub. "

"But it hurts him. "

"Oh, not much. What's a hedgehog that he isn't to be hurt a bit! Boysget hurt pretty tidy here when the Doctor's cross. Well, as soon as hesqueals out, all the hedgehogs who hear him come running to see what'sthe matter, and you get as many as you like, and put 'em in a hutch, butyou mustn't keep live things here, only on the sly. I had so many, theDoctor put a stop to all the boys keeping things, rabbits, and whitemice, and all. That's why I stuff. "

"What is?"

"Because you can keep frogs, and jays, and polecats, and snakes, andanything, and they don't want to be fed. "

"What a nice cottage!" I said suddenly, as we came upon a red-brick, red-tiled place, nearly all over ivy. 

"Yes, that's Polly Hopley's--and hi! there goes old Hopley. "

A man in a closely fitting cap and brown velveteen jacket, who was goingdown the road, faced round, took a gun from off his shoulder and placedit under his arm. 

He was a big, burly, black-whiskered man, with brown face and dark eyes, and he showed his white teeth as he came slowly to meet us. 

"Well, Master Mercer?" he said. "Why ain't you joggryfing?"

"Whole holiday. New boy. This is him. Burr junior, this is BobHopley, General's keeper. Chuck your cap up in the air, and he'll makeit full of shot-holes. He never misses. "

"Oh yes, I do, " said the keeper, shaking his head; "and don't you do ashe says. Charge of powder and shot's too good to be wasted. "

"Oh, all right. I say, got anything for me?"

"No, not yet. I did knock over a hawk, but I cut his head off. "

"What for? With your knife?"

"No-o-o! Shot. You shall have the next. Don't want a howl, I s'pose?"

"Yes, yes, a white one. Do shoot one for me, there's a good chap. "

"Well, p'raps I may. I know where there's a nest. "

"Do you? Oh, where?" cried Mercer. "I want to see one, so does he--this chap here. "

"Well, it's in the pigeon-cote up agen Dawson's oast-house, only hewon't have 'em touched. "

"What a shame!"

"Says they kills the young rats and mice. Like to go and see it?"

"Yes. "

"Well, I'm going round by Rigg's Spinney, and I'll meet you at the farmgates. Jem Roff'll let you go up if I ask him. "

"How long will you be?"

"Hour! Don't forget!"

"Just as if we should!" cried Mercer, as the keeper shouldered his gunagain and marched off. "It's rather awkward, though. "

"What is?" I said. 

"Being friends with Magglin and Bob Hopley too, because they hate eachother awfully. But then, you see, it means natural history, don't it?"

He looked at me as if he meant me to say it, so I said, "Yes. "

"An hour. What shall we do for an hour? 'Tisn't long enough to go tothe hammer pond, nor yet to hunt snakes, because we should get sointerested that we should forget to come back. But, I say, would yourather go back to the school field, where the other chaps are, or comeback and pick out your garden? We've all got gardens. Or have a gameat rounders, or--"

"No, no no, " I said. "I like all this. It's all new to me. I wasnever in the country like this before. "

"Then you do like it?"

"Of course. "

"That's right. Then you will not mind old Rebble's impositions, and theDoctor being disagreeable, and going at us, nor the boys pitching intoyou, as they all do--the big ones--when the Doctor's pitched into them. Why, you don't look so miserable now as you did. "

"Don't I?"

"No. It's awful coming away from home, I know, and I do get so tired oflearning so many things. You do have to try so much to get to knowanything at all. Now, let's see what shall we do for an hour?"

"Go for a walk, " I suggested. 

"Oh, that's no good, without you're going to do something. I know;we'll go back and make Magg lend us his ferret, and then we'll try for arabbit. "

"Very well, " I said eagerly. 

"No, that wouldn't do, because his ferret's such a beggar. "

"Is he?" I said. 

"Yes; he goes into a hole in a bank and comes out somewhere else, farenough off, and you can't find him, or else he goes in and finds arabbit, and eats him, and then curls up for a sleep, and you waiting allthe time. That wouldn't do; there isn't time enough. You want all dayfor that, and we've only got an hour. Wish I hadn't said we'd go andsee the owls. "

"Shall we sit down and wait?" I suggested. 

"No, no. I can't wait. I never could. It's horrid having to wait. Here, I know. It's lunch-time, and we're here. Let's go into PollyHopley's and eat cakes and drink ginger-beer till it's time to go. "

"Very well, " I said, willingly enough, for walking had made me thirsty. 

"I haven't got any money, but Polly will trust me. "

"I've got some, " I ventured to observe. 

"Ah, but you mustn't spend that. You've got to help pay for the gun. Come on. --Here, Polly, two bottles of ginger-beer, and sixpenn'orth ofbis--I say, got any fresh gingerbread?"

This was to a stoutish, dark-eyed woman of about one-and-twenty, as weentered the cottage, in one of whose windows there was a shelf with arow of bottles of sweets and a glass jar of biscuits. 

"Yes, sir, quite new--fresh from Hastings, " said the girl eagerly. Andshe produced a box full of brown, shiny-topped squares. 

"Was it some of this old Dicksee had yesterday?" said Mercer. 

"Yes, sir. I opened the fresh box for him, and he had four tuppennybits. "

"Then we will not, " said my companion sharply. "Let's have biscuitsinstead. "

The biscuits were placed before us, and the keeper's daughter then tooka couple of tied-down stone bottles from a shelf. 

"I say, " cried Mercer, "I didn't introduce you. Burr junior, this isPolly Hopley. Polly, this is--"

"Yes, sir, I know. I heard you tell father, " said the woman quickly, asshe cut the string. 

_Pop_!

Out came the opal-looking, bubbling liquid into a grey mug covered withstripes, and then _Pop_! again, and a mug was filled for my companion, ready for us to nod at each other and take a deep draught of thedelicious brewing--that carefully home-made ginger-beer of fifty yearsago--so mildly effervescent that it could be preserved in a stonebottle, and its cork held with a string. A very different beverage tothe steam-engine-made water fireworks, all wind, fizzle, cayenne pepper, and bang, that is sold now under the name. 

"Polly makes this herself on purpose for us, " said Mercer importantly. "We boys drink it all. "

"And don't always pay for it, " said Polly sharply. 

I saw Mercer's face change, and I recalled what he had said aboutcredit. 

"Why--er--" he began. 

"Oh, I don't mean you, sir, and I won't mention any names, but I thinkyoung gen'lemen as drinks our ginger-beer ought to pay, and father saysso too. "

I glanced at Mercer, whose face was now scarlet, and, seeing that he wasthinking about what he had said respecting credit, I quietly slipped myhand into my pocket and got hold of a shilling. 

"It is beautiful ginger-beer, " I said, after another draught. 

"Beautiful, " said Mercer dismally, but he gave quite a start and thenhis eyes shone brightly as he glanced at me gratefully, for I had handedthe shilling to the keeper's daughter, who took it to a jug on thechimney-piece, dropped it in, and then shook out some half-pence from acracked glass and gave me my change. 

"Here, put your biscuits in your pocket, Burr, " cried Mercer, "and we'llgo on now. "

Saying which, he set the example, finished his ginger-beer, and made thekeeper's daughter smile by declaring it was better than ever. 

"Glad you like it, sir; and of course you know I didn't mean you, asI've trusted before, and will again, because you always pay. "

"Thank-ye. I know whom you mean, " he replied. "Come on. "

As soon as we were out of sight of the cottage, Mercer laid an arm on myshoulder. 

"I can't say what I want to, " he said quickly, "but I liked that, and Iwon't ever forget it. If ever old Eely hits you, I'll go at him, see ifI don't, and I don't care how hard he knocks me about, and if ever I cando anything for you, to save you from a caning, I will, or from anyother trouble. You see if I don't. I like you, Burr junior, that I do, and--and do come along, or we shall be late. "

CHAPTER THREE. 

"What a fuss about nothing!" I thought to myself, as we went on, down abeautiful lane, with tempting-looking woods on either side, andfox-gloves on the banks, and other wild-flowers full of attractions tome as a town boy. There was a delicious scent, too, in the air, which Ihad yet to learn was from the young shoots of the fir-trees, growingwarm in the sunshine. 

I had made no boy friendships up to then, and, as I glanced sideways atthe pleasant, frank face of the lad walking quickly by me, just at atime when I had been oppressed by the loneliness of my position, freshfrom home and among strangers, a strong feeling of liking for him beganto spring up, and with it forgetfulness of the misery I had suffered. 

"Hi! look! there he goes, " cried Mercer just then, and he pointed upinto an oak tree. 

"What is it?" I said excitedly. 

"He's gone now; wait a minute, and you'll soon see another. There heis--listen. "

He held up his hand, and I stood all attention, but there was no soundfor a few minutes. Then from out of the woods came plainly. 

_Chop chop, chop chop_. 

"I can't see him, " I said. "Some one's cutting down a tree. "

Mercer burst into a roar of laughter. 

"Oh, I say, you are a Cockney!" he cried. "Cutting down a tree! Why, you don't seem to know anything about the country. "

"Well, " I rejoined rather warmly, "that isn't my fault. I've alwayslived in London. "

"Among the fogs and blacks. Never mind, you'll soon learn it all. Idid. Wish I could learn my Latin and mathicks half as fast. That isn'tanybody cutting wood; it's a squirrel. "

"A squirrel?"

"Yes; there he goes. He's coming this way. You watch him. He's cross, because he sees us. There, what did I say?"

I looked in the direction he pointed out, and saw the leaves moving. Then there was a rustle, and the little brown and white animal leapedfrom bough to bough, till I saw it plainly on a great grey and greenmossy bough of a beech tree, not thirty feet away, where it stoodtwisting and jerking its beautiful feathery tail from side to side, andthen, as if scolding us, it began to make the sounds I had beforeheard--_Chop, chop, chop, chop_, wonderfully like the blows of an axefalling on wood. 

"Wonder whether I could hit him, " cried Mercer, picking up a stone. 

"No, no, don't! I want to look at him. "

"There's lots about here, and they get no end of the nuts in the autumn. But come along. "

We soon left the squirrel behind, and Mercer stopped again, in a shadypart of the lane. 

"Hear that, " he said, as a loud _chizz chizz chizz_ came from a drysandy spot, where the sun shone strongly. 

"Yes, and I know what it is, " I cried triumphantly. "That's a cricketescaped from the kitchen fireplace. "

Mercer laughed. 

"It's a cricket, " he said, "but it's a field one. You don't know whatthat is, though, " he continued, as a queer sound saluted my ears, --alow, dull whirring, rising and falling, sometimes nearer, sometimesdistant, till it died right away. 

"Now then, what is it?" he cried. 

"Knife-grinder, " I said; "you'll hear the blade screech on the stonedirectly. "

"Wrong. That's Dame Durden with her spinning-wheel. "

"Ah, well, I knew it was a wheel sound. Is there a cottage in there?"

"No, " he said, laughing again; "it's a bird. "

"Nonsense!"

"It is. It is a night-jar. They make that noise in their throats, andyou can see them of a night, flying round and round the trees, likegreat swallows, catching the moths. "

I looked hard at him. 

"I say!"

"Yes; what?"

"Don't you begin cramming me, because, if you do, I shall try a fewLondon tales on you. "

Mercer laughed. 

"There's an old unbeliever for you. I'm not joking you; I never do thatsort of thing. It is a bird really. "

"Show it to me then. "

"I can't. He's sitting somewhere on a big branch, long way up, and youcan't find them because they look so like the bark of the tree, and youdon't know where the sound comes from. They're just like thecorn-crakes. "

"I've read about corn-crakes, " I said. 

"Well, there's plenty here. You wait till night, and I'll open ourbedroom window, and you can hear them craking away down in the meadows. You never can tell whereabouts they are, though, and you very seldom seethem. They're light brown birds. "

We were walking on now, and twice over he stopped, smiling at me, sothat I could listen to the night-jars, making their whirring noise inthe wood. 

"Now, was I cramming you?" he said. 

"No, and I will not doubt you again. Why, what a lot you know aboutcountry things!"

"Not I. That's nothing. You soon pick up all that. Ever hear anightingale?"

"No, I don't think so. "

"Then you haven't. You'll hear them to-night, if it's fine, singingaway in the copses, and answering one another for miles round. "

"Why, this must be a beautiful place, then?"

"I should think it is--it's lovely. I don't mean the school; I hatethat, and the way they bore you over the lessons, and the more stupidyou are, the harder they are upon you. I'm always catching it. 'Tain'tmy fault I'm so stupid. "

I looked at him sharply, for he seemed to me to be crammed full ofknowledge. 

"The Doctor told me one day I was a miserable young idiot, and that Ithought about nothing but birds and butterflies. Can't help it. I liketo. I say, we'll go egging as soon as we've seen the owls. Wonderwhether I can get an owl's egg for my collection. I've got twonight-jars'. "

"Out of the nest?"

"They don't make any nest; I found them just as they were laid on somechips, where they were cutting down and trimming young trees forhop-poles. Such beauties! But come along. Yes, he said I was a youngidiot, but father don't mind my wanting to collect things. He likesnatural history, and mamma collects plants, and names them. She cantell you the names of all the flowers you pass by, and--whisht--snake!"

"Where? Where?"

"Only gone across here, " said my companion, pointing to a winding trackin the dusty road, showing where the reptile must have crossed from oneside to the other. 

"Which way did he go?" I said; "let's hunt him. "

"No good, " said my companion quietly. "He's off down some hole longenough ago. Never mind him; I can show you plenty of snakes in thewoods, and adders too. "

"They sting, don't they?" I said. 

"No. "

"They do. Adders or vipers are poisonous. "

"Yes, but they don't sting; they bite. They've got poisoned fangs. Youcan see an adder along here sometimes. Perhaps we shall see one to-day, warming himself in the sun. "

But we did not, for a few minutes later we approached a swing gate, justas the keeper came round a curve in the opposite direction. 

"Here you are, then, " he said, "just right. Farmer Dawson's gone off tomarket, and so we shan't have to ask leave. Come on, and let's see ifwe can find Jem Roff. "

He pushed open the gate, and we went along a cart track for somedistance, and then on through one of the hop-gardens, with its tallpoles draped with the climbing rough-leaved vines, some of which hadreached over and joined hands with their fellows, to make loops andfestoons, all beautiful to my town-bred eyes, as was the glimpse Icaught of a long, low old English farmhouse and garden, with a row ofbee-hives, as we went round a great yard surrounded by buildings--stables, barns, sheds, and cow-houses, with at one corner four talltowers, looking like blunt steeples with the tops cut off to accommodateas many large wooden cowls. 

"What are they?" I asked. 

"Oast-houses. "

"What?"

"Oast-houses, where they dry the hops over a fire on horse-hair sheets, "said Mercer. "Look! that's the pigeon-cote, " he continued, pointing tothree rows of holes cut in the woodwork which connected the bricktowers. "The owl's nest's in one of those. "

Just then a middle-aged man, with a very broad smile upon his face, anda fork in his hand, came up. 

"Here, Jem, " said the keeper, "the young gentlemen want to see the owl'snest. "

The smile departed from the man's face, which he wiped all over with onehand, as he frowned and shook his head. 

"Nay, nay, " he said. "The master's very 'tickler 'bout them howls. Why, if I was to kill one, he'd 'most kill me. "

"The young gents won't hurt 'em, Jem. "

"Nay, but they'd be wanting to take eggs, or young ones, or suthin'. "

"Well, I should like one egg, " said Mercer. 

"Ah, I thowt so! Nay, you mustn't goo. "

"Oh yes, let us go, " said Mercer. "There, I won't touch an egg. "

"An' you won't touch the birds?"

"No. "

"Nor him neither. "

"Oh, I won't touch them, " I said eagerly. 

"You see the master says they do no end of good, killing the mice andyoung rats. "

"And I say they do no end of mischief, killing the young partridges andfezzans and hares, " said the keeper. "Better not let me get a sight o'one down our woods. "

The man wiped his face again with his hand, and looked at us bothattentively. 

"Young master here said he'd stooff a magpie for me if you shot one, BobHopley. "

"So I will, " said Mercer, "if Mr Hopley shoots one for you. "

"That's a bargain then, " said the man, rummaging in his pocket, aftersticking the fork in the ground. "Here, this way, " he continued, as hedrew out a bright key. "Coming, Bob?"

"No, I don't want to see owls, 'less they're nailed on my shed door. "

He seated himself on the edge of a great hay-rack, and we followed thefarmer's man through a door into the dark interior of one of theoast-houses, where we looked up to see the light coming in through theopening at the side of the cowl, and then followed Jem up some stepsinto a broad loft, at one corner of which was a short ladder leading upto a trap-door in the floor overhead. 

"Mind your heads, young gents, ceiling's pretty low. "

We had already found that out by having our caps scraped by a rough beamunder which we passed. 

"Now then, go up the ladder and push the trap-door open gently, so asnot to frighten 'em. Turn the door right over, and let it down by thestaple so as it lies on the floor. 'Tain't dark; plenty o' light comesthrough the pigeon-holes. "

"Haven't you got any pigeons now, Jem Roff?"

"No, nor don't want none. Up wi' ye, and let me get back to my work. "

Mercer needed no further invitation, and, followed closely by me, hecrossed to the corner where the ladder stood, climbed up, thrust thetrap-door over, and disappeared--head--shoulders--body--legs. 

Then I climbed too, and found myself in a dirty, garret-like place, litby the rays falling through about a score of pigeon-holes. 

For a few moments the place was dim, and I could hardly make outanything, but very soon after my eyes grew accustomed to the half light, and I was ready to join in Mercer's admiration as he cried, --"Isn't he abeauty!"

For we were looking where, in one corner, sitting bolt upright, with hiseyes half closed, there was a fine young owl, just fully fledged and fitto fly, while nothing could be more beautiful than his snow-white, flossy breast, and the buff colour of his back, all dotted over withgrey, and beautifully-formed dots. 

"Oh, shouldn't I like him to stuff!" cried Mercer. "He'll never look soclean and beautiful again. "

"But what's that?" I cried, pointing at a hideous-looking goblin-likecreature, with a great head, whose bare skin was tufted with patches ofwhite down. Its eyes were enormous, but nearly covered by anasty-looking skin, which seemed to be stretched over them. Projectingbeneath was an ugly great beak, and its nearly naked body, beneath thetoppling head and weak neck, was swollen and bloated up as if it wouldcrack at a touch. Altogether it was as disgusting a looking object asit was possible to imagine. 

"That's his young brother, " cried Mercer, laughing. 

"Young nonsense! It must be a very, very old owl that has lost all itsfeathers. "

"Not it. That chap's somewhere about a fortnight old; and look there, you can see an egg in the nest, too. Shouldn't I like it!"

"Then it's the nest belonging to three pairs of owls?" I said. 

"No. That's the way they do--hatch one egg at a time. They all belongto the same pair. "

I felt a little incredulous, but my attention was taken up then by asemicircle of little animals arranged about two feet from thenesting-place. 

"Why, they're all big mice, " I said. 

"No; nearly all young rats, " said Mercer, counting. "Twenty-two, " hecried, "and all fresh. Why, they must have been caught last night. That's a fine mouse, " he cried, taking one up by its tail. 

"Why, that must be a young rat, " I said. "That little one's a mouse. "

"No; this is a field mouse. Look at his long tail and long ears. Therats have got shorter, thicker tails, and look thicker altogether. "

"Now then, are you young gents a-coming down?" shouted Jem. 

"Yes. All right. Directly. Oh, isn't that fellow a beauty!" hecontinued, throwing down the mouse he had lifted back into its place inthe owls' larder. "I say, don't the old ones keep up a good supply!"

A second summons from the man made us prepare to descend, the full-grownowl making no effort to escape, but blinking at us, and making a soft, hissing noise. The goblin-looking younger one, however, gaped widely, and seemed to tumble over backwards from the weight of its head. It wasso deplorable and old-looking a creature that it seemed impossible thatit could ever grow into a soft, thickly feathered bird like the other, and I said so. 

"Oh, but it will, " said Mercer; "all birds that I know of, except ducksand chickens and geese, are horridly ugly till they are fledged. Youngthrushes and rooks are nasty-looking, big-eyed, naked things at first. There: you go on down. "

I descended through the trap-door, and he followed, the man looking atus searchingly, as if he had not much faith in our honesty when face toface with such temptations as owls' eggs, but his look was onlymomentary, and he took it for granted that we had kept our word. 

"Where are the old birds, Jem?" said my companion. 

"Oh, right away somewhere in the woods, asleep. Want to see them?"

"Of course. "

"Then you must come at night, and you'll see these young ones sitting atone of the holes giving a hiss now and then for the old birds to comeand feed them, and every now and then one of them flies up. "

"Yes, I know, " said Mercer, "so still and softly that you can't hear thewings. But I should like that egg. "

"Then you had better ask the master, and see what he says. "

"Well, my lads, " cried Hopley, in his bluff, deep voice, "seen theowls?"

"Yes; and now, I say, Bob Hopley, you'll let us go through the bigbeech-wood, and round by the hammer pond?"

"What for?" said the keeper. 

"It's holiday to-day, and I want to show this chap, our new boy, round. "

"What! to teach him mischief like you know?"

"Get out. I don't do any mischief. You might let us go. "

"Not my wood, it's master's. "

"Well, he wouldn't mind. "

"And I've got young fezzans in coops all about the place. "

"Well, we don't want the pheasants. "

"I should think not, indeed; and just you look here: I see you've gotthat chap Magglin up at work in your garden again; you just tell himfrom me that if ever I see him in our woods, I'll give him a pepperingwith small shot. "

"You carry your impudent messages yourself, or tell the Doctor, " saidMercer sharply. 

"What?" cried the keeper, scowling at us. 

"I say, you take your impudent messages yourself. You know you daren'tshoot at him. "

"Oh, daren't I? I'll let him see. "

"It's against the law, and your master's a magistrate. You know youdaren't. What would he say?"

The keeper raised his gun with both hands, breathed on the mottledwalnut-wood stock, and began to polish it with the sleeve of hisvelveteen jacket. Then he looked furtively at Jem Roff, then at me, andlastly at Mercer, before letting the gun fall in the hollow of his arm, and taking off his cap to give his head a scratch, while a grim smilebegan to play about his lips. 

"You've got me there, youngster, " he said slowly, and Jem began tochuckle. 

"Of course I have, " said Mercer confidently. "Besides, what's that gotto do with me?"

"Why, he's a friend of yours. "

"That I'm sure he's not. He's a nasty, mean beggar, who makes me payever so much for everything he does for me. You ask him, " continuedMercer, giving his head a side wag at me, "if only this morning hedidn't make me give him twopence for a pen'orth of worms. "

"Yes, that he did, " I said, coming to my companion's help. 

"Humph!" grunted the keeper. "Well, youngsters, never you mind that, you pay him, and keep him at a distance. He's no good to nobody, and Iwonder at Doctor Browne, as teaches young gents to be gents, should keepsuch a bad un about his place. He's a rank poacher, that's what he is, and there ain't nothing worse than a poacher, is there, Jem Roff?"

"Thief, " said that gentleman. 

"Thief? I don't know so much about that. Thieves don't go thievingwith loaded guns to shoot keepers, do they?"

"Well, no, " said Jem. 

"Of course they don't, so that's what I say--there aren't nothing worsethan a poacher, and don't you young gents have anything to do with him, or, as sure as you stand there, he'll get you into some scrape. "

"Who's going to have anything to do with him?" cried Mercer pettishly. 

"Why, you are, sir. "

"I only buy a bird of him, sometimes, to stuff. "

"Yes, birds he's shot on our grounds, I'll be bound, or else trappedones. "

"Well, they're no good, and you never shoot anything for me. P'r'aps heis a bad one, but if I pay him, he is civil. He wouldn't refuse to lettwo fellows go through the big woods. "

"Thought you was going fishing. "

"Not till this evening, after tea. "

"Where are you going?"

"Down by the mill. "

"Wouldn't like to try after a big carp, I s'pose, or one of our oldperch?"

"Wouldn't like!" cried Mercer excitedly. 

"No, I thought you wouldn't, " said the keeper. "There, I must be off. "

"Oh, I say, Bob Hopley, do give us leave. "

"What leave?"

"To have an hour or two in the hammer pond. There's a good chap, do!"

"The master mightn't like it. Not as he ever said I wasn't to let anyone fish. "

"Then let's go. "

"No, my lads, I'm not going to give you leave, " said the keeper, with atwinkle in his eyes; "but there's a couple o' rods and lines all right, under the thatch of the boat-house. "

"Yes, Bob, but what about bait?"

"Oh, I don't know 'bout bait. P'r'aps there's some big worms in themoss in that old tin pot in the corner. "

"Oh, Bob!" cried Mercer excitedly, while I felt my heart beat heavily. 

"Yes, now I come to think of it, there is some worms in that tin pot, asI got to try for an eel or two. "

"Then we may go?"

"Nay, nay, don't you be in a hurry. It won't do. Why, if I was to letyou two go, you might catch some fish, a big carp, or a perch, or one ofthey big eels. "

"Yes, of course we might. "

"And if you did, you'd go right back to the school and tell youngMagglin, and he'd be setting night lines by the score all over thepond. "

"No; honour! We'll never say a word to him!" we cried. 

"Then you'll tell all your schoolmates, and that big long hop-pole chap, what's his name?"

"Burr major, " said Mercer eagerly. 

"And that big fat-faced boy?"

"Dicksee?"

"Yes, that's him, and I'll give him Dicksee if he chucks stones at myPolly's hens. We shall be having 'em lay eggs with the shells broke. "

"Oh, nonsense, Bob! We won't tell. "

"And them two, and all the others coming and wanting leave to go fishingtoo. "

"No, no, I tell you, " cried Mercer, but the keeper, with a malicioustwinkle in his eyes, kept on without heeding him. 

"And half of 'em'll be falling in, and t'other half tumble after 'em topull 'em out, and the whole school getting drowned, and then, what wouldthe Doctor say?"

"I say, Jem Roff, just hark at him!" cried Mercer impatiently. 

"Oh, if you don't want to hear me talk, I can keep my mouth shut. Goodmorning. "

He nodded shortly, and, shouldering his gun, marched off. 

"Oh, I say, isn't he provoking? and he never gave us leave. --Bob!"

No answer. 

"Bob Hopley!"

But the keeper strode on without turning his head, and Mercer stoodwrinkling up his forehead, the picture of despair. 

"And there are such lots of fish in that pond, " he cried, "and I didwant to show my friend here, Jem Roff. "

"Well, why don't you go, then? He's only teasing you. "

"Think so, " cried my companion, brightening up. 

"Why, didn't he tell you where the rods and lines were, and the worms?You go on and fish. I should. "

"You would, Jem?"

"Of course. "

"But there won't be time before dinner now, " said Mercer thoughtfully. "I say, are you hungry?"

"Not very, " I said, "and I've got some biscuits left. "

"Then come on, " cried Mercer. "Don't tell him weave gone, Jem, and Iwill stuff that mag for you splendidly, see if I don't. "

"I shan't see him, my lad. There, off you go. "

"Yes: come on!" cried Mercer excitedly; "and--I say, Jem, lend us abasket. "

"What for?"

"To put the fish in?"

"You go and ketch 'em first, lad, and by and by I'll come round that waywith one under my arm, and you might give a fellow an eel, if you getone. "

"You shall have all the eels, Jem. "

"Thank-ye. Then look here! you bait one line with the biggest worms youcan find, and do you know the penstock?"

"What, down in the deep corner, under the trees?"

"Yes; it's ten foot deep there. You fish right on the bottom, in thatcorner, and you'll have some sport. "

"Hallo!" cried Mercer, laughing. "I say, Burr, junior, hark at him. How does he know? I say, Jem, how many eels have you caught there, eh?"

"You go and begin, " said the man, with a dry laugh. "I won't forgetabout the basket. "

"Nor I about the eels. Come on, " cried Mercer. "Here, look sharp;let's run!"

He caught hold of my hand, raced me through the hop-garden, and out intothe lane. 

"Now, down here, " he said, as we reached a stile. "We can get acrossthis field, and then into the woods, and--quick, do as I do!"

As he spoke, he dropped down on his knees, and began hunting about atthe bottom of the hedge, while I made clumsy efforts to do the same. 

"What is it?" I said eagerly. 

"Pretend it's a snake. Can't you see?"

"No. "

"There's Eely Burr and old Dicksee coming down the lane, and they'llwant to come too. Hist! don't look. Lie down; p'r'aps they haven'tseen us, and they'll go by. "

"But it's all stinging nettles, " I said. 

"What of that? Here, this way; they won't sting if you go down hard. "

And, throwing himself into a great bed of the venomous weeds, he layperfectly still, and I was obliged to follow suit, but not withoutsuffering two or three stings. 

CHAPTER FOUR. 

DOWN BY THE PENSTOCK. 

It seemed a long time before we heard anything, but at last there weresteps and voices which soon became plain, and, to my surprise, I foundthat they were talking about me. 

"Oh, he can't fight, Dicksy, " said one voice, which I recognised as thetall boy's--my namesake. "Those London chaps are all talk and no do. Ishall give him a licking first chance, just to tame him down, and thenyou'd better have a go at him. "

"You think he can't fight, then?"

"Tchah! not he. You can lick him with one hand. "

"Then I will, " said Dicksee. "I wonder where he went. "

"Off with that old Senna T-pot, " said Burr major scornfully. "He'staken him with him to pick snails and frogs--an idiot! I hate thatchap, Dicksy, he's a beast. "

"Yes, that he is. "

"You can't shake hands with him, because you never know what he'stouched last. I think the Doctor ought to be more particular about thesort of boys he--mumble--hum--hum hum hum!"

The buzzing of a humble-bee, and then silence. 

"Ck!"

"Eh?"

"Ck!" ejaculated Mercer, uttering a stifled laugh. "Oh, I say, what agame, and us hearing every word. Thinks the Doctor ought to be moreparticular what sort of boys he has in the school. I suppose that'smeant for me. Well, my father is a gentleman, and could set his to makehim a pair of trousers if he liked. Can't shake hands with me, can'the? Well, who wants him to? I wish I could fight, I'd make him smellmy hands--my fists. He'd know then what they'd touched. But he canfight, and licked me horrid. Lie still yet, or they'll see us get up; Ithought they were in the cricket-field. Tired, I suppose. Such a fussabout making your hands a bit dirty. Daresay I keep 'em as clean as hedoes his. I say, got stung?"

"A little, " I said. 

"Never mind; dock's the thing to cure that. All right. Gone. Nowthen, over the stile, and do as I do. "

He crept over the stile, and into the field, and began to run downbeside the hedge in a stooping position, while I followed suit, and wedid not rise up till we gained the shelter of the trees. 

"There we are! This is the beginning of the woods. Oh, it's such aplace!"

"You've been before, then?" I said, as we began to wind in and outamong large beech-trees, whose smooth grey trunks were spotted withcreamy and green moss. 

"Lots of times. I go everywhere when I can get away. It's a famousplace here for moths. There's old Dame Durden again. This way--nowdown here; we shall soon be there. "

I followed him for about a quarter of an hour through the dim, mossyglades of the grand old wood, till all at once it grew lighter, and westepped out beside a broad sheet of water dotted with lilies and patchesof rush and reed, while about fifty yards farther along the bank of thebroad pool there was a roughly-thatched boat-house, with a mossy oldpunt moored to one of the posts by a rusty chain. 

"Now, then, what do you think of this, eh?" said Mercer. 

I looked round at the smooth sheet of water glistening in the brightsunshine, completely shut in by giant old trees whose great brancheshung down over the sides and even dipped their ends and seemed to berepeated in the mirror-like surface. Here I could see silverylily-blossoms, and there others of gold floating like cups amongst thebroad round leaves, and, turning from the beautiful picture to mycompanion, I could only say two words:

"It's glorious!"

"I should think it is, " he cried. "We two are going to have no end offun together. You don't mind the other boys bullying you, and old Rebsnarling and finding fault, and the Doctor boxing your ears with yourbooks, when you've got places like this to come to. Hi! look at the oldmoorhen, there, with her young ones, " and he pointed to acurious-looking bird swimming about and flicking its black and whitetail, as it went in and out among the rushes growing in the water, withsix little sooty-looking, downy young ones swimming after it. "Ever seeone of them before?"

"No, " I said. "There's another over there too. "

"No, it isn't; that's a bald coot. It's got a white shield on the topof its head, and the moorhen's got a red one like sealing-wax. Hi! lookat that!"

For all of a sudden there was a rush and splash close to the reeds, andthe moorhen and five young ones went through the water with a dash tohide among the reeds. 

"Know what that was?"

"They saw us, and were frightened. Or did some one throw a big stone?"

"There's no one to throw big stones here. That was Mr Jack. "

"Well, did he throw stones?" I said wonderingly. 

"No! What a fellow you are! A jack--a pike--a big fish--took one ofthe young moorhens for his dinner. "

"Why, I thought pike lived on fish, " I cried. 

"They live on anything. I've seen them swallow young ducks andwater-rats and frogs--anything they can get. We'll come and set atrimmer for that gentleman some day. "

"I suppose I'm very stupid, " I said; "but I've always lived in London, and have very seldom been in the country. I don't know anything aboutbirds and fish. "

"You soon will. There's always something to see here. Herons comesometimes, but they don't stop, because it's too deep for them to wadeexcept in one place; and there's a hawk's nest over yonder in an oldfir-tree, but Bob Hopley shot the old birds, and you can see 'em nailedup against his lodge. There was a magpie's nest, too, up in a big elmtree not far off; but never mind them now. Let's catch some--Hist! lookthere. See 'em?"

"No, " I said, looking down into the water where he pointed. 

"Come here. Lie down flat, and slowly peep over the bank through thatgrass. Go softly, or you'll frighten them off. Then look down. "

I did as he told me, and as I looked down into the clear, deep water, that looked almost black from its depth, I could see quite a shoal offish, with their sides barred with dark stripes, sailing slowly aboutbetween me and the dead leaves and rotten branches which strewed thebottom of the pool. 

"See 'em?"

"Yes, " I whispered; "perch, aren't they?"

"Why, I thought you knew nothing about fish. "

"I've seen pictures of them in books, " I said, "of course. "

"Yes, perch, all but that black, soft-looking chap close to the bottom. He's a tench. But come on, and let's get the rods. "

He led the way to the boat-house, a green strip of coarse grass aboutfive feet wide leading to the rough building, and Mercer lookedlongingly at the boat, which was half full of water. 

"We'll try her some day, " he said; "but she seems very leaky. Here weare. "

As he spoke, he took a couple of rough-looking, unjointed rods fromwhere they were laid across some pegs driven into the side of thebuilding just below the thatch eaves. 

"All right, " he said, examining the stout, strong silk lines twistedlightly about them, and the hooks stuck in pieces of cork which werebound on to the butts of the rods. "Now, then, come for the worms. "

He leaned the rods up against the roof of the boat-house, and led meinto the open-sided building, where, as described by the keeper, wefound an old watering-pot half full of moss, and in this damp moss, andbelow it, an abundance of fresh, lively-looking worms. 

"All right. Now for some fish. This way. Take your rod, I'll carrythe pot. That's where we're going. "

He pointed to where the pool narrowed, and ran up among the trees almostto a point, where I could see some woodwork, and a post standing up inthe middle, with a series of holes pierced through it, and as we walkedround by the grassy margin which led to the spot, --

"There, that's the place, " cried Mercer. "That's the penstock. "

"And what's a penstock. "

"Don't you see. They pull up that post, and poke a peg in one of thoseholes, and that keeps it open, so as the water can run out down thatgully behind there through the wood. It's to empty the pond. Thereused to be hundreds of years ago a great forge there, and the waterturned a wheel to work the big hammers when they used to dig iron here, and melt it with charcoal. But never mind that, I want to catch somefish. Now, then, walk out along that woodwork. There's just room forus both on the top of the penstock, and we'll fish from there. Mind howyou go, for it's precious deep. "

It looked ugly, and the old oak beams and piles were moist, and nearlycovered with moss; but I stepped out, and reached the little platformthrough which the upright post ran, and turned round to look for mycompanion, who was by my side directly after. 

"There, " he said; "there isn't too much room. "

"Shall I go and fish from the bank?" I said. 

"Oh no, we'll manage. Don't talk loud, only whisper, and don't moveabout. I don't believe that fishes can hear all the same. There, " headded, as he baited my hook, "that's old Magglin's way. Let's see, areyou deep enough. Yes, that will do. Throw in. "

I dropped in my line, Mercer followed suit, and then, in the midst ofthe profound stillness of the lonely place, we stood on our littlesquare platform, leaning against the post, watching the white tops ofthe cork floats, and waiting. 

"As you've been fishing before, you know what to do, " whispered Mercer;"only don't be in a hurry, give 'em plenty of time, and don't striketill they take your float right down. "

Half an hour passed away, and my attention began to be drawn from myfloat to watch the birds that sailed over the pool, or the swallows thatskimmed it in search of flies. 

"Not deep enough, " said Mercer suddenly, and, taking out his line, headjusted the float higher up, and I followed his example. 

Then we began to fish again; but with no better result, and I lookedround at Mercer. 

"Oh, it's no use to be in a hurry, " he said. "Sometimes they won'tbite, and then you have to wait till they will. But look, something'sat mine. "

I looked at his float, which had given a slight bob, and then another;but that was all. 

"Off again. Didn't want worms, " he said; "wants paste. "

There was another long pause. 

"Not deep enough, " said Mercer again. "Ought to have plumbed thedepth. "

He altered his float, and I did the same, and we compared them to seethat they were about alike, and the fishing went on, till my companiondecided that we ought to have fresh worms, and selected a fine fresh onefor my hook, and one for his own before throwing the old ones out intothe water. 

"Well, now, " he cried, "look at that!"

I was already looking, for before the old baits had gone down manyinches, we saw them both seized by largish fish, which seemed to dartout of some lilies a short distance to our left. 

"What are you going to do?" I said. 

"Wait a minute and I'll show you, " he whispered, laughing, and afterattaching the bait, he brought down the floats till they were only abouta foot away from the hooks. "Now then, do as I do. Throw your line outas near as you can to those floating leaves. "

He threw his own very cleverly, so that the bait dropped into the waterwith hardly a splash, and I followed his example. 

"Too far, " he said, as my bait dropped on to a lily leaf, but the weightof the shot drew it slowly off the dark green leaf, and it glided intothe water. 

"I've got a bite, " said Mercer, in an excited whisper. "Hi, look out!Strike! strike!" he cried, for at that moment the white top of my floatdescended suddenly, rose again and then began to glide in a slopingdirection along the edge of the lily bed. 

I gave the rod a sharp, upward motion, and a thrill ran up my arm, as Ifelt the line tighten, and a curious tugging commence. 

"Hurrah! you've got him. Don't let him go into the weeds, or you'lllose it. Keep your rod up, and you'll have the gentleman. "

I heard all his instructions, but in the flurry of holding my first fishI did nothing but what, as the rod and line were both strong, was forthe best. That is to say, I held my rod with both hands, and kept itnearly upright, while the fish I had hooked darted here and there, andtried vainly to make a dive down for the bottom. 

"It's all right, " said Mercer breathlessly. "It's a big one, and youmust have him. Don't hurry. "

"Is it very big?" I whispered excitedly. 

"I think it is--over a pound, I should say. Let him get tired, or he'llbreak away. Ah, it's of no use, you're caught fast, old gentleman, whatever you are. It's a big carp or a tench. I think it's a carp, it's so strong. "

The struggle went on for fully five minutes before the fish gave in. 

"Now we've got to land it, " said Mercer. "Can't do it here, or he'llbreak away. I know. Give me your rod to hold. That's it. Now you goback, and I'll pass it to you. "

He laid his own tackle down, and I walked carefully along the narrowwoodwork, back to the shore, while he drew the fish round, and thenreached toward me, till I could catch hold of the rod and feel the fishstill feebly struggling. 

The next minute Mercer was by my side, the fish was drawn in close upamongst the sedge growing on the bank. My companion went down flat, reached a hand into the water, and scooped out my capture, which lay nowflapping feebly in all the glory of its golden scale armour, a short, thick, broad-backed carp. 

"There, " cried Mercer, "didn't I tell you this was a grand place? Why, it must be a two-pounder;" and I stood gloating over the vividly-brightcolour of my capture, while Mercer knelt down, took out the hook, andfinally deposited the fish in a hollow, and covered it with fern fronds. 

"Look! look!" I cried just then. 

"Oh, bother! Why, there's one on, " said Mercer. "Here, give me yourrod;" and he stepped quickly out on to the penstock, and made a castwith my line, trying to throw it over the top part of his own rod, whichwas slowly sailing away, floating on the water with a curious motiongoing on at the end, which kept diving down, as if something was tryingto draw it under water. 

It was all plain enough: a fish had hooked itself, and at the first tug, the light bamboo rod had glided off the penstock, to act as a big, longfloat, for the cork was deep down somewhere out of sight. 

I followed on to the penstock, and stood by as cast after cast was made, always cleverly over the rod, but the hook glided back on being drawnwithout taking hold. 

It was plain enough that in a few minutes the rod would be drawn out ofreach, when Mercer made a more lucky cast, for in drawing back, the hookhad caught a part of the other line, and directly after there was asteady tightening. 

"Hah!" ejaculated Mercer, and he drew in steadily till his own rod waswithin reach, and I lay down, leaned out as far as I could, and strainedto reach it. 

"Take care. Hold tight. It's horrid deep here. Mind, or you'll bein. "

But I was holding tightly by part of the woodwork, and, after a few moreefforts, I touched the butt of the rod with the tips of my fingers, pushing it away, for it to rise again right into my hand, and I rosewith it, safe. 

"Give it to me. Take yours, " cried Mercer, when the exchange was made, and I saw his face light up as he began to play a good-sized fish, butwith my hook still attached to his line. 

"It's a big one, " he panted, as the struggle went on, with, the fishfighting now to reach the water-lilies, but without success. "Thatwouldn't do, " he cried. "If he once got in there, he'd wind the weedsabout the line, and break away. "

So, by steady force, the fish was led back, and again I went ashorefirst, took Mercer's rod, and held it while he scooped out, and threwhigh our second capture, which proved to be another carp, nearly, butnot quite so big as mine. 

We were soon fishing again from our old place, but without the slightestsuccess now, the struggles with our golden prisoners having apparentlyscared away all the other fish. 

"This won't do, " said Mercer at last; "we shall have to try somewhereelse. Here, I forgot all about Jem Roff; and look at 'em. "

"Look at what?"

"Why, the eels. Can't you see them?"

"No. "

"Why, look at those bubbles coming up. That's eels at work stirring upthe mud at the bottom, or coming out of their holes. We'll soon talk tothem. "

His way of talking to the eels was to raise the floats so high, that, after trying several times, it became evident that he had adjusted thedepth so that the bait touched the ground, and the floats lay half overon their sides. 

"Now then, " he said, after examining the worms, "we ought to catch oldJem's supper pretty soon. Throw in there, near me. "

I did as I was told, and the patient waiting began again, with changesof baits and moves in fresh positions, but without result, and I wasbeginning to get rather tired and hungry, when my companion saiddolefully, --

"Don't seem to bite. They won't begin till it's nearly dusk, and weshall have to go back before very long, for we must have some tea. Wonder whether cook'll give us some meat? I know: we'll get some eggsof Polly Hopley; she'll boil 'em for us, and we'll take 'em back. "

We fished for another hour. 

"It's no good, " said Mercer; "I'm very sorry. I wanted you to catch abig eel, and then you'd want to come again, and now you won't care aboutit. "

"Oh yes, I shall, " I said. "It was worth coming too, even if we didn'tcatch any more fish. "

"You think so? Look! you've got him!"

For my float was bobbing gently, and moving slowly away. 

"No, no, don't strike. Yes--let him have it. That's an eel biting, andhe will not leave it. You'll see. "

The gentle bob, bob, bob of the float went on as it glided slowly awayfoot after foot, till I could bear the excitement no longer, and Iturned my eyes to my companion as if to say, "Do let me strike now--strike gently. "

"Yes, " he cried, "he must have got it;" and I struck gently, and feltdirectly as if the hook was in a stump or a dead branch at the bottom ofthe pool. 

"It isn't a fish, " I said, looking at Mercer. 

"What is it then?" he replied, laughing. "It's an eel. "

"But it don't move or run about. "

"You wait a minute. It's an eel, and a big one. "

My acquaintance with eels so far had been upon the slabs at thefishmonger's shops, or in pieces browned and garnished with friedparsley, and my line remained so tight and still that I still doubted mycompanion's words. 

"He has got his tail in a hole, or twined about a stump. "

"But don't you think the hook's in a stump?"

"I never knew a stump bite at a worm, and run away with your float. There, he's loose now. Keep him up, and don't let him go down lowagain. "

I heard his words, but felt that all I could do was to let the eel gowhere it liked. For it started the fight by swinging its head rapidlyfrom side to side in a succession of sharp jerks, and then began to makethe line and the top of the rod quiver, as it worked its way backward, trying to descend to the bottom, while my efforts were, of course, directed towards pulling it to the top. 

"That's right; you've got him fast, " said Mercer. "It's of no use totry and play him, he'll keep on like that for long enough. Give me therod while you get back to the bank. Then you must pull him out quickly, right up on to the grass, and put your foot upon him. Not afraid ofeels, are you?"

"I don't know, " I said. 

"Because the big ones will bite--hard. "

I handed the rod, and walked back along the woodwork that was like theisthmus of our tiny wooden peninsula, and as soon as I was ashore, Mercer left his rod again, and handed me mine, following directly after, as I felt the snaky-looking creature writhing and undulating at the endof the line, sending quite a galvanic thrill up my arms the while. 

"Now then, " said Mercer, "pull steady; and when it is near the top, runit right out on to the grass. "

I tried to obey his orders; but when I saw the creature keeping up itsrapid serpentine motion, I felt disposed to let it go down again intoits watery depths. I did not, however, but gradually swept the point ofmy rod round, drawing my prisoner nearly to the bank, and then with onegood swing drew it right out on to the grass, where, in an instant, ittied itself right up in a knot, with the line twisted about it. 

"Oh my, what a mess!" cried Mercer, coming to my help. "Ugh! you nasty, slimy wretch! Mind, or he'll be off back into the--Ah, would you?"

He seized the line, and drew the eel farther from the water's edge, waiting his opportunity, which came directly, for the fish rapidlyuntwined itself, plunged its head amongst the grass, and began to makeits way like a snake when its course was checked by Mercer's footplanted firmly behind its head. 

"Ugh! how cruel!" I said. 

"Serve him right. He's grown to be as big as this by catching andeating all the poor little fish that went near him. He's good to eattoo, and what a big one! Why, he must be over a pound. Oh my, what amess!" he continued. "He has swallowed the hook right down, and there'sno getting it out till he's dead. Here, give me your handkerchief, I'lluse mine when I catch one. "

I took out my handkerchief, and by his directions spread it upon thegrass, when he raised his foot, lifted up the line, and the fish againtwisted itself into a knot. 

"That's the way, " he said. "Now then, I'll drop him gently on to thehandkerchief, and you take the cross corners and tie them over himtight, and then the other two. Ready?"

"Yes, " I said, feeling no little repugnance to the slimy creature, butgetting first one knot and then the other fast over the big roundwrithing fish, and this done to my companion's satisfaction, he whippedout his knife and cut the line. 

"There, " he said, "we mustn't lose sight of him, or he'll eat his wayout if he don't find another way through the folds. No; I think he'ssafe. I'll hang him here. "

"Here" was the rugged stump of a small branch of one of the nearesttrees. 

"Now, " he said, "I'll try and catch one too before we go, and we shan'thave done so very badly. "

"But you've cut my hook off, " I said. "How am I to fish?"

"You'll have to watch me, for I haven't another hook. Come along. Wemustn't stop much longer, or we shan't be back to tea. Stand your rodup against that tree. "

He was already half-way back to the penstock and caught up his rod, butno fish had attacked it this time, and we stood side by side once more, leaning against the post, watching his float, as he tried first in oneplace, then in another, without success. 

"We shall have to give it up and go, " he said at last. "We must getback to tea. We'll give the carp to Polly Hopley, she likes fish, andthe eel too. "

"Look! a bite, " I whispered, for I distinctly saw a slight quivering ofthe top of the float. 

"No, " he said despondently. "I did that, shaking the top of the rod. I'm not so lucky as you. Yes, it is. Hooray!"

For the faint quiver was repeated, then there were one or two littlebobs, then others, and at last the float began to dance slowly awaytoward the shore. 

"He has got it, and is going to take it to his hole, " whispered Mercer. "But he don't go here to-night. He's going into the frying-pan, Ithink. Hah! Got him!"

For he now struck sharply, and the rod bent tremendously. There was nosteady, motionless pull here, but a fierce shaking of the head and ahard, vibratory tugging at the line. 

"Bigger than yours, " he cried. "A thumper! My, how he pulls! Ah, would you? No, you don't, my fine fellow. He wants to get to the bank, I suppose, but he's coming out here into deep water, where there'snothing to twist about, and he's not going ashore till I go first. "

Just then the eel made a rush first in one direction, then in another, but with a heavy pressure kept up, and the rod bending nearly double. Then it made a rush for the shore, and Mercer raised the point of hisrod and stepped back, while I uttered a cry, for the rod had struck mesharply on the ear. 

But it was not at the blow, but at the tremendous splash, for, forgetfulin his excitement of where he stood, Mercer's step was off the narrowpenstock right into the deep water, and as I clung to the post with onehand, I was looking down into the huge bubbling ring he had made, to seefirst the rod come up, then Mercer's hand, and then his face, close tohis floating cap, but quite a dozen feet away from where I stood. 

I was too much startled to move for a few moments, while Mercer beat thewater with his hands frantically for a bit, and then went under again, but rose and called to me hoarsely, --

"Help!"

"Swim!" I shouted. "Swim!" But he only gazed at me wildly, and I sawhim go down again. 

For an instant or two I stood as if turned to stone, then a thoughtstruck me, and I ran along the woodwork to where I had left my rod, and, without thinking of the danger and the narrowness of the path, I ranback again in time to see Mercer rise again, beating the waterfrantically. 

"Here, quick!" I shouted. "Catch hold;" and I held out the thin bamboopole to him, but it did not reach within a couple of yards of where hewas beating the water. 

But it had its effect upon him. It was a chance for life, and in acurious laboured way he struck out now to swim, but came on very slowly, being hampered in some way by his own rod. 

"Oh, try, try, try!" I shouted, and I saw him set his teeth and swim ondesperately till one hand closed upon the thin bamboo, and then theother caught hold. 

"Tight! Hold tight, " I shouted, and, dropping on my knees, I began todraw the rod through my hands slowly, as if it was a rope, my eyesfeeling as if they were starting as I saw his wild pallid face and setteeth, for I was in momentary dread that he would let go. 

It seemed long enough before I had drawn him within reach and snatchedat one of his wrists, then at the other, drawing myself back so as toget him closer. Then I got tight hold of his jacket collar, and, as Idid so, my knees glided away from me back over the other side of thepenstock, and a curious sickening sensation came over me. The water andMercer's white face were blurred and swimming before me, and I was fastlosing consciousness, but the faintness was not much more thanmomentary, and the sickening sensation began to wear away as rapidly asit came, as I fully realised the fact that I was half off the littleplatform, with my legs in the water, but holding my companion all thetime with a desperate clutch, while he clung as tightly to my wrists. 

Then I tried to speak, but at first no words came, and it was all likesome terrible dream. 

At last, though, the power of utterance came, and I cried loudly, in avoice which did not seem like mine, --

"I've got you safe. Now climb out. "

He did not move, only gazed wildly in my eyes till he seemed to irritateme. 

"Do you hear, you coward?" I half screamed; "climb out on to here. Doyou want me to fall right in?"

Still he did not reply, and I shouted at him again in my despairingrage, for a curious sensation of weakness crept through me, and thehorrible thought came that sooner or later I must let him go. 

"Do you hear? Don't play the fool. Climb out. "

"Can't, " he said in a husky whisper. "I tried--hard. "

"Try again. "

In obedience to my fierce order, he made an effort, splashing the watera little, but ceased directly, and gazed at me wildly still. 

"Can't. Line--round my legs. "

His words sent a flash of light through me, for they explained hismiserable attempts to swim, and I realised that the stout silk line hadbeen twisted about him by the eel in its efforts to escape. 

"Try again, " I said in a voice as husky as his own. "_You must_. "

He struggled feebly, but gave up at once. 

"I can't, " he groaned. "No strength. "

The poor fellow seemed paralysed, save that I could feel his handsgrasping me with a clutch that did not relax for a moment, as I laythere on my chest, thinking what I must do. It was evident that Ishould get no help from him: for the shock of the accident, and hisdiscovery that he was fast bound and helpless, had completely unnervedhim, and it was plain to me that before long his desperate clutch wouldrelax, and, when I could hold him no longer, he would sink back anddrown before my eyes. 

I looked despairingly round, but only to see deep water, and the bank sonear and yet so far, for it was out of reach. 

At last my mind was made up. I would get my knees on the penstockagain, and then by main force drag him out, at all events into a sittingposition, where I could hold him against the post while he recoveredsufficiently to walk to the shore. 

I waited a few moments, and then began, but to my horror found that myfeet glided over the slimy, rotten woodwork of the piles beneath thewater, and that I could get no hold anywhere. If I could have had myhands free for a few moments, it would have been easy enough, but Idared not let go of him, and, after a brief and weakening struggle, Igave up, and hung over panting, with for the only result the feelingthat the water was now farther up my legs than before. 

I soon got my breath again, and made a fresh effort, but with a worseresult, and this was repeated till a chilly sensation of dread ranthrough me, and I felt half stunned at the horror of my position. 

Then I recovered a little. "Mercer, " I said, "do you feel rested now?"

He did not speak, only looked at me in a curious, half vacant way, and Ishivered, for this was, I felt sure, the first step toward his losingconsciousness and loosening his hold. 

"I say, " I cried, "don't give up like that. You've got to climb up onto these boards. I'm going to help you, but I can't unless you help metoo. "

There was no reply, only the same fixed stare in his dilated eyes, andin my horror I looked wildly round at the place I had thought sobeautiful, but which was now all terrible to me, and felt how utterly wewere away from help. 

I began again, twining my legs now about the nearest post, and thisenabled me to hold on, but I could get up no farther. I tried, though, to drag Mercer on to the woodwork, but my position crippled me, and Ishould have required double the muscular power I possessed. 

I believe I made other trials, but a curious sensation of weakness andconfusion was coming over me, as I uttered one after the other my loudcries for help. 

It was horrible, and yet it seemed ridiculous that we two lads could notstruggle up there into safety; but though I thought so then, I haveoften felt since that in my cramped position I was loaded down, as itwere, with my companion's weight. 

The end seemed to be coming fast. I had no dread for myself, since Ifelt that, once free of Mercer's tight clutch and the hold I had uponhim, I could grasp the far edge of the woodwork, draw myself farther up, and sit and rest. But before I could do this I knew that he would havesunk away from me, and in a confused fashion I began to wonder whether Ishould hear him scream out as he was drowning, or whether he would sinkdown gently without a sound. 

I shouted again, but my voice sounded weak, and as if it did notpenetrate the trees which closed us in, and now it seemed to be allover, for the horrible sense of faintness was returning fast, and I madeone more desperate effort before I felt that I too was going to sinkback into the black water; and in that wild last fit of energy I utteredwhat was quite a shriek, and then felt half choked by the spasm of joythat seemed to rise into my throat. 

For from quite close at hand there came quite a cheery, --

"Hillo!"

"Here--quick--help!" I gasped; and then I was silent, and hearing aloud ejaculation, as I felt the wood of the penstock tremble. 

"All right. Hold tight, lad, " said a familiar voice, and a hand graspedmy collar. "I've got you, and I've got him too. Here, can you climbout?"

"If--if you can hold him, " I said. 

"I can hold him, and give you a help too. That's the way--get tighthold of the edge, draw yourself up. Well done. Now sit down, and putyour arm round the post. "

I had been conscious of a strong hand grasping my waistband and givingme a drag up, and now I was sitting trembling and holding tightly by thepost. 

"Now then, Master Mercer, don't stare like that, lad. I've got yousafe. There, out you come. My word, you're wet! Stop a moment, though; you'd better try and get ashore before I pull him right out. There ain't room for three of us. Can you manage it now?"

"Yes, " I said, standing up with my teeth chattering. 

"Sure? Don't tumble in. "

"I can do it, " I said, and, trembling the while as if cold, I walkeddripping along the woodwork to the shore, where I sank down on the grassas if my legs had suddenly given way, and crouched there watching, as Isaw the man from the farm, Jem Roff, with his arm round Mercer, whom hehad lifted right out, bring him streaming with water to the shore, andthe fishing-rod behind, while, as he lowered him on to the grass, therewas a horrible writhe from something wet close to me, which made mestart away. 

"What have you two chaps been at?" cried Roff wonderingly. "The line'sall twissen round his legs, --and hold hard a minute till I get my knife. I must have that eel. "

CHAPTER FIVE. 

"He's a two and a half pounder, he is, " said Jem Roff as, after a bit ofa struggle, he got tight hold of the writhing monster. "My word, " hecontinued, holding it down, "he's a strong un! Here, you just slip yourhand into my jacket pocket and get out my knife. Open it, will you?"

I followed out his instructions, and handed him the opened knife, whenwith one clever cut he divided the eel's backbone, and its writhingsalmost ceased. 

"There, " continued Jem, taking hold of the line, "let's get you off. What a tangle! why, it's reg'lar twissen all about your ankles. I mustbreak it. Why, it's tough as--look ye here, " he continued, tugging atthe plaited silk, "it's strong enough to hold a whale. I shall have tocut it. Bob Hopley won't mind. "

_Snick_, and the line was divided, the eel thrown down, and Jem began tountwine the line from about Mercer's legs, as the poor fellow, lookingterribly white and scared, now sat up on the grass, looking dolefullyfrom one to the other. 

"My heye! you do look like a drownded rat, master, " said Jem, chuckling. "Lucky I come, warn't it?"

I looked angrily at the man, for he seemed horribly unfeeling, and then, turning to Mercer, --

"How are you now?" I said. 

"Very wet, " he replied feebly. 

"Raw, haw!" laughed Jem. "There, get up, you're clear now. Couldn'tswim a bit like that. "

"No, " said Mercer, getting up shivering, and shaking the water from hishair. 

"Worse disasters at sea, lads. Here, come on along o' me. Let's putthe rods back again;" and, taking the one he had dragged ashore withMercer, he whipped the line round the other and pulled it ashore, swungthe lines round both, and trotted with them to the boat-house, where helaid them on the pegs, and then came back to where we stood, so utterlyupset that neither of us had spoken a word. 

"Now then, " cried Jem, taking hold of the scrap of line to which the eelwas attached and twisting it round his finger. "This all you caught?"

"No, " I said helplessly; "there's an eel in that handkerchief hanging onthe tree. "

Jem dropped the big eel again and trotted to the tree. 

"Big as t'other?" he said. "Raw, haw! Here's the hankerchy, butthere's no eel. Look ye here, he's worked a hole through and gone. Youdidn't kill him first?"

"It must be down there, " I said. 

"Down here!" said Jem contemptuously; "he's found his way back to thewater again. Eels goos through the grass like snakes. Ketch anythingelse?"

"Two carp, " I said. "Here they are. "

"Ah, that's better, and all alive, oh! I'll carry 'em. Come along. "

He thrust a twig of willow through the gills of the fish, and led theway through the woods, and across some fields to a cottage, where awoman came to the door. 

"Here, missus, " he said, "pitch some more wood on the fire. Youngsquire here stepped into the pond. "

"Oh, a mercy me!" cried the woman. "Pore dear, he do look bad. "

"Not he. All right again direckly. You let him warm himself, and I'llrun up to the schoolhouse and fetch him some dry clothes. "

"No, " cried Mercer, rousing himself now. "We'll both run up, and get inwithout any one seeing us, and go and change our things. "

"Ay, that'll be best, " said Jem; "and, if I was you, I'd start at once. Run all the way, and it'll warm you up. "

"Yes. Thank you for coming and helping us, " said Mercer, who had nowquite found his tongue. 

"Oh, that's all right, " said the man jocularly. "That's a fine eel, butdon't fish for 'em that way again. Going in after 'em ain't the bestway; you see they're quicker, and more used to the water than you are. "

Mercer shuddered. 

"Come along, Burr, " he said feebly. 

"Wait a minute. Here's your eel and the carp. Where's that there rushbasket, missus?"

"Oh, we don't want the fish, " said Mercer, with a shiver. "Come along, Burr. "

He hurried out of the cottage, and into a lane. "Keep listening, " hesaid. "If you hear any one, we'll go across the fields. "

"There's some one coming now, " I said. 

"Oh dear! it's old Rebble. He hasn't seen us. This way. "

He stooped down, and ran to a gate, crept through, and then, leading theway, he walked fast along by the side of a hedge till we had crossed onefield, and then began to trot, seeming to get stronger every minute, while I followed, with my wet trousers clinging to my legs, and thewater going "suck suck" in my boots. 

We crossed two or three fields, and then Mercer drew up, panting, andwith the natural colour coming back into his face. 

"We'll walk now, " he said, "and go right round, and slip in through thegarden. Perhaps we can get in and up to our room without being seen. "

"Yes, do, " I said, looking dolefully at my wet legs, and my jacket allcovered with green from the penstock. "Feel better now?"

"Yes, I'm getting all right. I say, didn't I seem like a horridcoward?"

"I don't think so, " I said. "It was enough to frighten anybody. "

Mercer was silent for a few minutes. Then he began again. 

"I never felt like that before. I was going to swim, but the eel hadgone about my legs, and as soon as I felt the line round them, and thathorrid great thing twining it all over me, I tried hard to kick it off;but you haven't got much strength in the water, and then, as I felt thatI couldn't get my legs clear, I came over all queer, and so horriblyfrightened that I couldn't do anything. It was just like having a dreamin the night, after eating too much cake. "

"It was very horrible, " I said, with a shiver at the recollection, though I was beginning to feel warm. 

"Yes, wasn't it? I say, don't go and think me a coward, there's a goodchap. "

"I was not going to think you a coward, " I said. "It isn't likely. "

"But I must have seemed like one, because I can swim ever so far, butwhen I found myself like that, all the strength went out of me. --I say!"

"Yes?" I said, for he remained silent, and trudged on, looking hard atthe ground. 

"I did like you for paying at Polly Hopley's, and I said I'd do anythingfor you, but I can't tell you what I feel now, for your helping me. "

"Don't wish you to tell me, " I replied. "Come along. I want to get onsome dry things. "

"But--"

"Hold your tongue, " I said. "There's some one coming. "

He looked sharply in the indicated direction, and a shout saluted us. 

"It's some of the boys, " he whispered. "Come on. " He led the way to ahedge, forced his way through, and I followed, and once more he led mealong at a trot, with the great house right before us among the trees, and then, striking off to the right, he went through field after field, and then through a gate, and along by the side of a deep ditch, to stopshort all at once, as a man started out of the hollow, and tried to hidea small gun. 

"Why, Magglin, " cried Mercer, "you're after rabbits. "

"Nay, nay; rats. They comes after the taters. Been fishing?"

"Come on, " whispered Mercer, and he ran along by the hedge, turning oncemore to the left, and at last pulling up in a clump of fir-trees, on thenorth side of the big house. 

"Now then, " he said, "I daresay the Doctor hasn't come back, and theladies are sure to be with him. We'll creep in by the front door andget up-stairs. Keep close to me. "

He paused for a few minutes to get breath, and then started off, throughthe shrubbery, across the lawn, and in at the front door. 

The hall was empty, and he sprang up the well-carpeted staircase, reached the first floor, ran lightly along a passage, and through abaize door, which separated the Doctor's part of the house from theboys' dormitories. 

"All right!" he whispered, as he held the baize door for me to passthrough; "nobody saw us, and the boys will not be up here. "

He led the way down a long passage to another staircase, ran up, and Irecognised the floor where our bed room was, when, just as we weremaking a rush for it, a door opened, and the big fat boy Dicksee cameout, stared, and then burst into a roar of laughter. 

"Oh, here's a game!" he shouted. "Old Senna's been diving afterpodnoddles, and giving the new chap lessons. "

Mercer rushed at him so savagely that Dicksee stepped back, and the nextminute we had reached our room, rushed in, and banged the door. 

"Oh, isn't he a beast?" cried my companion, panting, and looking allaglow now. "He'll go and tell the boys, but we mustn't say where we'vebeen. "

Half an hour after, we went down, dressed in our other suits, feelingvery little the worse for our adventure, and just as we reached the bigschoolroom, the big clock up in the turret chimed. 

"Why, we're in good time for tea after all, " said Mercer. "They alwayshave it late on holidays. Quarter of an hour to wait. Let's go andwalk down to the boys' gardens. "

He led the way out and across the playground to a gate in the hedge, through which we passed, to come plump on the Doctor, three ladies, andMr Rebble, who carried a creel by the strap, and had a rod over hisshoulder. 

"So you've had no sport, Mr Rebble?" the Doctor was saying. 

"No, sir, none. The wind was in the wrong quarter again. "

"Aha!" said the Doctor, as he caught sight of us; "our new young friend, Burr junior. My dears, this is our new student. Burr junior, my wifeand daughters. "

We both took off our caps. 

"Friends already, eh?" said the Doctor. "History repeats itself, themodern based upon the classic. Quite a young Pylades and Orestes. Well, Burr, have you made acquaintance with all your schoolfellows?"

I turned scarlet, and was at a loss as to what to say. But there was nooccasion for me to feel troubled--the Doctor did not want an answer. Henodded pleasantly, the ladies bowed and passed on with him, while Mercerhurried me away. 

"What a game!" he said; "and you've only made friends with one. I say, poor old Reb's been fishing all day again for roach, and never caughtone. He never does. I wish he'd had the ducking instead of me. "

"Nonsense!" I said. "You don't. "

"Oh, but I just do, " he said. "I say, let's go round and see cook. "

"What for?"

"To ask her to dry our clothes for us. This way. " He ran off, and Ifollowed him, to pass through a gate into a paved yard, across which wasa sloping-roofed building, at the side of the long schoolroom. 

Mercer tapped at a door, and a sharp voice shouted, --

"Come in!"

"Mustn't. Forbidden, " said Mercer to me, and he knocked again. 

"Don't want any!" shouted the same voice, and a big, sour-looking, dark-faced woman came to the door. 

"Oh, it's you, is it, Master Mercer? What do you want?"

"I say, Cookie, this is the new boy. "

"Nice pair of you, I'll be bound, " she said roughly. 

"We've been out, and had an accident, and tumbled into a pond. "

"Serve you both right. Wonder you weren't both drowned, " she saidsharply. 

"Don't tell anybody, " continued Mercer, in no wise alarmed. "We nearlywere, only Jem Roff at Dawson's farm came and pulled us out. "

"Oh, my dear bairns, " cried the woman, with her face and voice changing, "what would your poor mammas have said?"

"It's all right, though, " said Mercer, "only our things are soaked. Dohave 'em down and dried for us by the morning. "

"Why, of course I will, my dears. "

"And, Cookie, we haven't had any dinner, and it's only bread and butterand milk and water. "

"Yes; coming, " cried the woman, as a door was heard to open, and a voiceto call. 

"Go along, " she said. "They're calling for the bread and butter. Youlook under your pillows when you go to bed. "

"It's all right, " said Mercer. "Come along. She came from our town, and knows our people. My father set her brother-in-law's leg once, after he'd tumbled off a hay stack. Isn't she a gruff one when shelikes! This way. Let's get in our places now. "

We went in to tea, which was only tea for Mr Rebble, who had a smallblack pot to himself, and a tiny jug of cream; but the bread and butterand milk and water were delicious, and I had made so good a meal that Ihad forgotten all about our visit to the cook till we had been in bedsome time. I was just dozing off to sleep, when I was roused up byMercer's hand laid across my mouth. 

"Don't speak, " he whispered; "the others are asleep. Boiled beefsandwiches in a paper bag, and two jam puffs. "

"What?" I whispered. "Where?"

"Here--in my fist. They were tucked under my pillow. Now, then, pitchin. "

I sat up in bed, and Mercer sat up in his. It was so dark that we couldhardly see each other, but the darkness was no hindrance to our eating, and the next minute there was a sound which may be best expressed asruminating, varied by the faint rustle made by a hand gliding into apaper bag, followed after a long interval by a faint sigh, and--

"Good-night. "

"Good-night. "

"Think we shall catch cold?"

"I hope not. "

"If we do, I've got some capital stuff in a bottle to cure colds, andI'll give you some. "

"Thank you, " I said, and there was a pause. 

"Are you asleep?" I said after a time, during which I had lain thinkingabout our experience of the day. 

"No. "

"What are you thinking about?"

"I was wondering whether Mr and Mrs Jem Roff ate all that eel. "

Mercer did not say any more just then, and I seemed to glide back intothe cottage, where Mrs Roff was frying eel in a pan over the fire, andjust as they had asked me to supper, and I was taking my place, a bigbell began to ring, and Mercer shouted, --

"Now, Burr junior, time to get up. "

I started and looked round, to see that the sunshine was flooding theroom, and that the occupants of the other beds were sitting up grindingtheir knuckles into their eyes, and yawning as if in chorus. 

CHAPTER SIX. 

We were none the worse for our adventure at the pond, and I very soonsettled down to my school life, finding it, as life is, a mixture ofpleasure and pain, joy and sorrow, all just as intense to the boy fiftyor sixty years ago as it is now that schools are conducted upon verydifferent principles, and a much higher grade of education is taught. 

Perhaps a great deal of the teaching at Meade Place would be looked uponnow as lax; but in those days the Doctor's school bore a very highcharacter for the boys it had turned out, many of whom had gone into theEast India Company's Service, and the principal drawing-room wasdecorated with presents sent to him by old pupils, Indian jars andcabinets, brass lotahs and trays, specimens of weapons from Delhi, andivory carvings; while from pupils who had gone to China and Japan, camebronzes, porcelain, screens, and lacquer of the most beautiful kind. 

Neither were the ladies forgotten, Mrs Browne and her daughters beingwell furnished with Indian scarves, muslin, and Canton crape shawls. 

It was, of course, on account of his connection with so many officersthat my uncle had chosen this school as the one most likely to prepareme for my future career. 

When I first went down, Mr Rebble was the only assistant the doctorhad; but I soon learned that the French master came twice a week fromRye, that the other usher had left to go into partnership with a friendin a school at Lewes, and that another was coming in a few days. 

The Doctor was one of my informants, for, after passing me through ageneral examination as to my capabilities, he told me that I was in amost hopeless state of ignorance, and that as soon as the assistantmaster, Mr Hasnip, arrived, I should have to go under his specialcharge. 

"For we can't have boys like you, Burr junior, " he said smiling. "Idon't know what would become of my establishment if many were asbackward as you. "

"I'm very sorry, sir, " I said humbly. 

"I am glad you are, " he said; "for that means repentance for neglectedopportunities, and, of course, a stern determination to make up for losttime. "

"Yes, sir, I'll try, " I said. 

"That's right, and try hard. Your English is very weak; your Latinterribly deficient; your writing execrable; and your mathematicsabsolutely hopeless. There, go back to your place and work hard, myboy--work hard. "

I descended from the dais, with the eyes of the whole school upon me, and, as I walked between the two rows of forms, I could hear whisperedremarks intended for me, and it was with a feeling of despair that Ireseated myself, opened my desk and took out my Latin grammar, to beginturning over the leaves, looking hopelessly at the declensions andconjugations, with the exceptions and notes. 

"What's the matter?" whispered Mercer, who just then returned from MrRebble's end, where he had made one of a class in Euclid. 

"Doctor says I'm so terribly behindhand that he is ashamed of me. "

"Gammon!"

"What?"

"I said, gammon. You're right enough. Forwarder than I am, and I'vebeen here two years. "

"Oh no, " I said. 

"Yes, you are. Don't contradict; 'tisn't gentlemanly. He said yourEnglish was weak?"

"How did you know?"

"Your Latin terribly deficient?"

"I say!" I cried, staring. 

"Your writing execrable?"

"Mercer!"

"And your mathematics absolutely hopeless?"

"But you were at the other end of the room when he said that, " I criedaghast. 

"Of course; I was being wigged by old Rebble because I couldn't gothrough the forty-seventh of Book One; and I can't, and I feel as if Inever shall. "

"I think I could, " I said. 

"Of course you could; nearly every chap in the school can but me. I canlearn some things easily enough; but I can't remember all about thoseangles and squares, and all the rest of them. "

"You soon will if you try, " I whispered. "But how did you know thedoctor said all that to me?"

"Because he says it to every new boy. He said it to me, and made me somiserable that I nearly ran away and if I hadn't had a very big cake inmy box, that I brought with me, I believe I should have broken myheart. "

"But I am very ignorant, " I said, after a pause for thought, duringwhich my companion's words had rather a comforting effect. 

"So's everybody. I'm awfully ignorant. What would be the good ofcoming here if we weren't all behind? Oh, how I wish things could beturned round!"

"Turned round?" I said wonderingly. 

"Yes, so that I could know all the books of Euclid by heart, and haveold Rebble obliged to come and stand before me, and feel as if all hehad learned had run out of his head like water out of a sponge. "

"Never mind, " I said; "let's work and learn. "

"You'll have to, my lad. "

"Less talking there, " said Mr Rebble. 

"Oh, very well, " whispered Mercer, and then he went on half aloud, butindistinctly, repeating the problem in Euclid over which he had brokendown. 

I glanced at Mr Rebble, and saw that he was watching us both intently, and I bent over my Latin grammar, and began learning the feminine nounswhich ended in "us, " while Mercer half turned his head towards me. 

"A little less noise at your end of the school, Mr Rebble, if youplease, " said the Doctor blandly. 

"Yes, sir, " said Mr Rebble, and then, in a low, severe voice, "Mercer, Burr junior, come up. "

Mercer threw his leg over the form, and I followed his example, involuntarily glancing across at my namesake, who made a grimace, andgave himself a writhe, as if suggesting that I should have a cut fromthe cane after being reported to the Doctor, and I knew that he waswatching us both as we went up to the usher's desk. 

"Close up, both of you, " said Mr Rebble sternly, but in a low voice, sothat his words should not reach the Doctor. 

We moved closer. 

"Now, sir, " he said sternly, "I called for silence twice, and you, Mercer, and you, Burr junior, both kept on speaking. I distinctly sawyour lips moving--both of you. Now, sir, I insist upon your repeatingthe words you said as I caught your eye. "

"Subtending the right angle, sir, " said Mercer promptly. 

"And you, sir?" continued Mr Rebble, turning to me. 

"_Idus, quercus, ficus, manus_, sir, " I replied innocently. 

"That will do. Go back to your places, and if I do catch you talkingagain in school hours--"

"Please, sir, that wasn't talking, " said Mercer in expostulation. 

"Silence, sir. I say, if I do catch you talking, I shall report you tothe Doctor. That will do. "

We went demurely enough back to our places, and this summons had theeffect upon me of making me feel more ill-used than before. As I oncemore went on with my Latin, I was conscious that Mercer was writingsomething on his slate, and when it was done, he wetted his hand, andgave me a nudge, for me to read what he had written. 

"He don't like you, because we're friends. He don't like me. Yah! Whodon't know how to fish?"

I had barely read this, when Mercer's hand rapidly obliterated thewords, and only just in time, for Mr Rebble left his desk and cameslowly by us, glancing over our shoulders as he passed, but Mercer wassafe, for he had rapidly formed a right-angled triangle on his slate, and was carefully finishing a capital A, as the usher passed on up tothe Doctor's end. 

Those mornings glided away, and so slowly that it seemed as if themid-day bell would never ring, but its sonorous tones rang through theplace at last, and, hanging back, so as not to be called upon to formpart of those who would have to go and field for Burr major and anotherof the bigger lads, Mercer and I waited our time, one day when I hadbeen there about a fortnight, and then slipped off to the stable-yard, and then up into one of the lofts, which the boys were allowed to use asa kind of workshop. 

"What do you want to come here for?" I said, as we ascended the roughladder, and stood in the dimly lighted place. 

"I'll show you directly, " he said. "Don't you know what I've got uphere?"

"No. "

"My museum. "

I looked around, but nothing was visible but some willow chips, and ahalf-formed cricket bat which Dicksee was making, by the help of aspokeshave he had borrowed at the wheelwright's, and which promised tobe as clumsy a stump defender as ever was held in two hands. 

"Well, " I said, "where is it?"

"Here, " said Mercer triumphantly, as he led the way to where an oldcorn-bin stood beneath one of the windows, the lid securely held down bya padlock whose key my companion brought out of his pocket. 

"Never mind the old Latin and Euclid. I'll let you come and help mehere sometimes, and if old Burr major or Dicksee interferes, you'll haveto help me, for I wouldn't have my things spoiled for ever so much. "

"Oh, I'll help you, " I said, and I waited with some curiosity while heopened the lock, and, after hanging it on a nail, slowly raised the lid, and I looked in to see a strange assortment of odds and ends. Whatseemed to be dead birds were mixed up with tow, feathers, wire, a file, a pair of cutting pincers, and a flat pomatum pot, on which was printedthe word "poison. "

"What's that for?" I said wonderingly. 

"Oh, that's soap, " he said. 

"No, no, that--the poison. "

"Soap, I tell you. Take off the lid. "

I hesitated for a moment, and then raised the lid, to see that the boxwas half full of a creamy-looking paste, which exhaled an aromaticodour. 

"Is that soap?" I said. 

"Yes, to brush over the skins of things I want to preserve. Don't touchit. You have to wash your hands ever so many times when you've beenusing it. Look, that's a starling I began to stuff, but it don't lookmuch like a bird, does it?"

"Looks more like a pincushion, " I said. "What's the cotton for?"

"Oh, that's to keep the wings in their places till they're dry. Youwind cotton over them, and that holds their feathers down, but I didn'tget this one right. "

"He's too big and fat, " I said. 

"Yes, I stuffed him too much; but I'm going to try and do another. "

The starling was laid down, and a jay picked up. 

"That's another one I tried, " he said sadly, "but it never would looklike a bird. They're ever so much handsomer than that out in thewoods. "

"I suppose, "--I said, and then quickly--"Are they?"

"Yes, you know they are, " said Mercer dolefully. "These are horrid. Iknow exactly how I want them to look, but they will not come so. "

"They will in time, " I said, to cheer him, for his failures seemed tomake him despondent. 

"No, " he said, "I'm afraid not. Birds are beautiful things, --starlingsare and jays, --and nobody can say that those are beautiful. Regular oldGuy Fawkes's of birds, aren't they?"

"You mustn't ask me, " I replied evasively. "I'm no judge. But what'sthis horrid thing?"

"Frog. Better not touch it. I never could get on with that. It's morelike a toad than a frog. It's too full of sand. "

"Sand! Why, it's quite light. "

"I mean, was too full of sand; it's emptied out now. I told you that'show you stuff reptiles, skin 'em, and fill 'em full of sand till they'redry, and then pour it out. "

"Oh yes, I remember; but that one is too stout. "

"Yes, " said Mercer, "that's the worst of it; they will come so if youdon't mind. The skins stretch so, and then they come humpy. "

"And what's that?" I asked. "Looks like a fur sausage. "

"You get out with your fur sausages. See if you could do it better. That's a stoat. "

I burst out laughing now, and he looked at me in a disconsolate way, andthen smiled sadly. 

"Yes, it is a beast after all, " he said. "My father has got a bookabout anatomy, but I never thought anything about that sort of thingtill I tried to stuff little animals. You see they haven't got anyfeathers to hide their shape, and they've got so much shape. A bird'sonly like an egg, with a head, and two wings on the side, so that if youmake up a ball of tow like an egg, and pull the skin over it, you can'tbe so very far wrong; but an animal wants curves here and hollows there, and nicely rounded hind legs, and his head lifted up gracefully, andthat--Ugh! the wretch! I'll burn it first chance. I won't try any moreanimals. "

"A squirrel looks nice stuffed, " I observed, as I recalled one I hadseen in a glass case, having a nut in its fore paws, and with its tailcurved up over its back. 

"Does it?" said Mercer dolefully; "mine don't. "

"You have stuffed squirrels?" I said. 

He nodded sadly. 

"Two, " he replied. "I didn't skin the first properly, and it smelt sohorrid that I buried it. "

"And the second one?"

"Oh, that didn't look anything like a squirrel. It was more like ashort, fat puppy when I had finished, only you knew it was a squirrel byits tail. --What say?"

"I didn't speak, " I said, as he looked up sharply from where he had beenleaning down into the old corn-bin. 

"I thought you said something. There, that's all I shall show youto-day, " he went on disconsolately. "I never knew they were so bad tillI brought you up to see them. "

"Oh, they're not so very bad, " I said, trying to console him by myinterest in his works. 

"Yes, they are. Horrible! I did mean to have a glass case for some ofthem, and ornament them with dried moss and grass, but I'm afraid thatthe more you tried to ornament these, the worse they'd look. "

This sounded so perfectly true that I could not say a word incontradiction; and I stood staring at him, quite at a loss for words, and he was staring at me, when there was a shout and a rush along theloft floor, and I saw Burr major and Dicksee coming toward us fast, andhalf a dozen more boys crowding up through the trap-door into the place. 

"Caught you then!" cried Burr major. "Come along, boys, old Senna'sgoing to show us his museum and his doctor's shop. "

Mercer banged down the lid of the corn-bin, and was struggling hard toget the hasp over the staple and the padlock on, when Burr major seizedhim and dragged him away. 

"No, no, " roared Mercer. "Here, Burr junior, catch hold. " He threw thepadlock to me, but the key dropped out, and one of the boys pounced uponit, while Dicksee threw his arms round me and held me tight. 

"No, you don't, " he cried. 

"That's right, " said Burr major. "Hold him, boys. The artful beggarshad sneaked up here to have a tuck-in. We'll eat it all for them. "

"There's nothing in the box--there's nothing there!" cried Mercer, struggling vainly, but only to be dragged down on the floor. 

"Here, two of you, come and sit on him, " said Burr major. "Hold thatother beggar tight, Dicksee. Keep quiet, will you, or I will chuck youdown the stairs. "

By that time, under our tyrant's orders, two boys had come to Dicksee'shelp, and had seized me by a wrist each, so that I was helpless. 

"Now then, " continued Burr major, "we'll just see what my gentlemankeeps locked up here. He's always sneaking up after something. "

"You let that box alone, " shouted Mercer, after an ineffective struggleto get free. 

"Shan't. You're not going to do just as you like, Physic, " said Burrmajor, and he threw up the lid, looked in, and then uttered acontemptuous "Pah!"

"What a mess!" he cried. "Look here, Dicksee. "

The latter crossed to him eagerly, and I stood there a prisoner, butburning with indignation and an intense desire to hit some one. 

"I'll tell the Doctor, " cried Mercer. "It's a shame!"

"Oh, is it? You'd better tell tales--do. Oh, I say, boys, lookye here. This is a rumtummikos incomprehensibus. What a beast!"

He had taken hold of the unfortunate stoat by the tail and held it outamidst roars of laughter. "We'll have a fire and burn him. What'snext?"

He dived down into the great chest, and brought out the starling. 

"Here you are, boys, " he cried again. "This is the speckled pecker, ormeasly short-tail. "

Another roar of laughter. 

"And here's the blue-winged cockatooral-looral-looral. "

The boys shouted again, and I saw Mercer heave up in his rage, andnearly send the boys off who were sitting upon him, while I wished I hadstrength enough to send our tormentors flying. 

"Hallo! here we are then, " cried Burr major. "I knew it. They weregoing to have a tuck-out. Look, boys, they meant to have `toad in thehole' for supper, and here's the toad. "

This was as he held out the bloated skin of the unfortunate frog. 

"Hooray!" shouted the boys, who were looking on with rapturous delight, and the more we struggled to get free, the greater their enjoymentseemed. 

"You coward!--you brute!" panted Mercer. "How would you like your boxturned out?"

"Ever so. Come and do it and you'll see. --Oh!"

This last was with quite a shout. 

"What is it?" cried the boys who held us. "Let's look, Burr. "

"You take it out if you dare, " cried Mercer, who, however, as he told meafterwards, had not the least idea what was coming next. 

"Oh yes, I'll take it out, " said Burr major. 

"You coward! you miserable old Eely tailor!"

"Hold your tongue, will you!" cried Burr major, turning sharply roundand giving Mercer a savage kick as he lay on his back, with one boysitting on his chest, another on his legs. 

"Brute!" cried Mercer, setting his teeth and trying hard not to let thetears come. 

"You great long coward!" I cried; "you wouldn't dare to do that if hewere not down. "

"You hold your row, " he cried, and as I stood thus held, I received asharp, back-handed blow on the mouth, which made my lip bleed. 

"Bring it out, Dicksee. "

The latter wanted no second telling, but dived down into poor Mercer'streasure-chest, and brought out the pot of preserving paste. 

"There!" cried Burr major, taking up the pot with a face wrinkled upwith disgust; "now we've found him out. See this, boys. Poison!"

"Oh!" chorused the little party of his parasites. 

"That's the way he does it. He's worse than a witch. This is what hekeeps to give to the fellows, and pretends it's physic, same as hisnasty old father uses. "

"I don't, boys--it isn't true; and my father's a gentleman, not an oldsnip. "

"Do you want me to kick you again?" said Burr major savagely. 

"Yes, if you dare, " cried Mercer defiantly. 

"Just you wait a bit, my lad, till I'm done. Yes, boys, that's itDicksee, he gave you some of that, and it made you so ill the otherday. "

"Then we'll show it to the Doctor, " cried Dicksee. 

"I didn't!" cried Mercer. "That's to preserve with. "

"Yes, that's it, " cried Burr major--"to preserve with. Do you hear, boys? He keeps that to put in jam. "

There was a shout at this, and I saw Mercer writhe in his impotence. 

"Tell you what, we'll rout out the whole lot, and take them down in thestable-yard and burn them. "

"You let them alone, " cried Mercer frantically, as Burr major scrapedout a double handful of the hoarded treasures and threw them on thefloor. 

"Hold him down tight, or I shall hurt him, " said Burr majorcontemptuously. 

But his words came too late, for Mercer made a sudden heave, which threwthe boy on his chest off sidewise, sprang up into a sitting position, and hit out at the boy on his legs, who howled on receiving a crack onthe ear; and this so roused me to action that I too wrested myself freeand followed suit. I flew at Dicksee, and struck him full in thebreast, sending him in his surprise down in a sitting position, just asMercer struck our tyrant a sounding smack on the cheek. 

Burr major staggered back and held his hand to his face. 

"Oh, that's it, is it?" he said with a snarl. "All right, boys, SennaTea wants me to boil him up again. "

"You stand by me, Burr junior, won't you?" cried Mercer, who looked nowas if he were a little startled at his daring. 

"Yes, " I said desperately, though I felt horribly afraid. 

"Oh no, you don't, " said Burr major, taking off his jacket; "I don'twant to knock your silly head off. You wait till I've thrashed MasterPhysic, and then old Dicksee shall give you your dose. "

I saw Dicksee look at him with rather a startled aspect, but Burr majortook no notice beyond giving him a contemptuous glance, as he neatlyfolded up his jacket, and then removed his waistcoat. 

"Here, Bill Ducie, go down and shut the stable door, and lock itinside, " continued Burr major in a lofty tone; "we don't want to beinterrupted before we've polished off these two beggars. "

The boy ran down, and it sounded very formidable to hear the door bangand the rusty lock turned. 

"Now then, off with that coat, sir, " said Burr major, as he beganrolling up his shirt over his thin white arms. "I'm not going to waitall day. The bell will ring for dinner directly. Hold my clothes, oneof you; I don't want them dirty. "

I saw Mercer set his teeth as he pulled off his jacket and vest, and hepitched them both into the big bin, looking very stubborn and determinedthe while. 

"Here, Dicksee, you come and second me, I'll second you afterward. Younew boy, you'd better second old Senna. Pah! how physicky he smells!"

I had the vaguest notions of what I had to do, but I imitated Dicksee aswell as I could, as the boys stood on one side breathless withexcitement, and Burr major and Mercer faced each other with their fistsclenched. 

Then there was a due amount of sparring, followed by a few blows givenand taken, and Burr major drew back and sat down on Dicksee's knee, Mercer taking his place on mine. 

"Did he hurt you much?" I whispered. 

"Horrid, " was whispered back, "and I can't half get to hit at him. "

Then some one shouted, and they fought again, with the result that myblood seemed to boil as poor Mercer came staggering back. 

"Had enough?" said Burr major in lofty tones. 

For answer Mercer flew at him, and there was another long, fierce round, which seemed to consist in Mercer's adversary driving him about theplace, knocking him about just as much as he liked, and ending bysending him staggering back, so that he would have fallen all in a heaphad I not caught him in my arms. 

"Had enough, Doctor?" cried Burr major contemptuously, and as Isupported Mercer he uttered a low sob of misery. 

"Yes, he's done. Now, Dicksee, I'll second you. --Off with your togs andpolish him off till his face shines. Now then, look sharp, Senna, you've got to back your chap. "

I heard Mercer grind his teeth, and I felt giddy with excitement as hewhispered to me, --

"Don't be afraid of him, he's a coward. Take off your things, and youtry hard if you can't lick him. "

"Must I fight?" I said. 

"Now then, you sir, off with that jacket, " cried Burr major, "or he'llgive you the coward's blow. "

This roused me, and I stripped for the battle, feeling very nervous anduncomfortable, while Mercer drew a long breath, mastered the pain he wasin, and, after throwing my jacket and waistcoat in the bin with his own, began to whisper his instructions to me. 

"Now then, off you go, " said Burr major. "Be smart, Dicksee, the bellwill go directly. "

Dicksee made a savage run at me as I put up my arms, there were a fewblows, all of which came to my share, and there was a roar of laughteras the round ended in a struggle, and I went down, with Dicksee on me, and my head giving a stunning rap on the boards. 

"Don't let him wrestle with you, " whispered Mercer excitedly, as hehelped me up, and I sat upon his knee, feeling very dizzy and half blindwith rage. 

"There, " shouted Burr major, "finish the beggar this time, Dicky!"

I have some recollection of our encountering again, and feeling blowafter blow on my face, on my ear, chest, and shoulders; and our goingdown once more in another wrestling match. 

"Never mind, " whispered Mercer; "you're doing splendidly. "

"Am I?" I gasped. 

"Yes; only keep him off more, and hit straight out like he does. "

"Now then, " cried Burr major again, "I want to go and wash my hands. Come along, new boy, and lay your nose against old Dicksy's left, andyour left eye against his right, and then he'll smooth your cheeks overand lay you on the boards, and by that time I think you'll be aboutcooked. "

"Don't let him lick you, " whispered Mercer imploringly. "Do give it himthis time. Hit him on the nose always, he don't like that. "

"There!" roared Burr major, as, giddy and confused, I was swinging myarms about, hitting nothing half the time, and never getting one blowhome with any force to signify, and at last, after a few minutes ofburning rage and confusion, during which I had received quite a showerof blows, I found myself, giddy and panting, seated upon the floor, listening to Burr major's voice. 

"That's enough, Dicky; that'll do the beggars no end of good, and make'em behave themselves when they meet gentlemen. Come on, boys. Here, you two, go and wash yourselves, and make yourselves right. The bellwill ring directly, and if old Reb sees you've been fighting, he'llreport you both to the Doctor, and you'll get no end of punishment. "

This seemed the unkindest cut of all, and as soon as the boys had goneracing down into the yard, where Dicksee gave vent to a loud"Cock-a-doodle-doo, " I slowly rose to my feet and faced Mercer, who wasgazing straight before him. 

"I say, " I panted, for I was breathless still, "did I win?"

"You? No, " he cried savagely. "You can't fight any more than I can, and the brutes have beaten us both. Here, let's look at you. Oh, youain't much marked, only your nose bleeds a bit. That's where you oughtto have hit him. "

"I did try to, " I said despondently; "but he wouldn't let me. "

"Never mind, put on your things. I say, are my eyes swollen?"

"One of them's puffed up a bit, and your lip's cut like mine is. "

"Never mind. Come and have a wash. "

"Shan't you lock up your museum?"

"Not now. I don't care for it after what they've done. Yes, I do; I'llcome up afterwards, " he continued, rapidly replacing the pot ofpreserving paste. "Come along, and try and look as if nothing was thematter. "

I followed him as soon as we had put on our clothes, and then we hurriedto the row of basins and towels, barely completing our ablutions whenthe bell rang, and not looking so very much the worse. 

"Never mind, old chap, " whispered Mercer, as we went into the schoolroomto dinner, with the boys all watching us and making remarks; "wait abit, and we'll have revenge. "

"How?" I said, as with a horrifying rapidity the pot of poison cameinto my mind. 

"Never you mind;" he whispered tragically. "Bitter revenge! Only youwait. "

There was a tapping on the end table just then, and all the boys rose. Then the Doctor's deep, bland voice uttered the word, --

"Grace!"

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

I ate that dinner very uneasily. For one thing, I had no appetite, having had enough before I took my place. For another, I was worried bythe furtive grins and whispers of the boys near me, the news of thefight having run like lightning through the school. Then I was in aconstant state of dread lest my appearance should be noticed by eitherMr Rebble, the Doctor, or the new assistant master, who was dining onthe principal's left, for the Doctor made our dinner his lunch and ofcourse had his late. I had not had a chance to look in a glass, and, asmy face ached and felt tight, I imagined terrible black eyes, a horriblyswollen nose, and that my top lip was puffed out to a large size. Infact, I felt that I must be in that state; and as I glanced at Mercer, Iwas surprised to see that he hardly showed a mark. Lastly, I could notget on with my dinner, because my mouth would not open and shutproperly, while every attempt to move my lower jaw sidewise gave meintense pain. 

I was in hopes that this was not noticed, and to get over the difficultyof being seen with my plate of meat untouched, I furtively slipped twoslices, a potato, and a piece of bread under the table, where I knewthat the two cats would be foraging according to their custom. 

I thought the act was not noticed, but the boy on my right had beenkeenly watching me. 

"Can't you eat your dinner?" he whispered. 

There was no other course open save making a paltry excuse, so I saidgruffly, --

"Never mind, old chap, " he said, to my surprise. "Lots of us laugh atyou, but--. I say, don't tell 'em I said so. "

"I don't sneak and tell tales, " I said morosely. 

"No, of course you wouldn't. I was going to say lots of us laugh atyou, but lots of us wish you and Senna Tea had given those two bulliesan awful licking. "

"Thank-ye, " I said, for these words were quite cheering, and I glancedat Mercer, who was fiddling his dinner about, and cutting thepink-looking cold boiled beef up in very small squares. 

"Can't you get on?" I whispered. 

"No. 'Tain't likely; but just you wait. "

"What for?"

"Never mind!"

The dinner went on, with the clattering of knives and forks upon plates, and, the meat being ended, the pudding came along, round, stodgy slices, with glittering bits of yellow suet in it, and here and there a raisin, or plum, as we called it, playing at bo-peep with those on the otherside, --"Spotted Dog, " we used to call it, --and I got on a little better, for it was nice and warm and sweet, from the facts that the Doctor neverstinted us boys in our food, and that, while the cook always said shehated all boys, she contrived to make our dinners tasty and good. 

"Try the pudding, " I whispered to Mercer. 

"Shan't. I should like to shy it bang in old Burr major's face. "

"Oh, never mind. "

"But I do mind; but just you wait!"

"Well, I am waiting, " I said. "Why don't you tell me what you mean?"

Mercer was silent. 

"I say!"

"Well?"

"You're not going to give him anything nasty, are you?"

"Yes. "

"Oh!"

"You wait and see!"

"But you mustn't; it wouldn't do. "

"Wouldn't it? Ah, just you wait. We'll make 'em sorry for this. "

"I'm not going to do anything nasty, " I said sturdily. 

"Yes, you are; you're going to do as I do. We're mates, and you've gotto help me as I helped you. "

I thought of the pot marked "poison;" of Dicksee being bad throughtaking something Mercer had given him; and a curious sensation ofsickness came over me, and I left half my pudding, just as Mercer tookup his fork, chopped his disk up into eight pieces, and began to boltthem fiercely. 

"Eat your pudding, " he said, noticing that I had left off. 

"Can't. I've had enough. "

"You must. I want you to grow strong. I shall give you some tonicstuff my father prescribes for people. "

I looked at him in horror, but he was glaring at the last piece ofpudding on his fork. 

"Just you wait!" he said gloomily. 

"I will not help him in anything I think wrong, " I said to myself; and afew minutes after, Mercer leaned towards me. 

"Look!" he whispered; "there's Eely Burr and Fathead grinning at us. Wait a bit! They don't know what a horrible revenge we're going to haveon them. "

"But if it's _we_, " I said, "you ought to tell me what the revenge isgoing to be. "

"I'll tell you some time, " he whispered. "Perhaps to-morrow, perhapsto-night. --You wait!"

"Oh, how I do hate being treated like that!" I thought to myself, and Iwas about to beg of him to tell me then, and to try to persuade him notto, do anything foolish, when the Doctor tapped the table with thehandle of his cheese-knife, grace was said, and we all adjourned to theplay-field for the half-hour at our disposal before we resumed ourstudies. 

I had no further opportunity for speaking to Mercer that afternoon, for, when we returned to the schoolroom, the Doctor made us a speech, inwhich he said he, "regretted deeply to find. "--Here he stopped to blowhis nose, and I turned hot, cold, and then wet, as I felt that we twowould be publicly reproved and perhaps punished for fighting. 

"That, " continued the Doctor, "many of the boys had been going back inminor subjects. "

I breathed more freely at this. 

Mr Hasnip, whom he now publicly presented to us, was an Oxfordgentleman, who would take our weak points in hand, strengthen them, andhelp him, the Doctor, to maintain the high position his establishmenthad held for so many years. 

Of course we all looked very hard at the new usher, who was a pale, yellowish-looking man, with eyes hidden by smoked glasses, which enabledhim to see without being seen, and he now smiled at us as if he weregoing to bite, and was nicknamed Parsnip by Mercer on the instant. 

"He'll be a teaser, " whispered Mercer. "Going to strengthen our weakparts, is he? Wish he could strengthen mine in the way I want. Isuppose we shall be turned over to him. Can't be worse than old Reb. "

Mercer was right; we two were the first boys turned over to the newusher, and this was fortunate for us, for he knew nothing about ourpersonal appearance; and the swellings that did come on, and which wouldhave been noticed directly by Mr Rebble, passed unheeded by him. 

I was very glad when tea-time came, for my head was so confused that MrHasnip was quite right in telling me I was a very stupid boy, for I wasthat afternoon--very. 

But the meal-time did come, and as soon as tea was over, instead ofgoing into the play-field with the others, I sat down alone, sore, aching, and disconsolate, to try and master some of the things MrHasnip had said I was behindhand in. 

I had just taken up my book, with my head feeling more hazy than ever, and the shouts of the boys floating in at the open window, when Mercercame in hurriedly. 

"Here, put that book away, " he said quickly. 

"What for? I don't want to come out. "

"But you must. I've been and put away my specimens, and that settledit. Come along. "

"But why must I come out? I don't want to play, and the other fellowswill only laugh at us. "

"No, they will not. They're not going to see us. Come along. Revenge!"

I got up and took my cap unwillingly, but, as we got out in the softevening air, I began to think that perhaps I could keep him back if hewere going to do anything wrong, so I walked on by his side with morealacrity. 

"Going for a walk?" I said, as I found that he avoided the play-field. 

"No. You wait and you'll see. "

"Well, you needn't be so disagreeable with me, " I said gruffly. 

"I'm not, only I ache and burn, and I'm full of it. Come on. "

To my surprise, he led me down to the lodge cottage, where the big, soldierly-looking fellow was enjoying his evening pipe in hisneatly-kept little garden. 

"Evening, young gents, " he said, saluting us. "When do you two beginyour drill?"

"I don't know, Lomax. When the new master's done thumping Latin andEuclid into us. "

"Humph! Well, gentlemen, I hear that the Romans were very finesoldiers, and Euclid's all about angles and squares, isn't it?"

"Yes. "

"Well, they're right enough in infantry formation--squares are, and theangles in fortification, which is a thing I don't know much about, having been in the cavalry; but when you are ready, so am I, and I'llset you up and make men of you as your fa--" he glanced at me and pulledhimself up short--"as your people shall be proud of. "

"That's right, Lom, and I'll bring you some prime tobacco soon as I can. I say, you can fight, can't you?"

"Well, " he said, smiling and drawing himself up, "they used to say Icould once upon a time. There's my old sword hanging up over thechimney-piece, and if it could speak--"

"Yes, yes, I know, and you've been wounded, " cried Mercer hastily; "butI don't mean with swords and pistols, I mean with your fists. "

"Oh, I see. Boxing. "

"Yes, " cried Mercer eagerly. 

And I was still so dull and confused by the knocking about I hadreceived, that I had not a glimmer of what he was aiming at. 

"Yes; boxing. I want you to teach us. "

"Yes, I was a dabster at it when I was in the ---th. We had no end ofit, and we lads used to have a regular subscription round to buy newgloves. Oh yes, I gave lessons to the officers regularly. Long timesince I've had the gloves on, but I could handle my fists as well asever, I daresay. "

"Then you'll teach us?"

"Teach you? No, no, my lads. Infantry drill; clubs and dumb-bells;singlestick and foil; riding with a military seat; but--use of thegloves! Oh dear no! What do you think the Doctor would say?"

"But he won't know, Lom, and we'll pay you, honour bright. "

"I know you would, Master Mercer; and if this young gent, whose fatherwas in the cavalry--"

"Yes, at Chilly--" began Mercer. 

"Wallah, sir, " said Lomax severely. "If he says he'll pay me, of coursehe would. But no, sir, no. Besides, we've got no gloves, andboxing-gloves--two pairs--cost money. "

"Of course. I know they would, but we'd buy them, or you should for us, and then we could come here now and then, and you could teach us in yourroom, and nobody would know. "

"No, sir, no, " said the sergeant, shaking his head. 

"I say, Lom, look at us both, " said Mercer. "See anything?"

"Well, yes, I do, plain, my lads. You two don't want any teaching. You've got swelled lips, and mousy eyes rising, and your noses are a bitpuffy. You have both been fighting. "

"Yes, Lom, and see how we've been knocked about. "

"Well, boys who will fight must take what they get and not grumble. "

"But we didn't want to fight. They made us. "

"Why, I thought you two were such friends and mates already. Bah! lads, you shouldn't fight without there's good reason. "

"But we didn't fight, " cried Mercer angrily. 

"Why, just look at you both! your faces say it as plain as your lips. "

"But I mean not together. Eely Burr and big Dicksee came and thrashedus. They would not leave us alone. "

"Oh, come: that's bullying, " said Lomax, shaking his head, "and it isn'ta fair match; they're a good two years older than you, and used tofighting, and you ain't. "

"No, " said Mercer excitedly; "and it's cruel and cowardly. I'm not abit afraid of him, and Burr junior wasn't of his man, and we did thebest we could, but they knocked us about just as they liked, and hit uswhere they pleased, and we couldn't hurt them a bit. "

"No, you wouldn't be able of course, " said the old sergeantthoughtfully, taking our arms and feeling our muscles. "Well, it wasvery plucky of you both to stand up and face 'em, that's all I can say. Is that why you want to learn to use your fists?"

"Yes, and as soon as we can both box well, we want to give them bothsuch lickings!" cried Mercer eagerly. 

The old sergeant began to laugh in a quiet way, and wiped the tears outof his eyes. 

"Then you want to learn on the sly, and astonish 'em some day?"

"Yes, yes, " I said eagerly, for I was as excited as my companion, whoseidea of revenge, now it was explained, seemed to me to be glorious. 

"Well, it is tempting, " said the sergeant thoughtfully. 

"And you'll teach us?"

"And his father fought at Chillianwallah! Yes, it is tempting. Youought to be able to take your own part if big cowards tackle you. "

"Yes, Lom. Then do teach us. "

"No. What would the Doctor say?"

"He never should know. We'd never tell, either of us, would we, Burr?"

"Never!" I cried. 

"I believe you, boys, that I do, " said the old man; "and it was neverforbidden. Never even mentioned, " he continued thoughtfully. "I shouldlike to oblige an old soldier's son. "

"And I mean to be an army surgeon, " said Mercer. 

"And you couldn't do better, my lad. "

"Then you'll teach us?" cried Mercer, and I hung upon his answer, withthe spirit of retaliation strong within me now. 

"Do you know what it means, my lads? Deal of knocking about. "

"We don't care how much, do we, Burr?"

"No, " I cried excitedly. "You may knock me down hundreds of times, ifyou'll teach me how to knock you down. "

"But the gloves will cost about a pound. "

"A pound!" said Mercer in dismay. Then a happy thought struck him. 

"We shall have to give up buying Magglin's gun for the present, " hewhispered to me. Then aloud--

"All right Lom. If we bring you the money, will you buy the gloves?"

"Yes, my lads, I will; and good ones. "

"And you will teach us?"

"I'll teach you, " said the sergeant, "for the sake of helping to make astrong man of the son of a brave officer, who died for his country. There!"

"Hooray!" cried Mercer; "and how much will you charge for the lessons, Lom? because you must make it a little more, as we shall have to go tickfor a bit, because of paying so much for the gloves. "

"How much?" said the sergeant thoughtfully. "Let me see. First andforemost, your words of honour that you'll never tell a soul I taughtyou how to fight, for it might lead to unpleasantness. "

"On my honour, I'll never tell!" cried Mercer. 

"And on my honour I never will!" I said excitedly. 

"Right, then, so far, " said Lomax. "Now about those gloves. If Irecollect right, they're eight-and-six a pair, and two pairs areseventeen shillings. "

"And the carriage, " said Mercer. 

"Stop a bit. I think, being an old soldier, and teaching, the makers'lltake something off for me. I know they'll send 'em down carriage paid, and Jem Roff'll get 'em for me from the cross when the waggon goes in. Got your money?"

"I've got half a sovereign, " said Mercer. 

"I've got seven shillings, " I said. 

"Hand over then, " said the sergeant, and we lightened our pursestremendously. 

"That's right, " said Lomax. "Now about the pay for the lessons. I wantthat in advance. "

"Oh!" we both ejaculated in dismay. 

"We can't pay now, Lom, " said Mercer, "but we will. "

"Yes, you can. "

"But how?"

"Give me your fists, both of you, in a hearty soldier's grip, my lads. That's my pay in advance, and if in less than six months you two don'tgive those two bullies a big dressing down, why, I'm a Dutchman. "

"Oh, Lom!"

"Oh, thank you!" I cried. 

"Thank you, my lads, and God bless you both. Fighting's generally bad, but it's good sometimes. There, be off, both of you, and I'll write aletter for those gloves to-night. "

We left him with our hearts beating high. 

"I don't mind my face swelling a bit now, " said Mercer. 

"I should like to begin learning to-morrow, " I said, and then we wereboth silent for a few minutes, till Mercer turned round with a queerlaugh on his swollen face. 

"I say, " he cried, with a chuckle, "I wonder whether old Dicksee willcry cock-a-doodle-doo next time when we've done. "

"Let's wait and see, " said I; and that night I dreamed that I was awind-mill, and that every time my sails, which were just the same asarms, went round, they came down bang on Dicksee's head, and made himyell. 

I woke up after that dream, to find it was broad daylight, and crept outof bed to look at my face in the glass, and shrank away aghast, for mylip was more swollen, and there was a nasty dark look under my eye. 

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

I stood gazing into the little looking-glass with my spirits sinkingdown and down in that dreary way in which they will drop with a boy whowakes up in the morning with some trouble resting upon his shoulderslike so much lead. 

I was more stiff and sore, too, at first waking, and all this combinedto make me feel so miserable, that I began to think about home and mymother, and what would be the consequences if I were to dress quickly, slip out, and go back. 

She would be so glad to see me again, I thought, that she would not becross; and when I told her how miserable I was at the school, she wouldpity me, and it would be all right again. 

I was so elated by the prospect, and--young impostor that I was--so gladof the excuse which the marks upon my face would form to a dotingmother, that I began to dress quickly, and had got as far as I couldwithout beginning to splash in the water and rattle the little white jugand basin, when the great obstacle to my evasion came before me withcrushing power, and I sat on my bed gazing blankly before me. 

For a terrible question had come for an answer, and it was this:

"What will uncle say?"

And as I sat on the edge of my bed, his handsome, clearly-cut face, withthe closely-cropped white hair and great grey moustache, was therebefore me, looking at me with a contemptuous sneer, which seemed to say, "You miserable, despicable young coward! Is this the way you fulfilyour promise of trying to be a man, worthy of your poor father, who wasa brave soldier and a gentleman? Out upon you for a miserable youngsneak!"

That all came up wonderfully real before me, and I felt the skin of myforehead wrinkle up and tighten other parts of my face, while I groanedto myself, as if apologising to my uncle, --

"But I can't stop here, I am so miserable, and I shall be horriblypunished for what I could not help. The boys say the Doctor is verysevere, sometimes. "

There was my uncle's stern face still, just as I had conjured it up, andhe was frowning. 

He will be horribly angry with me, I thought, and it would make poormamma so unhappy, and--

"I can't go, and I won't go, " I said, half aloud. "I don't care if theDoctor cuts me to pieces; and I won't tell how I got the marks, for, ifI do, all the boys will think I am a sneak. "

"Fill the tea-cup--fill the tea-cup--fill the tea-cup! High up--highup--high up! Fine morning--fine morning--fine morning!"

The notes of a thrush, sounding exactly like that, with the help of alittle imagination; and I rose, went to the window, gazed out, and therewas the sun, looking like a great globe of orange, lighting up the mistsin the hollows, and making everything look so glorious, that I began tofeel a little better. 

Turning round to look at my schoolfellows asleep in their little narrowbeds, all in exceedingly ungraceful attitudes, and looking towzley andqueer, I saw that, as I held the blind on one side, the sunlight shonefull on Mercer, and I hurt myself directly by bursting out into a silentfit of laughter, which drew my bruised face into pain-producing puckers. But it was impossible to help it, all the same, for Mercer's phizlooked so comic. 

The swelling about his eyes had gone down, and there were only veryfaint marks beneath them, but his mouth was twisted all on one side, andhis nose looked nearly twice as big as usual. 

He's worse than I am, I thought, as I stood gazing at him, and thisbrought up our visit to the lodge the previous evening, and a grimfeeling of satisfaction began to make me glow, as I dwelt upon Mercer'splans, and in imagination I saw myself about to be possessed of apowerful talisman, which would enable me to retaliate on my enemies, andbe always one who could protect the weak from the oppressor. And as Istood thinking all this, I turned again to look out of the window, wherethe lovely landscape of the Sussex weald lay stretched out before me, and listened to the birds bursting forth into their full morning song, as the sun literally cut up the mists, which rose and dispersed just asthe last of the mental mists were rising fast from about me. There wasthe glorious country, with all its attractions for a town boy, and closeby me lay Mercer, who seemed to me quite a profound sage in hisknowledge of all around, and I felt that, after all, I had got too muchbudding manliness in me to give up like a coward, who would run away atthe first trouble he had to meet. 

I was a natural boy once again, and, going back to Mercer's bedside, Ibegan to think that there was no fun in seeing him sleeping away therewhile I was wide awake; so, stealing softly to his little wash-stand, Itook the towel, dipped one corner carefully in the jug, and then, with abig drop ready to fall, I held it close to his nose, squeezed it alittle, and the drop fell. 

The effect was instantaneous. 

Mercer gave a spring which made his bed creak, and sat up staring at me. 

"What are you doing?" he said. "Why can't you be quiet? Has the bellrung?"

"I don't know, " I said. "I haven't heard it. "

"Why--why, it's ever so early yet, and you're half dressed. Oh, how mynose burns! I say, is it swelled?"

"Horribly!" I said. 

He leaped out of bed, ran to the glass, stared in, and looked roundagain at me. 

"Oh my!" he ejaculated, as he gazed at me wildly; "there's no gettingout of this. Bathing won't take a nose like that down. It ought tohave on a big linseed meal poultice. "

"But you couldn't breathe with a thing like that on. "

"Oh yes, you could, " he said, with the voice of authority. "You get twobig swan quills, and cut them, and put one up each nostril, and then puton your plaster. That's how my father does. "

"But you couldn't go about like that. "

"No, you lie in bed on your back, and whistle every time you breathe. "

I laughed. 

"Ah, it's all very fine to laugh, but we shall be had up to the Doctor'sdesk this morning, and he'll want to know about the fighting. "

"Well, we must tell him, I suppose, " I said. "They began on us. "

"No, " said Mercer, shaking his head, and looking as depressed as I didwhen I woke; "that wouldn't do here. The fellows never tell on eachother, and we should be sent to Coventry. It's precious hard to belicked, and then punished after, when you couldn't help it, isn't it?"

"Yes, " I said. "Then you won't tell about Burr major and Dicksee. "

"Oh no. Never do. We shall have to take it and grin and bear it, whether it's the cane or impositions. Worst of it is, it'll mean everso much keeping in. I wouldn't care if it had been a month or two ago. "

"What difference would that have made?"

"Why, it was all wet weather then. Now it's so fine, I want for us togo and collect things, and I'm not going to be beaten over thatstuffing. Next time I shall look at a live bird ever so long before Itry to stuff one, and then you'll see. We'll be on the watch next time, so that old Eely shan't catch us, and--ha, ha, ha! Oh my! oh my! ohmy!" he cried, sitting down on the edge of his bed, rocking himself toand fro, and kicking up his bare feet and working his toes about in theair. 

"What are you laughing about?" I said, feeling glad to see that he toowas getting rid of the depression. 

"Wait a bit, " he whispered. "Won't we astonish them! Oh, my nose, howit does hurt!" he added, covering the swollen organ with his hand, andspeaking in a snuffling tone. "I shall aim straight at old Eely's snuball the time, so as to make it twice as big as mine is. He will be somad, for he's as proud of himself as a peacock, and thinks he'shandsome. What do you think he does?"

"I don't know, " I said. 

"Puts scent on his handkerchief every morning--musk. Oh, he is a dandy!But wait a bit! Seventeen shillings! Isn't it a lot for two pairs ofgloves? And, I say!"

"Yes. "

"He's an awful dandy about his gloves too. By and by, when he's had hislicking, --two lickings, for you shall give him one too, --I'll tell youwhat we'll always say to him. "

"Well?"

"We'll say, `What sized gloves do you take?'"

"But he will not know anything about the gloves, " I said, interrupting alaugh. "We shan't have gloves on then. "

"No more we shall. What a pity! That spoils my joke. Never mind. Let's dress, and go and look at the gardens--perhaps there may be somegood butterflies out in the sunshine; and as soon as cook's down, I'llbeg some hot water to bathe my nose. "

But Mercer did not put in a petition for the hot water. "It's no good, "he said, when we were down by the gardens, soon after we were dressed. "It's like physic; we've got to take it, so we may as well face it allout and get it over. "

Very good philosophy, of course, but I did not feel hopeful about whatwas to come. 

It all began at breakfast, where we were no sooner seated, than MrRebble came by with the new assistant master. 

"Bless me! Good gracious! Look, Mr Hasnip. Did you ever see such anose? No, no, Mercer: sit up, sir. "

Poor Mercer had ducked down to hide his bulbous organ, but he had to situp while Mr Hasnip brought his smoke-tinted spectacles to bear upon it. 

"Terrible!" he said. "The boy must have been fighting. "

"Yes; and here's the other culprit, " cried Mr Rebble. "Look at thisboy's eye and mouth. Have you two boys been fighting?"

"Yes, sir, " I said in a low voice. 

"Disgraceful! Well, the Doctor must know of it, and he will punish youboth severely. "

The two masters moved off to their table, and a buzz of excitement ranthrough the nearest boys, while, as I looked up, I could see Burr majorstanding up in his place and looking over toward us. 

"I say, " whispered Mercer, "here's a game; they think we two have beenfighting together like old Lom did. Let 'em think so. Don't you say aword. "

"But it will be so dishonest, " I expostulated. 

"No, it won't. If they ask you who you fought with, you must saynothing. "

"Not tell them?"

"No. The Doctor will say you are stubborn and obstinate, and threatento expel you; but he don't mean it, and you've got to hold your tongue, as I told you before. We never split on each other here. "

"Will the Doctor know, do you think?" I asked, as we went on with ourbreakfast. 

"Sure to. Old Reb's safe to go and tell him directly he comes. "

I soon heard that this opinion was shared, for one of the bigger boyscame over from his seat near Burr major. 

"I say, " he said, "Reb's sure to tell the Doctor about you two. Shallyou say that you had a round with big Burr and old Fatsee?"

"Did Eely tell you to come and ask?" said Mercer, glancing toward whereBurr major was anxiously watching in our direction. 

"Never you mind. Are you going to tell?"

"What is it to you?"

"A good deal. You tell, and half a dozen of us mean to wallop you two, and you won't like that. "

"Oh, I shouldn't mind, and Burr junior wouldn't. I know old Squirmysent you to ask because--there, look at him--he's all in a fiddle forfear the Doctor should punish him--a great coward!--for knocking smallerboys about. "

"Look here, " whispered the ambassador, "don't you be quite so saucy. "

"Shall if I like. You go and tell old Eely, old slimy Snip, that I'mnot like his chosen friend Dicksee, a miserable, tale-telling sneak. Ishan't let out about Burr major being such a coward, and Burr here won'ttell about fat-headed Dicksee, so now you can go. "

"And you'd better keep to it, " said the boy, looking at me fiercely; butI did not feel afraid, for Mercer's project about the gloves had sent aglow through me, and, as he said, our time would come. 

But I felt anything but comfortable an hour later, when I was back inschool, after the breakfast had been cleared, for I could see that theboys had their eyes upon us, and were whispering, and I knew it relatedto the punishment to come. 

The worst moments were when the Doctor entered and took his place in hispulpit amidst a suppressed rustle, and I set my teeth as I stood up, andshrank down again at the earliest opportunity, feeling as if theDoctor's eye was fixed upon me, and, as it happened, just as I waswishing he would speak, and, as I felt it, put me out of my misery, heuttered one of his tremendous coughs, which had far more effect inproducing silence than Mr Rebble's words. 

"Thomas Mercer, Burr junior, " he said loudly, "come up here. "

"I wish I had run away this morning, " was my first thought, but it wasgone directly, and I was glad I had not, as I walked as firmly as Icould, side by side with my brother offender, right up to the front ofthe Doctor's desk, where he sat frowning upon us like a judge withouthis wig and gown. 

"Hah!" he ejaculated in his most awe-inspiring tones, as he looked at ussearchingly. "No doubt about it. Disgraceful marks, like a pair ofrough street boys instead of young gentlemen. So you two have beenfighting?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Yes, sir. "

"I am glad that you have frankness enough to own to it. You, Mercer, knew better; but you, sir, had to learn that you have broken one of themost rigid rules of my establishment. I object to fighting, as savage, brutal, and cruel, and I will not allow it here. Mr Rebble, give theseboys heavy impositions, and you will both of you stop in and study everyday for a fortnight under Mr Hasnip's directions. Some principalswould have administered the cane or the birch, but I object to thoseinstruments as being, like fighting, savage, brutal, and cruel, only tobe used as a last resource, when ordinary punishments suitable forgentlemen fail. I presume that you make no defence?" He continuedrolling out his words in a broad volume of sound. "You own that youhave both been fighting? Silence is a full answer. Return to yourplaces. "

I heard Mercer utter a low sigh, and my breast felt overcharged as wewent back to our desks, where we were no sooner seated than Mercerwhispered, --

"Never mind, old chap! we'll help one another; and he never asked who wehad been fighting with, so we didn't get extra punishment for beingstubborn. Oh dear me, what a rum place school is!"

Poor Mercer, he had yet to learn, as I had, that the school was only theworld in miniature, and that we should find our life there almostexactly the same when we grew up to be men. 

"I wonder what Mr Hasnip will set us to do, " I thought, as the clock atlast told that the morning's studies were nearly at an end, and I wasstill wondering when the boys rose, and Eely Burr, Dicksee, and theother big fellow, Hodson, came round behind us, and the firstwhispered, --

"Lucky for you two that you didn't tell. My! I shouldn't have liked tobe you, if you had. "

"Go and scent your handkerchief, " said Mercer angrily. "I'd tell if Iliked. "

"If they weren't here, I'd punch your ugly head, " whispered Eely, andthey all three went out, leaving us two alone in the great schoolroom, with the ushers at one end, and the Doctor, contrary to his usualcustom, still in his desk at the other. 

"Stand, Thomas Mercer and Burr junior, " he said. "Or no--Mercer cankeep his seat. "

I rose with Mercer, who resumed his place. 

"Burr junior, " said the Doctor, rolling out his words slowly, as if theywere so precious that they ought to make a proper impression, "Isentenced you to a certain series of punishments, to endure for fourteendays; but you are new, untrained, and have been so unfortunate as toreceive such education as you possess by private tuition. Under thesecircumstances, you are wanting in social knowledge, especially of thekind bearing upon your conduct to your fellow-workers in a school likethis. In consequence, I shall make a point of looking over this yourfirst offence, and exonerating you. That will do. "

I murmured my thanks, and remained in my place. 

"Well, " said the Doctor, as Mr Hasnip coughed to take my attention, "why are you waiting?"

"For Mercer, sir. "

"But I have not excused him. He is not a new boy; and besides, I amsure you would like him to be punished. "

"No, no!" I said eagerly; "and I don't want to be let off if he isnot. "

"Hum! Hah!" ejaculated the Doctor, looking at me benevolently throughhis spectacles. "Well--er--er--yes--I like that. Mercer, you areexcused too. That will do. "

"Thank you, sir; thank you, sir, " cried Mercer joyfully; and we bothbowed and hurried away to the loft, Mr Rebble shaking his head at us aswe passed his desk, and Mr Hasnip, as I thought, looking sadlydisappointed as far as I could judge, though I could not see his eyes. 

On reaching the loft, Mercer was in such a state of exultation that herelieved his feelings by standing upon his head on the corn-bin; but Idid not feel so glad, for I had not spoken out, and the Doctor had beenacting under a misconception, and I said so. 

"Oh, never mind, " cried Mercer, speaking with his heels in the air. "Wecouldn't explain, and it don't matter. Oh, I say, won't old Eely bepleased that we've got off!"

I did not answer, for I still felt that I should like to go and tell theDoctor frankly everything that had passed. 

CHAPTER NINE. 

Mercer was terribly exercised in mind about Magglin's gun, and hishaving to give that up for the sake of his revenge, but a letter fromhome containing five shillings revived his hopes, and it was put asideas a nest-egg, so that the amount might be raised at last, though whatthe amount was we had no idea. 

Our injuries soon became better, and were forgotten, as the days wentrapidly by, while I grew so much at home that the arrival of a new pupilmade me feel quite one of the old boys. I had my patch of garden givenme, and took great pride in digging and planting it, and as soon as myinterest was noticed by my namesake, he coolly walked across it twice, laughing at me contemptuously the while, as if he knew that I dared notretaliate. 

And all this time I worked hard with my lessons, with more or lesssuccess, I suppose, for Mr Hasnip, who was a kind of encyclopaedia, andseemed to know everything, did not scold me and box my ears with thebook he held every day. 

We did not have another fishing trip, for the keeper met us one day andinformed us that we owed him two shillings for damage done to his lines, and this debt I undertook to repay as soon as I obtained some more moneyfrom home. But we had several afternoons in the woods, and brought backtreasures which were safely deposited in Mercer's box, ready forexamination at some future time. 

Some people would not have called them treasures, though they werelooked upon as such by Mercer, who was exceedingly proud of a snake-skinwhich he found in a patch of dwarf furze, and of a great snail shellthat was nearly white, and had belonged to one of the molluscs used bythe Romans for their soup. 

Among other things was an enormous frog, which was kept alive in somefresh damp moss stuffed into a fig drum, into which a certain number ofunfortunate flies were thrust every day through a hole, filled directlyafter by a peg. Whether those flies were eaten by the frog, or whetherthey got out again, I never knew, but Mercer had perfect faith in theirbeing consumed. 

Just about this time, too, my chosen companion got in debt. 

It was in this wise. We went down the garden one day, talking veryearnestly about how long it was before the gloves needed for our lessonscame down, wondering, too, that we had never been able to catch sight ofthe old sergeant, when Mercer suddenly became aware of the fact thatMagglin, who was hoeing weeds, was also making mysterious signs to us togo round to his side of the garden; and when we reached him he whisperedto my companion, after looking cautiously round to see that we were notobserved, --

"You don't want to buy a ferret, do you, Master Mercer?"

"Yes, " cried the latter eagerly; "I do want a ferret to hunt the rats inthe stable. No, I don't, " he said sadly; "I haven't got any money. "

"You not got no money!" said the gipsy-looking fellow. "Oh, I likethat, and you a gentleman. "

"How much is it?" said Mercer. 

"Oh, only five shillin'. It's like giving it away, only a chap I knowwants some money, and he ast me to see if any of the young gents wouldlike to buy it. "

"'Tisn't your old ferret, then?"

"Oh no, sir; I got rid o' that long enough ago, because I thought peoplewould say I kep' it to catch rabbids. They are so disagreeable. Butthis is an out and outer to catch rabbids, " he whispered. 

"But five shillings is such a lot of money for a ferret, Magg. "

"Lot! Well, there! It's giving of it away. Why, if I wanted such athing, and had the chance to get such a good one as this, I'd give tenshillin' for it. "

"But is it a good one, Magg?"

"Splendid. You come and look at it. I've got it in the tool-house in awatering-pot. "

"Let's go and see it, Frank, " cried Mercer, and we followed theslouching-looking fellow into the tool-shed, where a watering-pot stood, with a piece of slate over the half open top and a piece of brick laidon that. 

"There!" cried Magglin, removing the cover and taking out asandy-coloured snaky-looking animal, with sharp nose and pink eyes, onewhich writhed about almost like an eel. 

"Why, it's your old one, Magg, that you had in the hedge that day. "

"Nay, not it. It's something like it, but this is an ever so muchbetter one. Why, don't you recollect? That one used to get in theholes and wouldn't come out again for hours and hours. "

"Oh yes, I recollect, and how cold it was. This is it. "

"Why, don't I keep telling of you it ain't. This is a hever so muchbetter one as I've got to sell for a chap for five shillin': but if youdon't want to buy it, you needn't keep finding fault with it. I dessayMr Big Burr will buy it. It's a beauty--ain't yer?"

"But I do want to buy it, " said Mercer, watching the man as he strokedand caressed the thin creature, "but I haven't got any money to spare. "

"That don't matter. If you like to buy the ferret, I dessay the chap'llwait and take a shillin' one time and a shillin' another, till it's allpaid off. "

"Oh, " cried Mercer, "if he'll sell it like that I'll have it; but you'resure it's not your old one?"

"Sartain as sartain. That's a ferret as'll do anybody credit. "

"But will it hunt rabbits up into holes, and stop sucking their blood?"

"Oh, I don't know nothing about rabbids, " said Magglin. "It won't do sowith me; 'tis yours then. "

"Will it bite?" I asked. 

"Rats, sir. You try him, he's as tame as a kitten. But I must get backto my work. Where'll you have it?"

"I want it up in my box--the old corn-bin up in the loft, Magg. Willyou take it and put it in if I give you the key?"

"Course I will, sir. "

"And bring me back the key?"

"Course I will, sir. "

"I don't like to take it myself, because one of the fellows might seeme, and they'd want to know what I'd got. "

"All right, sir, I'll take it; and am I to put it in the box?"

"No. I forgot. It would eat the skins and things. "

"That he would and no mistake, " said Magglin, grinning hugely. "Shall Ileave him in the can? There is a stone in the spout so as he can'tsqueeze his way out, for he'll go through any hole a'most. "

"Yes; put it right up in the dark corner at the far end. "

"Right, sir. And you owe me five shillin'. "

"No, it's to your friend. "

"All the same, sir. Thank-ye. "

"I'm afraid he has cheated me, " said Mercer thoughtfully, as we walkedaway. "Now I come to recollect, his old ferret had a bit nipped out ofthe top of its little ear like that has, and Magg said a rat bit it outone day. "

"If he has cheated you, I wouldn't pay for it, " I said. 

"I don't know how it is, " continued Mercer thoughtfully, "but it seemsto me as if people like to cheat schoolboys. We never did two shillingsworth of damage to those fishing lines--and I've got a horrible thought, Burr!"

"What is it?" I said. 

"Why, it's all that time since we gave old Lom the money, and for thefirst week he was always winking and laying his finger up against theside of his nose every time he saw us, and now we can't ever see him atall. "

"Oh!" I ejaculated. "No. Impossible! He's an old soldier, and hecouldn't cheat us like that. "

"Well, if he has, I'll tell the Doctor, and have him punished. "

"You couldn't tell, " I said dolefully. 

"No, I forgot that. Well, let's go and see if he's at home now. Why, he hasn't done any drilling this week! Why's that?"

I shook my head, feeling horrified at the idea of such a fine-looking, frank old soldier being guilty of a piece of trickery, and I said so, but declared that I would not believe it. 

"I don't want to, but people do cheat us. Even Polly Hopley charges usdouble for lots of the things we have. "

By this time we had reached the lodge, but the door was shut, and Mercerlooked at me very gloomily. 

"There's all our money gone, " he said; "and I'll never trust anybodyagain. I wish I hadn't bought that ferret. You see if it don't cheatus too, and run away. This makes eight times we've come to look for oldLom, and he must be--What?"

"Look, " I said eagerly. "I knew he couldn't do such a thing. There heis in that cart. "

Sure enough, there was the sergeant; and then as the cart drew nearer, it was pulled up, and the old man leaped down, thanked the farmer forgiving him a lift, and walked toward his cottage, carrying a big longcarpet-bag. 

"Ah, Mr Lomax!" I cried, as I hurried towards him, but he laid hisfinger to the side of his nose, nodded, frowned, unlocked his door andwent in. 

"There, that's how he always goes on now, " said Mercer spitefully. "Itwas all gammon, and he never meant to teach us, and we shan't be able toserve those two out. Come on. "

We were moving off disconsolately, I with quite a feeling of pain in mybreast, when a voice said, "Hi!" and, looking round, there was thesergeant beckoning to us. 

My heart seemed to leap again, and I hurried back. 

"How are you both?" he said, putting his hand in his pocket and takingout a flat steel tobacco-box which opened with a spring. "I had to goup to town more than a week ago to an inspection and about my pension, and while I was up I thought I'd go and see my sisters, and then Ithought I'd go and see about those--you know what. "

"And did you?" I cried eagerly. 

"Wait a moment, " he said, taking out four shillings and handing them tous--two to each. "I did write about them, and they asked so much that Iwrote to another place, and they were dear too; and then, as I had to goup, I went to a place I remembered, and saw the man, and told him what Iwanted, and he brought out two pairs of his best, which had been in theshop three years, and got faded to look at, but he said they were betterthan ever, and he let me have 'em for thirteen shillings. "

"Oh, Lom!" cried Mercer excitedly. "But when are they coming down?"

"They are down. Didn't you see?"

"No, I didn't see. "

"They were in the carpet-bag, " I cried. "Oh, do let's look!"

"No, not to-day, my lads. They're all right, and if you like to get upto-morrow morning and come to me at five o'clock, I'll give you yourfirst lesson. Now I must go and report myself to the Doctor, or he'llbe drumming me out of the regiment for not doing my work. "

He saluted us and marched off, while we went round to the back and madeour way to the stables and up into the loft, for Mercer to have a peepat the ferret, which tried hard to get out. Then, closing the slatedown close, he spun round, cut a caper, struck an attitude, and begansparring and dancing round me in the most absurd manner. 

"Oh, only wait!" he cried, pausing to take breath. "I do feel so glad!But, I say, we mustn't have that ferret there. I know. I'll put it inthe bin, watering-pot and all, or it'll either get out, or some of theboys'll come and look, and let it go. "

"But you haven't got the key. "

"I forgot. I didn't get it from old Magg, again. Let's go and findhim. No, it's all right. He has put it in the padlock. "

The bin was thrown open; but the pot was not placed therein, for Mercerremembered a box with a lid, which, as he expressed it, lived in there, and it was emptied and brought forth. 

"Just make him a splendid little hutch!" he cried, "Here, come along, Sandy. "

He thrust his hand into the pot, took hold of the ferret, and was aboutto place it in the box; but it gave a wriggle and writhe, glided out ofMercer's hand, crept under the corn-bin, and, as he tried to reach it, Isaw it run out at the back, and creep down a hole in the floor boards, one evidently made by a rat. 

"Oh!" ejaculated Mercer dolefully. "There goes five shillings down thathole. What an unlucky beggar I am!"

"Oh, he'll soon come out again, " I said. 

"Not he; and that's the worst of you, Burr--you will make the best ofthings so. He won't come out--he'll live down there hunting the rats;and I'm sure now that we shall never get him again, for it is the oneMagg used to have, and he has tricked me. I know it by that bit out ofits ear. It is his ferret. "

"Well, you haven't paid him for it, " I said, laughing. "And if he hascheated you, I wouldn't pay. "

"But I said I would, " replied Mercer, shaking his head; "and one mustkeep one's promises, even with cheats. But never mind; old Lom's gotthe gloves, and if Magg gives me any of his nonsense, I'll thrash him, too, eh?"

"Tea!" I cried, for just then the bell began to ring. 

CHAPTER TEN. 

That evening after tea, while Mercer and I were down by the gardens, where I found that somebody had been dancing a jig on my newly-rakedbeds, we heard a good deal of chattering and laughing over in theplay-field, and Burr major's voice dominating all the others so queerlythat I laughed. 

"I say, isn't it rum!" said Mercer, joining in. "I hope we shan't belike that by and by. Hodson is sometimes. There, hark!"

I listened, and Burr major was speaking sharply in a highly-pitchedvoice, that was all squeak, and then it descended suddenly into a gruffbass like a man's. 

"Do you know what old Reb said he was one day?" said Mercer, wiping hiseyes, for a chance to laugh at his tyrant always afforded him the mostprofound satisfaction. 

"No. A dandy?"

"A hobbledehoy! and he looks it, don't he? It did make him so savagewhen he heard, and he said he wasn't half such a hobbledehoy as old Rebwas, and Dicksee said he'd go and tell. "

"And did he?"

"Did he? You know how my nose was swelled up. "

"Of course. "

"Well, that was nothing to Dicksee's. His is a nose that a tap willswell up, and when old Eely regularly hammered till it was soft, itlooked dreadful, and when he said he'd go straight to the Doctor, Eelyhammered him again till he went down on his knees and begged Eely'spardon, and promised to say it was done by a cricket-ball. I say, hark!they've got something over there. Let's go and see. "

We went down along the hedge to the gate, and as soon as we passedthrough we could see Burr major standing up tall and thin in the midstof a group of boys, to whom he was showing something, and, our curiositybeing excited, we strolled up to the group, to find that a generalinspection was going on of a little bright new silver watch which Burrmajor had received in a box along with some new clothes that day fromhis father in London. 

The great tall, thin fellow was giving himself the most ridiculous airs, and talking in a haughty condescending way to the boys about him, justas if watches were the commonest things in the world to him. 

"Then, you know, " he was saying, as we drew nigh, "you press on thatlittle round place very lightly with your nail, and the back fliesopen--see. "

He pressed the spring, the back opened, showing the polished interior ofthe case, and then shut it with a snap two or three times, the caseflashing in the evening light; and as I glanced at Mercer, I quitewondered to see the eager look of interest and longing he directed atthat watch. 

"I say, how do you wind it up?" cried a small boy. 

"Why, you just push the key in that little hole, and turn it a few timesso. Oh, I forgot--I did wind it up before. "

"Why, you wound it up six times, " said Dicksee, with a sneer. 

"Well, it's my own watch, isn't it, stupid? I can wind it up a hundredtimes if I like, " cried Burr major contemptuously. 

"I say, how much did it cost?" said Hodson. 

"How should I know? I'm not going to ask my father how much a thingcosts when he gives me a present. Lot of money--ten or fifteen pounds, I daresay. "

"Yah! Silver watches don't cost so much as that, " sneered Dicksee. 

"Look here, Dicky, " cried Burr major, "you're getting too cheeky. Ishall have to take you down a peg or two. "

"Oh, never mind old Fatsides, " cried another boy. "Here, Burr, oldchap, show us the works. "

"Oh, nonsense, boys! I'm going to put it away now, " said Burr major, opening and shutting the back, so as to make a loud snapping noise. 

"I say, I should have a gold chain if I were you, Burr, " said anotherboy. 

"No, I don't think I shall, " said the big fellow nonchalantly; "not forschool. Silver would be good enough when a fellow's playing cricket orfootball. "

"Oh, I say, do show us the works!" said the boy who had spoken before. 

"Oh, very well. What young noodles you are! Any one would think youhad never seen a watch before. You see this is one of the best class ofwatches, and you open the glass by pressing your nail in there. That'sit, you see; and then you stick your nail on that little steel thing, and then it comes open--so. Here, keep back, some of you. Breathing onthe works spoils a watch. "

"Oh, what a beauty!" rose in chorus, and I saw Mercer press forward withhis eyes dilated, and an intense look of longing in his countenance, ashe gazed at the bright yellow works, and the tiny wheel swinging to andfro upon its hair-spring. 

"Yes, it's a good watch, " said Burr major, in a voice full of carelessindifference. "Not the same make as my father's. His is gold, ofcourse, and when you open it, there's a cap fits right over the top--just over there. His is a repeater, and when you touch a spring, itstrikes the quarters and the hours. "

Mercer looked on as if fascinated. 

"Like a clock, " said Hodson. 

"Of course it does like a clock, " said Burr major contemptuously. "It'sjewelled, too, in ever so many holes. It cost a hundred guineas, Ithink, without the chain. "

"Oh!" rose in chorus. 

"Is that jewelled in lots of holes?" said one of the boys. 

"Of course it is. My father wouldn't send me a watch without it was. "

"I can't see any holes, " said one. 

"And I don't see any jewels, " said another. 

"Where are they, then?" said Hodson. 

"The other side, of course. "

"Then what's the good of them?"

"Makes a watch more valuable, " said Burr major haughtily. "There, don'tcrowd in so. I'm going to put it away now. "

"What jewels are they?" said a boy. "Pearls?"

"Diamonds, " said Mercer, with his eyes fixed on the watch, "to make hardpoints for the wheels to swing upon, because diamonds won't wear. "

"Oh, hark at him!" cried Burr major. "Old Senna knows all about it. Hardly ever saw a watch before in his life. "

"Haven't I?" cried Mercer. "Why, my father has a beauty, with secondhands--a stop watch. "

"Ha, ha, ha!" cried Burr major, closing his new present with a loudsnap. "A stop watch! that's an old one that won't go, boys. Poor oldMercer!--poor old Senna Tea! Did your father buy it cheap?"

There was a roar of laughter at this, for the boys always laughed atBurr major's jokes. 

"No; I know, " said Hodson. "One of old Senna's patients that he killed, left it him in his will. "

I saw Mercer turn scarlet. 

"Did you ever take it to pieces, and stuff it again, Senna?" and therewas another roar of laughter. 

"He did, I know, and that's why it won't go. "

"Come along, " whispered Mercer to me, for, now that the watch haddisappeared in its owner's pocket, the attraction which had held mycompanion there seemed to have gone, and we began to walk away. 

"There they go, " cried Burr major; "pair of 'em. Burr junior's gettingon nicely with his stuffing. I say, young un, how many doses of physichas he made you take?"

"Come away, " whispered Mercer; "let's go back to the gardens. If I stophere, I shall fly out at him, and get knocked about again. "

"Ah! Oh! Go home!" was shouted, Burr major starting the cry, and hisfollowers taking it up in chorus till we had passed through the gate, when Mercer clenched his fists, and gave both feet a stamp. 

"And him to have a watch like that!" he cried; "and I've longed for oneever since I was ten. Oh, I do hate that chap! Shouldn't you haveliked to hit him?"

"No, " I said. "I felt all the time as if I should have liked to kickhim. "

"Oh, I felt that too. But, I say, shouldn't you like a watch the sameas his?"

"Yes, " I said, "of course. Perhaps we shall have watches some day. "

"Let's save up and buy one between us, and you have it one week, and methe other. "

"But you wanted to save up and buy the gun that takes to pieces, so thatwe could go shooting. "

"Yes, so I did, " said Mercer--"so I do. But I should like that watch. "

"Perhaps he'll get tired of it soon, " I said, "and want to sell it. "

"No; he isn't that sort of fellow. He always sticks to his things, andyou never know him give anything away. But, I say, it is a beautifulwatch, isn't it?"

"Yes; so new and bright. It was going, too. "

"Wish he'd lose it when he was jumping or playing cricket, and I couldfind it. "

"But you couldn't keep it, if you did find it. You'd know it was his. "

"But perhaps I mightn't know he'd lost it, and it was his. Then I mightkeep it, mightn't I?"

I burst out laughing at him. 

"Why, you've taken quite a fancy to that watch, Tom, " I said, and helooked at me with his forehead all puckered up. 

"Yes, I suppose so, " he said dreamily. "I felt as if I'd giveeverything I have got to have it. "

"Stuffed birds, and the frog, and the ferret, and the boxing-gloves?" Isaid merrily. 

"No, no, no! that I wouldn't. There, I'm not going to think about itany more. I say, the gloves--to-morrow morning. Oh!"

CHAPTER ELEVEN. 

"I say, isn't it time to get up?"

It was a low whisper in my ear, and I started into full wakefulness, tofind it was dark, and that Mercer was sitting on the edge of my bed, while the other boys were snoring. 

"What time is it?" was my first and natural question. 

"I don't know. If I'd got old Eely's watch, I could have had it undermy pillow, and seen directly. "

"No, you couldn't, " I said grumpily, for I was sleepy and cross; "it'stoo dark. "

"Well, I could have run my finger over the hands, and told by the touch. You see, I should have held the watch perfectly upright, and then thetwelve would have been by the handle, and I could have told directly. "

"But you haven't got a watch, and so you don't know. "

"No, " he said, with a sigh, "I haven't got that watch. Old Eely's gotit--a nasty, consequential, bully dandy. "

"Do go and lie down again, " I said. "I am so sleepy!"

"What for? It's time to get up. "

"It can't be; see how dark it is. "

"Oh, that's only because it's a dark morning. Get up and dress, anddon't be so grumpy because I've woke you up. "

"But I haven't had sleep enough, " I grumbled, "and I don't believe it'stwelve o'clock yet. Look at the stars shining. "

"Well, they always do shine, don't they? What's that got to do withit?"

"But it isn't daylight, and we were not to go to Lomax till five. "

"By the time we're washed and dressed, the sun will be up, and thenthere won't be any waiting. "

"Hark!" I said, for the turret clock, below the big bell, chimed. 

One, two--three, four--five, six--seven, eight. 

Then a long pause. 

"Five o'clock, " whispered Mercer. 

_Chang_!

We waited as the stroke of the striking hammer rang out loudly, and wecould hear the vibration of the bell quivering in the air. 

"Well, go on, stupid, " said Mercer at last. 

"Go on indeed!" I said angrily. "What's the good of coming anddisturbing a fellow like this? It's only one o'clock. "

"Don't believe it. That clock's wrong. Now, if I had had a watch--"

"Bother the watch!--bother the clock!--bother you!" I cried. "If youdon't be off, I'll give you bolster. "

"Oh, very well, " he said. "But I couldn't sleep. It must be four, though. I'll go and lie down for a bit longer. "

He stole back to his bed, and, with a sigh of relief, I sank back into adelicious nap, from which my tormentor roused me twice more, to declareit must be time to get up; but there was not a faint gleam of light yetat the window, and I resolutely refused to rise, sending my companionback to bed, and going off again, to wake at last with the sun shiningbrilliantly in by the curtain. This time I jumped up, with the fullimpression upon me that I had overslept myself; while there lay Merceron his back, with his mouth wide-open, and giving vent every now andthen to a guttural snore. 

And now we shall be too late, I thought, as I hurried on my trousers, slipped out of the dormitory door, to run down to the end of thepassage, where I could look out and see the sun shining brightly on thegold letters of the clock face, where, to my great delight, the handspointed to half-past four. 

Plenty of time, and I went back and roused up Mercer, who started intowakefulness, looking quite guilty. 

"All right!" he said. "I only just shut my eyes. What's o'clock?"

"Time you were dressed, " I whispered. "Don't talk loud, or you'll wakethe others. "

We washed and dressed with wonderful celerity, and then crept out anddown-stairs, to open one of the schoolroom windows, jump out, and closeit after us. Then, in the delicious fresh morning, with the trees alldewy, we started off to go through the shrubbery, and were half-way tothe lodge, when Mercer caught me by the arm. 

"Look!" he said. "Magglin!" and there, going across one of the fieldsbeyond the road, was that individual, with the pockets of his jacketseeming to be sticking out; and the same idea struck us both. 

"He's been poaching!"

But he passed out of sight directly, and we hurried on down to thelodge, to find Lomax standing at the door smoking his morning pipe. 

"Five minutes before your time, " he said. "That's a good sign. Youboth want to learn, so you'll learn quickly. Wait a minute, I've justdone my bad habit. I learned that years ago, and it's hard to breakoneself of it. There, that'll do, " he continued, lifting up one foot, and bending down, so as to knock the ashes out of his pipe by tappingthe bowl on his heel. "Come along! I've cleared the decks for you. "

In fact, as we entered the room, we found that the table and chairs hadbeen taken out, and the little square of carpet and hearthrug rolled uptogether and stood in a corner, while on the window sill lay the twopairs of boxing-gloves, like four hugely swollen giants' hands, and theylooked so ridiculous that we both laughed. 

"'Tention!" cried Lomax, shutting and bolting the door. "Business! Youcan laugh after. Now then, put them on. "

We readily obeyed, and as each glove was put on, Lomax tied themsecurely in their places by the stout strings at the wrists, and oncemore our comical aspect was too much for us, and we laughed moreuproariously than before. 

"'Tention, I say, boys. Silence! Now then, I don't do so in drillingyou, but the best way to teach a man anything is by letting him go hisown way, and then correcting his mistakes. Now, are you ready, both ofyou, and done with your nonsense?"

"Yes, we are quite serious now, " I said. 

"Then, to begin with, you, Master Burr, stand up before me, and hit mehard in the chest. "

"But it will hurt you, " I said. 

"You do as I tell you. Hit me in the chest as hard as you can. "

I stood up in front of him, and punched him with the soft glove justbelow his chin. 

"Do you call that hard? Try again. "

I struck him again. 

"Better, " he said; "but it wouldn't have killed a blue-bottle. Now you, Master Mercer. "

"I'll hit you hard, then, if you will not mind. "

"Tchah! just as if you could hurt me! Go on. "

Mercer flew at him and struck with all his might. 

"Better, " said Lomax; "that might have killed a blue-bottle. But it isjust as I thought; you're both wrong. "

"Wrong?" we echoed. 

"Of course you are. So those two gave you both a good thrashing, eh?"

"Yes, " I said bitterly. 

"Of course they would if you behaved like that. What are those hangingdown by your sides?"

"Arms, " I said wonderingly. 

"Then why do you treat 'em as if they were wind-mill sails, and swing'em round that fashion?"

"Then you ought to hit straight out, " I said, "and not swing your armsround?"

"Of course, " said our instructor; "but that isn't all. You both hit atme with your right glove. "

"Of course. The right arm's the stronger. "

"Exactly, my lad; so keep it to use as a shield. "

"But you want to beat a boy when you fight him, " I said. 

"To be sure you do, and to beat him you must be strong and able to holdout, and to do this you must be ready to keep him first of all frominjuring you. It's self-defence, so you keep your best arm to keep theenemy from making your nose swelled like yours was, Master Mercer, andfrom sticking his fist in your eye like Master Dicksee did in yours, Master Burr. And that isn't all. If you are keeping him from hurtingyou, he goes on getting tired and more tired, and then your turn comes, and you can thrash him. "

"I see, " cried Mercer. 

"No, you don't; you're only getting a peep yet. "

"But mustn't you ever hit with your right fist?"

"Oh yes, at proper times. Wait: I'll tell you when. "

"But shall we begin fighting now?" I said eagerly. 

"No, not till you know what you're going to do. Now look here, boys; Idaresay some people would teach you very differently to what I do, butyou've asked me, and I shall teach you my way. Some people let thosethey teach put the gloves on and begin knocking each other about, butthat's all waste of time. I want everything you do with your right oryour left to be for some reason. Those two boys can't fight, but theythrashed you two because I can see you swung your arms about anyhow, andwhile you were coming round with one of your wind-mill swings, they hitstraight out and you had it. Do you see?"

"Not quite, " I said. 

"Then look here. See that round table turned up in the corner?"

"Yes. "

"Suppose, then, two flies started from the edge to get to the oppositeedge, and one went round and the other right across straight, whichwould get there first?"

"Oh, I know that, " said Mercer, rubbing his nose with the back of hisglove; "the one that went across the diameter ever so much sooner thanthe one that went half round the circumference. "

"Yes, " I said; "the chord is shorter than the arc. "

"Never mind about your fine way of putting it, " said Lomax. "I see youunderstand, and that's what I mean. The enemy would diameter you whileyou tried to circumference him. "

The serjeant laughed at his ready adoption of our words, and we laughedtoo, but he cried "'Tention!" again, and now made us stand face to faceon guard, manipulating us and walking round till he had us exactly tohis taste, when he suddenly remembered something, and, taking a piece ofchalk from his pocket, he drew a line between us, and then raised ourhands with their huge gloves to the pitch he considered correct. 

"There you are, boys, " he said; "that couldn't be better. Now, bear inmind what I said; self-defence is the thing you've got to aim at, justas a general manages his regiments and fences with them till the propertime comes, and then he lets them go. Now, to begin with, you must bethe enemy, Master Mercer, and Master Burr here's got to thrash you. "

"Oh!" cried Mercer. 

"Well, your turn will come next. Now then. Ready?"

"Yes, " we cried. 

"Then you, Mercer, hit him in the chest. "

"And what shall I do?"

"Don't let him. You've got your right ready, haven't you? Now then, off!"

We were both terribly excited, and I was on my guard as Mercer hit at mewith his soft glove, and I caught the blow on my right arm. 

"Good!" cried Lomax; "bravo! well stopped. But that's all you did, because you didn't know any better. If you had known better, MasterMercer would be sitting on the floor. "

"What ought I to have done, then?" I said. 

"You wait and I'll show you. Now, Mercer, hit at him again. Hit thistime. That's a boxing-glove you've got on. "

"Well, I know it is. "

"Oh, I thought you fancied it was a snowball that you were going tothrow at him. "

I burst out laughing. 

"Silence! 'Tention! Now then, again. Wait a minute. Now, look here, Burr: as he hits at you, stop it with your right arm as you did before, and just at the same moment you push your left arm out full length, andlean forward straight at his face. Don't hit at him, only keep yourleft out straight and lean forward suddenly--like this. "

He showed me what he meant, and I balanced myself on my legs, andimitated him as well as I could, to get the swing forward he wished, andwe prepared for the next encounter. 

"I'm going to hit straight out this time, Frank, so look out. "

"Oh yes, he'll look out, " cried Lomax. "Now, then, take it on yourright arm, my lad. Off with you. "

Mercer struck out at me awkwardly, and, as I received the blow at mychest full on my forearm, I bent forward sharply, not striking, butgiving what seemed to me to be a push with my stiffened left armstraight at Mercer's face, when, to my great astonishment, he went downon the floor and sat there staring at me holding the soft glove upagainst his nose. 

"What did you do that for?" he cried angrily. "He said I was to hit, not you. "

"Because I told him, " said Lomax, patting me on the shoulder. "Bravo, bravo! That was science against brute force, my lad; I thought it wouldastonish you. "

"But he hit ever so hard, " cried Mercer, "and it took me off my guard, because it was I who was to hit. "

"And so you did, my lad, as hard as you could unscientifically, while heonly just threw himself forward scientifically, and there you are on theground. "

"But he hit so hard. "

"Oh no. He just held his arm right, and threw the weight of his bodybehind it. "

"Here, let's change sides, " cried Mercer. "I want to try that. "

"Right, " said Lomax, and the proceedings were reversed, with the effectthat, after I had struck at my adversary, I realised that I had thrownmy head forward just as he had thrust out his rigid left arm, backed bythe whole weight of his body, and I in my turn went down sitting, almostas much astounded as Mercer had been. 

"Oh, " he cried excitedly, "that's grand! I wish I had known that whenold Eely was giving it to me t'other day. Why, I feel as if I could goand lick him now. "

"I daresay you do, " cried Lomax laughing. "Now, let's have that overagain. I want you both to see that a swing round blow, or even astraight out blow, is nothing to one like that, for you see you've gotthe weight of the body and the speed at which you are both moving togive it force. Why, in a charge, when the men were at full gallop withswords or lances extended, we had--But never mind about that, " he addedquickly. "Now do you see what I mean?"

"Yes, " we cried, and we went through the attack and defence over andover again, till the blows grew so vigorous that I began to feel as if Ishould like to hit harder. 

"That will do, " said Lomax suddenly. "You are both getting warm, andit's half-past six. "

"Nonsense!" I cried. 

"It is, my lad; there goes the bell. Now then, let me untie thosegloves. That's your first lesson. What do you think of it?"

"Think of it?" cried Mercer. "I think old Eely Burr had better mindwhat he's up to, or he'll find he has made a mistake. "

"Hah!" said Lomax, "don't you get too puffed up, my lad. You wait, foryou don't know anything at all yet. That's just the thin end of thewedge, but still I think you've learned something. That's it, " hecontinued, drawing off the gloves. "By and by you'll have to fightagainst me, and I shall show you a few things that will startle you. But are you satisfied?"

"Why, it's glorious!" I cried. 

"What? to learn to fight with your fists?" said the old sergeant grimly. 

"No, but to feel that you need not let everybody bully you. "

"Why, you're getting as swollen up as Master Mercer here, " said Lomax, laughing. "There; when is it to be--to-morrow morning?"

"Yes, every morning, " said Mercer, and the door was unbolted, and wewent out, feeling quite hot enough, with the sun shining brightly on thenewly dew-washed leaves. 

"You'll spoil everything, " I said, "if you begin to show that you canfight before we are quite ready. "

"Oh, but I'm not going to, " he replied; "I'll be as quiet as can be, andlet old Eely say and do what he likes for the present. I feel as if Ican bear it now. Don't you? There, come along up into the loft, andlet's see if we can find our ferret. It does seem hard to lose thatdirectly. Just, too, as one finds one has been cheated by old Magglin. I wish he'd sell that gun. I say, I'll make him show it to you. It issuch a handy little thing. "

I felt that it would be very interesting to go out, as Mercer proposed, shooting specimens, which he would afterwards show me how to skin andpreserve; but I could not help thinking that it would take a ratherlarge supply of pocket-money to pay for all the things my companionwanted, especially if his wants included guns and watches. 

We went right up to the loft, and a search was made, and the floorstamped upon, and the boards tapped. But there was no sign of theferret, and we gave up the search at last in despair, as it was rapidlyapproaching the time when the bell would ring for breakfast, and we hadour lessons to look up ready for Mr Hasnip, who now had us, as hecalled it, thoroughly in hand. 

We both smiled and looked at one another as we crossed the yard, forBurr major and Dicksee had come past together, the latter listeningattentively to his companion's words. 

"Oh, I say, Burr, if they only knew!" whispered Mercer, with a chuckle. "They little think that we've been--Oh, I say, look; he's taking out hiswatch to see if it's right by the big clock. Frank, I say: I do wish Ihad a watch like that!"

I looked at him wonderingly once more, for that watch had completelyfascinated him, and till breakfast-time he could talk of nothing else. 

"Think your uncle would give you a watch if you asked him?" he said. 

"I shouldn't like to ask him, because--well, I'm rather afraid of him. "

"What, isn't he kind to you?"

"Yes, I think so, " I said; "but he's a severe-looking sort of man, andvery particular, and I don't think he'd consider it right for me to havea watch while I am at school. "

"That's what my father said when I was home for last holidays. I wanteda watch then, but not half so bad as I feel to want one now. I say!"

"Well?"

"I wonder how much old Eely's father gave for that one. I don't thinkit could have cost a very great deal. "

I shook my head, for I had not the least idea, and then I found myselfwatching Burr major, who was still comparing his watch with the greatclock. 

"I won't think about it any more, " said Mercer suddenly. 

"Think of what?" I said wonderingly. 

"That watch. It worries me. I was dreaming about it all last night, and wishing that I'd got it somehow, and that it was mine. And itisn't, and never can be, can it?"

"No, " I said, and we walked into the big room, for the breakfast-bellbegan to ring, and very welcome it sounded to us, after being up soearly, and indulging in such violent exercise. 

"Here comes Eely, " whispered Mercer, "and old Dicksee too. I say: thatpunch with the left! Oh my!"

CHAPTER TWELVE. 

Those were busy times at Meade Place, for Mr Hasnip worked me hard; MrRebble harassed me a little whenever he had a chance; and every now andthen the Doctor made a sudden unexpected attack upon me with questionsuttered in the severest of tones. 

All this meant long hours of what the masters called "private study" andthe boys "private worry;" while in addition there were the lessons weinflicted upon ourselves, for we never once failed of being at the lodgeby five o'clock on those summer mornings, to be scolded, punched, andgenerally knocked about by our instructor. 

Join to these, other lessons in the art of skinning and preservingbirds, given by Mercer up in the loft; compulsory games at cricket, asthey were called, but which were really hours of toil, fielding for Burrmajor, Hodson, and Dicksee; sundry expeditions after specimens, visitsto Bob Hopley, bathing, fishing, and excursions and incursionsgenerally, and it will be seen that neither Mercer nor I had much sparetime. 

A busy life is after all the happiest, and, though my lessons oftenworried and puzzled me, I was perfectly content, and my friendlyrelations with Mercer rapidly grew more firm. 

"I say, " he cried one morning, after Lomax had grumbled at us a littleless than usual respecting our execution of several of the bits ofguarding and hitting he put us through--"I say, don't you think we areperfect yet?"

The serjeant opened his eyes wide, and then burst into a hearty laugh. 

"Well, " he said, "you will grow into a man some day, and when you do, Idaresay you will be a bit modest, for of all the cocksparrowy chaps Iever did meet, you are about the most impudent. "

"Thank-ye, " said Mercer, and he went off in dudgeon, while Lomax gave mea comical look. 

"That's the way to talk to him, " he said. "If you don't, he'll grow upso conceited he'll want extra buttons on his jacket to keep him fromswelling out too much. "

"Now, Burr, are you coming?" shouted Mercer. 

"Yes. Good morning, " I said to Lomax, and I hurried out. 

"I thought we should have learned long before this, " said my companion, as we strolled leisurely back. "I don't seem to get on a bit further, and I certainly don't feel as if I could fight. Do you?"

"No, " I said frankly. 

"You see, it wants testing or proving, same as you do a sum. Shall wehave a fall out with them and try?"

"No, " I cried excitedly. "That wouldn't do. They might lick us. Weought to try with some one else first. "

"But who is there? If we had a fight with some other boys, Eely andDicksee would know, and we should have no chance to fight them then. Iknow. Let you and I fall out and have a set to. "

I whistled, and put my hands in my pockets. 

"Wouldn't that do?" he said. 

"No, not at all. It wouldn't be real, and--"

"Hold your tongue. Here's Magglin. "

"Morning, young gents, " said the man coming up in his nasty, watchful, furtive way, looking first behind him, and then dodging to right andleft to look behind us, to see if any one was coming. 

"Morning. --Hi! look out! Keeper!" cried Mercer. 

"Eh? Where? where?" whispered Magglin huskily. 

"Down in the woods, " cried Mercer laughingly. "Look at him, Burr; hehas been up to some games, or he wouldn't be so frightened. "

"Get out!" growled the gipsy-looking fellow sourly. "Doctor don't teachyou to behave like that, I know. "

"Nor the gardener don't teach you to try and cheat people with ferrets. "

"Well, I like that, " cried Magglin in an ill-used tone. "I sells youfor a mate of mine--"

"No, you didn't, it was for yourself, Magg. "

"As good a farret as ever run along a hole. "

"As bad a one as ever stopped in and wouldn't come out again. "

"And you turn like that on a fellow. "

"You're a cheat, Magg, and you took us in. That was your old ferret yousold me, and I wish I'd never paid you a shilling. "

"Nay, not you. It's a good farret, and you've only paid me fourshillin' out of them five. "

"And I don't think I shall pay you any more. "

"Nay, you must. Gents can't break their words. "

"But they can break blackguards' heads, Magg. "

"I ain't a blackguard, and I sold you the ferret fair and square. Itweren't my fault you let it run down a hole in the loft. "

"When it proved directly that it was your old one, for there it stops. "

"I shouldn't pay him the other shilling till he got it out, Tom, " Isaid. 

"I don't mean to. How many times have you been to look for it, Magg?"

"How many times? I didn't count. Every morn when I come to work have Igone down on my chestie in that there loft, watching o' them rat-holes. "

"Yes, and you've never caught him. Four shillings did I pay you forthat ferret--"

"And a shillin' more to pay, " said Magglin, grinning. "And only oncehave I seen his nasty ugly little pink nose since, when he poked it outof a hole and slipped back again. 

"But then see how he must have kept down the rats, " said the man. 

"Bother the rats. I want my ferret. " Mercer turned sharply round tome. 

"I say, " he whispered, "he's a blackguard and a cheat. We wanted topractise. Let's both pitch into him. "

I naturally enough laughed at the idea, and, looking round at the undergardener, I saw that he was watching us with his rat-like eyes. 

"I say, " he whispered, with an accompaniment of nods and winks, "I waslying wait for you two. "

"We're not rabbits, Magg, " I said. 

"Who said you was?" he cried, with a sharp look round behind him. 

"Nor yet hares, Magg, " cried Mercer. 

"Now look ye here, " said the fellow appealingly, "it's too bad on youtwo chuckin' things in a man's face like that now. Ain't I alwaysgetting a honest living? You talk like that, and somebody'll bethinkin' I go porching. "

"So you do, " said Mercer. 

"What, porch?"

"Yes. I know. Bob Hopley says so too. "

"Only hark at him, " cried Magglin, "talking like that! Why, BobHopley's a chap as must do something to show for his wage, and he'd takeany man's character away. He hate me, he do. "

"Yes, and you hate him, Magg, " I said. 

The fellow turned on me sharply, but a curiously ugly smile began tomake curves like parentheses at the corners of his lips, and he showedhis teeth directly after. 

"Well, I ain't so very fond of him, " he said. "But look here, thereain't no harm in a rabbid, and I was looking out for you two to ast ifyou'd like to meet me, just by accident like, somewheers down to thisside o' High Pines, where the sandhills is. There's a wonderful lot o'rabbids there just now. "

"Yes, but when?" cried Mercer. "I want a rabbit or two to skin andstuff. "

"And you'd gie me the rabbids to eat. "

"Of course. When do you mean?"

"I thowt as to-night'd do, 'bout seven, when they're beginning to lopeabout. "

"And you'd shoot some with that little gun of yours?"

"Whisht! Who's got a gun? Nonsense!"

"Ah, we know, " cried Mercer. 

"But I mean farreting. "

"Wouldn't do, " said Mercer decisively. "Bob Hopley would be sure tocome. "

"Nay, he's going to Hastings to-day, and won't be back till teno'clock. "

"How do you know?"

"Little birds out in the woods tells me. "

"Magpies, eh?" I said. "Oh, I know. "

"Then we'll come, " cried Mercer. "But, I say, let us each have a shotwith the little gun. "

"Nay, I'm a gardener, and ain't got no guns. I meant farreting. "

"But you know I've lost the ferret, " cried Mercer. "You can't goferreting without ferrets. "

Magglin was standing before us with a curious, furtive smile on hisface, and his hands deep down in his pockets, and as Mercer finishedspeaking, he slowly raised one hand, so that we saw peering out over thetop of his jacket pocket the sharp buff hairy head of a ferret, and weboth uttered a cry of joy. 

"Why, you've got one!" said Mercer. "Why--yes--it is. It's my ferret. "

"Yes, " said Magglin. "I nipped him this morning. He was out runningabout the loft, and I got hold of him at once. He's eaten all the ratshe could catch, and he was out smelling about, and trying to get intothat old corn-bin, so as to have a feed on your stuffed things. "

"Lucky he didn't, " cried Mercer. "Oh, you are a good chap, and I'llgive you the other shilling as soon as I can. "

"Ay, do, master, for that chap I knows wants it badly. "

"Come along, and let's shut it up safely, " said Mercer. 

"S'pose you let me take care of him in the tool-shed. I'll put himwhere he can't get out, and I shall have him ready when you come. "

"Very well then, " cried Mercer, "you keep him. At the High Pines, then, at seven o'clock. "

"That's it, sir, " said Magglin, securing the ferret in his pocket. 

"Ah, good morning, " said a voice; and we two turned sharply, to findthat Mr Rebble and Mr Hasnip, who were out early for a constitutional, had come up behind us quietly. 

"Good morning, sir. --Good morning, sir, " we said, and Magglin touchedhis cap and went off down the garden. 

"Very good, Mercer. Very good, Burr junior, " said Mr Hasnip blandly, as he brought his dark spectacles to bear upon us. "I like to see this, and I wish the other boys would be as industrious, and get up theselovely mornings. Been making plans with the gardener about your littlegardens, I see. That's right--that's right. But, as I was saying, Rebble, " he continued, turning away, "Galileo's opinion, when combinedwith that of Kepler and Copernicus, is all buzz-buzz-buzz--"

So the latter part of his speech sounded to us, as they went on towardthe bottom of the garden. 

"All buzz buzz buzz, " whispered Mercer; "and that's what lots of othersof those old folks' opinions sound like to me--all buzz buzz buzz in mypoor head. I say, wasn't it lucky they didn't see the ferret?"

"They think we were speaking to him about gardening. "

"Yes. What a game! We must go down to our gardens now, and pretend wegot up early to work. "

"I shan't, " I said shortly. "I hate being so deceptive, and I wish youwouldn't be, Tom. "

"Well, it don't sound nice, does it?" he replied thoughtfully. "Butit's so easy. "

"Perhaps we had better not go after the rabbits. "

"Oh, but we must now. Don't you sneak back. I shall go, and nobodywill know. "

I felt doubtful, but I ended by promising. 

"I say, " cried Mercer suddenly, "what time is it? Oh, I do wish I had awatch! You can't see the clock from here, but my clock inside says it'sbreakfast-time. "

"Let's go and see, then, " I said, and we went toward the schoolroom. 

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 

That was a most unfortunate day for me in school, for, as happenssometimes, I was wrong over one of my lessons, and was sent down, and itseemed to upset all the others, so that it was just like setting up arow of dominoes, then you touch one and it sends all the rest over. 

Scold, find fault, grumble, --Mr Hasnip was just as if his breakfast hadnot agreed with him because he got up too early; and at last I was backin my seat, with my face burning, my head aching, and a general feelingof misery troubling me, which was made the worse by the keen enjoymentBurr major and his parasites found in triumphing over me, and coming bymy place every now and then to whisper--"Poor fellow, then!--turnedback--going to be caned, " and the like, till I ground my teeth, clenchedmy fists, and sat there bent over the exercises before me, seeingnothing but the interior of Lomax's cottage, and listening to hisinstructions how to stop that blow and retort with another, till inimagination I could fancy myself thrashing my enemies, and making formyself a lasting peace. 

"Never mind, old chap, " whispered Mercer. "Rabbits to-night, and someday such a licking for old Eely and Dicksee. "

The thoughts of the expedition that night were comforting, and I triedto think of the High Pines and the sandy slope with the holes where Ihad often seen the rabbits pop in and out, but my head ached all thesame; and in spite of our half-hour in the play-field before dinner, Ihad no appetite. During the afternoon, when my time came to go up toMr Hasnip's desk, I felt more stupid than ever, and on casting my eyessideways in search of a flying thought, there was Mr Rebble watching meintently. 

This made me more confused, and my next answer more blundering, so thatI was at last sent back to my desk in greater disgrace than ever, tofind Mercer, who was always constructing something, boring the edge ofhis desk with a penknife, so as to make powder holes for a slate pencilcannon. 

"Catching it again?" he said. 

"Yes, " I replied dolefully. 

"Didn't say you were to stop in and study, did he?"

"No, he didn't say that. "

"Oh, that's all right, then. "

"But it isn't all right. He scolded me horribly. "

"Pooh! what of that? Every boy gets scolded. Never mind. I say, Idaresay we shall get a whole lot of rabbits. How would it be to askcook to make us a rabbit pie of two of them. "

"Nonsense!"

"Oh, would it be? We could keep it up in the bin, and go and have jollyfeeds. "

"Keep it up there, along with that poison stuff and nasty-smellingskins! Ugh!"

"Well, it would be queer perhaps. I didn't think of that. "

"Mr Rebble's looking at you two, " whispered the boy nearest, and wehurriedly went on with our work, but not for long. Mercer was too fullof the coming expedition, and soon began whispering again. 

"But how are we to get away?" I said. "Some one is sure to see us. "

"Oh, that's easy enough, " he whispered. "There's going to be a bit of amatch to-night. "

"But suppose they want us to field?"

"Then they'll want, for they will not be able to find us. You leave itto me. "

That was a long, dreary afternoon, and tea-time seemed as if it wouldnever arrive. When it did come round, though, with the cool air ofevening my headache began to go off, and as I grew better, theexcitement of the coming expedition, and the thoughts of how we weregoing to elude the notice of the other boys, completed the cure. 

We had half an hour's walk before us, to reach the High Pines by seven, so that, as it grew near the time I began to be anxious. 

We were in the schoolroom, deep in private study, and as Mercer studied, he kept on turning his eyes to gaze round the room, repeating hislessons all the while, so that he would not have looked particular ifany one had been watching us, but no one was visible. Every now andthen the voices of the boys in the play-field floated toward us, and wesat in momentary expectation of being seen by one of the bigger fellows, and ordered off into the field by our tyrants; but the moments stillglided by, and at last Mercer thrust his book into his desk. 

"Now, then, " he said in a low voice, "we must make a run for it, or oldMagg will think we are not coming. "

"Which way are you going?" I asked. 

"Right out through the garden, and by the back of the lodge. You followme, and, whatever you do, don't look back, as if you were afraid ofbeing seen. "

It was risky work, I knew, but there was nothing to be gained byhesitating, and it seemed to me that the very boldness of our attempthelped us to a successful issue, for we went on, hearing voices from thefield, and once that of the Doctor, as he was walking up and down thelawn with one of the ladies, whose light dress was seen for a fewmoments through the trees. Then we were out in the road, walking fasttowards the General's woods, and soon after we passed into a field, reached a copse, and Mercer uttered a faint "Hurrah!"

"I was expecting to hear some one shout after us every minute, " hecried, as we now hurried steadily along. "Oh dear, how you do fancythings at a time like this!"

The evening was now delightful, and the fresh, sweet scent of the grasswe crushed beneath our feet was supplemented every now and then by thatof the abundant field camomile. 

"Look out!" said Mercer; "there he goes. Isn't he early? I say, Iwonder whether that's one of old Dawson's owls. "

For, as we passed along by the edge of the wood, a great white-breastedbird flew by, and went softly along by the side of the trees, till itdisappeared far ahead. 

"There's a rabbit, " I said, as I caught sight of the white tuft of furwhich so often betrays the presence of the little creatures, anddirectly after a sharp _rap, rap_--the warning given by them of danger--was heard ahead, and a dozen ran rushing out of the field into theshelter of the wood. 

"Look at them, how they swarm!" cried Mercer. "Why we might catch ahundred, and no one would be a bit the worse for it. Here, make haste, or I shall be shouting at them, and we ought to be quiet now. "

"Close there, aren't we?" I said. 

"Yes; just through that next patch, and we shall be there. "

"And suppose Magg hasn't come?"

"Why, we'll catch some without him. "

"Without the ferret?"

"Oh, how stupid I am!" cried Mercer, and he went on, now in silence, through some stunted firs, in and out by patches of gorse, with thecharacter of the ground quite changed, and then up a hilly slope crownedwith spruce trees, round which we skirted, to stop at last, breathless, at the bottom of the slope facing south, with the dark green, straight-stemmed trees above us; and Mercer gave his foot an angry stampas he looked round at the deserted place, where the pine branches glowedof a ruddy bronze in the sunset light, and cried, --

"Oh, what a jolly shame!"

"Not here?" I said. 

"No; and it's a nasty, mean trick to drag us all this way. I wish I hadkept the ferret instead of trusting him. "

"What's to be done?"

"Oh, nothing, " he replied despondently. "It's always the way, when I'vemade up my mind for a bit of fun, something happens to stop it. "

"Let's wait, " I said. "He may come yet. "

"Wait? Why, it'll be too dark to see to do anything in less than anhour. Oh, won't I pay him out for--"

"There he is, " I whispered, for I had just caught sight of a figurelying down by a patch of furze; and we started off at a dog-trot, andsoon reached the spot. 

"Why, I thought you hadn't come, Magg, " cried Mercer excitedly. 

"That's what I was thinking, " said the man. "There, chuck yourselvesdown; if you stand up like that, somebody may see you. "

I did not like this, for it was going in for more hiding andsecretiveness, but all the same it was fascinating, and, dropping on ourknees in the short, wiry grass, we waited for our instructor in the artof ferreting rabbits to begin. 

"Well, " I said, as we stared at him, and he stared back at us, "aren'tyou going to begin?"

"No, " he said coolly. 

"Then what's the good of our coming?"

"Oh, do begin, Magg! We shall soon have to run back. Where's oldlongbody?"

"Yonder, " said Magglin coolly, nodding his head at the slope just aboveus. 

"Not loose?"

"Yes, he's loose. "

"But--"

"Why, can't you see, lad? and do be quiet, or the rabbits won't bolt. Iput him in one of the holes ten minutes ago. "

A flush of excitement seemed to run through me now, as I noted thatevery here and there were places in the turfy bank where the sandy soilhad been scraped out, and the next moment I saw what had escaped mebefore, that every hole I could see was covered with a fine net. 

Mercer had seen it too, and I saw him rub his hands softly as ifdelighted with the promise of sport, but another ten minutes passed, andthe rabbits made no sign of being anxious to rush out and be caught, andI began to grow impatient. 

"Hadn't you better try another place?" I whispered, but the man held uphis hand, drew his knees under him, and crouched in an attitude that wasalmost doglike in its animal aspect. 

Then there was a rushing noise just above us, and Magglin scrambledforward and dashed his hands down upon a rabbit which came bounding outof a hole and rolled down the slope, tangled in the net. 

The next minute it had received a chop on the back of the neck, ceasedstruggling, been transferred to Magglin's pocket, and the net was spreadover the hole again. 

"That's a bad farret, ain't it, Master Mercer?" said Magglin, showinghis teeth. "You'd best sell un back to me; I should be glad on it forfive shillings. "

"Hush! I thought I heard one, Magg, " whispered Mercer, ignoring theremark. "I say, let me catch the next. "

"Either of you may if you can, " he replied; and we waited again for sometime. 

"Try some fresh place, " whispered Mercer. 

"Nay; they all run one into another; the ground under here's like therat-holes up at the old house. There goes one. "

For a rabbit bolted from a hole higher up, turned on seeing us, anddarted up toward the pines. 

"Farret's working beautifully, " said Magglin. 

"How many holes have you covered?" I asked. 

"'Bout four-and-twenty, and all my nets. You young gents ought to payme for the use of them. "

"Here's one!" cried Mercer, making a leap in a similar fashion to thatof the under gardener, and he too caught an unfortunate rabbit, whoserush had been right into one of the little loose nets, in which it wastangled directly. 

"Here, let me kill un for you, " said Magglin. 

"No; I know now. I can do it, " said Mercer. Then I sprang to my feet, and my first impulse was to run, my second to stand fast, for how he gotup to us so close from behind without being seen was a mystery to me;but there, just in the midst of the confusion and excitement ofcapturing the second rabbit, was Bob Hopley, the keeper, his big, sturdyform seeming to tower above us, and, caught, as we were in thisnefarious act, filling me with dread. 

"Got you this time then, " he said gruffly. 

"There, what did I say?" cried Magglin, in a sharp, acid voice thatsounded almost like a woman's. "I told you that you oughtn't to becatching them rabbids, and now you see what trouble you're in. "

"Oh, you told 'em so, did you, my lad?" said the keeper in a deep, angryvoice, and he seemed like a great mastiff growling at a common-lookingcur. "Then I 'spose it's their ferret in yon burrows, eh? there it is!"he continued, as the buff-looking, snaky animal now came out of one ofthe holes close by us, and Mercer stooped and picked it up as it madefor the dead rabbit. 

"Oh yes, it's their farret, 'tarn't mine, " said Magglin quickly. 

"Yes, it's my ferret, Mr Hopley, " Mercer said dolefully. 

"And their nets, eh? Here, you stand still. You try to run away, andI'll send a charge o' small shot after you, and that can run faster thanyou can. "

"More'n you dare do, big Bob Hopley, " cried Magglin, backing away up thehill; and I thought how cowardly the man's nature must be, for him topropose this expedition and then sneak away from us like that. Butalmost at the same moment I saw a tall, stern gentleman appear fromamong the pine trees toward which Magglin was backing, for the keeperhad presented his gun, evidently to take the labourer's attention, as Isaw that, if matters went on in the way in which they were going, ourcompanion would back right up into the new-comer's arms. 

"You stop, will you!" cried the keeper. 

"You stop yourself, " cried Magglin. "You've got them as belongs to theferret and was rabbiting. Good-night. "

"Will you stop, or am I to shoot?" cried Hopley. 

"Yah!" came back; and as the keeper dropped his gun into the hollow ofhis arm with a grim smile on his face, there was a loud _thwack_ and astartled, "Oh!" for the tall gentleman had stood still, Magglin hadreached him, and a stick fell heavily across the poacher's shoulders. 

"You scoundrel!" he roared, making a snatch at Magglin's collar, but theman was too slippery. He dropped on his knees, rolled down the slope afew yards, sprang up, and dashed off. 

"Don't matter, Sir Hawkus!" shouted the keeper. "I know my gentleman, and can send him a summons. Now, young gents, you've got in for it thistime. Bad company's done for you. "

"Oh, Bob, " whispered Mercer, "let us go this time! let's run. "

"Nay, here's Sir Hawkus coming; and here's some one else too, " hecontinued, as I saw two figures come trotting up by the way we hadreached the slope, to get to us nearly as soon as the tall, stern-looking gentleman. 

"Who are these?" he cried. "Boys from the Doctor's school? You youngdogs, you!" he shouted, shaking his cane. "Who are you?"

"Two of our pupils, Sir Hawkhurst, " said Mr Rebble, panting and out ofbreath. "You wretched boys, has it come to this?"

Mercer looked at the speaker, then at Mr Hasnip's smoked spectacles, and then at me, as General Sir Hawkhurst Rye from the Hall, a gentlemanof whom I had often heard, but whom I had never seen, exclaimed, --

"Well, they are caught red-handed. Rabbits, poaching engines--andwhat's that?"

"A ferret, sir, " said Mercer humbly. 

"Humph, yes. Now, Mr Schoolmaster, what's it to be? Do you take theseboys now, to bring them up before me and another magistrate to-morrow, or shall I have them marched off by my keeper to the lock-up?"

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 

Those were terrible moments, and I remember wishing that it wouldsuddenly turn into darkest night, as we two lads stood there, shrinkingfrom the eyes of those four men, at whom I glanced in turn, and they allimpressed me differently. The general's mouth was pursed up, and hiswalking cane, which, I perfectly recollect was a thick malacca with anivory head, shook in his hand as if he was eager to lay it across ourbacks. Bob Hopley stood with his arms crossed over his gun, looking, asI thought, hurt, pained, and as if we had committed a most terriblecrime. But there was no pain or trouble, as it seemed to me, in eitherMr Rebble's or Mr Hasnip's face. It struck me that they were on thewhole pleased and satisfied in having found us out in a deed that wouldgive them an opportunity to punish us with heavy impositions. 

All these thoughts had passed rapidly through my mind as I stood waitingto hear Mr Rebble's response to the General's question. 

"I will take charge of the boys, sir, " he said importantly; "and I shalllay the matter at once before the notice of Doctor Browne. "

"Hang Doctor Browne!" said the General fiercely. "I want to know whathe meant by bringing his confounded school and setting it up close undermy nose. What did he mean? Eh?"

"I am Doctor Browne's assistant master, Sir Hawkhurst, " replied MrRebble, with dignity, "and I cannot answer for his reasons. "

"Humph! You can't, eh? You there in the dark barnacles, " cried theGeneral, turning upon Mr Hasnip, "what have you to say?"

"That the boys must be severely punished, sir, " said Mr Hasnip, wholooked quite startled. 

"Punished! I should think so indeed. If I were not a magistrate, I'dgive the wretched young poachers a severe trouncing. How dare you, eh?--how dare you, I say, come trespassing on my grounds and poaching myrabbits?"

The only answer that I could find was, "I'm very sorry, sir. I did notthink; and I'll never do so any more;" but it seemed so ridiculous as Ithought it, that I held my tongue. 

"Pretty scoundrels, 'pon my word!" cried the General. "Gentlemen'ssons, eh? nice gentlemen's sons. They've both got poacher written intheir face, and I can see what the end will be--transportation, or hungfor killing a keeper. That's it, eh, Hopley?"

"Well, sir, " said Bob, giving us each a pitying look, "I wouldn't goquite so far as that. "

"No, because you are an easy-going fool. You let people rob me rightand left, and you'd stand still and let the young scoundrels shoot you. There, take them away, the pair of them. You two, I mean--youpedagogues. I'll come and see the Doctor myself to-morrow morning, andI'll have those two fellows flogged--soundly flogged. Do you hear, youboys?--flogged. How many rabbits have you got?"

"Only this one, sir, " I said. 

"What? You dare to tell me only one?"

"There was another, only Magglin put it in his pocket. "

"Got a dozen hid somewhere, " cried the General. "Where have you hidthem, you dog? Stuffed in some burrow, I suppose. Where are they, sir?"

"I told you, " I said sharply, for his doubt of my word made me feel hotand angry. "We only caught those two. I shouldn't tell you a lie, sir. "

"Humph! Oh!" cried the old gentleman, looking at me searchingly, "youwouldn't tell a lie about it, wouldn't you?"

"Of course not, " I replied; "and we did not mean any harm, sir. Wethought it would be good fun to come and catch some rabbits. "

"Oh, you did? Then I suppose it would be good fun to bring guns andcome and shoot my pheasants. Perhaps you'd like to do that, eh?"

"I should, " said Mercer innocently. 

"What!" roared the old gentleman. "Here, you two, take 'em both intoscholastic custody, and tell Dr Browne I'm coming in the morning to puta stop to this sort of thing once and for all. Hopley, where's thatferret?"

"Pocket, Sir Hawkus, " said the keeper bluntly. 

"`_In--my--pocket_, ' sir!" cried the old gentleman angrily. "I pay youwages, sir, as my servant, and I've a right to proper answers. Let'ssee the ferret. "

The keeper took it out of the big pocket inside his velveteen jacket, and held it up, twisting and writhing to get free and down into one ofthe rabbit-holes. 

"Throw it down and shoot it, " said the General. 

"No, sir, please don't do that!" cried Mercer excitedly, "It's such agood ferret--please don't kill the poor thing!"

The General looked at him sharply. 

"Not kill it?"

"No, sir. Please let it go. "

"To live on my rabbits, eh? There, put it in your pocket. And now, yoube off with you, and if I don't have your skins well loosened to-morrow, I'll--You'll see. "

He marched off in one direction, while our guard took us in the other, talking at us all the time. 

"Disgraceful!" Mr Rebble said. "The Doctor will be nearlyheart-broken about such a stigma upon his establishment. I don't knowwhat he'll say. "

"They will be expelled, I presume, " said Mr Hasnip softly. "It is verysad to see such wickedness in those so young. "

"I'm afraid so, " replied Mr Rebble; and they kept up a cheerfulconversation of this kind till we reached the school, where we were atonce ordered up to our dormitory, and dropped down upon the sides of ourbeds to sit looking at each other. 

"I say, you've done it now, " said Mercer at last; "and I did think wewere going to have such fun. "

"Fun!" I said; "it's dreadful!"

"It was capital fun till they all came and spoiled it for us. Iwouldn't care about being expelled--at least not so much, only my fatherwill be so disappointed. "

This made me think of my mother, and of what my uncle would say if Iwere dismissed from the school in disgrace; and I shivered, for this wasthe most terrible part of all. 

"I tell you what, " said Mercer, "we're in for it, and no mistake; and wedidn't do it to steal. We only wanted a bit of sport and some rabbitsto stuff. Let's tell the doctor we're very sorry, and ask him to flogus. It would be too bad to expel us in disgrace. What do you say?"

"They may flog me, " I said sadly; "but I couldn't go home again indisgrace like that. "

"Of course not; and it's too bad to call it poaching. I'm sorry wewent, though, now. "

"Yes, " I said, "I'm sorry enough;" and we sat there, miserable enough, waiting till the other boys came up, and it was time to go to bed. 

We had not begun to undress, when the door was opened, and three headswere thrust in, and to our disgust, as we looked up, we saw that theybelonged to our three principal tormentors, who began at us in a jeeringway. 

"Hallo, poachers!" said Burr major; "where are the rabbits?"

"I say, " cried Hodson, "you fellows are going to be expelled. Leave usthe stuffed guys, Senna. "

"He won't, " cried Dicksee; "he'll want the skins to make a jacket--abeggar!"

"You're a set of miserable cowards, " I said indignantly, "or youwouldn't come and jump upon us now we are down. "

"You give me any of your cheek, Burr junior, and I'll make you smellfist for your supper. "

"Pst! Some one coming!" whispered Hodson, and the three scuffled away, for there were footsteps on the stairs, and directly after Mr Rebbleappeared. 

"Mercer, Burr junior, " he said harshly, "Doctor Browne requests that youwill not come down till he sends for you in the morning. As for you, young gentlemen, you will take no notice of the door being fastened; Ishall be up here in time to let you out. Good-night. "

He went out, and closed and locked the door, and we heard him take outthe key and go down the stairs. 

"Well, that's a rum one!" cried Mercer. "I say, Burr, old Rebble madean Irish bull, or something like it. How can we go down if the door'slocked?"

"It's because they're afraid we shall run away, " I said bitterly. "Theyneedn't have thought that. "

And somehow that first part of our punishment seemed to be the mostbitter of all. It kept me awake for hours, growing more and morelow-spirited; and, to make me worse, as I lay there listening to theloud breathing of the boys, Mercer having gone off like the rest, as ifnothing was the matter, I could hear an owl come sailing about theplace, now close at hand, and now right away in the distance, evidentlyin Sir Hawkhurst's old park, where, no doubt, it had a home in one ofthe great hollow beeches. Every now and then it uttered its mournful_hoi, hoi, hoi, hoi_! sounding exactly like some one calling for help, and at times so real that I was ready to awaken Mercer and ask him if hethought it was a bird; but just as I had determined to do so, he spokehalf drowsily from his pillow. 

"Hear the old owl, " he said. "That's the one I told you about the othernight. It isn't the same kind as we saw in old Dawson's oast-house. They screech. Get out, you old mouser! I want to sleep. "

The owl kept on with its hooting; but Mercer had what he wanted, for hedropped asleep directly, and I must have followed his exampleimmediately after, for the next thing I remember is feeling somethingwarm on my face, which produced an intense desire to sneeze--so itseemed, till I opened my eyes, to find that the blind had been drawn, and Mercer was tickling my nose with the end of a piece of top stringtwisted up fine. 

"Be quiet. Don't!" I cried angrily, as I sat up. "Hallo! where arethe other fellows?"

"Dressed and gone down ever so long ago. Didn't you hear the bell?"

"No; I've been very sound asleep, " I said, beginning to dress hurriedly. "Shall we be late? Oh!"

"What's the matter?"

"I'd forgotten, " I said; for the whole trouble of the previous eveninghad now come back with a rush. 

"Good job, too, " said Mercer. "That's why I didn't wake you. Wish Iwas asleep now, and could forget all about it. I say, it ain't nice, isit?"

I shook my head mournfully. 

"It's always the way, " continued my companion, "one never does have abit of fun without being upset after it somehow. We went fishing, andnearly got drowned; I bought the ferret, and we lost it; we went in forlessons in boxing, and I never grumbled much, but oh, how sore and stiffand bruised I've often been afterwards. And now, when we go for just anhour to try the ferret, we get caught like this. There's no real fun inlife without trouble afterwards. "

"One always feels so before breakfast, " I said, as dolefully as Mercernow, and I hurriedly finished dressing. Then we went to the window, andstood looking out, and thinking how beautiful everything appeared in themorning sunshine. 

"I say, Tom, " I said at last, "don't you wish you were down-stairsfinishing your lessons, ready for after breakfast?"

"Ah, that I do!" he cried; "and I never felt so before. "

"That's through being locked up like in prison, " I said philosophically. 

"Yes, it's horrid. I say, the old Doctor won't expel us, will he?"

"I hope not, " I said. 

"But he will old Magglin. You see if he don't. "

"Well, I'm not sorry for him, " I said; "he has behaved like a sneak. "

"Yes; trying to put it all on to us. "

We relapsed into silence for some time. We had opened the window, andwere looking out at the mists floating away over the woods, and thedistant sea shining like frosted silver. 

"Oh, I do wish it was a wet, cloudy morning!" I said at last. 

"Why?"

"Because everything looks so beautiful, and makes you long to be out ofdoors. "

We relapsed into silence again, with our punishment growing more painfulevery moment, till our thoughts were chased away by the ringing of thebreakfast-bell. 

"Ah, at last!" cried Mercer, and he turned to listen for footsteps. 

"I say, " he cried crossly, "ain't they going to let us go down tobreakfast?"

"No; we're prisoners, " I said bitterly. 

"Yes; but they don't starve prisoners to death, " cried Mercer; "and Iwant something to eat. "

In spite of my misery, I too felt very hungry, for we had gone through agreat deal since our evening meal on the previous day, and I wasstanding watching my companion as he marched up and down the bedroomlike an animal in a cage, when we heard steps on the stairs. 

"Here's breakfast, " cried Mercer joyfully, but his face changed as thedoor was opened, and Mr Rebble appeared, followed by one of the maidsbearing a tray, which she set down on a little table and went away, leaving Mr Rebble looking at us grimly, but with the suggestion of asneering laugh at the corners of his cleanly-shaven lips. 

We both glanced at the tray, which bore a jug and two mugs and a platewith a couple of big hunches of bread. Then Mercer looked up halfreproachfully at Mr Rebble, who was moving toward the door. 

"They've forgotten the butter, sir, " he said. 

"No, my boy, no, " replied the usher; "butter is a luxury reserved forthe good. The Doctor will send for you both by and by. "

He went out and locked the door, while we stood listening till the stepshad died away. 

"It's a jolly shame!" cried Mercer. "I'm not going to stop here and eatdry bread. "

"Never mind, " I said; "I don't mind for once;" and, taking one of thepieces of bread, I lifted the jug to fill a mug, but set it down againwithout pouring any out. 

"What's the matter?"

"Look, " I said. 

Mercer darted to the table, looked into the jug, poured out a little ofits contents, and set the vessel down, speechless for the moment withrage. 

"Water!" he cried at last, and dashing to the table again, he ran withit to the window, and threw both jug and contents flying out into theshrubbery below. 

"Oh!" he ejaculated, directly after; "I didn't know you were there. "

I ran to the window now, and looked down to see the cook's red facegazing up at us. 

"Eh? what say?" said Mercer, leaning out. 

"Hush! be quiet. All at breakfast. Got any string?"

"Yes. Oh, I know, " cried Mercer joyfully, and he ran to his box andfrom the bottom dragged out a stick of kite string, whose end he rapidlylowered down to where cook stood, holding something under her apron. 

This proved to be a little basket with a cross handle when she whiskedher apron off, and, quickly tying the end of the string to it, she stoodwatching till the basket had reached our hands, and then hurried awayround the end of the house. 

"Oh, isn't she a good one!" cried Mercer, tearing open the lid, aftersnapping the string and pitching the ball quickly into the box. "Lookhere; four eggs, bread and butter--lots, and a bottle of milk--no, " hecontinued, taking out the cork and smelling, "it's coffee. Hooray!"

"What's that in the bit of curl paper?" and I pointed to somethingtwisted up. 

"Salt, " cried Mercer, "for the eggs. Come on, eat as fast as you can. "

I took a piece of bread and butter, and he another, eating away as hepoured out two mugfuls of what proved to be delicious coffee. 

"Who says we haven't got any friends?" cried Mercer, with his mouthfull. "What lots of butter. 'Tis good. I say, wonder what old Rebblewould say if he knew! Have an egg. "

"No spoons. "

"Bet a penny they're hard ones. "

So it proved, and we cracked them well all over, peeled off the shells, which for secrecy we thrust into our pockets, and then, dipping the eggsinto the salt, we soon finished one each, with the correspondingproportion of bread and butter. Then the other two followed, the lastslice of bread and butter disappeared, and the wine-bottle was drained. It was an abundant supply, but at our age the time consumed over themeal was not lengthy, and we then busied ourselves in rinsing out thebottle, which was hidden in my box, after being carefully wiped on atowel, the basket was placed in Mercer's, and as soon as the last signof our banquet had disappeared, we looked at the two hunches of bread, of which mine alone had been tasted, and burst into a laugh. 

"I don't want any--do you?" said Mercer, and I shook my head. "Oh, I dofeel so much better! I can take the Doctor's licking now, and hope itwill come soon. "

"I don't, " I said. 

"Why not? It's like nasty physic. Of course you don't like it, but thesooner you've swallowed it down, the sooner it's gone, and you haven'tgot to think any more about it. That's what I feel about my licking. "

"Hist! here's some one coming. "

Mercer turned sharply round and listened. 

"Old Reb, " he whispered, and we went and stood together near the windowas the steps came nearer; the key was turned, and Mr Rebble appeared, glanced at the tray with its almost untouched bread, and then smiledmaliciously. 

"Ho, ho! Proud stomached, eh? Oh, very well, only I warn you both youget nothing more to eat until that bread is finished. Now, then, younggentlemen, this way please. "

He held the door open, and then led us into a small room at the end ofthe passage used for spare boxes and lumber. Here we were locked in andleft, and as soon as we were alone Mercer burst into a fit of laughter. 

"Oh, what a game!" he panted, wiping the tears from his eyes. "I say, though, he never missed the water-jug. What's the matter?"

"Matter!" I cried; "it's a shame to lock us up here like two prisonersin this old lumber-room. "

"Oh, never mind! it's only old Reb's nasty petty way. I don't believethe Doctor knows. He isn't petty; he scolds you and canes you if you'vedone anything he don't like, but as soon as you've had your punishment, it's all over, and he forgets what's past. I say!"

"Well?"

"He will not expel us; I'm not afraid of that. "

In about half an hour, we heard Mr Rebble's steps again. 

"Now then, the physic's ready, " whispered Mercer. "Don't you cry out. It hurts a good deal, and the Doctor hits precious hard, but the painsoon goes off, and it will only please old Rebble if you seem to mind. "

Just then the door was opened, and our gaoler appeared again. 

"This way, " he said shortly, and we went out into the passage once more, while my heart began to flutter, and I wondered whether I could bear acaning without showing that I suffered, and, to be frank, I very muchdoubted my power in what would be to me quite a new experience. I setmy teeth though, and mentally vowed I would try and bear it manfully. 

It was all waste energy, for Mr Rebble threw open the door of ourdormitory again, drew back for us to enter, and said, with a nastymalicious laugh, as if he enjoyed punishing us, --

"Not a morsel of anything till that bread is eaten. "

Then the door was closed, sharply locked, the key withdrawn, and hissteps died away. 

"What a take in!" grumbled Mercer, as we looked round the neat, cleanbedroom, and realised that we had only been locked up in the other placewhile the maids came to make the beds. "I was all screwed up tight, andwould have taken my caning without so much as a squeak. Couldn't you?"

"I don't know, " I said, "but I felt ready to go on with it, and now Isuppose we shall have to wait. "

To our great disgust, we did have to wait hour after hour. We heard thefellows go out from school, and their voices came ringing through theclear summer air, and then we heard them come in to dinner; but we werenot called down, nothing was sent up to us, and, though we kept watch atthe window looking down into the shrubbery, there was no sign of thecook, and the kite string remained unused. 

"But she's sure to come some time, " said Mercer. "She won't let old Rebstarve us. Hi! look there. Old Lomax. There he goes. "

Sure enough, the old sergeant marched down the road, and we watched tillhe was out of sight, but he did not see us. 

"I wonder what he thought when we did not go for our lesson thismorning, " I said. 

"Oh, he had heard of it, safe, " cried Mercer. "Hark, there they go outfrom dinner. I say, I'm getting tired of this. They must have us downsoon. "

But quite an hour passed away, and we stood sadly looking out at thebeautiful view, which never looked more attractive, and we were tryingto make out where the hammer pond lay among the trees, when I suddenlynipped Mercer's arm, and we began to watch a light cart, driven by agrey-haired gentleman, with a groom in livery with a cockade in his hatseated by his side, and a big dark fellow in velveteen behind. 

"Is he coming here?" whispered Mercer, as we drew back from the window. 

We knew he must be, and, peering from behind the white window-curtains, we saw the great fiery-looking roan horse turn at a rapid trot throughthe open gates, then the wheels of the light, cart seemed to be pulledup at the front entrance, where we saw the groom spring down, and heardthe jangle of the big front door bell. 

Then we sat down on our chairs by the heads of our beds and waited, andnot long, for we soon heard steps on the stairs. 

"It's coming now, " said Mercer, drawing a long breath. 

"Yes, it's coming now, " I echoed softly, as a curious sensation of dreadran through me, and directly after the door was unlocked, and Mr Rebbleappeared. 

"Now, young gentlemen, " he said, with a perfectly satisfied air, "theDoctor will see you both in his room. "

CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 

We followed him, and as we turned through the baize door so as to godown the front staircase, Mercer and I managed to exchange a grip of thehand. 

Directly after, we caught sight of the great roan horse at the doorchamping its bit, and sending flakes of foam flying over its glossycoat, and I noticed even then that one white spot fell on the groom'sdark brown coat. 

Then, once more drawing a deep breath, we walked in together through thedoor Mr Rebble threw open, and closed behind us, when, as if through amist, I saw the Doctor sitting at a writing-table, looking very sternand portly, the General, grey, fierce, and rather red-faced, seated alittle way to the Doctor's right, with his malacca cane between hislegs, and his hands, in their bright brown gloves, resting on the ivoryhandle, so that his arms and elbows stood out squarely; while again onhis right, about a couple of yards away, stood big, dark, andburly-looking Bob Hopley, in his best brown velveteen jacket. 

"Er-rum!" coughed the Doctor as the door was closed, and we lookedsharply round at the stern faces before us, Bob Hopley favouring us witha solemn wink, which I interpreted to mean, "I forgive you, my lads. "Then the Doctor spoke. 

"Stand there, Thomas Mercer and Frank Burr. That will do. Now, SirHawkhurst, will you have the goodness to repeat the charge in theirpresence. "

The old officer faced fiercely round on the Doctor. 

"Hang it all, sir!" he cried; "am I the magistrate, or are you?"

"You are the magistrate, sir, " said the Doctor gravely, "but I am themaster. The distinction is slight, but I allow no one to stand betweenme and my boys. Unless you are going to proceed legally against them topunish I must request you to let me be their judge. "

"Beg pardon, beg pardon, " said the General sharply, "Old soldier, sir--been much in India, and the climate made me hot. Go on!"

I glanced at him quickly as I heard him mention India, and he caught myeye, and shook his fist at me fiercely. 

"You young dog!" he roared; "how dare you come after my rabbits!"

"Excuse me, " said the Doctor. 

"Yes, yes, of course. Well, Doctor Browne, my keeper and I were outtaking a look round at the young pheasants in their coops last evening, when we took these confounded young dogs red-handed, ferreting rabbitswith that scoundrelly poaching vagabond you have taken into yourservice, when nobody else would give him a job. "

"Ah, yes, " said the Doctor blandly, "you complained of my employing thatman, Sir Hawkhurst. The fact is, he came to me, saying that he had beencruelly misjudged, that he was half starved, and begged me to give him ajob. I did so, to give him another chance. Of course, after this, andthe fact that my gardener gives him a very bad character and seems muchdissatisfied, I shall not employ him again. "

"And very wisely, " said the old officer. "Well, sir, that's all I'vegot to say. That is my evidence. "

"Thank you, " said the Doctor magisterially. "And you, my good man, werewith your master, and saw the boys--my boys--engaged there?"

"Yes, sir, " said Bob Hopley, touching the black curls over his forehead. "Rabbit and ferret produced. "

As he spoke, he pulled out of one big pocket the dead rabbit, and out ofthe other the twining and writhing ferret, at which the Doctor gazedwith interest through his gold spectacles. 

"Singular animal!" said the Doctor, "specially designed by nature forthreading its way through the narrow labyrinthine burrows of the rabbitand the rat. "

"Confound it all, sir!" said the General--"I beg pardon, I beg pardon. "

During the last few minutes the wheels of a carriage had been heard onthe gravel drive, and the dog-cart had been driven aside. Then the bigbell had clanged, and all had been silent again. For the moment, I hadwondered whether it was a parish constable come for us, but the next Ihad forgotten all about it, till one of the maids entered, with a coupleof cards on a tray, which she went round and handed to the Doctor. 

"Bless me!" he exclaimed, flushing, as the General made an impatientgesture, and relieved his feelings by shaking his fist at us both, whileBob Hopley began to smooth the ferret with his great brown, hairy hand. 

"Well, sir?" said the General. 

"Excuse me, " said the Doctor. "A most curious coincidence. Twovisitors. "

"No, sir, no visitors now; business, if you please. Those two boys--"

"Excuse me, " said the Doctor blandly. "The two visitors are therelatives of one of these boys. "

Mercer gave quite a start, and I pitied him. 

Poor Tom's father and mother, I said mentally, and then I gave a starttoo, for the General said fiercely, --

"By George! then they couldn't have come better. Show them in, and I'llhave a word or two with the boy's father. "

The Doctor made a sign; the maid withdrew; and I pressed a little closerto Mercer, and pinched his arm. 

"I'll take my share, " I whispered quietly, as the door was opened. TheDoctor and the General both rose, as there was the rustle of silk, and Iuttered quite a sob as I was clasped in my mother's arms. 

"My dearest boy, " she cried, as she kissed me fondly, while I shrankaway, for my stern-looking, military uncle came in with her. 

"Why, Charley!" roared the General. 

"What, Hawk!" cried my uncle boisterously, and the two old officersgrasped each other's hands, and stood shaking them heartily. 

"Why, my dear old man, " cried the General, "this is a surprise!"

"Surprise! I should think it is, " cried my uncle. "I am delighted. Like old times, eh?"

"Hah!" ejaculated the General, chuckling, and looking now transformedinto a very genial old gentleman, while the Doctor stood softly strokinghis shirt-frill and smiling benignantly. 

"But one moment, " cried my uncle. "My sister--poor old Frank Burr'swife. "

"Dear, dear, bless me!" cried the General, advancing with courtly, chivalric respect to shake hands with my mother. "My dear madam, " hesaid softly, "it is an honour. I knew your poor husband well. "

As he dropped my mother's hand, she bent her head, and her veil sankdown, while the General's eyes fell upon me, and the transformation wascomic. 

"Here, " he whispered to my uncle, as I looked from one to the other, andsaw the Doctor smiling blandly. "This--this boy--not--Frank Burr's--"

"Yes, " said my uncle, nodding to me. "Pupil here. Send him into theservice by and by. "

"Bless my soul!--Oh dear me!--Here--I--that is--" stammered the General, looking from one to the other, till his eyes lit on Bob Hopley, when heflushed up angrily. 

"How dare you, sir! How dare you stand there, with that rabbit and thatwretched ferret! Don't you see that there are ladies present, sir. 'Tention! Put them away. Dress!"

"Here, stop, " said my uncle sharply, as he looked round, "We haveinterrupted some business. "

"No, no, no, no, my dear boy!--nothing, nothing!" cried the General. "Mere trifle. "

"Trifle, eh?" said my uncle, drawing himself up, and looking the fiercecolonel of dragoons. "Frank!"

"Yes, uncle, " I said shrinkingly. 

"You are in some scrape. "

"Yes, uncle. "

"What have you been doing?"

"Oh, Charles, pray--pray--" cried my mother. 

"Hush, " he said, holding up his hand. "Now, sir, speak out. "

"Really, my dear Charley--" cried the General. 

"Allow me, please, sir, " said my uncle; and I caught sight of the Doctorraising his hand and making a sign to my mother, as he placed a chairfor her, an act of politeness needed, for she was turning faint. "Now, sir, speak out--the simple facts, please. What have you been doing?"

"Rabbiting with a ferret, uncle, us two, and this gentleman and BobHopley came and caught us. "

"Rabbiting--poaching?"

"Yes, yes, yes, " cried the General. "A mere nothing, my dear madam. The boys were certainly on my grounds watching a poaching scoundrel, andI--yes, I thought I'd say a word to the Doctor. Bad company for him, apoacher--eh, my dear Charley?"

"Yes, rather, " said my uncle dryly. 

"And now, " said the General, "Doctor Browne here--my neighbour--willtell them not to do so any more--eh, Doctor, eh?"

"Certainly, " said the Doctor. "I'm sure it will not occur again. "

"No, no, of course not, " said the General. "Hopley, you can go. Stop!that ferret belongs to the boys, I think. "

"To you, Frank?" said my uncle. 

"No, uncle, it's his, " I said. "But I was helping to use it. "

"Hah! that's better, " said my uncle sharply. 

"I bought the ferret, " said Mercer, speaking for the first time, "but Idon't want it. I'll give it to you, Bob. "

"Yes, yes, very wise of you, my lad. There, go now, Hopley, " said theGeneral. 

The keeper touched his forehead, and gave a look all round, then winkedsolemnly at Mercer and me, and left the room. 

"Hah!" said the General; "then that little bit of business is settled, Doctor, eh? Just a word or two. "

"A few admonitions, my dear sir, " said the Doctor blandly. "And now, ifyou will excuse me for a while, I will retire with Mercer here. "

Tom gave me a look so full of appeal, that I ran across to the Doctor. 

"Don't punish him, sir!" I said imploringly. "We were both alike. "

"What's that, Frank?" said my uncle. 

"I asked the Doctor not to punish Tom Mercer, uncle. "

"No, no, no: of course not!" cried the General; "I endorse that appeal. Here, you sir, come to me. Gentlemen don't do such things as that; andnow we all know better, I've got some capital fishing in my ponds andlakes, and I shall be happy to see you two at any time. There, shakehands. "

Tom jumped at him, and it was pleasant to see how delighted he looked ashe turned and shot a grateful glance at the General before the doorclosed on him and the Doctor. 

Then the two old officers began chatting eagerly together about pasttimes, while I sat by my mother as she held my hand, and I told her thehistory of my escapade, which was hardly finished when my uncle said, --

"I'm sorry to come down and find you in disgrace, Frank. Not theconduct of one who means to be an officer and a gentleman by and by. "

"No, no: don't say any more, " said the General. "The boy behaved verywell. Liked a bit of sport; all boys do. He shall have a bit ofrabbiting now and then. "

"Then I shall say no more, " said my uncle. "Try and be like your name, my boy, and you will find me ready to forgive your scrapes; but you mustalways be a gentleman. "

"Amen to that, " said the General, rising. "And now, my dear Mrs Burr, I will not say good-bye, but _au revoir_. Seaborough here tells me youare both going to stay in Hastings for a few days. I shall drive overand see you. Good-bye. "

He showed the same courtly respect to her again, and was rising to gowhen the Doctor re-entered, and they parted the best of friends. 

"No, no, no, " cried the General, as the Doctor was coming out with him, "stay with your visitors. Odd meeting, wasn't it? Here, you, FrankBurr, come and see me off. Good-day, Doctor, good-day. You and I mustbe better neighbours. "

"I shall be proud, " said the Doctor, and then I went to the cart withthe General, who stood holding my hand at the step, and I could feel acoin therein. 

"For you two boys, " he said. "There, good-bye, Frank Burr. You mustgrow up into a brave gentleman like your father. A thorough soldier, sir. God bless you, my boy! Good-bye. "

He took the reins and got in, the groom left the horse's head andmounted beside him, and as the cart was driven off, and I stood therewith a sovereign in my hand, Bob Hopley, who was in his place behind, gave me another solemn wink, while, after noticing the hired carriage inwhich my mother and my uncle had driven over from Hastings, I went backinto the room and stayed with them, and afterwards went to show them thebuilding and grounds. 

An hour after, they were gone, while I hurried off to find Mercer andshow him the sovereign. 

"Well, " he said, "that's all right. But, I say, don't some things turnout rum! What are you going to do with all that money?"

"Half's yours, " I said. 

"Oh, is it? Well, let's make a bank. It'll do to pay old Lomax andlots of things. "

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 

My mother and my uncle came over to see me twice during their stay atHastings, and during one of the visits my uncle spoke to the Doctorabout the drill-master, and, after expressing a wish that I should payattention to that part of my studies, with fencing, asked if thisinstructor had been in the foot or horse. 

"Oh, he was in the cavalry, uncle, " I said. 

"Good; then, if Doctor Browne does not object, I should like him to giveyou a few preliminary lessons in riding, so as to get a military seatwhile you are young, boy. "

The Doctor expressed his willingness, but he said with a slight cough, --

"Would not a horse be necessary, or a pony?"

"Well, yes, " said my uncle dryly, "I think it would, sir; but thatdifficulty will be got over. Sir Hawkhurst Rye has offered the boy theuse of a stout cob. One of the grooms will bring it over two or threetimes a week; and, if you would allow me, I should like to have a fewwords with the old sergeant. "

The Doctor was perfectly agreeable; and when they were going, I had thepleasure--for it was a pleasure--of taking them down to Lomax's little, neatly-kept place, where the old sergeant stood ready to draw himself upand salute, with his eyes lighting up, and a proud look of satisfactionin his hard face. 

My uncle took him aside, and they remained talking together, while mymother walked up and down with me, holding my hand through her arm, andeagerly whispering her hopes--that I would be very careful, that I wouldnot run into any danger with the riding, and, above all, mind not to doanything my uncle would not like. 

Of course I promised with the full intention of performing, and soonafter my uncle marched back with Lomax--they did not seem to walk. Everything had apparently gone off satisfactorily, and after plenty ofadvice from my uncle, he handed my mother into the carriage, followedand they were driven off. 

I stood watching the carriage till it was out of sight, and then turnedto Lomax, who was standing as upright as if he were on parade, till hecaught my eye, and then he gave himself a jerk, thrust one hand into hispocket, and gave the place a slap. 

"You're a lucky one, " he said, "to have an uncle like that, sir. Hah!there's nothing like a soldier. "

"How am I lucky?" I said rather sourly, for I was low-spirited from theparting I had just gone through. 

"Lucky to have a fine old officer like that to want me to make a man ofyou, and teach you everything you ought to know to become an officer anda gentleman. "

"Oh, bother!" I said. "Look here, Lomax; you're to teach me riding. Can you?"

"Can I?" he said, with a little laugh; "wait till the horse comes round, and I'll show you, my boy. "

"I can ride, you know, " I said; "but not military fashion. "

"You? you ride, sir?" said the old soldier scornfully. "Rubbish! Don'ttalk to me. I know how you ride--like a sack of wool with two legs. Knees up to your chin and your nose parting the horse's mane all downhis neck. "

"Oh, nonsense, Lom!"

"Fact, sir, fact. Think I don't know? A civilian rides, sir, like amonkey, bumping himself up and down, and waggling his elbows out like ayoung chicken learning to fly. There, you be easy, and I'll teach youhow to ride same as I did how to fight. "

"But I don't know that you have taught me how to fight. I haven't triedyet. "

Lomax chuckled. 

"Wait a bit, " he said. "You don't want to fight. It's like being asoldier--a British soldier, sir. He don't want to fight, and he willnot if he can help it. He always hangs back because he knows that hecan fight. But when he does--well, I'm sorry for the other side. "

"Then you think I could lick Eely if he knocked me about, or bigDicksee?"

"No, I don't think anything about it, my boy. You wait. Don't fight ifyou can help it, but if you're obliged to, recollect all I've shown you, and let him have it. "

I did not feel in any hurry, and when I talked to Tom Mercer about whatI had said to Lomax, he agreed with me that he felt a little nervousabout his powers, and said that he should like to try a small boy or twofirst; but I said no, that would not do; it would be cowardly. 

"So it would, " said Mercer; "besides, it would let the cat out of thebag, wouldn't it? Look here, I know: we ought to have a quiet set to upin the loft some day. "

"But that would only be boxing, " I said. 

"Why not make a fight of it?" suggested Mercer. 

"But we couldn't fight without there was a genuine quarrel. "

"Let's quarrel, then. "

"What about?"

"Oh, I don't know. Anything. You call me a fool, and I'll hit you, andthen you go at me again, and we should know then what we could do. "

"Get out!" I said. "I shan't call you a fool; but if I did, youwouldn't be such a beast as to hit me, and if you did, I should be sosorry that I shouldn't hit you again. That wouldn't do. "

Tom Mercer scratched his head. 

"No, " he said dryly, "that wouldn't do. It seems precious rum, though. "

"What does?"

"That I shouldn't care to hit you. I feel as if I couldn't hit a fellowwho saved my life. "

"Look here, " I said angrily, "you're always trying to bring up thatstupid nonsense about the holding you up on the penstock. If you do itagain, I will hit you. "

"Boo! Not you. You're afraid, " cried Mercer derisively. "Who pulledthe chap out of the water when he was half drowned, and saved him?Who--"

I clapped my hand over his mouth. 

"Won't do, Tom, " I said. "It's all sham. We can't fight. I daresayold Lom's right, though. "

"What do you mean?"

"That we shall be able to knock Eely and Dicksee into the middle of nextweek. "

"But it seems to me as if they must feel that we have been learning, orelse they would have been sure to have done something before now. "

"Never mind, " I said, "let's wait. We don't want to fight, as Lom says, but if we're obliged to, we've got to do it well. "

The occasion for trying our ability did not come off, though it was verynear it several times; but as I grew more confident, the less I feltdisposed to try, and Mercer always confessed it was the same with him, though the cock of the school and his miserable toady, Dicksee often ledus a sad life. 

One morning, soon after the last visit of Uncle Seaborough, Lomax cameto the schoolroom door, just as Mr Hasnip was giving me a terriblebullying about the results of a problem in algebra, on to which he hadhurried me before I had more than the faintest idea of the meaning ofthe rules I had been struggling through. 

I suppose I was very stupid, but it was terribly confusing to me for themost part. I grasped very well the fact that a plus quantity killed aminus quantity if they were of equal value, and that a little figure twoby the side of a letter meant its square, and I somehow blunderedthrough some simple equations, but when Mr Hasnip lit a scholastic fireunder me, and began to force on bigger mathematical flowers from myunhappy soil in the Doctor's scholastic hothouse, I began to feel as ifI were blighted, and as if quadratic equations were instruments oftorture to destroy boys' brains. 

On that particular morning, I was, what fat Dicksee called, "catchingit, " and I was listening gloomily to my teacher's attempts at beingwitty at my expense. 

"How a boy can be so stupid, " he said, "is more than I can grasp. It isperfect child's play, and yet you have gone on getting the problem intoa hopeless tangle--a ridiculous tangle. You have made a surd perfectlyabsurd, and--"

"Mr Hasnip!" came from the other end of the great room. Mr Hasniplooked up. 

"The drill-master is here. The horse has arrived for Burr junior'sriding lesson. Can you excuse him?"

"Certainly, sir, " and Mr Hasnip looked at me, showing his teeth in ahungry kind of smile, as if a nice morsel were being snatched from him, and I stood with my heart beating, and the warm blood tingling in mycheeks, conscious that all the boys were looking at me. 

"Here, take your book, Burr junior, " said my tutor. "Very glad to go, Idaresay. Now aren't you?"

I looked up at him, but made no reply. 

"Do you hear me, sir?"

"Yes, sir. "

"I said, `Aren't you glad to go?'"

"Yes, sir. "

"Of course. There, be off. You'll never learn anything. You are thestupidest boy I ever taught. "

My cheeks burned, and as I turned to go, there was fat Dicksee grinningat me in so provoking a way, that if we had been alone, I should in myvexation have tried one of Lomax's blows upon his round, smooth face. But as it was, I went back to my place, where Mercer was seated, withhis hands clasped and thrust down between his knees, his back up, andhis head down over his book, apparently grinding up his Euclid, uponwhich he kept his eyes fixed. 

"Oh ho!" he whispered; "here you are. Without exception, sir, thestupidest boy I ever taught. "

"I'll punch your head by and by, Tom, if you're not quiet, " I said. 

"Who made the surd absurd?"

"Did you hear what I said?"

"Yes. Oh, you lucky beggar! Who are you, I should like to know, to behaving your riding lessons?"

"Less talking there, Burr junior. "

This from Mr Rebble, and I went out, passing close to Burr major, wholooked me up and down contemptuously, as he took out his watch, and saidto the nearest boy, --

"Rank favouritism! if there's much more of it, I shall leave theschool. "

But I forgot all this directly, as I stepped out, where I found Lomaxstanding up as stiff as a ramrod, and with a walking cane thrust underhis arms and behind his back, trussing him like a chicken, so as tothrow out his chest. 

He saluted me in military fashion. 

"Mornin', sir. Your trooper's waiting. Looks a nice, clever littlefellow. "

"Trooper?" I faltered in a disappointed tone. "What do you mean? Ithought it was the horse come. "

"So it is. "

"But trooper?"

"Of course. Well, charger, then. Officers' horses are chargers; men'shorses, troopers. "

"Oh!" I cried, brightening up, but with a feeling of nervousness andexcitement making my heart beat more heavily still. "Where is it?"

"Paddock!" said Lomax shortly, and without the slightest disposition tobe conversational. In fact, he became more military every moment, andmarched along by me, delivering cuts at nothing with his cane, as if hewere angry with the air. 

Then all at once he glanced at me, looking me up and down. 

"Humph! No straps to your overalls, " he said snappishly. 

"Overalls?"

"Well, trousers, sir. They'll be crawling all up your legs. Get somebuttons put on by next time. "

He turned into the field devoted to the Doctor's cows and to the juniorboys' football, and there I saw the General's groom holding a fiery, untamed-looking steed, as it seemed to me, arching its neck andsnorting, as it stood champing its bit till the white foam flew from itsmouth. 

The groom touched his hat to me as we came up. 

"Master's compliments, sir, and as he wants me, " he said, "would youmind riding the cob back to the house?"

"Oh yes, of course, " I said, glancing at the fierce-looking animal, andmentally asking myself whether he would allow me to ride him home. "Is--is he quiet?"

"Quiet, sir! why, he's like a lamb. Bit playful sometimes, but no morevice in him than there is in an oyster. Mornin', sir. "

The man touched his hat and went off, leaving Lomax and me with thehorse, which looked enormous then. 

Lomax strode round the animal, examining it, and making remarks as hewent on. 

"Very well groomed, " he said. "Saw your old friend Magglin beforebreakfast. Good legs. Like to get taken on again, he says. Tail wantstopping--too long. Lucky for him he didn't get before the magistrates. Doctor won't have him again. Very nice little nag, but too small forservice. I told him that all he was fit for was to enlist; some sharpdrill-sergeant might knock him into shape in time. He's no use as heis. Now, then, ready?"

"Yes, " I said shrinkingly, "I suppose so. "

"That's right, " cried Lomax, and, lifting up the flap of the saddle, hebusied himself, as I supposed, tightening the girths, but all at oncethey dropped to the ground, and, with the rein over his arm, Lomaxlifted off the saddle and placed it upon the hedge. 

"Now then, " he cried, "come along and I'll give you a leg up. "

"But you've taken the saddle off. "

"Of course I have. I'm going to teach you how to ride. "

"Without a saddle or stirrups?"

"Of course. A man wants to feel at home on a horses, so does a boy. Now then, I'll give you a leg up. "

I was like wax in his hands. On lifting one leg as he bade me, the nextmoment I was sent flying, to come down on the horse's back astride, butso much over to the right that I had to fling myself forward and clutchthe mane. 

"Bravo! Well done!" cried Lomax sarcastically. 

"I'm all right now, " I cried. 

"All right! Here, come down, sir. Do you know what would have happenedif that had been some horses?"

"No, " I said, dismounting clumsily. 

"Well, then, I'll tell you. They'd either have sent you flying overtheir heads, or bolted. "

"I'm very sorry, " I faltered. 

"Sorry! I should think you are. Got up like a tailor, sir, and you'vecome down like one. Bah! It's horrible. "

"Well, but you've got to teach me better, " I cried. 

"True. Good lad. So I have. Now then, give me your leg. That's it. Steady. Up you go. "

"That's better, " I cried, settling myself into my place. 

"Better! No, it isn't. It's not so bad only, sir. Now, then, sit upso that a line dropped from your temple would go down by your heel. Better. Get your fork well open. "

"What?"

"Sit close down on the horse's back, then. No, no, you don't want toscratch your ear. "

"Well, I know, that, " I said, laughing. 

"Then what did you cock up your knee that way for? Let your legs hangdown. That's better. Toes up and heels well down. "

"What for, Lomax?"

"Don't ask questions. Do as I tell you. Well, there you're right. Toes up so that they just rest in the stirrups. "

"But I haven't got any stirrups. "

"Then act as if you had. "

"But why don't you let me have some?"

"Silence in the ranks, sir. Now then, keep your balance. Advance at awalk. "

The horse started. 

"Halt!" shouted Lomax, and the horse pulled up so short that I wentforward. 

"What are you doing, sir? You don't want to look into the horse'sears. "

"I wasn't trying to, " I said sharply. 

"What were you going to do, then?--whisper to him to stop?"

"I say, don't tease me, Lom, " I said appealingly; "you know I couldn'thelp it. "

"Right, my lad, I know. But 'tention; this won't do. I've got to teachyou to ride with a good military seat, and we're not friends now. You're a private, and I'm your riding-master. "

"Yes, but one minute, Lom--"

"Sergeant Lomax, sir. "

"Yes, Sergeant Lomax. I say, do let me have a saddle. "

"What for, sir?"

"It's so much more comfortable. "

"A soldier, sir, is a man who scorns comfort and takes things as theycome. You've got to learn to ride. "

"Of course. Then where's the saddle?"

"When you can ride well without a saddle, you shall have one. Now: nomore talking. 'Tention! By your right--March!"

The horse started off without my influencing him in the slightestdegree, but before we had got ten yards, the sergeant's stern, "Halt!"rang out again, and the horse stopped as suddenly as before, but I wasaware of it this time, and gripped him hard with my knees. 

"Good. Well done. But you went too far forward. Take a good hold withyour knees. And that's not the way to hold your reins. Look here, onerein--no, no, not the curb--the snaffle--that's it now--one rein outsideyour little finger and one in, and the rest of the rein through yourhand, between your forefinger and thumb. Good. Now pick up the curbrein off your horse's neck and let it rest lightly in your hand. "

"What for?"

"Don't ask questions. Because it's right. Ready for use if the horsepulls too much or bolts. "

"Is he likely to pull too much or bolt?"

"Don't ask questions. No, he isn't. Soldiers generally ride on thecurb, but a horse like this don't want it. He has been ridden withcavalry, too. Now then, once more at a walk--March!"

The horse started again, with his soft, warm back feeling terriblyslippery, but I sat quite stiffly upright, and he walked straight up thepaddock, and seemed as if he were going to leap the hedge, making mewonder which side I should fall; but just as we were close up, thesergeant's voice rang out, --

"Right wheel!"

The horse turned to the right instantly, and had gone a dozen yards whenthe sergeant shouted again, "Right wheel!" and directly after, "Forward!" with the result that we were now facing him, and went slowlydown the paddock, till the sergeant shouted, "Halt!" just as I wasbeginning to feel a little more comfortable, and not as if I must slideoff right or left at any moment. 

"Well, that's pretty fair, sir, " cried Lomax, as the horse stoppedshort. "Chest out more, back hollow. Keep your knees well in. Capitalhorse for you to learn on. Knows all his work. Well, we won't wastetime walking. You shall do that now at a trot. "

"Without a sad--"

"'Tention. No talking in the ranks. "

The horse didn't want to be turned, but came round quickly, almost on apivot, very much disturbing my equilibrium again; but by grippingtightly with my legs I managed to hold on, and looked anxiously atLomax. 

"Ah, " he shouted, "eyes straight for the horse's ears! Now then, youwill sit firm, elbows close to your sides. 'Tention! The squadron willadvance at a walk. Forward--tr-r-r-ot!"

The horse had only walked a few paces when the second order came, and hebroke directly into a trot, which sent me bumping up and down, now alittle inclined to the right, then more to the left, then my balance wasgone. I made a desperate effort to save myself, and then, perfectlycertain that the horse would trample me to death beneath his feet, downI went on my back, and began to scramble up, with my mount stock stillbeside me. 

"Not hurt a bit!" cried Lomax, running up and handing me my cap, whichhad come off. 

"No, " I said, beginning to feel myself all over; "I don't think anythingis broken. "

"And I'm sure there isn't, " cried Lomax. "Now then, I'll give you a legup. "

"Am I to get up again--now?" I faltered. 

"Without you want to say you haven't pluck enough to learn to ride. "

"No, " I said; "I haven't pluck enough to say that. "

"Not you. Up you go. There. Now that is better. Stick on this time. "

"I could if I had stirrups, " I said, "and a saddle. "

"No, you couldn't, sir, so don't talk nonsense. You've just learnt thefinest thing a lad who wants to ride can learn--the thing that gives himplenty of confidence. "

"What's that?" I asked; "that it's very hard to keep on?"

"No; that it's very easy to come off and roll on the ground withouthurting yourself a bit. Off you go again. Forward--trot!"

The horse snorted and went on, shaking me almost to pieces, andsometimes I was nearly off on one side, sometimes nearly off on theother, but I kept on. 

"Right wheel!" came from the other end of the field, then, "Rightwheel!" again. "Forward!" and the horse was taking me--for I hadnothing whatever to do with him--back toward where the sergeant stood. 

I kept my balance pretty well, but my trousers were running up my legs, and I felt as if everything belonging to me was shaken up. Then oncemore my balance was gone, and off I went on to my back, and over andover a few yards from the sergeant, who ran up, the horse once morestopping short by my side. 

"Bravo!" cried Lomax, as I sat up. "You're getting on. "

"I thought I was getting off, " I said dolefully. 

"Rubbish, sir; improving fast. Here, up with you again. It's allstrange to you at first, but you've got to grow to that horse's back, till it's like one animal--horse and man. You've got to learn to griphim till you feel as if you can't tumble off. "

"But I never shall, " I cried. 

"Don't tell me. I'll make you. Now then; there you are. Now you justtrot down to the bottom and back without coming off like a sack ofshavings. Never mind the reins. Let him have his head, and you put allyour sperrit into your knees. Keep your position and preserve yourbalance. "

"I know I shall fall again soon. "

"Very well, then, fall. But I don't believe you will. Now then, oncemore. "

He gave the order, the horse walked a few steps, then at the secondorder broke into a trot, and, to my utter astonishment, as I drove myknees into the warm soft sides, away we went, wheeled to the right, thento the right again, and trotted back to the sergeant, who shouted, --

"Halt! Bravo! There, what did I say? Make much of your horse. "

The lesson was kept on for fully two hours, and then, to make up, Isuppose, for a good deal of bullying, my instructor was loud in hispraise, and, opening the gate after replacing the saddle, he signed tome to mount, but I tried and could not, for my legs felt stiff andstretched, my back ached, and there was a peculiar sensation of sorenessabout the knees. 

"Shall I trot him back?" said Lomax. 

"If you would, please, " I said. "I do feel so stiff. "

"I will, my lad. To-morrow morning same time; and I'll get some of thatstiffness out of you. "

"Thank you, " I said rather dolefully; and then I could not help watchingthe old dragoon with a feeling of envy as he placed one foot in thestirrup, drew himself up till he stood upright, then deliberately threwthe right leg over the horse's back, slowly dropped into his place asupright as a dart, and trotted steadily out into the road and away outof sight, while, after closing the gate, I began to retrace my steps inthe direction of the school, just as the boys came trooping out fortheir regular run till the room was ventilated, and the cloth laid fordinner. 

"Oh, I say, it's rank favouritism!" came from the middle of a group. "Ishall speak to the Doctor about it. "

Some one answered this, but I did not hear the words, and I hobbled tothe door, and went up to my room, wondering how any one could be enviousof the sensations I was experiencing then. 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. 

"How are your sore knees?" said Mercer one morning soon after my longfirst lesson in riding. 

"Oh, dreadful!" I cried. "They get a little better, and then theriding makes them bad again. "

"But why don't he let you have a saddle?"

"He does now, " I said--"that is, he did yesterday; but it's worse ridingon a saddle, it's so slippery, and he will not let me have anystirrups. "

"When are you going again?"

"To-day, I suppose. The Doctor says I'm to get on as fast as possible, and make up with my other studies afterwards. "

"Wish I was going to learn to ride. "

"You wouldn't much like it if you had to, " I replied. "Oh, I don'tknow. It looks very nice to see you going along. But, I say, it doesmake Burr major so wild. I heard him tell Dicksee he should make hisfather send him a horse, and Dicksee said he ought to, and I laughed. "

"Did he hear you?"

"Yes, and gave me such a clip on the head with a cricket stump. Feelhere. "

I placed my hand where he suggested, and there was a good-sized lump. 

"What a shame!" I cried indignantly. "Didn't you hit him again?"

"No; I only put it down. We're going to pay it all back some day. "

"Yes; but when?" I cried. 

Mercer shook his head. 

"I say, " he continued, "I saw old Magglin this morning beforebreakfast. "

"What was he doing here?"

"Dunno. Wanted to see me, I suppose, and borrow a shilling. "

"Did you lend him one?"

"Yes; I felt obliged to. "

Just then Burr major came by us, and looked us both over sharply. 

"Haven't you two got any lessons to get ready?" he said. 

"Yes, " I replied. 

"Then go in and get them ready before I report you both to Mr Hasnip. Do you hear?"

"Yes, " I said; "but I'm going to have my riding lesson. "

"Your riding lesson!" he sneered; "you're always going to have yourriding lesson. I never saw such a school as it's getting to be. It'sshameful! I shall go and ask Mr Hasnip if we boys are to be keptalways at work, while you and Tom Mercer are idling about and enjoyingyourselves. "

"All right, " said Mercer oracularly, in a whisper to me, as Burr majorwalked off importantly for a few yards, attended by his satellites, andthen stopped, drew out his watch with a flourish, looked at it, and putit back with an air that he intended to be graceful. 

"Look here, you, Tom Mercer--do you hear, Jollop? You're not going tohave riding lessons. I give you five minutes to get back to your work, and if you are not there then--you'll see. "

"All right, " said Mercer again; and then, as Burr major was out ofhearing, "Any one would think he was the Doctor. Oh, I should liketo--" he continued, grinding his teeth. "Think we could, Frank?"

"I don't know, " I said hesitatingly; "but when he talks like that, itmakes me feel horribly mad, and as if I should like to try. "

"Never mind. Wait a bit; the revolution isn't ripe yet, " said Mercerdarkly. "Wish I'd got a watch like that. "

I was very angry, but my companion's sudden change from thoughts ofrevenge to covetousness seemed exceedingly droll. 

"What are you laughing at?" he said. 

"At you about the watch. "

"Well, I can't help it, Frank. That watch seems always staring at mewith its round white face, and holding out its hands to me. I dream ofit of a night, and I'm always longing for it of a day. You can't tellhow bad it makes me feel sometimes. "

"You shouldn't think about it, Tom. "

"I can't help it. I don't want to, but the thoughts will come, dreadfully. I say, " he whispered darkly, "I don't wonder at chapsstealing sometimes, if they feel like I do. "

"What nonsense!" I cried: "I say, here's Eely coming back. "

"Is he?" said Mercer sharply. "Then I'm off in. "

"Why, you're never going to be such a coward as to be bullied intoobeying his orders. "

"Oh yes, I am, " replied my companion. "Time isn't ripe yet. But whenit is--oh!"

He gave vent to that exclamation with peculiar force, though it was onlya low hiss, and I followed him with my eyes, half disposed to think thatTom Mercer would prove a rotten reed to lean upon if I wanted hissupport in a struggle against our tyrant; though, truth to tell, as Burrcame rolling along with half a dozen boys about, all ready at a wordfrom him to rush at me, I did not feel at all confident of being able toresist his authority, and I began to move off. 

"Hullo!" he cried. "Here's the gallant horseman, boys. Let's go andsee him ride. "

"Yah! he can't ride, " cried Dicksee; "he'll tumble off. "

"Not he, " said Burr major. "Old Lom ties his ankles together under thehorse. But he does look an awful fool when he's on board. I say, Burrjunior, you don't think you can ride, do you?"

"No, " I said quietly. 

"And you never will. I say, boys, what an ugly beggar he grows! I knowwhy he's learning riding. "

"Do you? Why?" cried Dicksee. 

"They're going to make a groom of him. "

The blood flushed up in my face, and I began to feel as if the time mustbe getting ripe. 

"Why, he was bragging about going to be a soldier!" cried another boy. 

"Him! A soldier! Ha, ha, ha!" cried Burr major. "They wouldn't evenhave a big-eared-looking fellow like that for a parchment-whopper. "

"He said a horse soldier. "

"Horse sneak, " said Burr major scornfully. "A soldier! Ho, ho, ho!Ha, ha, ha! I say, boys--a soldier!"

He burst into a yell of laughter, all forced, of course, and hissatellites roared too, some of them, to curry favour, beginning to danceabout him, and look eagerly in his face, as if for orders. 

Of course it was very absurd to mind, but I could not help it, andtingled all over. 

"Oh, I wish Mercer was here!" I thought to myself. 

"The time must be ripe;" and I suppose my face showed something of whatI felt, for Burr major cried, --

"Look at the puppy, boys; he looks as if he wanted to bite. Did youever see such an impudent beggar? I don't believe his name's Burr atall. It's only a bit of a show-off. "

At that moment there was a hail from the paddock, and the school bellrang for the first lesson. 

"There, groom, you're wanted, " said Burr major sneeringly. "Go on andlearn to ride, and mind you don't hurt yourself. "

"Yah! Go on, ugly!" cried Dicksee, and the boys roared. 

"Do you hear, sham sodger? Be off, and don't stand staring like that, "cried Burr major again. "I told you to go. "

"Go yourself, " I retorted, now thoroughly roused, and feeling reckless. "Go in to school and learn your lessons, and mind the Doctor don't caneyou. "

"What?" cried the tall, thin fellow, flushing up, as he advanced upon memenacingly, while the bell was rapidly getting toward its laststrokes, --"what's that you say?"

"Go in and get to your lessons, and take that fat-faced booby with you. "

"Well!" cried Burr, "of all!" and he looked astounded. 

"That's it, is it? Cheeking me because you know I can't stop now. Butall right, I shan't forget it. If I do, Dicksee, you remind me afterlessons that I've got to warm Jollop and this groom boy. The Doctor'sbeen spoiling them both lately, and they want taking down. "

"All in, all in, to begin!" was shouted from the doors. 

"Oh yes, we're coming soon, " said Burr major, throwing up his head. "Wait a bit, you, sir, and I'll teach you to insult your seniors. "

"All in, all in!"

"Here, Dicksee, go and hit that fellow on the mouth for shouting. "

"All in, all in!" came again, directed at our group. 

"Coming, " cried Burr major. Then to me: "After morning studies, yousir. I don't suppose I shall forget. "

"If you do, I shan't, bully, " I said, and he turned upon me moreastonished than ever, and then burst into a fit of derisive laughter. 

"He's mad, " he cried. "Here, boys, Senna's been gammoning him intotaking some of his physic, and he don't know what he's saying. "

"Dicksee--Burr major. Come, boys. "

Mr Rebble was standing in the schoolhouse doorway, and all but Burrmajor ran off. He took out his watch, and walked away importantly afterthe others, while I felt a peculiar nervous thrill run through me, andbegan wondering whether I had been too bold, as I went off hurriedly nowto where Lomax was waiting with the horse. 

"I don't care, " I said; "he may thrash me, but I won't be bullied likethat, and insulted, without a try. "

"Come, young gentleman, " cried the sergeant. "I began to think you weregoing to shirk it. "

"Not I, Lom, " I cried, and, feeling peculiarly excited, I went up to thehorse's head and patted him, while the sergeant removed the stirrups. Then he gave me a leg up, and I was hoisted into my seat, and wentthrough my lesson--walk, trot, and gallop, with the saddle seeming lessslippery, and without coming off once. 

The sergeant, I noticed, was very severe, and barked and shouted at meand the horse, keeping us doing the same things over and over again, andgrowing more exacting as we went on. But I hardly noticed him, for myhead was all in a whirl, and I was thinking about after lessons, andwhat would happen then. So occupied was I with my thoughts that I neveronce felt nervous, but as if all I had to do was to sit still and letthe horse obey the orders. 

Lomax finished me off with a canter round the paddock, which was takenat a pretty good pace, and very easy the horse's pace was, but I wasthinking of Burr major's sneering face all the time, and his long armsand bony white hands. Then about Mercer, and what he would say--what hewould do. 

"Are we both to have a good thrashing?" I asked myself, as the horsecantered on, and, "Right wheel--left wheel--forward!" rang in my ears. "Are we to be made more uncomfortable than ever?" I thought; "and shallwe forget all about what old Lom taught us?"

My arms did not move, my left hand held the reins on a level with myimaginary waist-belt, about which the sergeant talked, and my right handhung steadily down just by my leg, but all the time I was on guard, andkeenly on the watch for blows from those white bony hands that seemed tobe flourished before me. Then I fancied concussions and dizziness, andfelt blows, and rolled over upon the grass, but not off the horse, forit was all fancy; and I was just seeing in my mind's eye poor Tom Mercergoing down before a heavy blow from Dicksee's fat fist, when there rangout the word, "Halt!" and the horse stopped short. 

Lomax strode up in his stiff military fashion, and patted the cob on theneck. 

"Well?" he said sharply. "What am I to say to you now?"

"I--I don't know, " I faltered. "Shall we go through it again. "

"No, no let the trooper breathe a bit. He has been kept at it prettytightly. Well, how do you feel--stiff?"

"No, " I said, flushing a little, full of a feeling of regret for myneglect in my lesson. 

"Bit sore about the knees, eh?"

"Oh yes, my knees keep very sore, " I faltered. 

"Of course they do. Never so hard worked before. Soon get better. Letme see, this makes just a month you've been at it, eh?"

"Yes, this is the end of the fourth week. "

"Then don't you think I deserve a bit of credit?"

"Oh yes!" I cried eagerly. "You have taken great pains over me, Lom. I wish I had not been so stupid. "

"So do I, " he said drily. "Saddle feel very slippery this morning?"

"Oh no, I didn't notice it, " I replied. 

"Didn't long for the stirrups?"

"I didn't think about them. "

"Felt as if you belonged to the horse now, eh, and could let yourself gowith him?"

"Oh yes, " I said. 

"Well, then, all I've got to say, my boy, is, `Brayvo!' You wentthrough it all wonderfully this morning, and quite astonished me. Seemed as if you and the horse were one, and you never showed the whitefeather once. Why, in another two or three months your uncle shall beproud of you. "

"Then I went through my lesson well?" I said. 

"Splendidly, boy, splendidly. Couldn't have done better. Now, trot thenag down home. Stop, you shall have the stirrups. "

"No, not to-day, Lomax, " I said. "I've got an--an engagement to keep. Please take him down yourself. "

"Right. I will. Hah! we've been longer than I thought, for the boysare coming out of school. Then down you come, and good morning. "

I leaped off the horse, not feeling a bit stiff. Lomax replaced thestirrups, mounted, and went off again in the upright, steady way I hadbefore admired, while I stood there listening to the shouting of theboys, and thinking of the thrashing I was bound to receive. 

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. 

I had not been standing in the field many minutes, shut in by the hedge, and trying to rouse myself to go, before I heard a familiar voicecalling me, and I answered with a feeling of relief, for anything wasbetter than that sensation of shrinking expectancy, and, drawing a deepbreath, I prepared myself for the plunge. 

"Oh, here you are!" cried Mercer, running up to me excitedly. "I say, here's a go! You've got to come up into the loft directly. "

"The loft!" I said, feeling that here was something fresh. "What for?"

"Eely wants us. He sent Dicksee to me to say that we were to go to himdirectly. "

"Do you know what for?" I said huskily. 

"Yes, Dicksee told me. He said he was going to punch our heads forbeing cheeky. But I say, Frank, we're not obliged to go, are we?"

I was silent for a few moments, and then said, with an effort, --

"Yes, I suppose we must. "

"But he isn't everybody. "

"If we don't go, they'll come and fetch us. "

"But you're not going to let him punch your head, are you?"

"I suppose so, " I said dismally, for my anger had faded away, and I wasquite cool. 

"But I'm sick of being knocked about. "

"So am I. "

"Then don't let's have it. The time isn't anything like ripe, I know, and I don't believe a bit in being able to fight, but--"

"But what?" I said, after a pause. 

"I don't know. I hate fighting. "

"So do I, Tom, " I said dismally. "I wish they'd leave us alone. "

"I wish they only would. "

"But why does Burr major want us to go into the loft? Why couldn't hecome here?"

"Because he thinks he can lick us quietly up there, with only a few ofhis chaps with him, and two to be scouts. Oh dear me, school ain'tnice!"

"Come on, Tom, " I said, "and let's get it over. "

"What? do you mean to go?"

"Yes, " I said gloomily, "I suppose so. "

"And do you mean to fight?"

"If I'm obliged. You may just as well have a few cracks at him as takeit all for nothing. You'll come?"

"Oh, all right, but we shall get an awful licking, " said Tom huskily. "I can't fight a bit. It's all gammon--that poking out your left armand fending with your right. I like to hit out with my right arm. "

"I don't like hitting out at all, " I said gloomily. 

"But shall you try?"

"I don't know, Tom, " I replied in a desponding tone. "Oh, I do wishboys wouldn't be such beasts! Come on. "

"All boys ain't, " said Mercer, as we moved off toward the yard. "Oh, don't I wish the time had been quite ripe, and we could have astonished'em! It's always the way. I make such jolly plans, and think they'regoing to turn out all right, but they don't. Never mind. I never toldyou what I've got saved up in my box ready in case of accidents. "

"No, " I said; "what is it?"

"Some of the stuff my father uses for bruises. I bought some--leastwiseI got Lom to buy some for me at the chemist's when he went into thetown. "

"What is it?" I said carelessly, for I did not feel eager to know. 

"Arnica. It's in a bottle, and you soak rags in it, and--"

"Here they are, " greeted us in chorus, and we were literally taken intocustody by about a dozen boys, who hurried us round to the back, whereBurr major, Dicksee, Hodson, Stewart, and three more were waiting likeso many conspirators. 

I may as well own to it; my heart sank, and I felt as if I were goingout to execution, or at the least to be severely punished, for Burrmajor was laughing and chatting to the boys about him, and turnedsneeringly to us as we came up. 

"Oh, here they are, then, " he cried contemptuously. "Bring them up, boys;" and he turned off, entered the old stable, and went up the wornsteps into the loft, while we were dragged and pushed unnecessarily tillwe were up at the top, to find Burr major seated on the big bin, swinging one leg about carelessly--acting as if he were judge and wewere two criminals brought up before him. 

"Two of you keep the lower door and give notice if any one's coming, "said Burr major sharply. 

"Oh, " cried one of the boys, "don't send us down, please. We shan't seenone of the fun. "

Nice fun for us, I thought, and then wondered whether it would hurtmuch. 

"All right, then, " cried Burr major. "I don't want to be hard. You cankeep a look-out from the window. " Then, turning sharply, --

"Now, you two, " he cried, "what have you got to say for yourselves?"

"Nothing, " I said. 

"More have I, " cried Mercer defiantly. 

"Oh, very well, " said Burr major. "More cheeky than ever. What shall Ido, boys? give 'em stick or let 'em stand up and take it?"

"A fight, a fight!" rose in chorus. 

"All right. I'll dress the groom boy, and Dicksee shall give the otherchap his dose. "

A curious sensation of trouble and bewilderment came over me, as I gavea quick glance round at the bare loft, with its cob-webbed windows andeager little crowd of boys, all expectant and flushed with desire forthe scene. 

"Ah, look out! he's going to bolt, " shouted Hodson. 

"I wasn't, " I cried indignantly. 

"He'd better, " said Burr major, coolly taking off his jacket andbeginning to fold it up and lay it on the bin. "Now then, major-generalof cavalry, off with your duds. I won't keep you long. Just timebefore dinner. "

"But I say, " cried Dicksee, "we ain't going to fight both together?"

"No, " said Burr major; "you shall dress Jollop down first, and I'llsecond you. "

"No; you do yours first. "

"Do as I tell you, " cried Burr sharply, "and don't waste time. I shallhave to wash after thrashing that dirty groom. "

I gave him an angry glance in return for his insult, and then turned toTom Mercer, who was standing with his brow all wrinkled up, slowlytaking off his jacket, which he threw over a beam, and turning up hisshirt sleeves above his sharp elbows. 

"I'm going to get such a licking, " he whispered. 

"No, no; do win!" I whispered back. 

"Can't. He's so soft you can't hurt him. He's just like a big footballthat you mustn't kick. "

"His head isn't soft, " I whispered; "hit that. "

"Now then, ready!" cried Burr, and we faced round, to find Dicksee withhis sleeves rolled up, and Burr patting him on the shoulder and givinghim instructions. 

"Now, then, young Mercer, come up to the scratch, " cried Burr. "Standback, you boys, and make a better ring. "

Then a shuffling of feet, a few suppressed sounds of excitement, and theboys who were to look out turned from the windows. 

"Remember old Lom, " I said, feeling very nervous and doubtful as Iwhispered to my principal. Then the boys were opposite to each other, Dicksee throwing his head about, dancing from leg to leg, and feinting arush in, while Mercer stood well balanced on his legs, his browwrinkled, and his fists up in the attitude we had been taught. 

"Now, Dicksy, give it up. Go in at him. Look sharp!"

"All right; wait a moment, " cried the boy, dancing and dodging about asif to avoid blows that had not been struck at him. 

"Go it, Fatty, go it!" shouted the boys. 

"Hush! not so much row, " cried Burr. "Go on, Fatty. Now then. "

"All right; wait--"

But Burr would not wait, for he gave his principal a heavy thrust, sending him forward right on to Tom, who contented himself withthrusting his antagonist back. 

"Oh, I say, that ain't fair, " cried Dicksee. "You wouldn't like ityourself. You spoiled my plans. "

"Go on, then, and finish him off; I want my turn. " Then there was aburst of eager incitements, and, unable to defer the attack any longer, seeing, too, that Mercer did not mean to begin, Dicksee gave a finaldance, which included a dodge to right and left, and then he rushed inat Mercer, who seemed just to shoot his left shoulder forward with hisarm extended, when there was a dull sound, and Dicksee seated himselfvery suddenly on the floor. 

"Hallo! slip?" cried Burr, helping him up, --rather a heavy job, --while alook of perfect astonishment was in the fat face. 

"Yes--boards--awkward, " he babbled. "Ca-ca-can't we go on the grass?"

"No, no. Go in again. "

"Eh?" said Dicksee, with his hand to his face. 

"Well done, Tom!" I whispered; "that's it. "

"It was right, wasn't it?" he said. 

There was no time for more. Incited, almost driven by his second, Dicksee came on again, aimed a blow or two wildly, and was sent downagain by Mercer almost without an effort. 

And now the wind of favour began to change, so that in the next roundboys shouted encouragement to Mercer. 

"Hold that row!" cried Burr savagely; "do you want the Doctor to hear?Now, Dicksee, give it him this time. "

I must do the fat fellow the credit of saying that he now came onfiercely, swinging his arms wildly, and striking out with all his might, but not one blow took effect, and I had the satisfaction of seeing thetriumph of Lomax's instructions, gaining confidence all the while, asTom delivered a blow here and a blow there, and then one which sent hisantagonist down to bump his head upon the boards. 

There was quite a little burst of cheers now. 

"Will you stop that row!" cried Burr fiercely. "Silence! You, Dicksee, " he whispered, as he helped his principal up, "if you don't goin and lick him, I'll lick you. "

"Tom, " I was whispering, "you're sure to win. "

"Am I?" he said stolidly; "but I don't like knocking him about--he can'tfight at all. "

"Serve him right; he'll remember it in future. Now then. Ready!"

The pair were facing each other again, and the encounter which followedwas a little longer, but it ended in Mercer giving his adversary a sharpblow on the cheek, and directly after another on the nose, and Dickseeagain seemed to sit down suddenly as if to wipe it, a duty which hadcertainly become necessary. 

"Silence!" cried Burr major, as a burst of cheers followed this lastround, for it was seen that the fat lad did not intend to get up again. "Dicksee isn't well to-day; I believe old Jollop has given himsomething. " Then in a whisper, as he half-dragged his principal back, "You beggar!" he said; "I'll serve you out for this. "

"Hooray!" cried a small boy at the window; "old Senna has licked--"

"Will you mind and watch that window, " cried Burr. "It's all right, boys; I shall have to dress Jollop down as soon as I've done the groom. Here, Hodson, you must second me. "

"Oh, Tom, " I whispered, with my heart beating, "I wish I could fightlike you!"

"So you can, " he replied; "better. Look out, he's ready. Take itcoolly; never mind his show. I wish I was going at him instead of you. I'm nice and warm now. "

"I wish you were, " I said. 

"No, you don't. "

The next minute I was facing my tall adversary, who looked down at mecontemptuously, after a smiling glance round at the boys, which seemedto say, --"Now you shall see. "

There was a faint cheer at this, followed by a smothered howl, whichdrew attention to Dicksee, who was now rocking himself to and fro as ifin pain. 

Then there was what seemed to me a peculiarly ominous kind of silence, and I felt shocked and frightened, not so much of my adversary as atmyself. The feeling was mingled with shame, for I began to think that Imust be a terrible coward, and I found myself wondering what my unclewould say if he knew how unfit I was to be trained to become a soldier. 

These thoughts were momentary, long as they take to describe, and Ibegan to wonder whether it would be best to apologise to Burr major, andask him to let me off, but as I thought that, I felt that I could not, and that I would sooner he half killed me. This brought up thoughts ofmy mother's sweet, gentle face, and how she would suffer if she knewwhat was going on. 

Lastly, I began to think I must fight, and that I had better prepare totake care of myself, for Burr major deliberately threw himself into agraceful attitude and addressed me. 

"Now, you young sniveller, " he said haughtily, "you have brought this onyourself. I am going to give you a lesson that will teach you to behaveyourself in future, and you too, Senna Tea. You're fond of physic; youshall have such a dose. Mind, you boys, that old Jollop doesn't sneakoff. "

"All right!" rose in chorus; "he shan't go. "

"Mind he don't lick you, Eely, " cried one of the boys at the window. 

"Mind Tommy Wilson don't sneak off either, " said Burr major. "Allright, Tommy, I can't fight you, but I can stretch those ugly great earsfor you. "

"Ow how! ow how!" cried the little fellow, sparring a peculiar yellingnoise, but indulging in a broad grin to his nearest companion. "Oh, mypoor ears! I say, Burr junior, you lick him, and then you can take careof me. "

I did not speak, for my antagonist had begun sparring at me, makingfeints and trying to throw me off my guard, but, as if by instinct now, I dropped into the positions and practice Mercer and I had been learningso long, and, as I thought, without avail; but I did begin to find outthat it had been good advice to stand on my guard and to let myadversary show-off and tire himself. 

I felt very cool, and not so much alarmed now, when the first blow came, intended for my lips, but which I easily stopped, and so I did anotherand another, the round ending by Burr major making a fierce dash at me, over-reaching himself, and going down without my having delivered oneblow. 

"How slippery these boards are!" said Burr, jumping up. 

"That's right!" whispered Mercer; "keep on as quiet as that, and waityour time. "

Then we began again, and I felt very much disinclined to hit out hard, as I felt that I could have done, for fear of hurting my antagonist--forthe feeling of animosity and the memory of the insults, blows, andannoyance from which I had suffered had faded away. But all at once, aswe stood eyeing each other, Burr's fist came sharply in contact with mylips, there was a dull pain, a sensation of a tooth being loosened, anasty faint salt taste in my mouth, followed by a short struggle, and Iwas thrown heavily. 

Burr major walked back and sat down on his second's knee, smiling roundat the cheering boys, who began to crowd round him, while, as I rose, feeling painful throbbings in one elbow and arm, I was drawn down onMercer's knee, and he whispered, --

"Never mind. Don't get excited over it. Be quite cool. Now then, he'sready again. "

So was I, for there was a buzzing in my temples and a hot feeling in mythroat as I once more stood up before my adversary, who was stillsmiling contemptuously as he began sparring and then dashed forward, butstopped suddenly, and stood back, shaking his head, while I tightened myhand and saw the blood start from one of my knuckles. 

"Go on, Burr. Give it him. He's nearly done. Go on, go on!" waschorused on all sides; and, looking very vicious now, Burr came at mewith his fists wide apart, and then he rushed at me as if he meantmischief, but to his great surprise as much as to mine, he seemed to runhis nose right on to my left fist, and dropped down on the floor. 

He was up again, though, directly, amid a buzz of excitement, and I feltthat now he was going to avenge himself thoroughly, but, as I struck outwith my left exactly as Lomax had instructed me, somehow Burr major wentdown again. 

It almost puzzled me. I could hardly believe it, but it was forced uponme, and the blows which I seemed to deliver at the right time in themost effortless of ways, had a terrible effect, my antagonist going downthree times to my once. 

And now some of the tide began to set in my direction--the tide ofpopularity. First of all, little Wilson took heart and gave me a cheer, then he began to grow excited, and to cry in an eager whisper, --

"Well done, Burr junior! Hooray! That's it. Give it him. Hooray!down again. "

Burr major got up, looking fierce as well as confused, and sat pantingon his second's knee; and as I sat on mine, Tom Mercer gave me a hug. 

"Splendid!" he whispered. "Hooray for old Lom! You'll beat him if youkeep quiet. You boys, hold that row. "

There was a hush directly, and we two faced each other once more. 

The confident contempt for me had gone now, and there was no laughinglooking round at the boys for their approval, but, pale, excited, andwith marks beginning to show in an ugly way, Burr major seemed to beprepared to do his best to crush me by a fierce attack. 

For my part, I had been so much hurt that it was as if the shrinking wasall knocked out of me, and I was no less eager to begin than he. But westood facing each other now, with the hum of excitement that greeted ourcoming forward hushed once more to silence. 

I could feel that I might now commence the attack, but my master'slessons all came clear and vivid before me, and knowing that, as theweaker, it was my duty to act on the defensive, I waited, while wewatched each other cautiously, my adversary evidently expecting that Ishould begin. 

But, as I did not, he attacked again, and, though I managed to give himseveral telling blows, he closed with me before I could avoid him, andin the tussle which followed I went down heavily, my head coming inviolent contact with the floor. 

Everything passed away then for a few moments except sparks dancingbefore my eyes, but I was conscious directly of Mercer's voice, as hewhispered to me excitedly, --

"Oh, don't let him lick you, Frank!--don't let him lick you, pray!"

"No, " I panted, with my breath coming rather short, "he isn't going to, but I'm so giddy. "

"Had enough of it?" cried Burr major, and the giddiness passed awaydirectly as I rose and faced him. 

Satisfied by the result of his last manoeuvre, he tried it again, butthis time I was prepared, and, stepping on one side, I gave him, orrather my fist of itself seemed to give him, a stinging blow on the ear, which had so staggering an effect that, as he swung round and came onagain, I was able to follow up my blow with three or four more, and thepoor fellow went down crash. 

It was his turn to look dazed and heavy now, and quite half the boyscrowded round, giving me advice, bidding me, "go it, " and workingthemselves up to a tremendous pitch of excitement. 

Then we were facing each other again, with all pity and compunctiongone, and, after receiving one or two blows, I forgot everything but thefact that there was something before me that I must hit, and hit it Idid, my deliveries, as it happened, being quite in accordance withLomax's teaching, which somehow came natural to me; and then I foundmyself standing over Burr major who was seated on the floor, and withhalf a dozen boys all wanting to shake hands with me at once. 

"Here, I say, Burr major, " cried one of his chief parasites, "ain't yougoing to lick old Senna now?"

I felt sorry for him, for he looked around dazed and despairing, but myblood was up again directly, as I saw the miserable cur of a fellow whohad spoken go closer, double his fist, and shake it so close to Burrmajor's face that he tapped his nose. 

"Serve you right!" he cried. "Always knocking other people about. Howdo you like it now?"

"You let him alone, " I cried hotly. 

"I shan't. Mind your own--"

"Business, " I suppose he meant to say, but my fists had grown so excitedby the fight that one of them flew out, and sent the miserable curstaggering against Mercer's chest. 

Then I stood upon my guard, but the boy only held his hand to his face, while the others set up a cheer, and I turned to Burr major, who wasstill seated on the floor. 

"I'm very sorry, Burr, " I said apologetically. "I didn't want to knockyou about so much. You'll shake hands, won't you?"

He looked up at me with rather an ugly expression upon his face, but hemade no movement to take my hand, only turned away. 

"Help me up, Stewart, " he said huskily. "I want to go to my room andwash, and--"

"What is the meaning of all this, pray?" said a cold, harsh voice, andwe all looked round to see Mr Rebble's white face just above thetrap-door. 

"Burr Major and Burr Junior been having it out, sir, " cried half a dozenvoices at once, and the colour began to burn in my cheeks as I met theusher's eye. 

CHAPTER NINETEEN. 

Mr Rebble stepped up into the loft, closely followed by Mr Hasnip, whostared from one to the other with a peculiar smile upon his lip. 

"Fighting, eh?" said Mr Rebble. "Disgraceful! Why, Dicksee and Deanhave been fighting too, and--yes--Mercer. "

"Yes, sir, " cried little Wilson. "Mercer and Dicksee had theirs first, then Burr major and Burr junior. Bill Dean hasn't been fighting. Itwas only that Burr junior gave him a wipe. "

I felt as if I were the chief offender, and as I heard these words, Ilonged not to deliver wipes, but to have a good wash. 

"Disgraceful!" exclaimed Mr Rebble. "Who began it? You, I suppose, Burr. "

My first instinct was to disclaim this excitedly, but I thought it wouldbe cowardly, so I held my tongue, leaving it to Burr major to answer. 

To my surprise, though, he remained silent, and little Wilson squeakedout, --

"No, sir, please, sir, it wasn't Burr junior, sir. Eely Burr sent forBurr and Mercer to come and be licked; but, " added the boy, with amalicious grin, "he hasn't licked them yet. "

"Disgraceful! disgraceful!" cried Mr Rebble. "Well, the Doctor willdecide what is to be done. Quick, boys, the dinner bell will. --Ah, there it goes!"

There was a hurried rush off at this, the boys being only too glad toget beyond hearing of the usher's scolding, and we who were lefthurriedly scrambled on our jackets in a shamefaced way. 

"This matter will have to be thoroughly investigated, " said Mr Rebble;"but be quick now and make yourselves presentable. I shudder at whatthe Doctor would say if he saw you all in this condition. Come, Hasnip. "

They both descended like pantomime demons through the trap, and wefollowed, Burr major going first, with his brow knit and his bruisedface looking sulky and sour, while Dicksee turned to give Tom Mercer asavagely vindictive look which was not pleasant to see. 

"Won't you shake hands?" I said, as my adversary was about to descend. 

He gave me a quick look, but made no answer. Hodson however, spoke aswe reached the stable. 

"Why, Burr, " he said, "I didn't know that you could fight like that. "

"No, " I said, "and I did not know either. "

Then we hurried in and ran up to our room, where I was glad to get soapand towel to my bruised face. 

"Oh, you are lucky, Tom!" I panted, as I hurriedly bent over the basin, fully expecting to be reported for coming up to the dormitory out ofhours. "Why, you don't show a bit. "

"Nor you neither, " he replied. 

"Oh!" I gasped, as I looked in the glass. 

"Well, not so very much, " he said. 

"But--but I don't hardly know myself, " I said despondently. "What aface!"

"Well, it does look rather like a muffin, " he cried. 

"Ah, you may laugh, " I said. "My eyes are just like they were when Iwas stung by a bee, and my lip's cut inside, and this tooth is loose, and--Oh dear, it's all growing worse!"

"Yes, it's sure to go on getting worse for a day or two, and then itwill begin to get better. Ready?"

"Ready! No, " I cried, as I listened to his poor consolation. "I'mgetting horrid. I daren't go down. "

"You must--you must. Come and face it out before you get worse. "

"But I don't seem to have got a face, " I cried, glaring out of two slitsat my reflection in the glass. "It's just as if some one had beensitting on it for a week. Oh, you ugly brute!"

"So are you. "

"I meant myself, of course, Tom. "

"Never mind, never mind. Hooray! hooray!" he cried, dancing round theroom and snapping his fingers; "we've licked 'em--we've licked 'em! andyou're cock of the school. Hooray! hooray!"

"But I half wish I hadn't won now, " I said. 

"You will not to-morrow. Oh dear! poor old Eely! didn't he squirm! Oh, I say! I wish I had given it to old Dicksee ten times as much. "

I couldn't help laughing, but it hurt horribly, and I was serious againdirectly. 

"I say, " I said painfully, "old Lom did teach us well!"

"Teach us! It was splendid. I feel as if I could go down and fight theDoctor. "

"Do you?" I said dolefully. "I feel as if he is going to fight us. "

"Not he; come on. You can't afford to be afraid of anything now. "

"Hadn't I better stop?" I suggested, with another look in the glass. 

"No; you must come. If you don't, the Doctor is sure to send for you, and that will make it worse. I say!"

"Well?"

"People who fight used to take the spoils of the vanquished. I wish Icould have taken old Dicksee's four-bladed knife, with the lancet andcorkscrew to it, and you could have taken old Eely's watch. "

"I don't want his watch, " I said snappishly. 

"I do, and I'd have changed with you. Come on. "

We ran down-stairs, and, feeling very nervous, hurried to theschoolroom, from whose open windows came the clatter of knives andforks. 

Fortunately for us, we had to enter at the opposite end to where theDoctor would be seated, nominally taking his meal with us, and of coursethe ushers knew that we must be late, so with heads bent down we hurriedin, conscious that every eye was upon us, and that the temporarycessation of the rattle on the plates was due to the boys leaving offeating to stare at our injuries. 

I saw both Mr Rebble and Mr Hasnip look up and frown as they caughtsight of my damaged face, and I was congratulating myself on escapingthe Doctor's eye, when he looked up, frowned, and went on with hislunch. 

"It's all right, " whispered Mercer, scuffling into his place beside me, the boys around, to my great surprise, seeming to look at my marks withquite respectful eyes, and evidently as a conqueror's honours orlaurels, when there was a sharp tapping on the table from the Doctor'sknife-handle. 

Profound silence ensued, Mercer just gripping my knee and whispering, --

"Oh, crikey!"

"Mr Rebble, " said the doctor in deep tones. 

"Sir?"

"To the commercial man punctuality is the soul of business; to thegentleman it is the soul of honour; and to the scholastic pupil it isthe soul of er--er--the soul of er--er--er--duty. Be good enough to seethat Mercer and Burr junior have impositions. Er--rum! Er--rum!" TheDoctor finished by coughing in a peculiar way, and the clatter of knivesand forks began again. 

"He don't know yet about the fights, " I whispered; "and, I say, look!"

"What's the matter?"

"Eely hasn't come down yet. "

"Fatty has. I say, just look at his eyes. "

"Horrid!" I whispered. "He looks fatter than ever. But Eely--oh, Ihope he isn't very bad!"

"I hope he is, " said Mercer maliciously. "He's been fagging me thesethree years. I know he's twice as bad as you, and serve him right. "

We began our dinners, but Mercer's appetite was as bad as mine. Thesalt made my mouth smart, and every bite hurt my loose tooth. But therewere congratulatory smiles from all round whenever I looked up, andevery boy who could reach me with his foot gave me a friendly kick underthe table, Mercer coming in for his share. In fact, I found that I hadsuddenly become the most popular boy in the school, though I did not atall appreciate the honour then. 

"Look: there's Eely, " whispered Mercer, as a tall thin figure nowappeared at the door, then suddenly grew shorter by the lad bending downas low as possible, and creeping toward his place by Stewart andDicksee. 

But it was all in vain, the clatter of the knives and forks ceased, andthe boys watched him, and whispered, drawing the Doctor's attention tothe bent figure; and once more, after fixing his gold eyeglasses on thebridge of his nose by the hinge, and watching till my late adversary hadcrept into his place, he tapped the table with his knife-handle loudly. 

"Young gentlemen, " he rolled out in sonorous tones, "have the goodnessto button up your pockets, and to be on the _qui vive_. I just saw thedoor darkened by a sinister-looking figure, which crept in as if tocommit a burglary, a petty larceny, a scholastic form of shop-lifting, or some crime of that kind, so be upon your guard. Did any one else seethe figure?"

There was a pause, then Dicksee spoke with a malicious grin upon his fatface. 

"Please, sir, I did. It was Burr major. "

"Dear me! Indeed? Mr Burr, have the goodness to stand up and explainthis extraordinary conduct. "

Oh, poor old Eely! I thought sympathetically, as poor Burr major stoodup, hanging his head, and looking much shorter than usual, and Iheartily wished that Mercer had punished Dicksee more. 

"Dear me! Burr major, what is the er--er--eh? I beg your pardon, MrRebble. "

The Doctor bent toward his first lieutenant with great dignity, and thelatter said a few words in a low tone. 

"Dear me! Indeed? Oh, I see!" said the Doctor. "Burr major, you cansit down. You will come to my room directly after dinner, and--er--er--what names did you say Mr Rebble?"

"Oh dear! It's coming, Frank, " whispered Mercer. 

"Exactly!" said the Doctor, after a conference in a low tone with MrRebble. "I see. Er--rum! Dicksee, Hodson. "

"Please, sir, I wasn't fighting, " cried Hodson excitedly. 

Mr Rebble whispered to the Doctor. 

"An accessory, it seems, Hodson, " said the Doctor. "You will come to myroom directly after dinner, with Mercer and Burr junior. I have notheard the names of the other boys who were present, " continued theDoctor. 

"Please, sir, Wilson was one, " cried Dicksee. 

"Thank you, Dicksee, " said the Doctor drily, as he fixed him with hisglittering glasses; "I am obliged to you. History repeats itself. There has always been one in every confederation ready to betray hisfellows to save his own skin. I am afraid, Dicksee, that your skin willnot be safe. Were you present, Wilson?"

"Yes, sir, " said the little fellow. 

"Fighting?"

"No, sir, I wasn't fighting; but--"

"But?" said the Doctor; "well, what?"

"Please, sir, I couldn't help liking it. "

"Humph!" ejaculated the Doctor. "Well, you need not come this time. Toresume, I do not know the names of the boys who were present, and I donot want to know. Dicksee was in too great a hurry. Now proceed withyour dinner. "

The meal went on, but my face felt more stiff, and my appetite wasdecidedly worse. 

I was longing to go and do as a dog would under the circumstances, --goand curl up somewhere out of sight till I got better, for my head ached, so did my heart; my face throbbed and felt stiff; and altogether I was, like Mercer, as "miserable as mizzer, "--so he put it, --when the Doctortapped the table again, we all rose, grace was said, and the words ofdoom came rolling through the place:

"In a quarter of an hour's time, young gentlemen. "

Then the Doctor marched sedately out of the room, the masters followed, and the boys trooped into the ground, and we had to go too, feelingdoleful in the extreme, but that did give way to a sense of pride, forthere was a rush made for us directly; and as I was surrounded by acrowd, all eagerly congratulating me on my conquest, there was poor Burrmajor almost alone on the other side of the ground, dejected, deposed. Not quite alone, for Hodson and Wilson both went and stood by his side. 

It may appear strange, but, of course excepting Mercer, I felt as if Iliked those two boys at that moment better than any one in the school, for, young as I was, I could not help thinking that if ever Burr majorand I had another encounter, and I were to be beaten, they would allturn from me as quickly as they came over to my side. 

I was soon tired of hearing the same praise over and over again, andbeing asked to show this one and that one how I managed to hit out sowell. But Mercer and I had a quiet understanding that we would keep ourown counsel about the matter, and let any one who wanted to learn how tobox think it out for himself. 

I was not kept waiting long to muse over my position, and be stared atby all the boys, who took the greatest interest in my swellings, cuts, and marks, for Mr Rebble came to the door, and shouted, --

"Now, young gentlemen, the Doctor is waiting. " I felt a curious shiverrun through me, as I glanced round for Tom Mercer. 

He was close at hand, ready to whisper, --

"It don't matter what he says, Frank; he can't undo what we have done, and old Eely will never dare to tackle you again. "

"Or you. "

"Oh, I didn't say that. Come on. "

We went up to where Mr Rebble was standing, and found that Mr Hasnipwas there too. 

As we went in, Mr Hasnip came close to my side. "Nice object you lookfor a gentleman's son, sir! Going to be a soldier, eh?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Then keep your fighting for the enemy, not for your schoolfellows. "Then in a lower voice--"Gave him a thorough good thrashing, didn't you?"he said. 

"Yes, sir: I suppose so. "

"Humph! serve him right. He wanted his comb cut. Getting insufferablewith his conceit!--By the way, you needn't tell any of yourschoolfellows I said that, for, of course, you had no business tofight. "

"I didn't want to, sir, but Burr major made us fight. He sent a lot ofthe boys to bring us into the loft, `to take the conceit out of us, ' hesaid. "

"And you took the conceit out of him instead, eh? Well, I daresay hewishes he had not sent for you now. "

"I'm afraid he does. "

"Yes. Well, here we are. I'm a terrible tartar to you over yourlessons, but I'm not angry with you. Had some fights too, when I wasyour age. Now then, speak up like a man. "

The door was thrown open, and we had to walk in, the two ushers standingon either side of the door, like policemen dealing with culprits, andthen ranging us before the Doctor's table, behind which he sat, leaningback in his great leather-covered chair. 

"Er--rum!" he coughed. "Sit down, Mr Rebble--take a chair, Mr Hasnip. Let me see, " he continued, adjusting his gold-rimmed eyeglasses. "Burrmajor, Burr junior, --humph! ought to be Burr minor, --Natural HistoryMercer who loves poaching the General's rabbits, Dicksee, and Hodson. "

The Doctor looked severe, but not very, as he inspected us all. 

"Hah!" he ejaculated at last; "four as disreputable-looking fellows asit would be possible to find in the lowest town in Sussex. Aren't youashamed of yourselves?"

"No answer, eh?" said the Doctor, after a pause. "Well, Hodson, you arenot like these four. You did not fight, I suppose. "

"No, sir. I was Burr major's second. "

"That's almost as bad as the fighting. Come, you shall speak out. Whowas in the wrong?"

"Please, sir, I'd rather not give an opinion. "

"Please, sir, I know!" cried Dicksee. 

"Thank you. I would rather take some other boy's opinion, " cried theDoctor sarcastically. "Your eyes don't look as if you can see clearly. There, it is plain enough to me that you were all in the wrong, and Ifeel greatly annoyed to find my young gentlemen conducting themselveslike the disreputable low boys who frequent the fairs and racecourses ofthe county. Look at yourselves. Did you ever see such a ghastly sight?Burr major, your face is horrible. As for you, Dicksee, I am ashamedof you. Suppose any of your relatives presented themselves at thismoment, and wanted to see you. What could I say? There, actually, as Ispeak, I can hear wheels coming up the road, and, as they are lightwheels, they must either be those of visitors, or of the butcher'scart--I--er--mean some trade-person's cart, which is not likely at thistime of day. Fighting, young gentlemen, is a brutal practice, datingback to the very earliest ages of mankind, and no doubt imitated fromthe wild beasts whom they saw around them. Whereas you live in theselater days, in the midst of civilisation in its highest, most cultivatedforms, so that there is no excuse whatever for your acts. "

The Doctor coughed, and the two ushers looked at each other and noddedtheir approval. 

"Look at yourselves, " continued the Doctor; and we all turned sharply togaze in a small circular mirror at the end of the library. 

"No, no, " said the Doctor blandly, "I did not mean at your bodilydisfigurations in the glass, but at the mental blurs in your natures. I--There, boys!" he cried suddenly; "I am not in the vein to moralise inthis way, so I must speak plainly. I am ashamed of you, and, occupyingas I do toward you the temporary position of parent, I honestly declarethat if I did my duty by you, I should get a cane or a rod, and flog youall severely, but--"

"May I come in?" said a pleasant voice, and the door was slightlyopened. 

"Yes, my dear. No! engaged. What is it?"

"That lady and gentleman have driven over from Rye about their sons, "said Mrs Doctor, coming right in; "and--Oh, my dears! what have youbeen doing?"

"There, there, Matilda!" cried the Doctor hastily. "Go back! I'll comein a few minutes;" and he hurried the pleasant old lady out of the room, before turning to us. 

"There! you see, " he cried, --"you see the effect your appearance hasupon one who always takes the greatest of interest in you, and, er--MrRebble, I feel disposed to be lenient this time, as the boys have prettywell punished themselves. I leave it to you. Moderate impositions. There, go at once and shut yourselves up in your dormitories. No, morefighting, mind, or I shall be as severe as the sternest tyrant you readof in your classic studies. "

He hurried out of the library, and the ushers took us all into custodyagain, and led us out into the playground. 

"There!" said Mr Rebble; "you heard the Doctor's orders. Go to yourrooms. Not you, Hodson. Come to my desk, and I'll set your impositionat once. Nice and easily you have got off. You can come down to-morrowmorning, I suppose. "

The two masters went off with Hodson, and we four made our way to theback staircase so hurriedly, that we nearly wedged ourselves at thefoot, with the result that we were once more face to face, Mercer and Iagainst Burr major and Dicksee, as in the fight. 

I felt shocked now and more sorry than ever for Burr major, as I fullyrealised how terribly I had knocked him about. My hand twitched, and Iwas about to raise it, and offer to shake hands, or say something aboutbeing sorry; but he checked it at once by giving me a virulent look, andsaying, --

"Wait a bit; I'll pay you out for all this, " and, thrusting me aside, hesent me staggering against the wall, and rushed up-stairs, but only totrip and fall sprawling. 

"Serve you right, " cried Dicksee. "Yah!" Then, turning to us, he heldout his hand. "Here, I'll be friends with you both. "

CHAPTER TWENTY. 

Nearly a week had gone by before I saw Lomax, and of course there hadbeen no more riding lessons. Mr Rebble had given us our impositions, and we had taken our punishment patiently enough, for, as the smartingand pain went off, we could not help feeling proud and satisfied. Theboys had all turned wonderfully friendly, and I was evidently a greatauthority. In fact, I had completely succeeded to Burr major's thronein the boys' estimation, while he went about the place almost alone, Hodson being the only fellow who tried to associate with him. 

As for the Doctor, he never alluded to the encounter again. 

The week, then, had passed, and Mercer and I had nearly grownrespectable again, when one night, as we were going to bed, my companionturned to me. 

"I say, " he whispered, "let's get up early to-morrow morning, and go andsee old Lom. "

I shook my head. 

"I've had lessons enough in boxing, " I said; "I don't want to fight anymore. "

"I didn't mean a lesson, " said Mercer. "I want to go and tell him allabout how we got on. "

I agreed that I should like to do that; and I awoke at sunrise, rousedMercer, and, leaving the other boys sleeping, we started for the lodge. 

"Oh, I say, what a lovely morning!" cried Mercer. "Look at the dew onthe leaves; it's all colours like a rainbow. When are we going fishingagain? and I want some birds to stuff; and to go rabbiting, andcollecting, and all sorts, and we seem to have done nothing lately. "

"Hallo, Magglin!" I cried, as we turned a corner, and came suddenlyupon that individual, looking as if he had just come from the big yard. 

"Why, what are you doing here?" said Mercer. 

"No sir; on'y wish I was. Just came up to see if the gardener's about, and he'd give me a job. "

"You know he wouldn't, " I said. "The Doctor will not have you about theplace again. "

"And it's very hard, " he whined. "Everybody's agen me, and takes'vantage of me, even young gents as owes me money and won't pay. "

"Why, who owes you money, Magg?"

"You do, sir; four shillin', which I wouldn't ask you for, but--"

"I don't, Magg; I paid you everything I owed you, " cried Mercer. 

"Oh no, sir; don't you go for to say that which you know aren't true. It's four shillin', and I wouldn't have asked you, only I'm that hungryas never was. "

"But I don't owe you anything; do I, Frank?"

"No; he paid you, " I said. 

"Oh, sir! Master Burr junior knows as it's wicked to tell a lie. Ilikes mates to stick up for one another, but it ain't right to get atrampling down of the pore. Do pay me, Master Tom Mercer. It's fourshillin'. "

"I don't owe you a penny, Magg; and you're a cheat. "

"Nay, sir, that I aren't. Well, pay me two on it, and I'll go ontrusting you the rest. "

"But I'm sure I paid you everything I owed you, Magg. "

"Oh no, sir. That's the way with you young gents. You forgets, that'swhat you does. I've lost lots o' money through the Doctor's boys; andit's very hard on a pore fellow who's trying his best to get a honestliving, but as every one's agen. "

"Ah, that's all gammon, Magg!" cried Mercer. "See how you left us inthe lurch over our ferreting. "

"I was obliged to, sir; every one's agen me so. Nobody believes in me. Do pay me the two shillin', sir. "

"I won't. It's all humbug, and you don't deserve it, " cried Mercer. 

"There, hark at him, Master Burr junior! Aren't he hard on a porefellow, who was always doing him kindnesses? Look at the times I've satup o' nights to ketch him rats and mice or mouldy-warps. Didn't I climband get you two squirls, and dig out the snake from the big bank foryou?"

"Yes; and cut his tail off with the spade, " cried Mercer. "You spoiledhim. "

"Well, I couldn't help that, sir; and I must go now, 'fore the gardenercomes along. "

"Why, you said you wanted to see him. "

"So I did, sir; but I don't think I will. Everybody's so agen me now. Pay me the two shillin' you owe me. "

"I won't. I don't owe you a penny. "

"Then pay a shilling of it now, sir. I wouldn't ask you, sir, but I amso hungry, sir. "

"Let's give him a shilling, Tom, " I said; "I'll be half. "

"Oh, very well, " cried Mercer; and as I was banker that time, I placed ashilling in the man's very dirty hand. 

"Thank-ye, sir, " he said. "Then that makes three left, but I won't askyou for them to-day. "

"That's the worst of getting in debt, " said Mercer, "and not keepingaccount of it. I know I've bought things of him, and he has made me payfor 'em over and over again. I wonder what he was doing about here sosoon. "

We watched Magglin go off in a furtive way, with his head down and hisback bent, so that people should not see him above the hedge, and thenturned along down the path, with the gilt hands and figures of the clocklooking quite orange in the morning sun. In a few minutes after, wecould smell tobacco smoke, and found Lomax bending his stiff back overone of the beds in his garden, which he was busily digging. 

"Ah! Mornin', young gentlemen, " he shouted. "Come for a quiet lesson?"

"Not this morning, Lomax, " cried Mercer. 

"Going for a walk, then?"

"Only as far as here, " I replied, looking at him merrily. 

"Eh? What? Why, hallo!" he cried. "I didn't know. They said you wereunder punishment for something, but I didn't know what. Why, yes: bothof you. Look at your eyes. You've been fighting!"

I nodded, and Mercer laughed. 

"We've come to tell you all about it. "

Lomax drove his spade down into the ground and left it standing in thebed. 

"Here, come along, " he cried excitedly, and he led the way into thelodge, placed chairs for us, and re-lit his pipe, before standingsmoking with his back to the fire. "Now then, " he cried, "let's haveit. "

We described our encounter, and the old soldier laughed and chuckledwith satisfaction. 

"Yes, that's it, " he cried, as we came to an end, first one and then theother carrying on the thread of the narration to the conclusion. "That's science; that is just the same as with a well-drilled regiment, which can beat a mob of fifty times its size. Well, I'm glad you won, and were such good pupils. Shows you remembered all I taught you. Nowtake my advice, both of you. Don't you fight again till you areregularly obliged. "

"Not going to, " I said. 

"That's right, boy. You'll be like a man now who has got a blunderbussin his house. Thieves all about know that he has got one, and so theyleave him alone. Well when are you going to have another ridinglesson?"

"Let's begin again at once, " I said; and he promised to send or go downto the General's, to ask the groom to bring up the horse in the morning. 

"I'll go myself if I can, " said Lomax, "and ride him up pretty quickly. He'll have had such a rest that he'll be quite skittish. "

All this being settled, and it being yet early, we had time for a walk, and the discovery of sundry objects, which Mercer looked upon astreasures, and carefully placed in boxes and pieces of paper. 

The first was an unhappy-looking stag beetle which seemed to have beenin the wars, for one of its horns was gone, while not a dozen yardsfarther on we came upon a dissipated cockchafer, with a dent in hishorny case, and upon both of these Mercer pounced with delight, transferring them to a flat tin paste-blacking box, inside which wecould hear them scratching to get out. 

The next thing to attract his attention was a fat worm, which, after acrawl in the cool, dewy night, had lost his way back to his hole, andwas now crawling slowly by the roadside, with more sand sticking to himthan could have been comfortable. 

"Oh, what a big one!" cried Mercer. "I say, I must have him. "

"For a bait for an eel or carp?" I said. 

"No. To preserve. "

"Let the poor thing be, " I cried, and, thrusting a piece of stick underthe worm, I sent it flying amongst the wet grass. 

"Ugh! you cruel wretch!" cried Mercer. 

"Come, that's nice, " I said. "Better than letting you put it in a box, and carrying it in your hot pocket to kill. "

"I shouldn't kill it, I should keep it in a pot of earth. "

"Which would dry up, and the poor thing would crawl out and be troddenupon. Come along. "

But he would not come along, for Tom Mercer was a true naturalist atheart, and found interest in hundreds of things I should have passedover. For instance, that morning, as we strolled a little way along thelane, we stopped to peer over the gate into a newly ploughed field atsome round-looking birds which rose directly with a loud whirr, and thenwent skimming along, to glide over the hedge at the bottom anddisappear. 

"Partridges, " cried Mercer. "Daresay they've got a nest somewhere notfar from here. Oh, I do wish we had bought Magglin's gun. It is such ahandy one. You see we could keep it up in the loft, and take it topieces and bring it out without any one knowing, and shoot our own birdsto stuff. "

"Mustn't shoot partridges. They're game, " I said. 

"Oh, I don't know, " he replied. "We shouldn't want them to eat, only tostuff, and--Hallo, look there! I haven't found one of those for ever solong. "

He climbed over the gate, and picked up something cream-coloured fromthe hollow between two furrows. 

"What is it?" I said, as he came back. 

"Worm-eater, " and he opened his hand. 

"Why, it's a slug, " I said. "Throw the nasty slimy thing away. "

"'Tisn't slimy, " he said, as I looked on with disgust at him poking thelong-shaped creamy creature with one finger, as it lay in the palm ofhis left hand. "You feel it. Quite cool and dry. "

"I'm not going to touch the nasty thing, " I cried. "And what do youmean by a worm-eater?"

"Mean he's one. See how long and thin he is. That's so that he cancreep down the worm-holes and catch the worms and eat 'em. "

"Nonsense! Slugs live on lettuces and cabbages, and other greenthings. "

"These don't, " said Mercer quietly; "they live on worms. "

"How do you know?"

"Because my father told me, and I've kept 'em in boxes and fed 'em withworms. "

"Well, throw it away, and come along; we ought to be getting back now. "

"Yes, so as to have time to go up to the museum first, " he replied, buthe did not throw away his last find. That was tucked into a pill-box, with the promise that I should see it eat a live worm that night. 

We turned back and took the side lane which would lead us round by thekeeper's cottage. 

"Let's see what Bob has got stuck up on the barn side, " said Mercer. "Idaresay there'll be something fresh. He always says he'll save me allthe good things he shoots, but he forgets and nails them on. Come onthrough the wood. "

"But we shall get our feet so wet, " I said, as Mercer jumped the ditch. 

"That we won't. It will be drier here. "

I followed him, and, knowing his way well, Mercer took me by a short cutamong the trees, which brought us just to the back of the keeper'scottage, where dozens of the supposed enemies of the game were gibbeted. Jays, hawks, owls, little falcons, shrikes, weasels, stoats, andpolecats. 

"There, " said Mercer, pointing, "look at that beautiful fresh jay. Hemight have let me--"

Mercer stopped short, for we heard Polly Hopley's voice speaking loudly, evidently at the front of the cottage. 

"I don't want it, and I won't have it. Give it to some one else. "

"No, I shan't, " said a harsh voice, which we knew at once as Magglin's. "I bought it o' porpos for you, and you've got to wear it. "

"Then I shan't, and if you come talking to me again like that, I shalltell father. "

"No, you won't. "

"Indeed and I shall, and the sooner you go the better. He isn't faroff. "

"Yes, he is, " said Magglin, "and won't be back for hours. "

"How do you know?"

"Because I watched him. "

"Yes, that's what you poaching chaps always do, watch the keeper tillhe's out of the way, " said Polly sharply. 

"Don't call me a poacher, Polly. "

"Yes, I shall; and that's what you are. "

"Come away, " I whispered; "don't let's stop listening. "

"We can't help it, without going all the way back. "

"Poachers always make the best keepers, Polly, and I'm going to be akeeper now, and marry you. "

"Are you, indeed?" said the girl indignantly. "That you just aren't, and if you ever dare to call me Polly again, I'll throw a bucket o'water over you. "

"Not you, " said Magglin. "I say, do have it. It's real gold. "

"I don't care if it's real silver!" cried Polly. "I've got brooches ofmy own, thank you, and I'll trouble you to go. "

"'Tarn't good enough for you, I suppose. Well, I'll bring you somethingbetter. "

_Bang_. 

The cottage door was closed violently. Then we heard footsteps, whichceased after a minute, and we went on out toward the lane. 

"Make haste!" I said; "it must be getting late. "

"Ah, " said Mercer, "if I'd got a watch like old Eely's, we could tellthe time. "

"And as you haven't, we must guess it, " I said. "Look!"

Mercer turned at my words, for he was looking back to see if PollyHopley was visible at the cottage door, the news we had heard of herfather being away robbing us of any desire to call. 

There, about fifty yards away, with his back to us, was Magglin, rubbingsomething on his sleeve. Then he breathed upon it, and gave it anotherrub, before holding it up in the sunshine, and we could see that it wasbright and yellow, possibly a brooch. 

The next minute the poacher had leaped into the wood and passed amongthe trees. 

"Oh, what a game!" said Mercer, as we walked away. "If Bob Hopleyknows, he'll lick old Magglin with a ramrod. There, come on. "

We reached the school in good time, only two or three of the boys beingabout, and spent the next half-hour turning over Mercer'smelancholy-looking specimens of the taxidermist's art, one of the mostwretched being a half finished rabbit, all skin and tow. 

"Well, I would burn that, " I said. "It does look a brute. "

"Burn it? I should think not, " he cried indignantly. "It looks queer, because it isn't finished. I'm going to make a natural history scene ofthat in a glass case. That's to be a rabbit just caught by a weasel, and I shall have the weasel holding on by the back of its neck, and therabbit squealing. "

"Where's your weasel?"

"Oh, I shall get Magglin or Bob Hopley to shoot me one some day. WishI'd got a gun of my own!"

"You're always wishing for guns and watches, or something else youhaven't got, " I said, laughing. 

"Well, that's quite natural, isn't it?" cried Mercer good-humouredly. "I always feel like that, and it does seem a shame that old Eely shouldhave tail coats and white waistcoats and watches, and I shouldn't. But, I say, Frank, he can't fight, can he?"

"No, " I said, "but don't talk about it. I hate thinking of it now. "

"I don't, " said Mercer. "I shall always think about it when I come uphere, and feel as I did then, punching poor old Dicksee's big fat head. I say, won't it do him good and make him civil? Look here, " hecontinued, making a bound and pointing to a knot on the rough floorboards, "that's the exact spot where his head came down whop. "

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. 

We boys used to think the days at old Browne's very long and tedious, and often enough feel a mortal hatred of Euclid as a tyrant who hadinvented geometry for the sake of driving boys mad. What distaste, too, we had for all the old Romans who had bequeathed their language to us;just as if English wasn't ten times better, Mercer used to say. 

"Bother their old declensions and conjugations!" he would cry. "What'sthe good of them all? I call it a stupid language to have no properprepositions and articles and the rest of it: tucking i's, a's, and e'sat the end of words instead. "

But what days they were after all--days that never more return! TheDoctor was pretty stern at times, and gave us little rest. Mr Rebbleseemed to be always lying in wait to puzzle us with questions, and MrHasnip appeared to think that we never had enough to learn; while theGerman and French masters, who came over twice a week from Hastings, both seemed to have been born with the idea that there was nothing ofthe slightest consequence in the way of our studies but the tongues theytaught. And oh, the scoldings we received for what they called ourneglect and stupidity!

"_Ach, dumkopf_!" the German master would cry wrathfully; while theFrench master had a way of screwing up his eyes, wrinkling his face, andgrinding his teeth at our pronunciation. 

I'm afraid we hated them all, in complete ignorance of the other side ofthe case, and the constant unwearying application they gave to a set ofreckless young rascals, who construed Latin with their lips and the gamethat was to be played that afternoon with their brains. 

I confess it. I must have been very stupid in some things, sharp as Iwas in others, and I have often thought since that Mr Rebble'sirritability was due to the constant trouble we gave him; that MrHasnip was at heart a thorough gentleman; and as for "Old Browne, " as wecalled him, he was a ripe scholar and a genuine loveable old Englishman, with the health and welfare of his boys thoroughly at heart. 

We thought nothing of it. A boy's nature does not grasp all thesethings. To us it was a matter of course that, if we were ill, MrsDoctor should have us shut up in another part of the house, and, withher two daughters, risk infection, and nurse us back to health. I couldnot see then, but I can now, what patient devotion was given to us. Ofcourse I could not see it, for I was a happy, thoughtless boy, living mygolden days, when to breathe and move was a genuine pleasure, and theclouds and troubles that shut off a bit of life's sunshine only made thelight the brighter when it came again!

Ah! it's a grand thing to be a boy, with all your life before you, andif any young sceptic who reads these words, and does not skip thembecause he thinks they are prosy preaching, doubts what I say, let himwait. It is the simple truth, and I am satisfied, for I know that hewill alter his tune later on. 

In spite, then, of the many troubles I had to go through, with theweariness of much of the learning, it was a delightful life I led, andthough a little dumpy at leaving home after the holidays, I hadforgotten my low spirits long before I got back to the Doctor's, and waslooking forward longingly to seeing old faces, wondering what the newones would be like, and eager to renew my friendly relations with TomMercer, Lomax, Bob Hopley, and Cook, and to give them the littlepresents I was taking back. 

These were mere trifles, but they went a long way with the recipients. Tom Mercer declared that the blade of the knife I gave him was the bestbit of steel he ever saw. It wasn't: for, unless the edge wasconstantly renewed, there never was such a knife to cut. 

Lomax's gift was more satisfactory, for my uncle got it for me with agrim smile, as he thought, I know, of his old soldiering days. It was aquarter of a pound of very choice Virginia tobacco, and it delighted theold sergeant so, that I thought he would have hugged me. I don't knowhow long that lasted, but I am sure he hoarded some of it up for nearlya year, and he would call my attention to its "glorious scent, " as hecalled it, though to me it was very nasty indeed. 

Bob Hopley's present was a red and orange silk kerchief, which he woreproudly on Sundays, and Cook's was in a small box prepared by mymother--a cap with wonderful flowers and ribbons, which obtained for TomMercer and me endless little supper snacks as tokens of the woman'sdelight and gratitude. 

So, as time sped on, I had grown so accustomed to the life at "OldBrowne's, " that I felt little objection, as I have said, to returningafter the Christmas holidays; though the weather was bad and there was along while to wait before there could be much pleasure in out-doorsports. But the spring came at last with its pear and apple blossom, the hops began to run up the poles, May and June succeeded, and glidedon so that I could hardly believe it when the midsummer holidays camewithout my feeling that I had advanced much in the past six months. 

I suppose I had, for I had worked hard, and the letter I bore home fromthe Doctor quite satisfied my mother who afterwards informed me inconfidence that my uncle was greatly pleased. 

Six weeks' holidays were before me, but, before they were at an end, Iwas beginning to get weary, and longing for the day to come when my newthings were brought home ready to try on, pack up, and return to school. 

To my studies and interviews with the masters?

Oh, no! nothing of the kind; but to where there were woods and ponds, and the General's cob for my riding lessons, and the cricket-field. 

I'm afraid my mother must have thought me careless and unloving. I hopeI was not, in my eagerness to get back to Tom Mercer, who made my schoollife most interesting by his quaintness. For I was always ready toenter into his projects, some of which were as amusing as they were new. 

I had seen little of my uncle when I was home last, but he wrote to metwice--stern, military-toned letters, each of which was quite a despatchin itself. In these he laid down the law to me, giving me the best ofadvice, but it was all very Spartan-like. He insisted above all thingsupon my recollecting that I was to be a soldier, and that a soldier wasalways a gentleman and a man of honour, and each time he finished hisletter in these words, --

"Never tell a lie, Frank; never do a dirty action; keep yourself smartand clean; and, by the way, I send you a sovereign to spend in trash. "

"Only wish I had such an uncle, " Tom Mercer used to say. "My fatherwould send me money if he could spare it, but he says his patients won'tpay. They're civil enough when they're ill, but when he has wound uptheir clocks, and set them going again, they're as disagreeable as canbe if he wants his bill. "

This was after I had gone back from the midsummer holidays. 

"Did you ask him for money, then?"

"Yes, and he said that if he wrote at midsummer and asked for payment, the farmers told him they'd pay after harvest, and if he wanted it afterharvest, they said they'd pay at. Christmas, and when Christmas came, they told him to wait till midsummer. Oh, won't I serve 'em out if everI'm a doctor!"

"What would you do?" I said. 

"Give 'em such a dose!"

"Not you, Tom. "

"Oh, won't I! I don't care, though; father gave me a crown and mammahalf a one. "

"And enough too. What a fellow you are to grumble!"

"That I'm not. I wanted 'em to buy me a watch. "

"Get out! What a fellow you are! Next time the chaps want a nicknamefor you, I shall call you Watchman. "

"All right! I don't mind; but I shan't be happy till I have a watch. "

"That's what you used to say about Magglin's take-to-pieces gun, but younever got it, and you've been happy enough without. "

"Oh, have I?" said Mercer. "You don't know. I used to long for thatgun. "

Two or three days afterwards, in one of our strolls, when we were bothcoming back laden with odds and ends for the museum up in the loft, Mercer proposed that we should cross a field and get into the lowerlane, so as to call at Polly Hopley's to get something to eat. 

I was nothing loth, and we struck off across country, got into the laneabout a couple of hundred yards from the keeper's lodge, and thensuddenly stopped short. 

"Hush!" I said, as shouts and cries reached our ears. 

"There's something the matter, " cried Mercer. "Come on. "

We set off at a run, and as we passed a bend in the lane, we came fullin sight of the keeper's cottage, and saw him in the middle of the road, holding a rough-looking figure by the collar, keeping it down upon itsknees, while he vigorously used a stick upon the object's back, in spiteof cries and protestations, till there was a sudden wrench, and whoeverit was dragged himself away and ran down the lane, Polly Hopley standingat the cottage door laughing, while her father wiped his brow with thesleeve of his coat. 

"Hullo, young gents!" he cried. "You were just too late to see thefun. "

"Saw some of it, Bob, " I said. "But who was it?"

"Didn't you see, sir?"

"I did, " cried Mercer. "It was old Magglin. "

"Yes, and I'll Magglin him!" cried Bob wrathfully. 

"What's he been doing?" I said. "Poaching?"

"Eh? Yes, sir, poaching, that's what he's been up to, " said Bob, with aside glance at Polly, who threw her apron over her face, burst outlaughing, and ran into the cottage. "He've been told over and overagain to keep away, but it's no good, so I've started this here hazelsaplin' for him and I've been beating his carpet for him nicely. Idon't think he'll come any more. "

"What does he come poaching after, Bob--the sweets?" said Mercer. 

"Um! Yes, the sweets, " said Bob drily; "and he ain't going to have 'em. A lazy, poaching, dishonest scoundrel, that's what he is. I did thinkwe'd got rid of him lots o' times, but he's like a bad shilling, healways comes back. Well, never mind him, sir. When are you coming tohave a day's fishing? Sir Orkus told me only t'other day you was to belooked after if you come. "

"Oh, some day soon, " I said. "We've got a big cricket match coming onfirst. "

"Ay? Well, I must come and see that, young gents. I used to be fond ofbowling myself. "

We shook hands with the keeper, and then went into the cottage to buy acouple of Polly's turnovers, and found her looking very red-faced andshy, but she was businesslike enough over taking the money, and we wentoff browsing down the lane upon Polly's pastry and blackberry jam. 

"Magg wants to marry Polly, " I said oracularly. "Don't you rememberthat day when we went round by the back, and heard her ordering himoff?"

"Yes, I remember, " said Mercer, with his mouth full. "I was thinkingabout it. I don't wonder at Bob whacking him. Polly's too good forsuch a miserable, shuffling, cheating fellow as he is. I hate him now. I used to like him, though I didn't like him. I liked him because hewas so clever at getting snakes and hedgehogs and weasels. He alwaysknew where to find lizards. But he's a cheat. You pay him, and then hesays you didn't, and keeps on worrying you for more money. I'll neverbuy anything of him again. "

"That's what you always say, Tom, " I replied, "and next time he has agood bird or anything, you buy it. "

"Well, I've done with him this time. Look: there he is. "

For about fifty yards away there was Magglin, long-haired anddirty-looking, seated on the bank, with his elbows on his knees and hisface buried in his hands. 

But he was so quick of ear, that, though we were walking along thegrassy margin of the road, he heard us coming, and started up fierce andexcited of aspect, but only to soften down and touch his cap, with aservile grin upon his face. 

"Hullo, Mr Mercer, sir, " he whined; "looking for me?"

"No, " said my companion. "Why should I look for you?"

"Thought you wanted to pay me that shilling you owe me, sir. "

"I don't owe you a shilling. "

"Oh yes, you do, sir. Don't he, Mr Burr junior?"

"No, " I said; "and if you ever have the impudence to say so again, I'lltell Bob Hopley to give you another thrashing. "

The gipsy-looking fellow's dark eyes flashed. 

"He'd better touch me again, " he cried fiercely. "He'd better touch meagain. Did you two see?"

"Yes, we saw, " said Mercer. "I say, he did make you cry chy-ike. "

"He'd better touch me again. "

"He will, " I said, "if you go hanging about after Polly Hopley. "

"What, did he tell you that?"

"No, " I said, "we knew well enough. Bob Hopley didn't say a word. Onlycalled it poaching. "

Magglin's manner changed directly, and in a snivelling, whining way hebegan, --

"Well, I can't help it, young gen'lemen. I'm 'bliged to go there, andnothing I can do's good enough for her. If I give her anything, shechucks it at me, because it aren't good enough. "

"I should think not, indeed, " said Mercer. "What decent girl's going tolisten to such a ragged scaramouche as you are?"

"Well, I can't help it, young gen'lemen. "

"Yes, you can. Go to work like a man, and grow respectable, " I said. "I should be ashamed to idle about as you do. "

"Why, aren't you two always idling about?"

"No. We do our work first, " I said. 

"I say, Magg, here comes Bob Hopley!" cried Mercer mischievously. 

The poacher gave a quick glance up the lane in the direction from whichwe had come, caught sight of the keeper's velveteen coat, and shot intothe copse and was gone. 

"I don't wonder at Bob thrashing him, " I said. 

"No, " replied Mercer, as we went on. "I shall never deal with himagain. If I want a bird or anything, I shall ask Bob Hopley. He's aman, he is. If you give him anything, he says, `Thank-ye, ' and if youdon't, he never seems to mind. He knows boys haven't always got anymoney. I wish Magglin would go right away. "

The conversation turned then upon the coming cricket match; after whichwe dropped in upon Lomax, and talked to him about boxing, and I pleasedhim very much by telling him how satisfied my uncle had been at the wayI had learned to ride a horse; when, with his eyes twinkling, the oldsoldier took a letter from his chimney-piece, and opened it to show memy uncle's words, thanking him for the way he, an old soldier, hadtrained the son of a soldier, and enclosing a five-pound note. 

"For a rainy day, Master Burr, " he said. "I've clapped that in thebank. "

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. 

If there was any one thing I dearly loved, it was a good game--a regularwell-fought struggle--at cricket. Oddly enough, I used to like to be onthe losing side, with the eleven who were so far behind that their fightwas becoming desperate, and every effort had to be made to steal a runhere and another there, slowly building up the score, with theexcitement gradually increasing, and the weaker side growing strongerand more hopeful hour by hour, till, perhaps, by the clever batting ofone boy, who has got well to work, and who, full of confidence, sets atdefiance the best efforts in every change of bowler, the score is liftedright up to the winning-point, and he comes back to the tent with thebat over his shoulder, amidst the cheers of all the lookers-on. 

I suppose I got on well with my education at Doctor Browne's. I know Igot on well at cricket, for whenever a match was made up for someholiday, I was in so much request that both sides were eager to have me. 

The Doctor had promised us a holiday to play the boys of a school atHastings. They were to come over on an omnibus, and a tent was to beset up in our field, where, after the game, a high tea was to beprovided for the visitors before they returned to Hastings in theevening. 

I need hardly say that the day was looked forward to with the greatesteagerness, and that plans were made to give our visitors a thorough goodthrashing. 

Burr major, as captain of the eleven, rather unwillingly, I'm afraid, but for the sake of the credit of the school, selected Mercer and me forthe match. I was to be wicket-keeper, and Mercer, from his clever andenduring running, and power to cover so much ground, was made long fieldoff. 

Burr major and Stewart were to bowl, with Dicksee as a change whennecessary, for he had a peculiar knack and twist in handling a ball, andcould puzzle good players by sending in an innocent-looking, slowly-pitched ball, which looked as if it was going wide, and, when ithad put the batsman off his guard, and induced him to change hisposition, so as to send the ball flying out of the field, it wouldsuddenly curl round and go right into the wicket. 

All went well. We practised every evening, and again for an hour beforebreakfast each morning, and, as I warmed up to my task, I easily stoppedall Stewart's or Burr major's swiftest balls, and got to know how todeal with what Mercer called "old Dicksee's jerry sneaks. " The tentcame from Hastings the day before, and was set up ready, and the nextday was to be the match. 

But, as Burns says, "The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang afta-gley. " So it was here; our plans went very much "a-gley, " for I awokeon the morning of the match with a headache, which I knew wouldcompletely upset me for the day. 

I did not know then, but I know now, that it was Polly Hopley's fault, and that her turnovers and cake were far too rich to be eaten inquantity by two boys sitting up in bed, and going to sleep directlyafter, in spite of the crumbs and scales of crust. I just remember thatI had a bad night, full of unpleasant dreams, all connected with thecricket match in some way. Now I was being horribly beaten; now I wasrunning after the ball, which went on and on, far away into space, andwould not be overtaken, and it was still bounding away when I awoke witha start. Then I fell asleep again, and lay bound and helpless, as itseemed to me, with Burr major taking advantage of my position to comeand triumph over me, which he did at first by sitting on my chest, andthen springing up to go through a kind of war-dance upon me, while Istared up at him helplessly. 

Then Dicksee came with his face all swollen up, as it was after thefight, but he was grinning derisively at me, and while Burr major seemedto hold me down by keeping one foot pressed on my chest, Dicksee kneltby my side, and began to beat my head with a cricket bat. 

_Bang, bang! bang, bang_! Blows that fell with the regularity of thebeats of a pendulum, and it seemed to me that he beat me into a state ofinsensibility, for both Burr major and he faded from my eyesight, thoughthe blows of the bat were still falling upon my head when I awoke in themorning; that is to say, they seemed to be falling, and it was someminutes before I fully understood that I was suffering from a badbilious headache. 

"Now then, why don't you jump up?" said Mercer, as I lay with my eyesshut, and at this I got up slowly, began to dress, and then, feeling toogiddy to stand, sat down by my bed. 

"What's the matter?" cried Mercer. 

"So ill. Head's so bad. "

"Oh, that will be all right when you've had your breakfast. Mine achestoo. Look sharp. It's ever so late. "

I tried to look sharp, but I'm afraid I looked very blunt, and it tookme a long time to get dressed and down-stairs, and out in the freshmorning air, where I walked up and down a bit, and then suffered myselfto be led into the play-field to see what a splendid tent had beenraised, with its canvas back close up to the hedge which separated theDoctor's grounds from the farm, with the intervening dry ditch, whichalways seemed to be full of the biggest stinging nettles I ever saw. 

It was a glorious morning, the turf was short and beautifully level, theboys having joined hands the previous night to drag the great rollerwell over it. But the sunshine, the blue sky, and the delicious greenof the hedges and trees were all nothing to me then, and I let Mercerchatter on about the chances of the other side, which, as far as I wasconcerned, promised to be excellent. 

The breakfast-bell rang, and we went in, but that morning meal did notfulfil Mercer's prophecy and carry off my ailment, for I could not toucha bit. 

"Oh, you are a fellow!" cried my comrade. "Well; perhaps you are right. My father says it's best not to eat and drink when you have a badheadache. But look sharp and get well; the chaps will be over in goodtime. "

By and by the news reached the captain of our eleven, and he came to meall smiles and civility, for all Burr major's ideas of revenge seemed tohave died out, as I thought, because I never presumed upon my victory. 

"Oh, I say, Burr junior, " he cried, "this won't do! You must look sharpand get well. "

"I want to, " I replied dolefully; "but I'm afraid I shan't be able toplay. "

"But you must. If you don't, they'll be sure to beat us, and that wouldbe horrid. "

"You mustn't let them beat you, " I said, wishing all the while that hewould go, for my head throbbed more than ever, and varied it with asensation as of hot molten lead running round inside my forehead in away that was agonising. 

"But what are we to do for a wicket-keeper?"

"You must take my place, " I said feebly. "You are the bestwicket-keeper we have. "

"No, " he cried frankly, "you are; but I think I'm the best bowler. "

"Well, you will be obliged to keep wicket to-day, " I said, with a groan. "I shall never be able to stir, I'm sure. "

"Well, you do look precious mouldy, " he cried. "It's a nuisance, and nomistake. I suppose we must make shift, then?"

"Yes; let Dicksee and Hodson bowl all the time. "

"And I can put Senna on now and then for an over or two. "

"I can't bowl well enough, " said Mercer. 

"Oh yes, you can when you like, " said Burr major. "And, I say, " hecried, taking out his watch, "it's getting close to the time. "

Mercer's eyes glistened as the watch was examined, and it seemed to methat my companion sighed as the watch was replaced. 

Just then Hodson came up. 

"How is he?"

"Too bad to play, he says. Isn't it beastly?"

"Do you mean it, Burr junior?"

"Yes, " I said. "I'm very, very queer. I couldn't play. "

"You ain't shamming, are you?"

"Look at me and see, " I replied faintly, and directly after I felt acool hand laid on my burning forehead. 

"There's no gammon about it, " said Hodson. "We must do the best we can. Look sharp, Senna. "

"Yes, " said Burr major; "he'll have to take a turn at the bowling. "

"I shan't play if Frank Burr don't, " said Mercer stoutly. 

"What?" cried the two boys together. 

"You must put some one else on instead of me; I've got a headache too. "

"Oh, I say, " cried Hodson, and he and Burr both tried hard to shakeMercer's sudden resolution. I too tried, but it was of no use; he grewmore stubborn every minute; and after Burr major had again referred tohis watch, the two lads went off together, disappointed and vexed. 

"You might have gone and played with them, Tom, " I said. 

"I know that, " he replied; "but I wasn't going without you. I'm goingto stop and talk. "

"No, no, don't, " I said. "I only want to be quiet till--Oh, my head, myhead!"

"Why, Burr junior, what's this?" cried Mr Hasnip, coming up andspeaking cheerily. "Bad headache? not going to play?"

"No, sir, I feel too ill. "

"Oh, come, this is a bad job. Hi, Rebble!"

The latter gentleman came up. 

"Here's Burr junior queer. Does he want a doctor, do you think?"

Mr Rebble looked at me attentively for a few moments, and then saidquietly, --

"No; only a bilious headache, I should say. Go and lie down for an houror two, my lad, and perhaps it will pass off. "

I gladly crawled up to our dormitory, took off my jacket and boots, andlay down on the bed, when I seemed to drop at once into a doze, fromwhich I started to find Mercer seated by the window looking out. 

"Better?" he said, as I stirred. 

"Better! No; I feel very ill. But what are you doing here?"

"Come to sit with you, " he said stolidly. 

Just then there was a burst of cheering, and the crunching noise made bywheels. 

"Here they are, " cried Mercer excitedly. "Oh, I say, I do wish you werebetter! I should like to lick those Hastings chaps. "

"Then why don't you go?" I said pettishly. "Go and bowl. "

"Shan't, without you, " was the only reply I could get, and I lay turningmy head from side to side, trying to find a cool spot on the pillow, tohear every now and then a shout from the field, and then a burst ofplaudits, or cries of, "Well run!"

"Bravo!"

"Well fielded!" and more hand-clapping, all borne faintly in at thewindow, where Mercer sat with his arms folded, gazing out, but unable tosee the field from where he was. 

After a time I once more dropped off into a doze and woke again with astart, under the impression that I had been asleep all day. 

My head was not quite so bad, and, after lying still, thinking, andlistening to the shouts from the cricket-field, I said weakly, --

"Have they nearly done, Tom?"

"Done! No, of course not. "

"What time is it?"

"Don't know. Haven't got a watch. "

"Well, what time do you think it is?"

"'Bout two. They've just gone to the wickets again after lunch. "

"Why don't you go and join them now?"

"You know. How's your head?"

"A little better, I think. "

"Well enough to come down and look on?"

"Oh no, " I said, with a shudder; "I feel too sick and ill for that. "

"Have another snooze, then, and you'll be better still. "

"But it's too bad to keep you out of the fun, " I said. 

"I didn't grumble. Go to sleep. "

I determined that I would not, but I did, and woke again, to repeat myquestion about the time, and receive the answer that my companion hadnot got a watch. 

"How long have I been asleep, then?" I asked. 

"'Bout an hour. Here! hi! what are you going to do?"

"Get up, and go down in the field, " I said. 

"Hooray! Then it's all right again?"

"No, " I replied; "but it's a little better, and I should like to go andlie down under the big hedge, and see our fellows win. "

"Come, I do like that, " cried Mercer eagerly, as I went to thewash-stand, well bathed my temples, and then, feeling very sick andfaint, but not in such pain, I put on my jacket and boots, and we wentslowly down-stairs, and out into the field, where every one was toointent to take much notice of us, as Tom led me up to the big hedge, where I lay down on the grass about fifty yards from where the tentstood close up; and from time to time I saw the boys who were about togo in to bat, go to the tent to take off their jackets and vests, andcome out ready for the fight. 

Our boys were in, and I saw Dicksee change and go to the wicket to comeback with a "duck's egg, " as we called it. Then Hodson went in and madea stand, but a quarter of an hour later, the boy who faced him wascaught, and Burr major walked up to the tent, disappeared, and came outagain all in white, with a brand-new bat over his shoulder. 

Just then Mercer, who had been round to the scorers, came back, andstood watching Burr major as he marched off. 

"Oh, I say, " he said, "don't you wish you were in it, Frank?"

"Yes, " I said, with a sigh. Then--"How's the game now?"

"We're a hundred behind 'em, and our fellows can't stand their bowling. If Eely and Hodson don't make a big stand, we shall have a horridlicking. Better?"

"Yes, a little, " I said faintly, and then I lay watching the game, whileMercer walked about--now going up to the empty tent where the boys'clothes were, now coming back to me to talk about the game. Once hewent and lay down near the tent. Another time he went by it out ofsight, but he was soon back to see how I was, and off in the otherdirection, this time to go right round the field and come back by thetent, and throw himself down by my side. 

"What do you think of it now? Oh, look! Hooray! hooray! Run! run!run!" he roared, and then joined in the hand-clapping, for Hodson hadmade a splendid leg hit, which brought us in four, and two more from anoverthrow. 

This excited Tom Mercer to such an extent that he could not lie still, but went off again in the direction of the tent, while I began to knowthat I was better, from the interest I was able to take in the game. 

Then, after seeing Burr major and Hodson make hit after hit, for theywere now well in, and punishing the bowling to a tremendous extent, Ibegan to think about how good-companion-like it had been of Mercer tospoil his own pleasure so as to stay with me, and I lay there resting onmy elbow, watching him for a few minutes, as he stood close up to thetent. 

"Well, Burr junior, how's the head?" cried Mr Hasnip, strolling up withMr Rebble. 

"A good deal better, sir, " I replied, "but very far from well. "

"You'll have to take a long night's rest before it will be quite right, "said Mr Rebble. "By the way, Mrs Browne said I was to report how youwere, so that she could send you something to take if you did not seembetter. "

"Oh, I'm ever so much better, sir!" I cried hastily, for I had a keenrecollection of one of the good lady's doses which she had prescribed, and whose taste I seemed to distinguish then. 

"Oh yes, you'll be all right in the morning, " said Mr Hasnip. "Well, Mercer, how are we getting on?"

"I haven't been to the scorers' table, sir, " said Mercer, who had justcome back from a spot near the tent, where he could get a better view ofthe field than from where I lay under the big oak tree. 

"Run and ask, my lad, " said Mr Rebble, and he and Mr Hasnip sat downnear me, and chatted so pleasantly that I forgot all about the way inwhich they tortured me sometimes with questions. 

In due time Mercer came back to announce that Hodson and Burr major hadput on sixty-one between them, and that there were hopes that the gamemight be pulled out of the fire even then. 

Mercer sat down now beside me, and, the ground in front clearing alittle, we had a good view of the game, which grew more and moreinteresting as the strangers fought their best to separate our twostrongest men, and stop them from steadily piling up the score; the loudbursts of shouting stirring them on to new efforts, which resulted inthe ball being sent here, there, and everywhere, for twos, threes, andfours, till the excitement seemed to have no bounds. 

Then came a check, just as the servants had been busy carrying urns, teapots, and piled-up plates into the tent, for it was getting late inthe afternoon. 

The check was caused by a ball sent skying by Hodson and cleverlycaught, with the result that one of our best cricketers shouldered hisbat and marched off the ground, but proudly, for he had had a splendidinnings, and quite a jubilation of clapping hands ran round the field. 

Another took his place, and helped Burr major to make a little longerstand, but the spirit had gone out of his play, which became more andmore cautious. He stole one here and sent the ball for one there, butmade no more brilliant hits for threes and fours. 

At last after a good innings the fresh man was clean bowled, and anothertook his place. 

"Last of 'em, " said Mercer. "Oh, if they can only do it! We only wantfive to win. "

But during the next quarter of an hour these five were not made. Thenew-comer contented himself with playing on the defensive, and with theknowledge to trouble him of the game resting entirely on his shoulders, Burr major grew more and more nervous, missing excellent chances that hewould have jumped at earlier in his innings. 

"Four to win. " Then the fresh boy got a chance, and made one which sentour lads nearly frantic. 

"Three only to win, " and there seemed to be not a doubt of our successnow, --for it was "our" success, though I had had nothing to do with theresult. 

And now Burr major had a splendid chance, but he was too nervous to takeit, and the over proved blank, as did the next. But in the one whichfollowed, the fresh boy sent a ball just by mid-wicket, a run wasstolen, and I, too, grew so excited that I forgot my headache and roseto my knees. 

It was a fresh over, a change had been made in the bowling, and thefirst ball was delivered and stopped. 

The second ball went rushing by the wicket, but it was not wide; and nowthe third ball was bowled. It seemed to be an easy one, and in themidst of the most profound excitement, Burr major gathered himselftogether for a big hit, struck out, and--the ball went flying out of thefield?

No; Burr major just missed it, the off-bail was bowled clean and fell adozen yards away. 

We were beaten. 

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. 

There was a tremendous burst of cheering and a rush for the tent by theboys who had left their jackets within, and among them Burr major, disappointed, but at the same time justly proud of the splendid score hehad made, walked up to the door, disappeared amongst plenty of clapping, and soon after came out again in his jacket and vest. 

We had all clustered up round about the players, and two masters shookhands with the champion, who directly after caught sight of me. 

"Hallo! How's the head?" he cried. 

"Getting better now. "

"I saw you watching the match, " he continued. "Nice time you had of itlying about under that tree, while we fellows did all the work. "

"I should have liked to be in it, " I said rather drearily; "but I reallywas very bad. "

His attention was called off soon after, and then there was a summons tothe tent for the festive high tea, which was to come off directly, asthe Hastings boys had a long drive back. 

I was much better, but the thought of food in that crowded tent wasnauseating, and, watching my opportunity, I slipped away, seeing TomMercer looking about as if in search of me before going into the tent. 

"I know what I'll do, " I thought. "I'll walk gently down along the laneto Bob Hopley's place, and ask Polly to make me a cup of tea and cut mesome bread and butter. "

The plan was simple enough, and I strolled out and along the road, andthen entered a gate, to make a short cut along the hedge side of thefields. 

The evening was glorious, and after a broiling day the soft moist odoursthat came from the copses dotted here and there seemed delightfullyrefreshing, and so I strolled on and on till I was only a short distancefrom the cottage, which was separated from me by a couple of fields, when I turned slowly toward a corner of the enclosure I was in, wherethere was a pond and a patch of moist land where weeds never noticedtowered up in abundance, and, to my surprise, I caught sight of Magglinseated on the bank of the pond, with his feet hanging close to thewater, and apparently engaged in his evening toilet. It seemed to methat he must have been washing his face, and that he was now wiping itupon some great leaves which he plucked from time to time. 

"No, he isn't, " I said to myself the next moment. "He has beenpoaching, and saw me coming. It's all a pretence to throw me off thescent;" and I went on, my way being close by him, and there he wasrubbing away at his face with the leaves, while I glanced here and therein search of a wire set for rabbit or hare, though I shrewdly suspectedthat the wire he had been setting would be over in the copse beyond thepond, in the expectation of getting a pheasant. 

He was so quick of hearing that he could detect a footstep some distanceoff, but this time he turned round sharply when I exclaimed, --

"Hallo, Magglin!"

"Eh--I--Oh, how de do, sir?"

"Better than you do, " I said sharply. "What have you been doing to yourface?"

"Face? Oh, rubbing it a bit, sir, that's all. Good as washing. "

"Dock leaves, " I said. "What, have you stung yourself?"

"Oh yes, I forgot that, sir. Just a little bit, sir. I was comingthrough the hedge down below there, and a 'ormous old nettle flew backand hit me acrost the cheek. But it aren't nothing. "

More than I should like to have, I thought to myself, as I went on, forhis face was spotted with white patches, and I knew how they musttingle. 

Ten minutes after, I was in the lane, in time to meet Polly Hopley, inher best bonnet and with a key in her hand, going up to the cottagedoor. 

She smiled as she saw me, hurried to the cottage, unlocked the door, andstood back for me to enter. 

"Been out, Polly?" I said. 

"Yes, sir, of course. Father took me to see the cricket match. DoctorBrowne told father we might come into the field, and it were lovely. But why didn't you play?"

I told her, and she expressed her sympathy. Then, in a very decidedway, --

"Sweets and puffs aren't good for you, sir, and I won't sell you oneto-day. "

"I don't want any, Polly, " I replied. "I was going to ask you to sellme a cup of tea. "

"And I won't do that neither, sir; but I'm going to make myself somedirectly, and if you'll condescend to sit down in father's big chair andhave some, I should be glad. "

To the girl's great delight, I accepted her offer. The kettle hangingover the smouldering fire of wood ashes was soon boiling, and I partookof a delicious tea, with fresh water-cresses from the spring, and creamin my tea from the General's dairy, while Polly cut bread and butter, and chatted about "father's" troubles with the poachers, and about thebaits he had been getting ready for our next fishing visit to the ponds. Then again about the cricket match, and we were carrying on an animatedconversation when the door was thrown quickly open, and Bob Hopleyappeared. 

"Oh, dad, how you startled me!" cried Polly, jumping up. 

"Startled you, my lass? I heerd loud talking and I'd been told youngMagglin had come down this way, and I thought it was him. "

"I saw him just before I came in, over by the pond there by the copse, "I said. 

"He wasn't likely to be in here, father, " said Polly primly. "I shouldlike to catch him trying to come in. "

"So should I, " said the keeper grimly. "I'd try oak that time 'stead o'hazel. "

"Hush, dad! do adone, " whispered Polly. Then aloud--

"Master Burr's been poorly all day, and as they were all feasting andjunketing at the school, he come down here to ask me to make him sometea, and he's very welcome, aren't he, father?"

"I should just think he is, my lass. But fill up his cup again, andhe's got no fresh butter. "

"I've done, " I said; "and oh, I do feel so much better now! Do you knowwhat a bad sick headache is?"

"No, my lad, no. I aren't had one since--"

"Oh, father!"

"Come, Polly, don't be hard on a man. That was only the club feast. "

"I haven't patience with such feasts, " said Polly sharply. "I never goto feasts, and come back--"

"Poorly, my lass, poorly, " said Bob hastily. 

"Yes, very poorly, " said Polly sarcastically, "and say, `My head's fitto split, ' next day. Seems to me that's all such heads are fit forthen--to split and burn. "

"Nay, nay, my lass, they burn quite enough, I can tell 'ee. Man does dostoopid things sometimes. "

Bob was very apologetic about sitting down to tea, with me there. Thenof course I apologised, and sat watching him drinking great draughts outof a basin and devouring huge slices of bread and butter. 

"Rare stuff kettle broth, sir, " he said. "Don't give you no headaches;do it, Polly?"

"No, father. "

"She don't make it strong enough for that, Mr Burr, sir, " he continued, giving me a wink. 

"Quite as strong as is good for you, father. "

"Right, my lass, " said Bob, helping himself to some more cream, "and notso strong as is good for you. "

I rose to go soon after, and the keeper joined with his daughter inabsolutely refusing to let me pay for my meal. 

"Glad to have seen you, sir; and now mind that as soon as ever youryoung friend Mas' Mercer--Mas' Bri'sh Museum, as I call him--is ready, and you can get a day, I'll take you to our stock pond, where the carpsand tenches are so thick, they're asking to be caught. You shall have aday. "

"Good-bye, Polly, " I said, shaking hands. "You've quite cured my head. "

"I am so glad, sir!" she cried; and I went back to the school, Bobseeing me part of the way, and saying to me confidentially as wewalked, --

"You see me leathering that poaching vagabond Magglin, sir. It's likethis. The reason for it was--No, sir. Good-night. You're too young totalk about that sort o' thing. Don't forget about the fish. "

He hurried away without another word, while I went on, and found TomMercer looking for me, and eager to hear where I had been. 

"What a shame!" he cried. "The high tea was very jolly, but I missedyou. I wish I'd gone too. I say, we were licked, but it was a splendidmatch after all. Hallo! here's Hodson. The chaps all went off on their'bus cheering and--Hooray, Hodson! what a day!"

"Yes; but I say, " said the lad, "Burr major's lost his watch. "

"His watch!" cried Mercer, giving quite a jump. "Oh!"

"Yes; he left it in his waistcoat in the tent when he stripped for hisinnings, and when he felt for it some time after, it was gone. "

"Then he didn't miss it directly?" I said. 

"No, not till a little while ago. A lot of the fellows are up in thefield searching for it. Haven't either of you seen it, have you?"

"No, " I said, and Mercer shook his head. 

"Come on and help look for it, " cried Hodson; and we went up to thefield, where the tent was still standing, it being understood that themen were to come and take it down in the morning. 

"Lucky they were not here, " I said, "or some of them might have beensuspected of taking it. "

"Yes, it would be ugly for them, " assented Hodson. "You see, nobody butour boys and the Hastings chaps went into the tent, except the servantsto lay the tables, and of course they wouldn't have taken it. "

"But they may have found it, " I said. "He is sure to have dropped itsomewhere in the grass. "

"Of course, " cried Mercer; "and some one has put his foot on it andsmashed the glass. "

"Get out, Senna! you always make the worst of every thing, " cried Hodsonmerrily; and soon after, we reached the field, where the boys werespread about, looking in all kinds of possible and impossible places--impossible because Burr major had never been near them after he had puton his things. 

"Are you sure that you brought your watch out in the field, " said MrHasnip, who was one of the group standing by Burr major. 

"Oh yes, sir, certain. "

"But it does not do to be too certain, my lad. Have you been up in yourbedroom, and looked there?"

"No, sir, because I was so sure I brought it out. "

"Why were you so sure?"

"Because--because I thought I would wear it, as we had strangerscoming. "

"Never mind, you may have altered your mind. Go and look. You see wehave thoroughly searched every place where you could have been. "

"I'll go and look, sir, " said Burr major, "but it's of no use. "

He went off toward the schoolhouse, and Mr Rebble then coming up, thetwo masters began to talk about the missing watch. 

"It is so awkward, " said Mr Rebble. "We can't write and ask the partyif either of them took a watch by mistake. Stop! I have it. "

"The watch?" cried Mr Hasnip eagerly. 

"No. Wait till he comes back, and I think I can explain it all. "

We had not long to wait before Burr major came back to us. 

"No, sir, " he said. "I've looked everywhere; it isn't in my room. "

"Then I think I can help you, " said Mr Rebble. "What jacket and vestare those you have on?"

"My third best, sir. "

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, sir, " said Burr major wonderingly. 

"Look at them, " continued Mr Rebble. "Are they really your own things, and not the clothes of one of our visitors taken by mistake, and he hastaken yours. "

Burr major slipped off his jacket and held it up in the dusk to pointout a label inside the collar, where, worked in blue silk upon whitesatin, was the name of the maker, his own father. 

"Yes, that's yours, " said Mr Rebble in a disappointed tone. "I thoughtthat the mistake might have been made. But the vest--are you sure ofthat?"

"Oh yes, " said Burr major, who then looked inside the collar and foundthe same maker's name. 

"I thought that, sir, " said Burr major; "but I could feel that they weremy things as soon as I put them on. I say, has any fellow taken mywatch for a game?"

There was silence at first, then a murmur of, "No, no, no;" and, as itwas getting too dark now to resume the search, we all trooped back tothe schoolroom to sit and talk over the one event which had spoiled whatwould otherwise have been a most enjoyable day, for, as Tom Mercer saidwhen we went up to bed, --

"It's nicer for those Hastings chaps to have won. They've gone backjollier. By and by we shall be going over to play them, and then weshall be in the eleven, and must win. "

A pause. 

"I said, `And then we must win. '"

"Yes, I heard you. "

"Then why didn't you speak?"

"Because I was thinking about Burr major's watch. "

"Oh, bother his watch!" said Mercer hastily. "I'm beginning to be gladthat he has lost it. Now he won't be always flourishing it in your faceand seeming to say, `Poor fellow, I'm sorry you haven't got a watchtoo. '"

"Well, you needn't be so cross about it, " I said. 

"Why needn't I? One gets sick of his watch. There's always been a fussabout it ever since he came back with it. It's lost now, and a jollygood job too. Now we've heard the end of it. Old Eely's watch isregularly wound up. "

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. 

But we had not heard the end of it, for the Doctor was so much annoyedthat he sent Mr Hasnip on a private diplomatic visit to his brotherschoolmaster at Hastings, to speak of the trouble we were in, and to askif it were possible that the watch had been taken by mistake. 

Mr Hasnip's mission was as useless as the search made by the boys, whoall stood round while the men took down the tent, so as to make surethat no strangers should be more successful than we were. 

But the tent was carted away, poles, flags, and all, and then we resumedour search over the space where the erection had stood, even up to thehedge, and boys were sent over it to peer about in the ditch beyond. 

Every minute out of school hours was devoted to the search for Burrmajor's watch, but there was no result; and when Mr Hasnip returned, soon after the boys had again given up the hunt, and told the Doctorwhat he had done, he came away, and saw Mr Rebble, who told Burr major, and Burr major told Hodson who was the medium that conveyed to the boysgenerally the fact that the Doctor had shaken his head. 

The next day came, and the next, and another day passed, with thememories of the cricket match growing more faint. Burr major's watchwas not found, and, after the first two days, the boys had ceased tolook suspiciously at one another, and charge a school-fellow with havinghid the watch "for a game. " Lessons went on as usual, and my riding waskept up, but the cob was only brought over once a week. 

I had a pretty good time at the drilling though, but that was only incompany with the other boys. 

Then the days grew to weeks, and we had our trip to Hastings; that is tosay, our eleven; and, being free from headache this time, both Mercerand I played, all coming back in triumph, and nearly sending the privateomnibus horses off at a wild gallop as we neared the school: for we cameback to announce that we had beaten our adversaries in one innings, theyhaving scored so badly that they had to follow on. 

This trip revived the talk about Burr major's watch, but only for a dayor two, and then once more the topic died out, though I heardincidentally from Mr Hasnip that the Doctor was bitterly grieved atsuch a loss taking place in his school. 

I worked hard in those days, and made rapid progress, I afterwardsfound, though I did not grasp it at the time, and I had now grown tolike my school life intensely. 

Now and then a letter came from the General, asking leave for Mercer andme to go over to early dinner, the old gentleman welcoming us warmly, and making me give proofs of my progress in all parts of my educationthat had a military bearing. Then we were sent back in the dog-cart, generally with a crown a piece, and a big basket of fruit--a present, this latter, which made us very popular with the other boys, who enviedour luck, as they called it, greatly, particularly our expeditions tothe General's ponds, from which we brought creels full of trophies intriumph. But only to have our pride lowered by the cook, to whom wetook our prizes, that lady declaring them all to be rubbish except theeels, and those, she said, were too muddy to be worth the trouble oftaking off their skins. 

Then, too, we had natural history excursions to make additions to themuseum in the bin. 

I thoroughly enjoyed these trips, and became the most enthusiastic ofcollectors, but I regret to say that with possession my interest ceased. 

Mercer bullied me sharply, but it was of no good. If lizards were to beplunged in spirits and suspended by a silken thread or fine wire to thecork of the bottle, he had to do it; and though he showed me how, atleast a dozen times, to skin a snake through its mouth, so as to stripoff the covering whole and ready to fill up with sand, so as to preserveits shape, he never could get me to undertake the task. 

Certainly I began to pin out a few butterflies on cork, but I neverended them, nor became an adept at skinning and mounting quadrupeds andbirds. 

"It's all sheer laziness, " Mercer used to say pettishly. 

"Not it, " I said. "I like the birds and things best unstuffed. Theylook a hundred times better than when you've done them your way. "

"But they won't keep, stupid, " he cried. 

"Good thing too. I'd rather look at them for two days as they are, thanfor two years at your guys of things. "

"What!" he cried indignantly. "Guys!"

"Well, so they are, " I said. "Look at that owl; look at the squirrel, with one hind leg fat and the other lean, and his body so full that heseems to have eaten too many nuts. "

"But those were some of the first stuffings, " he pleaded. 

"But the last are worse, " I cried, laughing. "Then look at the rabbit. Who'd ever know that was a rabbit, if it wasn't for his ears and thecolour of his skin? He looks more like a bladder made of fur. "

"But he isn't finished yet. "

"Nor never will be, " I cried merrily. 

"Ah, you're getting tired of natural history, " said Mercer, seatinghimself on the edge of the bin, and looking lovingly down at itscontents, for this conversation took place up in the loft. 

"Wrong!" I cried. "I get fonder of it every day; but I'm not going toskin and stuff things to please anybody, not even you. "

"I'm sorry for you, " said Mercer. "You're going to be a soldier. Myfather says I'm to be a doctor. You're going to destroy, and I'm goingto preserve. "

I burst out laughing. 

"I say, Tom, " I cried, as he looked up at me innocently, in surprise atmy mirth, and I went and sat at the other end of the bin; "had onebetter kill poor people out of their misery than preserve them to looklike that?" and I pointed down at the half-stuffed rabbit. 

"Go on, " he said quietly. "Scientific people always get laughed at. Idon't mind. "

"More do I. "

"I've had lots of fun out of all these things, and it's better thanracing all over a field, kicking a bag of wind about, and knocking oneanother down in a charge, and then playing more sacks on the mill, tilla fellow's most squeezed flat. I hate football, and so do you. "

"No, you don't, " I said; "you love a game sometimes as much as I do. What I don't like in it is, that when I'm hurt, I always want to hitsomebody. "

"Yes, that is the worst of it, " he said quietly; "and since I've foundout that I can fight, I'm ever so much readier to punch anybody's head. "

"But you don't. "

"No; I don't, because it don't seem fair. I don't care, though, how youlaugh. I shall go on with my natural history even when I grow a man, and have to drive round like father does, giving people stuff. It givesyou something to think about. "

"Yes, it gives you something to think about, " I said merrily. "I alwaysget thinking about these. "

"I say: don't, " cried Mercer; "you've upset my owl on to that blackbird. I wish you wouldn't be so fond of larking. "

"All right, Tom; I won't tease you, " I said. "It's all right, and I'llalways go with you collecting. I never knew there were half so manythings to see out of doors, till I went out with you. When shall wehave a regular good walk through the General's woods?"

"Any time we can get away, " he cried, brightening up. "I'm ready. "

"All right, " I said; "then we will go first chance. "

"We must tell Bob Hopley we're going, or he may hear us in the wood, andpepper us, thinking it's old Magglin. "

"What?"

"He said he would, if ever he caught him there. "

"Seen him lately?" I said. 

"No; have you?"

"Not since the cricket match day, when I was going to Bob Hopley's. "

"One of the boys said he saw him hanging about, twice over, and Isuppose he was trying to see me, and get a shilling out of me. I'm surehe's had nearly a pound out of me, that I didn't owe him. I wish Iwasn't so soft. "

"So do I. "

"Ah, now you're laughing at me. Never mind, I've done with him now. Never a penny does he ever get out of me again. "

"Till next time, Tom, " I said. 

"No, nor next time neither. I don't suppose we shall see much more ofhim here, for Bob Hopley says that so sure as he catches him poaching, he shall speak out pretty plainly, so as to get him sent away. He saysthat many a time he has let him off with a good licking, sooner than gethim sent to prison, for he don't think prison's good for young men likehim. "

"I suppose it isn't, " I said thoughtfully, as I watched my companion, and saw how lovingly he arranged and rearranged his grotesque-lookingcreatures at the bottom and on the rough shelves of the bin that he hadput up from time to time. 

And as I watched him, an idea entered my brain which tickled me so, thatI had hard work to keep from laughing aloud, and being noticed. 

The idea came as he glanced at me, and moved the rabbit to the cornernearest to him--the absurd-looking object being carefully covered over, as if he was afraid I should begin joking him again about its unfinishedstate. 

All at once, moved by the impulse which had set me laughing, I leanedover and stretched out my hand toward the corner where he had placed therabbit. 

"What are you going to do?" he cried excitedly, and he caught my wrist. 

"Only going to take out bunny, and see how he's getting on. "

"No, no, don't. "

"Why not?" I cried merrily. 

"Because--because I don't want it touched. "

"But I can improve it so. "

"No, no: be quiet. Oh, I say, Frank, pray don't touch it. "

"Oh, all right, " I said, after a good-humoured struggle with him, inwhich I did not use much force, and I let him shut the bin, and sit onthe lid. 

Dinner!

For the bell began to ring, and I dashed down, to run out of the stableand across the yard, expecting that he would follow me, and running soblindly that I came right upon Dicksee, just leaving the stable door, and sent him down upon his hands and knees. 

"Hallo!" I shouted; "what were you doing there?--listening?"

"What's that to you?" grumbled the boy, as he rose slowly and carefully, examining his hands to see if the skin was off. "You did that onpurpose. "

"No, I didn't, " I replied; "but I would have done it, if I had known youwere sneaking and eavesdropping there. "

"Who was sneaking and eavesdropping? What was there to listen to?" heretorted. "'Tain't your stable. I've as good a right there as youhave. Tom Mercer and you ain't going to have it all to yourselves foryour old slugs and snails and dead cats. "

"You mind Tom Mercer doesn't catch you, " I said. "You don't want him tolick you again, I know. "

"Yah!" he shouted, and he ran off just as my companion came down. 

"Who was that?" he said. 

"Fatty Dicksee. I told him you'd give him another dressing down if hecame sneaking about here. "

"And so I will, " cried Tom. "He has never forgiven me, though, for thelast. I know he hates me. So does Eely hate you. "

"Let 'em, " I said, as we went on. 

"But they'll serve us out some day if they can. "

"Dinner--dinner!" I cried. "Come on!" and we set off at a trot, forthe prospect of hot roast mutton and potatoes just then was of far moreconsequence to me than my school-fellow's prophecies of evil. 

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. 

I thought of my little plan that night when I went to bed, and I had itin my mind when I woke next morning, and laughed over it merrily as Idressed. 

It was the merest trifle, but it amused me; and I have often thoughtsince of what big things grow sometimes out of the merest trifles. School-days are often so monotonous that boys jump at little things fortheir entertainment, and as there was some good-humoured mischief inthis which would do no one any harm, only create a laugh, in which TomMercer would no doubt join after he had got over the first feeling ofvexation, I had no hesitation about putting it in force. 

I had to wait for my opportunity, and it came that afternoon, when mostof the boys were together cricketing and playing rounders. I glancedround the field, and then slipped away unobserved, made my way round bythe back, and crossed the open space toward the yard. 

It was absolutely necessary for me to meet no one, so as to avoidsuspicion when Mercer found out what had been done, and I intended, assoon as I had executed my little plan, to slip back by the same way intothe play-field, so as to be able to prove where I was on that afternoon. 

But, as a matter of course, just because I did not wish to meet any one, I must meet the cook just returning from the kitchen garden with abundle of thyme in her hand. 

Everybody spoke of Cook as being disagreeable and ready to snap andsnarl if she were asked for anything extra because a boy was sick; butthey say, "Speak well of the bridge that carries you well over, " and Ialways found her the most kindly of women; and she nodded and smiled. 

"What boys you and Master Mercer are!" she said. "Why, you are alwaysgoing and moping up in that loft instead of being in the fields atplay. "

She went on toward the house, and I stood hesitating about carrying outmy plan. 

"She knows I've come, " I said, "and if there is a row, and questionsasked, she may say that she saw me. "

"Nonsense! she'll never hear about it, " I said, and, running into thedark stable, I stopped short, for I fancied there was a sound overhead;but I heard no more, and, thinking it was fancy, I ran to the steps, climbed up, and was crossing the floor when I heard a faint rustling ina heap of straw at the far end, in the darkest corner of the loft. 

"Rats, " I said to myself, as I went on to the place where the big binstood under a little window, passed it, and reached up to take the keyfrom the beam upon which it was always laid, the simplicity of thehiding-place making it all the more secure. 

To my utter astonishment, the key was not there, but a second glanceshowed me that it was in the padlock. 

"Been up here and forgot to lock it, " I said to myself. "All the betterfor me. Some one else may have been up, and done it through his leavingthe key there. "

I laughed to myself as I took the padlock out and threw open the bin, with the intention of having what I called a game. 

This was to consist in my arranging the various stuffed creatures in ascomical a way as I could; and my first thought was to take the rabbit, alter its position a little, and lay it upon an extemporised bed, withthe doctor--the owl--holding one paw to feel its pulse, while all theother creatures looked on. 

"What shall be the matter with him?" I thought. Then directly--"Iknow: all his stuffing come out. "

I seized the owl, and found that I could easily twist the wire down itsleg, so that the claw would appear to be grasping the rabbit's wrist, while the sage-looking bird stood on one leg; and, satisfied in this, Iwas about to arrange the jay and other birds, but thought I would do therabbit first, and, taking it up, I thrust my hand in the orifice made inthe skin when taking it off, and pulled out a good piece of tow, meaningto leave it hanging down. Then I thrust my hand in again, and drew itout in astonishment, for I had taken hold of something hard and flat andround. What it was I could not see; it was too much surrounded by thetow. Then I laughed. 

"Why, it's a big leaden nicker!" I said to myself. "Why did he putthat in? I know. There are holes in it to fix wire to, and--" I turnedcold and queer the next instant, as I divided the soft tow, and stoodstaring down, with the light from the little window falling full uponthat which I held in my hand. Then I felt puzzled and confused; but thenext minute I uttered quite a sob, for light flashed into my brain:memories of what I had so often heard my chosen companion say, the envyhe had displayed, and the way in which all at once Burr major's watchhad disappeared from his jacket in the cricket-field, --all came backwith a force that seemed to cause a singing noise in my ears, for herebefore me was the end of it all, --the explanation of the disappearanceof the watch, which was now lying in my hand, with the hands closetogether and pointing to twelve. At last uttering a sound that wasalmost a groan, I muttered, --

"Oh, Tom, Tom, how could you do such a thing as this?"

The feeling of confusion came back like a thick mist floating over me, and I turned the watch over in my hand two or three times, asking myselfwhat I should do. 

Should I take it to Burr major, and say I had picked it up? Should I goand confide in Mr Hasnip? Should I go straight to Tom Mercer andaccuse him of taking it?

No, no, no: I felt that I could do none of these things, and in adreary, slow, helpless way, I thrust the watch back in amongst the tow, rammed more in after it, and then stood, after laying the rabbit down, asking myself what I should do next, while a poignant sense of miseryand wretchedness seemed to make my position unbearable. 

It all came back now: how, ever since Burr major had that watch, Mercerhad been envious, and longed for it. Scarcely a day had passed that hehad not said something about his longings; and now here it was plainlyenough before me: he had gone on coveting that wretched toy till thedesire had been too strong for him, and it had ended in my manly, quaint, good-tempered school-fellow descending to become a contemptiblepickpocket and thief. 

The blood flushed up into my cheeks and made them burn, while my fistsclenched hard, and I thought to myself that I had learned boxing forsome purpose. 

"I can't go and tell tales of him, " I said. "I can't betray him, for itwould disgrace him for ever. He would be expelled from the school, and, shamefaced and miserable, go home to his father and mother, who would benearly broken-hearted. No. I can't tell. "

Then I felt that, painful as it would be to confess all, and speakagainst the boy I had grown to care for as if he had been my brother, Iought to go straight to the Doctor and tell him. It was my duty, and itmight act beneficially for Tom Mercer. The severe punishment might besuch a lesson to him that it would check what otherwise might prove tobe a downward course. If I were silent, he might do such a thing again, as this had been so easy; and get worse and worse. I must--I ought totell, I said to myself; and then, as I dropped on my knees by the oldbin, and rested my head on the edge, the hot tears came to my eyes, andmy misery seemed greater than I could bear, for I felt it as bitterly asif I myself had been led into this disgraceful crime. 

I rose again with a clearer view of what I should do under thecircumstances, for I had been having a terrible fight with bewilderingthoughts; now thinking I would lock up the bin and go away as if I hadnot found the watch, and do nothing but separate myself from myschool-fellow, now going in the opposite direction, in which I feltquite determined. 

"That's it, " I said to myself. "I shall break with Tom Mercer for ever, but I'll tell him why. We've learned to box for something, and perhapshe'll be best man. No, he won't. I shall have right on my side, and ashe is guilty he will feel cowardly. I will thrash him till he canhardly crawl, and then, when he is weak and miserable, I'll tell him allI have found out, and make him go and put the watch back where Eely canfind it, and then it will never be known who took it, and Mercer willnot be expelled in disgrace as a common thief. Why, it would break hismother's heart!"

"Yes, that will be the way, " I thought, feeling clearer and morerelieved now. "It shall be a secret, but I will punish him as severelyas I can, and though we shall never be friends again, I'll try hard tocheck him from going downward like that, and though he will hate me forwhat I have done, he will thank me some day when he has grown up to be aman. "

I closed the lid of the bin and thrust the top of the padlock throughthe staple and locked it; withdrew the key, and had raised my handmechanically to put it in its old hiding-place on the beam, but Ialtered my mind. 

"No, " I thought; "I'll bring him up here, and give him the key then, andmake him open the bin and take out the watch before I thrash him. Itshall be a lesson for him from beginning to end. He must have someshame in him, and I want him to feel it, so that he can never forget itagain. "

I thrust the key into my pocket and went down into the yard. It was aglorious sunny afternoon when I went up into the loft, and the weatherhad not changed; but everything seemed to be overclouded and wretchednow, as I started off for the play-field, determined to waste no time, but take the culprit to task at once. 

I looked about, and could see Burr major, but Mercer was not there, andI crossed to where I could see little Wilson, and asked if he had seenhim. 

"Senna!" he cried; "yes, I saw him a little while ago. Perhaps he's bythe gardens, digging up grubs and things to make physic. "

I could not smile then, but went to the gardens. He was not there, and, thinking he might have gone up to our room, I went into the house, andup to the dormitories; but my journey was vain, and I went down again, and once more sought the field, to look all over at the little partiesplaying cricket, dotted here and there, but no Mercer. To my greatsurprise, though, I saw Dicksee talking earnestly to Burr major. 

"They've made it up, " I thought, and it seemed to me very contemptibleand small of Burr major to take up again with a boy who had behaved sodespicably to him. 

I passed pretty near them as I went on across the field, and they bothlooked at me rather curiously--in a way, in fact, which made me thinkthat they were plotting something against me. Perhaps a fresh fight. 

"Well, I don't mind now, " I said to myself. "Nothing seems of anyconsequence but Tom Mercer's act. Where can he be?"

I had another look round, and then saw that Burr major, Hodson, andDicksee had gone up to the house together, and directly after theydisappeared, while I went on again, asking after Mercer, to find thatevery one nearly had seen him only a little while before, but they couldnot tell me where he was gone. 

I kept on looking about, though I half suspected that he must have goneoff on some little expedition of his own, as it was half holiday; and, at the end of another half-hour, I was about to stand near the gate, towatch for his return, when I caught sight of him, apparently coming fromthe direction of the yard, as if he had been to the loft. 

"Oh, here you are then!" he cried, as, after catching sight of me, heran to meet me, and began vehemently. "I've been hunting everywhere foryou. "

"I have been hunting everywhere for you, " I said coldly. 

"Have you? Well, look here, Frank, I was up in the loft last night, andI forgot to lock up the bin. "

It was just as I thought. 

"I forgot it once or twice before, thinking about something else; andnow some one has been and locked it up, and taken the key away. "

"Indeed?" I said coldly. 

"Yes. Don't look at a fellow that way. I didn't say you'd taken it, because, of course, if you had, you would have put it up on the beam. Isay, who could it have been?"

"Ah! who could it have been?" I said. 

"What's the matter with you? How queer you are! I tell you, I don'tthink it was you, but old fatty Dicksee; I've seen him sneaking aboutthe yard a good deal lately, watching me, and he must have found outwhere we kept the key, and he has nailed it for some lark, or to teaseme. Yes, that's it. You see if, next time we go, we don't find a deaddog, or a dead cat, or something nasty, tucked in the bin. Some of 'emserved me that way before, when Bob Hopley's old donkey died, and theyput in its head. What shall we do?"

"Nothing, " I said. "I have the key. "

"You have? Oh, I am glad!"

"I went up and found the key there, so I locked it and put it in mypocket. "

"Why didn't you put it in the old place, and not give me all thisfright?"

"You know, " I said solemnly. 

"I--er--er--know--er--er--" he drawled tragically. "Dear me, how grandwe are!" he added, with a forced laugh. "No, I don't know. "

"Then come up there with me, and I'll show you, " I said fiercely. 

"Oh, sir--no, sir--please, sir--don't, sir--I, sir--Oh, sir--I won't doso any more, sir. Don't take me up there, sir, and punch my head, sir. "

"Don't play the fool, but come along with me. "

"Why, Frank, old chap, you aren't serious, are you? What's the matter?"

"Come up into the loft and see, " I replied, as sternly as I could, butfeeling so miserable that I could hardly keep my voice from quivering. 

"Oh, all right! I'm ready, " he said rather stiffly now. "I've donenothing to offend you that I know of. Come on. "

We moved toward the yard, but before we reached the gateway, withoutspeaking now, our names were shouted, and, stopping and looking round, Isaw Mr Hasnip and Mr Rebble coming after us, the former beckoning. 

We turned and walked toward him, with a cold sensation of dread runningthrough me; for what I knew made me shiver with dread, lest the realcause of the disappearance of the watch should have been discovered; andI remembered now about my headache on the cricket match day, and howMercer had hung about near me, going and coming between me and the tent. 

The next moment we were facing the two masters, and Mr Rebble spoke, looking at me very severely. 

"Burr junior, " he said, "the Doctor wishes to see you in his roomdirectly. "

I felt as if I had turned white, and I saw Mr Hasnip looking at me in ahorrified way, as Mr Rebble continued:

"And, Mercer, you are to come as well. "

"Poor Tom!" I thought, as my hot anger against him died away. "It isall found out. What will we do? I shall have to tell the whole truth. "

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. 

Everything seemed to me as if we were in a dream, and I grew more andmore troubled as we were marched in separately to the Doctor's library, where to my astonishment I found Burr major and Dicksee standing, whilethe Doctor sat back in his big chair, with one hand over his eyes. 

I glanced once at Mercer, but he did not meet my eyes, and we took ourplaces as pointed out by Mr Rebble, who then stood waiting, and at lastcoughed softly. 

"Yes, Mr Rebble, " said the Doctor huskily, as he dropped his hand, andI saw that there was a look of pain on his plump face that I had notseen before. "Yes, Mr Rebble, I see. I was trying to arrange mythoughts, so as to meet this painful case calmly. Pray sit down, MrRebble--Mr Hasnip. "

The two ushers took chairs, and we boys alone remained standing, whilethe Doctor cleared his throat, and spoke in a way which drew me towardhim as I had never felt drawn before, since, boy-like, I had been rathertoo apt to look upon my instructor as one of the enemies of my life. 

"Gentlemen, " he said, "I look upon what I have learned as a catastropheto my school, a trouble more painful than I can express, but, for allour sakes, I hope that the dark cloud will prove to be a mist of error, which by calm investigation we shall be able to disperse, for, be itunderstood, I make no accusation. "

Mr Rebble and Mr Hasnip both coughed, the Doctor sighed, glanced atme, and then went on. 

"Burr major, you have already told me that you had a presentation silverwatch from your father. "

I had been hoping that I was in error, and that we were called in forreproof about some trivial matter, but now my spirits sank. 

"Yes, sir. "

"And that, on the day of the cricket match, you left that watch in yourvest on the form at the back of the cricket tent?"

"Yes, sir. "

"That, when you returned to the tent, and resumed your garments, youafterwards found the watch gone?"

"Yes, sir. "

"That every search was made, and that, though, as you say, you hadsuspicions, about which we will talk by and by, that watch was neverfound?"

"Yes, sir. "

I glanced at Mercer, but he was staring hard at Burr major. 

"Now, Dicksee, " said the Doctor, "have the goodness to repeat what youtold me a short time back. "

"Yes, sir, " said Dicksee eagerly. "I went up into the big loft over thestable this afternoon, to see if I could find some nice stout pieces ofstraw in one of the old trusses to make jackstraws with, when I heardsomebody coming. "

I started as I remembered fancying I heard some one in the loft. 

"Yes; go on. "

"I looked out of the window, and saw it was Burr junior, so I went andhid myself in the straw. "

The rustling I thought was rats. 

"Why?" said the Doctor sharply. 

"Because Burr junior and Mercer are so jealous about any other boy goingup there, and they would have knocked me about, as you know, sir, theydid once before, for being up there. "

"It isn't true!" I cried. 

"Silence, sir, " said the Doctor. "You shall be heard afterwards. Goon, Dicksee. "

"Yes, sir, please, sir. So I hid under the straw, and then I saw Burrjunior come up into the loft, and look round, and out of the window, andeverywhere but in the straw. "

"State what you saw simply, sir, " said the Doctor sternly; "andrecollect that you do not stand upon a very good pedestal, for you wereplaying one of the meanest parts a human being can take, that of a spy. "

"Hear! hear!" said the two masters together. 

"Please, sir, I was afraid, " pleaded Dicksee. 

"Go on, " said the Doctor. 

"And I saw Burr junior open the big bin where he and Mercer keep theirrubbish. "

"It may not be rubbish to them, " said the Doctor, "Go on, sir. "

"And after fiddling about a bit, and looking round to see if he waswatched, Burr junior took up a stuffed rabbit, put his hand inside, andpulled out some tow, and then he opened that, and took out Burr major'ssilver watch. "

"How do you know it was?" said the Doctor sharply. 

"Because we saw it such lots of times, sir, and I knew it againdirectly. "

"It might have been any watch, " said the Doctor. "Go on. "

"Yes, sir. And he looked at it, and played with it ever so long, andthen wrapped it up in tow again, and stuffed it inside the rabbit, andthen locked up the bin, put the key in his pocket, and went down. "

"And you?"

"I waited till he had gone, sir, and then I ran and told Burr major, sir. "

"That will do. Now, Burr major, add what you told me this afternoon;but bear in mind, sir, that it is your duty to be very careful, for thisis a charge of theft--of a crime sufficient almost to ruin aschool-fellow's career. "

Burr major spoke out quickly and eagerly, while I stood with my headdown, feeling as if I were being involved in a tangle, out of which itseemed impossible to extricate myself. 

"On the day I lost my watch, sir, Burr junior and Mercer were a gooddeal about near the tent. Burr junior would not play, because he saidhe had a bad headache, and Tom Mercer wouldn't play either. "

"Well, sir?"

"I am very sorry to say it, sir, " continued Burr major hesitatingly. "It's a very painful charge to make, and I never said anything beforeto-day, but I always suspected Burr junior of taking the watch. "

"Oh!" I ejaculated indignantly, as I faced round, but he did not meetmy eye. 

"And, pray, why?" said the Doctor. 

"Because, please, sir, he seemed to be hanging about so near the tent. "

I began to feel more confused, especially as the Doctor said then, --

"Then now we will adjourn--to the loft. " I made a gesture as if tospeak, but the Doctor raised his hand. 

"After a while, Burr, " he said, "after a while. Your turn will come. "

I felt in a whirl of emotion, for I was half stunned at the turn mattershad taken, and I tried again to catch Mercer's eye, but he did not evenglance at me, but stood opening and shutting his hands as he glared atDicksee, who looked horribly alarmed, and as if he would like to runaway. 

The Doctor signed to us to go, and we were taken through the house andservants' offices, so as not to attract the attention of the boys, reaching the yard at last, and entering the stable. 

My ears seemed to have bells ringing in them as we stood there, and Iheard the Doctor say, --

"Rather an awkward place for me to get up, Mr Rebble; but I suppose Imust try. "

He made the effort after we had all gone before, and reached the top noworse off than by the addition of a little dust upon his glossy blackcoat. Then, clearing his voice, as we all stood near the bin, in muchthe same positions as in the library, he began, --

"Ah, that is the straw, I suppose. Burr junior and Mercer have usedthis place a good deal, I believe, as a kind of atelier or workshop?"

"Yes, sir, " said Burr major promptly. 

"Then that is the bin, is it, Dicksee?"

"Yes, sir. "

"And you say you saw Burr junior lock it up. Have you the key, Burr?"

I stood gazing at him wildly without answering, and then I glanced atMercer, who met my eye with a look of terror and misery that was piteousto see. For now it was all to come out, and the theft would be broughthome to him, for the poor lad to be expelled in disgrace and go homedespairingly to those who loved him, and all because he could notrestrain that horrible feeling of covetousness. 

"I said, `Have you the key, Burr junior?'" continued the Doctor moresternly, and I shuddered as the thought struck me now that I wasbecoming mixed up with the trouble, that they would not believe me if Itold the truth--that truth which would be so difficult to tell forMercer's sake. 

"Burr junior, " cried the Doctor very sharply now, "have you the key ofthat padlock?"

"Yes; sir, " I faltered, giving quite a start now, as his words roused meas from a dream, and I felt horrified as I fully saw how guilty all thismade me appear. 

"Take the key, Mr Rebble, if you please, " continued the Doctor, lookingmore and more pained, as I withdrew the rusty little instrument from mypocket. "Open the bin, please, and see if Dicksee's statement is madeout. "

Mr Hasnip was, I found, looking at me, and I felt a choking sensationas he shook his head at me sadly. 

Then I glanced at Mercer, and found he was looking at me in a horrifiedway, and I let my eyes drop as I said to myself, --

"Poor fellow! I shall not have to speak; he'll confess it all. I wishI could save him. "

And all the while the usher was unlocking the padlock, taking it fromthe staple, and throwing open the great lid back against the whitewashedwall, every click and grate of the iron and the creak of the old hingessounding clear and loud amidst the painful silence. 

"Will you come and look, sir?" said Mr Rebble. 

"No, " said the Doctor sternly. "Is there a rabbit-skin there, as thisboy described?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Take it out. "

Mr Rebble obeyed, and once more I met Mercer's eyes gazing at mewildly, and, as I interpreted the look, imploring me not to speak. 

The miserable stuffed distortion was brought out, and I felt halfdisposed to laugh at it, as I thought of my school-fellow's queer ideasfor a group in natural history. But that was only a flying thought, succeeded by a mental pang that was most keen, as the rabbit was laid onthe floor, and, acting on the Doctor's instructions, Mr Rebble wentdown on one knee, held the stuffed animal with one hand, and began todraw out the tow with the other. 

A great patch came out, and Mr Rebble pressed it together and thenopened it out, and I fancied I heard the Doctor sigh with satisfactionat nothing being found. 

"It's further in, sir, " cried Dicksee eagerly. 

"Ah! you seem to know a great deal about it, Dicksee, " said the Doctor. 

"Yes, sir; I saw him put it in. "

Mr Rebble thrust in his hand again, and my spirits sank lower as hedrew out another tuft of tow, compressed it, and then, frowning heavily, began to tear it open. 

"There is nothing there, then, Mr Rebble?" cried the Doctor eagerly. 

"I am sorry to say, sir, there is, " said the usher, as he laid open thetow till it was like a nest, with the little silver watch lyingglistening in the middle; and the Doctor drew a long breath, hisforehead now full of deeply-cut lines. 

"Burr major, " said the Doctor huskily. "Have the goodness to look atthat watch. Is it yours?"

My school-fellow stepped to the Doctor's side and looked. 

"Yes, sir, " he said eagerly. "That's the watch I lost. "

"How do you know, sir?"

"My father had my initials cut in the little round spot on the case, sir. There they are. "

The Doctor took the watch, glanced at the letters, and laid it down. 

"Yes, " he said sadly, "that is quite right. --Mercer!" Tom started as ifhe had received a blow, and looked wildly from one to the other. 

"Come here. "

"Oh, poor, poor Tom!" I sighed to myself, and I looked at himpityingly, while he glanced at me. 

"Hah!" ejaculated the Doctor; "there seems to be some understandingbetween you. Now, sir, that bin has been used by you for some time, hasit not, for your collection?"

"Yes, sir, " faltered Mercer. 

"You and Burr junior have, I noticed, always been companions. "

"Yes, sir. "

"He joined you in collecting natural history objects?"

"Yes, sir; a little. "

"Could he obtain access to that bin when he wished? Had he a key?"

"He could always get the key, sir, when he liked. " The Doctor sighed, and there was silence once more, while I glanced at Mercer wildly, andif he could have read my eyes, he would have known that they said, "Speak out now. Confess, and ask the Doctor to forgive you for givingway to this terrible piece of covetousness. "

"Now, " said the Doctor, and we both started at the firm, sonorous tones, "speak out frankly, sir. This is no time for trying to conceal thetruth so as to screen your friend, for I tell you that it would be anunkind act, and you would be injuring his future by such a mistakenpolicy. Tell me, did you know that the watch was hidden there?"

Mercer was silent. 

"Speak, sir, " cried the Doctor. "I insist!"

"No, sir, " faltered Mercer, after another appealing look at me; and inmy agony, as I heard his words, I started forward. 

"Burr junior!" roared the Doctor; and I stopped as if fascinated. 

"Now, Mercer, " he continued, "tell me. Did you know that yourschool-fellow had that watch in his possession?"

"Oh no, sir!" cried Mercer eagerly. "I'm sure he hadn't. "

"Humph!" ejaculated the Doctor. "That will do. --I wish, gentlemen, " hecontinued, turning to the two masters, "to make this painful business asshort as possible. "

I turned to him quickly, and as I met his eyes, I thought at first thathe was looking at me sadly and pityingly, but his face was very sternnext moment. 

"You are sure, Thomas Mercer, " he said, "that you did not know the watchwas in that bin--hidden away?"

Tom looked at me again wildly, and then, with his brow all wrinkled up, he said in a hopeless tone full of sadness, --

"No, sir--no, sir; I didn't know it was there. "

My hands clenched, and a burst of rage made me turn giddy for themoment. For I felt as if I could have dashed at him, dragged him to hisknees, and made him speak the truth. 

But that passed off as quickly as it came, and a feeling of pity camefor the boy who, in his horror of detection, had felt himself bound tosave himself at another's expense, and I found myself wondering whetherunder the circumstances I should not have done the same. 

These thoughts darted through my mind like lightning, and so did thosewhich followed. 

"I want to save him, " I said to myself, in the midst of the painfulsilence during which the Doctor stood thinking and softly wiping hisforehead and then the palms of his hands upon his white pockethandkerchief; "but I can't take the credit of it all. It is toohorrible. But if I tell all I know, he will be expelled, and it willruin him. Oh, why don't he confess?--why don't he confess?"

It was as if the Doctor had heard these last words as I thought them, for he said now in a deep, grave voice, as he turned to me, just as Iwas feeling that it would be too cruel to denounce my companion, --

"This is a sad--a painful affair, Burr junior. I wanted to disbelievein your guilt, I wanted to feel that there was no young gentleman in myestablishment who could stoop to such a piece of base pilfering; but thetruth is so circumstantially brought home through the despicablemeanness of a boy of whose actions I feel the utmost abhorrence, that Iam bound to say to you that there is nothing left but for you to ownfrankly that you have been led into temptation--to say that you bitterlyrepent of what you have done, and throw yourself upon my mercy. Do thisat once, boy, for the sake of those at home who love you. "

I felt my face twitch at these words and the picture they evoked, andthen, numbed as it were, I stood listening, slightly buoyed up by thefeeling that Mercer would speak directly and clear me. 

"You were entrusted to my care, Burr junior, " continued the Doctor, "asa youth who was in future to enter upon one of the most honourable ofcareers, that of a soldier; but now that you have disgraced yourselflike this--"

"No, no, sir!" I cried. "Don't--pray don't think I took the wretchedwatch!"

There was so much passionate agony in my voice that the Doctor pausedfor a few moments, before, in the midst of the solemn silence whichensued, he said coldly, --

"Do you deny that you took the watch?"

"Yes, yes. Indeed, indeed I did not take it, sir!" The Doctor sighed. 

"Do you deny that you were seen by Dicksee this morning with the watchin your hands?"

"No, sir; that is true, " I said, with a look at Mercer, who hung downhis head. 

"Then I am bound by the statements that have been made, painful as it isto me, to consider that in a moment of weak impulse you did this basething. If I am wrong, Heaven forgive me, for _humanum est errare_. Thetruth, however, seems too clear. "

"I--I found it there, " I panted. 

The Doctor shook his head. 

"It is like charging your school-fellow with stealing the watch. Do youdo this?"

I was silent. 

"Mr Rebble, " said the Doctor, "you came here as a gentleman to aid mein the training of these youths. Can you do anything to help me here?"

"I--I, " said Mr Rebble huskily, "would gladly do so, sir, if I could. I wouldn't trust Dicksee's word in anything. He is as pitiful andcontemptible a boy as ever came under my charge, but I am afraid he hasspoken the truth here. "

"I fear so, " said the Doctor. "Mr Hasnip, you have--been but a shorttime among us, still you have learned the disposition of the pupils. Can you help me--help us?--for it is terrible to me to have to passjudgment in such a case. "

"Doctor Browne, " cried Mr Hasnip warmly, and I saw the tears start tohis eyes, "I would give anything to be able to say it is all a mistake. "

"But you feel that you can not?"

Mr Hasnip shook his head, and turned away to hide the working of hisface, while I stood wondering at the feeling he displayed. 

There was again a painful silence, and I stood there, shrinking, butwith a hot feeling of anger swelling within me, waiting for Tom Mercerto speak out and save me from disgrace. And with this hot tide ofbitterness and rage that I should be so doubted and suspected, came afeeling of obstinacy that was maddening, while something within meseemed to say, "They would not believe you if you spoke. "

"No, " said the Doctor at last, "I am afraid that you cannot; and I nowaddress myself to you, Burr junior. Do you confess that you areguilty?"

"No, sir, " I cried angrily, "I am not!" and again there was silence. 

"I think I will give you time for reflection, " said the Doctor. "MrRebble, I place Burr junior in your charge. Of course he must besecluded. I, too, want time for reflection before sending word to theunhappy lad's friends--a most painful task--a most painful task. "

He walked slowly toward the steps, and a fresh feeling of excitementsurged up within me. I wanted to speak now--to say something in my owndefence, as I thought of the Doctor's letter going to my mother, and ofher agony, then of my uncle learning this, and coming over. It seemedtoo terrible, and I tried to call the Doctor back, but no words wouldcome. I saw him descend slowly, and Mr Hasnip sign to the boys tofollow, after which, giving me a sad look, he too descended, leaving mealone with Mr Rebble, whose first words were so stern and harsh that Icould not turn to him and confide and ask his sympathy and help. 

"This way, sir, " he said sharply, and without a word I followed him downand across the stable-yard, passing cook at the door ready to give me apitying glance for being in disgrace. 

Then, as if it was all a dream, I was led into the house, and up-stairsto a small room containing only one bed--a room whose window looked outaway toward the General's estates. 

The door was closed behind me without a word, and as I stood there Iheard it locked and the key withdrawn, followed by Mr Rebble'sfootsteps along the passage, and then I threw myself down on the bed ina passion of rage against Mercer. 

"You coward!" I cried, and as I ground my teeth I indulged in a wishthat I could have him there. 

"Oh!" I cried, "only for half an hour, and then--" I did not finish mysentence, but bounded off the bed to stand up there alone, unconsciouslyenough in the position Lomax had taught me, and with my left hand raisedto strike. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. 

It was very different to be a prisoner now alone. I longed for Mercer'scompanionship, but it was so that I might punish him for what I againand again called his miserable cowardice, which seemed to me to make hiscrime ten times worse. And so I walked up and down the little roomrestlessly, thinking over the times when my school-fellow had talkedabout the watch, and his intense longing to possess it, or such a one. 

Nothing could be plainer. He had given way at last, and taken it onthat unlucky day when he was hanging about talking to me as I lay on thegrass with my head throbbing, and then walking away toward the tent orto where he could get a good look at the cricketers. 

"Too much for him, " I said, --"too much for him, and I am to take thecredit of his theft. But I will not. If he is such a mean coward as tolet me take his stealing on my shoulders, he is not worth sparing, andhe shall take the credit for himself--upon his own shoulders and notmine. "

"Oh, what an ass I have been ever to make friends with such a fellow!"I cried, after a pause. "I ought to have known better. Never mind, Ido know better now, and to-morrow morning I'll ask to see the Doctor, and I'll tell him everything, and--get him expelled!"

That set me thinking once more about his people at home, and as I did, Ibegan to waver, and call to mind how terrible it would be, and that Iliked him too well in spite of all. 

For I did like him. I had never had a brother, and he had seemed tofill his place, so that now, for the first time, I fully understood howwe two lads had become knit together, and how terribly hard it would beto speak out. 

I sat down by the window at last, to let the cool breeze play upon myaching temples, and as I leaned my head against the side, the cheeryvoices of the boys in the field floated up to me, to make me morewretched still. 

"It's nothing to them, " I said to myself. "Nobody there cares, and Eelyand Dicksee were only too glad to have their revenge upon me. I don'tknow, though, " I said; "they both thought I took the watch, and believedall they said. But it was a triumph for them. "

I sat thinking. 

"I wonder what Lomax will say? Will he believe that I am a commonthief?

"What is Tom doing now? Out at play, I suppose, and glorying in hisescape. He knows I would not be such a sneak as to tell, and thinks Ishall bear it all patiently--too ready to spare him, or too cowardly tosay a word. "

I was interrupted by steps, and in my misery I hoped that they wouldpass the door, but a key was thrust in, and I caught a glimpse of MrRebble, who waited outside while one of the maids brought in my tea on atray, --a plain mug, and a plate of bread and butter; then she gave me alook of commiseration, making my cheeks burn, as I wondered whether sheknew that I was shut up because people thought I was a thief, and unfitto associate with the other boys. But no word was spoken; she passedout, the door was shut and locked, and I rested my aching head once moreagainst the side of the window, the very sight of food making me feeldisgust; and there I stayed for how long I cannot say, but at last Istarted up, puzzled and wondering, to find that I must have droppedasleep, regularly wearied out, and that it was growing dusk, and themoon, like a thin curved streak, was sailing down in the faint glow ofthe heavens, not far from where the sun had gone. 

I shivered a little, for I was cold, but my head was better, and I beganto go over the events of the afternoon again, wondering whether theDoctor would send for me in the morning, to say that Mercer hadconfessed, and that he was glad to be able once more to take me by thehand. 

Just then I heard a faint sigh, apparently coming up from the garden, and I involuntarily looked down, but could see nothing. 

The sigh rose again, and now I was able to locate it in a clump ofevergreens at the edge of the lawn. But I could see nothing save greenleaves; and started again and drew back a little a few minutes later, asthe sigh was again repeated, this time followed by a faint whisper, andI heard my name. 

"Frank--Frank Burr. Hist!"

"Yes; who called?" I said. 

"Me. Can't you hear? Tom--Tom Mercer. "

I was silent, and stood, feeling hot and angry, gazing down into thegrounds. 

"Frank!" came up again. "I say!"

I remained silent. 

"Have you got any string? Let a piece down. "

I knew what that meant. He had been to the kitchens and was going tosend me up some supper. In other words, he was going to try and smoothover his despicable behaviour. 

"A coward! A sneak! I hate him!" I muttered, as I stood there closeto the window, as if unable to drag myself away, but listening greedilyall the while, as Mercer went on in an excited whisper, insulting me, asI called it. 

"Oh, I say, do speak, Frank, " he said. "I can't stop long, and there'dbe a row if any one knew I came to you. I am so sorry, Frank. I'vebeen down to Polly Hopley's, and bought a lot of her turnovers and somesweet tuck. I want to send it up to you. Haven't you any string?"

I made no reply. 

"Frank! I say: I know: tear up your handkerchiefs. I'll give you someof mine to make up. Tie the bits together so as to make a long string, and let it down. Frank!"

"Go away, you miserable, cowardly sneak!" I cried passionately; "andnever dare to speak to me again. "

He was silent for a few minutes, as if stunned by my fierce words. Thenhe began again. 

"Oh, I say, " he whispered, "don't turn on a chap like that when he wasgoing to stick to you. I couldn't help it. "

I knew that the temptation had been too strong for him, but I was nonethe less bitter against him, and my wrath reached its climax soon after, when he said eagerly, --

"I say, Frank, I am indeed so sorry! and I'd have said it was I did it, if it would have got you off; but they wouldn't have believed me. "

_Bang_!

That was the window, which, in my passion at his coolness, I shut downwith all my might, and then went and threw myself on the bed, with myhead aching violently, and the sensation of misery increasing, so thatat times I felt as if I must try and break open the door, creep down inthe night, and run away somewhere--anywhere, so as to end the trouble Iwas in. 

I never knew when, but I suppose the throbbing in my head must havelulled a little, and I once more dropped off to sleep, to wake up with astart in the darkness, wondering where I was, and whether I had beenhaving a confused dream about a watch being stolen, and some one gettinginto trouble. Who it was I could not quite tell, for my head ached, Ifelt sick, and everything was confused and strange. 

While I was trying hard to collect myself, I suppose I must have droppedto sleep again, for when I next opened my eyes, the sun was shiningbrightly, and, light-hearted and eager, I jumped off the bed to run andopen the window, but, as my feet touched the floor, memory began to comeback with its heavy load of misery. 

Why was I dressed even to my boots? Why was I in a fresh room? Wherewas Tom Mercer?

The answers to my questions came, and I stood there with a sinkingsensation of misery, increasing moment by moment, till with a sigh Iroused myself a little and went toward the window. 

"Where is Tom Mercer?" I said to myself again, with a bitter laugh. "Safe, and I am to take the blame for his miserable acts. Where's TomMercer?"

I was opening the window as I spoke, and there he was hiding behind aclump of Portugal laurel, where he had been watching, quite ready tospring up eagerly now, and begin to make signs, as he showed me a schoolbag with something heavy inside. 

I knew what it meant, of course, but the bitter feeling against him wastoo intense for me to accept aid in any form, and I drew back withoutnoticing him further; and, as I did so, my head felt clearer for mynight's rest, and I began to see the course that was open to me. 

I could not turn upon Tom and become his accuser, for, if the crime wasbrought home to him, it would be terrible, and I knew I should neverforgive myself for saving my own credit by denouncing my companion. No;I had fully made up my mind, in those few minutes since rising, to denyfirmly and defiantly the charge of taking the watch. Even if theyexpelled me, and I was sent away, they might call it in disgrace, but itwould not be. And even if Doctor Browne and the masters believed meguilty, I knew there was some one at home who would take my word atonce, indignant at such a charge being brought against me. 

Yes, that was my course, plain enough: to maintain my innocence firmly, but to say no more. They might find out about Tom Mercer. I would notbetray him. 

A stubborn feeling of determination came over me now, and all seemed tobe as plain as could be. I was actually beginning to wonder that Ishould have taken it all so much to heart. "She will believe me, " Isaid; "and they will have to at last. "

I had just arrived at this point in reasoning out my position, when Iwas brought to a sudden check by a fresh thought--one which made me turncold. It was, "What will uncle say?"

I was thrown back into a state of the greatest misery again directly bythis. For my uncle was so stern a disciplinarian that in advance I sawwith horror the impression such a charge hanging over me would make uponone who had so often impressed upon me the duties of him who would growup to be a gentleman, and who was to occupy the position of an officerin a gallant service. 

"Shall I dare to hold out?" I asked myself; "shall I be able to clearmyself without accusing Tom?"

I started, for there was a thud at my window, as if something moderatelysoft had struck the frame. 

But I could see nothing, and I was sinking back into my musing fitagain, when something struck me on the back, and then fell with a dullsound upon the floor and rolled under the wash-stand. 

I stooped and picked it up, to find that it was one of the solidindiarubber balls we used for our games at rounders, and tightlyfastened around it was a piece of thin twine, the strong, light stringwe used for kites. The twine hung out of the window, and I knew thatMercer had thrown it up, and the second time sent it right in at theopen sash, --no difficult task for him, as he was one of the most skilfulthrowers we had in the school, and he could generally hit a boy runningfast when we were engaged in a game, while at cricket, the way in whichhe could field a ball, and send it up to the wicket-keeper, made him aspecial acquisition in a game. 

"I'm not going to be bribed into silence!" I cried; "I'd soonerstarve;" and, going quickly to the window, I hurled the ball down, before drawing back, and then approaching the opening again to peer downfrom behind one of the white dimity curtains, where, unseen myself, Icould watch Mercer slowly winding up the string till the indiarubberball reached his hands, when, after a doleful look up, he ducked downbehind the bushes with the school bag and walked cautiously away. 

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. 

Human nature is a curious thing, and the older one grows the morestrange and wonderful it seems. There was I watching Tom Mercer fromthe window, and the minute before I felt as if I would have givenanything to have him there alone with our jackets off, to put in forcethe old sergeant's teaching, knowing that I could in my passion nearlyknock his head off. The next minute, as I saw him walk dejectedly awaywith his head down, evidently bitterly hurt and disappointed, I foundmyself sorry for him, and wanting to call him back. 

And this was from no desire to partake of the good things he had, I wasperfectly sure, in the bag, for in my misery I had no appetite or desireto eat anything, but from honest liking for the boy who had been mycompanion from the first. 

But I was too proud to call him back, and in my anger I mentally calledhim a contemptible, cowardly thief, and vowed that I would never speakto him again. 

Boys always keep those vows, of course--for an hour or two, and thenbreak them, and a good thing too. They would be horrible youngmisanthropes if they did not. 

So Tom Mercer was gone, with his bagful, string, and indiarubber ball, and I plumped myself down on a chair by the window, rested my crossedarms on the inner ledge, and, placing my chin upon them, sat staring outover the beautiful Sussex landscape, thinking about what was to come. 

But, mingled with those thoughts, there came plenty of memories of thepast; as my eyes lit on the woods and fields, with a glint of one of theGeneral's ponds where we boys had fished. 

Oh, how lovely it all looked that sunny morning, with the rays flashingfrom the dewy grass and leaves, and how impossible it seemed that Icould be so unhappy, shut up there like a prisoner, and looked upon byevery one as a thief!

What should I do? Wait for the truth to come out, or behave like anyhigh-spirited boy would, --high-spirited and gallant from my point ofview, --set them all at defiance, wait for my opportunity, and escape--goright away and seek my fortune?

No, I did not want any fortune. My uncle wished me to be a soldier, asmy father had been, and that meant study for years, then trainingperhaps at Woolwich, and at last a commission. 

"I will not wait for that, " I said to myself; "I'll be a soldier atonce. I'll go and enlist, and rise from the ranks, and in years tocome, when I am a captain or a major, I will go back home, and tell themthat I was perfectly innocent, and they'll be sorry they believed that Iwas a thief. "

These romantic thoughts put me in better spirits, and I began to planwhat I would do, and how I could get away, for I could not see in myexcitement what a young donkey I was to fill my head with such nonsense, and what a mean, cowardly thing it would be to go off, and make mysupposed guilt a certainty with my uncle, break my mother's heart, andgenerally throw all my future to the winds--always supposing it possiblethat I could have found any recruiting sergeant who would have takensuch a slip of a boy, as, of course, I could not; for to a certainty Ishould have been laughed at, and come away like a frightened cur, withmy tail between my legs. 

I was mentally blind then, puffed up with vanity, and as bitter andangry as it is possible for a boy to be, and all I can say inextenuation is that I had had good cause to be upset by the trouble Ihad gone through. 

"I'll go, " I said excitedly. "To-night as soon as it is dark, and--"

I stopped short, for I saw a familiar figure going along the road infront of the great house. It was Lomax, having his morning pipe andwalk before going back to his garden, and the sight of the old sergeantmade me feel sorry for my determination. He had been so friendly, andunder his stiff military ways there had been so much kindliness. He hadbeen so proud of the way in which I had acquired the things he taught;and as he went on, tall, upright, and manly-looking, I began to wonderwhat he would say, and I exclaimed eagerly, --

"He'll know that I have gone off to join the army, and say I have donewell. "

Down came a wet blanket. 

"No, " I said dolefully; "he will think I have run away because I was athief. "

"I can't go. It is impossible for me to go, " I said passionately, as Ibegan to pace the room, and sheets torn up and tied together withcounterpane and blankets, to make out the rope down which I was to slideto liberty, fell away as if they were so much tinder; while the otherplan I had of unscrewing the lock of the door, and taking it off with mypocket-knife, so as to steal down the stairs, tumbled to nothing, assoon as I thought that I must steal away. 

Just then I started, for there was a tap at the door--a very soft, gentle tap, and then a hoarse whisper. 

"Master Burr! Master Burr!"

"Yes, " I said sourly. "Who is it? What do you want?"

"It's me, my dear. Cook. I'm just going down. Are you dressed yet?"

"Yes. "

"I heard last night that you were shut up. Whatever is the matter?"

I was silent. 

"Master Mercer came and told me, and asked me for something to eat foryou, because he said he knew they'd only give you bread and water. "

"Master Mercer!" I muttered to myself angrily; "and I'm to suffer forhim!"

"There, I won't bother you, my dear, but I'm very sorry, and I don'tsuppose it's anything much. Have you broken a window?"

"No, Cook. "

"Now don't say you've been stealing apples, because I'd have given youlots if you'd asked. "

"No, " I said softly, for the woman's voice sounded so pleasant andsympathetic that I wanted her to stay. 

"Then I know: you've been breaking bounds. Oh dear, boys will be boys, and it's quite natural, my dear, for you to want to get away, and runwhere you like. I don't wonder, shut up as you all are, like being in acage. There, don't you fret, and it'll all come right. I'll see thatyou have something beside bread and water. Bread and water, indeed!Such stuff as is only to cook with. Why, they might just as well feedyou on flour. "

"What time is it, Cook?" I asked. 

"Just gone six, my dear; and there: I mustn't stop gossiping, for I'vemy fire to light, my kitchen to do; but I hate people to be miserable. I can't abide it. There's plenty of worries with one's work, as I toldmissus only yesterday. There, good-bye, and don't you fret. "

I heard the rustling of her dress as she went along the passage, and Istood by the door till it died away, feeling sad but pleased, for it wassatisfactory to know that there were people about the place who caredfor me. But I felt more low-spirited directly as I thought of what shemight say as soon as she knew the real cause of why I was a prisoner. 

The bell rang for rising, and I heard some of the boys soon after out intheir gardens; then, as I stood back from the window, I caught sight ofone or two, and after a while heard the increasing hum and buzz ofvoices, and knew that some of them must be getting up lessons that hadbeen neglected over-night. And as I listened, I thought of the timeswhen I had murmured and felt dissatisfied at being obliged to give somuch time to such work, whereas now I was envying the happy boys whowere seated at study, with no greater care upon their minds. 

Perhaps I was learning a great lesson then, one that I did not know. 

The time went on very slowly, and it seemed many hours since I awoke, when the breakfast-bell rang, and I sat picturing the scene, andfancying I could hear the boys talking and the mugs and spoonsclattering, as the great piles of bread and butter disappeared. 

I was just thinking this when there were steps in the passage, and soonafter the key was rattled in the lock, Mr Rebble appeared, and with himone of the maids, with a tray on which was a mug and a plate of breadand butter. 

He did not look at me, only admitted the maid to set down the tray, sawher out, and I was locked in again. 

It was very much like the old time, but Tom Mercer was not there tolighten my loneliness. 

As the door closed, I noticed that the mug was steaming, and found thatI was not to have prison fare though I was a prisoner, for my breakfastwas precisely the same as that of the other boys. 

"I can't touch it, " I said, "It is impossible to eat. "

But I was feverishly thirsty, and I took up the mug of milk, just madewarm by the addition of some boiling water. It was pleasantly sweet, too, and I half fancied that Cook had put in an extra quantity of sugar. 

More from habit than anything else, for I felt sick and full of distastefor food, I broke off a piece of bread and butter and began to eat itmechanically, and now knew that I was right, for, instead of the saltbutter we generally had, this was fresh and sweet. Cook had certainlybeen favouring me, and that scrap led to the finishing of the slice, andfinally to the disappearance of all that was on the plate, while thelast drop of milk and water was drained from the big mug. 

As soon as the breakfast was finished, a morbid feeling of vexation cameover me. I was angry because I had touched it, and wished that I hadsulked, and shown myself too much injured to go on as if nothing hadhappened. But it was too late then. 

After a while, Mr Rebble came back, looking very severe. He watchedthe maid as she took the tray, but the girl gave me a sympathetic look, and then I was once more left alone. 

Hard people think they do not, --they say, "Oh, he's only a boy; he'llsoon forget, "--but boys suffer mentally as keenly, or more keenly, thangrown people. Of course they do, for everything about them is young, tender, and easily wounded. I know that they soon recover from somemental injury. Naturally. They are young and elastic, and the sapling, if bent down, springs up again, but for the time they suffer cruelly. 

I know I did, shut up there in disgrace, and, as I sat or walked aboutmy prison, it made no difference to me that it was a plainly furnished, neat bedroom, for it was as prison-like to me in my vein as if the floorhad been stone, the door of iron-clamped oak with rusty hinges. And asI moved about the place, I began to understand how prisoners gladly madefriends with spiders, mice, and rats, or employed themselves cuttingtheir names on the walls, carving pieces of wood, or writing longhistories. 

But I had no insects or animals to amuse me, no wood to carve, no stonewalls upon which to chisel my name. 

I had only been a prisoner for a few hours, you may say. 

Quite true, but, oh, what hours they were, and what agony I sufferedfrom my thoughts!

I spent most of my time at the window, forcing myself to think of howthings were going on in school, and I pictured the boys at theirlessons--at the Doctor's desk at Mr Rebble's, and Mr Hasnip's. It wasGerman day, too, and I thought about our quaint foreign master, andabout Lomax drilling the boys in the afternoon. He would be asking themwhere I was; and the question arose in my mind, would the boys tell him, or would they have had orders, as we did once before, about a year back, when a pupil disgraced himself, not to mention the affair outside theschool walls. 

My spirits rose a little at this, for it would be horrible for Lomax toknow, and go and think it over. And I seemed to know that he would takeit more to heart about me than if it were any other boy, for I was to bea soldier, and, as he would have expressed it, "One of ours. "

Dinner-time at last--the bell ringing, and the shouts and cries of theboys, "All in! all in!" though we used to want very little calling formeals. 

After a time, my dinner was brought up, as my breakfast had been, insilence, and I felt then that I should have liked Mr Rebble to speak, if it had only been to bully. But he did not so much as look at me, only stalked into the room and out again. 

Who was going to eat and enjoy a dinner, brought like that?

"It's like an animal in a cage being fed, " I said angrily; and I wasquite angry because the roast beef, potatoes, and greens smelt so nicethat I was obliged to sit down and eat and enjoy the meal, for I wasvery hungry. 

After the tray had been fetched, I made up my mind that at any minutenow the Doctor might send for me, to give me a severe examination, and Ishivered at the idea of being forced to speak out, and say everything Iknew. I wished now that it was dark, so that I might have attempted toescape, if only to avoid that meeting. But it was impossible. Even ifI could get off the lock, I should be seen, for certain, and broughtback in an ignominious fashion, that would be terrible. 

But the afternoon wore away, as I sat listening to the shouts of theboys at play, thinking bitterly of how little they thought of me shut upthere; and I began wondering where Mercer was, little thinking that hewas watching me; but he was, sure enough, for, just close upon tea-time, I caught sight of him, lying down upon his chest, where he had crawledunseen among the shrubs, and there he was, with his elbows on the groundand his chin in his hands, watching me, just as a faithful dog might hismaster. 

I shrank away from the window, as soon as I saw him, and then waitedtill the bell rang for tea, when I peeped out again, to see that he wasgone, but I could trace him by the movement of the laurels, bays, andlilacs, whose branches were thrust aside as he crept through. 

"He'll come back again after tea, " I thought, and I was right. I hadonly just finished my own, brought up as before, when, glancing from thewindow, there I saw him, gazing up at me like a whipped dog, asking tobe taken into favour once again. 

"Why hasn't the Doctor sent for me?" I asked myself; but I could findonly one reason, --he meant me to come to his study quite late in theevening. 

But he did not, and that dreary time passed slowly away, as I watchedthe darkness come on, and the stars peer out one by one. Then I saw themoon rise far away over the sea, shining brightly, till the sky grewcloudy, as my life seemed now to be. 

But no footstep--no summons to go down to the Doctor's room, and, thoughI kept on fancying that I heard steps on the stairs, I was alwaysdeceived, and it was not until I heard the bell ring for prayers andbed, that I knew I should not have to meet the Doctor that night. 

There were steps enough now in the corridors and on the stairs, and Isat near the door, for the sake of the company, naming the boys tomyself, as I recognised the voices. But I shrank away once, as two boysstopped by my door, and I heard them say, --

"Wonder how old Burr junior's getting on?"

"Ah! he's in for it now. Don't talk, or he'll hear us. "

They passed on, and I heard their door close, after which there was aloud scuffling and bumping from the other sides accompanied by smotheredlaughter and dull blows. 

I knew directly what was going on, and sighed, as I recalled how manytimes I had engaged in the forbidden joys of a bolstering match. 

Their merriment only made me feel the pain the more bitterly, and I wasglad when I heard a familiar cough at the end of the passage, and thetapping of a stick on the floor. 

All was silent in an instant, and by degrees every murmur died away, andI lay down and slept heavily, for mine was weary trouble. There was noguilty conscience to keep me awake. 

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. 

I was up in good time next morning, to find that Tom Mercer wasbeforehand with me, waiting in the shrubbery, and making signs now assoon as he saw me; but I turned away, and with a disconsolate look, hedropped down among the bushes, and crouched where he would be screened. 

He disappeared at breakfast-time, but he was back there before dinner, and for a time after, but he suddenly rushed away, and I supposed thatsome of the boys were coming round to that side of the great house. 

Then came another weary time of waiting, and I was beginning to thinkthat I should escape again, when there were steps on the stairs--thedecided, heavy steps of Mr Rebble, who always stamped when he came upby the boys' bedrooms--to give him importance, we used to say. 

It was not a meal-time, so I felt that at last I was to be taken down tothe Doctor's library. Then the door was unlocked, thrown open, and themaster said loudly, "Burr junior, the Doctor wishes to see you in hisroom. "

My heart began to beat heavily as I followed him down-stairs, and thenthrough the door on to the front staircase with its thick carpet. Thehall was reached, and Mr Rebble crossed to the library, waited till Iwas on the mat, threw the door wide-open and seemed to scoop me in. 

A low murmur of voices fell on my ear as the door was opened, and I knewthat I was not to see the Doctor alone, but I did not anticipate facingsuch a gathering as I gazed at wildly, with my heart throbbing, mycheeks hot, and a film coming over my eyes. 

For there before me were the Doctor and his lady, Mr Hasnip, andMercer, Burr major, and Dicksee. I saw them at a glance, my eyes hardlyresting upon them, for there were three strangers in the room, and Idivined now why it was that I had not been fetched before. 

I was to meet those who had placed me at the school; while beside mymother and my uncle there stood the old General, gazing at me with avery severe scowl. 

For a few moments no one spoke, and I felt giddy. A mist was before myeyes, and everything looked blurred and strange, but through it all Icould see my mother's eyes gazing yearningly at me, and she half rosefrom her seat to take me to her heart, but my uncle laid his hand uponher arm and said firmly, --

"Wait, dear. Let us know the whole business first. "

And then, as my mother sank back into her seat, I saw Mrs Doctor take aseat by her side, whisper something, and my mother took her hand. 

"Now, Doctor Browne, if you please, " said my uncle in his sharp, quick, military way, "we are all attention, and want to hear the truth of thismiserable business before the boy himself. "

"Certainly, Colonel Seaborough, " said the Doctor rather nervously, buthe spoke firmly directly after. "I thought it my duty first to ask youto come, as I naturally was most loth to proceed to extremities. "

"Naturally, sir, naturally, " said my uncle sharply. "A prisoner'sallowed a fair court-martial, eh, Rye?"

"Yes, yes, of course, " said the General, and he opened a gold box andtook snuff loudly. 

As soon as I could tear my eyes from my mother's, I looked across at thethree boys defiantly: at Burr major, who turned his eyes away uneasily;at Dicksee, who was looking at me with a sneering grin upon hiscountenance, a grin which faded directly into a very uncomfortable look, and he too turned away, and whispered something to Burr major; but bythis time my eyes were fixed fiercely upon Mercer, who met my gaze witha pitiful expression, which I read directly to mean, "Don't, pray don'tsay I did it. They'd never forgive me. They will you. Pray, pray, don't tell!"

I turned from him with a choking sensation of anger rising in my throat, and then stood listening, as all the old business was gone through, muchas it had been up in the loft, but with this exception, that in themidst of Burr major's statement the General gazed at him so fiercelythat my school-fellow faltered, and quite blundered through his answers. 

"One moment, Doctor Browne, " said the General. "Here, you, sir; youdon't like Frank Burr, do you?"

"Well, sir, I--"

"Answer my question, sir. You don't like him, do you?"

"N-no, sir. "

"Thrashed you well, didn't he, for bullying?"

"I had an encounter with Burr junior, sir. "

"Yes, and he thrashed you well, I know. "

"I beg your pardon, Sir Hawkhurst, " said the Doctor warmly. "My pupilhere, Burr major, has, I am well aware, been exceedingly tyrannical tohis schoolfellows, and when it reached my ears by a side wind that hehad been soundly thrashed by his fellow pupil here, I must own to havingbeen glad; but as his tutor it behoves me to say that he is a boy ofstrictly honourable feelings, and I do not believe he would speak as hehas done if he did not believe the truth of all he has said. "

"Humph!" said the General. "Quite right, Doctor, quite right. I'mafraid I was unjust. "

Then Dicksee, who looked green, made his statement, and before he haddone, the General thumped his stick down on the floor loudly. 

"Here, Doctor: this fellow won't do at all. He's a sneak and amiserable, malicious scoundrel. You can see it all over his face. You're not going to take up the cudgels for him, are you?"

"I am sorry to say I cannot, " replied the Doctor gravely; "and if thissad business rested upon his word alone, I should not have acted as Ihave; but, as you have heard and will hear, Sir Hawkhurst, we haveterribly strong evidence. I wish it were otherwise. "

And again the weary business went on, with my mental agony increasing asI saw my mother's eyes fixed upon me. At first imploringly, then theyseemed to be full of pain, and later on it seemed to me as if she, weresuffering from a sorrow that was too hard for her to bear. 

Then she would flush up angrily, and turn a reproachful look upon myuncle, as he questioned the boys and the masters, entered into whatseemed to be angry controversies with the Doctor, and generally wentagainst me all through, until I began to look at him with horror, as thegreatest enemy I had in the room. 

That I was not alone in my opinion was soon evident, for I heard theDoctor sigh, and look reproachfully at him, while twice over SirHawkhurst uttered a gruff, --

"No, no, sir. Oh, come, come, Seaborough, be just. "

"I am trying to be just, " said my uncle sternly, after the General hadsaid this last again. "Recollect, sir, I stand in the position of thisboy's father. He is my dear sister's only child, and it has been mygreat desire to have him brought up as a worthy successor to his bravefather, --as a soldier and a gentleman, --and because I speak firmly andfeel warmly upon the subject, you say, `Be just. '"

"Well, well, " cried the General, "you have struck me several times asbeing hard. "

"Yes, Sir Hawkhurst, " assented the Doctor; "perhaps too hard. "

"Absurd, gentlemen!" cried my uncle. "I'm not the boy's mother, toforgive him after a few tears, and tell him he must be a good boy, andnever do so again. "

"Colonel Seaborough, " cried Mrs Doctor reproachfully, "and pray who isto forgive, if it is not a mother?"

"A beautiful sentiment, madam, " cried my uncle; "but you forget that, after building up my hopes on this boy's success in life, I am suddenlysummoned, not to come ready to defend him from the foul charge, but tohave it literally forced upon me that my nephew--No, I'll discard him. If this really is true, and he is proved to be a pitiful, unmanly, contemptible thief, I have done with him for ever. "

"No, no, sir, " said the Doctor. "You shall not say that. You are aChristian, and you belie your own belief. "

"Belie it or no, sir, I cannot bear this!" cried my uncle fiercely. "Now, Frank, speak out. Did you take that contemptible toy?"

"No, uncle, " I said firmly. 

"Come: that's something. That's the truth or a lie. That wretchedfellow says he saw you with the watch in your hand: is that true?"

"Yes, uncle. "

"That he saw you hide it in the box?"

"Yes, uncle. "

"You locked it up there?"

"Yes, uncle. "

"Another question: did you know whose watch it was?"

"Yes, uncle. "

"And that it was stolen?"

"Yes, uncle. "

"And you were not going to speak about it being in your possession?"

"No, uncle. "

There was a terrible pause, and in the midst of the silence, my unclewent on. 

"One word or two more, sir. On the day the watch was missed, yourefused to play?"

"Yes, uncle. "

"And you went and lay down near the tent?"

"Yes, uncle; I had been very ill. "

There was another pause, followed by a low murmur among those present, and then, in a fierce voice full of contemptuous rage, my unclethundered, --

"Now, sir, have you any more to say?" and my mother sank back in herseat with a low moan. 

CHAPTER THIRTY. 

"Now, sir, have you any more to say?"

A simple enough question, but when spoken to me sternly before thosepresent, in my uncle's fierce, military voice, and accompanied by looksthat seemed crushing in their contempt, they were very hard to bear inthat strange silence which followed. 

There they all stood and sat about me, while I felt like a prisoner atthe bar before my judge. It was terrible, and I wavered. 

Should I speak, and accuse poor, weak, amiable Tom Mercer, and send himaway in disgrace, or should I suffer now, and wait till the truth cameout by and by?

I was deciding on the latter, when I heard a sob which seemed to echo inmy throat, and I looked up quickly from where my eyes had rested on aparticular spot in the pattern of the library carpet, to see my mother'sconvulsed face and yearning eyes fixed upon me, as Mrs Doctor stood byher side, holding her hand quite affectionately. 

That look decided me. 

"Poor Tom, " I said to myself, "I must throw you over for her sake;" andmy lips parted to speak, when my uncle checked me by his stern, harshvoice. 

"Silent! The silence of guilt!" he cried bitterly. "I have--"

"Stop a moment, Seaborough, " cried the General. "Let me have a word, for poor dead Burr's sake. Frank, boy, I've always liked you, andbelieved in you, as the bright, manly son of a dear dead friend. Don'tlet me go away feeling that I can never trust any one again. I won'tbelieve it--I can't believe it--that the blood and breed in your youngveins would let you stoop to be a miserable, contemptible thief, and forthe sake of a paltry silver watch. Why, my dear boy, you must haveknown that, as soon as you were old enough to want a watch, you couldhave had a gold one of the very best. Why, hang it all, sir, for yourfather's and mother's sake, I'd have hung you all over watches. Comenow, speak out before us all like a man, and tell us what all thismystery means. Tell us that you did not steal this watch. "

"Why, of course he didn't!" cried a familiar voice, and as I startedround at these hopeful words, which seemed to give me life, I saw Cookbusily tying the strings of her best cap, the one my mother had senther, before untying and snatching off her apron, as if she had come tothe library in such a hurry that she had not had time to prepare. 

"Cook!" exclaimed Mrs Doctor sternly. 

"Oh, yes, ma'am, I know, " cried Cook defiantly, as she reached back andcaught somebody's arm just outside the door. "Here, you come in, Polly'Opley; there's nothing to be ashamed of, my dear. You come in. "

Polly Hopley, dressed in her best, suffered herself to be dragged in, and then, after whispering, "Do adone, do, Cook, " began to make bobs andcourtesies to everybody in turn. 

"Er--rum!" coughed the Doctor. "My good woman, " he cried severely, "what is the meaning of this intrusion?"

"You may call it what you like, sir, " cried Cook sharply; "and you too, mum, " she continued, turning to Mrs Doctor, "and give me my month, ordistant ismissal if you like. "

Cook meant to say, "instant dismissal, " but she was excited, and, givinga defiant look round, she went on, --

"I don't care, and I says it's a shame, not alone to keep the poor boylocked up like a prisoner, and badly fed, as does a growing boy no endof harm; and I will say it, mum, " she continued, turning to my mother, "as dear and good a boy as ever came into this school, but to go and sayhe was a thief, as he couldn't be, sir. You look in his eyes and see. "

This to the Doctor, who coughed again. 

"My good woman, I must insist upon you leaving the room. "

"A moment, Doctor, " cried my uncle eagerly; "this person seems to knowsomething. Stop!"

"I wasn't a-going, sir, " said Cook sharply, "not till I've spoke outwhat I've come to say. "

"Then, for goodness' sake, speak, woman, and go, " cried the Doctorangrily. "We are engaged. "

"Which well I know it, sir, and I'm going to speak, " said Cook, withdignity; "and if I'd known before Polly 'Opley--your keeper's wife'sdaughter, Sir Orkus, " she continued, turning to the General. 

"Oh yes, yes, yes, I knew Polly when she was a baby, " said the oldgentleman, nodding at the girl, who courtesied to him; "but if you knowanything about this--this terrible affair, speak out. "

"Which I will, sir, and if I lose my place, and you do happen to want agood plain--"

"Cook, Cook, pray speak out, " cried Mrs Doctor. 

"Which I'm trying to, ma'am, only you all flurry me so. You see Iknowed as Master Burr was shut up, something about some trouble orscrape--as boys will be boys, and always was, but being busy in mykidgen, and plenty to do, and the young gentlemen all forbid to say whatit was about, so as I never knowed till this morning, when Polly 'Opleycomes and tells me all about it, as Mr Lomax goes and tells herfather--your keeper, sir--and Polly only this morning, and she neverknowed it before, and then came on and told me something as'll make youall ashamed of treating a poor boy like that. "

"Yes, yes, yes, " said my uncle impatiently; "but do you know anythingabout the watch?"

"Which I'm telling you, sir, " cried Cook, "though not a word did I knowtill Polly 'Opley comes just now, when I see it all as plain aspie-crust, and I says to her, `Polly, ' I says, `they're all in thelibery now, and you shall come and tell 'em the whole truth. '"

"Then you know, Polly, my child?" said the General eagerly. 

"Yes, Sir Orkus, please, Sir Orkus, " said Polly, blushing. 

"Then, then, tell us all at once, there's a good girl. "

"Yes, Sir Orkus. Not as I ever encouraged him a bit to come to ourcottage. "

"Humph!" said the Doctor; "you always bait your trap with sweets to getthe boys to come, girl. "

"Please, sir, I didn't mean the young gentlemen, I meant Dick Magglin. "

"Eh, what?" cried the General. 

"Please, Sir Orkus, if I've ordered him away once, I've done it fiftytimes, and father's threatened him and beat him, but he would come. "

"What! did he want to marry you?"

"Yes, Sir Orkus, but I wouldn't demean myself to listen to him. "

"Of course not! a poaching vagabond. Go on, go on. " Every eye wasfixed on Polly, whose cheeks were scarlet, as she gave me a sharp look, full of encouragement. 

"Yes, Sir Orkus, and he was always bringing me his rubbish, and wantingme to have it, hankychies, and ribbings, and a gilt brooch, as you couldsee wasn't gold. "

"And you wouldn't take them?"

"No, Sir Orkus, never nothing, and then he said it was because I was tooproud, and thought they wasn't good enough for me, and then he didn'tcome any more till one day when he brought me a silver watch. "

A curious murmur ran through the room, and my mother ran to my side andthrew her arms about my neck. 

"Yes, go on, Polly, " said the General, rubbing his hands. "What sort ofa watch was it?"

"A little one, sir, with a fancy face and two letters cut in a roundspot on the back. "

"What letters were they?" said the General. 

"A Hee and a B, sir. "

"Eliezer Burr, " said the Doctor loudly. "Hah!" and he took off hisgold-rimmed spectacles, rubbed them, and began to beam. 

"Should you--" began my uncle. 

"No, no, no, Seaborough; allow me, " said the General. "My turn. I wascoming to that. Now, Polly, be careful, and don't say anything rash, because this is very serious. "

"Oh yes, Sir Orkus. "

"Dear me, Doctor, " said the General apologetically, "I am sorry we haveno h's here. "

"Pray go on, Sir Hawkhurst, " said the Doctor, smiling, and aspiratingboth in the name forcibly. 

"Now, Polly, should you know that watch?"

"Oh yes, Sir Orkus; both the hands were together at twelve o'clock, andthe glass was a bit scratched, and I told him I didn't believe he cameby the watch honest, and that if ever he dared to come near the placeagain to want me to accept his rubbish, I'd take father's gun down outof the slings and give him a charge of shot in his legs. "

"Then, Polly, you didn't take the watch?"

"Me, Sir Orkus!" cried Polly indignantly; "I should think not, indeed. I told him to be off, and he went away in a huff. "

"In a what?"

"A huff, Sir Orkus, a huff--a passion. "

"Oh, I see. And now tell me--be careful. Give me the--the--thank you. Now, Polly, is that anything like the watch?"

"Oh yes, Sir Orkus, that's the very one. If you open it, you'll hear itshuts with a very loud snap. "

"So it does, " said the General, putting it to the test. "And now, tellme, when was this? You don't recollect?"

"Oh yes, I do, Sir Orkus. It was nex' day after the cricket match, because I was cleaning my best shoes, as I wore at the match, when hecome. "

"Very good, Polly, " said the General, rubbing his hands. 

"Excellent!" said my uncle; "but that does not prove the man stole it. "

"Why, he must have crept along the ditch behind the tent, " I criedinvoluntarily, "and pushed his arm through. Yes, I know, " I said, getting more excited, as my mother's arm tightened about me. "I saw himthat evening with his face all stung by nettles. "

"That ditch is full of nettles, " cried Mr Hasnip. 

"Good! good!" cried the General. 

"But how came the watch hidden in that bin?" cried my uncle sternly. 

"I know, " said Cook. "Why, of course, he was afraid to keep it; andit's just like him. "

"I do not follow you, " said my uncle. 

"Why, when he was at work in our garden, my smelling-bottle o' salts wasstolen, and when I made a fuss about it, some one found it hid awaybehind the scullery door, where he put it. "

"Then you think this man hid it there?" said my uncle. 

"I'm sure of it, sir. Why, didn't I catch him one morning early comingout of the stable, and, `What are you doing there?' I says. `Lookingfor the top of my hoe, ' he says, `as I left here when I was at work. Ain't seen it, have you?' he says. `No, ' I says, `but I see thegardener just now coming to work, and I'll call him. ' `Never mind, mum, ' he says, and he went off, and nobody's seen him about here since. Oh, look there! Poor dear!"

I just saved my mother from falling, and she was helped into a chair, clinging to my hand, though, all the time, as she burst into ahysterical fit of sobbing. But she calmed down after a few minutes, andthe gentlemen, who had been talking in a low voice earnestly together, now resumed their places, the Doctor clearing his voice loudly. 

"Burr junior, " he said in his most magisterial tones, and then hestopped short, coughed again, blew his nose, and was silent. 

"Forgive me, gentlemen, " he said at last. "This has been a greattrouble to me--I feel moved--I have painfully hurt the feelings of adear, sweet lady, to whom I humbly apologise, and I--I make nofavourites here, but I have wrongfully suspected--but on very strongevidence, gentlemen, " he said, with an appealing look round; "and youagreed with me, Mr Rebble--Mr Hasnip?"

"Yes, sir. Yes, sir, " they murmured. 

"Wrongfully suspected a boy to whom my wife and I were warmly attached. Burr junior--I--er--Frank, my boy, come here!"

I went up to him, flushed now and trembling. 

"Shake hands, my boy, " said the old man, "and thank God with me that thetruth has at last prevailed. But tell me, Burr, we do not know all yet. You have been very reticent. You denied the charge stoutly, but yourmanner always impressed us with the belief that you knew more. Now letus clear up this sad business once for all. You will speak out now, will you not?"

"Yes, sir, " I said huskily, and my cheeks burned with shame as I glancedat Mercer, who was now making horrible grimaces at me to indicate hisjoy. 

"Then there was something?"

"Yes, sir, " I said, and I glanced at my mother, whose face was now palewith fresh alarm. "Dicksee did see me find the watch there and hide itagain. "

"Yes; go on. "

"Ever since Burr major had that watch, Mercer longed for it, and he wasalways talking about it, and wishing he had one. "

"Well, I couldn't help that, Frank, " cried Mercer; "but of course Iwouldn't have taken it. "

"No, Tom, " I said, with a gulp, and my voice changing in spite of myefforts to be firm, and, a thorough schoolboy and companion once more, Iblundered out, "but I was such a beast, I thought you had stolen it, andI wouldn't speak to save myself for fear you should be expelled. "

"Oh!" cried Mercer in the midst of the silence which now fell. 

Then, drawing a long breath, he went on, --

"You thought I took it and hid it?"

"Yes, Tom. "

"Oh, I say, Frank, when it was all at the worst, and you were locked up, I never thought a word against you; but--" He paused for a moment, andthen, forgetting that we were not alone, he rushed at me and caught myhands. 

"Then you forgive me?" I said. 

"Why, of course, " he cried. "Oh, Frank, I am glad!"

The Doctor coughed loudly, and our action seemed to have given thegentlemen present colds. Then the Doctor signed to his wife, whisperedto her, and she left the room with Cook and Polly Hopley. Next hesigned to Mr Rebble and Mr Hasnip, who both came and shook hands withme, bowed to the General and my uncle, and they too left the room, withBurr major and Dicksee. 

"Mercer, " said the Doctor then. 

"No, no, " cried the General; "let him stop. Come here, sir: over here. "

The General spoke in so severe a voice, and frowned so much, that Mercerlooked at him shrinkingly, and the harder as the old man brought hishand down heavily upon his shoulder--Tom's face seeming to say, "Whathave I done now?"

"So, sir, you have been longing for a watch all this time, have you, eh?"

"Yes, Sir Hawkhurst, " said Tom slowly. Then, with animation, "But I didalways try very hard not to want one. "

"Then you shall have one, as good a one as money can buy. "

Mercer's face was a picture of astonishment, changing to doubt and thento delight as he fully realised that the General meant it. 

"Do you hear, Frank? Oh, I say!" Then, catching the old man's hand inboth of his; he cried, "May I have a hunter?"

"You shall, my boy. And Frank Burr, you shall have one too. "

"No, " said my uncle, "that's my present. Frank, my lad, we've all beenwrong; but I can't apologise, for you led us astray. "

"Oh, that's enough, Seaborough, " cried the General. "The boys don'twant to hear another word. Eh?--you were going to speak, Doctor. "

"Only a few words, sir. Colonel Seaborough, Mrs Burr, I cannot tellyou how grieved I am for this painful episode--believe me. "

My mother went to the Doctor and placed her hand in his. 

"Pray say no more, " she said gently. 

"I will not, my dear madam, for your looks tell me that I am forgivenfor my share of the mental agony I have caused you. --Of course, you willtake your son away and place him in another school?"

"Eh? What for?" said the General sharply. "You don't want him to go, do you, stuffy boy?"

"Oh no, sir, " cried Mercer. 

"Do you want to go, Frank?"

"No, sir, " I said eagerly; "I should like to stay. "

"Of course, " cried the General. "He's to stop, eh, Seaborough?"

"I should regret it, if he left, " said my uncle. 

"To be sure you would, and I should miss him. Don't expel him, Doctor. "

"I? I should only be too glad if he stays. "

"Then that's all right, " said the General. "Ah, here is Mrs Brown. "

He crossed to place a chair for her, and then stood looking from one tothe other. 

"Yes, " he said, "that's it. Ladies, will you honour a solitary old manwith your company to dinner at my place this evening? Doctor, will youbring your wife? Seaborough and Mrs Burr, pray come over with me now, and, if the Doctor does not mind, I should like to take these two boysback with us. "

Consent was given directly, and the rest of that day was spent in amanner which made me pretty well forget the troubles which had gonebefore. 

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. 

The General pressed so hard that my mother and my uncle remained at hisplace for a couple of days longer, driving over in the General'scarriage on the third day to say good-bye to me before returning home, and, to Mercer's great delight, a packet was placed in his hand after hehad been fetched, with strict orders not to look at it till the carriagehad gone. I already had one in my pocket, and in addition a smaller onethat I was charged to deliver elsewhere. 

Then the farewell was said, and, as soon as the carriage was out ofsight, I looked at Mercer, he at me, and with a unity of purpose thatwas not surprising, we rushed off to the yard and up the rough steps tothe loft, where we laid our packets down, and hesitated to cut thestrings. 

Again we looked at each other, and Mercer at last said huskily, --

"Hadn't we better open 'em? I _am_ hungry, but they're rather small andsquare for cakes. "

"Get out!" I said. "Cakes indeed! Here, let's see. "

"Whose shall we open first?" whispered Mercer. 

"Yours. "

"No, yours. "

"Both together then. "

"Right. Draw knives--Open knives--Cut!"

The strings were divided to the moment, and then the sealing-wax whichfastened the brown paper further was broken, and two white paper packetswere revealed, also carefully sealed up. This wax was broken in turn, and with trembling hands we removed the white paper, to find withinsomething hard and square wrapped in a quantity of tissue paper. 

We paused again, feeling breathless with excitement, and looked at eachother. 

"Ready?" I said, and we tore off the tissue till a couple of littlemorocco cases were revealed, and again we paused before unhooking thefastenings, and opening little lids lined with white satin, while below, in crimson velvet, tightly-fitting beds, lay a couple of bright silverwatches. 

Oh, the delight of that first watch! It fixed itself so in my memorythat I shall never forget it. The bright, dazzling look of the engineturning, showing different lights and seeming to be in motion as theposition of the watch is changed; the round spot in the ring where thespring was pressed for the case to fly open and show the face with itsRoman numerals; and then the ticking--that peculiar metallic sound likenothing else. Words will not describe the satisfaction we boys felt aswe stood examining our presents. 

"Why, they're both exactly alike, " said Mercer at last. "I say, takecare, or we shall get 'em mixed. "

There was no fear of that after the first few minutes, for furtherexamination showed that they were numbered, and those numbers wereburned into our memories at once. 

"Oh, I say, " cried Mercer at last, "talk about watches! these aresomething like. Why, one of 'em's worth a dozen of old Eely's. "

"Don't talk about it!" I said, with a shiver; and after carefullyopening mine so as to gaze at the works, Mercer of course followingsuit, the watches were carefully returned to their cases and placed inour pockets. 

"What shall we do now?" asked Mercer; "go and show them to the boys?"

"No; it will only make them disappointed. Let's go down at once to BobHopley's. "

"What for?"

"To take this. "

Mercer looked at the smaller packet I had for a few moments. 

"What is it?" he said. 

"A present from my mother for Polly. "

"Oh! Why, it must be a watch. "

"No, " I said; "I think it's a brooch or a pair of earrings. "

"Oh, won't she be pleased!"

We walked down to the lodge, where Polly met us at the door, eager topoint to a tin of jam pigs which she had just drawn from the oven. 

"I was wishing some of you young gentlemen would come, " she said. "They're red currant and raspberry. You're just in time. "

Polly's ideas of our visits to the cottage were always connected withtuck, and she looked at me wonderingly when I said we had not come forthat. 

"There aren't nothing more the matter, is there?" she cried, as she setdown her tin. 

I set her mind at rest by taking the packet from my breast. 

"Is--is that for me?" she said, with her face flushing with excitement. 

"Yes; open it. "

I saw her little red, rough hands tremble as she untied the string, andafter removing one or two papers, all of which she carefully smoothedout flat, she came upon a thin morocco case. 

"Oh, it's earrings!" she cried; "and you two have bought 'em for me, because I--because I--because I--How do you open it? Oh my! It's alittle watch. "

"Yes, " I said, "a watch. "

"Yours, Master Burr junior?" she cried. "Oh, it was good of you to comeand show it to me!"

"No, Polly, " I cried, looking at it eagerly. "I told you. It's foryou. "

"But--but--it can't be. "

"Yes, " I said, pointing to a little three-cornered note. "Open that andsee what it says. "

Polly's trembling fingers hurriedly opened the paper, which she read, and then handed to me, Mercer looking over me as I held it out and readthese simple words:--

"For Mary Hopley, with a mother's thanks. "

I saw the tears start to the girl's eyes, and there was something verycharming in her next act, which was to carefully fold the note and kissit before placing it in her bosom. 

"I shan't never part with that, " she said softly; and then she stoodgazing down at the watch, till a shadow darkened the door, and big BobHopley came striding in. 

"Hullo, young gents!" he said; "how are you? Why Polly! What's--"

"A present, father, from Mr Burr junior's mar. Ought I to take it?"

"Yes, " I cried eagerly, "of course. You don't know how happy you mademe by what you said. She is to keep it, isn't she, Bob Hopley?"

"Well, " said the big fellow, holding the little watch carefully andadmiringly in his great brown hand, --"well, seeing, my lass, how it'sgive, and why it's give, and who give it, and so on, I almost think youmight. "

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. 

A man once said to me that our brains are very much like a bee'shoneycomb, all neat little cells, in which all our old recollections arestored up ready for use when we want them. There lie all our adventuresand the results of all our studies, everything we have acquired in ourlives. 

Perhaps he was right--I don't know--I never saw my brains; but, if heis, some of us have got the cells so tightly packed together, and in sodisorderly a way, that when we want some special thing which we learned, we cannot find it; it is so covered up, so buried, that it is quitehopeless to try and get at it. This is generally the case with me, and, consequently, there are no end of school adventures during my long stayat "Old Browne's" that I cannot set down here, for the simple reasonthat I cannot get at them, or, if I do, I find that the cell is crushedand the memory mixed up all in a muddle with wax. 

I suppose I did not pack them into the comb properly. Oddly enough, myrecollections are clearest about the part of my days which preceded thetrouble over the watch. 

After that, life seemed to go on at such a rapid rate that there was nottime to put all the events away so that they could be found when wantedfor further use. 

Still, I recall a few things which preceded my leaving the school forWoolwich. 

There was that hot June day down by the river--little stream it reallywas--that ran through a copse about half a mile from the school. It wason Farmer Dawson's land, down in the hollow of the valley, up one sideof which lay his big range of hop-gardens. 

The Doctor paid him a certain rent for the right of the boys going downto this place, where a great dam had been built up of clay and clinkers. It was not all new, but done up afresh after lying a couple of hundredyears or so untouched. All round it, Farmer Dawson used to send his menin the winter to cut down the coppice, trimming the ash and eatingchestnut trees down to the stumps to make the young growth intohop-poles; but when the Doctor offered to take it and repair the dam, the hop-poles were left to grow and form a beautiful screen round thisdell. 

I remember what interest we boys took in it during one winter, when theDoctor had set a lot of men who were out of work to dig and wheel theclinkers and clay, a barrowful of one, and then a barrowful of theother, along the dam; and with old Lomax to give orders, we all marchedand counter-marched in our thickest boots over the top of the dam, totrample it all down strong and firm. 

You will think, perhaps, that it was easy enough to get clay, and so itwas, for a thick bed lay only a few yards from the stream; but whatabout the clinkers?

I'll tell you. There was quite a mine of them, hard, shiny fragments, some of which had run just like so much black or brown glass. 

How did they get there, looking like so much volcanic slag? Why, theywere the refuse from a huge iron furnace that used to be in full blastin the days of Queen Elizabeth or King James, and the dam we wererepairing, after it had been grown over with trees, and the waterreduced to a little stream, belonged to one of the old hammer pondswhose waters were banked up to keep a sufficiency to turn the big wheelthat worked the tilt-hammers and perhaps blew the iron furnace till itroared. 

For that peaceful rural part of Sussex was in those days a big forest, whose wood was cut down and made into charcoal. The forest is gone, andonly represented now by patches of copsewood saved for cutting downevery ten years or so for poles; but the iron lies there still in greatveins or beds, though it is no longer dug out, the iron of to-day beingfound and smelted north and west, where coal-pits are handy; and theironmasters of Sussex, whose culverins and big guns were famous all theworld round, have given place to farmers and hop-growers, where grimymen used to tend the glowing metal and send it running into form andmould. 

I have mentioned before how there used to be a furnace by SirHawkhurst's penstock pond, where the embankment was still firm, butthere had been a far more extensive one here, and the refuse went, as Ihave said, to repair the dam. 

When this was done, the Doctor had a long low shed built and thatchedand supplied with form-like seats, and a diving-board arranged, besidesteps down in the shallow part for the younger boys, and the whole whenfinished made a glorious long pool of about an acre in extent, very deepby the dam, and sloping gradually up to a few inches only of water wherethe stream trickled in. And there, on the hot sunny afternoons, beautifully shut in by green waving trees, and with the water when wecame to bathe so clear that you could see every stone on the gravellybottom, we boys used to collect for a regular water frolic. But, as youmay suppose, the water was not so clean when we had done, the paddlingof the little fellows in the shallows discolouring it from end to end. 

That special hot June afternoon cricket had been voted too tiring, andwe had all gone down to the bathing-place, the non-swimmers havingstrict injunctions not to pass a couple of posts about half-way betweenthe stream and the dam. 

It was always Lomax's duty to come down with us at bathing times, and, with his walking cane under his arm, he used to stride to and fro alongthe bank, barking out orders to the lesser boys, who were constantlybreaking the rules, and getting toward the deeper water. 

By that time I was a pretty fair swimmer, and had got over my naturalnervousness to the extent that I was ready to dive off the board intothe deepest part, and go anywhere with ease. Mercer was better than I, and Hodson better still; Burr major, from being so long, bony, and thin, was anything, as Mercer used to say, but eely in the water, --puffing andworking hard to keep himself afloat; while Dicksee, though naturallyable to swim easily from his plumpness, was, I think, the greatestcoward we had there. 

The water was delightfully warm that afternoon, but it soon got to bevery thick, though that did not trouble us in the least, and we were inthe full tide of our enjoyment, swimming races, diving, and playing oneanother tricks, while all the time, sharp and short from the bank, Lomax's orders would be snapped out. 

"You, young Jenkins, what did I tell you? Phibbs, you're the wrong sideof the posts. Mullins, if I have to speak to you again, I shall reportyou. Wilson, if you don't go up into the shallows, I shall fetch youout. "

"Can't, " cried the impudent young dog. 

"Then I'll send a big boy to fetch you, sah. How dare you, sah! Whatdo you mean, sah?"

Then there would be the pad, pad, pad, pad of naked feet, as a boy ranalong the diving-board, sprang out, and then splash he would be into thewater. 

And so it went on, with some tiring, and going and sitting in the sun, which played the part of warm towel, till they would come in again, forit was declared to be the most delightful day we had had. 

Then Mr Rebble and Mr Hasnip came down to see how we were getting on, and stood cheering and encouraging the timid ones, who were loth to getduckings by learning to swim. 

I had been trying for some time, right out in the middle, to floatwithout moving, while Mercer and Hodson in turn had their tries. Burrmajor was swimming from side to side, blowing like a grampus, and otherboys were about us unnoticed, for we were too much occupied over our ownefforts to heed them, when all at once, as I lay back with the waternearly all over my face, and my hands right down paddling softly, a waveturned me a little on one side; I raised my head, and a horrible yellsent a cold chill through me. 

"What is it? the matter?" cried Mercer. 

"Help! help!" shrieked Burr major, who was only a few yards away, splashing the water heavily as he swam with all his might for the side. 

But he only shrieked out, "Help! help!" in a horror-stricken voice, andwe all swam toward him as he made for the shore, all the lesser boyssplashing out as fast as they could, to congregate shivering on thebank. 

"What is it? What's the matter?" cried Mr Rebble, hurrying along thepath, while Lomax came running round from the other side, for he hadcrossed the dam to act the part of water shepherd over some of his wetlambs. 

But Burr major only kept on shrieking, "Help! help!"

"What's the matter, boys?" cried Mr Hasnip, who was now standing on thebank just where Burr major would land. 

"Don't know, sir. "

"He's frightened, sir. "

"Got the cramp. "

This, and half a dozen other replies, came in a confused chorus, as weswam on in a half circle behind Burr major ready to help him if heceased to swim. 

But he was striking out strongly, though his voice grew hoarser and moreweak as he neared the edge, where, ghastly-looking and shivering, hesnatched at Mr Rebble's hand, and allowed himself to be helped out. 

"Don't make that noise, Burr major, " cried the master. "What's thematter with you? Speak. "

"Gone down--drowning! Oh--oh!"

He said this last in a husky whisper, and with white rings showing roundhis wide-open eyes, he turned and pointed toward the middle of the greatpool. 

"Who--who has?" cried Mr Hasnip frantically, and we looked eagerly fromone to the other, but no one seemed to be missing. 

"Speak, sir. Who is? Where?" cried Mr Rebble, seizing Burr major byhis wet shoulders and shaking him. "Don't go on like that. Speak. "

But Burr major made one gesticulation, and then his limbs seemed todouble up beneath him, as he dropped fainting on the grass. 

"What is it? cramp?" cried Lomax, coming up, and taking off his coat. "I'll soon put that right. "

"No; he says some one is drowning. "

"What?" roared Lomax wildly. "One of my lads! Here, who's missing?"

There was no answer, and the boys all gazed in a frightened way at eachother. 

"Here, Burr major, rouse up, " cried Mr Rebble, shaking the long, thinlad, as he knelt down on one knee. "Who was it? Any one with you?"

The boy's eyes opened a little, he looked up wildly, and, trying torise, pointed again to the middle of the pool. 

"Was--by me, " he moaned--"went down. "

"Never mind who it is, " roared Lomax, literally tearing off his clothes. "Now, boys--divers. In with you!"

His loudly-spoken command acted like magic upon us, and Mercer, Hodson, and I dashed into the water abreast, and swam for the middle of thepool, where in turn we began to dive down and try if we could find ourluckless school-fellow, whoever he might be, but without result. 

"That's right, " cried Lomax, as I came up, for he had joined us in anincredibly short space of time. "Keep trying. This way. "

He stretched out his arms, joined his hands as high as he could abovehis head, so that their weight should help to sink him, and he slowlywent down out of sight, while, as fast as our efforts would allow, weboys went down and tried to search about, gradually extending thedistance from each other in obedience to the orders shouted to us fromthe bank. 

I suppose it was in ten feet water, about thirty yards from the greatembankment, where we dived down most, but our attempts became morefeeble, and I found myself at last swimming heavily close to Lomax, whose fierce-looking head suddenly rose close to my hand. 

"Does nobody know anything about where the boy went down?" he roared;but there was no answer, and he panted out, --

"Take care of yourselves, boys. Don't overdo it. We must keep on, butit's unkind work. "

We dived again and again, till I felt that I could do no more, and oncemore I was close up to Lomax, who had been down till he was almostcompletely exhausted. 

"Oh, my lad! my lad!" he groaned, as he began to tread water slowly, "I'd have given anything sooner than this should have happened. Here, you, Burr junior, you're spent, boy. Swim ashore. "

"I'm not, " I said. "I'm going down again. "

"I'm done, " groaned Lomax. "I seem to have no more strength. "

Shouts and orders came from the bank. 

"They're saying we don't dive, " said Mercer piteously. 

"Not diving?" cried Lomax. "Well!"

As he spoke, he sank again, and the water closed in a swirl over hishead, while, after taking a long breath, I dived under into the depths, with the water thundering in my ears, as, during what seemed to be along space of time, though less than a minute, of course, I groped andswam about till a curious sensation of confusion came over me, and, frightened now, I touched something and clung to it wildly, believing inmy startled state that it was Lomax. 

The next instant I was at the surface, surprised to see the old sergeantmaking a rush at me, as he uttered a shout. Then he seized something byme, and I knew that I had brought one of my schoolfellows to thesurface. 

We swam ashore, to reach it soon after Lomax, who had borne the white, limp figure we had rescued into the dressing shed. 

"Boys who can run!" shouted Mr Rebble. "Blankets, quick!"

A dozen boys dashed off, and Lomax panted, --

"You two--work him like this--gently. I'll relieve you directly. "

He left the two masters rubbing and moving the boy's arms to their fullextent, and pressing them to his sides, while he hurried on someclothes, and, shivering with horror and exhaustion, we followed hisexample, while, with my ears ringing, I heard Mercer gasp out, --

"Poor old Dicksee! Oh, Frank, I hope he ain't drowned. "

But as, after our hurried dressing, we saw him lying there rigid andcold, it seemed as if the boy would never say another unkind word to asoul. 

By this time Lomax had relieved the two masters, and with all the vigourof his strong arms he was trying to produce artificial respirationsomewhat after the fashion that has of late been laid down as a surgicallaw, but apparently without avail. 

The blankets had been brought, the boys, all but we few elder ones, sentback to the school, and a messenger had gone for the nearest medicalman, so that nothing more could be done than was in progress. 

"I'm afraid it's a hopeless case, " said Mr Rebble, with a groan. 

"Never say die, sir, " cried Lomax. "I remember a lad of ours in myregiment was swept with his horse down the torrent below where we werefording a river away yonder in India. He seemed to be quite gone whenwe got him ashore half a mile lower down, but we rubbed and worked himabout for quite three hours, taking it in turns, before he gave a signof life. But he opened his eyes at last, and next day he was 'most aswell as ever. What time do you expect Doctor Browne back, sir?"

"Not till quite late to-night. And what news for him!--what a shock forthem both!"

"Shock!" said Lomax. "Here, you take a turn now, Mr Hasnip; we mustn'tstop for a moment. "

Mr Hasnip, whose coat was off and sleeves turned up, sprang to his sideand went on. 

"I'll relieve you again soon, sir, " said Lomax, wiping his drippingforehead. "But how was it, Mr Burr major?"

"I--I don't know, " said my school-fellow, starting. "I think hesuddenly remembered it was so deep, and he turned frightened, for hewent under all at once and right down, and then I cried for help. "

"Better have lent him a hand, " said Lomax gruffly. "Well, Mr Hasnip, sir, feel him coming to?"

"No, no, " said the second master dolefully. "He is dead! he is dead!"

"Not he, sir, " cried Lomax roughly. "We're going to bring him round;all we've been doing has helped him, and it's a long way off threehours. Here, let's have him out in the sunshine, please. I believe inthe sun. "

The poor fellow was carried out, the two masters each taking a corner ofthe blanket on which he lay, Lomax and I the others. 

It was quickly done, and then Lomax recommenced rubbing, working theboy's chest so as to make it contract and expand, and all the time withperspiration dropping from his brow. Mr Rebble and Mr Hasnip bothrelieved him, and we boys did our best to help; but the afternoon glidedon, no doctor arrived, and we felt chilled and hopeless, till all atonce, after a rest, Lomax had begun again apparently as fresh as ever, and to our horror he suddenly began to whistle a merry tune. 

"Lomax!" cried Mr Hasnip. 

"What's the matter, sir?"

"For goodness' sake--at a time like this--it is too--"

"Why, haven't I got cause to whistle, sir?" cried the sergeant merrily. "What did I tell you? Only wanted time and plenty o' muscle. "

"What! is he reviving?"

"No, sir, he's revived, " said Lomax. "Look at the colour coming, andhis eyelids quivering. He'll be sitting up directly. Here, you canfeel his heart beating now. "

Mr Rebble went down on one knee and laid his hand upon Dicksee'sbreast; then, jumping up again, he caught Lomax by the wrist. 

"Heaven bless you for this!" he cried, and Mr Hasnip forgot his dignityas a master, and, taking off his hat, joined us boys in a hearty, "Hip!hip! hip! hooray!" which seemed to give the finishing impetus to ourtreatment, for Dicksee opened his eyes wide, struggled up into a sittingposition, stared about him for a few moments, and then cried, in aharsh, unpleasant tone, --

"Where's my clothes?"

As he spoke, there was the sound of footsteps, and the medical man andthe messenger who had been sent to bring him hurried up. 

"I'm very sorry, " he said. "I was right at the other end of the parish, and had to be fetched. Is this the patient?"

Dicksee had now huddled the blanket round him, and began in a whining, queer way, --

"What's been the matter? What are you all doing? Here, somebody, Iwant my clothes. "

"No occasion to have fetched me, " said the surgeon, smiling. "You'vebrought him round, I see. They're often like this when they've beennearly drowned. Come, squire, can you dress yourself?"

"Yes, if you'll all go away, " cried Dicksee in a snarling tone. "Who'sa-going to dress with you all a-staring like that?"

"Go into the shed, Dicksee, " said Mr Rebble. "Can you walk?"

"Of course, I can, sir;" and he scrambled up. 

"Had a long job of course, " said the surgeon; and then--"He don't seemvery grateful for being brought back to life. Well, gentlemen, there'slittle to do. Let him go to bed soon, and have a good night's rest. Idon't suppose he will be much worse in the morning when I come. "

So little seemed to be the matter, that, when he was dressed, Dickseewalked slowly back to the school, Mercer and I following him with Lomax. 

"Rum thing, " he said, "how crusty the being nearly drowned makes a lad. Hardly worth all the trouble we took over him, eh?"

"Oh, don't talk like that, Lom!" I cried. 

"But he was precious disagreeable, " cried Mercer; "and after the way inwhich you saved his life too!"

"I didn't, " I said; "it was Lom here. "

"Nay, lad, you got hold of him diving, first. If it hadn't been foryou, I shouldn't have had anything to rub. But I was thinking. "

"What of, Lom?"

"Of how strange it is, lads, that we somehow have to help and do good tothem who've always been our enemies. That chap's always hated you, MrBurr. "

"Yes, I'm afraid so, Lomax, " I said, with a sigh. 

"And so you go into the water, and save his life. "

"Yes, 'tis rum, " said Mercer. "A nasty, disagreeable beggar. I hatehim. But I am glad he wasn't drowned. "

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. 

Dicksee only stayed till the following Christmas, and there was ageneral feeling of satisfaction in the school when it was known that hewas not coming back after the holidays, Mr Hasnip forgetting himself sofar as to say, --

"And a good job too. "

It was a great relief to be rid of him, for, as I told Mercer, he wasalways ten times more sneaky and aggravating during the last half, andyou couldn't stoop to hitting a fellow like that, especially when youknew how easily you could lick him. 

"Oh, couldn't you?" said Mercer. "I could, and I would too, if he spoketo me as he does to you. "

"Not you, " I said. 

"I would. I believe he never forgave you for saving his life. "

It was during the autumn of the following year that Mercer and I, whohad grown pretty big lads by that time, and had come to be looked up toby the others as captains of the cricket eleven and of the football, were standing at the window looking out over the woods talking, andwatching the flickering of the lightning in the far east. We had allcome up to our dormitories, but, instead of going at once to bed, we twowere talking in a low voice about what a dark, soft night it was, whenall at once there was a flash that was not lightning, apparently a shortdistance away, followed by the report of a gun. 

"Oh, Tom!" I cried; "poachers!"

"Hush! Listen!" he said; and hardly had the words left his lips beforethere was another report, this time without the flash being seen. 

"It is poachers, " I said excitedly, "and they're in Long Spinney. Why, where's Bob Hopley? They're clearing off the pheasants. "

We listened, and there was another report, and another, and I wascertain that it was in Sir Hawkhurst's best preserve, where I had seenBob Hopley feeding the beautiful birds only a week before, and Mercerhad come away with me feeling miserable because he could not have one tostuff. 

There was another report, and I grew more and more excited. 

"Tom, " I whispered, "let's go down and slip out of the schoolroomwindow. "

"And go and see. But suppose we're caught?"

"We shan't be, " I whispered; "let's go. I can't bear to stand stillhere and listen to those birds being shot. Sir Hawkhurst is so proud ofthem. "

"I should like to go. "

"Come on, then. Bob Hopley must be asleep. "

"One moment, " said Tom, hesitating. "Let's ask the Doctor to let usgo. "

"He wouldn't, " I cried impatiently. 

"No, he wouldn't, " said Tom. "Come on. "

We opened our door softly, stole down, and reached the schoolroomunseen, after listening at the masters' sitting-room door, and hearingthem chatting together. One of the windows was open to ventilate theplace after its crowded state all the evening, for, in thatout-of-the-way part of the country, there was no fear felt ofhousebreakers, and, stepping up on the desk, I thrust out my legs, anddropped lightly into the playground, to be followed by Mercer, who wasbreathing hard with excitement. Then, making for the grounds in front, we saw a light shining out before us on to the closely-cut lawn. 

The Doctor's window was open, and, as we crept by, sheltered by theshrubs, there was another report, and the Doctor came and looked out. 

"I'm afraid it's poachers, my dears, " he said. "Well, I'm not agamekeeper. "

We hurried along the lawn, leaving him looking out, ran lightly alongthe grassy marge of the carriage drive, and passed through the swinggate, but stopped short. 

"Caught, " I said to myself, as a tall, dark figure stepped out beforeus. 

"Hallo! where are you young gents going?"

"Oh, Lom, don't tell, " I panted. "There are poachers down in LongSpinney. "

"I know, " he said; "I heard 'em. "

"And we're going down to tell Bob Hopley. "

"On the sly?"

"Yes; the Doctor don't know. You won't get us into a scrape?"

"Well, you know, I ought to; but--"

"You won't, Lom?"

"Well, not this time. I was just going to bed when I heard them, andthought I'd run down and ask Bob Hopley if he wanted any help. Lookhere!"

He held up a big oaken stick, and, thoroughly in accord, we all startedoff at a trot, and in a very short time were in the lane where BobHopley's lodge stood. 

"He's off somewhere at the other side of the estate, " whispered Lomax, "and they've watched him go. I say, don't you boys come near if there'sa row. "

"Hist! Who's that?" said a familiar voice out of the darkness. "Father?"

"No, my dear, it isn't your father. "

"Oh, Mr Lomax, what shall I do? Father's been over to Hastings to-day, and hasn't come back. There's a gang of poachers clearing the LongSpinney, and it will break his heart. I thought it was him come back. There--there they go again. "

For there were several reports of guns not very far away. 

"I don't know what to do, " said Lomax; "I've got plenty of fight in me, and I'm ready to charge down on them, but they'll be too much for one. "

"I'll come with you, and bring father's gun. "

"But you mustn't use it, my girl. If we could frighten them somehow. Come on, and let's try. I know--we'll all go close up and shout. "

"They won't mind that, " said Polly; but we went on in the darkness soquickly and quietly, that we were soon alongside a black plantation ofScotch fir-trees, in time to hear two more shots, and the heavy thuds offalling bodies. 

"Now, are you ready?" whispered Lomax. 

"Yes, " we said, but at that moment a figure darted by us, and enteredthe black wood. 

"One of them, " said Lomax. "Let's holloa, all the same. "

But, before we had drawn breath for the shout, there was a yell, a dullsound as of a stick striking a gun-barrel, then a crashing of the lowerbranches, cries, blows, and a loud voice calling to the poachers to givein. 

"Why, it's father got back, " cried Polly Hopley. "Oh, Mr Lomax, go andhelp, or they'll kill him!"

The old sergeant's mettle was roused, and he dashed into the wood, while, with every pulse throbbing with excitement, we boys followed thedirection taken, finding that the poachers were evidently retreating, from the sounds growing farther away. 

Then all at once there was the sharp report of a gun, followed by a wildshriek. 

"It's father! They've shot him!" cried Polly, who, unknown to us, wasclose behind. "Run, run!"

We pressed on. It was impossible to run in the darkness, and as wehurried along, a voice cried just in front, --

"You've shot my mate. Take that!"

At almost the same time came a sharp rap, a loud report, and then aheavy, dull blow. 

"Father, father!" shrieked Polly, as we heard the rustling and breakingof branches, evidently caused by men in full retreat. 

"All right, my lass. Quick: go back to the lodge for a lantern. Manshot. "

She turned and ran back, while we kept on, and reached an opening in thewood, where we made out, dimly, two tall figures, and my blood turnedcold at a piteous moaning from somewhere on the ground. 

"Who's there?" cried Bob Hopley's voice. 

"Only us, Bob, " I said. "Are you hurt?"

"Nay, lad, not a bit. I should ha' been, though, if Mr Lomax hadn'tknocked up the barrel with his stick and then downed the man. "

"You've murdered my mate, " came from close by our feet. "You've shothim. "

"First time I ever did shoot anything without a gun, " said the keeper. "One of you hit him, or he did it himself. "

"You shot him--you murdered him, " cried the man who had spoken, struggling to his knees, and then crouching among the pine needles, holding his head with his hands as if it were broken, and rockinghimself to and fro. 

"Oh, if that's it, " said Bob Hopley, "I must have witnesses. Mr Lomax, I've just come from Hastings. I heard the shooting o' my fezzans, and Icome on with this stick. You see I've no gun, and you, too, younggents?"

"Yah! you shot him, " groaned the man, who was evidently in great pain;"and then you knocked me down with the bar'l o' the gun. "

"Oh, come, that won't do, lad, " cried Lomax; "that was a cut from theleft. I gave you that, my lad, to keep you from shooting me. "

"Pair o' big cowards, that's what you are. "

"Cowards, eh?" cried Lomax. "Not much o' that, Hopley. Two men withsticks against a gang of you fellows with guns. How many were you?"

"Nine on us, " groaned the man. "Oh, my yed, my yed!"

"Nine of you to two honest men. Serve you right. Should have stoppedat home and earned an honest living, not come stealing game. "

"What!" cried the man fiercely; "'taren't stealing; they're wild birds, and as much our'n as his'n. "

"You're a donkey, " said Lomax. "Why, there'd be no pheasants if theyweren't reared like chickens. "

"That's so, " said Hopley. --"Why don't that gal bring a light?"

"Here she comes, " cried Mercer, for he caught sight of the dim glow ofthe horn lantern among the trees, and as it came nearer, Bob Hopleysaid, --

"Hadn't you young gents better get back to bed? this here aren't noplace for you. "

"No, no, don't send us away, Bob, " I said; "we want to see. "

"Well, you will be witnesses, " he growled, and the next minute he tookthe lantern from Polly, who was panting with excitement. 

"Oh, father dear, " she cried, "are you hurt?"

"Not a bit, my lass, " he cried, stooping quickly and kissing her. "Willyou stay or go? It's ugly. "

"Stay, father. "

"Right, my lass. Now, Mr Lomax, what about this chap you downed, " hecontinued, holding the lantern so that the light fell upon the kneelingman, whose forehead was bleeding freely. "You give it him and nomistake, " he chuckled. "Here, tie this hankychy round your head, anddon't bellow there like a great calf. Master Burr junior, pick up andtake charge of that gun, will you? Stop! let's see if she's loaded. No. All right. I forgot. She went off herself, I suppose, " he addedgrimly, "when he tried to shoot Mr Lomax or me. "

"I didn't, " whimpered the man. 

"There, don't make wuss on it by telling lies, you skulking hound, "cried Bob, who was as fierce now as could be. "Mr Lomax, will you seeas he don't get away?"

"He'd better try to, " said the old sergeant, making his stick whizzthrough the air. 

"Now, where's t'other?" said Hopley. "Mind, keep back, you lads. He'sgot a gun too, and he's hurt, and may be savage. "

"Oh, take care, father!" cried Polly. "Let me go first--he wouldn'tshoot a woman. "

"Want to make me ashamed of myself and get hiding behind a gal'spetticutt!" cried Bob. "G'long with you. "

He strode forward with the lantern for a few yards, and then held itdown over the spot from which a low groaning had come, but which hadceased for some minutes now. 

It was very horrible, but the weird scene beneath those heavy boughs, with the keeper's burly form thrown up by the yellow glow of the lanternand the shadowy aspect of the trees around, with the light faintlygleaming on their trunks, fascinated us so that we followed Hopley withhis daughter to where he stood. 

"Now, squire, " he said, "where are you hurt?"

The man, who seemed to be lying all of a heap, uttered a groan, andHopley held the light nearer. 

"I'm fear'd he's got it badly, Polly, " growled the keeper. "Hah!"

"Oh, father!"

"None o' my doing, my lass. Here, all on you. This is a madgistrit'sbusiness, and I don't want to get credit for what I never did. So justlook. "

He held the lantern down for us to see. 

"He's got one o' them poaching guns, you see, with a short barrel asunscrews in the middle, and he must ha' been taking it to pieces when itwas loaded, and shot hisself when running among the bushes. "

"Why, it's Magglin!" I shouted excitedly. 

"What!" cried the keeper, holding the lantern lower, and Polly uttered acry. "Magglin it is!" he said, as the man opened his eyes, and gazedwildly up at the lantern. 

"Where are you hurt, my lad?" said the keeper quietly. 

"My arm! my arm!" groaned the man piteously. 

The keeper took out his knife, and, giving Mercer the lantern to hold, deliberately slit up the sleeves of the injured man's jacket and shirt. 

"Hah!" he ejaculated. "He's put the whole charge o' shot through hisarm, above the elbow;" and, hurriedly taking a piece of cord from hisjacket pocket, Hopley made a rough tourniquet, and stopped the bleedingas much as he could. 

"You, Polly, " he said as he worked, "go down to the house and see SirOrkus. Tell him all about it, and ask him to send help, and some oneoff for the surgeon. One of the young gents'll go with you, I dessay. "

"I'll go with her, " said Mercer, and they hurried away. 

"There, " said Hopley, as he finished his rough dressing of the wound, "Ican't do no more, and we can't carry him to my place. We must wait. "

"Oh, Master 'Opley, sir, " groaned the unfortunate man, "is it very bad?"

"Wait and hear what the doctor says, when he comes. I didn't do it, didI?"

"No, sir; I was taking the gun to pieces, and she--Oh!"

"Bear up, man, bear up. "

"I'll--I'll never go poaching any more, " groaned Magglin, and his headfell back. 

"Never with two arms, my lad, " said the keeper. "Poor fellow! myfezzans do tempt 'em. He's fainted. Could you take the lantern, sir, and find your way to my cottage?"

"Yes, " I said eagerly; "what shall I do?"

"Open the corner cupboard, sir, and you'll find a small flask on the topshelf--flask with a cup on it. Bring it, please. It's brandy: drop'llbring him round. "

I went off directly, saying a word to Lomax as I went, and returningpretty quickly with the spirit, which had the effect of reviving thesufferer. 

Then we waited, till at the end of half an hour we heard voices, thensaw lights, and the General, with Polly, the butler, two gardeners, andthe groom, came up, the coachman having driven off to fetch the doctor;and the wounded man was carefully raised, placed on a rug, and carriedoff by four men, Hopley and the General following with the otherprisoner, who could walk, while Lomax and we two boys went slowly backtoward the school, talking about the exciting scene. 

"I say, young gents, " said Lomax suddenly, "it'll all come out aboutyour breaking barracks. "

"Yes, Lom, " I said; "we shall be found out. "

"Of course. You'll have to go with me as witnesses. "

"Yes. What had we better do?"

"Go and make a clean breast of it to the colonel in the morning. "

"To my uncle?"

"No, no; the Doctor. Good-night. "

We slipped in as we had come out, reaching our room unheard, but it wasa long time before excitement would let us sleep. 

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. 

It required some strength of mind to go straight to the Doctor's studynext morning, tell him the whole truth, and ask for his forgiveness. But we did it, and though he looked very serious, and pointed out ourwrong-doing strongly, he forgave us, and became deeply interested in theaffair, making us relate all we had seen. 

"I heard of the encounter as soon as I came down, " he said. "Lomaxought to have sent you both back to your room. So it was that labourer. Poor fellow! I gave him a fresh chance twice over, but I'm afraid heis a ne'er-do-weel. However, he is severely punished now. "

The man Lomax knocked down went before the magistrates, and was packedoff to prison, but Magglin had to go up to London, to one of the greathospitals, and some months after, the chief magistrate in our district, that is to say, General Sir Hawkhurst Rye, had him up before him in hislibrary, and punished him. 

Bob Hopley told me all about it, just after he had announced, with agood many grins and winks, that Polly was--"Going to be married tomaster's favourite groom, and they're to live at Number 2 lodge. "

"And how did he punish him, Bob?" Mercer said eagerly. 

"Punished him, sir? why, he's took him on as a watcher under me. Sayspoachers make the best keepers; but, o' course, he can't never be akeeper, with only one arm. "

"Ah, " I said thoughtfully, "you said he would lose his arm. "

"Yes, sir, and they took it off pretty close. But there, I think he'llmend now. "

My story, (or rather my random notes), of my old school-days is prettywell ended now, though I could rake out a good deal more from the darkcorners of my memory. For, after that adventure in the wood, the timesoon seemed to come when Tom Mercer had to leave, to begin his course oftraining for a surgeon, while I was bound for Woolwich, to become acadet. 

It was a sad day for me when I first went to "Old Browne's, " but it wasa sadder day when I left, for I felt very sore at heart, and it requiredall my strength of mind to keep up a brave show. 

For every one was very kind, and it was like parting from old friendswhom I might never see again. The boys were all out in the front drive, where the General's carriage stood waiting to take me and my mother tomeet the London mail coach, and the two gentlemen were with us. For mymother and my uncle had come down to fetch me, and say a few kind wordsto the Doctor and Mrs Doctor, as well as to visit Sir Hawkhurst. I sawLomax too, and Mr Rebble and Mr Hasnip, at the door, and it seemed asif there was always some one fresh to shake hands with, the old sergeantshaking mine with both his, and his voice sounded very husky as hesaid, --

"You won't forget your drill, sir, nor your balance in the saddle; heelswell down, and ride your horse on the curb, mind--don't forget, and--and--"

The old fellow could get no further. The tears started to his eyes, andto hide his emotion, and to save me from breaking down, he drew himselfup stiffly and saluted me. 

Lastly, I found that the servants were all outside too, waiting to saygood-bye, and I couldn't go without stepping aside to shake hands withCook, who uttered a loud sob, snatched me to her, and gave me a soundingkiss. 

Then I was back on the steps saying my farewells to the Doctor and hiswife, and I felt that I had bade every one now good-bye but Tom Mercer, who was to leave the following day, but, to my intense disappointment, he was missing; and, time pressing, I was at last obliged to climb intothe britzska, where my mother, my uncle, and the General were alreadyseated, the word was given, the coachman touched his horses as soon asthe groom had climbed to his side, and the boys nearly frightened theminto a headlong gallop, as they burst out into a volley of cheers, mingled with, "Good-bye, Burr junior! Good luck to you, soldier!" andamidst the waving of caps from the lads, and handkerchiefs from thedoor, I stood up in the carriage and roared excitedly, --

"Where's old Senna?"

I faintly heard the words, "Don't know, " and I stood looking aboutwildly, full of bitter disappointment at leaving without seeing him. 

I was standing up at the back, where my mother had the other seat, thetwo old officers being before us, but there was no Tom Mercer, and I wasabout to sit down, feeling that the poor fellow could not face thefarewell, when, at the turn of the road, there on the bank stood PollyHopley, with a parcel in one hand and a bunch of flowers in the other, and beside her, Bob Hopley in his brown velveteens, his gun under hisleft arm and his hat in his hand. 

As we trotted by, the parcel and bouquet fell into the carriage, and Iwaved my hand back to them till we were out of sight, when I found thatmy mother was holding the flowers, which had her name on a label likethat used with a doctor's bottle, while the parcel was directed to me. 

I couldn't help my face working as I looked from one to the other. 

"Cheer up, my lad, " cried the General, as my mother pressed my hand, forI had sunk down beside her on the seat. 

"Of course he will, " cried my uncle; "soldiers cheer up directly. Isay, Frank, the Doctor gave you a splendid character, but it wasn'twanted. Your popularity staggers me. "

"But I haven't seen poor old Senna, " I cried. 

"Seen whom?" said my uncle, laughing. 

"Poor old Tom Mercer, " I cried, when a hand from the back knocked my capover my eyes, and a familiar voice shouted, --

"'Bye, Frankie. Hooray! 'ray! 'ray! 'ray!"

There was Tom Mercer's face looking at us over the hood at the back, forhe had darted out from the hedge as the carriage passed the corner halfa mile from the school, climbed up behind, and was holding on with onehand as he clutched at me with the other. 

Then quickly--nay, more quickly than it has taken me to tell it--he letgo and dropped down into the road, where I could see him standing wavinghis cap till a curve hid him from sight; and I once more sank into myplace too low-spirited to think, for my happy school-days were at anend, and there before me in the dim distance, toward which I was beinghurried fast as two good mares could trot, was the great gateway of afresh life, through which lay the road to be followed in my progress tobecome a soldier and a man. 

THE END.