[Illustration: "NESTIE WAS STANDING IN THE CENTRE OF THE LARGE ENTRANCEHALL. "]

 YOUNG BARBARIANS

 _By_ IAN MACLAREN Author of "_Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush_"

 ILLUSTRATED

 NEW YORK Dodd, Mead and Company 1910

 Copyright, 1899 and 1900, By The Curtis Publishing Company, as A SCOTS GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 

 Copyright, 1900, By The Curtis Publishing Company. 

 Copyright, 1901, By Dodd, Mead and Company. 

 _First Edition, Published October, 1901_

CONTENTS

 I PAGE

 "SPEUG" 1

 II

 BULLDOG 21

 III

 NESTIE 39

 IV

 A FAMOUS VICTORY 59

 V

 HIS PRIVATE CAPACITY 85

 VI

 THE DISGRACE OF MR. BYLES 103

 VII

 THE COUNT 121

 VIII

 A TOURNAMENT 139

 IX

 MOOSSY 163

 X

 A LAST RESOURCE 183

 XI

 A PLEASANT SIN 205

 XII

 GUERILLA WARFARE 223

 XIII

 THE FALL OF GOLIATH 245

 XIV

 THE BAILIE'S DOUBLE 261

 XV

 THE TRIUMPH OF THE SEMINARY 281

 XVI

 BULLDOG'S RECOMPENSE 305

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

 "Nestie was standing in the centre of the large entrance hall. " Frontispiece

 "Peter dared not lift his head. " 36

 "'You are an ill-bred c-cad. '" 50

 "Seized an excellent position behind two Russian guns. " 66

 "Nestie whispered something in Speug's ear. " 92

 "Speug was dragged along the walk. " 96

 "They were so friendly that they gathered round the party. " 114

 "They were brought in a large spring cart. " 118

 "Watching a battle royal between the tops. " 134

 "Before the hour the hall was packed. " 158

 "Thomas John next instant was sitting on the floor. " 170

 "The school fell over benches and over another. " 174

 "His hand closed again upon the sceptre of authority. " 202

 "They drank without any cup. " 218

 "Before him stood London John bearing the seductive advertisement. " 240

 "A bottle of ferocious smelling-salts was held to the patient's nose. " 252

"SPEUG"

I

Muirtown Seminary was an imposing building of the classical order, facing the north meadow and commanding from its upper windows a fineview of the river Tay running rapidly and cleanly upon its gravel bed. Behind the front building was the paved court where the boys playedcasual games in the breaks of five minutes between the hours of study, and this court had an entrance from a narrow back street along which, insnow time, a detachment of the enemy from the other schools might stealany hour and take us by disastrous surprise. There were those who wishedthat we had been completely walled up at the back, for then we had metthe attack at a greater advantage from the front. But the braver soulsof our commonwealth considered that this back way, affordingopportunities for ambushes, sallies, subtle tactics, and endlessvicissitudes, lent a peculiar flavour to the war we waged the wholewinter through and most of the summer, and brought it nearer to thecondition of Red Indian fighting, which was our favourite reading andour example of heroism. Again and again we studied the adventures ofBill Biddon, the Indian spy, not only on account of his hairbreadthescapes when he eluded the Indians after a miraculous fashion anddetected the presence of the red varmint by the turning of a leaf on theground, but also in order to find out new methods of deceit by which wecould allure our Indians into narrow places, or daring methods of attackby which we could successfully outflank them on the broader street anddrive them into their own retreats with public ignominy. 

Within the building the glory of the Seminary was a massive stone stair, circular in shape, and having a "well" surrounded on the ground floor bya wall some three feet high. Down this stair the masters descended atnine o'clock for the opening of the school, with Bulldog, who was themathematical master and the awful pride of the school, at their head, and it was strictly forbidden that any boy, should be found within the"well. " As it was the most tempting of places for the deposit ofanything in the shape of rubbish, from Highland bonnets to little boys, and especially as any boy found in the well was sure to be caned, therewas an obvious and irresistible opportunity for enterprise. PeterMcGuffie, commonly called the Sparrow, or in Scotch tongue "Speug, " andone of the two heads of our commonwealth, used to wait with anexpression of such demureness that it ought to have been a dangersignal till Bulldog was halfway down the stair, and a row of boys werestanding in expectation with their backs to the forbidden place. Then, passing swiftly along, he swept off half a dozen caps and threw themover, and suddenly seizing a tempting urchin landed him on the bed ofcaps which had been duly prepared. Without turning his head one-eighthof an inch, far less condescending to look over, Bulldog as he passedmade a mental note of the prisoner's name, and identified the variousbonnetless boys, and then, dividing his duty over the hours of the day, attended to each culprit separately and carefully. If any person, fromthe standpoint of this modern and philanthropic day, should ask why someinnocent victim did not state his case and lay the blame upon theguilty, then it is enough to say that that person had never been ascholar at Muirtown Seminary, and has not the slightest knowledge of thecharacter and methods of Peter McGuffie. Had any boy of our time giveninformation to a master, or, in the Scotch tongue, "had clyped, " hewould have had the coldest reception at the hands of Bulldog, and whenhis conduct was known to the school he might be assured of such constantand ingenious attention at the hands of Speug that he would have beenready to drown himself in the Tay rather than continue his studies atMuirtown Seminary. 

Speug's father was the leading horsedealer of the Scots Midlands, and asporting man of established repute, a short, thick-set, red-faced, loud-voiced, clean-shaven man, with hair cut close to his head, whosecalves and whose manner were the secret admiration of Muirtown. Quietcitizens of irreproachable respectability and religious orthodoxyregarded him with a pride which they would never confess; not becausethey would have spoken or acted as he did for a king's ransom, and notbecause they would have liked to stand in his shoes when he came todie--considering, as they did, that the future of a horsedealer and anowner of racing horses was dark in the extreme--but because he was aperfect specimen of his kind and had made the town of Muirtown to beknown far and wide in sporting circles. Bailie McCallum, for instance, could have no dealings with McGuffie senior, and would have beenscandalised had he attended the Bailie's kirk; but sitting in his shopand watching Muirtown life as it passed, the Bailie used to chuckleafter an appreciative fashion at the sight of McGuffie, and to meditatewith much inward satisfaction on stories of McGuffie's exploits--how hehad encountered southern horsedealers and sent them home humbled withdefeat, and had won hopeless races over the length and breadth of theland. "It's an awfu' trade, " McCallum used to remark, "and McGuffie isno' the man for an elder; but sall, naebody ever got the better o' himat a bargain. " Among the lads of the Seminary he was a local hero, andon their way home from school they loitered to study him, standing inthe gateway of his stables, straddling his legs, chewing a straw, andshouting his views on the Muirtown races to friends at the distance ofhalf a street. When he was in good humour he would nod to the lads andwink to them with such acuteness and drollery that they attempted toperform the same feat all the way home and were filled with despair. Itdid not matter that we were fed, by careful parents, with bookscontaining the history of good men who began life with 2_s. _ 11_d. _, anddied leaving a quarter of a million, made by selling soft goods andattending church, and with other books relating pathetic anecdotes ofboys who died young and, before they died, delighted society withobservations of the most edifying character on the shortness of life. Wehad rather have been a horsedealer and kept a stable. 

Most of us regarded McGuffie senior as a model of all the virtues thatwere worthy of a boy's imitation, and his son with undisguised envy, because he had a father of such undeniable notoriety, because he had therun of the stables, because he was on terms of easy familiarity with hisfather's grooms, and because he was encouraged to do those things whichwe were not allowed to do, and never exhorted to do those things whichhe hated to do. All the good advice we ever got, and all the examples ofthose two excellent young gentlemen, the sons of the Rev. Dr. Dowbiggin, were blown to the winds when we saw Speug pass, sitting inthe high dogcart beside his father, while that talented man was showingoff to Muirtown a newly broken horse. Speug's position on that seat ofunique dignity was more than human, and none of us would have dared torecognise him, but it is only just to add that Peter was quite unspoiledby his privileges, and would wink to his humble friends upon the streetafter his most roguish fashion and with a skill which proved him hisfather's son. Social pride and the love of exclusive society were notfailings either of Mr. McGuffie senior or of his hopeful son. Both werewilling to fight any person of their own size (or, indeed, much bigger), as well as to bargain with anybody, and at any time, about anything, from horses to marbles. 

Mrs. McGuffie had been long dead, and during her lifetime was a woman ofdecided character, whom the grooms regarded with more terror than theydid her husband, and whom her husband himself treated with greatrespect, a respect which grew into unaffected reverence when he wasreturning from a distant horse-race and was detained, by professionalduties, to a late hour in the evening. As her afflicted husband refusedto marry again, in decided terms, Peter, their only child, had beenbrought up from an early age among grooms and other people devoted tothe care and study of horses. In this school he received an educationwhich was perhaps more practical and varied than finished and polite. Itwas not to be wondered, therefore, that his manners were simple andnatural to a degree, and that he was never the prey, either in anyordinary circumstances, of timidity or of modesty. Although a motherlesslad, he was never helpless, and from the first was able to hold his ownand to make his hands keep his head. 

His orphan condition excited the compassion of respectable matrons, buttheir efforts to tend him in his loneliness were not always successful, nor even appreciated to the full by the young McGuffie. When Mrs. Dowbiggin, who had a deep interest in what was called the "work amongchildren, " and who got her cabs from McGuffie's stable, took pity onPeter's unprotected childhood, and invited him to play with her boys, who were a head taller and paragons of excellence, the result wasunfortunate, and afforded Mrs. Dowbiggin the text for many anexhortation. Peter was brought back to the parental mansion by Dr. Dowbiggin's beadle within an hour, and received a cordial welcome from acongregation of grooms, to whom he related his experiences at the Mansewith much detail and agreeable humour. During the brief space at hisdisposal he had put every toy of the Dowbiggins' in a thorough state ofrepair, and had blacked their innocent faces with burnt cork so thattheir mother did not recognise her children. He had also taught them anegro melody of a very taking description, and had reinforced theirvocabulary with the very cream of the stable. From that day Mrs. Dowbiggin warned the mothers of Muirtown against allowing their boys toassociate with Speug, and Speug could never see her pass on the streetwithout an expression of open delight. 

When Mr. McGuffie senior brought his son, being then ten years old, tothe Seminary for admittance, it was a chance that he was not refused andthat we did not miss our future champion. Mr. McGuffie's profession andreputation were a stumbling-block to the rector, who was a man ofaustere countenance and strict habits of life, and Peter himself was avery odd-looking piece of humanity and had already established his ownrecord. He was under-sized and of exceptional breadth, almost flat incountenance, and with beady black eyes which on occasion lit up his faceas when one illuminates the front of a house, but the occasions wererarely those which would commend themselves to the headmaster of apublic school. How the dealer in horses removed the rector'sdifficulties was never accurately known, but boys passing the door ofthe rector's retiring-room when he was closeted with Mr. McGuffieoverheard scraps of the conversation, and Muirtown was able tounderstand the situation. It was understood that in a conflict of wordsthe rector, an absent-minded scholar of shrinking manner, was notlikely to come off best, and it is certain that the head of the schoolever afterwards referred to Mr. McGuffie as "a man of great resolutionof character and endowed with the gift of forcible speech. " As regardsthe son, his affectionate father gave him some brief directions beforeleaving, and in the presence of his fellow-scholars, of which this onlywas overheard, and seemed, indeed, to be the sum and substance: "Nevergive in, ye de'il's buckie. " With these inspiriting words Mr. McGuffiesenior departed through the front door amid a hush of admiration, leaving Peter to his fate not far from that "well" which was to be thescene of many of his future waggeries. 

With the progress of civilisation school life in Scotland has taken on ahigh degree of refinement, and rumour has it--but what will people notsay?--that a new boy will come in a cab to the Seminary and will receivea respectful welcome from the generation following Peter, and that thewhole school will devote itself to his comfort for days--showing himwhere to hang his cap, initiating him into games, assisting him with hislessons, and treating his feelings with delicate respect. It has been myown proud satisfaction, as a relic of a former barbarian age, to readthe rules, which, I believe, are now printed in black letters with redcapitals and hung in the rooms of Muirtown Seminary. My feelings willnot allow me to give them all, but the following have moved me almost totears:--

Rule 1. --That every boy attending this school is expected to behavehimself in speech and deed as a gentleman. 

Rule 2. --That anyone writing upon a wall, or in any way marking theschool furniture, will be considered to have committed an offence, andwill be punished. 

Rule 3. --That every boy is exhorted to treat every other with courtesy, and anyone guilty of rudeness to a fellow-scholar is to be reported tothe headmaster. 

Rule 4. --That it is expected of every boy to cultivate neatness ofappearance, and especially to see that his clothes, collars, cuffs, andother articles of clothing be not soiled. 

These admirable rules suggest a new atmosphere and one very differentfrom that in which we passed our stormy youth, for no sentiment of thiskind softened life in earlier days or affected our Spartan simplicity. The very sight of a newcomer in a speckless suit, with an irreproachabletie and both tails on his glengarry bonnet, excited a profound emotionin the school and carried it beyond self-control. What could be expectedof a fellow so bedecked and preserved as if he had just stepped out of abandbox or a tailor's shop? Left alone in his pride and perfection--thevery beginning of a Pharisee--he would only go from bad to worse andcome at last to a sad end. We hardly claimed to be philanthropists, butwe did feel it was our duty to rescue this lad. It might be, of course, that we could not finally save him, but he ought at least to have achance, and Speug had a quite peculiar satisfaction in at once removingthe two offensive tails by one vigorous pull, while the rumpling of acollar was a work of missionary zeal. No system of philanthropy issuccessful with all cases, and we had our failures, which we think aboutunto this day, and which have only justified our sad predictions. Boyslike the two Dowbiggins never improved, and were at last given up indespair even by Speug, their tails being renewed day by day and theirfaces remaining in all circumstances quite unmoved; but within a monththe average boy had laid aside the last remnant of conventionality, andwas only outdone by Peter himself in studied negligence of attire. 

Peter's own course of discipline was sharp, but it did not last long, for certain practical reasons. 

"What business have you here, ye son of a horse-couper?" was theencouraging salutation offered by a solicitor's son to the stumpy littlefigure bereft of its father and left to fight its battles alone. 

"Mair business than you, spindleshanks, ye son o' a thievin' lawyer, "and although Peter was four years younger and small for his age, heshowed that he had not learned boxing from his father's grooms withoutprofit, and his opponent attended no more classes that day. Thisencounter excited the deepest interest and revived the whole life of theschool. One lad after another experimented on Peter and made as much ofit as drawing a badger. He was often hurt, but he never uttered any cry. He gave rather more than he got, and lads going home in the afternooncould see him giving an account of the studies of the day to an admiringaudience in the stable-yard. By-and-by he was left severely alone, andfor the impudence of him, and his courage, and his endurance, and hisgeneral cockiness, and his extraordinary ingenuity in mischief, he wascalled "Speug, " which is Scotch for a sparrow, and figurativelyexpressed the admiration of the school. 

It would be brazen falsehood to say that Peter was a scholar, or, indeed, gave any voluntary attention to the course of learning laid downby the authorities of Muirtown Seminary. He sat unashamed at the foot ofevery class, maintaining a certain impenetrable front when a questioncame his length, and with the instinct of a chieftain never risking hisposition in the school by exposing himself to contempt. When Thomas JohnDowbiggin was distinguishing himself after an unholy fashion bytranslating Cæsar into English like unto Macaulay's History, Speug usedto watch him with keen interest, and employ his leisure time inarranging some little surprise to enliven the even tenor of ThomasJohn's life. So curious a being, however, is a boy, and so inconsistent, that as often as Duncan Robertson answered more promptly than ThomasJohn, and obtained the first place, Speug's face lit up with unaffecteddelight, and he was even known to smack his lips audibly. When therector's back was turned he would convey his satisfaction over ThomasJohn's discomfiture with such delightful pantomime that the united classdid him homage, and even Thomas John was shaken out of his equanimity;but then Duncan Robertson's father was colonel of a Highland regiment, and Duncan himself was a royal fighter, and had not in his Highland bodythe faintest trace of a prig, while Thomas John's face was a standingreproof of everything that was said and done outside of lesson time inMuirtown School. 

Peter, however, had his own genius, and for captivating adventures nonewas to be compared with him. Was it not Speug who floated down thetunnel through which a swift running stream of clean water reached theTay, and allured six others to follow him, none of whom, happily, weredrowned? and did not the whole school, with the exception of theDowbiggins, await his exit at the black mouth of the tunnel and rewardhis success with a cheer? Was it not Speug, with Duncan Robertson'smilitary assistance, who constructed a large earth-work in a pit at thetop of the Meadow, which was called the Redan and was blown up withgunpowder one Saturday afternoon, seven boys being temporarily buriedbeneath the ruins, and Peter himself losing both eyebrows? And when anold lady living next the school laid a vicious complaint against Speugand some other genial spirits for having broken one of her windows in asnowball fight, he made no sign and uttered no threat, but in thefollowing autumn he was in a position to afford a ripe pear to each boyin the four upper forms--except the Dowbiggins, who declinedpolitely--and to distribute a handful for a scramble among the littleboys. There was much curiosity about the source of Peter's generosity, and it certainly was remarkable that the pear was of the same kind asthe old lady cultivated with much pride, and that her fruit was gatheredfor her in the course of one dark night. Speug was capable of anythingexcept telling a lie. He could swim the Tay at its broadest and almostat its swiftest, could ride any horse in his father's stable, couldclimb any tree in the meadows, and hold his own in every game, frommarbles and "catch the keggie, " a game based on smuggling, to football, where he was a very dangerous forward, and cricket, where his battingwas fearsome for its force and obstinacy. There was nothing he could notdo with his hands, and no one whom he was not ready to face. 

Speug was a very vigorous barbarian indeed, and the exact type of aturbulent Lowland Scot, without whom the Seminary had missed its lifeand colour, and who by sheer force of courage and strength assertedhimself as our chief captain. After many years have passed, Speug standsout a figure of size and reality from among the Dowbiggins and otherpoor fleeting shadows. Thomas John, no doubt, carried off medals, prizes, certificates of merit, and everything else which could beobtained in Muirtown Seminary by a lad who played no games and swattedall evening at next day's work. The town was weary of seeing Thomas Johnand his brother--each wearing the same smug expression, and each infaultlessly neat attire--processing up in turn to receive their honoursfrom the hands of the Lord Provost, and the town would cheer withenthusiasm when Duncan Robertson made an occasional appearance, beingglad to escape from the oppression of the Dowbiggin _régime_. Nor wasthe town altogether wrong in refusing to appreciate the Dowbiggins attheir own value, and declining to believe that the strength of thecountry was after their fashion. When Thomas John reached the Universityhe did not altogether fulfil the expectations of his family, and by thetime he reached the pulpit no one could endure his unredeemed dulness. When last I heard of him he was secretary to a blameless society whichhas for its object the discovery of the lost Ten Tribes, and it occursto me that it would have been a good thing for Thomas John to have beenblown up in the destruction of the Redan: he might have become a man. 

After the Seminary had done its best for Speug he retired upon hislaurels and went to assist his father in the business of horsedealing, to which he brought an invincible courage and a large experience inbargaining. For years his old fellow-scholars saw him breaking in younghorses on the roads round Muirtown, and he covered himself with glory ina steeplechase open to all the riders of Scotland. When Mr. McGuffiesenior was killed by an Irish mare, Peter sold the establishment andwent into foreign parts in search of adventure, reappearing at intervalsof five years from Australia, Texas, the Plate, Cape of Good Hope, assured and reckless as ever, but always straightforward, masterful, open-handed, and gallant. His exploits are over now, and all Englandread his last, how he sent on in safety a settler's household through anarrow pass in Matabele Land, and with a handful of troopers held thesavages in check until pursuit was vain. 

"From the account of prisoners we learn, " wrote the war correspondent, "that Captain McGuffie, of the Volunteer Horse, fought on after his menhad been all killed and his last cartridge fired. With his back to arock in a narrow place he defended himself with such skill and couragethat the Matabele declared him the best fighting man they had ever met, and he was found with a mound of dead at his feet. " Only last week twoSeminary men were reading that account together and recalling Peter, andsuch is the inherent wickedness of human nature, that the death (fromapoplexy) of Thomas John Dowbiggin would have been much less lamented. "That is just how Speug would have liked to die, for he dearly loved afight and knew not fear. " They revived the ancient memories of Peter'sboyhood, and read the despatch of the commanding officer, with hisreference to the gallant service of Captain McGuffie, and then theylooked at Peter's likeness in the illustrated papers, the eyes as boldand mischievous as ever. "Well done, Speug!" said a doctor ofdivinity--may he be forgiven!--"well done, Speug, a terrier of the oldScots breed. "

Peter's one rival in the idolatry of the school was Duncan RonaldStewart Robertson, commonly known as Dunc, and Dunc was in everythingexcept honesty, generosity, and courage, the exact opposite of PeterMcGuffie. Robertson's ancestors had been lairds of Tomnahurich, a moorin Rannoch, with half a dozen farms, since the Deluge, as they believed, and certainly since history began. For hundreds of years they had beenwarriors, fighting other clans, fighting among themselves, fighting forPrince Charlie, and for more than a century fighting for England asofficers in the Highland regiments. The present laird had been in theCrimean war and the Mutiny, besides occasional expeditions, and wascolonel of the Perthshire Buffs. When he came to our examination in fulluniform, having first inspected the local garrison on the meadow, it wasthe greatest day in our time. We cheered him when he came in, countingthe medals on his breast, amidst which we failed not to notice theVictoria Cross. We cheered him in the class-rooms, we cheered him whenhe mounted his horse outside and rode along the terrace, and Peter led adetachment by the back way up to Breadalbane Street to give him onecheer more. Robertson was a tall, well-knit, athletic lad, with redhair, blue eyes, and a freckled face, not handsome, but carrying himselfwith much dignity and grace. Speug always appeared in tight-fittingtrousers, as became Mr. McGuffie's son, but Robertson wore the kilt andnever looked anything else but a gentleman, yet his kilt was ever of theshabbiest, and neither had his bonnet any tails. His manners were thoseof his blood, but a freer and heartier and more harum-scarum fellownever lived. It is a pleasant remembrance, after many years, to seeagain a group of lads round the big fire in the winter time, and to hearDuncan Robertson read the stirring ballad, "How Horatius kept the bridgein the brave days of old, " till Peter can contain himself no longer, andproposes that a select band shall go instantly to McIntyre's Academy andsimply compel a conflict. Dunc went into his father's regiment and fellat Tel-el-Kebir, and there is one Seminary man at least who keeps theportraits of the two captains--Peter McGuffie, the Scot, thehorsedealer's son, and a very vulgar varlet indeed, and DuncanRobertson, the Celt, a well-born man's son, and a gentleman himself fromhead to foot--in remembrance of a school which was rough andold-fashioned, where, indeed, softness and luxury were impossible, butwhere men were made who had the heart in them to live and die for theircountry. 

BULLDOG

II

The headmaster of a certain great English school is accustomed toenlarge in private on the secret of boy management, and this is the sumof his wisdom--Be kind to the boy, and he will despise you; put yourfoot on his neck, and he will worship you. This deliverance must, ofcourse, as its eminent author intends, be read with sense, and with anymodification it must be disappointing to philanthropists, but it isconfirmed by life. Let a master, not very strong in character andscholarship, lay himself out to be a boy's friend--using affectionatelanguage, overseeing his health, letting him off impositions, sparingthe rod, and inciting him to general benevolence--and the boy willrespond, without any doubt, but it will be after his own fashion. Theboy will take that master's measure with extraordinary rapidity; he willcall him by some disparaging nickname, with an unholy approximation totruth; he will concoct tricky questions to detect his ignorance; he willfling back his benefits with contempt; he will make his life a misery, and will despise him as long as he lives. Let a man of masculinecharacter and evident ability set himself to rule and drill boys, holding no unnecessary converse with them, working them to the height oftheir powers, insisting on the work being done, not fearing to punishwith severity, using terrible language on occasion, dealing with everyboy alike without favour or partiality, giving rare praise withenthusiasm, and refraining always from mocking sarcasm--which boys hateand never forgive--and he will have his reward. They will rage againsthim in groups on the playing-fields and as they go home in companies, but ever with an intense appreciation of his masterliness; they willrecall with keen enjoyment his detection of sneaks and his severity onprigs; they will invent a name for him to enshrine his achievements, andpass it down to the generation following; they will dog his steps on thestreet with admiration, all the truer because mingled with awe. And thevery thrashings of such a man will be worth the having, and become thesubject of boasting in after years. 

There was a master once in Muirtown Seminary whose career was short andinglorious, as well as very disappointing to those who believed in thegoodness of the boy. Mr. Byles explained to Mrs. Dowbiggin his idea of aschoolmaster's duty, and won the heart of that estimable person, although the Doctor maintained an instructive silence, and afterwardshinted to his spouse that Mr. Byles had not quite grasped the boynature, at least in Muirtown. 

"Yes, Mrs. Dowbiggin, I have always had a love for boys--for I was theyoungest of our family, and the rest were girls--seven dear girls, gentle and sweet. They taught me sympathy. And don't you think thatboys, as well as older people, are ruled by kindness and not by force?When I remember how I was treated, I feel this is how other boys wouldwish to be treated. Muffins? Buttered, if you please. I dote on muffins!So I am a schoolmaster. "

"You are needed at the Seminary, Mr. Byles, I can tell you, for theplace is just a den of savages! Will you believe me, that a boy rolledJames on the ground till he was like a clay cat yesterday--and James isso particular about being neat!--and when I complained to Mr. MacKinnon, he laughed in my face and told me that it would do the laddie good?There's a master for you! Thomas John tells me that he is called'Bulldog, ' and although I don't approve of disrespect, I must say it isan excellent name for Mr. MacKinnon. And I've often said to the Doctor, 'If the masters are like that, what can you expect of the boys?'"

"Let us hope, Mrs. Dowbiggin, that there will soon be some improvement;and it will not be my fault if there isn't. What I want to be is not amaster, but the boys' friend, to whom the boys will feel as to a mother, to whom they will confide their difficulties and trials, " and Mr. Byles'face had a soft, tender, far-away look. 

It was only for one winter that he carried on his mission, but itremains a green and delectable memory with old boys of the Seminary. Howhe would not use the cane, because it brutalised boys, as he explained, but kept Peter McGuffie in for an hour, during which time heremonstrated with Peter for his rude treatment of James Dowbiggin, whomhe had capsized over a form, and how Peter's delighted compatriotsclimbed up one by one to the window and viewed him under Mr. Byles'ministrations with keen delight, while Speug imitated to them by signsthat they would have to pay handsomely for their treat. How he wouldcome on Jock Howieson going home in a heavy rain, and ostentatiouslyrefusing even to button his coat, and would insist on affording him theshelter of an umbrella, to Jock's intense humiliation, who knew thatPeter was following with derisive criticism. How, by way ofconciliation, Mr. Byles would carry sweets in his coat-tail pocket andoffer them at unsuitable times to the leading anarchists, who regardedthis imbecility as the last insult. It is now agreed that Mr. Byles'sudden resignation was largely due to an engineering feat of Peter's, who had many outrages to avenge, and succeeded in attaching no lessthan three squibs to the good man's desk; but it is likely that anexhortation from Bulldog, overheard by the delighted school, had its dueeffect. 

"Humanity or no humanity, my man, it's no peppermint drops nor pats onthe head that'll rule Muirtown birkies; their fathers were brought up onthe stick, and the stick'll make the sons men. If ye'll take my advice, Mr. Byles, adverteese for a situation in a lassies' school. Ye're owerdainty for Muirtown Seminary. "

This was not a charge which his worst enemy could bring against Mr. Dugald MacKinnon, and because he was the very opposite--a mostunflinching, resolute, iron man--he engraved himself on the hearts ofthree generations of Muirtown men. They were a dour, hard-headed, enterprising lot--a blend from the upland braes of Drumtochty and thestiff carse of Gowrie and the Celts of Lock Tay, with some good southcountry stuff--and there are not many big cities on either side of theAtlantic where two or three Muirtown men cannot this day be found. Theyalways carry in their hearts the "Fair City"--which lieth in a basinamong the hills, beside the clean, swift-running river, like a ScotsFlorence; and they grow almost eloquent when they start upon their home, but the terminus of recollection is ever the same. When they havedallied with the swimming in the Tay, and the climbing of the hill whichlooks down on the fair plain as far as Dundee, and the golf on themeadows, and the mighty snow fights in days where there were men (thatis, boys) in the land, and memory is fairly awake, some one suddenlysays, "Bulldog. " "Ah!" cries another, with long-drawn pleasure, as onetasting a delicate liquor; and "Bulldog, " repeats the third, as if aworld of joy lay in the word. They rest for a minute, bracingthemselves, and then conversation really begins, and being excited, theydrop into the Scots tongue. 

"Man, " hurries in the first, "a' see him stannin' at his desk in themornin' watchin' the laddies comin' in ower the top o' his spectacles, an' juist considerin' wha wud be the better o' a bit thrashin' thatday. "

"Sax feet high gin he wes an inch, " bursts in the second, "an' asstraight as a rush, though a'm thinkin' he wes seventy, or maybe eighty, some threipit (insisted) he was near ninety; an' the een o' him--div yemind, lads, hoo they gied back an' forward in his head--oscillatin'like? Sall, they were fearsome. "

"An' the rush to get in afore the last stroke o' nine"--the third mancannot be restrained--"an' the crack o' his cane on the desk an''Silence'; man, ye micht hae heard a moose cross the floor at theprayer. "

"Div ye think he keekit oot atween his eyelids, Jock?"

"Him? nae fear o't, " and Howieson is full of contempt. "Ae day I pit apeen into that smooth-faced wratch Dowbiggin, juist because I cudnabear the look o' him; an' if he didna squeal like a stuck pig. DidBulldog open his een an' look?"

The audience has no remembrance of such a humiliating descent. 

"Na, na, " resumes Jock, "he didna need; he juist repeated the firstsentence o' the prayer ower again in an awfu' voice, an' aifter it wesdune, doon he comes to me. 'Whatna prank wes that?'"

"Wes't nippy?" inquires Bauldie with relish, anticipating the sequel. 

"Michty, " replies Jock; "an' next he taks Dowbiggin. 'Who asked you tojoin in the prayer?' an' ye cud hae heard his yowls on the street. Bulldog hed a fine stroke. " And the three smoked in silent admirationfor a space. 

"Sandie, div ye mind the sins in the prayer? 'Lord deliver the laddiesbefore Thee from lying----'"

"'Cheating, '" breaks in Bauldie. 

"'Cowardice, '" adds Sandie. 

"'And laziness, which are as the devil, '" completes Jock. 

"An' the laist petition, a' likit it fine, 'Be pleased to put commonsense in their heads, and Thy fear in their hearts, and----'"

"'Give them grace to be honest men all the days of their life, '" chantthe other two together. 

"It wes a purpose-like prayer, an' a' never heard a better, lads; hewalkit up to his words, did Bulldog, an' he did his wark well. " And asthey thought of that iron age, the railway president and the big bankerand the corn merchant--for that is what the fellows have come to--smacktheir lips with relish and kindly regret. 

It may be disappointing, but it remains a fact, that the human historyof the ages is repeated in the individual, and the natural boy is asavage, with the aboriginal love of sport, hardy indifference tocircumstances, stoical concealment of feelings, irrepressible passionfor fighting, unfeigned admiration for strength, and slavish respect forthe strong man. By-and-by he will be civilised and Christianised, andsettle down, will become considerate, merciful, peaceable--will beconcerned about his own boys having wet feet, and will preside atmeetings for the prevention of cruelty to animals; but he has to gothrough his process of barbarism. During this Red Indian stage aphilanthropist is not the ideal of the boy. His master must have thequalities of a brigand chief, an autocratic will, a fearless mien, andan iron hand. On the first symptom of mutiny he must draw a pistol fromhis belt (one of twenty), and shoot the audacious rebel dead on thespot. So perfectly did Bulldog fulfil this ideal that Bauldie, who hadan unholy turn for caricature, once drew him in the costume and arms ofChipanwhackewa, an Indian chief of prodigious valour and marvellousexploits. This likeness was passed from hand to hand, to be arrestedand confiscated by its subject when in Jock Howieson's possession, andalthough Jock paid the penalty, as was most due, yet it was believedthat Bulldog was much pleased by the tribute, and that he kept thepicture in his desk. 

His achievements in his own field, which extended from the supervisionof handwriting to instruction in mathematics, were sustained andmarvellous. When a boy was committed to his care at or about the age ofeight, before which age he attended a girls' school and fed hisimagination on what was in store for him under Bulldog, the great manwrote at the head of his copy-book, in full text and something betterthan copper-plate, "He that spareth his rod hateth his son. " With thisanimating sentiment the neophyte made a fearful beginning, and hismaster assisted him to transcribe it for years to come through half textand small text, till he could accomplish it with such delicateup-strokes and massive down-strokes, such fine curves and calculateddistances, that the writing could hardly be distinguished from theoriginal, and might be exhibited to the Lord Provost and bailies at theannual examination. It is said now that no school of any name in theland would condescend to teach writing, and that boys coming from suchhigh places can compass their own signatures with difficulty, and arequite illegible after a gentlemanly fashion; but it was otherwise in oneold grammar school. So famous was the caligraphy produced at theSeminary that Muirtown bankers, lawyers, and other great personages usedto drop in of an afternoon, and having snuffed with the master, would goover the copy-books and pick out suitable lads for their offices. And itis a solemn fact that one enterprising Muirtown clerk went up to Londonwithout a single introduction and obtained a situation in the great firmof Brancker, Copleston, Goldbeater & Co. , on the strength of a letterand sheet of figures he sent to old Fyler, the manager, whose reason wasgiving way under the scrawling of the junior clerks. Bulldog consideredthat his pupils' handwriting steadily deteriorated from the day of theirdeparture. When they came to see him at school from Glasgow, London, andbeyond the sea, as they all did, on their visits to Muirtown, besidesgiving them an affectionate welcome, which began at the door and endedat the desk, he never failed to produce their letters and point out thedecadence in careful detail, while the school rejoiced greatly. 

Any lad who showed some aptitude, or whose father insisted on the highereducation, was allured into geometry and raised to the dignity of theblackboard, where he did his work in face of the school with fear andtrembling. This was public life, and carried extremes of honour anddisgrace. When Willie Pirie appeared at the board--who is now aCambridge don of such awful learning that his juniors, themselvesdistinguished persons, can only imagine where he is in puremathematics--the school, by tacit permission, suspended operations tosee the performance. As Willie progressed, throwing in an angle here anda circle there, and utilising half the alphabet for signs, while hemaintained the reasoning from point to point in his high, shrill voice, Bulldog stood a pace aside, a pointer in one hand and in the other acloth with which at a time he would wipe his forehead till it was whitewith chalk, and his visage was glorious to behold. When the end came, Bulldog would seize the word out of Pirie's mouth and shout, "Q. E. D. , Q . .. E . .. D. Splendid. Did ye follow that, laddies?" taking snuffprofusely, with the cloth under one arm and the pointer under the other. "William Pirie, ye'll be a wrangler if ye hae grace o' continuance. Splendid!"

It was otherwise when Jock Howieson tried to indicate the nature of anisosceles triangle and confused it with a square, supporting hisartistic efforts with remarks which reduced all the axioms of Euclid toone general ruin. For a while the master explained and corrected, thenhe took refuge in an ominous silence, after which, at each newdevelopment, he played on Jock with the pointer, till Jock, seeing himmake for the cane, modestly withdrew, but did not reach his place ofretreat without assistance and much plain truth. 

"It's a shame to take any fee from your father, Jock Howieson, and it'slittle use trying to give ye any education. Ye've the thickest head andthe least sense in all the schule. Man, they should take you home andset ye on eggs to bring out chickens; ye micht manage that wi' care. Thefirst three propositions, Jock, before ye leave this room, without aslip, or _ma certes_!" and Jock understood that if he misused his timehis instructor would make good use of his. 

It was Bulldog's way to promenade the empty schoolroom for ten minutesbefore the reassembling at two, and it was rare indeed that a boy shouldbe late. When one afternoon there were only nineteen present andforty-three absent, he could only look at Dowbiggin, and when thatexemplary youth explained that the school had gone up to the top of theMeadow for a bathe, and suggested they were still enjoying themselves, Bulldog was much lifted. 

"Bathing is a healthy exercise, and excellent for the mind, but it'snecessary to bring a glow to the skin aifterwards, or there micht be achill, " and he searched out and felt a superior cane kept for thetreatment of truants and other grievous offenders. 

It was exactly 2. 15 when the door opened and a procession of forty-twoentered panting and breathless, headed by Dunc Robertson, who carriedhis head erect, with a light in his eye, and closed by Peter, whose hairwas like unto that of a drowned rat, and whose unconcealed desire wasfor obscurity. The nineteen could only smack their lips withexpectation and indicate by signs the treat awaiting their comrades. 

"I've had chairge of the departments of writing, arithmetic, andmathematics in the Muirtown Seminary, " began Bulldog, "for fifty-fiveyears laist Martinmas, and near eighteen hundred laddies hae passedthrough my hands. Some o' them were gude and some were bad"--Mr. MacKinnon spoke with a judicial calmness that was awful--"some were yirgrandfathers, some were yir fathers; but such a set of impudent, brazen-faced little scoundrels----" Then his composure failed him as helooked at the benches. "What have ye got to say for yirselves, for itwill be three weeks afore I'm over ye all?"

For a while no one moved, and then Dunc Robertson rose in his place andmade speech for his fellows like a gentleman's son. 

"We are sorry for being late, sir, but it was not our blame; we had beenbathing in the golfers' pool, and were dressing to run down to school ingood time. Little Nestie--I mean Ernest Molyneux, sir--had stayed in alittle longer, and someone cried, 'Nestie's drowning!' and there thelittle chap was, being carried away by the current. "

"Is 'Nestie'--drowned?" and they all noticed the break in Bulldog'svoice, and remembered that if he showed indulgence to anyone it was tothe little English lad that had appeared in Muirtown life as one out ofdue place. 

"No, sir, Nestie's safe, and some women have taken him home; but he wasvery nearly gone, " and Dunc was plainly shaken. "He's a good ween man, and--and it would have been terrible to see him die before our eyes. "

"Who saved Nestie?" Bulldog's face was white, and Jock swore afterwardsthe tears were in his eyes--but that we did not believe. 

"It was one of the boys, sir"--Robertson's voice was very proud--"and itwas a gallant deed; but I can't give his name, because he made mepromise not to tell. "

The master looked round the school, and there was a flush on his cheek. 

"John Howieson, " with a voice that knew no refusal, and Jock stood inhis place. 

"Give me the laddie's name who savit Nestie. "

"It was Speug, sir, an'--it wes michty; but a' wudna hae telt had ye noaskit, an'--it's no my blame, " and Jock cast a deprecatory glance wherePeter was striving to hide himself behind a slate. 

"Peter McGuffie, come out this moment, " and Peter, who had obeyed thisorder in other circumstances with an immovable countenance, nowpresented the face of one who had broken a till. 

"Tell the story, Duncan Robertson, every word of it, that each laddie inthis room may remember it as lang as he lives. "

"We had nearly all dressed, and some of us had started for school . .. And when I got back McGuffie had jumped and was out in the currentwaiting for Nestie to come up. We saw his face at last, white on thewater, and shouted to Peter, and . .. He had him in a minute, and . .. Made for shore; big swimming, sir; not one of us could have done itexcept himself. A salmon-fisher showed us how to rub Nestie till he cameround, and . .. He smiled to us, and said, 'I'm all right; sorry totrouble you chaps. ' Then we ran down as hard as we could lick, and . .. That's all, sir. "

"Ye're a leear, Duncan Robertson, " suddenly broke out Speug, goadedbeyond endurance; "ye helpit oot Nestie yirself, an' ye're . .. As muckletae blame as me. "

"All I did, sir"--and Robertson's face was burning red--"was to meetPeter and take Nestie off his hands quite near the bank; he had thedanger; I . .. Did nothing--was too late, in fact, to be of use. "

Speug might have contested this barefaced attempt at exculpation, butBulldog was himself again and gripped the reins of authority. 

"Silence!" and his emotion found vent in thunder; "no arguing in mypresence. You're an impudent fellow, Peter McGuffie, and have been allyour days, the most troublesome, mischievous, upsetting laddie inMuirtown School, " and the culprit's whole mien was that of a dog with abad conscience. 

"Ye've fought with your fists, and ye've fought with snowballs; ye'veplayed truant times without number; and as for your tricks in school, they're beyond knowledge. And now ye must needs put the capper on theconcern wi' this business!

"There's no use denying it, Peter, for the evidence is plain"--and nowBulldog began to speak with great deliberation. "Ye saw a little laddieout of his depth and likely to be drowned. " (Peter dared not lift hishead this time; it was going to be a bad case. )

"Ye micht have given the alarm and got the salmon-fishers, but, insteadof acting like ony quiet, decent, well-brought-up laddie, and walkingdown to the school in time for the geometry" (the school believed thatthe master's eye rested on William Dowbiggin), "ye jumped clothes andall into the Tay. " (There was evidently no extenuating feature, andPeter's expression was hopeless. )

"Nor was that all. But the wicked speerit that's in ye, Peter McGuffie, made ye swim out where the river was running strongest and anable-bodied man wouldna care to go. And what for did ye forget yirseland risk yer life?" But for the first time there was no bravery left inPeter to answer; his wickedness was beyond excuse, as he now felt. 

[Illustration: "PETER DARED NOT LIFT HIS HEAD. "]

"Just to save an orphan laddie frae a watery death. And ye did it, peter; an' it . .. Beats a'thing ye've dune since ye came into muirtownacademy? as for you, duncan robertson, ye may say what ye like, but it'smy opinion that ye're no one grain better. Peter got in first, for he'sa perfect genius for mischief--he's aye on the spot--but ye were afterhim as soon as ye could--you're art and part, baith o' ye, in theexploit. " it was clear now that dunc was in the same condemnation andwould share the same reward; whereat peter's heart was lifted, forrobertson's treachery cried to heaven for judgment. 

"Boys of Muirtown, do you see those tablets?"--and Bulldog pointed tothe lists in gold of the former pupils who had distinguished themselvesover the world--prizemen, soldiers, travellers, writers, preachers, lawyers, doctors. "It's a grand roll, and an honour to have a place init, and there are two new names to be added. 

"Laddies"--and Bulldog came down from his desk and stood opposite theculprits, whose one wish was that the floor might open beneath them andswallow them up--"you are the sons of men, and I knew you had thebeginnings of men in you. I am proud . .. To shake hands with you, and tobe . .. Your master. Be off this instant, run like mad to yir homes andchange yir clothes, and be back inside half an hour, or it will be theworse for ye! And, look ye here, I would like to know . .. How Nestieis. "

His walk through the room was always full of majesty, but on that day itpassed imagination, and from time to time he could be heard in asoliloquy, "A pair of young rascals! Men of their hands, though, men oftheir hands! Their fathers' sons! Well done, Peter!" To which thebenches listened with awe, for never had they known Bulldog after thisfashion. 

When the school assembled next Monday morning the boys read in fresh, shining letters--

"Peter McGuffie and Duncan R. S. Robertson, who at the risk of their ownlives saved a schoolfellow from drowning. "

It stood before the school, so that all could see; but if anyone daredto make a sign in that direction as he passed Speug's desk, his life wasnot worth living for seven days, and it was felt that Speug nevercompletely recovered from the moral disgrace of that day. 

NESTIE

III

It was understood that Nestie's mother was dead and that his father wasthe Baptist minister of Muirtown--a denomination whose adherents werefew and whose practices were vaguely associated with the mill lade--andfor two years before he appeared at school Nestie and his father werequite familiar to the boys. Nestie began his education at a ladies'school, not far from the Seminary, where he was much petted by the biggirls, and his father could be seen waiting for him every afternoon atdismissal time. A gentle, timid little man, apt to blush on being spokento, with a hesitating speech and a suggestion of lasting sorrow in hiseyes, Mr. Molyneux would sooner have faced a cannon than Miss LetitiaMacMuldrow's bevy of young women, and it was a simple fact that when, meditating his sermon one day in the North Meadow, he flopped into theirmidst and his son insisted on introducing him to the boarders and toMiss Letitia, the poor man went home to bed and left the pulpit nextSunday to an amateur exhorter. His plan of campaign was to arrive onthe opposite side of the terrace about a quarter to three, and, as thehour drew near, reconnoitre the door from behind a clump of bushes atthe foot of the garden. Nestie usually made his appearance with abodyguard of maidens, who kissed him shamelessly, and then, catchingsight of the anxious face peeping through the laburnums, he would dashdown the walk and, giving his slaves a last wave, disappear round thecorner. The minister used to take a hasty survey lest they should becomea sport to the barbarians in a land where for a father to kiss his boywas synonymous with mental incapacity, and then--it was a cat of a girlwho oversaw the meeting--they hugged one another for the space of awhole minute, in which time it is wonderful what can be done if yourheart is in it and your hat is allowed to go without care. Had aSeminary boy seen the sight--but the savages were caged at thathour--his feet would have been glued to the ground with amazement, andhe had gone away full of silent gratitude that Providence had cast hislot north of the Tweed; but of course he had not reckoned that thefather and son had been separated for, say, six whole hours--oralmost--and it was necessary to re-establish relations. When this hadbeen done satisfactorily the two crossed a wooden bridge into the Meadowarm-in-arm--Mr. Molyneux unconsciously wearing his hat with a rakish airon the side of his head. Between this hour and sunset was theirpleasure in the summer time, and the things they did were varied andremarkable. Sometimes they would disappear into the woods aboveMuirtown, and return home very dirty, very tired, very happy, laden withwild flowers and dank, earthy roots, which they planted in their tinygarden and watered together with tender solicitude. Other times theyplayed what was supposed to be golf over a course of their own selectionand creation at the top of the Meadow, and if by any chance the ministergot a ball into a hole, then Nestie danced for a space and the ministerapologised for his insolent success. Times there were--warm, summerdays--when the minister would bring a book with him and read to Nestieas they lay in a grassy hollow together. And on these days they wouldfall a-talking, and it would end in a photograph being taken from acase, and after they had studied it together, both would kiss the face, which was as if Nestie had kissed himself. Regular frequenters of theNorth Meadow began to take an interest in the pair, so that the golferswould cry "Fore" in quite a kindly tone when they got in the way of theballs, and one day old Peter Peebles, the chief of the salmon-fishersand a man of rosy countenance, rowed them up to Woody Island, and thenallowed the boat to drop down with the tide past the North Meadow andbeneath the two bridges, and landed them at the South Meadow, refusingall recompense with fierce words. Motherly old ladies whose familieswere off their hands, and who took in the situation at a glance, used toengage Mr. Molyneux in conversation in order to warn him about Nestie'sflannels and the necessity of avoiding damp at nightfall. And many whonever spoke to them, and would have repudiated the idea of sentimentwith scorn, had a tender heart and a sense of the tears of things as thepair, strange and lonely, yet contented and happy, passed them in theevening. 

When the time came that Nestie had to leave Miss Letitia's, his fatherbegan to hang round the Seminary taking observations, and his heart washeavy within him. After he had watched a scrimmage at football--a dozenof the aboriginal savages fighting together in a heap, a mass of legs, arms, heads--and been hustled across the terrace in a rush of Russiansand English, from which he emerged without his hat, umbrella, or book, and after he had been eyewitness of an encounter between Jock Howiesonand Bauldie over a misunderstanding in marbles, he offered to teachNestie at home. 

"Those Scotch boys are very . .. H-healthy, Nestie, and I am not surewhether you are quite . .. Fit for their . .. Habits. There is a master, too, called . .. Bulldog, and I am afraid----" and Mr. Molyneux lookedwistfully at his boy. 

"Why, pater, you are very n-naughty, and don't d-deserve two lumps ofsugar, " for ever since they were alone he had taken his mother's placeand poured out the tea. "Do you think I am a coward? A boy must learn toplay games, you know, and they won't be hard on a little chap at first. I'll soon learn f-football and . .. The other things. I can play golf alittle now. Didn't you tell me, pater, that mother was as bwave as . .. As-soldier?"

"Of course she was, Nestie, " and Mr. Molyneux fell into the innocentlittle snare. "If you had only seen the pony your mother used to ride onher father's farm in Essex, where I saw her first! Do you know, nobodycould ride 'Gypsy' except its mistress. It r-reared and . .. K-kicked, Nestie"--the little man spoke with awe--"and once ran away; but yourmother could always manage it. She looked so handsome on 'Gypsy'; andyou have her spirit. I'm very . .. T-timid. "

"No, you aren't, not one little bit, pater, if there's real d-danger. "Nestie was now on his father's knee, with a hand round his neck. "Whofaced the cow on the meadows when she was charging, and the nurse hadleft the child, eh? Now, pater, tell the truth. "

"That was because . .. The poor little man would have been killed . .. Anyone would have d-done that, and . .. I d-did not think what I wasd-doing. .. . "

"Yes, I know, " and Nestie mocked his father shamefully, even unto hisface; "and everybody read in the paper how the child wasn't near thecow, and the cow was quite nice and well-behaved, and you . .. Ran away;for shame, now!

"Did you go to the people that had the dip . .. Dip . .. In the throat, ornot?--that's a word I can't manage yet, but I heard Miss Leti-titia andthe girls say you were like the soldiers 'at got the Vic--VictoriaCwoss. "

"That's d-different, Nestie; that's my d-duty. "

"Well, it's my d-duty to go to the S-Seminary, pater;" and so he went. 

"What's your name?" Nestie was standing in the centre of the largeentrance hall where his father had left him, a neat, slim little figurein an Eton suit and straw hat, and the walls were lined by big lads inkilts, knickers, tweed suits, and tailless Highland bonnets in variousstages of roughness and decay. 

"Ernest Molyneux, and for short, Nestie, " and he looked round with abright little smile, although inwardly very nervous. 

"Moly-havers, " retorted Cosh, who had a vague sense that Nestie, withhis finished little manner, his English accent, his unusual dress, andhis high-sounding name, was an offence to the Seminary. "Get yir hat ooto' there, " and Cosh sent Ernest's straw skimming into the forbidden"well. "

Molyneux's face turned crimson, for he had inherited the temper whichmistressed "Gypsy, " and boys who remembered Speug's first exploitexpected to see the newcomer spring at Cosh's face. 

"You mean that for f-fun, I s'pose, " he said an instant later, and herecovered his hat very neatly. "I can leap a little, you know, notm-much yet, " and again he smiled round the ring. 

Nothing quite like this had happened before in the Seminary, and therewas a pause in the proceedings, which was the salvation of Nestie, andfar more of Peter McGuffie. He had been arrested by the first sight ofNestie and had been considering the whole situation in silence. Peterhad a sudden inspiration. 

"Did ye say Nestie?" inquired Speug, with an almost kindly accent, moving a little forward as for purposes of identification. 

"My pater calls me that, and . .. Others did, but perhaps you would liketo say Molyneux. What is your name?"

"We 'ill call ye 'Nestie'; it's no an ill word, an' it runs on thetongue. Ma name is Peter McGuffie, or Speug, an' gin onybody meddle wi'ye gie's a cry. " And to show the celerity of his assistance Peter sentthe remains of Cosh's bonnet into the "well" just as Bulldog came downto his room. 

"Bulldog's in, " as that estimable man identified the owner of the bonnetand passed on to his class-room. "In aifter him, an' gie yir name, aforethe schule comes. "

"Will you come with me, P-Peter?" and that worthy followed himmechanically, while the school held their breath; "it would be kind ofyou to intwodoosh--it's a little difficult that word--me to themaster. "

"What's the meaning of this?" demanded Bulldog at the sight of the two, for speech was paralysed in Speug and he was aghast at his own audacity. 

"A new laddie . .. Ca'ed Molly, Mol . .. A' canna mind it . .. Nestie . .. He dinna know the way. .. . " And Speug broke down and cast a despairinglook at the cane. 

"Peter pwotected me from the other boys, who were making fun of me, andI asked him to bwing me in to you, sir; he was very p-polite. "

"Was he?" said Bulldog, regarding Speug's confusion with unconcealeddelight; "that is quite his public character in this school, and there'snobody better known. My advice"--here Bulldog stopped, and looked fromSpeug to Nestie as one who was about to say something and had changedhis mind--"is to . .. Be friends with Peter. "

So when the school took their places Nestie was seated next to Speug, and it was understood in a week that Nestie was ready to take his fairshare in any honest fun that was going, but that if one of the basersort tried to play the blackguard with Nestie, he had to balanceaccounts with Speug, and that the last farthing would be faithfullyexacted. 

As Nestie had at once settled in his mind that Speug was a younggentleman of high conduct and excellent manners--and Nestie, with allhis sweetness, was as obstinate as a mule--nothing remained for Speugbut to act as far as he could up to his new character. With this exampleof diligence by his side, he was roused to such exertion that he emergedfrom long division and plunged into the rule of three, while Nestiemarvelled at his accomplishments--"for I'm not a clever chap like you, P-Peter. " Speug had also accumulated a considerable collection of pencilsketches, mostly his own, in which life at Muirtown Seminary was treatedvery broadly indeed, and as he judged this portfolio unlikely to beappreciated by Nestie, and began himself to have some scruple in havinghis own name connected with it, it was consigned to the flames, and anyoffer of an addition, which boys made to Speug as a connoisseur inRabelaisean art, was taken as a ground of offence. His personal habitshad been negligent to a fault, and Nestie was absurdly careful about hishands, so Peter was reduced to many little observances he hadoverlooked, and would indeed have exposed himself to scathing criticismhad it not been that his sense of humour was limited and, so far as itwent, of a markedly practical turn. 

As Nestie never ceased to exalt this paladin of chivalry, and all thevirtues which he had discovered at school, Mr. Molyneux hungered to seehim, and so Speug was invited to tea on a Saturday evening--aninvitation he accepted with secret pride and outward confusion of face. All the time which could be saved that day from the sermons was devotedby Mr. Molyneux and his son to the commissariat, and it was pretty tosee the Molyneuxs going from shop to shop collecting the feast. Withmuch cunning Nestie had drawn from Speug that fried sausages (pork) withmashed potatoes, followed up by jam tarts and crowned with (raisin)cake, was a meal to live for, and all this they had, with shortbread andmarmalade, thrown in as relishes. When Nestie was not watching at theupper window for Peter's coming he was gloating over the table, andpater, putting last touches to his exposure of Infant Baptism, ran outand in to see that nothing had been forgotten, for they did not givemany feasts, and this was one of gratitude. Peter was late, because hehad gathered his whole establishment to dress him, including the oldgroom, who wished him to go in corduroy breeches and top boots, andSpeug was polished to the extent of shining. He was also so modest thathe would not speak, nor even look, and when Nestie began to discourse onhis goodness he cast glances at the door and perspired visibly, on whichoccasions he wiped his forehead with a large red handkerchief. Amid allhis experiences on land and water, on horseback and among boys--_i. E. _, savages--he had never yet been exalted as a hero and a philanthropist, and he felt uncomfortable in his clothes. He was induced, however, totrifle with the tea, and in the end did very fairly, regaining hisnative composure so far as to describe a new horse his father hadbought, and the diabolical wickedness of the tame fox at the stables. Afterwards Nestie took Speug to his room and showed him his varioustreasures--a writing-desk with a secret drawer; _The Sandalwood Traders_by Ballantyne; a box of real tools, with nails and tacks complete; andthen he uncovered something hidden in a case, whereat Speug was utterlyastonished. 

"Yes, it's a watch; my mother left it to me, and some day I'll wear it, you know; your mother's g-gone, too, Peter, isn't she?"

"Aye, " replied Peter, "but a' dinna mind o' her. " And then, anxious tochange the subject, he produced a new knife with six blades. Beforeleaving he promised to give Nestie a pair of rabbits, and to guide himin their upbringing after a proper fashion. Without having ventured intothe field of sentiment, there is no doubt Peter had carried himself in away to satisfy Mr. Molyneux, and he himself gave such an account of thetea to Mr. McGuffie senior, that night, that the horsedealer, althoughnot given to Pharisaical observance of the Sabbath, attended the littleBaptist chapel next day in state, sleeping through the sermon, butputting five shillings in the plate, while Peter, sitting most demurelyat his father's side, identified two of his enemies of McIntyre'sAcademy and turned various things over in his mind. 

If anyone, however, supposed that the spirit had gone out of Peterthrough his friendship with Nestie, he erred greatly, and this RobertCosh learned to his cost. What possessed him no one could guess, andvery likely he did not know himself, but he must needs waylay Nestie inBreadalbane Street one day after schooltime and speak opprobriously tohim, finishing up--

"Awa' wi' ye; yir father's a meeserable yammering (stammering) dookie(Baptist) minister. "

"My father's one of the best men living"--Nestie was in an honourabletemper--"and you are an ill-bred c-cad. "

Poor Nestie would have been half-killed before Cosh had done with himhad not Speug arrived on the scene, having been in the gundy (candy)shop not far off, and then there were circumstances. Cosh had a poorchance at any time with Peter, but now that worthy's arm was nerved withfierce indignation, and Nestie had to beg for mercy for Cosh, whoseappearance on arriving home was remarkable. His story was even more so, and was indeed so affecting, not to say picturesque, that Bailie Coshcame into Bulldog's room with his son two days afterwards to settlematters. 

"A' called, Maister MacKinnon, " he said, in tones charged with dignity, "to explain the cause of my son Robert's absence; he was in bed with apoultice on his face twenty-four hours, an' he'll no be himself fordays. "

[Illustration: "'YOU ARE AN ILL-BRED C-CAD. '"]

"He is no in condeetion to lose time wi' his lessons, a' can tell ye, Bailie; ye're richt to bring him back as sune as ye could; was'ttoothache?"

"No, it wasna toothache, but the ill-usage o' one of your scholars, themaist impudent, ill-doing, aggravating scoondrel in Muirtown. "

"Peter McGuffie, come out here, " which showed Bulldog's practicalacquaintance with affairs. "Did ye give Robert Cosh a licking?"

No answer from Speug, but a look of satisfaction that was beyond allevidence. 

"Was that just yir natural iniquity, Peter, or had ye a justification?"

Dogged silence of Speug, whose code of honour had one article atleast--never to tell on a fellow. 

"Please, sir, may I speak?" cried Nestie, as he saw the preparations forPeter's punishment and could not contain himself. 

"Were you in this job, too, Nestie? You didn't tell me that there weretwo at puir Robert, Bailie; if Nestie got his hand on your son, he's sica veeciously inclined character that it's a wonder Robert's leevin. '

"Now, Bailie, we'll conduct a judeecial investigation. Robert Cosh, whathave ye to say? Speak up like a man, an' I'll see justice done ye, besure o' that; but mind ye, the truth, the whole truth, and nothing butthe truth. "

Robert Cosh declined to contribute even the smallest morsel of truth inany shape or form, and, in spite of strong encouragement from themagistrate, preserved an impenetrable silence. 

"This, " said Bulldog, with a shrewd glance, "is mair than ordinarymodesty; we 'ill take another witness. Ernest Molyneux, what have ye gotto say?"

"Cosh called my father names, and . .. I lost my t-temper, and . .. And. .. I said things . .. The pater's ill, sir, so I . .. And Cosh stwuck meonce or twice--but I don't mind that; only Peter, you see, sir, wantedto help me. I'm afraid he h-hurtit Cosh, but that was how it happened. "

"Stand beside Nestie, Cosh . .. So; half a head taller and much broaderand four years older. Ye called his father names, and then cut his lipwhen he answered. Just so. There are some pretty little scratches on yirown face. That would be Peter. Well, Bailie, the case is pretty plain, and we 'ill go to judgment. 

"Ernest Molyneux, yir father's a good man, and it does not matter twobrass peens what Robert Cosh says about him, and ye're no anill-disposed laddie yersel. ' Ye may go to your seat. 

"Peter McGuffie, ye're aye meddlin' wi' what doesna concern ye, and yeseem to think that Providence gave Nestie into yir chairge. One day yepull him oot o' the river, and anither ye take him oot o' the hands o'Robert Cosh. But ye've done your wark sae neatly this time that I havenathe heart to thrash ye. Ye may go to your seat, too; and, Peter, maman, just one word of advice. Yir head is thick, but yir heart is richt;see that ye always use yir fists as well as ye did that day. 

"Robert Cosh, ye've had a fair trial, and ye have been convicted ofthree heinous sins. First, ye miscalled a good man--for that threestrokes with the cane; next, ye ill-used the quietest laddie in thewhole school--for that three strokes; and, lastly, being moved of thedevil, ye went home and told lies to a magistrate--for that six strokes. Three on each hand to-day and to-morrow will just settle the count. Right hand first. "

"Mr. MacKinnon, I protest. .. . "

"What?" and Bulldog turned on the magistrate; "would ye interfere withthe course o' justice in another man's jureesdiction, and you amagistrate?" And Bulldog's eyes began to rotate in a fearsome manner. 

The Bailie allowed it to be understood that he had changed his mind, andRobert, who had expected great things from the magistrate's protection, abandoned himself to despair and walked humbly for many days to come. 

Next day Nestie was not in his place, and Bulldog, growing uneasy, called on his way home. 

"Aye, aye, " and the landlady's voice sank into the minor key of Scotssympathy, "Maister Mollynoox (for such an outlandish name was ever atrial) is far through wi't; the doctor says he never had much to comean' go on, and noo this whup o' inflammation is the feenish. 

"The doctor doesna expect him to see mornin', an' he's verra sober(weak); but his head's clear, an' the laddie's wi' him. Ma hert is wae(sorry) for him, for the twa hev been that bund up thegither that a'mdootin' Nestie 'ill never get ower the pairtin'. "

The gentle little minister was not far from his end, and Nestie wasnursing him as best he could. He sponged his father's face--threateningto let the soap get into his eyes if he were not obedient--and dried itwith a soft towel; then he brushed the soft, thin brown hair slowly andcaressingly, as he had often done on Sundays when his father was weary. Turning round, he saw Bulldog, and instead of being afraid, Nestiesmiled a pathetic welcome, which showed either what a poor actor themaster was, with all his canings, or that his English scholar was a veryshrewd little man. 

"Th-thank you f-for coming to see father, sir; he was n-naughty and gotcold, and he has been so ill; but he must get better, for you know thereare . .. Just the two of us, and . .. I would be . .. Lonely without thepater. "

"Nestie does not wish to part with me, Mr. MacKinnon, for we h-have been. .. Dear friends, that's how it was, and we loved . .. Mother; but he isa . .. Brave little man, as you know, and mother and I will not forgethim . .. You came to ask for Nestie, and it was God's will, for I h-havea f-favour to ask of you. "

Bulldog went over and sat down by the bed, but said nothing. Only hetook the minister's hand in his and waited. He also put his other armround Nestie, and never did he look fiercer. 

"I have no relatives, and his m-mother's family are all dead; there isnobody to be g-guardian to Nestie, and he cannot live alone. C-could youget some family who would be . .. Where he might be at . .. H-home?

"You know we are not rich, but we've s-saved a little, for Nestie is afamous little house-k-keeper; and maybe there's enough to keep him . .. Till he grows big; and I'll give you the receipt at the bank, and you'll. .. Manage for him, won't you?"

Bulldog cleared his throat to speak, but could not find his voice--for awonder, but his hand tightened on the minister's, and he drew Nestienearer to him. 

"Of course, Mr. MacKinnon, I know that we have no c-claim on you, for weare strangers in Muirtown, and you . .. Have many boys. But you've beenkind to Nestie, and he . .. Loves you. "

The minister stopped, breathless, and closed his eyes. 

"Mr. Molyneux, " began Bulldog in a stern voice, "I'm willing to manageNestie's estate, big or small, and I'll give an account of allintromissions to the Court, but I must decline to look out a home forNestie. 

"Nestie and me" (bad grammar has its uses, and some of them are verycomforting) "are good freends. My house has just an auld schoolmasterand an housekeeper in it, and whiles we would like to hear a youngvoice. "

Bulldog paused and then went on, his voice sterner than ever--in sound. 

"Now Bell's bark is worse than her bite, and maybe so is mine (Nestienodded), so if the wee man wouldna be feared to live wi' . .. Bulldog--oh, I know fine what the rascals call me--he 'ill have a heartwelcome, and . .. I'll answer to ye baith, father and mother, for yirladdie at the Day o' Judgment. "

"'What shall I render . .. Unto the Lord . .. For all His benefits?' Icannot thank you . .. (the minister was now very weak); but you will not. .. Miss your reward. May the God of the orphan. .. . Kiss me, Nestie. "

For a short while he slept, and they watched for any sign ofconsciousness. 

"It was too soon"--he was speaking, but not to them--"for Nestie . .. Tocome, Maud; he must stay . .. At school. He is a good boy, and . .. Hismaster will . .. Take care of him . .. Nestie will grow to be a man, dear. "

The minister was nearing the other side, and seeing the face he lovedand had lost awhile. 

"It's mother, " whispered Nestie, and a minute later he was weepingbitterly and clinging with all his might to the schoolmaster, who cameperilously near to tears himself. 

"They're together now, and . .. I'll be father and mother to ye, Nestie, "said Mr. Dugald MacKinnon, master of mathematics in Muirtown Seminary, and known as Bulldog to three generations of Muirtown lads. 

A FAMOUS VICTORY

IV

The Seminary perfectly understood that, besides our two chief enemies, the "Pennies" and McIntyres, there were, in the holes and corners of thetown, obscure schools where little companies of boys got some kind ofeducation and were not quite devoid of proper spirit. During a reallyrespectable snow-storm--which lasted for a month and gave us anopportunity of bringing affairs to a temporary settlement with ourrivals, so that the town of Muirtown was our own for the next sevendays--a scouting party from the Seminary in search of adventures had anencounter with a Free Kirk school, which was much enjoyed and spokenabout for weeks beside the big fire. Speug began, indeed, to lay out apermanent campaign by which the boys going home southwards could look infrom time to time on the Free Kirkers, and he indicated his willingnessto take charge of the operation. It was also said that an Episcopal orPapist school--we made no subtile direct distinctions at theSeminary--in the northern district might afford some sport, and theleadership in this case was to be left to Duncan Robertson, the othercaptain of the commonwealth. Snow did not last the whole year round evenin a Scots town; but it was wonderful what could be done in summer bythe use of book-bags, well stuffed out with Cæsar and Lennie's EnglishGrammar, and at the worst there always remained our fists. The pleasureof planning these forays is still a grateful recollection, for it seemedto us that by spreading our forces we might have perpetual warfare fromJanuary to December and over the length and breadth of the town, so thatno one would be compelled to return to his home of an evening withoutthe hope of a battle, and every street of the town would bedistinguished by conflict. Nothing came, however, of those spiritedenterprises that year, because our two rivals, laying aside their mutualquarrels, which, we understood, were very bitter, and enteringinto a covenant of falsehood--their lying filled us with holyindignation--attacked us front and rear while we were having an innocentgame of Russians and English on the North Meadow. Although takenunawares and poorly provided with weapons we made a good fight; but inthe end we were scattered so completely that Speug never reached theschool again that day, for which he was thrashed by Bulldog nextmorning, and Dunc came in with a front tooth gone and one black eye, for which he was soundly thrashed at once. 

During all that summer we denounced the amazing meanness of the otherside, and turned over plans for splitting the alliance, so that we mightdeal with each power separately and finally. Speug even conducted anegotiation--watchfully and across the street, for the treachery of theother side was beyond description--and tried to come to terms with therepresentative of our least hated opponent. He even thought, and Peterwas not guileless, that he had secured their neutrality, when theysuddenly burst forth into opprobrious language, being a very vulgarschool indeed, and exposed Peter's designs openly. His feelings were notmuch hurt by the talk, in which, indeed, he scored an easy victory afterhe had abandoned negotiation and had settled down to vituperation, butSeminary boys whose homeward route took them past the hostileterritories had to be careful all that summer. It was, indeed, a time ofbitter humiliation to the premier school of Muirtown, and might havefinally broken its spirit had it not have been for the historical battlein the beginning of November, when McGuffie and Robertson led us tovictory, and the power of the allies was smashed for years. So great, indeed, was their defeat that in early spring Peter has been known towithdraw himself from marbles in the height of the season and of his ownpersonal profit, for the simple purpose of promenading through theenemies' sphere of influence alone and flinging words of gross insult inat their gates. 

One of the schools must have been a charity for the education of poorlads, since it was known to us as the "Penny School, " and it was afamiliar cry ringing through the yard of the Seminary, "The Pennies arecoming!" when we promptly turned out to give them the welcome which, todo them justice, they ardently desired. Whether this was a penny a weekor a penny a month we did not know, or whether, indeed, they paid apenny at all, but it pleased us to give this name, and it soon passedbeyond the stage of correction. Our enemies came at last to wear itproudly, like many other people who have been called by nicknames andturned the nickname into an honour, for they would follow up aparticularly telling snowball with the cry, "There's a penny for ye!"They were sturdy varlets, quite indifferent as to boots and stockings, and equally so as to blows. Through their very regardlessness thePennies would have been apt to rout the Seminary--whose boys had givenpledges to respectability, and who had to answer searching questions asto their personal appearance every evening--had it not been forstalwarts like McGuffie, whose father, being a horsedealer, did notapply an over strict standard of judgment to his son's manners orexploits, and Robertson, who lived in lodgings and, being a soldier'sson, was supposed to be in a state of discipline for the Army. 

Our feeling towards the Pennies was hardly cordial, but it was asnothing to our hatred of McIntyre's school, which called itself anacademy, and had a Latin master and held examinations and affectedsocial equality with the Seminary. Everyone knew that the Seminary hadexisted in the time of Queen Mary, and some said went back to the daysof William Wallace, although we had some doubts as to whether thepresent building was then in existence. Everyone also knew thatMcIntyre's whole concern belonged to himself, and that he collected thefees in every class on Friday morning, that he took home what was overafter paying his assistants, and that butcher meat for the McIntyrefamily next week depended on the result. McIntyre drew his supplies fromthe small tradesmen, and a Seminary lad, going in to get a new pair ofboots at Meiklewham's would have a fine sense of pride in being measuredby an old opponent whose face had often looked out on him from the mistof battle. This pretentious and windy institution even attempted theabsurdity of a yearly prizegiving, when, instead of the Provost sittingin state and glaring before him with a Horace in his hands upside down, McIntyre's minister would hold forth on diligence and tidiness andcourtesy and such like contemptible virtues. Had a Seminary boy beenoffered the painful choice, he would almost as soon have gone to thePennies as to McIntyre, for in that case he had not been an impostor anda fraud. 

For a week the weather had been hovering on frost, and on Wednesdayafternoon the snow began to fall with that quiet and steady downpourwhich means a lasting storm. Speug went home in great spirits, declaringto an admiring circle of junior boys that if Providence were kind andthe snow continued there would be something worth living for at thedinner hour on Friday. As the snowball war was a serious affair, and wasconducted after a scientific fashion, it never commenced until there wasa good body of snow upon the ground and pure snow could be gathered upwithout earth and stones. The unpardonable sin of our warfare wasslipping a stone into a snowball: this was the same as poisoning thewells, and the miscreant who perpetrated this crime was cast out fromevery school. There was a general understanding between parties that themercies were not to be wasted, and that the schools were to refrainthemselves until there was a fair and lasting supply of ammunition. Itwas still snowing on Thursday morning, and there were some who said thatwar might now be declared; and Jock Howieson, ever a daring and rashspirit, declared we should repent it if we were not ready against oneo'clock. Speug and Dunc were however of opinion that nothing was likelyto take place that day except desultory skirmishes, and that the wholeday ought to be spent in accumulating a store of snowballs againstFriday, when there was no question that we should have to face theunited schools in a decisive battle. This was the only instance whereour captains ever made a mistake, and they atoned for their error ofjudgment by the valour and skill with which they retrieved what seemed ahopeless defeat. 

As the hours wore on to one o'clock Speug could be seen glancinganxiously out at the window, and he secured an opportunity with Dunc fora hasty conference during the geometry lesson. About a quarter to one heturned from his slate and cocked his ear, and in two minutes afterwardsevery boy in Bulldog's class-room understood that the war had begun andthat we had been taken by surprise. Scouts from McIntyre's, as weafterwards learned, had risked the danger of playing truant, which in aschool like theirs cost nothing, and had visited our playground. Theyhad carried back news that we were not yet prepared for battle, and ourfirm opinion was that the authorities of Penny's and McIntyre's hadallowed their schools out at half-past twelve, in order to take us at adisadvantage. Before the bell rang and the senior classes were dismissedthe Seminary knew that our enemies had seized the field of battle, butwe did not know until we came out the extent of the disaster. 

The Pennies had come down the back street and had establishedthemselves opposite the narrow entrance between two sheds through whichthree only could walk abreast from our playground to the street. Theyhad also sent a daring body of their lighter and more agile lads to thetop of the sheds which separated our playground from the street, andthey had conveyed down an enormous store of ammunition, so that thecourtyard was absolutely at their mercy, and anyone emerging from thecorridor was received with a shower of well-made and hard snowballsagainst which there was no standing. Even if we ran this risk andcrossed the open space we could then be raked by the fire from the shed, and a charge through the narrow passage to the street would be in thelast degree hazardous. There were twelve feet of passage, and there werenot many who would care to face a stream of snowballs driven by thevigorous hands of the Pennies down this passage as through a pipe. Instead of meeting our enemies on the street, we had been penned upwithin our own school. McIntyre's had come down the terrace and seizedan excellent position behind two Russian guns which stood opposite ourschool and about twenty feet from our front entrance. They had madethese guns into a kind of fort, from behind whose shelter, reinforced bya slight barricade of jackets, they commanded our entrance, and haddriven in the first boys who emerged, in hopeless discomfiture. It cameupon us that we had been shut up back and front, and shut up with thepoorest supply of snowballs and very little snow with which to repairour resources. 

[Illustration: "SEIZED AN EXCELLENT POSITION BEHIND TWO RUSSIAN GUNS. "]

While the younger boys raged and stormed in the safety of the corridors, Dunc and Speug retired for consultation. In two minutes they came outand gave their orders to the mass of boys gathered together round the"well" and in the "well, " and on the stairs and along the corridors. Itwas at this moment that Nestie Molyneux obtained a name which he coveredwith glory before the close of the day. As he had no class betweentwelve and one, he had been observing events, and with the aid of two orthree other little boys had done what he could to repair the neglect ofyesterday. In spite of a rain of snowballs he had availed himself of asheltered corner in the playground and had worked without ceasing at thepreparation of the balls. Every ball as it was made was dipped into apail of water and then, half frozen, was laid in a corner where it wassoon frozen altogether. "There'll be the feck o' two hundred ballsready. Ma certes! Nestie has a head on his shoulders. Now, " said Speug, speaking from halfway up the stair, "we'll start with thae balls for abeginnin', and wi' them we'll fecht our way out to the open. As soon aswe've cleared the background every ane o' the two junior classes is tomak' balls as hard as he can lick and bring them forward to the fightingline. 

"We'll divide the senior school into three divisions; Dunc will takethirty of ye and drive McIntyre frae the guns and along the terrace tillye turn them into Breadalbane Street. Thirty o' ye--and I want naeDowbiggins--'ll come with me, and we'll bring the Pennies aff the shedquicker than they got up, and drive them up the back streets till weland them wi' the rest in Breadalbane Street; and the juniors 'ill keepus well supplied with balls, else Dunc and me will ken the reason at twoo'clock. 

"Jock Howieson, ye're to tak' thirty swank fellows that can run and areno 'feart to be left alane. Ye'll rin round by the North Street and theCathedral and come down the top of Breadalbane Street till ye cut offMcIntyre's and the Pennies frae their schools. Dae nothin' till ye seeDunc and me drivin' the lot up Breadalbane Street, then come down fromthe back end of them wi' all your might, and I'm thinkin' they'll bewanting to be inside their ain yard afore a' be done. "

Dunc assembled his corps inside the front porch, each boy supplied withtwo balls and with twenty youngsters behind bringing up more. McIntyre'sballs were falling on the front wall and coming in through the porch. One of them struck Dunc on the side of the head, but he forbade anyreturn fire. 

"They're wastin' their balls, " he said; "it'll be the better for us";and then, looking round, "Are ye ready? Charge!" and shouting "Seminary!Seminary!" he led his division across the terrace and fell uponMcIntyre's behind the guns. It was a short, sharp scrimmage, duringwhich Dunc levelled the leader of McIntyre's, and then the enemy beganto retreat slowly down the terrace, with many a hand-to-hand encounterand scuffle on the snow. As soon as Dunc's division had cleared thefront, Jock Howieson collected his lads and started along the terrace inthe opposite direction at a sharp run, carrying no balls, for theyintended to make them on the scene of operation. When the other twodivisions were off, Speug addressed his faithful band. "MacFarlane, takesix birkies, climb up the waterspout, and clean the richt-hand shed, couping the Pennies into the street. Mackenzie, ye're no bad at thefightin'; tak' anither sax and empty the roof o' the left-hand shed, and'gin ye can clout that Penny that's sittin' on the riggin' it'll teachhim to keep in the street next day. 

"Noo, that leaves eighteen, and me and Bauldie and Jamie Johnston 'illlead ye down the passage. We'll need six balls each, as hard as ye mak''em, and the rest o' ye tak' two in yir arms and one in yir hand. Pityir bonnits in yir pocket--they'll no be muckle use--button yir jackets, and when the three o' us gae down the passage for ony sake follow closein behind. Just ae thing more, " said Speug, who was in his glory thatday. "I'll need a laddie to keep me gaein' with balls, and I want aladdie that has some spunk, for he'll hae a rough time. " Below thirtyof the junior school were waiting and looking at Speug like dogs for abiscuit. He threw his eye over the group, any one of which would havegiven his best knife and all his marbles, and thrown in a cricket batand his last kite, to have been chosen. 

"Nestie, " said Speug, "ye're little and ye're white and ye're terriblepolite, but there's a sperit in ye. Ye'll carry ma balls this day, andnoo, you juniors, aff to the ball-making, and see that Nestie's bonnet'swell filled, and there's no any of us wanting for a ball when we drivethe Pennies down the back road. " Then Speug moved to the back corridorand arranged his division, with Nestie behind him, and Bauldie and JamieJohnston on the right hand and on the left, Mackenzie's and MacFarlane'sdetachments close behind, who were to turn off to the right hand and theleft as they emerged from the corridor; the rest were to follow Speugthrough the passage of danger. Speug took two balls and placed them inthe hollow of his left arm, feeling them carefully to see that theywould leave a mark when they struck a Penny. The third he took in hisright hand, and Nestie had the reserve. 

"Noo, " he said, "gin anybody be feared he'd better gae in and sit dounbeside the fire with the Dowbiggins, " and since nobody responded to thisgenial invitation Speug gave one shout of "Seminary!" and in a minutewas across the playground and at the mouth of the passage, whileMackenzie and MacFarlane were already scrambling up the walls of thesheds. Covering his face with his left arm and sending his first balldirect into the face of the foremost Penny, and following it up with asecond and a third driven with unerring aim and the force of a catapolt, and receiving anything from twelve to twenty balls between him andBauldie and Johnston, the three led the way down the passage, Nestieclose behind Speug and handing him a new supply of balls. They met atthe outer end of the passage--the Pennies and Speug's lot--and for aboutthirty seconds they swayed in one mass of struggling, fighting, shoutingboy life, and then, so steady was the play of Speug's fists, so able theassistance of the other two, so strong the pressure from behind, and sorapid the shower of balls sent over Speug's head among the Pennies, thePennies gave way and Speug and his band burst into the back street, theleader with his jacket torn off his back, and his face bearing the scarsof conflict, but full of might, and Nestie with the balls behind him. 

The Seminary lads and the Pennies were now face to face in the backstreet, with a space of about ten yards between, and both parties madearrangements for the final conflict. The scouts of the Pennies could beseen bringing balls from Breadalbane Street, and the Pennies themselvesmade such hasty readjustments of their negligent attire as wererendered necessary by the vigour of the last fighting. Their commanderwas a sturdy lad about fifteen years of age, with a great shock of redhair and fists like iron. His favourite method of charge was to lead hisarmy in the form of an inverted V, he being himself at the apex, and toforce his way through the other side on the principle of a wedge. Speugdid not believe in this arrangement. He led himself in the centre andthrew out his two lieutenants far out on the right hand and on the left, so that when the Pennies forced their way into the middle of hisdivision, Bauldie and Johnson were on their right and leftflanks--tactics which in Speug's experience always caused dismay in theattacking force. The younger boys of the Seminary had by this time ampleresources of ammunition ready, working like tigers without jackets nowor bonnets, and as they brought out the supplies of balls through thepassage of victory they received nods of approval from Speug, each nodbeing something like a decoration. It was fine to see Speug examiningthe balls to see that they were properly made and of a hardness whichwould give satisfaction to the expectant Pennies. 

Some pleasant incidents occurred during this interlude. When theSeminary lads fought their way through the passage they cut off theretreat of three Pennies who were still fighting with MacFarlane on thetop of the right-hand shed. 

"What are ye daein' up there?" said Speug, with ironic politeness;"that's no' the ordinar' road into the Seminary;" and then, as theyhesitated on the edge of the water pipe, Speug conceived what was inthese days a fine form of humour. "Come down, " he said, "naebody 'illtouch ye"; and then he ordered an open passage to be made through theranks of the Seminaries. Down between two lines the unfortunate Pennieswalked, no one laying a hand upon them, but various humouristsexpressing their hopes that they had enjoyed the top of the shed, thatit wasn't MacFarlane that had given one of them a black eye, that theyhoped one of them hadn't lost his jacket on the roof of the shed, andthat they were none the worse for their exertion, and that they expectedto meet them later on--which gracious salutations the Pennies receivedin bitter silence as they ran the gauntlet; and when they had escapedclear of the Seminaries and stood halfway between the two armies theyturned round with insulting gestures, and one of them cried, "Ye'll getyir paiks (thrashing) for this or the day be done!"

Their arrival among their friends and the slight commotion which itcaused in the front ranks of the Pennies was a chance for Speug, whogave the signal for the charge and made himself directly for the leaderof the Pennies. No pen at this distance of time can describe theconflict between the two leaders, who fired forth balls at each other atclose distance, every one going to its mark, and one leaving anindelible impress upon Speug's ingenuous forehead. They then came toclose grip, and there was a tussle, for which both had been waiting formany a day. From fists, which were not quite ineffectual, they fell uponwrestling, and here it seemed that Redhead must have the advantage, forhe was taller in stature and more sinuous in body. During the wrestlethere was something like a lull in the fighting, and both Pennies andSeminaries, now close together, held their hands till Speug, with acunning turn of the leg that he had been taught by an English groom inhis father's stable, got the advantage, and the two champions came downin the snow, Redhead below. The Seminaries set up a shout of triumph, and the scouts running to and fro with the balls behind joined in with, "Well done, Speug!"

Speug had all the instincts of a true general and was not the man tospend his time in unprofitable exultation. It was a great chance to takethe Pennies when they were without their leader and discomfited by hisfall, and in an instant Speug was up, driving his way through the midstof the enemy, who were now divided in the centre, whilst Johnston andBauldie had crept up by the side of the houses on either side and wereattacking them in parallel lines. MacFarlane and Mackenzie had come downfrom the shed with their detachment and were busy in the rear of theSeminaries. Redhead fought like a hero, but was almost helpless in theconfusion, and thought it the best strategy to make a rush to the clearground in the rear of his position, calling his followers after him; andnow the Pennies gathered at the far end of the street, beaten in tacticsand in fighting, but ever strong in heart, and full of insolence. "That, " said Speug, wiping his face with his famous red handkerchiefwhich he carried in his trousers pocket, and hastily attending to someof his wounds, "that wesna' bad"; and then turning to Nestie, "Ye keepitclose, my mannie. " Speug's officers, such mighties as Bauldie andJohnston, MacFarlane and Mackenzie, all bearing scars, clustered roundtheir commander with expressions of admiration. "Yon was a bonny twirl, and you coupit him weel. " "Sall, they've gotten their licks, " whileSpeug modestly disclaimed all credit, and spoke generously of thePennies, declaring that they had fought well, and that Redhead nearlygot the mastery. 

At that moment a shout of "Seminary!" was heard in the rear of thePennies, and Speug knew that Duncan Robertson had driven McIntyre's thefull length of the terrace and was now fighting them in BreadalbaneStreet. "Forward!" cried Speug. "Dunc's on the back of them, " andRedhead at the same moment hurriedly withdrew his forces, covering hisretreat with a shower of balls, and united with McIntyre's, who wereretiring before Robertson and the second division of the Seminaries. Amid cries of "Seminary! Seminary!" Speug and Duncan met where the backstreet opens into Breadalbane Street, and their divisions amalgamated, exchanging notes on the battle and examining one another's personalappearance. There was not a bonnet to be seen, and not many jackets, which had either been left behind or thrown off or torn off in personalconflict with the Pennies; collars may have remained, but that no onecould tell, and there were some whose waistcoats were now held by onebutton. Two or three also had been compelled to drop out of activebattle and were hanging in the rear, rubbing their faces with snow andtrusting to be able to see clear enough for the final charge; and stillthe juniors were making their balls and had established a new magazineat the end of the terrace. Several of these impenitent little wretcheshad themselves been in the thick of the fight, and could be seenpointing proudly to a clout on the forehead and a cut on the lip. What atime certain mothers would have that evening when their warriors camehome, some of them without caps, which would never be recovered, most ofthem with buttonless waistcoats and torn jackets, half of them withdisfigured faces, all of them drenched to the skin, and every one ofthem full of infinite satisfaction and gladness of heart! Their fathers, who had heard about the battle before they came home and had not failedto discover who had won, being all Seminary lads themselves, would alsobe much lifted, but would feign to be extremely angry at the savageryof their boys, would wonder where the police were, would threaten theirsons with all manner of punishments if this ever happened again, andwould declare their intention of laying a complaint before the chiefconstable. As, however, it was absolutely necessary in the interests ofjustice that the whole facts should be known before they took action, they would skilfully extract the whole Homeric narrative, with everypersonal conflict and ruse of war, from their sons, and only when thelast incident had been related would announce their grave and finaldispleasure. 

As for the police, who were not numerous in Muirtown, and who lived onexcellent good terms with everybody, except tramps, they seemed to havea prophetic knowledge when a snow-fight was coming on, and were detainedby important duty in distant streets. It was always, however, believedby the Seminary that two of the police could be seen, one at thedistance of the bridge over the Tay, the other at the far extremity ofBreadalbane Street, following the fight with rapt attention, and in thecase of the Pennies winning, which had been their own school, smackingtheir lips and slapping their hands under pretence of warming themselvesin the cold weather, and in the event of the Seminaries winning marchingoff in opposite directions, lest they should be tempted to interfere, which they would have considered contrary to the rules of fair play, and giving their own school a mean advantage. Perhaps some ingenuousmodern person will ask, "What were the masters of the Seminary aboutduring this hour?" The Rector was sitting by the fire in hisretiring-room, reading a winter ode of Horace, and as faint sounds ofwar reached his ears he would stir the fire and lament, like the quietold scholar that he was, that Providence had made him ruler of such aband of barbarians; but he would also cherish the hope that hisbarbarians would not come off second. As for Bulldog, his mind was tornbetween two delights--the anticipation of the exercise which he wouldhave next day, and the pleasure which his lads were having to-day--andnothing more entirely endeared Bulldog to his savages than the factthat, instead of going home to dinner during this hour, which was hisusual custom, he contented himself with a biscuit. He was obliged to buyit in a baker's shop in Breadalbane Street, from which he could commanda perfect view of the whole battle, especially as he happened to standin the doorway of the shop, and never returned to school till the crisisof war was over. He was careful to explain to the school that he hadhimself gone for the purpose of identifying the ringleaders in mischief, and it was on such an occasion that Speug, keeping his right cheekimmovable towards Bulldog, would wink to the assembled school withirresistible effect. 

Nor ought one to forget the janitor of Muirtown Seminary, who had been asergeant in the Black Watch and had been wounded three times in theCrimean War. His orders, as given by the Rector and reinforced by alllaw-abiding parents, were to prevent any boy of the Seminary leaving theschool for the purpose of a snowball fight, and should such anunfortunate affair take place he was directed to plunge into the midstand by force of arm to bring the Seminaries home to their own fireside, leaving rough and rude schools like the Pennies and McIntyre's to fightat their wicked will. For did not the Seminary lads move in politesociety, except Speug, and were they not going to be, as they havebecome, clergymen and lawyers, and physicians, to say nothing of bailieson the bench and elders of the Kirk? These orders Sergeant DougalMcGlashan carried out, not so much in the bondage of the letter as inthe fulness of the spirit. Many were the conversations which Speug andhe had together in anticipation of the snow time, when you may believeif you please that that peaceable man was exhorting Speug to obedienceand gentleness, or if you please that he was giving the commander of theSeminary certain useful hints which he himself had picked up from the"red line" at Balaclava. Certain it is that when the Seminaries went outthat day in battle array the sergeant was engaged mending the fires withgreat diligence, so that he was not able to see them depart. Afterwardsit was the merest duty for him to stand at the end of the passage ofvictory, lest the Pennies or any other person should venture on anotheroutrage; and if he was late in calling his boys back from BreadalbaneStreet, that was only because the cold had made his wounds to smartagain, and he could only follow them in the rear till the battle wasover. When the evil was done there was no use of vain regret, and in theafternoon the sergeant stood beside the big fire and heard accounts ofthe battle from one and another, and then he would declare that therewere lads in Muirtown Seminary who would have done well at Inkermann andthe storming of the Redan. 

Breadalbane Street, which was broad and straight, with the back road tothe Seminary on the right hand, and the street to McIntyre's and thePennies on the left, had been the battle-ground of generations, for itgave opportunity for deploying in divisions, for front attack and forflank, as well as for royal charges which extended across the street. McIntyres and Pennies had been recruited from their several schools andsupplied afresh with ammunition. Redhead took command of the unitedforce and arranged them across the street in his favourite wedge, withthe base resting on the home street, and this time he gave the signal, and so impetuous was their charge that they drove their way almostthrough the ranks of the Seminaries, and Speug himself, through sheerweight of attack, was laid flat in the middle of the street. Robertsonand his officers rallied their forces, but it was possible that theSeminaries might have lost the day had it not been for the masterlyforesight of Speug and the opportune arrival of Jock Howieson. Thatworthy had taken his division by a circuitous route, in which they hadbeen obstructed by a miserable Episcopal school which wanted a fight onits own account and had to receive some passing attention. A littlelate, Howieson reached the Cathedral, and then, judging it better not tocome down Breadalbane Street, where his attack would have been exposed, he made his way on the right of the street by passages known only tohimself, and having supplied his division with ammunition from asnow-drift in a back entry, he came into the home street, which was theonly line of retreat for the enemy, and cut them off from their base. Leaving a handful of lads to prevent the scouts coming out from thePennies or the McIntyres with information, and driving before him theammunition train of the enemy, he came round into Breadalbane Streetwith twenty-five tough fighters raging and fuming for the battle andjust in the nick of time. It was hard for any fighting man to have spentsomething like half an hour wandering round circuitous streets andholding ridiculous conflicts with unknown schools when the battle ofWaterloo, with the fate of the Empire of Muirtown, was hanging in thebalance. 

Before Redhead had notice of the arrival of the new division they wereupon his rear, and a play of snowballs fell upon the back of thePennies. This was more than even veteran forces could endure, and inspite of the heroic efforts of Redhead, who fired his balls alternatelyback and forward, his forces fell into a panic. They broke and drovetheir way through Howieson's division, receiving severe punishment fromballs fired at a distance of a few feet, and then, in spite of theefforts of their officers, who fought till they were black and blue, butchiefly red, the enemy rushed down the home street and, sweeping therearguard of Howieson's before them like straws in a stream, made fortheir respective schools. The Seminaries in one united body, headed bythe three commanders and attended by the whole junior school, visitedthe Pennies' school first, whose gates were promptly closed, and havingchallenged the Pennies with opprobrious words to come out and fight likemen--Redhead being offered the chance of single combat with Dunc orSpeug or Jock Howieson--the Seminaries then made their way to McIntyre'sAcademy. As this unfortunate place of learning had no gate, Speug ledthe Seminaries into the centre of their courtyard, McIntyre's boyshaving no spirit left in them and being now hidden in the class-rooms. As they would not come out, in spite of a shower of courteousinvitations, Speug stood in the centre of their courtyard and called thegods to witness that it had been a fair fight and that the Seminarieshad won. A marvellous figure was he, without bonnet, without collar, without tie, without jacket, without waistcoat, with nothing on him buta flannel shirt and those marvellous horsey trousers, but glorious invictory. Taking a snowball from Nestie, who was standing by his side, openly and in face of McIntyre's masters, gathered at a window, he sentit with unerring aim through the largest pane of glass in McIntyre's ownroom. "That, " said Speug, "'ill tell ye the Seminaries have been here. "Then he collected his forces and led them home down the cross street andinto Breadalbane Street, down the middle of Breadalbane Street, andround the terrace, and in by the front door into the Seminary. As theycame down they sang, "Scots wha hae, " and the juniors, who had rushed onbefore, met them at the door and gave three cheers, first for Speug, then for Dunc, and then for Jock Howieson, which homage and tribute ofvictory Speug received with affected contempt but great pride of heart. In order to conceal his feelings he turned to his faithful henchman, little Nestie Molyneux, who, always a delicate-looking little laddie, was now an altogether abject spectacle, with torn clothes, drippinghair, and battered face. "Nestie, " said Speug, in hearing of the wholeschool, "ye're a plucky little deevil, " and although since then he hasbeen in many places and has had various modest triumphs, that stillremains the proudest moment in Nestie Molyneux's life. 

HIS PRIVATE CAPACITY

V

It is well enough for popular rulers like presidents to live in publicand shake hands with every person; but absolute monarchs, who governwith an iron hand and pay not the slightest attention to the publicmind, ought to be veiled in mystery. If Bulldog had walked homeward withhis boys in an affectionate manner, and inquired after their sisters, like his temporary assistant, Mr. Byles, or had played with interestingbabies on the North Meadow, as did Topp, the drawing-master--Augustus deLacy Topp--who wore a brown velvet jacket and represented sentiment in aform verging on lunacy; or if he had invited his classes to drink coffeein a very shabby little home, as poor Moossy did, and treated them toBeethoven's Symphonies, then even Jock Howieson, the stupidest lad inthe Seminary, would have been shocked, and would have felt that theCreation was out of gear. The last thing we had expected of Bulldog waspolite conversation, or private hospitality. His speech was confined tothe class-room, and there was most practical; and his hospitality, which was generous and widespread, was invariably public. His _rôle_ wasto be austere, unapproachable, and lifted above feeling, and had it notbeen for Nestie he had sustained it to the day of his death. 

Opinion varied about Bulldog's age, some insisting that he hadapproached his century, others being content with "Weel on to eighty. "None hinted at less than seventy. No one could remember his coming toMuirtown, and none knew whence he came. His birthplace was commonlybelieved to be the West Highlands, and it was certain that in dealingwith a case of aggravated truancy he dropped into Gaelic. BailieMcCallum used to refer in convivial moments to his schooldays underBulldog, and always left it to be inferred that had it not been for thattender, fostering care, he had not risen to his high estate in Muirtown. Fathers of families who were elders in the kirk, and verging on greyhair, would hear no complaints of Bulldog, for they had passed under theyoke in their youth, and what they had endured with profit--they nowsaid--was good enough for their children. He seemed to us in those dayslike Melchizedek, without father or mother, beginning or end of days;and now that Bulldog has lain for many a year in a quiet Perthshirekirkyard, it is hardly worth while visiting Muirtown Seminary. 

Every morning, except in vacation, he crossed the bridge at 8. 45, withsuch rigid punctuality that the clerks in the Post Office checked theclock by him, and he returned by the way he had gone, over the NorthMeadow, at 4. 15, for it was his grateful custom to close theadministration of discipline at the same hour as the teaching, considering with justice that any of the Muirtown varlets would rathertake the cane than be kept in, where from the windows he could see theNorth Meadow in its greenness, and the river running rapidly on anafternoon. It would have been out of place for Bulldog to live in aMuirtown street, where he must have been overlooked and could not havemaintained his necessary reserve. Years ago he had built himself a houseupon the slope of the hill which commanded Muirtown from the other sideof the river. It was a hill which began with wood and ended in a loftycrag; and even from his house, halfway up and among the trees, Bulldogcould look down upon Muirtown, compactly built together on the plainbeneath, and thinly veiled in the grey smoke which rose up lazily fromits homes. It cannot be truthfully said that Bulldog gave himself topoetry, but having once varied his usual country holiday by a visit toItaly, he ever afterwards declared at dinner-table that Muirtownreminded him of Florence as you saw that city from Fiesole, with theancient kirk of St. John rising instead of the Duomo, and the Tayinstead of the Arno. He admitted that Florence had the advantage in hercathedral, but he stoutly insisted that the Arno was but a poor, shrunken river compared with his own; for wherever Bulldog may have beenborn, he boasted himself to be a citizen of Muirtown, and alwaysbelieved that there was no river to be found anywhere like unto the Tay. His garden was surrounded with a high wall, and the entrance was by awooden door, and how Bulldog lived within these walls no one knew, butmany had imagined. Speug, with two daring companions, had once tracedBulldog home and seen him disappear through the archway, and then it wasin their plan to form a ladder one above the other, and that Peter, fromthe top thereof, should behold the mysterious interior and observeBulldog in private life; but even Speug's courage failed at the criticalmoment, and they returned without news to the disappointed school. 

Pity was not the characteristic of Seminary life in those days, but thehardest heart was touched with compassion when Nestie Molyneux lost hisfather and went to stay with Bulldog. The Seminary rejoiced in theirmaster; but it was with trembling, and the thought of spending theevening hours and all one's spare time in his genial company excited ourdarkest imagination. To write our copy-books and do our problems underBulldog's eye was a bracing discipline which lent a kind of zest tolife, but to eat and drink with Bulldog was a fate beyond words. 

As it was an article of faith with us that Bulldog was never perfectlyhappy except when he was plying the cane, it was taken for granted thatNestie would be his solitary means of relaxation, from the afternoon ofone day to the morning of the next, and when Nestie appeared, on thethird morning after his change of residence, the school was waiting toreceive him. 

His walking across the meadow by Bulldog's side, with his hands in hispockets, talking at his ease and laughing lightly, amazed us on firstsight, but did not count for much, because we considered this manner apolicy of expediency and an act of hypocrisy. After all, he wasonly doing what every one of us would have done in the samecircumstances--conciliating the tyrant and covering his own sufferings. We kept a respectful distance till Nestie parted with his guardian, andthen we closed in round him and licked our lips, for the story thatNestie could tell would make any Indian tale hardly worth the reading. 

Babel was let loose, and Nestie was pelted with questions which came ina fine confusion from many voices, and to which he was hardly expectedto give an immediate answer. 

"What like is the cane he keeps at home?" "Has Bulldog tawse in thehouse?" "Div ye catch it regular?" "Does he come after you to yourbedroom?" "Have ye onything to eat?" "Is the garden door locked?" "Couldye climb over the wall if he was thrashing you too sore?" "Did he letye bring yir rabbits?" "Have ye to work at yir lessons a' night?" "Whatdoes Bulldog eat for his dinner?" "Does he ever speak to you?" "Does heever say onything about the school?" "Did ye ever see Bulldog sleeping?""Are ye feared to be with him?" "Would the police take ye away if he washurting ye?" "Is there ony other body in the house?" "Would he let yemake gundy (candy) by the kitchen fire?" "Have ye to work all night atyir books?" "Does he make ye brush his boots?" "What do ye call him inthe house?" "Would ye call him Bulldog for a shilling's-worth of gundyif the garden gate was open?" "Has he ony apples in the garden?" "Wouldye daur to lay a finger on them?" "How often have ye to wash yir hands?""Would ye get yir licks if yir hair wasna brushed?" And then Speuginterfered, and commanded silence that Nestie might satisfy thecuriosity of the school. 

"Haud yir blethering tongues!" was his polite form of address. "Noo, Nestie, come awa' wi' yir evidence. What like is't to live wi' Bulldog?"

"It's awfully g-good of you fellows to ask how I'm getting on withBully, " and Nestie's eyes lit up with fun, for he'd a nice little senseof humour, and never could resist the temptation of letting it play uponour slow-witted, matter-of-fact intellects. "And I declare you seem toknow all about what h-happens. I'll j-just tell you something about it, but it'll make you creepy, " and then all the circle gathered in roundNestie. "I have to rise at five in the morning, and if I'm not down athalf-past, Bulldog comes for me with a c-cane" (Howieson at this pointrubbed himself behind gently). "Before breakfast we have six 'p-props'from Euclid and two vulgar f-fractions" (a groan from the school): "forbreakfast we've porridge and milk, and I have to keep time withBulldog--one, two, three, four--with the spoonfuls. He's got the c-caneon the table. " ("Gosh" from a boy at the back, and general sympathy. )"He has the t-tawse hung in the lobby so as to be handy. " ("It cowesall. ") "There are three regular c-canings every day, one in the morning, and one in the afternoon, and one before you go to bed. " At this pointSpeug, who had been listening with much doubt to Nestie's account, andknew that he had a luxuriant imagination, interfered. 

"Nestie, " he said, "ye're an abandoned little scoundrel, and ye'retelling lees straicht forward, " and the school went into the class-roomdivided in opinion. Some were suspicious that Nestie had been feedingtheir curiosity with highly spiced meat, but others were inclined tobelieve anything of Bulldog's household arrangements. During the hourSpeug studied Nestie's countenance with interest, and in the break helaid hold of that ingenious young gentleman by the ear and led him apartinto a quiet corner, where he exhorted him to unbosom the truth. Nestiewhispered something in Speug's ear which shook even that worthy'scomposure. 

"Did ye say rabbits?"

"Lop-ears, " said Nestie after a moment's silence, and Speug was moreconfounded than he had ever been in all his blameless life. 

"Ernest Molyneux, div ye kin whar ye 'ill go to if ye tell lees. "

"I'm telling the t-truth, Speug, and I never tell lies, but sometimes Icompose t-tales. Lop-ear rabbits, and he feeds them himself. "

"Will ye say 'as sure as death'?"--for this was with us the final testof truth. 

"As sure as death, " said Nestie, and that afternoon Speug had so much tothink about that he gave almost no heed when Bulldog discovered him withnothing on the sheet before him except a remarkably correct drawing oftwo lop-eared rabbits. 

Speug and Nestie crossed the North Meadow together after school, andbefore they parted at the bridge Nestie entreated the favour of a visitin his new home that evening from Speug; but, although modesty was notSpeug's prevailing characteristic, he would on no account accept theflattering invitation. Maybe he was going to drive with his father, whowas breaking-in a new horse, or maybe he was going out on the river in aboat, or maybe the stable gates were to be shut and the fox turned loosefor a run, or maybe----

[Illustration: "NESTIE WHISPERED SOMETHING IN SPEUG'S EAR. "]

"Maybe you are going to learn your l-lessons, Speug, for once in yourlife, " said Nestie, who, his head on one side, was studying Speug'sembarrassment. 

"A'm to do naething o' the kind, " retorted Speug, turning a dark red atthis insult. "Nane o' yir impidence. "

"Maybe you're f-frightened to come, " said Nestie, and dodged at the sametime behind a lamp-post. "Why, Speug, I didn't know you weref-frightened of anything. "

"Naither I am, " said Speug stoutly; "an' if it had been Jock Howiesonsaid that, I'd black his eyes. What sud I be frightened of, ye miserablelittle shrimp?"

"Really, I don't know, Speug, " said Nestie; "but just let me g-guess. Itmight be climbing the hill; or did you think you might meet one of the'Pennies, ' and he would fight you; or, Speug--an idea occurs to me--doyou feel as if you did not want to spend an hour--just a nice, quiethour--all alone with Bulldog? You and he are such f-friends, Speug, inthe Seminary. Afraid of Bulldog? Speug, I'm ashamed of you, when poorlittle me has to live with him now every day. "

"When I get a grip o' you, Nestie Molyneux, I'll learn ye to give mechat. I never was afraid of Bulldog, and I dinna care if he chases meround the garden wi' a stick, but I'm no coming. "

"You _are_ afraid, Speug; you _dare_ not come. " And Nestie keptcarefully out of Speug's reach. 

"You are a liar, " cried Speug. "I'll come up this very night at seveno'clock, but I'll no come in unless ye're at the garden door. "

Speug had fought many pitched battles in his day, and was afraid neitherof man nor beast, but his heart sank within him for the first time inhis life when he crossed the bridge and climbed the hill to theresidence of Mr. Dugald MacKinnon. Nothing but his pledged word, and areputation for courage which must not be tarnished, since it rested onnothing else, brought him up the lane to Bulldog's door. He was beforehis time, and Nestie had not yet come to meet him, and he could allowhis imagination to picture what was within the walls, and what mightbefall his unfortunate self before he went down that lane again. His oneconsolation and support was in the lop-eared rabbits; and if it were thecase, as Nestie had sworn with an oath which never had been broken atthe Seminary, that there were rabbits within that dreadful enclosure, there was hope for him; for if he knew about anything, he knew aboutrabbits, and if anyone had to do with rabbits--and although it wasincredible, yet had not Nestie sworn it with an oath?--there must besome bowels of mercy even in Bulldog. Speug began to speculate whetherhe might not be able, with Nestie's loyal help, to reach the rabbits andexamine thoroughly into their condition, and escape from the gardenwithout a personal interview with its owner; and at the thought thereofSpeug's heart was lifted. For of all his exploits which had delightedthe Seminary, none, for its wonder and daring, its sheer amazingness, could be compared with a stolen visit to Bulldog's rabbits. "Nestie, " hemurmured to himself, as he remembered that little Englishman's prodigalimagination, "is a maist extraordinary leear, but he said 'as sure asdeath. '"

"Why, Speug, is that you? You ought to have opened the door. Come alongand shake hands with the master; he's just l-longing to see you. " AndSpeug was dragged along the walk between the gooseberry bushes, which inno other circumstances would he have passed unnoticed, and was taken upto be introduced with the air of a dog going to execution. He heardsomeone coming down the walk, and he lifted up his eyes to know theworst, and in that moment it appeared as if reason had deserted theunhappy Speug. It was the face of Bulldog, for the like of thatcountenance could not be found on any other man within the UnitedKingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Yes, it was Bulldog, and thatSpeug would be prepared to swear in any court of justice. The nose andthe chin, and the iron-grey whiskers and hair, and above all thoserevolving eyes. There could not be any mistake. But what had happened toBulldog's face, for it was like unto that of another man? The sternnesshad gone out of it, and--there was no doubt about it--Bulldog wassmiling, and it was an altogether comprehensive and irresistible smile. It had taken the iron lines out of his face and shaped his lips to thekindliest curve, and deprived his nose of its aggressive air, and robbedthe judicial appearance of his whiskers, and it had given him--it was apositive fact--another pair of eyes. They still revolved, but not nowlike the guns in the turret of a monitor dealing destruction right andleft. They were shining and twinkling like the kindly light from aharbour tower. There never was such a genial and humoursome face, sofull of fun and humanity, as that which looked down on the speechlessSpeug. Nor was that all; it was a complete transformation. Where werethe pepper-and-salt trousers and the formal black coat and vest, whichseemed somehow to symbolise the inflexible severity of Bulldog's reign?and the hat, and the gloves, and the stick--what had become of histrappings? Was there ever such a pair of disreputable old slippers, downat the heel, out at the sides, broken at the seams, as those thatcovered the feet of Bulldog in that garden. The very sight of thoseslippers, with their suggestion of slackness and unpunctuality andignorance of all useful knowledge and general Bohemianism, was the firstthing which cheered the heart of Speug. Those slippers would tolerate noproblems from Euclid and would laugh a cane to scorn. Where did he everget those trousers, and from whose hands did they originally come, baggy at the knee and loose everywhere, stained with garden mould andtorn with garden bushes?

[Illustration: "SPEUG WAS DRAGGED ALONG THE WALK. "]

Without question it was a warm night in that sheltered place on the sideof the hill; but would any person believe that the master ofmathematics, besides writing and arithmetic, in Muirtown Seminary, wasgoing about in his garden, and before the eyes of two of his pupils, without the vestige of a waistcoat. Speug now was braced for wonders, but even he was startled with Bulldog's jacket, which seemed of earlierage than the trousers, with which it had no connexion in colour. It mayonce have had four buttons, but only two were left now; there was a tearin its side that must have been made by a nail in the garden wall, thehandle of a hammer projected from one pocket, and a pruning-knife fromthe other. And if there was not a pipe in Bulldog's mouth, stuck in theside of his cheek, "as sure as death!" There was a knife in his hand, with six blades and a corkscrew and a gimlet and the thing for takingthe stones out of a horse's hoof--oath again repeated--and Bulldog wastrying the edge of the biggest blade upon his finger. Speug, nowascending from height to height, was not surprised to see no necktie, and would have been prepared to see no collar. He had now even a wildhope that when he reached Bulldog's head it might be crowned with aHighland bonnet, minus the tails; but instead thereof there was a hat, possibly once a wide-awake, so bashed, and shapeless, and discoloured, and worn so rakishly, partly on the back and partly on the side of hishead, that Speug was inwardly satisfied, and knew that no evil couldbefall him in that garden. 

"Speug, my mannie, how are ye?" said this amazing figure. "Ye've beenlong of coming. There's something like a knife, eh!" and Bulldog openedup the whole concern and challenged Speug to produce his knife, whichwas not so bad after all, for it had six departments, and one of themwas a file, which was wanting in Bulldog's. 

"Show the master your peerie, Speug, " said Nestie. "It's split more topsthan any one in the school; it's a r-ripper, " and Nestie exhibited itsdeadly steel point with much pride, while Speug endeavoured to lookunconscious as the owner of this instrument of war. 

"Dod, I'll have a try myself, " said Bulldog. "It's many a year sinceI've spun a top. Where's yir string?" and he strode up the walk windingthe top, and the boys behind looked at one another, while Nestietriumphed openly. 

"Are you frightened, Speug?" he whispered. "Ain't he great? And just youwait; you haven't begun to see things yet, not h-half. "

Upon the doorstep Bulldog spun the top with a right hand that had notlost its cunning, but rather had been strengthened by much caneexercise. "It's sleeping, " he cried in huge delight. "If you dare totouch it, pity you!" but no one wished to shorten its time, and thethree hung over that top with fond interest, as Bulldog timed theperformance with his watch, which he extricated from his trouser pocket. 

"Ye're a judge of rabbits, Speug, " said the master. "I would like tohave yir advice, " and as they went down through the garden they haltedat a place, and the robins came and sat on Bulldog's shoulder and tookcrumbs out of his hand, and a little further on the thrushes bade himwelcome, and he showed the boys where the swallows had built every year, and they also flew round his head. 

"If ye dinna meddle with them, the birds 'ill no be afraid o' you, willthey, Dandie?" and the old terrier which followed at his heels waggedhis tail and indicated that he also was on good terms with every livingthing in the garden. 

No one in the Seminary ever could be brought to believe it, evenalthough Speug tried to inculcate faith with his fists, that Bulldog hadcarried out a litter of young rabbits in his hat for inspection, andthat, before the three of them laid themselves out for a supper ofstrawberries, Speug had given to his master the best knowledge at hiscommand on the amount of green food which might be given with safety toa rabbit of adult years, and had laid it down with authority that amoderate amount of tea-leaves and oatmeal might be allowed as anoccasional dainty. 

After the attack on the strawberries, in which Speug greatlydistinguished himself, and Bulldog urged him on with encouraging words, they had tarts and lemonade in the house, where not a sign of cane ortawse could be found. Bulldog drew the corks himself, and managed onceto drench Speug gloriously, whereat that worthy wiped his face with hisfamous red handkerchief and was inordinately proud, while Nestiedeclared that the thing had been done on purpose, and Bulldog threatenedhim with the tawse for insulting his master. 

"Div ye think, Speug, ye could manage a piece of rock before ye go, " andBulldog produced the only rock that a Muirtown man will ever think wortheating--Fenwick's own very best, thick, and pure, and rich, andwell-flavoured; and when Speug knew not whether to choose thepeppermint, that is black and white, or the honey rock, which is brownand creamy, or the cinnamon, which in those days was red outside andwhite within, his host insisted that he should take a piece of each, andthey would last him till he reached his home. 

"Speug, " and Bulldog bade farewell to his pupil at the garden gate, "ye're the most aggravating little scoundrel in Muirtown Seminary, andthe devilry that's in you I bear witness is bottomless; but ye're finecompany, and ye 'ill, maybe, be a man yet, and Nestie and me will beglad to see ye when ye're no engaged with yir study. Ye 'ill no forgetto come, Peter. "

Peter's tongue, which had been wagging freely among the rabbits, againforsook him, but he was able to indicate that he would seize an earlyopportunity of again paying his respects to Mr. Dugald MacKinnon in hisown home; and when Bulldog thrashed him next day for not having preparedan exercise the night before, the incident only seemed to completeSpeug's pride and satisfaction. 

THE DISGRACE OF MR. BYLES

VI

Bulldog's southern assistant had tried the patience of the Seminary byvarious efforts to improve its mind and manners, but when he proposed atthe beginning of the autumn term to occupy Saturdays with botanicalexcursions to Kilspindie Woods, which, as everybody knows, are threemiles from Muirtown, and a paradise of pheasants, it was felt that ifthere was any moral order in the universe something must happen. Fromthe middle of September, when the school opened, on to the beginning ofOctober, when football started, our spare time was given to kites, whichwe flew from the North Meadow in the equinoctial gales gloriously. Speughad one of heroic size, with the figure of a dragon upon it painted inblue and yellow and red--the red for the fire coming out of hismouth--and a tail of eight joints, ending in a bunch of hay fastenedwith a ribbon. None but a sportsman like Speug could have launched themonster from the ground--bigger than Peter by a foot--and nursed itthrough the lower spaces till it caught the wind, and held it in thehigher as it tore upwards and forwards till the dragon was but the sizeof a man's hand in the clear autumn sky. Then Peter would lie down uponhis back, with his hands below his head, and the stick with the kitestring beneath his feet, and gaze up at the speck above, with anexpression so lifted above this present world that a circle of juniorscould only look at him with silent admiration and speculate whether theywould ever become so good and great. 

It must not be thought, however, that kite-flying was chiefly done uponyour back, for it gave endless opportunities for intricate manoeuvresand spectacular display. When Peter was in the vein he would collecttwelve mighties--each with a kite worth seeing--and bringing the kiteslow enough for the glory of their size and tails to be visible theywould turn and wheel and advance and retire, keeping line and distancewith such accuracy that Sergeant McGlashan would watch the review withkeen interest and afterwards give his weighty approval. Then the bandwould work their way up to the head of the Meadow in the teeth of anorth-wester, and forming in line, with half a dozen yards between eachboy, would let the kites go and follow them at the run as the kites torethrough the air and almost pulled their owners' arms out of the sockets. It was so fine a demonstration that the women bleaching their clotheswould pick up half a dozen of the goodman's shirts to let Speug keep hiscourse--knowing very well that he would have kept it otherwise over theshirts--and golfers, who expect everyone to get out of their way on painof sudden death, would stop upon the putting green to see the kites godown in the wind with the laddies red-faced and bareheaded at theirheels. If the housewives shook their heads as they spread out the shirtson the grass again--weighing them down with clean stones that they mightnot follow the kites--it was with secret delight, for there is nowholesome woman who does not rejoice in a boy and regard his mostvexatious mischief with charity. And old Major MacLeod, the keenest ofgolfers and the most touchy of Celts, declared that this condemned oldIsland was not dead yet when it could turn out such a gang of sturdyyoung ruffians. And it was instead of such a mighty ploy that Mr. Bylesproposed to take the Seminary for a botanical excursion. 

It was in the mathematical class-room that Mr. Byles announced the newdeparture, and, even if Bulldog had not been keeping watch with aninscrutable countenance, the school was too much amazed to interrupt. Having touched on the glories of the creation amid which we lived, Mr. Byles pointed out, in what the newspapers call "neat and well-chosenterms, " that it was not enough to learn mathematics as they all did sodiligently--Jock Howieson's eye turned instinctively to Bulldog'scane--but they must also know some natural science in order to become, as he hoped they would, cultured men--Speug was just able to cast alonging glance at Thomas John. That no pursuit was easier and moredelightful than botany, especially among wild flowers. That on Saturdayhe proposed to go with as many as would join him to ransack thetreasures of Kilspindie Woods. That these woods were very rich, hebelieved, in flowers, among which he mentioned wild geraniums--at whichthe school began to recover and rustle. That the boys might dry thegeraniums and make books for Christmas presents with them, and that hehoped to see a herbarium in the Seminary containing all the wild flowersof the district. The school was now getting into good spirits, andBulldog allowed his eye to fall on Speug. That any boy who desired toimprove his mind was to put on his oldest suit and bring a bag to carrythe plants in and be in front of the Seminary at nine to-morrow. ThenBulldog brought his cane down on the desk with energy and dismissed theschool, and Nestie told Peter that his mouth had begun to twitch. 

Outside the school gathered together on the terrace around the Russianguns, which was our Forum, and after five seconds' pause, during whichwe gathered inspiration from each others' faces, a great shout oflaughter went up to the sky, full-toned, unanimous, prolonged. Any senseof humour in the Seminary was practical, and Mr. Byles's botany class, with expeditions, was irresistible. 

"Geranniums!" cried Howieson, who was immensely tickled; "it cowes a'. An' what was the ither flooer--'herbarries'? It's michty; it'ill bepoppies an' mustard seed next. Speug, ye'ill be making a book for apresent to Bulldog. "

"Tak care o' yirsel, " Bauldie shouted to the Dowbiggins, who were makingoff, as mass meetings did not agree with them, "an' see ye dinna wet yirfeet or dirty yir hands. Ye'ill get yir wheeps at home if ye do. Give usa bit o' Byles, Nestie, " and then there was instant silence, for Nestiehad a nice little trick of mimicry which greatly endeared him to aschool where delicate gifts were rare. 

"S-silence, if you please, " and Nestie held up his hand with Mr. Byles'sfavourite polite deprecating gesture. "I hear a smile. Remember, d-dearboys, that this is a serious s-subject. Do p-please sit quiet, PeterMcGuffie; your fidgetin' is very t-tryin' indeed, and I 'ope, I meanh-hope, you will make an effort to l-learn. This, my l-lads, is a commonobject of Nature which I 'old, that is hold, in my h-hands--Howieson, Imust ask you not to annoy Thomas John Dowbiggin--the c-colour is alovely gold, and yet--no talking, if you please, it is r-rude--we passit every day without n-notice. Each boy may take a dandelion h-home tohis sister. Now go hout . .. Or rather out, quietly. "

"Gosh, it's just Byles to the ground!" cried Bauldie; and Johnstonpassed a half stick of gundy to Nestie to refresh him after his labours. "Are ony o' you chaps goin'? It wud be worth seein' Byles traking thro'the Kilspindie Woods, with thae bleatin' sheep o' Dowbiggins at hisheels, carryin' an airmful o' roots and sic like. "

"You'ill no catch me tramping oot at the tail o' Byles and a litter o'Dowbiggins!"--and Jock was very emphatic. "Dod, it'ill just be like aprocession o' MacMuldrow's lassies, two and two, and maybe airm inairm!"

This fearful and malignant suggestion settled the matter for theSeminary, as a score of its worthies marching across the bridge in theinterests of science, like a boarding-school, would be a scandal forever. So it was agreed that a body of sympathisers should see the Bylesexpedition off next morning, and then hold a field day of kites in themeadow. 

The deterioration of the best is the worst, and that means that when aprim, conventional, respectable man takes in his head to dress as aBohemian, the effect will be remarkable. Byles had been anxious to showthat he could be quite the gay rustic when he pleased, and he was got upin a cap, much crushed, and a grey flannel shirt, with a collarcorresponding, and no tie, and a suit of brown tweeds, much stained withfutile chemical experiments. He was also equipped with a large canvasbag, slung over his shoulder, and a hammock net, which he explainedcould be slung from a tree and serve as a resting-place if it were dampbeneath. The Dowbiggins had entered into the spirit of the thing, andwere in clothes reserved for their country holidays. They had each anumbrella, large and bulgy, and altogether were a pair of objects to whomno one would have lent a shilling. Cosh, whose attack on Nestie made hima social outcast, had declared himself a convert to natural science, andwas sucking up to Byles, and two harmless little chaps, who thought thatthey would like to know something about flowers, made up the BotanicalSociety. 

They were a lonely little group standing on the terrace, while Mr. Byleswas securing a trowel and other instruments of war from his room, but alarge and representative gathering of the Seminary did their best tocheer and instruct them. 

Howieson insisted that the bottle of milk which bulged from the bag ofthe younger Dowbiggin contained spirituous liquors, and warned the twojuniors to keep clear of him and to resist every temptation to drinking. He also expressed an earnest hope that a rumour flying round the schoolabout tobacco was not true. But the smell on Dowbiggin's clothes washorrid. Cosh was affectionately exhorted to have a tender care of hishealth and personal appearance, not to bully Lord Kilspindie'sgamekeepers, nor to put his foot into a steel trap, nor to meddle withthe rabbits, nor to fall into the Tay, but above all things not to telllies. 

Thomas John was beset with requests--that he would leave a lock of hishair in case he should not return, that he would mention the name of thepawn-broker from whom he got his clothes, that he would bring home abouquet of wild flowers for Bulldog, that he would secure a supply ofturnips to make lanterns for Halloween, that he would be kind to Mr. Byles and see that he took a rest in his net, that he would be carefulto gather up any "h's" Mr. Byles might drop on the road, and that heshould not use bad language under any circumstances. 

"Never mind what those boys say, Thomas, " said Mr. Byles, who had comeout in time to catch the last exhortation: "it is far better tohimprove, I mean cultivate, the mind than to fly kites like a set ofchildren; but we all hope that you will have a nice fly, don't we, boys?" And sarcasm from so feeble a quarter might have provoked ademonstration had not Byles and his flock been blotted out by an amazingcircumstance. As the botanists started, Speug, who had maintained anunusual silence all morning, joined the body along with Nestie, and gaveMr. Byles to understand that he also was hungering for scientificresearch. After their friends had recovered themselves they buzzed roundthe two, who were following the Dowbiggins with an admirable affectationof sedateness, but received no satisfaction. Speug contented himselfwith warning off a dozen henchmen who had fallen in by him with the ideaof forming a mock procession, and then giving them a wink ofextraordinary suggestiveness. But Nestie was more communicative, andexplained the situation at length----

"Peter was a b-botanist all the time, but he did not know it; he fairlyloves g-geranniums, and is sorry that he wasted his time on k-kites andsnowballs. We are going to himprove our m-minds, and we don't want youto trouble us. " But this was not knowledge. 

It remained a mystery, and when Jock and Bauldie tailed off at thebridge, and Speug, halfway across, turned round and winked again, it waswith regret that they betook themselves to their kites, and more thanonce they found themselves casting longing glances to the distant woods, where Speug was now pursuing the study of botany. 

"Bauldie, " said Jock suddenly, as the kites hung motionless in the sky, "this is weel enough, but tak' my word for't it's nothing to the gamethey're playin' in yon woods. "

"Div ye mean howkin' geranniums? for I canna see muckle game in that: Iwould as soon dig potatoes. " Bauldie, though a man of his hands, had aprosaic mind and had little imagination. 

"Geranniums! ger---- havers, that's no' what Speug is after, you bet. He's got a big splore (exploit) on hand or he never crossed MuirtownBrig in such company. Man, Bauldie, I peety Byles, I do. Peter'ill losethe lot o' them in the woods or he'ill stick them in a bog, or"--andJock could hardly hold his kite--"what div ye say to this, man? he'illrow them over to Woody Island and leave them there till Monday, withnaething but bread and milk and the net to sleep in. " And the joy ofJock and Bauldie at this cheerful prospect was rather a testimony totheir faith in Peter's varied ability than a proof of sympathy withtheir fellow-creatures. 

If Speug was playing the fox he gave no sign on the way to the woods, for he was a model of propriety and laid himself out to be agreeable. Heshowed an unwonted respect for the feelings of the Dowbiggins, so thatthese two young gentlemen relaxed the vigilant attention with which theyusually regarded Speug, and he was quite affable with Cosh. As for themaster, Peter simply placed himself at Mr. Byles's service, expatiatingon the extent of the woods and their richness in flowers--"just fairscatted up wi' geranniums and the rest o' them:" offering to take theexpedition by the nearest way to the treasures, and especially insistingon the number and beauty and tameness of the pheasants, till Mr. Byleswas charmed and was himself surprised at the humanising influence ofscientific pursuits. 

Nor had Peter boasted vainly of his wood lore, for he led them by sodirect a way that, before they came to the place of flowers, theexpedition--except the two little chaps, whom Speug sent round inNestie's charge, to a selected rendezvous as being next door tobabies--had climbed five dykes, all with loose stones, fought throughthree thickets very prickly indeed, crawled underneath two hedges, crossed three burns, one coming up to the knees, and mired themselvestimes without number. Cosh had jostled against Speug in leaping from onedry spot to another and come down rolling in the mud, which made hisappearance from behind wonderful; Speug, in helping Thomas John out of avery entangling place, had been so zealous that the seat had been almostentirely detached from Thomas John's trousers, and although Mr. Byleshad done his best with pins, the result was not edifying; his brother'sstraw hat had fallen in the exact spot where Speug landed as he jumpedfrom a wall, and was of no further service, and so the youngerDowbiggin--"who is so refined in his ways, " as his mother used tosay--wore as his headgear a handkerchief which had been used forcleaning the mud from his clothes. Upon Mr. Byles, whom fate might havespared, misfortunes had accumulated. His trousers had been sadly mangledfrom the knee downwards as he crawled through a hole, and had to bewound round his legs with string, and although Speug had pulled his capout of a branch, he had done his work so hastily as to leave the peakbehind, and he was so clumsy, with the best intentions, that he allowedanother branch to slip, which caught Mr. Byles on the side of the headand left a mark above his eye, which distinctly suggested a prizefightto anyone not acquainted with that gentleman's blameless character. Peter himself had come unscathed from the perils of land and water, savea dash of mud here and there and a suspicion of wet about his feet, which shows how bad people fare better than good. The company was sobedraggled and discouraged that their minds did not seem set on wildflowers, and in these circumstances Peter, ever obliging and thoughtful, led the botanists to a pleasant glade, away from thickets and bogs, where the pheasants made their home and swarmed by hundreds. Mr. Byleswas much cheered by this change of environment, and grew eloquent on thegraceful shape and varied plumage of the birds. They were so friendlythat they gathered round the party, which was not wonderful, as a keeperfed them every day, but which Mr. Byles explained was due to theinstinct of the beautiful creatures, "who know, my dear boys, that welove them. " He enlarged on the cruelty of sport, and made the Dowbigginspromise that they would never shoot pheasants or any other game, andthere is no reason to doubt that they kept their word, as they did notknow one end of a gun from another, and would no sooner have dared tofire one than they would have whistled on Sunday. A happy thoughtoccurred to Mr. Byles, and he suggested that they should now have theirlunch and feed the birds with the fragments. He was wondering alsowhether it would be wrong to snare one of the birds in the net, just tohold it in the hand and let it go again. 

[Illustration: "THEY WERE SO FRIENDLY THAT THEY GATHERED ROUND THEPARTY. "]

When things had come to this pass--and he never had expected anything sogood--Speug withdrew unobtrusively behind a clump of trees, and then ranswiftly to a hollow where Nestie was waiting with the juniors. 

"Noo, my wee men, " said Peter to the innocents, "div ye see that path?Cut along it as hard as ye can leg, and it 'ill bring you to theMuirtown Road, and never rest till ye be in your own houses. For Bylesand these Dowbiggins are carryin' on sic a game wi' Lord Kilspindie'spheasants that I'm expectin' to see them in Muirtown jail before nicht. Ye may be thankful, " concluded Peter piously, "that I savit ye from siccompany. "

"Nestie, " Peter continued, when the boys had disappeared, "I've neverclypit (told tales) once since I cam to the Seminary, and it's no' anice job, but div ye no' think that the head keeper should know thatpoachers are in the preserves?"

"It's a d-duty, Peter, " as they ran to the keeper's house, "especiallywhen there's a g-gang of them and such b-bad-looking fellows--v-vicejust written on their faces. It's horried to see boys so young and sow-wicked. "

"What young prodigals are yon comin' skelpin' along, as if the dogs wereaifter them?" and the head keeper came out from the kennels. "Oh, it'syou, Speug--and what are you doin' in the woods the day? there's no eggsnow. " For sporting people are a confederacy, and there was not acoachman or groom, or keeper or ratcatcher, within twelve miles ofMuirtown, who did not know Mr. McGuffie senior, and not many who did notalso have the acquaintance of his hopeful son. 

"Nestie and me were just out for a run to keep our wind richt, an' wecam on a man and three boys among the pheasants in the low park. "

"Among the what? Meddlin' with Lord Kilspindie's birds?"

"Well, I dinna ken if they were juist poachin', but they were feedin'them, and we saw a net. "

"Sandie, " shouted the head keeper, "and you, Tom, get up out of yir bedsthis meenut; the poachers are after the pheasants. My word, takin' themalive, as I'm a livin' man, to sell them for stock: and broad daylight;it beats everything. He 'ill be an old hand, frae Dundee maist likely. And the impidence o't, eleven o'clock in the forenoon an' the end o'September. Dod: it's a depairture in poachin'. " And as the sight of Mr. Byles burst on his view, surrounded by trustful birds, and the twoDowbiggins trying very feebly to drop the net on a specially venturesomeone, the head keeper almost lost the power of speech. 

"Dinna let us interrupt you, " and Mr. Byles looked up to see three armedkeepers commanding their helpless party, and one of them purple withrage. "I hope we don't intrude; maybe we could give you a hand incatchin' the birds, and if a spring-cart would be of ony use . .. Confound your cheek!

"Gathering flowers, are ye, and gave the pheasants a biscuit, did ye, and the boys thought they would like to stroke one, would they? How isthat, lads? I've seen two or three poachers in my time, but forbrazen-faced lyin' I've never seen your match. Maybe you're aSabbath-school out for a trip, or an orphan asylum?

"Assistant mathematical master at the Seminary, that's what you are, isit, ye awfu' like blackguard, an' the laddies are the sons o' arespectable Free Kirk minister, the dirty dogs? Are ye sure ye're no'the principal o' Edinburgh University? Tak' yir time and try again. I'menjoying it. Is't by the hundred ye sell them, and wud it be a leebertyto ask for whose preserves? Dash the soople tongue o' ye. 

"If ye dare to put yir hand in a pocket, I'll lodge a charge o' shot inye: we'ill hae nae pistol-work in Kilspindie Woods. Come along wi' ye, professor an' students, an' I'll give ye a ride into Muirtown, an'we'ill just be in time to catch the magistrate. He hasna tried a learnedinstitution like this since he mounted the bench. March in front, butdinna try to run, or it will be the waur for ye. Ma certes, sic a bando' waufies!"

Then those two officers of justice, Peter and Nestie, having seen allwithout being seen, now started for Muirtown to gather the kite-playersand as many of the Seminary as could be found to see the arrival of thebotanists. They were brought in a large spring-cart--Mr. Byles seatedbetween the head keeper and the driver, in front, and the other threehuddled like calves in the space behind--a mass of mud, tatters, andmisery, from which the solemn, owl-like face of Thomas John, whose capwas now gone also, looked out in hopeless amazement. As they were handedover to the police the Seminary, which had been at first struck dumb, recovered speech and expressed itself with much vivacity. 

"Who would have thought Byles had as much spirit? Sall, he 'ill berinnin' horses at Muirtown Races yet;" "For ony sake walk backwards, Thomas--yir breeks are barely decent;" "The pheasants have been hard onyir legs, Cosh;" "Where's the geranniums?" "Has his Lordship kept yirbonnet, Dowbiggin?" "It 'ill be a year's hard labour. " For boys are onlyin the savage state, and the discomfiture of such immaculatepropriety was very sweet to the Seminary. 

[Illustration: "THEY WERE BROUGHT IN A LARGE SPRING CART. "]

So powerful was the evidence of the head keeper, who saw in Mr. Byles'seffort a new and cunning form of poaching he was not prepared for, andso weird was the appearance of the prisoners, that the Bailie on dutywas for sentencing them at once, and would hardly wait for the testimonyof friends. It took the sworn testimony of the Rector of the Seminaryand poor Dr. Dowbiggin, summoned from their studies in hot haste andconfusion of face, to clear the accused, and even then the worthymagistrate thought it proper, as Scots magistrates do, to administer arebuke and warning so solemn that it became one of the treasures ofmemory for all Seminary lads. 

"After what I have heard I cannot convict you, and you may go this time;but let me never see you here again in such circumstances. It's fearsometo think that an educated man"--this to Byles--"instead of setting anexample to the laddies under your charge, should be accused of a meanand cunning offence against the laws of the land, and I cannot look atyour face without having grave doubts. And to think that the sons of arespected minister of the kirk should be found in such company, and withall the appearance of vagrants, must be a great trial to their father, and I am sure he has the sympathy of Muirtown. As for you, Cosh, Inever expected to see the son of a brother bailie in such a position. All I can hope is that this will be a lesson to you to keep clear ofevil companions and evil ways, and that you may live to be a respectablecitizen. But do not presume on your escape to-day--that is all I have tosay. "

Outside the court-room the head keeper caught Speug and gave him hismind. 

"Ye're a limb o' Satan, Peter McGuffie, and that English-speakin' imp islittle better. My belief is that this has been a pliskie (trick) o'yours frae beginning to end, and I just give ye one word o'advice--don't let me catch you in Kilspindie Woods, or it will be theworse for you. "

THE COUNT

VII

If you excluded two or three Englishmen who spoke with an accentsuggestive of an effeminate character, and had a fearsome habit ofwalking on the Sabbath, and poor "Moossy, " the French master at theSeminary, who was a quantity not worth considering, the foreign elementin Muirtown during the classical days consisted of the Count. He neverclaimed to be a Count, and used at first to deprecate the title, but hedeclined the honour of our title with so much dignity that it seemedonly to prove his right, and by and by he answered to the name withsimply a slight wave of his hand which he meant for deprecation, butwhich came to be considered a polite acknowledgement. His real name wasnot known in Muirtown--not because he had not given it, but because itcould not be pronounced, being largely composed of x's and k's, with anirritating parsimony of vowels. We had every opportunity of learning tospell it, if we could not pronounce it, for it was one of the Count'sforeign ways to carry a card-case in his ticket-pocket, and on beingintroduced to an inhabitant of Muirtown to offer his card with the righthand while he took off his hat with the left, and bowed almost to aright angle. Upon those occasions a solid man like Bailie MacFarlanewould take hold of the card cautiously, not knowing whether so unholy aname might not go off and shatter his hand; and during the Count'sobeisance, which lasted for several seconds, the Bailie regarded himwith grave disapproval. The mind of Muirtown, during this performance ofthe Count's, used to be divided between regret that any human beingshould condescend to such tricks, and profound thankfulness thatMuirtown was not part of a foreign country where people were brought upwith the manners of poodles. Our pity for foreigners was nourished bythe manner of the Count's dress, which would have been a commonplace ona _boulevard_, but astounded Muirtown on its first appearance, andalways lent an element of piquant interest to our streets. His perfectlybrushed hat, broadish in the brim and curled at the sides, which he woreat the faintest possible angle, down to his patent leather boots, whichit was supposed he obtained in Paris, and wore out at the rate of a paira month--all was unique and wonderful, but it was his frock-coat whichstimulated conversation. It was so tight and fitted so perfectly, revealing the outlines of his slender form, and there was such anindecent absence of waist--waist was a strong point with Muirtown men, and in the case of persons who had risen to office, like the Provost, used to run to fifty inches--that a report went round the town that theCount was a woman. This speculation was confirmed rather than refuted bythe fact that the Count smoked cigarettes, which he made with Satanicingenuity while you were looking at him, and that he gave a display offencing with the best swordsman of a Dragoon regiment in the barracks, for it was shrewdly pointed out that those were just the veryaccomplishments of French "Cutties. " This scandal might indeed havecrystallised into an accepted fact, and the Provost been obliged tocommand the Count's departure, had it not been for the shrewdness andgood nature of the "Fair Maid of Muirtown. " There always was a fair maidin Muirtown--and in those days she was fairest of her succession: letthis flower lie on her grave. She declared to her friends that she hadwatched the Count closely and had never once seen him examine a woman'sdress when the woman wasn't looking; and after that no person ofdiscernment in Muirtown had any doubt about the Count's sex. It was, however, freely said--and that story was never contradicted--that hewore stays, and every effort was made to obtain the evidence of hislandlady. Her gossips tried Mistress Jamieson with every wile ofconversation, and even lawyers' wives, pretending to inquire for roomsfor a friend, used to lead the talk round to the Count's habits; butthat worthy matron was loyal to her lodger, and was not quite insensibleto the dignity of a mystery. 

"Na, na, Mistress Lunan, I see what you're after; but beggin' yourpardon, a landlady's a landlady, and my mouth's closed. The Count disnaken the difference atween Saturday and Sabbath, and the money he wasteson tobacco juist goes to ma heart; but he never had the blessin' of aGospel ministry nor the privileges of Muirtown when he was young. Asregards stays, whether he wears them or disna wear them I'm no' preparedto say, for I thank goodness that I've never yet opened a lodger's boxesnor entered a lodger's room when he was dressin'. The Count pays hisrent in advance every Monday morning; he wanted to pay on Sabbath, but Itold him it was not a lawful day. He gives no trouble in the house, andif his doctor ordered him to wear stays to support his spine, which I'mno' sayin' he did, Mistress Lunan, it's no concern o' mine, and theweather is inclining to snow. "

His dress was a perfect fabric of art, however it may have beenconstructed; and it was a pleasant sight to see the Count go down ourmain street on a summer afternoon, approving himself with a side glancein the mirrors of the larger shops, striking an attitude at ourbookseller's when a new print was exposed in the window, waving hiscigarette and blowing the smoke through his nostrils, which wasconsidered a "tempting of Providence, " making his respectful salutationsto every lady whom he knew, and responding with "Celestial, my friend!"to Bailie MacFarlane's greeting of "Fine growing weather. " When hesailed past McGuffie's stable-yard, like Solomon in all his glory, thatgreat man, who always persisted in regarding the Count as a sportingcharacter, would touch the rim of his hat with his forefinger--an honourhe paid to few--and, after the Count had disappeared, would say "Gosh!"with much relish. This astounding spectacle very early attracted theattention of the Seminary boys, and during his first summer in Muirtownit was agreed that he would make an excellent target for snowballpractice during next winter. The temptation was not one which could havebeen resisted, and it is to be feared that the Count would have beenconfined to the house when the snow was on the ground had it not beenfor an incident which showed him in a new light, and established him, stays or no stays, in the respect of the Seminary for ever. There hadbeen a glorious fight on the first day of the war with the "Pennies, "and when they were beaten, a dozen of them, making a brave rearguardfight, took up their position with the Count's windows as theirbackground. There were limits to license even in those brave old days, and it was understood that the windows of houses, especially privatehouses, and still more especially in the vicinity of the Seminary, should not be broken, and if they were broken the culprits were hunteddown and interviewed by "Bulldog" at length. When the "Pennies" placedthemselves under the protection of the Count's glass, which was reallyan unconscious act of meanness on their part, the Seminary distinctlyhesitated; but Speug was in command, and he knew no scruples as he knewno fear. 

"Dash the windows!" cried the Seminary captain; and when the "Pennies"were driven along the street, the windows had been so effectually dashedthat there was not a sound pane of glass in the Count's sitting-room. Asthe victorious army returned to their capital, and the heat of battledied down, some anxiety about to-morrow arose even in minds not given tocare, for Mistress Jamieson was not the woman to have her glass brokenfor nothing, and it was shrewdly suspected that the Count, with all hisdandyism, would not take this affront lightly. As a matter of fact, Mistress Jamieson made a personal call upon the Rector that evening, andexplained with much eloquence to that timid, harassed scholar that, unless his boys were kept in better order, Muirtown would not be a placefor human habitation; and before she left she demanded the blood of theoffenders; she also compared Muirtown in its present condition to Sodomand Gomorrah. As the Rector was always willing to leave discipline inthe capable hands of Bulldog, and as the chief sinners would almostcertainly be in his class in the forenoon, the Count, who had witnessedthe whole battle from a secure corner in his sitting-room, and hadafterwards helped Mistress Jamieson to clear away the _débris_, went togive his evidence and identify the culprit. He felt it to be a dramaticoccasion, and he rose to its height; and the school retained a gratefulrecollection of Bulldog and the Count side by side--the Count carryinghimself with all the grace and dignity of a foreign ambassador come tosettle an international dispute, and Bulldog more austere than ever, because he hated a "tellpyet, " and yet knew that discipline must bemaintained. 

The Count explained with many flourishes that he was desolated to comefor the first time to this so distinguished a Gymnasium upon an errandso distasteful, but that a lady had laid her commands on him ("Dis thebody mean Lucky Jamieson?" whispered Speug to a neighbour), and he hadever been a slave of the sex (Bulldog at this point regarded him with adisdain beyond words. ) The Rector of this place of learning had alsodone him, an obscure person, the honour of an invitation to come andassist at this function of justice; and although, as the Countexplained, he was no longer a soldier, obedience was still the breath ofhis nostrils. Behold him, therefore, the servant of justice, ready to bequestioned or to lay down his life for law; and the Count bowed again toBulldog, placing his hand upon his heart, and then leant in a becomingattitude against the desk, tapping his shining boots with his cane, andfeeling that he had acquitted himself with credit. 

"We're sorry to bring ye out on such a day, sir, " and Bulldog's glanceconveyed that such a figure as the Count's ought not to be exposed insnowtime; "but we'll not keep ye long, and Ill juist state thecircumstances with convenient brevity. The boys of the Seminary areallowed to exercise themselves in the snowtime within limits. If theyfight wi' neighbouring schools, it's a maitter of regret; but if theybreak windows, they're liable to the maist extreme penalty. Now, I'minformed that some of the young scoundrels--and I believe the veryladdies are in this class-room at this meenut" (Speug made no effort tocatch Bulldog's eye, and Howieson's attention was entirely occupied withmathematical figures)--"have committed a breach of the peace at MistressJamieson's house. What I ask you, sir, to do"--and Bulldog regarded theCount with increasing disfavour, as he thought of such a popinjay givingevidence against his laddies--"is, to look round this class-room andpoint out, so far as ye may be able, any boy or boys who drove asnowball or snowballs through the windows of your residence. "

During this judicial utterance the eyes of the Count wandered over theschool with the most provoking intelligence, and conveyed even to thedullest, with a vivacity of countenance of which Muirtown was notcapable, that Bulldog was a tiresome old gentleman, that the boys were aset of sad dogs, capable of any mischief, that some of them were boundto get a first-class thrashing, and worst of all that he, the Count, knew who would get it, and that he was about to give evidence in aninstant with the utmost candour and elegance of manner. When his glancelighted on Speug it was with such a cheerful and unhesitatingrecognition that Speug was almost abashed, and knew for certain that forhim at least, there could be no escape; while Howieson, plunging intoarithmetic of his own accord for once, calculated rapidly what would behis share of the broken glass. Neither of them would have denied what hedid to save himself twenty thrashings; but they shared Bulldog's disgustthat a free-born Scot should be convicted on the evidence of aforeigner, whom they always associated in his intellectual gifts andtricks of speech with the monkey, which used to go round seated on thetop of our solitary barrel-organ. 

"When it is your pleasure, sir, " said Bulldog sternly; and there was asilence that could be felt, whilst Speug already saw himself pointed outwith the Count's cane. 

The shutters went suddenly down on the Count's face; he became grave andanxious, and changed from a man of the world, who had been exchanging ajest with a few gay Bohemians, into a witness in the Court of Justice. 

"Assuredly, monsieur, I will testify upon what you call my soul andconscience, " and the Count indicated with his hand where both thosefaculties were contained. "I will select the boy who had audacity, Iwill say profanity, to break the windows of my good friend and hostess, Madame Jamieson. "

The Count gave himself to the work of selection, but there was no longera ray of intelligence in his face. He was confused and perplexed, helooked here and he looked there, he made little impatient gestures, hesaid a bad French word, he flung up a hand in despair, he turned toBulldog with a frantic gesture, as of a man who thought he could havedone something at once, and found he could not do it at all. Once morehe faced the school, and then Speug, with that instinct of acuteobservation which belongs to a savage, began to understand, and gaveHowieson a suggestive kick. 

"As a man of honour, " said the Count with much solemnity, "I give mytestimony, and I declare that I do not see one of the boys who didforget themselves yesterday and did offer the insult of an assault toMadame's domicile. "

And it would have been curious if he had seen the boys, for the Countwas looking over their heads, and studying the distant view of themeadow and the River Tay with evident interest and appreciation. 

The mind of Speug was now clear upon the Count, and Bulldog alsounderstood, and in two seconds, so quick is the flash of sympathythrough a mass of boy life, the youngest laddie in the mathematicalclass-room knew that, although the Count might have had the misfortuneto be born in foreign parts, and did allow himself to dress like adancing-master, inside that coat, and the stays too, if he had them on, there was the heart of a man who would not tell tales on any fellow, andwho also liked his bit of fun. 

"It's a peety, Count, " said Bulldog, with poorly concealed satisfaction, "that ye're no' in a poseetion to recognise the culprits, for if they'reno' here my conviction is they're no' to be found in Muirtown. We canask no more of ye, sir, and we're much obleeged for yir attendance. "

"It is a felicitous affair, " said the Count, "which has the fortune tointroduce me to this charming company, " and the Count bowed first toBulldog and then to the school with such a marked indication in onedirection that Speug almost blushed. "My sorrow is to be so stupid awitness; but, monsieur, you will allow me to pay the penalty of my pooreyesight. It will be my pleasure, " and again the Count bowed in alldirections, "to replace the glass in Madame's house, and the incident, pouf! it is forgotten. "

There was a swift glance from all parts of the class-room, andpermission was read in Bulldog's face. Next instant the mathematicalclass-room was rent with applause, such as could only be given whenfifty such lads wanted to express their feelings, and Speug led thecircus. 

"Ye will allow me to say, sir, " and now Bulldog came as near as possibleto a bow, "that ye have acted this day as a gentleman, and so far as theboys of Muirtown Seminary are concerned ye're free to come and go amongus as ye please. "

The departure of the Count, still bowing, with Bulldog attending him tothe door and offering him overshoes to cover the polished leather boots, was a sight to behold, and the work done for the rest of the morning wasnot worth mentioning. 

During the lunch hour the school was harangued in short, pithy terms bySpeug, and in obedience to his invitation Muirtown Seminary proceeded ina solid mass to the Count's residence, where they gave a volley ofcheers. The Count was more gratified than by anything that had happenedto him since he came to Muirtown; and throwing up one of the newlyrepaired windows he made an eloquent speech, in which he referred to SirWalter Scott and Queen Mary and the Fair Maid of Perth, among otherromantic trifles; declared that the fight between the "Pennies" and theSeminary was worthy of the great Napoleon; pronounced Speug to be _unbrave garçon_; expressed his regret that he could not receive theschool in his limited apartments, but invited them to cross with him tothe Seminary tuck-shop, where he entertained the whole set to MistressMacWhae's best home-made ginger-beer. He also desired that MistressJamieson should come forward to the window with him and bow to theschool, while he held her hand--which the Count felt would have been areally interesting tableau. It certainly would have been, but MistressJamieson refused to assist in the most decided terms. 

"Me stand wi' the Count at an open window, hand in hand wi' him, andbowin', if ye please, to thae blackguard laddies? Na, na; I'm a widow o'good character, and a member o' the Free Kirk, and it would ill set meto play such tricks. But I'll say this for the Count--he behavedhandsome; and I'm judgin' the'll no' be another pane o' glass broken inmy house so long as the Count is in it. " And there never was. 

It were not possible to imagine anything more different than a Muirtownboy and the Count; but boys judge by an instinct which never failswithin its own range, and Muirtown Seminary knew that, with all hisforeign ways, the Count was a man. Legends gathered around him andflourished exceedingly, being largely invented by Nestie, and offeredfor consumption at the mouth of the pistol by Speug, who let it beunderstood that to deny or even to smile at Nestie's most incredibleinvention would be a ground of personal offence. The Count was in turna foreign nobleman, who had fallen in love with the Emperor of Austria'sdaughter and had been exiled by the imperial parent, but that thePrincess was true to the Count, and that any day he might be called fromMistress Jamieson's lodgings to the palace of Vienna; that he washimself a king of some mysterious European State, who had been drivenout by conspirators, but whose people were going to restore him, andthat some day Speug would be staying with the Count in his royal abodeand possibly sitting beside him on the throne. During this romance Speugfelt it right to assume an air of demure modesty, which was quiteconsistent with keeping a watchful eye on any impertinent young rascalwho might venture to jeer, when Speug would politely ask him what he waslaughing at, and offer to give him something to laugh for. That theCount was himself a conspirator, and the head of a secret society whichextended all over Europe, with signs and passwords, and that wheneverany tyrant became intolerable, the warrant for his death was sent fromMistress Jamieson's. Whenever one fable grew hackneyed Nestie producedanother, and it was no longer necessary in Muirtown Seminary to buyIndian tales or detective stories, for the whole library of fiction wasnow bound up and walking about in the Count. 

[Illustration: "WATCHING A BATTLE ROYAL BETWEEN THE TOPS. "]

Between him and the boys there grew up a fast friendship, and he wasnever thoroughly happy now unless he was with his "jolly dogs. " Heattended every cricket match, and at last, after he had learned how, kept the score, giving a cheer at every new run and tearing his hairwhen any of his boys were bowled out. He rushed round the football fieldwithout his cane, and generally without his hat; and high above allcheers could be heard his "Bravo--bravo, forwards! Speug!" as thatenterprising player cleft his way through the opponent's ranks. Itmattered nothing to the Count that his boots were ruined, and hisspeckless clothes soiled, he would not have cared though he had bursthis stays, so long as the "dogs" won, and he could go up in glory withthem to Janet MacWhae's and drink to their health in flowingginger-beer. During the play hour his walk seemed ever to bring him tothe North Meadow, and if a ball by accident, for none would have done itby intention, knocked off the Count's hat, he cried "Hoor-r-rah!" in hisown pronunciation and bowed in response to this mark of attention. Itwas a pretty sight to see him bending forward, his hands resting on hisknees, watching a battle royal between the tops of Speug and Howieson;and if anything could be better it was to see the Count trying to spin atop himself, and expostulating with it in unknown tongues. 

As the boys came to the school in the morning and went home in theevening up Breadalbane Street, the Count was always sitting at one ofthe windows which had been broken, ready to wave his hand to any one whosaluted him, and in the afternoon he would often open the window to getthe school news and to learn whether there would be a match on Saturday. As time went on this alliance told upon the Count's outer man; he neverlost his gay manner, nor his pretty little waist, nor could he ever havebeen taken for a Scot, nor ever, if he had lived to the age ofMethuselah, have been made an elder of the Kirk; but his boots grewthicker, though they were always neat, and his clothes grew rougher, though they were always well made, and his ties became quieter, and hisweek-day hat was like that of other men, and, except on Sundays, Muirtown never saw the glory of the former days. With his new interestin life, everyone noticed that the Count had grown simpler and kindlier, and Muirtown folk, who used to laugh at him with a flavour of contempt, began to love him through their boys. He would walk home with Bulldog ona summer evening, the strangest pair that ever went together; and it wassaid that many little improvements for the comfort of the lads, and manylittle schemes for their happiness at Muirtown Seminary, were due to theCount. It was believed that the time did come when he could havereturned to his own land, but that he did not go because he was a lonelyman and had found his friends in Muirtown; and when he died, now manyyears ago, he left his little all for the benefit of his "jolly dogs, "and the Count, who had no mourners of his blood, was followed to hisgrave by every boy at Muirtown Seminary. 

A TOURNAMENT

VIII

Since the day when Speug and a few young friends had broken every paneof glass in the Count's windows, and the Count had paid for the damagelike a gentleman, that excellent foreigner had spent all his sparecash--which we thought afterwards was not very much--in encouragingathletic exercises among the Seminary lads. His zeal, like that of everyother convert, was much greater than his knowledge, and left to his owndevices he would certainly have gone far astray; but with the ableassistance of Speug, with whom he took intimate counsel, it wasastonishing what a variety could be infused into the sports. When everyordinary competition had been held, and champions had been declared (andthis had never been done before in the history of the school) for thehundred yards, the quarter, and the mile (the ten miles down the Carseand over the top of Kinnoul Hill had been stopped by an impromptumeeting of parents), for broad jumping and high jumping, for throwingthe cricket ball and kicking the football, Speug came out with a quitenew programme which was rapturously received, and had it not met with across-providence would have lasted over four happy Saturdays andconsiderably reduced the attendance at the Seminary. The first item wasa swimming match across the Tay, a river not to be trifled with, andfour boys were saved from death by a salmon cobble, whose ownerfortunately turned up to watch the sport. The Count was so excited bythis event that he not only lost his hat in the river, but beingprevented from going in to help, for the very good reason that he couldnot swim a stroke, he took off and flung the coat, which was the marvelof Muirtown, into the river, in the hope that it might serve as alifebelt. The second item, upon which Speug prided himself very much, was a climbing match, and for this he had selected a tree which seemedto be designed for the purpose, since it had a rook's nest on itshighest branch, and no branches at all for the first twenty feet. Theconditions were, that every boy above twelve should have his chance, andthe boy who climbed to the top, put his hand into the rook's nest, andcame down in the shortest time, should get the prize. The Seminary abovetwelve were going up and down that tree a whole Saturday morning, and inone kirk next day thanks were offered in the first prayer in peculiarlydignified and guarded terms that half the families of Muirtown had notbeen bereaved. As a matter of fact, nobody was killed, and no limbswere broken, but Speug, who was not allowed to enter for thiscompetition, but acted as judge, with his tongue out all the time at thesight of the sport, had to go up twice on errands of mercy, once torelease his friend Howieson, who had missed a branch and was hanging byhis feet, and the second time to succour Pat Ritchie, who was suspendedby the seat of his trousers, swaying to and fro like a gigantic apple onthe branch. It was understood that the Seminary had never enjoyedthemselves so entirely to their heart's content, but the Count's moralcourage failed during the performance, and at the most critical momenthe was afraid to look. When Muirtown got wind of this last achievementof Speug's, indignation meetings were held at church-doors and streetcorners, and it was conveyed to the Rector--who knew nothing about thematter, and was so absent-minded that if he had passed would never haveseen what was going on--that if Providence was going to be tempted inthis fashion again, the matter would be brought before the Town Council. The Count himself would have been faithfully dealt with had he not beenconsidered a helpless tool in the hands of Speug, who was now understoodto have filled the cup of his sins up to the brim. He might indeed havebeen at last expelled from the Seminary, of which he was the chiefornament, had it not been that the Count went to the Rector andexplained that the idea had been his from beginning to end, and that itwas with the utmost difficulty he could induce Speug even to be present. For, as I said, the Count was a perfect gentleman, and always stood byhis friends through thick and thin; but the thrashing which Speug gotfrom Bulldog was monumental, and in preparation for it that ingeniousyouth put on three folds of underclothing. 

What Speug bitterly regretted, however, was not the punishment, whichwas cheap at the money, but the loss of the next two items in hisprogramme. He had planned a boxing competition, in which the mainfeature was to be a regular set-to between Dunc Robertson and himself, to decide finally which was the better man, for they had fought sixtimes and the issue was still doubtful; and Speug, who had a profligategenius outside the class-rooms, had also imagined a pony race withhurdles; and as about twenty fellows, farmers' sons and others, hadponies, of which they were always bragging, and Speug had the pick ofhis father's stables, he modestly believed that the affair would beworth seeing. When the hurdle race was forbidden, for which Speug hadalready begun to make entries and to arrange weights with his father'svaluable assistance, he took the matter so much to heart that his healthgave way, and Mr. McGuffie senior had to take him to recruit at theKilmarnock Races, from which he returned in the highest spirits and fullof stories. 

For some time after this painful incident the Count lay low and adopteda deprecating manner when he met the fathers and mothers of Muirtown;but he gave his friends to understand that his resources were not at anend, and that he had a surprise in store for the Seminary. Speug ranover every form of sport in casual conversation to discover what was inthe Count's mind, but he would not be drawn and grew more mysteriousevery day. One Saturday evening in midsummer he took Speug and Nestieinto his confidence, explaining that his idea would be announced to theassembled school by himself next Wednesday, and that it had nothing todo, as Speug had hinted in turn, with rats, or rabbits, or fencing, orthe sword dance. With their permission he would say one word which wouldbe enough for persons of so distinguished an imagination, and that wordwas "Tournament;" and then he would speak of nothing else except thebeauty of the evening light upon the river, which he declared to be"ravishing, " and the excellence of a certain kind of chocolate which hecarried in his pocket, and shared generously with his "dogs. " As heparted with his friends the Count tapped his nose and winked atthem--"Tournament--great, magnificent, you will see, ha, ha! you willsee;" and Speug went home in a state of utter confusion, coming finallyto the conclusion that the Count intended to introduce some French game, and in that case it would be his painful duty to oppose the Count toothand nail, for everybody knew that French games were only for girls, andwould bring endless disgrace upon Muirtown Seminary. During SundayNestie had turned the matter over in his mind, and being full of Scott'snovels he was able on Monday to give the astonished school a fullprogramme with the most minute particulars. The tournament was to beheld in the North Meadow; the judge was to be the Commander of thecavalry at the barracks; John Chalmers, the town's bellman, was to beherald; the Fair Maid of Perth was to be the Queen of Beauty; and thecombatants were to be such knights as Robertson, Howieson, and of courseSpeug. Each knight was to be in armour, and Nestie freely suggesteddish-covers would be useful as breastplates, broom-handles would come inconveniently for lances, and as ponies were now forbidden, sturdy boysof the lower forms would be used instead. The two knights who challengedone another would rush from opposite ends of the lists, meet in thecentre, lance upon breastplate, horse to horse, and man to man, and theone that overthrew the other would receive the prize; and at the thoughtof such a meeting between Speug and Dunc Robertson, each in full armour, the delighted school smacked their lips. 

"Muirtown Races 'ill be nothing to it, " said Ritchie. "I'll lay anybodya shilling that Speug coups (capsizes) Dunc the first meeting;but"--feeling as if it were almost too good to be true--"I dinnabelieve a word o't. Nestie is a fearsome liar. " And after the school hadspoken of nothing else for a day, Dunc Robertson asked the Count boldlywhether such things were true. 

"_Mon ami_, " said the Count, who had tasted Nestie's romance with muchrelish, "you will pardon me, but it is a _banalité_, that is what youcall a stupidity, to ask whether so good a _jeu d'esprit_ is true. True?Truth is a dull quality, it belongs to facts; but Nestie, he does notlive among facts, he flies in the air, in the atmosphere of poetry. Heis a _raconteur_. A tournament with knights on the North Meadow--good!Our little Nestie, he has been reading _Ivanhoe_ and he is atroubadour. " And the Count took off his hat in homage to Nestie'sremarkable powers as an author of fiction. 

"But yes, it will be a tournament; but not for the body, for the mind. My dogs are jolly dogs; they can run, they can leap, they can swim, theycan kick the ball; now they must think, ah! so deep. They must writetheir very best words, they must show that they have beautiful minds;and they will do so, I swear they will, in the tournament, which willnot be on the meadow--no; too many cows there, and too many washers ofclothes--but in seclusion, in the class-room of that brave man calledthe Bulldog. It will be a battle, " concluded the Count with enthusiasm, "of heads: and the best head, that head will have the prize, _voilà_. "

"Silence!" and Bulldog brought his cane down upon his desk thatWednesday afternoon when the whole upper school was gathered in hisclass-room, bursting with curiosity. "The Count has a proposeetion tolay before you which he will explain in his own words and which has thesanction of the Rector. Ye will be pleased to give the Count arespectful hearing, as he deserves at yir hands. " And Bulldog was thereto see that the Count's deserts and his treatment strictly corresponded. 

"Monsieur, " and the Count bowed to Bulldog, "and you, " and now he bowedto the boys, "all my friends of the Seminary, I have the honour to ask afavour which your politeness will not allow you to refuse. Next SaturdayI will dare to hold a reception in this place, with the permission ofthe good Bull---- I do forget myself--I mean the distinguished master. And when you come, I promise you that I will not offer you coffee--pouf!it is not for the brave boys I see before me, _non_, " and the Countbecame very roguish. "I will put a leetle, very leetle sentence onthe----" ("Blackboard, " suggested Bulldog). "_Merci_, yes, theblackboard; no, the honourable master he will have the goodness to writeit in his so beautiful characters. One sentence, that is all, and youwill sit for one hour in this room where you make your studies, and youwill write all the beautiful things which come into your heads aboutthat sentence. You will then do me the pleasure of letting me carryhome all those beautiful things, and I will read them; and the writerwho affects me most, I will ask him to accept a book of many volumes, and the Lor' Mayor" ("Provost, " interpolated Bulldog) "will present iton the great day in the Town Hall. 

"No one, not even the honourable master himself, will know that leetlesentence till it be written on the--the----" ("Blackboard, " saidBulldog, with asperity), "and every boy will be able to write manythings about that sentence. The scholars upon whom I do felicitate thehonourable master will write much learning, " and the Count made agraceful inclination in the direction of the two Dowbiggins; "and thebrave boys who love the sport, they will also write, ah! ah!"--and theCount nodded cheerfully in the direction of Speug--"such wonderfulthings. There will be no books; no, you will have your heads, and so itwill be the fair play, as you say, " repeated the Count with muchsatisfaction, "the fair play. "

Bulldog dismissed the school after he had explained that no one needcome unless he wished, but that anyone who didn't come was missing theopportunity of securing an honourable distinction, and would also showhimself to be an ungrateful little scoundrel for all that the Count haddone for the Seminary. 

"Dod, " said Jock Howieson, with much native shrewdness, "aifter all hispalaver it's naething but anither confounded exercise, " for that worthyhad suffered much through impositions, and had never been able toconnect one sentence with another in an intelligent manner. "TheDowbiggins can go if they want, and they're welcome to the books. I'mgoing next Saturday to Woody Island--will you come, Speug?" And it hungin the balance whether or not the Count would be openly affronted nextSaturday when he found himself in the company of half a dozen "swats, "while his "jolly dogs" were off in a pack to their island of romance. 

Speug could not imagine himself sitting in a class-room on Saturdayafternoon, except under brute force, and yet he felt it would beungrateful after all his kindness to leave the Count in the company ofsuch cheerless objects as the Dowbiggins. The remembrance of all thesporting prizes he had won at the Count's hands, and the sight of theCount cheering at the sports, came over his ingenuous heart and movedhim to the most unselfish act of his life. "Jock Howieson, " said Speug, with considerable dignity, "ye may go to Woody Island if ye like, but it'ill be the dirtiest trick ye ever played, and I'll black both yir eenfor ye on Monday. Have we ever had a match, cricket or football, thelast four years, and the Count hesna been there? Who got up the sportsand gave the prizes? Tell me that, Jock? Who stands ginger-beer at LuckyMacWhae's, answer me that, Jock, ye meeserable wretch?" and thenclinching every argument on "Who paid for the broken glass? I'm doonricht ashamed o' ye, Jock Howieson. "

"Will ye go yourself, Speug?" demanded Jock, writhing under this torrentof reproach. "I think I see ye writin' an essay on the history o' theRomans, or sic like trash. Ye 'ill hunt us into Bulldog's class-room, and then go off yirsel to shoot rabbits; but ye 'ill no' play ony trickson me, Peter McGuffie. "

"I will go, " said Speug, manfully, "though I'll no' promise to write. "

"Say as sure's death, " said Jock, knowing Speug's wiles. 

"Sure as death, " said Speug, and then the school knew, not only that hewould go, though he had to sit six hours instead of one, but also thatevery self-respecting boy in the Seminary must also put in an appearanceat the Count's reception. 

"Best thing you ever did, Speug, " said Nestie on the way home, "sinceyou p--pulled me out of the Tay, and I should say that you have a goodchance of the prize. What the Count wants is ori--gin--ginality, and Inever heard a chap with so much original talk as you've got, Speug. Justyou put some of it down, like what you give to the P--pennies, andyou'll come out first, and it'll be the first prize you ever won. "

"If there was a prize for impidence, and the entries were open to allScotland, " said Speug, "ye would pass the post first and trottin'. "

 "HOW I SPENT MY SATURDAY, "

was what the school saw on the board when the Count removed the whitecloth, and then he gave a brief exposition of his desires. 

"Have the goodness, if you please, to write, not what you ought, butwhat you want. Were you at the cricket match, you will tell me of thecapture of the wickets; or you were in the country, I will hear of thewoods and the beautiful pheasants" (this delicate allusion to Mr. Byles's poaching experiences was much appreciated); "or you were amongthe books, then you will describe what you love in them; or you werelooking at a horse, I expect to hear about that horse"; and the wholeschool understood that this was a direct invitation to Speug, to give anexact picture of an Irish mare that his father had just bought. "Thesubject, ah!" said the Count, "that does not matter; it is the manner, the style, the _esprit_, that is what I shall value. I wish you all thegood success, and I will go a walk in the meadow till you havefinished. "

"Do yir best, laddies, " said Bulldog, "for the credit of the school andto please the Count. If I see ony laddie playing tricks I'll do my partto teach him sobriety, and if I see one copying from another, out hegoes. Ye have one hour from this meenut, make the most o't, " and thetournament was open. 

Bulldog, apparently reading his morning paper, and only giving a casualglance to see that no one took advantage of the strange circumstances, was really watching his flock very closely, and checking his judgment ofeach one by this new test. Dull, conscientious lads like the Dowbigginsbegan at once, in order that they might not lose a moment of time, butmight put as much written stuff upon the paper as possible; yet now andagain they stopped and looked round helplessly because they had no booksand no tutor to assist them, and they realised for the first time howlittle they had in their own heads. 

"Ha! ha!" said Bulldog to himself, "I kent ye were naithing but apainted show, and it 'ill do ye good to find that out for yirselves. "

Jock Howieson and his kind regarded the whole matter as a new form ofentertainment, and as he could not have put into anything approachingconnected words the experiences of his last Saturday, he employed thetime in cutting up his unwritten paper into squares of an inch, andmaking them into pellets with which he prevented the Dowbiggin mind frombeing too much absorbed in study. He did this once too often, andBulldog went down to call upon him with a cane and with plain, simplewords. 

"His head is an inch thick, " said Bulldog, as he went back to his desk, "but there's the making of a man in Jock, though he 'ill never be ableto write a decent letter to save his life. He would suit the Scots Greysdown to the ground. "

Speug had given a solemn promise to Nestie, under the customary form ofoath, that he would write something, and whatever he wrote he would handin, though it was only twenty words, and Speug never went back from hisoath. When Howieson caught the Dowbiggin ear with a pellet there is nodoubt that a joyful light came into Speug's eyes, and he struggled withstrong temptation, and when old friends made facetious signs to him hehesitated more than once, but in the end assumed an air of dignifiedamazement, explaining, as it were, that his whole mind was devoted toliterary composition, and that he did not know what they meant by thisimpertinent intrusion upon a student's privacy. Cosh certainly jumpedonce in his seat as if he had been stung by a wasp, and it is certainlytrue that at that moment there was a piece of elastic on the thumb andfirst finger of Speug's left hand, but his right hand was devoted toliterature. The language which Cosh allowed himself to use in the heatof the moment was so unvarnished that it came under Bulldog's attention, who told him that if he wanted to say anything like that again he mustsay it in Latin, and that he ought to take notice of the excellentconduct of Peter McGuffie, who, Bulldog declared, was not at allunlikely to win the prize. And as the master returned to his seat hisback was seen to shake, and the wink with which Speug favoured theclass, in a brief rest from labour, was a reward for an hour's drudgery. Bulldog knew everybody up and down, out and in--what a poor creatureCosh was, and what good stuff could be found in Speug; and he also kneweverything that was done--why Cosh had said what he said, and why Speugat that moment was lost in study. Bulldog was not disappointed whenNestie's face lighted up at the title of the essay, and he knew why hisfavourite little lad did not write anything for fifteen minutes, butlooked steadily out at the window and across the North Meadow, and hereturned to his paper with a sense of keen satisfaction when Nestie atlast settled down to work and wrote without ceasing, except when now andagain he hesitated as for a word, or tried a sentence upon his ear toknow how it sounded. For the desire of Bulldog's heart was that Nestieshould win, and if--though that, of course, was too absurd--Speug by thehelp of the favouring gods should come in second, Bulldog would feelthat he had not lived in vain. 

"Ye have three meenuts to dot your i's and stroke your t's, " saidBulldog, "and the Count will tell ye how ye're to sign yir names, " andthen the Count, who had come in from his walk, much refreshed, advancedagain to the desk. 

"It would be one great joy to have your autographs, " said the Count, "and I would place them in a book and say, 'My friends'; but honourforbids. As I shall have the too great responsibility of judging, it isnecessary that I be--ah! I have forgotten the word--yes! show the fairplay. No, I must not know the names; for if I read the name of my friendthe ever active, the ever brave, the ever interesting Speug" (at thisindecent allusion Speug grew purple and gave the bench in front of himto understand by well-known signs that if they looked at him again hemight give them something to look for outside), "I would say that Speugis a sportsman but he is not a _littérateur_, and I might not do mycomrade the full justice. And if I read the name of the composed, thestudious, the profound young gentlemen who are before me" (and it wasfortunate the Dowbiggins had their backs to the school), "I would knowthat it must be the best before I read it, and that would not be thefair play. 

"No! you will write on your admirable essay a motto--what youplease--and your name you will put in an envelope, so, " and the Countwrote his own name in the most dashing manner, and in an awful silence, on a piece of paper, and closed the envelope with a graceful flourish:"and outside you will put your motto, so it will be all the fair play, and in the Town Hall next Saturday I shall have the felicity to declarethe result. _Voila!_ Has my plan your distinguished approbation?" andthe Count made a respectful appeal to Bulldog. "Nothing could be fairer, you say? Then it is agreed, and I allow myself to wish you adieu forthis day. "

When the school assembled for conference among the Russian guns, theirminds were divided between two subjects. The first was what Speug hadwritten, on which that strenuous student would give no information, resenting the inquiry both as an insult to his abilities and anillustration of vain curiosity on the part of the school. Nestie, however, volunteered the trustworthy information that Speug had spenthis whole time explaining the good which he had got from being kept inone Saturday forenoon and doing mathematical problems under the eye ofBulldog. And Nestie added that he thought it mean of Peter to "suck up"to the master in this disgraceful fashion just for the sake of getting aprize. Peter confided to Nestie afterwards that he had really done hisbest to describe a close race for the Kilmarnock Cup, but that he didn'tthink there were six words properly spelt from beginning to end, andthat if he escaped without a thrashing he would treat Nestie to half adozen bottles of ginger-beer. 

Regarding the winner--for that was the other subject--there was aunanimous and sad judgment; that Dunc Robertson might have a chance, butthat Thomas John, the head of the Dowbiggins, would carry off the prize, as he had carried off all the other prizes; and that, if so, they wouldlet him know how they all loved him at the Town Hall, and that it wouldbe wise for him to go home with the Count's prize and all the otherprizes in a cab, with the windows up. 

The prize-giving in the Town Hall was one of the great events in theMuirtown year, and to it the memory of a Seminary lad goes back withkeen interest. All the forenoon the Provost and the bailies had beensitting in the class-room of the Seminary, holding Latin books in theirhands, which they opened anywhere, and wagging their heads in solemnapproval over the translation by Thomas John and other chosen worthies, while the parents wandered from place to place and identified theirsons, who refused to take any notice of them unless nobody was looking. What mothers endured cannot be put into words, when they saw theirdarling boys (whom they had seen dressed that morning in their Sundayclothes, and sent away in perfect array, with directions that they werenot to break their collars nor soil their jackets, nor disarrange theirhair the whole day, or they need not come home in the evening) turn upin a class-room before the respectables of Muirtown as if their headshad not known a brush for six months, with Speug's autograph upon theirwhite collar, a button gone from their waistcoat, and an ounce of flourin a prominent place on their once speckless jacket. 

"Yes, " said one matron to another, with the calmness of despair, "thatis my Jimmy, I canna deny it; but ye may well ask, for he's more like astreet waufie than onything else. On a day like this, and when I seewhat a sight he's made of himself in two hours I could almost wish hehad been born a girl. "

"Losh keep us, Mistress Chalmers, ye maunna speak like that, for it's nochancy, he micht be taken away sudden, and ye would have regrets; forbyeyour laddie's naithing to my Archie, for the last time I saw him, as I'ma livin' woman, there wasna more than two inches of his necktie left, and he was fishing his new Balmoral bonnet out of the water-barrel inthe playground. Ye needna expect peace if the Almichty give ye laddies, but I wouldna change them for lassies--na, na, I'll no' go that length. "

And the two matrons sustained themselves with the thought that if theirboys were only a mere wreck of what they had been in the morning, otherpeople's boys were no better, and some of them were worse, for one ofthem had inflicted such damages on his trousers that, although he wasable to face the public, he had to retire as from the royal presence;nor was it at all unlike the motherly mind to conceive a malignantdislike to the few boys who were spick and span, and to have a certainsecret pride even in their boys' disorder, which at any rate showed thatthey were far removed from the low estate of lassies. 

The great function of the day came off at two o'clock, and before thehour the hall was packed with fathers, mothers, sisters, elder brothers, uncles, aunts, cousins and distant relatives of the boys, while the boysthemselves, beyond all control and more dishevelled than ever, werescattered throughout the crowd. Some were sitting with their parents andenduring a rapid toilet at the hands of their mothers; others weregathered in clumps and arranging a reception for the more unpopularprize-winners; others were prowling up and down the passages, exchangingsweetmeats and responding (very coldly) to the greeting of relatives inthe seats, for the black terror that hung over every Seminary lad wasthat he would be kissed publicly by a maiden aunt. Mr. Peter McGuffiesenior came in with the general attention of the audience, and seatedhimself in a prominent place with Speug beside him. Not that Mr. McGuffie took any special interest in prize-givings, and certainly notbecause Speug had ever appeared in the character of a prize-winner. Mr. McGuffie's patronage was due to his respect for the Count and his highappreciation of what he considered the Count's sporting offer, and Mr. McGuffie was so anxious to sustain the interest of the proceedings thathe was willing, although he admitted that he had no tip, to have a betwith anyone in his vicinity on the winning horse. He also astonished hisson by offering to lay a sovereign on Nestie coming in first and halfa length ahead, which was not so much based upon any knowledge ofNestie's literary qualifications as on the strange friendship betweenNestie and his promising son. As the respectable Free Kirk elder who satnext Mr. McGuffie did not respond to this friendly offer, Mr. McGuffieput a straw in his mouth and timed the arrival of the Provost. 

[Illustration: "BEFORE THE HOUR THE HALL WAS PACKED. "]

When that great dignitary, attended by the bailies and masters, togetherwith the notables of Muirtown, appeared on the platform, the boysavailed themselves of the license of the day, shouting, cheering, yelling, whistling and bombarding all and sundry with pellets of papershot with extraordinary dexterity from little elastic catapults, till atlast Bulldog, who in the helplessness of the Rector always conducted theproceedings, rose and demanded silence for the Provost, who explained atwide intervals that he was glad to see his young friends (howls from theboys) and also their respected parents (fresh howls, but not from theparents); that he was sure the fathers and mothers were proud of theirboys to-day (climax of howls); that he had once been a boy himself(unanimous shout of "No" from the boys); that he had even fought in asnowball fight (loud expressions of horror); that he was glad theSeminary was flourishing (terrific outburst, during which the Provost'sspeech came to an end, and Bulldog rose to keep order). 

One by one the prize-winners were called up from the side of their fondparents, and if they were liked and had won their prizes with thegoodwill of their fellows, each one received an honest cheer which washeartier and braver than any other cheer of the day, and loud above itsounded the voice of Speug, who, though he had never received a prize inhis life, and never would, rejoiced when a decent fellow like DuncRobertson, the wicket-keeper of the eleven and the half-back of thefifteen, showed that he had a head as well as hands. When a prig got toomany prizes there was an eloquent silence in the hall, till at last aloud, accurate and suggestive "Ma-a-a-a!" from Speug relieved thefeelings of the delighted school, and the unpopular prize-winner leftthe platform amid the chorus of the farmyard--cows, sheep, horses, dogs, cats and a triumphant ass all uniting to do him honour. It was theirday, and Bulldog gave them their rights, provided they did not continuetoo long, and every boy believed that Bulldog had the same judgment asthemselves. 

To-day, however, the whole gathering was hungering and thirsting for thedeclaration of the Count's prize, because there never had been such acompetition in Muirtown before, and the Count was one of our characters. When he came forward, wonderfully dressed, with a rose in his buttonholeand waving a scented handkerchief, and bowed to everybody in turn, fromthe Provost to Mr. McGuffie, his reception was monumental and wascrowned by the stentorian approbation of Speug's father. Having thankedthe company for their reception, with his hand upon his heart, andhaving assured the charming mothers of his young friends of his (theCount's) most respectful devotion, and declared himself the slave oftheir sisters, and having expressed his profound reverence for themagistrates (at which several bailies tried to look as if they were onlymen, but failed), the Count approached the great moment of the day. 

The papers, he explained upon his honour, were all remarkable, and ithad been impossible for him to sleep, because he could not tear himselfaway from the charming reflections of his young friends. (As the boysrecognised this to be only a just compliment to their thoughtfuldisposition and literary genius, Bulldog had at last to arise and quellthe storm. ) There was one paper, however, which the Count compared toMont Blanc, because it rose above all the others. It was "ravishing, "the Count asserted, "superb"; it was, he added, the work of "genius. "The river, the woods, the flowers, the hills, the beautiful young women, it was all one poem. And as the whole hall waited, refusing to breathe, the Count enjoyed a great moment. "The writer of this distinguishedpoem--for it is not prose, it is poetry--I will read his motto. " Thenthe Count read, "Faint Heart never Won Fair Lady, " and turning to theProvost, "I do myself the honour of asking your Excellency to open thisenvelope and to read the name to this distinguished audience. " Beforethe Provost could get the piece of paper out of the envelope, Speug, whowas in the secret of the motto, jumped up on his seat and, turning withhis face to the audience, shouted at the pitch of his voice through thestillness of the hall, "Nestie Molyneux. " And above the great shout thatwent up from the throat of the Seminary could be heard, full and clear, the view-hallo of Mr. McGuffie senior, who had guessed the winnerwithout ever seeing the paper. 

MOOSSY

IX

If the eyes of an old boy do not light up at the mention of "Moossy, "then it is no use his pleading the years which have passed and the greataffairs which have filled his life; you know at once that he is animpostor and has never had the privilege of passing through MuirtownSeminary. Upon the genuine boy--fifty years old now, but green atheart--the word is a very talisman, for at the sound of it the worriesof life and the years that have gone are forgotten, and the eyes lightup and the face relaxes, and the middle-aged man lies back in his chairfor the full enjoyment of the past. It was a rough life in the Seminary, with plain food and strenuous games; with well-worn and well-tornclothes; where little trouble was taken to give interest to your work, and little praise awarded when you did it well; where you were bulliedby the stronger fellows without redress, and thrashed for very littlereason; where there were also many coarsenesses which were sickening atthe time to any lad with a sense of decency, and which he is glad, if hecan, to forget; but, at least, there was one oasis in the wildernesswhere there was nothing but enjoyment for the boys, and that was the"Department of Modern Languages, " over which Moossy was supposed topreside. 

Things have changed since Moossy's day, and now there is a graduate ofthe University of Paris and a fearful martinet to teach young MuirtownFrench, and a Heidelberg man with several degrees and four swordcuts onhis face to explain to Muirtown the mysteries of the German sentence. Indignant boys, who have heard appetising tales of the days which aregone, are compelled to "swat" at Continental tongues as if they wereserious languages like Latin and Greek, and are actually kept in if theyhave not done a French verb. They are required to write an account oftheir holidays in German, and are directed to enlarge their vocabularyby speaking in foreign tongues among themselves. Things have come tosuch a pass it is said--but I do not believe one word of this--that themodern Speug, before he pulls off the modern Dowbiggin's bonnet andflings it into the lade, which still runs as it used to do, will becareful to say "_Erlauben Sie mir_, " and that the modern Dowbiggin, before rescuing his bonnet, will turn and inquire with mild surprise, "_Was wollen Sie, mein Freund?_" and precocious lads will delight theirparents at the breakfast-table by asking for their daily bread in thelanguage and accent of Paris, because for the moment they have forgottenEnglish. It is my own firm conviction, and nothing can shake it, thatMuirtown lads are just as incapable of explaining their necessary wantsin any speech except their own as they were in the days of our fathers, and that if a Seminary boy were landed in Calais to-day, he would gethis food at the buffet by making signs with his fingers, as his fatherhad done before him and as becomes a young barbarian. He would also takecare, as his fathers did, that he would not be cheated in his change norbe put upon by any "Frenchy. " Foreign graduates may do their best withSeminary lads--and their kind elsewhere--but they will not find it easyto shape their unruly tongues; for the Briton is fully persuaded in thebackground of his mind that he belongs to an imperial race and is bornto be a ruler, that every man will sooner or later have to speak hislanguage, and that it is undignified to condescend to French. The Britonis pleased to know that foreign nations have some means of communicationbetween themselves--as, indeed, the lower animals have, if you go intothe matter; but since the Almighty has put an English (or Scots) tonguein his mouth, it would be flying in the face of Providence not to useit. It is, however, an excellent thing to have the graduates, and thetrim class-room, and the tables of the foreign verbs upon the wall, andthe conversation classes--Speug at a conversation class!--and all therest of it; but, oh! the days of long ago--and Moossy!

Like our only other foreigner, the Count, Moossy was a nameless man, foralthough it must have been printed on the board in the vestibule of theschool, which had a list of masters and of classes, no one can now hintat Moossy's baptismal name, nor even suggest his surname. The name ofthe Count had been sunk in the nobility which we conferred upon him, andwhich was the tribute of our respectful admiration, but "Moossy" was aterm of good-humoured contempt. We were only Scots lads of a provincialtown, and knew nothing of the outside world; but yet, with the instinctsof a race of Chieftains and Clansmen, we distinguished in our mindsbetween our two foreigners and placed them far apart. No doubt the Countwas womanish in his dress, and had fantastic manners, but we knew he wasa gallant gentleman, who was afraid of nobody and was always ready toserve his friends; he was _débonnaire_, and counted himself the equal ofanyone in Muirtown, but Moossy was little better than an abject. He wasa little man, to begin with, and had made himself small by stooping tillhis head had sunk upon his chest and his shoulders had risen to hisears; his hair fell over the collar of his coat behind, and hisill-dressed beard hid any shirt he wore; his hands and face showed onlythe slightest acquaintance with soap and water, and although Speug wasnot always careful in his own personal ablutions, and more than once hadbeen sent down to the lade by Bulldog to wash himself, yet Speug had ahealthy contempt for a dirty master. Moossy's clothes, it was believed, had not been renewed since he came to the Seminary, and the cloak whichhe wore on a winter day was a scandal to the town. His feet were largeand flat, and his knees touched as the one passed the other, and theSeminary was honestly ashamed at the sight of him shambling across theNorth Meadow. He looked so mean, so ill put together, so shabby, sodirty, that the very "Pennies" hooted at him and flung him in our faces. The Rector was also careless of his dress, and mooned along the road, but then everybody knew that he was a mighty scholar, and that if youwoke him from his meditation he would answer you in Greek; but evenSpeug understood that Moossy was not a scholar. The story drifted aboutthrough Muirtown, and filtered down to the boys, that he was a bankrupttradesman who had fled from some little German town and landed inMuirtown, and that because he could speak a little English, and a littleFrench, as German tradesmen can, he had been appointed by anundiscriminating Town Council to teach foreign tongues at the Seminary. It is certain he had very little education and no confidence in himself, and so he was ever cringing to the bailies, which did him no injury, for these great men regarded themselves as beings bordering on thesupernatural; and he was ever deferring and giving in to the boys, whichwas the maddest thing that any master could do, and only confirmed everyboy in his judgment that Moossy was one of the most miserable of God'screatures. 

His classes met in the afternoon, and were regarded as a pleasantrelaxation after the labours of the day, and to escape from thegovernment of Bulldog to the genial freedom of Moossy's room proved, aswe felt in a vague way, that Providence had a tender heart towards thewants and enjoyments of boys. It goes without saying that no work wasdone, for there were only half a dozen who had any desire to work, andthey were not allowed, in justice to themselves and to their fellows, towaste the mercies which had been provided. Upon Bulldog's suggestion, Moossy once provided himself with a cane, but it failed in his hands thefirst time he tried to use it, which was not at all wonderful, as JockHowieson, who did not approve of canes, and regarded them as aninvention of the Evil One, had doctored Moossy's cane with a horse-hair, so that it split into two at a stroke, and one piece flying back struckMoossy on the face. 

"That'll learn him to be meddling with canes. It's plenty that Bulldoghas a cane, without yon meeserable wretch"; and that was the last effortwhich Moossy made to exercise discipline. 

Every afternoon he made a pitiable appeal that the boys would behave andlearn their verbs. For about ten minutes there was quietness, and then, at the sight of Thomas John, sitting at the head of his form and workingdiligently upon a French translation, which he could do better thanMoossy himself, Speug would make a signal to the form, and, leading offfrom the foot himself, the form would give one quick, unanimous, andmasterful push, and Thomas John next instant was sitting on the floor;while if, by any possibility, they could land all his books on him as helay, and baptise him out of his own ink-bottle, the form was happy andcalled in their friends of other forms to rejoice with them. Moossy, atthe noise of Thomas John's falling, would hurry over and inquire thecause, that a boy so exemplary and diligent should be sitting on thefloor with the remains of his work around him; and as Thomas John knewthat it would be worth his life to tell the reason, Moossy and hepretended to regard it as one of the unavoidable accidents of life, andafter Thomas John had been restored to his place, and the ink wiped offhis clothes, Moossy exhorted the form to quietness and diligence. Heknew what had happened, and would have been fit for a lunatic asylum ifhe had not; and we knew that he knew, and we all despised him for hiscowardice. Had there been enough spirit in Moossy to go for Speug (justas Bulldog would have done), and thrash him there and then as he sat inhis seat, brazen and unashamed, we would all have respected Moossy, andno one more than Speug, to whom all fresh exploits would have had a newrelish. But Moossy was a broken-spirited man, in whom there was nofight, who held a post he was not fit for, and held it to get a poorliving for himself and one who was dearer to him than his own life. Sohelpless was he, and so timid, that there were times when the boys grewweary of their teasing and disorder, and condescended to repeat a verbin order to pass the time. 

When the spring was in their blood--for, like all young animals, theyfelt its stirring--then there were wonderful scenes in Moossy'sclass-room. He dared not stand in those days between two forms, with hisface to the one and his back to the other, because of the elasticcatapults and the sharp little paper bullets, which, in spite of hislong hair, would always find out his ears; and if he turned round toface the battery, the other form promptly unmasked theirs, and betweenthe two he was driven to the end of the room; and then, in his verypresence, without a pretence of concealment, the two forms would settletheir differences, while, in guttural and uncultured German, Moossyprayed for peace. Times there were, I am sorry to say, when at the stingof the bullet Moossy said bad words, and although they were in German, the boys knew that it was swearing, and Speug's voice would be loudestin horror. 

[Illustration: "THOMAS JOHN NEXT INSTANT WAS SITTING ON THE FLOOR. "]

"Mercy on us, lads! this is awful language to hear in the Seminary! Ifthe Town Council gets word of this, there'll be a fine stramish. Formasel', " Speug would conclude piously, "I'm perfectly ashamed. " And asthat accomplished young gentleman had acquired in the stables a wealthof profanity which was the amazement of the school, his protest had allthe more weight. Poor Moossy would apologise for what he had said, andbeseech the school neither to say it themselves nor to tell what theyhad heard; and for days afterwards Speug would be warning Thomas Johnthat if he, Speug--censor of morals--caught him cursing and swearinglike Moossy, he would duck him in the lake, and afterwards bring himbefore the Lord Provost and magistrates. 

There was no end to the devices of the Seminary for enjoying themselvesand tormenting Moossy; and had it not been for Nestie, who had somereserves of taste, the fun would have been much more curious. As it was, Moossy never knew when he might not light upon a frog, till it seemed asif the class-room for modern languages were the chosen home for thereptiles of the district. One morning, when he opened his desk, a livelyyoung Scots terrier puppy sprang up to welcome him, and nearlyfrightened Moossy out of such wits as he possessed. He had learned toopen the door of his class-room cautiously, not knowing whether a GermanDictionary might not be ingeniously poised to fall upon his head. Hisink-bottle would be curiously attached to his French Grammar, so thatwhen he lifted the book the bottle followed it and sent the spray of inkover his person, adding a new distinction of dirtiness to his coat. Boysgoing up to write on the blackboard, where they never wrote anything butnonsense, would work symbols with light and rapid touch upon the back ofMoossy's coat as they returned; and if one after the other, adding tothe work of art, could draw what was supposed to be a human face uponMoossy, the class was satisfied it had not lost the hour. There weretimes when Moossy felt the hand even on the looseness of that foolishcoat, and turned suddenly; but there was no shaking the brazen impudenceof Muirtown, and Moossy, looking into the stolid and unintelligentexpression of Howieson's face, thought that he had been mistaken. If oneboy was set up to do a verb, the form, reading from their books andpronouncing on a principal of their own, would do the verb with him andcontinue in a loud and sonorous song, till Moossy had to stop them oneby one, and then they were full of indignation at being hindered intheir studies of the German language. 

Moossy was afraid to complain to the Rector, lest his own incompetenceshould be exposed and his bread be taken from him; and of this theboys, with the unerring cunning of savages, were perfectly aware, andthe torture might have gone on for years had it not been for theintervention of Bulldog and a certain incident. As the French class-roomwas above the mathematical, any special disturbance could be heard inthe quietness below; and whatever else they did, the students of foreignlanguages were careful not to invite the attention of Bulldog. Indeed, the one check upon the freedom of Moossy's room was the danger ofBulldog's arrival, who was engaged that hour with the little boys andhad ample leisure of mind to take note of any outrageous noise above, and for want of occupation was itching to get at old friends likeHowieson. There are times, however, when even a savage forgets himself, and one spring day the saturnalia in Moossy's room reached an historicalheight. It had been discovered that any dislike which Moossy may havehad to a puppy in his desk, and a frog in his top-cloak pocket, wasnothing to the horror with which he regarded mice. As soon as it wasknown that Moossy would as soon have had a tiger in the Frenchclass-room as a mouse upon the loose, it was felt that the study offoreign languages should take a new departure. One morning the boys camein with such punctuality, and settled to their work with such demurediligence, that even Moossy was suspicious and watched them anxiously. For ten minutes there was nothing heard but the drone of the classmangling German sentences, and then Howieson cried aloud inconsternation, "A mouse!"

"Vat ees that you say? Ah! mices! vere?" and Moossy was much shaken. 

"Yonder, " said Speug, pointing to where a mouse was just disappearingunder the desk; "and there's another at the fireplace. Dod, the place isfair swarming, and, Moossy, there's one trying to run up your leg. Takecare, man, for ony sake. "

"A mices, " cried Moossy, "vill up my legs go; I vill the desk ascend, "and with the aid of a chair Moossy scrambled on to his desk, where heentrenched himself against attack, believing that at that height hewould be safe from "mices. "

[Illustration: "THE SCHOOL FELL OVER BENCHES AND OVER ONE ANOTHER. "]

Speug suggested that as this plague of mice had burst upon the Frenchclass-room the scholars should meet the calamity like men, and askedMoossy's permission to go out upon the chase. For once Moossy and hispupils had one mind, and the school gave itself to its heart's content, and without a thought of consequences, to a mouse hunt. Nothing is moredifficult than to catch a mouse, and the difficulty is doubled when noone wishes to catch it; and so the school fell over benches, and overone another, and jumped over the desks and scrambled under them, everpretending to have caught a mouse, and really succeeding once insmothering an unfortunate animal beneath the weight of half a dozenboys. Thomas John was early smeared with ink from top to bottom by anaccident in which Howieson took a leading part, and the GermanDictionary intended for a mouse happened to take Cosh on the way, whichled to an encounter between that indignant youth and Bauldie, in whichmice were forgotten. The blackboard was brought down with a crash, and aform was securely planted on its ruins. High above the babel Moossycould be heard crying encouragement, and demanding whether the "mices"had been caught, but nothing would induce him to come down from hisfastness. When things were at their highest, and gay spirits like Speugwere beginning to conclude that even a big snow fight was nothing to amouse hunt, and Howieson had been so lifted that he had mounted a desk, not to catch a mouse, but to give a cheer, and was standing therewithout collar or tie, dishevelled, triumphant, and raised above all thetrials of life, the door opened and Bulldog entered. And it was abeautiful tribute to the personality of that excellent man, that thewhole room crystallised in an instant, and everyone remained motionless, frozen, as it were, in the act. 

Bulldog looked round with that calm composure which sat so well uponhim, taking in Moossy perched upon his desk, Howieson on his form, Speugsitting with easy dignity on the top of Thomas John, and half a dozenworthies still tied together in a scrimmage, as if this were a sight towhich he was accustomed every day in Muirtown Seminary. 

"Foreign languages, " he began, after a pause of ten seconds, "isevidently a verra divertin' subject of study, and I wonder that anypupil is left in the department of mathematics. I was not aware, Jock, that ye needed to stand on a form before you could do your German, and Isuppose that is the French class in the corner. I'm sorry to intrude, but I'm pleased to see a class in earnest about its work, I really am. "

"Mices!" remarked Bulldog in icy tones, as poor Moossy came down fromhis desk and began to explain. "My impression is that you are right, asfar as I can judge--and I have some acquaintance with the circumstances. There are a considerable number of mices in this room, a good many moremices than were brought in somebody's pocket this morning. The mices Isee were in my class-room this morning, and they were very quiet andpeaceable mices, and they'll be the same in this class-room after this, or I'll know the reason why. If you'll excuse me, " and Bulldog embracedthe whole scene in a comprehensive farewell, "I'll leave the foreignclass-room and go down and see what my laddies are doing with theirwriting"; and when Bulldog closed the door Howieson realised that heowed his escape to Bulldog's respect for another man's class-room, butthat the joyful day in modern languages had come to an end. There wouldbe no more "mices. "

Next Saturday afternoon Speug and Nestie were out for a ramble in thecountry, and turning into a lane where the hedgerows were breaking intogreen, and the primroses nestling at the roots of the bushes, they cameupon a sight which made them pause so that they could only stand andlook. Down the lane a man was dragging an invalid-chair, a poor andbroken thing which had seen its best days thirty years ago. In the chaira woman was sitting, or rather lying, very plainly but comfortablydressed, and carefully wrapped up, whose face showed that she hadsuffered much, but whose cheeks were responding to the breath of spring. As they stood, the man stopped and went to the bank and plucked ahandful of primroses and gave them to the woman; and as he bent overher, holding up the primroses before her eyes, and as they talkedtogether, even the boys saw the grateful pleasure in her eyes. Headjusted the well-worn cloak and changed her position in the chair, andthen went back to drag it, a heavy weight down the soft and yieldingtrack; and the boys stood and stared and looked at one another, for theman who was caring so gently for this invalid, and toiling so manfullywith the lumbering chair, was Moossy. 

"C-cut away, Speug, " said Nestie; "he wouldn't like us to see him. Isay, he ain't a bad sort--Moossy--after all. Bet you a bottle ofg-ginger-beer that's Moossy's wife, and that's why he's so poor. "

They were leaving the lane when they heard an exclamation, and goingback they found that the miserable machine had slipped into the ditchand there stuck fast beyond poor Moossy's power of recovery. With manyan "Ach!" and other words, too, he was bewailing the situation andhanging over his invalid, while she seemed to be cheering him and tryingif she could so lie in the chair as to lessen the weight upon the lowerside, while every minute the wheel sank deeper in the soft earth. 

"What are you st-staring at, you idle, worthless v-vagabond?" saidNestie to Speug. "Come along and give a hand to Moossy, " who was sopleased to get some help in the lonely place that he forgot therevealing of his little secret. With Speug in the shafts, who had thestrength of a man in his compact little body, and Moossy pulling on theother side, the coach was soon upon the road again, amid a torrent ofgratitude from Moossy and his wife, partly in English, but mostly inGerman, but all quite plain to the boys, for gratitude is alwaysunderstood in any language. They came bravely along the lane, Speugpulling, Moossy hanging over his wife to make sure she had not beenhurt, and Nestie plucking flowers to make up a nosegay in memory of thelane, while Moossy declared them to be "_Zwei herzliche Knaben_. "

When they came to the main road, Speug would not give up his work, butbrought the carriage manfully to the little cottage, hidden in a garden, where Moossy lodged. When she had been carried in--she was so light thatMoossy could lift her himself--she compelled the boys to come in, too, and Moossy made fragrant coffee, and this they had with strange Germancakes, which were not half bad, and to which they both did amplejustice. Going home, Nestie looked at Speug, and Speug looked at Nestie, and though no words passed it was understood that the days of thetroubles of Moossy in the Seminary of Muirtown were ended. 

During the remaining year of Moossy's labours at the Seminary it wouldnot be true to say that he became a good or useful master, for he hadneither the knowledge nor the tact, or that the boys were alwaysrespectful and did their work, for they were very far removed from beingangels; but Moossy did pluck up some spirit, and Speug saw that hesuffered no grievous wrong. He also took care that Moossy was not leftto be his own horse from day to day, but that the stronger varlets ofthe Seminary should take some exercise in the shafts of Moossy's coach. Howieson was a young gentleman far removed from sentiment, and he gaveit carefully to be understood that he only did the thing for a joke; butthere is no question that more than once Jock brought Moossy'scarriage, with Moossy's wife in it, successfully along that lane andother lanes, and it is a fact that, on a certain Saturday, Speug cameout with one of his father's traps, and Mistress Moossy, as she wascalled, was driven far and wide about the country around Muirtown. 

"You are what the papers call a ph-philanthropist, Speug, " said Nestie, "and I expect to hear that you are opening an orphan asylum. " And Speugpromptly replied that, if he did, the first person to be admitted wouldbe Nestie, and that he would teach him manners. 

It was a fortunate thing for Moossy that some one died in Germany andleft him a little money, so that he could give up the hopeless drudgeryof the Seminary and go home to live in a little house upon the banks ofthe Rhine. His wife, who had been improving under Dr. Manley's care, began to brisk up at once, and was quite certain of recovery when oneafternoon they left Muirtown Station. Some dozen boys were there to seethem off, and it was Jock and Speug who helped Moossy to placeher comfortably in the carriage. The gang had pooled theirpocket-money--selling one or two treasures to swell the sum--that Moossyand his wife might go away laden with such dainties as schoolboys love, and Nestie had a bunch of flowers to place in her hands. They stillcalled him Moossy, as they had done before, and he looked, to tell thetruth, almost as shabby and his hair was as long as ever; but he was ingreat spirits and much touched by the kindness of his tormentors. As theEnglish mail pulled out of Muirtown Station with quickening speed, theboys ran along the platform beside the carriage shaking hands withMoossy through the open window and passing in their gifts. 

"Take care o' mices!" shouted Jock, with agreeable humour, but the lastsight Moossy had of Muirtown was Speug standing on a luggage-barrow andwaving farewell. 

A LAST RESOURCE

X

That the Rector should be ill and absent from his classes from time totime was quite in the order of things, because he was a scholar andabsent-minded to a degree--going to bed in the morning, and being gotout of bed in rather less than time for his work; eating when itoccurred to him, but preferring, on the whole, not to eat at all;wearing very much the same clothes summer and winter, and if he added aheavy top-coat, more likely putting it on in the height of summer andgoing without it when there were ten degrees of frost. It was not forhis scholarship, but for his peculiarities, that the school loved him;not because he edited a "Cæsar" and compiled a set of Latin exercises, for which perfectly unnecessary and disgusting labours the school hatedhim, but because he used to arrive at ten minutes past nine, and hisform was able to jeer at Bulldog's boys as they hastened into theirclass-room with much discretion at one minute before the hour. Becausehe used to be so much taken up with a happy phrase in Horace that hewould forget the presence of his class, and walk up and down before thefireplace, chortling aloud; and because sometimes he was so hoarse thathe could only communicate with the class by signs, which theyunanimously misunderstood. Because he would sometimes be absent for awhole week, and his form was thrown in with another, with the result ofmuch enjoyable friction, and an almost perfect neglect of work. He wasrespected and never was annoyed, not even by ruffians like Howieson, because everyone knew that the Rector was an honourable gentleman, withall his eccentric ways, and the _Muirtown Advertiser_ had a leader everyspring on the achievements of his scholars. Edinburgh professors whocame to examine the school used to fill up their speeches on theprize-day with graceful compliments to the Rector, supported byclassical quotations, during which the boys cheered rapturously and theRector looked as if he were going to be hung. He was one of therecognised glories of Muirtown, and was freely referred to at municipalbanquets by bailies whose hearts had grown merry within them drinkingthe Queen's health, and was associated in the peroration to the toast of"the Fair City" with the North Meadow and the Fair Maid, and the RiverTay and the County Gaol. 

Bulldog was of another breed. Whatever may have been his negligences ofdress and occupation in private life--and on this subject Nestie andSpeug told fearful lies--he exhibited the most exasperating regularityin public, from his copper-plate handwriting to his speckless dress, butespecially by an inhuman and absolutely sinful punctuality. No one witha heart within him and some regard to the comfort of his fellowcreatures, especially boys, had any right to observe times and seasonswith such exactness. During all our time, except on the one greatoccasion I wish to record, he was never known to be ill, not even with acold; and it was said that he never had been for a day off duty, even inthe generation before us. His erect, spare frame, without an ounce ofsuperfluous flesh, seemed impervious to disease, and there was a feelingin the background of our minds that for any illness to have attackedBulldog would have been an act of impertinence which he would have knownhow to deal with. It was firmly believed that for the last fiftyyears--and some said eighty, but that was poetry--Bulldog had enteredhis class-room every morning, except on Saturdays, Sundays, andholidays, at 8. 50, and was ready to begin work at the stroke of nine. There was a pleasant story that in the days of our fathers there hadbeen such a fall of snow and so fierce a wind that the bridge had beendrifted up, and no one could cross that morning from the other side. Theboys from the south side of the town had brought news of the drift tothe school, and the earlier arrivals, who had come in hope of asnow-fight, were so mightily taken with the news that they hurried tothe Muirtown end of the bridge to look at the drift, and danced with joyat the thought that on the other side Bulldog was standing, for oncehelpless and dismayed. Speug's father, true ancestor of such a son, hadshouted across the drift invitations for Bulldog to come over, secure inthe fact that he could not be seen across its height, and in the hopethat Bulldog would not know his voice. When they were weary celebratingthe event, and after a pleasant encounter with a hastily organisedregiment of message boys, the eager scholars sauntered along to theschool, skirmishing as they went, just to be ready for the midday fightwith the "Pennies. " For the pure joy of it they opened the door of themathematical class-room, merely to see how it looked when Bulldog wasnot there, and found that estimable teacher at his desk, waiting toreceive them with bland courtesy. Some said that he had stayed inMuirtown all night, anticipating that drift, others that he had climbedover it in the early morning, before Muirtown was awake; but it wasfound out afterwards that he had induced old Duncan Rorison, thesalmon-fisher, to ferry him across the flooded river, that it took theman hour to reach the Muirtown side, and that they had both been nearlydrowned in the adventure. 

"Come in, my boys, " was all that he said. "Ye're a little late, but theroads are heavy this morning. Come to the fire and warm yir hands beforeye begin yir work. It's a fine day for mathematics, " and Mr. McGuffiesenior used to tell his son with much relish that their hands werewarmed. The school was profoundly convinced that if necessary Bulldogwould be prepared to swim the river rather than miss a day in themathematical class-room. 

It was a pleasant spring morning, and the "marble" season had justbegun, when Howieson, after a vicious and well-directed stroke which wonhim three "brownies, " inquired casually whether anybody had seen Bulldoggo in; for, notwithstanding the years which came and went, his passingin was always an occasion. Everyone then recollected that he had notbeen seen, but no one for a moment suggested that he had not arrived;and even when the school trooped into the class-room and found Bulldog'sdesk empty, there was no exhilaration and no tendency to take advantageof the circumstances. No one knew where he might be lying in wait, andfrom what quarter he might suddenly appear; and it was wonderful withwhat docility the boys began to work under the mild and beneficent reignof Mr. Byles, who had not at that time joined with the Dowbiggins in theunlawful pursuit of game. As the forenoon wore on there was certainlysome curiosity, and Nestie was questioned as to Bulldog's whereabouts;but it was understood to be a point of honour with Nestie, as a memberof his household, to give no information about Bulldog's movements, andso the school were none the wiser. There was some wild talk during thehour, and a dozen stories were afloat by afternoon. Next morning it wasboldly said that Bulldog was ill, and some, who did not know what truthwas, asserted that he was in bed, and challenged Nestie to deny theslander. That ingenious young gentleman replied vaguely but politely, and veiled the whole situation in such a mist of irrelevant detail thatthe school went in for the second day to the class-room rejoicing withtrembling, and not at all sure whether Bulldog might not arrive in acarriage and pair, possibly with a large comforter round his throat, butotherwise full of spirits and perfectly fit for duty. It was only afterthe twelve o'clock break and a searching cross-examination of Nestiethat the school could believe in the goodness of Providence, and feltlike the Children of Israel on the other bank of the Red Sea. Some werefor celebrating their independence in the North Meadow and treating Mr. Byles with absolute contempt; but there were others who judged with someacuteness that they could have the North Meadow any day, but they mightnever again have a full hour in the mathematical class-room withoutBulldog. There seemed a certain fitness in holding the celebration amidthe scenes of labour and discipline, and the mathematical class went into wait on Mr. Byles's instruction in high spirits and without onemissing. It is true that the Dowbiggins showed for the first time somereluctance in attending to their studies, but it was pointed out to themin a very firm and persuasive way by Speug that it would be disgracefulfor them to be absent when Bulldog was ill, and that the class could notallow such an act of treachery. Speug was so full of honest feeling thathe saw Thomas John safely within the door, and, since he threatened anunreasonable delay, assisted him across the threshold from behind. Thereis no perfectly full and accurate account extant of what took placebetween twelve and one that day in the mathematical class-room, but whatmay be called contributions to history oozed out and were gratefullywelcomed by the school. It was told how Bauldie, being summoned by Mr. Byles to work a problem on the board, instead of a triangle drew afetching likeness of Mr. Byles himself, and being much encouraged by theapplause of the class, and having an artist's love of his work, thrust apipe into Mr. Byles's mouth (pictorially), and blacked one of Mr. Byles's eyes (also pictorially), and then went to his seat with a senseof modest worth. That Mr. Byles, through a want of artisticappreciation, resented this Bohemian likeness of himself, and, moved bya Philistine spirit, would have wiped it from the board; but the seniormembers of the class would on no account allow any work by a young butpromising master to be lost, and succeeded in the struggle in wipingMr. Byles's own face with the chalky cloth. That Mr. Byles, instead ofentering into the spirit of the day, lost his temper and went toBulldog's closet for a cane; whereupon Speug, seizing the opportunity sopleasantly afforded, locked Mr. Byles in that place of retirement, andso kept him out of any further mischief for the rest of the hour. Thatas Mr. Byles had been deposed from office on account of his incapacity, and the place of mathematical master was left vacant, Speug wasunanimously elected to the position, and gave an address, from Bulldog'sdesk, replete with popular humour. That as Thomas John did not seem tobe giving such attention to his studies as might have been expected, Speug ordered that he be brought up for punishment, which was promptlydone by Bauldie and Howieson. That after a long review of Thomas John'siniquitous career, Speug gave him the tawse with much faithfulness, Bauldie seeing that Thomas John held out his hand in a becoming fashion;then that unhappy young gentleman was sent to his seat with a warningfrom Speug that this must never occur again. That Nestie, havingstealthily left the room, gave such an accurate imitation of Bulldog'svoice in the passage--"Pack of little fiddlers taking advantage of myabsence; but I'll warm them"--that there was an instantaneous rush forthe seats; and when the door opened and Nestie appeared, themathematical class-room was as quiet as pussy, and Speug wasostentatiously working at a mathematical problem. There are men livingwho look back on that day with modest, thankful hearts, finding in itsremembrance a solace in old age for the cares of life; and the scene onwhich they dwell most fondly is Nestie, whose face had been whitened forhis abominable trick, standing on the top of Bulldog's desk, and singinga school song with the manner of the Count and the accent of Moossy, while Speug with a cane in his hand compelled Dowbiggin to join in thechorus, and Byles could be heard bleating from the closet. Ah, me! howsoon we are spoiled by this sinful world, and lose the sweet innocenceof our first years! how poor are the rewards of ambition compared withthe simple pleasures of childhood!

It could not be expected that we should ever have another day as goodagain, but everyone had a firm confidence in the originality of Speugwhen it was a question of mischief. We gathered hopefully round theRussian guns next morning--for, as I have said, the guns were our forumand place of public address--and, while affecting an attitude of studiedindifference, we waited with desire to hear the plan of campaign fromour leader's lips. But Speug, like all great generals, was full ofsurprises, and that morning he was silent and unapproachable. Varioussuggestions were made for brightening the mathematical labours andcheering up Mr. Byles, till at last Howieson, weary of their futility, proposed that the whole class should go up to the top of the NorthMeadow and bathe in the river, and then Speug broke silence. 

"Ye may go to bathe if ye like, Jock, and Cosh may go with ye, and ifhe's drowned it'll be no loss, nor, for that matter, if the half of yeare carried down the river. For myself, I'm going to the mathematicalclass, and if onybody meddles wi' Byles I'll fight him in the back yardin the dinner-hour for half a dozen stone-gingers. "

"Is there onything wrang with your head, Speug?" For the thought ofPeter busy with a triangle under the care and pastoral oversight of Mr. Byles could only be explained in one way. 

"No, " replied Speug savagely, "nor with my fists, either. The factis----" And then Speug hesitated, realising amid his many excellences acertain deficiency of speech for a delicate situation. "Nestie, what areye glowering at? Get up on the gun and tell them aboot--what ye told methis meenut. " And the school gathered in amazement round our pulpit, onwhich Nestie stood quite unconcerned. 

"It was very good fun-n yesterday, boys, but it won't do to-t-to-day. Bully's very ill, and Doctor Manley is afraid that he may--d-die, and itwould be beastly bad form-m to be having larks when Bulldogis--maybe----" And Nestie came down hurriedly from the gun and wentbehind the crowd, while Speug covered his retreat in an aggressivemanner, all the more aggressive that he did not seem himself to be quiteindifferent. 

Manley said it. Then every boy knew it must be going hard with Bulldog;for there was not in broad Scotland a cleverer, pluckier, cheerier soulin his great profession than John Manley, M. D. , of Edinburgh, with halfa dozen honours of Scotland, England, and France. He had an insight intocases that was almost supernatural, he gave prescriptions which nobodybut his own chemist could make up, he had expedients of treatment thatnever occurred to any other man, and then he had a way with him thatused to bring people up from the gates of death and fill despairingrelatives with hope. His arrival in the sick room, a little man, withbrusque, sharp, straightforward manner, seemed in itself to change thewhole face of things and beat back the tides of disease. He would nothear that any disease was serious, but he treated it as if it were; hewould not allow a gloomy face in a sick room, and his language to womenwho began to whimper, when he got them outside the room, was such as tomcats would be ashamed of; and he regarded the idea of any person beloweighty dying on his hands as a piece of incredible impertinence. Allover Perthshire country doctors in their hours of anxiety and perplexitysent for Manley; and when two men like William McClure and John Manleytook a job in hand together, Death might as well leave and go toanother case, for he would not have a look in with those champions inthe doorway. English sportsmen in lonely shooting-boxes sent for theMuirtown crack in hours of sudden distress, and then would go up toLondon and swear in the clubs that there was a man down there in acountry town of Scotland who was cleverer than all the West End swelldoctors put together. He would not allow big names of diseases to beused in his hearing, believing that the shadow killed more people thanthe reality, and fighting with all his might against the melancholydelight that Scots people have in serious sickness and other drearydispensations. When Manley returned one autumn from a week's holiday andfound the people of the North Free Kirk mourning in the streets overtheir minister, because he was dying of diphtheria, and his young wifeasking grace to give her husband up if it were the will of God, Manleywent to the house in a whirlwind of indignation, declaring that to calla sore throat diphtheria was a tempting of Providence, and that it was amere mercy that they hadn't got the real disease "just for a judgment. "It happened, however, that his treatment was exactly the same as thatfor diphtheria, and although he remarked that he didn't know whether itwas necessary for him to come back again for such an ordinary case, hedid drop in by a series of accidents twice a day for more than a week;and although no one dared to whisper it in his presence, there arepeople who think to this day that the minister had diphtheria. AsManley, however, insisted that it was nothing but a sore throat, theminister felt bound to get better, and the whole congregation would havethanked Manley in a body had it not been that he would have laughedaloud. Many a boy remembered the day when he had been ill and sweatingwith terror lest he should die--although he wouldn't have said that toany living creature--and Manley had come in like a breeze of fresh air, and declared that he was nothing but a "skulking young dog, " withnothing wrong about him, except the desire to escape for three days fromBulldog. 

"Well, Jimmie, ye don't deserve it, for you're the most mischievouslittle rascal, except Peter McGuffie, in the whole of Muirtown; but I'llgive you three days in bed, and your mother will let you have somethingnice to eat, and then out you go and back to the Seminary, " and goingout of the door Manley would turn round and shake his fist at the bed, "just a trick, nothing else. " It might be three weeks before the boy wasout of bed, but he was never afraid again, and had some heart to fighthis disease. 

Boys are not fools, and the Seminary knew that, if Manley had alloweddeath to be even mentioned in connexion with Bulldog, it was more thanlikely that they would never see the master of the mathematicaldepartment again. And boys are a perfect absurdity, for--as sure asdeath--they were not glad. Bulldog had thrashed them all, or almostall, with faithfulness and perseverance, and some of them he hadthrashed many times; he had never petted any of them, and never morethan six times, perhaps, said a kind word to them in public. But thatmorning, as they stood silent, awkward and angry, round the guns, thereis no doubt about it, the Seminary knew that it loved Bulldog. Never tosee his erect figure and stern face come across the North Meadow, neverto hear him say again from the desk, "Attention to your work, you littlefiddlers"; never to watch him promenading down between the benches, overseeing each boy's task and stimulating the negligent on some tenderpart of their bodies; never to be thrashed by him again! At the thoughtof this calamity each boy felt bad in his clothes, and Speug, resentingwhat he judged the impertinent spying of Cosh, threatened to punch hishead, and "learn Cosh to be watching him. " As everybody knows, boys haveno sentiment and no feeling, so the collapse of that morning must be setdown to pure cussedness; but the school was so low that Byles ruled overthem without resistance, and might have thrashed them if he had sopleased and had not ventured to use Bulldog's cane. 

Had they not been boys, they would have called at Bulldog's to learn howhe was. Being boys, they avoided his name and pretended they wereindifferent; but when they met Manley on the bridge that afternoon, andjudged he had come from Bulldog's, they studied his face with the skillof wild animals, and concluded each one for himself that things weregoing badly with the master. They picked up every scrap of informationfrom their fathers in the evening, although they fiercely resented thesuggestion of their mothers that they would be concerned about "Mr. MacKinnon's illness"--as if they cared whether a master were ill orwell, as if it were not better for them that he should be ill, especially such an old brute as Bulldog. And the average mother was verymuch disappointed by this lack of feeling, and said to her husband atnight that she had expected better things from Archibald; but if she hadgone suddenly into Bauldie's room--for that was his real name, Archibaldbeing only the thing given in baptism--she would have found thattruculent worthy sobbing aloud and covering his head with the blankets, lest his elder brother, who slept in the same room, should hear him. Youhave no reason to believe me, and his mother would not have believed me, but--as sure as death--Bauldie was crying because Bulldog was sick untodeath. 

Next morning Speug and a couple of friends happened by the merestaccident to be loitering at Bailie MacFarlane's shop window, andexamining with interest the ancient furniture exposed, at the very timewhen that worthy magistrate came out and questioned Dr. Manley "Howthings were going up-bye wi' the maister?"

"Not well, bailie, not well at all. I don't like the case; it looks bad, very bad indeed, and I'm not a croaker. Disease is gone, and he's astrong man, not a stronger in Muirtown than MacKinnon; but he has lostinterest in things, and isn't making an effort to get better; just lyingquiet and looking at you--says he's taking a rest, and if we don't gethim waked up, I tell you, Bailie, it will be a long one. "

"Michty, " said the Bailie, overcome with astonishment at the thought ofBulldog dying, as it were, of gentleness. 

"Yes, yes, " said Manley; "but that's just the way with those strong, healthy men, who have never known a day's sickness till they are old;they break up suddenly. And he'll be missed. Bailie, Bulldog didn'tthrash you and me, else we would have been better men; but he hasattended to our boys. "

"He has been verra conscientious, " and the Bailie shook his head, sadlymourning over a man who had laid down his life in discharge ofdiscipline. But the boys departed without remark, and Speug loosened thestrap of Bauldie's books, so that they fell in a heap upon the street, whereat there was a brisk interchange of ideas, and then the companywent on its way rejoicing. So callous is a boy. 

Nestie was not at school that day, and perhaps that was the reason thatSpeug grew sulky and ill-tempered, taking offence if anyone looked athim, and picking quarrels in the corridors, and finally disappearingduring the dinner-hour. It was supposed that he had broken bounds andgone to Woody Island, that forbidden Paradise of the Seminary, and thatwhile the class was wasting its time with Byles, Peter was playing theRed Indian. He did not deny the charge next day, and took an hour'sdetention in the afternoon with great equanimity, but at the time he wassupposed to be stalking Indians behind the trees, and shooting them asthey floated down the river on a log, he was lying among the hay in hisfather's stable, hidden from sight, and--as sure as death--Speug wastrying to pray for Bulldog. 

The virtues of Mr. McGuffie senior were those of the natural man, andMr. McGuffie junior had never been present at any form of familyprayers, nor had he attended a Sunday-school, nor had he sat under anyminister in particular. He had no training in devotional exercises, although he had enjoyed an elaborate education in profanity under hisfather and the grooms, and so his form of prayer was entirely his own. 

"God, I dinna ken how to call You, but they say Ye hear onybody. I'mPeter McGuffie, but mebbe Ye will ken me better by Speug. I'm no' a goodladdie like Nestie, and I'm aye gettin' the tawse, but I'm awful fond ofBulldog. Dinna kill Bulldog, God; dinna kill Bulldog! If Ye let him affthis time I'll never say any bad words again--as sure as death--and I'llnever play truant, and I'll never slap Dowbiggin's face, and I'll neversteal birds' eggs, and I'll never set the terrier on the cats. I'll washmy face and--my hands, too, and I'll go to the Sabbath-schule, and I'lldo onything Ye ask me if Ye'll let off Bulldog. For ony sake, dinna killBulldog. "

When Dr. Manley came out from the master's garden door that evening hestumbled upon Speug, who was looking very miserable, but began towhistle violently the moment he was detected, and denied that he hadcome to ask for news. 

"You did, you young limmer, and you needn't tell me lies, for I knowyou, Speug, and your father before you. I wish I'd good news to giveyou, but I haven't. I fear you've had your last thrashing from Bulldog. "

For a moment Speug kicked at a stone on the road and thrust his handsdeep into his pockets; then the corners of his mouth began to twitch, and turning round he hid his face upon the wall, while his tough littlebody that had stood many a fight shook all over. Doctor Manley was thefirst person that had seen Speug cry, and he stood over him to protecthim from the gaze of any wandering message boys who might come along thelane. By and by Speug began to speak between his sobs. 

"It was a lee, Doctor, for I did come up to ask, but I dinna like tolet on. .. . I heard ye say that ye couldna rouse Bulldog to take aninterest in onything, and I thought o' something. "

"What was it, Speug?" and the doctor laid his hands on the boy'sshoulder and encouraged him to proceed. "I'll never tell, you may trustme. "

"Naething pleased Bulldog sae weel as givin' us a lickin'; if he juisthad a cane in his hands and a laddie afore him, Bulldog would sune behimsel' again, and--there's no a laddie in schule he's licked as oftenas me. And I cam up----" and Speug stuck. 

"To offer yourself for a thrashing, you mean. You've mentioned themedicine; 'pon my word, I believe it's just the very thing that will dothe trick. Confound you, Speug! if you haven't found out what I wasseeking after, and I've been doctoring those Muirtown sinners for morethan thirty years. Come along, laddie; we've had our consultation, andwe'll go to the patient. " And Manley hurried Speug through the gardenand into the house. "Wait a minute here, " said the doctor, "and I'llcome back to you. " And in a little while Nestie came down-stairs andfound his friend in the lobby, confused and frightened for the firsttime in his life, and Nestie saw the marks of distress upon his face. "Doctor M-Manley told me, Speug, and" (putting an arm round his neck)"you're the g-goodest chap in Muirtown. It's awfully d-decent of you, and it'll p-please Bully tremendous. " And then Speug went up asconsulting physician to visit Bulldog. Nestie brought him forward to thebedside, and at last he had courage to look, and it took him all histime to play the man when he saw Bulldog so thin, so quiet, so gentle, with his face almost as white as the pillow, and his hands upon thebedclothes wasted like to the hands of a skeleton. The master smiledfaintly, and seemed to be glad to see the worst of all his scholars, buthe did not say anything. Dr. Manley kept in the background and allowedthe boys to manage their own business, being the wisest of men as wellas the kindliest. Although Nestie made signs to Speug and gave him everyencouragement, Peter could not find a word, but stood helpless, bitinghis lip and looking the very picture of abject misery. 

"Peter has come, sir, " said Nestie, "to ask for you. He is very sorrythat you are ill, and so are all the boys. Peter thought you might bewearying to--to use the c-cane, and Peter is wearying, too. Just alittle one, sir, to p-please Speug, " and Nestie laid an old cane he hadhunted up, a cane retired from service, upon the bed within reach ofBulldog's hand. A twinkle of amusement came into the master's eye, thefirst expression of interest he had shown during his illness. He turnedhis head and looked at Peter, the figure of chastened mischief. Theremembrance of the past--the mathematical class-room, the blackboardwith its figures, the tricks of the boys, the scratching of the pens, came up to him, and his soul was stirred within him. His hand closedagain upon the sceptre of authority, and Peter laid a grimy paw openupon the bedclothes. The master gave it one little stroke with all thestrength he had. "The fiddlers, " he said softly, "the little fiddlerscan't do without me, after all. " A tear gathered in his eye andoverflowed and rolled down Bulldog's cheek. Manley hurried the boys outof the room, who went into the garden, and, being joined by the master'sdog, the three together played every monkey trick they knew, whileupstairs in the sick-room Manley declared that Bulldog had turned thecorner and would soon be back again among his "fiddlers. "

[Illustration: "HIS HAND CLOSED AGAIN UPON THE SCEPTRE OF AUTHORITY. "]

The doctor insisted upon driving Peter home to his native stable-yard, for this was only proper courtesy to a consulting physician. He calledhim "Doctor" and "Sir Peter" and such like names all the way, whereatPeter was so abashed that friends seeing him sitting in Manley'sphaeton, with such an expression on his face, spread abroad the talethat the doctor was bringing him home with two broken legs as the resultof riding a strange horse. The doctor bade him good-bye in the presenceof his father, tipping him ten shillings to treat the school on the newsof Bulldog's convalescence, and next day stone-ginger was flowing likewater down the throats of the Seminary. 

A PLEASANT SIN

XI

Captious people, such as ministers of religion and old maids of theprecise kind, considered that the Seminary were guilty of many sins andmentioned them freely; but those excellent people erred through lack ofvision. Hunting mice in Moossy's class-room, putting the Dowbiggins'clothes into a state of thorough repair, raiding the territory of the"Pennies, " having a stand-up fight between two well-matched champions, say, once a month, and "ragging" Mr. Byles, might have an appearance ofevil, but were in reality disguised virtues, feeding the high spirit ofthose who were active, and teaching the Christian grace of meekness tothose who were passive. There was only one act which the Seminary knewit ought not to do, and which all the boys wanted to do, which theyenjoyed very much in doing, and were quite willing to be punished fordoing. The besetting sin of a school--a country school--which willremain its sin until the days of the millennium have fairly set in, wasplaying truant. 

This crime was equivalent to high treason in the State, and consisted ina boy absenting himself from school without the knowledge of hisparents, and without the consent of his master, for a day or half of aday. The boy did not disappear because he was ill, for he was on suchoccasions outrageously well: nor because he was overburdened by work, for the truants always guarded themselves against brain fag; nor becausehe wanted to hang about the streets, or smoke in secret places. He wassimply seized with the passion of the open air and of the country. Totramp through the bosky woods, hunting for birds' eggs and watching theways of wild animals; to guddle for trout under the stones of some clearrunning mountain burn, or to swim in the cool water on a summer day, orto join the haymakers on a farm, and do a full day's work, as long aslesson time and harder. There was a joy in escaping from bounds, as ifan animal had broken out from a menagerie; there was joy in thinking, asyou lay beside your burn or under the shadow of a tree, of the fellowsmewed up in the hot class-room and swatting at their sums, underBulldog's eye; and joy in coming home in the evening, tired, butsatisfied, and passing the empty Seminary with defiance. There is nojoy--I mean sin--but has its drawbacks, and there were clouds in thetruant's sky. Country folk had their own suspicions when they came on acouple of boys going at large on a working day, when the school was insession, as one might have a shrewd guess if he came upon two convictsin their professional dress fishing in some lonely spot on Dartmoor. Butthere is a charitable sympathy with all animals who have escaped from acage, unless it be a tigress looking for her dinner, and no one wouldhave thought of informing on the boys, except one bad man; andProvidence, using Speug as an instrument, punished him for his evildoings--as I shall tell. 

"Well, laddies, " some honest farmer would say, as he came upon themsitting by the burnside eating bread and cheese and counting up theirtrout, "I'm judgin' it will be a holiday at the Seminary the now, ormebbe the maister's given ye a day's leave for yir health. Or is thisthe reward for doing yir work so well? Ye have all the appearance ofscholars. " And then the good man would laugh at the simple raillery andthe confusion of the boys. 

"Dinna answer, laddies; for least said soonest mended, and ye mind whereleears go to. But I'm thinkin' ye wadna be the worse for a jug of milkto wash down your dinner, and there's some strawberries in the garden upby, just about ripe. "

So they all went up to the farm kitchen and had a glorious tuck in, andwere afterwards turned loose among the strawberries, while the farmerwatched them with keen delight and a remembrance of past days. Whoseplace in heaven for such deeds of charity is already secure. 

The authorities at home were not so lenient, and the experienced truantwas careful, when he could, to time his arrival home about five o'clockin the afternoon, which allowed for the school hours and one hour moreof special confinement. According to the truant's code he was notallowed to tell a lie about his escapade, either at home or at school, but he was not obliged to offer a full and detailed statement of thetruth. If his father charged him with being kept in at school for nothaving done his work, and rebuked him for his laziness, he allowed it togo at that, and did not accuse his father of inaccuracy. When, however, a boy was by habit and repute a truant, his father learned by experienceand was apt to watch him narrowly. If the boy had an extra touch of thesun on his face, and his clothing was disorderly beyond usual, and hismanner was especially unobtrusive, and his anxiety to please everyperson quite remarkable, and if in moments of unconsciousness he seemedto be chewing the cud of some recent pleasure, the father was apt tosubject him to a searching cross-examination. And his mother had to begthe boy off with many a plea, such as mothers know how to use; and ifthe others did not succeed, and the appeal to the heart was in vain, shecould always send the good man back upon his memory, and put it to hisconscience whether he ought to visit too severely upon his son the sinthe boy had inherited from himself. 

It was next morning that the truant really paid for his pleasure; andthe price was sharp, for there was no caning to be compared with thatwhich followed a day in the country. It was a point of honour that noboy should show distress; but even veterans bit their lips as the canefell first on the right hand and then on the left, and right across thepalm, and sometimes doubling on the back of the hand, if the cane wasyoung and flexible. Speug, though a man of war and able to endureanything, used to warm his hands at the fire, if the weather was cold, before going in to the inquisition, and after he had received aswitching of the first order he would go down to the lade and cool hishands in the running water. It was an interesting spectacle to see fourable-bodied sinners, who yesterday had given themselves to the study ofNature, now kneeling together, to efface their penalty in our waters ofLethe; but you must remember that they made no moan before the boys, andno complaint against the master. The school received them with respectwhen they came out, and Speug would indicate with a wink and a jerk ofhis head that Bulldog had exceeded himself; but he was not to be trifledwith for an hour or two, and if any ill-mannered cub ventured to cometoo near when Peter was giving his hands a cold bath, the chances arethat Peter gave the cub a bath, too, "just to teach him to be lookingwhere he had no business. "

Possibly fear of consequences might hinder some weak-hearted boys, butit never prevented any of the hardy ruffians from having their day outwhen the fever seized them. Playing truant was the same thing for a boyas bolting for a high-spirited horse; done once, the animal is bound totry it again, and to both, the joy of their respective sins must be verymuch the same. Boys did not plan a week ahead and then go astray in coldblood, because this sin was not an act of malice aforethought--it was asudden impulse, not a matter of the will so much as of the blood. Hadone determined on Tuesday night to take Wednesday, it might have turnedout in our fickle climate a cheerless day, when a boy would as soon beplaying marbles in the breaks, or cricket in the dinner-hour, or, forthat matter, amusing himself in Moossy's class. No; a boy rose in themorning ready to go to school, without a thought of wood orwater--arranging his marbles, in fact, for the day, and planning how toescape a lesson he had not prepared; but he was helpless against Natureif she set herself to tempt him. No sooner had he put his nose outsidethe door than the summer air, sweet and fresh, began to play upon hisface and reminded him of a certain wood. As he went through the streetsof the town, a glimpse of the river, steely blue that morning in thesunshine, brought up a pool where a fat trout was sure to be lying. Ashe crossed the North Meadow, the wind was blowing free from theHighlands, and was laden with the scent of hay and flowers, and sent hisblood a-tingling. The books upon his back grew woefully heavy, and theSeminary reminded him of the city gaol frowning out on the fields withits stately and unrelenting face. He loitered by the lade and saw theclear water running briskly, and across the meadow he could catch aglimpse of the river, and in the distance the Kilspindie Woods withtheir mysterious depths, and rising high above the houses on the otherside of the river was the hill where he spent last Saturday. The bellrings and he goes in, but not to work; the river is running through hisheart, and the greenery is before his eyes, and the wind coming in puffsthrough the open window awakens the instinct of the wild animal in hisbreast and invites him to be free. Speug has a slate before him, but heis not pretending to do anything, he is looking out on the Meadow, andsniffing the air, just like a horse about to make its bolt. He catchesHowieson's eye and reads that Jock is ready. Howieson inquires by signalof Bauldie whether he prefers compound fractions to a swim, and Bauldieexplains, also by signal, that, much as he loves fractions, he will beobliging that afternoon and join them in their swim. A fourth wouldcomplete the party; and when Speug lifts his eyebrows with greatdramatic art to "Piggie" Mitchell, three desks off, "Piggie, " like thegallant spirit that he was, answers with a nod that he will not be foundwanting. Not a word has been said, and no one will say "Truant" at anytime, but at the next break the four separate themselves quietly andunobtrusively from their fellows, and by the time the last boy has gonethrough the door, they are scudding across the meadow to Speug'sstable-yard, where they will make their preparations. Sometimes nothingmore is needed than a hunch of bread and some fish-hooks; but as theyran Speug had dropped the word Woody Island, and a day on Woody Islandwas a work of art. It lay a couple of miles above the town, long andnarrow, formed with a division of the river into its main current and asluggish backwater. It was covered with dense brushwood, except wherehere and there a patch of green turf was left bare, and the island wasindented with little bays where the river rippled on clean sand andgravel. It was only a little island, but yet you could lose yourself init, so thick was the wood and so mazy, and then you had to find yourcomrades by signal; and it had little tracks through it, and there wasone place where you could imagine a hole in the bank to be a cave, andwhere certainly two boys could get out of sight if they lay very closetogether and did not mind being half smothered. When you went to WoodyIsland, and left the mainland, you were understood to blot out theSeminary and Muirtown and Scotland and civilisation. Woody Island wassomewhere in the wild West, and was still in the possession of thechildren of the forest; the ashes of their fires could be seen any daythere, and you could come upon their wigwams in one of the open spots. There was a place where they had massacred three trappers and takentheir scalps, and in that cave "Bull's-eye Charlie, " the famous Indianscout, lying curled up like a ball, and with only the mouth of his riflepeeping out, had held twenty of the red-skinned braves at bay for awhole day. It was a fairy world in which our Indian tales could bereproduced upon the stage, and we ourselves could be the heroes we hadso often admired. The equipment for the day consisted of four tomahawks(three axes out of small tool chests and one axe for breaking coalswhich "Piggie" used to steal for the day) two pistols (one belonging toSpeug and the other to Bauldie); a couple of toy rifles--not things forkids, mark you, but long rifles with bayonets, and which could firecaps; a tent, which was in reality an old carriage cloth from Peter'syard; and a kettle for boiling water--I mean cooking the game--whichJock Howieson abstracted from his kitchen. Each boy had to visit hishome on pretence of returning for a book, and bring away the necessaryarticles of war and as much food as he could steal from the pantry; andthen everything, axes included, and, if possible, the rifles had to behidden away about their persons until the four, skulking by back lanes, and separating from one another, reached the top of the North Meadow, after which they went up the bank of the river, none daring to make themafraid. They were out of bounds now, and the day was before them forweal or woe, and already Speug was changing into an Indian trapper, andgiving directions about how they must deal with the Seminoles (see MayneReid), while Howieson had begun to speculate whether they would have achance of meeting with the famous chief, Oceola. "Piggie" might want totry a cap on his rifle, but Speug would not allow him, because, althoughthey had not yet entered the Indian territory, the crafty foe might havescouts out on this side of the river, and in that case there was no hopeof Woody Island. The Indians would be in ambush among the trees on thebank, and the four would be shot down as they crossed. 

Their first enemy, however, was not Oceola's Indians, but a white man--arenegade--who, to his shame, was in alliance with the Indians and wasalways ready to betray the trappers into their hands. This miscreant wasa farmer on the mainland, who was the tenant of Woody Island, and had adetermined objection to any boys, or other savages, except, as I havesaid, the Seminole tribe living on the island, and who used to threatenpains and penalties against anyone whom he caught on his land. One neverknew when he might be about, and it was absolutely necessary to reachthe island without his notice. There was a day in the past when Speugused to watch till the farmer had gone into his midday dinner, and thencreep along the bank of the river and ferry himself across with theother trappers in the farmer's boat, which he then worked round to theother side of the island and kept there for the return voyage in theevening, so that the farmer was helpless to reach the island, and couldonly address the unseen trespassers in opprobrious language from thebank, which was sent back to him in faithful echo. This forenoon thefarmer happened to be hoeing turnips with his people in a field oppositethe island, and Speug was delighted beyond measure, for now the four hadto drop down and crawl along through the thick grass by the river'sedge, availing themselves of every bush and little knoll till they lay, with all their arms, the tent, and the food, concealed so near thefarmer that they could hear him speak and hear the click of the hoes asthe people worked in their drills. If you raised your head cautiouslyand looked through between the branches of a shrub, you could see him, and Bauldie actually covered him with his rifle. The unconscious farmerknew not that his life hung upon a thread, or, rather, upon Bauldie'strigger. Bauldie looked inquiringly to his chief, for he would dearlyhave loved to fire a cap, but Speug shook his head so fiercely that thetrapper dropped down in his lair, and Speug afterwards explained thatthe renegade had certainly deserved death, but that it was dangerous tofire with so many of his gang present, and the Seminoles on the otherside of the river. By and by the farmer and his people had workedthemselves to the other end of the field, and the trappers, havingascertained that there were no Indians watching them, prepared to cross. Speug, who had reached the boat, spoke out suddenly and unadvisedly, forthe farmer had chained and padlocked the boat. It would not havemattered much to the boys in ordinary circumstances, for they would havestripped and swum across, and back again when they were tired of theother side, for every one of them could swim like an otter; but that daythey were trappers, with arms, and food, and a tent, and powder whichmust be kept dry, to say nothing of the kettle. There was a briefconsultation, and Bauldie regretted that he did not shoot the farmerdead on the spot, and as many of his people as they could. Speug, whohad been prowling around--though cautiously, mind you, and ever watchingfor a sign of the Seminoles--gave a low, mysterious whistle, which wasone of the signs among the trappers; and when the others joined him hepointed and whispered, "A Seminole canoe. " It was an ancient boat whichthe farmer's father had used, and which had lain for years upon thebank, unused. Its seats were gone, its planks were leaking, it had twoholes at least in it, and there were no oars. It was a thing which, inthe farmer's hand, would have sunk six yards from the shore, but it hadthe semblance of a boat, and it was enough for the hardy trappers. Verycarefully did they work it to the bank, lest it should slip a wholeplank on the road, and very gently did they drop it in, lest theSeminoles should hear. "Piggie" stuffed one hole with his bonnet, andBauldie the second with his; Jock spread his jacket over an oozy part. They shipped all their stores, and one of them got in to bale, and theothers, stripping off their clothes and adding them to the cargo of theboat, pushed out the boat before them, swimming by its side. It was amere question of time whether the boat would go down in mid-channel; butso splendidly did "Piggie" bale, ready at any moment to swim for hislife, and so powerfully did the others push, swimming with their feetand one hand, and with the other hand guiding the boat, that theybrought it over safely to the other side; and the fact that half theirclothes were wet through mattered little to men who had often hiddenfrom the Indians in the water, with nothing but their eyes and nose out;and, at any rate, the food was safe. The matches and the percussion capsalso were dry, for "Piggie" had taken care of that, and, in the worstemergency, they would have been carried on the top of his head if healso had been obliged to swim. They brought the boat into a littlecreek, and, communicating by signs to one another--for they were tooold hunters to be speaking now, when there might be a party of Seminolesin that very wood--Speug and Jock hid themselves, each behind a treewith rifle in hand, to cover the others, while "Piggie" and Bauldie drewthe boat up under cover of the bushes, and hid it out of sight, so thateven a Seminole's keen eyes would not have been able to detect it. Thetrappers made another hiding-place, and left there the superfluousgarments of civilisation, confining themselves to a shirt and trousers, and a belt which holds the pistol and tomahawk. Speug and Jock, as thetwo veterans who could discover the trail of the Seminoles by a twistedleaf on a branch, or a broken stick on the ground, warned their friendsto lie low, and they themselves disappeared into the brushwood. They hadgone to scout, and to make sure that no wandering party of Indians wasin the vicinity. By and by a wood-pigeon cooed three times, "Piggie"nodded to Bauldie, and Bauldie hooted like an owl, then they knew thatit was safe to advance. The two rejoined the scouts, whom they found onthe edge of a clearing, leaning on their rifles in a picturesqueattitude. "Bull's-eye Charlie" led, and the others followed, pausing nowand again at a sound in the woods, and once at a signal from"Bull's-eye" they separated swiftly, and each took up his positionbehind a tree. But it was a false alarm. Then they went on as before, till they came to a pretty spot on the other side of the island, wherethey made their camp, cutting a pole for the tent, lighting a fire, which they did with immense success, and proceeding to cook dinner. Asthey had been afraid to fire, for fear of attracting any wanderingIndian's notice, they had no deer nor wild turkey, which, in othercircumstances, would have been their food; but they made tea (verybadly, and largely because they wished to use the kettle), and they hadbread and butter, which had turned into oil through the warmth ofBauldie's person, a half ham which Speug contributed, a pot of jam forwhich "Piggie" will have to account some day, and six jam tarts whichHowieson bought with his last farthing, and which had been reducedpractically to one in Jock's pocket. Speug had managed two bottles ofstone ginger-beer, which were deeply valued, and afforded them a bigmouthful each, as they drank without any cup, and shared honestly bycalculation of time. 

[Illustration: "THEY DRANK WITHOUT ANY CUP. "]

What a day they had! They fought Indians from one end of the island tothe other, killing and scalping twenty-nine. They bathed in the quietercurrent on the other side, and they dried themselves in the sun, and inthe sun they slept till they were burned red; and then just as they werethinking that it was time to go back to the camp and gather togethertheir belongings and set off for home, Speug gave a whistle that had init this time no pretence of danger, and bolted into the wood, followedby the other three. Whether he had heard the firing, or the Seminoleshad sent a message, they never knew, but the farmer was on the islandand proceeding in their direction through the brushwood. Speug did notthink that he had seen them, and he would not quite know where theywere, and in an instant that leader of men had formed what he thoughtthe best of all his plans. He gave his directions to the other three, who executed a war-dance at the mere thought of the strategy, and thendeparted hurriedly for the camp; but Speug, who was naked, and notashamed, started rapidly in an opposite direction, and just gave thefarmer a glimpse of him as he hurried up the island. 

"Ye're there, are ye, ye young blackguards! Wait till I catch ye;trespassin' and lightin' fires, I'll be bound; it's Perth gaol ye'll bein the nicht, or I'm no farmer of Middleton. Ye may hide if ye please, but I'll find ye, and ye'll no get the old boat to go back in, for I'vefound that, clever as ye thought yourselves, and knocked the bottom ooto' it. "

It was twenty minutes before he discovered Speug, and then Speug wasstanding on the edge of the water at the top of the island, where thecurrent runs swift and strong towards the other side. 

"Was it me ye were seekin'?" said Speug, rosy red all over, but not withmodesty. "I thought I heard somebody crying. We're glad to see ye on theisland. Have ye come to bathe?"

"Wait till I get a grip of ye, ye impident little deevil, and, my word, I'll bathe ye, " and the farmer made for Speug. 

"I'll bathe mysel', " said Speug, when the enemy almost had his hands onhim, and dived into the river, coming up nearly opposite the horrifiedman; and then, as he went down with the current which took him over tothe opposite side, he invited the farmer to come in. When he landedSpeug bade the farmer good-bye with much courtesy, and hoped he wouldenjoy himself among his Indian friends. 

"Wait till I cross, " shouted the farmer, "and I'll be after ye, andthough I ransack Muirtown I'll find ye out. Ye're a gey like spectacleto go back to the town. Ye'll no escape me this time, whoever ye be, "and the farmer hurried down the island to his boat, which he had looselyfastened to one of the trees. When he reached the spot it was not to befound, but he could see his boat lying in its accustomed place on theother side, chained and padlocked. For the other three trappers hadgathered all their possessions and clothed themselves like gentlemen, and taking Speug's clothes with them, ferried themselves across withrapidity and dignity. Once more Speug bade the farmer good-night, extending both hands to him in farewell, but now the one hand was infront of the other, and the thumb of the inner hand attached to Speug'snose. He thoughtfully offered to take any message to Muirtown gaol orto the Provost that the farmer desired, and departed, wishing him apleasant night and telling him where he would find the shank of a ham. As Peter dressed himself, his friends could only look at him in silentadmiration, till at the thought of the renegade trapped so neatly andconfined for at least a night on his own island, Howieson slapped hislegs and triumphed aloud. And the four returned to Muirtown and tocivilisation full of joy. 

GUERILLA WARFARE

XII

There is no person in a Scots country town to be compared with a Bailiefor authority and dignity, and Bailie MacConachie, of Muirtown, was aglory to his order. Provosts might come and go--creatures of threeyears--but this man remained in office for ever, and so towered abovehis brethren of the same kind, that the definite article was attached tohis title, and to quote "the Bailie" without his name was the recognisedform and an end to all controversy. Nature had been kind to him, and, entering into the designs of Providence, had given him a bodilyappearance corresponding to his judicial position. He stood six feet inhis boots, and his erect carriage conveyed the impression of six inchesmore. His waistband passed forty-eight inches; but, to do the great manjustice, his chest measure was forty-two. His chin rested in folds uponhis stock, and his broad, clean-shaven, solemn, immovable countenancesuggested unfathomable depths of wisdom. His voice was deep and husky, and the clearance of his throat with which he emphasised hisdeliverances could be heard half a street away and was like the sealingof a legal deed. Never since he became a Bailie had he seen hisboots--at least upon his feet--and his gait, as became his elevation, was a stately amble, as when a huge merchant-man puts out to sea, driving the water before her bow and yet swaying gently from side toside in her progress. Sunday and Saturday--except when officiating atthe Sacrament, and of course he was then in full blacks--the Bailie woreexactly the same kind of dress--a black frock-coat, close buttoned, andgrey trousers, with a dark blue stock, his one concession to colour. Ashis position was quite assured, being, in the opinion of many, secondonly to that of the Sheriff and the Fiscal, he could afford to wear hisclothes to the bone, and even to carry one or two stains upon his paunchas a means of identification. Walking through the town, he stood at hisfull height, with his hands folded upon the third button of his coat;but when he reached the North Meadow, on his way home, and passed theSeminary, he allowed his head to droop, and clasped his hands behindafter the manner of the great Napoleon, and then it was understood thatthe Bailie's mind was wrestling with the affairs of State. People madeway for him upon the streets as he sailed along, and were pleased with arecognition, which always took the form of a judgment from the Bench, even though it dealt only with the weather or the crops. 

There was no occasion, either in the Council or in the Presbytery, whenthe Bailie did not impress; but every one agreed that he rose to hisheight on the Bench. No surprise, either of evidence or of law, could besprung on him, no sensational incident ever stirred him, no excitementof the people ever carried him away. He was the terror of the publicans, and would refuse a license if he saw fit without any fear; but if theteetotalers tried to dictate to him, he would turn upon them and rendhis own friends without mercy. When any Muirtown sinner was convicted inhis court he would preface his sentence with a ponderous exhortation, and if the evidence were not sufficient he would allow the accused to goas an act of grace, but warn him never to appear again, lest a worsething should befall him. There are profane people in every community, and there were those in Muirtown who used to say in private places thatthe Bailie was only a big drum, full of emptiness and sound; but thelocal lawyers found it best to treat him with respect; and until theSeminary boys took his Majesty in hand he had never been worsted. Nodoubt an Edinburgh advocate, who had been imported into a petty case tobrowbeat the local Bench, thought he had the Bailie on the hip when thateminent man, growing weary of continual allusions to "the defunct, " saidthat if he heard anything more about "the defunct" he would adjourn thecase for a week, and allow him to appear in his own interests. Then theadvocate explained with elaborate politeness that he was afraid thateven the summons of the Muirtown Bench could not produce this party, andthat his appearance, if he came, might secure the court to himself. 

"You mean, " said the Bailie, eyeing the advocate with unmoved dignity, "that the man is dead. Quite so! Quite so! But let me tell you that ifyou had been a Muirtown solicitor you would have had your case betterprepared, and not wasted our time with the talk of dead people. You arestill young, and when you have had more experience you will know that itis only the evidence of living witnesses that can be received in a courtof justice. Proceed with your case and confine yourself to relevantevidence--yes, sir, relevant evidence. "

It only shows the inherent greatness of the man, that in private lifethe Bailie followed the calling of an Italian warehouseman, whichreally, in plain words, was the same thing as a superior grocer, nor washe above his trade for eight hours of the day. When not engaged inofficial work, he could be found behind his counter, and yet even therehe seemed to be upon the Bench. His white apron he wore as a robe ofoffice, he heard what the ladies had to say with a judicial air, correcting them if they hinted at any tea costing less than four andsixpence per pound, commanding a cheese to be brought forward forinspection, as if it had been a prisoner in the dock, probing it withsearching severity and giving a judgment upon it from which there was noappeal. He distinguished between customers, assigning to each suchprovisions as were suitable for their several homes, inquiring in apaternal manner after the welfare of their children, and when the casewas concluded--that is to say, the tea and the sugar bought--evencondescending to a certain high level of local gossip. When the customerleft the shop it was with a sense of privilege, as if one had beencalled up for a little to sit with the judge. It was understood thatonly people of a certain standing were included among the Bailie'scustomers, and the sight of the Countess of Kilspindie's carriage at hisdoor marked out his province of business. Yet if a little lassiestumbled into the shop and asked for a pennyworth of peppermints, hewould order her to be served, adding a peppermint or two more, and somegood advice which sent away the little woman much impressed; for thoughthe Bailie committed one big, blazing indiscretion, and sufferedterribly in consequence thereof, he was a good and honest man. 

The Bailie made only one public mistake in his life, but it was on thelargest scale, and every one wondered that a man so sagacious shouldhave deliberately entered into a feud with the boys of the Seminary. TheBailie had battled in turn with the Licensed Victuallers, who as afighting body are not to be despised, and with the Teetotalers, whomevery wise man who loves peace of mind leaves alone; with the Tories, who were his opponents, and with the Liberals, his own party, when hehappened to disagree with them; with the Town Council, whom hevanquished, and with the Salmon Fishery Board, whom he brought to terms;but all those battles were as nothing to a campaign with the boys. Thereis all the difference in the world between a war with regulars, conducted according to the rules of military science, and a series ofguerilla skirmishes, wherein all the chances are with the alert andlight-armed enemy. Any personage who goes to war with boys is bound tobe beaten, for he may threaten and attack, but he can hardly ever hurtthem, and never possibly can conquer them; and they will buzz round himlike wasps, will sting him and then be off, will put him to shame beforethe public, will tease him on his most sensitive side, will lie in waitfor him in unexpected places with an ingenuity and a perseverance and amercilessness which are born of the Devil, who in such matters is theunfailing ally of all genuine boys. 

It was no doubt annoying to a person of the Bailie's dignity andorderliness to see the terrace in which the Seminary stood, and whichhad the honour of containing his residence, turned into a playground, and outrageous that Jock Howieson, playing rounders in front of amagistrate's residence, should send the ball crack through theplate-glass window of a magistrate's dining-room. It was fearsomeconduct on the part of Jock, and even the ball itself should have knownbetter; but the Bailie might have been certain that Jock did not intendto lose his ball and his game also, and the maddest thing the magistratecould do was to make that ball a cause of war. It was easy enough to goto Bulldog's class-room and lodge a complaint, but as he could notidentify the culprit, and no one would tell on Jock, the Bailie departedworsted, and the address which he gave the boys was received withderision. When he turned from the boys to the master, he fared nobetter, for Bulldog who hated tell-tales and had no particular respectfor Bailies, told the great man plainly that his (Bulldog's)jurisdiction ceased at the outer door of the Seminary, and that it wasnot his business to keep order in the Terrace. Even the sergeant, whenthe Bailie commanded him to herd the boys in the courtyard, forgot therespect due to a magistrate, and refused point-blank, besides adding agratuitous warning, which the Bailie deeply resented, to let the matterdrop, or else he'd repent the day when he interfered with the laddies. 

"I was a sergeant in the Black Watch, Bailie, and I was through theCrimean War--ye can see my medals; but it takes me all my time to keepthe pack in hand within my ain jurisdiction; and if ye meddle wi' themoutside yir jurisdiction, I tell ye, Bailie, they'll mak' a fool o' yeafore they're done w' ye in face o' all Muirtown. There's a way o'managin' them, but peety ye if ye counter them. Noo, when they broke theglass in the Count's windows, if he didna pretend that he couldnaidentify them and paid the cost himself! He may be French, but he'slong-headed, for him and the laddies are that friendly there's naethingthey woudna do for him. As ye value yir peace o' mind, Bailie, and yirposeetion in Muirtown, dinna quarrel wi' the Seminary. They're fineladdies as laddies go; but for mischief, they're juist born deevils. "

There is a foolish streak in every man, and the Bailie went on to hisdoom. As the authorities of the Seminary refused to do their duty--forwhich he would remember them in the Council when questions of salary andholidays came up--the Bailie fell back on the police, who had their ownthoughts of his policy, but dared not argue with a magistrate; and onemorning an able-bodied constable appeared on the scene and informed theamazed school that he was there to prevent them playing on the Terrace. No doubt he did his duty according to his light, but neither he nor sixconstables could have quelled the Seminary any more than you can holdquicksilver in your hand. When he walked with stately step up and downthe broad pavement before Bulldog's windows, the Seminary went up andplayed opposite the Bailie's house, introducing his name intoconversation, with opprobrious remarks regarding the stoutness of hisperson, and the emptiness of his head, and finally weaving the story ofhis life into a verse of poetry which was composed by Speug, but is notsuitable for a book of family reading. If the constable, with the fearof the magistrate before his eyes, went up to stand as a guard of honourbefore the Bailie's house, the school went down then to the Russian gunsand held a meeting of triumph, challenging the constable to come back tothe Seminary, and telling him what they would do to him. They formed abodyguard round him some days, keeping just out of reach, and marchedalong with him, backward and forward; other days they chaffed and teasedhim till his life was a burden to him, for he had no power to arrestthem, and in his heart he sympathised with them. And then, at last, being weary of the constable, the school turned its attention to theBailie. 

One afternoon a meeting of choice spirits was held in the North Meadow, beyond the supervision of the constable, and after the Bailie had beencalled every name of abuse known to the Seminary, and Speug hadransacked the resources of the stable yard in profanity, he declaredthat the time had now come for active operation, and that the war mustbe carried into the enemy's country. Speug declared his conviction inthe vernacular of the school, which is here translated into respectablelanguage, that the Bailie was a gentleman of doubtful birth anddiscreditable pedigree, that his conduct as a boy was beyonddescription, and that his private life was stained with every vice; thathis intellect would give him a right to be confined in the countyasylum, and that he had also qualified by his way of living for thecounty gaol; that he didn't wash more than once a year, and that thesmell of him was like to that from a badger's hole; that it was a pityhe didn't attend to his own business, and that he had very littlebusiness to do; that he would soon be bankrupt, and that if he wasn'tbankrupt already it was only because he cheated with his change; that hesanded his sugar, and that his weights and measures were a scandal; butthat the Seminary must do what they could to lead him to honest ways andteach him industry, and that he (Speug) with the aid of one or twofriends would do his best for the reformation of Bailie MacConachie, andin this way return good for evil, as Mr. Byles, assistant in thedepartment of mathematics, used to teach. And the school waited withexpectation for the missionary effort upon which Speug with theassistance of Howieson and Bauldie, was understood to be engaged. 

Next Friday evening an art committee met in a stable-loft on thepremises of Mr. McGuffie senior, and devoted their skill--which wasgreater than they ever showed in their work--to the elaboration of ahigh-class advertisement which was to be shown round a certain districtin Muirtown, and which they hoped would stimulate the custom at BailieMacConachie's shop. Howieson had provided two large boards such as mightbe hung one on the breast and one on the back of a man, and those Speughad cut to the proper size and pasted over with thick white paper. Uponthem Bauldie, who had quite a talent for drawing, wrought diligently fora space of two hours, with the assistance and encouragement of hisfriends, and when they set the boards up against the wall the committeewas greatly pleased. Speug read aloud the advertisement with muchunction--

 _CHEAP TEA! CHEAP TEA! CHEAP TEA!_

 SALE OF BANKRUPT STOCK AT BAILIE MACCONACHIE'S _THE FAMOUS ITALIAN WAREHOUSEMAN_, 49, ST. ANDREW STREET. 

 ELEVENPENCE-HALFPENNY PER POUND. 

 _Sale Begins at One o'clock on Saturday. _ GLASS OF WHISKY FREE TO ALL PURCHASERS. _Poor People Specially Invited. _ _Be early. _ _Be early. _

 BAILIE MACCONACHIE'S _CHEAP TEA! CHEAP TEA! CHEAP TEA!_

The three artists contained themselves till they came to the last "CheapTea!" then Jock knocked Bauldie down among the hay, and Speug fell onthe top of them, and they rolled in one bundle of delight, arising fromtime to time to study the advertisement and taste its humour. 

"'Bankrupt stock!'" cried Bauldie, "and him an Elder of the Kirk!That'll learn him to be complaining of his windows. "

"'Poor people specially invited, ' and calls himself an Italianwarehouseman. I would give half a dozen ginger-beer to see LadyKilspindie there, " stammered Jock with delight. 

"'Glass of whisky free!'"--and Speug took a fresh turn in the hay--"it'sagainst law to drink whisky in a grocer's shop--and him a magistrate!He'll no meddle wi' the Seminary again. "

"Be early!'" chanted Jock, "'be early!' My word! They'll be there, allthe waufies of Muirtown; there'll no be room in the street. 'Glass ofwhisky free!'" and Jock wiped his eyes with his knuckles. 

Upon Saturday, at noon, just as the Bailie was going along the Terraceto his house and congratulating himself that on that day at least he wasfree from all annoyance by the way, another character of Muirtown hadstarted out through a very different part of the fair city. London Johnwas as well known in Muirtown as the Bailie himself, and in his way wasquite as imposing. Tall and gaunt, without an ounce of superfluousflesh, and with an inscrutable countenance, dressed in a long frock-coatwhich he had worn for at least a quarter of a century, and a tall hatwhich he had rescued from an ashpit, with the remains of a pair oftrousers, and something in the form of a shirt which was only seen whenhe laid aside the outer garment for active service, London John stalkedwith majesty through the streets of Muirtown. He earned his living as asandwich man, or by carrying in coals, or by going errands, or byemptying ashpits. He could neither read nor write, but he remembered anumber and never forgot what was due to him, and the solitary subject onwhich he spoke was the wonders of London, where it was supposed he hadlost such reason as he had at once possessed. His coming was alwayswelcome in the poorer parts of the town, for the sake of his discourseon London, but never had he received such an ovation before in theVennel, which was largely inhabited by tramps and tinkers, unskilledlabourers and casuals of all kinds. The cheap tea might not have arousedtheir enthusiasm, but at the mention of a free glass of whisky thedeepest emotions of the Vennel were stirred. 

"Tea at elevenpence halfpenny, " cried Tinkler Tam, who jogged round thecountry with petty wares, which he sold in exchange for rabbit-skins, old clothes, and other débris of a house, "and a glass of whisky free!Ma certes? let me get a sight o' that, " and London John was brought to astandstill while Tam read aloud the advertisement to a crowd who couldappreciate the cheapness of the tea, and whose tongues began to hang outat the very thought of the whisky. 

"A lee!" cried the travelling merchant, touched at the suggestion ofsuch deceit. "He daurna do sic a thing, else his shop would be gutted. Na, na, it reads plain as a pikestaff; ye pay elevenpence halfpenny andye get a pound of tea and a glass of whisky. I count it handsome o' theBailie; and if they didna say he was a teetotaler! It's awfu' how a manis abused. "

"He gave me six days in the court, " said Jess Mitchell, who had had adifference of opinion with another lady in the Vennel and received theBailie's best attention from the Bench, "and if I hadna to hear himpreach a sermon as long as my leg besides--confound him for asmooth-tongued, psalm-singin', bletherin' old idiot! But I bear him nogrudge; I'll hae a taste o' that whisky, though I'm no mindin' so muchabout the tea. The sooner we're at the place the better, for I'll bebound there'll be more tea bought this day in Muirtown than a' the lastyear. " And there was a general feeling that the Vennel had better makeno delay, lest some other locality should obtain the first call. 

As London John went on his way the news spread through the back streetsand closes, and the Bailie's generous invitation fell on responsiveears. And if any person was inclined to doubt there was theadvertisement in plain terms, and over the board with its engaging newsthe austere and unmoved countenance of London John. That worthy couldgive no information about the remarkable placard, not even from whom hereceived it; but he was quite sure that he was to take it through theVennel and neighbouring streets for two hours, and that he had receiveda shilling for his labour, which he proposed to spend at BailieMacConachie's when his task was done. He also explained that in London, where he used to reside, whisky ran like water, and tea could be had forthe asking. But his hearers had no interest that day in London. 

It struck the Bailie as he returned from midday dinner, and long beforehe reached St. Andrew's Street, that something was happening, and hewondered whether they were changing the cavalry at the barracks. Peoplelooked curiously at him, and having made as though they would havespoken, passed on, shaking their heads. When he turned into the familiarstreet, down which he was accustomed to parade with a double weight ofdignity, an enlivening spectacle met his eyes. Every shopkeeper was outat his door, and would indeed have been along the street, had he notjudged it wiser to protect his property, and the windows above the shopwere full of faces. Opposite his own most respectable place of businessthe street was crammed from side to side with a seething mob, throughwhich Mr. McGuffie senior was striving to drive a dogcart with slendersuccess and complaining loudly of obstruction. Respectable working womenwere there, together with their husbands, having finished the day'swork; country folk who dropped into town on the Saturday had beenattracted to the scene; the riff-raff of Muirtown had come out fromtheir dens and lodging-houses, together with that casual populationwhich has nothing particular to do and is glad of any excitement. Theywere of various kinds and different degrees of respectability, but theywere all collected in answer to Bailie MacConachie's generous offer;they were also all ready to buy the tea, and a large number of themparticularly ready for the whisky. The first to arrive on the scene hadbeen Tinkler Tam, who put down elevenpence-halfpenny in copper moneyupon the counter with a crash, and informed the Bailie's seniorassistant that to save time he would just take the whisky while theywere making up the tea, and was promptly ordered out of the shop for animpudent, drunken blackguard. Thomas, in the course of a varied life, was not unaccustomed to be called disrespectful names, and it was notthe first time he had been requested to leave high class premises; butfor once, at least, he had a perfectly good conscience and a strongground of complaint. 

"Impident, am I, and drunken, did ye say, ye meeserable, white-facedeffeegy of a counter-jumper? If I werena present on business I would putsuch a face on you that yir mother wouldna know you; but I'm here wi' myfriends" (great applause from the doorway, where the crowd was listeningto the interview) "for a commercial transaction. Div ye no ken, yemisshapen object, that we're here on a special invitation of yir master, sent this mornin' to the Vennel?" (strong confirmation given under oathby Jess Mitchell), "and I'll juist give you the terms thereof, yetwo-faced, leein', unprincipled wratch" (enthusiastic support from thestreet). 

The ambassador of the proletariat--whose constituency filled the outerpart of the shop, pressed their faces against the window and swayed withimpatience across the street, and also seized a lamp-post for purposesof observation--rehearsed the terms of the advertisement withconsiderable accuracy and expounded them with various figures of speech, and then issued his ultimatum. 

"Ye have heard the invitation sent oot by a magistrate o' Perth, and aman whom I've met on public occasions" (Tarn had been prosecuted beforethe Bailie under the Game Acts): "we're here in response to a publicadvertisement in terms thereof, and my money is on the counter. I callthese persons present to witness that I've fulfilled my side of thecovenant, and I here and now before these witnesses demand the tea andthe whisky as above stated" (howls from the crowd, who were greatlyimpressed by this judicial effort, and were getting every minute morethirsty). 

"It's maist extraordinary that the Bailie is no here himsel' to receivehis friends; but what is done by the servant is done by themaster--that's good law" (vehement support from Jess Mitchell, who atthe smell of the shop was getting beyond control); "and I give ye twomeenuts, my dainty young friend, and if the material be not forthcomingat the end of that time, the law will allow us to help ourselves, andgin ye offer ony resistance I'll pit ye and yir neebour inside thesugar-cask. " And it was fortunate for every person concerned that thepolice, who had been somewhat perplexed by the circumstances, arrived atthe scene, and turned Tinkler Tam and his friends into the street andthemselves stood guard over the shop. It was at this point that theBailie arrived and was received with frantic applause and a Babel ofappeal. 

[Illustration: "BEFORE HIM STOOD LONDON JOHN BEARING THE SEDUCTIVEADVERTISEMENT. "]

"Hurrah for the Bailie! Come awa' man, quick, else yir shop will bewreckit. Where ha' ye been? The folk are cryin' oot for ye. It's time yestarted on the tea and the whisky. Make way for the Bailie. He's comingto start the auction. Three cheers for Bailie MacConachie!" And theBailie, limp and dishevelled, amazed and furious, was hustled throughthe crowd to see the Italian warehouse guarded by the police, and themob of Muirtown clamouring for tea and whisky at his hand, while face toface with him stood London John, who had now been produced for theoccasion, bearing on his back and breast the seductive advertisement. 

"It's a brazen lie!" And the enraged Bailie lost all self-control as heread the legend on the board. "A low, mean, dirty trick, a deliberatelyplanned fraud. It's perfectly iniquitous, in fact, juist--juistdamnable! Bankrupt--who is bankrupt? Is't me?" And the veins on theBailie's neck swelled visibly. "Tea at elevenpence-halfpenny! I neverhad such trash in my shop. Three shillings is the lowest, and I neverrecommended it. Whisky!--there is not a drop in the shop. Who dare say Iwould turn this shop into a public-house? I'll be at the bottom of this, though it cost me a thousand pounds. Who hired ye to carry round theboard, ye peetiful creature? If ye don't tell the truth I'll commit yeto gaol this very meenute. " And the Bailie turned the battery of hiswrath upon London John, who was greatly flattered by his own prominentposition, and not at all concerned about the Bailie's threat. 

"It was, " replied the Mercury of the Vennel, with great composure, "abig, stout man like yirsel', Bailie, that gied me the boards and ashillin'; or, noo that I think about it, he wasna so big, he was alittle man, and gey shilpit (thin) about the neck. Dod! I'm no verysure, though, but that it was a woman wi' a red face and a shepherd'startan plaid; at ony rate, if it wasna her it micht be a bit lassie wi'bare head and feet; and I'm thinkin' noo, Bailie, it was a bit lassikie, for she said to me, 'Have ye ever been in London?' Noo, Bailie, I wouldlike to tell you about London. " And if the police had not silencedLondon John, the Bailie at that moment would have had a fit of apoplexy, for it was evident that the trail was blind and there was no getting tothe real person behind London John. 

The crowd had listened with considerable patience and self-restraint tothis conversation, but as soon as the hope of tea and refreshment diedaway, and they realised that some one had fooled them, they looked outfor a victim, and settled upon the Bailie. 

"Ye should be ashamed of yourself, " and Tinkler Tam, standing out fromthe midst of the crowd, and sitting as it were upon the bench sentencedthe Bailie in the dock. "It's a fine business to be playing tricks onthe poor folk o' Muirtown, wilin' them from their work to waste theirtime at your shop-door and sendin' them awa' empty-handed. If it hadbeen the first o' April, and ye had been a laddie, I wouldna hev saidmuch aboot it; but at your age, and you a magistrate, to play sic atrick, it's perfectly disgraceful. Ye ought to get a month's hardlabour, but aye thing's sure, ye'll no long be a Bailie o' Muirtown. Itwas fearsome to hear ye askin' London John who gave him the shillin'when he describit ye juist as ye are standing; then the puir body, whenye threatened him, brought in the lassie. Man, though ye're a Bailie andI'm naething but Tinkler Tam, I would scorn to make use of a poornatural that hasna his wits, juist to feed my vanity and gither a crowdround my shop. " Then the crowd united in three long groans, and possiblymight have shown their indignation in a still more pronounced form, butthe police, being still further reinforced, drove them along thestreets, while the Bailie hid himself in the recesses of his shop. 

Three minutes later Speug sauntered into the shop with Howieson andBauldie, and demanded a pennyworth of peppermint drops. He also remarkedto Jock, as they were being folded up, "If there be as mony o' theBailie's friends callin' at the shop on Monday, I doubt the police willno be able to spare a constable to keep order on the Terrace. " And as amatter of fact the offensive patrol was withdrawn, and the Seminaryresumed possession of the debatable ground. 

THE FALL OF GOLIATH

XIII

Bailie MacConachie made a mistake when he risked a war with the boys ofthe Seminary, and it was colossal folly on his part to continue the warafter his first defeat in the affair of the advertisement. No doubt itwas humiliating to have his respectable place of business filled withthe mob of Muirtown demanding whisky as a right, and threatening himwith penalties as a covenant-breaker when they did not get it; he hadalso very good reasons for believing that the unholy inspiration whichgathered the vagrants to his shop came from the Seminary. His bestpolicy, however, would have been to treat the matter as a joke; and ifthe Bailie had stopped on his way to dinner, and told the boys plainlythat he knew quite well they were at the bottom of the affair, that theywere a set of confounded young rascals, that he had intended to hang sixof them and send the rest to penal servitude, that he was going toforgive them for the sake of their unhappy parents, and because it hadnot been half bad fun after all, that there would be no more policemenbefore the Seminary, and there must be no more windows smashed in his(the Bailie's) house--the Seminary, which always respected a fellow whotook his licking with good humour and didn't squeal, would have giventhe Bailie the best cheer he ever got in his public career, and acovenant of peace would have been made between him and the boys whichwould never have been forgotten. Had another pane of glass been brokenby a Seminary ball, the value thereof in a packet of halfpence, with anexpression of regret, would have been handed in before evening. Thehonorary freedom of the school would have been conferred on the Bailie, without any public ceremony, but with immense practical advantage, andalthough the Bailie was surfeited with civic honours, yet even he mighthave tasted a new pleasure as he passed along the terrace to see theboys suspend a game for an instant to let him pass in stately walk, andto hear Speug cry, "Oot o' the Bailie's road, " and to receive a salutefrom tailless Highland bonnets that were touched to none outside theschool, except to the Count and Dr. Manley. If Providence had given atouch of imagination to the Bailie, and his head had not been swollen bya position approaching that of the angels, he would have come to termsat once with the boys, in which case bygones would have been bygones, and he would have been spared much humiliation. 

Unfortunately the Bailie allowed his temper to get the better of him, raging furiously in public places, and breathing forth threateningsabout what he would do to the plotter, till all Muirtown, whichotherwise might have pitied him, held its sides. He kept our singledetective at work for a fortnight, who finally extracted from LondonJohn that the "boardies" containing the shameful advertisement had beengiven him by a man uncommonly like the detective himself and that thesaid "boardies" were not to be compared with those he used to carry inLondon. The detective also learned, on a somewhat risky visit to Mr. McGuffie's stables, that the Speug had spent the whole day of thathistorical Saturday till the hour of two--when he called for peppermintsat the Bailie's shop--in cleaning out his rabbit-hutch and otherdomestic duties--this on the testimony of three of Mr. McGuffie'sgrooms, each of whom was willing to swear the same anywhere, or fightthe detective, with gloves or without gloves, in the stable-yard or anyother place which might be agreed upon. The Bailie also, going from badto worse, offered a reward of £5 for any information which would lead tothe conviction of the offender, and received thirty letters--so manyanonymous, attacking his character, public and private, and so manysigned, from various cranks in Muirtown, in which the crime wasassigned to Irish Roman Catholics, to the Publicans, to theMorisonians, and to a tribe of gypsies camped outside the city. Theywere all annoying, but there were two which cut the Bailie to the quick. One was written from the security of Glasgow, in which the writerpromised, on receipt of the reward, to send a full account of theconspiracy, and, having got the money, replied briefly that he left thematter to the Bailie's own conscience; and the second, which asked forno reward except the writer's sense of having done his duty, and whichhinted that if the Bailie put the question straight to his seniorassistant, he might find he had been nourishing a viper in his bosom, and that a young man with such a smug appearance could be little elsethan a rascal. This letter, which was written in a schoolboy hand, andhad five words misspelt, was signed, "An Elder of the Free Kirk. " Noneof the letters seemed to help the matter forward, and life at theBailie's residence was very troubled during those weeks. 

When news of the Bailie's vindictive spirit spread through the Seminary, the boys were much pained, for it was sad to see an old man forgettinghimself and harbouring a spirit of revenge. It seemed, indeed, as if allthey had done for the Bailie was simply love's labour lost, and thatthey must begin again to bring him to a proper state of mind. TheSeminary loved peace and hated war, being a body of quiet, well-behaved, hard-working lads. Still, if war was forced upon them, anddetectives set upon their track, it was a duty to themselves and theirfamilies to meet the situation bravely. Nothing could have been moresuccessful than the last campaign; and, although Speug had neverboasted, and none dared say that he had anything to do with it, therewas a feeling in the Seminary that the conduct of the next campaign wassafe in his hands. As it turned out, it was certainly safe, and oneought not to detract from genius, but there can be no doubt that Fortuneplayed into the hands of Speug. 

Much may be allowed to a broad sense of humour, and the walk of theBailie was marvellous to behold; but it was rather poor business forSpeug to walk half the length of the Terrace a yard behind the Bailie inan exact imitation of the magistrate's manner, although the school washugely delighted. If the Bailie had taken no notice, the score had beenon his side; but when he turned round and gave Speug a sound box on theside of the head, he lost himself, and out of that single mistake, by achain of consequences, arose the scandal which almost drove the Bailiefrom Muirtown. Speug could not have hoped for anything so good as thatfoolish blow, and the moment that it came he saw his opportunity. Many astroke had he endured in his day, from his father and from the grooms, when his mischief was beyond endurance, and from Bulldog when he caughthim red-handed, and from the boys in a fight, and there was no one ofhis age so indifferent to such afflictions. Had the hand been any otherthan that of Bailie MacConachie, Speug would have made derisive gesturesand invited the second stroke. As it was, he staggered across thepavement and fell with a heavy thud upon the street, where, after onesharp, piercing cry of pain, he lay motionless, but his moans could beheard along the Terrace. His one hope was that, when he had seized theoccasion with such dramatic success, the Seminary would not fail to playup and support his _rôle_, and, although they were cleverer at realitythan acting they entered heartily into their opportunity. 

"Are ye conscious, Peter?" inquired Howieson tenderly, as he stoopedover the prostrate figure. "Div ye hear us speakin' to ye? Dinna moanlike that, but tell us where ye're hurt. What are ye gatherin' roundlike that for an keepin' away the air? Hold up his head, Bauldie? Someo' ye lift his feet out o' the gutter? Run to the lade, for ony's sake, and bring some water in yir bonnets. "

It was pretty to see Jock and Bauldie lifting the unconscious form oftheir beloved friend, and carrying him carefully across the pavement, and placing Speug in a sitting position against the railing, and thenrendering what would now be called first aid to the wounded, while thatingenuous youth kept his eyes tightly closed and moaned occasionally, toshow that he was still living. Never in his life had Providence givenhim a chance of playing so much mischief, and he was not going to bedisobedient. They opened his shirt at the breast to give him air, theyanxiously searched the side of his head for the wound, and washed awayimaginary blood with very dirty pocket-handkerchiefs. They bathed hisforehead with such profuseness that the water ran down his chest, whereat Speug expressed himself in low but stern tones, so Nestieadvised them to stick to his head; and some of the smaller boys wereonly prevented from taking off his boots by a seasonable warning fromBauldie and a reasonable fear of consequences. The Seminary circle wasreinforced by all the message-boys within sight, and several ladies whowere coming home from the shops. Two maiden ladies, against whoserailings Peter had been propped in the hour of his distress, cameout--their hearts full of compassion and their hands of remedies. AsJock and Bauldie did not consider it safe that Peter should be moved atonce, one maiden lady placed a cushion between his head and therailings, while the other chafed his forehead with scent, and bothinsisted that Dr. Manley should be sent for at once. This was the firstsuggestion which seemed to have any effect on Peter, for it would not atall have suited his plans that that matter-of-fact physician shouldhave arrived on the spot. And when a bottle of ferocious smelling-saltswas held to the patient's nose, Speug showed signs of returningconsciousness. 

"Poor dear!" said one lady; "what a mercy he wasn't killed. A blowbehind the ear is often fatal. He's coming round nicely. The colour isreturning to his cheeks. Bailie MacConachie, did you say?" as JockHowieson unfolded to the ladies in simple, straightforward, truthfulwords the story of the murderous attack. "I can't believe that any manwould so abuse a poor helpless child. " (At this moment Peter, who hadbeen reconnoitring the whole scene through his half-closed eyes, seizedthe opportunity to wink to the mourners with such irresistible effect asto prove once again the close connection between tears and laughter. )"And him a magistrate, " concluded the sympathetic female. "He ought tobe ashamed of himself; but if I were the laddie's friends, I would makethe Bailie hear about it on the deaf side of his head. "

[Illustration: "A BOTTLE OF FEROCIOUS SMELLING-SALTS WAS HELD TO THEPATIENT'S NOSE. "]

Upon a sign from Speug, who was getting a little weary of inaction, hewas helped to his feet, and after one or two staggers seemed to come tohimself, and submitted with agreeable humour to the attention of hisfriends, who dusted him from head to foot, under the superintendence ofthe ladies and to the huge delight of the message-boys, who were nowentering into the meaning of the scene. His bonnet, which had beenthoughtfully used as a water-can, was placed wrong end foremost upon hishead, but Peter resisted the proposal to tie up his head in Bauldie'shandkerchief, partly because there was a limit even to his endurance, and because Bauldie's handkerchief served many a purpose in the courseof the day. The maiden ladies were anxious that he should rest in theirhouse, but Speug indicated that he preferred to be taken home, where hecould break the news himself to his anxious father. And so an impressiveprocession was formed, with so many boys in front to clear the way, andthen Speug, upheld on the one hand by Nestie, and on the other by Jock, while Bauldie commanded the rearguard and kept the message-boys at adistance, in order to secure due respect for the sufferer. It was withdifficulty that Speug could sustain his _rôle_ until he and his friendsgot safely within the shelter of the stable-yard, when they plunged intoa straw-shed and rolled together in one heap of triumphant mischief. 

"You're a g-genius, Peter, " said Nestie, "and it would be pure waste foryou to be a h-horsedealer. You must go on the st-stage. The way you camewhack on the pavement was j-just immense; and do you know, Peter, youlooked quite nice when you lay f-fainting. One lady called you a prettyboy, and I was quite sorry you were unconscious. "

"Ye're a disgustin' liar, Nestie, besides being an impident young brat. I heard every word, and she never said 'pretty'; but, " and Speug lookedround thoughtfully, "if I knew which o' ye emptied the water down mybreast, I'd give him something to remember. I'm wet to the skin, " andSpeug made a drive at Bauldie, who caught Howieson by the leg, whopulled down Nestie by the hair of the head, and they all fought togetherin high glee. Speug extricated himself and demanded news of the Bailie. Then the three told Speug the story together in bits, one beginningwhere another left off. 

"He was that astonished when ye coupit over that he couldna speak, andJock cried, 'The Bailie has killed Speug. '" "He was wantin' to lift yeup, but Bauldie gets in afore him and dares him to strike ye a secondtime. " "It would have done you good, Peter, to see the Bailie walkingalong to his house, just like an ordinary man, all the s-starch out ofhim, and taking a look back to see what was h-happening. " "Aye, and hestoppit opposite the lade to get another look, and if Cosh didna empty acupful of water on his legs by mistake! I didna think Cosh had thespirit. " "He was ashamed to stand at the w-window, but I saw himp-peeping out behind the curtains, just to find out whether you wereliving. " "If his servant lass didna follow us across the meadow, and, myword, she's back to the Bailie with a fine story. " "He's sweatin' thenow for fear he be taken up for assault, and maybe manslaughter. " "Whatw-would you say, Peter, just to die altogether, and we would gi-give youan A1 funeral? If you'll just be g-good-natured and do it, I'll writeyour l-life myself. It's perfectly sc-scrummageous. " And then Peter fellon Nestie, and Howieson on Bauldie, and they rejoiced together once morein the straw. 

"You're 'avin' an 'igh 'ole time in 'ere, young gentlemen, " and Mr. McGuffie's English groom looked down on the boys; "but you're missin'the Derby, that's what you are. Hold Pompous has come 'isself, and if heain't been hexplainin' to the master 'ow he 'appened to knock Speugdown. He's out o' breath now, and the master he's took up the runnin', and--my eye and Betty Martin--ain't he talkin'! Not cussin'--no, not oneswear word has he let go. Young gentlemen, upon my Alfred David, if themaster ain't preachin' for all the world as if he was a blessed beak onthe Bench and old Pompous was a 'habit and repute. ' It's as good as acircus; you just go and 'ear 'im, " and in exactly one and a quarterseconds the boys were an unseen audience when Mr. Peter McGuffie seniorgave his opinion of the conduct of Bailie MacConachie, which he had beendoing already for some time with much effect. 

"Imitatin' ye, was he, and followin' ye along the street, walkin' as yewalk, and so ye knocked him down in open day? Why should he not be doingas ye did? Is yir walk protected by law, that nobody dare step the sameway on the streets of Muirtown? Answer me that, if ye please. Bailiesare pretty high and mighty in this town, they are; but I never heard yetthat the street belonged to them, and that a laddie was in danger ofdeath if he followed in their steps. That would be a fine pass. Aren'tboys always imitatin' somebody? Why, you stupid old fool, half theladdies in this district try to imitate me; and, as sure as ye'restanding there, I've seen half a dozen of them, each one with a straw inhis mouth, and the bit legs of him straddled, and his bonnet on the sideof his head, and the belly of him stuck out like a pillow, just theeemage of myself. What would ye think of me if I knockit one of themdown, ye double-distilled old fool?

"I'm astonished at ye, for ye might be pleased to think that theladdies, instead of copying a horsedealer, are trying to be magistrates. Didna the Provost tell the laddies the last time he gave the prizes to'take notice of my freend Bailie MacConachie, and try to be like him?'And now, when one of them has taken his advice, if ye dinna turn roundon the street and half kill him, till he had to be brought home halffaintin' to his father's house! Fine-like conduct for a magistrate! Yebloodthirsty old ruffian!

"Came to make inquiries, did ye? Ye made enough inquiries, by allaccounts, on the Terrace. Expression of regret, was it? We don't wantyir regret, ye hypocritical Pharisee! Present of a top? I wonder ye havethe face! Ye break a laddie's head and then offer him a top! I can buytops myself for my family. Confound ye! to think ye're standing thereafter manglin' a poor, defenceless, harmless, motherless laddie! Yeshould be ashamed to show yir face in Muirtown; and if there was anypublic spirit in this town, ye would be drummed out o' the place!

"Look ye here, Bailie MacConachie"--and Mr. McGuffie adopted aconciliatory tone--"the best of us will make mistakes, and ye've made aparticularly big one when ye knockit down Peter McGuffie in the face ofthe public of Muirtown. Ye may bet on that and take my tip for it. Let'ssettle this matter fair and sure as between man and man. Ye say ye'resorry, and ye don't want any noise made about it. Well, now, I've livedhere man and boy for fifty years, and any man in Muirtown will tell youI'm straight. If I give a warranty with any horse, ye needn't be afraidto buy that horse, and I'll deal with ye on the square. 

"Ye and me are about an age of and on, and we ought to be pretty evenas fighting men. Ye have the pull of me in height, but I would say thatI am nimbler on my legs. Ye might be called a heavy weight, and I am amiddle weight, but there isn't much in that. We could meet pretty levelwith the gloves. 

"Suppose, now, we just went into the straw-shed here, and stripped andfought the matter of six rounds, easy and quiet? There would be nomischief done, and no bad blood left, and that would be the end of thematter. 

"Magistrate, did ye say, and elder in the Kirk. What do ye take me for?Do ye mean to say I'd split on ye, and go round Muirtown saying thatBailie MacConachie and me had a friendly turn with the gloves! Ye don'tdo me justice. Why, there's nobody outside this stable-yard would everhear tell of it; and if they did, they would respect ye, and count ye anable-bodied man, which is more than a Bailie any day. Is it a deal, Bailie? Ye won't, won't ye, and I ought to be ashamed of myself, oughtI? And a prizefight would be a disgrace to Muirtown, would it? Muirtownis pretty easy disgraced, then. Who's speaking about a prizefight, yehaverin' old body? But I see how the wind blows. If the other man standsa bare five feet, and ye can get at him before he's ready, ye're mightyhandy with yir fists. Ye cowardly old sneak? But when ye're offered thechance of facing a man about yir own size, ye count it a disgrace. Myopinion is, ye havna the spirit of a mouse in yir body! I'm ashamed tothink ye're a magistrate of Muirtown! Dinna speak to me, MacConachie, for I might lose control and send ye out of the stable-yard, with myfoot followin'! My advice is to be off as quick as ye can, for if someof the grooms got hold of ye they would make an awful mess ofye--they're not just particularly fond of magistrates, and they've agreat notion of Peter. 

"One word before we part, Bailie, " and the Bailie took that wordwalking, "So far as I understand, ye might be arrested for assault, andI might prosecute ye for damages; but I will let ye off just this oncewith a word of solemn advice. Ye're a Bailie of Muirtown, and ye're anelder in the Kirk, and ye're an Italian warehouse-man; but for all that, MacConachie, remember ye're just a man. Ye're swollen up and fozzy withpride and vanity, and ye pace down the streets like an elephant letloose from a menagerie; but, MacConachie, consider ye're just a man. Ye're wily and cunning and pawky and long-headed, and ye're got yir ownway in this town for many a year; but lay it to heart, ye're just a man. Ye've sat on the Bench and laid down the law, and when ye wagged yirhead everybody kept quiet, and when ye've scrapit yir throat theythought it was Gospel; but, MacConachie, dinna forget it, ye're just aman. Ye needna hurry, " and Mr. McGuffie, standing in the gateway of thestable-yard, pursued the Bailie along the street with exhortations. "I've said all I wanted to say, and I've just one word more. Ye'vefought with the Tories and ye've fought with the Publicans, ye've foughtwith this body and with that body, and ye've beaten them, and ye thoughtye were cock of the roost in Muirtown; but ye meddled with the laddies, and they've licket ye once, Bailie, and they've licket ye twice, Bailie, and if ye dinna cry 'Peace, ' they'll lick ye again, and that'll be theend of ye, Bailie MacConachie. "

When Mr. McGuffie returned to the stable-yard he called for his son, andpassed a careful hand over Peter's head, and then he declared that Speugwas a chip of the old block and prophesied aloud that there lay beforehim a long and useful life. 

THE BAILIE'S DOUBLE

XIV

Muirtown is not a large city, and schoolboys of high principle anddomestic habits used to go home in the dinner-hour and take the mealwith their anxious mothers, who seized the opportunity of repairing therents made in their clothes since morning, and giving them good adviceon their behaviour. Thoroughly good boys, who had been tossed to andfro, much against their will, in the tempest of morning play, were gladto go into harbour and come back at two o'clock, not only revictualled, but also re-fitted and re-painted for the troubled voyage of theafternoon; and boys not so entirely good as the Dowbiggins, and othermodels of propriety, still appreciated the home trip, because, althoughthere might be an embarrassing review of garments, and awkward questionsmight be asked about a mark on the face, there was always a toothsomedainty for a growing laddie, weary with intellectual work and the toilsof a snow-fight. As the business of a horsedealer took Mr. McGuffiesenior in various directions, and as in no case were the arrangements ofhis house since Mrs. McGuffie's death of an extremely regular character, there was no meal to which his promising son--Speug--could return withany confidence; and therefore Peter did not make a practice of goinghome at one o'clock, unless there was a special event at the stables, such as the arrival of a new horse, in which case he invited a fewfriends to an inspection, with light refreshments; or unless, havingracked his brain to the utmost for four hours, he was still in sheerdespair of mischief. With one or two other young friends of a like mind, he was accustomed to spend the dinner-hour in what might be calledextramural studies--rowing over to the island below the bridge againstthe tide and coming back gloriously with the current; assisting thesalmon-fishers to draw their nets and gather the silver spoil; in thehappy snow-time raiding the playground of a rival school when the boyswere away, and leaving insulting remarks wrought in snow; or attendingthe drill of the cavalry on the South Meadow. Like other guerillas, hecarried his biltong and mealies with him, and took his meal anywhere andby preference when on the run. Perhaps that was one reason why Speug inafter years made one of the best of South African fighters. 

When Speug was disinclined for active occupation, and desired toimprove his mind by contact with the greater world, he took a cab, orhotel 'bus (the box-seat of every one in Muirtown was at Speug'sdisposal, and his edifying conversation was much enjoyed by the driver), and went to spend his hour at Muirtown Station, which, as everybodyknows, is at the shooting season a spectacle to be classed with Niagaraor the Jungfrau for interest, and at any time is worth seeing. Itpleased Speug, whose interests were varied and human rather thanclassical and literary, to receive the English express, or even one fromEdinburgh, as it swept into the station; or to see the Aberdeen fasttrain fairly off; to watch a horse safely entrained, and if necessary togive understanding assistance; and to pass the time of day with theguards, ticket-collectors, and carriage-cleaners, the last of whom wouldallow him as a favour to see the inside of the huge mail-carriage, withits pigeon-holes and its ingenious apparatus for delivering letters atroadside stations while the train passed at full speed. It was an hourof what might be called irregular study, but one never knows what he maypick up if he only keeps his eyes open (and the eyes of Speug were asopen as a savage's), and it was on a visit to Muirtown railway stationthat Peter found the opportunity for what he ever considered his mostsuccessful achievement at the Seminary, and one on which therecollection of his companions still fondly dwells. 

When a cab passed the _Muirtown Arms_ 'bus at the entrance to thestation, and the cabman signalled to Peter on the box-seat, and referredto the contents with an excited thumb and great joy on his face, Peterknew that there would be something worth seeing when the cab emptied atthe ticket-office; but he could not have imagined anything so entirelysatisfying. First, Bailie MacConachie emerged, dressed in the famousfrock-coat and grey trousers, in the high collar and magisterial stock, but without his usual calm and dignity. His coat was only half buttoned, his tie was slightly awry, and although his hat had been distinctlytilted to the side on getting out of the cab, he was too much occupiedto set it right. Instead of clearing his throat as he alighted among thewaiting porters, and giving them, as it were, the chance of honouring alive Bailie going forth upon his journey, he did not seem to wish forany public reception, or, indeed, for any spectators, and in fact hadevery sign of a man who desired to be _incognito_. 

"No, no, I've no luggage to-day, " the Bailie hastily explained to anobliging porter, and he stood between the man and the cab so as to blockall vision. "Just running down to Dundee on business and . .. Seeing afriend off. "

As the embarrassed magistrate endeavoured to disperse the porters, thedriver, leaning over the roof of the cab, winked with much unction toPeter, and indicated to that ingenuous youth that it would be worthwhile for him to wait and see the mysterious friend. Speug, in fact, understood from all this telegraphic communication that there were goingto be circumstances of a quite remarkable character, and in whichhe--Peter McGuffie--was expected to be personally interested. He draggedJock Howieson, who was spending the hour with him, behind a pile ofluggage, and from their hiding-place they saw, to their utter amazement, a second Bailie come slowly and gingerly, but yet withal triumphantly, out of the cab. The same height as the great man himself, and builtafter the same pattern; a perfect reproduction also in dress, exceptthat the trousers were baggier, and the coat shabbier, and the collarfrayed at the edges, and the hat had the appearance of having been usedeither as a seat or as a pillow, or perhaps for both purposes, atdifferent times; and the air of this second, but by no means ghostly, Bailie was like that of the first, as confident, as mighty, as knowing, with the addition of a certain joviality of expression and benignanthumanity, and a certain indifference to all the trials and difficultiesof life which is characteristic of a man who has been "tasting, " notwisely, but too well. 

"Lean on me, James, " said the Bailie, nervously, as the figure came witha heavy lurch on the pavement. "The faintness may pass off. Take careof your feet, " and the Bailie shouldered his double to the ticket-officeand propped it against the wall while he went to take the tickets. 

It might have been ill, and the remarkable walk might have been due toweakness of the heart, for you never can tell, and one ought to becharitable; but there was no sign of an invalid about this new Bailie, nor was he at all too exhausted for genial conversation. He explainedduring the other Bailie's brief absence, to all who were willing tolisten, in a style that was rather suggestive than exhaustive, that hehad been paying a visit to Muirtown for the good of his health, and thathe felt better--in fact, very much better; that where he lived thesupply of liquid refreshment was limited, and that in consequence he hadsuffered through weakness of the heart; that he had intended to staylonger in a place where there was every comfort of life, and thatnothing would have induced him to leave but the immoral conduct of histwin brother; that Bailie MacConachie, he was sorry to say, being hisbrother, was fearfully given to drink, and that he, James MacConachie, could no longer stay with him; that he, his brother, was not fit to be aBailie, and that he was a hypocrite whose judgment would not tarry, andindeed, according to his language, was already pronounced. He also gavea certificate of character to the refreshment to be obtained at the_Black Bull_, Muirtown, and cheerfully invited any person who had afriendly heart to go with him there and then to drink the Queen'shealth. On seeing his brother returning, the figure concluded hisaddress--which had been mightily enjoyed by three porters, a couple ofHighland drovers, a Perth loafer, who had once passed through thepolice-court when the Bailie was on the Bench, and an elderly lady, whowas anxious that a doctor should be sent for--by explaining once morethat his brother was a gentleman beside whom the Pharisees werestraightforward and honourable members of society. 

As the procession was again re-formed, and the two Bailies left theticket-office together, one of them waving a regretful farewell to hissympathetic congregation, the boys executed a war-dance of triumph; forthe contrast between the twin brethren afforded just that kind of comedywhich appeals to a boy's heart, and because they had an instinct thatthe incident would be of service in the war between the Bailie and theSeminary, which had gone on for a year and showed no signs of closing. 

"The Bailie keeps him oot o' sight somewhere in the country, I'llwarrant, " said Speug to Jock, in great spirits, "and there's naebody inMuirtown kens he's got a twin brother. Dod, Jock, he's juist the veryeemage of him, and he's got a suit o' his auld clothes on. It wouldtake Dr. Manley himself or the Chief Constable to tell the one from theither. Jock Howieson, if you and me could get the use o' that lad, wewould have a michty time. I would give my four rabbits and . .. And myskye terrier pup just for an hour of him. " And although they had no hopethat circumstances would deal so kindly with them, yet they went on tothe platform to see the last of the two Bailies. 

Under the influence of the senior Bailie's chastening conversation, whoat first reminded his brother of a drunkard's end, which had no effect, and then threatened to cut off his modest weekly allowance, which had animmediate effect, the figure consented to be taken along the platform, and might even have been safely deposited in its carriage, had not theword "Refreshment-room, " printed in absurdly large type, attracted hisattention. 

"Div ye see that, man?" said the figure, pointing jubilantly to theboard. "I declare it juist a Providence. It's no that I'm thirsty, Bailie, and I canna bear drinkin'; that's never been a fault o' mine, though I doubt ye're fallin' into the habit yirsel'. No, I'm no thirsty, but I've a sinkin' at the heart. Ye'll come in, and we'll taste togetherafore we part. I forgive ye onything ye said. I bear no grudge, and I'lllet ye pay, Bailie. " And the figure had the Bailie almost at the door ofthe refreshment-room before he could make a stand. 

"Mair than I can carry already, Bailie, did ye say? Gude forgie ye. Iwonder ye're not black ashamed to say sic a word, and me draggin' yealong the platform and holdin' ye up, juist to cover yir character. Well, well, I canna fecht wi' ye, for I'm no the man I was once. Thefact is, I havna strength to go another step, and if ye'll no let me geta cordial, I'll juist have to sit down on the platform. " And thehorrified Bailie had to accept the assistance of a porter to support hisexhausted brother and to guide him to his carriage. 

From an adjacent third class compartment, where Speug and Jock promptlysecreted themselves, they heard the senior Bailie's exhortation to hisfrail kinsman--that he must on no account come out of the carriage; thathe must hold his tongue and not talk nonsense to his fellow travellers;that he must not mention his--the Bailie's--name, nor claim to beconnected with him; and that he must not come back to Muirtown againuntil the Bailie sent for him; and all this he must lay to heart as hevalued his weekly allowance. The Bailie also expressed his deep regret, which, indeed, seemed to be very sincere, that he had to leave by theDundee train before the departure of the slow Fife train by which hisdouble travelled. And when this fact emerged--that the other Bailie wasto be left even for five minutes at their disposal--Speug threwHowieson's bonnet to the end of the compartment, with his own followingin a rapture of joy. 

"Dinna be afraid, " said the figure in the compartment to the Bailie onthe platform, who was torn between his profitable business engagement atDundee and the fear of leaving his brother to his own devices. "Afterthe way ye've treated me and put me to shame afore the platform, Iwouldna stay another day in Muirtown for a thousand pounds. I am noangry, Bailie, " the figure continued with mournful dignity, "for that'sno my speerit, but I'm hurt at yir conduct. Weel, if ye maun go, yemaun, and I heard the Dundee engine whistlin'; but for ony sake dinna betastin' in Dundee and disgracin' the family. Drink is an awfu' failin', but ye canna say I havna warned ye. " And as the Bailie hurried to catchthe Dundee train the figure shook its head mournfully, with the air ofone who hopes for the best, but who has had too good reason to expectthe worst. 

"Bailie, " said Speug, presenting himself with a fine mixture of hasteand importance before the figure which was still moralising to itself onthe evils of drink, "div ye no mind that the Rector o' the Seminary isexpectin' ye to address the laddies this afternoon, and they'll bewaitin' this very meenut in the Latin class-room?" and Speug made signsthat he should come at once, and offered to secure a cab. The figurecould only shake its head and explain that on account of thedisgraceful conduct of a relative, who had given way to drink, it had noheart for public appearances; but the idea of a return to the enjoymentof Muirtown was evidently filtering in. 

"Are ye no Bailie MacConachie?" demanded Speug. "A porter threipit(insisted) that he had seen the Bailie in the Dundee train, but naebodycan mistake Bailie MacConachie. The school will be terrible pleased tosee ye, Bailie. "

"Who said I wasna Bailie MacConachie?" and the figure was plainlyroused. "Him in the Dundee train? Laddies, there's a black sheep inevery family, and that man is a poor, helpless brother o' mine that'staken to bad habits, and I've juist to support him and keep him oot o'sicht. It's an awfu' trial, " and the figure wept, but immediatelybrisked itself up again. "Of course I'm Bailie MacConachie. Laddies, was't at the _Black Bull_ they're expectin' me?"

"The very place, Bailie; but ye maun say juist a word at the Seminary inpassin', " and Speug signalled to a ticket-collector who had just comeupon the scene. 

"Would ye mind helpin' Bailie MacConachie oot o' the carriage, for he'sforgotten an engagement at the Seminary, and he's juist a wee thingiefaint with the heat?"

"It's no the heat, man, " as the amazed collector helped the magistrateon to the platform, "it's family trouble. Are ye connected with the_Black Bull_? Well, at any rate, ye seem a well-behaved young man, andthese are twa fine laddies. " And outside the station, surrounded by asympathising circle of drivers, who were entering into the spirit ofSpeug's campaign, this astonishing Bailie warned every one to beware ofstrong drink, and urged them to take the pledge without delay. He alsoinquired anxiously whether there was a cab there from the _Black Bull_and explained that the Rector of the Seminary, with his laddies, waswaiting for him in that place of hospitality. He added that he had beenon his way to the General Assembly of the Kirk, where he sat as a rulingelder, and he warmly denounced the spread of false doctrine. But at lastthey got him into the cab, where, after a pathetic appeal to Speug andhis companion to learn the Catechism and sing the Psalms of David, hefell fast asleep. 

By a happy stroke of strategy, Howieson engaged the attention of thesergeant in the back-yard, who considered that Jock was playing truantand was anxious to arrest him, while the cabman, fortunately anable-bodied fellow, with Speug's assistance induced the Bailie to leavethe cab and convoyed him upstairs and to the door of the Rector'sclass-room. At this point the great man fell into low spirits, andbemoaned the failure of a strenuous life, in which he had vainly foughtthe immorality of Muirtown, and declared, unless he obtained animmediate tonic, he would succumb to a broken heart. He also chargedSpeug with treachery in having brought him to the County Gaol instead ofto the _Black Bull_. It was painfully explained him that he was now inthe Seminary, and within that door an anxious school was waiting forhim--Bailie MacConachie--and his address. 

"Who said I wasna Bailie MacConachie, and that I was a drunken body?I'll teach them to smuggle me oot o' Muirtown as if I was a waufie(disreputable character). He thinks I'm at Leuchars, but I'm here" (withmuch triumph), "and I'm Bailie MacConachie" (with much dignity). And theBailie was evidently full awake. 

"Losh keeps, laddies, what am I saying? Family troubles shakes the mind. Take the pledge when ye're young, laddie, and ye'll no regret it whenye're old. I've been an abstainer since the age of ten. Noo, laddie"(with much cunning), "If I am to address the school, what think ye wouldbe a fine subject, apairt from the Catechism? for it's a responsibility, especially me being a Bailie. If ye can mind onything, laddie, I'll giveye sixpence next time we meet. "

Although Speug was reticent in the class, for reasons that commendedthemselves to his practical judgment, he had a rich wealth of speechupon occasion, and he fairly drilled into the head of BailieMacConachie's double that it had been a very foolish thing for him--theBailie--to quarrel with the Seminary about their playground upon theMeadow, and an act of an unchristian bitterness to strike him--theSpeug--upon the head and nearly injure him for life, but that he--theBailie--was sorry for all his bad conduct, and that he would never dothe like again as long as he was Bailie of Muirtown; and Speugconcluded, while the cabman stood open-mouthed with admiration, "Yemicht juist say that ye have an awfu' respect for me--Speug--ye know. "

"I'll be sure to do that, " said the delighted Bailie, "for it's a fact. Ye're a fine laddie and have a fearsome power o' the gab (mouth); Iexpect to see ye in the pulpit yet; but keeps a' it's time I was at the_Black Bull_, so ye micht juist slip in and tell the Rector I'm at thedoor--Bailie MacConachie of Muirtown. "

Had it been the class-room of Bulldog, master of mathematics, arithmetic, and writing, and, it might also be added, master ofdiscipline, Speug would as soon have ventured into his presence on suchan errand as into the lion's den of the travelling menagerie which hadrecently visited Muirtown, and at which he had spent many an unlicensedhour. But the Rector was that dear delight of boys, a short-sighted, absent-minded, unsuspicious scholar, who lived in a world of his ownwith Homer and Horace, and could only be fairly roused (to sorrow) by afalse quantity or (to joy) by a happy translation. 

Muirtown Seminary had an inexhaustible confidence in Speug's genius formischief and effrontery of manner, but the Rector's class sat breathlesswhen Peter came in with an unshaken countenance, and politely intimatedto the Rector that a magistrate of Muirtown had come and desired tospeak to the school. Before the Rector could fairly withdraw himselffrom a cunning phrase of Horace's, or the school had energy to cheer, the wonderful Bailie was launched into the room with almost too muchvigour by the cabman, who remained in the shadow and whispered a lastdirection to "hold up your head and keep to the right. " They hadforgotten--Speug's only oversight--to take off the Bailie's hat, whichwas set jauntily on the side of his head, and the course which he tookthrough the room was devious, and mainly regulated by the furniture, while his expression was a fine blend of affable dignity and genial goodhumour. "Gosh!" exclaimed Bauldie, and he liberated the feeling of theclass, who understood that their enemy had been delivered into theirhands, and that Peter McGuffie--their own Speug--had been the meansthereof. Yet could it be the case? Yes! It was the very countenance, line by line, and the very clothes, piece by piece, though looking atrifle shabby, of the premier Bailie of Muirtown, and it was evidentthat he had been "tasting, " and that very freely. 

"I am--er--proud to bid you welcome, Mr. Bailie, " said the Rector, bowing with old-fashioned courtesy, and not having the faintest ideawhat like was the figure before him. "We are always delighted to receivea visit from any of the magistrates of the city, who are to our humbleschool" (and here the Rector was very gracious) "what Maecenas was toHorace, whose _curiosa felicitas_ we are now studying. Is it yourpleasure, Mr. Bailie, to examine the school?"

During this stately reception the Bailie came to rest upon a desk, andregarded the Rector's flowing gown with unconcealed admiration, which heindicated to the school by frank gestures. 

"It would be a great satisfaction to hear the laddies answer 'The ChiefEnd of Man, ' and to say juist a word to them aboot good conduct; but youand me has an engagement, and ye ken where we're expected. I juistlooked in to say----" And here the worthy man's thoughts began towander, and he made an indistinct allusion to the _Black Bull_, so thatSpeug had to prompt him severely from behind. "Aye, aye! we're all poor, frail creatures, and I'm the last man to hurt the feelings of theSeminary. Seminary laddie mysel', prize medal Greek. Bygones bebygones!. .. No man in Muirtown I respect more than . .. Speug anhonourable tradesman" (breaking away on his own account with muchspirit), "a faithful husband, and an affectionate father. What? All amistake from beginning to end. Family trouble did it--conduct of arelative, " and the Bailie wept. Bailies and other municipal dignitarieswere a species of human beings so strange and incalculable to theRector, that he was hardly amazed at anything that they might say; andhaving some vague idea that there had been a quarrel between theSeminary and some Bailie or other, about something or other, some timeor other, he concluded that this was an official intimation that thequarrel was over, and that it was in style and allusion according to thehabits of municipal circles. 

"It is, " he responded, bowing again, "my grateful duty, as Rector of theSeminary, to thank you for your presence here to-day--the Mercury of thegods, if I may say so--and for your courteous intimation thatthe--er--controversy to which you--er--have delicately alluded ishealed. Any dispute between the Council and the Seminary could only havea favourable issue. _Amantium irae amoris integratio_ has had anotherillustration, Mr. Bailie; but it would please us that you should hearthe class translate the Ode we have in hand, which happens to be '_AdSodales_. '" And a boy began to translate "_Nunc est bibendum_. "

"Time to drink, did ye say?" and the Bailie, who had been taking a briefnap, was immediately conscious. "Man, ye never said a truer word. Workhard at yir lessons, laddies, and for ony sake dinna forget theCatechism. Yir maister has an engagement wi' me, and he'll no be backfor an hour. Come awa, ' man" (in a loud whisper to the amazed Rector), "it's time we were off. " And the Bailie, making a hurried rush for thedoor, found himself in the arms of the school sergeant, who had caughtthe sound of the uproar in the Rector's class-room, and suspectedtrouble. 

"Preserve us a', body and soul!" cried the Crimean veteran, as hebrought the Bailie to an equilibrium. "Could onybody have expectedthis?" And then, with much presence of mind, he closed the door of theLatin class-room and conducted the Bailie down-stairs to his cab, whilethe magistrate remonstrated that the Rector was coming with him, andthat both were going to discuss the higher education of youth at the_Black Bull_. 

"Na, na, Bailie, " said the sergeant. "It's no to the _Black Bull_, orony other bull, ye're to go this afternoon, but back to yir ain hoose. If ye maun taste, would it no have been more respectable to keepindoors, instead of making an exhibeetion of yourself afore theSeminary? It's no becomin' in a magistrate, and it's michty bad for theladdies. "

It was the sergeant who delivered the astonishing figure at theblameless home of Bailie MacConachie, although it is right to say thatthis visit was not at all in the plan, and called forth a vigorousprotest from the Bailie's substitute. And to the day of his death, thereal and proper Bailie spent odd moments of his spare time in explainingto an incredulous public that he had never "tasted" in his life, andthat on the day in question he had been transacting private business inDundee. 

THE TRIUMPH OF THE SEMINARY

XV

As the East is distant from the West, so far was Muirtown Seminaryremoved in its manners and customs from an English public school; but atone point they met on common ground, and that was the "tuck-shop. " Itdoes not matter that an English house master be careful to provide anample supply of wholesome food for his boys, and even add, on occasion, toothsome dainties, such as jam at Sunday tea, and sausages for aSaturday supper, they will agree unanimously, and declare aloud, thatthey can hardly recall such a thing as breakfast, so ghostly has itgrown, and that they would be ashamed to offer their dinner to thebeasts which perish. They will write such descriptions home, and holdsuch conferences with friends spending the holidays with them, and theywill all vie with one another in applying such weird and fearsomeadjectives to the butter, milk, coffee, meat, potatoes, andpudding--but at the mention of pudding they will simply look at oneanother and be silent, despairing of the English language--that theirhorrified parents will take counsel together by the hour whether theirpoor boy ought not to be taken from school and surrounded by homecomforts. When the emaciated invalid hears of this drastic measure, heprotests strongly, and insists that it would ruin him for life; for, todo the ruffians justice, a boy may be half-starved and swished everysecond day, and bullied between times, till his life is hardy worthliving, he will still stand by his school, and prefer it as a place ofresidence to his home. Neither ample meals, nor the pretty bedroom withwhite curtains, nor the long lie in the morning, nor a party in theevening, nor all his mother's petting, will make up to this savage forthe racket of the dormitories, and the fight at the bathroom, and thebabel at the dinner-table, and the recreations which enliven "prep, " andthe excitement of a house match, and the hazardous delights of football, and the tricks on a new boy, and the buttered eggs--a dozen at leastbetween two at a study supper. It only remains therefore that his fathershould write a pathetic letter to the _Standard_, and that other parentsshould join in, for a fortnight, explaining to the English public thatthe manhood of the country is being destroyed in its early years, andthe boys at school will read the letters aloud with much unction, anddeclare that "Pater has warmed up old Skinny properly, " while theirmother sends them generous remittances that they may obtain nourishingfood to supplement their starvation rations. This money will be spentrapidly, but also shrewdly, at the "tuck-shop, " where some old servantof the school is making a small fortune in providing for the boys suchmeat as their souls love, and for a fortnight Tom and his friends, forhe is not a fellow to see his chums die before his eyes, will live onthe fat of the land, which, upon the whole, means cocoa, sardines, sausages, and eggs. 

Seminary boys had their meals at home, and were very soundly fed withporridge and milk in the morning, followed by tea and ham, if theirconduct had been passably decent. Scots broth and meat for dinner, withan occasional pudding, and a tea in the evening which began withsomething solid and ended with jam, made fair rations, and, althoughsuch things may very likely be done now, when we are all screaming aboutour rights, no boy of the middle Victorian period wrote to the _MuirtownAdvertiser_ complaining of the home scale of diet. Yet, being boys, neither could they be satisfied with the ordinary and civilised means ofliving, but required certain extra delicacies to help them through theday. It was not often that a Seminary lad had a shilling in his pocket, and once only had gold been seen--when Dr. Manley paid Speug a medicalfee for his advice in Bulldog's sickness--but there were few in theSeminary who were not able to rattle some pennies together, and, in theend, every penny found its way to the till of that comprehensivemerchant and remarkable woman, Mrs. McWhae. Her shop and the other oldhouses beside it have been pulled down long ago, to make room for ahandsome block of buildings, and I think her exact site is occupied bythe plate-glass windows and gorgeous display of the "BreadalbaneEmporium, " where you can buy everything from a frying pan to adrawing-room suite, but where you cannot get a certain delicacy called"gundy, " which Mrs. McWhae alone could make as it ought to be made, andat the remembrance thereof the very teeth begin to water. Mrs. McWhaedid not sell books nor clothes, nor any other effeminate luxury of life, but she kept in stock everything that was really necessary to the lifeof a well-living and high-minded boy. There he could obtain marbles fromthe common clay, six for a halfpenny, on to the finer "streakies, " sixfor a penny, till you came to large marbles with a red and blue patternon a white ground, which were a halfpenny each, and climbed to"glassies" at a penny each; and there was one glass leviathian whichcontained all colours within its sphere, and which was kept only to behandled and admired. Tops were there, too, from polished littlebeauties with shining steel tips, which were intended only foramusement, and were spun with fine white cord, to unadorned, massive, vicious-looking warriors with sharpened projecting points, which wereintended for the battlefield, and were spun with rough, strong twine, and which, dexterously used, would split another top from head to footas when you slice butter with a knife. Her stock of kites in the seasonwas something to see, and although she did not venture uponcricket-bats, which were sold by the hair-dresser, nor cricket-balls, she had every other kind of ball--solid gutta-percha balls, for hastygames in the "breaks, " white skin-covered rounder balls, and hollowindia-rubber balls, which you could fill with water at the lade, andthen use with much success as a squirt. Girls, we noticed, employed this"softie" in silly games of their own, trying whether they could make itrebound a hundred times from the ground, but we had no doubt about itsproper use in the purposes of Creation. And Mrs. McWhae--peace to herashes!--provided all things in meat and drink which a boy could desire;unless, of course, on some great occasion he wished to revelimperially--then he went to Fenwick's rock-shop, where generations haveturned their eager feet, and beyond which nothing is left to desire. Fenwick's, however, was rather for our fathers than for ourselves, andwe were almost content with Mrs. McWhae, where you could getginger-beer of her own making at a penny a bottle, better than thatwhich they sold at the _Muirtown Arms_ at sixpence; and treacle-beeralso at a penny, but in this case the bottle was double the size and wasenough for two fellows; and halfpenny rolls, if you were fiercely hungryand could not get home to dinner, so tough that only a boy's teeth couldtear them to pieces; and tarts, so full that it required long skill tosecure every drop of the jam, and your fingers were well worth lickingafterwards; and peppermint balls of black and white, one of which wouldkeep your mouth sweet for an hour of Latin--that is, if you only suckedgently and didn't crunch. But the glory of the establishment was the"gundy. " There was a room behind the shop where Mrs. McWhae, who was awidow, elderly and not prepossessing, lived and slept, and dressedherself, and cooked her food, and, perhaps, on rare occasions, washed, and there she prepared her tempting meats and drinks for the Seminary. We lived in a pre-scientific age, and did not go curiously into theorigin of things, being content to take the Creation as it stood, and touse the gifts of the gods in their finished form. But I believe that"gundy" was made of the coarsest and cheapest sugar, which our hostessboiled to a certain point, and then with her own fair hands, which itwas said she wetted with her lips, drew out and out, till at last, bythe constant drawing, it came to a light brown colour; after which shecut the finished product into sticks of a foot long, and wrapped it upin evil-looking brown paper, twisting the two ends. And, wonders ofwonders! all within that paper, and the paper itself, you could have forone halfpenny! Good! There is no word for it, as the preachers say, "humanly speaking. " The flavour thereof so rich, so satisfying, sostimulating, and the amount thereof so full and so tenacious. Why, that"gundy" would so cling to your teeth and hide itself about your mouth, and spread itself out, that he was a clever fellow who had drained itslast resources within an hour. Mrs. McWhae was a widow of a militarygentleman, who, it was understood, had performed prodigies of valour inthe Black Watch, and she was a woman of masculine vigour, who only dealtupon a cash basis, and in any case of dispute was able to use her handseffectively. Like most women she was open to blandishments, and NestieMolyneux, with his English tongue and pretty ways, could get round theold lady, and she had profound though inexpressed respect for Speug, whom she regarded as a straightforward fighter, and the two friendswould sometimes be allowed the highest privilege in her power, to seeher make a brew of "gundy. " And it is from hints dropped by those twofavoured customers that the above theory of the making of thisdelectable sweet has been formed. 

It was possible, with a proper celerity, to visit Mrs. McWhae's duringthe "breaks, " and to spend three minutes in those happy precincts andnot be absolutely late for the next class; and during the dinner-hourher shop was crowded, and the steps outside and the very pavement wereblocked by the Seminary, waiting for their "gundy" and ginger-beer. Little boys who had been fortunate enough to get their provisions early, and were coming out to enjoy the "gundy" in some secret place, hid theirtreasure within their waistcoats, lest a bigger fellow should supplyhimself without the trouble of waiting his turn, and defer payment tothe end of the year. And one of the lords of the school would onoccasion clear out a dozen of the small fry, in order that he mightselect his refreshments comfortably. It was indeed the Seminary Club, with its bow-window like other clubs, and the steps on which the memberscould stand, and from the steps you commanded three streets, so thatthere were many things to see, and in snowball time many things to do. McWhae's had only one inconvenience, and that was that the line ofcommunication could be cut off by raiding parties from the "Pennies" andother rival schools. When the snow was deep on the ground, and the enemywas strong on the field, it was necessary to bring down supplies undercharge of a convoy, and if anything could have added to the flavour ofthe "gundy, " it was that you had fought your way up Breadalbane Streetto get it, and your way back to enjoy it, that you had lost your bonnetin a scrimmage, and that the remains of a snow ball were trickling downyour back. Precious then was the dainty sweet as the water which themighty men brought to David from the well of Bethlehem. 

"My word!" cried Speug, who was winding up the dinner-hour with NestieMolyneux, on the upper step of the club-house, "if there isn't the'Bumbees' driving in a four-in-hand!" and the brake of the _MuirtownArms_ passed, with a dozen smart and well-set-up lads rejoicing openly, and, wheeling round by the corner of the Cathedral, disappeared up theroad which ran to Drumtochty. "And where think ye have their royalhighnesses been?"

If the name of a school be St. Columba's, and the boys call themselvesColumbians, it is very profane to an absolutely respectable Scots saint, and very rude to a number of well-behaved lads, to call them "Bumbees";but Speug was neither reverent nor polite, and the Seminary, althoughmainly occupied with local quarrels, yet harboured a distant grudgeagainst the new public school at St. Columba's, which had been recentlystarted in a romantic part of Perthshire. Its founders were a number ofexcellent and perhaps slightly superior persons, who were justly aghastat the somewhat rough life and unfinished scholarship of the Scotsgrammar schools, and who did not desire that Scots lads of the betterclass should be sent of necessity to the English public schools. Theiridea was to establish a public school after the English method inScotland, and so St. Columba's kept terms, and had dormitories, and achapel, and playing-fields, and did everything on a smaller scale whichwas done at Rugby and Harrow. The masters of St. Columba's would havenothing to do with such modest men as the staff of the Seminary. TheColumbians occasionally came down to Muirtown and sniffed through thetown. Two or three boys had been taken from the Seminary, because it wasvulgar, and sent to St. Columba's, in order to get into genteel society. And those things had gradually filtered into the mind of the Seminary, which was certainly a rough school, but at the same time very proud andpatriotic, and there was a latent desire in the mind of the Seminarythat the Columbians should come down in snow-time and show theircontempt for the Muirtown grammar school, when that school would explainto the Columbians what it thought of them and all their works. As thispleasure was denied the Seminary, and the sight of the brake was toomuch for Speug's uncultured nature, he forgot himself, and yelledopprobrious names, in which the word "Bumbee" was distinct andprominent. 

"Your m-manners are very b-bad, Speug, and I am a-ashamed of you. D-don't you know that the 'B-bumbees' have been p-playing in England andw-won their match? Twenty-two runs and s-seven wickets to fall. G-goods-sport, my Speug; read it in the newspaper. "

"It wasna bad. I didna think the 'Bumbees' had as muckle spunk in them;seven wickets, did ye say, against the English? If I had kenned that, Nestie, ye little scoundrel, I would have given them a cheer. Sevenwickets--they did the job properly. " And Speug took his "gundy" withrelish. 

"Speug!"--and Nestie spoke with much impressiveness--"I have an idea. Why shouldn't the Seminary challenge the 'Bumbees' to a match nexts-summer? We could p-practice hard all this summer, and begin s-soonnext year and t-try them in July. "

"It would be juist michty, " said Speug, who was cheered at the thoughtof any battle, and he regarded Nestie with admiration, and then his facefell and he declared it of no use. 

"They wouldna come, dash them for their cheek! and if they came they'dlick us clean. They have a professional and they play from morning tillnight. We're light-weights, Nestie. If they went in first, we'd neverget them oot; and if we went in, they'd have us oot in half an 'oor. "

"For shame, Speug, to run down the Seminary as if you were a 'Penny'!Didn't the county professional say that Robertson was the b-best youngplayer he'd seen for t-ten years? And Bauldie hits a good b-ball, and nob-bowler can get you out, Speug, and there are other chaps just wantp-practice. We might be b-beaten, but we'd make a stiff fight for theold Seminary. "

"Ye can bowl, Nestie, " said Speug generously, as they went back toschool at the trot; "ye're the trickiest overhand I ever saw; and JockHowieson is a fearsome quick and straicht bowler; and for awicket-keeper Dunc Robertson is no easy to beat. Gosh!" exclaimed Speug, as they wheeled into the back-yard, "we'll try it. "

The Seminary were slow to move, but once they took fire they burnedgloriously; and when Dunc Robertson and Nestie Molyneux, who had beensent up to St. Columba's as the most presentable deputation, returnedand informed the school assembled round the Russian guns that the"Bumbees" would send down their second eleven, since the first was tooold for the Seminary, and play a single innings match on a Saturdayafternoon in the end of July, next year, the Seminary lifted up theirvoice in joyful anticipation. 

It did not matter that the "Bumbees" had only consented in terms ofcondescension by way of encouraging local sport, as they had tried toorganise a Drumtochty eleven, or that it was quite understood that theresult would be a hopeless defeat for the Seminary. They were coming, and the Seminary had a year to make ready; and if they were beaten incricket, well, it couldn't be helped, but it was the first timeBulldog's boys had been beaten in anything, and they would know thereason why. 

Special practice began that evening and continued that evening, andevery other evening except Sundays as long as light lasted and on tillthe middle of October, when football could no longer be delayed. Practice began again a month before the proper season and continued onthe same lines till the great day in July. The spirit of the Seminarywas fairly up, and from the Rector who began freely to refer to theOlympian games, to the little chaps who had just come from a dame'sschool and were proud to field balls at bowling practice, the wholeschool was swept into the excitement of the coming event, and it is saidthat Bulldog stumped over every evening after dinner to watch the playand was the last to leave. 

"B-Bully's fairly on the job, Speug, and he's j-just itching to have abat himself. Say, Speug, if we get badly licked, he'll be ill again; butif we p-pull it off, I bet he'll give a rippin' old supper. "

News spread through the town that the Seminary was to fight the"Bumbees" for the glory of the Fair City, and enthusiasm began to kindlein all directions. Our cricket club had played upon the Meadow as bestit could; but now the Council of the city set apart a piece of ground, and six of the leading dignitaries paid to have it cut and rolled, sothat there might be a good pitch for playing and something worth seeingon the day of battle. There were half a dozen good players in Muirtownin those days, two of whom were in the All Scotland eleven, and theyused to come along in spare evenings and coach the boys, while thecounty professional now and again dropped in, just to see whether hecould bowl Speug out, and after half an hour's hopeless attack upon thatimperturbable youth, the professional declared the Seminary had achance. But the word was passed round that there should be no boasting, and that Muirtown must be prepared for a hopeless and honourable defeat. Mr. McGuffie senior was the only man on the morning of the match who wasprepared to bet on even terms, and his offers were refused by thecitizens, first because betting was sinful, and, second, it waspossible, though not likely, they might lose. 

The Columbians came down as usual in a brake, with only two horses thistime, and made a pretty show when they were dressed in their whiteflannels and school colours, and every one admitted that they were agood-looking and well-set-up eleven; they brought half a dozen otherfellows with them, to help to cheer their victory and to keep theirscore, and a master to be umpire. The Seminary eleven were in allcolours and such dress as commended itself to their taste. Robertson andMolyneux and one or two others in full flannels, but Speug in a greyshirt and a pair of tight tweed trousers of preposterous pattern, whichwere greatly admired by his father's grooms--and, for that matter, bythe whole school; and although Jock Howieson had been persuaded intoflannel bags, as we called them then, he stuck to a red shirt ofoutrageous appearance, which was enough to frighten any bowler. JackMoncrieffe, the Muirtown cricket crack and bowler of the All Scotland, was umpire for the Seminary, and the very sight of him taught the firstlesson of respect to the "Bumbees"; and when they learned that JimFleming, the other Muirtown crack, had been coaching the Seminary allthe summer, they began to feel that it might be a real match, not merelya few lessons in the manly game of cricket given to encourage a commonschool, don't you know. 

There was a representative turn-out of Muirtown men, together with agoodly sprinkling of Muirtown mothers and sisters. Bulldog took up hisposition early, just in front of the tent, and never moved till thematch was over; nor did he speak, save once; but the Seminary knew thathe was thinking plenty, and that the master of mathematics had his eyeupon them. Some distance off, the Count--that faithful friend of hisSeminary "dogs"--promenaded up and down a beat of some dozen yards, andspent the time in one long excitement, cheering with weird foreignaccent when a good hit was made, swearing in French when anything wentwrong, bewailing almost unto tears the loss of a Seminary wicket, andhurrying to shake hands with every one of his eleven, whether he haddone well or ill, when he came in from the wicket. Mr. McGuffie movedthrough the crowd from time to time, and finally succeeded in making abet on the most advantageous terms with that eminent dignitary, the Earlof Kilspindie's coachman, who was so contemptuous of the Seminary fromthe Castle point of view that he took the odds of five to one insovereigns that they would be beaten. And on the outskirts of the crowd, half ashamed to be there and doubtful of his reception, hovered BailieMacConachie. 

The Seminary won the toss, and by the advice of Jim Fleming sent theColumbians in, and there was no Seminary lad nor any Muirtown man, forthe Frenchman did not count--who denied that the strangers played agood, clean game--pretty form, and brave scoring; and on their part theColumbians were not slow to acknowledge that the Seminary knew how tofield, wherever they had learned it. No ball sliding off the bat, couldpass Dunc Robertson, and as for byes they were impossible with Speug aslong-stop, for those were the days when there were long-stops. Cosh hadhis faults, and they were not few, but the Seminary thought more of himafter a miraculous catch which he made at long-off; and Bauldie, atsquare-leg, might not be able to prevent a two occasionally, but herefused to allow fours. Jock Howieson was a graceless bowler and anoffence to the eye, but his balls were always in the line of the middlestump, and their rate that of an express train; and Nestie not only hada pretty style, but a way of insinuating himself among the wickets whichfour Columbians had not the power to refuse. There was a bit of work atlong-field, which even the Columbians could not help cheering, though itlost them a wicket, and the way in which a ball was sent up fromcover-point to Dunc Robertson, and so took another wicket, wrung a wordof private praise from the Columbian umpire. Still, the Seminary wasfighting against heavy odds, an uphill, hopeless battle, and when thevisitors went out with a hundred and one to their score, Mr. McGuffiesenior was doubtful of his sovereign; and only the Count prophesiedtriumph, going round and shaking hands individually with every one ofhis "dogs, " and magnifying their doings unto the sky. BailieMacConachie, by this time was lost in the crowd, working his waygradually to the front, and looking as if he would have liked to cheer, but thinking it better not to call attention to his presence. Then theSeminary went in, and there is no question but that they had hard timesat the hands of the Columbians, who were well trained and played alltogether. Robertson, who was the hope of the Seminary, went out fortwenty, and Bauldie for ten; Nestie played carefully, but only managedtwelve, and the other fellows were too easily bowled or caught out, eachadding something, but none doing much, till at last the score stood atsixty-nine; with the last two of the Seminary in. Things were lookingvery black, and even the Count was dashed, while Bulldog's facesuggested that next Monday the whole school would be thrashed, and thata special treat would be reserved for the eleven. Mr. McGuffie, however, with a sportsman's instinct, seized the opportunity to make another betwith his lordship's coachman, and increased the odds from five to ten, and the dignitary declared it was simply robbing McGuffie of his money. 

"We'll see aboot that, my man, when the horses pass the line. I've seenmany a race changed before the finish, " and Mr. McGuffie took hisposition in the front row to see the end. 

Thirty-three runs to make to win the match, and only one wicket to fall, and the Columbians discounted their victory in a gentlemanly fashion, while Jim Fleming looked very grave. "Give them no chances, " he said toHowieson, as that stolid youth went in to join Speug, who had been atthe wicket for some time, but had only scored ten. Any over might closethe match, and perhaps the Columbians' bowlers grew careless, for threeovers passed and the two friends of many a scrimmage were still in, andneither of them had shown any intention of going out. Quite thecontrary, for Speug had broken into fours, and Howieson, who played withthe gracefulness of a cow, would allow no ball to interfere with hiswickets, and had run up a couple of twos on his own account. 

"Juist beginnin', " said Speug's father. "Him oot sune? I tell you he'ssettlin' down for the afternoon and that laddie Howieson is a dourdeevil. The fact is"--Mr. McGuffie took a circle of spectators into hisconfidence--"they're juist gettin' into the stride. " The Count preenedhis plumage and plucked up heart again, while the Seminary lads, gathered in a solid mass to the left of the tent, were afraid to cheerlest they should invite defeat, and, while they pretended unconcern, could feel their hearts beating. "They couldn't be better matched, " saidNestie. "Speug and Jock--they've had l-lots of things in hand together, and they'll d-do it yet. See!" and at that moment Speug sent a ball tothe boundary. Now there were only seventeen, instead of thirty-threeruns to make. 

They were playing a game of the utmost carefulness, blocking the ballswhich were dangerous and could not be played; declining to give thefaintest chance of a catch, and taking a run short rather than be runout, and so the score crept up with a two from Howieson, who had gotinto a habit of twos, and being a phlegmatic youth, kept to it, and athree and a four from Speug, and another two from Howieson, and a threefrom Speug. 

Across the heads of the people McGuffie shouted to the coachman, "Takeyou again, Petrie--ten to one, five to one, three to one against theSeminary?" And when there was no answer, Mr. McGuffie offered to take iteven from anybody, and finally appealed to the man, next him. It wasBailie MacConachie, who forgetful of the past and everything except theglory of Muirtown, was now standing beside Speug's father and did notcare. "Speug's no dead yet Bailie"; and then, catching the look inMacConachie's face, "bygones are bygones, we're a' Muirtown men theday"; and then his voice rose again across the crowd "I'll give ye odds, coachman--two to one against the 'Bumbees'" for Howieson had scoredanother two, and two more runs would win the match for the Seminary. 

Then a terrible thing happened, for Howieson, instead of stopping theball with his bat, must needs stop it with his leg. "How's that?" criedthe Columbian wicket-keeper, "how's that, umpire?" Was his leg beforewicket or not? And for the moment every one, Seminary and Columbian, Bulldog, McGuffie, Bailie, men, women and children, held their breath. It would have been maddening to have been beaten only by one run, andafter such a gallant fight. 

"Not out!" replied the umpire in two seconds; but it seemed ten minutes, and a yell went up from the throats of the Seminary, and BailieMacConachie took off his hat and wiped his forehead, which Mr. McGuffienoted with sympathy and laid up to the Bailie's credit. There wasanother crisis at hand which had been forgotten by Muirtown, but it wasvery keenly present to the minds of the Columbians. One over more andthe time limit would be reached and the game closed. If the Seminarycould make two runs, they would win; if the Columbians could get Speug'swicket, they would win. They put on their most dangerous man, whose ballhad a trick of coming down just six inches in front of the block, andthen, having escaped the attention of the batsman, of coming perilouslynear the wicket. His attack compelled the most watchful defence, andhardly allowed the chance of a run. Two balls Speug blocked, but coulddo no more with them; the third got past and shaved the wicket; thefourth Speug sent to slip but the fielding allowed no run; the fifth, full of cunning, he stopped with difficulty, and fear seized the heartof Muirtown that the last would capture the wickets and give the victoryto the visitors. And it was the cleverest of all the balls, for it wassent to land inside the block, just so much nearer as might deceive thebatsman accustomed to the former distance. No sooner had it left thebowler's hand then Fleming saw the risk and gnawed his moustache. Everyeye followed the ball through the air on what seemed, for the anxiety ofit, a course of miles. The Columbians drew together unconsciously incommon hope. Robertson, the Seminary captain, dug his right heel intothe ground, and opposite, between the field and the river, the leader ofthat rapscallion school, the "Pennies, " stood erect, intent, open-mouthed with his crew around, for once silent and motionless. Speugtook a swift stride forward and met the ball nearly three feet from theground, and, gathering up all the strength in his tough little body, hecaught that ball on the middle of the bat and sent it over square-leg'shead, who had come in too near and made one hopeless clutch at it, andthrough the ranks of the "Pennies, " who cleared out on every side tolet it pass as they had never yielded to Speug himself; and ere Muirtownhad found voice to cheer, the red-haired varlet who ruled the "Pennies"had flung his bonnet, such as it was, into the air, for, the ball was inthe river, and the Seminary had won by three runs and one wicket. 

Things happened then which are beyond the pen of man, but it was freelysaid that the "Hurrah" of Bulldog, master of mathematics, drowned thehunting-cry of Mr. McGuffie, and that when the Count, in his joy overthe victory of his "jolly dogs, " knocked off Bailie MacConachie's hat, and would have apologised, the Bailie kicked his own hat in triumph. This is certain, that the Seminary carried Speug and Howieson bothprotesting, from the North Meadow, in through the big school door; thatBulldog walked at the head of the procession, like a general coming homein his glory; that he insisted on the Bailie walking with him; that, after all the cheering was over, Speug proposed one cheer more forBailie MacConachie, and that when the eleven departed for Bulldog'shouse for supper half the Seminary escorted the Bailie home. 

BULLDOG'S RECOMPENSE

XVI

When the rumour flew through Muirtown in Spring that Bulldog was toresign at the close of the summer term it was laughed to scorn, andtreated as an agreeable jest. Had it been the rector who was more alearned ghost than a human being, or the English master who had grownstout and pursey, or some of the other masters who came and went likeshadows, Muirtown had not given another thought to the matter, butBulldog retiring, it was a very facetious idea, and Muirtown held itssides. Perhaps it was delicate health was the cause; and then Dr. Manleystormed through half Muirtown, declaring that he had never known DugaldMacKinnon have an hour's sickness except once when that little scoundrelSpeug, or rather he should say Sir Peter McGuffie, consulting physician, brought his master through triumphantly with a trifle of assistance fromhimself as a general practitioner. Was it old age that ailed Bulldog?Then Bailie MacConachie was constrained to testify in public places, andwas supported by all the other Bailies except MacFarlane, who got hiseducation at Drumtochty that the mathematical master of Muirtown Academyhad thrashed them all as boys, every man jack of them, being then notmuch older than themselves, and that he was now--barring his whitehair--rather fresher than in the days of their youth? Had successdeparted at last from the mathematical class-room, after resting thereas in a temple of wingless victory for three generations? Was it notknown everywhere that William Pirie, whose grandfather was a seniorpupil when Bulldog took the reins fifty-eight years ago, had simplyromped through Edinburgh University gathering medals, prizes, bursaries, fellowships, and everything else that a mathematician could lay hishands on, and then had won a scholarship at Trinity College, Cambridge, with papers that were talked about in the College for fourteen days, andwere laid past by one examiner as a treasure of achievement. May be, andthis was no doubt the very heart of the jest, Bulldog had lost controlof the boys, and his right hand had forgotten its cunning! So the boyswere insulted in their homes by sympathetic inquiries as to when theyhad their last interview with the tawse and whether the canings were asnippy as ever, for Muirtown was proud to think that its favourite masterwas an expert in every branch of his calling and dealt with thegrandchildren as thoroughly as he had done with the grandfathers. AndBailie MacFarlane meeting Bulldog crossing the bridge one morning asalert in step and austere in countenance as ever, asked him how he waskeeping with affected sympathy, and allowed himself the luxury of achuckle as one who has made a jocose remark. 

It came therefore with a shock to Muirtown when the following letter wasread in the Town Council and was known next morning to every citizenfrom the Procurator Fiscal to London John. 

_To the Lord Provost, the Bailies, and the Council of Muirtown. _

 "Gentlemen, --I beg to resign, as from the close of the present term, the position of Master of Mathematics, Arithmetic and Writing, in Muirtown Seminary, and to thank the council for the trust which they have placed in me for fifty-eight years. 

 "I am, my Lord Provost and Gentlemen, "Your obedient servant, "Dugald MacKinnon. "

When Muirtown recovered itself a conflict began between Bulldog and thecitizens which lasted for four intense weeks in which the town was atfever heat and Bulldog was outwardly colder and calmer than ever. And hewon all along the line. The Council passed a resolution of respectfuladmiration, studded with stately adjectives, and, for such a document, almost heated in feeling, to which Mr. MacKinnon sent a courteous butguarded reply. The Council intimated that they would consider his letterto be non-existent, and not even put him to the trouble of withdrawing, and Mr. MacKinnon intimated to the Town Clerk that in that case he musttrouble the Council with an exact copy. The Council then appointed adeputation to wait on him, and Mr. MacKinnon declared himself unworthyof such an unprecedented honour, and declined to see them. And then theCouncil, in despair, and with a sad sense of the inevitable, strainedtheir powers to the utmost with immense unanimity, and voted a handsomepension to "Dugald MacKinnon, Esq. , Master of Arts, in grateful, although unworthy recognition of the unbroken, unwearied, and invaluableservice he has rendered to the education of this ancient city for aperiod of more than half a century, during which time nearly twothousand lads have been sent forth equipped for the practical businessof life in Muirtown, in the great cities of our land and unto the endsof the earth. " Mr. MacKinnon explained in a letter of perfecthandwriting that he was quite undeserving of such a resolution, as hehad done nothing more than his duty, and that he could not accept anyretiring allowance--first, because he was not sure that it was strictlylegal, and, secondly, because he had made provision for his last years, but on this occasion he signed himself "Your most obliged servant. " Itwas then determined to entertain this obdurate man at a banquet, and tomake a presentation of plate to him. And Mr. MacKinnon was again mostgrateful for the kindness of his fellow citizens and the honour theyproposed to do him, but he clearly indicated he would neither accept thebanquet nor a piece of plate. It dawned gradually upon Muirtown, a cityslow but sure of understanding, and with a silent sense of the fitnessof things, that Mr. Dugald MacKinnon, having reigned like Cæsar Augustusfor fifty-eight years without contradiction and without conciliation, giving no favours and receiving none, but doing his part by the laddiesof Muirtown with all his strength of mind and conscience and right arm, was not going to weaken at the end of his career. For him to rise at theclose of a dinner and return thanks for a piece of plate would have beenout of keeping with his severe and lonely past, and for him to be apensioner, even of the Town Council, would have been an indignity. Hehad reigned longer and more absolutely than any master in the annals ofthe Seminary, and to the last day he had held the sceptre withoutflinching. As a king, strong, uncompromising and invincible, he wouldlay aside the purple, and disappear into private life. And Muirtown wasproud of Bulldog. 

Bulldog had beaten the magistrates of Muirtown in all their glory, andhis fellow citizens united in one enthusiastic body, but he had not yetsettled with the boys. They had not expressed in resolutions or anyother way their appreciation of their master, and they had followed thefutile attempts of their parents with silent contempt. It was wonderfulthat grown up people should be so far left to themselves as to supposethat Bulldog, their own Bulldog, would ever condescend to be dined byBailies and stand at the close of dinner like a dithering idiot with asilver jug in his hands, or some such trash, while his hands wereitching to thrash every one of his hosts as he had thrashed them longago. When the boys heard their fathers raging at Bulldog's proudobstinacy they offered no remark, but when they got together theychortled with glee, and felt that there was comfort and compensation formany an honest thrashing, in the fact that Bulldog was as much ruler ofMuirtown as he had been of the Seminary. No rebellion against him hadever had the faintest gleam of hope, and no rebel had ever escapedwithout his just punishment, but the boys, rascals to the last and fullof devilry, agreed together by an instinct rather than a conference thatthey would close Bulldog's last term with a royal insurrection. He hadgoverned them with an iron hand, and they had been proud to be governed, considering the wounds of Bulldog ten thousand times more desirable thanthe kisses of McIntyres', but they would have one big revenge and thenBulldog and his "fiddlers" would part for ever. They held longconfabulations together in the Rector's class-room while that learnedman was reading aloud some new and specially ingenious translation of anode and in the class-room of modern languages, while Moossy's successorwas trying to teach Jock Howieson how to pronounce a modified U, in theGerman tongue, in Mrs. McWhae's tuck-shop when the "gundy" allowed themto speak at all, and at the Russian guns where they gathered in thebreak instead of playing rounders. The junior boys were not admitted tothose mysterious meetings, but were told to wait and see what they wouldsee, and whatever plan the seniors formed not a word of it oozed out inthe town. But the Seminary was going to do something mighty, and Bulldogwould repent the years of his tyranny. 

Funds were necessary for the campaign, since it was going to be a bigaffair, and Speug directed that a war chest should at once beestablished. No one outside the secret junta knew what was going to bedone with the money, but orders were issued that by hook or crook everyboy in school except the merest kids should pay sixpence a week to JockHowieson, who was not an accomplished classical scholar nor speciallyversed in geometry but who could keep the most intricate accounts in hishead with unerring accuracy, and knew every boy in the Seminary by headmark. And although he was not a fluent speaker, he was richly endowedwith other powers of persuasion, and he would be a very daring younggentleman indeed, and almost indifferent to circumstances, who did notpay his sixpence to Jock before set of sun each Monday. Jock made nodemands, and gave no receipts; he engaged in no conversation whatever, but simply waited and took. If any one tried to compound with Jock forthreepence, one look at the miserable produced the sixpence; and whenlittle Cosh following in the devious steps of his elder brotherinsinuated that he had paid already, Jock dropped him into the lade torefresh his memory. No one directly inquired what was to be done withthe money, for every one knew it was safe with Jock, and that it wouldbe well spent by the mighty four who now ruled the school: Jock, Bauldie, Nestie, and Speug--Dunc Robertson after a brief course atSandhurst having got his commission in his father's regiment. And it wasalso known that every halfpenny was going to give a big surprise toBulldog, so the boys, during those weeks treated their fathers withobsequious respect for commercial reasons, and coaxed additional penniesout of their mothers on every false pretence, and paid endearing visitsto maiden aunts, and passed Mrs. McWhae's shop, turning away their eyesand noses from vanity, and sold to grinding capitalists their tops, marbles, young rabbits, and kites; and "as sure as death" every Mondaythe silent but observant treasurer received for eight weeks 5£ 4s. , atthe rate of sixpence a head, from 208 boys. They kept their secret likean oyster, and there was not one informer among the 208; but curiositygrew hot, and there were many speculations, and it was widely believedthat the money would be used in sending a cane of the most magnificentproportions to Bulldog, as a remembrance of his teaching days, and amark of respect from his pupils. One boy, being left to himself, daredto suggest this to Speug; and when he looked round at some distance off, Speug's eye was still upon him, and he declared from his experience thatit was not healthy to question Speug. Two hundred and four boys, however, with the observant faculties of Indian scouts, and intent upondiscovery could not be altogether baffled, and various bits of reliableinformation were passed round the school. That the four had gone oneevening into Bailie MacConachie's, who was now on terms of highpopularity with the school; that the Count who was even then sickeningfor his death, and Mr. McGuffie, whom nothing but an accident couldkill, had also been present; that at different times the Count had beenseen examining the gold watches in Gillespie's shop, whose watches werecarried by every man of standing in the Scots Midlands, and pronouncinghis judgment on their appearance with vivacious gestures; that theBailie had been seen examining the interior of a watch with awfulsolemnity while Councillor Gillespie hung upon his decision; and, tocrown all, that Mr. McGuffie senior, after a lengthy interview with thehead of the firm, during which he had given him gratuitous advice onthree coming races, had left Gillespie's, declaring with pronouncedlanguage that if certain persons did not obtain certain things for £40he, Mr. McGuffie, although not a person giving to betting, would wagerten to one that the place of business would close in a year. It waswhispered therefore in the corridors, with some show of truth, that theSeminary was going to take vengeance on Bulldog with a gift, and thatthe gift, whatever it might be, was lying in Gillespie's shop. And theschool speculated whether there was any one of their number, even Speughimself, who would dare to face Bulldog with a gift; and whether, if hedid, that uncompromising man might not occupy his last week ofmastership in thrashing the school one by one, from the oldest unto theyoungest, for their blazing impertinence. 

The closing day was a Thursday that year, and it was characteristic ofBulldog that he met his classes as usual on Wednesday, and whenHowieson disgraced himself beyond usual in Euclid, having disgracedhimself more moderately on four preceding days that he administereddiscipline on Jock with conscientious severity. Jock was the last boyBulldog thrashed, and he was so lifted up as to be absolutelyunendurable for the rest of the day, and boasted of the distinction formany a year. As four o'clock approached, the boys began to growrestless, and Bulldog's own voice was not perfectly steady when heclosed the last problem with Q. E. D. 

"Q. E. D. ; yes, Q. E. D. , laddies, we have carried the argument to itsconclusion according to the principles of things, and the book isfinished. There is still seven minutes of the hour remaining, we willspend it in revising the work of the Senior Algebra Class. "

Their work has not been revised unto this day, for at that moment thedoor opened without any one knocking, and without any one offering anapology, and William Pirie, Master of Arts of Edinburgh, and scholar ofTrinity College, Cambridge, and Duncan Robertson, 2nd Lieutenant in thePerthshire Buffs, made their appearance, accompanied by BailieMacConachie, whose dignity was fearsome; the Count, who waved his handgracefully to the school, and Mr. McGuffie, who included everybody in anaffable nod; and behind this imposing deputation every boy of MuirtownSeminary who was not already in the mathematical class-room. Bulldogturned upon them like a lion caught in a snare, and if he had had onlythirty seconds preparation, it is firmly believed he would have driventhe whole deputation, old and young, out of the class-room and dealtwith the conspirators who remained unto the setting of the sun. But itwas a cunning plot, arranged and timed with minute care, and beforeBulldog could say a word Pirie had begun, and he knew better than to saymuch. 

"If we have offended you, sir, you will pardon us for it is our lastoffence, and we have this time a fair excuse. Your laddies could not letyou leave that desk and go out of this room for the last time withouttelling you that they are grateful, because you have tried to make themscholars, and to make them men. If any of us be able in after years todo our part well, we shall owe it more than anything else to yourteaching and your discipline. "

Then Robertson, who was the other spokesman the four had chosen, began. 

"Can't make a speech, sir, it is not in my line, but everything Piriesaid is true, and we are proud of our chief. "

"This, " said Pirie, turning to the boys, "is the watch and chain whichwe ask the master to do us the honour of wearing through the days tocome, and the inscription, sir, " and now Pirie turned to the desk, "crowns our offence, but you will know how to read it!"

 "TO BULLDOG, WITH THE RESPECT AND AFFECTION OF HIS LADDIES. "

It was Bailie MacConachie--may everything be pardoned to him--whostarted the cheer; but it was Mr. McGuffie who led it over hedge andditch, and it was of such a kind that the mathematical class-room had tobe repaired before the beginning of next term. During the storm Bulldogstood with the watch in his hand, and his cheeks as white as his hair, and when at last there was silence he tried to speak, but the tenderheart had broken the iron mask, and all he could say was "laddies. "

The Count, with quick tact, led off the second cheer, and the boys filedout of the class-room. Bulldog sat down at the desk, the watch beforehim, and covered his face with his hands. When an hour later he walkedacross the North Meadow there was not a boy to be seen but BailieMacFarlane, who met him on the bridge (and passed without speaking), noticed that Bulldog was wearing his laddies' gift. 

Sitting in his garden that evening and looking down upon the plain, Bulldog called Nestie to his side, and pointed to the river. The eveningsun was shining on the fields, ripening for harvest, and on theorchards, laden with fruit; and in the soft light, a roughweather-beaten coaster, which had fought her way through many a gale inthe North Sea, and could not hold together much longer was dropping downwith the tide. Newer and swifter vessels would take her place in thedays to come, but the old craft had done her work well and faithfully, and now the cleanest and kindest of Scots rivers was carrying her gentlyto the eternal ocean.