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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/20354-8.txt b/20354-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..57788ca --- /dev/null +++ b/20354-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3176 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Jack of Both Sides, by Florence Coombe + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Jack of Both Sides + The Story of a School War + +Author: Florence Coombe + +Illustrator: S. B. Pearse + +Release Date: January 13, 2007 [EBook #20354] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK OF BOTH SIDES *** + + + + +Produced by Dave Morgan, Paul Stephen, Fox in the Stars +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +[Illustration: "IT'S A VERY GOOD THING, MADAM, FOR YOU ... THAT MY +FRIEND HERE IS NOT DEAD!" +_See page 40_] + + +Jack of Both Sides + +The Story of a School War + + +BY + +FLORENCE COOMBE + +Author of "Boys of the Priory School" "A Chum Worth Having" +"Her Friend and Mine" &c. + + +_ILLUSTRATED BY S. B. PEARSE_ + + +BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED +LONDON GLASGOW AND DUBLIN + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAP. + +I. THE JOKE THAT FAILED 5 + +II. TOPPIN'S DIVE 16 + +III. THE CHICKEN AND THE BICYCLE 30 + +IV. A KNOCK AT THE WINDOW 44 + +V. THE STORM BREAKS 57 + +VI. THE MARCH HARE'S REVENGE 71 + +VII. HANNAH THE HOUSEMAID 85 + +VIII. JACK'S MAIDEN SPEECH 94 + +IX. LOST--A NAME 103 + + + + +JACK OF BOTH SIDES + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE JOKE THAT FAILED + + +"I say, you fellows, look here! What do you think of this? It's our +lunch!" + +"This" was a large basket, lined with a white cloth, at the bottom of +which lay nine bread-pills. Nine boys looked down at them in rueful +disgust, and then across the school-room to where a larger group stood +chuckling mischievously, their hands and mouths filled with tempting, +crusty hunches, carved from the loaf according to fancy. + +Those nine gray, unappetizing pellets represented all that was left of +the loaf; and Mason, the boy who first spoke, realizing this, flung the +big basket in a burst of indignation at the heads of the opposite clump, +one or two of whom were hit. Revenge was prompt. Ere it touched the +floor it was hurled back with vigour, but, being dodged successfully, +fell harmless to the ground. + +Mason and seven others were new-comers to Brincliffe School, and when +the luncheon interval was heralded by the entrance of the loaf and the +exit of the masters, it did not occur to them to join in the general +rush that was made at the basket. And this was the sorry reward of good +manners! + +The fact of the matter is that they were not merely new boys, and +therefore lawful game, but day-pupils. That was a grievance at +Brincliffe--a great grievance. It was only last term that the first +day-boy was admitted into Mr. West's establishment. More than one young +wiseacre had gloomily prophesied that Jim Bacon was the thin end of the +wedge. And now they gloated, "Didn't we say so?" + +It is not easy to see at once what objection there could be to certain +boys attending the school and yet sleeping in their own homes. But a +rooted objection there undoubtedly was--all the stronger, perhaps, +because no valid reason for it could be stated. + +Now for a few moments words took the place of missiles. + +"You--you greedy, giggling gobblers--you!" This was from Mason, and he +was hungry. The "g's" came out in slow, studied jerks. + +"And what are you, pray? A pack of pretty poppets! Mammy's darlings! +Must go home to by-by, mustn't you?" Sneering was Joe Green's forte. + +Words failed Mason, but a small black-eyed lad, called Lewis Simmons, +took up the cudgels in his stead. + +"I'd rather be a pretty poppet than an ugly chimpanzee like--_some_ +people!" + +"Hold your tongue, baby! Cheek me again, and you'll get smacked. We must +see that all you duckies go to bed at twelve for a little nap. You shall +have a nice beauty-sleep, you shall!" + +"Don't answer! Swallow it down!" muttered Jack Brady, laying his hand on +Simmons's shoulder. "Let 'em have the last word if they're stuck on it. +We're only wasting breath." + +"It's all very well, Brady, but they have treated us abominably! We'd +done nothing to them." Ethelbert Hughes, who said this in a low voice, +was Simmons's special chum, though a great contrast, being tall and +fair, with a gentle, quiet manner. + +"Still, there's nothing gained by bandying names," returned Brady. "And +it isn't even amusing to listen to. A fellow's seldom funny and furious +at the same time. + +"I don't care about words," said Mason, giving a fierce kick to the +basket. "I'm quite ready to bandy thumps, if they prefer it. But they +deserve trouncing in some way for a caddish trick like this." + +"It was a bit rough on us, but they only meant it as a joke," persisted +Brady. "We must pay them back in joke, and then it'll be all right." + +"Will it?" growled Bacon. "I know better. Why, they hate day-boys like +poison, and they'll let you all feel it too. I had a nice dose of it +last term, and I'm jolly glad there are some more of you to share it +with me this time." + +"Oh, that's it, is it?" said a boy called Armitage. "And are they all +such donkeys as to care whether we sleep here or not?" + +"They're all such sheep as to follow the same track blindly, and not +dare to act on their own hook," replied Bacon. "It's the fashion to run +down day-boys, that's all. But it's a beastly shame, and I almost wish +West hadn't let me in." + +"Oh, rubbish!" said Brady. "Fashions change quickly. We'll have a +ripping time, in spite of everybody." + +Meanwhile the boarders were discussing matters from their point of view. + +"It's just what I expected," said Norman Hallett, a tall, well-built +boy, who was the eldest in the school. "Once open the door--only a +chink--and in pours the whole town." He waved a half-eaten crust to +illustrate the pouring in. + +"West had better drop the name of Brincliffe, and call us Elmridge +Grammar School at once. That's what we are now," observed Green. + +"I don't mind so much about that," said a grave-faced boy, whose name +was Vickers; "but what I do hate is the way day-boys spoil everything. +It can't be helped, but nothing's ever fair or equal when once day-boys +get mixed up with a school. I'll tell you exactly what happens. +First"--and here the speaker laid his forefinger on his thumb to mark +the order--"First, they're always trying to make you green with envy by +talking about the jolly things they're going to. Second, they're +continually getting holidays for themselves on some pretence or other. +Third, they love to pity you, and declare they'd shoot themselves rather +than be regular boarders. Fourth, they buy cribs and keys, and keep them +at home, and get help from their fathers, and work extra hours, and +spoil your chance of a prize altogether. Fifth, they're for ever +sniggering over private jokes about people you neither know nor want +to--" + +"Hold, Vickers, my dear chap!" broke in Cadbury, the school jester. "It +pains me to check the fluency of our golden-mouthed orator, but I've +been waiting in vain for 'Finally'. Let's have an innings. What I object +to is that they're such a horrid lot. Cocky to a degree--simply think +no end of themselves--and lose their hair altogether at the first little +playful joke. I think the beastly way in which they took that bread game +spoke for itself. I should like to have hammered them for that." + +"West will be changing all our hours and classes soon to suit the +convenience of the day-boarders. That'll be the next move. I know it, +because I heard him ask that gawky chap they call Mason if he could stay +on Wednesday evenings for the dancing class. If he could, indeed! That's +the way they're going to be treated." + +"If they are, it'll be war to the knife between us and them," observed +Hallett, folding his arms with an air of conscious might. + +"War wiz knife, Hallett? Ah!" + +It was a black-browed foreign child of nine who whispered these words, +creeping close to Hallett, and gazing up curiously into his face. +Hallett burst out laughing. + +"Listen to this bloodthirsty brigand of a March Hare! The instinct of +his ancestors is strong within him. No, Harey," he continued, "I won't +stickle for knives, or even pistols. Shall we call it war to the fist? +Anything will do, so long as it's war." + +"What do you all think of the weekly? Is he as bad as the rest?" asked +Grey, one of the juniors. He was always careful to find out what he +ought to think before he thought it. + +[Illustration] + +"Which is the weakly one?" asked Cadbury. "That lily-flower bending on +its stalk to address the cheeky, black-eyed imp? He looks weakly enough, +all eyes and hair." + +"No, no; that's Hughes, from the Bank. I mean the new weekly boarder, +who's to go home from Saturday to Monday." + +"I know the one," said Hallett. "The apple-faced boy who does so much +laughing. I heard someone call him Brady." + +"Oh, that fellow! He doesn't look so bad," pronounced Trevelyan, who +ranked only second to Hallett. + +"He seems to have a strong sense of humour," remarked Vickers gravely, +at which his comrades giggled. Vickers was commonly believed to have +none. He never laughed when anyone else did. + +"A weekly boarder is a very different thing from a day-boy," Hallett +went on. "If Brady was wise he wouldn't go mixing himself up with that +lot. I shall give him a wrinkle when he comes my way. He really looks +rather decent, and he was the only one who grinned about the bread. Of +course it may have been from sheer force of habit, and therefore no +credit to him; but still, he did grin." + +At this moment the discussion in both camps was brought to a sudden +finish by the return of the masters. The chief himself, Mr. West, was +the first to enter, and his eye was immediately caught by the bread +basket, which lay dejected on its side in a little pool of crumbs. He +looked suspiciously at it. + +"Who threw the basket on the floor?" + +Dead silence. + +"Come, speak out! Someone must have done it; baskets don't jump off +tables by themselves." + +After another short silence, one of the young day-pupils, who happened +to be standing close beside it, picked up the basket and placed it on +the table. + +"Did you knock it down, Frere, my boy?" asked Mr. West. + +"No, sir. It was one of the boarders; I don't know his name. I think he +aimed it at some of us, and it fell on the floor instead." + +Frere spoke innocently. He had never been to school before, and it did +not occur to him that he was doing any harm by his frankness--least of +all, to himself! The eyes of his friends and enemies alike glared +reproachfully at him, but he did not notice them. It was Jack Brady who +broke in. + +"We threw the basket at them first, sir, and it did hit them!" + +"Well, never do it again, Brady. Look what a mess it's made on the +floor! And you others, you have been in the school longer; you ought to +have known better than to throw it back. You might have broken +something." + +That was all. But the bitterness between the two camps was not lessened +by the incident, and Frere was liked none the better for it. + +However, now work began again, and ill-feeling was shelved perforce for +the time. The sarcastic Green, for instance, found himself required to +read the part of "Nerissa" to Mason's "Portia"; and Hughes was set to +sketch Africa on the board in company with Vickers. The boys did not +know that Mr. West had given a hint to the masters to mix the new and +old element well together. + +That opening day was a weary one to the nine town boys, and all but Jack +Brady, the "weekly", scampered off with boisterous delight when school +was dismissed at four o'clock. + +The two chums, Ethelbert Hughes and Lewis Simmons, had been quickly +dubbed "Ethel" and "Lucy", and they did not at once appreciate their new +names. But Jack Brady, when he found himself hailed indiscriminately as +"Apple" and "Grinner", answered and laughed without a trace of +resentment. Perhaps that was why neither title stuck to him, while +Hughes and Simmons became Ethel and Lucy to everyone, and even at last +to each other. + +Jack was standing at the window, watching his friends disappear in the +direction of the town, and whistling softly to keep up his spirits, when +Hallett approached him. + +"Hullo, Red-cheeks, they say you're not a day-boy. I think myself that +going home once a week is a mistake; however, of course that's a matter +of opinion. But why on earth do you stick by those wretched eight whom +West has let in to spoil the school?" + +"Fellow-feeling!" Jack's smile atoned for the shortness of his reply. + +"Nonsense! I can't for the life of me see why you should connect +yourself with that lot at all. We've no quarrel with you." + +"Nor with the others, for the matter of that," returned Jack, looking +straight into Hallett's face. + +Hallett moved away with a short grunt, for want of an answer. Then, +remembering one, he turned back. + +"What about young Frere? What did you think of that?" + +"I'd have stopped him if I could. But he didn't mean any harm. To a +home-boy it sometimes comes natural to blurt out all you know when +you're asked a question." + +Hallett shrugged his shoulders. + +"You'll make a first-rate pleader one day, Brady. If ever I want +defending, I'll engage you." + +"Thanks!" said Jack. "You're very kind." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +TOPPIN'S DIVE + + +If Mr. Anderson, the junior English master, had not happened to meet +some friends as he was on his way to the swimming-bath with the boys, +this chapter would not have been written. But they were old friends, and +very unexpected, who were only visiting Elmridge for an hour or two. So +he acted as I suppose nine out of ten young men would have acted in the +same circumstances. + +"Look here, boys," he said, running after the nearest group. "Can I +trust you to go on quietly to the baths by yourselves? I shall follow +you very shortly. You can all have your dip, and dress, and by that time +I shall be with you. You won't get into mischief, and play pranks, will +you? Promise!" + +The four boys he addressed promised readily. + +"Right! Green, you're one of the seniors; I put you in charge. See that +all goes on just as if I were there. No one stay in the water more than +twelve minutes." + +"Very well, sir!" + +And Mr. Anderson departed with light heart and clear conscience. + +It was only a couple of days since the term began, and the very +chilling reception accorded to the day-scholars had made friendly +advances between the two factions next to impossible. A distant +toleration was just now the recognized attitude. + +But there were two people who were "not playing the game". One was Jack +Brady, who persisted in walking first with one party and then the other, +and refused point-blank to be distant towards anyone. The other was the +youngest scholar of Brincliffe, one Hugill Trevelyan, commonly known as +"Toppin". He was only seven, and did not understand the meaning of a +civil war. Toppin had been sent to school with his elder brother Escombe +because his parents were abroad. + +The March Hare (Massimiliano Graglia, to give him once for all his right +name), who was two years Toppin's senior, and therefore better able to +quarrel to order without knowing the reason why, had a great affection +for him, and, when possible, would take charge of him. Toppin being a +very independent young man, however, this was not often possible. More +frequently he would patronize the March Hare, and explain to him English +words or ways that were puzzling. + +It chanced that this afternoon three day-boys, Bacon, Armitage, and +Simmons, were in advance of the rest of the school, who were sauntering +behind in clusters of threes and fours. Hughes was not with Simmons, +being forbidden by his doctor to indulge in swimming at present. Bacon +looked back just as Mr. Anderson was turning in the opposite direction +with his friends. + +"Hullo, what sport!" he exclaimed. "Andy's given us the slip!" + +"Be joyful! Let's race for the best boxes!" said Armitage. "We shall be +in the water long before the other slow-coaches have reached the baths. +One, two, three--off!" + +Now Toppin was one of the group behind, and being naturally fleet of +foot, a race was a thing he could not resist. So he took to his heels +and pursued them. + +Jack Brady and the March Hare were walking with Toppin, and if it had +been practicable, the Hare would have accompanied him in the race, but +if there was one thing of which the March Hare was incapable, it was +running. Jack, who had found this out, checked him from making the +attempt. + +"Let Toppin go, Harey, and you stay with me," he said. There was a look +of satisfaction on his face. It was fine to see even the smallest +boarder chevying three day-boys! + +Toppin ran his fastest, and panted into the baths only a yard behind +Simmons. + +"Why, if here isn't the kid! What the dickens has brought you after us, +young un?" + +"I saw you--racing," panted Toppin, "and I wanted to see--if I +couldn't--catch you. And I did!" + +His thick red hair was tumbled by the wind, and the odd little tuft +which had won him his nickname stuck up very prominently. The small pink +face was aglow with triumph, as he stood gasping for breath, and looking +up at the three older boys, his hands planted in his pockets and his +feet apart. + +"You're a boarder," said Armitage, with a touch of contempt. + +"I should think I am! Rather!" was Toppin's proud reply. + +"Well, you'd better trot back to your friends, and bathe with them. +We're not going to wait for anyone." + +"Nor aren't I," said Toppin carelessly. + +"Come on!" shouted Simmons from a box. "Don't waste time!" + +Preparation for a bath is not a long process with a boy. Garments were +dragged off and tossed about, and in a minute they were ready, and +dancing round the edge of the clear green water. + +Avoiding the steps as a matter of course, Toppin was swinging his arms +preparatory to jumping into the shallow end, when, seeing Simmons +skipping along the plank that led to the diving-board, in the part where +the water was marked "5 ft.", he paused to watch. Simmons raised his +hands above his head, curved his body, and dived. + +"Oo!" cried Toppin admiringly. + +Presently a head appeared, rolling round and blowing. Simmons was +swimming towards Toppin. Bacon was now preparing to take a header. + +"I say, Lucy, you're not a tall chap. No more aren't I. Why can't I swim +and dive?" + +"It isn't size that's needed, it's talent," observed Simmons, treading +water, as he winked at the little fellow. + +"Rot!" said Toppin decidedly. There was a loud splash. Bacon had +vanished. + +"Up he comes again!" cried Toppin, clapping his hands in an ecstasy. +"Oh, I'm going to dive to-day. You can see how easy it is. Let me have a +shot before the others come, case I fail." + +"Better wait a year or two, Top," said Simmons, deliberately turning a +somersault. + +"I'm bovvered if I do!" cried Toppin, scampering round to the +diving-board. He was in a state of great excitement. "I'm going to dive, +and turn head over heels, and stamp in the water, just like you." + +"Oh, let the nipper see what he can do!" said Armitage, laughing. He was +standing on the diving-board. "There's nothing like beginning early. Can +you swim, kiddie?" + +"Not--not far," said Toppin cautiously. "I can swim with my arms all +right, only I sometimes put one foot on the ground." + +"If you don't swim, you'll sink, you know," explained Armitage. "This is +deep water." + +"Not so very; only five feet," rejoined Toppin. "I'm not funky. Of +course I know _how_ to swim. I've watched frogs awfully closely." + +"Well, then, up with your hands--same as you saw the other two." + +Toppin lifted them high, the tips of his fingers met in the approved +style, and he took a long breath. Then, gradually, his hands fell back +to his sides, and the breath ended in a sigh. Armitage pushed the child +impatiently aside. + +"Get away, you silly little coward! I'm not going to waste my time +standing over you. Go back to the shallow end, and dance at the ropes. +We'll come over and duck you." + +Toppin was quivering, but his face flushed crimson, and, thrusting +himself forward once more, he laid a hand pleadingly on Armitage's +wrist. At the same moment a clatter on the stone stairs told of the +approach of section number two. + +"Give us one more chance, Armie, please! I promise not to funk it again. +Listen, they're just coming!" + +"You'll not do it," said Armitage. + +"Won't I, though! Look here! count three, and then give me a tiny push." + +As Jack and the March Hare entered the saloon they heard Armitage say, +"Very well. One, two, three; now go!" + +There was a faint, quickly-checked cry, and then a little splash. Toppin +was under the water. + +The same instant the March Hare--hat, boots, and all--had leapt in, and +was fighting his way towards the deep end. + +Jack's first impulse was to tear off his coat and follow the Hare's +example; but when he saw a little red head appear and immediately be +captured, and when he realized that Bacon, Simmons, and Armitage were +all swimming to the rescue, he refrained. + +Although the March Hare was the first to lay hold of Toppin's crest, the +next minute he was himself in need of rescue. The Hare had only advanced +to the swimming stage when both hands and feet are absolutely necessary, +and the pause to seize his friend had sufficed, when combined with the +weight of his garments, to sink him; so Toppin dived for the second +time, in company with the March Hare. + +"Quick!" yelled Jack, "or there'll be two drowned! Shall I come?" + +[Illustration] + +But the pair had risen again, and were clutched and violently wrenched +apart by Armitage and Bacon. For the March Hare's grip of the red locks +was very tight. + +Bacon found Toppin fairly easy to land, but the Hare, in full walking +costume, was quite another matter, and Simmons's help was required. +Besides, Toppin kept quiet when commanded to, while the March Hare +fought and struggled, and had to have his head thumped severely. +Fortunately the steps were not far off, and Jack awaited them there. + +He was frightened when he saw that Toppin's familiar little pink face +had changed to an ivory-white, and that his eyes were shut. Was he +senseless, or worse? Jack grasped the small, dripping body in his arms, +and staggered to where the bell hung that summoned the attendant. He +pealed it loudly, and sank down beneath it to wait. Other boys had +arrived during the incident, and were now pressing round, questioning +and jabbering. Jack had nothing to say to them. He was hard at work +chafing the motionless form, and his brain was in a whirl. What if +Toppin never moved or spoke again! + +Suddenly the eyelids lifted: Toppin looked straight into Jack's face. + +"May I move now?" he asked innocently. Oh, what a relief it was to hear +his voice! + +"You young fraud!" exclaimed Jack; but his own voice shook, and he was +glad to surrender his charge into the hands of the attendant, a man +trained for his position. The March Hare, who was shivering beside him, +sobbed with joy when he saw one small leg draw itself up, and an arm +move a few inches, at their owner's will. + +"Top-peen! Top-peen!" he cried. "You are not died!" + +Toppin stared at his friend over a tea-spoon. He was sipping hot +spirits-and-water, and wondering what it was. But Jack turned upon the +March Hare. + +"We shall be standing you head downwards in a minute, Hare. You're next +door to drowning yourself. Get up, and come with me!" + +The Hare protested feebly, with chattering teeth. But the attendant +thrust a spoonful of Toppin's drink between them, and counselled Jack to +take him to his wife. That good woman stripped the Hare in a twinkling, +wrapped him in a blanket, and set him before her kitchen fire to watch +his garments dry. Jack meanwhile returned to the saloon, to find Toppin +clothed once more, and curled up on the matting, near the heating +apparatus, munching a biscuit. + +"How do you feel now, Top?" he asked, stooping to see his face. + +"Pretty bobbish, thanks, Brady," was the answer, and it told that Toppin +was himself again. + +"You'll have to look sharp if you want a dip, Brady," called Green. +"Andy'll be round in a minute, I expect." + +"Thanks! I'm not bathing to-day," was the response. + +Just then Escombe Trevelyan, who was swimming lazily about, landed at +the steps close by, and beckoned Jack to come nearer. + +"I want to hear the truth of this affair, Brady," he began in a +confidential undertone. "Did you see it happen?" + +"Which part? I saw the March Hare leap in with his hat on his head and +his towel on his arm. He did look properly mad, I can tell you!" + +"I mean before that, when Toppin went under." + +"They say he actually took a dive from the board, don't they?" + +"Yes, but I want to get hold of someone who saw it. I can't understand +his being such an absolute little fool, and I can't worry the kid +himself about it just at present." + +So saying, Escombe swam off once more. + +Armitage was the next to approach Jack. He looked rather pale, but began +by talking rapidly about a paper-chase that was being planned. Jack knew +well enough that this was not what he wanted to talk about, but he +walked away from the bath with him, still pleasantly discussing starts +and times, till they found themselves alone on the stone stairs. Then +Armitage came to a stand-still, and his tone changed. + +"Brady, I want to speak to you; I want to explain, you know, about +Toppin." + +"Oh, I saw you push!" remarked Jack bluntly. + +"I'm not going to deny it, but do you know that he begged me to? You +came in too late to hear that." + +"If I hand you a pistol and ask you to shoot me, will you do it?" + +"Don't be a fool, Brady. There was no danger. I shouldn't have let him +drown." + +"He precious nearly did." + +"That was the March Hare's fault. I shouldn't have let him sink again." + +"Then you think you were right to push him in, Armitage? I don't. Shall +we ask Anderson's opinion?" + +"No, Jack, I beg and implore you to keep it dark. Of course I should +never do it again. But Simmons and Bacon have sworn not to bring me into +the affair. Toppin knows it was his own fault, and is a bit ashamed of +it. There's only the March Hare besides yourself. I thought perhaps you +might persuade him--" + +A shadow darkened the open entrance. There was a stamping on the +door-mat, and then Mr. Anderson appeared on the stairs. Jack advanced to +meet him. + +"Finished your bath, Brady?" + +"Yes, sir. I mean, I haven't had one. All the rest have. I wanted to +tell you there's been a little--a little commotion, sir." + +"What on earth do you mean? Not an accident?" + +"No, sir; only it might have been. Toppin--little Trevelyan, that +is--got into the deep end, and the March Hare--you know the boy I mean, +sir--he thought he was drowning, and jumped in after him with his things +on, and so they had to haul them both out. Toppin's as right as a trivet +again, and as warm as a toast. And the Hare isn't hurt either, but he +has to sit in a blanket and wait for his clothes to dry." + +Mr. Anderson looked very agitated, and his voice betrayed his feelings. + +"Why couldn't you behave as if I was with you? Really, it is absurd to +think that all you elder lads can't manage to keep an eye on the juniors +for twenty minutes. Where are these two boys? Take me to them directly! +What do you suppose Mr. West will say? He'll certainly be extremely +angry with you all. I shouldn't be surprised if he stops your coming +here." + +"We wondered whether you would feel obliged to tell him, sir," said Jack +thoughtfully. "Of course, if you must, you must; but it doesn't seem as +if there was much to be gained by it, does there? The March Hare and +Toppin have learnt their lesson pretty thoroughly." + +Mr. Anderson frowned and bit his finger, and the toe of his boot +tap-tapped on the ground. It was evident he was undecided. Presently he +looked at Jack. + +"You mean that, provided I find these two lads absolutely none the worse +for their ducking, you beg me, as a great favour, not to carry a report +to Mr. West?" + +"Yes, sir," Jack responded briskly. + +"Well, I won't promise, but I'll think it over." + +Mr. Anderson's thought ended in a decision which he announced to the +boys when they were gathered together. + +"For once, and once only, I have consented to spare you all from certain +punishment by not reporting to Mr. West this accident, which you ought +to have prevented. But you must never ask or expect to be shielded by me +again. Now we will go for a brisk walk as usual, and call for Graglia +and Trevelyan minor on the way back. I dare say they will be ready for +us by that time." + +Now, none of the boys, except those immediately concerned in the +accident, had realized that they were in any danger of punishment; but +when the matter was set before them in this light, their gratitude to +Mr. Anderson was profound. + +"Oh, thank you!" + +"Thank you, sir, very much!" + +"It sha'n't happen again, sir!" + +"Thank you awfully, sir!" + +Pleasure and surprise were equally mingled in the boys' expressions. But +Jack caught a murmur from Cadbury, very soft and low, + +"It's six for us, and half a dozen for yourself, eh, Andy?" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE CHICKEN AND THE BICYCLE + + +Mr. West, the master of Brincliffe, was a man of independent mind, and +though the boys liked him well enough, there was a difference of opinion +regarding his regulations. For example, the same term in which the door +was opened to day-pupils, it was shut to hampers, even birthday ones. +Cadbury suggested reporting this high-handed act to the Society for the +Prevention of Cruelty to Children, but decided to let him off when a +permission was announced which almost atoned for the loss of cakes and +preserves. Bicycles were allowed! + +Every boy who had one might bring it to school, although, of course, +there were strict limits to its uses, and he who misused the privilege +laid himself open to the heavy penalty of leaving it at home the next +term. The plan worked well, and gave huge pleasure to the pupils. + +With the exception of such small fry as the March Hare and Toppin, +nearly every boy managed to possess himself of a machine of some kind. +Many were old, one was originally a lady's, and another had a solid +tyre, but so long as the wheels would go round nothing mattered. And the +wheel must be in a sorry condition indeed which a boy can't work. + +The season was still early when the Bicycle Paper-chase was proposed and +arranged. It was Jack Brady's suggestion, and every boy to whom it was +named jumped at the idea. Mr. West granted permission, provided that a +master accompanied them, and Norman Hallett drifted into the post of +captain. + +It was agreed, after much consultation, that Hallett and Jack should be +the hares, that three minutes' start should be allowed, and that +everyone who liked to should be a hound. Simmons was to carry the horn +and "blow the true trail" whenever it was lighted upon. Half a dozen +more were selected to test the side tracks, as there were certain to be +plenty of false scents started. + +The Saturday fixed for the chase proved a fine one, and the whole pack +was assembled outside the school gates at the hour appointed. Mr. +Anderson was once more in charge of the party. Little duties like these +fell naturally to his lot as the junior master. + +One or two youngsters, who had not got machines of their own yet, had +begged leave to hire for the afternoon, so it happened that the March +Hare and Toppin were the only boarders left behind. Mournfully they +swung upon the gate, and watched the pack ride gaily away at the word +"Time!" from Mr. Anderson. + +"I wish that they should have tooken us, eh, Top-peen?" said the March +Hare. + +"You ought to say 'took', not 'tooken'," corrected Toppin. He felt +rather cross, and disinclined to dwell on the subject of his wrongs. + +"Ah, I am--what is your one word?--non-grammar-eesh?" + +"No,--stupid," said Toppin. + +_"Uhéi!"_ This sorrowfully. Then, drawing nearer, "But no mind! I love +you--oh, yes, I love you a great well, Top-peen! Shall we--shall we +keess?" + +Toppin shook his head decidedly, and jumped off the gate in a hurry. + +"That's the second time since Sunday you've wanted to kiss, and I've +told you over and over again I hate it, I don't like it! I never want to +kiss! Now, do you understand?" + +The March Hare was sadly afraid he did. + +[Illustration] + +"If you were an English boy you'd never think of asking such a thing," +Toppin went on, tramping up and down as he talked. He really did not +want to be unkind to the Hare, but requests like this vexed him sorely. +"Don't you see, Harey, there are some people who will kiss me, and I +can't stop them--like Miss Turner, f'r instance." Miss Turner was the +matron. "And then there are some I've got to kiss, like aunts and +people. But one doesn't put in any extra, if one can help it. When I'm +grown-up I sha'n't have to kiss anybody, and that'll be jolly. I shall +never, never kiss at all, only shake hands or bow, like Escombe does." + +"Top-peen, you did keess me once time, last week!" The Hare was timidly +reproachful now. + +Toppin stood still and coloured. + +"Yes, I did. Because you bovvered me to, and--and you'd jumped in after +me!" + +"And shallent you--not ever--keess me once time more?" + +"Oh--well--look here! Perhaps when it's your birthday, if we get +somewhere quite secret, where nobody can possibly see us, I--I'll let +you have one--a quick one!" + +"T-thanks you!" said the grateful Hare. + +"It's 'thanks', or else 'thank you'," corrected Toppin. + +The Hare took no notice. He only tucked his arm affectionately into +Toppin's, knowing that he was keeping within his rights in doing so. +Toppin could say nothing. Arm-in-arm is quite correct and English! + +"I have som-ting to say. Zat Armitage--he did not ought to be gone +chasing paper. He is bad! I hate him, don' like him!" + +"Why?" enquired Toppin, with wide-open eyes. + +"Be-cause he try to drown you. I am--what is it?--to re-venge it!" + +"What awful rot you talk!" said Toppin. "He only did what I told him, +same as you would have done." + +"Oh no, he had ver' wickedness. Ever'body say he had. I am telling +many--one after one, by secret! And he is a debboy. Zey are more angry +for zat. So much better!" + +"Rubbish!" cried Toppin impatiently. "You've no business to tell anyone +anything. And you're looking fierce and ugly, Hare. Do put Armitage out +of your head, and come and have a see-saw!" + +The chase, meanwhile, had opened well. The track was unmistakable to +begin with, and it led right away from the town into the free country. +The pack of hounds spun gaily along at full tilt, and many a machine was +travelling at a pace it had not known for years. Every now and then +there was a small collision, ending generally in a tumble; but if anyone +was hurt, he kept it to himself, for all remounted and rode on, and +nobody waited behind to make enquiries. + +Of course there were any amount of false alarms, shouts and shrieks, +wavings and ringings, and Simmons's toot-toot sometimes went unheard in +the hubbub. Mr. Anderson grew quite boyishly excited, and kept bawling, +"Come on, you fellows, come on! Buck up! We'll run them down yet!" And +it is probable that Mr. West might have had a word to say had he seen +the pace at which the willing hounds obeyed. + +After one of the collisions above-mentioned, Grey, who was not a good +rider, and happened to be the last of the pack, came upon Cadbury, +dismounted, by the roadside. + +"What's up?" he cried, as he swayed laboriously past. + +"Oh, that you, Grey? Get down, there's a good fellow, and hold my bike a +jiffey. I'll tow you up the next hill, if you will. Thanks so much! I +had a spill just now, and my handlebar's got slewed round, and I can't +keep it straight and right it at the same time." + +The spanner had to be hunted out, the screw loosened, and the bar +straightened; and thus a little time was occupied. + +"Bother it! They're out of sight!" cried Cadbury when both were once +more ready to mount. "I suppose we shall see Andy tooling back soon, to +whip in the lazy pups! Never mind, I'll keep you company. Don't you +burst your wind! We'll take it quietly." + +"How they do yell! They've lost the trail," remarked Grey. "Hi! I say, +there's paper down this lane; look--and it has a bit of Green's writing +on it. You bet this is the true trail, and that the hares only scooted +along the main road a bit farther, on purpose to mislead." + +"You may be right. Anyhow, let's try our luck. It's downhill, so we can +put on steam. What sport if they all have to turn round, and find we're +in front instead of behind! Mind, old chappie, I'm passing on your right +... wait for you ... below!" + +The last words came faintly back; Cadbury had passed Grey like a streak +of lightning, his feet up, and his hands in his pockets. + +There was a turn in the lane farther down, so that Grey for a minute +lost sight of his comrade. He looked carefully ahead as he rounded it, +to see if the end of the descent were near. The hill only grew steeper, +but the end was a good deal nearer than he thought. + +A half-grown chicken, startled by his silent approach, sprang out of the +hedge and fluttered in front of his wheel, clucking madly. Grey pealed +his bell, but it had no effect on the distracted chicken, which seemed +bent on destruction. He clutched his brake; it would not work. There +came a stifled squawk, and a slight bump! + +In affright and agitation, Grey turned his machine into the hedge, and +tumbled off, somehow, anyhow, into the road. + +Five minutes later, Cadbury was toiling back up the hill in quest of his +school-fellow, when he came upon a very unexpected sight. A prostrate +bicycle beside a live, but bruised and dusty boy, who was sadly gazing +upon the body of a chicken. + +"My good Grey! Good gracious! What has happened? How did you manage it?" + +"Oh, Cadbury, I'm so glad to see you! Isn't it awful? I wouldn't have +run over it for worlds if I could have helped it, but it simply insisted +on it!" + +"Suicide while temporarily insane," put in Cadbury, covering his mouth +with his hand. + +"Well, it did look just as if it wanted to die! But what shall I have to +fork out, do you suppose? Five bob? I've got no more on me. Say, they +aren't likely to prosecute, are they?" + +Grey was really frightened. Cadbury looked at the picture again, tried +to take it seriously, failed, and burst into a fit of laughter. + +"Awfully sorry, Grey, but--ha, ha, ha!--what am I to do? You--ha, ha, +ha!--you do look a treat! I--ha, ha, ha!--I'll stop in a minute. Oh, ho, +ho, ho, ho, ho!" + +Poor Grey felt anything but amused. He gathered himself to his feet, and +remarked stiffly, "Well, Cadbury, when you've done--" + +Cadbury steadied himself with an effort. + +"It's all over now, Grey. I'm as grave as a judge. And to show you how +penitent I am, I'll see this job through for you. But you must obey me +to the letter. No, don't brush yourself! Just lie down again as you +were, and, however much you're tempted to, don't apologize! Be dignified +and injured." + +Grey objected, but was persuaded to submit. + +"Now to find the owner of this giddy young fowl! We'll see if they lay +claim to it here." + +Cadbury pushed open a little gate, and knocked at the door of the +nearest cottage. It proved to be the residence of the chicken's +mistress, an untidy, heavy-looking woman, who apparently lived alone. +Cadbury greeted her with the air of a constable, lawyer, and magistrate +rolled into one, and the woman listened with deep respect. + +"If the fowl of which I am speaking does belong to you," he pursued, in +stern and solemn tones, "I am sorry to tell you it has been the cause of +a most unfortunate accident that might have proved fatal. I suppose you +are well aware that cattle, poultry, and other domestic animals are +required to be kept under proper control. If you will kindly step +outside with me, I will show you what mischief has been done." + +The woman, looking much concerned and a little frightened, followed +Cadbury meekly to the scene of disaster. When she saw the lifeless +chicken, she raised her hands in horror. + +"Dear, dear, dear, sir! Why, it's dead!" + +"And it's a very good thing, madam, for you and for all of us, that my +friend here is not dead," said Cadbury reprovingly. "The chicken did not +die until it had done its best to kill him. And also to wreck his +machine! A bicycle is a very costly thing. Grey, my dear fellow, are you +feeling a little better? You are sure no bones are broken?" + +Cadbury's voice was full of tender anxiety. + +"I think not, thanks," responded Grey without moving. + +"Dear, dear, dear, sir!" exclaimed the woman again. "Is there anything I +can do for you? I'm sure I'm very sorry; I am that!" + +"I'm sure you are," said Cadbury, softening towards her. "And we should +be most unwilling to take proceedings, or anything like that, if we can +only arrange things comfortably." + +At mention of the word "proceedings", the woman grew visibly more +uncomfortable. She pressed them to enter her cottage, and plied them +with plum loaf and unripe gooseberries! + +"You see, sir, I'm not so well up as I might be in law matters. Maybe +you're right, I won't say. It's hard to keep the chickens from +straying, but I'll mind 'em better in future, for their sake and my own +too. There's nobody regrets the haccident more'n I do; but I'm a poor +woman, and a fine would fall cruel 'eavy on me!" + +"I assure you, we wouldn't be hard on you for anything," exclaimed +Cadbury, still more kindly. + +"You're very good, sir. I don't really 'ardly know what to suggest, but +would the chicken be of any service to you now?" + +"The chicken! Well, I'm sure we can't refuse that. What say you, Grey?" + +"What on earth should we do with it?" muttered Grey. + +"Ah, there is one little difficulty, but only a slight one. Would you +add the small favour of roasting it for us, ma'am? We have no +convenience for cooking it. We should then call the matter settled, and +say no more about it." + +"Thank you kindly, sir. I'll roast it, and gladly. And where might I +bring it to, sir?" + +"Oh, my goodness!" ejaculated Grey under his breath. Cadbury considered +a moment. + +"I think it will be better to leave it to be called for," he said +presently. "We shall probably send someone over next Wednesday." + +The woman looked mildly surprised at the suggested interval, but only +replied, "Very good, sir. Just when you please. It shall be ready. And +this is to go no further?" + +"Certainly not. I'm sure you have made all the amends in your power, and +we are much obliged to you. Good afternoon! Come, Grey, do you feel as +if you could make a start? Lean on my arm, and I will help you." + +As the woman, grateful and relieved, closed her door, Grey gazed +admiringly at his school-fellow. + +"Cadbury, what a clever chap you are! I can't think how you worked it. +But I say, what about fetching the thing? Who's going to risk that?" + +"You are." + +"Me! What do you mean?" + +"What I say. Aren't you expecting to visit your godmother next +Wednesday?" + +"Yes; and what's more, I must! She'd write and ask West why I didn't +turn up." + +"Oh, you'll turn up right enough! But you'll run over here first." + +"She lives bang in the opposite direction." + +"Never mind. You'll be an hour or so late for once. You must explain +that you were--well, detained! She can make what she likes of that." + +"Um! I don't feel over sweet on the job." + +"Possibly not; we can't always do what we like. It's your little part +in the game. I've done mine for the present. You must hide the chicken +away somehow and bring it home, and then I'll have a second innings, and +undertake all the risk." + +[Illustration] + +By this time the top of the hill was gained once more. Of course any +idea of rejoining the paper-chase had to be given up, but a little +brushing and beating made Grey respectable, and he and Cadbury rode home +together, to confess to having lost the track, and to await the return +of the pack, who, after a capital run, had eventually captured the hares +at a most convenient spot--the door of a lemonade shop! + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A KNOCK AT THE WINDOW + + +By mutual agreement the story of the chicken was kept secret for the +present, and the next three days passed uneventfully, except to Jack, +whose Sunday at home was no small event, though a weekly one. Lessons +were just ended on the following Wednesday morning, and Cadbury was +doing monitor's work in the school-room when Grey sidled up to him. + +"Hullo, Dapple-grey, you're the culprit I was wanting. These are your +things, aren't they?" + +"Yes; but I was just going to put them away. You mustn't mark me!" + +"You've not forgotten the little call you have to pay this afternoon?" + +"I wanted to speak to you about that, Cadbury. It's very difficult for +me to do it, you know. What do you say--supposing we leave that chicken +alone? I don't want to go after it. And it's my chicken, you know." + +"Half of it," replied Cadbury. "You can leave your half behind if you +like, but I want mine. I earned it by getting you out of your scrape. +Look here, Grey! Here are five--six articles belonging to you. I put six +marks against your name, and that's half-way to an imp., unless you do +your duty towards that chicken." + +"Oh, dash it! Well, what have I to do?" + +"You can't carve, can you?" + +"Don't know. 'Spect so." + +"No, I'm sure you can't. It's an art. I can. So that settles it. I must +have the fowl first this evening; cut it up, and send on your portion to +your bedroom. Let the March Hare fetch it. He's a noiseless customer." + +"That won't do," said Grey. "Hallett wouldn't allow it. Since that last +pillow-fight, when his bolster knocked a can over and got soaked, he's +been awfully down on larks. He's sworn to lick the first boy who opens +the door after the gas is out--and he can do it, you know." + +"Very well, I'll send it _via_ the window," said Cadbury coolly. "All +the same, I don't think you'll find Hallett's above eating it. When you +hear the chicken knock, open the window and let it in--that's all." + +"Oh, yes, it sounds easy enough to you! But supposing I get the chicken, +how am I to bring it into the house without being seen? Suppose I meet +West in the hall, or Miss Turner on the stairs, or the housemaid in your +bedroom? I defy you to hide a roast fowl about you, and I don't care for +getting into rows, if you do." + +"My dear Grey, we know you don't," said Cadbury. "You're an adept at +escaping them. But you needn't fear for this; I have a way out of the +hole. I'll drop a line from our window. You come round beneath it on +your return, before you enter the house, and tie the chicken firmly to +the end of it. Then, when the right time comes, I can haul it up. And +look here, don't let's explain to the other chaps how we came by the +chicken. Let's make a complete mystery of it for a day or two, and have +a lark over it." + +That seemed good fun. Grey gradually allowed himself to be persuaded to +perform his part of the task. Cadbury, in his turn, made what small +preparations seemed necessary. He upset a salt-cellar at dinner, and +managed to collect at least half the contents in his handkerchief. He +also made a collection of string, chiefly from the smaller boys, who +give without asking questions--or, at least, without demanding answers. + +Evening came at length, and with it Grey's return. A wink and a nod was +all the communication that passed between him and Cadbury, but it +satisfied the latter that the chicken was in the garden, and for once he +longed for bed-time. In such a hurry was he when the happy hour arrived, +that he forgot to wait for Mr. West's departure, and was half-way +upstairs when he was called back with a rebuke for his breach of +manners. + +In the room over which Escombe Trevelyan was head slept also Cadbury, +Vickers, Jack Brady, and Toppin, the last-named being despatched to bed +an hour before the rest. + +"What's up, Cadburius?" enquired Trevelyan with an amused smile. "Got to +catch a train?" + +"No, a chicken!" was the reply. + +"Poor fellow, his mind's giving way!" said Jack. + +"Talking about chickens," broke in Vickers, "I saw the old cat sneaking +along just now with what looked for all the world like the leg of a fowl +in her mouth. You bet the masters are having a tuck-in to-night." + +"Not a bit of it!" exclaimed Cadbury. "Depend upon it, she's been at our +chicken. The shameless, thieving beast!" + +"At yours, Cad?" This was uttered in chorus. + +"At mine--ours! It's a treat for us all. I was going to wait till lights +were out, but I daren't now. The cat'll have the rest if we aren't +quick; perhaps she's eaten it already. Keep cave by the door, Jack, +while I haul in the line." + +Few things really astonish a boy. Cadbury was regarded as capable of +anything, and when the sash was cautiously raised, and the string pulled +up, the fact that a real roast chicken, half-wrapped in newspaper, +dangled at the end, caused more amusement than amazement. + +"Well, I'm blowed! Where did this grow?" + +"I shall drop a line to-morrow--two lines--and see what comes up." + +"It'll be the old cat, likely." + +"Hush! I must stow this away till Pepper's been round," said Cadbury, +hastily stuffing the bird into his own bed. + +There was not long to wait; Mr. Peace appeared almost before they were +ready for him. Mr. Peace was the senior resident master, whose short +temper had won for him the above nickname. His back was scarcely turned, +the boys were still responding cordially to his rather gruff +"Good-night", when Cadbury drew the chicken forth and waved it +triumphantly in his hand. Trevelyan, who was next the window, pulled the +blind up silently. It was a brilliant moonlight night, so that gas was +unneeded. + +"The cat has had her full share," Cadbury remarked sadly. "But never +mind. Half the chicken belongs to Gr--, to the next room, I mean, and +as I've got the trouble of carving, I shall give them the Pussy-half. +It'll be all right, they won't know; they'll only think I cut it rather +roughly." + +"And our reluctance to share supper with the cat is purely a matter of +sentiment," added Vickers. "'Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be +wise.'" + +"There goes Chickabiddy!" exclaimed Jack, as the fowl suddenly sprang +from Cadbury's bed into the middle of the floor. He hopped out and +recaptured it. + +"Thanks! Well, it's no easy job, I do assure you, to divide a fowl on a +bed, with no plate, no fork, and only a penknife. I can carve well +enough under civilized conditions, but--" + +"Tell us how you came by it, old man," said Jack, who was trying to +decide in his own mind whether he should consent or refuse to join the +feast. He liked chicken very much indeed, and what would they think if +he declined it! Besides, there was no rule against eating chicken in the +bedrooms. True, there was something about "No eatables to be taken +upstairs". But then the chicken had not been taken upstairs; it had come +by a lift. Still, Jack could not quite quiet the little voice within. + +"No, I won't shock you with details," replied Cadbury mischievously. +"Perhaps you wouldn't eat it if I did." + +"I'm not going to anyhow, thanks very much," returned Jack with sudden +determination. "There'll be all the more for the rest of you, won't +there?" + +"Don't talk nonsense!" exclaimed Trevelyan. "Of course you'll have some! +If I think fit to eat it, you may. Don't play the blameless prig, for +goodness' sake!" + +"Brady thinks I've filched it," said Cadbury. + +"Brady doesn't want a nightmare," rejoined Jack, laughing, "though he +thinks it awfully kind of Trevelyan to answer for his conscience." + +"You won't refuse the merry-thought--just for luck, Jack!" + +"I have too many of my own generally, specially at Pepper's classes." + +"Oh, pinch Brady, somebody! He's punning!" cried Cadbury. "There! it's +come in two at last!" and he surveyed his handiwork with great pride. +"Now to send along the next room's share!" + +Wrapping it in the torn newspaper, he tied it to the string once more, +opened the window very gently, and after several unsuccessful efforts +whirled it thump against the adjoining window, and waited till a pull at +the line showed that it was received. + +After a few minutes there came a faint whip at their own window-pane, +and Trevelyan took in a scrap of paper weighted with a bull's-eye. +Seeing there was some writing on it, he struck a match, and read: + +_You've bagged the biggest half._ + +_Send us some salt._ + +_Please return bull's-eye._ + +_Where's our leg?_ + +In answer Cadbury screwed up a pinch of salt, and scribbled on the +paper: + +_Ask the cat._ + +_Mind you don't leave your bones about._ + +Needless to say, the bull's-eye was not returned. + +The packet was tossed on to the neighbouring sill, and then they settled +down to enjoy their meal in peace. It was well that there was not +overmuch light, for they could not consume it elegantly. As a matter of +fact, they gnawed it in an ogreish fashion, and in such haste that they +could scarcely stop to plunge their bones into the salt for a +flavouring. + +"I suppose you're quite sure this is chicken, Cadbury?" said Vickers +presently. + +"Quite. Why do you ask?" mumbled Cadbury. + +"It struck me as being rather--well, a trifle gamy, nothing more." + +"Pretend it's pheasant, then," said Cadbury. + +"Mayn't I have a little bit?" + +The sleepy voice came from Toppin's bed. + +"Certainly not," replied his elder brother promptly. "Chicken at night +is bad for little boys--high chicken especially. Tuck your head in, and +don't let me hear you speak again, or I'll come to you with a slipper." + +Toppin was kept in very strict order by his brother, and the boys, who +were used to his methods, made no remark. + +Suddenly, in the midst of the cracking and munching, Jack exclaimed in a +whisper, "Cave! I hear feet!" + +In an instant all the chicken-bones, salt, paper, and penknives were +swooped off the counterpanes, and every boy lay flat and shut his eyes. + +That same moment, to their untold vexation, a merry peal of laughter +rang out from the next room. And the approaching tread of a man's feet, +quick and regular, was heard by all. + +"The daft maniacs!" growled Trevelyan between his teeth. + +Their door was first opened, and Mr. Peace walked in. Of course, he was +received with dead silence. + +"Now, boys, you needn't feign sleep, because we know you're wide awake. +You've been talking, too. Trevelyan!" + +[Illustration] + +"Yes, sir." + +"You are head of this room; what's the blind up for?" + +"We--we like to see the stars," suggested Trevelyan. + +"H'mph! Was it you who laughed just now?" + +"Oh no, sir. My brother woke up a few minutes ago, and I advised him to +go to sleep." + +Nothing could have sounded more innocent, and perhaps Mr. Peace would +have moved on without saying any more, but that, even as he turned to +go, there came a little crash at the window-pane. + +The boys held their breath in suspense. Trevelyan bit his lip till the +blood oozed, and Cadbury covered his face with his hands. Even Jack +trembled. Only Vickers lay apparently unconcerned. + +"I suppose that was a poor bird dashed itself against the window," he +murmured. + +"Do you, Vickers? I don't," replied Mr. Peace, striding forward. "Ah, +your poor bird has cracked the glass, my boy! I will invite Mr. West to +come to your window to-morrow to see a star of another kind." + +So saying, the master threw up the sash and laid his hand on a small +parcel roughly wrapped and tied with string. It did not escape his +notice that the string had an unusually long end, which seemed to be +attached to something until he wrested it away. The boys felt more +uncomfortable every moment. + +Keeping the parcel in his hand, Mr. Peace shut the window very +deliberately, drew down the blind, and lit the gas. Then he turned the +packet over. Scrawled upon it in large printed letters were these words: + +_BURY OUR BONES WITH YOURS._ + +Mr. Peace read them out slowly, with a pause between each. Having done +so, he looked round at the inmates of the room, surveying them one by +one. Then he stooped to inspect Trevelyan's counterpane. At last he +opened the parcel, and found what the boys knew only too surely he would +find--a handful of well-picked chicken bones. It was a trying moment. + +"And where are _your_ bones?" he asked presently. There was an awkward +hesitation; then Cadbury, seeing there was no escape, replied meekly, +"Under our pillows, sir." + +"How horrible!" ejaculated the master with a shudder. He walked to a +washhand-stand and selected a large sponge-dish. Depositing in it the +greasy parcel he was carrying, he handed it gravely to Trevelyan. + +"Put all your bones--your chicken bones--in this, please!" he said. + +Trevelyan obeyed, and passed it to Vickers, and so the collection went +the round of the room, only passing over Toppin, who was asleep, with +his arm tossed above his head. Mr. Peace handed the dish to Jack, but he +shook his head: + +"Haven't got any, sir." + +"Who cooked it?" enquired the master. + +"I don't know, sir," answered Trevelyan. + +"Brady?" + +"Nor do I, sir." + +"Vickers?" + +"Honestly, I haven't the dimmest notion, sir, though it sounds funny to +say so." + +"I'm glad you can see the fun. I'm sorry to say it sounds to me too much +like lying." + +"Sir!" Escombe Trevelyan sat up in bed with flashing eyes to emphasize +his indignation. + +Mr. Peace turned to him, and stamped his foot angrily. + +"Lie down, Trevelyan, at once! You dare to speak to me like that! +Cadbury, you're the only one I haven't asked. Who cooked this fowl?" + +"A woman, sir. I--don't know her name." + +"All right! We'll reserve further enquiries till the morning. If you +take my advice, you'll all make up your minds to speak the truth then." + +Having delivered this cutting speech, Mr. Peace left the bedroom with +the bones. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE STORM BREAKS + + +Ten of the Brincliffe boys passed a very bad night. The nightmare, at +which Jack had jokingly hinted, was unpleasantly real; there was no +dispelling it. Everybody knew that everybody around him was wide awake, +but nobody felt inclined to speak. + +By and by the daylight came, and brought a little more courage with it. + +"After all, I don't care two straws!" exclaimed Cadbury abruptly. + +"Who do you suppose does?" said Trevelyan. + +Vickers raised himself on his elbow. + +"I suggest, Cadbury, that you give us no more information than you have +done (which is practically nothing) regarding the source of the supper." + +"It should have been bread-sauce," put in Cadbury. + +"This isn't the time for puns," said Vickers severely. "I was going to +add that in our ignorance lies our only chance of safety. There is +certain to be trouble over this affair, and there are three or four +points about it which seem to aggravate our case. You see, +first"--bringing his fingers into action--"it was Pepper who caught us, +and he's a Tartar at all times. Would that it had been Andy! Second, +West may take it as a reflection on his table. Third--" + +"Would you mind going on talking for an hour or two, Vick?" interrupted +Cadbury in a drowsy voice. "I find it very helpful and soothing. Of +course, if you could sing the words it would be a still more perfect +lullaby." + +Vickers, mistaking the voice for Jack's, flung a sponge at the wrong +head, and relapsed into silence. Jack, roused at this injustice, dipped +the sponge into his water-jug, and returned it with force. Vickers +ducked, and it exploded against the wall above his head. Cadbury watched +and chuckled. The shadow cast by coming events had not quite overwhelmed +the boys' spirits. + +When they were called, the boot-boy laid a book on Cadbury's bed as he +passed. The inside of the cover was found to contain the following words +in Grey's handwriting:-- + + _Dear C.,--For pity's sake, dress quick, and meet me 5' before the + bell in the housemaid's cupboard. There's standing-room.--E. G._ + +Now, though they had been thrown together in the chicken incident, +Cadbury and Grey were not bosom friends, and Cadbury did not feel +particularly eager for this interview. But he good-naturedly did as he +was asked, and sneaked out of his room five minutes before the bell had +rung which formally permitted the boys to leave. + +He found Grey already awaiting him in the chosen rendezvous among +brooms, dusters, and pails. It is true there was standing-room, but it +was dangerous to move. As the cupboard door opened to admit him, it let +in enough light to reveal Grey's white, frightened face, and as he +pulled Cadbury inside the latter noticed the clammy "frogginess" of his +hands. He drew the door to very carefully. + +"Good-morning!" said Cadbury. "This is a pleasant spot to meet in. So +romantic!" + +"Cadbury, how can you joke, when it's all up with us?" Grey's voice was +quite hoarse. + +"What's the good of looking forward? Seize the flying moment, and suck +honey while you may. That's my motto." + +"But you think with me; it _is_ all up with us?" + +"I'm afraid that's about the long and the short of it. Pepper was very +hot and red last night,--regular Cayenne, in fact; and I have noticed +that Cayenne at night spells Cane in the morning." + +"Cadbury, please stop making fun! I--can't bear it. You don't care, but +I do. I haven't slept a wink all night." + +"Pick up your spirit, then, and pocket your fears. I'll stand by you, +and take my full share. We'll brace ourselves together and face the +music." + +"Oh no, I can't! I can't! I'm younger than you. I never asked the woman +for the chicken, and I begged you to let me off fetching it. You can +call me a coward if you like; I don't care! I am afraid!" + +There was silence for a moment, and then Cadbury spoke, but in an +altered voice. + +"Do you mean to say that you want me to leave your name out entirely?" + +"Y--yes. If I get in a row it'll be mentioned in my report, and I shall +catch it at home. I don't believe you feel things like I do. And it was +all your doing, wasn't it?" + +"Mostly. Very well, I sha'n't mention you, Grey." + +And with that Cadbury marched out of the housemaid's cupboard with his +hands in his pockets. + +Prayers were followed by early prep., and early prep., by breakfast, +without a word on the subject uppermost in the minds of so many. The +day-boys arrived, and saw at once that something was up, though what +they could not make out. But at ten minutes to nine Mr. Peace entered +the room with an excited air, and announced that all the boys were to +stand together as at drill. Mr. West wished to speak to them. + +[Illustration] + +The head appeared almost immediately, and ordered the occupants of the +two rooms, headed by Hallett and Trevelyan, to stand in front. + +He began with a short, studied preface about "an unpleasant duty" and +"flagrant breach of rules"; then gave a brief _résumé_ of what had taken +place, and proceeded to personal enquiries. + +"Where did the chicken come from? Who brought it into the house?" + +Cadbury stood forward. + +"So you are responsible for this, Cadbury? Anyone else?" + +"No, sir." + +"How did you obtain possession of the chicken?" + +"It--got run over--and killed--in bicycling. I mean, I was bicycling." + +"Did you steal it, then, or buy it?" + +"The woman it belonged to gave it to me, sir." + +"After you'd run over it?" + +"After it was dead, sir." + +"And who cooked it?" + +"She did, sir." + +"Cadbury, Cadbury! how dare you put forward such a story as this? I +can't believe a word of it." + +"It's true, sir." + +"True! that after you had killed a chicken, the owner not only presented +you with it, but undertook to cook it for you?" + +"Yes, sir." + +Mr. West's only comment on this affirmation was a deep sigh. + +Further examination failed to make Cadbury contradict himself; but to +certain enquiries he politely declined to furnish an answer. + +"Was any boy with you at the time who can bear witness to your story? + +"Will you give me this woman's address, that I may send for her? + +"How did you manage to get the chicken after it was cooked?" + +Such questions as these drew forth nothing. + +At length Mr. West, without expressing any opinion, passed on to the +subject of the cracked window, but he could not persuade any of +Hallett's room to own to the accident. He threatened, he even +entreated,--in vain. The clock ticked on; it was a quarter past nine, +and everyone was very tired of standing, when the enquiry was brought to +an end, and sentence pronounced. + +Green and another boy named Buckland were complimented on having "wisely +and most properly" kept themselves and their respective rooms entirely +outside the affair. Cadbury, on his own confession--"an extraordinary, +and, I am bound to say, improbable tale"--was to suffer first and worst, +and had the doubtful distinction of accompanying Mr. West there and then +to his study. Next, the inmates of Hallett's and Trevelyan's rooms were +doomed to forego supper for three days, Hallett's room being sentenced +in addition to pay for the mending of the cracked pane. Lastly, and this +was the part of the sentence that roused the whole school, all--boarders +and day-boys alike--were to forfeit the next half-holiday. + +The day-boys looked so exceedingly blank at the news that Mr. West added +that he included them because, "as long as I can obtain no full +confession, I am compelled to regard you, with all your opportunities +and freedom, as being as much under suspicion as the rest". He wound up +by observing that no doubt it was "the old, hard case of the many +suffering for the few", but this did not afford much consolation to his +aggrieved pupils. + +Of course there was nothing to be said at the time, but as soon as they +were alone they fell into clusters, and gave vent to their opinions by +storming at one another. + +"Abominable!" + +"Beastly unfair!" + +"The meanest thing I ever heard!" + +These were the kind of expressions that floated about the room. + +But one small group, of which Hallett was the principal member, instead +of reviling the head-master, was expending its wrath upon a fellow-boy. + +"The cowardly young toad! Had to do with it, you say? I should think he +had, indeed! A good deal more than we've any idea of." + +"Well, we know he did the window." + +"We do, and he shall have the pleasure of paying for that. He shall, if +it empties his cash-box for a year following. Those members of the room +who yearn to subscribe may do so." + +"He was on the outlook for the chicken, you remember. Of course he must +have known all about it. Cadbury can confirm that." + +"_Can_, but you don't know Cadbury if you think he will. What I say is, +ask the young sneak himself. Put it to him straight, and let's see that +we get the truth. Why, we should never have lost our half if he had +owned up with Cadbury." + +"And it's so jolly rough on Cadbury too! Why should one be licked and +not the other?" + +"Oh, we'll see to the other if necessary. But let's hear what he says +for himself. By the way, where is he?" + +Where indeed? A careful search revealed the hapless Grey huddled up in +the book-room, terrified and miserable. + +"Here he is! Hoping to be taken for the _Treasury of Knowledge_," cried +his discoverer, and straightway dragged him into the light. There was a +rush to the book-room. + +Grey was put to the question, failed to clear himself, found guilty--and +licked. + +Jack Brady was the centre of another group, which seemed inclined to be +angry with him. + +"Brady's no business to have his supper stopped," said Trevelyan. "He +never touched a morsel of that wretched fowl." + +"He ought to have told West so." + +"Such nonsense!" exclaimed Jack. "I could have eaten some if I'd wanted +to. Now, Toppin's case is different. He wasn't allowed to have any. I +vote we sign a petition in favour of him. It will really be hard cheese +if he's made to suffer." + +"Toppin, here!" + +The boy was chanting over his spelling, but he hopped up promptly at his +elder brother's call. + +"They say they are going to get up a petition to have you let off the +sentence for our room, because you didn't eat any chicken." + +"Oh, I'd hate to be let off!" exclaimed Toppin. "I know it's because I'm +little, and I want to be treated as if I was big like the rest. I'd +heaps rather! 'Sides, I would have eaten some chicken if you'd have let +me, so it's same as if I had done, isn't it?" + +"You hear, Brady?" said Trevelyan with a laugh. "A nice pair of lawyers +you'd make! Two exactly contrary arguments are used to persuade us of +the very same fact." + +"Well, it comes to this, that we want all to share and share alike. +Isn't that it, Top?" + +Jack tweaked the defiant tuft as he put the question, and Toppin laughed +up at him and nodded. + +The most unfortunate effect of the whole incident was the bitterness +which it revived in the day-scholars. It had almost seemed as if time +was breaking down the wall of enmity which was so strong at the +beginning. But today's work strengthened it still further. The day-boys +had congregated together, and were speaking their minds in tones that +were the more seriously angry because they were subdued. + +"This is what they wanted, to bring us into trouble; and a lot they care +that they're in the same boat!" The theory was Bacon's, and he announced +it with confidence. + +"It's the spirit of the thing one kicks at--the spite, the injustice! +Not the loss of the half!" declaimed Mason with warmth. + +"Let's pay 'em out!" said Simmons. + +"How, Lew?" Hughes put the question, but all waited eagerly for the +answer. + +Simmons might be small, but he was brimful of bright ideas. + +"Fight," he replied. "We're much fewer, but it would be mostly a matter +of siege and stratagem, and if we planned it out, I bet we could give +them a wipe-down." + +"I mayn't fight," said Frere sadly. "They won't allow me to." + +"And I'm awfully afraid I can't," added Hughes. + +"What's more, you sha'n't, Ethel!" said Simmons, who was amusingly +careful of his friend's health. "There'll be lots of quiet work for you +and Frere--scouting and so forth." + +"I'm nuts on fighting," put in Armitage. + +"As for me, I'm spoiling for the fray," laughed Mason, exhibiting the +muscle of his arm with great pride. + +"Oh, well, it will teach them to respect us anyway. And that will be +something gained," said Simmons. "Mason, will you captain us?" + +"Not much! No, I'll do my duty as a lieutenant, but I am no commander. +Nor are you. You're too little." + +"Napoleon--Nelson!" muttered Simmons. He would have liked the offer of +the post, and his size was a sore point with him. + +"Jack Brady must be captain," said Bacon firmly, and all agreed with +him. + +"However could we have forgotten him?" exclaimed Hughes. + +"He's the right man, if he'll consent," remarked Mason. "But I wish I +felt sure about that." + +[Illustration] + +"Well, I see at the present moment he's hobnobbing with the enemy," said +Hughes doubtfully. + +"Oh, but he's really one of us, he has been all along," cried Simmons. +"Here, Brady, you're wanted." + +"At your service," said Jack merrily, and, breaking off his conversation +with Trevelyan and Vickers, he joined the group of day-boys. + +"Brady, have you heard that they've dragged us into this row? That our +half's stopped along with the boarders'? Though none of us ever saw or +tasted so much as a drum-stick!" + +"None of you? Ever?" put in Jack. "That's a big order, Piggy-wig." + +"You know what I mean," rejoined Bacon. "They might have had a swan or a +peacock for all we knew about it." + +"But, my dear fellow, it's West you must blame. No one mentioned you." + +"No, but not one of them had the honesty to stand out and clear us--to +assure him we'd nothing to do with it," said Mason. "Instead of that +they are careful to turn it into a mystery, on purpose that we may all +be suspected." + +"Well, well, it's only just a single half that's lost. It'll soon be +over and forgotten." + +"Will it?" cried Simmons indignantly. "I fancy it will be remembered +longer than you think by some. We mean to pay them in full for their +mean spite. We're going to unite and fight." + +"Oh, challenge them to a cricket match instead! I'll play for you. +Think how much more sportive that will be! Not to say, sensible." + +"Come, Brady, we're not babies. We mean to make them sorry by force." + +"Take care you're not made sorry by force, Lucy!" + +"Oh, never fear! The masters won't know anything at all about it if we +can help it. We shall pick our opportunity. But look here, Brady, you've +got to captain us!" + +"Bothered if I do!" said Jack. + +"Very well, don't! Go over to the boarders instead, as you want to, and +repeat everything we've told you." Bacon spoke angrily. + +"Piggy-wig, don't be a fool! If you want me to quarrel either with your +set or with the other chaps, I say I won't, and that's flat! You must +take me as you find me, and if you're all bent on fighting and making +geese of yourselves, I shall just stay as I am--once for all--Jack of +Both Sides." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE MARCH HARE'S REVENGE + + +Cling, clang--creak! Cling, clang--creak! So the discordant bell sounded +forth in the playground, the interval between the strokes being filled +by a harsh, rusty squeak that set one's teeth on edge. The message it +bore to the boys was, "Come in--quick! Come in--quick!" For the time was +ten minutes to nine, and the day that following the incident which was +already known as the Chicken Row. + +The monitors this week were Brady, Bacon, and Armitage, and they had +already gone in to their duties. The old bell always went on ringing for +two minutes, and the boys were in the habit of waiting until it was on +the point of ceasing, when they obeyed it with a rush. + +But on this particular morning the day-scholars seemed, for some reason +best known to themselves, one and all consumed with zeal for their +studies. At the first preparatory creak they made a simultaneous dash +for the entrance, which caused much mirth amongst the boarders. + +Cadbury waved his arm in their direction, and turned up his eyes with an +air of mock tragedy, while he spouted with rolling "r's": + + "How fair a sight it is to see + Youth lay aside its giddy glee, + Athirst for learning's boundless sea! + How different from you and me!" + +"My dear boys," said Vickers, with pretended solemnity, "I require +obedience in you, but I desire something more--something which you can +give, but I cannot command. That something is cheerful obedience--ready +obedience--obedience that hurries gladly at the call of duty. And now +that you see a pattern of such obedience, you might do worse than copy +it." + +His imitation of Mr. West's emphatic voice and rather studied manner was +so true to life that it was greeted with a roar of laughter, and for +once Vickers had the gratification of seeing his wit appreciated. The +very phrase, "you might do worse", was a favourite with the head-master, +and one which the boys had long ago selected for mimicry. + +But now there came the faint, irregular stroke that foretold the +stopping of the bell, and the boys moved quickly towards the entrance, +and began to jostle one another in their haste. On reaching the door, +however, much fumbling and kicking began. + +"Hi, you in front there! Look sharp and go in! We're waiting!" cried +Hallett in a voice of angry authority, and pushing commenced in the +rear. + +"It's no good pushing; it's stuck!" was holloaed back, and the kicking +and banging increased in vigour. + +"What nonsense! Let me come! It must be opened! Won't Pepper wire into +us in a minute!" + +Green elbowed his way to the front, and turned the handle violently. +Only once, and then he faced round with the exclamation, "You fools! +It's locked!" + +At which news much breath and a little time were wasted in furious +threats towards those by whom they had been tricked. + +"Won't they pay for this!" + +"West shall hear if they don't let us in sharp." + +"I'll knock their heads together when I do get in!" + +"The impudent beggars! We'll give them such a lesson!" + +But within all was glee and triumph. Simmons and Bacon fairly danced +with malicious satisfaction, whilst Armitage and Mason chuckled grimly. + +"What'll they do? Go round to the front?" + +"They'll catch it if they do." + +"We shall too if the joke once reaches West," said Jack. "Don't you +think you might wind up the trick now, and let them in?" + +"All in good time," said Mason coolly. The banging at the entrance grew +terrific, and though separated from the first class-room by a long +passage, he had to raise his voice to be heard above it. "Let's be quite +sure that we're ready for them. You--Bacon and Armitage--have you done +your job?" + +"Yes, properly." + +"We ought to, for we've been at it nearly half an hour." + +"And you others--Brady, Ethel, Lucy, et cetera--you've all got your +books ready?" + +"Ay, ay, sir," laughed Simmons. + +"What was your job, Armie?" asked Jack. He had been engrossed in inking +new slates. + +Armitage smothered a laugh. + +"Muddling, Jack, my boy, muddling! And a truly artistic muddle have we +made. It's been a game of 'General Post' with the books. The +dictionaries have taken the atlases' place, the Greek grammars have +deposed the Latins, and--" + +"Hist!" interrupted Jack. "I smell Pepper! We must whistle to Ethel." +And without waiting for permission he did so. + +"Ethel" was posted down the long passage by the school entrance, with +instructions to turn the key back when he heard the signal. The sound of +unlocking was drowned in the hubbub without, and, turning, he fled +noiselessly up the passage and into the school-room, at the identical +moment in which two others made their appearance there--namely Mr. +Peace, through the opposite door, and Norman Hallett outside the window! + +"Now, then, where is everybody?" cried the fussy little master, seeing +less than a dozen boys assembled for work. Then his eye fell on +Hallett's pale, angry face peering through the glass. "Why, Hallett +outside? What's the meaning of this? What's the meaning of this?" + +"Do you think perhaps they didn't hear the bell, sir?" suggested +Simmons. "They've been making rather a noise outside." + +Mr. Peace was not deceived by the boy's demureness. + +"You want your ears boxed, you rogue!" he began; but at that moment in +surged a torrent of rather frightened, very wrathful boys, who had been +unprofitably spending the last half-minute in striving with penknives to +force the lock of the already unfastened door. + +However, the rudiments of school honour forbade their furnishing the +master with an account of the occurrence, and they had to content +themselves with breathing dark threats to those day-boys who crossed +their path in the frantic rush to the book-room. + +At sight of that rush a few of the milder spirits, such as Hughes and +Frere, held their breath in dreadful foreboding, while the unconscious +Mr. Peace roared: + +"Now, then, how long do you mean to stay in there? The clock's on the +strike. I mark every boy who isn't in his place when it stops! Do you +hear me? Do you hear me, I say?" + +"No," responded Cadbury, without thinking. Then, poking his head out, +"What are we to do, sir, please? We can't find our books. Everything is +changed. It's worse than a spring cleaning. Won't you look and see, +sir?" + +[Illustration] + +Before the invitation could be answered, there was an impatient knock of +authority in the school-room--a rap of knuckles upon a desk--and +everyone knew what that meant. Mr. West had entered, and was being kept +waiting. + +With what books they had managed to grab--some the right ones, many the +wrong--the boarders slunk red-faced to their places, there to realize +their luck, and perchance to discover their mistakes. Cadbury had no +book at all. Green found himself hugging Toppin's _Little Reader_ +instead of _Elementary Physics_; and Hallett might make what use he +could of the March Hare's _English Conversation_ when he came to open +it. + +The pages of the masters' registers fairly bristled with black marks +that unhappy morning. Grey was for bringing the enemy to book, and +reporting his evil devices, but his elders quashed the proposal. + +"You silly duffer! As if we couldn't deal with them ourselves. Wait till +lunch. There's a rod in pickle for them, and they know it." + +Yes, the day-boys had a suspicion that there was a lively time +approaching, but so set-up were they by their recent victory that they +quite looked forward to it. + +Jack was less happy. He read the resolve in the boarders' faces, and +knew that they saw no joke in that morning's events. And he wondered +where the war would end. It seemed the final upset of all those little +efforts towards harmony and good-temper to which he had given himself +from the hour of his arrival at Brincliffe. + +Among the junior scholars sat a dark-complexioned boy with very white +teeth. It was the March Hare. To-day there was a queer gleam in his +eyes, and a flush of carmine in his sallow cheeks. His _English +Conversation_ was not to be found when wanted, and the fact called down +upon him a sharp rebuke from a master, but his face expressed no regret. + +"There must have been a ringleader in this," remarked another boarder in +his hearing during a momentary absence of the master. "I wish to +goodness we knew who it was!" + +"A reng-lidder?" repeated the March Hare. "I don' know zat word. But if +you mean ze boy who done ze much most--ze baddest of all ze bads--ah, I +know him! Yes, I mark him long, long time. An' I wait." + +"What d'ye mean, Harey? Who is it?" + +"Nev-er mat-ter," said the March Hare mysteriously; and at that point +Mr. Anderson re-entered the room. + +On went the hands of the clock. At one minute to eleven all was peaceful +and orderly. At eleven the masters departed for the usual brief +interval. At one minute past eleven all was war and tumult! + +How, where, with whom the conflict commenced it is impossible to say. +There was no warning, no formal outbreak--only in a moment the quiet +room became a battle-field, filled with a seething crowd of furious, +struggling lads. + +An odd feature of the battle was its comparative silence. It was to +everyone's interest to avoid attracting attention, and the sound of +blows was louder than the sound of voices. + +Here, Bacon was felled by Trevelyan; there, Vickers by Mason. The result +was the same in either case. The fallen arose undaunted and without a +word; only a look of keener determination settled on each face. + +There was scarcely time for rallying, but, as far as was possible, the +day-boys closed in together to resist the attack of their more numerous +foes. Hughes and poor Frere both found themselves forced into battle, +willy-nilly. Jack, whose natural instinct was to side with the weaker +party, found neutrality impossible, and the part he had chosen very +hard. The day-boys were prepared for his vagaries, but the boarders were +perplexed and bewildered by his conduct. Was he partisan or traitor? One +moment they saw him pressing his handkerchief to Green's bleeding nose; +the next he was forcing a way for plucky Simmons to reach his friends: +now he must needs shut Toppin up in the book-room for safety--against +his will, of course; then he was heard imparting to the tearful Frere a +few hints on self-defence. + +Very soon there was no doubt in which direction the tide of victory was +flowing. Numbers began to tell, and the day-boys were being forced +steadily backwards towards the wall, away from the class-rooms, where +they had hoped, if necessary, to be able to entrench themselves. + +A foolish idea of making use of the long table suggested itself to +Mason. A tug and a shove, and they had pulled it round to shield them. + +"You lunatics! You're giving them twenty fresh chances at once!" cried +Jack desperately. "They can squeeze you into surrendering directly!" + +"I believe he's right!" muttered Bacon, and they strove to get free +again. + +But it was not easy to rid themselves of the table when once they were +ranked behind it. The boarders saw their opportunity, and a last fierce +combat began. + +Something--Jack never knew what it was--suddenly impelled him to dive +under the table. + +"Oh, Jack, we don't fight underground!" exclaimed Cadbury mockingly; but +Jack paid no heed. + +Cadbury was wrong; there was a very definite attack being made beneath +cover of the table, where it was least suspected. An attack, too, of a +kind that would have been thought impossible. + +It was very dark under there, but Jack was at once certain that he was +not the only hider from the light. A small, lithe figure was wriggling +along the floor in front of him, passing one pair of legs after another, +but scanning each in turn. + +Jack's hand was almost upon it. The words "This isn't fair play!" were +bursting from his lips, when the figure ceased to crawl. It was opposite +a pair of ribbed brown stockings clothing two sturdy legs, when it +stopped, and drew something forth from somewhere about its person. + +At sight of this, a chill of horror seemed to freeze Jack, and for the +moment he was struck dumb. Stiffly he put forward a hand which seized, +as in a grip of iron, the thin right arm of the figure before him. It +was the arm of the March Hare, and in its hand was an open penknife. + +The sudden clutch was wholly unexpected, and the knife dropped. With his +other hand Jack picked it up. As he did so, the March Hare uttered a +cry. It was neither loud nor long, but there was something so startling +in it that the commotion of the fight ceased suddenly, and in the midst +of a strange stillness Jack emerged, dragging his captive by one hand, +and holding the open penknife in the other. + +[Illustration] + +If a white flag had been raised, the battle could not have ended more +abruptly. For a few seconds nothing was heard but quick, short breaths +on all sides. Presently Hallett's voice, hoarse and low, asked: + +"What does it mean, Brady?" + +Jack, white to the lips, pointed from the Hare to Armitage, then to the +spot where he had found him. The Hare was shivering and sobbing. + +"Hallett--I hear you say knifes--war wiz knifes! I on'y go to ze +Toppeen-drowner. I not wasn' going to hurt--on'y to preeck! I never hol' +knife no more! I promise! I swear!"--here he crossed himself rapidly--"I +promise 'gain! I--" + +But at this point the English language failed the Hare, who sank upon +his knees, wringing his hands and gesticulating wildly, as he gabbled, +nobody knew what, in Italian. + +Hallett, meanwhile, was looking grave and stern as the boys had never +seen him. There was not a trace of the fiery tyrant they knew so well. +He was face to face with a hard duty, and it awed him. + +"I'm sorry," he said quietly, "but this is too serious to be covered up. +I have no choice. I must take you straight to the head. Brady, hand me +over the penknife! Or bring it along, and come too!" + +Jack shook his head as he passed the knife, and Norman Hallett and +Massimiliano Graglia left the room in company. Two masters returning +met the pair, but Hallett's face wore an expression which forbade +questions. + +When presently he re-entered the school-room, it was alone. + +And for the space of a week the March Hare was unseen by his +school-fellows. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +HANNAH THE HOUSEMAID + + +There was an end of open strife among the Brincliffe boys. The sight of +that little glittering blade had brought them up short with an +unpleasant shock. They stood astounded for a minute, making no attempt +to remove the traces of the conflict, even when they heard the sound of +the masters' approach. They stood convicted, all together; their +disordered dress, collars unfastened and rumpled hair, the untasted +luncheon, the confusion of the furniture, all told most graphically the +tale of a quarrel. + +Silent and ashamed they slunk back into their places when the +head-master at last returned to the school-room. But, to the universal +surprise, he only addressed a few short, grave sentences to them on the +subject, and announced that henceforth a master would have charge of +the room during the luncheon interval. + +"Hitherto, boys, I have allowed you considerable liberty, regarding you, +though young, as civilized and Christian gentlemen. You have shown me I +was mistaken. Therefore I must treat you differently until I see you +become what I hoped you already were. You might do worse than strive to +attain to this. To your classes, if you please!" + +"Does anyone know where Trevelyan minor is?" enquired Mr. Anderson +presently, looking into the mathematical class-room. + +Jack sprang from his seat. + +"Yes, I know! Please, sir," turning to his master, "will you excuse me?" + +"No need for you to come, Brady," interposed Mr. Anderson; "tell me +where he is, that's all." + +Jack hesitated; then, putting his hand in his pocket, drew out a key. + +"He's in the book-room, sir. And it's locked." + +Now, as the book-room opened out of the school-room, in which Mr. West +was teaching, it was impossible that the door could be unlocked, and +Toppin released, without the fact becoming known to him. He looked up at +sound of the key, and the sight of the small, red-haired urchin, seated +disconsolately on a globe within, and swinging his short legs, evoked a +question. + +"What has that lad been doing, Mr. Anderson? Did you lock him up?" + +"No, sir; it was Brady." + +"Indeed? And what business had he to take the law into his hands? What +were you locked up for, Trevelyan?" + +Poor Toppin was feeling very sorry for himself, and distinctly bitter +against Jack. He had heard the sound of many interesting things +happening, and had a strong suspicion that he had been forgotten. Aware +that he had not merited such hard treatment, he now replied plaintively: + +"Nuffing at all, sir!" + +"Well, in any case, I have not yet given his training over to Brady," +observed Mr. West dryly, and without further question Jack was sentenced +to twenty minutes' detention at twelve o'clock, "to see how he liked his +own treatment". + +"Rough on you, Jack of Both Sides!" said Simmons, as he passed him on +his way into the open air. "Your policy's fine in theory, but I'm afraid +it won't pay. Jack of Both Sides, friend of neither, eh?" + +Jack's reply was quite cheerful: + +"Not so bad as that, thanks, Lucy. We're going to be friends all +together, the whole boiling of us, before we've done!" + +"Think so?" said Hughes, and shrugged his shoulders. "Not much chance of +that yet, I'm afraid. I spoke to Hallett just now, and he wouldn't even +answer me." + +Jack seemed out of luck's way this week, for the next morning he had an +accident with the ink, was fined sixpence for breaking one of the pots, +and ordered upstairs to change his bespattered garments. + +Just outside his bedroom, in the passage, he came upon one of the +housemaids, in front of whom, on the ground, lay a pillow and a heavy +overcoat. + +"Hullo, Hannah! Having a pillow-fight with an overcoat, for fault of a +live enemy, eh? I've caught you in the act! Now, I want you to do +something for me. I've been taking an ink shower-bath, you see, and I go +home to-day, and I must wear this jacket. Could you--" + +But there Jack stopped short, for Hannah had broken into his sentence +with a jerky little sniff which he felt pretty sure was a stifled sob. + +"Why, my good Hannah, what's up? I'm most awfully sorry if there is +anything wrong. Do tell us what it is!" + +"Oh, well, Master Brady, I'm sure it isn't your doing, but it's one of +the young gentlemen, and I don't mind which, but I do think it's very +ill-mannered and unkind, and I've always tried to do my duty by you +all, and more than that sometimes; and it's turned my thumb-nail back +and broken it, and the big buttons banged in my face, and dragged my +hair down; and it's no pleasure to do it, but I shall 'ave to carry the +tale to the master--" + +"A booby-trap, I suppose," interposed Jack, looking thoughtful. + +"Well, sir, a trap--that's certain, for I walked in through the door as +innocent as a child; but I don't see on that account that I'm to be set +down for a booby." + +"No, no; it's only the name for the trick," Jack hastened to explain, +for Hannah was looking more hurt than ever. "You balance the pillow on +the door, you know--and it needs some care, because it might fall the +wrong way, don't you see, and never hit you at all; and adding the +overcoat must have made it more difficult." + +There was an unconscious tinge of admiration in Jack's voice, and Hannah +did not seem entirely consoled. As he handed her his stained jacket, +however, he added: "You know, it wasn't meant for you, Hannah. You got +it by mistake. It was put up for Frere; I'm sure of that. On these +mornings he always comes to this room first thing to practise his +violin. Whoever set the trap never thought about you, that's certain." + +"That don't matter, sir, it hurt me just as much," persisted the maid. +"And they've no business, 'aven't the young gentlemen, to play pranks +like this. You never know what you'll be let in for next. I shall be in +a heverlasting flutter now. It's worse than living in a monkey-house." + +"Have you ever tried that, Hannah? I shouldn't have thought this was +actually worse; but of course when one's tried both--" + +"Master Brady, you're teasing me, and you know my meaning quite well." +Hannah's voice was positively tearful, and Jack grew alarmed. + +"Nonsense! I wouldn't tease you for the world. But look here, I want you +to think better of what you said--about carrying the tale to Mr. West. +There's an awful lot done by passing things over; you don't know! Let's +return these articles--see, it's Cadbury's pillow and Trevelyan's coat, +so neither of them set the trap--and let's agree to forgive and forget +for once. Won't you?" + +Jack could be very gentle and persuasive, and Hannah's heart was not +proof against his pleading. + +"Well, sir, just this once, since you put it like that, and hask so +particular." + +"There's an angel! I knew you would. You come to me, Hannah, when you're +in any fix, and see if I don't repay you for this. Hullo! here's Frere +and his fiddle. I'd better scuttle." + +"Yes, Brady, I think you had better," observed Frere. "I heard Mr. West +asking for you." + +"Ugh! I never like being asked for," remarked Jack, and straightway +vanished. + +"So peace isn't signed yet," he said to himself. "The campaign has only +changed its character, for secret and irregular warfare. I don't seem to +have accomplished much so far." + +Jack went home that Saturday feeling rather discouraged. He little knew +what his accidental interview with Hannah, the housemaid, would result +in. + +He was flinging his own and Trevelyan's muddy boots into the big basket +which stood in the scullery, on Monday evening, when a low voice close +at hand startled him. + +"Please, Master Brady, if you have a minute to spare, I should like to +speak to you." + +Jack turned round in surprise, to face his friend of Saturday, the +housemaid. + +"Why, certainly. Fire away! I'm all attention." + +"I hope you won't think me foolish, sir, but you--you do seem +sympithetic like, though you can't help me, I know; and yet you told me +to come to you, and it's a relief to out with one's trouble; and Emma, +she don't understand, because she's going to be married, and she don't +think of nothin' else; and Cook, she says she's never 'ad nothin' to do +with plants, not excep' the eatin' sorts, like cabbages and turnips--" + +"But, Hannah, you haven't given me a chance yet. Plants?" said Jack. + +"Yes, sir; I'll tell you all about it if I may. You see, my 'ome's at +Brickland--that's a matter of four miles from Elmridge,--and my father, +he's steadily wastin', and doctor says there's no chance for him, not +unless he gets to one of the hopen-air 'ospitals, and he's not to doddle +about the green-'ouse any more." + +"That's a bad business," said Jack, looking grave. "Then your father has +been a gardener?" + +"Yes, and a salesman in a small way, sir. But now he's to give up, and +sell all the plants. Doctor says he'll never again be fit for that work. +It's goin' in and out of the cold and the heat and the damp that's so +tryin'. He's been holdin' on as long as he could, but now he's ready +enough to part with 'em, and if only he could get a good price it'd +maybe take 'im to the hopen-air, and help to keep the 'ome together till +he's well." + +"That sounds the wisest plan," observed Jack thoughtfully. + +"Yes, sir, but the point is the sellin' of 'em. They ought to go into a +good big sale, where there'll be plenty of biddin'; they aren't enough +in themselves to draw buyers. And Mother says in her letter this mornin' +they've heard of one that's bein' held in Elmridge on Saturday, a big +one, in the Rookwood grounds. They call it a 'Nurserymen's Combine'; +there's a many of them joining, and they're willin' to take in Father's +little lot." + +[Illustration] + +"Surely the very thing!" said Jack. + +"It seems so, doesn't it, sir? Father he sent round at once to make +arrangements. But what do you think? he can't get the carting of 'em +done under three-and-six a load; and, as he says, he hasn't got half a +guinea to lay out that way. Why, it'd pay his train to the hopen-air! So +'e'll have to let it slide, and not get such a chance again in a hurry." + +"I'm sure I'm awfully sorry about it," responded Jack feelingly. +"But--but--but keep up your spirits, and who knows what may turn up?" + +And with this consoling advice, he turned on his heel. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +JACK'S MAIDEN SPEECH + + +"You really wish me to understand, Brady, that not you alone, but all +the elder boys--day-pupils and boarders alike--desire of your own +free-will to devote your next Saturday's half-holiday to conveying this +poor man's plants from his house at Brickland to the Rookwood sale?" + +"Yes, sir, that's what we want to do." + +"H'm! Well, the proposal does you credit, and you certainly might employ +your time much worse than in carrying it out. I don't think it would be +right for me to refuse your request. Mr. Anderson, I feel sure, will be +ready to help and advise you, if necessary, but as the idea is your own +I should like you, as far as possible, to carry it out by yourselves." + +"Thank you, sir!" said Jack, and withdrew. + +It was evening when this dialogue took place. The day-boys had departed +in an irritable frame of mind, on account of various annoyances of which +they had been the victims during the past two days. Bacon had been +tripped up twice by a piece of string, Hughes had found his coat-sleeves +tightly sewn up with packing-thread, and Simmons's pockets had been +crammed with moist, wriggling earthworms. + +Knowing this, it may be wondered that they were prevailed on to agree to +Jack's scheme for the coming Saturday. But our hero was wily, and he +worded his suggestion so carefully that they did not for a moment +imagine that their enemies the boarders were at all connected with the +plan, which seemed to offer scope for fun and adventure of a new +description. Was not Saturday Jack's regular day of release? Of course +this was to be an "out-of-school" affair altogether. So they imagined. + +"Now then, you fellows!" cried Jack, bursting into the school-room like +a frolicsome whirlwind, "who said I wouldn't get leave? West and I have +settled it all most comfortably, patted each other on the head, and so +forth. Let you go? Why, he'd like nothing better than to let you go for +good and all!" + +"So you've let the whole lot of us in for it, young man?" said +Trevelyan, looking amused. + +"Why, nobody asked to be left out," returned Jack. + +This was quite true, and there was no more to be said. Hallett had taken +kindly to the idea to begin with, and set the fashion by doing so. One +or two lazy lads would not have been sorry in their hearts if Mr. West +had vetoed the scheme, but they had not the courage to refuse to join in +it. + +"Now to business!" Jack continued. "We must send Mr. Thompson himself +word of our intentions; let's write a proper, tradesman-like letter! +Vickers, you're the fluent, flowery one. Bottle up your metaphors and +give us a page of business-like fluency! Here's some paper." + +After a good deal of discussion the following letter was composed:-- + + _To Mr J. Thompson Nurseryman._ + + _Dr Sir/_ + + _Having heard of yr intention to dispose of yr stock-in-hand + (Plants) we have pleasure in proposing to undertake transport of + same (carriage free) on Saty next ensuing between 2 and 4 p.m. from + yr house to Rookwood Elmridge Middleshire for sale advd to be held + there at 6 p.m. Safety of goods guarantd. Unless we hear to contry + we shall presume this meets yr views and take action accordly._ + + _Yrs etc._ + + _(Signed) T. Vickers_ + _N. Hallett_ + _J. Brady &c._ + _pro) Students of Brincliffe Elmridge._ + +"If that isn't business-like, I don't know what is!" exclaimed Cadbury, +when it was read through. "If ink was a shilling a drop, you couldn't +have been more chary of it. There's not an 'a', 'an', or 'the' +throughout, nor a comma, nor an adjective, and the contractions are +masterly. We're all born commercial clerks, that's what we are!" + +"Ethel and Lucy have undertaken the necessary barrow-borrowing," +remarked Jack, casually. "We sha'n't want more than six or eight +wheel-barrows, and that pair can get anything if it goes together. Lucy +represents the dauntless cheek, and Ethel the irresistible charm. What +more is required?" + +"What do you mean, Brady? We won't have the day-boys sticking their +fingers into this pie!" cried Escombe Trevelyan. + +"We couldn't do the job alone," said Jack quietly. "It would take us +twice as long." + +A loud murmur of disapprobation ran through the room. + +Jack turned rather pale, and pinched the edge of the table nervously. +His eyes wandered from face to face. All were vexed, all displeased. +Then, with a sudden impulse he sprang to his feet, and spoke his +mind--rapidly, earnestly. + +"Look here, I can't understand it! What makes you all so beastly +to the day-boys--to my pals? You began it, not they! They came to +Brincliffe without the least idea of any unfriendly feeling, and you +hated them before you'd seen them or heard their names. Is that +fair--straight--English? If it were, I'd wish to be French or German. +Where's the fun in this constant worrying of each other? As boarders, +it's your place to put out a hand first, and I think I can promise that +the day-boys will shake it. Bah! I know I can never talk you round; it's +no good attempting to. I'm not in a comic mood, and can't make you +laugh, like Cadbury, and I haven't Vickers's gift of the gab. But wasn't +last Friday's lesson enough? Wasn't the sight of that knife--" + +[Illustration] + +"Hush!" came from many mouths. + +"Oh, we want to forget it! Yes, we don't want to talk about it, I know. +But I've got to this once. If there had been an accident--to +Armitage--it wouldn't have been wholly the March Hare's fault. It was +those who first started the quarrel between boarders and day-boys, those +who put the notion of ill-feeling into his silly little head. I see +you're thinking of the swimming-baths, and Toppin's dive. Now I happen +to know, and Toppin can bear me out, that the kid asked to be pushed, +and that Armitage would have saved him next moment if the March Hare +hadn't jumped in and hindered things. And everyone of you who have +listened and nodded to the March Hare's tale have added coal to the fire +you might have quenched in a moment. And--and--and--and--" poor Jack was +shaking and stammering with excitement, "what--what if it had--ended +in--" + +But there he sat down, leaving his sentence unfinished. + +Cadbury was the first to reply, and that was not at once. Slowly he +ruled a long, thick, black line in his exercise-book, then, pushing his +chair away from the table, tilted it back, and spoke: + +"Well, I don't know what anyone else thinks, but I'll tell you what I +do. Brady's last sentence was certainly not fluent, and I shouldn't +care to have to analyse it. As for the jokes in it, they were about as +plentiful as wasps in January. All that's true enough. Still, +nevertheless, speaking for my humble self, he thrust home. You did, +Jack, you beggar! You'd no business to, but you actually had the +impudence to make me feel ashamed of myself. And, of course, I don't +know what you others will say, but I vote we bury the hatchet in old +Thompson's biggest flower-pot. Who's with me?" + +"I am!" + +"I am!" + +"And I!" + +"Of course it's quite right to forgive," drawled Green, with a curl of +the lip. "I'm more than willing." + +Jack ground his teeth, but Hallett saved him the trouble of replying. + +"No, no; if we do the thing at all, we'll do it properly. Don't let's +have any half-measures--kindly-forgivings, and all the rest of it! If +anyone starts forgiving me, I'll lick him! We won't forgive anyone, not +even ourselves. We'll go straight ahead on a new tack, and forget +everything that's happened. If our friends the enemy look askance at us +at first (and we needn't be surprised if they do), that mustn't affect +us. Remember this: Scores are Settled. That's our motto; there is to be +no more paying off. Chaff them if you like--I fancy they'd think there +was something fishy if we didn't--but no tricks, if you please." + +"What if they start them on us, Hallett?" enquired Grey, in the tone of +one who merely seeks information. Hallett frowned slightly. + +"Hadn't thought of that. Of course if they insist on picking a quarrel +in that way--" + +"But I'm nearly sure they won't," cried Jack. + +"I caught Lucy pasting the leaves of my _Delectus_ together," murmured +Grey, looking at the ceiling. + +"And how many things have you done to them?" retorted Jack desperately, +sighing as he felt the weakness of that argument. + +"Vick, will you hand Grey your india-rubber?" put in Cadbury. "There's a +bit of his memory he hasn't rubbed out yet. I did as Hallett told us, +and forgot everything at once. I've even forgotten my translation for +to-morrow--it's gone entirely. Never mind: to obey is our first duty; to +labour for Peace comes only second." + +"Labouring for peace--why, Brady, that's been your little task!" +exclaimed Vickers. "And a noble one"--here he put on the "West voice". +"Have you thought of it in that light, my boy? To labour for peace! We +might all do worse. Conceive, for instance, of working for love!" + +Jack laughed noisily, and called Vickers "a silly old loony". But he +blushed at the same time. And he went to sleep that night feeling +uncommonly hopeful. + +When, in short jerky phrases, he broke to Hannah the plan he had +devised, the maid was so grateful and "took aback", as she said, as to +become for the moment half-hysterical; but soon rallying her common +sense, she sat down and penned a note to her father, to accompany the +young gentlemen's communication. Hannah's spelling, handwriting, and +grammar were all very shaky, but it is a fact that Mr. J. Thompson, +Nurseryman, found her letter a help in throwing light upon the "formal, +business" document. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +LOST--A NAME + + +Of course Jack's task was only half accomplished. And the second half +was somewhat harder than he had anticipated. When in the morning he met +the day-scholars, they were not as eager for a reconciliation as he +would have liked to find them. + +Mason had come armed with a handful of wild barley-grass, or "crawly", +as it was better known among the boys. + +"_Dictée_ this morning," he said with a sly wink. + +In Monsieur Blonde's class, dictation offered great possibilities to a +quick writer, with a supply of crawly. When heads are bent, what a +chance down the collar for a deft hand! And the Monsieur was very +short-sighted. + +"I sit between Vickers and Green," Mason added. + +"But look here, you must chuck that stuff away," cried Jack. He knew +that as a good-humoured joke an inch of crawly can be tolerated, but +when used in malice, nothing is more irritating. "Chuck it away! We've +all agreed to call _Pax_ now, _Pax_ for good and all." + +"Oh, I dare say!" retorted Mason. "When our lives have been made a +burden for the last week! Who are the 'all' who've agreed, pray?" + +"The whole lot of the boarders. They're ready to chum up right away. +Mason, you must agree! We've got to join forces over Saturday's job." + +But Mason didn't see it. Nor did Armitage. Nor did Bacon. And the rest +were doubtful, except little Frere, who declared at once that he was +longing to be friends with everybody--and to feel safe. + +"But don't mind us, Brady," pursued Mason. "We aren't so sweet on +shoving wheel-barrows as all that. You and your dear Green and the rest +can have the whole glory and honour of the pots and the barrows to +yourselves. We won't fight for them, will we? After all, there are more +amusing ways of spending a half than in wheeling flower-pots round the +town." + +Jack's hopes sank. He did not feel equal to making a second speech, but +he caught Mason by the arm, and spoke with vehement emphasis: + +"It's an awful responsible thing, Mason, to refuse to patch a quarrel. +The chance of making-up doesn't come every day." + +"We must have a chance of getting even with them first, and then we'll +talk about stopping." + +"Nonsense! You know that tit-for-tat's a game without an end!" + +"My dear Brady, if you knew the toil and time it has cost me to gather +this bunch of crawly, you wouldn't ask me so lightly to waste it." + +"If that's all," said Jack, "you can stick the whole lot down my neck. I +give you free leave. Go on!" + +There is no stronger influence than earnestness, and Jack was intensely +in earnest. It had its effect on his listeners, who were almost won over +already, while he thought his efforts were thrown away. While he spoke, +Simmons had secretly released three earwigs with which he had meant +mischief, and Hughes was opening his mouth to utter a word or two for +Jack, when Cadbury glided up to the group with outspread arms, and a +square box balanced on his head. + +"Pax tea-cup! pax O biscuit!" began the flippant boy. "Dear brethren, I +entreat you to join with me in smoking the calumet of peace in the shape +of this humble weed." + +As he bowed, the box fell from his head into his hands, and, removing +the lid, he offered it round. It appeared to contain a double layer of +cigars; but the Brincliffe scholars knew these cigars well, and where +they came from. They were composed of almond paste, and coated with a +brown sugary paper, which was always consumed with the rest. + +Jack almost held his breath. Would the boys refuse or accept them? + +Hughes dipped his hand in at once with a smile and a nod. "Thanks very +much, Cadbury!" Simmons followed suit with a wicked little chuckle. +Bacon hesitated, and then helped himself awkwardly. Frere took one with +an "Oo!" of appreciation. Now it was Mason's turn. If Jack had been a +recruiting sergeant, and the sugar cigar the Queen's shilling, he could +scarcely have felt more anxious. + +Mason put forward his thumb and finger, then hesitated and looked at +Jack with a twinkle in his eye. + +"Now, shall I, Brady?" + +[Illustration] + +Jack nodded. He really dared not speak, for fear Mason should take it +into his head to go exactly contrary to him. + +Hurrah! The cigar was taken! + +From that moment Cadbury and Jack turned themselves into a couple of the +maddest, silliest clowns imaginable. But there was method in their +madness. Though they did not even own it to each other, they were making +themselves ridiculous and foolish to prevent the rest from feeling so. +Boys loathe sentiment, and many a quarrel drifts on and on, simply +because each party dreads "being made to feel a fool". + +At Brincliffe on this particular day the two sides felt distinctly shy +of each other, and it was a real boon to have a pair of "giddy lunatics" +to scream at. + +But when Cadbury had boxed Frere's ears for giving the dates of the +royal Georges correctly, and when Simmons had sharpened his pencil with +Vickers's knife without asking leave, the relations between boarders and +day-pupils grew easier. + + * * * * * + +There were few idle wheel-barrows in Elmridge on Saturday afternoon. + +If you had passed along the dusty Brickland Road between four and five +o'clock, you would have encountered a droll procession. One passer-by +stopped to enquire if there was going to be a Battle of Flowers. + +Six barrows, laden with flowering plants, each pulled by two boys, and +pushed by one, were slowly but steadily travelling towards the town, and +at the rear of all was a bath-chair in charge of Hallett and Armitage, +wherein sat a thin, delicate-looking man, whose bright eyes and flushed +cheeks spoke eloquently of gratitude and pleasure. That bath-chair was +Hallett's own idea, and he was very proud of it. + + * * * * * + +It was a warm and weary company of boy-labourers who gathered at eight +o'clock that evening round a very tempting supper-table, spread in the +Brincliffe dining-room, to which, by special invitation, the day-pupils +sat down with the boarders. But every face was bright, and the meal was +the merriest ever known. + +By Mr. West's direction, the boys were left to enjoy it "un-mastered". + +The clatter of knives and spoons had almost ceased when Vickers rose +slowly to his feet, a glass of ginger-beer in his hand. He was impelled +to do so by the nudges of his neighbours, Green and Mason. His rising +was received with loud applause, which he acknowledged with a grave bow. + +"I have been very much pressed--elbow-pressed," he began, "to get up and +say something. I scarcely see why I should be pitched on, unless it is +because I have more brass than the rest of you. (Hear, hear.) Anyhow, +here I am, and I'll ask three questions and then sit down. First"--and +up came one finger--"Isn't this the jolliest supper we've ever had? +(Cries of "Yes!") Very well, I'll tell you why. Reason Number One: +West's in a jolly good temper, _vide_ the groaning table and the absence +of masters. Reason Number Two: We're all in a jolly good temper, and +have done a jolly good day's work. Now, secondly--(Shouts of "Thirdly, +you mean, old man!") I mean what I say--Secondly! We had two divisions +under the first head. You may have got confused, but I haven't. +Secondly, then, we're all pretty thoroughly fagged: is anyone sorry he's +fagged? (No!) Well, the job wasn't my idea, or West's idea. But it was +somebody's, and I think we all know whose. The same somebody who has +annoyed us all horribly in the past by refusing to so much as do one +ill-natured thing. The same somebody who has steadily prevented us from +quarrelling comfortably and consistently, as we wanted to, and has +finally dragged us into this unhappy state of good-fellowship. Now for +my thirdly: Will you drink with me to that somebody's health?" + +The question was received with shouting and banging, while the words, +"Bravo, Vickers! Here's to good old Brady!" "I drink to Jack of Both +Sides!" "Here's to you, Jack!" "Speech, Brady--speech!" and similar +cries filled the air. + +Poor Jack felt extremely ill at ease, and not at all grateful to +Vickers. He studied his plate with the closest attention, his face +growing redder and redder each moment. Then Cadbury thumped him on the +back, and Hallett and Bacon fairly forced him to his feet. But a speech +was quite beyond Jack at that minute. + +"I say, sha'n't we beg the release of the March Hare?" was all he said, +and the first person he looked at was Armitage. + +Armitage, too, was the first to cry back, "Yes!" + +The petition, which was written and signed before they separated, was +received favourably, and the following Monday saw the return of the +March Hare to his place in the school, scared, penitent, and profoundly +grateful to all his school-fellows, including Armitage. And he insisted +on pressing Jack's hand to his lips, which made our hero feel +excessively uncomfortable. But for the remainder of the term, the use of +a knife, even at dinner, was denied the little Italian. + + * * * * * + +"Brady, have you missed anything?" asked Cadbury a few days later. + +"No, I don't think so," replied Jack, feeling doubtfully in his pockets. + +"Because you have certainly lost something," continued Cadbury. + +"Well, give it me quick, then," said Jack, laughing. "Whatever is it?" + +"I can't give it you. It's gone for ever," was the rejoinder. "You'll +never have it again." + +"Well, what was it, then? Nothing valuable, I hope?" + +"When two things are made into one thing, you can't speak of them any +longer as 'both'; can you?" + +"Fetch us a grammar, Toppin," said Jack. "We're getting out of our +depths. Have I lost two things, please, Cadbury, or only one?" + +"Don't frivol, Jack! listen to me. We are all one-sided now, so you have +lost your title. You can never again be called Jack of Both Sides." + + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Jack of Both Sides, by Florence Coombe + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK OF BOTH SIDES *** + +***** This file should be named 20354-8.txt or 20354-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/3/5/20354/ + +Produced by Dave Morgan, Paul Stephen, Fox in the Stars +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Jack of Both Sides + The Story of a School War + +Author: Florence Coombe + +Illustrator: S. B. Pearse + +Release Date: January 13, 2007 [EBook #20354] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK OF BOTH SIDES *** + + + + +Produced by Dave Morgan, Paul Stephen, Fox in the Stars +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 390px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="390" height="600" alt="Cover" title="Cover" /> +<span class="caption">Cover</span> +<br /><br /><br /></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 383px;"> +<img src="images/il001.jpg" width="383" height="600" alt=""IT'S A VERY GOOD THING, MADAM, FOR YOU ... THAT MY +FRIEND HERE IS NOT DEAD!" See page 40" title=""IT'S A VERY GOOD THING, MADAM, FOR YOU ... THAT MY +FRIEND HERE IS NOT DEAD!" See page 40" /> +<span class="caption">"IT'S A VERY GOOD THING, MADAM, FOR YOU ... THAT MY +FRIEND HERE IS NOT DEAD!"<br />See page 40</span> +<br /><br /><br /></div> + +<h1>Jack of Both Sides<br /><br /></h1> + +<h3>The Story of a School War<br /></h3> +<h3>BY</h3> +<h2>FLORENCE COOMBE</h2> +<h4>Author of "Boys of the Priory School" "A Chum Worth Having"<br /> +"Her Friend and Mine" &c.<br /><br /></h4> + +<h3><i>ILLUSTRATED BY S. B. PEARSE</i><br /></h3> + + +<h2>BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED<br /> +LONDON GLASGOW AND DUBLIN</h2> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="contents"> + +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Chap.</span></td> +<td align='left'></td> +<td align='right'>Page</td></tr> + +<tr><td align='left'>I.</td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Joke that Failed</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href='#Page_5'>5</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='left'>II.</td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Toppin's Dive</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href='#Page_16'>16</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='left'>III.</td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Chicken and the Bicycle</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href='#Page_30'>30</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='left'>IV.</td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Knock at the Window</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href='#Page_44'>44</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='left'>V.</td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Storm Breaks</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href='#Page_57'>57</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='left'>VI.</td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">The March Hare's Revenge</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href='#Page_71'>71</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='left'>VII.</td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Hannah the Housemaid</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href='#Page_85'>85</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='left'>VIII.</td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Jack's Maiden Speech</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href='#Page_94'>94</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='left'>IX.</td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Lost—a Name</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href='#Page_103'>103</a></td></tr> + +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> +<h2>JACK OF BOTH SIDES</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>THE JOKE THAT FAILED</h3> + + +<p>"I say, you fellows, look here! What do you think of this? It's our +lunch!"</p> + +<p>"This" was a large basket, lined with a white cloth, at the bottom of +which lay nine bread-pills. Nine boys looked down at them in rueful +disgust, and then across the school-room to where a larger group stood +chuckling mischievously, their hands and mouths filled with tempting, +crusty hunches, carved from the loaf according to fancy.</p> + +<p>Those nine gray, unappetizing pellets represented all that was left of +the loaf; and Mason, the boy who first spoke, realizing this, flung the +big basket in a burst of indignation at the heads of the opposite clump, +one or two of whom were hit. Revenge was prompt. Ere it touched the +floor it was hurled back with vigour, but, being dodged successfully, +fell harmless to the ground.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mason and seven others were new-comers to Brincliffe School, and when +the luncheon interval was heralded by the entrance of the loaf and the +exit of the masters, it did not occur to them to join in the general +rush that was made at the basket. And this was the sorry reward of good +manners!</p> + +<p>The fact of the matter is that they were not merely new boys, and +therefore lawful game, but day-pupils. That was a grievance at +Brincliffe—a great grievance. It was only last term that the first +day-boy was admitted into Mr. West's establishment. More than one young +wiseacre had gloomily prophesied that Jim Bacon was the thin end of the +wedge. And now they gloated, "Didn't we say so?"</p> + +<p>It is not easy to see at once what objection there could be to certain +boys attending the school and yet sleeping in their own homes. But a +rooted objection there undoubtedly was—all the stronger, perhaps, +because no valid reason for it could be stated.</p> + +<p>Now for a few moments words took the place of missiles.</p> + +<p>"You—you greedy, giggling gobblers—you!" This was from Mason, and he +was hungry. The "g's" came out in slow, studied jerks.</p> + +<p>"And what are you, pray? A pack of pretty poppets! Mammy's darlings! +Must go home to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> by-by, mustn't you?" Sneering was Joe Green's forte.</p> + +<p>Words failed Mason, but a small black-eyed lad, called Lewis Simmons, +took up the cudgels in his stead.</p> + +<p>"I'd rather be a pretty poppet than an ugly chimpanzee like—<i>some</i> +people!"</p> + +<p>"Hold your tongue, baby! Cheek me again, and you'll get smacked. We must +see that all you duckies go to bed at twelve for a little nap. You shall +have a nice beauty-sleep, you shall!"</p> + +<p>"Don't answer! Swallow it down!" muttered Jack Brady, laying his hand on +Simmons's shoulder. "Let 'em have the last word if they're stuck on it. +We're only wasting breath."</p> + +<p>"It's all very well, Brady, but they have treated us abominably! We'd +done nothing to them." Ethelbert Hughes, who said this in a low voice, +was Simmons's special chum, though a great contrast, being tall and +fair, with a gentle, quiet manner.</p> + +<p>"Still, there's nothing gained by bandying names," returned Brady. "And +it isn't even amusing to listen to. A fellow's seldom funny and furious +at the same time.</p> + +<p>"I don't care about words," said Mason, giving a fierce kick to the +basket. "I'm quite ready to bandy thumps, if they prefer it. But they +de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>serve trouncing in some way for a caddish trick like this."</p> + +<p>"It was a bit rough on us, but they only meant it as a joke," persisted +Brady. "We must pay them back in joke, and then it'll be all right."</p> + +<p>"Will it?" growled Bacon. "I know better. Why, they hate day-boys like +poison, and they'll let you all feel it too. I had a nice dose of it +last term, and I'm jolly glad there are some more of you to share it +with me this time."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's it, is it?" said a boy called Armitage. "And are they all +such donkeys as to care whether we sleep here or not?"</p> + +<p>"They're all such sheep as to follow the same track blindly, and not +dare to act on their own hook," replied Bacon. "It's the fashion to run +down day-boys, that's all. But it's a beastly shame, and I almost wish +West hadn't let me in."</p> + +<p>"Oh, rubbish!" said Brady. "Fashions change quickly. We'll have a +ripping time, in spite of everybody."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the boarders were discussing matters from their point of view.</p> + +<p>"It's just what I expected," said Norman Hallett, a tall, well-built +boy, who was the eldest in the school. "Once open the door—only a +chink—and in pours the whole town." He waved a half-eaten crust to +illustrate the pouring in.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> + +<p>"West had better drop the name of Brincliffe, and call us Elmridge +Grammar School at once. That's what we are now," observed Green.</p> + +<p>"I don't mind so much about that," said a grave-faced boy, whose name +was Vickers; "but what I do hate is the way day-boys spoil everything. +It can't be helped, but nothing's ever fair or equal when once day-boys +get mixed up with a school. I'll tell you exactly what happens. +First"—and here the speaker laid his forefinger on his thumb to mark +the order—"First, they're always trying to make you green with envy by +talking about the jolly things they're going to. Second, they're +continually getting holidays for themselves on some pretence or other. +Third, they love to pity you, and declare they'd shoot themselves rather +than be regular boarders. Fourth, they buy cribs and keys, and keep them +at home, and get help from their fathers, and work extra hours, and +spoil your chance of a prize altogether. Fifth, they're for ever +sniggering over private jokes about people you neither know nor want +to—"</p> + +<p>"Hold, Vickers, my dear chap!" broke in Cadbury, the school jester. "It +pains me to check the fluency of our golden-mouthed orator, but I've +been waiting in vain for 'Finally'. Let's have an innings. What I object +to is that they're such a horrid lot. Cocky to a degree<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>—simply think +no end of themselves—and lose their hair altogether at the first little +playful joke. I think the beastly way in which they took that bread game +spoke for itself. I should like to have hammered them for that."</p> + +<p>"West will be changing all our hours and classes soon to suit the +convenience of the day-boarders. That'll be the next move. I know it, +because I heard him ask that gawky chap they call Mason if he could stay +on Wednesday evenings for the dancing class. If he could, indeed! That's +the way they're going to be treated."</p> + +<p>"If they are, it'll be war to the knife between us and them," observed +Hallett, folding his arms with an air of conscious might.</p> + +<p>"War wiz knife, Hallett? Ah!"</p> + +<p>It was a black-browed foreign child of nine who whispered these words, +creeping close to Hallett, and gazing up curiously into his face. +Hallett burst out laughing.</p> + +<p>"Listen to this bloodthirsty brigand of a March Hare! The instinct of +his ancestors is strong within him. No, Harey," he continued, "I won't +stickle for knives, or even pistols. Shall we call it war to the fist? +Anything will do, so long as it's war."</p> + +<p>"What do you all think of the weekly? Is he as bad as the rest?" asked +Grey, one of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> juniors. He was always careful to find out what he +ought to think before he thought it.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 491px;"> +<img src="images/il012.png" width="491" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Which is the weakly one?" asked Cadbury. "That lily-flower bending on +its stalk to address the cheeky, black-eyed imp? He looks weakly enough, +all eyes and hair."</p> + +<p>"No, no; that's Hughes, from the Bank. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> mean the new weekly boarder, +who's to go home from Saturday to Monday."</p> + +<p>"I know the one," said Hallett. "The apple-faced boy who does so much +laughing. I heard someone call him Brady."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that fellow! He doesn't look so bad," pronounced Trevelyan, who +ranked only second to Hallett.</p> + +<p>"He seems to have a strong sense of humour," remarked Vickers gravely, +at which his comrades giggled. Vickers was commonly believed to have +none. He never laughed when anyone else did.</p> + +<p>"A weekly boarder is a very different thing from a day-boy," Hallett +went on. "If Brady was wise he wouldn't go mixing himself up with that +lot. I shall give him a wrinkle when he comes my way. He really looks +rather decent, and he was the only one who grinned about the bread. Of +course it may have been from sheer force of habit, and therefore no +credit to him; but still, he did grin."</p> + +<p>At this moment the discussion in both camps was brought to a sudden +finish by the return of the masters. The chief himself, Mr. West, was +the first to enter, and his eye was immediately caught by the bread +basket, which lay dejected on its side in a little pool of crumbs. He +looked suspiciously at it.</p> + +<p>"Who threw the basket on the floor?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> + +<p>Dead silence.</p> + +<p>"Come, speak out! Someone must have done it; baskets don't jump off +tables by themselves."</p> + +<p>After another short silence, one of the young day-pupils, who happened +to be standing close beside it, picked up the basket and placed it on +the table.</p> + +<p>"Did you knock it down, Frere, my boy?" asked Mr. West.</p> + +<p>"No, sir. It was one of the boarders; I don't know his name. I think he +aimed it at some of us, and it fell on the floor instead."</p> + +<p>Frere spoke innocently. He had never been to school before, and it did +not occur to him that he was doing any harm by his frankness—least of +all, to himself! The eyes of his friends and enemies alike glared +reproachfully at him, but he did not notice them. It was Jack Brady who +broke in.</p> + +<p>"We threw the basket at them first, sir, and it did hit them!"</p> + +<p>"Well, never do it again, Brady. Look what a mess it's made on the +floor! And you others, you have been in the school longer; you ought to +have known better than to throw it back. You might have broken +something."</p> + +<p>That was all. But the bitterness between the two camps was not lessened +by the incident, and Frere was liked none the better for it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> + +<p>However, now work began again, and ill-feeling was shelved perforce for +the time. The sarcastic Green, for instance, found himself required to +read the part of "Nerissa" to Mason's "Portia"; and Hughes was set to +sketch Africa on the board in company with Vickers. The boys did not +know that Mr. West had given a hint to the masters to mix the new and +old element well together.</p> + +<p>That opening day was a weary one to the nine town boys, and all but Jack +Brady, the "weekly", scampered off with boisterous delight when school +was dismissed at four o'clock.</p> + +<p>The two chums, Ethelbert Hughes and Lewis Simmons, had been quickly +dubbed "Ethel" and "Lucy", and they did not at once appreciate their new +names. But Jack Brady, when he found himself hailed indiscriminately as +"Apple" and "Grinner", answered and laughed without a trace of +resentment. Perhaps that was why neither title stuck to him, while +Hughes and Simmons became Ethel and Lucy to everyone, and even at last +to each other.</p> + +<p>Jack was standing at the window, watching his friends disappear in the +direction of the town, and whistling softly to keep up his spirits, when +Hallett approached him.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, Red-cheeks, they say you're not a day-boy. I think myself that +going home once<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> a week is a mistake; however, of course that's a matter +of opinion. But why on earth do you stick by those wretched eight whom +West has let in to spoil the school?"</p> + +<p>"Fellow-feeling!" Jack's smile atoned for the shortness of his reply.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! I can't for the life of me see why you should connect +yourself with that lot at all. We've no quarrel with you."</p> + +<p>"Nor with the others, for the matter of that," returned Jack, looking +straight into Hallett's face.</p> + +<p>Hallett moved away with a short grunt, for want of an answer. Then, +remembering one, he turned back.</p> + +<p>"What about young Frere? What did you think of that?"</p> + +<p>"I'd have stopped him if I could. But he didn't mean any harm. To a +home-boy it sometimes comes natural to blurt out all you know when +you're asked a question."</p> + +<p>Hallett shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"You'll make a first-rate pleader one day, Brady. If ever I want +defending, I'll engage you."</p> + +<p>"Thanks!" said Jack. "You're very kind."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>TOPPIN'S DIVE</h3> + + +<p>If Mr. Anderson, the junior English master, had not happened to meet +some friends as he was on his way to the swimming-bath with the boys, +this chapter would not have been written. But they were old friends, and +very unexpected, who were only visiting Elmridge for an hour or two. So +he acted as I suppose nine out of ten young men would have acted in the +same circumstances.</p> + +<p>"Look here, boys," he said, running after the nearest group. "Can I +trust you to go on quietly to the baths by yourselves? I shall follow +you very shortly. You can all have your dip, and dress, and by that time +I shall be with you. You won't get into mischief, and play pranks, will +you? Promise!"</p> + +<p>The four boys he addressed promised readily.</p> + +<p>"Right! Green, you're one of the seniors; I put you in charge. See that +all goes on just as if I were there. No one stay in the water more than +twelve minutes."</p> + +<p>"Very well, sir!"</p> + +<p>And Mr. Anderson departed with light heart and clear conscience.</p> + +<p>It was only a couple of days since the term<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> began, and the very +chilling reception accorded to the day-scholars had made friendly +advances between the two factions next to impossible. A distant +toleration was just now the recognized attitude.</p> + +<p>But there were two people who were "not playing the game". One was Jack +Brady, who persisted in walking first with one party and then the other, +and refused point-blank to be distant towards anyone. The other was the +youngest scholar of Brincliffe, one Hugill Trevelyan, commonly known as +"Toppin". He was only seven, and did not understand the meaning of a +civil war. Toppin had been sent to school with his elder brother Escombe +because his parents were abroad.</p> + +<p>The March Hare (Massimiliano Graglia, to give him once for all his right +name), who was two years Toppin's senior, and therefore better able to +quarrel to order without knowing the reason why, had a great affection +for him, and, when possible, would take charge of him. Toppin being a +very independent young man, however, this was not often possible. More +frequently he would patronize the March Hare, and explain to him English +words or ways that were puzzling.</p> + +<p>It chanced that this afternoon three day-boys, Bacon, Armitage, and +Simmons, were in advance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> of the rest of the school, who were sauntering +behind in clusters of threes and fours. Hughes was not with Simmons, +being forbidden by his doctor to indulge in swimming at present. Bacon +looked back just as Mr. Anderson was turning in the opposite direction +with his friends.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, what sport!" he exclaimed. "Andy's given us the slip!"</p> + +<p>"Be joyful! Let's race for the best boxes!" said Armitage. "We shall be +in the water long before the other slow-coaches have reached the baths. +One, two, three—off!"</p> + +<p>Now Toppin was one of the group behind, and being naturally fleet of +foot, a race was a thing he could not resist. So he took to his heels +and pursued them.</p> + +<p>Jack Brady and the March Hare were walking with Toppin, and if it had +been practicable, the Hare would have accompanied him in the race, but +if there was one thing of which the March Hare was incapable, it was +running. Jack, who had found this out, checked him from making the +attempt.</p> + +<p>"Let Toppin go, Harey, and you stay with me," he said. There was a look +of satisfaction on his face. It was fine to see even the smallest +boarder chevying three day-boys!</p> + +<p>Toppin ran his fastest, and panted into the baths only a yard behind +Simmons.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, if here isn't the kid! What the dickens has brought you after us, +young un?"</p> + +<p>"I saw you—racing," panted Toppin, "and I wanted to see—if I +couldn't—catch you. And I did!"</p> + +<p>His thick red hair was tumbled by the wind, and the odd little tuft +which had won him his nickname stuck up very prominently. The small pink +face was aglow with triumph, as he stood gasping for breath, and looking +up at the three older boys, his hands planted in his pockets and his +feet apart.</p> + +<p>"You're a boarder," said Armitage, with a touch of contempt.</p> + +<p>"I should think I am! Rather!" was Toppin's proud reply.</p> + +<p>"Well, you'd better trot back to your friends, and bathe with them. +We're not going to wait for anyone."</p> + +<p>"Nor aren't I," said Toppin carelessly.</p> + +<p>"Come on!" shouted Simmons from a box. "Don't waste time!"</p> + +<p>Preparation for a bath is not a long process with a boy. Garments were +dragged off and tossed about, and in a minute they were ready, and +dancing round the edge of the clear green water.</p> + +<p>Avoiding the steps as a matter of course, Toppin was swinging his arms +preparatory to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> jumping into the shallow end, when, seeing Simmons +skipping along the plank that led to the diving-board, in the part where +the water was marked "5 ft.", he paused to watch. Simmons raised his +hands above his head, curved his body, and dived.</p> + +<p>"Oo!" cried Toppin admiringly.</p> + +<p>Presently a head appeared, rolling round and blowing. Simmons was +swimming towards Toppin. Bacon was now preparing to take a header.</p> + +<p>"I say, Lucy, you're not a tall chap. No more aren't I. Why can't I swim +and dive?"</p> + +<p>"It isn't size that's needed, it's talent," observed Simmons, treading +water, as he winked at the little fellow.</p> + +<p>"Rot!" said Toppin decidedly. There was a loud splash. Bacon had +vanished.</p> + +<p>"Up he comes again!" cried Toppin, clapping his hands in an ecstasy. +"Oh, I'm going to dive to-day. You can see how easy it is. Let me have a +shot before the others come, case I fail."</p> + +<p>"Better wait a year or two, Top," said Simmons, deliberately turning a +somersault.</p> + +<p>"I'm bovvered if I do!" cried Toppin, scampering round to the +diving-board. He was in a state of great excitement. "I'm going to dive, +and turn head over heels, and stamp in the water, just like you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, let the nipper see what he can do!" said Armitage, laughing. He was +standing on the diving-board. "There's nothing like beginning early. Can +you swim, kiddie?"</p> + +<p>"Not—not far," said Toppin cautiously. "I can swim with my arms all +right, only I sometimes put one foot on the ground."</p> + +<p>"If you don't swim, you'll sink, you know," explained Armitage. "This is +deep water."</p> + +<p>"Not so very; only five feet," rejoined Toppin. "I'm not funky. Of +course I know <i>how</i> to swim. I've watched frogs awfully closely."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, up with your hands—same as you saw the other two."</p> + +<p>Toppin lifted them high, the tips of his fingers met in the approved +style, and he took a long breath. Then, gradually, his hands fell back +to his sides, and the breath ended in a sigh. Armitage pushed the child +impatiently aside.</p> + +<p>"Get away, you silly little coward! I'm not going to waste my time +standing over you. Go back to the shallow end, and dance at the ropes. +We'll come over and duck you."</p> + +<p>Toppin was quivering, but his face flushed crimson, and, thrusting +himself forward once more, he laid a hand pleadingly on Armitage's +wrist. At the same moment a clatter on the stone stairs told of the +approach of section number two.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Give us one more chance, Armie, please! I promise not to funk it again. +Listen, they're just coming!"</p> + +<p>"You'll not do it," said Armitage.</p> + +<p>"Won't I, though! Look here! count three, and then give me a tiny push."</p> + +<p>As Jack and the March Hare entered the saloon they heard Armitage say, +"Very well. One, two, three; now go!"</p> + +<p>There was a faint, quickly-checked cry, and then a little splash. Toppin +was under the water.</p> + +<p>The same instant the March Hare—hat, boots, and all—had leapt in, and +was fighting his way towards the deep end.</p> + +<p>Jack's first impulse was to tear off his coat and follow the Hare's +example; but when he saw a little red head appear and immediately be +captured, and when he realized that Bacon, Simmons, and Armitage were +all swimming to the rescue, he refrained.</p> + +<p>Although the March Hare was the first to lay hold of Toppin's crest, the +next minute he was himself in need of rescue. The Hare had only advanced +to the swimming stage when both hands and feet are absolutely necessary, +and the pause to seize his friend had sufficed, when combined with the +weight of his garments, to sink him; so Toppin dived for the second +time, in company with the March Hare.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Quick!" yelled Jack, "or there'll be two drowned! Shall I come?"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 506px;"> +<img src="images/il024.png" width="506" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>But the pair had risen again, and were clutched and violently wrenched +apart by Armitage and Bacon. For the March Hare's grip of the red locks +was very tight.</p> + +<p>Bacon found Toppin fairly easy to land, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> the Hare, in full walking +costume, was quite another matter, and Simmons's help was required. +Besides, Toppin kept quiet when commanded to, while the March Hare +fought and struggled, and had to have his head thumped severely. +Fortunately the steps were not far off, and Jack awaited them there.</p> + +<p>He was frightened when he saw that Toppin's familiar little pink face +had changed to an ivory-white, and that his eyes were shut. Was he +senseless, or worse? Jack grasped the small, dripping body in his arms, +and staggered to where the bell hung that summoned the attendant. He +pealed it loudly, and sank down beneath it to wait. Other boys had +arrived during the incident, and were now pressing round, questioning +and jabbering. Jack had nothing to say to them. He was hard at work +chafing the motionless form, and his brain was in a whirl. What if +Toppin never moved or spoke again!</p> + +<p>Suddenly the eyelids lifted: Toppin looked straight into Jack's face.</p> + +<p>"May I move now?" he asked innocently. Oh, what a relief it was to hear +his voice!</p> + +<p>"You young fraud!" exclaimed Jack; but his own voice shook, and he was +glad to surrender his charge into the hands of the attendant, a man +trained for his position. The March Hare, who was shivering beside him, +sobbed with joy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> when he saw one small leg draw itself up, and an arm +move a few inches, at their owner's will.</p> + +<p>"Top-peen! Top-peen!" he cried. "You are not died!"</p> + +<p>Toppin stared at his friend over a tea-spoon. He was sipping hot +spirits-and-water, and wondering what it was. But Jack turned upon the +March Hare.</p> + +<p>"We shall be standing you head downwards in a minute, Hare. You're next +door to drowning yourself. Get up, and come with me!"</p> + +<p>The Hare protested feebly, with chattering teeth. But the attendant +thrust a spoonful of Toppin's drink between them, and counselled Jack to +take him to his wife. That good woman stripped the Hare in a twinkling, +wrapped him in a blanket, and set him before her kitchen fire to watch +his garments dry. Jack meanwhile returned to the saloon, to find Toppin +clothed once more, and curled up on the matting, near the heating +apparatus, munching a biscuit.</p> + +<p>"How do you feel now, Top?" he asked, stooping to see his face.</p> + +<p>"Pretty bobbish, thanks, Brady," was the answer, and it told that Toppin +was himself again.</p> + +<p>"You'll have to look sharp if you want a dip, Brady," called Green. +"Andy'll be round in a minute, I expect."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Thanks! I'm not bathing to-day," was the response.</p> + +<p>Just then Escombe Trevelyan, who was swimming lazily about, landed at +the steps close by, and beckoned Jack to come nearer.</p> + +<p>"I want to hear the truth of this affair, Brady," he began in a +confidential undertone. "Did you see it happen?"</p> + +<p>"Which part? I saw the March Hare leap in with his hat on his head and +his towel on his arm. He did look properly mad, I can tell you!"</p> + +<p>"I mean before that, when Toppin went under."</p> + +<p>"They say he actually took a dive from the board, don't they?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I want to get hold of someone who saw it. I can't understand +his being such an absolute little fool, and I can't worry the kid +himself about it just at present."</p> + +<p>So saying, Escombe swam off once more.</p> + +<p>Armitage was the next to approach Jack. He looked rather pale, but began +by talking rapidly about a paper-chase that was being planned. Jack knew +well enough that this was not what he wanted to talk about, but he +walked away from the bath with him, still pleasantly discussing starts +and times, till they found themselves alone on the stone stairs. Then +Armitage came to a stand-still, and his tone changed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Brady, I want to speak to you; I want to explain, you know, about +Toppin."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I saw you push!" remarked Jack bluntly.</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to deny it, but do you know that he begged me to? You +came in too late to hear that."</p> + +<p>"If I hand you a pistol and ask you to shoot me, will you do it?"</p> + +<p>"Don't be a fool, Brady. There was no danger. I shouldn't have let him +drown."</p> + +<p>"He precious nearly did."</p> + +<p>"That was the March Hare's fault. I shouldn't have let him sink again."</p> + +<p>"Then you think you were right to push him in, Armitage? I don't. Shall +we ask Anderson's opinion?"</p> + +<p>"No, Jack, I beg and implore you to keep it dark. Of course I should +never do it again. But Simmons and Bacon have sworn not to bring me into +the affair. Toppin knows it was his own fault, and is a bit ashamed of +it. There's only the March Hare besides yourself. I thought perhaps you +might persuade him—"</p> + +<p>A shadow darkened the open entrance. There was a stamping on the +door-mat, and then Mr. Anderson appeared on the stairs. Jack advanced to +meet him.</p> + +<p>"Finished your bath, Brady?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. I mean, I haven't had one. All<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> the rest have. I wanted to +tell you there's been a little—a little commotion, sir."</p> + +<p>"What on earth do you mean? Not an accident?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; only it might have been. Toppin—little Trevelyan, that +is—got into the deep end, and the March Hare—you know the boy I mean, +sir—he thought he was drowning, and jumped in after him with his things +on, and so they had to haul them both out. Toppin's as right as a trivet +again, and as warm as a toast. And the Hare isn't hurt either, but he +has to sit in a blanket and wait for his clothes to dry."</p> + +<p>Mr. Anderson looked very agitated, and his voice betrayed his feelings.</p> + +<p>"Why couldn't you behave as if I was with you? Really, it is absurd to +think that all you elder lads can't manage to keep an eye on the juniors +for twenty minutes. Where are these two boys? Take me to them directly! +What do you suppose Mr. West will say? He'll certainly be extremely +angry with you all. I shouldn't be surprised if he stops your coming +here."</p> + +<p>"We wondered whether you would feel obliged to tell him, sir," said Jack +thoughtfully. "Of course, if you must, you must; but it doesn't seem as +if there was much to be gained by it, does there? The March Hare and +Toppin have learnt their lesson pretty thoroughly."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Anderson frowned and bit his finger, and the toe of his boot +tap-tapped on the ground. It was evident he was undecided. Presently he +looked at Jack.</p> + +<p>"You mean that, provided I find these two lads absolutely none the worse +for their ducking, you beg me, as a great favour, not to carry a report +to Mr. West?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," Jack responded briskly.</p> + +<p>"Well, I won't promise, but I'll think it over."</p> + +<p>Mr. Anderson's thought ended in a decision which he announced to the +boys when they were gathered together.</p> + +<p>"For once, and once only, I have consented to spare you all from certain +punishment by not reporting to Mr. West this accident, which you ought +to have prevented. But you must never ask or expect to be shielded by me +again. Now we will go for a brisk walk as usual, and call for Graglia +and Trevelyan minor on the way back. I dare say they will be ready for +us by that time."</p> + +<p>Now, none of the boys, except those immediately concerned in the +accident, had realized that they were in any danger of punishment; but +when the matter was set before them in this light, their gratitude to +Mr. Anderson was profound.</p> + +<p>"Oh, thank you!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir, very much!"</p> + +<p>"It sha'n't happen again, sir!"</p> + +<p>"Thank you awfully, sir!"</p> + +<p>Pleasure and surprise were equally mingled in the boys' expressions. But +Jack caught a murmur from Cadbury, very soft and low,</p> + +<p>"It's six for us, and half a dozen for yourself, eh, Andy?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>THE CHICKEN AND THE BICYCLE</h3> + + +<p>Mr. West, the master of Brincliffe, was a man of independent mind, and +though the boys liked him well enough, there was a difference of opinion +regarding his regulations. For example, the same term in which the door +was opened to day-pupils, it was shut to hampers, even birthday ones. +Cadbury suggested reporting this high-handed act to the Society for the +Prevention of Cruelty to Children, but decided to let him off when a +permission was announced which almost atoned for the loss of cakes and +preserves. Bicycles were allowed!</p> + +<p>Every boy who had one might bring it to school, although, of course, +there were strict limits to its uses, and he who misused the privilege +laid himself open to the heavy penalty of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> leaving it at home the next +term. The plan worked well, and gave huge pleasure to the pupils.</p> + +<p>With the exception of such small fry as the March Hare and Toppin, +nearly every boy managed to possess himself of a machine of some kind. +Many were old, one was originally a lady's, and another had a solid +tyre, but so long as the wheels would go round nothing mattered. And the +wheel must be in a sorry condition indeed which a boy can't work.</p> + +<p>The season was still early when the Bicycle Paper-chase was proposed and +arranged. It was Jack Brady's suggestion, and every boy to whom it was +named jumped at the idea. Mr. West granted permission, provided that a +master accompanied them, and Norman Hallett drifted into the post of +captain.</p> + +<p>It was agreed, after much consultation, that Hallett and Jack should be +the hares, that three minutes' start should be allowed, and that +everyone who liked to should be a hound. Simmons was to carry the horn +and "blow the true trail" whenever it was lighted upon. Half a dozen +more were selected to test the side tracks, as there were certain to be +plenty of false scents started.</p> + +<p>The Saturday fixed for the chase proved a fine one, and the whole pack +was assembled out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>side the school gates at the hour appointed. Mr. +Anderson was once more in charge of the party. Little duties like these +fell naturally to his lot as the junior master.</p> + +<p>One or two youngsters, who had not got machines of their own yet, had +begged leave to hire for the afternoon, so it happened that the March +Hare and Toppin were the only boarders left behind. Mournfully they +swung upon the gate, and watched the pack ride gaily away at the word +"Time!" from Mr. Anderson.</p> + +<p>"I wish that they should have tooken us, eh, Top-peen?" said the March +Hare.</p> + +<p>"You ought to say 'took', not 'tooken'," corrected Toppin. He felt +rather cross, and disinclined to dwell on the subject of his wrongs.</p> + +<p>"Ah, I am—what is your one word?—non-grammar-eesh?"</p> + +<p>"No,—stupid," said Toppin.</p> + +<p><i>"Uhéi!"</i> This sorrowfully. Then, drawing nearer, "But no mind! I love +you—oh, yes, I love you a great well, Top-peen! Shall we—shall we +keess?"</p> + +<p>Toppin shook his head decidedly, and jumped off the gate in a hurry.</p> + +<p>"That's the second time since Sunday you've wanted to kiss, and I've +told you over and over again I hate it, I don't like it! I never want to +kiss! Now, do you understand?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> + +<p>The March Hare was sadly afraid he did.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 486px;"> +<img src="images/il034.png" width="486" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"If you were an English boy you'd never think of asking such a thing," +Toppin went on, tramping up and down as he talked. He really did not +want to be unkind to the Hare, but requests like this vexed him sorely. +"Don't you see, Harey, there are some people who will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> kiss me, and I +can't stop them—like Miss Turner, f'r instance." Miss Turner was the +matron. "And then there are some I've got to kiss, like aunts and +people. But one doesn't put in any extra, if one can help it. When I'm +grown-up I sha'n't have to kiss anybody, and that'll be jolly. I shall +never, never kiss at all, only shake hands or bow, like Escombe does."</p> + +<p>"Top-peen, you did keess me once time, last week!" The Hare was timidly +reproachful now.</p> + +<p>Toppin stood still and coloured.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I did. Because you bovvered me to, and—and you'd jumped in after +me!"</p> + +<p>"And shallent you—not ever—keess me once time more?"</p> + +<p>"Oh—well—look here! Perhaps when it's your birthday, if we get +somewhere quite secret, where nobody can possibly see us, I—I'll let +you have one—a quick one!"</p> + +<p>"T-thanks you!" said the grateful Hare.</p> + +<p>"It's 'thanks', or else 'thank you'," corrected Toppin.</p> + +<p>The Hare took no notice. He only tucked his arm affectionately into +Toppin's, knowing that he was keeping within his rights in doing so. +Toppin could say nothing. Arm-in-arm is quite correct and English!</p> + +<p>"I have som-ting to say. Zat Armitage—he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> did not ought to be gone +chasing paper. He is bad! I hate him, don' like him!"</p> + +<p>"Why?" enquired Toppin, with wide-open eyes.</p> + +<p>"Be-cause he try to drown you. I am—what is it?—to re-venge it!"</p> + +<p>"What awful rot you talk!" said Toppin. "He only did what I told him, +same as you would have done."</p> + +<p>"Oh no, he had ver' wickedness. Ever'body say he had. I am telling +many—one after one, by secret! And he is a debboy. Zey are more angry +for zat. So much better!"</p> + +<p>"Rubbish!" cried Toppin impatiently. "You've no business to tell anyone +anything. And you're looking fierce and ugly, Hare. Do put Armitage out +of your head, and come and have a see-saw!"</p> + +<p>The chase, meanwhile, had opened well. The track was unmistakable to +begin with, and it led right away from the town into the free country. +The pack of hounds spun gaily along at full tilt, and many a machine was +travelling at a pace it had not known for years. Every now and then +there was a small collision, ending generally in a tumble; but if anyone +was hurt, he kept it to himself, for all remounted and rode on, and +nobody waited behind to make enquiries.</p> + +<p>Of course there were any amount of false alarms, shouts and shrieks, +wavings and ring<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>ings, and Simmons's toot-toot sometimes went unheard in +the hubbub. Mr. Anderson grew quite boyishly excited, and kept bawling, +"Come on, you fellows, come on! Buck up! We'll run them down yet!" And +it is probable that Mr. West might have had a word to say had he seen +the pace at which the willing hounds obeyed.</p> + +<p>After one of the collisions above-mentioned, Grey, who was not a good +rider, and happened to be the last of the pack, came upon Cadbury, +dismounted, by the roadside.</p> + +<p>"What's up?" he cried, as he swayed laboriously past.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that you, Grey? Get down, there's a good fellow, and hold my bike a +jiffey. I'll tow you up the next hill, if you will. Thanks so much! I +had a spill just now, and my handlebar's got slewed round, and I can't +keep it straight and right it at the same time."</p> + +<p>The spanner had to be hunted out, the screw loosened, and the bar +straightened; and thus a little time was occupied.</p> + +<p>"Bother it! They're out of sight!" cried Cadbury when both were once +more ready to mount. "I suppose we shall see Andy tooling back soon, to +whip in the lazy pups! Never mind, I'll keep you company. Don't you +burst your wind! We'll take it quietly."</p> + +<p>"How they do yell! They've lost the trail,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> remarked Grey. "Hi! I say, +there's paper down this lane; look—and it has a bit of Green's writing +on it. You bet this is the true trail, and that the hares only scooted +along the main road a bit farther, on purpose to mislead."</p> + +<p>"You may be right. Anyhow, let's try our luck. It's downhill, so we can +put on steam. What sport if they all have to turn round, and find we're +in front instead of behind! Mind, old chappie, I'm passing on your right +... wait for you ... below!"</p> + +<p>The last words came faintly back; Cadbury had passed Grey like a streak +of lightning, his feet up, and his hands in his pockets.</p> + +<p>There was a turn in the lane farther down, so that Grey for a minute +lost sight of his comrade. He looked carefully ahead as he rounded it, +to see if the end of the descent were near. The hill only grew steeper, +but the end was a good deal nearer than he thought.</p> + +<p>A half-grown chicken, startled by his silent approach, sprang out of the +hedge and fluttered in front of his wheel, clucking madly. Grey pealed +his bell, but it had no effect on the distracted chicken, which seemed +bent on destruction. He clutched his brake; it would not work. There +came a stifled squawk, and a slight bump!</p> + +<p>In affright and agitation, Grey turned his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> machine into the hedge, and +tumbled off, somehow, anyhow, into the road.</p> + +<p>Five minutes later, Cadbury was toiling back up the hill in quest of his +school-fellow, when he came upon a very unexpected sight. A prostrate +bicycle beside a live, but bruised and dusty boy, who was sadly gazing +upon the body of a chicken.</p> + +<p>"My good Grey! Good gracious! What has happened? How did you manage it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Cadbury, I'm so glad to see you! Isn't it awful? I wouldn't have +run over it for worlds if I could have helped it, but it simply insisted +on it!"</p> + +<p>"Suicide while temporarily insane," put in Cadbury, covering his mouth +with his hand.</p> + +<p>"Well, it did look just as if it wanted to die! But what shall I have to +fork out, do you suppose? Five bob? I've got no more on me. Say, they +aren't likely to prosecute, are they?"</p> + +<p>Grey was really frightened. Cadbury looked at the picture again, tried +to take it seriously, failed, and burst into a fit of laughter.</p> + +<p>"Awfully sorry, Grey, but—ha, ha, ha!—what am I to do? You—ha, ha, +ha!—you do look a treat! I—ha, ha, ha!—I'll stop in a minute. Oh, ho, +ho, ho, ho, ho!"</p> + +<p>Poor Grey felt anything but amused. He gathered himself to his feet, and +remarked stiffly, "Well, Cadbury, when you've done—"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span></p> + +<p>Cadbury steadied himself with an effort.</p> + +<p>"It's all over now, Grey. I'm as grave as a judge. And to show you how +penitent I am, I'll see this job through for you. But you must obey me +to the letter. No, don't brush yourself! Just lie down again as you +were, and, however much you're tempted to, don't apologize! Be dignified +and injured."</p> + +<p>Grey objected, but was persuaded to submit.</p> + +<p>"Now to find the owner of this giddy young fowl! We'll see if they lay +claim to it here."</p> + +<p>Cadbury pushed open a little gate, and knocked at the door of the +nearest cottage. It proved to be the residence of the chicken's +mistress, an untidy, heavy-looking woman, who apparently lived alone. +Cadbury greeted her with the air of a constable, lawyer, and magistrate +rolled into one, and the woman listened with deep respect.</p> + +<p>"If the fowl of which I am speaking does belong to you," he pursued, in +stern and solemn tones, "I am sorry to tell you it has been the cause of +a most unfortunate accident that might have proved fatal. I suppose you +are well aware that cattle, poultry, and other domestic animals are +required to be kept under proper control. If you will kindly step +outside with me, I will show you what mischief has been done."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> + +<p>The woman, looking much concerned and a little frightened, followed +Cadbury meekly to the scene of disaster. When she saw the lifeless +chicken, she raised her hands in horror.</p> + +<p>"Dear, dear, dear, sir! Why, it's dead!"</p> + +<p>"And it's a very good thing, madam, for you and for all of us, that my +friend here is not dead," said Cadbury reprovingly. "The chicken did not +die until it had done its best to kill him. And also to wreck his +machine! A bicycle is a very costly thing. Grey, my dear fellow, are you +feeling a little better? You are sure no bones are broken?"</p> + +<p>Cadbury's voice was full of tender anxiety.</p> + +<p>"I think not, thanks," responded Grey without moving.</p> + +<p>"Dear, dear, dear, sir!" exclaimed the woman again. "Is there anything I +can do for you? I'm sure I'm very sorry; I am that!"</p> + +<p>"I'm sure you are," said Cadbury, softening towards her. "And we should +be most unwilling to take proceedings, or anything like that, if we can +only arrange things comfortably."</p> + +<p>At mention of the word "proceedings", the woman grew visibly more +uncomfortable. She pressed them to enter her cottage, and plied them +with plum loaf and unripe gooseberries!</p> + +<p>"You see, sir, I'm not so well up as I might be in law matters. Maybe +you're right, I won't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> say. It's hard to keep the chickens from +straying, but I'll mind 'em better in future, for their sake and my own +too. There's nobody regrets the haccident more'n I do; but I'm a poor +woman, and a fine would fall cruel 'eavy on me!"</p> + +<p>"I assure you, we wouldn't be hard on you for anything," exclaimed +Cadbury, still more kindly.</p> + +<p>"You're very good, sir. I don't really 'ardly know what to suggest, but +would the chicken be of any service to you now?"</p> + +<p>"The chicken! Well, I'm sure we can't refuse that. What say you, Grey?"</p> + +<p>"What on earth should we do with it?" muttered Grey.</p> + +<p>"Ah, there is one little difficulty, but only a slight one. Would you +add the small favour of roasting it for us, ma'am? We have no +convenience for cooking it. We should then call the matter settled, and +say no more about it."</p> + +<p>"Thank you kindly, sir. I'll roast it, and gladly. And where might I +bring it to, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, my goodness!" ejaculated Grey under his breath. Cadbury considered +a moment.</p> + +<p>"I think it will be better to leave it to be called for," he said +presently. "We shall probably send someone over next Wednesday."</p> + +<p>The woman looked mildly surprised at the suggested interval, but only +replied, "Very good,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> sir. Just when you please. It shall be ready. And +this is to go no further?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not. I'm sure you have made all the amends in your power, and +we are much obliged to you. Good afternoon! Come, Grey, do you feel as +if you could make a start? Lean on my arm, and I will help you."</p> + +<p>As the woman, grateful and relieved, closed her door, Grey gazed +admiringly at his school-fellow.</p> + +<p>"Cadbury, what a clever chap you are! I can't think how you worked it. +But I say, what about fetching the thing? Who's going to risk that?"</p> + +<p>"You are."</p> + +<p>"Me! What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"What I say. Aren't you expecting to visit your godmother next +Wednesday?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; and what's more, I must! She'd write and ask West why I didn't +turn up."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you'll turn up right enough! But you'll run over here first."</p> + +<p>"She lives bang in the opposite direction."</p> + +<p>"Never mind. You'll be an hour or so late for once. You must explain +that you were—well, detained! She can make what she likes of that."</p> + +<p>"Um! I don't feel over sweet on the job."</p> + +<p>"Possibly not; we can't always do what we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> like. It's your little part +in the game. I've done mine for the present. You must hide the chicken +away somehow and bring it home, and then I'll have a second innings, and +undertake all the risk."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 492px;"> +<img src="images/il044.png" width="492" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>By this time the top of the hill was gained once more. Of course any +idea of rejoining the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> paper-chase had to be given up, but a little +brushing and beating made Grey respectable, and he and Cadbury rode home +together, to confess to having lost the track, and to await the return +of the pack, who, after a capital run, had eventually captured the hares +at a most convenient spot—the door of a lemonade shop!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>A KNOCK AT THE WINDOW</h3> + + +<p>By mutual agreement the story of the chicken was kept secret for the +present, and the next three days passed uneventfully, except to Jack, +whose Sunday at home was no small event, though a weekly one. Lessons +were just ended on the following Wednesday morning, and Cadbury was +doing monitor's work in the school-room when Grey sidled up to him.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, Dapple-grey, you're the culprit I was wanting. These are your +things, aren't they?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but I was just going to put them away. You mustn't mark me!"</p> + +<p>"You've not forgotten the little call you have to pay this afternoon?"</p> + +<p>"I wanted to speak to you about that, Cadbury. It's very difficult for +me to do it, you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> know. What do you say—supposing we leave that chicken +alone? I don't want to go after it. And it's my chicken, you know."</p> + +<p>"Half of it," replied Cadbury. "You can leave your half behind if you +like, but I want mine. I earned it by getting you out of your scrape. +Look here, Grey! Here are five—six articles belonging to you. I put six +marks against your name, and that's half-way to an imp., unless you do +your duty towards that chicken."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dash it! Well, what have I to do?"</p> + +<p>"You can't carve, can you?"</p> + +<p>"Don't know. 'Spect so."</p> + +<p>"No, I'm sure you can't. It's an art. I can. So that settles it. I must +have the fowl first this evening; cut it up, and send on your portion to +your bedroom. Let the March Hare fetch it. He's a noiseless customer."</p> + +<p>"That won't do," said Grey. "Hallett wouldn't allow it. Since that last +pillow-fight, when his bolster knocked a can over and got soaked, he's +been awfully down on larks. He's sworn to lick the first boy who opens +the door after the gas is out—and he can do it, you know."</p> + +<p>"Very well, I'll send it <i>via</i> the window," said Cadbury coolly. "All +the same, I don't think you'll find Hallett's above eating it. When you +hear the chicken knock, open the window and let it in—that's all."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, it sounds easy enough to you! But supposing I get the chicken, +how am I to bring it into the house without being seen? Suppose I meet +West in the hall, or Miss Turner on the stairs, or the housemaid in your +bedroom? I defy you to hide a roast fowl about you, and I don't care for +getting into rows, if you do."</p> + +<p>"My dear Grey, we know you don't," said Cadbury. "You're an adept at +escaping them. But you needn't fear for this; I have a way out of the +hole. I'll drop a line from our window. You come round beneath it on +your return, before you enter the house, and tie the chicken firmly to +the end of it. Then, when the right time comes, I can haul it up. And +look here, don't let's explain to the other chaps how we came by the +chicken. Let's make a complete mystery of it for a day or two, and have +a lark over it."</p> + +<p>That seemed good fun. Grey gradually allowed himself to be persuaded to +perform his part of the task. Cadbury, in his turn, made what small +preparations seemed necessary. He upset a salt-cellar at dinner, and +managed to collect at least half the contents in his handkerchief. He +also made a collection of string, chiefly from the smaller boys, who +give without asking questions—or, at least, without demanding answers.</p> + +<p>Evening came at length, and with it Grey's return. A wink and a nod was +all the com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>munication that passed between him and Cadbury, but it +satisfied the latter that the chicken was in the garden, and for once he +longed for bed-time. In such a hurry was he when the happy hour arrived, +that he forgot to wait for Mr. West's departure, and was half-way +upstairs when he was called back with a rebuke for his breach of +manners.</p> + +<p>In the room over which Escombe Trevelyan was head slept also Cadbury, +Vickers, Jack Brady, and Toppin, the last-named being despatched to bed +an hour before the rest.</p> + +<p>"What's up, Cadburius?" enquired Trevelyan with an amused smile. "Got to +catch a train?"</p> + +<p>"No, a chicken!" was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Poor fellow, his mind's giving way!" said Jack.</p> + +<p>"Talking about chickens," broke in Vickers, "I saw the old cat sneaking +along just now with what looked for all the world like the leg of a fowl +in her mouth. You bet the masters are having a tuck-in to-night."</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it!" exclaimed Cadbury. "Depend upon it, she's been at our +chicken. The shameless, thieving beast!"</p> + +<p>"At yours, Cad?" This was uttered in chorus.</p> + +<p>"At mine—ours! It's a treat for us all. I was going to wait till lights +were out, but I daren't now. The cat'll have the rest if we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> aren't +quick; perhaps she's eaten it already. Keep cave by the door, Jack, +while I haul in the line."</p> + +<p>Few things really astonish a boy. Cadbury was regarded as capable of +anything, and when the sash was cautiously raised, and the string pulled +up, the fact that a real roast chicken, half-wrapped in newspaper, +dangled at the end, caused more amusement than amazement.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm blowed! Where did this grow?"</p> + +<p>"I shall drop a line to-morrow—two lines—and see what comes up."</p> + +<p>"It'll be the old cat, likely."</p> + +<p>"Hush! I must stow this away till Pepper's been round," said Cadbury, +hastily stuffing the bird into his own bed.</p> + +<p>There was not long to wait; Mr. Peace appeared almost before they were +ready for him. Mr. Peace was the senior resident master, whose short +temper had won for him the above nickname. His back was scarcely turned, +the boys were still responding cordially to his rather gruff +"Good-night", when Cadbury drew the chicken forth and waved it +triumphantly in his hand. Trevelyan, who was next the window, pulled the +blind up silently. It was a brilliant moonlight night, so that gas was +unneeded.</p> + +<p>"The cat has had her full share," Cadbury remarked sadly. "But never +mind. Half the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> chicken belongs to Gr—, to the next room, I mean, and +as I've got the trouble of carving, I shall give them the Pussy-half. +It'll be all right, they won't know; they'll only think I cut it rather +roughly."</p> + +<p>"And our reluctance to share supper with the cat is purely a matter of +sentiment," added Vickers. "'Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be +wise.'"</p> + +<p>"There goes Chickabiddy!" exclaimed Jack, as the fowl suddenly sprang +from Cadbury's bed into the middle of the floor. He hopped out and +recaptured it.</p> + +<p>"Thanks! Well, it's no easy job, I do assure you, to divide a fowl on a +bed, with no plate, no fork, and only a penknife. I can carve well +enough under civilized conditions, but—"</p> + +<p>"Tell us how you came by it, old man," said Jack, who was trying to +decide in his own mind whether he should consent or refuse to join the +feast. He liked chicken very much indeed, and what would they think if +he declined it! Besides, there was no rule against eating chicken in the +bedrooms. True, there was something about "No eatables to be taken +upstairs". But then the chicken had not been taken upstairs; it had come +by a lift. Still, Jack could not quite quiet the little voice within.</p> + +<p>"No, I won't shock you with details," replied<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> Cadbury mischievously. +"Perhaps you wouldn't eat it if I did."</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to anyhow, thanks very much," returned Jack with sudden +determination. "There'll be all the more for the rest of you, won't +there?"</p> + +<p>"Don't talk nonsense!" exclaimed Trevelyan. "Of course you'll have some! +If I think fit to eat it, you may. Don't play the blameless prig, for +goodness' sake!"</p> + +<p>"Brady thinks I've filched it," said Cadbury.</p> + +<p>"Brady doesn't want a nightmare," rejoined Jack, laughing, "though he +thinks it awfully kind of Trevelyan to answer for his conscience."</p> + +<p>"You won't refuse the merry-thought—just for luck, Jack!"</p> + +<p>"I have too many of my own generally, specially at Pepper's classes."</p> + +<p>"Oh, pinch Brady, somebody! He's punning!" cried Cadbury. "There! it's +come in two at last!" and he surveyed his handiwork with great pride. +"Now to send along the next room's share!"</p> + +<p>Wrapping it in the torn newspaper, he tied it to the string once more, +opened the window very gently, and after several unsuccessful efforts +whirled it thump against the adjoining window, and waited till a pull at +the line showed that it was received.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> + +<p>After a few minutes there came a faint whip at their own window-pane, +and Trevelyan took in a scrap of paper weighted with a bull's-eye. +Seeing there was some writing on it, he struck a match, and read:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>You've bagged the biggest half.</i><br /><i>Send us some salt.</i><br /><i>Please +return bull's-eye.</i><br /><i>Where's our leg?</i></p></div> + +<p>In answer Cadbury screwed up a pinch of salt, and scribbled on the +paper:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Ask the cat.</i><br /><i>Mind you don't leave your bones about.</i></p></div> + +<p>Needless to say, the bull's-eye was not returned.</p> + +<p>The packet was tossed on to the neighbouring sill, and then they settled +down to enjoy their meal in peace. It was well that there was not +overmuch light, for they could not consume it elegantly. As a matter of +fact, they gnawed it in an ogreish fashion, and in such haste that they +could scarcely stop to plunge their bones into the salt for a +flavouring.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you're quite sure this is chicken, Cadbury?" said Vickers +presently.</p> + +<p>"Quite. Why do you ask?" mumbled Cadbury.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It struck me as being rather—well, a trifle gamy, nothing more."</p> + +<p>"Pretend it's pheasant, then," said Cadbury.</p> + +<p>"Mayn't I have a little bit?"</p> + +<p>The sleepy voice came from Toppin's bed.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," replied his elder brother promptly. "Chicken at night +is bad for little boys—high chicken especially. Tuck your head in, and +don't let me hear you speak again, or I'll come to you with a slipper."</p> + +<p>Toppin was kept in very strict order by his brother, and the boys, who +were used to his methods, made no remark.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, in the midst of the cracking and munching, Jack exclaimed in a +whisper, "Cave! I hear feet!"</p> + +<p>In an instant all the chicken-bones, salt, paper, and penknives were +swooped off the counterpanes, and every boy lay flat and shut his eyes.</p> + +<p>That same moment, to their untold vexation, a merry peal of laughter +rang out from the next room. And the approaching tread of a man's feet, +quick and regular, was heard by all.</p> + +<p>"The daft maniacs!" growled Trevelyan between his teeth.</p> + +<p>Their door was first opened, and Mr. Peace walked in. Of course, he was +received with dead silence.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now, boys, you needn't feign sleep, because we know you're wide awake. +You've been talking, too. Trevelyan!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 487px;"> +<img src="images/il054.png" width="487" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"You are head of this room; what's the blind up for?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We—we like to see the stars," suggested Trevelyan.</p> + +<p>"H'mph! Was it you who laughed just now?"</p> + +<p>"Oh no, sir. My brother woke up a few minutes ago, and I advised him to +go to sleep."</p> + +<p>Nothing could have sounded more innocent, and perhaps Mr. Peace would +have moved on without saying any more, but that, even as he turned to +go, there came a little crash at the window-pane.</p> + +<p>The boys held their breath in suspense. Trevelyan bit his lip till the +blood oozed, and Cadbury covered his face with his hands. Even Jack +trembled. Only Vickers lay apparently unconcerned.</p> + +<p>"I suppose that was a poor bird dashed itself against the window," he +murmured.</p> + +<p>"Do you, Vickers? I don't," replied Mr. Peace, striding forward. "Ah, +your poor bird has cracked the glass, my boy! I will invite Mr. West to +come to your window to-morrow to see a star of another kind."</p> + +<p>So saying, the master threw up the sash and laid his hand on a small +parcel roughly wrapped and tied with string. It did not escape his +notice that the string had an unusually long end, which seemed to be +attached to something until he wrested it away. The boys felt more +uncomfortable every moment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> + +<p>Keeping the parcel in his hand, Mr. Peace shut the window very +deliberately, drew down the blind, and lit the gas. Then he turned the +packet over. Scrawled upon it in large printed letters were these words:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>BURY OUR BONES WITH YOURS.</i></p></div> + +<p>Mr. Peace read them out slowly, with a pause between each. Having done +so, he looked round at the inmates of the room, surveying them one by +one. Then he stooped to inspect Trevelyan's counterpane. At last he +opened the parcel, and found what the boys knew only too surely he would +find—a handful of well-picked chicken bones. It was a trying moment.</p> + +<p>"And where are <i>your</i> bones?" he asked presently. There was an awkward +hesitation; then Cadbury, seeing there was no escape, replied meekly, +"Under our pillows, sir."</p> + +<p>"How horrible!" ejaculated the master with a shudder. He walked to a +washhand-stand and selected a large sponge-dish. Depositing in it the +greasy parcel he was carrying, he handed it gravely to Trevelyan.</p> + +<p>"Put all your bones—your chicken bones—in this, please!" he said.</p> + +<p>Trevelyan obeyed, and passed it to Vickers, and so the collection went +the round of the room, only passing over Toppin, who was asleep,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> with +his arm tossed above his head. Mr. Peace handed the dish to Jack, but he +shook his head:</p> + +<p>"Haven't got any, sir."</p> + +<p>"Who cooked it?" enquired the master.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, sir," answered Trevelyan.</p> + +<p>"Brady?"</p> + +<p>"Nor do I, sir."</p> + +<p>"Vickers?"</p> + +<p>"Honestly, I haven't the dimmest notion, sir, though it sounds funny to +say so."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you can see the fun. I'm sorry to say it sounds to me too much +like lying."</p> + +<p>"Sir!" Escombe Trevelyan sat up in bed with flashing eyes to emphasize +his indignation.</p> + +<p>Mr. Peace turned to him, and stamped his foot angrily.</p> + +<p>"Lie down, Trevelyan, at once! You dare to speak to me like that! +Cadbury, you're the only one I haven't asked. Who cooked this fowl?"</p> + +<p>"A woman, sir. I—don't know her name."</p> + +<p>"All right! We'll reserve further enquiries till the morning. If you +take my advice, you'll all make up your minds to speak the truth then."</p> + +<p>Having delivered this cutting speech, Mr. Peace left the bedroom with +the bones.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>THE STORM BREAKS</h3> + + +<p>Ten of the Brincliffe boys passed a very bad night. The nightmare, at +which Jack had jokingly hinted, was unpleasantly real; there was no +dispelling it. Everybody knew that everybody around him was wide awake, +but nobody felt inclined to speak.</p> + +<p>By and by the daylight came, and brought a little more courage with it.</p> + +<p>"After all, I don't care two straws!" exclaimed Cadbury abruptly.</p> + +<p>"Who do you suppose does?" said Trevelyan.</p> + +<p>Vickers raised himself on his elbow.</p> + +<p>"I suggest, Cadbury, that you give us no more information than you have +done (which is practically nothing) regarding the source of the supper."</p> + +<p>"It should have been bread-sauce," put in Cadbury.</p> + +<p>"This isn't the time for puns," said Vickers severely. "I was going to +add that in our ignorance lies our only chance of safety. There is +certain to be trouble over this affair, and there are three or four +points about it which seem to aggravate our case. You see, +first"—bringing his fingers into action—"it was Pepper who caught<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> us, +and he's a Tartar at all times. Would that it had been Andy! Second, +West may take it as a reflection on his table. Third—"</p> + +<p>"Would you mind going on talking for an hour or two, Vick?" interrupted +Cadbury in a drowsy voice. "I find it very helpful and soothing. Of +course, if you could sing the words it would be a still more perfect +lullaby."</p> + +<p>Vickers, mistaking the voice for Jack's, flung a sponge at the wrong +head, and relapsed into silence. Jack, roused at this injustice, dipped +the sponge into his water-jug, and returned it with force. Vickers +ducked, and it exploded against the wall above his head. Cadbury watched +and chuckled. The shadow cast by coming events had not quite overwhelmed +the boys' spirits.</p> + +<p>When they were called, the boot-boy laid a book on Cadbury's bed as he +passed. The inside of the cover was found to contain the following words +in Grey's handwriting:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Dear C.,—For pity's sake, dress quick, and meet me 5' before the +bell in the housemaid's cupboard. There's standing-room.—E. G.</i></p></div> + +<p>Now, though they had been thrown together in the chicken incident, +Cadbury and Grey were not bosom friends, and Cadbury did not feel +particularly eager for this interview. But he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> good-naturedly did as he +was asked, and sneaked out of his room five minutes before the bell had +rung which formally permitted the boys to leave.</p> + +<p>He found Grey already awaiting him in the chosen rendezvous among +brooms, dusters, and pails. It is true there was standing-room, but it +was dangerous to move. As the cupboard door opened to admit him, it let +in enough light to reveal Grey's white, frightened face, and as he +pulled Cadbury inside the latter noticed the clammy "frogginess" of his +hands. He drew the door to very carefully.</p> + +<p>"Good-morning!" said Cadbury. "This is a pleasant spot to meet in. So +romantic!"</p> + +<p>"Cadbury, how can you joke, when it's all up with us?" Grey's voice was +quite hoarse.</p> + +<p>"What's the good of looking forward? Seize the flying moment, and suck +honey while you may. That's my motto."</p> + +<p>"But you think with me; it <i>is</i> all up with us?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid that's about the long and the short of it. Pepper was very +hot and red last night,—regular Cayenne, in fact; and I have noticed +that Cayenne at night spells Cane in the morning."</p> + +<p>"Cadbury, please stop making fun! I—can't bear it. You don't care, but +I do. I haven't slept a wink all night."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Pick up your spirit, then, and pocket your fears. I'll stand by you, +and take my full share. We'll brace ourselves together and face the +music."</p> + +<p>"Oh no, I can't! I can't! I'm younger than you. I never asked the woman +for the chicken, and I begged you to let me off fetching it. You can +call me a coward if you like; I don't care! I am afraid!"</p> + +<p>There was silence for a moment, and then Cadbury spoke, but in an +altered voice.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say that you want me to leave your name out entirely?"</p> + +<p>"Y—yes. If I get in a row it'll be mentioned in my report, and I shall +catch it at home. I don't believe you feel things like I do. And it was +all your doing, wasn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Mostly. Very well, I sha'n't mention you, Grey."</p> + +<p>And with that Cadbury marched out of the housemaid's cupboard with his +hands in his pockets.</p> + +<p>Prayers were followed by early prep., and early prep., by breakfast, +without a word on the subject uppermost in the minds of so many. The +day-boys arrived, and saw at once that something was up, though what +they could not make out. But at ten minutes to nine Mr. Peace entered +the room with an excited air, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> announced that all the boys were to +stand together as at drill. Mr. West wished to speak to them.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 495px;"> +<img src="images/il062.png" width="495" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>The head appeared almost immediately, and ordered the occupants of the +two rooms, headed by Hallett and Trevelyan, to stand in front.</p> + +<p>He began with a short, studied preface about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> "an unpleasant duty" and +"flagrant breach of rules"; then gave a brief <i>résumé</i> of what had taken +place, and proceeded to personal enquiries.</p> + +<p>"Where did the chicken come from? Who brought it into the house?"</p> + +<p>Cadbury stood forward.</p> + +<p>"So you are responsible for this, Cadbury? Anyone else?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"How did you obtain possession of the chicken?"</p> + +<p>"It—got run over—and killed—in bicycling. I mean, I was bicycling."</p> + +<p>"Did you steal it, then, or buy it?"</p> + +<p>"The woman it belonged to gave it to me, sir."</p> + +<p>"After you'd run over it?"</p> + +<p>"After it was dead, sir."</p> + +<p>"And who cooked it?"</p> + +<p>"She did, sir."</p> + +<p>"Cadbury, Cadbury! how dare you put forward such a story as this? I +can't believe a word of it."</p> + +<p>"It's true, sir."</p> + +<p>"True! that after you had killed a chicken, the owner not only presented +you with it, but undertook to cook it for you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>Mr. West's only comment on this affirmation was a deep sigh.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> + +<p>Further examination failed to make Cadbury contradict himself; but to +certain enquiries he politely declined to furnish an answer.</p> + +<p>"Was any boy with you at the time who can bear witness to your story?</p> + +<p>"Will you give me this woman's address, that I may send for her?</p> + +<p>"How did you manage to get the chicken after it was cooked?"</p> + +<p>Such questions as these drew forth nothing.</p> + +<p>At length Mr. West, without expressing any opinion, passed on to the +subject of the cracked window, but he could not persuade any of +Hallett's room to own to the accident. He threatened, he even +entreated,—in vain. The clock ticked on; it was a quarter past nine, +and everyone was very tired of standing, when the enquiry was brought to +an end, and sentence pronounced.</p> + +<p>Green and another boy named Buckland were complimented on having "wisely +and most properly" kept themselves and their respective rooms entirely +outside the affair. Cadbury, on his own confession—"an extraordinary, +and, I am bound to say, improbable tale"—was to suffer first and worst, +and had the doubtful distinction of accompanying Mr. West there and then +to his study. Next, the inmates of Hallett's and Trevelyan's rooms were +doomed to forego supper<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> for three days, Hallett's room being sentenced +in addition to pay for the mending of the cracked pane. Lastly, and this +was the part of the sentence that roused the whole school, all—boarders +and day-boys alike—were to forfeit the next half-holiday.</p> + +<p>The day-boys looked so exceedingly blank at the news that Mr. West added +that he included them because, "as long as I can obtain no full +confession, I am compelled to regard you, with all your opportunities +and freedom, as being as much under suspicion as the rest". He wound up +by observing that no doubt it was "the old, hard case of the many +suffering for the few", but this did not afford much consolation to his +aggrieved pupils.</p> + +<p>Of course there was nothing to be said at the time, but as soon as they +were alone they fell into clusters, and gave vent to their opinions by +storming at one another.</p> + +<p>"Abominable!"</p> + +<p>"Beastly unfair!"</p> + +<p>"The meanest thing I ever heard!"</p> + +<p>These were the kind of expressions that floated about the room.</p> + +<p>But one small group, of which Hallett was the principal member, instead +of reviling the head-master, was expending its wrath upon a fellow-boy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The cowardly young toad! Had to do with it, you say? I should think he +had, indeed! A good deal more than we've any idea of."</p> + +<p>"Well, we know he did the window."</p> + +<p>"We do, and he shall have the pleasure of paying for that. He shall, if +it empties his cash-box for a year following. Those members of the room +who yearn to subscribe may do so."</p> + +<p>"He was on the outlook for the chicken, you remember. Of course he must +have known all about it. Cadbury can confirm that."</p> + +<p>"<i>Can</i>, but you don't know Cadbury if you think he will. What I say is, +ask the young sneak himself. Put it to him straight, and let's see that +we get the truth. Why, we should never have lost our half if he had +owned up with Cadbury."</p> + +<p>"And it's so jolly rough on Cadbury too! Why should one be licked and +not the other?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, we'll see to the other if necessary. But let's hear what he says +for himself. By the way, where is he?"</p> + +<p>Where indeed? A careful search revealed the hapless Grey huddled up in +the book-room, terrified and miserable.</p> + +<p>"Here he is! Hoping to be taken for the <i>Treasury of Knowledge</i>," cried +his discoverer, and straightway dragged him into the light. There was a +rush to the book-room.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + +<p>Grey was put to the question, failed to clear himself, found guilty—and +licked.</p> + +<p>Jack Brady was the centre of another group, which seemed inclined to be +angry with him.</p> + +<p>"Brady's no business to have his supper stopped," said Trevelyan. "He +never touched a morsel of that wretched fowl."</p> + +<p>"He ought to have told West so."</p> + +<p>"Such nonsense!" exclaimed Jack. "I could have eaten some if I'd wanted +to. Now, Toppin's case is different. He wasn't allowed to have any. I +vote we sign a petition in favour of him. It will really be hard cheese +if he's made to suffer."</p> + +<p>"Toppin, here!"</p> + +<p>The boy was chanting over his spelling, but he hopped up promptly at his +elder brother's call.</p> + +<p>"They say they are going to get up a petition to have you let off the +sentence for our room, because you didn't eat any chicken."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'd hate to be let off!" exclaimed Toppin. "I know it's because I'm +little, and I want to be treated as if I was big like the rest. I'd +heaps rather! 'Sides, I would have eaten some chicken if you'd have let +me, so it's same as if I had done, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"You hear, Brady?" said Trevelyan with a laugh. "A nice pair of lawyers +you'd make!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> Two exactly contrary arguments are used to persuade us of +the very same fact."</p> + +<p>"Well, it comes to this, that we want all to share and share alike. +Isn't that it, Top?"</p> + +<p>Jack tweaked the defiant tuft as he put the question, and Toppin laughed +up at him and nodded.</p> + +<p>The most unfortunate effect of the whole incident was the bitterness +which it revived in the day-scholars. It had almost seemed as if time +was breaking down the wall of enmity which was so strong at the +beginning. But today's work strengthened it still further. The day-boys +had congregated together, and were speaking their minds in tones that +were the more seriously angry because they were subdued.</p> + +<p>"This is what they wanted, to bring us into trouble; and a lot they care +that they're in the same boat!" The theory was Bacon's, and he announced +it with confidence.</p> + +<p>"It's the spirit of the thing one kicks at—the spite, the injustice! +Not the loss of the half!" declaimed Mason with warmth.</p> + +<p>"Let's pay 'em out!" said Simmons.</p> + +<p>"How, Lew?" Hughes put the question, but all waited eagerly for the +answer.</p> + +<p>Simmons might be small, but he was brimful of bright ideas.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Fight," he replied. "We're much fewer, but it would be mostly a matter +of siege and stratagem, and if we planned it out, I bet we could give +them a wipe-down."</p> + +<p>"I mayn't fight," said Frere sadly. "They won't allow me to."</p> + +<p>"And I'm awfully afraid I can't," added Hughes.</p> + +<p>"What's more, you sha'n't, Ethel!" said Simmons, who was amusingly +careful of his friend's health. "There'll be lots of quiet work for you +and Frere—scouting and so forth."</p> + +<p>"I'm nuts on fighting," put in Armitage.</p> + +<p>"As for me, I'm spoiling for the fray," laughed Mason, exhibiting the +muscle of his arm with great pride.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, it will teach them to respect us anyway. And that will be +something gained," said Simmons. "Mason, will you captain us?"</p> + +<p>"Not much! No, I'll do my duty as a lieutenant, but I am no commander. +Nor are you. You're too little."</p> + +<p>"Napoleon—Nelson!" muttered Simmons. He would have liked the offer of +the post, and his size was a sore point with him.</p> + +<p>"Jack Brady must be captain," said Bacon firmly, and all agreed with +him.</p> + +<p>"However could we have forgotten him?" exclaimed Hughes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He's the right man, if he'll consent," remarked Mason. "But I wish I +felt sure about that."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 492px;"> +<img src="images/il070.png" width="492" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Well, I see at the present moment he's hobnobbing with the enemy," said +Hughes doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but he's really one of us, he has been all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> along," cried Simmons. +"Here, Brady, you're wanted."</p> + +<p>"At your service," said Jack merrily, and, breaking off his conversation +with Trevelyan and Vickers, he joined the group of day-boys.</p> + +<p>"Brady, have you heard that they've dragged us into this row? That our +half's stopped along with the boarders'? Though none of us ever saw or +tasted so much as a drum-stick!"</p> + +<p>"None of you? Ever?" put in Jack. "That's a big order, Piggy-wig."</p> + +<p>"You know what I mean," rejoined Bacon. "They might have had a swan or a +peacock for all we knew about it."</p> + +<p>"But, my dear fellow, it's West you must blame. No one mentioned you."</p> + +<p>"No, but not one of them had the honesty to stand out and clear us—to +assure him we'd nothing to do with it," said Mason. "Instead of that +they are careful to turn it into a mystery, on purpose that we may all +be suspected."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, it's only just a single half that's lost. It'll soon be +over and forgotten."</p> + +<p>"Will it?" cried Simmons indignantly. "I fancy it will be remembered +longer than you think by some. We mean to pay them in full for their +mean spite. We're going to unite and fight."</p> + +<p>"Oh, challenge them to a cricket match in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>stead! I'll play for you. +Think how much more sportive that will be! Not to say, sensible."</p> + +<p>"Come, Brady, we're not babies. We mean to make them sorry by force."</p> + +<p>"Take care you're not made sorry by force, Lucy!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, never fear! The masters won't know anything at all about it if we +can help it. We shall pick our opportunity. But look here, Brady, you've +got to captain us!"</p> + +<p>"Bothered if I do!" said Jack.</p> + +<p>"Very well, don't! Go over to the boarders instead, as you want to, and +repeat everything we've told you." Bacon spoke angrily.</p> + +<p>"Piggy-wig, don't be a fool! If you want me to quarrel either with your +set or with the other chaps, I say I won't, and that's flat! You must +take me as you find me, and if you're all bent on fighting and making +geese of yourselves, I shall just stay as I am—once for all—Jack of +Both Sides."</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>THE MARCH HARE'S REVENGE</h3> + + +<p>Cling, clang—creak! Cling, clang—creak! So the discordant bell sounded +forth in the playground, the interval between the strokes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> being filled +by a harsh, rusty squeak that set one's teeth on edge. The message it +bore to the boys was, "Come in—quick! Come in—quick!" For the time was +ten minutes to nine, and the day that following the incident which was +already known as the Chicken Row.</p> + +<p>The monitors this week were Brady, Bacon, and Armitage, and they had +already gone in to their duties. The old bell always went on ringing for +two minutes, and the boys were in the habit of waiting until it was on +the point of ceasing, when they obeyed it with a rush.</p> + +<p>But on this particular morning the day-scholars seemed, for some reason +best known to themselves, one and all consumed with zeal for their +studies. At the first preparatory creak they made a simultaneous dash +for the entrance, which caused much mirth amongst the boarders.</p> + +<p>Cadbury waved his arm in their direction, and turned up his eyes with an +air of mock tragedy, while he spouted with rolling "r's":</p> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'>"How fair a sight it is to see<br /> +Youth lay aside its giddy glee,<br /> +Athirst for learning's boundless sea!<br /> +How different from you and me!"</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>"My dear boys," said Vickers, with pretended solemnity, "I require +obedience in you, but I desire something more—something which you can +give, but I cannot command. That some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>thing is cheerful obedience—ready +obedience—obedience that hurries gladly at the call of duty. And now +that you see a pattern of such obedience, you might do worse than copy +it."</p> + +<p>His imitation of Mr. West's emphatic voice and rather studied manner was +so true to life that it was greeted with a roar of laughter, and for +once Vickers had the gratification of seeing his wit appreciated. The +very phrase, "you might do worse", was a favourite with the head-master, +and one which the boys had long ago selected for mimicry.</p> + +<p>But now there came the faint, irregular stroke that foretold the +stopping of the bell, and the boys moved quickly towards the entrance, +and began to jostle one another in their haste. On reaching the door, +however, much fumbling and kicking began.</p> + +<p>"Hi, you in front there! Look sharp and go in! We're waiting!" cried +Hallett in a voice of angry authority, and pushing commenced in the +rear.</p> + +<p>"It's no good pushing; it's stuck!" was holloaed back, and the kicking +and banging increased in vigour.</p> + +<p>"What nonsense! Let me come! It must be opened! Won't Pepper wire into +us in a minute!"</p> + +<p>Green elbowed his way to the front, and turned the handle violently. +Only once, and then he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> faced round with the exclamation, "You fools! +It's locked!"</p> + +<p>At which news much breath and a little time were wasted in furious +threats towards those by whom they had been tricked.</p> + +<p>"Won't they pay for this!"</p> + +<p>"West shall hear if they don't let us in sharp."</p> + +<p>"I'll knock their heads together when I do get in!"</p> + +<p>"The impudent beggars! We'll give them such a lesson!"</p> + +<p>But within all was glee and triumph. Simmons and Bacon fairly danced +with malicious satisfaction, whilst Armitage and Mason chuckled grimly.</p> + +<p>"What'll they do? Go round to the front?"</p> + +<p>"They'll catch it if they do."</p> + +<p>"We shall too if the joke once reaches West," said Jack. "Don't you +think you might wind up the trick now, and let them in?"</p> + +<p>"All in good time," said Mason coolly. The banging at the entrance grew +terrific, and though separated from the first class-room by a long +passage, he had to raise his voice to be heard above it. "Let's be quite +sure that we're ready for them. You—Bacon and Armitage—have you done +your job?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, properly."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We ought to, for we've been at it nearly half an hour."</p> + +<p>"And you others—Brady, Ethel, Lucy, et cetera—you've all got your +books ready?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, sir," laughed Simmons.</p> + +<p>"What was your job, Armie?" asked Jack. He had been engrossed in inking +new slates.</p> + +<p>Armitage smothered a laugh.</p> + +<p>"Muddling, Jack, my boy, muddling! And a truly artistic muddle have we +made. It's been a game of 'General Post' with the books. The +dictionaries have taken the atlases' place, the Greek grammars have +deposed the Latins, and—"</p> + +<p>"Hist!" interrupted Jack. "I smell Pepper! We must whistle to Ethel." +And without waiting for permission he did so.</p> + +<p>"Ethel" was posted down the long passage by the school entrance, with +instructions to turn the key back when he heard the signal. The sound of +unlocking was drowned in the hubbub without, and, turning, he fled +noiselessly up the passage and into the school-room, at the identical +moment in which two others made their appearance there—namely Mr. +Peace, through the opposite door, and Norman Hallett outside the window!</p> + +<p>"Now, then, where is everybody?" cried the fussy little master, seeing +less than a dozen boys assembled for work. Then his eye fell on +Hal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>lett's pale, angry face peering through the glass. "Why, Hallett +outside? What's the meaning of this? What's the meaning of this?"</p> + +<p>"Do you think perhaps they didn't hear the bell, sir?" suggested +Simmons. "They've been making rather a noise outside."</p> + +<p>Mr. Peace was not deceived by the boy's demureness.</p> + +<p>"You want your ears boxed, you rogue!" he began; but at that moment in +surged a torrent of rather frightened, very wrathful boys, who had been +unprofitably spending the last half-minute in striving with penknives to +force the lock of the already unfastened door.</p> + +<p>However, the rudiments of school honour forbade their furnishing the +master with an account of the occurrence, and they had to content +themselves with breathing dark threats to those day-boys who crossed +their path in the frantic rush to the book-room.</p> + +<p>At sight of that rush a few of the milder spirits, such as Hughes and +Frere, held their breath in dreadful foreboding, while the unconscious +Mr. Peace roared:</p> + +<p>"Now, then, how long do you mean to stay in there? The clock's on the +strike. I mark every boy who isn't in his place when it stops! Do you +hear me? Do you hear me, I say?"</p> + +<p>"No," responded Cadbury, without thinking.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> Then, poking his head out, +"What are we to do, sir, please? We can't find our books. Everything is +changed. It's worse than a spring cleaning. Won't you look and see, +sir?"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 491px;"> +<img src="images/il078.png" width="491" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Before the invitation could be answered, there was an impatient knock of +authority in the school-room—a rap of knuckles upon a desk<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>—and +everyone knew what that meant. Mr. West had entered, and was being kept +waiting.</p> + +<p>With what books they had managed to grab—some the right ones, many the +wrong—the boarders slunk red-faced to their places, there to realize +their luck, and perchance to discover their mistakes. Cadbury had no +book at all. Green found himself hugging Toppin's <i>Little Reader</i> +instead of <i>Elementary Physics</i>; and Hallett might make what use he +could of the March Hare's <i>English Conversation</i> when he came to open +it.</p> + +<p>The pages of the masters' registers fairly bristled with black marks +that unhappy morning. Grey was for bringing the enemy to book, and +reporting his evil devices, but his elders quashed the proposal.</p> + +<p>"You silly duffer! As if we couldn't deal with them ourselves. Wait till +lunch. There's a rod in pickle for them, and they know it."</p> + +<p>Yes, the day-boys had a suspicion that there was a lively time +approaching, but so set-up were they by their recent victory that they +quite looked forward to it.</p> + +<p>Jack was less happy. He read the resolve in the boarders' faces, and +knew that they saw no joke in that morning's events. And he wondered +where the war would end. It seemed the final upset of all those little +efforts towards har<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span>mony and good-temper to which he had given himself +from the hour of his arrival at Brincliffe.</p> + +<p>Among the junior scholars sat a dark-complexioned boy with very white +teeth. It was the March Hare. To-day there was a queer gleam in his +eyes, and a flush of carmine in his sallow cheeks. His <i>English +Conversation</i> was not to be found when wanted, and the fact called down +upon him a sharp rebuke from a master, but his face expressed no regret.</p> + +<p>"There must have been a ringleader in this," remarked another boarder in +his hearing during a momentary absence of the master. "I wish to +goodness we knew who it was!"</p> + +<p>"A reng-lidder?" repeated the March Hare. "I don' know zat word. But if +you mean ze boy who done ze much most—ze baddest of all ze bads—ah, I +know him! Yes, I mark him long, long time. An' I wait."</p> + +<p>"What d'ye mean, Harey? Who is it?"</p> + +<p>"Nev-er mat-ter," said the March Hare mysteriously; and at that point +Mr. Anderson re-entered the room.</p> + +<p>On went the hands of the clock. At one minute to eleven all was peaceful +and orderly. At eleven the masters departed for the usual brief +interval. At one minute past eleven all was war and tumult!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> + +<p>How, where, with whom the conflict commenced it is impossible to say. +There was no warning, no formal outbreak—only in a moment the quiet +room became a battle-field, filled with a seething crowd of furious, +struggling lads.</p> + +<p>An odd feature of the battle was its comparative silence. It was to +everyone's interest to avoid attracting attention, and the sound of +blows was louder than the sound of voices.</p> + +<p>Here, Bacon was felled by Trevelyan; there, Vickers by Mason. The result +was the same in either case. The fallen arose undaunted and without a +word; only a look of keener determination settled on each face.</p> + +<p>There was scarcely time for rallying, but, as far as was possible, the +day-boys closed in together to resist the attack of their more numerous +foes. Hughes and poor Frere both found themselves forced into battle, +willy-nilly. Jack, whose natural instinct was to side with the weaker +party, found neutrality impossible, and the part he had chosen very +hard. The day-boys were prepared for his vagaries, but the boarders were +perplexed and bewildered by his conduct. Was he partisan or traitor? One +moment they saw him pressing his handkerchief to Green's bleeding nose; +the next he was forcing a way for plucky Simmons to reach his friends: +now he must needs shut Toppin up in the book-room<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> for safety—against +his will, of course; then he was heard imparting to the tearful Frere a +few hints on self-defence.</p> + +<p>Very soon there was no doubt in which direction the tide of victory was +flowing. Numbers began to tell, and the day-boys were being forced +steadily backwards towards the wall, away from the class-rooms, where +they had hoped, if necessary, to be able to entrench themselves.</p> + +<p>A foolish idea of making use of the long table suggested itself to +Mason. A tug and a shove, and they had pulled it round to shield them.</p> + +<p>"You lunatics! You're giving them twenty fresh chances at once!" cried +Jack desperately. "They can squeeze you into surrendering directly!"</p> + +<p>"I believe he's right!" muttered Bacon, and they strove to get free +again.</p> + +<p>But it was not easy to rid themselves of the table when once they were +ranked behind it. The boarders saw their opportunity, and a last fierce +combat began.</p> + +<p>Something—Jack never knew what it was—suddenly impelled him to dive +under the table.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Jack, we don't fight underground!" exclaimed Cadbury mockingly; but +Jack paid no heed.</p> + +<p>Cadbury was wrong; there was a very definite<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> attack being made beneath +cover of the table, where it was least suspected. An attack, too, of a +kind that would have been thought impossible.</p> + +<p>It was very dark under there, but Jack was at once certain that he was +not the only hider from the light. A small, lithe figure was wriggling +along the floor in front of him, passing one pair of legs after another, +but scanning each in turn.</p> + +<p>Jack's hand was almost upon it. The words "This isn't fair play!" were +bursting from his lips, when the figure ceased to crawl. It was opposite +a pair of ribbed brown stockings clothing two sturdy legs, when it +stopped, and drew something forth from somewhere about its person.</p> + +<p>At sight of this, a chill of horror seemed to freeze Jack, and for the +moment he was struck dumb. Stiffly he put forward a hand which seized, +as in a grip of iron, the thin right arm of the figure before him. It +was the arm of the March Hare, and in its hand was an open penknife.</p> + +<p>The sudden clutch was wholly unexpected, and the knife dropped. With his +other hand Jack picked it up. As he did so, the March Hare uttered a +cry. It was neither loud nor long, but there was something so startling +in it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> that the commotion of the fight ceased suddenly, and in the midst +of a strange stillness Jack emerged, dragging his captive by one hand, +and holding the open penknife in the other.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 488px;"> +<img src="images/il084.png" width="488" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>If a white flag had been raised, the battle could not have ended more +abruptly. For a few seconds nothing was heard but quick, short<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> breaths +on all sides. Presently Hallett's voice, hoarse and low, asked:</p> + +<p>"What does it mean, Brady?"</p> + +<p>Jack, white to the lips, pointed from the Hare to Armitage, then to the +spot where he had found him. The Hare was shivering and sobbing.</p> + +<p>"Hallett—I hear you say knifes—war wiz knifes! I on'y go to ze +Toppeen-drowner. I not wasn' going to hurt—on'y to preeck! I never hol' +knife no more! I promise! I swear!"—here he crossed himself rapidly—"I +promise 'gain! I—"</p> + +<p>But at this point the English language failed the Hare, who sank upon +his knees, wringing his hands and gesticulating wildly, as he gabbled, +nobody knew what, in Italian.</p> + +<p>Hallett, meanwhile, was looking grave and stern as the boys had never +seen him. There was not a trace of the fiery tyrant they knew so well. +He was face to face with a hard duty, and it awed him.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry," he said quietly, "but this is too serious to be covered up. +I have no choice. I must take you straight to the head. Brady, hand me +over the penknife! Or bring it along, and come too!"</p> + +<p>Jack shook his head as he passed the knife, and Norman Hallett and +Massimiliano Graglia<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> left the room in company. Two masters returning +met the pair, but Hallett's face wore an expression which forbade +questions.</p> + +<p>When presently he re-entered the school-room, it was alone.</p> + +<p>And for the space of a week the March Hare was unseen by his +school-fellows.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>HANNAH THE HOUSEMAID</h3> + + +<p>There was an end of open strife among the Brincliffe boys. The sight of +that little glittering blade had brought them up short with an +unpleasant shock. They stood astounded for a minute, making no attempt +to remove the traces of the conflict, even when they heard the sound of +the masters' approach. They stood convicted, all together; their +disordered dress, collars unfastened and rumpled hair, the untasted +luncheon, the confusion of the furniture, all told most graphically the +tale of a quarrel.</p> + +<p>Silent and ashamed they slunk back into their places when the +head-master at last returned to the school-room. But, to the universal +surprise, he only addressed a few short, grave sentences to them on the +subject, and announced<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> that henceforth a master would have charge of +the room during the luncheon interval.</p> + +<p>"Hitherto, boys, I have allowed you considerable liberty, regarding you, +though young, as civilized and Christian gentlemen. You have shown me I +was mistaken. Therefore I must treat you differently until I see you +become what I hoped you already were. You might do worse than strive to +attain to this. To your classes, if you please!"</p> + +<p>"Does anyone know where Trevelyan minor is?" enquired Mr. Anderson +presently, looking into the mathematical class-room.</p> + +<p>Jack sprang from his seat.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know! Please, sir," turning to his master, "will you excuse me?"</p> + +<p>"No need for you to come, Brady," interposed Mr. Anderson; "tell me +where he is, that's all."</p> + +<p>Jack hesitated; then, putting his hand in his pocket, drew out a key.</p> + +<p>"He's in the book-room, sir. And it's locked."</p> + +<p>Now, as the book-room opened out of the school-room, in which Mr. West +was teaching, it was impossible that the door could be unlocked, and +Toppin released, without the fact becoming known to him. He looked up at +sound of the key, and the sight of the small, red-haired urchin, seated +disconsolately on a globe within, and swinging his short legs, evoked a +question.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What has that lad been doing, Mr. Anderson? Did you lock him up?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; it was Brady."</p> + +<p>"Indeed? And what business had he to take the law into his hands? What +were you locked up for, Trevelyan?"</p> + +<p>Poor Toppin was feeling very sorry for himself, and distinctly bitter +against Jack. He had heard the sound of many interesting things +happening, and had a strong suspicion that he had been forgotten. Aware +that he had not merited such hard treatment, he now replied plaintively:</p> + +<p>"Nuffing at all, sir!"</p> + +<p>"Well, in any case, I have not yet given his training over to Brady," +observed Mr. West dryly, and without further question Jack was sentenced +to twenty minutes' detention at twelve o'clock, "to see how he liked his +own treatment".</p> + +<p>"Rough on you, Jack of Both Sides!" said Simmons, as he passed him on +his way into the open air. "Your policy's fine in theory, but I'm afraid +it won't pay. Jack of Both Sides, friend of neither, eh?"</p> + +<p>Jack's reply was quite cheerful:</p> + +<p>"Not so bad as that, thanks, Lucy. We're going to be friends all +together, the whole boiling of us, before we've done!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Think so?" said Hughes, and shrugged his shoulders. "Not much chance of +that yet, I'm afraid. I spoke to Hallett just now, and he wouldn't even +answer me."</p> + +<p>Jack seemed out of luck's way this week, for the next morning he had an +accident with the ink, was fined sixpence for breaking one of the pots, +and ordered upstairs to change his bespattered garments.</p> + +<p>Just outside his bedroom, in the passage, he came upon one of the +housemaids, in front of whom, on the ground, lay a pillow and a heavy +overcoat.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, Hannah! Having a pillow-fight with an overcoat, for fault of a +live enemy, eh? I've caught you in the act! Now, I want you to do +something for me. I've been taking an ink shower-bath, you see, and I go +home to-day, and I must wear this jacket. Could you—"</p> + +<p>But there Jack stopped short, for Hannah had broken into his sentence +with a jerky little sniff which he felt pretty sure was a stifled sob.</p> + +<p>"Why, my good Hannah, what's up? I'm most awfully sorry if there is +anything wrong. Do tell us what it is!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, Master Brady, I'm sure it isn't your doing, but it's one of +the young gentlemen, and I don't mind which, but I do think it's very +ill-mannered and unkind, and I've always tried<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> to do my duty by you +all, and more than that sometimes; and it's turned my thumb-nail back +and broken it, and the big buttons banged in my face, and dragged my +hair down; and it's no pleasure to do it, but I shall 'ave to carry the +tale to the master—"</p> + +<p>"A booby-trap, I suppose," interposed Jack, looking thoughtful.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, a trap—that's certain, for I walked in through the door as +innocent as a child; but I don't see on that account that I'm to be set +down for a booby."</p> + +<p>"No, no; it's only the name for the trick," Jack hastened to explain, +for Hannah was looking more hurt than ever. "You balance the pillow on +the door, you know—and it needs some care, because it might fall the +wrong way, don't you see, and never hit you at all; and adding the +overcoat must have made it more difficult."</p> + +<p>There was an unconscious tinge of admiration in Jack's voice, and Hannah +did not seem entirely consoled. As he handed her his stained jacket, +however, he added: "You know, it wasn't meant for you, Hannah. You got +it by mistake. It was put up for Frere; I'm sure of that. On these +mornings he always comes to this room first thing to practise his +violin. Whoever set the trap never thought about you, that's certain."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That don't matter, sir, it hurt me just as much," persisted the maid. +"And they've no business, 'aven't the young gentlemen, to play pranks +like this. You never know what you'll be let in for next. I shall be in +a heverlasting flutter now. It's worse than living in a monkey-house."</p> + +<p>"Have you ever tried that, Hannah? I shouldn't have thought this was +actually worse; but of course when one's tried both—"</p> + +<p>"Master Brady, you're teasing me, and you know my meaning quite well." +Hannah's voice was positively tearful, and Jack grew alarmed.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! I wouldn't tease you for the world. But look here, I want you +to think better of what you said—about carrying the tale to Mr. West. +There's an awful lot done by passing things over; you don't know! Let's +return these articles—see, it's Cadbury's pillow and Trevelyan's coat, +so neither of them set the trap—and let's agree to forgive and forget +for once. Won't you?"</p> + +<p>Jack could be very gentle and persuasive, and Hannah's heart was not +proof against his pleading.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, just this once, since you put it like that, and hask so +particular."</p> + +<p>"There's an angel! I knew you would. You come to me, Hannah, when you're +in any fix,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> and see if I don't repay you for this. Hullo! here's Frere +and his fiddle. I'd better scuttle."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Brady, I think you had better," observed Frere. "I heard Mr. West +asking for you."</p> + +<p>"Ugh! I never like being asked for," remarked Jack, and straightway +vanished.</p> + +<p>"So peace isn't signed yet," he said to himself. "The campaign has only +changed its character, for secret and irregular warfare. I don't seem to +have accomplished much so far."</p> + +<p>Jack went home that Saturday feeling rather discouraged. He little knew +what his accidental interview with Hannah, the housemaid, would result +in.</p> + +<p>He was flinging his own and Trevelyan's muddy boots into the big basket +which stood in the scullery, on Monday evening, when a low voice close +at hand startled him.</p> + +<p>"Please, Master Brady, if you have a minute to spare, I should like to +speak to you."</p> + +<p>Jack turned round in surprise, to face his friend of Saturday, the +housemaid.</p> + +<p>"Why, certainly. Fire away! I'm all attention."</p> + +<p>"I hope you won't think me foolish, sir, but you—you do seem +sympithetic like, though you can't help me, I know; and yet you told me +to come to you, and it's a relief to out with one's trouble; and Emma, +she don't understand, because<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> she's going to be married, and she don't +think of nothin' else; and Cook, she says she's never 'ad nothin' to do +with plants, not excep' the eatin' sorts, like cabbages and turnips—"</p> + +<p>"But, Hannah, you haven't given me a chance yet. Plants?" said Jack.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; I'll tell you all about it if I may. You see, my 'ome's at +Brickland—that's a matter of four miles from Elmridge,—and my father, +he's steadily wastin', and doctor says there's no chance for him, not +unless he gets to one of the hopen-air 'ospitals, and he's not to doddle +about the green-'ouse any more."</p> + +<p>"That's a bad business," said Jack, looking grave. "Then your father has +been a gardener?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and a salesman in a small way, sir. But now he's to give up, and +sell all the plants. Doctor says he'll never again be fit for that work. +It's goin' in and out of the cold and the heat and the damp that's so +tryin'. He's been holdin' on as long as he could, but now he's ready +enough to part with 'em, and if only he could get a good price it'd +maybe take 'im to the hopen-air, and help to keep the 'ome together till +he's well."</p> + +<p>"That sounds the wisest plan," observed Jack thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, but the point is the sellin' of 'em.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> They ought to go into a +good big sale, where there'll be plenty of biddin'; they aren't enough +in themselves to draw buyers. And Mother says in her letter this mornin' +they've heard of one that's bein' held in Elmridge on Saturday, a big +one, in the Rookwood grounds. They call it a 'Nurserymen's Combine'; +there's a many of them joining, and they're willin' to take in Father's +little lot."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 484px;"> +<img src="images/il094.png" width="484" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Surely the very thing!" said Jack.</p> + +<p>"It seems so, doesn't it, sir? Father he sent round at once to make +arrangements. But what do you think? he can't get the carting of 'em +done under three-and-six a load; and, as he says, he hasn't got half a +guinea to lay out that way. Why, it'd pay his train to the hopen-air! So +'e'll have to let it slide, and not get such a chance again in a hurry."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I'm awfully sorry about it," responded Jack feelingly. +"But—but—but keep up your spirits, and who knows what may turn up?"</p> + +<p>And with this consoling advice, he turned on his heel.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>JACK'S MAIDEN SPEECH</h3> + + +<p>"You really wish me to understand, Brady, that not you alone, but all +the elder boys—day-pupils and boarders alike—desire of your own +free-will to devote your next Saturday's half-holiday to conveying this +poor man's plants from his house at Brickland to the Rookwood sale?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, that's what we want to do."</p> + +<p>"H'm! Well, the proposal does you credit, and you certainly might employ +your time much worse than in carrying it out. I don't think it would be +right for me to refuse your request. Mr. Anderson, I feel sure, will be +ready to help and advise you, if necessary, but as the idea is your own +I should like you, as far as possible, to carry it out by yourselves."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir!" said Jack, and withdrew.</p> + +<p>It was evening when this dialogue took place. The day-boys had departed +in an irritable frame of mind, on account of various annoyances of which +they had been the victims during the past two days. Bacon had been +tripped up twice by a piece of string, Hughes had found his coat-sleeves +tightly sewn up with packing-thread, and Simmons's pockets had been +crammed with moist, wriggling earthworms.</p> + +<p>Knowing this, it may be wondered that they were prevailed on to agree to +Jack's scheme for the coming Saturday. But our hero was wily, and he +worded his suggestion so carefully that they did not for a moment +imagine that their enemies the boarders were at all connected with the +plan, which seemed to offer scope for fun and adventure of a new +description. Was not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> Saturday Jack's regular day of release? Of course +this was to be an "out-of-school" affair altogether. So they imagined.</p> + +<p>"Now then, you fellows!" cried Jack, bursting into the school-room like +a frolicsome whirlwind, "who said I wouldn't get leave? West and I have +settled it all most comfortably, patted each other on the head, and so +forth. Let you go? Why, he'd like nothing better than to let you go for +good and all!"</p> + +<p>"So you've let the whole lot of us in for it, young man?" said +Trevelyan, looking amused.</p> + +<p>"Why, nobody asked to be left out," returned Jack.</p> + +<p>This was quite true, and there was no more to be said. Hallett had taken +kindly to the idea to begin with, and set the fashion by doing so. One +or two lazy lads would not have been sorry in their hearts if Mr. West +had vetoed the scheme, but they had not the courage to refuse to join in +it.</p> + +<p>"Now to business!" Jack continued. "We must send Mr. Thompson himself +word of our intentions; let's write a proper, tradesman-like letter! +Vickers, you're the fluent, flowery one. Bottle up your metaphors and +give us a page of business-like fluency! Here's some paper."</p> + +<p>After a good deal of discussion the following letter was composed:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p> +<i>To Mr J. Thompson Nurseryman.<br /> +<br /> +Dr Sir/</i><br /> +</p> + +<p><i>Having heard of yr intention to dispose of yr stock-in-hand +(Plants) we have pleasure in proposing to undertake transport of +same (carriage free) on Saty next ensuing between 2 and 4 p.m. from +yr house to Rookwood Elmridge Middleshire for sale advd to be held +there at 6 p.m. Safety of goods guarantd. Unless we hear to contry +we shall presume this meets yr views and take action accordly</i>.</p> + +<p> +<i>Yrs etc</i>.<br /> +<br /> +<i>(Signed)</i><br /> +<i>T. Vickers</i><br /> +<i>N. Hallett</i><br /> +<i>J. Brady &c</i>.<br /> +<i>pro) Students of Brincliffe Elmridge.</i><br /> +</p> + +</div> + +<p>"If that isn't business-like, I don't know what is!" exclaimed Cadbury, +when it was read through. "If ink was a shilling a drop, you couldn't +have been more chary of it. There's not an 'a', 'an', or 'the' +throughout, nor a comma, nor an adjective, and the contractions are +masterly. We're all born commercial clerks, that's what we are!"</p> + +<p>"Ethel and Lucy have undertaken the necessary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> barrow-borrowing," +remarked Jack, casually. "We sha'n't want more than six or eight +wheel-barrows, and that pair can get anything if it goes together. Lucy +represents the dauntless cheek, and Ethel the irresistible charm. What +more is required?"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, Brady? We won't have the day-boys sticking their +fingers into this pie!" cried Escombe Trevelyan.</p> + +<p>"We couldn't do the job alone," said Jack quietly. "It would take us +twice as long."</p> + +<p>A loud murmur of disapprobation ran through the room.</p> + +<p>Jack turned rather pale, and pinched the edge of the table nervously. +His eyes wandered from face to face. All were vexed, all displeased. +Then, with a sudden impulse he sprang to his feet, and spoke his +mind—rapidly, earnestly.</p> + +<p>"Look here, I can't understand it! What makes you all so beastly to the +day-boys—to my pals? You began it, not they! They came to Brincliffe +without the least idea of any unfriendly feeling, and you hated them +before you'd seen them or heard their names. Is that fair—straight—English? +If it were, I'd wish to be French or German. Where's the fun in +this constant worrying of each other? As boarders, it's your place +to put out a hand first, and I think I can promise that the +day-boys will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> shake it. Bah! I know I can never talk you round; +it's no good attempting to. I'm not in a comic mood, and can't make you +laugh, like Cadbury, and I haven't Vickers's gift of the gab. But wasn't +last Friday's lesson enough? Wasn't the sight of that knife—"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 489px;"> +<img src="images/il100.png" width="489" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Hush!" came from many mouths.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, we want to forget it! Yes, we don't want to talk about it, I know. +But I've got to this once. If there had been an accident—to +Armitage—it wouldn't have been wholly the March Hare's fault. It was +those who first started the quarrel between boarders and day-boys, those +who put the notion of ill-feeling into his silly little head. I see +you're thinking of the swimming-baths, and Toppin's dive. Now I happen +to know, and Toppin can bear me out, that the kid asked to be pushed, +and that Armitage would have saved him next moment if the March Hare +hadn't jumped in and hindered things. And everyone of you who have +listened and nodded to the March Hare's tale have added coal to the fire +you might have quenched in a moment. And—and—and—and—" poor Jack was +shaking and stammering with excitement, "what—what if it had—ended +in—"</p> + +<p>But there he sat down, leaving his sentence unfinished.</p> + +<p>Cadbury was the first to reply, and that was not at once. Slowly he +ruled a long, thick, black line in his exercise-book, then, pushing his +chair away from the table, tilted it back, and spoke:</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know what anyone else thinks, but I'll tell you what I +do. Brady's last sentence was certainly not fluent, and I shouldn't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +care to have to analyse it. As for the jokes in it, they were about as +plentiful as wasps in January. All that's true enough. Still, +nevertheless, speaking for my humble self, he thrust home. You did, +Jack, you beggar! You'd no business to, but you actually had the +impudence to make me feel ashamed of myself. And, of course, I don't +know what you others will say, but I vote we bury the hatchet in old +Thompson's biggest flower-pot. Who's with me?"</p> + +<p>"I am!"</p> + +<p>"I am!"</p> + +<p>"And I!"</p> + +<p>"Of course it's quite right to forgive," drawled Green, with a curl of +the lip. "I'm more than willing."</p> + +<p>Jack ground his teeth, but Hallett saved him the trouble of replying.</p> + +<p>"No, no; if we do the thing at all, we'll do it properly. Don't let's +have any half-measures—kindly-forgivings, and all the rest of it! If +anyone starts forgiving me, I'll lick him! We won't forgive anyone, not +even ourselves. We'll go straight ahead on a new tack, and forget +everything that's happened. If our friends the enemy look askance at us +at first (and we needn't be surprised if they do), that mustn't affect +us. Remember this: Scores are Settled. That's our motto; there is to be +no more paying off. Chaff<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> them if you like—I fancy they'd think there +was something fishy if we didn't—but no tricks, if you please."</p> + +<p>"What if they start them on us, Hallett?" enquired Grey, in the tone of +one who merely seeks information. Hallett frowned slightly.</p> + +<p>"Hadn't thought of that. Of course if they insist on picking a quarrel +in that way—"</p> + +<p>"But I'm nearly sure they won't," cried Jack.</p> + +<p>"I caught Lucy pasting the leaves of my <i>Delectus</i> together," murmured +Grey, looking at the ceiling.</p> + +<p>"And how many things have you done to them?" retorted Jack desperately, +sighing as he felt the weakness of that argument.</p> + +<p>"Vick, will you hand Grey your india-rubber?" put in Cadbury. "There's a +bit of his memory he hasn't rubbed out yet. I did as Hallett told us, +and forgot everything at once. I've even forgotten my translation for +to-morrow—it's gone entirely. Never mind: to obey is our first duty; to +labour for Peace comes only second."</p> + +<p>"Labouring for peace—why, Brady, that's been your little task!" +exclaimed Vickers. "And a noble one"—here he put on the "West voice". +"Have you thought of it in that light, my boy? To labour for peace! We +might all do worse. Conceive, for instance, of working for love!"</p> + +<p>Jack laughed noisily, and called Vickers "a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> silly old loony". But he +blushed at the same time. And he went to sleep that night feeling +uncommonly hopeful.</p> + +<p>When, in short jerky phrases, he broke to Hannah the plan he had +devised, the maid was so grateful and "took aback", as she said, as to +become for the moment half-hysterical; but soon rallying her common +sense, she sat down and penned a note to her father, to accompany the +young gentlemen's communication. Hannah's spelling, handwriting, and +grammar were all very shaky, but it is a fact that Mr. J. Thompson, +Nurseryman, found her letter a help in throwing light upon the "formal, +business" document.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>LOST—A NAME</h3> + + +<p>Of course Jack's task was only half accomplished. And the second half +was somewhat harder than he had anticipated. When in the morning he met +the day-scholars, they were not as eager for a reconciliation as he +would have liked to find them.</p> + +<p>Mason had come armed with a handful of wild barley-grass, or "crawly", +as it was better known among the boys.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> + +<p>"<i>Dictée</i> this morning," he said with a sly wink.</p> + +<p>In Monsieur Blonde's class, dictation offered great possibilities to a +quick writer, with a supply of crawly. When heads are bent, what a +chance down the collar for a deft hand! And the Monsieur was very +short-sighted.</p> + +<p>"I sit between Vickers and Green," Mason added.</p> + +<p>"But look here, you must chuck that stuff away," cried Jack. He knew +that as a good-humoured joke an inch of crawly can be tolerated, but +when used in malice, nothing is more irritating. "Chuck it away! We've +all agreed to call <i>Pax</i> now, <i>Pax</i> for good and all."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I dare say!" retorted Mason. "When our lives have been made a +burden for the last week! Who are the 'all' who've agreed, pray?"</p> + +<p>"The whole lot of the boarders. They're ready to chum up right away. +Mason, you must agree! We've got to join forces over Saturday's job."</p> + +<p>But Mason didn't see it. Nor did Armitage. Nor did Bacon. And the rest +were doubtful, except little Frere, who declared at once that he was +longing to be friends with everybody—and to feel safe.</p> + +<p>"But don't mind us, Brady," pursued Mason. "We aren't so sweet on +shoving wheel-barrows as all that. You and your dear Green and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> rest +can have the whole glory and honour of the pots and the barrows to +yourselves. We won't fight for them, will we? After all, there are more +amusing ways of spending a half than in wheeling flower-pots round the +town."</p> + +<p>Jack's hopes sank. He did not feel equal to making a second speech, but +he caught Mason by the arm, and spoke with vehement emphasis:</p> + +<p>"It's an awful responsible thing, Mason, to refuse to patch a quarrel. +The chance of making-up doesn't come every day."</p> + +<p>"We must have a chance of getting even with them first, and then we'll +talk about stopping."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! You know that tit-for-tat's a game without an end!"</p> + +<p>"My dear Brady, if you knew the toil and time it has cost me to gather +this bunch of crawly, you wouldn't ask me so lightly to waste it."</p> + +<p>"If that's all," said Jack, "you can stick the whole lot down my neck. I +give you free leave. Go on!"</p> + +<p>There is no stronger influence than earnestness, and Jack was intensely +in earnest. It had its effect on his listeners, who were almost won over +already, while he thought his efforts were thrown away. While he spoke, +Simmons had secretly released three earwigs with which he had meant +mischief, and Hughes was opening his mouth to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> utter a word or two for +Jack, when Cadbury glided up to the group with outspread arms, and a +square box balanced on his head.</p> + +<p>"Pax tea-cup! pax O biscuit!" began the flippant boy. "Dear brethren, I +entreat you to join with me in smoking the calumet of peace in the shape +of this humble weed."</p> + +<p>As he bowed, the box fell from his head into his hands, and, removing +the lid, he offered it round. It appeared to contain a double layer of +cigars; but the Brincliffe scholars knew these cigars well, and where +they came from. They were composed of almond paste, and coated with a +brown sugary paper, which was always consumed with the rest.</p> + +<p>Jack almost held his breath. Would the boys refuse or accept them?</p> + +<p>Hughes dipped his hand in at once with a smile and a nod. "Thanks very +much, Cadbury!" Simmons followed suit with a wicked little chuckle. +Bacon hesitated, and then helped himself awkwardly. Frere took one with +an "Oo!" of appreciation. Now it was Mason's turn. If Jack had been a +recruiting sergeant, and the sugar cigar the Queen's shilling, he could +scarcely have felt more anxious.</p> + +<p>Mason put forward his thumb and finger, then hesitated and looked at +Jack with a twinkle in his eye.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now, shall I, Brady?"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 495px;"> +<img src="images/il108.png" width="495" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Jack nodded. He really dared not speak, for fear Mason should take it +into his head to go exactly contrary to him.</p> + +<p>Hurrah! The cigar was taken!</p> + +<p>From that moment Cadbury and Jack turned themselves into a couple of the +maddest, silliest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> clowns imaginable. But there was method in their +madness. Though they did not even own it to each other, they were making +themselves ridiculous and foolish to prevent the rest from feeling so. +Boys loathe sentiment, and many a quarrel drifts on and on, simply +because each party dreads "being made to feel a fool".</p> + +<p>At Brincliffe on this particular day the two sides felt distinctly shy +of each other, and it was a real boon to have a pair of "giddy lunatics" +to scream at.</p> + +<p>But when Cadbury had boxed Frere's ears for giving the dates of the +royal Georges correctly, and when Simmons had sharpened his pencil with +Vickers's knife without asking leave, the relations between boarders and +day-pupils grew easier.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>There were few idle wheel-barrows in Elmridge on Saturday afternoon.</p> + +<p>If you had passed along the dusty Brickland Road between four and five +o'clock, you would have encountered a droll procession. One passer-by +stopped to enquire if there was going to be a Battle of Flowers.</p> + +<p>Six barrows, laden with flowering plants, each pulled by two boys, and +pushed by one, were slowly but steadily travelling towards the town, and +at the rear of all was a bath-chair in charge<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> of Hallett and Armitage, +wherein sat a thin, delicate-looking man, whose bright eyes and flushed +cheeks spoke eloquently of gratitude and pleasure. That bath-chair was +Hallett's own idea, and he was very proud of it.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>It was a warm and weary company of boy-labourers who gathered at eight +o'clock that evening round a very tempting supper-table, spread in the +Brincliffe dining-room, to which, by special invitation, the day-pupils +sat down with the boarders. But every face was bright, and the meal was +the merriest ever known.</p> + +<p>By Mr. West's direction, the boys were left to enjoy it "un-mastered".</p> + +<p>The clatter of knives and spoons had almost ceased when Vickers rose +slowly to his feet, a glass of ginger-beer in his hand. He was impelled +to do so by the nudges of his neighbours, Green and Mason. His rising +was received with loud applause, which he acknowledged with a grave bow.</p> + +<p>"I have been very much pressed—elbow-pressed," he began, "to get up and +say something. I scarcely see why I should be pitched on, unless it is +because I have more brass than the rest of you. (Hear, hear.) Anyhow, +here I am, and I'll ask three questions and then sit down. First"—and +up came one finger—"Isn't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> this the jolliest supper we've ever had? +(Cries of "Yes!") Very well, I'll tell you why. Reason Number One: +West's in a jolly good temper, <i>vide</i> the groaning table and the absence +of masters. Reason Number Two: We're all in a jolly good temper, and +have done a jolly good day's work. Now, secondly—(Shouts of "Thirdly, +you mean, old man!") I mean what I say—Secondly! We had two divisions +under the first head. You may have got confused, but I haven't. +Secondly, then, we're all pretty thoroughly fagged: is anyone sorry he's +fagged? (No!) Well, the job wasn't my idea, or West's idea. But it was +somebody's, and I think we all know whose. The same somebody who has +annoyed us all horribly in the past by refusing to so much as do one +ill-natured thing. The same somebody who has steadily prevented us from +quarrelling comfortably and consistently, as we wanted to, and has +finally dragged us into this unhappy state of good-fellowship. Now for +my thirdly: Will you drink with me to that somebody's health?"</p> + +<p>The question was received with shouting and banging, while the words, +"Bravo, Vickers! Here's to good old Brady!" "I drink to Jack of Both +Sides!" "Here's to you, Jack!" "Speech, Brady—speech!" and similar +cries filled the air.</p> + +<p>Poor Jack felt extremely ill at ease, and not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> at all grateful to +Vickers. He studied his plate with the closest attention, his face +growing redder and redder each moment. Then Cadbury thumped him on the +back, and Hallett and Bacon fairly forced him to his feet. But a speech +was quite beyond Jack at that minute.</p> + +<p>"I say, sha'n't we beg the release of the March Hare?" was all he said, +and the first person he looked at was Armitage.</p> + +<p>Armitage, too, was the first to cry back, "Yes!"</p> + +<p>The petition, which was written and signed before they separated, was +received favourably, and the following Monday saw the return of the +March Hare to his place in the school, scared, penitent, and profoundly +grateful to all his school-fellows, including Armitage. And he insisted +on pressing Jack's hand to his lips, which made our hero feel +excessively uncomfortable. But for the remainder of the term, the use of +a knife, even at dinner, was denied the little Italian.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Brady, have you missed anything?" asked Cadbury a few days later.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't think so," replied Jack, feeling doubtfully in his pockets.</p> + +<p>"Because you have certainly lost something," continued Cadbury.</p> + +<p>"Well, give it me quick, then," said Jack, laughing. "Whatever is it?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I can't give it you. It's gone for ever," was the rejoinder. "You'll +never have it again."</p> + +<p>"Well, what was it, then? Nothing valuable, I hope?"</p> + +<p>"When two things are made into one thing, you can't speak of them any +longer as 'both'; can you?"</p> + +<p>"Fetch us a grammar, Toppin," said Jack. "We're getting out of our +depths. Have I lost two things, please, Cadbury, or only one?"</p> + +<p>"Don't frivol, Jack! listen to me. We are all one-sided now, so you have +lost your title. You can never again be called Jack of Both Sides."</p> + + +<p>THE END</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Jack of Both Sides, by Florence Coombe + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK OF BOTH SIDES *** + +***** This file should be named 20354-h.htm or 20354-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/3/5/20354/ + +Produced by Dave Morgan, Paul Stephen, Fox in the Stars +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Jack of Both Sides + The Story of a School War + +Author: Florence Coombe + +Illustrator: S. B. Pearse + +Release Date: January 13, 2007 [EBook #20354] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK OF BOTH SIDES *** + + + + +Produced by Dave Morgan, Paul Stephen, Fox in the Stars +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +[Illustration: "IT'S A VERY GOOD THING, MADAM, FOR YOU ... THAT MY +FRIEND HERE IS NOT DEAD!" +_See page 40_] + + +Jack of Both Sides + +The Story of a School War + + +BY + +FLORENCE COOMBE + +Author of "Boys of the Priory School" "A Chum Worth Having" +"Her Friend and Mine" &c. + + +_ILLUSTRATED BY S. B. PEARSE_ + + +BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED +LONDON GLASGOW AND DUBLIN + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAP. + +I. THE JOKE THAT FAILED 5 + +II. TOPPIN'S DIVE 16 + +III. THE CHICKEN AND THE BICYCLE 30 + +IV. A KNOCK AT THE WINDOW 44 + +V. THE STORM BREAKS 57 + +VI. THE MARCH HARE'S REVENGE 71 + +VII. HANNAH THE HOUSEMAID 85 + +VIII. JACK'S MAIDEN SPEECH 94 + +IX. LOST--A NAME 103 + + + + +JACK OF BOTH SIDES + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE JOKE THAT FAILED + + +"I say, you fellows, look here! What do you think of this? It's our +lunch!" + +"This" was a large basket, lined with a white cloth, at the bottom of +which lay nine bread-pills. Nine boys looked down at them in rueful +disgust, and then across the school-room to where a larger group stood +chuckling mischievously, their hands and mouths filled with tempting, +crusty hunches, carved from the loaf according to fancy. + +Those nine gray, unappetizing pellets represented all that was left of +the loaf; and Mason, the boy who first spoke, realizing this, flung the +big basket in a burst of indignation at the heads of the opposite clump, +one or two of whom were hit. Revenge was prompt. Ere it touched the +floor it was hurled back with vigour, but, being dodged successfully, +fell harmless to the ground. + +Mason and seven others were new-comers to Brincliffe School, and when +the luncheon interval was heralded by the entrance of the loaf and the +exit of the masters, it did not occur to them to join in the general +rush that was made at the basket. And this was the sorry reward of good +manners! + +The fact of the matter is that they were not merely new boys, and +therefore lawful game, but day-pupils. That was a grievance at +Brincliffe--a great grievance. It was only last term that the first +day-boy was admitted into Mr. West's establishment. More than one young +wiseacre had gloomily prophesied that Jim Bacon was the thin end of the +wedge. And now they gloated, "Didn't we say so?" + +It is not easy to see at once what objection there could be to certain +boys attending the school and yet sleeping in their own homes. But a +rooted objection there undoubtedly was--all the stronger, perhaps, +because no valid reason for it could be stated. + +Now for a few moments words took the place of missiles. + +"You--you greedy, giggling gobblers--you!" This was from Mason, and he +was hungry. The "g's" came out in slow, studied jerks. + +"And what are you, pray? A pack of pretty poppets! Mammy's darlings! +Must go home to by-by, mustn't you?" Sneering was Joe Green's forte. + +Words failed Mason, but a small black-eyed lad, called Lewis Simmons, +took up the cudgels in his stead. + +"I'd rather be a pretty poppet than an ugly chimpanzee like--_some_ +people!" + +"Hold your tongue, baby! Cheek me again, and you'll get smacked. We must +see that all you duckies go to bed at twelve for a little nap. You shall +have a nice beauty-sleep, you shall!" + +"Don't answer! Swallow it down!" muttered Jack Brady, laying his hand on +Simmons's shoulder. "Let 'em have the last word if they're stuck on it. +We're only wasting breath." + +"It's all very well, Brady, but they have treated us abominably! We'd +done nothing to them." Ethelbert Hughes, who said this in a low voice, +was Simmons's special chum, though a great contrast, being tall and +fair, with a gentle, quiet manner. + +"Still, there's nothing gained by bandying names," returned Brady. "And +it isn't even amusing to listen to. A fellow's seldom funny and furious +at the same time. + +"I don't care about words," said Mason, giving a fierce kick to the +basket. "I'm quite ready to bandy thumps, if they prefer it. But they +deserve trouncing in some way for a caddish trick like this." + +"It was a bit rough on us, but they only meant it as a joke," persisted +Brady. "We must pay them back in joke, and then it'll be all right." + +"Will it?" growled Bacon. "I know better. Why, they hate day-boys like +poison, and they'll let you all feel it too. I had a nice dose of it +last term, and I'm jolly glad there are some more of you to share it +with me this time." + +"Oh, that's it, is it?" said a boy called Armitage. "And are they all +such donkeys as to care whether we sleep here or not?" + +"They're all such sheep as to follow the same track blindly, and not +dare to act on their own hook," replied Bacon. "It's the fashion to run +down day-boys, that's all. But it's a beastly shame, and I almost wish +West hadn't let me in." + +"Oh, rubbish!" said Brady. "Fashions change quickly. We'll have a +ripping time, in spite of everybody." + +Meanwhile the boarders were discussing matters from their point of view. + +"It's just what I expected," said Norman Hallett, a tall, well-built +boy, who was the eldest in the school. "Once open the door--only a +chink--and in pours the whole town." He waved a half-eaten crust to +illustrate the pouring in. + +"West had better drop the name of Brincliffe, and call us Elmridge +Grammar School at once. That's what we are now," observed Green. + +"I don't mind so much about that," said a grave-faced boy, whose name +was Vickers; "but what I do hate is the way day-boys spoil everything. +It can't be helped, but nothing's ever fair or equal when once day-boys +get mixed up with a school. I'll tell you exactly what happens. +First"--and here the speaker laid his forefinger on his thumb to mark +the order--"First, they're always trying to make you green with envy by +talking about the jolly things they're going to. Second, they're +continually getting holidays for themselves on some pretence or other. +Third, they love to pity you, and declare they'd shoot themselves rather +than be regular boarders. Fourth, they buy cribs and keys, and keep them +at home, and get help from their fathers, and work extra hours, and +spoil your chance of a prize altogether. Fifth, they're for ever +sniggering over private jokes about people you neither know nor want +to--" + +"Hold, Vickers, my dear chap!" broke in Cadbury, the school jester. "It +pains me to check the fluency of our golden-mouthed orator, but I've +been waiting in vain for 'Finally'. Let's have an innings. What I object +to is that they're such a horrid lot. Cocky to a degree--simply think +no end of themselves--and lose their hair altogether at the first little +playful joke. I think the beastly way in which they took that bread game +spoke for itself. I should like to have hammered them for that." + +"West will be changing all our hours and classes soon to suit the +convenience of the day-boarders. That'll be the next move. I know it, +because I heard him ask that gawky chap they call Mason if he could stay +on Wednesday evenings for the dancing class. If he could, indeed! That's +the way they're going to be treated." + +"If they are, it'll be war to the knife between us and them," observed +Hallett, folding his arms with an air of conscious might. + +"War wiz knife, Hallett? Ah!" + +It was a black-browed foreign child of nine who whispered these words, +creeping close to Hallett, and gazing up curiously into his face. +Hallett burst out laughing. + +"Listen to this bloodthirsty brigand of a March Hare! The instinct of +his ancestors is strong within him. No, Harey," he continued, "I won't +stickle for knives, or even pistols. Shall we call it war to the fist? +Anything will do, so long as it's war." + +"What do you all think of the weekly? Is he as bad as the rest?" asked +Grey, one of the juniors. He was always careful to find out what he +ought to think before he thought it. + +[Illustration] + +"Which is the weakly one?" asked Cadbury. "That lily-flower bending on +its stalk to address the cheeky, black-eyed imp? He looks weakly enough, +all eyes and hair." + +"No, no; that's Hughes, from the Bank. I mean the new weekly boarder, +who's to go home from Saturday to Monday." + +"I know the one," said Hallett. "The apple-faced boy who does so much +laughing. I heard someone call him Brady." + +"Oh, that fellow! He doesn't look so bad," pronounced Trevelyan, who +ranked only second to Hallett. + +"He seems to have a strong sense of humour," remarked Vickers gravely, +at which his comrades giggled. Vickers was commonly believed to have +none. He never laughed when anyone else did. + +"A weekly boarder is a very different thing from a day-boy," Hallett +went on. "If Brady was wise he wouldn't go mixing himself up with that +lot. I shall give him a wrinkle when he comes my way. He really looks +rather decent, and he was the only one who grinned about the bread. Of +course it may have been from sheer force of habit, and therefore no +credit to him; but still, he did grin." + +At this moment the discussion in both camps was brought to a sudden +finish by the return of the masters. The chief himself, Mr. West, was +the first to enter, and his eye was immediately caught by the bread +basket, which lay dejected on its side in a little pool of crumbs. He +looked suspiciously at it. + +"Who threw the basket on the floor?" + +Dead silence. + +"Come, speak out! Someone must have done it; baskets don't jump off +tables by themselves." + +After another short silence, one of the young day-pupils, who happened +to be standing close beside it, picked up the basket and placed it on +the table. + +"Did you knock it down, Frere, my boy?" asked Mr. West. + +"No, sir. It was one of the boarders; I don't know his name. I think he +aimed it at some of us, and it fell on the floor instead." + +Frere spoke innocently. He had never been to school before, and it did +not occur to him that he was doing any harm by his frankness--least of +all, to himself! The eyes of his friends and enemies alike glared +reproachfully at him, but he did not notice them. It was Jack Brady who +broke in. + +"We threw the basket at them first, sir, and it did hit them!" + +"Well, never do it again, Brady. Look what a mess it's made on the +floor! And you others, you have been in the school longer; you ought to +have known better than to throw it back. You might have broken +something." + +That was all. But the bitterness between the two camps was not lessened +by the incident, and Frere was liked none the better for it. + +However, now work began again, and ill-feeling was shelved perforce for +the time. The sarcastic Green, for instance, found himself required to +read the part of "Nerissa" to Mason's "Portia"; and Hughes was set to +sketch Africa on the board in company with Vickers. The boys did not +know that Mr. West had given a hint to the masters to mix the new and +old element well together. + +That opening day was a weary one to the nine town boys, and all but Jack +Brady, the "weekly", scampered off with boisterous delight when school +was dismissed at four o'clock. + +The two chums, Ethelbert Hughes and Lewis Simmons, had been quickly +dubbed "Ethel" and "Lucy", and they did not at once appreciate their new +names. But Jack Brady, when he found himself hailed indiscriminately as +"Apple" and "Grinner", answered and laughed without a trace of +resentment. Perhaps that was why neither title stuck to him, while +Hughes and Simmons became Ethel and Lucy to everyone, and even at last +to each other. + +Jack was standing at the window, watching his friends disappear in the +direction of the town, and whistling softly to keep up his spirits, when +Hallett approached him. + +"Hullo, Red-cheeks, they say you're not a day-boy. I think myself that +going home once a week is a mistake; however, of course that's a matter +of opinion. But why on earth do you stick by those wretched eight whom +West has let in to spoil the school?" + +"Fellow-feeling!" Jack's smile atoned for the shortness of his reply. + +"Nonsense! I can't for the life of me see why you should connect +yourself with that lot at all. We've no quarrel with you." + +"Nor with the others, for the matter of that," returned Jack, looking +straight into Hallett's face. + +Hallett moved away with a short grunt, for want of an answer. Then, +remembering one, he turned back. + +"What about young Frere? What did you think of that?" + +"I'd have stopped him if I could. But he didn't mean any harm. To a +home-boy it sometimes comes natural to blurt out all you know when +you're asked a question." + +Hallett shrugged his shoulders. + +"You'll make a first-rate pleader one day, Brady. If ever I want +defending, I'll engage you." + +"Thanks!" said Jack. "You're very kind." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +TOPPIN'S DIVE + + +If Mr. Anderson, the junior English master, had not happened to meet +some friends as he was on his way to the swimming-bath with the boys, +this chapter would not have been written. But they were old friends, and +very unexpected, who were only visiting Elmridge for an hour or two. So +he acted as I suppose nine out of ten young men would have acted in the +same circumstances. + +"Look here, boys," he said, running after the nearest group. "Can I +trust you to go on quietly to the baths by yourselves? I shall follow +you very shortly. You can all have your dip, and dress, and by that time +I shall be with you. You won't get into mischief, and play pranks, will +you? Promise!" + +The four boys he addressed promised readily. + +"Right! Green, you're one of the seniors; I put you in charge. See that +all goes on just as if I were there. No one stay in the water more than +twelve minutes." + +"Very well, sir!" + +And Mr. Anderson departed with light heart and clear conscience. + +It was only a couple of days since the term began, and the very +chilling reception accorded to the day-scholars had made friendly +advances between the two factions next to impossible. A distant +toleration was just now the recognized attitude. + +But there were two people who were "not playing the game". One was Jack +Brady, who persisted in walking first with one party and then the other, +and refused point-blank to be distant towards anyone. The other was the +youngest scholar of Brincliffe, one Hugill Trevelyan, commonly known as +"Toppin". He was only seven, and did not understand the meaning of a +civil war. Toppin had been sent to school with his elder brother Escombe +because his parents were abroad. + +The March Hare (Massimiliano Graglia, to give him once for all his right +name), who was two years Toppin's senior, and therefore better able to +quarrel to order without knowing the reason why, had a great affection +for him, and, when possible, would take charge of him. Toppin being a +very independent young man, however, this was not often possible. More +frequently he would patronize the March Hare, and explain to him English +words or ways that were puzzling. + +It chanced that this afternoon three day-boys, Bacon, Armitage, and +Simmons, were in advance of the rest of the school, who were sauntering +behind in clusters of threes and fours. Hughes was not with Simmons, +being forbidden by his doctor to indulge in swimming at present. Bacon +looked back just as Mr. Anderson was turning in the opposite direction +with his friends. + +"Hullo, what sport!" he exclaimed. "Andy's given us the slip!" + +"Be joyful! Let's race for the best boxes!" said Armitage. "We shall be +in the water long before the other slow-coaches have reached the baths. +One, two, three--off!" + +Now Toppin was one of the group behind, and being naturally fleet of +foot, a race was a thing he could not resist. So he took to his heels +and pursued them. + +Jack Brady and the March Hare were walking with Toppin, and if it had +been practicable, the Hare would have accompanied him in the race, but +if there was one thing of which the March Hare was incapable, it was +running. Jack, who had found this out, checked him from making the +attempt. + +"Let Toppin go, Harey, and you stay with me," he said. There was a look +of satisfaction on his face. It was fine to see even the smallest +boarder chevying three day-boys! + +Toppin ran his fastest, and panted into the baths only a yard behind +Simmons. + +"Why, if here isn't the kid! What the dickens has brought you after us, +young un?" + +"I saw you--racing," panted Toppin, "and I wanted to see--if I +couldn't--catch you. And I did!" + +His thick red hair was tumbled by the wind, and the odd little tuft +which had won him his nickname stuck up very prominently. The small pink +face was aglow with triumph, as he stood gasping for breath, and looking +up at the three older boys, his hands planted in his pockets and his +feet apart. + +"You're a boarder," said Armitage, with a touch of contempt. + +"I should think I am! Rather!" was Toppin's proud reply. + +"Well, you'd better trot back to your friends, and bathe with them. +We're not going to wait for anyone." + +"Nor aren't I," said Toppin carelessly. + +"Come on!" shouted Simmons from a box. "Don't waste time!" + +Preparation for a bath is not a long process with a boy. Garments were +dragged off and tossed about, and in a minute they were ready, and +dancing round the edge of the clear green water. + +Avoiding the steps as a matter of course, Toppin was swinging his arms +preparatory to jumping into the shallow end, when, seeing Simmons +skipping along the plank that led to the diving-board, in the part where +the water was marked "5 ft.", he paused to watch. Simmons raised his +hands above his head, curved his body, and dived. + +"Oo!" cried Toppin admiringly. + +Presently a head appeared, rolling round and blowing. Simmons was +swimming towards Toppin. Bacon was now preparing to take a header. + +"I say, Lucy, you're not a tall chap. No more aren't I. Why can't I swim +and dive?" + +"It isn't size that's needed, it's talent," observed Simmons, treading +water, as he winked at the little fellow. + +"Rot!" said Toppin decidedly. There was a loud splash. Bacon had +vanished. + +"Up he comes again!" cried Toppin, clapping his hands in an ecstasy. +"Oh, I'm going to dive to-day. You can see how easy it is. Let me have a +shot before the others come, case I fail." + +"Better wait a year or two, Top," said Simmons, deliberately turning a +somersault. + +"I'm bovvered if I do!" cried Toppin, scampering round to the +diving-board. He was in a state of great excitement. "I'm going to dive, +and turn head over heels, and stamp in the water, just like you." + +"Oh, let the nipper see what he can do!" said Armitage, laughing. He was +standing on the diving-board. "There's nothing like beginning early. Can +you swim, kiddie?" + +"Not--not far," said Toppin cautiously. "I can swim with my arms all +right, only I sometimes put one foot on the ground." + +"If you don't swim, you'll sink, you know," explained Armitage. "This is +deep water." + +"Not so very; only five feet," rejoined Toppin. "I'm not funky. Of +course I know _how_ to swim. I've watched frogs awfully closely." + +"Well, then, up with your hands--same as you saw the other two." + +Toppin lifted them high, the tips of his fingers met in the approved +style, and he took a long breath. Then, gradually, his hands fell back +to his sides, and the breath ended in a sigh. Armitage pushed the child +impatiently aside. + +"Get away, you silly little coward! I'm not going to waste my time +standing over you. Go back to the shallow end, and dance at the ropes. +We'll come over and duck you." + +Toppin was quivering, but his face flushed crimson, and, thrusting +himself forward once more, he laid a hand pleadingly on Armitage's +wrist. At the same moment a clatter on the stone stairs told of the +approach of section number two. + +"Give us one more chance, Armie, please! I promise not to funk it again. +Listen, they're just coming!" + +"You'll not do it," said Armitage. + +"Won't I, though! Look here! count three, and then give me a tiny push." + +As Jack and the March Hare entered the saloon they heard Armitage say, +"Very well. One, two, three; now go!" + +There was a faint, quickly-checked cry, and then a little splash. Toppin +was under the water. + +The same instant the March Hare--hat, boots, and all--had leapt in, and +was fighting his way towards the deep end. + +Jack's first impulse was to tear off his coat and follow the Hare's +example; but when he saw a little red head appear and immediately be +captured, and when he realized that Bacon, Simmons, and Armitage were +all swimming to the rescue, he refrained. + +Although the March Hare was the first to lay hold of Toppin's crest, the +next minute he was himself in need of rescue. The Hare had only advanced +to the swimming stage when both hands and feet are absolutely necessary, +and the pause to seize his friend had sufficed, when combined with the +weight of his garments, to sink him; so Toppin dived for the second +time, in company with the March Hare. + +"Quick!" yelled Jack, "or there'll be two drowned! Shall I come?" + +[Illustration] + +But the pair had risen again, and were clutched and violently wrenched +apart by Armitage and Bacon. For the March Hare's grip of the red locks +was very tight. + +Bacon found Toppin fairly easy to land, but the Hare, in full walking +costume, was quite another matter, and Simmons's help was required. +Besides, Toppin kept quiet when commanded to, while the March Hare +fought and struggled, and had to have his head thumped severely. +Fortunately the steps were not far off, and Jack awaited them there. + +He was frightened when he saw that Toppin's familiar little pink face +had changed to an ivory-white, and that his eyes were shut. Was he +senseless, or worse? Jack grasped the small, dripping body in his arms, +and staggered to where the bell hung that summoned the attendant. He +pealed it loudly, and sank down beneath it to wait. Other boys had +arrived during the incident, and were now pressing round, questioning +and jabbering. Jack had nothing to say to them. He was hard at work +chafing the motionless form, and his brain was in a whirl. What if +Toppin never moved or spoke again! + +Suddenly the eyelids lifted: Toppin looked straight into Jack's face. + +"May I move now?" he asked innocently. Oh, what a relief it was to hear +his voice! + +"You young fraud!" exclaimed Jack; but his own voice shook, and he was +glad to surrender his charge into the hands of the attendant, a man +trained for his position. The March Hare, who was shivering beside him, +sobbed with joy when he saw one small leg draw itself up, and an arm +move a few inches, at their owner's will. + +"Top-peen! Top-peen!" he cried. "You are not died!" + +Toppin stared at his friend over a tea-spoon. He was sipping hot +spirits-and-water, and wondering what it was. But Jack turned upon the +March Hare. + +"We shall be standing you head downwards in a minute, Hare. You're next +door to drowning yourself. Get up, and come with me!" + +The Hare protested feebly, with chattering teeth. But the attendant +thrust a spoonful of Toppin's drink between them, and counselled Jack to +take him to his wife. That good woman stripped the Hare in a twinkling, +wrapped him in a blanket, and set him before her kitchen fire to watch +his garments dry. Jack meanwhile returned to the saloon, to find Toppin +clothed once more, and curled up on the matting, near the heating +apparatus, munching a biscuit. + +"How do you feel now, Top?" he asked, stooping to see his face. + +"Pretty bobbish, thanks, Brady," was the answer, and it told that Toppin +was himself again. + +"You'll have to look sharp if you want a dip, Brady," called Green. +"Andy'll be round in a minute, I expect." + +"Thanks! I'm not bathing to-day," was the response. + +Just then Escombe Trevelyan, who was swimming lazily about, landed at +the steps close by, and beckoned Jack to come nearer. + +"I want to hear the truth of this affair, Brady," he began in a +confidential undertone. "Did you see it happen?" + +"Which part? I saw the March Hare leap in with his hat on his head and +his towel on his arm. He did look properly mad, I can tell you!" + +"I mean before that, when Toppin went under." + +"They say he actually took a dive from the board, don't they?" + +"Yes, but I want to get hold of someone who saw it. I can't understand +his being such an absolute little fool, and I can't worry the kid +himself about it just at present." + +So saying, Escombe swam off once more. + +Armitage was the next to approach Jack. He looked rather pale, but began +by talking rapidly about a paper-chase that was being planned. Jack knew +well enough that this was not what he wanted to talk about, but he +walked away from the bath with him, still pleasantly discussing starts +and times, till they found themselves alone on the stone stairs. Then +Armitage came to a stand-still, and his tone changed. + +"Brady, I want to speak to you; I want to explain, you know, about +Toppin." + +"Oh, I saw you push!" remarked Jack bluntly. + +"I'm not going to deny it, but do you know that he begged me to? You +came in too late to hear that." + +"If I hand you a pistol and ask you to shoot me, will you do it?" + +"Don't be a fool, Brady. There was no danger. I shouldn't have let him +drown." + +"He precious nearly did." + +"That was the March Hare's fault. I shouldn't have let him sink again." + +"Then you think you were right to push him in, Armitage? I don't. Shall +we ask Anderson's opinion?" + +"No, Jack, I beg and implore you to keep it dark. Of course I should +never do it again. But Simmons and Bacon have sworn not to bring me into +the affair. Toppin knows it was his own fault, and is a bit ashamed of +it. There's only the March Hare besides yourself. I thought perhaps you +might persuade him--" + +A shadow darkened the open entrance. There was a stamping on the +door-mat, and then Mr. Anderson appeared on the stairs. Jack advanced to +meet him. + +"Finished your bath, Brady?" + +"Yes, sir. I mean, I haven't had one. All the rest have. I wanted to +tell you there's been a little--a little commotion, sir." + +"What on earth do you mean? Not an accident?" + +"No, sir; only it might have been. Toppin--little Trevelyan, that +is--got into the deep end, and the March Hare--you know the boy I mean, +sir--he thought he was drowning, and jumped in after him with his things +on, and so they had to haul them both out. Toppin's as right as a trivet +again, and as warm as a toast. And the Hare isn't hurt either, but he +has to sit in a blanket and wait for his clothes to dry." + +Mr. Anderson looked very agitated, and his voice betrayed his feelings. + +"Why couldn't you behave as if I was with you? Really, it is absurd to +think that all you elder lads can't manage to keep an eye on the juniors +for twenty minutes. Where are these two boys? Take me to them directly! +What do you suppose Mr. West will say? He'll certainly be extremely +angry with you all. I shouldn't be surprised if he stops your coming +here." + +"We wondered whether you would feel obliged to tell him, sir," said Jack +thoughtfully. "Of course, if you must, you must; but it doesn't seem as +if there was much to be gained by it, does there? The March Hare and +Toppin have learnt their lesson pretty thoroughly." + +Mr. Anderson frowned and bit his finger, and the toe of his boot +tap-tapped on the ground. It was evident he was undecided. Presently he +looked at Jack. + +"You mean that, provided I find these two lads absolutely none the worse +for their ducking, you beg me, as a great favour, not to carry a report +to Mr. West?" + +"Yes, sir," Jack responded briskly. + +"Well, I won't promise, but I'll think it over." + +Mr. Anderson's thought ended in a decision which he announced to the +boys when they were gathered together. + +"For once, and once only, I have consented to spare you all from certain +punishment by not reporting to Mr. West this accident, which you ought +to have prevented. But you must never ask or expect to be shielded by me +again. Now we will go for a brisk walk as usual, and call for Graglia +and Trevelyan minor on the way back. I dare say they will be ready for +us by that time." + +Now, none of the boys, except those immediately concerned in the +accident, had realized that they were in any danger of punishment; but +when the matter was set before them in this light, their gratitude to +Mr. Anderson was profound. + +"Oh, thank you!" + +"Thank you, sir, very much!" + +"It sha'n't happen again, sir!" + +"Thank you awfully, sir!" + +Pleasure and surprise were equally mingled in the boys' expressions. But +Jack caught a murmur from Cadbury, very soft and low, + +"It's six for us, and half a dozen for yourself, eh, Andy?" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE CHICKEN AND THE BICYCLE + + +Mr. West, the master of Brincliffe, was a man of independent mind, and +though the boys liked him well enough, there was a difference of opinion +regarding his regulations. For example, the same term in which the door +was opened to day-pupils, it was shut to hampers, even birthday ones. +Cadbury suggested reporting this high-handed act to the Society for the +Prevention of Cruelty to Children, but decided to let him off when a +permission was announced which almost atoned for the loss of cakes and +preserves. Bicycles were allowed! + +Every boy who had one might bring it to school, although, of course, +there were strict limits to its uses, and he who misused the privilege +laid himself open to the heavy penalty of leaving it at home the next +term. The plan worked well, and gave huge pleasure to the pupils. + +With the exception of such small fry as the March Hare and Toppin, +nearly every boy managed to possess himself of a machine of some kind. +Many were old, one was originally a lady's, and another had a solid +tyre, but so long as the wheels would go round nothing mattered. And the +wheel must be in a sorry condition indeed which a boy can't work. + +The season was still early when the Bicycle Paper-chase was proposed and +arranged. It was Jack Brady's suggestion, and every boy to whom it was +named jumped at the idea. Mr. West granted permission, provided that a +master accompanied them, and Norman Hallett drifted into the post of +captain. + +It was agreed, after much consultation, that Hallett and Jack should be +the hares, that three minutes' start should be allowed, and that +everyone who liked to should be a hound. Simmons was to carry the horn +and "blow the true trail" whenever it was lighted upon. Half a dozen +more were selected to test the side tracks, as there were certain to be +plenty of false scents started. + +The Saturday fixed for the chase proved a fine one, and the whole pack +was assembled outside the school gates at the hour appointed. Mr. +Anderson was once more in charge of the party. Little duties like these +fell naturally to his lot as the junior master. + +One or two youngsters, who had not got machines of their own yet, had +begged leave to hire for the afternoon, so it happened that the March +Hare and Toppin were the only boarders left behind. Mournfully they +swung upon the gate, and watched the pack ride gaily away at the word +"Time!" from Mr. Anderson. + +"I wish that they should have tooken us, eh, Top-peen?" said the March +Hare. + +"You ought to say 'took', not 'tooken'," corrected Toppin. He felt +rather cross, and disinclined to dwell on the subject of his wrongs. + +"Ah, I am--what is your one word?--non-grammar-eesh?" + +"No,--stupid," said Toppin. + +_"Uhei!"_ This sorrowfully. Then, drawing nearer, "But no mind! I love +you--oh, yes, I love you a great well, Top-peen! Shall we--shall we +keess?" + +Toppin shook his head decidedly, and jumped off the gate in a hurry. + +"That's the second time since Sunday you've wanted to kiss, and I've +told you over and over again I hate it, I don't like it! I never want to +kiss! Now, do you understand?" + +The March Hare was sadly afraid he did. + +[Illustration] + +"If you were an English boy you'd never think of asking such a thing," +Toppin went on, tramping up and down as he talked. He really did not +want to be unkind to the Hare, but requests like this vexed him sorely. +"Don't you see, Harey, there are some people who will kiss me, and I +can't stop them--like Miss Turner, f'r instance." Miss Turner was the +matron. "And then there are some I've got to kiss, like aunts and +people. But one doesn't put in any extra, if one can help it. When I'm +grown-up I sha'n't have to kiss anybody, and that'll be jolly. I shall +never, never kiss at all, only shake hands or bow, like Escombe does." + +"Top-peen, you did keess me once time, last week!" The Hare was timidly +reproachful now. + +Toppin stood still and coloured. + +"Yes, I did. Because you bovvered me to, and--and you'd jumped in after +me!" + +"And shallent you--not ever--keess me once time more?" + +"Oh--well--look here! Perhaps when it's your birthday, if we get +somewhere quite secret, where nobody can possibly see us, I--I'll let +you have one--a quick one!" + +"T-thanks you!" said the grateful Hare. + +"It's 'thanks', or else 'thank you'," corrected Toppin. + +The Hare took no notice. He only tucked his arm affectionately into +Toppin's, knowing that he was keeping within his rights in doing so. +Toppin could say nothing. Arm-in-arm is quite correct and English! + +"I have som-ting to say. Zat Armitage--he did not ought to be gone +chasing paper. He is bad! I hate him, don' like him!" + +"Why?" enquired Toppin, with wide-open eyes. + +"Be-cause he try to drown you. I am--what is it?--to re-venge it!" + +"What awful rot you talk!" said Toppin. "He only did what I told him, +same as you would have done." + +"Oh no, he had ver' wickedness. Ever'body say he had. I am telling +many--one after one, by secret! And he is a debboy. Zey are more angry +for zat. So much better!" + +"Rubbish!" cried Toppin impatiently. "You've no business to tell anyone +anything. And you're looking fierce and ugly, Hare. Do put Armitage out +of your head, and come and have a see-saw!" + +The chase, meanwhile, had opened well. The track was unmistakable to +begin with, and it led right away from the town into the free country. +The pack of hounds spun gaily along at full tilt, and many a machine was +travelling at a pace it had not known for years. Every now and then +there was a small collision, ending generally in a tumble; but if anyone +was hurt, he kept it to himself, for all remounted and rode on, and +nobody waited behind to make enquiries. + +Of course there were any amount of false alarms, shouts and shrieks, +wavings and ringings, and Simmons's toot-toot sometimes went unheard in +the hubbub. Mr. Anderson grew quite boyishly excited, and kept bawling, +"Come on, you fellows, come on! Buck up! We'll run them down yet!" And +it is probable that Mr. West might have had a word to say had he seen +the pace at which the willing hounds obeyed. + +After one of the collisions above-mentioned, Grey, who was not a good +rider, and happened to be the last of the pack, came upon Cadbury, +dismounted, by the roadside. + +"What's up?" he cried, as he swayed laboriously past. + +"Oh, that you, Grey? Get down, there's a good fellow, and hold my bike a +jiffey. I'll tow you up the next hill, if you will. Thanks so much! I +had a spill just now, and my handlebar's got slewed round, and I can't +keep it straight and right it at the same time." + +The spanner had to be hunted out, the screw loosened, and the bar +straightened; and thus a little time was occupied. + +"Bother it! They're out of sight!" cried Cadbury when both were once +more ready to mount. "I suppose we shall see Andy tooling back soon, to +whip in the lazy pups! Never mind, I'll keep you company. Don't you +burst your wind! We'll take it quietly." + +"How they do yell! They've lost the trail," remarked Grey. "Hi! I say, +there's paper down this lane; look--and it has a bit of Green's writing +on it. You bet this is the true trail, and that the hares only scooted +along the main road a bit farther, on purpose to mislead." + +"You may be right. Anyhow, let's try our luck. It's downhill, so we can +put on steam. What sport if they all have to turn round, and find we're +in front instead of behind! Mind, old chappie, I'm passing on your right +... wait for you ... below!" + +The last words came faintly back; Cadbury had passed Grey like a streak +of lightning, his feet up, and his hands in his pockets. + +There was a turn in the lane farther down, so that Grey for a minute +lost sight of his comrade. He looked carefully ahead as he rounded it, +to see if the end of the descent were near. The hill only grew steeper, +but the end was a good deal nearer than he thought. + +A half-grown chicken, startled by his silent approach, sprang out of the +hedge and fluttered in front of his wheel, clucking madly. Grey pealed +his bell, but it had no effect on the distracted chicken, which seemed +bent on destruction. He clutched his brake; it would not work. There +came a stifled squawk, and a slight bump! + +In affright and agitation, Grey turned his machine into the hedge, and +tumbled off, somehow, anyhow, into the road. + +Five minutes later, Cadbury was toiling back up the hill in quest of his +school-fellow, when he came upon a very unexpected sight. A prostrate +bicycle beside a live, but bruised and dusty boy, who was sadly gazing +upon the body of a chicken. + +"My good Grey! Good gracious! What has happened? How did you manage it?" + +"Oh, Cadbury, I'm so glad to see you! Isn't it awful? I wouldn't have +run over it for worlds if I could have helped it, but it simply insisted +on it!" + +"Suicide while temporarily insane," put in Cadbury, covering his mouth +with his hand. + +"Well, it did look just as if it wanted to die! But what shall I have to +fork out, do you suppose? Five bob? I've got no more on me. Say, they +aren't likely to prosecute, are they?" + +Grey was really frightened. Cadbury looked at the picture again, tried +to take it seriously, failed, and burst into a fit of laughter. + +"Awfully sorry, Grey, but--ha, ha, ha!--what am I to do? You--ha, ha, +ha!--you do look a treat! I--ha, ha, ha!--I'll stop in a minute. Oh, ho, +ho, ho, ho, ho!" + +Poor Grey felt anything but amused. He gathered himself to his feet, and +remarked stiffly, "Well, Cadbury, when you've done--" + +Cadbury steadied himself with an effort. + +"It's all over now, Grey. I'm as grave as a judge. And to show you how +penitent I am, I'll see this job through for you. But you must obey me +to the letter. No, don't brush yourself! Just lie down again as you +were, and, however much you're tempted to, don't apologize! Be dignified +and injured." + +Grey objected, but was persuaded to submit. + +"Now to find the owner of this giddy young fowl! We'll see if they lay +claim to it here." + +Cadbury pushed open a little gate, and knocked at the door of the +nearest cottage. It proved to be the residence of the chicken's +mistress, an untidy, heavy-looking woman, who apparently lived alone. +Cadbury greeted her with the air of a constable, lawyer, and magistrate +rolled into one, and the woman listened with deep respect. + +"If the fowl of which I am speaking does belong to you," he pursued, in +stern and solemn tones, "I am sorry to tell you it has been the cause of +a most unfortunate accident that might have proved fatal. I suppose you +are well aware that cattle, poultry, and other domestic animals are +required to be kept under proper control. If you will kindly step +outside with me, I will show you what mischief has been done." + +The woman, looking much concerned and a little frightened, followed +Cadbury meekly to the scene of disaster. When she saw the lifeless +chicken, she raised her hands in horror. + +"Dear, dear, dear, sir! Why, it's dead!" + +"And it's a very good thing, madam, for you and for all of us, that my +friend here is not dead," said Cadbury reprovingly. "The chicken did not +die until it had done its best to kill him. And also to wreck his +machine! A bicycle is a very costly thing. Grey, my dear fellow, are you +feeling a little better? You are sure no bones are broken?" + +Cadbury's voice was full of tender anxiety. + +"I think not, thanks," responded Grey without moving. + +"Dear, dear, dear, sir!" exclaimed the woman again. "Is there anything I +can do for you? I'm sure I'm very sorry; I am that!" + +"I'm sure you are," said Cadbury, softening towards her. "And we should +be most unwilling to take proceedings, or anything like that, if we can +only arrange things comfortably." + +At mention of the word "proceedings", the woman grew visibly more +uncomfortable. She pressed them to enter her cottage, and plied them +with plum loaf and unripe gooseberries! + +"You see, sir, I'm not so well up as I might be in law matters. Maybe +you're right, I won't say. It's hard to keep the chickens from +straying, but I'll mind 'em better in future, for their sake and my own +too. There's nobody regrets the haccident more'n I do; but I'm a poor +woman, and a fine would fall cruel 'eavy on me!" + +"I assure you, we wouldn't be hard on you for anything," exclaimed +Cadbury, still more kindly. + +"You're very good, sir. I don't really 'ardly know what to suggest, but +would the chicken be of any service to you now?" + +"The chicken! Well, I'm sure we can't refuse that. What say you, Grey?" + +"What on earth should we do with it?" muttered Grey. + +"Ah, there is one little difficulty, but only a slight one. Would you +add the small favour of roasting it for us, ma'am? We have no +convenience for cooking it. We should then call the matter settled, and +say no more about it." + +"Thank you kindly, sir. I'll roast it, and gladly. And where might I +bring it to, sir?" + +"Oh, my goodness!" ejaculated Grey under his breath. Cadbury considered +a moment. + +"I think it will be better to leave it to be called for," he said +presently. "We shall probably send someone over next Wednesday." + +The woman looked mildly surprised at the suggested interval, but only +replied, "Very good, sir. Just when you please. It shall be ready. And +this is to go no further?" + +"Certainly not. I'm sure you have made all the amends in your power, and +we are much obliged to you. Good afternoon! Come, Grey, do you feel as +if you could make a start? Lean on my arm, and I will help you." + +As the woman, grateful and relieved, closed her door, Grey gazed +admiringly at his school-fellow. + +"Cadbury, what a clever chap you are! I can't think how you worked it. +But I say, what about fetching the thing? Who's going to risk that?" + +"You are." + +"Me! What do you mean?" + +"What I say. Aren't you expecting to visit your godmother next +Wednesday?" + +"Yes; and what's more, I must! She'd write and ask West why I didn't +turn up." + +"Oh, you'll turn up right enough! But you'll run over here first." + +"She lives bang in the opposite direction." + +"Never mind. You'll be an hour or so late for once. You must explain +that you were--well, detained! She can make what she likes of that." + +"Um! I don't feel over sweet on the job." + +"Possibly not; we can't always do what we like. It's your little part +in the game. I've done mine for the present. You must hide the chicken +away somehow and bring it home, and then I'll have a second innings, and +undertake all the risk." + +[Illustration] + +By this time the top of the hill was gained once more. Of course any +idea of rejoining the paper-chase had to be given up, but a little +brushing and beating made Grey respectable, and he and Cadbury rode home +together, to confess to having lost the track, and to await the return +of the pack, who, after a capital run, had eventually captured the hares +at a most convenient spot--the door of a lemonade shop! + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A KNOCK AT THE WINDOW + + +By mutual agreement the story of the chicken was kept secret for the +present, and the next three days passed uneventfully, except to Jack, +whose Sunday at home was no small event, though a weekly one. Lessons +were just ended on the following Wednesday morning, and Cadbury was +doing monitor's work in the school-room when Grey sidled up to him. + +"Hullo, Dapple-grey, you're the culprit I was wanting. These are your +things, aren't they?" + +"Yes; but I was just going to put them away. You mustn't mark me!" + +"You've not forgotten the little call you have to pay this afternoon?" + +"I wanted to speak to you about that, Cadbury. It's very difficult for +me to do it, you know. What do you say--supposing we leave that chicken +alone? I don't want to go after it. And it's my chicken, you know." + +"Half of it," replied Cadbury. "You can leave your half behind if you +like, but I want mine. I earned it by getting you out of your scrape. +Look here, Grey! Here are five--six articles belonging to you. I put six +marks against your name, and that's half-way to an imp., unless you do +your duty towards that chicken." + +"Oh, dash it! Well, what have I to do?" + +"You can't carve, can you?" + +"Don't know. 'Spect so." + +"No, I'm sure you can't. It's an art. I can. So that settles it. I must +have the fowl first this evening; cut it up, and send on your portion to +your bedroom. Let the March Hare fetch it. He's a noiseless customer." + +"That won't do," said Grey. "Hallett wouldn't allow it. Since that last +pillow-fight, when his bolster knocked a can over and got soaked, he's +been awfully down on larks. He's sworn to lick the first boy who opens +the door after the gas is out--and he can do it, you know." + +"Very well, I'll send it _via_ the window," said Cadbury coolly. "All +the same, I don't think you'll find Hallett's above eating it. When you +hear the chicken knock, open the window and let it in--that's all." + +"Oh, yes, it sounds easy enough to you! But supposing I get the chicken, +how am I to bring it into the house without being seen? Suppose I meet +West in the hall, or Miss Turner on the stairs, or the housemaid in your +bedroom? I defy you to hide a roast fowl about you, and I don't care for +getting into rows, if you do." + +"My dear Grey, we know you don't," said Cadbury. "You're an adept at +escaping them. But you needn't fear for this; I have a way out of the +hole. I'll drop a line from our window. You come round beneath it on +your return, before you enter the house, and tie the chicken firmly to +the end of it. Then, when the right time comes, I can haul it up. And +look here, don't let's explain to the other chaps how we came by the +chicken. Let's make a complete mystery of it for a day or two, and have +a lark over it." + +That seemed good fun. Grey gradually allowed himself to be persuaded to +perform his part of the task. Cadbury, in his turn, made what small +preparations seemed necessary. He upset a salt-cellar at dinner, and +managed to collect at least half the contents in his handkerchief. He +also made a collection of string, chiefly from the smaller boys, who +give without asking questions--or, at least, without demanding answers. + +Evening came at length, and with it Grey's return. A wink and a nod was +all the communication that passed between him and Cadbury, but it +satisfied the latter that the chicken was in the garden, and for once he +longed for bed-time. In such a hurry was he when the happy hour arrived, +that he forgot to wait for Mr. West's departure, and was half-way +upstairs when he was called back with a rebuke for his breach of +manners. + +In the room over which Escombe Trevelyan was head slept also Cadbury, +Vickers, Jack Brady, and Toppin, the last-named being despatched to bed +an hour before the rest. + +"What's up, Cadburius?" enquired Trevelyan with an amused smile. "Got to +catch a train?" + +"No, a chicken!" was the reply. + +"Poor fellow, his mind's giving way!" said Jack. + +"Talking about chickens," broke in Vickers, "I saw the old cat sneaking +along just now with what looked for all the world like the leg of a fowl +in her mouth. You bet the masters are having a tuck-in to-night." + +"Not a bit of it!" exclaimed Cadbury. "Depend upon it, she's been at our +chicken. The shameless, thieving beast!" + +"At yours, Cad?" This was uttered in chorus. + +"At mine--ours! It's a treat for us all. I was going to wait till lights +were out, but I daren't now. The cat'll have the rest if we aren't +quick; perhaps she's eaten it already. Keep cave by the door, Jack, +while I haul in the line." + +Few things really astonish a boy. Cadbury was regarded as capable of +anything, and when the sash was cautiously raised, and the string pulled +up, the fact that a real roast chicken, half-wrapped in newspaper, +dangled at the end, caused more amusement than amazement. + +"Well, I'm blowed! Where did this grow?" + +"I shall drop a line to-morrow--two lines--and see what comes up." + +"It'll be the old cat, likely." + +"Hush! I must stow this away till Pepper's been round," said Cadbury, +hastily stuffing the bird into his own bed. + +There was not long to wait; Mr. Peace appeared almost before they were +ready for him. Mr. Peace was the senior resident master, whose short +temper had won for him the above nickname. His back was scarcely turned, +the boys were still responding cordially to his rather gruff +"Good-night", when Cadbury drew the chicken forth and waved it +triumphantly in his hand. Trevelyan, who was next the window, pulled the +blind up silently. It was a brilliant moonlight night, so that gas was +unneeded. + +"The cat has had her full share," Cadbury remarked sadly. "But never +mind. Half the chicken belongs to Gr--, to the next room, I mean, and +as I've got the trouble of carving, I shall give them the Pussy-half. +It'll be all right, they won't know; they'll only think I cut it rather +roughly." + +"And our reluctance to share supper with the cat is purely a matter of +sentiment," added Vickers. "'Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be +wise.'" + +"There goes Chickabiddy!" exclaimed Jack, as the fowl suddenly sprang +from Cadbury's bed into the middle of the floor. He hopped out and +recaptured it. + +"Thanks! Well, it's no easy job, I do assure you, to divide a fowl on a +bed, with no plate, no fork, and only a penknife. I can carve well +enough under civilized conditions, but--" + +"Tell us how you came by it, old man," said Jack, who was trying to +decide in his own mind whether he should consent or refuse to join the +feast. He liked chicken very much indeed, and what would they think if +he declined it! Besides, there was no rule against eating chicken in the +bedrooms. True, there was something about "No eatables to be taken +upstairs". But then the chicken had not been taken upstairs; it had come +by a lift. Still, Jack could not quite quiet the little voice within. + +"No, I won't shock you with details," replied Cadbury mischievously. +"Perhaps you wouldn't eat it if I did." + +"I'm not going to anyhow, thanks very much," returned Jack with sudden +determination. "There'll be all the more for the rest of you, won't +there?" + +"Don't talk nonsense!" exclaimed Trevelyan. "Of course you'll have some! +If I think fit to eat it, you may. Don't play the blameless prig, for +goodness' sake!" + +"Brady thinks I've filched it," said Cadbury. + +"Brady doesn't want a nightmare," rejoined Jack, laughing, "though he +thinks it awfully kind of Trevelyan to answer for his conscience." + +"You won't refuse the merry-thought--just for luck, Jack!" + +"I have too many of my own generally, specially at Pepper's classes." + +"Oh, pinch Brady, somebody! He's punning!" cried Cadbury. "There! it's +come in two at last!" and he surveyed his handiwork with great pride. +"Now to send along the next room's share!" + +Wrapping it in the torn newspaper, he tied it to the string once more, +opened the window very gently, and after several unsuccessful efforts +whirled it thump against the adjoining window, and waited till a pull at +the line showed that it was received. + +After a few minutes there came a faint whip at their own window-pane, +and Trevelyan took in a scrap of paper weighted with a bull's-eye. +Seeing there was some writing on it, he struck a match, and read: + +_You've bagged the biggest half._ + +_Send us some salt._ + +_Please return bull's-eye._ + +_Where's our leg?_ + +In answer Cadbury screwed up a pinch of salt, and scribbled on the +paper: + +_Ask the cat._ + +_Mind you don't leave your bones about._ + +Needless to say, the bull's-eye was not returned. + +The packet was tossed on to the neighbouring sill, and then they settled +down to enjoy their meal in peace. It was well that there was not +overmuch light, for they could not consume it elegantly. As a matter of +fact, they gnawed it in an ogreish fashion, and in such haste that they +could scarcely stop to plunge their bones into the salt for a +flavouring. + +"I suppose you're quite sure this is chicken, Cadbury?" said Vickers +presently. + +"Quite. Why do you ask?" mumbled Cadbury. + +"It struck me as being rather--well, a trifle gamy, nothing more." + +"Pretend it's pheasant, then," said Cadbury. + +"Mayn't I have a little bit?" + +The sleepy voice came from Toppin's bed. + +"Certainly not," replied his elder brother promptly. "Chicken at night +is bad for little boys--high chicken especially. Tuck your head in, and +don't let me hear you speak again, or I'll come to you with a slipper." + +Toppin was kept in very strict order by his brother, and the boys, who +were used to his methods, made no remark. + +Suddenly, in the midst of the cracking and munching, Jack exclaimed in a +whisper, "Cave! I hear feet!" + +In an instant all the chicken-bones, salt, paper, and penknives were +swooped off the counterpanes, and every boy lay flat and shut his eyes. + +That same moment, to their untold vexation, a merry peal of laughter +rang out from the next room. And the approaching tread of a man's feet, +quick and regular, was heard by all. + +"The daft maniacs!" growled Trevelyan between his teeth. + +Their door was first opened, and Mr. Peace walked in. Of course, he was +received with dead silence. + +"Now, boys, you needn't feign sleep, because we know you're wide awake. +You've been talking, too. Trevelyan!" + +[Illustration] + +"Yes, sir." + +"You are head of this room; what's the blind up for?" + +"We--we like to see the stars," suggested Trevelyan. + +"H'mph! Was it you who laughed just now?" + +"Oh no, sir. My brother woke up a few minutes ago, and I advised him to +go to sleep." + +Nothing could have sounded more innocent, and perhaps Mr. Peace would +have moved on without saying any more, but that, even as he turned to +go, there came a little crash at the window-pane. + +The boys held their breath in suspense. Trevelyan bit his lip till the +blood oozed, and Cadbury covered his face with his hands. Even Jack +trembled. Only Vickers lay apparently unconcerned. + +"I suppose that was a poor bird dashed itself against the window," he +murmured. + +"Do you, Vickers? I don't," replied Mr. Peace, striding forward. "Ah, +your poor bird has cracked the glass, my boy! I will invite Mr. West to +come to your window to-morrow to see a star of another kind." + +So saying, the master threw up the sash and laid his hand on a small +parcel roughly wrapped and tied with string. It did not escape his +notice that the string had an unusually long end, which seemed to be +attached to something until he wrested it away. The boys felt more +uncomfortable every moment. + +Keeping the parcel in his hand, Mr. Peace shut the window very +deliberately, drew down the blind, and lit the gas. Then he turned the +packet over. Scrawled upon it in large printed letters were these words: + +_BURY OUR BONES WITH YOURS._ + +Mr. Peace read them out slowly, with a pause between each. Having done +so, he looked round at the inmates of the room, surveying them one by +one. Then he stooped to inspect Trevelyan's counterpane. At last he +opened the parcel, and found what the boys knew only too surely he would +find--a handful of well-picked chicken bones. It was a trying moment. + +"And where are _your_ bones?" he asked presently. There was an awkward +hesitation; then Cadbury, seeing there was no escape, replied meekly, +"Under our pillows, sir." + +"How horrible!" ejaculated the master with a shudder. He walked to a +washhand-stand and selected a large sponge-dish. Depositing in it the +greasy parcel he was carrying, he handed it gravely to Trevelyan. + +"Put all your bones--your chicken bones--in this, please!" he said. + +Trevelyan obeyed, and passed it to Vickers, and so the collection went +the round of the room, only passing over Toppin, who was asleep, with +his arm tossed above his head. Mr. Peace handed the dish to Jack, but he +shook his head: + +"Haven't got any, sir." + +"Who cooked it?" enquired the master. + +"I don't know, sir," answered Trevelyan. + +"Brady?" + +"Nor do I, sir." + +"Vickers?" + +"Honestly, I haven't the dimmest notion, sir, though it sounds funny to +say so." + +"I'm glad you can see the fun. I'm sorry to say it sounds to me too much +like lying." + +"Sir!" Escombe Trevelyan sat up in bed with flashing eyes to emphasize +his indignation. + +Mr. Peace turned to him, and stamped his foot angrily. + +"Lie down, Trevelyan, at once! You dare to speak to me like that! +Cadbury, you're the only one I haven't asked. Who cooked this fowl?" + +"A woman, sir. I--don't know her name." + +"All right! We'll reserve further enquiries till the morning. If you +take my advice, you'll all make up your minds to speak the truth then." + +Having delivered this cutting speech, Mr. Peace left the bedroom with +the bones. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE STORM BREAKS + + +Ten of the Brincliffe boys passed a very bad night. The nightmare, at +which Jack had jokingly hinted, was unpleasantly real; there was no +dispelling it. Everybody knew that everybody around him was wide awake, +but nobody felt inclined to speak. + +By and by the daylight came, and brought a little more courage with it. + +"After all, I don't care two straws!" exclaimed Cadbury abruptly. + +"Who do you suppose does?" said Trevelyan. + +Vickers raised himself on his elbow. + +"I suggest, Cadbury, that you give us no more information than you have +done (which is practically nothing) regarding the source of the supper." + +"It should have been bread-sauce," put in Cadbury. + +"This isn't the time for puns," said Vickers severely. "I was going to +add that in our ignorance lies our only chance of safety. There is +certain to be trouble over this affair, and there are three or four +points about it which seem to aggravate our case. You see, +first"--bringing his fingers into action--"it was Pepper who caught us, +and he's a Tartar at all times. Would that it had been Andy! Second, +West may take it as a reflection on his table. Third--" + +"Would you mind going on talking for an hour or two, Vick?" interrupted +Cadbury in a drowsy voice. "I find it very helpful and soothing. Of +course, if you could sing the words it would be a still more perfect +lullaby." + +Vickers, mistaking the voice for Jack's, flung a sponge at the wrong +head, and relapsed into silence. Jack, roused at this injustice, dipped +the sponge into his water-jug, and returned it with force. Vickers +ducked, and it exploded against the wall above his head. Cadbury watched +and chuckled. The shadow cast by coming events had not quite overwhelmed +the boys' spirits. + +When they were called, the boot-boy laid a book on Cadbury's bed as he +passed. The inside of the cover was found to contain the following words +in Grey's handwriting:-- + + _Dear C.,--For pity's sake, dress quick, and meet me 5' before the + bell in the housemaid's cupboard. There's standing-room.--E. G._ + +Now, though they had been thrown together in the chicken incident, +Cadbury and Grey were not bosom friends, and Cadbury did not feel +particularly eager for this interview. But he good-naturedly did as he +was asked, and sneaked out of his room five minutes before the bell had +rung which formally permitted the boys to leave. + +He found Grey already awaiting him in the chosen rendezvous among +brooms, dusters, and pails. It is true there was standing-room, but it +was dangerous to move. As the cupboard door opened to admit him, it let +in enough light to reveal Grey's white, frightened face, and as he +pulled Cadbury inside the latter noticed the clammy "frogginess" of his +hands. He drew the door to very carefully. + +"Good-morning!" said Cadbury. "This is a pleasant spot to meet in. So +romantic!" + +"Cadbury, how can you joke, when it's all up with us?" Grey's voice was +quite hoarse. + +"What's the good of looking forward? Seize the flying moment, and suck +honey while you may. That's my motto." + +"But you think with me; it _is_ all up with us?" + +"I'm afraid that's about the long and the short of it. Pepper was very +hot and red last night,--regular Cayenne, in fact; and I have noticed +that Cayenne at night spells Cane in the morning." + +"Cadbury, please stop making fun! I--can't bear it. You don't care, but +I do. I haven't slept a wink all night." + +"Pick up your spirit, then, and pocket your fears. I'll stand by you, +and take my full share. We'll brace ourselves together and face the +music." + +"Oh no, I can't! I can't! I'm younger than you. I never asked the woman +for the chicken, and I begged you to let me off fetching it. You can +call me a coward if you like; I don't care! I am afraid!" + +There was silence for a moment, and then Cadbury spoke, but in an +altered voice. + +"Do you mean to say that you want me to leave your name out entirely?" + +"Y--yes. If I get in a row it'll be mentioned in my report, and I shall +catch it at home. I don't believe you feel things like I do. And it was +all your doing, wasn't it?" + +"Mostly. Very well, I sha'n't mention you, Grey." + +And with that Cadbury marched out of the housemaid's cupboard with his +hands in his pockets. + +Prayers were followed by early prep., and early prep., by breakfast, +without a word on the subject uppermost in the minds of so many. The +day-boys arrived, and saw at once that something was up, though what +they could not make out. But at ten minutes to nine Mr. Peace entered +the room with an excited air, and announced that all the boys were to +stand together as at drill. Mr. West wished to speak to them. + +[Illustration] + +The head appeared almost immediately, and ordered the occupants of the +two rooms, headed by Hallett and Trevelyan, to stand in front. + +He began with a short, studied preface about "an unpleasant duty" and +"flagrant breach of rules"; then gave a brief _resume_ of what had taken +place, and proceeded to personal enquiries. + +"Where did the chicken come from? Who brought it into the house?" + +Cadbury stood forward. + +"So you are responsible for this, Cadbury? Anyone else?" + +"No, sir." + +"How did you obtain possession of the chicken?" + +"It--got run over--and killed--in bicycling. I mean, I was bicycling." + +"Did you steal it, then, or buy it?" + +"The woman it belonged to gave it to me, sir." + +"After you'd run over it?" + +"After it was dead, sir." + +"And who cooked it?" + +"She did, sir." + +"Cadbury, Cadbury! how dare you put forward such a story as this? I +can't believe a word of it." + +"It's true, sir." + +"True! that after you had killed a chicken, the owner not only presented +you with it, but undertook to cook it for you?" + +"Yes, sir." + +Mr. West's only comment on this affirmation was a deep sigh. + +Further examination failed to make Cadbury contradict himself; but to +certain enquiries he politely declined to furnish an answer. + +"Was any boy with you at the time who can bear witness to your story? + +"Will you give me this woman's address, that I may send for her? + +"How did you manage to get the chicken after it was cooked?" + +Such questions as these drew forth nothing. + +At length Mr. West, without expressing any opinion, passed on to the +subject of the cracked window, but he could not persuade any of +Hallett's room to own to the accident. He threatened, he even +entreated,--in vain. The clock ticked on; it was a quarter past nine, +and everyone was very tired of standing, when the enquiry was brought to +an end, and sentence pronounced. + +Green and another boy named Buckland were complimented on having "wisely +and most properly" kept themselves and their respective rooms entirely +outside the affair. Cadbury, on his own confession--"an extraordinary, +and, I am bound to say, improbable tale"--was to suffer first and worst, +and had the doubtful distinction of accompanying Mr. West there and then +to his study. Next, the inmates of Hallett's and Trevelyan's rooms were +doomed to forego supper for three days, Hallett's room being sentenced +in addition to pay for the mending of the cracked pane. Lastly, and this +was the part of the sentence that roused the whole school, all--boarders +and day-boys alike--were to forfeit the next half-holiday. + +The day-boys looked so exceedingly blank at the news that Mr. West added +that he included them because, "as long as I can obtain no full +confession, I am compelled to regard you, with all your opportunities +and freedom, as being as much under suspicion as the rest". He wound up +by observing that no doubt it was "the old, hard case of the many +suffering for the few", but this did not afford much consolation to his +aggrieved pupils. + +Of course there was nothing to be said at the time, but as soon as they +were alone they fell into clusters, and gave vent to their opinions by +storming at one another. + +"Abominable!" + +"Beastly unfair!" + +"The meanest thing I ever heard!" + +These were the kind of expressions that floated about the room. + +But one small group, of which Hallett was the principal member, instead +of reviling the head-master, was expending its wrath upon a fellow-boy. + +"The cowardly young toad! Had to do with it, you say? I should think he +had, indeed! A good deal more than we've any idea of." + +"Well, we know he did the window." + +"We do, and he shall have the pleasure of paying for that. He shall, if +it empties his cash-box for a year following. Those members of the room +who yearn to subscribe may do so." + +"He was on the outlook for the chicken, you remember. Of course he must +have known all about it. Cadbury can confirm that." + +"_Can_, but you don't know Cadbury if you think he will. What I say is, +ask the young sneak himself. Put it to him straight, and let's see that +we get the truth. Why, we should never have lost our half if he had +owned up with Cadbury." + +"And it's so jolly rough on Cadbury too! Why should one be licked and +not the other?" + +"Oh, we'll see to the other if necessary. But let's hear what he says +for himself. By the way, where is he?" + +Where indeed? A careful search revealed the hapless Grey huddled up in +the book-room, terrified and miserable. + +"Here he is! Hoping to be taken for the _Treasury of Knowledge_," cried +his discoverer, and straightway dragged him into the light. There was a +rush to the book-room. + +Grey was put to the question, failed to clear himself, found guilty--and +licked. + +Jack Brady was the centre of another group, which seemed inclined to be +angry with him. + +"Brady's no business to have his supper stopped," said Trevelyan. "He +never touched a morsel of that wretched fowl." + +"He ought to have told West so." + +"Such nonsense!" exclaimed Jack. "I could have eaten some if I'd wanted +to. Now, Toppin's case is different. He wasn't allowed to have any. I +vote we sign a petition in favour of him. It will really be hard cheese +if he's made to suffer." + +"Toppin, here!" + +The boy was chanting over his spelling, but he hopped up promptly at his +elder brother's call. + +"They say they are going to get up a petition to have you let off the +sentence for our room, because you didn't eat any chicken." + +"Oh, I'd hate to be let off!" exclaimed Toppin. "I know it's because I'm +little, and I want to be treated as if I was big like the rest. I'd +heaps rather! 'Sides, I would have eaten some chicken if you'd have let +me, so it's same as if I had done, isn't it?" + +"You hear, Brady?" said Trevelyan with a laugh. "A nice pair of lawyers +you'd make! Two exactly contrary arguments are used to persuade us of +the very same fact." + +"Well, it comes to this, that we want all to share and share alike. +Isn't that it, Top?" + +Jack tweaked the defiant tuft as he put the question, and Toppin laughed +up at him and nodded. + +The most unfortunate effect of the whole incident was the bitterness +which it revived in the day-scholars. It had almost seemed as if time +was breaking down the wall of enmity which was so strong at the +beginning. But today's work strengthened it still further. The day-boys +had congregated together, and were speaking their minds in tones that +were the more seriously angry because they were subdued. + +"This is what they wanted, to bring us into trouble; and a lot they care +that they're in the same boat!" The theory was Bacon's, and he announced +it with confidence. + +"It's the spirit of the thing one kicks at--the spite, the injustice! +Not the loss of the half!" declaimed Mason with warmth. + +"Let's pay 'em out!" said Simmons. + +"How, Lew?" Hughes put the question, but all waited eagerly for the +answer. + +Simmons might be small, but he was brimful of bright ideas. + +"Fight," he replied. "We're much fewer, but it would be mostly a matter +of siege and stratagem, and if we planned it out, I bet we could give +them a wipe-down." + +"I mayn't fight," said Frere sadly. "They won't allow me to." + +"And I'm awfully afraid I can't," added Hughes. + +"What's more, you sha'n't, Ethel!" said Simmons, who was amusingly +careful of his friend's health. "There'll be lots of quiet work for you +and Frere--scouting and so forth." + +"I'm nuts on fighting," put in Armitage. + +"As for me, I'm spoiling for the fray," laughed Mason, exhibiting the +muscle of his arm with great pride. + +"Oh, well, it will teach them to respect us anyway. And that will be +something gained," said Simmons. "Mason, will you captain us?" + +"Not much! No, I'll do my duty as a lieutenant, but I am no commander. +Nor are you. You're too little." + +"Napoleon--Nelson!" muttered Simmons. He would have liked the offer of +the post, and his size was a sore point with him. + +"Jack Brady must be captain," said Bacon firmly, and all agreed with +him. + +"However could we have forgotten him?" exclaimed Hughes. + +"He's the right man, if he'll consent," remarked Mason. "But I wish I +felt sure about that." + +[Illustration] + +"Well, I see at the present moment he's hobnobbing with the enemy," said +Hughes doubtfully. + +"Oh, but he's really one of us, he has been all along," cried Simmons. +"Here, Brady, you're wanted." + +"At your service," said Jack merrily, and, breaking off his conversation +with Trevelyan and Vickers, he joined the group of day-boys. + +"Brady, have you heard that they've dragged us into this row? That our +half's stopped along with the boarders'? Though none of us ever saw or +tasted so much as a drum-stick!" + +"None of you? Ever?" put in Jack. "That's a big order, Piggy-wig." + +"You know what I mean," rejoined Bacon. "They might have had a swan or a +peacock for all we knew about it." + +"But, my dear fellow, it's West you must blame. No one mentioned you." + +"No, but not one of them had the honesty to stand out and clear us--to +assure him we'd nothing to do with it," said Mason. "Instead of that +they are careful to turn it into a mystery, on purpose that we may all +be suspected." + +"Well, well, it's only just a single half that's lost. It'll soon be +over and forgotten." + +"Will it?" cried Simmons indignantly. "I fancy it will be remembered +longer than you think by some. We mean to pay them in full for their +mean spite. We're going to unite and fight." + +"Oh, challenge them to a cricket match instead! I'll play for you. +Think how much more sportive that will be! Not to say, sensible." + +"Come, Brady, we're not babies. We mean to make them sorry by force." + +"Take care you're not made sorry by force, Lucy!" + +"Oh, never fear! The masters won't know anything at all about it if we +can help it. We shall pick our opportunity. But look here, Brady, you've +got to captain us!" + +"Bothered if I do!" said Jack. + +"Very well, don't! Go over to the boarders instead, as you want to, and +repeat everything we've told you." Bacon spoke angrily. + +"Piggy-wig, don't be a fool! If you want me to quarrel either with your +set or with the other chaps, I say I won't, and that's flat! You must +take me as you find me, and if you're all bent on fighting and making +geese of yourselves, I shall just stay as I am--once for all--Jack of +Both Sides." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE MARCH HARE'S REVENGE + + +Cling, clang--creak! Cling, clang--creak! So the discordant bell sounded +forth in the playground, the interval between the strokes being filled +by a harsh, rusty squeak that set one's teeth on edge. The message it +bore to the boys was, "Come in--quick! Come in--quick!" For the time was +ten minutes to nine, and the day that following the incident which was +already known as the Chicken Row. + +The monitors this week were Brady, Bacon, and Armitage, and they had +already gone in to their duties. The old bell always went on ringing for +two minutes, and the boys were in the habit of waiting until it was on +the point of ceasing, when they obeyed it with a rush. + +But on this particular morning the day-scholars seemed, for some reason +best known to themselves, one and all consumed with zeal for their +studies. At the first preparatory creak they made a simultaneous dash +for the entrance, which caused much mirth amongst the boarders. + +Cadbury waved his arm in their direction, and turned up his eyes with an +air of mock tragedy, while he spouted with rolling "r's": + + "How fair a sight it is to see + Youth lay aside its giddy glee, + Athirst for learning's boundless sea! + How different from you and me!" + +"My dear boys," said Vickers, with pretended solemnity, "I require +obedience in you, but I desire something more--something which you can +give, but I cannot command. That something is cheerful obedience--ready +obedience--obedience that hurries gladly at the call of duty. And now +that you see a pattern of such obedience, you might do worse than copy +it." + +His imitation of Mr. West's emphatic voice and rather studied manner was +so true to life that it was greeted with a roar of laughter, and for +once Vickers had the gratification of seeing his wit appreciated. The +very phrase, "you might do worse", was a favourite with the head-master, +and one which the boys had long ago selected for mimicry. + +But now there came the faint, irregular stroke that foretold the +stopping of the bell, and the boys moved quickly towards the entrance, +and began to jostle one another in their haste. On reaching the door, +however, much fumbling and kicking began. + +"Hi, you in front there! Look sharp and go in! We're waiting!" cried +Hallett in a voice of angry authority, and pushing commenced in the +rear. + +"It's no good pushing; it's stuck!" was holloaed back, and the kicking +and banging increased in vigour. + +"What nonsense! Let me come! It must be opened! Won't Pepper wire into +us in a minute!" + +Green elbowed his way to the front, and turned the handle violently. +Only once, and then he faced round with the exclamation, "You fools! +It's locked!" + +At which news much breath and a little time were wasted in furious +threats towards those by whom they had been tricked. + +"Won't they pay for this!" + +"West shall hear if they don't let us in sharp." + +"I'll knock their heads together when I do get in!" + +"The impudent beggars! We'll give them such a lesson!" + +But within all was glee and triumph. Simmons and Bacon fairly danced +with malicious satisfaction, whilst Armitage and Mason chuckled grimly. + +"What'll they do? Go round to the front?" + +"They'll catch it if they do." + +"We shall too if the joke once reaches West," said Jack. "Don't you +think you might wind up the trick now, and let them in?" + +"All in good time," said Mason coolly. The banging at the entrance grew +terrific, and though separated from the first class-room by a long +passage, he had to raise his voice to be heard above it. "Let's be quite +sure that we're ready for them. You--Bacon and Armitage--have you done +your job?" + +"Yes, properly." + +"We ought to, for we've been at it nearly half an hour." + +"And you others--Brady, Ethel, Lucy, et cetera--you've all got your +books ready?" + +"Ay, ay, sir," laughed Simmons. + +"What was your job, Armie?" asked Jack. He had been engrossed in inking +new slates. + +Armitage smothered a laugh. + +"Muddling, Jack, my boy, muddling! And a truly artistic muddle have we +made. It's been a game of 'General Post' with the books. The +dictionaries have taken the atlases' place, the Greek grammars have +deposed the Latins, and--" + +"Hist!" interrupted Jack. "I smell Pepper! We must whistle to Ethel." +And without waiting for permission he did so. + +"Ethel" was posted down the long passage by the school entrance, with +instructions to turn the key back when he heard the signal. The sound of +unlocking was drowned in the hubbub without, and, turning, he fled +noiselessly up the passage and into the school-room, at the identical +moment in which two others made their appearance there--namely Mr. +Peace, through the opposite door, and Norman Hallett outside the window! + +"Now, then, where is everybody?" cried the fussy little master, seeing +less than a dozen boys assembled for work. Then his eye fell on +Hallett's pale, angry face peering through the glass. "Why, Hallett +outside? What's the meaning of this? What's the meaning of this?" + +"Do you think perhaps they didn't hear the bell, sir?" suggested +Simmons. "They've been making rather a noise outside." + +Mr. Peace was not deceived by the boy's demureness. + +"You want your ears boxed, you rogue!" he began; but at that moment in +surged a torrent of rather frightened, very wrathful boys, who had been +unprofitably spending the last half-minute in striving with penknives to +force the lock of the already unfastened door. + +However, the rudiments of school honour forbade their furnishing the +master with an account of the occurrence, and they had to content +themselves with breathing dark threats to those day-boys who crossed +their path in the frantic rush to the book-room. + +At sight of that rush a few of the milder spirits, such as Hughes and +Frere, held their breath in dreadful foreboding, while the unconscious +Mr. Peace roared: + +"Now, then, how long do you mean to stay in there? The clock's on the +strike. I mark every boy who isn't in his place when it stops! Do you +hear me? Do you hear me, I say?" + +"No," responded Cadbury, without thinking. Then, poking his head out, +"What are we to do, sir, please? We can't find our books. Everything is +changed. It's worse than a spring cleaning. Won't you look and see, +sir?" + +[Illustration] + +Before the invitation could be answered, there was an impatient knock of +authority in the school-room--a rap of knuckles upon a desk--and +everyone knew what that meant. Mr. West had entered, and was being kept +waiting. + +With what books they had managed to grab--some the right ones, many the +wrong--the boarders slunk red-faced to their places, there to realize +their luck, and perchance to discover their mistakes. Cadbury had no +book at all. Green found himself hugging Toppin's _Little Reader_ +instead of _Elementary Physics_; and Hallett might make what use he +could of the March Hare's _English Conversation_ when he came to open +it. + +The pages of the masters' registers fairly bristled with black marks +that unhappy morning. Grey was for bringing the enemy to book, and +reporting his evil devices, but his elders quashed the proposal. + +"You silly duffer! As if we couldn't deal with them ourselves. Wait till +lunch. There's a rod in pickle for them, and they know it." + +Yes, the day-boys had a suspicion that there was a lively time +approaching, but so set-up were they by their recent victory that they +quite looked forward to it. + +Jack was less happy. He read the resolve in the boarders' faces, and +knew that they saw no joke in that morning's events. And he wondered +where the war would end. It seemed the final upset of all those little +efforts towards harmony and good-temper to which he had given himself +from the hour of his arrival at Brincliffe. + +Among the junior scholars sat a dark-complexioned boy with very white +teeth. It was the March Hare. To-day there was a queer gleam in his +eyes, and a flush of carmine in his sallow cheeks. His _English +Conversation_ was not to be found when wanted, and the fact called down +upon him a sharp rebuke from a master, but his face expressed no regret. + +"There must have been a ringleader in this," remarked another boarder in +his hearing during a momentary absence of the master. "I wish to +goodness we knew who it was!" + +"A reng-lidder?" repeated the March Hare. "I don' know zat word. But if +you mean ze boy who done ze much most--ze baddest of all ze bads--ah, I +know him! Yes, I mark him long, long time. An' I wait." + +"What d'ye mean, Harey? Who is it?" + +"Nev-er mat-ter," said the March Hare mysteriously; and at that point +Mr. Anderson re-entered the room. + +On went the hands of the clock. At one minute to eleven all was peaceful +and orderly. At eleven the masters departed for the usual brief +interval. At one minute past eleven all was war and tumult! + +How, where, with whom the conflict commenced it is impossible to say. +There was no warning, no formal outbreak--only in a moment the quiet +room became a battle-field, filled with a seething crowd of furious, +struggling lads. + +An odd feature of the battle was its comparative silence. It was to +everyone's interest to avoid attracting attention, and the sound of +blows was louder than the sound of voices. + +Here, Bacon was felled by Trevelyan; there, Vickers by Mason. The result +was the same in either case. The fallen arose undaunted and without a +word; only a look of keener determination settled on each face. + +There was scarcely time for rallying, but, as far as was possible, the +day-boys closed in together to resist the attack of their more numerous +foes. Hughes and poor Frere both found themselves forced into battle, +willy-nilly. Jack, whose natural instinct was to side with the weaker +party, found neutrality impossible, and the part he had chosen very +hard. The day-boys were prepared for his vagaries, but the boarders were +perplexed and bewildered by his conduct. Was he partisan or traitor? One +moment they saw him pressing his handkerchief to Green's bleeding nose; +the next he was forcing a way for plucky Simmons to reach his friends: +now he must needs shut Toppin up in the book-room for safety--against +his will, of course; then he was heard imparting to the tearful Frere a +few hints on self-defence. + +Very soon there was no doubt in which direction the tide of victory was +flowing. Numbers began to tell, and the day-boys were being forced +steadily backwards towards the wall, away from the class-rooms, where +they had hoped, if necessary, to be able to entrench themselves. + +A foolish idea of making use of the long table suggested itself to +Mason. A tug and a shove, and they had pulled it round to shield them. + +"You lunatics! You're giving them twenty fresh chances at once!" cried +Jack desperately. "They can squeeze you into surrendering directly!" + +"I believe he's right!" muttered Bacon, and they strove to get free +again. + +But it was not easy to rid themselves of the table when once they were +ranked behind it. The boarders saw their opportunity, and a last fierce +combat began. + +Something--Jack never knew what it was--suddenly impelled him to dive +under the table. + +"Oh, Jack, we don't fight underground!" exclaimed Cadbury mockingly; but +Jack paid no heed. + +Cadbury was wrong; there was a very definite attack being made beneath +cover of the table, where it was least suspected. An attack, too, of a +kind that would have been thought impossible. + +It was very dark under there, but Jack was at once certain that he was +not the only hider from the light. A small, lithe figure was wriggling +along the floor in front of him, passing one pair of legs after another, +but scanning each in turn. + +Jack's hand was almost upon it. The words "This isn't fair play!" were +bursting from his lips, when the figure ceased to crawl. It was opposite +a pair of ribbed brown stockings clothing two sturdy legs, when it +stopped, and drew something forth from somewhere about its person. + +At sight of this, a chill of horror seemed to freeze Jack, and for the +moment he was struck dumb. Stiffly he put forward a hand which seized, +as in a grip of iron, the thin right arm of the figure before him. It +was the arm of the March Hare, and in its hand was an open penknife. + +The sudden clutch was wholly unexpected, and the knife dropped. With his +other hand Jack picked it up. As he did so, the March Hare uttered a +cry. It was neither loud nor long, but there was something so startling +in it that the commotion of the fight ceased suddenly, and in the midst +of a strange stillness Jack emerged, dragging his captive by one hand, +and holding the open penknife in the other. + +[Illustration] + +If a white flag had been raised, the battle could not have ended more +abruptly. For a few seconds nothing was heard but quick, short breaths +on all sides. Presently Hallett's voice, hoarse and low, asked: + +"What does it mean, Brady?" + +Jack, white to the lips, pointed from the Hare to Armitage, then to the +spot where he had found him. The Hare was shivering and sobbing. + +"Hallett--I hear you say knifes--war wiz knifes! I on'y go to ze +Toppeen-drowner. I not wasn' going to hurt--on'y to preeck! I never hol' +knife no more! I promise! I swear!"--here he crossed himself rapidly--"I +promise 'gain! I--" + +But at this point the English language failed the Hare, who sank upon +his knees, wringing his hands and gesticulating wildly, as he gabbled, +nobody knew what, in Italian. + +Hallett, meanwhile, was looking grave and stern as the boys had never +seen him. There was not a trace of the fiery tyrant they knew so well. +He was face to face with a hard duty, and it awed him. + +"I'm sorry," he said quietly, "but this is too serious to be covered up. +I have no choice. I must take you straight to the head. Brady, hand me +over the penknife! Or bring it along, and come too!" + +Jack shook his head as he passed the knife, and Norman Hallett and +Massimiliano Graglia left the room in company. Two masters returning +met the pair, but Hallett's face wore an expression which forbade +questions. + +When presently he re-entered the school-room, it was alone. + +And for the space of a week the March Hare was unseen by his +school-fellows. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +HANNAH THE HOUSEMAID + + +There was an end of open strife among the Brincliffe boys. The sight of +that little glittering blade had brought them up short with an +unpleasant shock. They stood astounded for a minute, making no attempt +to remove the traces of the conflict, even when they heard the sound of +the masters' approach. They stood convicted, all together; their +disordered dress, collars unfastened and rumpled hair, the untasted +luncheon, the confusion of the furniture, all told most graphically the +tale of a quarrel. + +Silent and ashamed they slunk back into their places when the +head-master at last returned to the school-room. But, to the universal +surprise, he only addressed a few short, grave sentences to them on the +subject, and announced that henceforth a master would have charge of +the room during the luncheon interval. + +"Hitherto, boys, I have allowed you considerable liberty, regarding you, +though young, as civilized and Christian gentlemen. You have shown me I +was mistaken. Therefore I must treat you differently until I see you +become what I hoped you already were. You might do worse than strive to +attain to this. To your classes, if you please!" + +"Does anyone know where Trevelyan minor is?" enquired Mr. Anderson +presently, looking into the mathematical class-room. + +Jack sprang from his seat. + +"Yes, I know! Please, sir," turning to his master, "will you excuse me?" + +"No need for you to come, Brady," interposed Mr. Anderson; "tell me +where he is, that's all." + +Jack hesitated; then, putting his hand in his pocket, drew out a key. + +"He's in the book-room, sir. And it's locked." + +Now, as the book-room opened out of the school-room, in which Mr. West +was teaching, it was impossible that the door could be unlocked, and +Toppin released, without the fact becoming known to him. He looked up at +sound of the key, and the sight of the small, red-haired urchin, seated +disconsolately on a globe within, and swinging his short legs, evoked a +question. + +"What has that lad been doing, Mr. Anderson? Did you lock him up?" + +"No, sir; it was Brady." + +"Indeed? And what business had he to take the law into his hands? What +were you locked up for, Trevelyan?" + +Poor Toppin was feeling very sorry for himself, and distinctly bitter +against Jack. He had heard the sound of many interesting things +happening, and had a strong suspicion that he had been forgotten. Aware +that he had not merited such hard treatment, he now replied plaintively: + +"Nuffing at all, sir!" + +"Well, in any case, I have not yet given his training over to Brady," +observed Mr. West dryly, and without further question Jack was sentenced +to twenty minutes' detention at twelve o'clock, "to see how he liked his +own treatment". + +"Rough on you, Jack of Both Sides!" said Simmons, as he passed him on +his way into the open air. "Your policy's fine in theory, but I'm afraid +it won't pay. Jack of Both Sides, friend of neither, eh?" + +Jack's reply was quite cheerful: + +"Not so bad as that, thanks, Lucy. We're going to be friends all +together, the whole boiling of us, before we've done!" + +"Think so?" said Hughes, and shrugged his shoulders. "Not much chance of +that yet, I'm afraid. I spoke to Hallett just now, and he wouldn't even +answer me." + +Jack seemed out of luck's way this week, for the next morning he had an +accident with the ink, was fined sixpence for breaking one of the pots, +and ordered upstairs to change his bespattered garments. + +Just outside his bedroom, in the passage, he came upon one of the +housemaids, in front of whom, on the ground, lay a pillow and a heavy +overcoat. + +"Hullo, Hannah! Having a pillow-fight with an overcoat, for fault of a +live enemy, eh? I've caught you in the act! Now, I want you to do +something for me. I've been taking an ink shower-bath, you see, and I go +home to-day, and I must wear this jacket. Could you--" + +But there Jack stopped short, for Hannah had broken into his sentence +with a jerky little sniff which he felt pretty sure was a stifled sob. + +"Why, my good Hannah, what's up? I'm most awfully sorry if there is +anything wrong. Do tell us what it is!" + +"Oh, well, Master Brady, I'm sure it isn't your doing, but it's one of +the young gentlemen, and I don't mind which, but I do think it's very +ill-mannered and unkind, and I've always tried to do my duty by you +all, and more than that sometimes; and it's turned my thumb-nail back +and broken it, and the big buttons banged in my face, and dragged my +hair down; and it's no pleasure to do it, but I shall 'ave to carry the +tale to the master--" + +"A booby-trap, I suppose," interposed Jack, looking thoughtful. + +"Well, sir, a trap--that's certain, for I walked in through the door as +innocent as a child; but I don't see on that account that I'm to be set +down for a booby." + +"No, no; it's only the name for the trick," Jack hastened to explain, +for Hannah was looking more hurt than ever. "You balance the pillow on +the door, you know--and it needs some care, because it might fall the +wrong way, don't you see, and never hit you at all; and adding the +overcoat must have made it more difficult." + +There was an unconscious tinge of admiration in Jack's voice, and Hannah +did not seem entirely consoled. As he handed her his stained jacket, +however, he added: "You know, it wasn't meant for you, Hannah. You got +it by mistake. It was put up for Frere; I'm sure of that. On these +mornings he always comes to this room first thing to practise his +violin. Whoever set the trap never thought about you, that's certain." + +"That don't matter, sir, it hurt me just as much," persisted the maid. +"And they've no business, 'aven't the young gentlemen, to play pranks +like this. You never know what you'll be let in for next. I shall be in +a heverlasting flutter now. It's worse than living in a monkey-house." + +"Have you ever tried that, Hannah? I shouldn't have thought this was +actually worse; but of course when one's tried both--" + +"Master Brady, you're teasing me, and you know my meaning quite well." +Hannah's voice was positively tearful, and Jack grew alarmed. + +"Nonsense! I wouldn't tease you for the world. But look here, I want you +to think better of what you said--about carrying the tale to Mr. West. +There's an awful lot done by passing things over; you don't know! Let's +return these articles--see, it's Cadbury's pillow and Trevelyan's coat, +so neither of them set the trap--and let's agree to forgive and forget +for once. Won't you?" + +Jack could be very gentle and persuasive, and Hannah's heart was not +proof against his pleading. + +"Well, sir, just this once, since you put it like that, and hask so +particular." + +"There's an angel! I knew you would. You come to me, Hannah, when you're +in any fix, and see if I don't repay you for this. Hullo! here's Frere +and his fiddle. I'd better scuttle." + +"Yes, Brady, I think you had better," observed Frere. "I heard Mr. West +asking for you." + +"Ugh! I never like being asked for," remarked Jack, and straightway +vanished. + +"So peace isn't signed yet," he said to himself. "The campaign has only +changed its character, for secret and irregular warfare. I don't seem to +have accomplished much so far." + +Jack went home that Saturday feeling rather discouraged. He little knew +what his accidental interview with Hannah, the housemaid, would result +in. + +He was flinging his own and Trevelyan's muddy boots into the big basket +which stood in the scullery, on Monday evening, when a low voice close +at hand startled him. + +"Please, Master Brady, if you have a minute to spare, I should like to +speak to you." + +Jack turned round in surprise, to face his friend of Saturday, the +housemaid. + +"Why, certainly. Fire away! I'm all attention." + +"I hope you won't think me foolish, sir, but you--you do seem +sympithetic like, though you can't help me, I know; and yet you told me +to come to you, and it's a relief to out with one's trouble; and Emma, +she don't understand, because she's going to be married, and she don't +think of nothin' else; and Cook, she says she's never 'ad nothin' to do +with plants, not excep' the eatin' sorts, like cabbages and turnips--" + +"But, Hannah, you haven't given me a chance yet. Plants?" said Jack. + +"Yes, sir; I'll tell you all about it if I may. You see, my 'ome's at +Brickland--that's a matter of four miles from Elmridge,--and my father, +he's steadily wastin', and doctor says there's no chance for him, not +unless he gets to one of the hopen-air 'ospitals, and he's not to doddle +about the green-'ouse any more." + +"That's a bad business," said Jack, looking grave. "Then your father has +been a gardener?" + +"Yes, and a salesman in a small way, sir. But now he's to give up, and +sell all the plants. Doctor says he'll never again be fit for that work. +It's goin' in and out of the cold and the heat and the damp that's so +tryin'. He's been holdin' on as long as he could, but now he's ready +enough to part with 'em, and if only he could get a good price it'd +maybe take 'im to the hopen-air, and help to keep the 'ome together till +he's well." + +"That sounds the wisest plan," observed Jack thoughtfully. + +"Yes, sir, but the point is the sellin' of 'em. They ought to go into a +good big sale, where there'll be plenty of biddin'; they aren't enough +in themselves to draw buyers. And Mother says in her letter this mornin' +they've heard of one that's bein' held in Elmridge on Saturday, a big +one, in the Rookwood grounds. They call it a 'Nurserymen's Combine'; +there's a many of them joining, and they're willin' to take in Father's +little lot." + +[Illustration] + +"Surely the very thing!" said Jack. + +"It seems so, doesn't it, sir? Father he sent round at once to make +arrangements. But what do you think? he can't get the carting of 'em +done under three-and-six a load; and, as he says, he hasn't got half a +guinea to lay out that way. Why, it'd pay his train to the hopen-air! So +'e'll have to let it slide, and not get such a chance again in a hurry." + +"I'm sure I'm awfully sorry about it," responded Jack feelingly. +"But--but--but keep up your spirits, and who knows what may turn up?" + +And with this consoling advice, he turned on his heel. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +JACK'S MAIDEN SPEECH + + +"You really wish me to understand, Brady, that not you alone, but all +the elder boys--day-pupils and boarders alike--desire of your own +free-will to devote your next Saturday's half-holiday to conveying this +poor man's plants from his house at Brickland to the Rookwood sale?" + +"Yes, sir, that's what we want to do." + +"H'm! Well, the proposal does you credit, and you certainly might employ +your time much worse than in carrying it out. I don't think it would be +right for me to refuse your request. Mr. Anderson, I feel sure, will be +ready to help and advise you, if necessary, but as the idea is your own +I should like you, as far as possible, to carry it out by yourselves." + +"Thank you, sir!" said Jack, and withdrew. + +It was evening when this dialogue took place. The day-boys had departed +in an irritable frame of mind, on account of various annoyances of which +they had been the victims during the past two days. Bacon had been +tripped up twice by a piece of string, Hughes had found his coat-sleeves +tightly sewn up with packing-thread, and Simmons's pockets had been +crammed with moist, wriggling earthworms. + +Knowing this, it may be wondered that they were prevailed on to agree to +Jack's scheme for the coming Saturday. But our hero was wily, and he +worded his suggestion so carefully that they did not for a moment +imagine that their enemies the boarders were at all connected with the +plan, which seemed to offer scope for fun and adventure of a new +description. Was not Saturday Jack's regular day of release? Of course +this was to be an "out-of-school" affair altogether. So they imagined. + +"Now then, you fellows!" cried Jack, bursting into the school-room like +a frolicsome whirlwind, "who said I wouldn't get leave? West and I have +settled it all most comfortably, patted each other on the head, and so +forth. Let you go? Why, he'd like nothing better than to let you go for +good and all!" + +"So you've let the whole lot of us in for it, young man?" said +Trevelyan, looking amused. + +"Why, nobody asked to be left out," returned Jack. + +This was quite true, and there was no more to be said. Hallett had taken +kindly to the idea to begin with, and set the fashion by doing so. One +or two lazy lads would not have been sorry in their hearts if Mr. West +had vetoed the scheme, but they had not the courage to refuse to join in +it. + +"Now to business!" Jack continued. "We must send Mr. Thompson himself +word of our intentions; let's write a proper, tradesman-like letter! +Vickers, you're the fluent, flowery one. Bottle up your metaphors and +give us a page of business-like fluency! Here's some paper." + +After a good deal of discussion the following letter was composed:-- + + _To Mr J. Thompson Nurseryman._ + + _Dr Sir/_ + + _Having heard of yr intention to dispose of yr stock-in-hand + (Plants) we have pleasure in proposing to undertake transport of + same (carriage free) on Saty next ensuing between 2 and 4 p.m. from + yr house to Rookwood Elmridge Middleshire for sale advd to be held + there at 6 p.m. Safety of goods guarantd. Unless we hear to contry + we shall presume this meets yr views and take action accordly._ + + _Yrs etc._ + + _(Signed) T. Vickers_ + _N. Hallett_ + _J. Brady &c._ + _pro) Students of Brincliffe Elmridge._ + +"If that isn't business-like, I don't know what is!" exclaimed Cadbury, +when it was read through. "If ink was a shilling a drop, you couldn't +have been more chary of it. There's not an 'a', 'an', or 'the' +throughout, nor a comma, nor an adjective, and the contractions are +masterly. We're all born commercial clerks, that's what we are!" + +"Ethel and Lucy have undertaken the necessary barrow-borrowing," +remarked Jack, casually. "We sha'n't want more than six or eight +wheel-barrows, and that pair can get anything if it goes together. Lucy +represents the dauntless cheek, and Ethel the irresistible charm. What +more is required?" + +"What do you mean, Brady? We won't have the day-boys sticking their +fingers into this pie!" cried Escombe Trevelyan. + +"We couldn't do the job alone," said Jack quietly. "It would take us +twice as long." + +A loud murmur of disapprobation ran through the room. + +Jack turned rather pale, and pinched the edge of the table nervously. +His eyes wandered from face to face. All were vexed, all displeased. +Then, with a sudden impulse he sprang to his feet, and spoke his +mind--rapidly, earnestly. + +"Look here, I can't understand it! What makes you all so beastly +to the day-boys--to my pals? You began it, not they! They came to +Brincliffe without the least idea of any unfriendly feeling, and you +hated them before you'd seen them or heard their names. Is that +fair--straight--English? If it were, I'd wish to be French or German. +Where's the fun in this constant worrying of each other? As boarders, +it's your place to put out a hand first, and I think I can promise that +the day-boys will shake it. Bah! I know I can never talk you round; it's +no good attempting to. I'm not in a comic mood, and can't make you +laugh, like Cadbury, and I haven't Vickers's gift of the gab. But wasn't +last Friday's lesson enough? Wasn't the sight of that knife--" + +[Illustration] + +"Hush!" came from many mouths. + +"Oh, we want to forget it! Yes, we don't want to talk about it, I know. +But I've got to this once. If there had been an accident--to +Armitage--it wouldn't have been wholly the March Hare's fault. It was +those who first started the quarrel between boarders and day-boys, those +who put the notion of ill-feeling into his silly little head. I see +you're thinking of the swimming-baths, and Toppin's dive. Now I happen +to know, and Toppin can bear me out, that the kid asked to be pushed, +and that Armitage would have saved him next moment if the March Hare +hadn't jumped in and hindered things. And everyone of you who have +listened and nodded to the March Hare's tale have added coal to the fire +you might have quenched in a moment. And--and--and--and--" poor Jack was +shaking and stammering with excitement, "what--what if it had--ended +in--" + +But there he sat down, leaving his sentence unfinished. + +Cadbury was the first to reply, and that was not at once. Slowly he +ruled a long, thick, black line in his exercise-book, then, pushing his +chair away from the table, tilted it back, and spoke: + +"Well, I don't know what anyone else thinks, but I'll tell you what I +do. Brady's last sentence was certainly not fluent, and I shouldn't +care to have to analyse it. As for the jokes in it, they were about as +plentiful as wasps in January. All that's true enough. Still, +nevertheless, speaking for my humble self, he thrust home. You did, +Jack, you beggar! You'd no business to, but you actually had the +impudence to make me feel ashamed of myself. And, of course, I don't +know what you others will say, but I vote we bury the hatchet in old +Thompson's biggest flower-pot. Who's with me?" + +"I am!" + +"I am!" + +"And I!" + +"Of course it's quite right to forgive," drawled Green, with a curl of +the lip. "I'm more than willing." + +Jack ground his teeth, but Hallett saved him the trouble of replying. + +"No, no; if we do the thing at all, we'll do it properly. Don't let's +have any half-measures--kindly-forgivings, and all the rest of it! If +anyone starts forgiving me, I'll lick him! We won't forgive anyone, not +even ourselves. We'll go straight ahead on a new tack, and forget +everything that's happened. If our friends the enemy look askance at us +at first (and we needn't be surprised if they do), that mustn't affect +us. Remember this: Scores are Settled. That's our motto; there is to be +no more paying off. Chaff them if you like--I fancy they'd think there +was something fishy if we didn't--but no tricks, if you please." + +"What if they start them on us, Hallett?" enquired Grey, in the tone of +one who merely seeks information. Hallett frowned slightly. + +"Hadn't thought of that. Of course if they insist on picking a quarrel +in that way--" + +"But I'm nearly sure they won't," cried Jack. + +"I caught Lucy pasting the leaves of my _Delectus_ together," murmured +Grey, looking at the ceiling. + +"And how many things have you done to them?" retorted Jack desperately, +sighing as he felt the weakness of that argument. + +"Vick, will you hand Grey your india-rubber?" put in Cadbury. "There's a +bit of his memory he hasn't rubbed out yet. I did as Hallett told us, +and forgot everything at once. I've even forgotten my translation for +to-morrow--it's gone entirely. Never mind: to obey is our first duty; to +labour for Peace comes only second." + +"Labouring for peace--why, Brady, that's been your little task!" +exclaimed Vickers. "And a noble one"--here he put on the "West voice". +"Have you thought of it in that light, my boy? To labour for peace! We +might all do worse. Conceive, for instance, of working for love!" + +Jack laughed noisily, and called Vickers "a silly old loony". But he +blushed at the same time. And he went to sleep that night feeling +uncommonly hopeful. + +When, in short jerky phrases, he broke to Hannah the plan he had +devised, the maid was so grateful and "took aback", as she said, as to +become for the moment half-hysterical; but soon rallying her common +sense, she sat down and penned a note to her father, to accompany the +young gentlemen's communication. Hannah's spelling, handwriting, and +grammar were all very shaky, but it is a fact that Mr. J. Thompson, +Nurseryman, found her letter a help in throwing light upon the "formal, +business" document. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +LOST--A NAME + + +Of course Jack's task was only half accomplished. And the second half +was somewhat harder than he had anticipated. When in the morning he met +the day-scholars, they were not as eager for a reconciliation as he +would have liked to find them. + +Mason had come armed with a handful of wild barley-grass, or "crawly", +as it was better known among the boys. + +"_Dictee_ this morning," he said with a sly wink. + +In Monsieur Blonde's class, dictation offered great possibilities to a +quick writer, with a supply of crawly. When heads are bent, what a +chance down the collar for a deft hand! And the Monsieur was very +short-sighted. + +"I sit between Vickers and Green," Mason added. + +"But look here, you must chuck that stuff away," cried Jack. He knew +that as a good-humoured joke an inch of crawly can be tolerated, but +when used in malice, nothing is more irritating. "Chuck it away! We've +all agreed to call _Pax_ now, _Pax_ for good and all." + +"Oh, I dare say!" retorted Mason. "When our lives have been made a +burden for the last week! Who are the 'all' who've agreed, pray?" + +"The whole lot of the boarders. They're ready to chum up right away. +Mason, you must agree! We've got to join forces over Saturday's job." + +But Mason didn't see it. Nor did Armitage. Nor did Bacon. And the rest +were doubtful, except little Frere, who declared at once that he was +longing to be friends with everybody--and to feel safe. + +"But don't mind us, Brady," pursued Mason. "We aren't so sweet on +shoving wheel-barrows as all that. You and your dear Green and the rest +can have the whole glory and honour of the pots and the barrows to +yourselves. We won't fight for them, will we? After all, there are more +amusing ways of spending a half than in wheeling flower-pots round the +town." + +Jack's hopes sank. He did not feel equal to making a second speech, but +he caught Mason by the arm, and spoke with vehement emphasis: + +"It's an awful responsible thing, Mason, to refuse to patch a quarrel. +The chance of making-up doesn't come every day." + +"We must have a chance of getting even with them first, and then we'll +talk about stopping." + +"Nonsense! You know that tit-for-tat's a game without an end!" + +"My dear Brady, if you knew the toil and time it has cost me to gather +this bunch of crawly, you wouldn't ask me so lightly to waste it." + +"If that's all," said Jack, "you can stick the whole lot down my neck. I +give you free leave. Go on!" + +There is no stronger influence than earnestness, and Jack was intensely +in earnest. It had its effect on his listeners, who were almost won over +already, while he thought his efforts were thrown away. While he spoke, +Simmons had secretly released three earwigs with which he had meant +mischief, and Hughes was opening his mouth to utter a word or two for +Jack, when Cadbury glided up to the group with outspread arms, and a +square box balanced on his head. + +"Pax tea-cup! pax O biscuit!" began the flippant boy. "Dear brethren, I +entreat you to join with me in smoking the calumet of peace in the shape +of this humble weed." + +As he bowed, the box fell from his head into his hands, and, removing +the lid, he offered it round. It appeared to contain a double layer of +cigars; but the Brincliffe scholars knew these cigars well, and where +they came from. They were composed of almond paste, and coated with a +brown sugary paper, which was always consumed with the rest. + +Jack almost held his breath. Would the boys refuse or accept them? + +Hughes dipped his hand in at once with a smile and a nod. "Thanks very +much, Cadbury!" Simmons followed suit with a wicked little chuckle. +Bacon hesitated, and then helped himself awkwardly. Frere took one with +an "Oo!" of appreciation. Now it was Mason's turn. If Jack had been a +recruiting sergeant, and the sugar cigar the Queen's shilling, he could +scarcely have felt more anxious. + +Mason put forward his thumb and finger, then hesitated and looked at +Jack with a twinkle in his eye. + +"Now, shall I, Brady?" + +[Illustration] + +Jack nodded. He really dared not speak, for fear Mason should take it +into his head to go exactly contrary to him. + +Hurrah! The cigar was taken! + +From that moment Cadbury and Jack turned themselves into a couple of the +maddest, silliest clowns imaginable. But there was method in their +madness. Though they did not even own it to each other, they were making +themselves ridiculous and foolish to prevent the rest from feeling so. +Boys loathe sentiment, and many a quarrel drifts on and on, simply +because each party dreads "being made to feel a fool". + +At Brincliffe on this particular day the two sides felt distinctly shy +of each other, and it was a real boon to have a pair of "giddy lunatics" +to scream at. + +But when Cadbury had boxed Frere's ears for giving the dates of the +royal Georges correctly, and when Simmons had sharpened his pencil with +Vickers's knife without asking leave, the relations between boarders and +day-pupils grew easier. + + * * * * * + +There were few idle wheel-barrows in Elmridge on Saturday afternoon. + +If you had passed along the dusty Brickland Road between four and five +o'clock, you would have encountered a droll procession. One passer-by +stopped to enquire if there was going to be a Battle of Flowers. + +Six barrows, laden with flowering plants, each pulled by two boys, and +pushed by one, were slowly but steadily travelling towards the town, and +at the rear of all was a bath-chair in charge of Hallett and Armitage, +wherein sat a thin, delicate-looking man, whose bright eyes and flushed +cheeks spoke eloquently of gratitude and pleasure. That bath-chair was +Hallett's own idea, and he was very proud of it. + + * * * * * + +It was a warm and weary company of boy-labourers who gathered at eight +o'clock that evening round a very tempting supper-table, spread in the +Brincliffe dining-room, to which, by special invitation, the day-pupils +sat down with the boarders. But every face was bright, and the meal was +the merriest ever known. + +By Mr. West's direction, the boys were left to enjoy it "un-mastered". + +The clatter of knives and spoons had almost ceased when Vickers rose +slowly to his feet, a glass of ginger-beer in his hand. He was impelled +to do so by the nudges of his neighbours, Green and Mason. His rising +was received with loud applause, which he acknowledged with a grave bow. + +"I have been very much pressed--elbow-pressed," he began, "to get up and +say something. I scarcely see why I should be pitched on, unless it is +because I have more brass than the rest of you. (Hear, hear.) Anyhow, +here I am, and I'll ask three questions and then sit down. First"--and +up came one finger--"Isn't this the jolliest supper we've ever had? +(Cries of "Yes!") Very well, I'll tell you why. Reason Number One: +West's in a jolly good temper, _vide_ the groaning table and the absence +of masters. Reason Number Two: We're all in a jolly good temper, and +have done a jolly good day's work. Now, secondly--(Shouts of "Thirdly, +you mean, old man!") I mean what I say--Secondly! We had two divisions +under the first head. You may have got confused, but I haven't. +Secondly, then, we're all pretty thoroughly fagged: is anyone sorry he's +fagged? (No!) Well, the job wasn't my idea, or West's idea. But it was +somebody's, and I think we all know whose. The same somebody who has +annoyed us all horribly in the past by refusing to so much as do one +ill-natured thing. The same somebody who has steadily prevented us from +quarrelling comfortably and consistently, as we wanted to, and has +finally dragged us into this unhappy state of good-fellowship. Now for +my thirdly: Will you drink with me to that somebody's health?" + +The question was received with shouting and banging, while the words, +"Bravo, Vickers! Here's to good old Brady!" "I drink to Jack of Both +Sides!" "Here's to you, Jack!" "Speech, Brady--speech!" and similar +cries filled the air. + +Poor Jack felt extremely ill at ease, and not at all grateful to +Vickers. He studied his plate with the closest attention, his face +growing redder and redder each moment. Then Cadbury thumped him on the +back, and Hallett and Bacon fairly forced him to his feet. But a speech +was quite beyond Jack at that minute. + +"I say, sha'n't we beg the release of the March Hare?" was all he said, +and the first person he looked at was Armitage. + +Armitage, too, was the first to cry back, "Yes!" + +The petition, which was written and signed before they separated, was +received favourably, and the following Monday saw the return of the +March Hare to his place in the school, scared, penitent, and profoundly +grateful to all his school-fellows, including Armitage. And he insisted +on pressing Jack's hand to his lips, which made our hero feel +excessively uncomfortable. But for the remainder of the term, the use of +a knife, even at dinner, was denied the little Italian. + + * * * * * + +"Brady, have you missed anything?" asked Cadbury a few days later. + +"No, I don't think so," replied Jack, feeling doubtfully in his pockets. + +"Because you have certainly lost something," continued Cadbury. + +"Well, give it me quick, then," said Jack, laughing. "Whatever is it?" + +"I can't give it you. It's gone for ever," was the rejoinder. "You'll +never have it again." + +"Well, what was it, then? Nothing valuable, I hope?" + +"When two things are made into one thing, you can't speak of them any +longer as 'both'; can you?" + +"Fetch us a grammar, Toppin," said Jack. "We're getting out of our +depths. Have I lost two things, please, Cadbury, or only one?" + +"Don't frivol, Jack! listen to me. We are all one-sided now, so you have +lost your title. You can never again be called Jack of Both Sides." + + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Jack of Both Sides, by Florence Coombe + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK OF BOTH SIDES *** + +***** This file should be named 20354.txt or 20354.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/3/5/20354/ + +Produced by Dave Morgan, Paul Stephen, Fox in the Stars +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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