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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/29415-8.txt b/29415-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7fa18a9 --- /dev/null +++ b/29415-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8290 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Soldiers of the Queen, by Harold Avery + +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: Soldiers of the Queen + +Author: Harold Avery + +Release Date: July 15, 2009 [EBook #29415] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + + +[Frontispiece: "A fierce hand-to-hand fight was in progress."] + + + + + +SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN + +BY + +HAROLD AVERY + + + + +LONDON, EDINBURGH, AND NEW YORK + +THOMAS NELSON AND SONS + +1898 + + + + +CONTENTS + + I. Tin Soldiers + II. An Ugly Duckling + III. The Rebel Reclaimed + IV. The Court of Queen Mab + V. An Unlucky Picnic + VI. A Keepsake + VII. Strife in the Upper Fourth + VIII. A Banquet at "Duster's" + IX. "Guard Turn Out!" + X. "Storms in a Tea-cup" + XI. "Out of the Frying-pan--" + XII. "--Into the Fire" + XIII. A Robbery at Brenlands + XIV. The Sound of the Drum + XV. The Queen's Shilling + XVI. On Active Service + XVII. Under Fire + XVIII. The Battle + XIX. "Food for Powder" + XX. The River's Brink + XXI. "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again!" + XXII. Conclusion + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +"Lieutenant Lawson, revolver in hand, stepped into a gap in the ranks" +. . . . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_. + +"Another volley swept the intervening stretch of tablecloth" + +"'Make haste! I can't hang on much longer'" (missing from book) + +"The visitors were seized, and hustled unceremoniously out of the room" + +"'Here they are! now we've got them!'" + +"It was Christmas Day in the camp at Korti" + +"The enemy swerved round the flank of the square, and burst furiously +upon the rear" + +"The oncoming mass of Arabs" + + + + +SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN. + + +CHAPTER I. + +TIN SOLDIERS. + +"They shouldered arms, and looked straight before them, and wore a +splendid uniform, red and blue."--_The Brave Tin Soldier_. + + +The battle was nearly over. Gallant tin soldiers of the line lay where +they had fallen; nearly the whole of a shilling box of light cavalry +had paid the penalty of rashly exposing themselves in a compact body to +the enemy's fire; while a rickety little field-gun, with bright red +wheels, lay overturned on two infantry men, who, even in death, held +their muskets firmly to their shoulders, like the grim old "die-hards" +that they were. The brigade of guards, a dozen red-coated veterans of +solid lead, who had taken up a strong position in the cover of a +cardboard box, still held their ground with a desperate valour only +equalled by the dogged pluck of a similar body of the enemy, who had +occupied the inkstand with the evident intention of remaining there +until the last cartridge had been expended. + +Another volley swept the intervening stretch of tablecloth, and the +deadly missiles glanced against the glass bottles and rattled among the +pencils and penholders. Two men fell without a cry, and lay motionless +with their heads resting on the pen-wiper. + +[Illustration: "Another volley swept the intervening stretch of +tablecloth."] + +"Look here, Barbara, you're cheating! You put in more than two peas +that time, I know." + +It was the commander-in-chief of the invading forces who spoke, and the +words were addressed to a very harum-scarum looking young lady, who +stood facing him on the opposite side of the table. + +"How d'you know I did?" she cried. + +"Because I saw them hit. There were three at least, and the rule was +that we weren't to fire more than two at a time." + +"There weren't three, then," retorted the girl, laughing, and shaking +back her tangled locks with an impatient movement of her head. "There +were _six_! Ha! ha! I put them all in my mouth at once, and you never +noticed." + +"Oh, you little cheat!" cried the boy. "I'll lick you." + +The threat had evidently no terrors for her. She danced wildly round +the table, crying, "Six! six! six!" and when at length he caught her, +and held her by the waist, she turned round and rapped him smartly on +the head with a tin pea-shooter. + +At this stage of the proceedings a lady, who had been sitting in a low +chair by the fire, looked up from her book. + +"Come, come!" she said pleasantly. "I thought the day was past when +generals fought single combats in front of their men. Isn't that true, +Valentine?" + +The tussle ceased at once; the boy released his sister, who laughed, +and shook herself like a small kitten. + +"She's been cheating!" he exclaimed. + +"I fired six peas instead of two!" cried the culprit, evidently +delighted with her little piece of wickedness. "And I knocked over two +of his silly old soldiers." + +A girl, somewhat older than Valentine, though very like him in face, +laid down her needlework, saying, with a quiet smile,-- + +"All's fair in love and war, isn't it, Barbara?" + +"Yes, of course it is," answered her sister. + +"It's not--is it, aunt?" retorted the boy. + +The lady rose from her chair, and, with a merry twinkle in her eye, +came over to the table. + +"Well, we'll hope not," she said. "Why, Val, I should have thought you +were too old to play with tin soldiers; you were fourteen last +birthday." + +"I don't think I shall ever be tired of playing with them--that is," he +added, "until I'm with real ones." + +"Queen Mab," as the children sometimes called her, was below the medium +height, and as she stood by her nephew's side his head reached above +the level of her shoulder. She glanced over the mimic battlefield, and +then down at the bright, healthy-looking young face at her side, with +its honest grey eyes and resolute little mouth and chin. The old +words, "food for powder," came into her mind, and she laid her hand +lightly on his rumpled hair. + +"So you still mean to be a soldier?" + +"Yes, rather; and father says I may." + +Miss Fenleigh was silent for a moment. "Ah, well," she said at length, +"a happy time will come some day when there will be no more war; and I +think it's about time this one ceased, for Jane will be here in a +minute to clear the table for tea." + +If Valentine or either of his sisters had been asked to describe their +Aunt Mabel, they would probably have done so by saying she was the best +and dearest person in the world; and accepting this assertion as +correct, it would be difficult to say more. Her house also was one of +the most delightful places which could well be imagined; and there, +since their mother's death, the children spent each year the greater +part of their summer holidays. + +It was a dear, easy-going old house, with stairs a little out of the +straight, and great beams appearing in unexpected places in the bedroom +ceilings. There were brass locks with funny little handles to the +doors, and queer alcoves and cupboards let into the walls. There was +no fusty drawing-room, with blinds always drawn down, and covers to the +chairs, but two cosy parlours meant for everyday use, the larger of +which was panelled with dark wood which reflected the lamp and +firelight, and somehow seemed to be ready to whisper to one stories of +the days when wood was used for wall-paper, and when houses were built +with sliding panels in the walls and hiding-places in the chimneys. +The garden exactly matched the house, and so did the flowers that grew +in it--the pink daisies, "boy's love," sweet-williams, and hollyhocks, +all of which might be picked as well as looked at. Visitors never had +a chance of stealing the fruit, because they were always invited to eat +it as soon as it was ripe, or even before, if they preferred. + +There were a lawn, and a paddock, and a shrubbery, the last so much +overgrown that it resembled a little forest, and often did duty for a +miniature "merry Sherwood," when the present of some bows and arrows +caused playing at Robin Hood and his men to become a popular pastime. +Lastly, there was the stable, where Jessamine, the little fat pony, and +the low basket-carriage were lodged; and above was the loft, a charming +place, which had been in turn a ship, a fortress, a robbers' cave, and +a desert island. Up there were loads of hay and bundles of straw, +which could be built up or rolled about in; the place was always in a +romantic twilight; there were old, deserted spiders' webs hanging to +the roof, looking like shops to let, which never did any business; and +the ascent and descent of the perpendicular ladder from the ground +floor was quite an adventure in itself. To picture a ship on which one +had to go aloft to enter the cabin would seem rather a difficult task; +but a child's imagination is the richest in the world, and though +Valentine and his sisters had grown rather too old for this style of +amusement, every fresh visit to Brenlands was made brighter by +recollections of the many happy ones which had preceded it, and of all +the fun and frolic they had already enjoyed there. + +But best and foremost of all the charming things which made the place +so bright and attractive was Queen Mab herself. She never said that +little people ought to be seen and not heard; and there never was a +person so easy to tell one's troubles to, or so hard to keep a secret +from, as Aunt Mabel. No one in the world could ever have told stories +as well as she did. "The Brave Tin Soldier" and "The Ugly Duckling" +were the favourites, and came in time to be always associated with +Brenlands. They had been told so often that the listeners always knew +exactly what was coming next, and had the narrator put the number of +metal brethren at two dozen instead of twenty-five, or missed out a +single stage of the duckling's wanderings, she would have been +instantly tripped up by her audience. But Queen Mab was too skilful a +story-teller to leave out the minutest detail in describing the +perilous voyage of the paper boat, or to spare the duckling a single +snub from the narrow-minded hen or the bumptious tom-cat. The "Tin +Soldier" she generally gave in answer to the special request of her +small nephew, but she herself seemed to prefer the other story. There, +the duckling's sorrowful wanderings finished with his turning into a +swan, and Queen Mab always had a liking for happy endings. + +She and the old house were exactly suited to each other, and seemed to +share the same fragrant atmosphere, so that wherever her courtiers met +her, and flung their arms round her neck, they were instantly reminded +of sweet-brier and honeysuckle, jars of dried rose leaves, and all the +other delicious scents of Brenlands. The children never noticed that +there were streaks of silver in her hair, or that on her left hand she +wore a mourning ring; nor did they know the reason why, on a certain +day in the year, she seemed, if possible, more kind and loving than on +any other, and went away somewhere early in the morning with a big +bunch of flowers, and came back with the basket empty. + +"Aunt," said Barbara, "what's an old maid?" + +"Why, I'm one!" answered Queen Mab, laughing; whereupon it became every +one's ambition to live a life of single blessedness. When there was +cherry-tart for dinner, an alarming number of stones were secretly +swallowed, in order that the person guilty of this abominable piece of +sharp practice might count out, "This year--Next year--Some +time--Never!" and at old maid's cards the object of the game was now +reversed, and instead of trying to "go out," every one strove to remain +in, the fortunate being in whose hands the "old maid" remained at the +finish always brandishing the hitherto detested card with a shriek of +triumph. + +The last trace of the mimic battle had been cleared away, and now where +tin cavalry had ridden boldly to their fate, and lead guards had died +but not surrendered, nothing was to be seen but peaceful plum-cake, or +bread and butter cut in thin and appetizing slices. + +"I'm sorry you weren't able to make a longer stay," said Aunt Mabel, as +she poured out the tea. "But your father said he couldn't spare you +for more than a week at Easter. However, the summer will soon be here, +and then you will come again for a proper visit. By-the-bye, +Valentine, d'you know that your cousin Jack is coming to be a +school-fellow of yours at Melchester?" + +"No, aunt; is that Uncle Basil's son?" + +"Yes; I want you to make friends with him, and bring him over here on +your half-term holiday. I hope he will come for a few weeks at +midsummer, and then you will all be able to have a jolly time together." + +"How old is he?" asked Valentine. + +"Oh, I think he is about a year older than you are--fifteen or +thereabouts." + +Barbara had fished a stranger out of her cup, and was smiting the back +of one plump little hand against the other, to the accompaniment of +"Monday--Tuesday--Wednesday," and so on. + +"Aunt Mab," she said suddenly, "how is it we never hear anything of +Uncle Basil, or that he never comes to visit us? What's Jack like?" + +"Well, I can hardly tell you," replied Miss Fenleigh; "I've only seen +him once, poor boy, and that was several years ago." + +"But why don't we ever see Uncle Basil?" persisted Barbara. "You often +come and visit us, and why doesn't he?" + +"Well, I live within ten miles of your house, and Padbury is thirty or +forty miles on the other side of Melchester." + +"But that isn't very far by railway; and if he can't come, why doesn't +he write?" + +Aunt Mabel seemed perplexed what reply to make, but at this moment the +boy came to her rescue. + +"Don't ask so many questions, Bar," he said. + +Miss Barbara was always ready for a tussle, with words or any other +weapons. "Pooh!" she answered, "whom d'you think you're talking to? I +know what it is, you're angry because I knocked over more of your +soldiers than you did of mine!" + +"Yes, you cheated." + +"Fiddles! You thought I'd only got two peas in my mouth, you old +stupid, and instead of that I'd got six, _six_! ha! ha!" And so the +discussion continued. + +Helen was nearly two years older than Valentine. She was a quiet, +thoughtful girl, and later in the evening, when her brother and sister +had gone to bed, she remained talking with her aunt in front of the +fire. While so doing, she returned to the subject of their +conversation at the tea-table. + +"Aunt, why is it that father and Uncle Basil never meet?" + +"Well, my dear, I didn't like to talk about it before Val and Barbara; +it's a pity they should hear the story before they are older and can +understand it better; besides, I wish the boys to be good friends when +they meet at school. Basil and your father had a dispute many years +ago about some money matters connected with your grandfather's will, +and I am sorry to say they have never been friends since. Your uncle +has always been a very unpractical man; he has wasted his life +following up ideas which he thought would bring him success and riches, +but which always turned out failures. He always has some fresh fad, +and it always brings him fresh trouble. I don't think he would +wilfully wrong any one, but from being always in difficulties and under +the weather, his temper has been soured and his judgment warped, and he +cannot or will not see that your father acted in a perfectly just and +honourable manner, and the consequence is, as I said before, they never +made up their quarrel." + +"And Jack is going to the school at Melchester?" + +"Yes; and I want Valentine to make friends with him, and for us to have +him here in the summer. Poor boy, soon after your mother died, he lost +his, and I am afraid his life and home surroundings have not been very +happy since. Well, we must try to brighten him up a bit. I've no +doubt we shall be able to do that when we get him here at Brenlands." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +AN UGLY DUCKLING. + +"They had not been out of the egg long, and were very saucy. 'Listen, +friend,' said one of them to the duckling, 'you are so ugly that we +like you very well.'"--_The Ugly Duckling_. + + +It was the first day of term, and Melchester School presented a general +appearance of being unpacked and put together again, as though the +whole institution had been sent out of town for the holidays, and had +returned by goods train late on the previous evening. The passages +were strewn with the contents of boxes belonging to late comers; new +boys wandered about, apparently searching for something which they +never found; while the old stagers exchanged noisy greetings, devoured +each other's "grub," and discussed the prospects of the coming thirteen +weeks which they must pass together before the commencement of the +summer vacation. + +Most of the boys had arrived on the Monday evening, but Valentine +Fenleigh did not come back until the following morning. According to a +promise made to his aunt before leaving Brenlands, one of the first +things he did was to inquire after his cousin. + +"Yes," said one of his classmates, "there is a new chap by the name of +Fenleigh, but I don't know what he's like. He's not put with us in the +Lower Fourth." + +Among a hundred and fifty boys, and in the confusion of a first day, it +was a difficult matter to discover at once the whereabouts of the +fellow he wanted. He accosted one or two of the new-comers, but by the +time the bell rang for afternoon school he had only succeeded in +ascertaining the fact that his cousin must be somewhere about, from +having seen the name "J. Fenleigh" ticked off on the bedroom list. +Holms was full of a project for hiring a bicycle during the summer +months, and, what with listening to the unfolding of this plan, and +struggling with the work in hand, Valentine soon forgot the existence +of his undiscovered relative. + +Towards the end of the first hour Mr. Copland, the form-master, folded +up a piece of paper on which he had been writing, and handing it across +the desk, said,-- + +"Fenleigh, take this in to Mr. Rowlands, and bring back an answer." + +Valentine made his way to the head-quarters of the Upper Fourth. The +classroom was rather quieter than the one he had left, Mr. Rowlands +being somewhat of a martinet. + +"All right," said the latter, who was copying a list of questions on +the blackboard; "put your note on my table, and I'll attend to you in a +moment." + +The messenger did as he was told, and stood looking round the room, +exchanging nods and winks with one or two members of the upper division +with whom he was on friendly terms. + +On a form at the back of the room sat three boys who were hardly ever +seen apart, and who had apparently formed an alliance for the purpose +of idling their time, and mutually assisting one another in getting +into scrapes. Their names were Garston, Rosher, and Teal; and seated +at the same desk was a boy with whom they seemed to have already struck +up an acquaintance, though Valentine did not remember having seen his +face before. Even in the Upper Fourth there was a subdued shuffle, +showing that work was going rather hard on this first day; and the +young gentlemen whose names have just been mentioned were evidently not +throwing themselves heart and soul into the subject which was supposed +to be occupying their undivided attention. + +Mr. Rowlands finished a line, made a full stop with a sharp rap of his +chalk, and then turned round sniffing. + +"Dear me!" he said, "there's a strong smell of something burning." + +"Perhaps it's Jackson's cricket cap," murmured a small boy. Jackson's +hair, be it said, was of a fiery red, and hence the suggestion that his +head-gear might be smouldering in his pocket. + +"What's that?" demanded Mr. Rowlands, and the joker subsided. + +Jackson waited until a fresh sentence had been begun on the blackboard; +then he dropped a ruler, and in picking it up again smote the small boy +on a vulnerable spot beneath the peak of his shell-jacket. + +"There _is_ something burning," repeated the master. "Has any one of +you boys got matches in his pocket?" + +"Oh, _no_, sir!" shouted a dozen voices. + +"Answer more quietly, can't you? I'm not deaf! Jackson, see if +there's anything in the stove." + +The stove was found to contain nothing but a bit of ink-sodden +blotting-paper. Jackson drew it carefully forth, and held it up +between his finger and thumb. "That's all, sir," he said. + +"Then put it _back_, sir," cried the master, "and go on with your work." + +Valentine had some difficulty in keeping from laughing. The smell +which had greeted Mr. Rowlands' nostrils was caused by Garston, who was +deliberately burning holes with a magnifying glass in the coat of the +boy in front of him, who sat all unconscious of what was happening to +this portion of his wardrobe. + +The new fellow, who watched the proceedings with great interest, now +stretched out his hand, and taking the glass held it up level with the +victim's neck. + +A moment later there was a yell. + +"Who made that noise?" + +"Please, sir, somebody burnt my neck!" + +"Burnt your neck! What boy has been burning Pilson's neck?" + +The new-comer raised his hand and gave a flip with his thumb and +finger. "I did," he answered. + +"You did!" exclaimed Mr. Rowlands wrathfully. "What are you thinking +of, sir? I've spoken to you four times to-day already. I don't know +if you were accustomed to behave in this manner at the last school you +were at, but let me tell you--" + +"Please, sir," interrupted Pilson plaintively, "they've burnt a hole in +my back!" + +At this announcement the class exploded. + +"_Silence_!" cried the master. "What do you mean, Pilson? is your coat +burnt?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Very well, Fenleigh; I shall give you five hundred lines." + +Valentine, who had been an unoffending spectator of the affair, was +fairly staggered at suddenly hearing himself commissioned to write five +hundred lines. Then the situation dawned upon him--this reckless +gentleman with the burning-glass was his cousin Jack. + +Mr. Rowlands made a memorandum of the punishment, and at the same time +scribbled a few words in reply to Mr. Copland. As he did so, Valentine +had an opportunity of examining his relative's appearance. The latter +might have been pronounced good-looking, had it not been for a +perpetual expression of restlessness and discontent, which soured what +would otherwise have been a pleasant face. He seemed to care very +little for the lines, and as soon as the master's eye was off him he +turned to Garston and winked. + +Valentine was by no means what is commonly known as a "good boy;" he +was as fond of a lark as any right-minded youngster need be; but he had +been taught at home that any one who intended to become a soldier +should first learn to obey, and to respect the authority of those set +over him. He did not like plunging into rows for the sake of being +disorderly; and something in Jack Fenleigh's careless behaviour did not +tend to leave on his mind a very favourable impression of his +newly-found cousin. He had, however, promised Queen Mab to make +friends; and so, as soon as afternoon school was over, he waited for +Jack in the gravel playground, and there introduced himself. + +"Oh, so you're Valentine," said the other. "My guv'nor told me you +were here." + +"Yes. I hope we shall be friends." + +"Well, there's no reason why we shouldn't. My guv'nor's had a row with +yours, I know; but that's nothing, he's always quarrelling with +somebody, and I'm sure I don't mind, if you don't. By-the-bye, weren't +you the fellow who was in the classroom when I got into that row about +the burning-glass?" + +"Yes; and I say it's rather a pity you go on like that the first day +you're here. Masters don't expect new fellows to begin larking at +once, and you'll get into Rowlands' bad books." + +"Oh, I don't mind that," answered the other; "I didn't want to come +here, and I don't care if I'm sent going again." + +At this moment Garston joined them. + +"Hallo!" he said, "are you two related to each other? I never thought +of your names being the same before. Cousins, eh? Well, look here, +new Fenleigh, Pilson's on the war-path after you for burning his neck." + +"I don't care if he is," answered the other. + +Hardly had the words been spoken when the subject of them turned the +corner. + +"Yes," he cried, "you're the chap I'm after! What did you burn my coat +for?" + +"I didn't burn your coat." + +"Oh, you liar! Look here, I'm just going to--" + +What Pilson _was_ going to do will remain for ever unknown. He had no +sooner laid his hand on Jack's collar than the latter, without a +moment's hesitation, struck him a heavy blow on the chest which sent +him staggering back against the wall gasping for breath. + +"Just keep your dirty paws off me. I tell you I didn't burn your coat; +though to look at it, I should think burning's about all it's good for." + +This was not at all the usual line of conduct which new boys adopted +when brought to book by an oldster. Pilson felt aggrieved, but made no +attempt to follow up his attack. + +"All right," he said. "You're a liar, and I'll tell all the other +fellows." + +"You can tell 'em what you please," returned the other, and taking hold +of Garston's arm he walked away. + +Valentine turned on his heel with a doubtful look on his face; his +cousin evidently knew how to take care of himself, yet the latter's +conduct was not altogether satisfactory. It was Garston who had burnt +the coat, and it was like him to let another boy bear the blame; while +Jack evidently cared as little for being thought a liar as he did for +any other misfortune that might befall him. + +During the next few days the cousins met every now and again in the +playground, or about the school buildings, but it was only to exchange +a nod or a few words on some subject of general interest. There seemed +to be little in common between them; and Jack, though willing enough to +be friendly and forget the family feud, evidently found the society of +the three unruly members of the Upper Fourth more to his liking than +that of a steady-going boy like Valentine. + +For nearly a month the latter did his best to form the friendship which +his aunt had desired; then an event happened which caused him to almost +regard the task as hopeless. Jack had been steadily winning for +himself the reputation of a black sheep; but the climax was reached +when he further distinguished himself in connection with certain +extraordinary proceedings known and remembered long afterwards as the +"Long Dormitory Sports." + +It was Rosher's idea. The chamber in question was called "Long" from +the fact that it contained sixteen beds, eight on a side, all of which +were occupied by members of the Upper Fourth. Skeat, the Sixth Form +boy in charge, was ill, and had gone to the infirmary; and in the +absence of the proverbial cat, the mice determined to get in as much +play as possible, only stopping short at performances which might +attract the attention of the master on duty. + +It was one Tuesday night. Garston and Teal had had a quarter mile +walking race up and down the centre aisle, which had ended, to the +great delight of the spectators, in Garston nearly tearing his +nightshirt off his back by catching it on a broken bedstead, while the +other competitor had kicked his toe against an iron dumb-bell, and +finished the race by dancing a one-legged hornpipe in the middle of the +course, while his opponent won "hands down." + +"I say," remarked Rosher, "why shouldn't we have proper sports, with a +proper list of events and prizes?" + +"Who'll give the prizes?" asked Teal. + +"Oh, anybody! Look here. I vote we have sports to-morrow night before +old Skeat comes back. Hands up, those who are agreeable! To the +contrary!--none. Very well, it's carried!" + +"But how about prizes?" persisted Teal, who was of rather a mercenary +disposition. + +"There needn't be any proper prizes," answered Rosher; "we can give the +winners anything." + +"Give 'em lines," suggested Garston. + +"No; shut up, Garston. Everybody must give something. I'll offer a +brass match-box, shaped like a pig." + +"No, you won't," interrupted Teal. "It's mine; you borrowed it a week +ago, and never gave it me back." + +"Did I? Well, I'll tell you what, I'll offer a photograph of my +brother; the frame's worth something. Now, what'll you give, Garston?" + +Garston offered a small pocket-mirror. Jack Fenleigh a bone +collar-stud, while a boy named Hamond promised what was vaguely +described as "part of a musical box," and which afterwards turned out +to be the small revolving barrel, the only fragment of the instrument +which remained. + +Prizes having been secured, the next thing was to arrange competitions +in which to win them; and in doing this, the committee were obliged to +keep in view the peculiar nature and limitations of the ground at their +disposal. It was no good Hamond's clamouring for a pole jump, or Teal +suggesting putting the weight. Jack's proposal of a sack race in +bolster cases was, for a moment, entertained as a good idea; then it +was suddenly remembered that the bolsters had no cases, and so that +project fell through. + +One by one the events were decided on. Rosher promised to draw up a +programme, and insisted that after every boy's name some distinguishing +colours should appear, as on a proper sports list, and that competitors +were to arrange their costumes accordingly. + +"When shall it come off?" asked Garston. + +"Oh, to-morrow, after the masters have all gone in to supper. Now, +we've been planning long enough; good-night." + +The occupants of the Long Dormitory, be it said to their credit, were +not fellows to form a scheme and then think no more about it, and the +next day their minds were exercised with preparations for the sports, +the chief difficulty being in arranging costumes which should answer to +the descriptions given on Rosher's card. These vagaries in dress +caused an immense amount of amusement, and when the masters' +supper-bell gave the signal for the commencement of operations, every +one found it difficult to retrain from shouts of laughter at the sight +of the various styles of war-paint. Perhaps that of Jack Fenleigh, +though simple to a degree, was most comical: his colours were described +as "red and white," and his costume consisted of his night-shirt, and a +large scarlet chest-protector which he had borrowed from a small boy, +whose mother fondly believed him to be wearing it according to her +instructions, instead of utilizing it to line a box containing a +collection of birds' eggs. + +As every race had to be run in a number of heats the events were +necessarily few in number. There were a hopping race, a hurdle race +over the beds, and a race in which the competitors were blindfolded, +and each carried a mug full of water, which had not to be spilt by the +way. + +Teal, over whose bed, as the result of a collision, two boys happened +to empty the contents of their half-pint cups, professed not to see +much fun in the performance, though every one else voted it simply +screaming. + +But the contest looked forward to with the greatest amount of interest +was the obstacle race. It was placed at the end of the programme; +Garston's pocket-mirror, the only prize worth having, was to reward the +winner; and the conditions were as follows:-- + +The runners were to go once round the room, alternately crawling under +and hopping over the sixteen beds; the finish was to be down the middle +aisle, across the centre of which a row of chairs was placed, on which +boys stood or sat to keep them steady while the racers crawled under +the seats. In spite of the fact that the pocket-mirror was to be the +prize, only Jack and Hamond appeared at the starting-point when it came +to this last item on Rosher's programme, their companions voting it too +much fag, and preferring to sit on the obstacles and look on. + +The signal was given, and the two competitors started off in grand +style, plunging in and out among the beds like dolphins in a choppy +sea. Jack led from the first; he dashed up to the row of chairs a long +way in front of Hamond, and had wriggled the greater portion of his +body through the bars, when-- + +No one could have said exactly how the alarm was given, or who first +saw the gleam of light through the ground-glass ventilator. The +obstacle was snatched from the centre of the room; with a rush and a +bound everybody was in bed; a moment later Mr. Rowlands entered the +room, the first thing which met his gaze being the extraordinary +spectacle of Jack Fenleigh, who, like a new kind of snail, was crawling +along the floor on his hands and knees with a cane-bottomed chair fixed +firmly on the centre of his back. The weight of the boy sitting on it +being removed, the unfortunate Jack found it impossible to force his +way any further, and thus remained unable to extricate himself from +between the bars of the obstacle. + +"Fenleigh," said the master, "get up off the ground. What are you +doing, sir?" + +The boy struggled to his feet, and in doing so revealed the glories of +the chest-protector. There was a subdued titter from the adjacent beds. + +"Silence!" cried Mr. Rowlands. "So you're responsible for this noise +and disorder, Fenleigh? If you want to perform as a clown, you had +better leave school and join a circus. At nine o'clock to-morrow you +will come with me to the headmaster's study." + +By breakfast-time on the following morning the story of this tragic +finish to the obstacle race was all over the school. Valentine heard +it, and waited anxiously to learn his cousin's fate. The latter +escaped with a severe reprimand, and the loss of the next two +half-holiday afternoons; but he was reminded that his conduct, +especially for a new boy, had been all along most unsatisfactory, and +he was given clearly to understand that any repetition of this constant +misbehaviour would result in his being expelled without further warning. + +"I wish you'd take more care what you're up to, Jack," said Valentine. +"You're bound to get thrown out if you don't behave better." + +"What's the odds if I am? I've only been here a month, and I hate the +place already." + +"It seems to me," answered Valentine sadly, "that you don't care a +straw for anything or anybody." + +"Well, why should I?" returned the other. "You wouldn't, if you were +in my place." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE REBEL RECLAIMED. + +"'I think he will grow up pretty, and perhaps be smaller; he has +remained too long in the egg, and therefore his figure is not properly +formed;' and then she stroked his neck and smoothed the +feathers."--_The Ugly Duckling_. + + +Towards the end of June, Queen Mab wrote asking the two boys to come +over for their usual half-term holiday. + +"I'm not going," said Jack. + +"Why not?" asked Valentine, astonished that any one should decline an +invitation to Brenlands. "Why ever not? You'd have a jolly time; Aunt +Mabel's awfully kind." + +"I daresay she is, but I never go visiting. I hate all that sort of +thing." + +It was no good trying to make Jack Fenleigh alter his mind; he stuck to +his resolution, and Valentine went to Brenlands alone. + +"I'm sorry Jack wouldn't come with you," said Queen Mab on the Saturday +evening; "why was it? Aren't you and he on good terms with each other?" + +"Oh, yes, aunt, we're friendly enough in one way, but we don't seem +able to hit it off very well together." + +"How is that?" + +"Oh, I don't know. I'm not his sort; I suppose I'm too quiet for him." + +"I always thought you were noisy enough," answered Miss Fenleigh +laughing. + +"You wouldn't, if you knew some of our fellows," returned the boy. + +The weeks slipped by, the holidays were approaching, and the far-off +haven of home could almost, as it were, be seen with the naked eye. +Whether the disastrous termination to the dormitory sports had really +served as a warning to Jack to put some restraint upon his wayward +inclinations, it would be difficult to say; but certainly since the +affair of the obstacle race he had managed to keep clear of the +headmaster's study, and had only indulged in such minor acts of +disorder as were the natural consequences of his friendship with +Garston, Rosher, and Teal. It needed the firm hand of Mr. Rowlands to +hold in check the sporting element which at this period was, +unfortunately, rather strong in the Upper Fourth, and which, at certain +times--as for instance during the French lessons--attempted to turn the +very highroad to learning into a second playground. + +Monsieur Durand, whose duty it was to instil a knowledge of his +graceful mother tongue into the minds of a score of restless and +unappreciative young Britons, found the facetious gentlemen of the +Upper Fourth a decided "handful." They seemed to regard instruction in +the Gallic language as an unending source of merriment. Garston threw +such an amount of eloquence into the reading of the sentence, "My +cousin has lost the hat of the gardener," that every one sighed to +think that a relative of one of their classmates should have brought +such sorrow on the head of the honest son of toil; and when Teal +announced joyfully that "His uncle had found the hat of the gardener," +Rosher was obliged to slap the speaker on the back, and say, "Bravo!" + +This being M. Durand's first term in an English school, that gentleman +could hardly have been expected, as the saying goes, to be up to all +the moves on the board; and certain of his pupils, sad to relate, were +only too ready to take advantage of his lack of experience. It was +discovered that it was comparatively easy to obtain permission to leave +the class. "Please, sir, may I go and get a drink of water?" or +"Please, sir, may I go and fetch my dictionary?" was sufficient to +obtain temporary leave of absence; nor did the French master seem to +take much notice as to the length of time which such errands should by +right have occupied. The consequence was that not unfrequently towards +the end of the hour a quarter of his pupils were gathered in what was +known as the playshed, drinking sherbet, or playing cricket with a +fives ball and a walking-stick. + +One particular morning, when the Lower Fourth were struggling with the +parsing and analysis of a certain portion of Goldsmith's "Deserted +Village," a mysterious patch of light appeared dancing about on the +wall and ceiling, attracting the attention of the whole class, and +causing the boy just told to "go on" to describe "man" as a personal +pronoun, and to put a direct object after the verb "to be." + +"Fenleigh," said Mr. Copland, "just see who that is outside." + +Valentine, who was seated nearest the window, rose from his place, and +looking down into the yard beneath saw the incorrigible Jack amusing +himself by flashing sunbeams with the pocket-mirror which he had won in +the dormitory sports. The latter, who ought by rights to have been +transcribing a French exercise, grinned, and promptly bolted round the +corner. + +"Who was it, Fenleigh?" + +Valentine hesitated. + +"Who was it? Did you see the boy?" + +"Yes, sir; it was my cousin." + +"What! J. Fenleigh in the Upper Fourth?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Humph! very well," answered Mr. Copland, making a memorandum on a slip +of paper in front of him; "I'll seek an interview with that young +gentleman after school." + +Valentine's heart sank, for he had in his pocket a letter from Queen +Mab saying that she was driving over in the pony carriage that very +afternoon, and inviting the two boys to spend their half-holiday with +her in Melchester. This significant remark of Mr. Copland's meant that +Jack would be prevented from going. Valentine felt that he was +indirectly the cause of the misfortune, and his wayward relative seemed +inclined to view the matter in the same light. + +"I say," he exclaimed, "you were a sneak to tell Copland it was I who +was flashing that looking-glass." + +"I couldn't help it," answered Valentine. "He told me to look out and +see who was there." + +"Well, why didn't you say the fellow had run away, or something of that +sort?" + +"Because it would have been a lie." + +"Pooh! telling a cram like that to a master doesn't count. You are a +muff, Valentine," and the speaker turned on his heel with a +contemptuous shrug of his shoulders. + +The little fat pony, the low basket-carriage, Jakes the gardener +driving, and last and best of all Queen Mab herself, arrived at the +time appointed; but only one of her nephews was waiting at the +rendezvous. + +"Why, where's Jack?" + +"He got into a scrape this morning, and is kept in. What's more, he +says it's my fault, and we've had a row about it. I don't think we +ever shall be friends, aunt." + +"Oh, you mustn't say that. In a fortnight's time we shall all be at +Brenlands together, and then we must try to rub some of the sharp +corners off this perverse young gentleman. I must come back with you +to the school and try to see him before I drive home." + +In the quiet retirement of Mr. Copland's classroom, Jack was writing +lines when a messenger came to inform him that some one wished to see +him in the visitors' room. + +"Bother it! Aunt Mabel," he said to himself. "I suppose I must go," +he added, swishing the ink from his pen and throwing it down on the +desk. "What a bore relations are! I wish they'd let me alone." + +From their one brief meeting years before, neither aunt nor nephew +would have recognized each other now had they met in the streets, and +so this was like making a fresh acquaintance. Jack had heard only one +half of a very lopsided story, and though he took no interest in the +family disagreement, yet he was inclined to be suspicious of his +grown-up relations. He marched down the passage, jingling his keys +with an air of defiance; but when he entered the visitors' room, and +saw the bright smile with which his aunt greeted his appearance, he +dropped the swagger and became stolidly polite. She, for her part, had +come prepared for the conquest which she always made; his awkward, +boyish manner and uncared-for appearance, the dissatisfied look upon +his face, and the ink stains on his collar, all were noticed in one +loving glance, and touched her warm heart. + +"Well, Jack," she said, "you see Mahomet has come to the mountain. How +are you, dear?" + +Jack muttered that he was quite well. It was rather embarrassing to be +called "dear." He attempted to hide his confusion by wiping his nose; +but in producing his handkerchief, he pulled out with it a forked +catapult stick and a broken metal pen-holder, which clattered to the +ground and had to be picked up again. + +"How you've grown!" said Queen Mab, "and--my senses! what muscles +you've got," she added, feeling his arm. + +Jack grinned and bent his elbow, the next moment he straightened it +again. + +"Go on!" he said; "you're chaffing me." + +"I'm not. I wish you'd been at Brenlands at Easter, and I'd have set +you to beat carpets. Never mind, I shall have you with me in a +fortnight." + +"I don't think I shall come," he began. + +"Stuff and nonsense!" interrupted the aunt. "I say you _are_ coming. +Valentine never makes excuses when I send him an invitation. Don't you +think I know how to amuse young people?" + +"Oh, yes; it's not that." + +"Then what is it?" + +"I don't know," answered the boy, grinning, and kicking the leg of the +table. + +"Of course you don't; so you've got to come. Valentine's sisters will +be there; you'd like to meet the two girls?" + +"No, I shouldn't." + +"Oh, shocking! you rude boy." + +Jack stood on one leg and laughed; this was like talking to a fellow in +the Upper Fourth, and his tongue was loosed. + +"They'd hate me," he said; "I don't know anything about girls." + +"I should think you didn't. Wait till you see Helen and Barbara." + +"But there's another thing. I haven't got any clothes." + +"My dear boy, how dreadful! Whose are those you are wearing now?" + +"Oh, go on, aunt; what a chaff you are! I don't mean that--I--" + +"No, you evidently don't know what you mean. Well, one thing's +settled, you're coming to Brenlands for the summer holidays." + +The battle was won, and Queen Mab had gained her usual victory. + +"How is your father? Didn't he send me any message?" + +"Yes, I think he told me to give you his love." + +"Is that all?" + +"Well, that's a jolly sight more than what he sends to most people," +answered the boy. + +He would have been surprised to have seen that there were tears in her +eyes when she walked out of the school gates, and still more astonished +to know that it was love for his unworthy self which brought them +there; for little did Fenleigh J. of the Upper Fourth imagine that any +one would come so near to crying on his account. + +That evening, just before supper, Valentine felt some one touch him on +the shoulder, and turning round saw that it was his cousin. + +"I've seen Queen Mab, as you call her," remarked the latter, "and, I +say--I like her--rather." + +"I knew you would. She's an angel--only jollier." + +"She made me promise I'd go there for the holidays." + +"Oh, that's fine!" cried Valentine. "I thought she would; she's got +such a way of making people do what she wants. I am glad you are +going; you'll enjoy it awfully." + +Fenleigh J. regarded the speaker for a moment with rather a curious +glance. In view of the events of the morning he rather expected that +his cousin would not be overpleased to hear that he had been asked to +spend the holidays at Brenlands; and that Valentine should rejoice at +his having accepted the invitation, struck him as being rather odd. + +"Look here, Val," he blurted out, "I'm sorry I called you a sneak this +morning. It was my fault, and you're a good sort after all." + +"Oh, stop it!" answered the other. "I'll forgive you now that you've +promised to go to Brenlands." + +Queen Mab was at home, miles away by this time; yet, as a result of her +flying visit, some of the softening influence of her presence and +kindly usages of her court seemed to linger even amid the rougher and +more turbulent atmosphere of Melchester School. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE COURT OF QUEEN MAB. + +"They were swans ... the ugly little duckling felt quite a strange +sensation as he watched them."--_The Ugly Duckling_. + + +During the short period which elapsed between Queen Mab's visit and the +end of the term Jack managed to steer clear of misfortune; but on the +last evening he must needs break out and come to grief again. + +He incited the occupants of the Long Dormitory to celebrate the end of +work by a grand bolster fight, during the progress of which conflict a +pillow was thrown through the ventilator above the door. It so +happened that, at that moment, Mr. Copland was walking along the +passage; and a cloud of feathers from the torn case, together with +fragments of ground glass, being suddenly rained down on his +unoffending head, he was naturally led to make inquiries as to the +cause of the outrage. As might have been expected, Fenleigh J. was +found to be the owner of the pillow which had done the damage, and he +was accordingly kept back on the following day to pay the usual penalty +of an imposition. + +"I'll take your luggage on with me," said Valentine. "You get out at +Hornalby, the first station from here, and it's only about a quarter of +a mile from there to Brenlands. Any one will tell you the way." + +It turned out a wet evening. Queen Mab and her court had already been +waiting tea for nearly half an hour, when Valentine exclaimed, "Hallo! +here he is!" + +The expected guest took apparently no notice of the rain; his cloth +cricket cap was perched on the back of his head, and he had not even +taken the trouble to turn up the collar of his jacket. He walked up +the path in a cautious manner, as though he expected at every step to +trip over the wire of a spring-gun; but when he came within a dozen +yards of the house he quickened his pace, for Aunt Mabel had opened the +door, and was standing ready to give him a welcome. + +"Why, boy, how late you are! You must be nearly starving!" + +"I couldn't come before," he began; "I had some work to do, and--" + +"Yes, you rascal! I've heard all about it. Come in, and Jane shall +rub you down with a dry cloth." + +Jack left off jingling his keys; he did not like being "rubbed down," +but he submitted to the process with great good-humour. It was the +cosiest old kitchen; the table was the whitest, and the pots and pans +the brightest, that could be imagined; and Jane, the cook, groomed him +down as though brushing a damp jacket with a dry glass-cloth was the +most enjoyable pastime in life. In the parlour it was just the same: +the pretty china cups and saucers, and the little bunches of bright +flowers, only made all the nice things there were to eat seem more +attractive; and the company were as happy and gay as though it was +everybody's birthday, and they had all met to assist one another in +keeping up the occasion with a general merry-making. Jack alone was +quiet and subdued, for the simple reason that he had never seen +anything like it in his life before. + +Queen Mab, strongly entrenched at the head of the table, behind the +urn, sugar basin, and cream jug, held this line of outworks against any +number of flank attacks in the shape of empty cups, the old silver +teapot apparently containing an inexhaustible supply of ammunition, and +enabling her to send every storming party back to the place from whence +it came, and even invite them to attempt another assault. + +Once or twice Jack turned to find his aunt watching him with a look in +her eyes which caused his own face to reflect the smile which was on +hers. She was thinking, and had been ever since she had seen the +latest addition to her court coming slowly up the front path through +the dismal drizzle, of the old favourite story, and of that part in it +where the ugly duckling, overtaken by the storm, arrived in front of +the tumble-down little cottage, which "only remained standing because +it could not decide on which side to fall first." + +When the meal was over, and while the table was being cleared, Jack +wandered out into the porch, and stood watching the rain. He had +hardly been there a minute before he was joined by Barbara. + +"I say," she exclaimed, "why didn't you talk at tea time? I wanted to +ask you heaps of things. Your name's Jack, isn't it? Well, mine's +Barbara; they call me Bar, because it's the American for bear, and +father says I am a young bear. I want to hear all about that pillow +fight, and those races you had in the dormitory." + +"Oh, they weren't anything! How did you get to hear about them?" + +"Why, Val told us." + +"Well, what a fellow he is! He's always talking about the rows I get +into." + +"It doesn't matter; we thought it awful fun. Helen laughed like +anything, and she's very good. I say, can you crack your fingers?" + +"No; but I can crack my jaw." + +"Oh, do show me!" + +Jack really did possess this gruesome accomplishment; he could somehow +make a blood-curdling click with his jawbone. When he did it in +"prep." his neighbours smote him on the head with dictionaries, and +when he repeated the performance in the dormitory, fellows rose in +their beds and hurled pillows and execrations into the darkness. +Barbara, however, was charmed. + +"You are clever!" she cried; "I wish I could do it. Now, come back, +and sit by me; we're going to play games." + +Jack, who had cherished some vague notion that every girl was something +between a saint and a bride-cake ornament, was agreeably surprised at +this conversation with his small admirer, and readily complied with her +request. Several of the games he had never seen before, but he made +bold attempts to play them some way or another, and soon entered into +the spirit of his surroundings. + +In making words out of words his spelling was nearly as bad as +Barbara's, but he seemed to think his own mistakes a great joke, and +didn't care a straw how many marks he gave to the other players. In +"Bell and Hammer," however, he always managed to buy the "White Horse," +while other people would squander their all in bidding for a card which +perhaps turned out after all to be only the "Hammer." At "Snap" he was +simply terrible; he literally swept the board, but kept passing +portions of his winnings under the table to Barbara, whose pile seemed +to be as inexhaustible as the widow's cruse. By the end of the evening +he was the life of the party, and no one would have believed that he +was the same boy who, a few hours ago, had come up the front path +wishing in his secret heart that he was safely back at Melchester +writing lines in the Upper Fourth classroom. + +He and Valentine shared a delightful, old four-post bed, which in times +gone by had had the marvellous property of turning itself into a tent, +a gipsy van, or a raft, which, though launched from a sinking ship in +the very middle of a stormy ocean, always managed to bring its crew of +distressed mariners safely to shore in time to answer Queen Mab's +cheery call of "Tea's ready!" + +"It is nice to be here," said Valentine, dropping his head upon the +pillow with a sigh of contentment. "Aren't you glad you came?" + +"Yes," answered Jack. "Aunt Mabel seems so jolly kind and glad to see +you. I wish you hadn't told her about all those rows I got into; I +don't think she'll like me when she knows me better." + +"Oh, yes, she will! Don't you like Helen?" + +"Yes; I think she has the nicest face I ever saw. But she's too good +for me, Val, my boy. I think I shall get on better with Barbara; she's +more like a boy, and I don't think I shall ever be a ladies' man." + +Valentine laughed; the idea of Fenleigh J. of the Upper Fourth ever +becoming a ladies' man was certainly rather comical. + +"You'll like Helen when you get to know her. I wouldn't exchange her +as a sister for any other girl in the kingdom. Well--good-night!" + +That one evening at Brenlands had done more towards forming a +friendship between the two boys than all the ninety odd days which they +had already spent in each other's company. The next afternoon, +however, they were destined to become still more united; and the manner +in which this came about was as follows. + +During the morning the weather held up, but by dinner time it was +raining again. + +"Bother it! what shall we do?" cried Valentine. + +"I should think you'd better play with your tin soldiers," answered +Helen, laughing. "They always seem to keep you good." + +Valentine hardly liked this allusion to his miniature army being made +in the hearing of his older schoolfellow, for boys at Melchester School +were supposed to be above finding amusement in toys of any kind. The +latter, however, pricked up his ears, and threw down the book he had +been reading. + +"Who's got any tin soldiers?" he asked. "Let's see 'em." The boxes +were produced. "My eye!" continued Jack, turning out the contents, +"what a heap you've got! I should like to set them out and have a +battle. And here are two pea-shooters; just the thing!" + +"You don't mean to say you're fond of tin soldiers, Jack?" said Aunt +Mabel. "Why, you're much too old, I should have thought, for anything +of that kind." + +"I'm not," answered the boy; "I love tin soldiers, and anything to do +with war. Come on, Val, we'll divide the men and have a fight." + +The challenge was accepted. There was an empty room upstairs, and on +the floor of this the opposing forces were drawn up, and a desperate +conflict ensued. The troops were certainly a motley crew; some were +running, some marching, and some were standing still; some had their +rifles at the "present," and some at the "slope;" but what they lacked +in drill and discipline, they made up in their steadiness when under +fire, and Jack showed as much skill and resource in handling them as +did their rightful commander. He set out his men on some thin pieces +of board, which could be moved forward up the room, it having been +agreed that he should be allowed to stand and deliver his fire from the +spot reached by his advancing line of battle. Each group of these +tag-rag-and-bobtail metal warriors was dignified by the name of some +famous regiment. Here was the "Black Watch," and there the "Coldstream +Guards;" while this assembly of six French Zouaves, a couple of +red-coats, a bugler, and a headless mounted officer on a three-legged +horse, was the old 57th Foot--the "Die-Hards"--ready to exhibit once +more the same stubborn courage and unflinching fortitude as they had +displayed at Albuera. Valentine held a position strengthened by +redoubts constructed out of dominoes, match-boxes, pocket-knives, and +other odds and ends. They were certainly curious fortifications; yet +the nursery often mimics in miniature the sterner realities of the +great world; and since that day, handfuls of Englishmen have built +breastworks out of materials almost as strange, and as little intended +for the purpose, and have fought desperate and bloody fights, and won +undying fame, in their defence. + +"I'm going to be this chap, who takes on and off his horse," said Jack. +"Which is you?" + +"Here I am," answered Valentine. "Now then, you fire first--blaze +away!" + +As he spoke he picked up the veteran captain of the solid lead guards, +and set him down in the centre of the defending force, and so the +battle commenced. It was still raging when Jane came to say that tea +was ready; but the losses on both sides had been terribly severe. The +invading army still pressed forward, though the "57th" were once more +decimated by the withering fire; and nothing actually remained of the +"Coldstream Guards" but a kettle-drummer of uncertain nationality, and +a man carrying a red and green flag, which he might very possibly have +captured from some Sunday-school treat. The opposite side were in no +better plight: men were lying crushed under the ruins of the works +which they had so gallantly defended; and hardly enough artillerymen +were left to have pulled back, with their united efforts, the spring of +one of the pea cannons. The leaders on both sides remained unscathed, +and continued to brandish bent lead swords at each other in mutual +defiance. + +"Make haste! you've got one more shot," said Valentine. + +The pea-shooter was levelled and discharged, the veteran lead captain +tottered and tell, and thus the fight ended. + +"Val, my boy, you're killed!" cried Jack. "No matter, it's the bed of +honour, old chap!" + +"Oh, I don't mind!" answered the other, laughing. "_C'est la guerre_, +you know; come along. I'd no idea you were so fond of soldiers." + +So they passed down to Queen Mab's merry tea-table, unsaddened by any +recollections of the stricken field, or of the lead commander left +behind among the slain. + +The two boys talked "soldiering" all the evening; and the next morning, +when breakfast was nearly over, and Helen ran upstairs to inquire if +they meant to lie on till dinner-time, they were still harping away on +the same subject. The door was standing ajar, and she heard their +words. + +"Don't move your knee," Jack was saying; "that's the hill where I +should post my artillery." + +"Yes, that's all right," answered Valentine; "but you couldn't shell my +reserves if I got them down under cover of this curl in the +blanket.--All right, Helen! down directly!" + +The sun was shining brightly, the fine weather seemed to have come at +last, and the question was how to put it to the best possible use. + +"Why don't you children go and picnic somewhere?" said Queen Mab. "You +can have Prince and the carriage, and drive off where you like, and +have tea out of doors." + +A general meeting was held in the hayloft directly after dinner for the +purpose of discussing this important question. Jack won a still higher +place in Barbara's affections by hauling himself up the perpendicular +ladder without touching the rungs with his feet; and though knowing +little or nothing about such things as picnics, he was ready with any +number of absurd suggestions. + +"Let's go to Pitsbury Common," said Barbara; "there's such a lot of +jolly sandpits to roll about in, and we can burn gorse-bushes." + +"Oh, no, don't let's go there!" answered Helen; "there's no place to +shelter in if it comes on rain, and when you're having tea the sand +blows about and gets into everything, so that you seem to be eating it +by mouthfuls." + +"It's so nice having it out of doors," persisted Barbara. + +"Well, let's go out in the road and sit with our feet in the ditch, +like the tramps do," said Jack. "I'll bring the tea in my sponge bag. +Rosher used to carry it about in his pocket, full of water for a little +squirt he was always firing off in the French class. Pilson had the +sentence, 'Give me something to drink;' and as soon as he'd said it, he +got a squirtful all over the back of his head, and Durand--" + +"Oh, stop that!" said Valentine, laughing. "Look here! I vote we +drive over to Grenford, and call on the Fosbertons, and ask them to +lend us their boat; they'd give us lunch, and then we could take our +tea with us up the river. It's not more than six miles." + +"Don't let's go there," said Barbara. "I hate them." + +"Is Raymond away?" asked Helen. + +"Yes; didn't you hear Queen Mab say he was going to spend his holidays +in London? Uncle James is rather a pompous old fellow, but we shan't +have to go there except for lunch; and father said we ought to call on +them while we're here; besides, it'll be jolly on the river. You know +them, don't you, Jack?" + +"Well, I've _heard_ about them," answered the other. "I know that the +guv'nor's sister married old Fosberton, and that he got a lot of money +making tin tacks, or whatever it was; and now he fancies he's rather a +swell, and says he's descended from William the Conqueror's sea-cook, +or something of that sort. I don't want to go and see them; but I +don't mind having some grub there, if they'll lend us a boat." + +"My senses! you ought to feel very much honoured at the thought of +going to lunch at Grenford Manor," said Helen, laughing. + +"I'm sure I don't," answered her cousin. "I'd sooner have a feed in +old 'Duster's' shop at Melchester." + +"Well, that's what we'll do," said Valentine. "We'll take a kettle and +some cups with us, and tea, and all that sort of thing, and go up the +river as far as Starncliff, and there we'll camp out and have a jolly +time." + +With some reluctance the proposal was agreed upon. Had the company +foreseen the chain of events which would arise directly and indirectly +from this memorable picnic, they might have made up their minds to +spend the day at Brenlands. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +AN UNLUCKY PICNIC. + +"The tom-cat, whom his mistress called 'My little son,' was a great +favourite; he could raise his back, and purr, and could even throw out +sparks from his fur if it were stroked the wrong way."--_The Ugly +Duckling_. + + +"Now, Jack, do behave yourself!" cried Valentine, as the +basket-carriage turned through two imposing-looking granite gate-posts +into a winding drive which formed the approach to Grenford Manor. +Jack, as usual, seemed to grow particularly obstreperous just when +circumstances demanded a certain amount of decorum, and at that moment +he was kneeling on the narrow front seat belabouring Prince with the +cushion. + +"Well," he answered, turning round, "we must drive up to the door in +style; if we come crawling in like this, they'll think we're ashamed of +ourselves." + +As he spoke, a curve in the drive brought the house into view. It was +a big, square building, with not the slightest touch of green to +relieve the monotony of the rigid white walls, and level rows of +windows, which seemed to have been placed in position by some precise, +mathematical calculation. A boy was lounging about in front of the +porch, with his hands in his pockets, kicking gravel over the +flower-beds. + +"O Val! you said Raymond wasn't at home," murmured Helen. + +"Well, Aunt Mab said he was going to London; he must have put off his +visit." + +Raymond Fosberton turned at the sound of the carriage-wheels, and +sauntered forward to meet the visitors. He had black hair, and a very +pink and white complexion. To say that he looked like a girl would be +disparaging to the fair sex, but his face would at once have impressed +a careful observer as being that of a very poor specimen of British +boyhood. + +"Hallo!" he said, without removing his hands from his pockets, "so +you've turned up at last! You've been a beastly long time coming!" + +He shook hands languidly with Valentine and the two girls, but greeted +Jack with a cool stare, which the latter returned with interest. +Grenford Manor was very different from Brenlands. Aunt Isabel was +fussy and querulous, while Mr. Fosberton was a very ponderous gentlemen +in more senses than one. He had bushy grey whiskers and a very red +face, which showed up in strong contrast to a broad expanse of white +waistcoat, which was in turn adorned with a massive gold chain and +imposing bunch of seals. + +"Well, young ladies, and how are you?" he began in a deep, sonorous +voice, of which he was evidently rather proud. "How are you, +Valentine? So this is Basil's son?--hum! What's your father doing +now?" + +"I don't know," answered Jack, glancing at the clock. "I expect he's +having his dinner, though there's no telling, for we're always a bit +late at home." + +Mr. Fosberton stared at the boy, cleared his throat rather vigorously, +and then turned to speak to Helen. + +Lunch was a very dry and formal affair. Raymond spoke to nobody, his +father and mother addressed a few words to Valentine and the girls, but +Jack was completely ignored. The latter, instead of noticing this +neglect, pegged away merrily at salmon and cold fowl, and seemed +devoutly thankful that no one interrupted his labours by forcing him to +join in the conversation. + +"You may tell your father," said Mr. Fosberton to Valentine, "that I +find his family are related to one of the minor branches of my own; +I've no doubt he will be pleased to hear it. His father's sister +married a Pitsbury, a second cousin of the husband of one of the +Fosbertons of Cranklen. You'll remember, won't you?" + +Valentine said he would, and looked scared. + +The silver spoons and forks were all ornamented with the Fosberton +crest--a curious animal, apparently dancing on a sugar-stick. + +"What is it?" whispered Barbara to Jack. + +"The sea-cook's dog," answered her cousin. + +"But what's he doing?" + +"He's stolen the plum-duff, and the skipper's sent him up to ride on a +boom, and he's got to stay there till he's told to come down." + +At last the weary meal was over. + +"I suppose we may have the boat," said Valentine. + +"Oh, yes. I'm coming with you myself," answered Raymond; which +announcement was received by Miss Barbara with an exclamation of +"Bother!" which, fortunately, was only overheard by Jack, who smiled, +and pinched her under the table. + +It did not take long to transport the provisions and materials from the +pony-carriage to the boat, and the party were soon under way. It was a +splendid afternoon for a river excursion. Raymond, who had not offered +to carry a thing on their way to the bank, lolled comfortably in the +stern, leaving the other boys to do the work, and the girls to +accommodate themselves as best they could. He was evidently accustomed +to having his own way, and assumed the position of leader of the +expedition. + +"Have you finished school?" asked Jack. + +"I don't go to one," answered the other; "I have a private tutor. I +think schools are awful rot, where you're under masters, and have to do +as you're told, like a lot of kids. I'm seventeen now. I'm going +abroad this winter to learn French, then I'm coming home to read for +the law. I say, why don't you row properly?" + +"So I do." + +"No, you don't; you feather too high." + +"There you go again," continued the speaker petulantly a few moments +later; "that's just how the Cockneys row." + +"Sorry," said Jack meekly. "Look here, d'you mind showing me how it +ought to be done?" + +Raymond scrambled up and changed places with Jack. "There," he +said--"that's the way--d'you see? Now, try again." + +"No, thanks," answered Jack sweetly, "I'd rather sit here and watch +you; it's rather warm work. I think I'll stay where I am." + +Raymond did not seem to relish the joke, but it certainly had the +wholesome effect of taking him down a peg, and rendering him a little +less uppish and dictatorial for the remainder of the journey. + +At Starncliff the right bank of the river rose rocky and precipitous +almost from the water's edge. There was, however, a narrow strip of +shore, formed chiefly of earth and shingle; and here the party landed, +making the boat fast to the stump of an old willow. + +"We promised Queen Mab that we wouldn't be very late," said Valentine, +"so I should think we'd better have tea at once; it'll take some time +to make the water boil." + +There is always some special charm about having tea out of doors, even +when the spout of the kettle gets unsoldered, or black beetles invade +the tablecloth. To share one teaspoon between three, and spread jam +with the handle-end of it, is most enjoyable, and people who picnic +with a full allowance of knives and forks to each person ought never to +be allowed to take meals in the open. Jack and Valentine set about +collecting stones to build a fireplace, and there being plenty of dry +driftwood about, they soon had a good blaze for boiling the water. The +girls busied themselves unpacking the provisions; but Raymond Fosberton +was content to sit on the bank and throw pebbles into the river. + +The repast ended, the kettle and dishes were once more stowed away in +the boat, and Valentine proposed climbing the cliff. + +"It looks very steep," said Helen. + +"There's a path over there by those bushes," answered her brother. +"Come along; we'll haul you up somehow." + +The ascent was made in single file, and half-way up the party paused to +get their breath. + +"Hallo!" cried Jack, "there's a magpie." + +On a narrow ledge of rock and earth at the summit of the cliff two tall +fir-trees were growing, and out of the top of one of these the bird had +flown. The children stood and watched it, with its long tail and sharp +contrast of black and white feathers, as it sailed away across the +river. + +"One for sorrow," said Helen. + +"I shouldn't like to climb that tree," said Valentine. "It makes my +head swim to look at it, leaning out like that over the precipice." + +"Pooh!" answered Raymond; "that's nothing. I've climbed up trees in +much worse places before now." + +Helen frowned, and turned away with an impatient twitch of her lips. + +Jack saw the look. "All right, Master Fosberton," he said to himself; +"you wait a minute." + +They continued their climb, and reaching the level ground above +strolled along until they came opposite the tall tree out of which the +magpie had flown. + +"There's the nest!" cried Jack, pointing at something half hidden in +the dark foliage of the fir. "Now, then, who'll go up and get it?" + +"No one, I should think," said Helen. "If you fell, you'd go right +down over the cliff and be dashed to pieces." + +"I know I wouldn't try," added her brother. "I should turn giddy in a +moment." + +"Will you go?" asked Jack, addressing Raymond. + +"No," answered the other. + +"Why, I thought you said a moment ago that you've climbed trees in much +worse places. Come, if you'll go up, I will." + +"Not I," retorted Raymond sulkily; "it's too much fag." + +"Oh, well, if you're afraid, I'll go up alone." + +"Don't be such a fool, Jack," said Valentine; "there won't be any eggs +or young birds in the nest now." + +"Never mind; I should like to have a look at it." + +Fenleigh J. of the Upper Fourth was a young gentleman not easily turned +from his purpose, and, in spite of Valentine's warning and the +entreaties of his girl cousins, he lowered himself down on to the +ledge, and the next moment was buttoning his coat preparatory to making +the attempt. + +For the first twelve or fifteen feet the trunk of the fir afforded no +good hold, but Jack swarmed up it, clinging to the rough bark and the +stumps of a few broken branches. The spectators held their breath; but +the worst was soon passed, and in a few seconds more he had gained the +nest. + +"There's nothing in it," he cried; "but there's a jolly good view up +here, and, I say, if you want a good, high dive into the river, this is +the place. Come on, Raymond; it's worth the fag." + +"Oh, do come down!" exclaimed Helen. "It frightens me to watch you." +She turned away, and began picking moon daisies, when suddenly an +exclamation from Valentine caused her to turn round again. + +"Hallo! what's the matter?" + +Jack had just begun to slip down the bare trunk, but about a quarter +way down he seemed to have stuck. + +"My left foot's caught somehow," he said. "I can't get it free." + +He twitched his leg, and endeavoured to regain the lower branches, but +it was no good. + +"Oh, do come down!" cried Helen, clasping her hands and turning pale. +"Can't any one help him?" + +Jack struggled vainly to free his foot. + +"Look here," he said in a calm though strained tone, "my boot-lace is +loose, and has got entangled with one of these knots; one of you chaps +must come up and cut it free. Make haste, I can't hang on much longer." + +[Illustration: "'Make haste! I can't hang on much longer.'" (missing +from book)] + +Valentine turned to Raymond. + +"You can climb," he said; "I can't." + +"I'm not going up there," answered the other doggedly, and turned on +his heel. + +Valentine wheeled round with a fierce look upon his face, threw off his +coat, took out his knife, opened it, and put it between his teeth. + +"O Val!" cried Helen in a choking voice, and hid her face in her hands. +Only Barbara had the strength of nerve to watch him do it, and could +give a clear account afterwards of how her brother swarmed up the +trunk, and held on with one arm while he cut the tangled lace. +Valentine himself knew very little of what happened until he found +himself back on the grass with Helen's arms round his neck. + +"I thought you couldn't climb," said Jack, a minute later. + +"It's possible to do most things when it comes to a case like that," +answered the other quietly. "Besides, I remembered not to look down." + +That sort of answer didn't suit Fenleigh J.; he caught hold of the +speaker, and smacked him on the back. + +"Look here, Valentine, the truth is you're a jolly fine fellow, and I +never knew it until this moment." + +The party strolled on across the field. + +"It's precious hot still," said Raymond; "let's go and sit under that +hayrick and rest." + +"We mustn't stay very long," Helen remarked as they seated themselves +with their backs against the rick. "We want to be home in time for +supper." + +"We can stay long enough for a smoke, I suppose," said Fosberton, +producing a cigarette case. "Have one. What! don't you chaps smoke? +Well," continued the speaker patronizingly, "you're quite right; it's a +bad habit to get into. Leave it till you've left school." + +"And then, when you smoke before ladies," added Helen, "ask their +permission first." + +"Oh, we haven't come here to learn manners," said Raymond, with a snort. + +"So it appears," returned the lady icily. + +Fenleigh J., who had been smarting under that "Leave it till you've +left school," chuckled with delight, and began to think that he liked +Helen quite as much as Barbara. + +At length, when Raymond had finished his cigarette, the voyagers rose +to return to the boat. Jack enlivened the descent of the cliff by +every dozen yards or so pretending to fall, and starting avalanches of +stones and earth, which were very disconcerting to those who went +before. On arriving at the shingly beach, he proposed a trial of skill +at ducks and drakes, and made flat pebbles go hopping right across the +river, until Valentine put an end to the performance by saying it was +time to embark. The girls were just stepping into the boat when Helen +gave an exclamation of surprise. + +"Look!" she cried, pointing towards the top of the cliff, "where can +all that smoke be coming from?" + +"It's a heap of rubbish burning in one of the fields," said Raymond. + +"There's too much smoke for that," said Jack. "It may be a barn or a +house. Wait a moment; I'll run up and see. I shan't be more than five +or six minutes." He started off, jumping and scrambling up the path; +but almost immediately on reaching the summit he turned and came racing +down again. + +"What a reckless beggar he is;" said Valentine. "He'll break his neck +some day. Well, what is it?" + +Jack took a flying jump from the path on to the shingle. + +"The rick!" he cried--"the one we were sitting under--it's all in a +blaze!" + +The boys and girls stood staring at one another with a horrified look +on their faces. + +"You must have done it with your matches, Raymond," said Helen. + +"I didn't," returned the other. "It's the sun. Come on into the boat." + +"You must have dropped your cigarette end," said Valentine. "We ought +to find the owner of the hay and say who we are." + +"You fool! I tell you it wasn't me," returned the other passionately. +"Ricks often catch fire of their own accord. I'm not going to be made +pay for what isn't my fault." + +Valentine hesitated, and shook his head. Jack seemed ready to side +with him; but Raymond jumped into the boat and seized the oars. "Look +here!" he cried, "it's my boat, and I'm going. It you don't choose to +come, you can stay." + +The two boys had no alternative but to obey their cousin's demand. +Jack took the second oar, while Valentine steered. Raymond was ready +enough now for hard work, and pulled away with all his might, evidently +wishing to escape as fast as possible from the neighbourhood of the +burning rick. + +"What are you pulling so fast for?" asked Jack; but "stroke" made no +reply, and seemed, if anything, to increase the pace. + +"Look out!" cried Valentine, as the boat approached an awkward corner, +one side of which was blocked by the branches of a big tree which had +fallen into the water. "Steady on, Raymond!" "Stroke," who did not +see what was coming, and thought this was only another attempt to +induce him to lessen the speed at which they were going, pulled harder +than ever. Valentine tugged his right-hand line crying, "Steady on, I +tell you!" but it was too late. There was a tremendous lurch which +nearly sent every one into the river, the water poured over the +gunwale, and something went with a sounding crack. Raymond's oar had +caught in a sunken branch and snapped off short. His face turned white +with anger. + +"You cad!" he cried with an oath, "you made me do that on purpose." + +"I didn't!" answered Valentine hotly; "and I should think you might +know better than to begin swearing before the girls." + +Helen looked frightened, but Barbara was sinking with laughter at the +sight of Jack, who, on the seat behind, was silently going through the +motions of punching Master Fosberton's head. + +"Well, we can't go on any further," said the latter. "We must get the +boat into that backwater and tie her up. Though it'll be a beastly fag +having to walk to Grenford." + +Dividing between them the things which had to be carried, the cousins +made their way through a piece of waste ground studded with +gorse-bushes, and gained the road, which ran close to the river. +Barbara lingered behind to pick Quaker grass, but a few moments later +she came racing after them and caught hold of Jack's arm. + +"Hallo!" he said, "what's up? you look scared." + +"So I am," she answered. "I saw a man's face looking at me. He was +hiding behind the bushes." + +"Fiddles!" answered Jack. "It was only imagination. Come along with +me. I'll carry those plates." + +Raymond Fosberton seemed bent on making himself as disagreeable as +possible. He was still in a great rage about the broken oar, and +lagged behind, refusing to speak to the rest of the party. + +"We ought not to let him walk by himself," said Helen, after they had +gone about a mile; "it looks as if we wanted to quarrel." + +She stopped and turned round, but Raymond was nowhere in sight. They +waited, but still he did not appear. + +"He can't be far behind," said Valentine. "I heard him kicking stones +a moment or so ago." + +Jack walked back to the last bend in the road and shouted, but there +was no reply. + +"It's a rum thing," he said, as he rejoined his companions. "I wonder +what has become of the beggar. I thought just then I heard him +talking." + +The boys shouted again, and Barbara drew a little closer to Jack. +Whether the watching face was imagination or not, she had evidently +been frightened. + +"Surly brute! he has gone home by a short cut," said Jack. "Come +along! it's no use waiting." + +They had not gone very far when they heard somebody running, and +turning again saw their missing cousin racing round the corner. His +face was pale and agitated, and it was evident that something was the +matter. + +"Hallo! where have you been?" + +"Nowhere. I only stopped to tie my shoe-lace." + +"But you must have heard us calling?" + +"I never heard a sound," answered Raymond abruptly, and so the matter +ended. + +The four Fenleighs were not at all sorry to find themselves free of +their cousin's society, and bowling along behind Prince in the little +basket-carriage. It was still more delightful to be back once more at +Brenlands, and there, round the supper-table, to give Queen Mab an +account of their adventures. + +"I should like to know who that man was whom I saw hiding among the +bushes," said Barbara. + +"I should like to know what Raymond was up to when we missed him coming +home," said Valentine. + +"Yes," added Jack thoughtfully; "he was hiding away somewhere, for I +could have sworn I heard his voice when I walked back to the corner." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A KEEPSAKE. + +"He is my own child, and he is not so very ugly after all, if you look +at him properly."--_The Ugly Duckling_. + + +The holidays passed too quickly, as they always did at Brenlands. Jack +was no longer the ugly duckling. Whatever misunderstanding or lack of +sympathy might have existed hitherto between himself and Valentine had +melted away in the sunny atmosphere of Queen Mab's court; and since the +incident of the magpie's nest, the two boys had become fast friends. + +Soldiering was their great mutual hobby. They constructed miniature +earthworks in the garden, mounted brass cannon thereon, fired them off +with real powder, and never could discover where the shots went to. +They read and re-read "A Voice from Waterloo," the only military book +they could discover in their aunt's bookcase; and on wet days the bare +floor of the empty room upstairs was spread with the pomp and +circumstance of war. The soldiers had a wonderful way of concealing +their sufferings; they never groaned or murmured, and, shot down one +day, were perfectly ready to take the field again on the next, and so +when the solid lead captain or die mounted officer who took on and off +his horse was "put out of mess" by a well-directed pea, the knowledge +that they would reappear ready to fight again another day considerably +lessened one's grief at the sight of their fall. Perhaps, after all, +lead is a more natural "food for powder" than flesh and blood, and so +the only time tears were shed over one of these battles was one morning +when Barbara surreptitiously crammed two dozen peas into her mouth, +fired them with one prolonged discharge into the midst of Valentine's +cavalry, and then fled the room, whereupon Jack sat down and laughed +till he cried. + +It would be difficult to say what it was that made Queen Mab's nephews +and nieces like to wander out into the kitchen and stand by her side +when she was making pastry or shelling peas; but they seemed to find it +a very pleasant occupation, and in this, after the first week of his +stay, Jack was not a whit behind the others. + +He was sitting one morning on a corner of the table, watching with +great interest his aunt's dexterous use of the rolling-pin. + +"Well, Jack," she said, looking up for a moment to straighten her back, +"are you sorry I made you come to Brenlands?" + +"No, rather not; I never enjoyed myself so much before. I should like +to stay here always." + +"What! and never go home again?" + +The moment that word was mentioned he was once more Fenleigh J. of the +Upper Fourth. + +"Home!" he said; "I hate the place. I've got no friends I care for, +and the guv'nor's always complaining of something, and telling me he +can't afford to waste the money he does on my education, because I +don't learn anything. I do think I'm the most unlucky beggar under the +sun. I've got nothing to look forward to. But I don't care. When I'm +older I'll cut the whole show, and go away and enlist. Any road, I +won't stay longer than I can help at Padbury." + +Queen Mab smiled, and went on cutting out the covering for an +apple-tart. + +"I know you like soldiers," she said; "well, listen to this. Just +before the battle of Waterloo, the father of Sir Henry Lawrence was in +charge of the garrison at Ostend. He knew that some great action was +going to take place, and wished very much to take part in it; so he +wrote to Wellington, reminding him that they had fought together in the +Peninsular War, and asking leave to pick out the best of the troops +then under his command and come with them to the front. The duke sent +him back this reply,--'That he remembered him well, and believed he was +too good a soldier to wish for any other post than the one which was +given to him.'" + +"You're preaching at me," said Jack suspiciously; "it's altogether +different in my case." + +"No, I'm not preaching; I'm only telling you a story. Now go and find +my little Bar, and say I've got some bits of dough left, and if she +likes she can come and make a pasty." + +Barbara came, and Jack assisted her in the manufacture of two shapeless +little turn-overs, which contained an extraordinary mixture of apples, +currants, sugar, and a sprinkling of cocoa put in "to see what it would +taste like." But the boy's attention was not given wholly to the work, +his mind was partly occupied with something else. He wandered over and +stood at the opposite end of the table, watching Queen Mab as she put +the finishing touch to her pie-crust, twisting up the edge into her own +particular pattern. + +"I don't see why people shouldn't wish for something better when they +have nothing but bad luck," he said. + +"I don't think people ever do have nothing but bad luck." + +"Yes, they do, and I'm one of them. I hate people who're always +preaching about being contented with one's lot." + +"You intend that for me, I suppose," said his aunt, slyly. "All right; +if you weren't out of reach I'd shake the flour dredge over you!" + +"No, you know I don't mean you," said the boy, laughing. "And I have +had one stroke of good luck, and that was your asking me to Brenlands." + +He went away, and told Valentine the story of Colonel Lawrence. + +"I didn't think she knew anything about soldiers." + +"She's a wonderful woman!" said Valentine, solemnly. "She knows +everything!" + +The following morning, as the two cousins were constructing an advanced +trench in a supposed siege of the cucumber-frame, Helen came out and +handed her brother a letter. Valentine read it, and passed id on to +Jack. + +"What d'you think of that?" he asked. + +The epistle was a short one, and ran as follows:-- + + +"GRENFORD MANOR, + "_Tuesday_. + +"DEAR VALENTINE,--I want five shillings to square the man whose hayrick +we set fire to the other day. If you fellows will give one half-crown, +I'll give the other. Send it me by return certain, or there'll be a +row.--Yours truly, + +"RAYMOND FOSBERTON." + + +"Pooh! I like his cheek!" cried Jack. "At the time he said it was the +sun; and now he says, 'the hayrick _we_ set on fire,' when he knows +perfectly well it was entirely his own doing. I should think he's rich +enough to find the five shillings himself." + +"Oh, he's always short of money, and trying to borrow from somebody," +answered Valentine. "The thing I don't understand is, what good five +shillings can be; the man would want more than that for his hay." + +"I don't understand Master Raymond," said Jack. "What shall you do?" + +"Well, as we were all there together, I suppose we ought to try to help +him out. The damage ought to be made good; I thought he would have got +Uncle Fosberton to do that. I'll send him the money; though I should +like to know how he's going to square the man with five shillings." + +A description of half the pleasures and merry-making that went to make +up a holiday at Brenlands would need a book to itself, and it would +therefore be impossible for me to attempt to give an account of all +that happened. The jollification was somehow very different from much +of the fun which Fenleigh J. had been accustomed to indulge in, in +company with his associates in the Upper Fourth; and though it was not +a whit less enjoyable, yet after it was over no one was heard to remark +that they'd "had their cake, and now they must pay for it." + +On the last morning but one, when the boys came down to breakfast, they +found Queen Mab making a great fuss over something that had come by +post. + +"Isn't it kind of your father?" she said. "Look what he's sent me!" + +The present was handed round. It was a gold brooch, containing three +locks of hair arranged like a Prince of Wales's plume, two light curls, +and a dark one in the middle--Valentine's, Helen's, and Barbara's. + +"He says it's to remind me of my three chicks when they are not with me +at Brenlands." + +"Mine's in the middle!" cried Barbara. + +"You ought to have some of Jack's put in as well," said Helen. + +The boy glanced across at her with a pleased expression. + +"Oh, no," he answered, "not alongside of yours." + +During the remainder of the morning he seemed unusually silent, and +directly after dinner he disappeared. + +"D'you know where Jack is?" asked Valentine. + +"No," answered Helen; "he went out into the road just now, but I have +not seen him since." + +It was a broiling day, and the children spent the greater part of the +afternoon reading under the shade of some trees in the garden. They +were just sitting down to tea when their cousin reappeared, covered +with dust, and looking very hot and tired. He refused to say what he +had been doing, and in answer to a fire of questions as to where he had +been he replied evasively, "Oh, only along the road for a walk." + +"Look sharp!" said Valentine, bolting his last mouthful of cake, "we're +going to have one more game of croquet. Come on, you girls, and help +me to put up the hoops." + +Jack, who in the course of his travels had acquired a prodigious +thirst, lingered behind to drink a fourth cup of tea. + +"You silly boy," said his aunt, "where have you been?" + +"To Melchester." + +"To Melchester! You don't mean to say you've walked there and back in +this blazing sun?" + +"Yes, I have. I wanted to get something." + +"What?" + +The boy rose from his chair, and came round to the head of the table. + +"That's it," he said, producing a little screw of tissue paper from his +pocket. "It's for you. It's only a cheap, common thing, but I hadn't +any more money." + +The paper was unrolled, and out came a little silver locket. + +"I didn't want the others to see--you mustn't ever let any one know. +There's a bit of my hair inside." + +"Now, then, don't stay there guzzling tea all night!" came Valentine's +voice through the open window. + +"But, my dear boy, whatever made you spend your money in giving me such +a pretty present?" + +"I want," answered the boy, speaking as though half ashamed of the +request he was making--"I want you to wear it when you wear the brooch; +stick it somewhere on your chain. I should like, don't you know, to +feel I'm one of your family." + +"So you are," answered Queen Mab, kissing him. "So you are, and always +will be--my own boy Jack!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +STRIFE IN THE UPPER FOURTH. + +"'You are exceedingly ugly,' said the wild ducks."--_The Ugly Duckling_. + + +School was a great change after Brenlands. The rooms seemed barer, the +desks more inky, and the bread and butter a good eighth of an inch +thicker than they had been at the close of the previous term; but by +the end of the first week our two friends had settled to work, and +things were going on much the same as usual. + +Considerable alterations had been made in the composition of the Upper +Fourth. Most of the occupants of the front row of benches had got +their remove, while a number of boys from the lower division, of whom +Valentine was one, had come up to join Mr. Rowlands' class. The Long +Dormitory was also changed, and Jack now found himself in Number Eight, +sleeping in a bed next to that of his cousin. + +Being thus so much thrown together, both in and out of school, it was +only natural that the friendship which they had formed in the holidays +should be still more firmly established. Only one thing acted as a +drag upon it, and that was the fact of Jack's still finding a strong +counter-attraction in the society of Garston, Rosher, and Teal. + +The quartette began the term badly by being largely responsible for a +disturbance which occurred in the dining-hall, when a clockwork frog +was suddenly discovered disporting itself in Pilson's teacup; and it is +probable that Jack would have continued to distinguish himself as a +black sheep, in company with his three unruly classmates, had it not +been for an unforeseen occurrence which caused him to make a change in +his choice of friends. + +As not unfrequently happens, the few original members of the Upper +Fourth who had not been called upon to "come up higher" still clung to +their old position at the bottom of the class, while the front benches +were filled by their more industrious schoolfellows who had earned +promotion. This state of affairs was not altogether pleasing to some +of the old hands. In Garston's opinion, the ideal Form was one which +would have no top, and where everybody would be bottom; and when the +first week's "order" was read out, he remarked, concerning those +new-comers who had won the posts of honour, that it was "like their +blessed cheek," and that some of them wanted a licking. Teal was +entirely at one with his chum in this opinion, and showed his approval +of the latter's sentiments by laying violent hands upon the person of +Hollis, the head boy, making a playful pretence of wringing his neck, +and then kicking his bundle of books down a flight of stairs. Hollis, +a weakly, short-sighted youth, threatened to complain to Mr. Rowlands; +which course of action, as may be supposed, did not tend to increase +his popularity with his new classmates. + +The very next morning the dogs of war broke loose. The boys were +construing the portion of Virgil which had been set them overnight. +Garston, who came last, had floundered about for a few moments among +the closing lines, giving vent to a few incoherent sputterings, and +every one was impatiently awaiting the first tinkle of the bell. + +"Yes, Garston," said Mr. Rowlands, "that's certainly up to your usual +form--quite a brilliant display; I'll give you naught. Let me see: I +set the lesson to the end of the page, and told you to go further if +you could; has any one done any more?" + +"I have, sir," said Hollis; "shall I go on?" + +The master nodded, Hollis proceeded, and Valentine, who stood second, +also followed in turn with a continuation of the translation. He had +only got through a couple of lines when the bell rang, and the class +was dismissed. Hardly had the door closed behind them, when Rosher and +Teal charged along the passage and seized hold of Valentine and Hollis. +The other boys crowded round in a circle. + +"Look here, my good chap," said Teal, "in future you'll have to drop +that; d'you hear?" + +"Drop what?" + +"Why, doing more work than what's set." + +"But why shouldn't I?" said Hollis. "There's no harm in it; he didn't +give us any marks." + +"You young fool! don't you see that if you do more than what's set, +he'll think we can all do the same, and make the lessons longer." + +"Of course he will!" added several voices. + +"Just you mind what you're up to," continued Teal, "or you'll get what +you won't like." + +"Pass on there! What are you waiting for?" cried Mr. Rowlands, +appearing in the doorway of his classroom, and the gathering dispersed. + +The following morning, as fate would have it, nearly the same thing +happened again, only this time during the hour devoted to algebra. + +"Has any one had time to do any of the next set of examples?" asked Mr. +Rowlands. "If so, let him hold up his hand." + +Only two boys held up their hands--Hollis and Valentine. There were +murmurs of discontent at the back of the room, and several fists were +shaken ominously. + +Jack had not troubled to side with either party--it mattered very +little to him whether the lessons were long or short, as he only did as +much as he felt inclined--but, if anything, his sympathies lay with his +less industrious comrades, who, he considered, had very good ground for +feeling aggrieved with Hollis and his cousin. + +"Look here, Val," he said, when they met at the close of morning +school, "what d'you want to go and work so beastly hard for?" + +"I don't." + +"No, perhaps you don't, because you're clever; but you're always doing +more than you're obliged to, and the other chaps don't like it, because +they say it'll make Rowlands set longer pieces." + +"Oh, that's all rubbish! It's simply because they're waxy with us for +getting above them in class. I don't see why I should take my orders +from Rosher and Teal, and only do what they like; and I don't intend to +either." + +"All right, my boy," answered Jack, carelessly. "Do what you like, +only look out for squalls." + +The latter piece of advice was not at all unnecessary; for soon after +this, as the giver was strolling across the gravel playground, he heard +his name called, and looking round saw his cousin hurrying after him +with a scrap of paper in his hand. + +"Look," he said; "I found this in my desk just now, and there was one +just like it in Hollis's." + +Jack took the paper. It was an anonymous note, printed in capitals to +disguise the handwriting; and it ran as follows:-- + +"This is to give you fair warning, that if you will persist in doing +more work than what is set, you'll get a thrashing. The rest of the +class don't intend to get more work on your account, and so have +decided not to put up with your nonsense any longer." + +"It was Rosher or one of those chaps wrote it," said Jack. "You'd +better look out; any one of them could give you a licking." + +"They'd have to try first," answered Valentine, hotly. + +His cousin laughed; the reply rather tickled his fancy. + +Those concerned had not long to wait before matters came to a head. +That same afternoon Mr. Rowlands set a history lesson for the following +day. "Take the reign of Elizabeth," he said. "By-the-bye, there's a +genealogical tree at the end of the chapter; get that up if you can." + +The examination next morning was a written one, and the last question +on the board was, "Show, by means of a genealogical tree, the +connection between the Tudors and the Stuarts." + +"Please, sir," said Garston, "you told us we needn't do that." + +"I said you were to get it up if you had time," returned the master. +"Haven't any of you done it?" + +"Yes, sir," came from the front desk. + +"Very well; let those who have learned it write it down." + +"Val, my boy," said Jack, in his happy-go-lucky style, as they met in +the dormitory to change for football, "you just keep your eyes open; +you're going to get licked." + +Valentine replied with a snort of defiance, and the subject was +dropped. Tea was over, and in the short respite between the end of the +meal and the commencement of "prep.," Jack was strolling down one of +the passages, when his attention was attracted by a certain small boy +who stood beneath a gas-jet scanning the contents of a small book, and +occasionally scribbling something on a half-sheet of exercise-book +paper. Suddenly the youngster flung down the book in a rage, and +kicked it across the passage, whereupon Jack promptly cried, "No goal!" + +"Hallo, little Garston!" he continued, "what's up with you?" + +"Why, I've got to write out the translation of some of this Caesar for +old Thorpe, and I can't make head or tail of the blessed stuff. I say, +Fenleigh, you might do a bit for me!" + +Jack was a good-natured young vagabond. "Where is it?" he said, +picking up the book. "All right! here goes." + +Garston Minor slapped his piece of paper up against the wall, and wrote +at his friend's dictation. The translation was not very accurate, but +coming from the lips of a fellow in the Upper Fourth it was accepted +without question by the juvenile, and in ten minutes the rough copy of +the imposition was finished. + +"Thanks awfully!" said the youngster, as he stuffed the book and paper +back into his pocket. "Look here, Fenleigh; as you've done me a good +turn, I'll let you into a secret, only you must promise not to let my +brother know who told you. He and Teal and Rosher are going to give +your cousin a licking." + +"How d'you know?" + +"I heard them talking about it. They said, 'We'll lick Valentine +Fenleigh. If we touched Hollis, he'd sneak; but it'll frighten him if +we thrash the other chap.'" + +"When are they going to do it?" + +"Now--some time; they said soon after tea." + +"Where?" cried Jack. + +"I can't tell you; they didn't say. That's all I know." + +Jack exploded with wrath. He had talked calmly enough to Valentine +about his getting licked, and was inclined to think he deserved it; but +now that it had come to the point, he found that the idea of his cousin +being thrashed was not at all to his liking. Even at that very moment +the outrage might be taking place. The victim was not equal to any one +of his three assailants, and stood much less chance of escaping from +their combined attack. + +Fenleigh J. rushed off down the passage on a wild-goose chase after his +chum, but nowhere was the latter to be found. As a last resource, he +ran into the schoolroom. Valentine's seat was empty, but a boy sat +reading at the next desk but one. + +"Have you seen my cousin?" + +"Yes, he was here a minute ago." + +"Where's he gone?" + +"Bother you!--let's see--oh, I know; some one came in to say Darlton +wanted him in the little music-room." + +"Darlton never gives lessons after tea. Phew! I see what's up!" + +The boy looked up from his reading with a grunt of astonishment as his +questioner turned sharply on his heel and dashed out of the room. Jack +had his faults, but he was loyal-hearted enough to remember those who +had at any time proved themselves to be his friends, and not to leave +them in the lurch when an opportunity offered for rendering them some +assistance. He was a strong boy, but the back desk trio were also +good-sized fellows for their age. Had it, however, been the whole of +the Sixth Form who were licking Valentine, Jack in his present state of +mind would have charged in among them and attempted a rescue. + +"It's clear enough," he muttered to himself, as he turned off down a +short, narrow passage; "that message was a trap to catch him alone. +But wait a minute, and I'll surprise the beggars." + +He paused outside a door, and hearing voices within tried the handle. +It was locked. + +"Hallo! who's there? You can't come in." + +Jack was too wary to make any reply. He glanced round rapidly, +endeavouring to concoct some plan for gaining an entrance. Stooping +down, he discovered that the key was turned so that it remained exactly +in the centre of the keyhole, anything pushed against it would send it +out on the other side. "I believe that bathroom key fits this door," +he muttered, and tiptoed a little further along the passage. In +another moment he was back again, and thrusting the key suddenly into +the lock he turned it, and forced open the door. + +The room was a small chamber set apart for music practice, the only +furniture it contained being a piano, a chair, some fiddle-cases, and +music-stands, while on the mantelpiece, in the place of a clock, was a +metronome that had something wrong with the works. Jack, however, had +no eye for these details; his attention was centred in a group of boys +who were struggling under the single gas-jet, which was flaring away in +a manner which showed it had evidently been turned up in a hurry. + +"Here, leave that chap alone!" he exclaimed, plunging into the centre +of the scrimmage. "Let him alone, I say!" + +"Hallo! it's Fenleigh J.," cried Garston. "You've just come in time to +help us to teach this cousin of yours a lesson on the subject of not +overworking himself." + +"Leave him alone!" repeated Jack angrily, giving Rosher a push which +sent him staggering back into the fireplace, where he knocked over the +metronome, which fell with a crash on the fender. + +"Don't be a fool, Fenleigh," cried Teal. "We're going to teach this +chap a lesson. If you don't want to help, you can clear out." + +"I shall do nothing of the sort," returned the other. "You let him +alone." + +Both parties were too much in earnest to waste their breath in talking, +and the next moment Garston and Rosher sprang on the intruder and +endeavoured to force him out of the room. Valentine, being unable to +free himself from the muscular grasp of Teal, could render no +assistance; but his cousin, whose blood was fairly up, struggled +furiously with his two assailants. Round the room they went, like a +circular storm, wrecking everything they came in contact with; +music-stands went over with an appalling clatter, while the back of the +solitary chair gave way with a crash as the three combatants fell +against it. Suddenly a sharp voice sounded down the passage,-- + +"Now then, there! What's all that noise about?" + +Teal released his hold of Valentine, and springing to the gas-jet +turned out the light. + +"_Cave_!" he whispered: "it's old Thorpe!" + +It was impossible to continue the struggle in the darkness, and the +tumult ceased. + +"He's gone into Copland's classroom," continued Teal. "Quick! let's +hook it before he comes back!" + +A rush was made for the door. + +"All right, Fenleigh; don't you think you're going to be friends with +us any more." + +"I've no wish to be," answered Jack. "If you want to finish this out +any time, I shall be quite ready for you!" + +"It was jolly good of you to stick up for me like that," said +Valentine, as the two cousins hurried off towards the schoolroom. + +"I should have been a mean cad if I hadn't," returned the other, +laughing. "You don't think I've forgotten that affair of the magpie's +nest, do you? I don't care a straw for any of those fellows, and it +they want to fight, I'll take them on any day; but they'll have to lick +me first before they talk about thrashing you." + +In course of time the dispute between the two extremes of the Upper +Fourth died a natural death. Mr. Rowlands did not increase the length +of the "prep." lessons, and peace was restored. Garston and his two +companions, however, did not forgive Jack for his interference with +their plans. Regarding him, perhaps, as rather a hard nut to crack, +they made no attempt to renew the combat, but evidently decided to cut +him off from any future enjoyment of their society or friendship. + +Jack, on his part, did not seem to take this loss very much to heart; +it only induced him to become more chummy with Valentine, and, judging +from the comparatively few times that his name was down for punishment, +this change of associates seemed to be decidedly to his advantage. As +the autumn advanced, and wet days became more frequent, the two boys +took to doing fretwork in their spare time; and having purchased a +rather large and complicated design for a kind of bracket bookcase, +they conceived the happy notion of making it as a Christmas present for +Queen Mab, and so worked away together, taking an immense amount of +interest in their task. + +Before the term ended a rather curious incident happened, insignificant +in itself, but worthy of being recorded as bearing on more important +events to be dwelt on at a later period in our story. + +It wanted about three weeks to the holidays, and Jack and Valentine +were returning from the ironmonger's, where they had been purchasing +some sandpaper wherewith to put the finishing touches to their work. + +"I wish it was midsummer instead of Christmas," the former was saying. +"I don't want to go home. I'd much rather go to stay with Aunt Mab at +Brenlands." + +Valentine was about to reply, when both boys were surprised by a +shabby-looking man suddenly crossing from the other side of the street +and taking up his stand directly in their path. The stranger wore a +battered brown hat, no necktie, and a suit of clothes which he might +have stolen from some scarecrow. + +"'Afternoon, young gents!" he said. + +"Good afternoon," answered Jack shortly, stepping out into the road. + +The stranger turned and walked at their side. + +"You may not remember me, gents, but I'm Ned Hanks." + +"I don't care who you are," answered Valentine; "I don't know you." + +"Oh, but I know you, sir; it's Mr. Fenleigh I'm a-talking to. I +thought, perhaps, you might like to stand me a drink." + +"I say, just be off," cried Jack sharply, "here's old Westford coming." + +The man fell back, and a moment later the two boys raised their caps to +the headmaster. Mr. Westford acknowledged their salutation with a cold +stare, which clearly showed that he had seen their late companion, and +was wondering what business two of his pupils had to be talking with +such a vagabond. + +"I wonder who that fellow was!" said Jack. + +"Oh, some tramp. I never saw him before." + +"But he knew your name." + +"Well, these beggars are up to all kinds of dodges," answered +Valentine. "If we'd waited long enough, I daresay he'd have told me +the names of all the family!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A BANQUET AT "DUSTER'S." + +"It must have been the fault of the black goblin who lived in the +snuff-box."--_The Brave Tin Soldier_. + + +At Easter, Jack and Valentine got their remove into the Fifth, and +there became acquainted with a young gentleman who rejoiced in the name +of Tinkleby. + +Tinkleby was a comical-looking fellow of medium height; he wore +nippers, and had a perpetual smirk on his lips. + +"Hallo, you two Fenleighs!" he said, coming up to them on the second +morning of the term; "I suppose you'll join our society." + +"What society?" asked Jack. + +"The Fifth Form Literary Society." + +"What's it for?" asked Valentine. "We're neither of us very literary." + +"Well, to tell you the truth, the society isn't either. It's kept up +for the sake of having a feed at the end of every summer term." + +"What?" cried Jack, laughing. + +"If you'll listen a moment," said Tinkleby glibly, "I'll explain the +whole matter in two words. + +"The fellows in the Fifth used to run a manuscript magazine. Aston was +the first editor, and he called it the 'Portfolio,' because it was +bound up in the case of an old blotter that he bagged out of the +reading-room. The chaps who contributed papers called themselves the +Fifth Form Literary Society, and elected a secretary, treasurer, and +president. Aston was so pleased with one of the numbers that he sent +it to _The Melchester Herald_ to be reviewed; but after waiting about +six months for a notice to appear, he went down to the office, and the +editor said that the manuscript was lost, and that Aston ought to have +enclosed stamps if he wanted it returned. Godson, one of the prefects, +said he saw a bit at Snell's the fish-shop, where they were using it to +wrap up screws of shrimps; but that was all rot, and he only said it +because the fellows in the Sixth were jealous. Well, then, it was +suggested that the magazine should be printed, and the members +subscribed towards bringing out the first number; but after they'd +raked in all the money they could get, they found there wasn't enough +for the purpose, so they decided to spend what they'd got in having a +feed at 'Duster's,' and it was agreed it should be an annual affair. + +"When I was made president I brought out two numbers of the +'Portfolio,' but in the second I wrote rather a smart thing on old +Ward, and called it 'The Career of a Class Master.' It was really so +good I thought he'd enjoy reading it, and so I got another fellow to +show it him; but he didn't properly appreciate it, and cut up rough. +He said he would overlook the personal allusions, but he really +couldn't allow any fellow in his form to be so backward in spelling, +and therefore I must borrow a spelling-book from one of the kids, and +learn two pages a day until I improved. He used to hear me before we +began first lessons. It was rather rough on the president of a +literary society, making him stand up every morning and reel off two +pages of 'Butter's Spelling-Book.' And that squashed the 'Portfolio;' +fellows wouldn't send in any more papers, for fear they should be +hauled up in the same manner. + +"But they went on subscribing for the feed," continued Tinkleby, +brightening up. "We didn't let that fall through. It comes off on the +breaking-up day, after the old boys' match. The Sixth are always +invited in to have supper with the swells; but I know a lot or them +would much rather be with us having a blow-out at 'Duster's.' Well, +that's the meaning of our literary society; the subscription is only +two-pence a week, so you'd better join." + +The two cousins promised they would do so. Every Monday morning, in +the classroom, Tinkleby passed round an old missionary box, crying, +"Now then! pay up, you beggars. No broken glass or brace buttons!" It +was always a race to get the collection over by the time Mr. Ward +entered the room; but the sprightly Tinkleby, who seemed to have +undertaken the combined duties of president, secretary, and treasurer, +hurried through it somehow; and each week the box grew heavier, and the +hearts of the contributors lighter as they looked forward to the time +when they should sit down to the long-expected banquet. + +The term passed very pleasantly for Jack and Valentine; and what +between cricket, bathing, and the prospect of spending the coming +holiday at Brenlands, they had good reason for feeling contented and +happy. Only one thing happened to disturb their peace of mind, and +that an incident of rather a curious nature. + +They were strolling back to the school one afternoon, and had got +within twenty yards of the main entrance, when some one hurrying along +behind them touched Jack on the shoulder, and looking round they found +themselves once more confronted by the same shabby-looking man who had +accosted them on a previous occasion. + +"Beg pardon, Mr. Fenleigh," he began. "I'm Ned Hanks; you'll remember, +sir. Maybe you've got a copper or two you can spare a poor fellow +who's out of work." + +"I've got no money to give away to beggars," said Jack; "and I tell you +once more we don't know you." + +"That's rather ungrateful, I calls it," answered the man. "I did you +two gents a good turn last year, and got precious little for it. I +might have made more out of the other party." + +By this time they had reached the school-gates. + +"Look here," broke in Valentine, "don't you bother us any more, or +we'll put a policeman on your track. I don't understand a word of what +you've been saying, and--" + +"Stop, stop, Fenleigh!" interrupted a deep voice. "What's the meaning +of this, pray?" + +The two boys looked up and found they were standing in the presence of +the headmaster. + +"What's the meaning of this?" he repeated. "Who is this man you're +talking to?" + +There was a moment's silence, during which the seedy stranger slunk +away, and disappeared round the corner. + +"I ask who is this man you are speaking to?" + +"I don't know, sir," answered Valentine. + +"Nonsense!" retorted Mr. Westford sharply. "I saw you two boys holding +a conversation with him once before. You must know who he is; answer +my question immediately." + +"He told us his name was Hanks," said Jack; "but we don't know him. He +came up and spoke to us of his own accord." + +"And, pray, what did he want to speak to you about?" + +"I don't know, sir," answered Valentine--"that is--he wanted to beg +some money." + +"I don't understand your answer, Fenleigh," replied Mr. Westford. "I +fear you are not telling me the truth--or, at all events, you are +trying to keep something back which ought to come to my knowledge. +There must be some reason for my having twice found you in conversation +with that disreputable-looking fellow. Both of you will not go outside +the school premises for a fortnight without special permission." + +Jack stormed and raved, and threatened what he would do if they should +encounter the tramp again; but of the two, Valentine felt the +punishment far more acutely than his cousin. He was not accustomed to +rows; and for a boy with his naturally high sense of honour, the mere +thought that the headmaster suspected him of telling a falsehood was +ten times worse than the fact of being "gated." + +The term ran on, and at length the last day arrived; a day of perfect +happiness, with no more work, and a letter by the first post from Queen +Mab, saying that the pony-carriage would meet the train as usual at +Hornalby station. The prize-giving, with the Mayor of Melchester in +the chair, and Augustus Powler, Esq., M.P., and other grandees, upon +the platform, was a very serious and formal business; the Past and +Present match, in which Preston, the coming man in bowling, took seven +wickets, and dear old Clayton, a bygone captain, lifted a ball over the +roof of the pavilion, was certainly more interesting; but, at all +events, in the opinion of all those concerned, the chief event of the +day was the annual supper of the Fifth Form Literary Society. + +"Come along," cried Tinkleby, as the cheers which greeted a win for the +Present were gradually dying away--"come along. I told Duster to have +the grub ready at half-past five sharp, and it's a quarter to six." + +"Shan't we get into a row for cutting tea?" asked Jack. + +"No fear," answered the other. "Old Ward knows where we're going; and +it's all right as long as we get back before lock-up." + +The confectioner's shop patronized by the Melchester boys was situated +in a quiet street some five minutes' walk from the school-gates. Why +the proprietor's name should have been changed from Downing to "Duster" +it would be difficult to say; but as long as his customers came +furnished with ready money and good appetites, the probability is that +the former would have been quite content to serve them under any +nickname which they chose to invent. + +At the back of "Duster's" establishment was a little square parlour, +where boys repaired to eat ices and drink alarming quantities of +Duster's famous home-made ginger-beer--a high explosive, which always +sent the cork out with a bang, and to drink two bottles of which +straight off would have been a risky business for any boy to attempt +without first testing the staying power of his waistcoat-buttons, and +putting several bags of sand in his jacket-pockets. In this parlour it +was that the literary society assembled for their banquet; as many as +could find room squeezing themselves on to the two short forms on +either side of the table, and the remainder camping out wherever they +could find room on the chairs, window-ledge, and a small sofa. At the +close of a summer day the place was decidedly hot and stuffy, and the +first thing everybody did was to pull off their coats and blazers and +appear in their shirt-sleeves. + +Tinkleby, as president, took the post of honour at the head of the +table, and hammering the festive board with his fist, called on +"Duster" to "bring in the grub and something to drink." To describe +the banquet itself would need an abler pen than mine. The sausages +were browned to perfection, the ices were pinker than a maiden's cheek, +and the ginger-beer was stronger and more filling at the price than it +had ever been before, and made those who drank it gasp for breath and +feel as though they had swallowed a cyclone. James, surnamed "Guzzling +Jimmy," distinguished himself by finishing up with ices, and then +beginning all over again with cold ham and pickles; but at length, when +even he had finished, there was a general hammering of the table, and a +call for "speeches." + +"Well, fire away," said the president. "Who's going to start?" + +"I will," cried a boy named Dorris. "Gentlemen, I beg to propose a +toast--success to the Fifth Form Literary Society, and with it I couple +the name of our worthy president, Mr. Tinkleby; may he live long and be +happy!" + +This sentiment, though not very original, was received with great +enthusiasm, the company showing their approval of it by administering +to themselves fresh doses of "Duster's" liquid explosive. + +The president, rising slowly to his feet, sticking his thumbs in the +armholes of his waistcoat, and expanding that portion of his body which +contained his supper, in imitation of the movements of Augustus Powler, +Esq., M.P., cleared his throat, and began in pompous tones: "Mr. Mayor, +ladies and gentlemen, I cannot well express to you the delight with +which I stand here to fulfil the pleasing duties which you have so +kindly called upon me to perform. When I look round on the bright, +young faces before me--" + +The speaker paused to dodge a shower of crusts, corks, and other +missiles; the owners of the "bright, young faces" evidently resented +this personal allusion. + +"Shut up, Tinky!" cried several voices. "Talk sense, can't you?" + +The president smiled, and readjusted his nippers. + +"I was about to remark," he continued in his natural tone, and with his +accustomed fluency of speech, "I was about to remark that I thank you +very much for having drunk my health. You were good enough to couple +my name with that of our society. Gentlemen, I am convinced that the +Fifth Form Literary Society has a great future before it. (Laughter.) +I look forward to the time when we shall not grub here at 'Duster's,' +but dine together in premises of our own. Our friend Mr. James has a +nice little plot of ground in a soap-box, where he now grows +mustard-and-cress, but which I have no doubt he would let to us on +reasonable terms for building purposes. But, perhaps, I am looking a +little too far ahead. As regards our immediate future, I intend making +a determined effort to publish another number of the 'Portfolio.' +(Cheers.) Mr. Ward has intimated his willingness to contribute a large +number of Latin lines written by members of his class; while Mr. Sam +Jones, the boot-cleaner, has offered to place his talented brush at our +disposal, and produce a grand New-Year's Illustrated Supplement, +entitled, 'Christmas in the Coal-Hole.' Gentlemen, I fear I am +trespassing on your time and good nature. Mr. James, I see, is anxious +to drink another toast. Once more I thank you for having drunk my +health, and would now call upon you to drink that of Mr. Preston, who +distinguished himself this afternoon by taking no less than seven of +the old boys' wickets." + +Great applause greeted the finish of the president's speech, and +Preston's health was drunk amid a scene of the wildest enthusiasm. +Cries of "On your pins, Preston!"--"Well bowled, +sir!"--"Order!"--"Speak up!" etc., rent the air; while the pounding of +fists and drumming of feet were continued until a game leg of one of +the forms suddenly gave way, causing a temporary disappearance of half +the company beneath the table. + +Preston might have been able to howl, but he certainly could not talk, +and it was hard for him to follow such a glib speaker as the president. +However, the fact remained that he had distinguished himself, and +brought honour to the Fifth Form in general by taking seven wickets; +and for this reason his comrades would have been content had he merely +stood up and reeled off the list of prepositions which govern the +accusative, or quoted selections from the multiplication table. As it +was, they awarded him a cordial reception, and filled up the pauses in +his disjointed utterances with tumultuous applause. + +"I'm much obliged to you fellows for drinking my health," began the +bowler. "It's jolly good of you, and--all that sort of thing. +(Cheers.) I did manage to bag seven wickets." (Renewed applause, +interrupted by a warning shout of "Look out! this form's going again!") +"I was going to say," continued the speaker, attempting to hide his +embarrassment by pretending to drink out of an empty glass, "that it +was rather a fluke--" (Shouts of "No! no!" "More pop for the +gentleman!" and fresh outbursts of cheering.) "Well, I did the best I +could, and--well--glad you're pleased, and all that sort of thing. +(Alarums and excursions.) I suppose I ought to say something about +this society, but, as regards that matter, the former speaker has +rather taken the sails out of my wind. (Cheers and laughter.) No, I +should say the _whales_ out of my-- (Yells of laughter.) Any way," +concluded Preston, shouting to be heard above the general uproar, "I'm +much obliged to you, and--all that sort of thing--" + +It was not until several ginger-beer bottles had rolled off the table, +and the rickety form had once more gone down with every soul on board, +that a sufficient amount of order was restored to enable the president +to call on somebody for a song. + +"Sing yourself, Tinkleby," was the answer. "Give us 'Little Brown +Jug.'" + +The president complied with the request. Mead, a musical companion, +ground out an unearthly accompaniment on "Duster's" little, +broken-winded harmonium; and the company shrieked the chorus, +regardless of time, tune, or anything but the earnest desire of each +individual to make more noise than any one else. + +When this deafening uproar had at length subsided, everybody was forced +to remain quiet for a few moments to regain their breath. "Now, then," +said Tinkleby, "who's next? What's that? All right. Bos. Jones says +he will give us a recitation." + +The announcement was received with a groan. Mr. Boswell-Jones was +rather a pompous young gentleman, who expended most of his energies +trying to live up to his double surname, and in consequence was not +very popular with his schoolfellows. He rather fancied himself as an +elocutionist; and though he might have seen "rocks ahead" in the manner +in which the audience received the president's announcement, +Boswell-Jones had sufficient confidence in his own powers to be blind +to any lack of appreciation on the part of other people. He stood up +and adjusted his necktie, cleared his throat, and began,-- + + "I remembah, I remembah, + The house where I was bawn, + + +("Euh! re--ah--lly!" murmured the listeners.) + + + The leetle window where the sun + Came peeping in at mawn." + + +"Whose little son?" interrupted Dorris. + +"Shut up!" cried the president. + +"Well, I only wanted to know," said Dorris in an injured tone. "I +should call it jolly good cheek of anybody's son to come peeping in +through my bedroom window--" + +"Shut _up_!" exclaimed Tinkleby. "Go on, Bos." + + "He never came a wink too soon, + Nor brought too long a day; + But now"-- + +continued the reciter with a great amount of pathos, + + --"I often wish the night + Had bawn my breath away!" + + +"So do I," mumbled Paterson. "Let's have another song." + + + "I remembah, I remembah, + The roses, red and white--" + + +"Go on, Bossy," ejaculated the irrepressible Dorris; "you don't +remember it at all, you're simply making it up as you go along." + +A general disturbance followed this last interruption--the audience +laughed, the president vainly endeavoured to restore order, and +Boswell-Jones sat down in a rage, and refused to continue his oration. + +"A song, a song!" cried several voices. "Jack Fenleigh, you know +something; come on, let's have it." + +Jack had a good voice, and with Mead extracting fearful groans and +growls out of the harmonium, he started off on the first verse of "The +Mermaid," a song which he was destined in after years to sing under +strangely different circumstances:-- + + "Oh, 'twas in the broad Atlantic, 'mid the equinoctial gales, + That a gay young tar fell overboard, among the sharks and whales; + And down he went like a streak of light, so quickly down went he, + Until he came to a mermaid at the bottom of the deep blue sea." + + +Then the audience took up the chorus, and yelled,-- + + "Rule, Britannia! Bri--tann--ia rules the waves! + And Bri--tons never, never, ne--ver shall be + Mar--ri--ed to a mer--mai--ed + At the bottom of the deep blue sea!" + + +The song was received with great enthusiasm, and the performers might +have been kept repeating the last chorus until break of day on the +following morning, it Tinkleby had not suddenly jumped up, crying, "I +say, you chaps, it's five-and-twenty past seven. We shall be late for +lock-up." + +Every one sprang to his feet. Dorris was the first to reach the door, +and being of a playful disposition caught up a bundle of coats and +blazers and bolted with them under his arm. A moment later certain of +the peaceful citizens of Melchester were astonished at the sight of a +dozen or more young gentlemen tearing madly down the street in their +shirt-sleeves. And so ended the third annual supper of the Fifth Form +Literary Society. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +"GUARD TURN OUT!" + +"He felt for them as he had never felt for any other bird in the world. +He was not envious ... but wished to be as lovely as they."--_The Ugly +Duckling_. + + +"It is jolly to be here at Brenlands again," said Jack, as he sat +dangling his legs from the kitchen table, and munching one of the sweet +pods of the peas which his aunt was shelling. "I've been looking +forward to it ever since last summer." + +"Yes, and a pretty fuss I had to get you to accept my first +invitation," answered Queen Mab; "I thought you were never going to +condescend to favour us with your company. However, I've got you all +here again, and it _is_ jolly; and what's more, you managed to turn up +at the proper time yesterday instead of coming half a day late, as you +did last year, you rascal!" + +The boy laughed. "Oh, well! you may put that down to Val," he +answered. "He's quite taken me in hand lately, and has been in an +awful funk for fear I should get into another row just before the +holidays. You know those penny toys you get with a little thing like a +pair of bellows under them that squeaks--well, I got a bird the other +day and pulled off the stand, and stuck it in my shoe so that I could +make a noise with it when I walked. Whenever I moved about in class, +old Ward used to beseech me with tears in his eyes to wear another pair +of boots. I used to come squeaking into assemblies a bit late on +purpose, and send all the fellows into fits. It was a fearful joke; +but poor old Val got quite huffy about it, and kept saying I should be +found out, and that there was no sense in my 'monkey tricks,' as he +called them." + +"So they are," answered Queen Mab, smiling in spite of herself. "I +should have thought you were old enough to find some more sensible +amusement than putting pieces of penny toys in your boots. You may +laugh at Valentine if you like, but I can tell you this, he's very fond +of you, and that's the reason why he doesn't like to see you in +trouble." + +"I know he is," returned the boy briskly. "He's a brick; and I like +him better than any other chap in the school." + +Queen Mab went on shelling her peas, and Jack remained perched on the +end of the table, quite content to continue watching her nimble fingers +and sweet, restful face. It certainly was jolly to be back again at +Brenlands. He was no longer the ugly duckling; Helen and Barbara were +like sisters, and he got on with them swimmingly; all kinds of splendid +projects were on the carpet, and there were plenty of long summer days +to look forward to in which to carry them out. To be a careless dog of +a schoolboy, ready for anything in the way of larks and excitement, and +paying precious little attention to one's books or conduct record, +might be a fascinating sort of existence; yet somehow it was not +altogether unpleasant, once in a way, to become for a time a member of +a more civilized and refined society, where gentler treatment +encouraged gentler manners, where hearts were thought of as well as +heads, where there was no black list, and where no one would have made +a boast of being on it, had such a thing existed. + +This year the mimic war operations were of a more advanced kind than +had ever been attempted before. A fortress built of clay and pebbles +was mined and blown up; and there still being some powder left, Jack +successfully performed the feat of blowing himself up, and in doing so +sustained the loss of an eyebrow. In order that this catastrophe +should not alarm Queen Mab, the missing hair was replaced by burnt +cork; but Jack, forgetting what had happened, sponged his face and +rushed down to tea, where Barbara, after regarding him for a few +moments in silence, leaned across the table and remarked, with a wise +shake of her head, "Yes, I see--you've been shaving." + +But what proved a source of endless delight to the two boys was an old, +military bell-tent which Queen Mab had bought for their special use and +amusement. They pitched it on a corner of the lawn, and were always +repairing thither to read, and talk, and hold councils of war. It was +delightful to speculate as to what doughty warriors might have been +sheltered beneath it; and to imagine that sundry small rents and +patches must be the result of the enemy's fire, and not due to the wear +and tear of ordinary encampments. + +Not satisfied with living in it by day, they determined to pass a night +there also, and would not rest content until their aunt had given them +permission to try the experiment. + +"All we want," said Valentine, "is a mackintosh to spread on the +ground, and a few rugs and sofa cushions, and a candle and a box of +matches." + +"Very well, you can have plenty of those," answered Queen Mab; "perhaps +some day you won't be so well off, Valentine." + +She spoke lightly enough, and with no foreshadowing of a visionary +picture, often to haunt her mind in the days to come, of men lying +silently under a clear, starlit sky, with belts on, rifles by their +sides, and bayonets ready fixed. + +The two boys prepared to put their project into immediate execution; +and in connection with this their first but by no means last experience +of a night under canvas, they were destined to fall in with a little +adventure which must be recorded. + +Shortly before the commencement of the holidays a lot of strawberries +had been stolen from the garden, and Queen Mab feared lest a similar +fate should overtake a fine show of pears which were just getting ripe. + +"Well, good-night," she said, as she prepared to close the door on the +two adventurers; "if you're cold, and want to come in, throw some +pebbles up at my window." + +"Oh, we shan't want to come in," answered Jack stoutly. "If you hear +any one coming to steal the fruit, you shout, 'Guard turn out!' and +we'll nab 'em." + +The boys settled down like old campaigners. "Awful joke, isn't it?" +said Jack. + +"Yes, prime!" answered Valentine; "soldiering must be jolly." + +Half an hour passed. + +"I say," murmured Valentine, "this ground seems precious hard!" + +"Yes," answered his companion. "I've tried lying on it every way, and +I believe my bones are coming through my skin." + +A long pause, and then, "I say, don't you think it's nearly morning?" + +"Oh, no! the church clock has only just struck one." + +The darkness seemed to lengthen out into that of a polar winter instead +of a single night. At length the canvas walls began to grow grey with +dawn, and Jack awoke with a shiver, wondering whether he had really +been asleep or not. + +"It's beastly cold," he muttered. + +"Yes," answered Valentine. "I thought it was never going to get light. +Look here, I'm determined I _will_ sleep! What's the good of my being +a soldier if I can't sleep in a tent?" + +He turned over on his face, and had just dropped off into a doze, when +he was awakened by Jack, who had reached over and was shaking his arm. + +"I say--Val--who was that?" + +"Who's what?" was the drowsy answer. + +"Why! didn't you hear? Some one just walked down the path. It can't +be Jakes; it isn't five o'clock." + +Valentine rubbed his eyes, thought for a moment, and then suddenly sat +up broad awake. + +"The pears!" he whispered. + +Both boys sprang up, unlaced the door of the tent, and sallied forth in +the direction of the fruit garden. + +"Don't make a row; walk on the grass border. Hist! there he is!" + +There he was, sure enough; a boy about their own age, calmly picking +pears and dropping them into a basket. Jack and Valentine slowly crept +down by the side of the raspberry bushes, like Indians on a war-trail. + +"Now then!" murmured the former, "charge!" + +The thief jumped as if a gun had been fired off behind him, and started +to run, but before he could reach the path he was fairly collared. He +struggled violently, and then commenced to kick, whereupon his arm was +suddenly twisted behind his back, a style of putting on the curb-rein +with which fractious small boys will be well acquainted. + +"Woa! steady now, 'oss!" said Jack facetiously. "Keep your feet quiet, +or I shall put the screw on a bit tighter. Now then, what shall we do +with him?" + +"Put him into the tool shed," answered Valentine. + +The culprit, finding himself fairly mastered, became more docile. His +captors, however, turned a deaf ear to his pleadings to be let go; and +thrusting him into the little outhouse, turned the key in the lock, and +then began to wonder what they should do next. + +"Well," said Jack, "we've got a prisoner of war now, and no mistake. +What shall we do with the beggar? go for a policeman?" + +"No, we don't want to get the chap sent to prison." + +"If we tell Aunt Mab she'll let him go, and he ought to be punished." + +"Of course he does--young villain! It's like his cheek coming here and +bagging all the fruit." + +"I have it!" said Jack, suddenly struck with a bright idea. "We'll +lick him!" + +Valentine hesitated. "I don't like setting on a chap two against one," +he answered. "I don't mind a stand-up fight." + +"Well, that's what I mean," answered Jack joyously. "Look here!" he +continued, hammering on the door of the shed--"look here, you inside +there! I'm going to punch your head for stealing those pears. If you +like to come out I'll fight you, and then you can go; if not, you can +stay where you are. Will you come?" + +"Yes," answered the prisoner sullenly. + +Twenty years ago a fight was not quite such a rare occurrence at +Melchester School as it would be to-day. Jack threw off his coat with +alacrity. + +"Now, Val, you watch; and if the beggar tries to bolt, you leg him +down." + +With a dogged look the stranger took up his ground, and on the signal +being given for the commencement of hostilities, lowered his head, and +made a wild rush at his antagonist. The latter stepped aside, and +greeted him with a smart cuff on the side of the head. Once more the +visitor came on like a runaway windmill, but this time Jack walked +backward and refused the encounter. + +"Oh, look here," he cried, in an injured tone, "can't you do any better +than that? Can't you stand up and hit straight? Don't you know how to +box?" + +"No." + +"Well, what's the good of saying you'll come out and fight? What's +your name?" + +"Joe Crouch." + +"Well then, Joseph, you'd better take your hook. There's your old +basket, only just leave those pears behind; and don't come here again, +or we'll set the bobby on your track." + +Crouch marched off, evidently astonished at finding himself at liberty +to depart. When he reached the gate, he turned, and touched his cap. +"Morning, gen'lemen," he said, and so disappeared. Valentine laughed, +and regarded his cousin with a queer look in his face. + +"You are a rum fellow, Jack; you're always wanting to fight somebody. +When you get two fellows against you like Garston and Rosher, you go at +it like a tiger; and then another time, just because you get hold of a +chap who can't knock you down, you back out and make peace." + +"Well," answered the other, "there's no sport in licking a chap like +that. I'll tell you what, I'm frightfully hungry." + +The two adventurers had plenty to tell at breakfast that morning, and +the interest in their capture lasted throughout the day. In the +evening the young folks went out a favourite walk through the lanes and +fields. Valentine and Barbara were running races on the way home; but +Jack lingered behind with Helen, who was gathering ferns. + +"Let me carry your basket," he said. + +"Oh, don't you trouble; you'd rather run on with Val and Barbara." + +"I expect you don't want me. I know you think I've got no manners, and +in that you're about right." + +"No, I don't think anything of the kind," said Helen, laughing. "I +shall be very glad if you will carry the basket, because I want to talk +to you." + +"Now for a lecture," said Jack to himself.--"All right, fire away!" + +"Well," began the girl, looking round at him with a twinkle in her eye, +"I want to know why you didn't set Val on to fight that boy this +morning, instead of offering to do it yourself." + +"Oh, I don't know! It was my own idea; besides, I'm bigger and +stronger." + +"You mean you did it so that Val shouldn't get hurt, in the same way +that you grappled with those three fellows who were ill-treating him at +school." + +"Pooh! he didn't tell you that, did he? He always lets you know all +the bothers I get into. You'll think I do nothing but fight and kick +up rows; and," added the speaker, with a pathetic look of injured +innocence, "I've been behaving jolly well lately." + +"I think you're a dear, good fellow for defending Val," said Helen +warmly, "and I've been wanting to thank you ever since." + +"It was nothing. 'Twasn't half as much as he did for me when he +climbed that tree and freed my bootlace. I wish he wouldn't go telling +you everything that happens at school." + +"You were saying a day or so ago," said the girl, slyly, "that you +didn't care for anybody, or for what people thought of you." + +"Yes, I do," answered the ugly duckling; "I care a lot what you folks +think of me at Brenlands." + +"Why?" + +"Why, because you're all better than I am, and yet you never try to +make me feel it; but I do all the same. And I love you three and Queen +Mab; and I love the place; and I should like to live here always. But +outside of that," he added quickly, "I don't care a button for +anything." + +"I wish you wouldn't talk like that." + +"But it's a fact." + +"You mean," she answered gently, "that you've said it so often that at +last you're beginning to believe it's true." + +A few mornings later, when the boys came down to breakfast, they were +surprised, on looking out of the window, to see no less a personage +than Joe Crouch weeding the garden path. + +"I found he was out of work, and his parents wretchedly poor," said +Queen Mab; "so I said he might come and help Jakes by doing a few odd +jobs. You know the old maxim," she added, smiling--"the beet way to +subdue an enemy is to turn him into a friend." + +The two boys took considerable interest in Crouch, regarding him as +their own particular protégé. Joe, for his part, seemed to remember +their early morning encounter with gratitude, as having been the means +of landing him in his present situation. He had apparently a great +amount of respect for Jack, and seeing the latter cutting sticks with a +blunt knife, asked leave to take it home with him, and brought it back +next day with the blades shining like silver, and as sharp as razors. + +One afternoon, when the boys were lying reading in the tent, Barbara +suddenly appeared in the open doorway, and stamping her foot, cried, +"_Bother_!" + +"What's up with you, Bar?" + +"Why, that wretched Raymond Fosberton is in the house talking to Aunt +Mab. He's walked over from Grenford; and he is going to stay the +night." + +Valentine groaned, and Jack administered a kick to an unoffending +camp-stool. + +"What does he want to come here for, I wonder?" continued Barbara. +"Silly monkey! you should just see him in his white waistcoat and shiny +boots--faugh!" And she choked with wrath. + +Raymond's presence certainly did not contribute very much to the +happiness of the party. He monopolized the conversation at tea-time, +was very high and mighty in his manner, and patronized everybody in +turn. He lost his temper playing croquet, and broke one of the +mallets; and later on in the evening he cheated at "word-making," and +because he failed to win, pronounced it a "stupid game, only fit for +kids." + +In Barbara, however, he found his match. She cared not two straws for +all the Fosbertons alive or dead; and when the visitor, who had been +teasing her for some time, went so far as to pull her hair, she +promptly dealt him a vigorous box on the ear, a proceeding which so +delighted the warlike Jack that he chuckled till bed-time. + +Every one felt relieved when it came to tea-time on the following day. +Raymond had announced his intention of walking home in the cool of the +evening, and Queen Mab proposed that his cousins should accompany him +part of the way. + +They had walked about a mile, Jack and Helen being a little in advance +of the others, when the girl caught hold of her cousin's arm. + +"Oh, look!" she said, "there's a man coming who's drunk." + +"Never mind," answered Jack stoutly; "he won't interfere with us." + +The man, who had reeled into the hedge, suddenly staggered back into +the middle of the road, and stood there barring the way. + +"'Ello! Misser Fenleigh," he began, "'ow're you to-night, sir?" + +Jack stared at the speaker in astonishment, and then recognized him as +the same man who had spoken to them in Melchester. + +"Look here!" he said hotly. "I've told you twice I don't know you. +You just stand clear and let us pass." + +By this time the remainder of the party had come up. + +"Why, 'ere's Misser Fosbe'ton," continued the man, with a tipsy leer. +"Now I jus' ask you, sir, if these two gen'lemen don't owe me some +money for a drink." + +Raymond's face flushed crimson, and then turned white. + +"You've had too much already, Hanks," he said sharply; "just shut up, +and stand out of the road." + +"Oh, no offence!" muttered the man, staggering aside to let the cousins +pass; "'nother time'll do jus' the same." + +"Look here, Raymond, who is that fellow?" asked Valentine, as soon as +they had got out of earshot of the stranger, "Twice he's come up to us +in the street at Melchester, saying he knows us, and wanting money; and +the last time, old Westford saw us talking to him, and we got into a +beastly row, and were gated for a fortnight. Who is he?" + +"Oh, he's a lazy blackguard called Ned Hanks; he's always poaching and +getting drunk. He never does any work, except now and then he collects +rags and bones, and sells them in Melchester." + +"How does he know you?" + +"He lives close to Grenford, and every one knows me there." + +"But how does he know _us_?" + +"I can't say. Haven't you ever seen him at Brenlands?" + +"No, never." + +"Well, I suppose he must have found out your name somehow; and he's +always cadging for money for a drink. Don't you trouble to come any +further. By-the-bye, next year I'm going to set up in diggings at +Melchester. I shall be articled to a solicitor there; and if you +fellows are still at the school, we might go out together." + +"Confound that man!" said Jack, on the following morning; "I should +like to find out who he is, and why he always speaks to us. I wonder +if Crouch knows anything about him." + +Joe Crouch was questioned, and admitted that he knew the man Hanks well +by sight, and had sometimes spoken to him. + +Jack explained the reason of his inquiry. "The fellow's got us into +one row already. Why should he always be bothering us for money?" + +Joe Crouch stood thoughtfully scratching his head for a moment with the +point of the grass clippers. + +"I dunno, sir," he answered; "but maybe I might find out." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +"STORMS IN A TEA-CUP." + +"'Are you not in a warm room, and in society from which you may learn +something? But you are a chatterer, and your company is not very +agreeable.'"--_The Ugly Duckling_. + + +At the commencement of the winter term, in addition to being in the +same class and dormitory, the two cousins were thrown still more +together by occupying adjoining desks in the big schoolroom. + +"Now I shall be able to keep an eye on you," said Valentine, "and see +that you do some work." + +"Shall you?" + +"Yes; Helen gave me special instructions that I was to make you behave +yourself. This is my last year; and the guv'nor says if I do well I +shall go on then to an army coach to work up for Sandhurst." + +"Well, I suppose I must behave myself, if it's Helen's orders," said +Jack, laughing. "I wish I knew what I was going to do when I leave +this place. I only wish I was going into the army like you. Some fine +day I think I shall enlist." + +"Oh, no, you wouldn't. What d'you think Queen Mab would say when she +heard about it?" + +"But she wouldn't hear about it," returned the other, with a touch of +his restless discontent. "No one would hear about it. I should call +myself Jones, or something of that sort. It would be a happier life +than that I live at home; and what the guv'nor thinks he's going to do +with me, I'm sure I don't know." + +Valentine certainly did his best to follow out his sister's +instructions, and keep Master Jack out of hot water. The latter seemed +to have become a trifle more tractable; perhaps, finding other people +were interested in him, he was led to take more interest in himself. +At all events, his conduct underwent a considerable change for the +better, and his name no longer appeared on every page of the +defaulters' book. + +Football was now on, a sport which he specially enjoyed. In addition +to this, Garston and Teal had left, and Rosher, who had now joined the +Fifth, seemed to be increasing in wisdom as well as in stature, and no +longer sought the bubble reputation in official visits to the +headmaster's study. In short, Jack had improved with his surroundings. +He and Valentine, in addition to their fretwork, had taken up +carpentry; and on wet afternoons, when idle hands were steeped in +mischief, they were always to be found in the shed which had been set +apart for the boys to use as a sort of workshop. As far as the Fifth +Form was concerned, only one incident happened to relieve the monotony +of a somewhat uneventful term; and as one of our heroes was largely +responsible for what took place, an account of the episode may as well +be included in our story. + +Jack, it should be said, was not to blame for what happened in the +first place, his and Preston's share in the business was, as it were, +only the effect arising from a primary cause; and for this, the real +root of the matter, Tinkleby was solely responsible. + +"Look here," said Tinkleby, "those fellows in the Sixth are running +that debating show of theirs, and they get let off 'prep.' every +Saturday night; wherefore I vote we join." + +"They wouldn't have us," answered Dorris; "they won't allow any one to +join if they are lower in the school than Sixth or Remove." + +"Ah!" answered Tinkleby, adjusting his nippers, "but, don't you see, I +should do it in this way--I should propose that our society be +amalgamated with theirs." + +"What society?" asked Preston the bowler. + +"Why, the Fifth Form Literary Society, you blockhead!" + +Preston and Dorris both exploded. + +"You seem to think," continued Tinkleby, with a cynical smile, "that +the only use for our society is to provide us with an excuse for having +a feed once a year at 'Duster's;' but let me remind you, sir, that its +main object, according to the original rules, was the cultivation of a +taste for literary pursuits among its members." + +"Yes," added Dorris, "and so you want to get off Saturday 'prep.' Fire +away, Tinky, I'm with you." + +That very afternoon Tinkleby addressed a large, square envelope to + +_S. R. HENINGSON, Esq.,_ + _Hon. Sec. Melchester School Debating Society._ + +and having sealed it with an old military button, dropped it into the +letter-box, a proceeding more in keeping with the importance of the +communication than if he had delivered it by hand. The honorary +secretary went one higher--he sent his reply by post. It was polite, +and to the point. The committee of the debating society did not see +their way to extend the limit of the rule relating to membership. They +would be pleased to admit any of the Fifth Form who could obtain +permission to attend the meetings, but they would not be entitled to +vote, or to take any active part in the proceedings. + +Tinkleby was incensed at this cool reception of his proposal, and +harangued his comrades during a temporary absence of Mr. Ward from the +classroom. + +"They think such a confounded lot of themselves, with their miserable +essays and dry debates. I'll bet we could stand up and spout as well +as they can, on any subject you like to mention, from cribbing to +astronomy." + +"Of course we could," answered Boswell-Jones, who had prepared a paper +entitled, "An Hour with the Poets," into which he had introduced all +his favourite recitations, and which he longed to fire off at something +in the shape of an audience--"of course we could; it's all that +conceited beast Heningson. He thinks he's an orator--great ass!" + +"Well, look here," said Tinkleby, fixing his nippers with an air of +resolution and defiance, "Heningson's going to open a debate next +Saturday. The subject is: 'That this house is of opinion that the +moral and physical condition of mankind is in a state of +retrogression.' We'll go and hear it. Ward'll let us do our 'prep.' +in the afternoon. I've got a little plan in my head, and we'll take a +rise out of these gentlemen." + +The Melchester School Debating Society, as we have already mentioned, +was established for the benefit of the senior boys, who held their +meetings every Saturday night during the winter and Easter terms in +what was known as the drawing classroom. It was conducted in a very +solemn and serious manner. Redbrook, the head of the school, took the +chair; while on the table before him, as a sign of his office and +authority, a small hand-bell was placed, which he was supposed to ring +when, in the heat and excitement of debate, members so far forgot +themselves as to need a gentle reminder of the rule relating to +silence. As a matter of fact, the chairman seldom, if ever, had any +need to use this instrument, though on one occasion some wag removed it +before the proceedings commenced, and substituted in its place the huge +railway-bell used by Mullins, the school-porter; a jest which greatly +incensed the grave and dignified assembly on whom it was practised. +There was a proper mahogany ballot-box. The subjects for discussion +always began, "That this house, etc.," and the secretary entered in a +book exhaustive minutes of every meeting, which the chairman signed +with a quill pen. These details are given in order that the reader may +understand the character of the society in question, and be therefore +in a better position to pass judgment on the outrageous behaviour of +certain gentlemen whose conduct will shortly be described. + +On the following Saturday evening, in answer to the formal invitation +which they had received, Tinkleby and his friends filed into the room, +looking very good and demure, and occupied the desk against the end +wall, which they entered as though it had been a pew in church. The +usual preliminaries were gone through, and the chairman called on "our +worthy friend the secretary" to open the debate by moving, "That this +house is of opinion that the moral and physical condition of mankind is +in a state of retrogression." + +For a time all went well. The visitors sat as mute as mummies, and the +opener sought to justify his proposition by launching out into an +impassioned discourse, which seemed rather inclined to resolve itself +into a brief history of the world, and which the critical Tinkleby +afterwards described as containing "more wind than argument." Touching +briefly on the statements of the Hebrew chroniclers, Heningson +proceeded with a wordy exposition of the manners and customs of ancient +Greece, and from this stumbled rather abruptly into the rise of the +Roman empire. Drawing a fancy and perhaps rather flattering portrait +of one of the world-conquering legionaries, the speaker thought fit to +compare it with that of a latter-day Italian organ-grinder who often +visited the school, and who had recently been had up for being drunk +and disorderly in the streets of Melchester. + +"Gentlemen," exclaimed the orator earnestly, pointing accidentally at +the chairman, but meaning to indicate the unfortunate musician, "is +_this_ the culmination of a race of gods? this inebriate, undersized--" + +At this point the discourse was suddenly interrupted by a loud and +prolonged snore. Heningson hesitated, and glanced up from his notes +with a look of annoyance. He was about to proceed when a chorus of +snores in every imaginable pitch and key effectively checked his +utterance. With an indignant "Sh--s-h!" the audience turned in their +seats to witness the following astonishing spectacle. At the back of +the room every one of the half-dozen visitors sat, or rather sprawled, +with his head upon the desk, in an attitude suggestive of the soundest +slumber; the only variation in position being on the part of Jack +Fenleigh, who lay back with a handkerchief thrown over his face like an +old gentleman taking his after-dinner nap. The nasal concert +continued, and the chairman smote his hand-bell. + +"Firs' bell," murmured Tinkleby drowsily, "stop working;" while Dorris +became suddenly afflicted with a catch in his breath which caused a +succession of terrific snorts, each of which nearly cracked the windows. + +"Here, stop that noise!" cried Redbrook, springing to his feet in great +wrath. "Wake 'em up, somebody!" + +An obliging member caught Tinkleby by the arm, and gave him a +prodigious shake. + +"Shur up," growled that gentleman. "Give me back my pillow, 'tisn't +time to ger up. Hallo! have I been asleep? I'm beastly sorry." + +One by one the other occupants of the visitors' gallery were made to +understand that they were not in their beds. Jack Fenleigh, however, +absolutely refused to return from the land of dreams. He was shaken, +pinched, and pommelled, but all to no purpose; his snores only became +louder, and the style more fantastic. + +Meanwhile a heated altercation was going on between the chairman and +the president of the Fifth Form Literary Society. + +"Look here, Tinkleby, we don't want any more of your silly foolery, so +just stop it." + +"My dear sir, I'm doing nothing." + +"Well, why did you begin?" + +"If you mean my having dropped off to sleep, I'm very sorry; but really +there's something in the air of the place--" + +"Haw-r-r-r-r-ratch," interposed Jack Fenleigh. Redbrook rose from his +chair, boiling with wrath. + +"Just clear out!" he cried. "Go on--all the lot of you!" The visitors +demurred, but being outnumbered three to one, they were seized and +hustled unceremoniously out of the room. In the midst of all this +commotion, however, Fenleigh J., still continued in an unbroken +slumber, and was distinctly heard snoring louder than ever as his +companions dragged him off down the passage. + +[Illustration: "The visitors were seized, and hustled unceremoniously +out of the room."] + +For the time being this little joke gave rise to a rather strained +relationship between the members of the Sixth and Fifth Forms. +Tinkleby and his comrades were designated a set of rowdy jackasses; and +they replied to the compliment by declaring that a fraternity of live +donkeys was better than a collection of stuffed owls, and advising +Heningson to patent his discourse as an infallible cure for insomnia. +Cutting allusions to the "Literary Society" and sarcastic retorts were +exchanged in the corridors and playing-field; and so the feud continued. + +All his classmates were charmed with Jack's share in the performance. + +"You wait," was his invariable answer to their congratulations; "I'll +take a better rise out of them before long." + +For a time this boast was not considered to imply any definite +intention on the speaker's part to play any further pranks on the +members of the debating society; but at length a rumour got abroad that +something _was_ going to happen. Fenleigh J. and Preston had been seen +more than once taking counsel together in out-of-the-way corners, and +exchanging mysterious nods and winks. They were known to have spent +the free time between "prep." and supper, on two consecutive evenings, +alone together in the workshop, with the door locked. A great deal of +hammering went on, but no one could find out what they were making. +When questioned on the subject, they professed a lamb-like state of +innocence; and even Tinkleby himself could give no explanation of their +conduct. A fortnight after the delivery of Heningson's essay, the +debating society held an important meeting, the announcement of which, +posted the previous evening on the notice-board, was worded as +follows:-- + + M. S. D. S. + _Saturday, November ...th._ + DEBATE. + +"That this house approves of the settlement of all international +disputes by arbitration instead of war," + + _Aff._, Mr. N. J. CARTER. + _Neg._, Mr. SHEPHERD. + + +The members turned up in force, for this time the openers of the +discussion were the two leading lights of the society, and the contest +between them was certain to prove an intellectual treat which ought not +to be missed. Carter's style of oratory was of the impassioned order; +he thumped on the desk, and went through the "extension motions," with +the exception of that awful movement where you bend double and try to +touch your toes. It was rumoured that he wrote deep, unintelligible +poetry that did not rhyme; and if the school rules had not forbidden +the practice, he would have worn long hair and a fly-away necktie. +Shepherd, on the other hand, went in for logic, unadorned by any +movements suggestive of setting-up drill. His style bore a suspicious +resemblance to that of Augustus Powler, Esq., M.P. He stuck his thumbs +in the armholes of his waistcoat, and pushed forward that portion of +his body which it would have been unfair to strike at in a fight. It +would be impossible to give here anything like a detailed report of the +proceedings. From the moment when the chairman rose to introduce the +first speaker, every one felt that the meeting would be one of unusual +interest; and in one sense they were certainly destined not to be +disappointed. Carter was in great form; he dealt the desk such +terrific blows that the ink spurted out of the ink-pots, and ran down +on to the secretary's breeches. War, he declared, was legalized +murder, and the soldier little better than a hired assassin. Napoleon +Bonaparte was far more roughly handled than at Leipsic or Waterloo; and +a long list of conquerors, ranging back to Alexander the Great, were, +figuratively speaking, torn from their graves and hung in chains. At +length, having dwelt on the enormous cost of standing armies, and other +more practical aspects of the subject, the speaker concluded with a +vivid picture of the horrors of a battlefield, and was in the act of +quoting a verse of poetry, when he was suddenly silenced by an +unlooked-for interruption. + + + "The bursting shell, the gateway wrenched asunder, + The rattling musketry, the clashing blade; + And ever and anon, in tones of thunder, + The--" + + +Bang! + +Every one started; something like a miniature representation of the +"bursting shell" had just exploded in the neighbourhood of the +blackboard. A boy sitting close by stooped down and picked up from the +floor a small fragment of burnt tissue-paper. + +"Who threw that?" he exclaimed. + +"What is it?" asked the chairman. + +"Why, one of those 'throw-downs.'" + +Redbrook glanced round the room in angry astonishment. + +"Look here," he said sharply, "I don't know who did it, but if any of +you have come to play the fool, you'd better leave the room at once, +for we aren't going to have any more nonsense like we had the other +night." + +The audience turned in their seats, and stared at one another in +amazement. Most of my readers will probably have some practical +knowledge of the small, round paper pellets known as "throw-downs," +which explode when flung against anything; and it was difficult to +imagine that any member of the select and decorous Melchester School +Debating Society would cause an interruption by flinging such things +about in the middle of an important discussion. + +"Go on, Carter," said the chairman. + +"Shan't!" returned the other, snappishly. "I've finished." + +Shepherd was now called upon to open on the side of the negative. + +"War," he began, assuming his accustomed attitude, and beaming round on +his listeners with a very good imitation of the Powler smile--"war is +like surgery. When drugs are of no avail, we are often forced to +resort to the use of the knife, and so--" + +Another mimic bomb exploded in the very centre of the speaker's +waistcoat, causing him to jump nearly out of his skin. Redbrook sprang +to his feet in a towering rage, and as he did so another projectile +burst on the open pages of the minute book. + +"Who threw those things? I will find out!" + +A babel of voices rose in reply. No one had done it. The door was +shut, the windows were fastened, a hasty search was made in the +cupboards and under the back desks, in the hope of discovering a +lurking enemy; but even while the search was in progress another +missile went off under the secretary's chair. + +"Who is it?" shouted Redbrook. "Where do they come from?" + +"That seemed to fall from the ceiling," answered Heningson; "yes--look +there!" + +Above the hanging gas-jet in the centre of the room was an ornamental +iron grating, between the apertures of which there now appeared about +an inch and a half of brass tube, like the end of a big peashooter. A +moment later there was a prodigious puff, and four "throw-downs" +exploded with a simultaneous crash in the centre of the chairman's +table. + +"There's some one up on the roof!" cried several voices.--"Stop it, you +villain!" + +"How could any one get there?" + +"There's a trap-door at the end of the passage," exclaimed Shepherd. +"Quick! we shall cut him off." + +A rush was made for the door, but it refused to open; some one had +evidently blocked the exit from the outside, by placing a short form +lengthways across the passage. The drawing classroom formed part of a +one-storied building which bounded one side of the school quadrangle. +Finding the door closed, Shepherd dashed to the nearest window, and +flinging it open dropped out on to the gravel, an example which was +speedily followed by the chairman and several members of the audience. +Breathing out all manner of threats, they ran round through the nearest +door and gained the entrance to the passage. The trap-door in the +ceiling was wide open, and communicating with it was a curious, +home-made ladder, consisting of an old post, with half a dozen rough +cross pieces fastened to it with stout nails. A candle end was lying +on the floor, and with its aid Shepherd climbed up and explored the +roof; but the bird had flown. + +After such an interruption it was no use attempting to continue the +debate, and Redbrook and his companions spent the remainder of the +evening trying to discover the authors of this outrage. + +The culprits, however, had made good their escape; no one remembered +having seen the ladder before, and it was impossible to say to whom it +belonged. The members of the debating society were clearly outwitted; +and not wishing to make the story of their discomfiture too public, +they determined for the present to let the matter drop, at the same +time announcing their intention of taking dire vengeance on any +irreverent jokers who should rashly attempt to disturb their meetings +in future. Two days later, Valentine was sitting at his desk reading, +when he was joined by his cousin. + +"I borrowed your brass ruler the other afternoon," said the latter, +producing something from under his coat. + +"Yes, I know all about it, you villain!" + +"I only used it as a sort of pea-shooter." + +"Oh, I've heard all about your little game; Preston told me." + +Jack tried to look innocent, and then laughed. + +"It's no use, Val, old chap, you'll never make a good boy of me. It's +the old story of the silk purse and the sow's ear." + +Valentine laughed too. + +"I'm afraid I never shall," he answered. "The joke is that you're +always ready to bring the whole place about your ears with some mad +prank, and then when a cartload of bricks does fall on your head, you +say, 'It's just your luck, and that--'" + +"A collection will be taken at the door in aid of the poor fund at the +close of the present service," interrupted the other. "Good-bye--I'm +off!" + +He moved away a step or two, then came softly back, and began to rumple +his cousin's hair; whereupon an exciting struggle ensued, which brought +them both down on to the floor, and ended with the edifying spectacle +of the preacher sitting flushed and triumphant on the congregation's +chest. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +"OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN--" + +"Above all, beware of the cat."--_The Ugly Duckling_. + + +"Here, Val, you're just the man I want! Tell me something to say." + +It was a broiling afternoon. The summer term had once more come round, +and Jack, with his coat off, was sitting in a shady corner of the +schoolroom wrestling with a letter to Queen Mab. + +"I write to her nearly every blessed week," he continued, "and the +consequence is I've never got anything to say. I've told her how jolly +it is to think that in four weeks' time we shall be at Brenlands again; +and now I'm stuck, and I can't get any further." + +"Have you told her how well you've been doing in cricket this season?" + +"No." + +"Well, I have; so it doesn't much matter. Look here! Raymond +Fosberton's outside, and wants to see you." + +"Oh, tell him to go to Bath!" answered Jack, making another stab at the +ink-pot with his pen. "I want to finish this letter." + +"No, come along," answered Valentine, laughing. "You must be civil to +the fellow; he's been waiting about for nearly a quarter of an hour." + +"Do him good," growled the scribe, reluctantly pitching his untidy +epistle into a very disorderly desk. "He only comes here to show off. +Just because he's in a lawyer's office, he thinks he's a big pot, and +all he does is to write copies like a kid in the Lower School." + +According to his own opinion, Raymond Fosberton had blossomed out into +the full-blown man. He wore a light check suit of the very latest +fashion, a rosebud adorned his button-hole, and he tapped the toe of +his highly-polished, patent-leather boots with the point of a +silver-mounted cane. + +"Hallo!" he exclaimed; "what the dickens d'you want to keep a chap +waiting so long for? I can tell you my time's more valuable than +yours. Look here! I'm sorry I haven't been able to ask you boys to +come and see me before, but nearly every night since I've been here +I've been engaged. However, I want you to get leave to come and have +tea at my rooms on Wednesday, and after that we'll go to the fair. You +know what I mean. It's held once a year in a big field on the other +side of the town; there are shows, and round-abouts, and all that sort +of thing." + +"Thanks," answered Valentine, "but I'm afraid we can't go." + +"Why not?" + +"Because the rule of the school is that no boys are allowed to go to +Melchester Fair. Old Westford is awfully strict about it. Two years +ago some fellows went, and had a row with one of the showmen, and it +got into the papers." + +"Oh, rubbish! you can say you're only going out to tea." Valentine +shook his head. + +"Oh, yes, you can," continued Raymond. "By-the-bye, there's a fellow +here called Rosher, isn't there? My guv'nor knows his people, and told +me to ask him out sometimes; tell him to come too, if he can." + +"We can't do it," answered Valentine decisively; "while the fair's on, +Westford won't even give fellows leave to go down into town." + +"Nonsense!" answered Raymond contemptuously. "You leave it to me, and +I'll manage it all right. Now I must cut back to the office. Ta! ta!" + +On Wednesday afternoon the two cousins were preparing to start for the +cricket field, when a small boy brought them word that the headmaster +wished to see them for a moment in his study. + +"What's the row now, I wonder?" said Jack. "'Pon my word, it's so long +since I went to the old man's study that I feel quite nervous." + +The interview was not of a distressing nature. "I have received a +letter from your uncle," began Mr. Westford, "asking for you to be +allowed to go and meet him at the station this afternoon at five +o'clock. He wishes also to see Rosher, so you can tell him that he may +go. Be back, of course, in time for supper." + +"I wonder what brings Uncle Fosberton to Melchester," said Valentine to +Jack as they walked away together. + +"Can't say," returned the other. "I don't want to see him; but I +suppose we must go. Let's hunt up Rosher." + +A few minutes before five, the three boys entered the booking-office at +the railway station. + +"I wonder which platform it is!" said Jack. "Hallo! there's Raymond." + +The gentleman in question came forward, flourishing his silver-mounted +cane. + +"Well, my dear nephews," he cried, laughing. "How are you to-day? Did +old Westford get my letter all right?" + +"What letter?" asked Valentine. + +"Why, the letter asking for you to come out." + +"But uncle wrote that!" + +"Not a bit of it!" answered Raymond triumphantly. "I did it. I had a +bit of the manor note-paper, and I sent it to our man to post it from +Grenford. Ha! ha! I told you I'd manage the business!" + +Rosher chuckled, Jack whistled, but Valentine remained silent. + +"Look here, Raymond," said Valentine, after a moment's pause, "I tell +you straight, I don't believe in this sort of thing. I'm going back." + +"Don't be a fool, man," retorted the other. "You can't go back now, or +they'll want to know the reason. Come along to my diggings and have +some tea, and I'll bear all the blame." + +With some reluctance Valentine agreed to go with the party to his +cousin's lodgings. Raymond did not seem on very good terms with his +landlady. The tea was a long time coming; and when at length it did +make its appearance, the fare consisted only of bread and butter, and a +half-empty pot of jam. + +"Sorry I can't offer you anything more," remarked the host, "but just +now I've run rather short of cash. Better luck next time." + +As soon as the meal was over, Raymond repeated his proposal that they +should visit the fair. + +"It's an awful joke," he said. "I'm going, and you chaps may as well +come along too." + +"It's all very well for you to go," answered Jack, "but with us it's +different. Any one can see by our hat-bands that we belong to the +school; and if it gets to Westford's ears that we've been, we shall +stand a jolly good chance of being expelled." + +"Oh, well! if you're afraid, don't go," answered Raymond, with a sneer. +"I thought you were a chap who didn't care for anything. Will you go, +Rosher?" + +"I don't mind." + +"Come on, then; don't let's stick here all the evening." + +The four boys put on their hats and sauntered out into the street. +Valentine said good-night, and turned off in the direction of the +school; but Jack lingered behind with the other two. + +"That's right," said Raymond, taking his arm; "I knew you'd come." + +The evening was always the gayest part of the day at Melchester Fair. +Crowds of people from the town and surrounding neighbourhood jostled +each other in the open spaces between the tents and booths, while the +noise of bands, steam-organs, and yelling showmen was something +terrific. + +"I say, have either of you fellows got change for a sovereign?" asked +Raymond. "You haven't? well, you pay, and I'll settle up with you some +other time." + +The boys wandered round the field, listening to the cheap Jacks, and +the proprietors of various exhibitions, which were all "just a-goin' to +begin." They patronized a shooting-gallery, where they fired down long +tubes with little rifles, which made the marksman's hands very black, +and seemed to carry round the corner. Jack, however, succeeded in +hitting the bull's-eye, and ringing the bell, and was rewarded with a +handful of nuts. + +"Come on," said Rosher; "let's have a turn on the wooden horses," and +the party accordingly moved off in the direction of the nearest +round-about. The steeds were three abreast, and Raymond mounted the +one on the outside. A little group of factory boys were standing close +by, and, just as the engine started, one of them thought fit to enliven +the proceedings with a joke. + +"Hallo, mister! how much starch d'you put on your weskit?" + +"That much!" answered Raymond, snappishly, and leaning outwards in +passing he dealt the speaker a sharp cut with his cane. + +"Yah! Thatches!" cried the boy, and every time the whirligig brought +his assailant into view the shout was repeated. + +In the year of grace 1877 some traces still remained of an ancient feud +between the school and the boys of the town. The name "Thatches" had +been invented by the latter on account of the peculiar pattern of straw +hat worn by their adversaries; while the answering taunt always used in +those warlike times was, "Hey, Johnny, where's your apron?" a remark +which greatly incensed the small sons of toil, who usually wore this +garment. + +"What have you been doing to those chaps?" asked Jack, as the horses +slowed down and the yell was repeated. + +"One of them cheeked me, and I hit him with my stick." + +"Well, we'd better slip away as soon as this thing stops; we don't want +to have a row with them here." + +Unfortunately for the three boys, their steeds stopped just opposite +the hostile group. Jack pushed through them with an expression of +lofty contempt, an example followed by Rosher; but Raymond was stupidly +led into a further exchange of incivilities. + +"Don't you give me any more of your confounded impudence, you miserable +little cads, or I'll give you another taste of this stick." + +The "cads" answered with a shout of derisive laughter, and a few more +straggling clansmen joining the band, they followed after the three +friends, keeping at a safe distance, and repeating their cries of "Yah! +Thatches! Hit one yer own size!" and other remarks of a similar nature. + +"We can't go on like this," said Jack. "They'll follow us all round +the fair. Shall we charge the beggars?" + +"No," answered Raymond. "Let's go into the circus, and that'll put +them off the track. You fellows pay, and I'll owe it you; I don't want +to change my sovereign here." + +Rosher paid for three shilling seats, and the trio entered the big +circular tent, thus for the time being effectually escaping from the +pursuing band of unfriendly natives. + +The performance had just commenced, and though the display was by no +means brilliant, yet the boys enjoyed it, and soon forgot the existence +of everything except clowns, acrobats, and trained horses. + +"_I say_!" exclaimed Rosher suddenly, "d'you know what the time is? +It's close on nine o'clock!" + +"By jingo!" answered Jack, "we must do a bolt." + +"No, don't go," interposed Raymond; "you can't get back in time now, so +you may as well stay and see the end. If you'll come round by my +lodgings, I'll get my guv'nor to write a letter of excuse." + +"I don't want any more of your letters," murmured Jack, "it's too +risky. We'd better hook it." + +"No, stay; you can't get back in time now, so what's the good of losing +part of the performance?" + +After some further discussion, Jack and Rosher decided to remain, and +so kept their seats until the end of the performance. It was quite +dark when they emerged from the tent, and every part of the fair was +lit up with flaring paraffin lamps. They had not gone very far when, +as ill-luck would have it, a shrill cry of "Hallo! Thatches!" showed +that they had been sighted by some small scout of the enemy. + +"I've got some coppers left," said Rosher; "let's have a shot at the +cocoa-nuts." + +They stopped opposite a pitch, and began bowling at the fruit. The +first two or three shies were unsuccessful; then Jack knocked down a +nut. + +"I'm not going to let you beat me!" cried Rosher. "Here; mister, give +me some more balls." + +A fresh group of town boys were hovering about in the rear, their +number being now augmented by one or two of a larger size. + +"Yah! Thatch! you can't hit 'em! Come 'ere and let's see that stick +you was talking about." + +"I say," whispered Raymond to his cousin, "wouldn't it be a lark to +pretend to make a good shot, and knock that lamp over." He pointed as +he spoke to one of the flaring oil lamps which, fastened to a stake a +few feet above the ground, illuminated the line of nuts. + +"No, don't do it," answered Jack; but the warning came too late. +Raymond threw with all his might, and, as ill-luck would have it, the +aim was only too true; the heavy wooden ball hit the lamp a sounding +whack, dashed it from its stand, and the next moment the canvas screen +at the back of the pitch against which it fell was all in a blaze. + +In an instant all was confusion. Quick as thought Raymond turned, and +slipped away between the wheels of a caravan which stood close by. The +proprietor of the pitch sprang forward and seized Jack by the coat. + +"'Ere, you did that," he cried, "and you did it a purpose." + +The crowd of juvenile roughs closed in behind. + +"Yes, 'e did it," they cried; "'e's the man." + +"I didn't do it," retorted the boy. "Leave go!" + +Rosher leaned forward, and giving his friend a nudge, uttered the one +word,-- + +"_Bolt_!" + +Jack's blood was up. He wrenched himself free of the man's grasp, and +plunged into the little crowd of riff-raff, striking heavy blows to +right and left. Rosher did the same; and the enemy, who were nothing +but a pack of barking curs, went down like ninepins, falling over one +another in their efforts to escape. + +The two fugitives rushed on, stumbling over tent-ropes and dodging +round the booths and stalls, until they came to the outskirts of the +fair. Then they paused to take breath and consider what was to be done +next. The glare of the burning canvas and a noise of distant shouting, +which could be clearly distinguished above the other babel of sounds, +showed the quarter from which they had come. + +"Where's Raymond?" cried Jack. + +"I don't know," answered Rosher; "we can't wait here, or we shall be +collared." + +"Didn't you see what became of him? I don't like the thought of +leaving the fellow--" + +The sentence was never finished; for at that moment two men suddenly +appeared from behind a neighbouring stall. One was arrayed in a blue +uniform with bright buttons, and his companion was at once recognized +by the boys as being the proprietor of the cocoa-nut pitch. + +"Here they are!" shouted the latter, catching hold of the policeman's +arm; "now we've got 'em!" + +[Illustration: "'Here they are! now we've got them!'"] + +Quick as thought the two schoolfellows turned and dashed off at the top +of their speed. Beyond the outskirts of the fair all lay in darkness; +a high hedge loomed in front of them. Jack scrambled up the bank, +crashed through the thorn bushes, and fell heavily to the ground on the +other side. In an instant he had regained his feet, and was running +for his life with Rosher by his side. In this manner they crossed +three fields, stumbling over uneven places in the ground, scratching +their hands, and tearing their clothes in the hedges, and at length +landed nearly up to their knees in a ditch half-full of mud and water. + +"It's no good, Fenleigh, I can't go any further. I'm completely +pumped." + +Struggling on to a bit of rising ground, the fugitives halted and +turned round to listen. The glare of light and noise of the fair had +been left some distance behind them, and there were no sounds of +pursuit. The night was very dark, and everything in their immediate +neighbourhood was quiet and still. + +"We must get to the town some other way," said Jack. "Doesn't the road +to Hornalby pass somewhere here on the right?" + +"I don't know," answered Rosher; "we ought to strike some road or other +if we keep going in that direction." + +The boys continued their flight, varying their walk by occasionally +breaking into a jog-trot. At length they found themselves in a narrow +lane; but after wandering down it for nearly half a mile, their further +progress was barred by the appearance of a private gate. + +"Botheration!" cried Jack, "we've come wrong; this leads to some farm. +We shall never get home at this rate." + +Retracing their steps the way they had come, the two unfortunate +adventurers at length found themselves on the Hornalby road; but when +they reached Melchester, and were hurrying down the side street past +"Duster's" shop, the cathedral clock struck half-past eleven. + +"Oh, my!" said Rosher; "how shall we get in? Everybody will be in bed. +We shall have to knock up old Mullins at the lodge." + +"No fear," answered Jack. "We must get into Westford's garden, and +from there into the quad; then we'll try some of the windows." + +The plan was carried out, and a few moments later the two boys were +standing in the dark and deserted playground. Jack made a circuit of +the buildings on tiptoe, and then returned to his companion. + +"All the classroom windows are fast," he said, "but there's one on the +first landing belonging to the bathroom that's open. What we must do +is this. Under the bench in the workshop is that ladder thing that +Preston and I made last year. We must fetch it, and you must hold it +while I get up to the window. Then you must put the ladder back, and +I'll creep down and let you in at the side door. The workshop's +locked, but luckily I've got the key in my pocket!" + +The scheme was successful, and ten minutes later the two wanderers were +creeping up the main staircase. Rosher had a private bedroom; and +Jack, moving softly, and undressing in the dark, managed to get into +bed without awakening any of the other boys in his dormitory. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +"--INTO THE FIRE." + +"One of the little boys took up the tin soldier and threw him into the +stove."--_The Brave Tin Soldier_. + + +"Hallo, Fenleigh! You were back precious late last night," said +Walker, the Sixth Form boy in charge of the dormitory. + +"Yes," answered the other carelessly. "I had leave to go out to tea." + +The reply seemed to satisfy Walker; but there was one person in the +room to whom Jack knew he would have to make a full confession. While +dressing he avoided Valentine's questioning glances, but after +breakfast he was forced to give his cousin a full account of all that +had happened. A dark frown settled on the latter's face as he listened +to the recital, which he several times interrupted with impatient +ejaculations. + +"I knew you'd be in a wax with me," concluded Jack, with an air of +defiance; "but it can't be helped now. You'll never make a saint of +me, Val, old chap, so don't let's quarrel." + +"It's not you that I'm angry with," answered Valentine wrathfully, +"it's that beast of a Raymond. It's just his way to get other people +into a mess, and leave them to get out of it as best they can. I +suppose he never paid up his share of the money you spent?" + +"Not he. Never mind, we got out of the bother a lot better than I +expected." + +Valentine shook his head. + +"I hope to goodness you won't be found out," he said anxiously. "If +you are, you'll stand a jolly good chance of being expelled." + +"Oh, we're safe enough. Don't you fret," answered Jack +lightly.--"Hallo, Tinkleby, what's up with you?" + +The president of the Fifth Form Literary Society was striding across +the gravel, fingering his nippers, as he always did when excited. + +"Haven't you heard?" he answered. "Some one's in for a thundering row, +I can tell you." + +"Why, what do you mean?" + +"Why, Mullins says that some man from the fair came this morning, and +wanted to see the headmaster. He says one of our fellows was up there +last night, kicking up a fine shindy, and set his show on fire; and he +means to find out who it is, and summon him for damages. Mullins told +him he'd better call again later on, as Westford was at breakfast. My +eye! I pity the chap who did it, if it's true, and he's collared." + +The clang of the school bell ended the conversation, and Tinkleby +rushed off to impart his news to other classmates. + +The distressed look on Valentine's face deepened, but he said nothing. + +"Pooh!" exclaimed Jack, sticking his hands in his pockets, and making +the gravel fly with a vicious kick. "Let him come and say what he +likes. What do I care?" + +The school had reassembled after the usual interval, and the Sixth Form +were sitting in their classroom waiting for the arrival of the +headmaster. A quarter of an hour passed, and still he did not arrive. +At length the door opened, and Mullins poked his head inside. + +"Mr. Westford wants to see all those gentlemen who are in charge of the +different dormitories--now, at once, in his study." + +A murmur of surprise followed the announcement, as the boys indicated +rose to their feet and prepared to obey the summons. On entering the +study they found a shabby-looking man standing just inside the door, +who eyed them all narrowly as they came in. The headmaster sat at his +writing-table looking stern and troubled. The twelve prefects arranged +themselves in a semicircle, and stood silently waiting and wondering +what could have happened. + +"You say this took place about a quarter past ten?" + +"Yes, sir," answered the man, twirling his hat with his fingers. "As +near as I can say, it must have been about a quarter a'ter ten." + +"I have sent for you," continued Mr. Westford, turning to the group of +senior scholars, "to know if any of the boys were absent from any of +the dormitories at the usual bed-time." + +"One was absent from Number Five, sir," said Walker. + +"Who?" + +"Fenleigh J., sir." + +"Why didn't you report him? What time did he return?" + +"I don't know, sir. I was asleep when he came back. He said he'd had +leave to go out to tea." + +"Was any one else absent from any of the rooms? Very well. You may +go. Redbrook, send Fenleigh J. to me at once." + +A minute or so later the culprit entered the room. + +"That's the young feller I want!" exclaimed the stranger. "I could +tell him anywheres in a moment." + +"Fenleigh, were you at the fair last night?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"What were you doing there? You know my orders?" + +The boy was silent. + +"I can tell you what he was doing," interrupted the man. "He knocked +over one of my lamps and set my screen afire; and a'ter that he started +fightin', and I was obliged to fetch a p'liceman. But there was two of +'em, this one and another." + +"Did this really happen, Fenleigh?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Who else was with you?" + +"My cousin, Raymond Fosberton. It was he who knocked over the lamp." + +"That's a lie!" interrupted the man. "It was you done it. I seed you +with my own eyes." + +"I don't think I need detain you any longer," said Mr. Westford, +turning to the owner of the cocoa-nuts. "I need hardly say I regret +that one of my scholars should be capable of such conduct. I shall +make some further inquiries, and if you will call again this evening, +whatever damage has been done shall be made good." + +The man knuckled his forehead and withdrew. Jack was left alone with +his judge, and felt that the case was ended. + +"Now, sir," said the latter, in a cold, rasping tone, "you have +succeeded in bringing public disgrace on the school, and I hope you are +satisfied. Go to the little music-room, and remain there for the +present." + +There was something ominous in the brevity of this reprimand. No +punishment had been mentioned, but in the school traditions the little +music-room was looked upon as a sort of condemned cell. Every one knew +the subsequent fate of boys who had been sent there on previous +occasions; and in a short time the news was in everybody's mouth that +Fenleigh J. was going to be expelled. It was a grave offence to hold +any communication with a person undergoing solitary confinement, yet, +before Jack had been very long a prisoner, a pebble hit the window, and +looking out he saw Rosher. + +"I say," began the latter dolefully, "I'm awfully sorry you've been +found out. If you like, I'll go and tell Westford I was with you." + +"Of course you won't. What's the good?" + +"Well, I thought perhaps you'd think I was a sneak if I didn't. I'm +afraid you'll get the sack," continued Rosher sadly. "It was awfully +good of you, Fenleigh, not to split; you always were a brick. I say, +we were rather chummy when you first came, if you remember; and then we +had a bit of a row. I suppose it don't matter now. If you like, I'll +write you when you get home." + +It was something, at such an hour, to have the sympathy and friendship +even of a scapegrace like Rosher. The prisoner said "it didn't +matter," and so they parted. + +For some time Jack wandered round the little room, swinging the blind +cords, and trifling with the broken-down metronome on the mantelpiece. +It was this very instrument that had been upset when he sent Rosher +sprawling into the fireplace; and yet, here was the same fellow talking +about keeping up a correspondence. A litter of torn music lay on the +top of the piano; among it a tattered hymn-book. Jack turned over the +pages until he came to "Hark, hark, my soul!" and then, sitting down, +played the air through several times with one finger. It was a tune +that had been popular on Sunday evenings at Brenlands, and the children +had always called it Queen Mab's hymn. + +Jack shut the book with a bang. In less than a fortnight's time he +ought to have been with her again, and what would she think of him now? + + * * * * * + +Dinner was over in the big hall, and most of the boys had started for +the playing-field. Mr. Ward sat correcting exercises in the deserted +Fifth Form classroom, when there was a knock at the door, and Valentine +entered. + +"Well, Fenleigh," said the master kindly, "what do you want?" + +"I came to speak to you, sir, about my cousin Jack. Don't you think +there's any chance of getting Mr. Westford to let him off?" + +"I'm afraid there isn't. I don't see what excuse can be offered for +your cousin's conduct." + +"But there is an excuse, sir," persisted Valentine, his love of honour +and justice causing the blood to mount to his cheeks at the +recollection of Raymond Fosberton's share in the adventure. "It was +not all Jack's fault, and it'll be an awful shame if he's expelled." + +Had it been another fellow, Mr. Ward might have pooh-poohed the +objection, and sent the speaker about his business; for, it being +nearly the end of the term, the master had plenty of work to occupy his +attention. He was not given to making favourites among his pupils, but +Valentine was a boy who had won his respect; and so he laid down his +pen to continue the conversation. + +"I still fail to see what can be said on your cousin's behalf. If it +was not his fault, who then is to blame?" + +Valentine hastily recounted all that had happened on the previous +afternoon. He did not hesitate to give a true account of the bogus +invitation, and repeated all that Jack had told him as to what had +taken place at the fair. Mr. Ward listened patiently till he had heard +the whole of the story. + +"There certainly is something in what you say," he remarked. "But the +fact remains that your cousin went to the fair in defiance of the +school rules. There was no reason at all why he should have gone. You +say you came back; then why couldn't he have done the same?" + +"If I'd thought that my staying away would have made it any the worse +for him, I'd have gone to the fair myself," said Valentine desperately. + +Mr. Ward smiled. + +"Well, what do you want me to do?" he asked. "I don't see that I can +be of much service to you in the matter. The only thing I can advise +you to do is to go to Mr. Westford, and tell him exactly what you have +told me." + +"I thought perhaps you might say a word for him too, sir," pleaded the +boy. "He's been behaving a lot better lately than he used to do." + +"There certainly was some room for improvement," returned the master, +laughing. "Well, if you like to come to me again just before school, +I'll go with you and speak to Mr. Westford." + +The long summer afternoon dragged slowly away. Mullins brought Jack +his dinner; and after that had been consumed, he sought to while away +the hours of captivity by reading a tattered text-book on harmony, and +strumming tunes with one finger on the piano. He wondered whether he +would be sent away that evening or the following morning. + +At length, just before the second tea-bell rang, the school porter once +more appeared, this time to inform the prisoner that the headmaster +wished to see him in his study. Mr. Westford sat at his table writing +a letter, and received his visitor in grim silence. + +"I've sent for you, sir," he said at length, "to tell you that I have +been given to understand that you were not altogether to blame for what +happened yesterday. There is, however, no excuse for your having set +me at defiance by breaking the strict rule I laid down that no boy was +to attend the fair. As I have already said, I believe you are not +solely responsible for the disgraceful behaviour of which I received a +complaint this morning. I shall not, therefore, expel you at once, as +I at first intended, but I am writing to your father to inform him that +your conduct is so far from satisfactory that I must ask him to remove +you at the end of the present term. Until then, remember you are not +to go beyond the gates without my permission." + +"Well, I've got off better than I expected," said Jack, as he walked up +and down the quadrangle, talking matters over with his cousin. "It was +jolly good of you, Val, to go and speak up for me to the old man. Ward +told me all about it. If it hadn't been for that, I should have been +expelled at once. You've always been a good friend to me ever since I +came here." + +"I'm sorry to think you're going at all," returned the other. "I can't +help feeling awfully mad with Raymond." + +"Yes," answered Jack, "it wasn't all my fault; but there, it's just my +luck. The guv'nor'll be in a fine wax; but I don't care. Only one +thing I'm sorry for, and that is that this'll be my last holidays at +Brenlands." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A ROBBERY AT BRENLANDS. + +"So at last he ran away, frightening the little birds in the hedge as +he flew over the palings. 'They are afraid of me, because I am so +ugly,' he said. So he closed his eyes, and flew still further."--_The +Ugly Duckling_. + + +Whatever changes and alterations might take place in the outside world, +Brenlands seemed always to remain the same. Coming there again and +again for their August holidays, the children grew to think of it as a +place blessed with eternal summer, where the flowers and green leaves +never faded from one year's end to another, and such a thing as a cold, +foggy winter day, with the moisture dripping from the trees, and the +slush of slowly melting snow upon the ground, was a thing which could +never have been possible, even in the memory of the oldest inhabitant. +Better still, the welcome which greeted them on their arrival was +always as warm as on previous occasions, and never fell one single +degree during the whole of the visit. + +In spite of all this, on that glad day when Queen Mab's court gathered +once more round her cosy tea-table, Jack was not in his usual spirits, +but appeared silent and depressed. The result of Mr. Westford's letter +to his father had been a reply to the effect that, as he seemed +determined to waste his opportunities at school, it would be decidedly +the best thing for him to come home and find some more profitable +employment for his time. + +When tea was over he strolled out into the garden, and wandered moodily +up and down the trim, box-bordered paths. To realize that one has done +with school life for ever, that the book, as it were, is closed, and +the familiar pages only to be turned again in memory, is enough to make +any boy thoughtful; but it was not this exactly that weighed upon +Jack's mind. He had grown to love Queen Mab and his cousins; the +thought of being different from them became distasteful; and he had +entertained some vague notion of turning over a new leaf, and becoming +a respectable member of society. Now all his half-formed resolutions +had come to the ground like a house of cards, and he was ending up +worse than he had begun. + +He was standing staring gloomily at the particular pear-tree which +marked the scene of his and Valentine's first encounter with Joe +Crouch, when his aunt came out and joined him. + +"Well, Jack, and so you've left school for good?" + +She made no mention of the Melchester fair incident, though Jack +himself had sent her all particulars. He wished she would lecture him, +for somehow her forbearance in not referring to the subject was worse +than a dozen reproofs. + +"Yes, aunt, they've thrown me out at last!" + +"It will be dreadful when both of you have left Melchester. Valentine +tells me that next Easter he expects to be going on to an army coach, +to prepare for Sandhurst." + +"Yes, I know," answered Jack, petulantly. "I'm always telling him what +a lucky dog he is. I wish I had half his chances, and was going into +the army, instead of back to that miserable Padbury." + +"What does your father mean you to do?" + +"Oh, he's got some scheme of sending me into the office of some metal +works there. He says it's about all I'm good for, and he hasn't any +money to put me in the way of learning a profession. But," added the +boy impatiently, "he knows I hate the idea of grubbing away at a desk +all day. I want to be a soldier." + +"I know you do, and I believe you'd make a good one; but, after all, it +would be a sad thing if every one devoted themselves to learning to +fight. Besides, we can't afford to let all our gallants go to the +wars; we want some to stay behind and do brave things in their daily +life at home." + +"Well, I'm not going to rust all my life in an office," answered Jack +doggedly. "Rather than do that, I'll go off somewhere and enlist." + +Queen Mab looked down and smiled. They were walking together arm in +arm, and he was fumbling with the little bunch of trinkets on her watch +chain. + +"Do you recollect who gave me that little silver locket?" + +"Yes," he answered, with a pouting smile. + +"Well, then, please to remember that you are always going to be my own +boy, and so don't talk any more about such things as running away and +enlisting." + +"Yes, but what am I to do? Look at the difference between my chances +and Val's." + +"I think that a man's success often depends more on himself, and less +on circumstances, than you imagine," she answered. "'To be born in a +duck's nest, in a farmyard, is of no consequence to a bird if it is +hatched from a swan's egg.' That's what the story says that I used to +tell the children." + +Jack laughed, and shook his head. He was far from being convinced of +the truth of this statement. + +A few mornings later the usual harmony of the breakfast-table was +disturbed by the arrival of a letter from Raymond Fosberton. + +"He writes," said Miss Fenleigh, "to say that his father and mother are +going away on a visit, and so he wants to come here for a few days." + +The announcement was received with a chorus of groans. + +"I wonder he has the cheek to come, after the way he treated us at +Melchester," said Valentine; "I never wish to see him again." + +Raymond did come, however, and instead of being at all abashed at the +recollection of the termination of his tea-party, he was, if anything, +more uppish than ever. It was only natural that he should make some +reference to their adventure at the fair, and this he did by blaming +Jack for not having made good his escape. + +"Why didn't you run for it sooner, you duffer? You stood still there +like a stuffed monkey, and wouldn't move till the man collared you." + +"And you ran so far and so fast," retorted Jack, "that you couldn't get +back to own up it was your doing, and save me from being expelled." + +"Oh, go on! it isn't so bad as that," answered Raymond airily. "You +ought to be jolly glad you're going to get out of that place. It's no +good quarrelling over spilt milk.--Look here, will either of you do a +chap a friendly turn? Can you lend me some money? I want a pound or +two rather badly. Of course, I'd have got it from home, only the +guv'nor's away." + +Jack and Valentine shook their heads. + +"Well, I wish you could," continued the other. "I'd give you a +shilling in the pound interest, and pay you back for certain at the end +of next month." + +"I wonder how it is," said Jack to Valentine that evening as they were +undressing, "that Raymond's always wanting money, and never seems to +have any. His people are rich enough, and I should think they make him +a good allowance." + +"Of course they do," answered Valentine, "but he throws it away +somehow; and he's the most selfish fellow in the world, and never +spends a halfpenny on any one but himself." + +Raymond was certainly no great addition to the party at Brenlands. His +manners, one could well imagine, resembled those of the ferocious +animal in the Fosberton crest, which capered on a sugar-stick with its +tongue stuck out of its mouth, as though it were making faces at the +world in general. He monopolized the conversation at table, voted +croquet a bore, and spent most of his time lying under a tree smoking +and reading a novel. He fell foul of Joe Crouch (who still came to do +odd jobs in the garden) over some trifling matter, calling him an +impudent blockhead, and telling Miss Fenleigh in a lofty manner that +"he would never allow such a cheeky beggar to be hanging about the +premises at Grenford." + +"I am sick of the fellow," said Valentine to Helen that same evening. +"I wish he wouldn't come here during the holidays; it spoils the whole +thing." + +On the following day Raymond was destined to give his cousins still +more reason for wishing that he had not favoured Brenlands with a +visit. At dinner he was full of a project for borrowing a gun, and +having some target practice in the garden. + +"I know a man living not far away who's got a nice, little, +single-barrelled muzzle-loader. We might borrow it, and make some +bullets, then stick up a piece of board against that hedge at the end +of the long path, and have a regular shooting match." + +"Oh, I don't want any guns here!" said Queen Mab. "I should be afraid +that one of you might get hurt. You'd far better stick to your +croquet." + +"Yes," added Valentine. "It would be precious risky work firing +bullets about in this garden with a muzzle-loader." + +"Pooh! you're a nice chap to think of being a soldier, if you're afraid +of letting off a gun!" + +"Val knows a lot more about guns than you do," broke in Jack. "I +suppose you think a thorn hedge and a bit of board would stop a bullet, +you duffer!" + +Raymond lost his temper, and the discussion was carried on in a manner +which was more spirited than polite. + +"Come, come," interposed Queen Mab, "I think we might change the +subject. I'm sure Raymond won't want to borrow the gun if he knows it +would make me nervous." + +The meal was finished in silence. Anything so near a quarrel had never +been known before at Brenlands, and proved very disturbing in what was +usually such a peaceful atmosphere. + +Jack sauntered out into the garden in no very tranquil frame of mind. +Joe Crouch was there, weeding. They had always been good friends ever +since the pear incident, and something in Jack's mode of action on that +occasion seemed to have gained for him an abiding corner in Crouch's +respect and affections. + +"Well, Joe, what's the news?" + +"Nothing particular that I knows of, sir, but there--there was +somethin' I had to tell you; somethin' about this 'ere young bloke who +comes orderin' every one around, as if the place was his own." + +"What's that?" + +"Why, I'll tell you," continued Crouch, lowering his voice in a +significant manner. "You remember, sir, you was askin' me this time +last year about a man called Hanks, who'd come up to you wantin' money, +and you didn't know 'ow he'd got to know you. Well, he's in jail now +for stealing fowls; but I seen him a month or so back, and got to know +all about the whole business." + +The speaker paused to increase the interest of his story. + +"Well, what was it?" + +"D'you remember, sir, about two years agone you and Master Valentine +and the young ladies went up the river to a place called Starncliff? +Well, Hanks said he saw you there, and that you set some one's rick +afire. He wasn't sure which of you done it, but he had a word with +Master Fosberton as you was comin' 'ome, and he told him it was you two +had been smokin', but that you were his cousins, and he didn't want to +get you into a row; so he said he'd give Hanks five shillings to hold +his tongue, and promised he'd speak to you, and between you you'd make +it up to something more, and that's why Hanks was always botherin' of +you for money." + +Jack's wrath, which had been quickly rising to boiling point during the +recital of this narrative, now fairly bubbled over. + +"What a lie!" he exclaimed. "What a mean cad the fellow is! Why, he +set the rick on fire himself!" + +"I just thought as much," said Joe. + +"Yes, and that's not all. He knew we got into a row at school through +the man talking to us; and then last summer, when the man was drunk, +and met us in the road, he pretended he couldn't tell how it was the +fellow knew our names!" + +"Well, 'ere he is," interrupted Joe Crouch; "and if I was you, I'd just +give him a bit of my mind!" + +Raymond came sauntering across the lawn. + +"I say," he exclaimed, "what a place this is! Fancy not being allowed +to let off a gun. It's just what you might have expected from an old +maid like Aunt Mabel, but I should have thought Valentine would have +had more pluck. A fine sort of soldier he'll make--the milksop!" + +Raymond Fosberton had for some time been running up an account in his +cousin's bad books. This speech was the final entry, and caused Jack +to demand an immediate settlement. + +"Look here," he began, trembling with indignation, "don't you speak +like that to me about Aunt Mab or Valentine, He's got a jolly sight +more pluck than you have, you coward! If you want to begin calling +names, I'll tell you yours--you're a liar and a sneak!" + +"What d'you mean?" + +"I mean what I say. I know all your little game, and it's no good your +trying to keep it dark any longer. You told Hanks that Val and I had +set that rick on fire, and so got us into a row through the man's +speaking to us at Melchester. And last year, when we met him, you made +out you didn't know why he should be always pestering us for money." + +Raymond's face turned pale, but he made no attempt to deny the +accusation. + +"That was one of your cowardly tricks. Another was when you ran away +after knocking that lamp over at the fair, the other day, and left +Rosher and me to get out of the bother as best we could. That was what +practically got me thrown out of the school. For two pins I'd punch +your head, you miserable tailor's dummy!" + +It was hardly likely that a fashionable young man like Master Raymond +Fosberton would stand such language from a school-boy two years his +junior. + +"I should like to see you!" he remarked. "Two can play at that game." + +The speaker did not know the person he was addressing; in another +moment his request was granted. Jack came at him like a tiger, put all +the force of his outraged feelings into a heavy right and left, and +Raymond Fosberton disappeared with a great crash into a laurel bush. + +Joe Crouch rose from his knees with a joyful exclamation, wiping his +hands on his apron. "I should have liked to have had a cut in myself," +he afterwards remarked, "but Master Jack he managed it all splendid!" + +Whatever Joseph's wishes may have been, he had no opportunity of taking +part in the proceedings; for, before the contest could be renewed, +Helen rushed across the lawn and caught Jack by the arm. + +"Oh, don't fight!" she cried breathlessly. "What is the matter?" + +"Ask him!" answered Jack shortly, nodding with his fists still +clenched, in the direction of Fosberton, who was in the act of emerging +from the depths of the laurel bush. "Ask him, he knows." + +"He called me a liar!" answered Fosberton; "and then rushed up and hit +me when I was unprepared, the cad!" + +This assertion very nearly brought on a renewal of the contest, but the +speaker knew that Helen's presence would prevent any more blows being +struck. Jack watched his adversary with a look of contempt, as the +latter wiped the blood from his cut lip. + +"Yes, I said you were a liar and a coward." + +"Oh, hush!" said the girl, laying her hand on her cousin's mouth. +"Don't quarrel any longer; it's dreadful here, at Brenlands! What +would Aunt Mabel say if she knew you'd been fighting? Come away, Jack, +and don't say any more." + +The boy would have liked to stay behind for another private interview +with Raymond, but for Helen's sake he turned on his heel and followed +her into the house. + +"All right, my boy," muttered Raymond, looking after the retreating +figures with a savage scowl on his face, "I'll be even with you some +day, if ever I get the chance." + +There was a great lack of the usual mirth and gaiety at the tea-table +that evening. Every one knew what had happened, and in their anxiety +to avoid any reference to the painful subject conversation flagged, and +even Queen Mab's attempts to enliven the assembly for once proved a +failure. Neither of the boys would have been at all shocked at seeing +a row settled by an exchange of blows, had the dispute taken place at +school; but here, at Brenlands, it seemed a different matter--bad blood +and rough language were out of keeping with the place, and the punching +of heads seemed a positive crime. + +To make matters worse, the day ended with a thunderstorm, and the +evening had to be spent indoors. Raymond was in a sulk, and refused to +join in any of the parlour games which were usually resorted to in wet +weather. + +"Aunt Mab, I wish you'd show us some of your treasures," said Barbara. +She was kneeling upon a chair in front of a funny little semicircular +cupboard with a glass door, let into the panelling of the wall, and +filled with china, little Indian figures, and all kinds of other odds +and ends. + +"Very well, dear, I will," answered Miss Fenleigh, glad to think of +some way of amusing her guests. "Run up and fetch the bunch of keys +out of the middle drawer in my dressing-table." + +The young people gathered round, and the contents of the cupboard were +handed from one to another for examination. The curiosities were many +and various. The girls were chiefly taken with the china; while what +most appealed to Jack and Valentine was a small Moorish dagger. They +carefully examined the blade for any traces of bloodstains, and trying +the point against their necks, speculated as to what it must feel like +to be "stuck." + +"And what's that?" asked Barbara, pointing to a little, square leather +case on the bottom shelf. + +"Ah! that's the thing I value more than anything else," answered Queen +Mab. "There!" she continued, opening the box and displaying a large, +handsome gold watch. "That was given to your grandfather by the +passengers on his ship at the end of one of his voyages to Australia. +They met with dreadful weather, and I know I've heard him say that for +two days and nights, when the storm was at its height, he never left +the deck. You boys ought to be proud to remember it. There, +Valentine, read the inscription." + +The boy read the words engraved on the inside of the case:-- + + Presented to + CAPTAIN JOHN FENLEIGH, + OF THE "EVELINA" STEAMSHIP, + + As a small acknowledgment of the skill and ability displayed by him + under circumstances of exceptional difficulty and danger. + + +"My father has a gold watch that was given to him when he retired from +business," said Raymond; "it's bigger than that, and has got our crest +on the back. By-the-bye," he continued, "aren't you afraid of having +it stolen? I shouldn't keep it in that cupboard, it I were you. You +are certain to get it stolen some day." + +"Oh, we don't have any thieves at Brenlands," answered his aunt, +smiling. + +"I've a jolly good mind to steal it myself," said Jack; "or it you +like, aunt, I'll exchange." + +Jack's watch was always a standing joke against him, and, as he drew it +out, the bystanders laughed. It was something like the timepiece by +which, when the hands were at 9.30 and the bell struck three, one might +know it was twelve o'clock. The silver case was dented and scratched; +the long hand was twisted; the works, from having been taken to pieces +and hurriedly put together again in class, were decidedly out of order; +in fact, Jack was not quite certain if, when cleaning it on one +occasion, he had not lost one of the wheels. + +Queen Mab laughed and shook her head. "No, thank you," she said. "I +think I should prefer to keep mine for the present, though one of you +shall have it some day." + +Raymond always came down to breakfast long after the others had +finished. The next morning there was a letter waiting for him which +had been readdressed on from Melchester. He was still in a sulk, and +the contents of the epistle did not seem to improve his temper. He +devoured his food in silence, and then went off by himself to smoke at +the bottom of the garden. + +"He is a surly animal," said Valentine. "I wish he had never come." + +"Well, he's going to-morrow evening," answered Helen, "and I suppose we +must make the best of him till then." + +During the remainder of the day Raymond kept to himself, and though, +after tea, he condescended to take part in some of the usual indoor +games, he did it in so ungracious a manner as to spoil the pleasure of +the other players. + +Somehow the last day or so did not seem at all like the usual happy +times at Brenlands. There was a screw loose somewhere, and every one +was not quite so merry and good-tempered as usual. + +"Bother it! wet again!" said Barbara, pushing back her chair from the +breakfast-table with a frown and a pout. + +"Never mind," answered her aunt. "Rain before seven, fine before +eleven." + +Barbara did not believe in proverbs. She wandered restlessly round the +room, inquiring what was the good of rain in August, and expressing her +discontent with things in general. + +"Oh, I say," she exclaimed suddenly, halting in front of the little +glass door of the cupboard, "what do you think has happened? That dear +little china man with the guitar has tumbled over and broken his head +off!" + +Helen and the boys crowded round to look. It was certainly the +case--the little china figure lay over on its side, broken in the +manner already described. + +"Who can have done it?" + +"I expect I must have upset it the other evening when I was showing you +the things," answered Miss Fenleigh. "Never mind, I think I can mend +it. Go and fetch my keys, Bar, and we'll see just what's the matter +with the little gentleman." + +"This is funny," she continued, a few minutes later, "the key won't +turn. Dear me! what a silly I am! why, the door isn't locked after +all." + +The little image was taken out, and while it was being examined Barbara +picked up the little leather case on which it usually stood. In +another moment she gave vent to an ejaculation of surprise which +startled the remainder of the company, and made them immediately forget +all about the china troubadour. + +"Why, aunt, where's the watch?" + +Every one looked. It was true enough--the case was empty, and the +watch gone. For a moment there was a dead silence, the company being +too much astonished to speak. + +"Stolen!" exclaimed Raymond. "I said it would be some day." + +"But when was it taken?--Who could have done it?--Where did they get +in?--How did they know about it?" + +These and other questions followed each other in rapid succession. A +robbery at Brenlands! The thing seemed impossible; and yet here was +the empty case to prove it. The watch had disappeared, and no one had +the slightest notion what could have become of it. + +"There's something in this lock," said Valentine, who had been peering +into the keyhole. "Lend me your crochet needle, Helen, and I'll get it +out." + +With some little difficulty the obstacle was removed, and on +examination proved to be a fragment of a broken key. + +"Hallo!" said Raymond, "here's a clue at any rate. Don't lose it; put +it in that little jar on the mantelpiece." + +The remainder of the morning was passed in an excited discussion +regarding the mysterious disappearance of the gold timepiece. + +"I can't think any one can have stolen it," said Queen Mab. "How +should they have known about it? and, besides, if any one broke into +the house last night, how is it they didn't take anything else--that +little silver box, for instance?" + +"It's stolen, right enough," said Raymond. "It couldn't have been Joe +Crouch, could it?" + +"Not a bit of it," answered Jack decisively. "He wouldn't do a thing +like that. He stole some fruit once, but he's honest enough now." + +"Could the servant have taken it?" + +"Oh, no!" answered Queen Mab. "I could trust Jane with anything." + +During the afternoon the weather cleared, but no one seemed inclined to +do anything; a feeling of gloom and uneasiness lay upon the whole +company. + +Jack was sitting in a quiet corner reading, when his aunt called him. + +"Oh, there you are! I wanted to speak to you alone just for a minute. +Helen told me about your quarrel with Raymond, and I want you to make +it up. He's going away to-night, and I shouldn't like you to part, +except as friends." + +The boy frowned. "I don't want to be friends," he answered +impatiently. "He's played me some very shabby tricks, and I think the +less we see of him the better." + +"Perhaps so; but I'm so sorry that you should have actually come to +blows, and that while you were staying here with me at Brenlands." + +"I'm not sorry! I wish I'd hit him harder!" + +"Oh, you 'ugly duckling!'" answered the lady, smiling, and running her +fingers through his crumpled hair. "You'll find out some day that +'punching heads,' as you call it, isn't the most satisfactory kind of +revenge. However, I don't expect you to believe it now, but I think +you'll do what I ask you. Go to Raymond, and say you're sorry you +forgot yourself so far as to strike him, and ask his pardon. There, I +don't think there is anything in that which need go against your +conscience, or that it is a request that any gentleman need be ashamed +to make." + +Jack complied, but with a very bad grace. If the suggestion had come +from any one but Queen Mab, he would have scouted the idea from the +first. + +He found Raymond swinging in a hammock under the trees. + +"I say," he began awkwardly, "I'm sorry I hit you when we had that row. +Aunt Mabel wished me to tell you so." + +"Hum! You'll be sorrier still before long. I suppose now you want to +'kiss and be friends'?" + +"No, I don't." + +"Then if you don't want to be forgiven," returned the other with a +sneer, "why d'you come and say you're sorry?" + +Jack turned away in a rage, feeling that he had at all events got the +worst of this encounter, and that it was entirely his own fault for +having laid himself open to the rebuff. + +He felt vexed with Helen for telling his aunt what had taken place, and +with the latter for influencing him to offer Raymond an apology. +Altogether the atmosphere around him seemed charged with discomfort and +annoyance, and even the merry tinkle of the tea-bell was not so welcome +as usual. + +"Where's Raymond?" asked Queen Mab. + +"I think he's putting his things in his bag," answered Valentine. +"Shall I go and call him?" + +At that moment the subject of their conversation entered the room. He +walked round to his place in silence, pausing for a moment to take +something down from the mantelpiece. + +"Who owns a key with a scrap of steel chain tied on to it?" + +"I do," answered Jack. "It belongs to my play-box." + +"Well, here it is," returned the other. "I picked it up among the +bushes. Do you notice anything peculiar about it?" + +"No." + +"You don't? Well, here's something belonging to it," and so saying, +the speaker flipped across the table the little metal fragment which +had been taken from the lock in the cupboard door. + +"Confound it!" said Jack. "The thief must have used my key!" + +"_Faugh_!" ejaculated Raymond, bitterly. + +Jack looked up quickly with an expression of anger and astonishment. + +"What's the matter?" he cried. "D'you mean to say I took the watch?" + +"I've said nothing of the kind," answered the other coldly; "though I +remember you did say you'd a good mind to steal it. I've simply given +you back your key." + +If a thunderbolt had fallen in the middle of the pretty tea-table, it +could not have caused more astonishment and dismay than this last +speech of Raymond's. Every one for the moment was too much taken aback +to speak. + +The smouldering fire of Jack's wrath had only needed this breeze to set +it into a flame. His undisciplined spirit immediately showed itself in +an outburst of ungovernable anger. + +"You are a cad and a liar!" he said. "Wait till I get you outside." + +"Hush! hush!" interrupted Miss Fenleigh, fearing a repetition of the +previous encounter. "I can't have such words used here. Perhaps +Raymond may be mistaken." + +The last words were spoken thoughtlessly, in the heat of the moment. +Jack in his anger resented that "may" and "perhaps," as implying doubt +as to his honesty, and regarded the silence of the others as a sign +that they also considered him guilty. In his wild, reckless manner he +dashed his knife down upon the table, and with a parting glare at his +accuser, marched straight out of the room. + +Valentine rose to follow him. + +"No, Val," said Miss Fenleigh, in an agitated voice. "Leave him to +himself for a little while. He'll be calmer directly." + +Ten minutes later the front door closed with a bang. + +"He's going out to get cool, I suppose," said Raymond scornfully. "He +didn't seem to relish my finding his play-box key. However, perhaps +he'll explain matters when he comes back." + +But Jack did not come back. The blind fury of the moment gave place to +a dogged, unreasoning sense of wrong and injustice. He had been +accused of robbing the person he loved best on earth, and she believed +him to be guilty. The old, wayward spirit once more took full +possession of his heart, and in a moment he was ready to throw +overboard all that he prized most dearly. + +He had some money in his pocket, enough to carry him home if he walked +to Melchester, and his luggage could come on another time. The plan +was formed, and he did not hesitate to put it into immediate execution. + +It was not until nearly an hour after his departure that Queen Mab +realized what had become of him, and then her distress was great. + +"Why didn't he wait to speak to us!" she cried. "We must all write him +a letter by to-night's post, to tell him that, of course, we don't +think he's the thief, and to beg him to come back." + +"If you like to do it at once," said Raymond, "I'll post them at +Grenford. They'll reach him then the first thing in the morning." + +The letters were written; even Barbara, who never could be got to +handle a pen except under strong compulsion, scribbled nearly four +pages, and filled up the blank space at the end with innumerable kisses. + +About two hours later the scapegoat tramped, footsore and weary, into +the Melchester railway station; and at nearly the same moment, Raymond +Fosberton, on his way home, took from his pocket the letters which had +been entrusted to his care, tore them to fragments, and dropped them +over the low wall of a bridge into the canal. + +"Now we're about quits!" he said. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE SOUND OF THE DRUM. + +"'I believe I must go out into the world again,' said the +duckling."--_The Ugly Duckling_. + + +The summers came and went, but Jack Fenleigh remained a rebel, refusing +to join the annual gathering at Brenlands, and to pay his homage at the +court of Queen Mab. + +One bright September morning, about four years after the holidays +described in the previous chapter, he was sitting at an untidy +breakfast-table, evidently eating against time, and endeavouring to +divide his attention between swallowing down the meal and reading a +letter which lay open in front of him. The teapot, bread, butter, and +other provisions had been gathered round him in a disorderly group, so +as to be near his hand; the loaf was lying on the tablecloth, the bacon +was cold, and the milk-jug was minus a handle. It was, on the whole, a +very different display from the breakfast-table at Brenlands; and +perhaps it was this very thought that crossed the young man's mind as +he turned and dug viciously at the salt, which had caked nearly into a +solid block. + +In outward appearance, to a casual observer, Jack had altered very +little since the day when he knocked Master Raymond Fosberton into the +laurel bush; yet there was a change. He had broadened, and grown to +look older, and more of a man, though the old impatient look seemed to +have deepened in his face like the lines between his eyebrows. + +The party at Brenlands had waited in vain for a reply to their letters. +Within a week, Miss Fenleigh had written again, assuring the runaway +that neither she nor his cousins for one moment suspected him of having +stolen the watch; but in the meantime the mischief had been done. + +"They think I did it," muttered Jack to himself, "or they'd have +written at once. Aunt Mabel wants to forgive me, and smooth it over; +but they know I'm a scamp, and now they believe I'm a thief!" + +Again he hardened his heart, and though his feelings towards Queen Mab +and his cousins never changed, yet his mind was made up to cut himself +adrift from the benefit of their society. He left Valentine's letter +unanswered, and refused all his aunt's pressing invitations to visit +her again. + +Every year these were renewed with the same warmth and regularity, and +it was one which now lay open beside his plate. + +"I suppose," ran the letter, "that you have heard how well Val passed +out of Sandhurst. He is coming down to see me before joining his +regiment, and will bring Helen and Barbara with him. I want you to +come too, and then we shall all be together once more, and have the +same dear old times over again. I shan't put up with any excuses, as I +know you take your holiday about this time, so just write and say when +you are coming." + +Jack lifted his eyes from the letter, and made a grab at the loaf. + +"I should like to go," he muttered; "how jolly the place must +look!--but no, I've left it too long. I ought to have gone back at +once, or never to have run away like that. Of course, now they must +think that I stole the watch. Yet, perhaps, if I gave them my word of +honour, they'd believe me; I know Aunt Mabel would." + +At this moment the door opened, and a gentleman entered the room. He +was wearing a shabby-looking dressing-gown, a couple of ragged quill +pens were stuck in his mouth, and he carried in his hand a bundle of +closely-written sheets of foolscap. Mr. Basil Fenleigh, to tell the +truth, was about to issue an invitation to a "few friends" to join him +in starting an advertisement and bill-posting agency business; to be +conducted, so said the rough copy of the circular, on entirely novel +lines, which could not fail to ensure success, and the drafting out of +which had occupied most of his leisure time during the past twelve +months. + +"Humph!" he exclaimed sourly. "Down at your usual time, eh? You'll be +late again at your office." + +"No, I shan't," answered the son, glancing up at the clock. "I can get +there in ten minutes." + +"You can't. You know very well Mr. Caston complained only the other +day of your coming behind your time. The next thing will be that +you'll lose your situation." + +"I don't care if I do; I'm heartily sick of the place." + +"You're heartily sick of any kind of work, and you always have been." + +Jack threw down his knife and fork and rose from the table, leaving +part of his breakfast unfinished on his plate. + +"All right," he said sulkily; "I'll go at once." + +He strode out of the room, crushing Queen Mab's letter into a crumpled +ball of paper in his clenched fist. After what had just passed, he +would certainly not broach the subject of a holiday. + +The morning's work seemed, if possible, more distasteful than ever. +Casting up sheets of analysis, he got wrong in his additions, and had +to go over them again. He watched the workmen moving about in the yard +outside, and wished he had been trained to some manual trade like +theirs. Then he thought of Valentine, and for the first time his +affection for his old friend gave place to a feeling of bitterness and +envy. + +"Confound the fellow! he's always done just as he liked. I wish he was +here in my shoes for a bit. It isn't fair one chap should have such +luck, and another none at all. Little he cares what becomes of me. I +may rot here all my life, and no one troubles the toss of a button +whether I'm happy or miserable." + +He was in the same ill-humour when he returned home to dinner. Mr. +Fenleigh was also out of temper, and seemed inclined to give vent to +his feelings by renewing the dispute which had commenced at the +breakfast-table. Father and son seldom met except at meals; and +unfortunately, on these occasions, the conversation frequently took the +form of bickering and complaint. Jack, as a rule, appeared sullenly +indifferent to what passed; this time, however, his smouldering +discontent burst out into a name of anger. + +"I suppose you _were_ late this morning?" + +"No, I wasn't." + +"Humph! You said before you started that you were sick of the place, +and didn't care whether you lost it. If you do, I hope you won't +expect me to find you another berth." + +"No, I'll find one myself." + +"What d'you think you're good for? You're more likely to idle about +here doing nothing than find any other employment." + +"I work harder than you do," said the son angrily. + +"Hold your tongue, sir! If you can't treat me with some amount of +respect, you'd better leave the house." + +"So I will. I'll go and enlist." + +"You may go where you please. I've done the best I could for you, and +all the return I get is ingratitude and abuse. Now you can act for +yourself." + +It was not the first time that remarks of this character had been fired +across the table. Jack made no reply, but at that moment his mind was +seized with a desperate resolve. Once for all he would settle this +question, and change the present weary existence for something more +congenial to his taste. All that afternoon he turned the plan over in +his thoughts, and his determination to follow it up grew stronger as +the time approached for putting it into execution. What if the move +were a false one? a person already in the frying-pan could but jump +into the fire; and any style of life seemed preferable to the one he +was now living. His father had told him to please himself, and, as he +had only himself to consider, he would do so, and follow the drum, as +had always been his inclination from childhood. + +The big bell clanged out the signal for giving over work; but Jack, +instead of returning home, picked up a small handbag he had brought +with him, and walked off in the direction of the railway station. On +his way thither, he counted the money in his pocket. He had some idea +of going to London, but the expense of the journey would be too heavy +for his resources. It mattered little where the plunge was taken; he +would go to the barracks at Melchester. + +He lingered for a moment at the window of the booking-office, hardly +knowing why he hesitated. + +Why not? He had only himself to please. + +The clerk grew impatient. "Well?" he said. + +Jack threw down his money. "Third, Melchester!" he said, and so +crossed the Rubicon. + +Very few changes had taken place in the little city during the four +years which had elapsed since he last visited it. Here and there a +house had been modernized, or a new shop-front erected, but in the +neighbourhood of the school no alterations seemed to have been made. +He strolled past it in the dusk, and paused to look in through the +gates: the boys had not yet returned, and the quadrangle was dark and +deserted. He thought of the night when he and Rosher had climbed in by +way of the headmaster's garden, and forced an entry into the house +through the bathroom window. It seemed a hardship then to be obliged +to be in by a certain time, yet it was preferable to having no +resting-place to claim as one's own. + +A few minutes later he halted again, this time outside the +well-remembered cookshop. "Duster's" was exactly the same as it always +had been, except for the fact that, it being holiday time, the display +of delicacies in the window was not quite so large as usual. Jack +smiled as there flashed across his mind the memory of the literary +society's supper; the faces of the sprightly Tinkleby, Preston the +bowler, "Guzzling Jimmy," and a host of others, rose before him in the +deepening twilight. They had been good comrades together once; most of +them had probably made a fair start by this time in various walks of +life. He wondered if they remembered him, and what they would say if +they knew what he was doing, and whether any of them would care what +became of him. No, he had only himself to please now, and if he +preferred soldiering to office-work, what was there to hinder him from +taking the shilling? + +There was no particular hurry. He passed the night at a small +temperance hotel, and next morning, after a plain breakfast, started +out for a stroll into the country. He had written a note to his father +before leaving Padbury merely stating his intention, and giving no +address. There was nothing more to be done but to enjoy himself as a +free man before making application to the nearest recruiting sergeant. + +He passed the barracks where the 1st Battalion of the Royal Blankshire +Regiment was quartered, and thought how often he and Valentine had +lingered there, listening to the bugle-calls, and watching the drill +instructors at work in the square with their awkward squads. Just +inside the gate the guard were falling in, preparatory to the arrival +of the relief, and something in their smart appearance, and in the very +clank of their rifle-butts upon the flagstones, stirred his heart; yes, +that was the calling he meant to follow. + +He strode off along the Hornalby road, whistling a lively tune, and +conjuring up bright mental pictures of the life before him. He might +not have Valentine's luck, but he would make up for it in other ways. +The path was steep and rough, no doubt, but in treading it scores of +brave men had won honour and renown; and with courage and +determination, there was no reason why he should not do the same. It +was a man's life, and here there was certainly more chance of +distinguishing oneself than in a manufacturer's office. + +With these and other thoughts of a similar nature occupying his mind, +Jack tramped on gaily enough in the bright sunshine. Suddenly, +however, he stopped dead in the middle of the road. He had come in +sight of a wayside inn, the Black Horse, and the thought struck him +that he was within two miles of Brenlands. + +All unbidden, a host of recollections came rushing upon him. The last +time he had walked from Melchester along this road was the afternoon on +which he brought back the silver locket for Queen Mab. What if the +pony-carriage should suddenly turn the corner? and yet, why should he +be afraid to meet her? He was doing nothing to be ashamed of, and the +recollection of the stolen watch never entered his head. He would have +given anything to have gone on and seen her again--to have had one more +kind smile and loving word. "My own boy Jack!" Would he ever hear her +say that again? + +He turned on his heel, and began the return journey with a gloomy look +of discontent upon his face. His castles in the air had vanished: what +was there that made a soldier's life attractive but the right to go +about in a red coat like a barrel-organ monkey? For two pins he would +abandon the project, and go back to Padbury. + +This impression, however, was not destined to last very long. As he +approached the barracks he noticed a small crowd of idlers collecting +near a gateway, and at the same instant the silence was broken by the +sound of a drum. He knew what it was--the regiment had been out +drilling on the neighbouring common, and was on its way home. + +He hurried forward to watch the soldiers as they passed. + +Boom! boom! boom!--boom! boom! boom! With a glorious crash the brass +instruments burst out with the tune. Jack knew it well, and his heart +danced to it as the band marched out into the road. + + + "'Twas in the merry month of May, + When bees from flower to flower did hum, + Soldiers through the town marched gay, + The village flew to the sound of the drum!" + + +Jack drew back into the hedge to watch as the regiment went by. + +"March at ease!" The sunlight flashed as the arms were sloped, and +glittered on bright blades as the officers returned their swords. Not +a detail escaped his eager observation; the swing of the rifle-barrels, +the crisp tramp of the marching feet, even the chink of the chain +bridles as the horses of the mounted officers shook their heads, all +seemed to touch answering chords in his inmost heart, and awaken there +the old love and longing for a soldier's life. + + + "The tailor he got off his knees, + And to the ranks did boldly come: + He said he ne'er would sit at ease, + But go with the rest, and follow the drum!" + + +Jack hesitated no longer, but hurried back to pick up the few +belongings he had left at the hotel, determined to put his project into +execution without further delay. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE QUEEN'S SHILLING. + +"If he had called out, 'Here I am,' it would have been all right; but +he was too proud to cry out for help while he wore a uniform."--_The +Brave Tin Soldier_. + + +There was no more hesitation or uncertainty about his movements now, +and before he knew it, Jack found himself once more back at the +barracks. The corporal on "gate duty," who, for want of something +better to do, had been chastising his own leg with a "swagger cane," +ceased in the performance of this self-imposed penance, and shot a +significant glance at the stranger. + +"Looking out for any one?" he inquired, by way of opening up a +conversation. + +"No," answered Jack; "the fact is, I've come to enlist. D'you think +you could make a soldier of me?" + +"Well, at any rate, I should say you were big enough," answered the +corporal briskly. "Why, we ought to make a general of a smart young +fellow like you, in less than no time!" + +This seemed a promising commencement; but the adjutant, in front of +whom Jack was conducted after undergoing a preliminary examination as +to his height, chest measurement, and strength of eyesight, did not +appear to be of quite so sanguine a temperament as the non-commissioned +officer. + +He eyed the would-be recruit with no very favourable expression on his +face, as he prepared to take down the answers to the questions on the +attestation paper. + +"Name?" + +"John Fenleigh." + +"Is that a _nom de guerre_?" + +"No, sir, it's my real name." + +"Humph! So you speak French?" + +Jack coloured slightly. + +"No, sir--that is, I learned some at school." + +The officer looked up, and laid his quill pen down on the table. + +"Look here, my good fellow," he said, "it's not my business to ask what +brings you here, but one thing I should like to know: how long do you +expect you are going to remain in the army--a week, or six months?" + +"The full time, I hope, sir." + +"Are your parents living? And do they know of the step you're taking?" + +"My father is living. I told him what I meant to do before I left +home." + +"Well," returned the officer, once more dipping his quill in the ink, +"if you change your mind before to-morrow, you'll have to pay a +sovereign; after that, it'll cost you ten pounds!" + +The paper was filled up, and our hero received the historical shilling, +which he slipped into his waistcoat pocket, having previously +determined never to part with that particular coin, unless he were +obliged. He was then conducted to the hospital, and there examined by +the medical officer; his eyesight being once more tested by his having +to count a number of white dots on a piece of black paper displayed on +the opposite side of the room, each eye being covered alternately. + +Having passed satisfactorily through this ordeal, he was informed that +he could not be sworn in before the following day, when he must present +himself at the orderly room at eleven o'clock. Until that time he was +free to do as he pleased; and being still in the possession of the +greater portion of his previous week's salary, he chose to sleep +another night at the hotel, and so spent the remainder of the day +wandering about the streets of Melchester. + +On the following morning, at the appointed hour, he returned to the +barracks, and after some little delay, was brought into the presence of +the commanding officer, where he was duly "sworn in," and signed his +name to the declaration of allegiance. + +"You'll join C Company," said the sergeant-major. "Just take him +across, orderly, and show him the room." + +With feelings very much akin to those of the "new boy" arriving for the +first time at a big boarding-school, our hero followed his guide across +the square, up a flight of stairs, and down a long corridor, amid a +good deal of noise and bustle. The bugle had not long since sounded +"Come to the cook-house door," and the dinner orderlies were hurrying +back with the supply of rations for their respective rooms. + +At length a door was reached, in front of which the orderly paused +with, "Here you are!" Jack entered, and made his first acquaintance +with his future home--the barrack-room. + +It was large and lofty, with whitewashed walls and a floor of bare +boards. A row of wooden tables and forms ran down the centre, above +which was a hanging shelf for the men's plates and basins. Around the +room were sixteen small iron bedsteads, each made in such a fashion +that one half closed up under the other, the mattress when not in use +being rolled up and secured by a strap, with the blankets and sheets +folded on the top; the remaining portion of the couch, on which the rug +was laid, serving for a seat. Above the bed were shelves and hooks for +accoutrements, and other possessions. Above some of the cots small +pictures or photographs were hung, which served to relieve the monotony +of the whitewash; but these, like the rest of Tommy Atkins's property, +were arranged with that scrupulous care and neatness which is so +characteristic of all that concerns the service from baton to +button-stick. + +At the moment Jack entered, his future room-mates were busy round one +end of the tables, assisting the orderly man in the task of pouring +soup from a large can into the small basins, and making a similar equal +division of the meat and potatoes. The new-comer's arrival, therefore, +was scarcely noticed, except by the sergeant, who told him to sit down, +and saw that he received a share of the rations. The fare was +certainly rough, and seemed in keeping with the table manners of the +rank and file of the Royal Blankshire; they forbore to "trouble" each +other for things out of reach, but secured them with a dive and a grab. +"Here, chuck us the rooty!" was the request when one needed bread; +while though substantial mustard and pepper pots adorned the board, the +salt was in the primitive form of a lump, which was pushed about from +man to man, and scraped down with the dinner knives. + +But Jack had not come to barracks expecting a _table d'hôte_ dinner of +eight or nine courses, served by waiters in evening dress, and he set +to work with a good grace on what was set before him. The remarks +addressed to him, if a trifle blunt, were good-natured enough, and he +replied to them in the same spirit. His comrades evidently remarked +from the first that he was a cut above the ordinary recruit; but he was +wise enough to avoid showing any airs, and soon saw that this line of +conduct was appreciated. + +The meal was in progress when there was a sharp rap, and the door was +opened. + +"'Tenshun!" The men laid down their knives and forks, and rose to +their feet. + +"Dinners all right here?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"All present?" + +"All present, sir." The orderly officer glanced round the room, and +then turned and walked out. + +"'E's a gentleman, is Mr. Lawson," murmured one of the men; "'e always +shuts the door behind 'im." Jack's eye followed the figure of the +lieutenant as he rejoined the orderly sergeant in the passage. It was +not so much the sash and sword, and neat, blue patrol jacket, as the +cheery voice and pleasant sunburnt face, which had attracted our hero's +attention; somehow these reminded him of Valentine, and turned his +thoughts back to his old friend. He wondered how his cousin looked in +the same uniform. Well, well, however wide and deep the gulf might be +which the doings of the last two days had placed between them, they +were, in a way, reunited; for the service was the same, whatever +difference there might be in shoulder-straps. + +Dinner over, some of the men made down their beds for a nap, while +others announced their intention "to do some soldiering," a term which +implied the cleaning and polishing of accoutrements. + +Sergeant Sparks, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the room, +had a few friendly words with Jack, told him what he would have to do +on the following day, and advised him in the meantime to make himself +as comfortable as he could. "Here," he added, turning to a private, +"just show this man his cot, and explain to him how to keep his +bedding; you may want a good turn yourself some time." + +The soldier obeyed readily enough. Jack had already caught his eye +several times during dinner, and now followed him into a corner of the +room, resolved if possible to patch up a friendship. In the carrying +out of this intention he was destined to experience a startling +surprise. + +The man paused before one of the end beds, and began to unfasten the +strap of the mattress. + +"I didn't think of meeting you here, Mr. Fenleigh." + +Jack started and stared at the speaker in silent astonishment. + +"You remember me, sir?--Joe Crouch." + +"What! Joe Crouch, who used to work at Brenlands?" + +"Yes, sir; Joe Crouch as stole the pears," answered the soldier, +smiling. "I never expected to find you 'listin' in the army, sir. I +suppose Miss Fenleigh ain't aware of what you're doin'?" + +"Oh, no!" exclaimed the other eagerly. "Promise me you'll never tell +any one at Brenlands where I am--swear you won't." + +"Very well, sir," replied Joe Crouch, calmly proceeding to unroll the +mattress and make down the bed. + +"For goodness' sake, drop that _sir_. Look here, Joe: I'm a lame dog, +down on my luck, and no good to anybody; but we were friendly years +ago, and if you'll have me for a comrade now, I'll do my best to be a +good one." + +Joe flung down the bedding, and held out his big, brown hand. + +"That I will!" he answered. "You did the square thing by me once, and +now I'll see you through; don't you fret." + +Tea in barracks was evidently a very informal meal, of which no great +account was taken. As Jack sat down to his bowl and chunk of bread, +Joe Crouch pushed a screw of paper in front of him, which on +examination proved to contain a small pat of butter. + +"What's this?" asked Jack. + +"Fat," answered Joe, shortly. "From the canteen," he added. + +"Then you've paid for it, and--look here--you've got none yourself." + +"Don't want any," answered Joe, breaking up a crust and dropping it +into his tea. "There you are. That's what's called a 'floatin' +battery.'" + +In the evening most of the men went out. Jack, however, preferred to +remain where he was, and passed the time reading a paper he had brought +with him, at one of the tables. Sergeant Sparks came up to him and +chatted pleasantly for half an hour. He wore a ribbon at his breast, +and had stirring stories to tell of the Afghan war, and Roberts' march +to Candahar. About half-past eight the men began to return from their +walks and various amusements, and the barrack-room grew more noisy. At +half-past nine the roll was called, and the orders read out for the +following day, and Jack was not sorry when the time came to turn in. +Crouch came over to see if he understood the preparation of his cot. + +"The feathers in these 'ere beds grew on rather a large bird," remarked +Joe, referring to the straw mattress, "but they're soft enough when you +come off a spell of guard duty or a day's manoeuvrin'." + +The bugle sounded the long, melancholy G, and the orderly man turned +off the gas. Our hero lay awake for some time listening to the heavy +breathing of his new comrades, and then turned over and fell asleep. + +The bright morning sunshine was streaming in through the big windows +when the clear, ringing notes of reveille and the cheery strains of +"Old Daddy Longlegs" roused him to consciousness of where he was. + +"Now then, my lads, show a leg there!" cried the sergeant. + +Jack stretched and yawned. Yes, it was certainly a rough path, but his +mind was made up to tread it with a good heart, and this being the +case, he was not likely to turn back. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +ON ACTIVE SERVICE. + +"A voice cried out, 'I declare here is the tin soldier!'"--_The Brave +Tin Soldier_. + + +A brilliant, clear sky overhead, and such a scorching sun that the air +danced with the heat, as though from the blast of a furnace; surely +this could not be the twenty-fifth of December! + +But Christmas Day it was--Christmas Day in the camp at Korti. + +[Illustration: "It was Christmas Day in the camp at Korti."] + +Among the pleasant groves of trees which bordered the steep banks of +the Nile glistened the white tents of the Camel Corps. Still farther +back from the river lay fields of grass and patches of green dhurra; +and behind these again an undulating waste of sand and gravel, dotted +here and there with scrub and rock, and stretching away to the +faintly-discerned hills of the desert. The shade of the trees tempered +the heat, making a pleasant change after the roasting, toilsome journey +up country. + +Here, though hardly to be recognized with their ragged clothing and +unshaven faces, was gathered a body of men who might be regarded as +representing the flower of England's army--Life Guards, Lancers, +Dragoons, Grenadiers, Highlanders, and linesmen from many a famous foot +regiment; all were there, ready to march and fight shoulder to shoulder +in order to rescue Gordon from his perilous position in Khartoum. + +Every day the numbers in camp had been gradually growing larger, fresh +batches of troops arriving either on camels or in boats. A whole fleet +of these "whalers" lay moored along the bank of the Nile; the usual +quiet of the river being continually broken by the dog-like panting of +steam launches hurrying up and down the stream. + +Friendly natives, clad in loose shirts and skull-caps, wandered through +the lines, gazing wonderingly at all they saw; while in strange +contrast to their unintelligible jabberings, rose the familiar _patois_ +of the barrack-room, or snatches of some popular music-hall song hummed +or whistled by every urchin in the streets of London. + +The concentration of the expedition had now been almost completed, and +the chief topic of conversation was the immediate prospect of a desert +march to Shendy. + +But to return to our commencement, Christmas Day it was; and however +difficult it might have been to realize this as far as the weather was +concerned, the fact had, to a certain extent, been impressed upon the +minds of the men by the supplementing of their ordinary dinner rations +with a gallant attempt at plum-pudding, manufactured for the most part +out of boiled dates. + +Two men, who had just partaken of this delicacy, were lying stretched +out full length under a shady tree, their pith helmets brought well +forward over their eyes, their grey serge jumpers thrown open, and +pipes in their mouths. To see them now, with their tattered nether +garments, stubbly chins, and sunburnt faces, from which the skin was +peeling off in patches, one could hardly have recognized in them the +same smart soldiers who paraded a few months ago on the barrack square +at Melchester. Yet such they were, as the reader will soon discover by +the opening remarks of their conversation. + +"This weather don't seem very seasonable. I wonder whether it's frost +and snow away home at Brenlands." + +"Yes; I wonder if the reservoir at Hornalby is frozen. We used to go +skating there when I was at school. It seems a jolly long time ago +now!" + +"It don't seem three years ago to me since you enlisted. I never +thought you'd have stayed so long." + +"Didn't you? When my mind's made up, it's apt to stick to it, Joe, my +boy. Besides, I had no prospect of anything better." + +There was a pause, during which the two comrades (who, from the +foregoing, will have been recognized as our hero and Joe Crouch) +continued to puff away at their pipes in silence, listening to the +remarks of three men who were playing a drowsy game with a tattered +pack of cards. + +"These cards are gettin' precious ragged; you'd better get 'em +clipped."--"Why don't you play the king?"--"'Cause there ain't one! +he's one of 'em as is lost." + +"You used to have fine times, I reckon, when you and Mr. Valentine and +the young ladies came to stay at Miss Fenleigh's," said Crouch. "I +wonder what she'd say if she knew you was out here in Egypt." + +"I took precious good care she shouldn't know. I suppose she heard +from the guv'nor that I went off and enlisted, but I didn't send word +what regiment I joined. I never mean to see her again--no fear!" + +"She was a kind lady," murmured Joe reflectively; "very good to me once +upon a time." + +"Yes, that she was--the best and kindest woman in the world; and that's +just the reason why I'm glad to think she doesn't know what's become of +me.-- Hallo, Swabs, what are you after?" + +The person thus addressed was a gaunt, lanky-looking warrior, clad +simply in helmet, shirt, and trousers; the sleeves of his "greyback" +were rolled up above his elbows; and he was armed with a roughly-made +catapult, evidently intended for the destruction of some of the small, +brightly-coloured birds that were flitting about among the branches of +the palms. "Swabs," who answered at roll-call to the name of Smith H., +in addition to holding the badge as best shot in the regiment, was a +popular character in C Company. + +"Shist!" he answered; "when there ain't nothink better to shoot at, I'm +goin' to try me 'and on some of these dickies." + +"Swabs" was evidently more skilful with the rifle than with his present +weapon. He discharged his pebble, but with no result. + +"Miss; high right," said Jack. "Where did you get your elastic from?" + +"The tube of me filter. I'll take a finer sight next time," and +"Swabs" went stalking off in search of further sport. + +"It seems hard to imagine that we're on the real business at last," +said Jack, clasping his hands behind his head and stretching out his +legs. "After so many sham fights, it seems rum to think of one in real +earnest. The strange thing to me," he continued, "is to think how +often my cousin and I used to talk about war, and wonder what it was +like; and we thought he was the one more likely to see it. I used to +be always grumbling about his luck, and now I expect he'd envy me mine." + +"I suppose he hasn't come out?" + +"No, I don't think so. I forget just where he's stationed. Look at +Tom Briggs over there, he using his towel to put a patch on the seat of +his breeches. Hey, Tommy! how are you going to dry yourself when you +wash?" + +"Wash!" answered the man, looking up from his work with a grin, "you'll +be glad enough afore long to lap up every spot of water you come +across; there won't be much talk of washin' in this 'ere desert, I'm +thinkin'." + +The answer was lost on Jack; something else had suddenly attracted his +attention. He sat up and made a movement as though he would rise to +his feet. An officer had just strolled past, wearing a fatigue cap and +the usual serge jumper. His face was tanned a deep brown, and showed +up in strong contrast to his fair hair and small, light-coloured +moustache. Our hero's first impulse was to run after and accost the +stranger, but he checked himself, and sank back into his former +position. + +"I say, Briggs," he called, "what men were those who came up in the +boats yesterday?" + +"Some of the ----sex Regiment," answered the other, stooping forward to +bite off his cotton with his teeth. + +Jack's heart thumped heavily, and he caught his breath; his eyes had +not deceived him, and the subaltern who had just walked by was +Valentine. + +He was roused from his reverie by the warning call to "stables," it +being the time for feeding and grooming the camels. They were queer +steeds, these "ships of the desert," and for those who had never ridden +them before even mounting and dismounting was no easy task. In the +case of the former, unless the animals' heads were brought round to +their shoulders, and held there by means of the rope which served as a +rein, they were apt to rise up suddenly before the rider had got +properly into the saddle, a proceeding usually followed by disastrous +results; while, on the other hand, the sudden plunge forward as they +dropped on their knees, followed by the lurch in the opposite direction +when their hind-quarters went down, made it an extremely easy matter to +come a cropper in either direction. Their necks seemed to be made of +indiarubber, and their hind legs, with which they could scratch the top +of their heads, or, if so inclined, kick out behind, even when lying +down, appeared to be furnished with double joints. Jack had christened +his mount "Lamentations," from the continual complaints which it +uttered; but in this the animal was no worse than the remainder of its +fellows, who bellowed and roared whatever was happening, whether they +were being unsaddled, groomed, mounted, or fed. + +With thoughts centred on his recent discovery, our hero made his way to +the spot where the camels of his detachment were picketed, and there +went mechanically through the work of cleaning up the lines, and the +still more unsavoury task of attending to "Lam's" toilet. Should he +speak to Valentine, or not? That was the question which occupied his +mind. Unless he did so, it was hardly likely that after seven years, +and with a moustache and sprouting beard, his cousin would recognize +him among the seventeen hundred men destined to form the expedition. + +The men marched back to their lines, and were then dismissed for tea. +Jack sat silently sipping at his pannikin and munching his allowance of +biscuit. + +Should he speak to Valentine, or not? The vague day-dream of their +school-boy days was realized--they were soldiers together, and on +active service; but everything was altered now. The great difference +of rank was, of itself, sufficient to place an impassable barrier +between them; and then the recollection of their last parting, his +refusals to meet his cousins again at Brenlands, and the fact of his +having left so many of his old chum's letters unanswered, all seemed to +lead up to one conclusion. Valentine would long ago have come to +regard it as a clear proof that the runaway had really stolen the +watch, and not have been surprised to hear that he had gone to the +dogs. Nor was he likely now to be very well pleased if the black sheep +suddenly walked up and claimed relationship. No. Jack felt he had +long ago severed all ties with what had once been dear to him; it was +the better plan to let things remain as they were, and make no attempt +to renew associations with a past which could not be recalled. + +Sunset was rapidly followed by darkness. In honour of its being +Christmas Day, an impromptu concert had been announced; and the men +began to gather round a rough stage which had been erected under the +trees, and which was lit up with lamps and the glare of two huge +bonfires. + +The programme was of the free-and-easy character: volunteers were +called for, and responded with songs, step-dances, and the like; while +the audience, lying and sitting round on the sand, greeted their +efforts with hearty applause, and joined in every chorus with unwonted +vigour. + +Jack had always possessed a good voice, a fact which had long ago been +discovered by his comrades, and now, for the honour of the Royal +Blankshire, those standing near him insisted that he should sing. +Before he knew it, he was pushed forward, and hoisted on to the +platform. There was no chance of retreat. He glanced round the sea of +faces glowing brightly in the firelight, and after a moment's thought +as to what would be likely to go down best, he struck up his old song, +"The Mermaid." + + "Oh! 'twas in the broad Atlantic, 'mid the equinoctial gales, + That a gay young tar fell overboard, among the sharks and whales." + +The great crowd of listeners burst out into the "Rule, Britannia!" +chorus with a mighty roar. But our hero heeded them not; his thoughts +had suddenly gone back to the little parlour at the back of "Duster's" +shop; his eyes wandered anxiously over the faces of the officers who +were grouped together in front of the stage, but Valentine did not +appear to be among them. + +An uproarious repetition of the last "Rule, Britannia!" was still in +progress as Jack rejoined the Blankshire contingent, and submitted his +back to a number of congratulatory slaps. + +These signs of approval were still being showered down upon him, when +Sergeant Sparks touched his elbow. + +"Here's an officer wants to speak to you, Fenleigh. There he is, +standing over by that tree." + +With his heart in his mouth, the singer stepped out of the crush, and +approached the figure standing by itself under the heavy shadow of the +palm. + +"Jack!" + +The private soldier made no reply, but raised his hand in the customary +salute. The action was simple enough, and yet full of meaning, showing +the altered relationship between the two old friends. + +"Why, man, didn't you tell us where you were? and what had become of +you?" + +"There was no need; and, besides, I didn't wish you to know, sir?" + +"Surely you are not still offended over what happened that summer at +Brenlands? You must have known that we, none of us, suspected you for +a moment of having stolen that watch. It was only a cad like Raymond +Fosberton would ever have thought of suggesting such a thing." + +"Appearances were very much against me, sir--and--well, it's all past +and done with now." + +Valentine was silent. That "sir," so familiar to his ear, and yet +seemingly so incongruous in the present instance, baffled him +completely. In the first moment of his discovery he had intended, +figuratively speaking, to fall upon the prodigal's neck, and converse +with him in the old, familiar style; but now, between Valentine +Fenleigh, Esq., of the ----sex, and Private Fenleigh, of the Royal +Blankshire, there was a great gulf fixed, and the latter, especially, +seemed determined to recognize that the former conditions of their +friendship could now no longer exist. After a moment's pause, Jack +spoke. + +"Could you tell me, sir, if they are all well?" + +"Who? my people? They're all right, thanks. Helen's just gone and got +married; and little Bar's just the same as ever, only a bit older. She +was twenty-one last month." + +Jack smiled. "And Aunt Mabel, have you seen her lately?" + +"Oh, yes! she's very well, and doesn't seem to alter at all. She often +talks of you, and is always sad because you never write. Why have you +never been to see her?" + +"I have seen her once. I passed her in the street in Melchester; but I +was in uniform, and she didn't notice me." + +"But why didn't you go over to Brenlands?" + +"Oh, I couldn't do that! I struck out a path for myself. It may be a +bit rough, like the way of transgressors always is; but it suits me +well enough. I've been in it now for three years, and mean to stick to +it; but it'll never bring me to Brenlands again." + +"Oh, yes, it will," answered the other cheerily, "At the end of the +long lane comes the turning." + +There was another pause; the conversation had been running more freely, +but now Jack fell back again into his former manner. + +"I beg pardon, sir, but I should like to ask if you'll be good enough +not to mention my name in any of your letters home." + +"Why not?" + +"I should be glad, sir, if you wouldn't. I've managed hitherto to keep +my secret." + +"Well, if it's your wish, for the present I won't," answered Valentine; +"but if we both live through this business, then I shall have something +to say to you on the subject." + +"Good-night, sir." + +"Good-night, old chap, and good luck to us both!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +UNDER FIRE. + +"The tin soldier trembled; yet he remained firm; his countenance did +not change; he looked straight before him, and shouldered his +musket."--_The Brave Tin Soldier_. + + +Five days afterwards the camp was all astir, and presented an unusual +scene of activity and animation. + +On the twenty-eighth of December, orders had been issued for a portion +of the force to march across the desert and occupy the wells at Gakdul; +and on this, the morning of the thirtieth, the Guards Camel Regiment +and the Mounted Infantry (to which latter force Jack and his comrades +of the Royal Blankshire were attached), together with detachments of +the Engineers and Medical Staff Corps, a squadron of the 19th Hussars, +and a large train of "baggagers," were preparing for the start, amid +much bugle-blowing, shouting of orders, and roaring of camels as the +loads were being placed on their backs. Gradually, as the hour +approached for the assembly of the force, the noise grew less; even +"Lamentations" ceased his protestations, and stalked off to the parade +ground without further murmuring. + +Lord Wolseley inspected the force, and shortly before three o'clock the +cavalry scouts started. As Jack stood by the side of his kneeling +steed, with Joe Crouch on his right, his heart beat fast. This was +something different from any of his previous military experiences; the +cartridges in his pouch and bandoleer were ball, not blank. It was to +be the real thing this time; the stern reality of what he and Valentine +had so often pictured and played at far away in the peaceful old house +at Brenlands. + +Though showing it in different ways, all his comrades were more or less +excited at the prospect of a move: some were silent, others unusually +noisy; Joe Crouch puffed incessantly at a little clay pipe; Sergeant +Sparks seemed to have grown ten years younger, and overflowed with +reminiscences of Afghanistan and the Ghazees; while Lieutenant Lawson +might, from his high spirits and cheery behaviour, have been just +starting on a hunting expedition or some pleasure excursion. + +At last it came: "Prepare to mount!" + +"Well, here goes!" said Jack, drawing his steed's head round, and +putting his foot in the stirrup. "Here goes!" echoed Joe Crouch. + +"Mount!" The bugle sounded the advance, the word was given, and the +column moved off across the undulating plain--the Guards in front, +baggage camels in the centre, and the Mounted Infantry bringing up the +rear; the length of the column extending to nearly a mile. + +Scared gazelles sprang up from among the rocks and bushes, and bounded +away. + +"Hi, Swabs! where's yer catapult?" inquired Tommy Briggs. + +"Keepin' it for the niggers," answered the marksman significantly. + +After an hour's going, many of the riders sought to ease themselves, +and vary the peculiar swaying motion by a change of position: some +crossed their legs in front of them; while Jack and his chum sat +side-saddle, facing each other, and for the twentieth time that day +exchanged opinions as to when and where they would first come in touch +with the enemy. + +In addition to the heat, the clouds of dust raised by the force in +front rendered it choky work for those in rear; and no one was sorry +when, about five o'clock, the bugles sounded the halt. + +Jack dismounted, feeling uncommonly sore and stiff, but was soon busily +engaged helping to make fires of dry grass and mimosa scrub, on which +to boil the camp kettles for tea. + +Never, even when poured from Queen Mab's old silver teapot, had the +steaming beverage tasted so refreshing; and the men, sitting round in +groups, mess-tin in hand, seemed to regard the whole business in the +light of a gigantic picnic. The sun dropped below the horizon; and +after a rest of about an hour and a half, the march was continued, the +column closing up and proceeding with a broadened front. + +The clear, brilliant light of the moon flooded the scene with silvery +splendour, throwing up in strange contrast the black, dark hills in the +distance. Gradually, as the men grew sleepy, their laughter and +conversation died away, the padded feet of the camels made no sound as +they passed over the sand, and the silence remained unbroken save for +the occasional yelping bark of some hungry jackal. Jack felt cold and +drowsy, and, in spite of the movement of his camel, had hard work to +keep awake. + +Once or twice, when the loads of some of the baggagers slipped, a halt +was called while they were refixed; and men, dismounting from their +saddles, fell fast asleep on the sand, only to be roused again in what +seemed a moment later by the "advance" being sounded. + +Hours seemed drawn out into weeks, and Jack, glancing with heavy eyes +to his left front, wondered if the sky would ever brighten with the +signs of dawn. At length the east grew grey, then flushed with pink, +and the sun rose with the red glare of a conflagration, sending a glow +of warmth across the desert. For about two hours the march was +continued; then, at a spot where a number of trees were growing, a halt +was made, camels unloaded, and preparations made for a well-earned +breakfast. + +In spite of the excitement of this first bivouac, as soon as the meal +was over Jack stretched himself out upon the ground and fell fast +asleep, only returning to consciousness when wakened by the flies and +midday heat; and so ended his first experience of a desert march. + +For the purposes of this story it will not be necessary to follow +closely all our hero's doings during the next fortnight; and we shall +therefore rest content with describing, as briefly as possible, the +movements of the force during that period of time which preceded its +coming in actual contact with the enemy. + +Starting again on the afternoon of the thirty-first of December, the +column pushed forward with occasional halts, until, early on the +morning of the second of January, Gakdul was reached, and the wells +occupied without resistance. Leaving the Guards and Engineers to +garrison the place, the rest of the column marched the same evening on +the return journey to Korti, to collect and bring on the remaining +troops and stores necessary for continuing the advance to Metemmeh. +Ten days later, the remainder of the force arrived at Gakdul; and after +a day spent in watering and attending to arms and ammunition, a start +was made on the afternoon of the fourteenth in the direction of Abu +Klea. Soon after sunset the column halted, and resuming the march +early on the following morning, by five o'clock in the evening had +reached Jebel-es-Sergain, or the Hill of the Saddle, which was to be +the resting-place for the night. + +The men lay down as usual, with piled arms in front and camels in rear; +the order for perfect silence was hardly needed; the sandy +water-channels made a comfortable couch for wearied limbs; and the +tired warriors were glad enough to wrap themselves in their blankets, +and enjoy a few hours of well-earned repose. + +In spite of the long and fatiguing day through which he had just +passed, Jack did not fall asleep at once, like the majority of his +comrades. Ever since his meeting with Valentine, his mind had been +continually going back to the days when they were at school together; +and now, in the solemn stillness of the desert, as he lay gazing up at +the bright, starlit sky, his thoughts flew back to Brenlands, and he +pictured up the dear face that had always been the chief of the many +attractions that made the place so pleasant. He almost wished now that +he had written to her before leaving England. She knew where Valentine +was, and every morning would glance with beating heart at the war +headings in the newspaper. It would have been a great satisfaction to +feel confident of having a share in her loving thoughts. Since +Christmas Day, our hero had only caught an occasional glimpse of his +cousin, but that was sufficient to revive his old love for the bright, +frank-looking face. + +"He's just the same as ever," thought Jack. "Well, I hope he'll get +through this all right. There are the girls, and Aunt Mabel--it would +be dreadful if anything happened!" And with this reflection Fenleigh +J. turned over and fell asleep. + +Before daybreak next morning the column was once more on the move, +crossing a large waste of sand and gravel, relieved here and there by +stretches of black rock; while, bordering the plain on either side, +were ranges of hills, which gradually approached each other until, in +the distance, they formed the pass through which ran the track leading +to the wells of Abu Klea. + +The march was now beginning to tell upon the camels, which, weakened by +fatigue and short allowance of forage, fell down in large numbers +through sheer exhaustion, throwing the transport into great confusion. + +Shortly before mid-day the force halted at the foot of a steep slope +for the usual morning meal of tea and bully beef. + +"I shan't be sorry when we get to those wells," said Jack, sipping at +the lid of his mess-tin; "I've been parched with thirst ever since we +left Gakdul. I wonder it we shall reach them this evening!" + +"I don't reckon it's much further," answered Joe Crouch. "I heard the +Nineteenth are going on ahead to water their horses. Look! they're +just off." + +Jack watched the Hussars as they disappeared over the brow of the hill. + +"Lucky beggars!" he muttered, and lying down upon his bed he pulled his +helmet over his eyes, and prepared for a quiet snooze before the order +should be given to mount. + +He had been dozing, and was in the dreamy stage between waking and +sleeping, when his attention was attracted by a conversation which was +taking place in his immediate vicinity. A few yards away, Lieutenant +Lawson was sitting on the ground rearranging the folds of his putties, +and talking to another subaltern. + +"I shouldn't have brought a thing like that with me," the latter was +saying; "you might lose it. Any old silver one's good enough for this +job, especially if you get bowled over, and some villain picks your +pockets." + +"Well, I hadn't another," answered Lawson; "and, after all, it didn't +cost me much. I knew a fellow at Melchester, called Fosberton, an +awful young ass. He got into debt, and was hard pushed to raise the +wind. He wanted me to buy this. I was rather sorry for the chap, so I +gave him five pounds for it, and told him he could have it back if he +chose to refund the money; but he left the town soon after that, and +I've never heard from him since. Hallo! What's up now?" + +A couple of horsemen were galloping down the slope, and a few minutes +later the command was passed back from the front,-- + +"Fall in! Examine arms and ammunition!" + +The men sprang forward to the row of piled arms, and then, like an +electric current, the report passed from one to another--the enemy was +in sight! + +"Cast loose one packet of your ammunition," said the commander of the +company. + +Jack's fingers twitched with excitement as he pulled off the string of +the familiar little brown paper parcel, and dropped the ten cartridges +into his pouch. It was the real thing now, and no mistake! + +Moving forward in line of columns, the force ascended the slope, and +after one more brief halt, while further reconnaissances were being +made, began to advance across the level stretch beyond, from which a +good view was obtained of the distant valley of Abu Klea, with the +steep hills rising on either side, and opening out at the entrance of +the pass. + +"There they are!" + +Far away, on the dark, rocky eminences, crowds of tiny, white-robed +figures could be clearly distinguished moving and gesticulating in an +excited manner. + +Steadily the force advanced until, when within a comparatively short +distance of the mouth of the valley, the word for "close order" was +given. The camels were driven forward into a solid mass in rear of the +leading company as it halted; the men dismounted, and knee-lashed their +steeds. + +There was not much time for looking about, for the order was +immediately given to build a zareba; and while some men were set to +work to cut down brushwood, Jack and his comrades were told off to +gather stones for constructing a breastwork. + +"Look alive, my lads!" said Sergeant Sparks, "and get whatever you can. +Hallo!" he added; "they've begun, have they?" + +Jack had heard something like the sound of the swift flight of a +swallow far overhead, but he did not understand its significance until, +a moment later, the sound was repeated, and on the ground in front of +him there suddenly appeared a mark, as though some one had struck the +sand with the point of an invisible stick, leaving behind a short, deep +groove, and causing a handful of dust to spring into the air. Far away +on the distant hillside was a tiny puff of smoke, and as he looked the +faint pop of the rifle reached his ear. Then the truth dawned on him: +this was his baptism of fire--a long-range fire, to be sure, but none +the less deadly if the bullet found its billet! + +He caught up a fragment of rock, and carried it to where the wall was +to be constructed. Men were hurrying to and fro all around him, and +yet suddenly he seemed to feel himself alone, the sole mark for the +enemy's fire; again that z--st overhead, and a cold chill ran down his +back. He shut his teeth, and, with a careless air, strode off for a +fresh load. He had not gone twenty yards when another shot ricochetted +off a stone, and flew up into the air with a shrill chirrup. Jack +winced and shivered. It was no good, however well he might conceal the +fact from others--the fear of death was on him; it was impossible to +deceive his own heart. A fresh terror now seized him, coupled with a +sense of shame. He was the fellow who had always expressed a wish to +be a soldier, and go on active service; and now, before the first +feeble spitting of the enemy's fire, all his courage was ebbing away. +What if his comrades should notice that his limbs trembled and his +voice was shaky? What if, when the advance was made, his nerve should +fail him altogether, and he should turn to run? + +With dogged energy he pursued his task, hardly noticing what was going +on around him. For the fourth time he was approaching the zareba, when +a comrade, a dozen yards in front, stumbled forward and sank down upon +the ground. There was no cry, no frantic leap into the air, yet it was +sufficiently horrible. Jack felt sick, and his teeth chattered; he had +never before seen a man hit, and it was his first experience of the +sacrifice of human flesh and blood. At the same moment, like a clap of +thunder, one of the screw-guns was discharged; the droning whizz of the +shell grew fainter and fainter--a pause--and then the boom of its +explosion was returned in a muffled echo from the distant hillside. + +A couple of men hurried forward and raised their wounded comrade. Jack +turned away his eyes, and immediately they encountered a rather +different spectacle. + +A young subaltern, with a short brier pipe in his mouth, and without a +hair on his face, was making a playful pretence of dropping a huge +boulder on to the toes of the lieutenant of Jack's detachment. + +"Hold the ball--no side!" said Mr. Lawson facetiously. "Look here, +Mostyn, you beggar! I've just spotted a fine rock, only it's too big +for one to carry. Come and help to bring it in; it's a chance for you +to distinguish yourself. Look sharp! or some of the Tommies will have +bagged it." + +Something in this speech, and the careless, happy-go-lucky way in which +it was uttered, seemed to revive Jack's spirits. Mr. Lawson recognized +and spoke to him as he passed. + +"Well, Fenleigh, they've begun to shake the pepper-box at us; but it'll +be our turn to-morrow." + +There was nothing in the remark itself, but there was something in the +cheery tone and manly face of the speaker; something that brought fresh +courage to the soldier's heart, and filled it with a sudden +determination to emulate the example of his leader. + +"Yes, sir," he answered briskly, and from that moment his fears were +banished. + +Slowly the construction of the zareba was completed--a low, stone wall +in front, and earthen parapets and abattis of mimosa bushes on the +other three sides. The enemy still continued a dropping fire, which +was replied to with occasional rounds of shrapnel from the guns; but +Jack saw no further casualties. + +Once, during the work of collecting stones, he encountered Valentine. + +"I say," remarked the latter, acknowledging his cousin's salute with a +nod and a smile, "this reminds me of the time when we went up the river +with the girls to Starncliff, and built up a fireplace to boil the +kettle." + +When darkness fell, the force was assembled within the zareba; the low +breastwork was manned in double rank, every soldier lying down in his +fighting place, with belts on, rifle by his side, and bayonet fixed; +all lights were extinguished, and talking and smoking forbidden. In +spite of the day's exertions, few men felt inclined for sleep; the +drumming of tom-toms, and the occasional whistle of a bullet overhead, +were not very effective as a lullaby, and served as a constant reminder +of the coming struggle. + +Jack settled himself into as comfortable a position as his belts and +accoutrements would allow, and lay gazing up at the silent, starlit +sky. What was death? and what came after? Before another night he +himself might know. Lying there in perfect health, it seemed +impossible to realize that before another night his life might have +ended. He turned his thoughts to Brenlands. Yes; he would like to +have said good-bye to Aunt Mabel, and to have had once more the +assurance from her own lips that he was still "my own boy Jack!" + +"I always make a mess of everything," he said to himself. "I thought I +should always have had Brenlands to go to; and first of all I got +chucked out of the school a year before I need have left, and then this +happens about the watch. In both cases I've Raymond Fosberton to +thank, in a great measure, for what happened. I'll pay him out if ever +I get the chance." + +The thought of his cousin brought back to his mind the recollection of +the conversation he had overheard that morning. Strange that Mr. +Lawson should have known Raymond! Jack wondered what the monetary +transaction could have been that had been alluded to by his officer. + +Gradually a sense of drowsiness crept over him, and his heavy head sank +back upon the sand. + +"Stand to your arms!" He clutched instinctively at the rifle by his +side, and rose to his feet; the noise of the tom-toms seemed close at +hand. + +"They're coming!" But no; it was a false alarm. Once more the men +settled down, and silence fell on the zareba. Suddenly there was a +wild yell from one of the sleepers. + +"What's up there?--man hit?" + +"No--silly chump!--only dreaming!" + +Again Jack dozed off, to be wakened, after what seemed only a moment of +forgetfulness, by Joe Crouch shaking him by the shoulder. The word was +once more being passed along, "Stand to your arms!" and the men lay +with their hands upon their rifles. Daybreak was near, and an attack +might be expected at any moment. + +The sky was ghostly with the coming dawn, the air raw and cold. Jack +shivered, and "wished for the day." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE BATTLE. + +"Then he heard a roaring sound, quite terrible enough to frighten the +bravest man."--_The Brave Tin Soldier_. + + +Numbed with the cold, and stiff from lying so long in a cramped +position, Jack and many of his comrades rose as the daylight +strengthened, to stretch their legs and stamp some feeling into their +feet. As they did so, however, the dropping shots of the enemy rapidly +increased to a sharp fusilade; bullets whizzed overhead, or knocked up +little spurts of sand and dust within the zareba; and the defenders +were glad enough to once more seek the shelter of the low wall and +parapet of earth. Several men were wounded, and the surgeons commenced +their arduous duties--services which so often demand the exercise of +the highest courage and devotion, and yet seldom meet with their due +share of recognition in the records of the battlefield. Ever and anon +the screw-guns thundered a reply to the popping of the distant rifle +fire, and men raised their heads to watch the effect of the shrapnel, +as each shot sped away on its deadly errand. + +Even amid such surroundings, hunger asserted itself; and breakfast was +served out, a good draught of hot tea being specially acceptable after +the long exposure to the cold night air. + +"When you're on active service, eat and sleep whenever you can," said +Sergeant Sparks, munching away at his bully beef and biscuit. "There's +never no telling when you'll get another chance." + +Bands of the enemy kept appearing and disappearing in the distance; +spear-heads and sword-blades flashed and glittered in the rosy morning +sunlight, and the tom-toms kept up a continual thunder; but still there +was no sign of an attack. + +Jack longed to be doing something. He lay on the ground nervously +digging pits with his fingers in the soft sand, listening to the +monotonous murmur of conversation going on around him, and the constant +z--st! z--st! of bullets flying over and into the zareba. Now and +again he exchanged a few remarks with "Swabs" or Joe Crouch; and when +at length he was told off to join a party of skirmishers, he sprang up +and seized his rifle with a sigh of relief. + +Moving out in extended order to the right front of the zareba, they +marched forward a short distance, then halted, and lay down to fire a +volley. + +"Ready, at eleven hundred yards. Now, men, be steady, and take your +time." + +"Swabs" was in his element. He sprawled his legs wide apart, rooted +his left elbow into the sand, and settled down as though he were firing +for the battalion badge on the range at Melchester. Our hero was not +quite so cool; his heart thumped and his fingers twitched as he +adjusted the sliding bar of his back-sight. + +"Aim low--present--fire!" + +The rifles were discharged with a simultaneous crash. + +"Good volley," said Mr. Lawson, who was kneeling, peering through his +field-glass; "a bit short, I'm afraid; put your sights up to +eleven-fifty." + +Jack opened the breach of his rifle with a sharp jerk, and drew a long +breath. For the life of him he could not have told whether his aim had +been good or bad, but this much he knew, that he had fired his first +shot in actual conflict. + +The skirmishers retired; but still the enemy hung back, too wary to +attempt a charge. At length the order was given for an advance, and +preparations were accordingly made for forming a moving square. The +various detachments marched out of the zareba and lay down as they took +up their positions. Camels for carrying the wounded, and conveying +water and reserve ammunition, were drawn up in the centre; the two guns +and the Gardiner with its crew of sailors taking positions respectively +within the front and rear faces of the formation. + +Jack raised himself and looked round, anxious, if possible, to make out +the whereabouts of his cousin. He could distinguish "Heavies," +Blue-jackets, and the Guards, but Valentine and the ----sex men were +stationed somewhere out of sight on the other side of the central mass +of baggagers and their drivers. A short wait, and then came the +order,-- + +"Rise up! The square will advance!" + +Two deep, as in the days of the "thin red line," the men marched +forward, stumbling over rocky hillocks and deep water-ruts, vainly +attempting to keep unbroken their solid formation, and delayed by the +slow movement of the guns and camels. The Arabs, swarming on either +flank, opened a heavy fire. The flight of the bullets filled the air +with a continual buzz. Men dropped right and left, and a halt was made +while the wounded were placed on the cacolets. The sides of the square +turned outwards, the Mounted Infantry formed its left-front corner, and +Jack and his comrades were in the left face. + +"Why can't we give 'em a volley?" murmured "Swabs," gazing at the +feathery puffs of smoke on the distant hillside, which looked so +innocent, but each of which might mean death to the spectator. No +order, however, was given to fire, and the command, "Right +turn--forward!" put the marksman and his comrades once more in motion. + +To walk along and be shot at was not exactly the ideal warfare of his +boyhood: but Jack had been "blooded" by this time, and trudged along +with a set face, paying little attention to the leaden hail which swept +overhead, and only wishing that something would happen to bring matters +to a crisis. + +A few minutes later his attention was turned to the line of +skirmishers, who were moving, some little distance away, in a direction +parallel to the march of the square. Suddenly, close to two of these, +a couple of Arabs sprang up from behind some bushes. One rushed upon +the nearest Englishman; but the latter parried the spear-thrust, and +without a pause drove his bayonet through his adversary's chest. The +other native turned and ran. + +"Bang! bang!" went a couple of rifle shots; but the fugitive escaped +untouched, and disappeared behind the brow of an adjacent knoll. + +"See that, Lawson?" inquired a voice from the supernumerary rank. + +"Yes," answered the subaltern, "like potting rabbits. I think I could +have wiped that fellow's eye if I'd been there. The bayonet _versus_ +lance was done better." + +Jack glanced round, and saw the speaker smoking a pipe, while Sergeant +Sparks tramped along close behind with an approving smile upon his +face, as though, if questioned, he would have made exactly the same +observation himself. It was no time to be fastidious or sentimental; +the callous indifference to life and death, whether real or assumed, +was the thing wanted. Here, at least, were two superiors who did not +seem to consider the situation very serious. The young soldier shifted +his rifle to the other shoulder, and grasped the butt with a firmer +grip. + +For an hour, which might have been a lifetime, the square toiled on, +every now and again changing direction to gain more open ground; the +stretchers and cacolets constantly receiving fresh burdens. A man, two +files in front of our hero, went down with a bullet through the head, +and those in rear stumbled over him. + +"Close up! close up, and keep that corner blocked in!" + +With mouth parched with the stifling heat and dust, Jack sucked at the +lukewarm dregs of his water-bottle, and wondered if the river itself +would ever quench his thirst. "Swabs," his rear-rank man, kept +fingering the loose cartridges in his pouch. At length the marksman's +patience and _sang froid_ seemed exhausted. + +"Is this going on for ever?" he blurted out, "Ain't we ever going to +give it 'em back?" + +Hardly had the question been asked, when the answer was made evident in +a most unmistakable manner. + +Away in the grass to the left front a number of white and green flags, +mounted on long poles, had been for some time visible; and at this +point, as though they sprang out of the ground, swarms of Arabs +suddenly made their appearance, and with headlong speed and reckless +devotion charged down upon the left-front corner of the square. The +scattered line of skirmishers turned and fled for their lives; while +behind them, like a devouring tidal wave, the vast black mass rushed +forward, their fierce shouts filling the air with a hollow roar like +that of a ground sea. + +Like many another young soldier, with nothing but a few hundred yards +of desert between himself and death, Jack's first impulse was to raise +his rifle and blaze away at random as fast as he could load; but the +clear, calm voices in the supernumerary rank, and the old habit of +discipline, held him in check. + +"Steady, men:--Aim low--Fire a volley!" + +Another moment, and the black mass with its waving banners and +glittering weapons disappeared in a burst of fire and smoke, as the +rifles spoke with a simultaneous crash. Again, and yet again, the +vivid sheet of flame flashed from the side of the square; then, through +the drifting fog, it was seen that the enemy were apparently changing +the direction of their attack. Falling in scores before the terrible, +scythe-like sweep of the volley firing, they swerved round the flank of +the square and burst furiously upon the rear. + +[Illustration: "The enemy swerved round the flank of the square, and +burst furiously upon the rear."] + +Rapid independent firing had succeeded the regular volleys, and Jack +was in the act of using his rifle, when he became conscious of a shock +and swaying movement, like the commencement of a Rugby scrimmage. He +turned, and saw in a moment what had happened: by sheer weight of +numbers, the overpowering rush of Arabs had forced back the thin line +of "Heavies," and a fierce hand-to-hand fight was in progress. What +had been the interior of the square was now covered with a confused +mass of struggling combatants, dimly seen through clouds of dust and +smoke. Desperate fanatics hacked and stabbed with their heavy swords +and long spears, while burly giants of the Guards returned equally +deadly strokes with butt and sword-bayonet. Shouts, cries, and words +of command mingled in a general uproar, half-drowned in the incessant +din of the firing. + +How long this awful contest lasted, or exactly what happened, Jack +could never clearly remember. He was conscious that the rear rank had +turned about, and of a vision of "Swabs" standing like a man shooting +rabbits in a cover, with his rifle at his shoulder, waiting for a +chance of a clear shot. Turning again to his front, he noticed the +fellow on his right working frantically at his lever, and sobbing with +rage and excitement over a jammed cartridge-case. "Knock it out with +your cleaning-rod!" he yelled, and thrust another round into the breach +of his own weapon, determined, if this were the end, to make a hard +fight of the finish. + +At length the pressure seemed to grow less, and then ceased; the enemy +wavered, then turned and began to slowly retreat, hesitating every now +and again, even in face of the withering rifle fire, as though +half-minded to renew their attack. Some turned and shook their fists, +while others, with the fanatic's unconquerable spirit and reckless +valour, rushed back singly, only to fall long before they reached the +hated foe. + +Once the threatening attitude of the retiring masses raised the cry of +"Close up! they're coming again!" But a well-directed volley settled +the question, and the last stragglers soon disappeared behind the +distant sandhills. + +Cheer on cheer rose from the square, and Jack, grounding the butt of +his heated weapon, joined in with a right good will, for he had fought +his first battle, and his heart throbbed with the triumph of victory. + +But even now the conflict was not quite over. Arab marksmen were still +lurking in the broken ground, and one of them suddenly rose into view +from behind a rock. Levelling his piece he fired, and Mr. Lawson, who, +revolver in hand, had stepped into a gap in the ranks, fell forward on +his face, the blood gushing in a crimson torrent from his mouth. At +the same moment "Greek met Greek;" for "Swabs," throwing his rifle into +his shoulder fired, and the Arab sharpshooter tossed up his arms and +dropped out of sight behind a rock. + +Our hero fell upon his knees with something like a sob, and attempted +to raise the fallen man. There was no lack of assistance. Mr. Lawson +was one of those officers for whose sake men are always ready and glad +to risk their lives; but the boldest among them could do nothing for +him now, and a moment or so later he died in Jack's arms. + +"He's gone, right enough, poor fellow!" said Captain Hamling, the +commander of the company, who had hurried to the spot. "See what's in +his pockets, Fenleigh. It there's anything of value, it must be taken +care of, and sent to his people." + +Jack did as he was ordered. A pipe, tobacco-pouch, jack-knife, and +rolled bandage were the chief things he found; and he handed them to +the captain. There was still the breast-pocket of the tunic, and this +on examination was found to contain a small letter-case and a handsome +gold watch. Jack glanced at the timepiece, and very nearly let it drop +from his fingers to the ground; he knew it in a moment--the lost +treasure which years ago had been stolen from Queen Mab's cupboard. +This then was the thing which Raymond Fosberton had parted with for +five pounds. + + * * * * * + +The square moved on a short distance to ground less encumbered with the +slain, and then halted. The carnage was awful; dead and dying of the +enemy lay in heaps where they had fallen, mown down by the deadly fire +of the Martinis; while among them on the knoll where the square had +been broken, and in many cases hardly recognizable from the blood and +dust which covered their forms and faces, were the bodies of the +Englishmen who had perished in the fray. + +Orders were now given for burying the dead, collecting the arms and +ammunition, and destroying the useless weapons that lay scattered about +in all directions; and it was while engaged in this latter duty that +Jack encountered his cousin. + +"I've just been inquiring for you. Thank God, you're safe!" + +In spite of all that he had just passed through, Jack's thoughts were +not fixed upon the fighting or dearly-won victory. + +"O Val!" he blurted out, "I've found that watch--the one that was +stolen at Brenlands!" + +In a few hurried sentences he described the conversation he had +overheard, and the discovery of the timepiece in the dead lieutenant's +pocket. The dread scene around him was for the moment forgotten in his +anxiety to clear his character from the doubts which he imagined must +still be entertained to a certain extent by his former friend. + +"So you see, sir," he concluded, "I can now prove that I'm no thief. +Raymond Fosberton stole it. I wish you'd ask Captain Hamling to show +it to you, sir, and then you'd know I'm speaking the truth." + +Valentine listened to this extraordinary revelation in open-eyed +astonishment. + +"There's no need for that," he answered--"I'll ask to see it if it's +your particular wish--but, Jack, I wish you would believe that what I +say is true, and that neither I nor Queen Mab ever for a moment +imagined that you were the thief. You may doubt us, but we have never +lost faith in you." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +"FOOD FOR POWDER." + +"And so he lay quite still, while the shot rattled through the rushes, +and gun after gun was fired over him."--_The Ugly Duckling_. + + +At last the wells were reached, and after the wants of the wounded had +been supplied, Jack and his comrades got a chance of quenching their +parching thirst. + +Water! It was a moving sight--a crowd of men standing round a pit, at +the bottom of which appeared a little puddle, which when emptied out +would gradually drain in again, the spectators watching its progress +with greedy eyes. Never had "Duster's" celebrated home-made +ginger-beer tasted so refreshing as this muddy liquid. Jack sighed in +an ecstasy of enjoyment as he gulped it down, and Joe Crouch remarked +that he wished his throat was as long as a "hostridge's." + +A body of three hundred men from the Guards, Heavies, and Mounted +Infantry started on a return journey to the zareba to bring up the +baggage, and the remainder of the force bivouacked near the wells. The +night was fearfully cold; the men had nothing but the thin serge +jumpers which they had worn during the heat of the day to protect them +against the bitter night air. Shivering and gnawed with hunger, Jack, +Joe Crouch, "Swabs," and two more men huddled together in a heap; and +finding it impossible to sleep, endeavoured to stay the cravings of +their empty stomachs with an occasional whiff of tobacco, those who +were without pipes obtaining the loan of one from a more fortunate +comrade. Jack's thoughts wandered back to Brenlands, and he smiled +grimly to himself at the recollection of that first camping-out +experience, and of Queen Mab's words as she promised them a supply of +rugs and cushions, "Perhaps some day you won't be so well off." His +mind was still full of his recent discovery. The thought that his +friends must regard him as guilty of the theft, and the feeling that he +could never give them proof to the contrary, had rankled in his heart +more, perhaps, than he himself suspected; and now that he had at last +discovered a solution to the riddle, and could prove beyond the +possibility of a doubt who was the guilty party, he longed to ease his +soul by talking the matter over with some one who knew the +circumstances of the case. Joe Crouch was the very man. + +"Joe." + +"Yes." + +"You remember my cousin, Raymond Fosberton?" + +Joe was not in the best of humours; he was cold, and his pipe had gone +out. + +"Yes, I do," he grumbled. "I wish I had him here now in his white +weskit and them shiny boots!" The speaker drew hard at his empty clay, +which gave forth a fierce croak, as though it thoroughly approved of +its owner's sentiments. + +"D'you remember that time when the watch was stolen out of Miss +Fenleigh's cupboard?" + +"Yes; and that Fosberton said it might 'a been me as took it, and +Master Valentine told me afterwards that you said that though I'd +stolen some pears once, you knew I was honest. Ay, but I thought of +that the morning I seen you come into the barrack-room. And then he +told them as it was you 'ad done it. My eye! if I had him here now, +I'd knock his face out through the back of his head!" The clay pipe +literally crowed with rage. + +"Well, you may be interested to hear that it was Raymond Fosberton +himself who took the watch." And Jack proceeded to tell the story of +his find. + +"So he stole it himself, did he?" exclaimed Crouch, as the narrative +concluded. "Law me! if I had him here, I'd--" + +"Never mind!" interrupted the other, laughing. "I may have a chance of +settling up with him myself some day." + +"What shall you do when you see him?" + +"Oh, I don't know!" answered Jack. "I daresay I shall have my revenge." + +Joe relapsed into silence, but for some time sudden squeaks from his +pipe showed that he was still meditating on the terrible vengeance +which he would mete out to Raymond Fosberton, should that gentleman +leave his comfortable lodgings in England and appear unexpectedly in +the Bayuda Desert. + + * * * * * + +At length the morning came, and with it the report that the +baggage-train was in sight. The news was welcome, and the work of +knee-lashing and unloading the camels did not take long. The previous +morning's hasty breakfast under fire had not been, by any means, a +satisfying meal; and so, after a fast of nearly two days, the prospect +of food made the men active enough in unpacking the stores. + +Jack seized his ration of bully beef and biscuit with the fierce +eagerness of a famished wolf; cold, hunger, and weary, sleepless nights +had never been the lot of the lead troops campaigning on the +lumber-room floor at Brenlands, or of their commanders either; nor, for +the matter of that, is it usual for youthful, would-be warriors to +associate such things with the triumph of a victory. + +Our hero had finished his meal, and was cleaning his rifle, when he was +accosted by Joe Crouch. + +"I say, Mr. Fenleigh wants to see you. He's over there by the guns." + +Valentine was standing talking to some of his fellow-officers. He +turned away from the group as he saw his cousin approaching, and the +latter halted and accorded him the customary salute. + +"Look here," said the subaltern, "the general is sending dispatches +back to Korti, and the officers have the opportunity of telegraphing to +their friends in England. I'm going to send a message home to let them +know I'm all right. Shall I put in a word for you? I'm sure," added +the speaker, "that Aunt Mabel would be glad to know that you are here, +and quite sate and sound after the fighting." + +Jack hesitated, but there was no sign yet of the long lane turning. + +"It's very good of you, sir," he answered, "but I'd rather they didn't +know my whereabouts. If I live through this, and return to England, I +shall still be a private soldier. I'm much obliged to you, sir, all +the same." + +He saluted again, and walked away. Valentine looked after the +retreating figure with a queer, sad smile upon his face. + +"You're a difficult fish to deal with," he muttered; "but we shall land +you again some day, though I hardly know how." + +Late in the afternoon the column was once more in motion, and then +commenced an experience which Jack, and all those who shared in it, +have probably never forgotten. At first the march was orderly, but, as +the hours went by, progress became more and more difficult. Camels, +half-starved and exhausted, lagged and fell, causing continual delay +and confusion. The desert track having been abandoned in order to +avoid possible collision with the enemy, the road lay at one time +through a jungle of mimosa trees and bushes, when the disorder was +increased tenfold--baggagers slipped their loads, and ranks opening out +to avoid obstacles found it impossible in the dark to regain their +original formation. Utterly unable to keep awake, men fell asleep as +they rode, drifting out of their places, some, indeed, straying off +into the darkness, never to be seen again. + +Worn out, and chilled to the bone with the bitter night air, Jack clung +to his saddle, dozing and waking; dreaming for an instant that Queen +Mab was speaking to him, and rousing with a start as the word was +passed, "Halt in front!" to allow time for the rear-guard closing up +with the stragglers. At each of these pauses poor "Lamentations" knelt +of his own accord; and his rider, dropping down on the sand by his +side, fell into a deep sleep, to be awakened by the complaining grunts +of the camels as the word, "All right in rear!" gave the signal for a +fresh start. + +After each stoppage it was no easy matter to get the weary animals on +their legs again; and almost equally difficult in many instances to +rouse their riders from the heavy slumber into which they fell the +moment they stretched themselves upon the ground. + +"Pass the word on, 'All right in rear!'" + +"Oh, dear! I'd give a month's pay for an hour's sleep," mumbled Joe +Crouch. + +"Get up, you fool!" answered Jack, kicking the recumbent figure of his +comrade. "D'you want to be left behind?" + +On, on, through the endless darkness, now for a moment unconscious, now +half awake, but always with the sense of being cold and weary, the long +night march seemed to last a lifetime. Then, as sometimes happens in +similar circumstances, a half-forgotten tune took possession of his +tired brain, the once familiar melody of Queen Mab's hymn; and in a +dreamy fashion he kept humming it over and over again, sometimes the +air alone, and sometimes with snatches of the words, as they came back +to his memory. + + "Rest comes at length;...... + The day must dawn, and darksome night be past." + + +His head sank forward on his breast. It was Sunday evening at +Brenlands, and Helen was playing the piano. Queen Mab was standing +close at his side; and yet, somehow, the whole world lay between them. +"You may doubt us, but we have never lost faith in you." He turned to +see who spoke, and the figures in his dream vanished, leaving only the +echo of their voices in his mind. + + "......Angels of light! + Singing to welcome the pilgrims of the night!" + + +The tune was still droning in his head when the first grey streaks of +dawn gave warning of the approaching day, and, in the growing light, +the column gradually regained its proper formation. + +The line of march lay down a vast slope covered with grass and shrubs, +which stretched away towards the distant Nile, as yet out of sight; and +ere long word was received from the cavalry scouts that the enemy, in +large numbers, were close at hand. + +Once more the bullets of the sharpshooters whistled overhead; and the +Arabs appearing in considerable force on the left flank, the column was +halted on the summit of a low knoll, and orders were issued for the +construction of a zareba. + +All hands now set to work to unload the camels and build walls of +saddles, biscuit-boxes, and other stores--parapets formed of almost as +incongruous materials as the old domino and pocket-knife works behind +which the lead warriors took shelter at Brenlands. Skirmishers were +thrown out to keep down the enemy's fire; but the men were worn out, +and having nothing to aim at but the feathery puffs of smoke rising +amidst the distant grass and bushes, they failed to dislodge the Arab +marksmen. + +Jack and his comrades "lay low," glad to avail themselves of the +shelter afforded by the side of the zareba. The bullets whizzed +overhead, or struck the biscuit-boxes with a sharp smack, while some +dropped with a sickening thud into the mass of camels. They were +patient sufferers, and even when struck made no sound or attempt to +move. Stretchers being constantly carried to and fro showed that the +medical staff had plenty of work; but it was not until some hours later +that the news leaked out among the men that Sir Herbert Stewart himself +was mortally wounded. + +Feeling inclined for a smoke, and having no tobacco about him, our hero +asked permission to fetch a supply from the zuleetah-bag attached to +his saddle. "Lamentations" acknowledged his approach with the usual +grumble; but it was the last greeting he was ever destined to give his +master. A bullet flew past with a sharp zip, the poor beast started +and shivered, and a thin stream of blood trickled down his shoulder. +Poor "Lam!" he was unclean and unsavoury, an inveterate grumbler, and +possessed apparently of a chronic cold in his nose; his temper was none +of the best--he had kicked, and on one occasion had attempted to bite, +he had fought his comrades in the lines, and had got the picketing +ropes into dire confusion; but, for all that, he was a living thing, +and Jack, who was fond of all dumb creatures, watched him with tears in +his eyes. It did not last long: the unshapely head sank lower and +lower; then suddenly turning his long neck round to the side of his +body, the animal rolled over, and all that remained of poor +"Lamentations" was a meagre meal for the jackals and vultures. + +Hour after hour the men waited, huddled together behind the +hastily-formed breastwork of the zareba. "Swabs" occasionally peered +through a loophole in the boxes to get a snap-shot at any figure that +might be seen creeping about among the distant bushes. Jack, worn out +with the night march, stretched himself upon the sand, and, in spite of +the constant zip of bullets and discharge of rifles, sank into a deep +slumber. + +At length he was awakened by a general movement among his comrades: +orders had been issued for a portion of the column to fight its way to +the Nile, and a square was being formed for the purpose a little to the +left of the zareba. In silence, and with anxious expressions on their +faces, the men fell into their places, lying down to escape the leaden +hail. The force seemed a ridiculously small one to oppose to the +swarming masses of the enemy, yet on its success depended the safety of +the whole column. + +The bugle sounded, and the men sprang to their feet, to be exposed +immediately to a heavy fire. Slowly and doggedly they moved forward, +now halting to close up gaps, and now changing direction to gain more +open ground. The vicious bang of rifles, fired at comparatively close +range, told of innumerable sharpshooters lurking around in the grass +and shrubs. A bullet suddenly tore the metal ornament from the top of +Jack's helmet, and striking the sword-bayonet of a man behind, knocked +his rifle nearly out of his hands. + +"A miss is as good as a mile!" remarked Sergeant Sparks; but as he +spoke Joe Crouch was suddenly flung to the ground as though felled by +the stroke of a hammer. + +Jack involuntarily uttered a cry of dismay, and the sergeant dropped +down on one knee to assist the fallen man. To every one's +astonishment, however, the latter rose to his feet unaided, looking +rather dazed and gasping for breath, and picking up his rifle staggered +back into the ranks. A spent shot had struck him on the bandoleer, +demolishing one of the cartridges, but fortunately failing to penetrate +the leather belt. + +Now and again the square halted to send a volley wherever the enemy +seemed to be gathered in any numbers, then continuing the advance in +the same cool, deliberate manner. + +Jack was marching in the left side, close to one of the rear corners, +and, as fate would have it, the left half of the rear face was formed +of the ----sex, and from the first he had been close to Valentine. +They were within a dozen yards of each other, and every few moments +Jack turned his head to assure himself that his cousin was unhurt. + +For more than an hour the little square had been doggedly pursuing its +forward movement, and now the enemy were seen in black masses on the +low hills to the left front. + +"They're coming, that's my belief!" said Joe Crouch, turning to address +his chum. He got no reply; for, at that instant, as the other happened +to look round, he saw his cousin stagger and sink down upon the sand. +In an instant Jack had sprung to his assistance; but this time it was +no false alarm. The bullet had done too well its cruel work. For a +moment Valentine seemed to recognize him, and looking up, with his left +hand still clutching at his breast, made a ghastly attempt to smile. +Then, with a groan, he fell over on his side, and fainted. + +A stretcher was brought, and Jack was ordered sharply to get back to +the ranks. As he took his place the square halted, and an excited +murmur rose on all sides:-- + +"Here they come!--Thank God! they're going to charge!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +THE RIVER'S BRINK. + +"Then he could see that the bright colours were faded from his uniform; +but whether they had been washed off during his journey, or from the +effects of his sorrow, no one could say."--_The Brave Tin Soldier_. + + +Darkness had fallen, and a thick mist rising from the river made the +still, night air damp and penetrating; but the weary men, stretched out +upon the sand, slept soundly in spite of the cold, and of the scanty +protection from it afforded by their clothing. The dark figures of the +sentries surrounding the bivouac, moving slowly to and fro, or pausing +to rest on their arms, seemed the only signs of wakefulness, except +where the occasional gleam of a lantern shone out as the surgeons went +their rounds among the wounded. + +Jack, however, was not asleep. He seemed instead to be just waking up +from a troubled dream, in which all that had happened since he had seen +Valentine placed upon the stretcher had passed before his mind in a +confused jumble of sights and sounds, leaving only a vague recollection +of what had really taken place:--The oncoming mass of Arabs; the crash +of the volleys, changing into the continuous roar of independent +firing; the pungent reek of the powder as the rolling clouds of smoke +enveloped the square; and the sight of the enemy falling in scores, +wavering, slackening the pace of their advance, and finally retreating +over the distant hills, not one having reached the line of bayonets. +Then, in the growing dusk, as the square advanced, the sight of the +silver stream showing every now and again amidst the green, cultivated +strip of land upon its banks; the wild joy of men suffering the +tortures of a burning thirst, which swelled their tongues and blackened +their lips; and the pitiful sight of the wounded being held up that +they might catch a glimpse of the distant river; the wait on the brink +of the broad stretch of cool, priceless water, as each face of the +square moved up in turn to take its fill; and then, no sucking the +dregs of a warm water-bottle, but a long, cold, satisfying drink. + +[Illustration: "The oncoming mass of Arabs."] + +All this, though so recently enacted, seemed to have left but a faint +impression of its reality on Jack's mind; his one absorbing thought +being that Valentine was hit, badly wounded, perhaps dying, or even +dead. + +A man approached, and in the darkness stumbled over one of the +slumberers. + +"Now, then, where are you coming to?" + +"Dunno--wish I did. D'you men belong to the Blankshire? Where's your +officer?" + +"Can't say. Wait a minute; that's he lying by that bit of +bush--Captain Hamling." + +Our hero raised himself into a sitting posture. He had recognized the +new-comer as a hospital orderly, and in the surrounding stillness heard +him deliver his message:-- + +"Surgeon Gaylard sends his compliments, and would you allow one of your +men named Fenleigh to come and see an officer who's badly wounded? +He's some relative I think, sir." + +"Very good," answered the captain drowsily; "you can find him yourself." + +The orderly had no difficulty in doing that, for in a moment Jack was +at his side. + +"Is he dying?" + +"Dunno; he's badly hurt--shot through the lungs, and he's asked for you +several times." + +It was a cruel night for the wounded, with nothing to shelter them from +the bitter cold. Valentine lay upon the ground, with his head propped +up against a saddle. The surgeon was stooping over him as the two men +approached, and the light of his lamp tell on the pale, pinched +features of the sufferer. Within the last three days Jack had seen +scores of men hurried into eternity, and his senses had become hardened +by constant association with bloodshed and violent death, yet the sight +of those unmistakable lines on that one familiar face turned his heart +to stone. + +"You're some relative, I believe. He seemed very anxious to see you, +so I sent the orderly. What?-- Yes, you may stay with him if you +like; but keep quiet, and don't let him talk more than you can help." + +"Is--is he dying, sir?" + +"He may live till morning, but I doubt if he will." + +Jack went down on his knees. There was no "sir" this time--sword, and +sash, and shoulder-strap were all forgotten. + +"Val!" The great, grey eyes, already heavy with the sleep of death, +opened wide. + +"Jack! my dear Jack!" + +"Yes; I've come to look after you. Are you in much pain?" + +"No--only when I cough--and--it's dreadfully cold." + +The listener stifled down a groan. Ah, dear thoughts of long ago! +Such things had never happened on the mimic battlefields at Brenlands. +This, then, was the reality. + +"Jack, I want you to promise me something--your word of honour to a +dying man." + +A fit of coughing, ending in a groan of agony, interrupted the request. + +"Don't talk too much," answered the other in a broken voice. "What is +it you want? I'll do anything for you, God knows!" + +"I want you to promise that you'll take this ring to Queen Mab--and +give it to her with your own hands. Say that I remembered her +always--and carried my love for her with me down into the grave. +Promise me that you will give it her--_yourself_!" + +Valentine ceased speaking, exhausted with the effort. + +"I will, I will!" returned the other, taking the ring. "But don't talk +about dying, Val; you'll pull through right enough." + +The sufferer answered with a feeble shake of his head, and another +terrible fit of coughing left him faint and gasping for breath. + +"Stay with me," he whispered. + +Jack propped him up to ease his breathing, and wiped the blood from his +pallid lips. For a long, long time he sat silently holding the hand of +his dying friend; then, fight against it as he would, exhausted nature +began to assert herself in an overpowering desire to sleep. Numbed +with cold, and wellnigh heart-broken, wretched in body and mind, +jealous of the moments as they flew past and of the lessening +opportunity of proving his love by any trifling service it might be in +his power to render--in spite of all this, an irresistible drowsiness +crept over him, and his head fell forward on his knees. + +The feeble voice was speaking again. + +"What did you say, Val? God forgive me, I cannot keep awake." + +Bending close down to catch the words, he could distinguish, even in +the darkness, some faint traces of the old familiar smile. + +"You used to say--that I had all the luck--but, you remember--at +Brenlands--it was the lead captain that got killed." + +Jack murmured some reply, he was too worn out and miserable to weep. +Once more that terrible struggle to keep his heavy eyes from closing; a +dozen times he straightened his back, and groaned in bitterness of +spirit at the thought that he could wish to sleep at such a time as +this; then once again his head sank under the heavy weight of fatigue +and want of rest, and everything became a blank. + + * * * * * + +Awakening with a start, Jack scrambled to his feet. How long he had +slept he could not tell, nor did he realize where he was till the light +of a lantern flashing in his eyes brought him to his senses. + +"How is--" the question died on his lips. + +The surgeon took one keen glance, held the lamp closer, and then raised +it again. + +"Is he going, sir?" + +"Going? he's gone!" + +The words were followed by an awful silence; then, for an instant, the +yellow gleam of the lamp tell upon the soldier's face. + +"Come, come, my lad!" said the medical officer kindly, "we did what we +could for him, but it was hopeless from the first. Be thankful that +you've got a whole skin yourself. You'd better rejoin your company." + +The sky was paling with the first indications of the coming dawn. The +men were standing to their arms, and Jack hurried away to take his +place in the ranks, hiding his grief as best he could from the eyes of +his comrades. Then as he turned to look once more towards the spot +whence he had come, he saw, away across the river, the flush of rosy +light brighten in the east, and all unbidden there came back to his +memory the words of Queen Mab's hymn. The sun rose with a red glare, +scattering the mist and sending a glow of warmth across the desert; and +once more the old, sweet melody was sounding in his heart, while all +around seemed telling of hopes fulfilled and sorrows vanquished when + + "Morning's joy shall end the night of weeping." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +"WHEN JOHNNY COMES MARCHING HOME AGAIN!" + +"It touched the tin soldier so much to see her that he almost wept tin +tears, but he kept them back. He looked at her, and they both remained +silent."--_The Brave Tin Soldier_. + + +It was a hot, still afternoon in August. The birds were silent, hardly +a leaf stirred, and everything seemed to have dozed off to sleep in the +quiet sunshine. Old Ned Brown, the cobbler, and general "handy-man" of +the village, who, in days gone by, had often bound bats and done other +odd jobs for "Miss Fenleigh's young nevies," laid down his awl, and +gazed out of the window of his dingy little shop. + +A soldier was walking slowly down the road. His boots were covered +with dust, and on the breast of his red coat glittered the Egyptian +medal and the Khedive's Cross. + +"That must be Widow Crouch's son," said Ned to himself. "I heard he +was back from the war. Maybe he'll know summat about the young +gen'leman who used to come and stay up at the house yonder, and who, +they say, was killed. Ah, yes! I remember him well--a nice, +pleasant-spoken young chap! Dear me, dear me! sad work, sad work!" +With a shake of his head, the old man once more picked up the shoe he +was mending, still muttering to himself, "Yes, I remember him--sad +work, sad work!" + +The soldier strode on. His thoughts also were busy with memories of +the past. In one sense he was not alone; for before him, in fancy, +walked a boy--a rather surly, uncared-for looking young dog, with hands +in his pockets, coat thrown open, and Cricket cap perched on the back +of his head, as though in open defiance of the rain that was falling. +The road had been damp and dismal then; to-day it was dry and dusty; +but the heart of the man who trod it was no lighter than it had been +that evening ten years ago. + +The old cobbler had been mistaken. It was not Joe Crouch, but Jack +Fenleigh, who had just passed the window of the little shop. He was +thinking of the first time he had come to Brenlands at the commencement +of the summer holidays, after having been kept back on the breaking-up +day as a punishment for sending a pillow through the glass ventilator +of the Long Dormitory. + +"I didn't want to face her then," he said to himself, switching the +dust off his trousers with his cane. "And yet, how kind she was! +Never mind! she won't know me now. Valentine promised he wouldn't +write, and he never broke his word." + +Jack had walked from Melchester. More than once in the course of the +journey he had hesitated, and thought of turning back; but the +sacredness of the promise made to a dying man had compelled him to go +forward. + +He turned the corner, and slackened his pace as he saw before him the +old house nestling among the trees. There was no board with TO LET +printed on it, such as usually, in story-books, greets the eye of the +returning wanderer. The place was just the same as it always had been; +and the very fact of its being unchanged appealed to his feelings in a +manner which it would be impossible to describe. The white front gate, +whose hinges had been so often tried by its being transformed into a +sort of merry-go-round; the clumps of laurel bushes which had afforded +such good hiding-places in games of "I spy;" even the long-suffering +little brass weathercock above the stable roof, which had served as a +mark for catapult shooting,--these, and a hundred other objects on +which his eyes rested, recalled memories which softened his heart, and +brought back more vividly than ever the recollection of that faithful +friend, whose last request he was about to fulfil. + +"I must do it," he muttered, feeling in his pocket for the ring; "I +promised him I would." + +He pushed open the gate, and walked almost on tiptoe down the path, +casting anxious glances at the windows. To his great relief it was not +Jane who opened the door, but a new servant. + +"Is Miss Fenleigh in?" he stammered. "Will you tell her a--a private +soldier has brought her something from an officer who died in Egypt?" + +The girl showed him into the old, quiet parlour (as if he could not +have found the way thither himself), and there left him. It was very +still. Nothing broke the silence but the sleepy tick of the clock, and +the sound of some one (Jakes, perhaps) raking gravel on the garden +path. Everything was unaltered. There was the little bust of Minerva +that Barbara had once adorned with a paper bonnet; the fretsaw bookcase +that the two boys had made at school; and the quaint little +glass-fronted cupboard, let into the panelling, from which the watch +had been stolen. In the years that had passed, only one thing in the +room had changed, and that was the tall figure in uniform standing on +the hearthrug. + +He turned to look at himself in the glass. The dark moustache, bronzed +skin, red tunic with its white collar and badges of the "royal tiger;" +all these things had never been reflected there before, and for the +twentieth time during the last half-hour he sought to reassure himself +with the thought that his disguise was complete. "She'll never +recognize me!" he muttered. "It's all right." Then the door opened, +and for an instant his heart seemed to stop beating. + +The same easy dignity and graciousness of manner, the same sweet +womanly face, and the same depths of love and ready sympathy in her +clear, calm eyes. She was dressed in mourning, and at her throat was +the brooch containing the locks of the children's hair. Jack noticed +it at once, and saw, too, that the little silver locket still had its +place among the gold trinkets on her watch chain; and the sight of it +very nearly brought him down upon his knees at her feet. + +She seemed smaller than ever, and now, standing in front of him, her +upturned face was about on a level with the medals on his breast. + +What was it made his chest heave and his lips tremble as he encountered +her gaze? However foolish and headstrong he might have been in the +past, he knew he had only to declare himself and it would all be +forgotten and forgiven. "You may doubt us," Valentine had said, "but +we have never lost faith in you." Yes, that was it; she loved her ugly +duckling, believing even now that, in spite of outward appearances, it +would one day turn into a swan. But the years had slipped away, and +the change had never taken place. She might hope that it had, and it +was best that she should never know the truth. + +With a set face he began to speak. + +"I've lately returned from Egypt, and saw there your nephew, Lieutenant +Fenleigh, of the ----sex Regiment." + +He tried to say "ma'am," but even at that moment it seemed too great a +mockery, and the word choked him. + +"I was with him when he died on the banks of the Nile. He asked me to +bring you this, and to give it to you with my own hands." + +She took the ring, but without moving her eyes from the speaker's face. + +"He asked me to tell you that he remembered you always." + +The voice grew husky, and the lady drew a little closer, perhaps to +hear more plainly what was said. + +"And to say that he carried his--his love for you with him down into +the grave." + +With a great effort Jack finished the message. The words had brought +back a flood of vivid recollections of that dreadful night, and his +eyes were filled with blinding tears. He turned to brush them away, +and as he did so he felt Queen Mab's arms meet round his neck. + +"You dear old boy! don't you think I know you? Don't you think I knew +you as soon as you came inside the gate?" + +He made some attempt to reply, uttered a broken word or two, and then +turned away his head; but she, standing on tiptoe, drew it down lower +and lower, until at length it rested on her shoulder. + +And so the ugly duckling ended his wanderings. + + * * * * * + +No autumn frosts or winter snows could ever have fallen on that garden, +for here were the same flowers, and fruit, and ferns as had bloomed and +ripened that last August holiday seven years ago. So, at least, +thought Jack, as he and his aunt walked together along the paths. + +"Did he write from Egypt to tell you about me?" + +"No; but I've always been expecting you. I knew you'd come back some +time." + +"I didn't think you'd recognize me." + +"Valentine knew I should. Don't you see it was you he sent home to me, +and not the ring?" + +Jack was silent. Everything that his eye rested upon reminded him of +that faithful, boyish friendship, and his lip quivered. + +Queen Mab noticed it, and changed the subject. + +"I wonder what Jakes will think to see me walking about arm-in-arm with +a soldier," she said gaily. "Never mind, I must make the most of it +while it lasts. I'm afraid I shan't have many more opportunities of +'keeping company' with a red-coat." + +"How d'you mean?" he asked, with an uneasy, downward glance at his +uniform. "My time isn't up for nearly three years; and I know I ought +not to come here in this rig-out." + +"Don't talk nonsense," she answered. "You're a pretty soldier to be +ashamed of your cloth. Isn't it possible for a man to do his duty +unless he has a pair of epaulettes on his shoulders? Can't he do it +under any kind of coat? Come now," she added, shaking his arm, and +looking up into his face with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, "don't +you think, for the matter of that, a man could be a hero in his shirt +sleeves?" + +"Yes," answered Jack, laughing. + +"Oh, you do! I'm glad you've come to that conclusion at last." + +"Why?" + +"Why? because I think you'll soon have to give us a practical +illustration of how a man can distinguish himself by being capable and +trustworthy, even in plain clothes. That opens up a subject that I +have a lot to tell you about. Have you heard that your father and your +Uncle John are friends again?" + +"Yes; Val said something about it." + +"You haven't heard," she continued quietly, "that before the second +battle Valentine made a will, and gave it to a friend to be sent home +in case he was killed. It was more in the form of a long letter, +roughly written on the leaves of a pocket-book. A great deal of it was +about you. He did not break his promise to you, and say actually that +he had seen you, and where you were; but he assured us that he knew you +had not gone to the bad, but were living an honest life, and that +before long we should see you again. Then he begged his father, as a +last request, to do something for you, and to treat you as his own son. +Your uncle was over the other day. He is very anxious to carry out +Valentine's wishes, and would like to take you into his own business, +with a view to an ultimate partnership." + +"It's awfully good of him," murmured Jack huskily. + +"Well, that's what he intends to do. But come, it's time I put in the +tea." + +"It's time I went," he murmured. + +"Time you went? What nonsense! You say you've got a week's furlough, +and that you left your things at the Black Horse. Well, I'm just going +to send Jakes to fetch them. Why, I quite forgot to tell you that +little Bar was staying here." + +The person who had just stepped out from the open French window on to +the lawn was certainly no longer little, but a tall, graceful young +lady. There was, however, still some trace in her roguish mouth and +dancing eyes of the smaller Barbara who had wrought such havoc among +her enemies by firing six peas at a time instead of two. + +Jack had never before been frightened at Bar, of all people in the +world; but now, if Queen Mab had not still retained her hold of his +arm, he might very likely have bolted into the shrubbery. + +The girl advanced slowly across the lawn, casting inquiring glances, +first at the red coat and medals, and then at the bronzed face of the +stranger. Then suddenly her mouth opened, and she quickened her pace +to a run. + +"Oh, you rascal!" she cried. "It's Jack!" + +That was all the speech-making Barbara thought necessary in welcoming +the returning prodigal; and not caring a straw for bars and ribbons, +pipeclay, and "royal tigers," she embraced him in the same hearty +manner as she had always done when they met at the commencement of +bygone summer holidays. + +The dainty tea-table was a great change after the barrack-room. The +pretty china cups seemed wonderfully small and fragile compared with +the familiar basin; and once Jack found himself absent-mindedly +stuffing his serviette into his sleeve, under the impression that it +was his handkerchief. + +"Why, when was the last time you had tea here?" asked Barbara. "It +must have been that summer when Raymond--" She stopped short, but the +last word instantly brought to Jack's mind the recollection of that +evening when Fosberton had charged him with being a thief. + +"By-the-bye," he exclaimed, "I forgot to tell you--I've found the +watch." + +"Yes, I know," answered Queen Mab quietly. "Valentine gave a full +account of it in his letter." + +Jack was just going to launch out into a long and forcible tirade on +the subject of the theft, but his cousin signed to him across the table +to let the matter drop. + +"Aunt has been in such a dreadful way about it," she explained +afterwards. "Only she and ourselves know about it. She doesn't like +even to have Raymond's name mentioned. He has turned out a thorough +scamp, and has given Uncle Fosberton no end of trouble. Father +happened to know the friends of that officer who was killed, and when +his things were sent home the watch was returned; so it's back again +now in the same old place. Aunt has never told any one, not even +Raymond himself, as she doesn't want to bring fresh trouble on his +parents." + +Later on in the evening, as they sat together in the old, panelled +parlour in the soft light of the shaded lamp, the talk turned naturally +and sweetly on Valentine--on all that he used to say and do; and Jack +told as best he could the story of the desert march, and of that last +sad parting on the river's brink. After he had finished, there was a +silence; then Barbara picked up the piece of work she had laid down. + +"So you didn't find war quite such a jolly thing as you used to think +it would be?" she said, looking across at him with a tearful smile. + +"No," he answered thoughtfully. "I suppose things that you have long +set your mind on seldom turn out exactly what you want and expect them +to be. I'm glad I saw active service, and I'd go through it all again +a hundred times for the sake of having been with Valentine when he +died; though it was little I could do for him, more than to say +good-bye." + +Queen Mab rose from her chair, and stooped over the speaker to wish him +good-night. + +"Never mind," she said softly. "I'm glad to think of both my boys that +their warfare is accomplished!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +CONCLUSION. + +"I never dreamed of such happiness as this while I was an ugly +duckling!"--_The Ugly Duckling_. + + +The old house at Brenlands still remains unaltered, except that the +empty room upstairs, once the scene of so many terrible conflicts +between miniature metal armies, has been turned into a nursery. +Another generation of children is growing up now, and eagerly they +listen while Aunt Mabel tells the old story of the tin soldier who went +adventuring in a paper boat, and came back in the end to the place from +which he had started; or the history of the little lead captain, who +stands keeping guard over the precious things in the treasure cupboard; +and who once, after bearing the brunt of a long engagement, fell in +front of his men, just as the fighting ended. + +When the nursery is in use, a long-forgotten little gateway makes its +appearance at the top of the stairs, and "Uncle Jack" pays toll through +the bars to the chubby little Helen standing on the other side. + +Queen Mab tries to make out that she is growing older; but her +courtiers will not believe it, and go so far as to scoff at and hide +her spectacle case, declaring that her wearing glasses is only a +pretence. + +But though Brenlands and its queen may seem the same as ever, many of +those connected with it in our story have experienced changes, of which +some mention should be made. + +Old Jakes has been obliged to give up the gardening, and Joe Crouch has +been installed in his stead. Joe has finished his time, both with the +colours and in the reserve; but he is the soldier still--smart, clean, +and never needing to have an order repeated twice. He often +unconsciously falls back into former habits, and comes marching up the +path with his spade at the "slope" or his hoe at the "trail," whistling +softly the old quick-step, which once drew our hero to "go with the +rest, and follow the drum." + +For Jack he cherishes the fondest regard and deepest admiration, which +he never hesitates to express in such words as these:-- + +"Aw, yes, sir! he's what I call the right sort, is Master Jack. He +don't turn his back on an old cumred, as some would. I 'member the day +he bought himself out. 'Well, good-bye,' says I--'we've been +soldierin' together a good time, and in some queer places; but now +you're goin' back to be a gen'leman again, and I suppose we shan't see +each other never no more.' 'I should be a precious poor gen'leman if I +ever forgot you, Joe,' says he; 'you stood by me when I first came to +barracks, and some day I hope I shall be able to do something for you +in return.' And so he did, for he kept writin' to me, and when my time +was up he got me this place. Look here, sir, the day he come to enlist +the corporal at the gate says to him, 'We ought to make a general of +such a fine chap as you;' and you take my word for it, that's just what +they would have made of him, if he'd only stopped long enough!" + +Of Barbara something might be said, but that something is for the +present supposed to be a secret. Jack, who, like the average boy, +always seemed to have a knack of finding out things that were intended +to be kept private, knows more than he ought about this matter; and +bringing out a handful of coppers at the table, and representing them +to be the whole of his savings, declares that he will be "dead broke" +should any unforeseen circumstance necessitate his purchasing a wedding +present. Whereupon his cousin blushes, and puts her fingers in her +ears, and says, "I can't hear," but listens all the time. + +Of Raymond Fosberton, perhaps the less said the better. His name has +come very near being mentioned in a court of law, for forging his +father's signature to a cheque, and is therefore seldom mentioned among +his friends. One thing, however, might be told concerning his last +visit to Brenlands. + +A year after that eventful Christmas in Egypt, Jack was sitting before +the fire in Queen Mab's parlour, when Raymond was announced, and shown +into the room. He was dressed, as usual, in good though rather flashy +clothes; but in spite of this, he looked cheap and common, and his +general appearance gave one the impression of dirt wrapped up in silver +paper. The moment he saw Jack a spiteful look came into his face, and +he took no pains to conceal the old dislike and hatred with which he +still regarded the latter. + +"Hallo! so you've turned up again. I thought you'd soon get sick of +soldiering; too much hard work to suit your book, I expect." + +"No; I left it because I had a chance of something better. Aunt +Mabel's out; will you wait till she comes back?" + +Jack had seen more of the world since the day when he had knocked the +visitor into the laurel bush; and could now realize that Queen Mab had +spoken the truth when she said that punching heads was not always the +most satisfactory kind of revenge. He had a score to settle with +Raymond; but he regarded the latter now as a pitiful fellow not worth +quarrelling with, and he hesitated, half-minded to let the matter drop +without mentioning what was on his mind. + +Fosberton mistook the meaning of the other's averted glance. He +thought himself master of the situation, and, like a fool, having, +figuratively speaking, been given enough rope, he promptly proceeded to +hang himself. + +"You've been lying low for a precious long time," he continued, +maliciously. "Why didn't you come here before? You've been asked +often enough!" + +"I had my own reasons for stopping away." + +"You didn't like to come back after the bother about that watch, I +suppose?" + +Jack let him run on. "That was partly it," he answered. + +"Well, then," continued Raymond, with a sneer, "you made a great +mistake bolting like that; you gave yourself away completely." + +"I don't understand you," returned the other, with a sharper ring in +his voice. "D'you mean to charge me again with having stolen the +watch?" + +"Pooh! I daresay you know what's become of it." + +"Yes," answered Jack calmly, at the same time fixing the other with a +steady stare, "I _do_ know what's become of it: at the present moment +it's in its case in that cupboard there. Shall I show it you?" + +The answer was so strange and unexpected that Raymond started; the +meaning look in his cousin's eyes warned him that he was treading on +dangerous ground. He had, however, gone too far to let the matter drop +suddenly without any attempt to brazen out the situation. + +"Humph!" he said; "I suppose you put it back yourself." + +"I was the means of its being brought back. I found it in the pocket +of an officer named Lawson who was killed in Egypt." + +The withering tone and scornful curl of the lip was on the other side +now. The visitor was fully aware of it, and winced as though he had +been cut with a whip. + +"Mr. Lawson had been stationed with the regiment at Melchester, and I +happen to know how the watch came into his possession." + +Raymond saw that he had rushed into a pitfall of his own making--he was +entirely in his opponent's hands--and like the mean cur he was, +immediately began to sue for forgiveness and terms of peace. + +"Hush!" he cried, glancing at the door. "Don't say any more, the +servants might hear. I'm very sorry I did it, but you know how it was; +I was pushed for money, I say, you haven't told any one, have you?" + +"No. Uncle John and Aunt Mabel know; though I don't think you need +fear that they will let it go any further." + +"That's all right," continued Raymond, in a snivelling tone. "I was +badgered for money, and I really couldn't help it. I've been sorry +enough since. I don't think I'll wait any longer, I'm in rather a +hurry. Well, good-bye. And look here, old chap--I'm afraid I treated +you rather badly; but well let bygones be bygones. I don't want it to +get to the governor's ears, so you won't mention it, will you?" + +Jack cast a contemptuous glance at the proffered hand, and put his own +behind his back. + +"No; I won't tell any one," he answered shortly, then turned on his +heel, and that was his revenge. + +And now the only person remaining of whom a last word might be said at +parting, is our hero himself. + +It was a balmy evening in that eternal summer that seemed to reign at +Brenlands; and he and Queen Mab were walking slowly round the green +lawn, while the swallows went wheeling to and fro overhead. + +Fastened to her bunch of trinkets next the locket was a silver +coin--the enlisting shilling, which Jack had never parted with since he +first received it on that memorable morning at the Melchester barracks. + +"Yes," said Aunt Mabel, "it was Queen Victoria's once, but now it's +mine!" + +"Well, I think I earned it," he answered, laughing. + +"Perhaps you'd like to go and earn another?" + +"No; I'm too happy where I am. Uncle John is awfully good to me. He +couldn't be kinder if I were his own son." + +"So you're content at last to stay at home and take what's given you?" + +"Yes; I think I've settled down at last. Dear old Val said that the +lane would turn some time, and so it has. My luck's changed." + +"I think I'd put it down to something better than that," said Queen +Mab, smiling. "Perhaps it is not all luck, but a little of yourself +that has changed." + +Jack laughed again, but made no attempt to deny the truth of the +suggestion. Possibly he felt that what she said was right, and that +not only in his surroundings, but also in his own heart, had come at +last the long lane's turning. + + + + +THE END. + + + + +Nelson's Books for Boys. + +_The Books below are specially suitable for Boys, and a better +selection of well-written, attractively-bound, and +beautifully-illustrated Gift and Prize Books cannot be found. The list +may be selected from with the greatest confidence, the imprint of +Messrs. Nelson being a guarantee of wholesomeness as well as of +interest and general good quality. For further selections see under +Ballantyne, Kingston, Nelson's "Royal" Libraries, etc._ + + +_Many Illustrated in Colours._ + + "CAPTAIN SWING." Harold Avery. + HOSTAGE FOR A KINGDOM. F. B. Forester. + FIRELOCK AND STEEL. Harold Avery. + A CAPTIVE OF THE CORSAIRS. John Finnemore. + THE DUFFER. Warren Bell. + A KING'S COMRADE. C. W. Whistler. + IN THE TRENCHES. John Finnemore. + IN JACOBITE DAYS. Mrs. Clarke. + HEADS OR TAILS? (A School Story.) H. Avery. + HELD TO RANSOM. (A Story of Brigands.) F. B. Forester. + JACK HOOPER. V. Cameron, R.N., C.B., D.C.L. + JACK RALSTON. (Life in Canada.) H. Burnham. + WITH PACK AND RIFLE IN THE FAR SOUTH-WEST. Achilles Daunt. + A CAPTAIN OF IRREGULARS. (War in Chili.) Herbert Hayens. + RED, WHITE, AND GREEN. (Hungarian Revolution.) Herbert Hayens. + IN THE GRIP OF THE SPANIARD. Herbert Hayens. + THE TIGER OF THE PAMPAS. H. Hayens. + TRUE TO HIS NICKNAME. Harold Avery. + RED CAP. E. S. Tylee. + A SEA-QUEEN'S SAILING. C. W. Whistler. + PLAY THE GAME! Harold Avery. + HIGHWAY PIRATES. (A School Story.) Harold Avery. + SALE'S SHARPSHOOTERS. Harold Avery. + A rattling story of how three boys formed a very + irregular volunteer corps. + FOR KING OR EMPRESS? (Stephen and Matilda.) C. W. Whistler. + SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS. E. F. Pollard. + TOM GRAHAM, V.C. William Johnston. + ONE OF BULLER'S HORSE. William Johnston. + THE FELLOW WHO WON. Andrew Home. + BEGGARS OF THE SEA. Tom Bevan. + A TRUSTY REBEL. Mrs. Henry Clarke. + THE BRITISH LEGION. Herbert Hayens. + SCOUTING FOR BULLER. Herbert Hayens. + THE ISLAND OF GOLD. Dr. Gordon Stables. + HAROLD THE NORSEMAN. Fred Whishaw. + + + +NELSON'S BOOKS AT ONE AND SIXPENCE. + + +_STORIES FOR BOYS AND GIRLS._ + + FROM THE BACK OF BEYOND. Mrs. Roberton. + COUNTESS DORA'S COMPANION. Mrs. Bennitt. + TWO LITTLE CAVALIERS. W. Bettesworth. + THE LUCK OF CHERVIL. H. Elrington. + KNIGHTS OF THE RED CROSS. D. Moore. + JOHN KNOX'S "BAIRNS." Margaret H. Roberton. + MARK'S PRINCESS. Mrs. Edwin Hohler. + THE ROUND TOWER. A Story of the + Irish Rebellion of '98. Florence M. S. Scott. + THE RIVERTON BOYS. K. M. Eady. + DOROTHY'S DIFFICULTIES. M. C. Cordue. + EVELYN. Dorothea Moore. + JAKE. Adela F. Mount. + A HELPING HAND. M. B. Synge. + THE QUEEN'S NAMESAKE. M. B. Synge. + A HAPPY FAILURE. Ethel Dawson. + FIFINE AND HER FRIENDS. Sheila E. Braine. + A LITTLE COCKNEY. Miss Gaye. + MARK HAMILTON'S DAUGHTERS. A. F. Robertson. + A STORY OF SEVEN. Bridget Penn. + THREE SAILOR BOYS. Commander Cameron. + TERRY'S TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS. J. M. Oxley. + TRUE TO THE FLAG. Mrs. Glasgow. + BOBBY'S SURPRISES. + THREE SCOTTISH HEROINES. E. C. Traice. + + + +NELSON'S "ROYAL" LIBRARIES. + +THE SHILLING SERIES. + +_Eight Coloured Plates in nearly every Volume._ + + ARCHIE DIGBY. G. E. Wyatt. + AS WE SWEEP THROUGH THE DEEP. Gordon Stables, M.D. + AT THE BLACK ROCKS. Edward Rand. + AUNT SALLY. Constance Milman. + CYRIL'S PROMISE. A Temperance Tale. W. J. Lacey. + GEORGIE MERTON. Florence Harrington. + GREY HOUSE ON THE HILL. Hon. Mrs. Greene. + HUDSON BAY. R. M. Ballantyne. + JUBILEE HALL. Hon. Mrs. Greene. + LOST SQUIRE OF INGLEWOOD. Dr. Jackson. + MARK MARKSEN'S SECRET. Jessie Armstrong. + MARTIN RATTLER. R. M. Ballantyne. + RHODA'S REFORM. M. A. Paull. + SHENAC. The Story of a Highland Family in Canada. + SIR AYLMER'S HEIR. E. Everett-Green. + SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN. Harold Avery. + THE CORAL ISLAND. R. M. Ballantyne. + THE DOG CRUSOE. R. M. Ballantyne. + THE GOLDEN HOUSE. Mrs. Woods Baker. + THE GORILLA HUNTERS. R. M. Ballantyne. + THE ROBBER BARON. A. J. Foster. + THE WILLOUGHBY BOYS. Emily C. Hartley. + UNGAVA. R. M. Ballantyne. + WORLD OF ICE. R. M. Ballantyne. + + + +T. NELSON AND SONS, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, and New York. + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Soldiers of the Queen, by Harold Avery + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN *** + +***** This file should be named 29415-8.txt or 29415-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/4/1/29415/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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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: Soldiers of the Queen + +Author: Harold Avery + +Release Date: July 15, 2009 [EBook #29415] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<A NAME="img-front"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-front.jpg" ALT=""A fierce hand-to-hand fight was in progress."" BORDER="2" WIDTH="386" HEIGHT="547"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 386px"> +"A fierce hand-to-hand fight was in progress." +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center" STYLE="color: red"> +SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN +</H1> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BY +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +HAROLD AVERY +</H2> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +LONDON, EDINBURGH, AND NEW YORK +<BR> +THOMAS NELSON AND SONS +<BR> +1898 +</H3> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS +</H2> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">Tin Soldiers</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">An Ugly Duckling</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">The Rebel Reclaimed</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">The Court of Queen Mab</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">An Unlucky Picnic</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">A Keepsake</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">Strife in the Upper Fourth</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">A Banquet at "Duster's"</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">"Guard Turn Out!"</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">"Storms in a Tea-cup"</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">"Out of the Frying-pan—"</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">"—Into the Fire"</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">A Robbery at Brenlands</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">The Sound of the Drum</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">The Queen's Shilling</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">On Active Service</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">Under Fire</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">The Battle</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap19">"Food for Powder"</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap20">The River's Brink</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap21">"When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again!"</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap22">Conclusion</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS +</H2> + +<H4> +<A HREF="#img-front"> +"Lieutenant Lawson, revolver in hand, stepped into a gap in the ranks" . . . . . . . . . . . . <I>Frontispiece</I>. +</A> +</H4> + +<H4> +<A HREF="#img-010"> +"Another volley swept the intervening stretch of tablecloth" +</A> +</H4> + +<H4> +"'Make haste! I can't hang on much longer'" (missing from book) +</H4> + +<H4> +<A HREF="#img-132"> +"The visitors were seized, and hustled unceremoniously out of the room" +</A> +</H4> + +<H4> +<A HREF="#img-151"> +"'Here they are! now we've got them!'" +</A> +</H4> + +<H4> +<A HREF="#img-207"> +"It was Christmas Day in the camp at Korti" +</A> +</H4> + +<H4> +<A HREF="#img-240"> +"The enemy swerved round the flank of the square, and burst furiously +upon the rear" +</A> +</H4> + +<H4> +<A HREF="#img-259"> +"The oncoming mass of Arabs" +</A> +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN. +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +TIN SOLDIERS. +</H4> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +"They shouldered arms, and looked straight before them, and wore a +splendid uniform, red and blue."—<I>The Brave Tin Soldier</I>. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +The battle was nearly over. Gallant tin soldiers of the line lay where +they had fallen; nearly the whole of a shilling box of light cavalry +had paid the penalty of rashly exposing themselves in a compact body to +the enemy's fire; while a rickety little field-gun, with bright red +wheels, lay overturned on two infantry men, who, even in death, held +their muskets firmly to their shoulders, like the grim old "die-hards" +that they were. The brigade of guards, a dozen red-coated veterans of +solid lead, who had taken up a strong position in the cover of a +cardboard box, still held their ground with a desperate valour only +equalled by the dogged pluck of a similar body of the enemy, who had +occupied the inkstand with the evident intention of remaining there +until the last cartridge had been expended. +</P> + +<P> +Another volley swept the intervening stretch of tablecloth, and the +deadly missiles glanced against the glass bottles and rattled among the +pencils and penholders. Two men fell without a cry, and lay motionless +with their heads resting on the pen-wiper. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-010"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-010.jpg" ALT=""Another volley swept the intervening stretch of tablecloth."" BORDER="2" WIDTH="377" HEIGHT="513"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 377px"> +"Another volley swept the intervening stretch of tablecloth." +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +"Look here, Barbara, you're cheating! You put in more than two peas +that time, I know." +</P> + +<P> +It was the commander-in-chief of the invading forces who spoke, and the +words were addressed to a very harum-scarum looking young lady, who +stood facing him on the opposite side of the table. +</P> + +<P> +"How d'you know I did?" she cried. +</P> + +<P> +"Because I saw them hit. There were three at least, and the rule was +that we weren't to fire more than two at a time." +</P> + +<P> +"There weren't three, then," retorted the girl, laughing, and shaking +back her tangled locks with an impatient movement of her head. "There +were <I>six</I>! Ha! ha! I put them all in my mouth at once, and you never +noticed." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you little cheat!" cried the boy. "I'll lick you." +</P> + +<P> +The threat had evidently no terrors for her. She danced wildly round +the table, crying, "Six! six! six!" and when at length he caught her, +and held her by the waist, she turned round and rapped him smartly on +the head with a tin pea-shooter. +</P> + +<P> +At this stage of the proceedings a lady, who had been sitting in a low +chair by the fire, looked up from her book. +</P> + +<P> +"Come, come!" she said pleasantly. "I thought the day was past when +generals fought single combats in front of their men. Isn't that true, +Valentine?" +</P> + +<P> +The tussle ceased at once; the boy released his sister, who laughed, +and shook herself like a small kitten. +</P> + +<P> +"She's been cheating!" he exclaimed. +</P> + +<P> +"I fired six peas instead of two!" cried the culprit, evidently +delighted with her little piece of wickedness. "And I knocked over two +of his silly old soldiers." +</P> + +<P> +A girl, somewhat older than Valentine, though very like him in face, +laid down her needlework, saying, with a quiet smile,— +</P> + +<P> +"All's fair in love and war, isn't it, Barbara?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, of course it is," answered her sister. +</P> + +<P> +"It's not—is it, aunt?" retorted the boy. +</P> + +<P> +The lady rose from her chair, and, with a merry twinkle in her eye, +came over to the table. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we'll hope not," she said. "Why, Val, I should have thought you +were too old to play with tin soldiers; you were fourteen last +birthday." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't think I shall ever be tired of playing with them—that is," he +added, "until I'm with real ones." +</P> + +<P> +"Queen Mab," as the children sometimes called her, was below the medium +height, and as she stood by her nephew's side his head reached above +the level of her shoulder. She glanced over the mimic battlefield, and +then down at the bright, healthy-looking young face at her side, with +its honest grey eyes and resolute little mouth and chin. The old +words, "food for powder," came into her mind, and she laid her hand +lightly on his rumpled hair. +</P> + +<P> +"So you still mean to be a soldier?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, rather; and father says I may." +</P> + +<P> +Miss Fenleigh was silent for a moment. "Ah, well," she said at length, +"a happy time will come some day when there will be no more war; and I +think it's about time this one ceased, for Jane will be here in a +minute to clear the table for tea." +</P> + +<P> +If Valentine or either of his sisters had been asked to describe their +Aunt Mabel, they would probably have done so by saying she was the best +and dearest person in the world; and accepting this assertion as +correct, it would be difficult to say more. Her house also was one of +the most delightful places which could well be imagined; and there, +since their mother's death, the children spent each year the greater +part of their summer holidays. +</P> + +<P> +It was a dear, easy-going old house, with stairs a little out of the +straight, and great beams appearing in unexpected places in the bedroom +ceilings. There were brass locks with funny little handles to the +doors, and queer alcoves and cupboards let into the walls. There was +no fusty drawing-room, with blinds always drawn down, and covers to the +chairs, but two cosy parlours meant for everyday use, the larger of +which was panelled with dark wood which reflected the lamp and +firelight, and somehow seemed to be ready to whisper to one stories of +the days when wood was used for wall-paper, and when houses were built +with sliding panels in the walls and hiding-places in the chimneys. +The garden exactly matched the house, and so did the flowers that grew +in it—the pink daisies, "boy's love," sweet-williams, and hollyhocks, +all of which might be picked as well as looked at. Visitors never had +a chance of stealing the fruit, because they were always invited to eat +it as soon as it was ripe, or even before, if they preferred. +</P> + +<P> +There were a lawn, and a paddock, and a shrubbery, the last so much +overgrown that it resembled a little forest, and often did duty for a +miniature "merry Sherwood," when the present of some bows and arrows +caused playing at Robin Hood and his men to become a popular pastime. +Lastly, there was the stable, where Jessamine, the little fat pony, and +the low basket-carriage were lodged; and above was the loft, a charming +place, which had been in turn a ship, a fortress, a robbers' cave, and +a desert island. Up there were loads of hay and bundles of straw, +which could be built up or rolled about in; the place was always in a +romantic twilight; there were old, deserted spiders' webs hanging to +the roof, looking like shops to let, which never did any business; and +the ascent and descent of the perpendicular ladder from the ground +floor was quite an adventure in itself. To picture a ship on which one +had to go aloft to enter the cabin would seem rather a difficult task; +but a child's imagination is the richest in the world, and though +Valentine and his sisters had grown rather too old for this style of +amusement, every fresh visit to Brenlands was made brighter by +recollections of the many happy ones which had preceded it, and of all +the fun and frolic they had already enjoyed there. +</P> + +<P> +But best and foremost of all the charming things which made the place +so bright and attractive was Queen Mab herself. She never said that +little people ought to be seen and not heard; and there never was a +person so easy to tell one's troubles to, or so hard to keep a secret +from, as Aunt Mabel. No one in the world could ever have told stories +as well as she did. "The Brave Tin Soldier" and "The Ugly Duckling" +were the favourites, and came in time to be always associated with +Brenlands. They had been told so often that the listeners always knew +exactly what was coming next, and had the narrator put the number of +metal brethren at two dozen instead of twenty-five, or missed out a +single stage of the duckling's wanderings, she would have been +instantly tripped up by her audience. But Queen Mab was too skilful a +story-teller to leave out the minutest detail in describing the +perilous voyage of the paper boat, or to spare the duckling a single +snub from the narrow-minded hen or the bumptious tom-cat. The "Tin +Soldier" she generally gave in answer to the special request of her +small nephew, but she herself seemed to prefer the other story. There, +the duckling's sorrowful wanderings finished with his turning into a +swan, and Queen Mab always had a liking for happy endings. +</P> + +<P> +She and the old house were exactly suited to each other, and seemed to +share the same fragrant atmosphere, so that wherever her courtiers met +her, and flung their arms round her neck, they were instantly reminded +of sweet-brier and honeysuckle, jars of dried rose leaves, and all the +other delicious scents of Brenlands. The children never noticed that +there were streaks of silver in her hair, or that on her left hand she +wore a mourning ring; nor did they know the reason why, on a certain +day in the year, she seemed, if possible, more kind and loving than on +any other, and went away somewhere early in the morning with a big +bunch of flowers, and came back with the basket empty. +</P> + +<P> +"Aunt," said Barbara, "what's an old maid?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, I'm one!" answered Queen Mab, laughing; whereupon it became every +one's ambition to live a life of single blessedness. When there was +cherry-tart for dinner, an alarming number of stones were secretly +swallowed, in order that the person guilty of this abominable piece of +sharp practice might count out, "This year—Next year—Some +time—Never!" and at old maid's cards the object of the game was now +reversed, and instead of trying to "go out," every one strove to remain +in, the fortunate being in whose hands the "old maid" remained at the +finish always brandishing the hitherto detested card with a shriek of +triumph. +</P> + +<P> +The last trace of the mimic battle had been cleared away, and now where +tin cavalry had ridden boldly to their fate, and lead guards had died +but not surrendered, nothing was to be seen but peaceful plum-cake, or +bread and butter cut in thin and appetizing slices. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sorry you weren't able to make a longer stay," said Aunt Mabel, as +she poured out the tea. "But your father said he couldn't spare you +for more than a week at Easter. However, the summer will soon be here, +and then you will come again for a proper visit. By-the-bye, +Valentine, d'you know that your cousin Jack is coming to be a +school-fellow of yours at Melchester?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, aunt; is that Uncle Basil's son?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; I want you to make friends with him, and bring him over here on +your half-term holiday. I hope he will come for a few weeks at +midsummer, and then you will all be able to have a jolly time together." +</P> + +<P> +"How old is he?" asked Valentine. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I think he is about a year older than you are—fifteen or +thereabouts." +</P> + +<P> +Barbara had fished a stranger out of her cup, and was smiting the back +of one plump little hand against the other, to the accompaniment of +"Monday—Tuesday—Wednesday," and so on. +</P> + +<P> +"Aunt Mab," she said suddenly, "how is it we never hear anything of +Uncle Basil, or that he never comes to visit us? What's Jack like?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I can hardly tell you," replied Miss Fenleigh; "I've only seen +him once, poor boy, and that was several years ago." +</P> + +<P> +"But why don't we ever see Uncle Basil?" persisted Barbara. "You often +come and visit us, and why doesn't he?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I live within ten miles of your house, and Padbury is thirty or +forty miles on the other side of Melchester." +</P> + +<P> +"But that isn't very far by railway; and if he can't come, why doesn't +he write?" +</P> + +<P> +Aunt Mabel seemed perplexed what reply to make, but at this moment the +boy came to her rescue. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't ask so many questions, Bar," he said. +</P> + +<P> +Miss Barbara was always ready for a tussle, with words or any other +weapons. "Pooh!" she answered, "whom d'you think you're talking to? I +know what it is, you're angry because I knocked over more of your +soldiers than you did of mine!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, you cheated." +</P> + +<P> +"Fiddles! You thought I'd only got two peas in my mouth, you old +stupid, and instead of that I'd got six, <I>six</I>! ha! ha!" And so the +discussion continued. +</P> + +<P> +Helen was nearly two years older than Valentine. She was a quiet, +thoughtful girl, and later in the evening, when her brother and sister +had gone to bed, she remained talking with her aunt in front of the +fire. While so doing, she returned to the subject of their +conversation at the tea-table. +</P> + +<P> +"Aunt, why is it that father and Uncle Basil never meet?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, my dear, I didn't like to talk about it before Val and Barbara; +it's a pity they should hear the story before they are older and can +understand it better; besides, I wish the boys to be good friends when +they meet at school. Basil and your father had a dispute many years +ago about some money matters connected with your grandfather's will, +and I am sorry to say they have never been friends since. Your uncle +has always been a very unpractical man; he has wasted his life +following up ideas which he thought would bring him success and riches, +but which always turned out failures. He always has some fresh fad, +and it always brings him fresh trouble. I don't think he would +wilfully wrong any one, but from being always in difficulties and under +the weather, his temper has been soured and his judgment warped, and he +cannot or will not see that your father acted in a perfectly just and +honourable manner, and the consequence is, as I said before, they never +made up their quarrel." +</P> + +<P> +"And Jack is going to the school at Melchester?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; and I want Valentine to make friends with him, and for us to have +him here in the summer. Poor boy, soon after your mother died, he lost +his, and I am afraid his life and home surroundings have not been very +happy since. Well, we must try to brighten him up a bit. I've no +doubt we shall be able to do that when we get him here at Brenlands." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +AN UGLY DUCKLING. +</H4> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +"They had not been out of the egg long, and were very saucy. 'Listen, +friend,' said one of them to the duckling, 'you are so ugly that we +like you very well.'"—<I>The Ugly Duckling</I>. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +It was the first day of term, and Melchester School presented a general +appearance of being unpacked and put together again, as though the +whole institution had been sent out of town for the holidays, and had +returned by goods train late on the previous evening. The passages +were strewn with the contents of boxes belonging to late comers; new +boys wandered about, apparently searching for something which they +never found; while the old stagers exchanged noisy greetings, devoured +each other's "grub," and discussed the prospects of the coming thirteen +weeks which they must pass together before the commencement of the +summer vacation. +</P> + +<P> +Most of the boys had arrived on the Monday evening, but Valentine +Fenleigh did not come back until the following morning. According to a +promise made to his aunt before leaving Brenlands, one of the first +things he did was to inquire after his cousin. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said one of his classmates, "there is a new chap by the name of +Fenleigh, but I don't know what he's like. He's not put with us in the +Lower Fourth." +</P> + +<P> +Among a hundred and fifty boys, and in the confusion of a first day, it +was a difficult matter to discover at once the whereabouts of the +fellow he wanted. He accosted one or two of the new-comers, but by the +time the bell rang for afternoon school he had only succeeded in +ascertaining the fact that his cousin must be somewhere about, from +having seen the name "J. Fenleigh" ticked off on the bedroom list. +Holms was full of a project for hiring a bicycle during the summer +months, and, what with listening to the unfolding of this plan, and +struggling with the work in hand, Valentine soon forgot the existence +of his undiscovered relative. +</P> + +<P> +Towards the end of the first hour Mr. Copland, the form-master, folded +up a piece of paper on which he had been writing, and handing it across +the desk, said,— +</P> + +<P> +"Fenleigh, take this in to Mr. Rowlands, and bring back an answer." +</P> + +<P> +Valentine made his way to the head-quarters of the Upper Fourth. The +classroom was rather quieter than the one he had left, Mr. Rowlands +being somewhat of a martinet. +</P> + +<P> +"All right," said the latter, who was copying a list of questions on +the blackboard; "put your note on my table, and I'll attend to you in a +moment." +</P> + +<P> +The messenger did as he was told, and stood looking round the room, +exchanging nods and winks with one or two members of the upper division +with whom he was on friendly terms. +</P> + +<P> +On a form at the back of the room sat three boys who were hardly ever +seen apart, and who had apparently formed an alliance for the purpose +of idling their time, and mutually assisting one another in getting +into scrapes. Their names were Garston, Rosher, and Teal; and seated +at the same desk was a boy with whom they seemed to have already struck +up an acquaintance, though Valentine did not remember having seen his +face before. Even in the Upper Fourth there was a subdued shuffle, +showing that work was going rather hard on this first day; and the +young gentlemen whose names have just been mentioned were evidently not +throwing themselves heart and soul into the subject which was supposed +to be occupying their undivided attention. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Rowlands finished a line, made a full stop with a sharp rap of his +chalk, and then turned round sniffing. +</P> + +<P> +"Dear me!" he said, "there's a strong smell of something burning." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps it's Jackson's cricket cap," murmured a small boy. Jackson's +hair, be it said, was of a fiery red, and hence the suggestion that his +head-gear might be smouldering in his pocket. +</P> + +<P> +"What's that?" demanded Mr. Rowlands, and the joker subsided. +</P> + +<P> +Jackson waited until a fresh sentence had been begun on the blackboard; +then he dropped a ruler, and in picking it up again smote the small boy +on a vulnerable spot beneath the peak of his shell-jacket. +</P> + +<P> +"There <I>is</I> something burning," repeated the master. "Has any one of +you boys got matches in his pocket?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, <I>no</I>, sir!" shouted a dozen voices. +</P> + +<P> +"Answer more quietly, can't you? I'm not deaf! Jackson, see if +there's anything in the stove." +</P> + +<P> +The stove was found to contain nothing but a bit of ink-sodden +blotting-paper. Jackson drew it carefully forth, and held it up +between his finger and thumb. "That's all, sir," he said. +</P> + +<P> +"Then put it <I>back</I>, sir," cried the master, "and go on with your work." +</P> + +<P> +Valentine had some difficulty in keeping from laughing. The smell +which had greeted Mr. Rowlands' nostrils was caused by Garston, who was +deliberately burning holes with a magnifying glass in the coat of the +boy in front of him, who sat all unconscious of what was happening to +this portion of his wardrobe. +</P> + +<P> +The new fellow, who watched the proceedings with great interest, now +stretched out his hand, and taking the glass held it up level with the +victim's neck. +</P> + +<P> +A moment later there was a yell. +</P> + +<P> +"Who made that noise?" +</P> + +<P> +"Please, sir, somebody burnt my neck!" +</P> + +<P> +"Burnt your neck! What boy has been burning Pilson's neck?" +</P> + +<P> +The new-comer raised his hand and gave a flip with his thumb and +finger. "I did," he answered. +</P> + +<P> +"You did!" exclaimed Mr. Rowlands wrathfully. "What are you thinking +of, sir? I've spoken to you four times to-day already. I don't know +if you were accustomed to behave in this manner at the last school you +were at, but let me tell you—" +</P> + +<P> +"Please, sir," interrupted Pilson plaintively, "they've burnt a hole in +my back!" +</P> + +<P> +At this announcement the class exploded. +</P> + +<P> +"<I>Silence</I>!" cried the master. "What do you mean, Pilson? is your coat +burnt?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, Fenleigh; I shall give you five hundred lines." +</P> + +<P> +Valentine, who had been an unoffending spectator of the affair, was +fairly staggered at suddenly hearing himself commissioned to write five +hundred lines. Then the situation dawned upon him—this reckless +gentleman with the burning-glass was his cousin Jack. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Rowlands made a memorandum of the punishment, and at the same time +scribbled a few words in reply to Mr. Copland. As he did so, Valentine +had an opportunity of examining his relative's appearance. The latter +might have been pronounced good-looking, had it not been for a +perpetual expression of restlessness and discontent, which soured what +would otherwise have been a pleasant face. He seemed to care very +little for the lines, and as soon as the master's eye was off him he +turned to Garston and winked. +</P> + +<P> +Valentine was by no means what is commonly known as a "good boy;" he +was as fond of a lark as any right-minded youngster need be; but he had +been taught at home that any one who intended to become a soldier +should first learn to obey, and to respect the authority of those set +over him. He did not like plunging into rows for the sake of being +disorderly; and something in Jack Fenleigh's careless behaviour did not +tend to leave on his mind a very favourable impression of his +newly-found cousin. He had, however, promised Queen Mab to make +friends; and so, as soon as afternoon school was over, he waited for +Jack in the gravel playground, and there introduced himself. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, so you're Valentine," said the other. "My guv'nor told me you +were here." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. I hope we shall be friends." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, there's no reason why we shouldn't. My guv'nor's had a row with +yours, I know; but that's nothing, he's always quarrelling with +somebody, and I'm sure I don't mind, if you don't. By-the-bye, weren't +you the fellow who was in the classroom when I got into that row about +the burning-glass?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; and I say it's rather a pity you go on like that the first day +you're here. Masters don't expect new fellows to begin larking at +once, and you'll get into Rowlands' bad books." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't mind that," answered the other; "I didn't want to come +here, and I don't care if I'm sent going again." +</P> + +<P> +At this moment Garston joined them. +</P> + +<P> +"Hallo!" he said, "are you two related to each other? I never thought +of your names being the same before. Cousins, eh? Well, look here, +new Fenleigh, Pilson's on the war-path after you for burning his neck." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't care if he is," answered the other. +</P> + +<P> +Hardly had the words been spoken when the subject of them turned the +corner. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," he cried, "you're the chap I'm after! What did you burn my coat +for?" +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't burn your coat." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you liar! Look here, I'm just going to—" +</P> + +<P> +What Pilson <I>was</I> going to do will remain for ever unknown. He had no +sooner laid his hand on Jack's collar than the latter, without a +moment's hesitation, struck him a heavy blow on the chest which sent +him staggering back against the wall gasping for breath. +</P> + +<P> +"Just keep your dirty paws off me. I tell you I didn't burn your coat; +though to look at it, I should think burning's about all it's good for." +</P> + +<P> +This was not at all the usual line of conduct which new boys adopted +when brought to book by an oldster. Pilson felt aggrieved, but made no +attempt to follow up his attack. +</P> + +<P> +"All right," he said. "You're a liar, and I'll tell all the other +fellows." +</P> + +<P> +"You can tell 'em what you please," returned the other, and taking hold +of Garston's arm he walked away. +</P> + +<P> +Valentine turned on his heel with a doubtful look on his face; his +cousin evidently knew how to take care of himself, yet the latter's +conduct was not altogether satisfactory. It was Garston who had burnt +the coat, and it was like him to let another boy bear the blame; while +Jack evidently cared as little for being thought a liar as he did for +any other misfortune that might befall him. +</P> + +<P> +During the next few days the cousins met every now and again in the +playground, or about the school buildings, but it was only to exchange +a nod or a few words on some subject of general interest. There seemed +to be little in common between them; and Jack, though willing enough to +be friendly and forget the family feud, evidently found the society of +the three unruly members of the Upper Fourth more to his liking than +that of a steady-going boy like Valentine. +</P> + +<P> +For nearly a month the latter did his best to form the friendship which +his aunt had desired; then an event happened which caused him to almost +regard the task as hopeless. Jack had been steadily winning for +himself the reputation of a black sheep; but the climax was reached +when he further distinguished himself in connection with certain +extraordinary proceedings known and remembered long afterwards as the +"Long Dormitory Sports." +</P> + +<P> +It was Rosher's idea. The chamber in question was called "Long" from +the fact that it contained sixteen beds, eight on a side, all of which +were occupied by members of the Upper Fourth. Skeat, the Sixth Form +boy in charge, was ill, and had gone to the infirmary; and in the +absence of the proverbial cat, the mice determined to get in as much +play as possible, only stopping short at performances which might +attract the attention of the master on duty. +</P> + +<P> +It was one Tuesday night. Garston and Teal had had a quarter mile +walking race up and down the centre aisle, which had ended, to the +great delight of the spectators, in Garston nearly tearing his +nightshirt off his back by catching it on a broken bedstead, while the +other competitor had kicked his toe against an iron dumb-bell, and +finished the race by dancing a one-legged hornpipe in the middle of the +course, while his opponent won "hands down." +</P> + +<P> +"I say," remarked Rosher, "why shouldn't we have proper sports, with a +proper list of events and prizes?" +</P> + +<P> +"Who'll give the prizes?" asked Teal. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, anybody! Look here. I vote we have sports to-morrow night before +old Skeat comes back. Hands up, those who are agreeable! To the +contrary!—none. Very well, it's carried!" +</P> + +<P> +"But how about prizes?" persisted Teal, who was of rather a mercenary +disposition. +</P> + +<P> +"There needn't be any proper prizes," answered Rosher; "we can give the +winners anything." +</P> + +<P> +"Give 'em lines," suggested Garston. +</P> + +<P> +"No; shut up, Garston. Everybody must give something. I'll offer a +brass match-box, shaped like a pig." +</P> + +<P> +"No, you won't," interrupted Teal. "It's mine; you borrowed it a week +ago, and never gave it me back." +</P> + +<P> +"Did I? Well, I'll tell you what, I'll offer a photograph of my +brother; the frame's worth something. Now, what'll you give, Garston?" +</P> + +<P> +Garston offered a small pocket-mirror. Jack Fenleigh a bone +collar-stud, while a boy named Hamond promised what was vaguely +described as "part of a musical box," and which afterwards turned out +to be the small revolving barrel, the only fragment of the instrument +which remained. +</P> + +<P> +Prizes having been secured, the next thing was to arrange competitions +in which to win them; and in doing this, the committee were obliged to +keep in view the peculiar nature and limitations of the ground at their +disposal. It was no good Hamond's clamouring for a pole jump, or Teal +suggesting putting the weight. Jack's proposal of a sack race in +bolster cases was, for a moment, entertained as a good idea; then it +was suddenly remembered that the bolsters had no cases, and so that +project fell through. +</P> + +<P> +One by one the events were decided on. Rosher promised to draw up a +programme, and insisted that after every boy's name some distinguishing +colours should appear, as on a proper sports list, and that competitors +were to arrange their costumes accordingly. +</P> + +<P> +"When shall it come off?" asked Garston. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, to-morrow, after the masters have all gone in to supper. Now, +we've been planning long enough; good-night." +</P> + +<P> +The occupants of the Long Dormitory, be it said to their credit, were +not fellows to form a scheme and then think no more about it, and the +next day their minds were exercised with preparations for the sports, +the chief difficulty being in arranging costumes which should answer to +the descriptions given on Rosher's card. These vagaries in dress +caused an immense amount of amusement, and when the masters' +supper-bell gave the signal for the commencement of operations, every +one found it difficult to retrain from shouts of laughter at the sight +of the various styles of war-paint. Perhaps that of Jack Fenleigh, +though simple to a degree, was most comical: his colours were described +as "red and white," and his costume consisted of his night-shirt, and a +large scarlet chest-protector which he had borrowed from a small boy, +whose mother fondly believed him to be wearing it according to her +instructions, instead of utilizing it to line a box containing a +collection of birds' eggs. +</P> + +<P> +As every race had to be run in a number of heats the events were +necessarily few in number. There were a hopping race, a hurdle race +over the beds, and a race in which the competitors were blindfolded, +and each carried a mug full of water, which had not to be spilt by the +way. +</P> + +<P> +Teal, over whose bed, as the result of a collision, two boys happened +to empty the contents of their half-pint cups, professed not to see +much fun in the performance, though every one else voted it simply +screaming. +</P> + +<P> +But the contest looked forward to with the greatest amount of interest +was the obstacle race. It was placed at the end of the programme; +Garston's pocket-mirror, the only prize worth having, was to reward the +winner; and the conditions were as follows:— +</P> + +<P> +The runners were to go once round the room, alternately crawling under +and hopping over the sixteen beds; the finish was to be down the middle +aisle, across the centre of which a row of chairs was placed, on which +boys stood or sat to keep them steady while the racers crawled under +the seats. In spite of the fact that the pocket-mirror was to be the +prize, only Jack and Hamond appeared at the starting-point when it came +to this last item on Rosher's programme, their companions voting it too +much fag, and preferring to sit on the obstacles and look on. +</P> + +<P> +The signal was given, and the two competitors started off in grand +style, plunging in and out among the beds like dolphins in a choppy +sea. Jack led from the first; he dashed up to the row of chairs a long +way in front of Hamond, and had wriggled the greater portion of his +body through the bars, when— +</P> + +<P> +No one could have said exactly how the alarm was given, or who first +saw the gleam of light through the ground-glass ventilator. The +obstacle was snatched from the centre of the room; with a rush and a +bound everybody was in bed; a moment later Mr. Rowlands entered the +room, the first thing which met his gaze being the extraordinary +spectacle of Jack Fenleigh, who, like a new kind of snail, was crawling +along the floor on his hands and knees with a cane-bottomed chair fixed +firmly on the centre of his back. The weight of the boy sitting on it +being removed, the unfortunate Jack found it impossible to force his +way any further, and thus remained unable to extricate himself from +between the bars of the obstacle. +</P> + +<P> +"Fenleigh," said the master, "get up off the ground. What are you +doing, sir?" +</P> + +<P> +The boy struggled to his feet, and in doing so revealed the glories of +the chest-protector. There was a subdued titter from the adjacent beds. +</P> + +<P> +"Silence!" cried Mr. Rowlands. "So you're responsible for this noise +and disorder, Fenleigh? If you want to perform as a clown, you had +better leave school and join a circus. At nine o'clock to-morrow you +will come with me to the headmaster's study." +</P> + +<P> +By breakfast-time on the following morning the story of this tragic +finish to the obstacle race was all over the school. Valentine heard +it, and waited anxiously to learn his cousin's fate. The latter +escaped with a severe reprimand, and the loss of the next two +half-holiday afternoons; but he was reminded that his conduct, +especially for a new boy, had been all along most unsatisfactory, and +he was given clearly to understand that any repetition of this constant +misbehaviour would result in his being expelled without further warning. +</P> + +<P> +"I wish you'd take more care what you're up to, Jack," said Valentine. +"You're bound to get thrown out if you don't behave better." +</P> + +<P> +"What's the odds if I am? I've only been here a month, and I hate the +place already." +</P> + +<P> +"It seems to me," answered Valentine sadly, "that you don't care a +straw for anything or anybody." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, why should I?" returned the other. "You wouldn't, if you were +in my place." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE REBEL RECLAIMED. +</H4> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +"'I think he will grow up pretty, and perhaps be smaller; he has +remained too long in the egg, and therefore his figure is not properly +formed;' and then she stroked his neck and smoothed the +feathers."—<I>The Ugly Duckling</I>. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Towards the end of June, Queen Mab wrote asking the two boys to come +over for their usual half-term holiday. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not going," said Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" asked Valentine, astonished that any one should decline an +invitation to Brenlands. "Why ever not? You'd have a jolly time; Aunt +Mabel's awfully kind." +</P> + +<P> +"I daresay she is, but I never go visiting. I hate all that sort of +thing." +</P> + +<P> +It was no good trying to make Jack Fenleigh alter his mind; he stuck to +his resolution, and Valentine went to Brenlands alone. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sorry Jack wouldn't come with you," said Queen Mab on the Saturday +evening; "why was it? Aren't you and he on good terms with each other?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, aunt, we're friendly enough in one way, but we don't seem +able to hit it off very well together." +</P> + +<P> +"How is that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't know. I'm not his sort; I suppose I'm too quiet for him." +</P> + +<P> +"I always thought you were noisy enough," answered Miss Fenleigh +laughing. +</P> + +<P> +"You wouldn't, if you knew some of our fellows," returned the boy. +</P> + +<P> +The weeks slipped by, the holidays were approaching, and the far-off +haven of home could almost, as it were, be seen with the naked eye. +Whether the disastrous termination to the dormitory sports had really +served as a warning to Jack to put some restraint upon his wayward +inclinations, it would be difficult to say; but certainly since the +affair of the obstacle race he had managed to keep clear of the +headmaster's study, and had only indulged in such minor acts of +disorder as were the natural consequences of his friendship with +Garston, Rosher, and Teal. It needed the firm hand of Mr. Rowlands to +hold in check the sporting element which at this period was, +unfortunately, rather strong in the Upper Fourth, and which, at certain +times—as for instance during the French lessons—attempted to turn the +very highroad to learning into a second playground. +</P> + +<P> +Monsieur Durand, whose duty it was to instil a knowledge of his +graceful mother tongue into the minds of a score of restless and +unappreciative young Britons, found the facetious gentlemen of the +Upper Fourth a decided "handful." They seemed to regard instruction in +the Gallic language as an unending source of merriment. Garston threw +such an amount of eloquence into the reading of the sentence, "My +cousin has lost the hat of the gardener," that every one sighed to +think that a relative of one of their classmates should have brought +such sorrow on the head of the honest son of toil; and when Teal +announced joyfully that "His uncle had found the hat of the gardener," +Rosher was obliged to slap the speaker on the back, and say, "Bravo!" +</P> + +<P> +This being M. Durand's first term in an English school, that gentleman +could hardly have been expected, as the saying goes, to be up to all +the moves on the board; and certain of his pupils, sad to relate, were +only too ready to take advantage of his lack of experience. It was +discovered that it was comparatively easy to obtain permission to leave +the class. "Please, sir, may I go and get a drink of water?" or +"Please, sir, may I go and fetch my dictionary?" was sufficient to +obtain temporary leave of absence; nor did the French master seem to +take much notice as to the length of time which such errands should by +right have occupied. The consequence was that not unfrequently towards +the end of the hour a quarter of his pupils were gathered in what was +known as the playshed, drinking sherbet, or playing cricket with a +fives ball and a walking-stick. +</P> + +<P> +One particular morning, when the Lower Fourth were struggling with the +parsing and analysis of a certain portion of Goldsmith's "Deserted +Village," a mysterious patch of light appeared dancing about on the +wall and ceiling, attracting the attention of the whole class, and +causing the boy just told to "go on" to describe "man" as a personal +pronoun, and to put a direct object after the verb "to be." +</P> + +<P> +"Fenleigh," said Mr. Copland, "just see who that is outside." +</P> + +<P> +Valentine, who was seated nearest the window, rose from his place, and +looking down into the yard beneath saw the incorrigible Jack amusing +himself by flashing sunbeams with the pocket-mirror which he had won in +the dormitory sports. The latter, who ought by rights to have been +transcribing a French exercise, grinned, and promptly bolted round the +corner. +</P> + +<P> +"Who was it, Fenleigh?" +</P> + +<P> +Valentine hesitated. +</P> + +<P> +"Who was it? Did you see the boy?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir; it was my cousin." +</P> + +<P> +"What! J. Fenleigh in the Upper Fourth?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"Humph! very well," answered Mr. Copland, making a memorandum on a slip +of paper in front of him; "I'll seek an interview with that young +gentleman after school." +</P> + +<P> +Valentine's heart sank, for he had in his pocket a letter from Queen +Mab saying that she was driving over in the pony carriage that very +afternoon, and inviting the two boys to spend their half-holiday with +her in Melchester. This significant remark of Mr. Copland's meant that +Jack would be prevented from going. Valentine felt that he was +indirectly the cause of the misfortune, and his wayward relative seemed +inclined to view the matter in the same light. +</P> + +<P> +"I say," he exclaimed, "you were a sneak to tell Copland it was I who +was flashing that looking-glass." +</P> + +<P> +"I couldn't help it," answered Valentine. "He told me to look out and +see who was there." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, why didn't you say the fellow had run away, or something of that +sort?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because it would have been a lie." +</P> + +<P> +"Pooh! telling a cram like that to a master doesn't count. You are a +muff, Valentine," and the speaker turned on his heel with a +contemptuous shrug of his shoulders. +</P> + +<P> +The little fat pony, the low basket-carriage, Jakes the gardener +driving, and last and best of all Queen Mab herself, arrived at the +time appointed; but only one of her nephews was waiting at the +rendezvous. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, where's Jack?" +</P> + +<P> +"He got into a scrape this morning, and is kept in. What's more, he +says it's my fault, and we've had a row about it. I don't think we +ever shall be friends, aunt." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you mustn't say that. In a fortnight's time we shall all be at +Brenlands together, and then we must try to rub some of the sharp +corners off this perverse young gentleman. I must come back with you +to the school and try to see him before I drive home." +</P> + +<P> +In the quiet retirement of Mr. Copland's classroom, Jack was writing +lines when a messenger came to inform him that some one wished to see +him in the visitors' room. +</P> + +<P> +"Bother it! Aunt Mabel," he said to himself. "I suppose I must go," +he added, swishing the ink from his pen and throwing it down on the +desk. "What a bore relations are! I wish they'd let me alone." +</P> + +<P> +From their one brief meeting years before, neither aunt nor nephew +would have recognized each other now had they met in the streets, and +so this was like making a fresh acquaintance. Jack had heard only one +half of a very lopsided story, and though he took no interest in the +family disagreement, yet he was inclined to be suspicious of his +grown-up relations. He marched down the passage, jingling his keys +with an air of defiance; but when he entered the visitors' room, and +saw the bright smile with which his aunt greeted his appearance, he +dropped the swagger and became stolidly polite. She, for her part, had +come prepared for the conquest which she always made; his awkward, +boyish manner and uncared-for appearance, the dissatisfied look upon +his face, and the ink stains on his collar, all were noticed in one +loving glance, and touched her warm heart. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Jack," she said, "you see Mahomet has come to the mountain. How +are you, dear?" +</P> + +<P> +Jack muttered that he was quite well. It was rather embarrassing to be +called "dear." He attempted to hide his confusion by wiping his nose; +but in producing his handkerchief, he pulled out with it a forked +catapult stick and a broken metal pen-holder, which clattered to the +ground and had to be picked up again. +</P> + +<P> +"How you've grown!" said Queen Mab, "and—my senses! what muscles +you've got," she added, feeling his arm. +</P> + +<P> +Jack grinned and bent his elbow, the next moment he straightened it +again. +</P> + +<P> +"Go on!" he said; "you're chaffing me." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not. I wish you'd been at Brenlands at Easter, and I'd have set +you to beat carpets. Never mind, I shall have you with me in a +fortnight." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't think I shall come," he began. +</P> + +<P> +"Stuff and nonsense!" interrupted the aunt. "I say you <I>are</I> coming. +Valentine never makes excuses when I send him an invitation. Don't you +think I know how to amuse young people?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes; it's not that." +</P> + +<P> +"Then what is it?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," answered the boy, grinning, and kicking the leg of the +table. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course you don't; so you've got to come. Valentine's sisters will +be there; you'd like to meet the two girls?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I shouldn't." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, shocking! you rude boy." +</P> + +<P> +Jack stood on one leg and laughed; this was like talking to a fellow in +the Upper Fourth, and his tongue was loosed. +</P> + +<P> +"They'd hate me," he said; "I don't know anything about girls." +</P> + +<P> +"I should think you didn't. Wait till you see Helen and Barbara." +</P> + +<P> +"But there's another thing. I haven't got any clothes." +</P> + +<P> +"My dear boy, how dreadful! Whose are those you are wearing now?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, go on, aunt; what a chaff you are! I don't mean that—I—" +</P> + +<P> +"No, you evidently don't know what you mean. Well, one thing's +settled, you're coming to Brenlands for the summer holidays." +</P> + +<P> +The battle was won, and Queen Mab had gained her usual victory. +</P> + +<P> +"How is your father? Didn't he send me any message?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I think he told me to give you his love." +</P> + +<P> +"Is that all?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that's a jolly sight more than what he sends to most people," +answered the boy. +</P> + +<P> +He would have been surprised to have seen that there were tears in her +eyes when she walked out of the school gates, and still more astonished +to know that it was love for his unworthy self which brought them +there; for little did Fenleigh J. of the Upper Fourth imagine that any +one would come so near to crying on his account. +</P> + +<P> +That evening, just before supper, Valentine felt some one touch him on +the shoulder, and turning round saw that it was his cousin. +</P> + +<P> +"I've seen Queen Mab, as you call her," remarked the latter, "and, I +say—I like her—rather." +</P> + +<P> +"I knew you would. She's an angel—only jollier." +</P> + +<P> +"She made me promise I'd go there for the holidays." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, that's fine!" cried Valentine. "I thought she would; she's got +such a way of making people do what she wants. I am glad you are +going; you'll enjoy it awfully." +</P> + +<P> +Fenleigh J. regarded the speaker for a moment with rather a curious +glance. In view of the events of the morning he rather expected that +his cousin would not be overpleased to hear that he had been asked to +spend the holidays at Brenlands; and that Valentine should rejoice at +his having accepted the invitation, struck him as being rather odd. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here, Val," he blurted out, "I'm sorry I called you a sneak this +morning. It was my fault, and you're a good sort after all." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, stop it!" answered the other. "I'll forgive you now that you've +promised to go to Brenlands." +</P> + +<P> +Queen Mab was at home, miles away by this time; yet, as a result of her +flying visit, some of the softening influence of her presence and +kindly usages of her court seemed to linger even amid the rougher and +more turbulent atmosphere of Melchester School. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE COURT OF QUEEN MAB. +</H4> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +"They were swans ... the ugly little duckling felt quite a strange +sensation as he watched them."—<I>The Ugly Duckling</I>. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +During the short period which elapsed between Queen Mab's visit and the +end of the term Jack managed to steer clear of misfortune; but on the +last evening he must needs break out and come to grief again. +</P> + +<P> +He incited the occupants of the Long Dormitory to celebrate the end of +work by a grand bolster fight, during the progress of which conflict a +pillow was thrown through the ventilator above the door. It so +happened that, at that moment, Mr. Copland was walking along the +passage; and a cloud of feathers from the torn case, together with +fragments of ground glass, being suddenly rained down on his +unoffending head, he was naturally led to make inquiries as to the +cause of the outrage. As might have been expected, Fenleigh J. was +found to be the owner of the pillow which had done the damage, and he +was accordingly kept back on the following day to pay the usual penalty +of an imposition. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll take your luggage on with me," said Valentine. "You get out at +Hornalby, the first station from here, and it's only about a quarter of +a mile from there to Brenlands. Any one will tell you the way." +</P> + +<P> +It turned out a wet evening. Queen Mab and her court had already been +waiting tea for nearly half an hour, when Valentine exclaimed, "Hallo! +here he is!" +</P> + +<P> +The expected guest took apparently no notice of the rain; his cloth +cricket cap was perched on the back of his head, and he had not even +taken the trouble to turn up the collar of his jacket. He walked up +the path in a cautious manner, as though he expected at every step to +trip over the wire of a spring-gun; but when he came within a dozen +yards of the house he quickened his pace, for Aunt Mabel had opened the +door, and was standing ready to give him a welcome. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, boy, how late you are! You must be nearly starving!" +</P> + +<P> +"I couldn't come before," he began; "I had some work to do, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, you rascal! I've heard all about it. Come in, and Jane shall +rub you down with a dry cloth." +</P> + +<P> +Jack left off jingling his keys; he did not like being "rubbed down," +but he submitted to the process with great good-humour. It was the +cosiest old kitchen; the table was the whitest, and the pots and pans +the brightest, that could be imagined; and Jane, the cook, groomed him +down as though brushing a damp jacket with a dry glass-cloth was the +most enjoyable pastime in life. In the parlour it was just the same: +the pretty china cups and saucers, and the little bunches of bright +flowers, only made all the nice things there were to eat seem more +attractive; and the company were as happy and gay as though it was +everybody's birthday, and they had all met to assist one another in +keeping up the occasion with a general merry-making. Jack alone was +quiet and subdued, for the simple reason that he had never seen +anything like it in his life before. +</P> + +<P> +Queen Mab, strongly entrenched at the head of the table, behind the +urn, sugar basin, and cream jug, held this line of outworks against any +number of flank attacks in the shape of empty cups, the old silver +teapot apparently containing an inexhaustible supply of ammunition, and +enabling her to send every storming party back to the place from whence +it came, and even invite them to attempt another assault. +</P> + +<P> +Once or twice Jack turned to find his aunt watching him with a look in +her eyes which caused his own face to reflect the smile which was on +hers. She was thinking, and had been ever since she had seen the +latest addition to her court coming slowly up the front path through +the dismal drizzle, of the old favourite story, and of that part in it +where the ugly duckling, overtaken by the storm, arrived in front of +the tumble-down little cottage, which "only remained standing because +it could not decide on which side to fall first." +</P> + +<P> +When the meal was over, and while the table was being cleared, Jack +wandered out into the porch, and stood watching the rain. He had +hardly been there a minute before he was joined by Barbara. +</P> + +<P> +"I say," she exclaimed, "why didn't you talk at tea time? I wanted to +ask you heaps of things. Your name's Jack, isn't it? Well, mine's +Barbara; they call me Bar, because it's the American for bear, and +father says I am a young bear. I want to hear all about that pillow +fight, and those races you had in the dormitory." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, they weren't anything! How did you get to hear about them?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Val told us." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what a fellow he is! He's always talking about the rows I get +into." +</P> + +<P> +"It doesn't matter; we thought it awful fun. Helen laughed like +anything, and she's very good. I say, can you crack your fingers?" +</P> + +<P> +"No; but I can crack my jaw." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, do show me!" +</P> + +<P> +Jack really did possess this gruesome accomplishment; he could somehow +make a blood-curdling click with his jawbone. When he did it in +"prep." his neighbours smote him on the head with dictionaries, and +when he repeated the performance in the dormitory, fellows rose in +their beds and hurled pillows and execrations into the darkness. +Barbara, however, was charmed. +</P> + +<P> +"You are clever!" she cried; "I wish I could do it. Now, come back, +and sit by me; we're going to play games." +</P> + +<P> +Jack, who had cherished some vague notion that every girl was something +between a saint and a bride-cake ornament, was agreeably surprised at +this conversation with his small admirer, and readily complied with her +request. Several of the games he had never seen before, but he made +bold attempts to play them some way or another, and soon entered into +the spirit of his surroundings. +</P> + +<P> +In making words out of words his spelling was nearly as bad as +Barbara's, but he seemed to think his own mistakes a great joke, and +didn't care a straw how many marks he gave to the other players. In +"Bell and Hammer," however, he always managed to buy the "White Horse," +while other people would squander their all in bidding for a card which +perhaps turned out after all to be only the "Hammer." At "Snap" he was +simply terrible; he literally swept the board, but kept passing +portions of his winnings under the table to Barbara, whose pile seemed +to be as inexhaustible as the widow's cruse. By the end of the evening +he was the life of the party, and no one would have believed that he +was the same boy who, a few hours ago, had come up the front path +wishing in his secret heart that he was safely back at Melchester +writing lines in the Upper Fourth classroom. +</P> + +<P> +He and Valentine shared a delightful, old four-post bed, which in times +gone by had had the marvellous property of turning itself into a tent, +a gipsy van, or a raft, which, though launched from a sinking ship in +the very middle of a stormy ocean, always managed to bring its crew of +distressed mariners safely to shore in time to answer Queen Mab's +cheery call of "Tea's ready!" +</P> + +<P> +"It is nice to be here," said Valentine, dropping his head upon the +pillow with a sigh of contentment. "Aren't you glad you came?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered Jack. "Aunt Mabel seems so jolly kind and glad to see +you. I wish you hadn't told her about all those rows I got into; I +don't think she'll like me when she knows me better." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, she will! Don't you like Helen?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; I think she has the nicest face I ever saw. But she's too good +for me, Val, my boy. I think I shall get on better with Barbara; she's +more like a boy, and I don't think I shall ever be a ladies' man." +</P> + +<P> +Valentine laughed; the idea of Fenleigh J. of the Upper Fourth ever +becoming a ladies' man was certainly rather comical. +</P> + +<P> +"You'll like Helen when you get to know her. I wouldn't exchange her +as a sister for any other girl in the kingdom. Well—good-night!" +</P> + +<P> +That one evening at Brenlands had done more towards forming a +friendship between the two boys than all the ninety odd days which they +had already spent in each other's company. The next afternoon, +however, they were destined to become still more united; and the manner +in which this came about was as follows. +</P> + +<P> +During the morning the weather held up, but by dinner time it was +raining again. +</P> + +<P> +"Bother it! what shall we do?" cried Valentine. +</P> + +<P> +"I should think you'd better play with your tin soldiers," answered +Helen, laughing. "They always seem to keep you good." +</P> + +<P> +Valentine hardly liked this allusion to his miniature army being made +in the hearing of his older schoolfellow, for boys at Melchester School +were supposed to be above finding amusement in toys of any kind. The +latter, however, pricked up his ears, and threw down the book he had +been reading. +</P> + +<P> +"Who's got any tin soldiers?" he asked. "Let's see 'em." The boxes +were produced. "My eye!" continued Jack, turning out the contents, +"what a heap you've got! I should like to set them out and have a +battle. And here are two pea-shooters; just the thing!" +</P> + +<P> +"You don't mean to say you're fond of tin soldiers, Jack?" said Aunt +Mabel. "Why, you're much too old, I should have thought, for anything +of that kind." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not," answered the boy; "I love tin soldiers, and anything to do +with war. Come on, Val, we'll divide the men and have a fight." +</P> + +<P> +The challenge was accepted. There was an empty room upstairs, and on +the floor of this the opposing forces were drawn up, and a desperate +conflict ensued. The troops were certainly a motley crew; some were +running, some marching, and some were standing still; some had their +rifles at the "present," and some at the "slope;" but what they lacked +in drill and discipline, they made up in their steadiness when under +fire, and Jack showed as much skill and resource in handling them as +did their rightful commander. He set out his men on some thin pieces +of board, which could be moved forward up the room, it having been +agreed that he should be allowed to stand and deliver his fire from the +spot reached by his advancing line of battle. Each group of these +tag-rag-and-bobtail metal warriors was dignified by the name of some +famous regiment. Here was the "Black Watch," and there the "Coldstream +Guards;" while this assembly of six French Zouaves, a couple of +red-coats, a bugler, and a headless mounted officer on a three-legged +horse, was the old 57th Foot—the "Die-Hards"—ready to exhibit once +more the same stubborn courage and unflinching fortitude as they had +displayed at Albuera. Valentine held a position strengthened by +redoubts constructed out of dominoes, match-boxes, pocket-knives, and +other odds and ends. They were certainly curious fortifications; yet +the nursery often mimics in miniature the sterner realities of the +great world; and since that day, handfuls of Englishmen have built +breastworks out of materials almost as strange, and as little intended +for the purpose, and have fought desperate and bloody fights, and won +undying fame, in their defence. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going to be this chap, who takes on and off his horse," said Jack. +"Which is you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Here I am," answered Valentine. "Now then, you fire first—blaze +away!" +</P> + +<P> +As he spoke he picked up the veteran captain of the solid lead guards, +and set him down in the centre of the defending force, and so the +battle commenced. It was still raging when Jane came to say that tea +was ready; but the losses on both sides had been terribly severe. The +invading army still pressed forward, though the "57th" were once more +decimated by the withering fire; and nothing actually remained of the +"Coldstream Guards" but a kettle-drummer of uncertain nationality, and +a man carrying a red and green flag, which he might very possibly have +captured from some Sunday-school treat. The opposite side were in no +better plight: men were lying crushed under the ruins of the works +which they had so gallantly defended; and hardly enough artillerymen +were left to have pulled back, with their united efforts, the spring of +one of the pea cannons. The leaders on both sides remained unscathed, +and continued to brandish bent lead swords at each other in mutual +defiance. +</P> + +<P> +"Make haste! you've got one more shot," said Valentine. +</P> + +<P> +The pea-shooter was levelled and discharged, the veteran lead captain +tottered and tell, and thus the fight ended. +</P> + +<P> +"Val, my boy, you're killed!" cried Jack. "No matter, it's the bed of +honour, old chap!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't mind!" answered the other, laughing. "<I>C'est la guerre</I>, +you know; come along. I'd no idea you were so fond of soldiers." +</P> + +<P> +So they passed down to Queen Mab's merry tea-table, unsaddened by any +recollections of the stricken field, or of the lead commander left +behind among the slain. +</P> + +<P> +The two boys talked "soldiering" all the evening; and the next morning, +when breakfast was nearly over, and Helen ran upstairs to inquire if +they meant to lie on till dinner-time, they were still harping away on +the same subject. The door was standing ajar, and she heard their +words. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't move your knee," Jack was saying; "that's the hill where I +should post my artillery." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that's all right," answered Valentine; "but you couldn't shell my +reserves if I got them down under cover of this curl in the +blanket.—All right, Helen! down directly!" +</P> + +<P> +The sun was shining brightly, the fine weather seemed to have come at +last, and the question was how to put it to the best possible use. +</P> + +<P> +"Why don't you children go and picnic somewhere?" said Queen Mab. "You +can have Prince and the carriage, and drive off where you like, and +have tea out of doors." +</P> + +<P> +A general meeting was held in the hayloft directly after dinner for the +purpose of discussing this important question. Jack won a still higher +place in Barbara's affections by hauling himself up the perpendicular +ladder without touching the rungs with his feet; and though knowing +little or nothing about such things as picnics, he was ready with any +number of absurd suggestions. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's go to Pitsbury Common," said Barbara; "there's such a lot of +jolly sandpits to roll about in, and we can burn gorse-bushes." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no, don't let's go there!" answered Helen; "there's no place to +shelter in if it comes on rain, and when you're having tea the sand +blows about and gets into everything, so that you seem to be eating it +by mouthfuls." +</P> + +<P> +"It's so nice having it out of doors," persisted Barbara. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, let's go out in the road and sit with our feet in the ditch, +like the tramps do," said Jack. "I'll bring the tea in my sponge bag. +Rosher used to carry it about in his pocket, full of water for a little +squirt he was always firing off in the French class. Pilson had the +sentence, 'Give me something to drink;' and as soon as he'd said it, he +got a squirtful all over the back of his head, and Durand—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, stop that!" said Valentine, laughing. "Look here! I vote we +drive over to Grenford, and call on the Fosbertons, and ask them to +lend us their boat; they'd give us lunch, and then we could take our +tea with us up the river. It's not more than six miles." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't let's go there," said Barbara. "I hate them." +</P> + +<P> +"Is Raymond away?" asked Helen. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; didn't you hear Queen Mab say he was going to spend his holidays +in London? Uncle James is rather a pompous old fellow, but we shan't +have to go there except for lunch; and father said we ought to call on +them while we're here; besides, it'll be jolly on the river. You know +them, don't you, Jack?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I've <I>heard</I> about them," answered the other. "I know that the +guv'nor's sister married old Fosberton, and that he got a lot of money +making tin tacks, or whatever it was; and now he fancies he's rather a +swell, and says he's descended from William the Conqueror's sea-cook, +or something of that sort. I don't want to go and see them; but I +don't mind having some grub there, if they'll lend us a boat." +</P> + +<P> +"My senses! you ought to feel very much honoured at the thought of +going to lunch at Grenford Manor," said Helen, laughing. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sure I don't," answered her cousin. "I'd sooner have a feed in +old 'Duster's' shop at Melchester." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that's what we'll do," said Valentine. "We'll take a kettle and +some cups with us, and tea, and all that sort of thing, and go up the +river as far as Starncliff, and there we'll camp out and have a jolly +time." +</P> + +<P> +With some reluctance the proposal was agreed upon. Had the company +foreseen the chain of events which would arise directly and indirectly +from this memorable picnic, they might have made up their minds to +spend the day at Brenlands. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +AN UNLUCKY PICNIC. +</H4> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +"The tom-cat, whom his mistress called 'My little son,' was a great +favourite; he could raise his back, and purr, and could even throw out +sparks from his fur if it were stroked the wrong way."—<I>The Ugly +Duckling</I>. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Now, Jack, do behave yourself!" cried Valentine, as the +basket-carriage turned through two imposing-looking granite gate-posts +into a winding drive which formed the approach to Grenford Manor. +Jack, as usual, seemed to grow particularly obstreperous just when +circumstances demanded a certain amount of decorum, and at that moment +he was kneeling on the narrow front seat belabouring Prince with the +cushion. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," he answered, turning round, "we must drive up to the door in +style; if we come crawling in like this, they'll think we're ashamed of +ourselves." +</P> + +<P> +As he spoke, a curve in the drive brought the house into view. It was +a big, square building, with not the slightest touch of green to +relieve the monotony of the rigid white walls, and level rows of +windows, which seemed to have been placed in position by some precise, +mathematical calculation. A boy was lounging about in front of the +porch, with his hands in his pockets, kicking gravel over the +flower-beds. +</P> + +<P> +"O Val! you said Raymond wasn't at home," murmured Helen. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Aunt Mab said he was going to London; he must have put off his +visit." +</P> + +<P> +Raymond Fosberton turned at the sound of the carriage-wheels, and +sauntered forward to meet the visitors. He had black hair, and a very +pink and white complexion. To say that he looked like a girl would be +disparaging to the fair sex, but his face would at once have impressed +a careful observer as being that of a very poor specimen of British +boyhood. +</P> + +<P> +"Hallo!" he said, without removing his hands from his pockets, "so +you've turned up at last! You've been a beastly long time coming!" +</P> + +<P> +He shook hands languidly with Valentine and the two girls, but greeted +Jack with a cool stare, which the latter returned with interest. +Grenford Manor was very different from Brenlands. Aunt Isabel was +fussy and querulous, while Mr. Fosberton was a very ponderous gentlemen +in more senses than one. He had bushy grey whiskers and a very red +face, which showed up in strong contrast to a broad expanse of white +waistcoat, which was in turn adorned with a massive gold chain and +imposing bunch of seals. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, young ladies, and how are you?" he began in a deep, sonorous +voice, of which he was evidently rather proud. "How are you, +Valentine? So this is Basil's son?—hum! What's your father doing +now?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," answered Jack, glancing at the clock. "I expect he's +having his dinner, though there's no telling, for we're always a bit +late at home." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Fosberton stared at the boy, cleared his throat rather vigorously, +and then turned to speak to Helen. +</P> + +<P> +Lunch was a very dry and formal affair. Raymond spoke to nobody, his +father and mother addressed a few words to Valentine and the girls, but +Jack was completely ignored. The latter, instead of noticing this +neglect, pegged away merrily at salmon and cold fowl, and seemed +devoutly thankful that no one interrupted his labours by forcing him to +join in the conversation. +</P> + +<P> +"You may tell your father," said Mr. Fosberton to Valentine, "that I +find his family are related to one of the minor branches of my own; +I've no doubt he will be pleased to hear it. His father's sister +married a Pitsbury, a second cousin of the husband of one of the +Fosbertons of Cranklen. You'll remember, won't you?" +</P> + +<P> +Valentine said he would, and looked scared. +</P> + +<P> +The silver spoons and forks were all ornamented with the Fosberton +crest—a curious animal, apparently dancing on a sugar-stick. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" whispered Barbara to Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"The sea-cook's dog," answered her cousin. +</P> + +<P> +"But what's he doing?" +</P> + +<P> +"He's stolen the plum-duff, and the skipper's sent him up to ride on a +boom, and he's got to stay there till he's told to come down." +</P> + +<P> +At last the weary meal was over. +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose we may have the boat," said Valentine. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes. I'm coming with you myself," answered Raymond; which +announcement was received by Miss Barbara with an exclamation of +"Bother!" which, fortunately, was only overheard by Jack, who smiled, +and pinched her under the table. +</P> + +<P> +It did not take long to transport the provisions and materials from the +pony-carriage to the boat, and the party were soon under way. It was a +splendid afternoon for a river excursion. Raymond, who had not offered +to carry a thing on their way to the bank, lolled comfortably in the +stern, leaving the other boys to do the work, and the girls to +accommodate themselves as best they could. He was evidently accustomed +to having his own way, and assumed the position of leader of the +expedition. +</P> + +<P> +"Have you finished school?" asked Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't go to one," answered the other; "I have a private tutor. I +think schools are awful rot, where you're under masters, and have to do +as you're told, like a lot of kids. I'm seventeen now. I'm going +abroad this winter to learn French, then I'm coming home to read for +the law. I say, why don't you row properly?" +</P> + +<P> +"So I do." +</P> + +<P> +"No, you don't; you feather too high." +</P> + +<P> +"There you go again," continued the speaker petulantly a few moments +later; "that's just how the Cockneys row." +</P> + +<P> +"Sorry," said Jack meekly. "Look here, d'you mind showing me how it +ought to be done?" +</P> + +<P> +Raymond scrambled up and changed places with Jack. "There," he +said—"that's the way—d'you see? Now, try again." +</P> + +<P> +"No, thanks," answered Jack sweetly, "I'd rather sit here and watch +you; it's rather warm work. I think I'll stay where I am." +</P> + +<P> +Raymond did not seem to relish the joke, but it certainly had the +wholesome effect of taking him down a peg, and rendering him a little +less uppish and dictatorial for the remainder of the journey. +</P> + +<P> +At Starncliff the right bank of the river rose rocky and precipitous +almost from the water's edge. There was, however, a narrow strip of +shore, formed chiefly of earth and shingle; and here the party landed, +making the boat fast to the stump of an old willow. +</P> + +<P> +"We promised Queen Mab that we wouldn't be very late," said Valentine, +"so I should think we'd better have tea at once; it'll take some time +to make the water boil." +</P> + +<P> +There is always some special charm about having tea out of doors, even +when the spout of the kettle gets unsoldered, or black beetles invade +the tablecloth. To share one teaspoon between three, and spread jam +with the handle-end of it, is most enjoyable, and people who picnic +with a full allowance of knives and forks to each person ought never to +be allowed to take meals in the open. Jack and Valentine set about +collecting stones to build a fireplace, and there being plenty of dry +driftwood about, they soon had a good blaze for boiling the water. The +girls busied themselves unpacking the provisions; but Raymond Fosberton +was content to sit on the bank and throw pebbles into the river. +</P> + +<P> +The repast ended, the kettle and dishes were once more stowed away in +the boat, and Valentine proposed climbing the cliff. +</P> + +<P> +"It looks very steep," said Helen. +</P> + +<P> +"There's a path over there by those bushes," answered her brother. +"Come along; we'll haul you up somehow." +</P> + +<P> +The ascent was made in single file, and half-way up the party paused to +get their breath. +</P> + +<P> +"Hallo!" cried Jack, "there's a magpie." +</P> + +<P> +On a narrow ledge of rock and earth at the summit of the cliff two tall +fir-trees were growing, and out of the top of one of these the bird had +flown. The children stood and watched it, with its long tail and sharp +contrast of black and white feathers, as it sailed away across the +river. +</P> + +<P> +"One for sorrow," said Helen. +</P> + +<P> +"I shouldn't like to climb that tree," said Valentine. "It makes my +head swim to look at it, leaning out like that over the precipice." +</P> + +<P> +"Pooh!" answered Raymond; "that's nothing. I've climbed up trees in +much worse places before now." +</P> + +<P> +Helen frowned, and turned away with an impatient twitch of her lips. +</P> + +<P> +Jack saw the look. "All right, Master Fosberton," he said to himself; +"you wait a minute." +</P> + +<P> +They continued their climb, and reaching the level ground above +strolled along until they came opposite the tall tree out of which the +magpie had flown. +</P> + +<P> +"There's the nest!" cried Jack, pointing at something half hidden in +the dark foliage of the fir. "Now, then, who'll go up and get it?" +</P> + +<P> +"No one, I should think," said Helen. "If you fell, you'd go right +down over the cliff and be dashed to pieces." +</P> + +<P> +"I know I wouldn't try," added her brother. "I should turn giddy in a +moment." +</P> + +<P> +"Will you go?" asked Jack, addressing Raymond. +</P> + +<P> +"No," answered the other. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, I thought you said a moment ago that you've climbed trees in much +worse places. Come, if you'll go up, I will." +</P> + +<P> +"Not I," retorted Raymond sulkily; "it's too much fag." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, well, if you're afraid, I'll go up alone." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't be such a fool, Jack," said Valentine; "there won't be any eggs +or young birds in the nest now." +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind; I should like to have a look at it." +</P> + +<P> +Fenleigh J. of the Upper Fourth was a young gentleman not easily turned +from his purpose, and, in spite of Valentine's warning and the +entreaties of his girl cousins, he lowered himself down on to the +ledge, and the next moment was buttoning his coat preparatory to making +the attempt. +</P> + +<P> +For the first twelve or fifteen feet the trunk of the fir afforded no +good hold, but Jack swarmed up it, clinging to the rough bark and the +stumps of a few broken branches. The spectators held their breath; but +the worst was soon passed, and in a few seconds more he had gained the +nest. +</P> + +<P> +"There's nothing in it," he cried; "but there's a jolly good view up +here, and, I say, if you want a good, high dive into the river, this is +the place. Come on, Raymond; it's worth the fag." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, do come down!" exclaimed Helen. "It frightens me to watch you." +She turned away, and began picking moon daisies, when suddenly an +exclamation from Valentine caused her to turn round again. +</P> + +<P> +"Hallo! what's the matter?" +</P> + +<P> +Jack had just begun to slip down the bare trunk, but about a quarter +way down he seemed to have stuck. +</P> + +<P> +"My left foot's caught somehow," he said. "I can't get it free." +</P> + +<P> +He twitched his leg, and endeavoured to regain the lower branches, but +it was no good. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, do come down!" cried Helen, clasping her hands and turning pale. +"Can't any one help him?" +</P> + +<P> +Jack struggled vainly to free his foot. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here," he said in a calm though strained tone, "my boot-lace is +loose, and has got entangled with one of these knots; one of you chaps +must come up and cut it free. Make haste, I can't hang on much longer." +</P> + +<H4> +[Illustration: "'Make haste! I can't hang on much longer.'" (missing from book)] +</H4> + + +<P> +Valentine turned to Raymond. +</P> + +<P> +"You can climb," he said; "I can't." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not going up there," answered the other doggedly, and turned on +his heel. +</P> + +<P> +Valentine wheeled round with a fierce look upon his face, threw off his +coat, took out his knife, opened it, and put it between his teeth. +</P> + +<P> +"O Val!" cried Helen in a choking voice, and hid her face in her hands. +Only Barbara had the strength of nerve to watch him do it, and could +give a clear account afterwards of how her brother swarmed up the +trunk, and held on with one arm while he cut the tangled lace. +Valentine himself knew very little of what happened until he found +himself back on the grass with Helen's arms round his neck. +</P> + +<P> +"I thought you couldn't climb," said Jack, a minute later. +</P> + +<P> +"It's possible to do most things when it comes to a case like that," +answered the other quietly. "Besides, I remembered not to look down." +</P> + +<P> +That sort of answer didn't suit Fenleigh J.; he caught hold of the +speaker, and smacked him on the back. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here, Valentine, the truth is you're a jolly fine fellow, and I +never knew it until this moment." +</P> + +<P> +The party strolled on across the field. +</P> + +<P> +"It's precious hot still," said Raymond; "let's go and sit under that +hayrick and rest." +</P> + +<P> +"We mustn't stay very long," Helen remarked as they seated themselves +with their backs against the rick. "We want to be home in time for +supper." +</P> + +<P> +"We can stay long enough for a smoke, I suppose," said Fosberton, +producing a cigarette case. "Have one. What! don't you chaps smoke? +Well," continued the speaker patronizingly, "you're quite right; it's a +bad habit to get into. Leave it till you've left school." +</P> + +<P> +"And then, when you smoke before ladies," added Helen, "ask their +permission first." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we haven't come here to learn manners," said Raymond, with a snort. +</P> + +<P> +"So it appears," returned the lady icily. +</P> + +<P> +Fenleigh J., who had been smarting under that "Leave it till you've +left school," chuckled with delight, and began to think that he liked +Helen quite as much as Barbara. +</P> + +<P> +At length, when Raymond had finished his cigarette, the voyagers rose +to return to the boat. Jack enlivened the descent of the cliff by +every dozen yards or so pretending to fall, and starting avalanches of +stones and earth, which were very disconcerting to those who went +before. On arriving at the shingly beach, he proposed a trial of skill +at ducks and drakes, and made flat pebbles go hopping right across the +river, until Valentine put an end to the performance by saying it was +time to embark. The girls were just stepping into the boat when Helen +gave an exclamation of surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"Look!" she cried, pointing towards the top of the cliff, "where can +all that smoke be coming from?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's a heap of rubbish burning in one of the fields," said Raymond. +</P> + +<P> +"There's too much smoke for that," said Jack. "It may be a barn or a +house. Wait a moment; I'll run up and see. I shan't be more than five +or six minutes." He started off, jumping and scrambling up the path; +but almost immediately on reaching the summit he turned and came racing +down again. +</P> + +<P> +"What a reckless beggar he is;" said Valentine. "He'll break his neck +some day. Well, what is it?" +</P> + +<P> +Jack took a flying jump from the path on to the shingle. +</P> + +<P> +"The rick!" he cried—"the one we were sitting under—it's all in a +blaze!" +</P> + +<P> +The boys and girls stood staring at one another with a horrified look +on their faces. +</P> + +<P> +"You must have done it with your matches, Raymond," said Helen. +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't," returned the other. "It's the sun. Come on into the boat." +</P> + +<P> +"You must have dropped your cigarette end," said Valentine. "We ought +to find the owner of the hay and say who we are." +</P> + +<P> +"You fool! I tell you it wasn't me," returned the other passionately. +"Ricks often catch fire of their own accord. I'm not going to be made +pay for what isn't my fault." +</P> + +<P> +Valentine hesitated, and shook his head. Jack seemed ready to side +with him; but Raymond jumped into the boat and seized the oars. "Look +here!" he cried, "it's my boat, and I'm going. It you don't choose to +come, you can stay." +</P> + +<P> +The two boys had no alternative but to obey their cousin's demand. +Jack took the second oar, while Valentine steered. Raymond was ready +enough now for hard work, and pulled away with all his might, evidently +wishing to escape as fast as possible from the neighbourhood of the +burning rick. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you pulling so fast for?" asked Jack; but "stroke" made no +reply, and seemed, if anything, to increase the pace. +</P> + +<P> +"Look out!" cried Valentine, as the boat approached an awkward corner, +one side of which was blocked by the branches of a big tree which had +fallen into the water. "Steady on, Raymond!" "Stroke," who did not +see what was coming, and thought this was only another attempt to +induce him to lessen the speed at which they were going, pulled harder +than ever. Valentine tugged his right-hand line crying, "Steady on, I +tell you!" but it was too late. There was a tremendous lurch which +nearly sent every one into the river, the water poured over the +gunwale, and something went with a sounding crack. Raymond's oar had +caught in a sunken branch and snapped off short. His face turned white +with anger. +</P> + +<P> +"You cad!" he cried with an oath, "you made me do that on purpose." +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't!" answered Valentine hotly; "and I should think you might +know better than to begin swearing before the girls." +</P> + +<P> +Helen looked frightened, but Barbara was sinking with laughter at the +sight of Jack, who, on the seat behind, was silently going through the +motions of punching Master Fosberton's head. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we can't go on any further," said the latter. "We must get the +boat into that backwater and tie her up. Though it'll be a beastly fag +having to walk to Grenford." +</P> + +<P> +Dividing between them the things which had to be carried, the cousins +made their way through a piece of waste ground studded with +gorse-bushes, and gained the road, which ran close to the river. +Barbara lingered behind to pick Quaker grass, but a few moments later +she came racing after them and caught hold of Jack's arm. +</P> + +<P> +"Hallo!" he said, "what's up? you look scared." +</P> + +<P> +"So I am," she answered. "I saw a man's face looking at me. He was +hiding behind the bushes." +</P> + +<P> +"Fiddles!" answered Jack. "It was only imagination. Come along with +me. I'll carry those plates." +</P> + +<P> +Raymond Fosberton seemed bent on making himself as disagreeable as +possible. He was still in a great rage about the broken oar, and +lagged behind, refusing to speak to the rest of the party. +</P> + +<P> +"We ought not to let him walk by himself," said Helen, after they had +gone about a mile; "it looks as if we wanted to quarrel." +</P> + +<P> +She stopped and turned round, but Raymond was nowhere in sight. They +waited, but still he did not appear. +</P> + +<P> +"He can't be far behind," said Valentine. "I heard him kicking stones +a moment or so ago." +</P> + +<P> +Jack walked back to the last bend in the road and shouted, but there +was no reply. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a rum thing," he said, as he rejoined his companions. "I wonder +what has become of the beggar. I thought just then I heard him +talking." +</P> + +<P> +The boys shouted again, and Barbara drew a little closer to Jack. +Whether the watching face was imagination or not, she had evidently +been frightened. +</P> + +<P> +"Surly brute! he has gone home by a short cut," said Jack. "Come +along! it's no use waiting." +</P> + +<P> +They had not gone very far when they heard somebody running, and +turning again saw their missing cousin racing round the corner. His +face was pale and agitated, and it was evident that something was the +matter. +</P> + +<P> +"Hallo! where have you been?" +</P> + +<P> +"Nowhere. I only stopped to tie my shoe-lace." +</P> + +<P> +"But you must have heard us calling?" +</P> + +<P> +"I never heard a sound," answered Raymond abruptly, and so the matter +ended. +</P> + +<P> +The four Fenleighs were not at all sorry to find themselves free of +their cousin's society, and bowling along behind Prince in the little +basket-carriage. It was still more delightful to be back once more at +Brenlands, and there, round the supper-table, to give Queen Mab an +account of their adventures. +</P> + +<P> +"I should like to know who that man was whom I saw hiding among the +bushes," said Barbara. +</P> + +<P> +"I should like to know what Raymond was up to when we missed him coming +home," said Valentine. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," added Jack thoughtfully; "he was hiding away somewhere, for I +could have sworn I heard his voice when I walked back to the corner." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +A KEEPSAKE. +</H4> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +"He is my own child, and he is not so very ugly after all, if you look +at him properly."—<I>The Ugly Duckling</I>. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +The holidays passed too quickly, as they always +did at Brenlands. Jack was no longer the +ugly duckling. Whatever misunderstanding or lack +of sympathy might have existed hitherto between +himself and Valentine had melted away in the sunny +atmosphere of Queen Mab's court; and since the +incident of the magpie's nest, the two boys had +become fast friends. +</P> + +<P> +Soldiering was their great mutual hobby. They +constructed miniature earthworks in the garden, mounted +brass cannon thereon, fired them off with real powder, +and never could discover where the shots went to. +They read and re-read "A Voice from Waterloo," the +only military book they could discover in their aunt's +bookcase; and on wet days the bare floor of the +empty room upstairs was spread with the pomp and +circumstance of war. The soldiers had a wonderful +way of concealing their sufferings; they never groaned +or murmured, and, shot down one day, were perfectly +ready to take the field again on the next, and so +when the solid lead captain or die mounted officer +who took on and off his horse was "put out of mess" +by a well-directed pea, the knowledge that they +would reappear ready to fight again another day +considerably lessened one's grief at the sight of their +fall. Perhaps, after all, lead is a more natural "food +for powder" than flesh and blood, and so the only +time tears were shed over one of these battles was +one morning when Barbara surreptitiously crammed +two dozen peas into her mouth, fired them with one +prolonged discharge into the midst of Valentine's +cavalry, and then fled the room, whereupon Jack sat +down and laughed till he cried. +</P> + +<P> +It would be difficult to say what it was that made +Queen Mab's nephews and nieces like to wander out +into the kitchen and stand by her side when she was +making pastry or shelling peas; but they seemed to +find it a very pleasant occupation, and in this, after +the first week of his stay, Jack was not a whit +behind the others. +</P> + +<P> +He was sitting one morning on a corner of the +table, watching with great interest his aunt's +dexterous use of the rolling-pin. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Jack," she said, looking up for a moment +to straighten her back, "are you sorry I made you +come to Brenlands?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, rather not; I never enjoyed myself so much +before. I should like to stay here always." +</P> + +<P> +"What! and never go home again?" +</P> + +<P> +The moment that word was mentioned he was +once more Fenleigh J. of the Upper Fourth. +</P> + +<P> +"Home!" he said; "I hate the place. I've got no +friends I care for, and the guv'nor's always +complaining of something, and telling me he can't afford +to waste the money he does on my education, because +I don't learn anything. I do think I'm the most +unlucky beggar under the sun. I've got nothing to +look forward to. But I don't care. When I'm older +I'll cut the whole show, and go away and enlist. Any +road, I won't stay longer than I can help at Padbury." +</P> + +<P> +Queen Mab smiled, and went on cutting out the +covering for an apple-tart. +</P> + +<P> +"I know you like soldiers," she said; "well, listen +to this. Just before the battle of Waterloo, the +father of Sir Henry Lawrence was in charge of the +garrison at Ostend. He knew that some great action +was going to take place, and wished very much to +take part in it; so he wrote to Wellington, reminding +him that they had fought together in the Peninsular +War, and asking leave to pick out the best of the +troops then under his command and come with them +to the front. The duke sent him back this +reply,—'That he remembered him well, and believed he was +too good a soldier to wish for any other post than the +one which was given to him.'" +</P> + +<P> +"You're preaching at me," said Jack suspiciously; +"it's altogether different in my case." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I'm not preaching; I'm only telling you a +story. Now go and find my little Bar, and say I've +got some bits of dough left, and if she likes she can +come and make a pasty." +</P> + +<P> +Barbara came, and Jack assisted her in the +manufacture of two shapeless little turn-overs, which +contained an extraordinary mixture of apples, currants, +sugar, and a sprinkling of cocoa put in "to see what +it would taste like." But the boy's attention was +not given wholly to the work, his mind was partly +occupied with something else. He wandered over +and stood at the opposite end of the table, watching +Queen Mab as she put the finishing touch to her +pie-crust, twisting up the edge into her own particular +pattern. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't see why people shouldn't wish for +something better when they have nothing but bad luck," +he said. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't think people ever do have nothing but bad luck." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, they do, and I'm one of them. I hate +people who're always preaching about being contented +with one's lot." +</P> + +<P> +"You intend that for me, I suppose," said his aunt, +slyly. "All right; if you weren't out of reach I'd +shake the flour dredge over you!" +</P> + +<P> +"No, you know I don't mean you," said the boy, +laughing. "And I have had one stroke of good luck, +and that was your asking me to Brenlands." +</P> + +<P> +He went away, and told Valentine the story of +Colonel Lawrence. +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't think she knew anything about soldiers." +</P> + +<P> +"She's a wonderful woman!" said Valentine, +solemnly. "She knows everything!" +</P> + +<P> +The following morning, as the two cousins were +constructing an advanced trench in a supposed siege +of the cucumber-frame, Helen came out and handed +her brother a letter. Valentine read it, and passed id +on to Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"What d'you think of that?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +The epistle was a short one, and ran as follows:— +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +"GRENFORD MANOR,<BR> +"<I>Tuesday</I>.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="letter"> +"DEAR VALENTINE,—I want five shillings to +square the man whose hayrick we set fire to the +other day. If you fellows will give one half-crown, +I'll give the other. Send it me by return certain, or +there'll be a row.—Yours truly, +<BR><BR> +"RAYMOND FOSBERTON." +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Pooh! I like his cheek!" cried Jack. "At the +time he said it was the sun; and now he says, 'the +hayrick <I>we</I> set on fire,' when he knows perfectly +well it was entirely his own doing. I should think +he's rich enough to find the five shillings himself." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, he's always short of money, and trying to +borrow from somebody," answered Valentine. "The +thing I don't understand is, what good five shillings can +be; the man would want more than that for his hay." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't understand Master Raymond," said Jack. +"What shall you do?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, as we were all there together, I suppose we +ought to try to help him out. The damage ought +to be made good; I thought he would have got Uncle +Fosberton to do that. I'll send him the money; +though I should like to know how he's going to +square the man with five shillings." +</P> + +<P> +A description of half the pleasures and +merry-making that went to make up a holiday at Brenlands +would need a book to itself, and it would +therefore be impossible for me to attempt to give an +account of all that happened. The jollification was +somehow very different from much of the fun which +Fenleigh J. had been accustomed to indulge in, in +company with his associates in the Upper Fourth; and +though it was not a whit less enjoyable, yet after it +was over no one was heard to remark that they'd +"had their cake, and now they must pay for it." +</P> + +<P> +On the last morning but one, when the boys came +down to breakfast, they found Queen Mab making a +great fuss over something that had come by post. +</P> + +<P> +"Isn't it kind of your father?" she said. "Look +what he's sent me!" +</P> + +<P> +The present was handed round. It was a gold +brooch, containing three locks of hair arranged like a +Prince of Wales's plume, two light curls, and a dark +one in the middle—Valentine's, Helen's, and Barbara's. +</P> + +<P> +"He says it's to remind me of my three chicks +when they are not with me at Brenlands." +</P> + +<P> +"Mine's in the middle!" cried Barbara. +</P> + +<P> +"You ought to have some of Jack's put in as well," +said Helen. +</P> + +<P> +The boy glanced across at her with a pleased +expression. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no," he answered, "not alongside of yours." +</P> + +<P> +During the remainder of the morning he seemed +unusually silent, and directly after dinner he +disappeared. +</P> + +<P> +"D'you know where Jack is?" asked Valentine. +</P> + +<P> +"No," answered Helen; "he went out into the road +just now, but I have not seen him since." +</P> + +<P> +It was a broiling day, and the children spent the +greater part of the afternoon reading under the shade +of some trees in the garden. They were just sitting +down to tea when their cousin reappeared, covered +with dust, and looking very hot and tired. He +refused to say what he had been doing, and in answer +to a fire of questions as to where he had been he +replied evasively, "Oh, only along the road for a walk." +</P> + +<P> +"Look sharp!" said Valentine, bolting his last +mouthful of cake, "we're going to have one more +game of croquet. Come on, you girls, and help me +to put up the hoops." +</P> + +<P> +Jack, who in the course of his travels had acquired +a prodigious thirst, lingered behind to drink a fourth +cup of tea. +</P> + +<P> +"You silly boy," said his aunt, "where have you been?" +</P> + +<P> +"To Melchester." +</P> + +<P> +"To Melchester! You don't mean to say you've +walked there and back in this blazing sun?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I have. I wanted to get something." +</P> + +<P> +"What?" +</P> + +<P> +The boy rose from his chair, and came round to +the head of the table. +</P> + +<P> +"That's it," he said, producing a little screw of +tissue paper from his pocket. "It's for you. It's only +a cheap, common thing, but I hadn't any more money." +</P> + +<P> +The paper was unrolled, and out came a little silver +locket. +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't want the others to see—you mustn't ever +let any one know. There's a bit of my hair inside." +</P> + +<P> +"Now, then, don't stay there guzzling tea all night!" +came Valentine's voice through the open window. +</P> + +<P> +"But, my dear boy, whatever made you spend +your money in giving me such a pretty present?" +</P> + +<P> +"I want," answered the boy, speaking as though +half ashamed of the request he was making—"I +want you to wear it when you wear the brooch; stick +it somewhere on your chain. I should like, don't +you know, to feel I'm one of your family." +</P> + +<P> +"So you are," answered Queen Mab, kissing him. +"So you are, and always will be—my own boy Jack!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +STRIFE IN THE UPPER FOURTH. +</H4> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +"'You are exceedingly ugly,' said the wild ducks."—<I>The Ugly Duckling</I>. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +School was a great change after Brenlands. The rooms seemed barer, the +desks more inky, and the bread and butter a good eighth of an inch +thicker than they had been at the close of the previous term; but by +the end of the first week our two friends had settled to work, and +things were going on much the same as usual. +</P> + +<P> +Considerable alterations had been made in the composition of the Upper +Fourth. Most of the occupants of the front row of benches had got +their remove, while a number of boys from the lower division, of whom +Valentine was one, had come up to join Mr. Rowlands' class. The Long +Dormitory was also changed, and Jack now found himself in Number Eight, +sleeping in a bed next to that of his cousin. +</P> + +<P> +Being thus so much thrown together, both in and out of school, it was +only natural that the friendship which they had formed in the holidays +should be still more firmly established. Only one thing acted as a +drag upon it, and that was the fact of Jack's still finding a strong +counter-attraction in the society of Garston, Rosher, and Teal. +</P> + +<P> +The quartette began the term badly by being largely responsible for a +disturbance which occurred in the dining-hall, when a clockwork frog +was suddenly discovered disporting itself in Pilson's teacup; and it is +probable that Jack would have continued to distinguish himself as a +black sheep, in company with his three unruly classmates, had it not +been for an unforeseen occurrence which caused him to make a change in +his choice of friends. +</P> + +<P> +As not unfrequently happens, the few original members of the Upper +Fourth who had not been called upon to "come up higher" still clung to +their old position at the bottom of the class, while the front benches +were filled by their more industrious schoolfellows who had earned +promotion. This state of affairs was not altogether pleasing to some +of the old hands. In Garston's opinion, the ideal Form was one which +would have no top, and where everybody would be bottom; and when the +first week's "order" was read out, he remarked, concerning those +new-comers who had won the posts of honour, that it was "like their +blessed cheek," and that some of them wanted a licking. Teal was +entirely at one with his chum in this opinion, and showed his approval +of the latter's sentiments by laying violent hands upon the person of +Hollis, the head boy, making a playful pretence of wringing his neck, +and then kicking his bundle of books down a flight of stairs. Hollis, +a weakly, short-sighted youth, threatened to complain to Mr. Rowlands; +which course of action, as may be supposed, did not tend to increase +his popularity with his new classmates. +</P> + +<P> +The very next morning the dogs of war broke loose. The boys were +construing the portion of Virgil which had been set them overnight. +Garston, who came last, had floundered about for a few moments among +the closing lines, giving vent to a few incoherent sputterings, and +every one was impatiently awaiting the first tinkle of the bell. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Garston," said Mr. Rowlands, "that's certainly up to your usual +form—quite a brilliant display; I'll give you naught. Let me see: I +set the lesson to the end of the page, and told you to go further if +you could; has any one done any more?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have, sir," said Hollis; "shall I go on?" +</P> + +<P> +The master nodded, Hollis proceeded, and Valentine, who stood second, +also followed in turn with a continuation of the translation. He had +only got through a couple of lines when the bell rang, and the class +was dismissed. Hardly had the door closed behind them, when Rosher and +Teal charged along the passage and seized hold of Valentine and Hollis. +The other boys crowded round in a circle. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here, my good chap," said Teal, "in future you'll have to drop +that; d'you hear?" +</P> + +<P> +"Drop what?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, doing more work than what's set." +</P> + +<P> +"But why shouldn't I?" said Hollis. "There's no harm in it; he didn't +give us any marks." +</P> + +<P> +"You young fool! don't you see that if you do more than what's set, +he'll think we can all do the same, and make the lessons longer." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course he will!" added several voices. +</P> + +<P> +"Just you mind what you're up to," continued Teal, "or you'll get what +you won't like." +</P> + +<P> +"Pass on there! What are you waiting for?" cried Mr. Rowlands, +appearing in the doorway of his classroom, and the gathering dispersed. +</P> + +<P> +The following morning, as fate would have it, nearly the same thing +happened again, only this time during the hour devoted to algebra. +</P> + +<P> +"Has any one had time to do any of the next set of examples?" asked Mr. +Rowlands. "If so, let him hold up his hand." +</P> + +<P> +Only two boys held up their hands—Hollis and Valentine. There were +murmurs of discontent at the back of the room, and several fists were +shaken ominously. +</P> + +<P> +Jack had not troubled to side with either party—it mattered very +little to him whether the lessons were long or short, as he only did as +much as he felt inclined—but, if anything, his sympathies lay with his +less industrious comrades, who, he considered, had very good ground for +feeling aggrieved with Hollis and his cousin. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here, Val," he said, when they met at the close of morning +school, "what d'you want to go and work so beastly hard for?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't." +</P> + +<P> +"No, perhaps you don't, because you're clever; but you're always doing +more than you're obliged to, and the other chaps don't like it, because +they say it'll make Rowlands set longer pieces." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, that's all rubbish! It's simply because they're waxy with us for +getting above them in class. I don't see why I should take my orders +from Rosher and Teal, and only do what they like; and I don't intend to +either." +</P> + +<P> +"All right, my boy," answered Jack, carelessly. "Do what you like, +only look out for squalls." +</P> + +<P> +The latter piece of advice was not at all unnecessary; for soon after +this, as the giver was strolling across the gravel playground, he heard +his name called, and looking round saw his cousin hurrying after him +with a scrap of paper in his hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Look," he said; "I found this in my desk just now, and there was one +just like it in Hollis's." +</P> + +<P> +Jack took the paper. It was an anonymous note, printed in capitals to +disguise the handwriting; and it ran as follows:— +</P> + +<P> +"This is to give you fair warning, that if you will persist in doing +more work than what is set, you'll get a thrashing. The rest of the +class don't intend to get more work on your account, and so have +decided not to put up with your nonsense any longer." +</P> + +<P> +"It was Rosher or one of those chaps wrote it," said Jack. "You'd +better look out; any one of them could give you a licking." +</P> + +<P> +"They'd have to try first," answered Valentine, hotly. +</P> + +<P> +His cousin laughed; the reply rather tickled his fancy. +</P> + +<P> +Those concerned had not long to wait before matters came to a head. +That same afternoon Mr. Rowlands set a history lesson for the following +day. "Take the reign of Elizabeth," he said. "By-the-bye, there's a +genealogical tree at the end of the chapter; get that up if you can." +</P> + +<P> +The examination next morning was a written one, and the last question +on the board was, "Show, by means of a genealogical tree, the +connection between the Tudors and the Stuarts." +</P> + +<P> +"Please, sir," said Garston, "you told us we needn't do that." +</P> + +<P> +"I said you were to get it up if you had time," returned the master. +"Haven't any of you done it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," came from the front desk. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well; let those who have learned it write it down." +</P> + +<P> +"Val, my boy," said Jack, in his happy-go-lucky style, as they met in +the dormitory to change for football, "you just keep your eyes open; +you're going to get licked." +</P> + +<P> +Valentine replied with a snort of defiance, and the subject was +dropped. Tea was over, and in the short respite between the end of the +meal and the commencement of "prep.," Jack was strolling down one of +the passages, when his attention was attracted by a certain small boy +who stood beneath a gas-jet scanning the contents of a small book, and +occasionally scribbling something on a half-sheet of exercise-book +paper. Suddenly the youngster flung down the book in a rage, and +kicked it across the passage, whereupon Jack promptly cried, "No goal!" +</P> + +<P> +"Hallo, little Garston!" he continued, "what's up with you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, I've got to write out the translation of some of this Caesar for +old Thorpe, and I can't make head or tail of the blessed stuff. I say, +Fenleigh, you might do a bit for me!" +</P> + +<P> +Jack was a good-natured young vagabond. "Where is it?" he said, +picking up the book. "All right! here goes." +</P> + +<P> +Garston Minor slapped his piece of paper up against the wall, and wrote +at his friend's dictation. The translation was not very accurate, but +coming from the lips of a fellow in the Upper Fourth it was accepted +without question by the juvenile, and in ten minutes the rough copy of +the imposition was finished. +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks awfully!" said the youngster, as he stuffed the book and paper +back into his pocket. "Look here, Fenleigh; as you've done me a good +turn, I'll let you into a secret, only you must promise not to let my +brother know who told you. He and Teal and Rosher are going to give +your cousin a licking." +</P> + +<P> +"How d'you know?" +</P> + +<P> +"I heard them talking about it. They said, 'We'll lick Valentine +Fenleigh. If we touched Hollis, he'd sneak; but it'll frighten him if +we thrash the other chap.'" +</P> + +<P> +"When are they going to do it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Now—some time; they said soon after tea." +</P> + +<P> +"Where?" cried Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"I can't tell you; they didn't say. That's all I know." +</P> + +<P> +Jack exploded with wrath. He had talked calmly enough to Valentine +about his getting licked, and was inclined to think he deserved it; but +now that it had come to the point, he found that the idea of his cousin +being thrashed was not at all to his liking. Even at that very moment +the outrage might be taking place. The victim was not equal to any one +of his three assailants, and stood much less chance of escaping from +their combined attack. +</P> + +<P> +Fenleigh J. rushed off down the passage on a wild-goose chase after his +chum, but nowhere was the latter to be found. As a last resource, he +ran into the schoolroom. Valentine's seat was empty, but a boy sat +reading at the next desk but one. +</P> + +<P> +"Have you seen my cousin?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, he was here a minute ago." +</P> + +<P> +"Where's he gone?" +</P> + +<P> +"Bother you!—let's see—oh, I know; some one came in to say Darlton +wanted him in the little music-room." +</P> + +<P> +"Darlton never gives lessons after tea. Phew! I see what's up!" +</P> + +<P> +The boy looked up from his reading with a grunt of astonishment as his +questioner turned sharply on his heel and dashed out of the room. Jack +had his faults, but he was loyal-hearted enough to remember those who +had at any time proved themselves to be his friends, and not to leave +them in the lurch when an opportunity offered for rendering them some +assistance. He was a strong boy, but the back desk trio were also +good-sized fellows for their age. Had it, however, been the whole of +the Sixth Form who were licking Valentine, Jack in his present state of +mind would have charged in among them and attempted a rescue. +</P> + +<P> +"It's clear enough," he muttered to himself, as he turned off down a +short, narrow passage; "that message was a trap to catch him alone. +But wait a minute, and I'll surprise the beggars." +</P> + +<P> +He paused outside a door, and hearing voices within tried the handle. +It was locked. +</P> + +<P> +"Hallo! who's there? You can't come in." +</P> + +<P> +Jack was too wary to make any reply. He glanced round rapidly, +endeavouring to concoct some plan for gaining an entrance. Stooping +down, he discovered that the key was turned so that it remained exactly +in the centre of the keyhole, anything pushed against it would send it +out on the other side. "I believe that bathroom key fits this door," +he muttered, and tiptoed a little further along the passage. In +another moment he was back again, and thrusting the key suddenly into +the lock he turned it, and forced open the door. +</P> + +<P> +The room was a small chamber set apart for music practice, the only +furniture it contained being a piano, a chair, some fiddle-cases, and +music-stands, while on the mantelpiece, in the place of a clock, was a +metronome that had something wrong with the works. Jack, however, had +no eye for these details; his attention was centred in a group of boys +who were struggling under the single gas-jet, which was flaring away in +a manner which showed it had evidently been turned up in a hurry. +</P> + +<P> +"Here, leave that chap alone!" he exclaimed, plunging into the centre +of the scrimmage. "Let him alone, I say!" +</P> + +<P> +"Hallo! it's Fenleigh J.," cried Garston. "You've just come in time to +help us to teach this cousin of yours a lesson on the subject of not +overworking himself." +</P> + +<P> +"Leave him alone!" repeated Jack angrily, giving Rosher a push which +sent him staggering back into the fireplace, where he knocked over the +metronome, which fell with a crash on the fender. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't be a fool, Fenleigh," cried Teal. "We're going to teach this +chap a lesson. If you don't want to help, you can clear out." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall do nothing of the sort," returned the other. "You let him +alone." +</P> + +<P> +Both parties were too much in earnest to waste their breath in talking, +and the next moment Garston and Rosher sprang on the intruder and +endeavoured to force him out of the room. Valentine, being unable to +free himself from the muscular grasp of Teal, could render no +assistance; but his cousin, whose blood was fairly up, struggled +furiously with his two assailants. Round the room they went, like a +circular storm, wrecking everything they came in contact with; +music-stands went over with an appalling clatter, while the back of the +solitary chair gave way with a crash as the three combatants fell +against it. Suddenly a sharp voice sounded down the passage,— +</P> + +<P> +"Now then, there! What's all that noise about?" +</P> + +<P> +Teal released his hold of Valentine, and springing to the gas-jet +turned out the light. +</P> + +<P> +"<I>Cave</I>!" he whispered: "it's old Thorpe!" +</P> + +<P> +It was impossible to continue the struggle in the darkness, and the +tumult ceased. +</P> + +<P> +"He's gone into Copland's classroom," continued Teal. "Quick! let's +hook it before he comes back!" +</P> + +<P> +A rush was made for the door. +</P> + +<P> +"All right, Fenleigh; don't you think you're going to be friends with +us any more." +</P> + +<P> +"I've no wish to be," answered Jack. "If you want to finish this out +any time, I shall be quite ready for you!" +</P> + +<P> +"It was jolly good of you to stick up for me like that," said +Valentine, as the two cousins hurried off towards the schoolroom. +</P> + +<P> +"I should have been a mean cad if I hadn't," returned the other, +laughing. "You don't think I've forgotten that affair of the magpie's +nest, do you? I don't care a straw for any of those fellows, and it +they want to fight, I'll take them on any day; but they'll have to lick +me first before they talk about thrashing you." +</P> + +<P> +In course of time the dispute between the two extremes of the Upper +Fourth died a natural death. Mr. Rowlands did not increase the length +of the "prep." lessons, and peace was restored. Garston and his two +companions, however, did not forgive Jack for his interference with +their plans. Regarding him, perhaps, as rather a hard nut to crack, +they made no attempt to renew the combat, but evidently decided to cut +him off from any future enjoyment of their society or friendship. +</P> + +<P> +Jack, on his part, did not seem to take this loss very much to heart; +it only induced him to become more chummy with Valentine, and, judging +from the comparatively few times that his name was down for punishment, +this change of associates seemed to be decidedly to his advantage. As +the autumn advanced, and wet days became more frequent, the two boys +took to doing fretwork in their spare time; and having purchased a +rather large and complicated design for a kind of bracket bookcase, +they conceived the happy notion of making it as a Christmas present for +Queen Mab, and so worked away together, taking an immense amount of +interest in their task. +</P> + +<P> +Before the term ended a rather curious incident happened, insignificant +in itself, but worthy of being recorded as bearing on more important +events to be dwelt on at a later period in our story. +</P> + +<P> +It wanted about three weeks to the holidays, and Jack and Valentine +were returning from the ironmonger's, where they had been purchasing +some sandpaper wherewith to put the finishing touches to their work. +</P> + +<P> +"I wish it was midsummer instead of Christmas," the former was saying. +"I don't want to go home. I'd much rather go to stay with Aunt Mab at +Brenlands." +</P> + +<P> +Valentine was about to reply, when both boys were surprised by a +shabby-looking man suddenly crossing from the other side of the street +and taking up his stand directly in their path. The stranger wore a +battered brown hat, no necktie, and a suit of clothes which he might +have stolen from some scarecrow. +</P> + +<P> +"'Afternoon, young gents!" he said. +</P> + +<P> +"Good afternoon," answered Jack shortly, stepping out into the road. +</P> + +<P> +The stranger turned and walked at their side. +</P> + +<P> +"You may not remember me, gents, but I'm Ned Hanks." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't care who you are," answered Valentine; "I don't know you." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, but I know you, sir; it's Mr. Fenleigh I'm a-talking to. I +thought, perhaps, you might like to stand me a drink." +</P> + +<P> +"I say, just be off," cried Jack sharply, "here's old Westford coming." +</P> + +<P> +The man fell back, and a moment later the two boys raised their caps to +the headmaster. Mr. Westford acknowledged their salutation with a cold +stare, which clearly showed that he had seen their late companion, and +was wondering what business two of his pupils had to be talking with +such a vagabond. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder who that fellow was!" said Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, some tramp. I never saw him before." +</P> + +<P> +"But he knew your name." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, these beggars are up to all kinds of dodges," answered +Valentine. "If we'd waited long enough, I daresay he'd have told me +the names of all the family!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +A BANQUET AT "DUSTER'S." +</H4> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +"It must have been the fault of the black goblin who lived in the +snuff-box."—<I>The Brave Tin Soldier</I>. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +At Easter, Jack and Valentine got their remove into the Fifth, and +there became acquainted with a young gentleman who rejoiced in the name +of Tinkleby. +</P> + +<P> +Tinkleby was a comical-looking fellow of medium height; he wore +nippers, and had a perpetual smirk on his lips. +</P> + +<P> +"Hallo, you two Fenleighs!" he said, coming up to them on the second +morning of the term; "I suppose you'll join our society." +</P> + +<P> +"What society?" asked Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"The Fifth Form Literary Society." +</P> + +<P> +"What's it for?" asked Valentine. "We're neither of us very literary." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, to tell you the truth, the society isn't either. It's kept up +for the sake of having a feed at the end of every summer term." +</P> + +<P> +"What?" cried Jack, laughing. +</P> + +<P> +"If you'll listen a moment," said Tinkleby glibly, "I'll explain the +whole matter in two words. +</P> + +<P> +"The fellows in the Fifth used to run a manuscript magazine. Aston was +the first editor, and he called it the 'Portfolio,' because it was +bound up in the case of an old blotter that he bagged out of the +reading-room. The chaps who contributed papers called themselves the +Fifth Form Literary Society, and elected a secretary, treasurer, and +president. Aston was so pleased with one of the numbers that he sent +it to <I>The Melchester Herald</I> to be reviewed; but after waiting about +six months for a notice to appear, he went down to the office, and the +editor said that the manuscript was lost, and that Aston ought to have +enclosed stamps if he wanted it returned. Godson, one of the prefects, +said he saw a bit at Snell's the fish-shop, where they were using it to +wrap up screws of shrimps; but that was all rot, and he only said it +because the fellows in the Sixth were jealous. Well, then, it was +suggested that the magazine should be printed, and the members +subscribed towards bringing out the first number; but after they'd +raked in all the money they could get, they found there wasn't enough +for the purpose, so they decided to spend what they'd got in having a +feed at 'Duster's,' and it was agreed it should be an annual affair. +</P> + +<P> +"When I was made president I brought out two numbers of the +'Portfolio,' but in the second I wrote rather a smart thing on old +Ward, and called it 'The Career of a Class Master.' It was really so +good I thought he'd enjoy reading it, and so I got another fellow to +show it him; but he didn't properly appreciate it, and cut up rough. +He said he would overlook the personal allusions, but he really +couldn't allow any fellow in his form to be so backward in spelling, +and therefore I must borrow a spelling-book from one of the kids, and +learn two pages a day until I improved. He used to hear me before we +began first lessons. It was rather rough on the president of a +literary society, making him stand up every morning and reel off two +pages of 'Butter's Spelling-Book.' And that squashed the 'Portfolio;' +fellows wouldn't send in any more papers, for fear they should be +hauled up in the same manner. +</P> + +<P> +"But they went on subscribing for the feed," continued Tinkleby, +brightening up. "We didn't let that fall through. It comes off on the +breaking-up day, after the old boys' match. The Sixth are always +invited in to have supper with the swells; but I know a lot or them +would much rather be with us having a blow-out at 'Duster's.' Well, +that's the meaning of our literary society; the subscription is only +two-pence a week, so you'd better join." +</P> + +<P> +The two cousins promised they would do so. Every Monday morning, in +the classroom, Tinkleby passed round an old missionary box, crying, +"Now then! pay up, you beggars. No broken glass or brace buttons!" It +was always a race to get the collection over by the time Mr. Ward +entered the room; but the sprightly Tinkleby, who seemed to have +undertaken the combined duties of president, secretary, and treasurer, +hurried through it somehow; and each week the box grew heavier, and the +hearts of the contributors lighter as they looked forward to the time +when they should sit down to the long-expected banquet. +</P> + +<P> +The term passed very pleasantly for Jack and Valentine; and what +between cricket, bathing, and the prospect of spending the coming +holiday at Brenlands, they had good reason for feeling contented and +happy. Only one thing happened to disturb their peace of mind, and +that an incident of rather a curious nature. +</P> + +<P> +They were strolling back to the school one afternoon, and had got +within twenty yards of the main entrance, when some one hurrying along +behind them touched Jack on the shoulder, and looking round they found +themselves once more confronted by the same shabby-looking man who had +accosted them on a previous occasion. +</P> + +<P> +"Beg pardon, Mr. Fenleigh," he began. "I'm Ned Hanks; you'll remember, +sir. Maybe you've got a copper or two you can spare a poor fellow +who's out of work." +</P> + +<P> +"I've got no money to give away to beggars," said Jack; "and I tell you +once more we don't know you." +</P> + +<P> +"That's rather ungrateful, I calls it," answered the man. "I did you +two gents a good turn last year, and got precious little for it. I +might have made more out of the other party." +</P> + +<P> +By this time they had reached the school-gates. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here," broke in Valentine, "don't you bother us any more, or +we'll put a policeman on your track. I don't understand a word of what +you've been saying, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"Stop, stop, Fenleigh!" interrupted a deep voice. "What's the meaning +of this, pray?" +</P> + +<P> +The two boys looked up and found they were standing in the presence of +the headmaster. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the meaning of this?" he repeated. "Who is this man you're +talking to?" +</P> + +<P> +There was a moment's silence, during which the seedy stranger slunk +away, and disappeared round the corner. +</P> + +<P> +"I ask who is this man you are speaking to?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know, sir," answered Valentine. +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense!" retorted Mr. Westford sharply. "I saw you two boys holding +a conversation with him once before. You must know who he is; answer +my question immediately." +</P> + +<P> +"He told us his name was Hanks," said Jack; "but we don't know him. He +came up and spoke to us of his own accord." +</P> + +<P> +"And, pray, what did he want to speak to you about?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know, sir," answered Valentine—"that is—he wanted to beg +some money." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't understand your answer, Fenleigh," replied Mr. Westford. "I +fear you are not telling me the truth—or, at all events, you are +trying to keep something back which ought to come to my knowledge. +There must be some reason for my having twice found you in conversation +with that disreputable-looking fellow. Both of you will not go outside +the school premises for a fortnight without special permission." +</P> + +<P> +Jack stormed and raved, and threatened what he would do if they should +encounter the tramp again; but of the two, Valentine felt the +punishment far more acutely than his cousin. He was not accustomed to +rows; and for a boy with his naturally high sense of honour, the mere +thought that the headmaster suspected him of telling a falsehood was +ten times worse than the fact of being "gated." +</P> + +<P> +The term ran on, and at length the last day arrived; a day of perfect +happiness, with no more work, and a letter by the first post from Queen +Mab, saying that the pony-carriage would meet the train as usual at +Hornalby station. The prize-giving, with the Mayor of Melchester in +the chair, and Augustus Powler, Esq., M.P., and other grandees, upon +the platform, was a very serious and formal business; the Past and +Present match, in which Preston, the coming man in bowling, took seven +wickets, and dear old Clayton, a bygone captain, lifted a ball over the +roof of the pavilion, was certainly more interesting; but, at all +events, in the opinion of all those concerned, the chief event of the +day was the annual supper of the Fifth Form Literary Society. +</P> + +<P> +"Come along," cried Tinkleby, as the cheers which greeted a win for the +Present were gradually dying away—"come along. I told Duster to have +the grub ready at half-past five sharp, and it's a quarter to six." +</P> + +<P> +"Shan't we get into a row for cutting tea?" asked Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"No fear," answered the other. "Old Ward knows where we're going; and +it's all right as long as we get back before lock-up." +</P> + +<P> +The confectioner's shop patronized by the Melchester boys was situated +in a quiet street some five minutes' walk from the school-gates. Why +the proprietor's name should have been changed from Downing to "Duster" +it would be difficult to say; but as long as his customers came +furnished with ready money and good appetites, the probability is that +the former would have been quite content to serve them under any +nickname which they chose to invent. +</P> + +<P> +At the back of "Duster's" establishment was a little square parlour, +where boys repaired to eat ices and drink alarming quantities of +Duster's famous home-made ginger-beer—a high explosive, which always +sent the cork out with a bang, and to drink two bottles of which +straight off would have been a risky business for any boy to attempt +without first testing the staying power of his waistcoat-buttons, and +putting several bags of sand in his jacket-pockets. In this parlour it +was that the literary society assembled for their banquet; as many as +could find room squeezing themselves on to the two short forms on +either side of the table, and the remainder camping out wherever they +could find room on the chairs, window-ledge, and a small sofa. At the +close of a summer day the place was decidedly hot and stuffy, and the +first thing everybody did was to pull off their coats and blazers and +appear in their shirt-sleeves. +</P> + +<P> +Tinkleby, as president, took the post of honour at the head of the +table, and hammering the festive board with his fist, called on +"Duster" to "bring in the grub and something to drink." To describe +the banquet itself would need an abler pen than mine. The sausages +were browned to perfection, the ices were pinker than a maiden's cheek, +and the ginger-beer was stronger and more filling at the price than it +had ever been before, and made those who drank it gasp for breath and +feel as though they had swallowed a cyclone. James, surnamed "Guzzling +Jimmy," distinguished himself by finishing up with ices, and then +beginning all over again with cold ham and pickles; but at length, when +even he had finished, there was a general hammering of the table, and a +call for "speeches." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, fire away," said the president. "Who's going to start?" +</P> + +<P> +"I will," cried a boy named Dorris. "Gentlemen, I beg to propose a +toast—success to the Fifth Form Literary Society, and with it I couple +the name of our worthy president, Mr. Tinkleby; may he live long and be +happy!" +</P> + +<P> +This sentiment, though not very original, was received with great +enthusiasm, the company showing their approval of it by administering +to themselves fresh doses of "Duster's" liquid explosive. +</P> + +<P> +The president, rising slowly to his feet, sticking his thumbs in the +armholes of his waistcoat, and expanding that portion of his body which +contained his supper, in imitation of the movements of Augustus Powler, +Esq., M.P., cleared his throat, and began in pompous tones: "Mr. Mayor, +ladies and gentlemen, I cannot well express to you the delight with +which I stand here to fulfil the pleasing duties which you have so +kindly called upon me to perform. When I look round on the bright, +young faces before me—" +</P> + +<P> +The speaker paused to dodge a shower of crusts, corks, and other +missiles; the owners of the "bright, young faces" evidently resented +this personal allusion. +</P> + +<P> +"Shut up, Tinky!" cried several voices. "Talk sense, can't you?" +</P> + +<P> +The president smiled, and readjusted his nippers. +</P> + +<P> +"I was about to remark," he continued in his natural tone, and with his +accustomed fluency of speech, "I was about to remark that I thank you +very much for having drunk my health. You were good enough to couple +my name with that of our society. Gentlemen, I am convinced that the +Fifth Form Literary Society has a great future before it. (Laughter.) +I look forward to the time when we shall not grub here at 'Duster's,' +but dine together in premises of our own. Our friend Mr. James has a +nice little plot of ground in a soap-box, where he now grows +mustard-and-cress, but which I have no doubt he would let to us on +reasonable terms for building purposes. But, perhaps, I am looking a +little too far ahead. As regards our immediate future, I intend making +a determined effort to publish another number of the 'Portfolio.' +(Cheers.) Mr. Ward has intimated his willingness to contribute a large +number of Latin lines written by members of his class; while Mr. Sam +Jones, the boot-cleaner, has offered to place his talented brush at our +disposal, and produce a grand New-Year's Illustrated Supplement, +entitled, 'Christmas in the Coal-Hole.' Gentlemen, I fear I am +trespassing on your time and good nature. Mr. James, I see, is anxious +to drink another toast. Once more I thank you for having drunk my +health, and would now call upon you to drink that of Mr. Preston, who +distinguished himself this afternoon by taking no less than seven of +the old boys' wickets." +</P> + +<P> +Great applause greeted the finish of the president's speech, and +Preston's health was drunk amid a scene of the wildest enthusiasm. +Cries of "On your pins, Preston!"—"Well bowled, +sir!"—"Order!"—"Speak up!" etc., rent the air; while the pounding of +fists and drumming of feet were continued until a game leg of one of +the forms suddenly gave way, causing a temporary disappearance of half +the company beneath the table. +</P> + +<P> +Preston might have been able to howl, but he certainly could not talk, +and it was hard for him to follow such a glib speaker as the president. +However, the fact remained that he had distinguished himself, and +brought honour to the Fifth Form in general by taking seven wickets; +and for this reason his comrades would have been content had he merely +stood up and reeled off the list of prepositions which govern the +accusative, or quoted selections from the multiplication table. As it +was, they awarded him a cordial reception, and filled up the pauses in +his disjointed utterances with tumultuous applause. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm much obliged to you fellows for drinking my health," began the +bowler. "It's jolly good of you, and—all that sort of thing. +(Cheers.) I did manage to bag seven wickets." (Renewed applause, +interrupted by a warning shout of "Look out! this form's going again!") +"I was going to say," continued the speaker, attempting to hide his +embarrassment by pretending to drink out of an empty glass, "that it +was rather a fluke—" (Shouts of "No! no!" "More pop for the +gentleman!" and fresh outbursts of cheering.) "Well, I did the best I +could, and—well—glad you're pleased, and all that sort of thing. +(Alarums and excursions.) I suppose I ought to say something about +this society, but, as regards that matter, the former speaker has +rather taken the sails out of my wind. (Cheers and laughter.) No, I +should say the <I>whales</I> out of my— (Yells of laughter.) Any way," +concluded Preston, shouting to be heard above the general uproar, "I'm +much obliged to you, and—all that sort of thing—" +</P> + +<P> +It was not until several ginger-beer bottles had rolled off the table, +and the rickety form had once more gone down with every soul on board, +that a sufficient amount of order was restored to enable the president +to call on somebody for a song. +</P> + +<P> +"Sing yourself, Tinkleby," was the answer. "Give us 'Little Brown +Jug.'" +</P> + +<P> +The president complied with the request. Mead, a musical companion, +ground out an unearthly accompaniment on "Duster's" little, +broken-winded harmonium; and the company shrieked the chorus, +regardless of time, tune, or anything but the earnest desire of each +individual to make more noise than any one else. +</P> + +<P> +When this deafening uproar had at length subsided, everybody was forced +to remain quiet for a few moments to regain their breath. "Now, then," +said Tinkleby, "who's next? What's that? All right. Bos. Jones says +he will give us a recitation." +</P> + +<P> +The announcement was received with a groan. Mr. Boswell-Jones was +rather a pompous young gentleman, who expended most of his energies +trying to live up to his double surname, and in consequence was not +very popular with his schoolfellows. He rather fancied himself as an +elocutionist; and though he might have seen "rocks ahead" in the manner +in which the audience received the president's announcement, +Boswell-Jones had sufficient confidence in his own powers to be blind +to any lack of appreciation on the part of other people. He stood up +and adjusted his necktie, cleared his throat, and began,— +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"I remembah, I remembah,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">The house where I was bawn,</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +("Euh! re—ah—lly!" murmured the listeners.) +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +The leetle window where the sun<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Came peeping in at mawn."</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Whose little son?" interrupted Dorris. +</P> + +<P> +"Shut up!" cried the president. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I only wanted to know," said Dorris in an injured tone. "I +should call it jolly good cheek of anybody's son to come peeping in +through my bedroom window—" +</P> + +<P> +"Shut <I>up</I>!" exclaimed Tinkleby. "Go on, Bos." +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"He never came a wink too soon,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Nor brought too long a day;</SPAN><BR> +But now"—<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +continued the reciter with a great amount of pathos, +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +—"I often wish the night<BR> +Had bawn my breath away!"<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"So do I," mumbled Paterson. "Let's have another song." +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"I remembah, I remembah,<BR> +The roses, red and white—"<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Go on, Bossy," ejaculated the irrepressible Dorris; "you don't +remember it at all, you're simply making it up as you go along." +</P> + +<P> +A general disturbance followed this last interruption—the audience +laughed, the president vainly endeavoured to restore order, and +Boswell-Jones sat down in a rage, and refused to continue his oration. +</P> + +<P> +"A song, a song!" cried several voices. "Jack Fenleigh, you know +something; come on, let's have it." +</P> + +<P> +Jack had a good voice, and with Mead extracting fearful groans and +growls out of the harmonium, he started off on the first verse of "The +Mermaid," a song which he was destined in after years to sing under +strangely different circumstances:— +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Oh, 'twas in the broad Atlantic, 'mid the equinoctial gales,<BR> +That a gay young tar fell overboard, among the sharks and whales;<BR> +And down he went like a streak of light, so quickly down went he,<BR> +Until he came to a mermaid at the bottom of the deep blue sea."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Then the audience took up the chorus, and yelled,— +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Rule, Britannia! Bri—tann—ia rules the waves!<BR> +And Bri—tons never, never, ne—ver shall be<BR> +Mar—ri—ed to a mer—mai—ed<BR> +At the bottom of the deep blue sea!"<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +The song was received with great enthusiasm, and the performers might +have been kept repeating the last chorus until break of day on the +following morning, it Tinkleby had not suddenly jumped up, crying, "I +say, you chaps, it's five-and-twenty past seven. We shall be late for +lock-up." +</P> + +<P> +Every one sprang to his feet. Dorris was the first to reach the door, +and being of a playful disposition caught up a bundle of coats and +blazers and bolted with them under his arm. A moment later certain of +the peaceful citizens of Melchester were astonished at the sight of a +dozen or more young gentlemen tearing madly down the street in their +shirt-sleeves. And so ended the third annual supper of the Fifth Form +Literary Society. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +"GUARD TURN OUT!" +</H4> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +"He felt for them as he had never felt for any other bird in the world. +He was not envious ... but wished to be as lovely as they."—<I>The Ugly +Duckling</I>. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"It is jolly to be here at Brenlands again," said Jack, as he sat +dangling his legs from the kitchen table, and munching one of the sweet +pods of the peas which his aunt was shelling. "I've been looking +forward to it ever since last summer." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and a pretty fuss I had to get you to accept my first +invitation," answered Queen Mab; "I thought you were never going to +condescend to favour us with your company. However, I've got you all +here again, and it <I>is</I> jolly; and what's more, you managed to turn up +at the proper time yesterday instead of coming half a day late, as you +did last year, you rascal!" +</P> + +<P> +The boy laughed. "Oh, well! you may put that down to Val," he +answered. "He's quite taken me in hand lately, and has been in an +awful funk for fear I should get into another row just before the +holidays. You know those penny toys you get with a little thing like a +pair of bellows under them that squeaks—well, I got a bird the other +day and pulled off the stand, and stuck it in my shoe so that I could +make a noise with it when I walked. Whenever I moved about in class, +old Ward used to beseech me with tears in his eyes to wear another pair +of boots. I used to come squeaking into assemblies a bit late on +purpose, and send all the fellows into fits. It was a fearful joke; +but poor old Val got quite huffy about it, and kept saying I should be +found out, and that there was no sense in my 'monkey tricks,' as he +called them." +</P> + +<P> +"So they are," answered Queen Mab, smiling in spite of herself. "I +should have thought you were old enough to find some more sensible +amusement than putting pieces of penny toys in your boots. You may +laugh at Valentine if you like, but I can tell you this, he's very fond +of you, and that's the reason why he doesn't like to see you in +trouble." +</P> + +<P> +"I know he is," returned the boy briskly. "He's a brick; and I like +him better than any other chap in the school." +</P> + +<P> +Queen Mab went on shelling her peas, and Jack remained perched on the +end of the table, quite content to continue watching her nimble fingers +and sweet, restful face. It certainly was jolly to be back again at +Brenlands. He was no longer the ugly duckling; Helen and Barbara were +like sisters, and he got on with them swimmingly; all kinds of splendid +projects were on the carpet, and there were plenty of long summer days +to look forward to in which to carry them out. To be a careless dog of +a schoolboy, ready for anything in the way of larks and excitement, and +paying precious little attention to one's books or conduct record, +might be a fascinating sort of existence; yet somehow it was not +altogether unpleasant, once in a way, to become for a time a member of +a more civilized and refined society, where gentler treatment +encouraged gentler manners, where hearts were thought of as well as +heads, where there was no black list, and where no one would have made +a boast of being on it, had such a thing existed. +</P> + +<P> +This year the mimic war operations were of a more advanced kind than +had ever been attempted before. A fortress built of clay and pebbles +was mined and blown up; and there still being some powder left, Jack +successfully performed the feat of blowing himself up, and in doing so +sustained the loss of an eyebrow. In order that this catastrophe +should not alarm Queen Mab, the missing hair was replaced by burnt +cork; but Jack, forgetting what had happened, sponged his face and +rushed down to tea, where Barbara, after regarding him for a few +moments in silence, leaned across the table and remarked, with a wise +shake of her head, "Yes, I see—you've been shaving." +</P> + +<P> +But what proved a source of endless delight to the two boys was an old, +military bell-tent which Queen Mab had bought for their special use and +amusement. They pitched it on a corner of the lawn, and were always +repairing thither to read, and talk, and hold councils of war. It was +delightful to speculate as to what doughty warriors might have been +sheltered beneath it; and to imagine that sundry small rents and +patches must be the result of the enemy's fire, and not due to the wear +and tear of ordinary encampments. +</P> + +<P> +Not satisfied with living in it by day, they determined to pass a night +there also, and would not rest content until their aunt had given them +permission to try the experiment. +</P> + +<P> +"All we want," said Valentine, "is a mackintosh to spread on the +ground, and a few rugs and sofa cushions, and a candle and a box of +matches." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, you can have plenty of those," answered Queen Mab; "perhaps +some day you won't be so well off, Valentine." +</P> + +<P> +She spoke lightly enough, and with no foreshadowing of a visionary +picture, often to haunt her mind in the days to come, of men lying +silently under a clear, starlit sky, with belts on, rifles by their +sides, and bayonets ready fixed. +</P> + +<P> +The two boys prepared to put their project into immediate execution; +and in connection with this their first but by no means last experience +of a night under canvas, they were destined to fall in with a little +adventure which must be recorded. +</P> + +<P> +Shortly before the commencement of the holidays a lot of strawberries +had been stolen from the garden, and Queen Mab feared lest a similar +fate should overtake a fine show of pears which were just getting ripe. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, good-night," she said, as she prepared to close the door on the +two adventurers; "if you're cold, and want to come in, throw some +pebbles up at my window." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we shan't want to come in," answered Jack stoutly. "If you hear +any one coming to steal the fruit, you shout, 'Guard turn out!' and +we'll nab 'em." +</P> + +<P> +The boys settled down like old campaigners. "Awful joke, isn't it?" +said Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, prime!" answered Valentine; "soldiering must be jolly." +</P> + +<P> +Half an hour passed. +</P> + +<P> +"I say," murmured Valentine, "this ground seems precious hard!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered his companion. "I've tried lying on it every way, and +I believe my bones are coming through my skin." +</P> + +<P> +A long pause, and then, "I say, don't you think it's nearly morning?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no! the church clock has only just struck one." +</P> + +<P> +The darkness seemed to lengthen out into that of a polar winter instead +of a single night. At length the canvas walls began to grow grey with +dawn, and Jack awoke with a shiver, wondering whether he had really +been asleep or not. +</P> + +<P> +"It's beastly cold," he muttered. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered Valentine. "I thought it was never going to get light. +Look here, I'm determined I <I>will</I> sleep! What's the good of my being +a soldier if I can't sleep in a tent?" +</P> + +<P> +He turned over on his face, and had just dropped off into a doze, when +he was awakened by Jack, who had reached over and was shaking his arm. +</P> + +<P> +"I say—Val—who was that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Who's what?" was the drowsy answer. +</P> + +<P> +"Why! didn't you hear? Some one just walked down the path. It can't +be Jakes; it isn't five o'clock." +</P> + +<P> +Valentine rubbed his eyes, thought for a moment, and then suddenly sat +up broad awake. +</P> + +<P> +"The pears!" he whispered. +</P> + +<P> +Both boys sprang up, unlaced the door of the tent, and sallied forth in +the direction of the fruit garden. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't make a row; walk on the grass border. Hist! there he is!" +</P> + +<P> +There he was, sure enough; a boy about their own age, calmly picking +pears and dropping them into a basket. Jack and Valentine slowly crept +down by the side of the raspberry bushes, like Indians on a war-trail. +</P> + +<P> +"Now then!" murmured the former, "charge!" +</P> + +<P> +The thief jumped as if a gun had been fired off behind him, and started +to run, but before he could reach the path he was fairly collared. He +struggled violently, and then commenced to kick, whereupon his arm was +suddenly twisted behind his back, a style of putting on the curb-rein +with which fractious small boys will be well acquainted. +</P> + +<P> +"Woa! steady now, 'oss!" said Jack facetiously. "Keep your feet quiet, +or I shall put the screw on a bit tighter. Now then, what shall we do +with him?" +</P> + +<P> +"Put him into the tool shed," answered Valentine. +</P> + +<P> +The culprit, finding himself fairly mastered, became more docile. His +captors, however, turned a deaf ear to his pleadings to be let go; and +thrusting him into the little outhouse, turned the key in the lock, and +then began to wonder what they should do next. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," said Jack, "we've got a prisoner of war now, and no mistake. +What shall we do with the beggar? go for a policeman?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, we don't want to get the chap sent to prison." +</P> + +<P> +"If we tell Aunt Mab she'll let him go, and he ought to be punished." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course he does—young villain! It's like his cheek coming here and +bagging all the fruit." +</P> + +<P> +"I have it!" said Jack, suddenly struck with a bright idea. "We'll +lick him!" +</P> + +<P> +Valentine hesitated. "I don't like setting on a chap two against one," +he answered. "I don't mind a stand-up fight." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that's what I mean," answered Jack joyously. "Look here!" he +continued, hammering on the door of the shed—"look here, you inside +there! I'm going to punch your head for stealing those pears. If you +like to come out I'll fight you, and then you can go; if not, you can +stay where you are. Will you come?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered the prisoner sullenly. +</P> + +<P> +Twenty years ago a fight was not quite such a rare occurrence at +Melchester School as it would be to-day. Jack threw off his coat with +alacrity. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, Val, you watch; and if the beggar tries to bolt, you leg him +down." +</P> + +<P> +With a dogged look the stranger took up his ground, and on the signal +being given for the commencement of hostilities, lowered his head, and +made a wild rush at his antagonist. The latter stepped aside, and +greeted him with a smart cuff on the side of the head. Once more the +visitor came on like a runaway windmill, but this time Jack walked +backward and refused the encounter. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, look here," he cried, in an injured tone, "can't you do any better +than that? Can't you stand up and hit straight? Don't you know how to +box?" +</P> + +<P> +"No." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what's the good of saying you'll come out and fight? What's +your name?" +</P> + +<P> +"Joe Crouch." +</P> + +<P> +"Well then, Joseph, you'd better take your hook. There's your old +basket, only just leave those pears behind; and don't come here again, +or we'll set the bobby on your track." +</P> + +<P> +Crouch marched off, evidently astonished at finding himself at liberty +to depart. When he reached the gate, he turned, and touched his cap. +"Morning, gen'lemen," he said, and so disappeared. Valentine laughed, +and regarded his cousin with a queer look in his face. +</P> + +<P> +"You are a rum fellow, Jack; you're always wanting to fight somebody. +When you get two fellows against you like Garston and Rosher, you go at +it like a tiger; and then another time, just because you get hold of a +chap who can't knock you down, you back out and make peace." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," answered the other, "there's no sport in licking a chap like +that. I'll tell you what, I'm frightfully hungry." +</P> + +<P> +The two adventurers had plenty to tell at breakfast that morning, and +the interest in their capture lasted throughout the day. In the +evening the young folks went out a favourite walk through the lanes and +fields. Valentine and Barbara were running races on the way home; but +Jack lingered behind with Helen, who was gathering ferns. +</P> + +<P> +"Let me carry your basket," he said. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't you trouble; you'd rather run on with Val and Barbara." +</P> + +<P> +"I expect you don't want me. I know you think I've got no manners, and +in that you're about right." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I don't think anything of the kind," said Helen, laughing. "I +shall be very glad if you will carry the basket, because I want to talk +to you." +</P> + +<P> +"Now for a lecture," said Jack to himself.—"All right, fire away!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well," began the girl, looking round at him with a twinkle in her eye, +"I want to know why you didn't set Val on to fight that boy this +morning, instead of offering to do it yourself." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't know! It was my own idea; besides, I'm bigger and +stronger." +</P> + +<P> +"You mean you did it so that Val shouldn't get hurt, in the same way +that you grappled with those three fellows who were ill-treating him at +school." +</P> + +<P> +"Pooh! he didn't tell you that, did he? He always lets you know all +the bothers I get into. You'll think I do nothing but fight and kick +up rows; and," added the speaker, with a pathetic look of injured +innocence, "I've been behaving jolly well lately." +</P> + +<P> +"I think you're a dear, good fellow for defending Val," said Helen +warmly, "and I've been wanting to thank you ever since." +</P> + +<P> +"It was nothing. 'Twasn't half as much as he did for me when he +climbed that tree and freed my bootlace. I wish he wouldn't go telling +you everything that happens at school." +</P> + +<P> +"You were saying a day or so ago," said the girl, slyly, "that you +didn't care for anybody, or for what people thought of you." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I do," answered the ugly duckling; "I care a lot what you folks +think of me at Brenlands." +</P> + +<P> +"Why?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, because you're all better than I am, and yet you never try to +make me feel it; but I do all the same. And I love you three and Queen +Mab; and I love the place; and I should like to live here always. But +outside of that," he added quickly, "I don't care a button for +anything." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish you wouldn't talk like that." +</P> + +<P> +"But it's a fact." +</P> + +<P> +"You mean," she answered gently, "that you've said it so often that at +last you're beginning to believe it's true." +</P> + +<P> +A few mornings later, when the boys came down to breakfast, they were +surprised, on looking out of the window, to see no less a personage +than Joe Crouch weeding the garden path. +</P> + +<P> +"I found he was out of work, and his parents wretchedly poor," said +Queen Mab; "so I said he might come and help Jakes by doing a few odd +jobs. You know the old maxim," she added, smiling—"the beet way to +subdue an enemy is to turn him into a friend." +</P> + +<P> +The two boys took considerable interest in Crouch, regarding him as +their own particular protégé. Joe, for his part, seemed to remember +their early morning encounter with gratitude, as having been the means +of landing him in his present situation. He had apparently a great +amount of respect for Jack, and seeing the latter cutting sticks with a +blunt knife, asked leave to take it home with him, and brought it back +next day with the blades shining like silver, and as sharp as razors. +</P> + +<P> +One afternoon, when the boys were lying reading in the tent, Barbara +suddenly appeared in the open doorway, and stamping her foot, cried, +"<I>Bother</I>!" +</P> + +<P> +"What's up with you, Bar?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, that wretched Raymond Fosberton is in the house talking to Aunt +Mab. He's walked over from Grenford; and he is going to stay the +night." +</P> + +<P> +Valentine groaned, and Jack administered a kick to an unoffending +camp-stool. +</P> + +<P> +"What does he want to come here for, I wonder?" continued Barbara. +"Silly monkey! you should just see him in his white waistcoat and shiny +boots—faugh!" And she choked with wrath. +</P> + +<P> +Raymond's presence certainly did not contribute very much to the +happiness of the party. He monopolized the conversation at tea-time, +was very high and mighty in his manner, and patronized everybody in +turn. He lost his temper playing croquet, and broke one of the +mallets; and later on in the evening he cheated at "word-making," and +because he failed to win, pronounced it a "stupid game, only fit for +kids." +</P> + +<P> +In Barbara, however, he found his match. She cared not two straws for +all the Fosbertons alive or dead; and when the visitor, who had been +teasing her for some time, went so far as to pull her hair, she +promptly dealt him a vigorous box on the ear, a proceeding which so +delighted the warlike Jack that he chuckled till bed-time. +</P> + +<P> +Every one felt relieved when it came to tea-time on the following day. +Raymond had announced his intention of walking home in the cool of the +evening, and Queen Mab proposed that his cousins should accompany him +part of the way. +</P> + +<P> +They had walked about a mile, Jack and Helen being a little in advance +of the others, when the girl caught hold of her cousin's arm. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, look!" she said, "there's a man coming who's drunk." +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind," answered Jack stoutly; "he won't interfere with us." +</P> + +<P> +The man, who had reeled into the hedge, suddenly staggered back into +the middle of the road, and stood there barring the way. +</P> + +<P> +"'Ello! Misser Fenleigh," he began, "'ow're you to-night, sir?" +</P> + +<P> +Jack stared at the speaker in astonishment, and then recognized him as +the same man who had spoken to them in Melchester. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here!" he said hotly. "I've told you twice I don't know you. +You just stand clear and let us pass." +</P> + +<P> +By this time the remainder of the party had come up. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, 'ere's Misser Fosbe'ton," continued the man, with a tipsy leer. +"Now I jus' ask you, sir, if these two gen'lemen don't owe me some +money for a drink." +</P> + +<P> +Raymond's face flushed crimson, and then turned white. +</P> + +<P> +"You've had too much already, Hanks," he said sharply; "just shut up, +and stand out of the road." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no offence!" muttered the man, staggering aside to let the cousins +pass; "'nother time'll do jus' the same." +</P> + +<P> +"Look here, Raymond, who is that fellow?" asked Valentine, as soon as +they had got out of earshot of the stranger, "Twice he's come up to us +in the street at Melchester, saying he knows us, and wanting money; and +the last time, old Westford saw us talking to him, and we got into a +beastly row, and were gated for a fortnight. Who is he?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, he's a lazy blackguard called Ned Hanks; he's always poaching and +getting drunk. He never does any work, except now and then he collects +rags and bones, and sells them in Melchester." +</P> + +<P> +"How does he know you?" +</P> + +<P> +"He lives close to Grenford, and every one knows me there." +</P> + +<P> +"But how does he know <I>us</I>?" +</P> + +<P> +"I can't say. Haven't you ever seen him at Brenlands?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, never." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I suppose he must have found out your name somehow; and he's +always cadging for money for a drink. Don't you trouble to come any +further. By-the-bye, next year I'm going to set up in diggings at +Melchester. I shall be articled to a solicitor there; and if you +fellows are still at the school, we might go out together." +</P> + +<P> +"Confound that man!" said Jack, on the following morning; "I should +like to find out who he is, and why he always speaks to us. I wonder +if Crouch knows anything about him." +</P> + +<P> +Joe Crouch was questioned, and admitted that he knew the man Hanks well +by sight, and had sometimes spoken to him. +</P> + +<P> +Jack explained the reason of his inquiry. "The fellow's got us into +one row already. Why should he always be bothering us for money?" +</P> + +<P> +Joe Crouch stood thoughtfully scratching his head for a moment with the +point of the grass clippers. +</P> + +<P> +"I dunno, sir," he answered; "but maybe I might find out." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +"STORMS IN A TEA-CUP." +</H4> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +"'Are you not in a warm room, and in society from which you may learn +something? But you are a chatterer, and your company is not very +agreeable.'"—<I>The Ugly Duckling</I>. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +At the commencement of the winter term, in addition to being in the +same class and dormitory, the two cousins were thrown still more +together by occupying adjoining desks in the big schoolroom. +</P> + +<P> +"Now I shall be able to keep an eye on you," said Valentine, "and see +that you do some work." +</P> + +<P> +"Shall you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; Helen gave me special instructions that I was to make you behave +yourself. This is my last year; and the guv'nor says if I do well I +shall go on then to an army coach to work up for Sandhurst." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I suppose I must behave myself, if it's Helen's orders," said +Jack, laughing. "I wish I knew what I was going to do when I leave +this place. I only wish I was going into the army like you. Some fine +day I think I shall enlist." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no, you wouldn't. What d'you think Queen Mab would say when she +heard about it?" +</P> + +<P> +"But she wouldn't hear about it," returned the other, with a touch of +his restless discontent. "No one would hear about it. I should call +myself Jones, or something of that sort. It would be a happier life +than that I live at home; and what the guv'nor thinks he's going to do +with me, I'm sure I don't know." +</P> + +<P> +Valentine certainly did his best to follow out his sister's +instructions, and keep Master Jack out of hot water. The latter seemed +to have become a trifle more tractable; perhaps, finding other people +were interested in him, he was led to take more interest in himself. +At all events, his conduct underwent a considerable change for the +better, and his name no longer appeared on every page of the +defaulters' book. +</P> + +<P> +Football was now on, a sport which he specially enjoyed. In addition +to this, Garston and Teal had left, and Rosher, who had now joined the +Fifth, seemed to be increasing in wisdom as well as in stature, and no +longer sought the bubble reputation in official visits to the +headmaster's study. In short, Jack had improved with his surroundings. +He and Valentine, in addition to their fretwork, had taken up +carpentry; and on wet afternoons, when idle hands were steeped in +mischief, they were always to be found in the shed which had been set +apart for the boys to use as a sort of workshop. As far as the Fifth +Form was concerned, only one incident happened to relieve the monotony +of a somewhat uneventful term; and as one of our heroes was largely +responsible for what took place, an account of the episode may as well +be included in our story. +</P> + +<P> +Jack, it should be said, was not to blame for what happened in the +first place, his and Preston's share in the business was, as it were, +only the effect arising from a primary cause; and for this, the real +root of the matter, Tinkleby was solely responsible. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here," said Tinkleby, "those fellows in the Sixth are running +that debating show of theirs, and they get let off 'prep.' every +Saturday night; wherefore I vote we join." +</P> + +<P> +"They wouldn't have us," answered Dorris; "they won't allow any one to +join if they are lower in the school than Sixth or Remove." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah!" answered Tinkleby, adjusting his nippers, "but, don't you see, I +should do it in this way—I should propose that our society be +amalgamated with theirs." +</P> + +<P> +"What society?" asked Preston the bowler. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, the Fifth Form Literary Society, you blockhead!" +</P> + +<P> +Preston and Dorris both exploded. +</P> + +<P> +"You seem to think," continued Tinkleby, with a cynical smile, "that +the only use for our society is to provide us with an excuse for having +a feed once a year at 'Duster's;' but let me remind you, sir, that its +main object, according to the original rules, was the cultivation of a +taste for literary pursuits among its members." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," added Dorris, "and so you want to get off Saturday 'prep.' Fire +away, Tinky, I'm with you." +</P> + +<P> +That very afternoon Tinkleby addressed a large, square envelope to +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +<I>S. R. HENINGSON, Esq.,</I> +<I>Hon. Sec. Melchester School Debating Society.</I><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +and having sealed it with an old military button, dropped it into the +letter-box, a proceeding more in keeping with the importance of the +communication than if he had delivered it by hand. The honorary +secretary went one higher—he sent his reply by post. It was polite, +and to the point. The committee of the debating society did not see +their way to extend the limit of the rule relating to membership. They +would be pleased to admit any of the Fifth Form who could obtain +permission to attend the meetings, but they would not be entitled to +vote, or to take any active part in the proceedings. +</P> + +<P> +Tinkleby was incensed at this cool reception of his proposal, and +harangued his comrades during a temporary absence of Mr. Ward from the +classroom. +</P> + +<P> +"They think such a confounded lot of themselves, with their miserable +essays and dry debates. I'll bet we could stand up and spout as well +as they can, on any subject you like to mention, from cribbing to +astronomy." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course we could," answered Boswell-Jones, who had prepared a paper +entitled, "An Hour with the Poets," into which he had introduced all +his favourite recitations, and which he longed to fire off at something +in the shape of an audience—"of course we could; it's all that +conceited beast Heningson. He thinks he's an orator—great ass!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, look here," said Tinkleby, fixing his nippers with an air of +resolution and defiance, "Heningson's going to open a debate next +Saturday. The subject is: 'That this house is of opinion that the +moral and physical condition of mankind is in a state of +retrogression.' We'll go and hear it. Ward'll let us do our 'prep.' +in the afternoon. I've got a little plan in my head, and we'll take a +rise out of these gentlemen." +</P> + +<P> +The Melchester School Debating Society, as we have already mentioned, +was established for the benefit of the senior boys, who held their +meetings every Saturday night during the winter and Easter terms in +what was known as the drawing classroom. It was conducted in a very +solemn and serious manner. Redbrook, the head of the school, took the +chair; while on the table before him, as a sign of his office and +authority, a small hand-bell was placed, which he was supposed to ring +when, in the heat and excitement of debate, members so far forgot +themselves as to need a gentle reminder of the rule relating to +silence. As a matter of fact, the chairman seldom, if ever, had any +need to use this instrument, though on one occasion some wag removed it +before the proceedings commenced, and substituted in its place the huge +railway-bell used by Mullins, the school-porter; a jest which greatly +incensed the grave and dignified assembly on whom it was practised. +There was a proper mahogany ballot-box. The subjects for discussion +always began, "That this house, etc.," and the secretary entered in a +book exhaustive minutes of every meeting, which the chairman signed +with a quill pen. These details are given in order that the reader may +understand the character of the society in question, and be therefore +in a better position to pass judgment on the outrageous behaviour of +certain gentlemen whose conduct will shortly be described. +</P> + +<P> +On the following Saturday evening, in answer to the formal invitation +which they had received, Tinkleby and his friends filed into the room, +looking very good and demure, and occupied the desk against the end +wall, which they entered as though it had been a pew in church. The +usual preliminaries were gone through, and the chairman called on "our +worthy friend the secretary" to open the debate by moving, "That this +house is of opinion that the moral and physical condition of mankind is +in a state of retrogression." +</P> + +<P> +For a time all went well. The visitors sat as mute as mummies, and the +opener sought to justify his proposition by launching out into an +impassioned discourse, which seemed rather inclined to resolve itself +into a brief history of the world, and which the critical Tinkleby +afterwards described as containing "more wind than argument." Touching +briefly on the statements of the Hebrew chroniclers, Heningson +proceeded with a wordy exposition of the manners and customs of ancient +Greece, and from this stumbled rather abruptly into the rise of the +Roman empire. Drawing a fancy and perhaps rather flattering portrait +of one of the world-conquering legionaries, the speaker thought fit to +compare it with that of a latter-day Italian organ-grinder who often +visited the school, and who had recently been had up for being drunk +and disorderly in the streets of Melchester. +</P> + +<P> +"Gentlemen," exclaimed the orator earnestly, pointing accidentally at +the chairman, but meaning to indicate the unfortunate musician, "is +<I>this</I> the culmination of a race of gods? this inebriate, undersized—" +</P> + +<P> +At this point the discourse was suddenly interrupted by a loud and +prolonged snore. Heningson hesitated, and glanced up from his notes +with a look of annoyance. He was about to proceed when a chorus of +snores in every imaginable pitch and key effectively checked his +utterance. With an indignant "Sh—s-h!" the audience turned in their +seats to witness the following astonishing spectacle. At the back of +the room every one of the half-dozen visitors sat, or rather sprawled, +with his head upon the desk, in an attitude suggestive of the soundest +slumber; the only variation in position being on the part of Jack +Fenleigh, who lay back with a handkerchief thrown over his face like an +old gentleman taking his after-dinner nap. The nasal concert +continued, and the chairman smote his hand-bell. +</P> + +<P> +"Firs' bell," murmured Tinkleby drowsily, "stop working;" while Dorris +became suddenly afflicted with a catch in his breath which caused a +succession of terrific snorts, each of which nearly cracked the windows. +</P> + +<P> +"Here, stop that noise!" cried Redbrook, springing to his feet in great +wrath. "Wake 'em up, somebody!" +</P> + +<P> +An obliging member caught Tinkleby by the arm, and gave him a +prodigious shake. +</P> + +<P> +"Shur up," growled that gentleman. "Give me back my pillow, 'tisn't +time to ger up. Hallo! have I been asleep? I'm beastly sorry." +</P> + +<P> +One by one the other occupants of the visitors' gallery were made to +understand that they were not in their beds. Jack Fenleigh, however, +absolutely refused to return from the land of dreams. He was shaken, +pinched, and pommelled, but all to no purpose; his snores only became +louder, and the style more fantastic. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile a heated altercation was going on between the chairman and +the president of the Fifth Form Literary Society. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here, Tinkleby, we don't want any more of your silly foolery, so +just stop it." +</P> + +<P> +"My dear sir, I'm doing nothing." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, why did you begin?" +</P> + +<P> +"If you mean my having dropped off to sleep, I'm very sorry; but really +there's something in the air of the place—" +</P> + +<P> +"Haw-r-r-r-r-ratch," interposed Jack Fenleigh. Redbrook rose from his +chair, boiling with wrath. +</P> + +<P> +"Just clear out!" he cried. "Go on—all the lot of you!" The visitors +demurred, but being outnumbered three to one, they were seized and +hustled unceremoniously out of the room. In the midst of all this +commotion, however, Fenleigh J., still continued in an unbroken +slumber, and was distinctly heard snoring louder than ever as his +companions dragged him off down the passage. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-132"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-132.jpg" ALT=""The visitors were seized, and hustled unceremoniously out of the room."" BORDER="2" WIDTH="383" HEIGHT="535"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 383px"> +"The visitors were seized, and hustled unceremoniously out of the room." +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +For the time being this little joke gave rise to a rather strained +relationship between the members of the Sixth and Fifth Forms. +Tinkleby and his comrades were designated a set of rowdy jackasses; and +they replied to the compliment by declaring that a fraternity of live +donkeys was better than a collection of stuffed owls, and advising +Heningson to patent his discourse as an infallible cure for insomnia. +Cutting allusions to the "Literary Society" and sarcastic retorts were +exchanged in the corridors and playing-field; and so the feud continued. +</P> + +<P> +All his classmates were charmed with Jack's share in the performance. +</P> + +<P> +"You wait," was his invariable answer to their congratulations; "I'll +take a better rise out of them before long." +</P> + +<P> +For a time this boast was not considered to imply any definite +intention on the speaker's part to play any further pranks on the +members of the debating society; but at length a rumour got abroad that +something <I>was</I> going to happen. Fenleigh J. and Preston had been seen +more than once taking counsel together in out-of-the-way corners, and +exchanging mysterious nods and winks. They were known to have spent +the free time between "prep." and supper, on two consecutive evenings, +alone together in the workshop, with the door locked. A great deal of +hammering went on, but no one could find out what they were making. +When questioned on the subject, they professed a lamb-like state of +innocence; and even Tinkleby himself could give no explanation of their +conduct. A fortnight after the delivery of Heningson's essay, the +debating society held an important meeting, the announcement of which, +posted the previous evening on the notice-board, was worded as +follows:— +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent" ALIGN="center"> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 3em">M. S. D. S.</SPAN><BR> +<I>Saturday, November ...th.</I><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 4em">DEBATE.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P> +"That this house approves of the settlement of all international +disputes by arbitration instead of war," +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent" ALIGN="center"> +<I>Aff.</I>, Mr. N. J. CARTER.<BR> +<I>Neg.</I>, Mr. SHEPHERD.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +The members turned up in force, for this time the openers of the +discussion were the two leading lights of the society, and the contest +between them was certain to prove an intellectual treat which ought not +to be missed. Carter's style of oratory was of the impassioned order; +he thumped on the desk, and went through the "extension motions," with +the exception of that awful movement where you bend double and try to +touch your toes. It was rumoured that he wrote deep, unintelligible +poetry that did not rhyme; and if the school rules had not forbidden +the practice, he would have worn long hair and a fly-away necktie. +Shepherd, on the other hand, went in for logic, unadorned by any +movements suggestive of setting-up drill. His style bore a suspicious +resemblance to that of Augustus Powler, Esq., M.P. He stuck his thumbs +in the armholes of his waistcoat, and pushed forward that portion of +his body which it would have been unfair to strike at in a fight. It +would be impossible to give here anything like a detailed report of the +proceedings. From the moment when the chairman rose to introduce the +first speaker, every one felt that the meeting would be one of unusual +interest; and in one sense they were certainly destined not to be +disappointed. Carter was in great form; he dealt the desk such +terrific blows that the ink spurted out of the ink-pots, and ran down +on to the secretary's breeches. War, he declared, was legalized +murder, and the soldier little better than a hired assassin. Napoleon +Bonaparte was far more roughly handled than at Leipsic or Waterloo; and +a long list of conquerors, ranging back to Alexander the Great, were, +figuratively speaking, torn from their graves and hung in chains. At +length, having dwelt on the enormous cost of standing armies, and other +more practical aspects of the subject, the speaker concluded with a +vivid picture of the horrors of a battlefield, and was in the act of +quoting a verse of poetry, when he was suddenly silenced by an +unlooked-for interruption. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"The bursting shell, the gateway wrenched asunder,<BR> +The rattling musketry, the clashing blade;<BR> +And ever and anon, in tones of thunder,<BR> +The—"<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Bang! +</P> + +<P> +Every one started; something like a miniature representation of the +"bursting shell" had just exploded in the neighbourhood of the +blackboard. A boy sitting close by stooped down and picked up from the +floor a small fragment of burnt tissue-paper. +</P> + +<P> +"Who threw that?" he exclaimed. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked the chairman. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, one of those 'throw-downs.'" +</P> + +<P> +Redbrook glanced round the room in angry astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here," he said sharply, "I don't know who did it, but if any of +you have come to play the fool, you'd better leave the room at once, +for we aren't going to have any more nonsense like we had the other +night." +</P> + +<P> +The audience turned in their seats, and stared at one another in +amazement. Most of my readers will probably have some practical +knowledge of the small, round paper pellets known as "throw-downs," +which explode when flung against anything; and it was difficult to +imagine that any member of the select and decorous Melchester School +Debating Society would cause an interruption by flinging such things +about in the middle of an important discussion. +</P> + +<P> +"Go on, Carter," said the chairman. +</P> + +<P> +"Shan't!" returned the other, snappishly. "I've finished." +</P> + +<P> +Shepherd was now called upon to open on the side of the negative. +</P> + +<P> +"War," he began, assuming his accustomed attitude, and beaming round on +his listeners with a very good imitation of the Powler smile—"war is +like surgery. When drugs are of no avail, we are often forced to +resort to the use of the knife, and so—" +</P> + +<P> +Another mimic bomb exploded in the very centre of the speaker's +waistcoat, causing him to jump nearly out of his skin. Redbrook sprang +to his feet in a towering rage, and as he did so another projectile +burst on the open pages of the minute book. +</P> + +<P> +"Who threw those things? I will find out!" +</P> + +<P> +A babel of voices rose in reply. No one had done it. The door was +shut, the windows were fastened, a hasty search was made in the +cupboards and under the back desks, in the hope of discovering a +lurking enemy; but even while the search was in progress another +missile went off under the secretary's chair. +</P> + +<P> +"Who is it?" shouted Redbrook. "Where do they come from?" +</P> + +<P> +"That seemed to fall from the ceiling," answered Heningson; "yes—look +there!" +</P> + +<P> +Above the hanging gas-jet in the centre of the room was an ornamental +iron grating, between the apertures of which there now appeared about +an inch and a half of brass tube, like the end of a big peashooter. A +moment later there was a prodigious puff, and four "throw-downs" +exploded with a simultaneous crash in the centre of the chairman's +table. +</P> + +<P> +"There's some one up on the roof!" cried several voices.—"Stop it, you +villain!" +</P> + +<P> +"How could any one get there?" +</P> + +<P> +"There's a trap-door at the end of the passage," exclaimed Shepherd. +"Quick! we shall cut him off." +</P> + +<P> +A rush was made for the door, but it refused to open; some one had +evidently blocked the exit from the outside, by placing a short form +lengthways across the passage. The drawing classroom formed part of a +one-storied building which bounded one side of the school quadrangle. +Finding the door closed, Shepherd dashed to the nearest window, and +flinging it open dropped out on to the gravel, an example which was +speedily followed by the chairman and several members of the audience. +Breathing out all manner of threats, they ran round through the nearest +door and gained the entrance to the passage. The trap-door in the +ceiling was wide open, and communicating with it was a curious, +home-made ladder, consisting of an old post, with half a dozen rough +cross pieces fastened to it with stout nails. A candle end was lying +on the floor, and with its aid Shepherd climbed up and explored the +roof; but the bird had flown. +</P> + +<P> +After such an interruption it was no use attempting to continue the +debate, and Redbrook and his companions spent the remainder of the +evening trying to discover the authors of this outrage. +</P> + +<P> +The culprits, however, had made good their escape; no one remembered +having seen the ladder before, and it was impossible to say to whom it +belonged. The members of the debating society were clearly outwitted; +and not wishing to make the story of their discomfiture too public, +they determined for the present to let the matter drop, at the same +time announcing their intention of taking dire vengeance on any +irreverent jokers who should rashly attempt to disturb their meetings +in future. Two days later, Valentine was sitting at his desk reading, +when he was joined by his cousin. +</P> + +<P> +"I borrowed your brass ruler the other afternoon," said the latter, +producing something from under his coat. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I know all about it, you villain!" +</P> + +<P> +"I only used it as a sort of pea-shooter." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I've heard all about your little game; Preston told me." +</P> + +<P> +Jack tried to look innocent, and then laughed. +</P> + +<P> +"It's no use, Val, old chap, you'll never make a good boy of me. It's +the old story of the silk purse and the sow's ear." +</P> + +<P> +Valentine laughed too. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid I never shall," he answered. "The joke is that you're +always ready to bring the whole place about your ears with some mad +prank, and then when a cartload of bricks does fall on your head, you +say, 'It's just your luck, and that—'" +</P> + +<P> +"A collection will be taken at the door in aid of the poor fund at the +close of the present service," interrupted the other. "Good-bye—I'm +off!" +</P> + +<P> +He moved away a step or two, then came softly back, and began to rumple +his cousin's hair; whereupon an exciting struggle ensued, which brought +them both down on to the floor, and ended with the edifying spectacle +of the preacher sitting flushed and triumphant on the congregation's +chest. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +"OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN—" +</H4> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +"Above all, beware of the cat."—<I>The Ugly Duckling</I>. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Here, Val, you're just the man I want! Tell me something to say." +</P> + +<P> +It was a broiling afternoon. The summer term had once more come round, +and Jack, with his coat off, was sitting in a shady corner of the +schoolroom wrestling with a letter to Queen Mab. +</P> + +<P> +"I write to her nearly every blessed week," he continued, "and the +consequence is I've never got anything to say. I've told her how jolly +it is to think that in four weeks' time we shall be at Brenlands again; +and now I'm stuck, and I can't get any further." +</P> + +<P> +"Have you told her how well you've been doing in cricket this season?" +</P> + +<P> +"No." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I have; so it doesn't much matter. Look here! Raymond +Fosberton's outside, and wants to see you." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, tell him to go to Bath!" answered Jack, making another stab at the +ink-pot with his pen. "I want to finish this letter." +</P> + +<P> +"No, come along," answered Valentine, laughing. "You must be civil to +the fellow; he's been waiting about for nearly a quarter of an hour." +</P> + +<P> +"Do him good," growled the scribe, reluctantly pitching his untidy +epistle into a very disorderly desk. "He only comes here to show off. +Just because he's in a lawyer's office, he thinks he's a big pot, and +all he does is to write copies like a kid in the Lower School." +</P> + +<P> +According to his own opinion, Raymond Fosberton had blossomed out into +the full-blown man. He wore a light check suit of the very latest +fashion, a rosebud adorned his button-hole, and he tapped the toe of +his highly-polished, patent-leather boots with the point of a +silver-mounted cane. +</P> + +<P> +"Hallo!" he exclaimed; "what the dickens d'you want to keep a chap +waiting so long for? I can tell you my time's more valuable than +yours. Look here! I'm sorry I haven't been able to ask you boys to +come and see me before, but nearly every night since I've been here +I've been engaged. However, I want you to get leave to come and have +tea at my rooms on Wednesday, and after that we'll go to the fair. You +know what I mean. It's held once a year in a big field on the other +side of the town; there are shows, and round-abouts, and all that sort +of thing." +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks," answered Valentine, "but I'm afraid we can't go." +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because the rule of the school is that no boys are allowed to go to +Melchester Fair. Old Westford is awfully strict about it. Two years +ago some fellows went, and had a row with one of the showmen, and it +got into the papers." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, rubbish! you can say you're only going out to tea." Valentine +shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, you can," continued Raymond. "By-the-bye, there's a fellow +here called Rosher, isn't there? My guv'nor knows his people, and told +me to ask him out sometimes; tell him to come too, if he can." +</P> + +<P> +"We can't do it," answered Valentine decisively; "while the fair's on, +Westford won't even give fellows leave to go down into town." +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense!" answered Raymond contemptuously. "You leave it to me, and +I'll manage it all right. Now I must cut back to the office. Ta! ta!" +</P> + +<P> +On Wednesday afternoon the two cousins were preparing to start for the +cricket field, when a small boy brought them word that the headmaster +wished to see them for a moment in his study. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the row now, I wonder?" said Jack. "'Pon my word, it's so long +since I went to the old man's study that I feel quite nervous." +</P> + +<P> +The interview was not of a distressing nature. "I have received a +letter from your uncle," began Mr. Westford, "asking for you to be +allowed to go and meet him at the station this afternoon at five +o'clock. He wishes also to see Rosher, so you can tell him that he may +go. Be back, of course, in time for supper." +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder what brings Uncle Fosberton to Melchester," said Valentine to +Jack as they walked away together. +</P> + +<P> +"Can't say," returned the other. "I don't want to see him; but I +suppose we must go. Let's hunt up Rosher." +</P> + +<P> +A few minutes before five, the three boys entered the booking-office at +the railway station. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder which platform it is!" said Jack. "Hallo! there's Raymond." +</P> + +<P> +The gentleman in question came forward, flourishing his silver-mounted +cane. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, my dear nephews," he cried, laughing. "How are you to-day? Did +old Westford get my letter all right?" +</P> + +<P> +"What letter?" asked Valentine. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, the letter asking for you to come out." +</P> + +<P> +"But uncle wrote that!" +</P> + +<P> +"Not a bit of it!" answered Raymond triumphantly. "I did it. I had a +bit of the manor note-paper, and I sent it to our man to post it from +Grenford. Ha! ha! I told you I'd manage the business!" +</P> + +<P> +Rosher chuckled, Jack whistled, but Valentine remained silent. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here, Raymond," said Valentine, after a moment's pause, "I tell +you straight, I don't believe in this sort of thing. I'm going back." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't be a fool, man," retorted the other. "You can't go back now, or +they'll want to know the reason. Come along to my diggings and have +some tea, and I'll bear all the blame." +</P> + +<P> +With some reluctance Valentine agreed to go with the party to his +cousin's lodgings. Raymond did not seem on very good terms with his +landlady. The tea was a long time coming; and when at length it did +make its appearance, the fare consisted only of bread and butter, and a +half-empty pot of jam. +</P> + +<P> +"Sorry I can't offer you anything more," remarked the host, "but just +now I've run rather short of cash. Better luck next time." +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the meal was over, Raymond repeated his proposal that they +should visit the fair. +</P> + +<P> +"It's an awful joke," he said. "I'm going, and you chaps may as well +come along too." +</P> + +<P> +"It's all very well for you to go," answered Jack, "but with us it's +different. Any one can see by our hat-bands that we belong to the +school; and if it gets to Westford's ears that we've been, we shall +stand a jolly good chance of being expelled." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, well! if you're afraid, don't go," answered Raymond, with a sneer. +"I thought you were a chap who didn't care for anything. Will you go, +Rosher?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't mind." +</P> + +<P> +"Come on, then; don't let's stick here all the evening." +</P> + +<P> +The four boys put on their hats and sauntered out into the street. +Valentine said good-night, and turned off in the direction of the +school; but Jack lingered behind with the other two. +</P> + +<P> +"That's right," said Raymond, taking his arm; "I knew you'd come." +</P> + +<P> +The evening was always the gayest part of the day at Melchester Fair. +Crowds of people from the town and surrounding neighbourhood jostled +each other in the open spaces between the tents and booths, while the +noise of bands, steam-organs, and yelling showmen was something +terrific. +</P> + +<P> +"I say, have either of you fellows got change for a sovereign?" asked +Raymond. "You haven't? well, you pay, and I'll settle up with you some +other time." +</P> + +<P> +The boys wandered round the field, listening to the cheap Jacks, and +the proprietors of various exhibitions, which were all "just a-goin' to +begin." They patronized a shooting-gallery, where they fired down long +tubes with little rifles, which made the marksman's hands very black, +and seemed to carry round the corner. Jack, however, succeeded in +hitting the bull's-eye, and ringing the bell, and was rewarded with a +handful of nuts. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on," said Rosher; "let's have a turn on the wooden horses," and +the party accordingly moved off in the direction of the nearest +round-about. The steeds were three abreast, and Raymond mounted the +one on the outside. A little group of factory boys were standing close +by, and, just as the engine started, one of them thought fit to enliven +the proceedings with a joke. +</P> + +<P> +"Hallo, mister! how much starch d'you put on your weskit?" +</P> + +<P> +"That much!" answered Raymond, snappishly, and leaning outwards in +passing he dealt the speaker a sharp cut with his cane. +</P> + +<P> +"Yah! Thatches!" cried the boy, and every time the whirligig brought +his assailant into view the shout was repeated. +</P> + +<P> +In the year of grace 1877 some traces still remained of an ancient feud +between the school and the boys of the town. The name "Thatches" had +been invented by the latter on account of the peculiar pattern of straw +hat worn by their adversaries; while the answering taunt always used in +those warlike times was, "Hey, Johnny, where's your apron?" a remark +which greatly incensed the small sons of toil, who usually wore this +garment. +</P> + +<P> +"What have you been doing to those chaps?" asked Jack, as the horses +slowed down and the yell was repeated. +</P> + +<P> +"One of them cheeked me, and I hit him with my stick." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we'd better slip away as soon as this thing stops; we don't want +to have a row with them here." +</P> + +<P> +Unfortunately for the three boys, their steeds stopped just opposite +the hostile group. Jack pushed through them with an expression of +lofty contempt, an example followed by Rosher; but Raymond was stupidly +led into a further exchange of incivilities. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't you give me any more of your confounded impudence, you miserable +little cads, or I'll give you another taste of this stick." +</P> + +<P> +The "cads" answered with a shout of derisive laughter, and a few more +straggling clansmen joining the band, they followed after the three +friends, keeping at a safe distance, and repeating their cries of "Yah! +Thatches! Hit one yer own size!" and other remarks of a similar nature. +</P> + +<P> +"We can't go on like this," said Jack. "They'll follow us all round +the fair. Shall we charge the beggars?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," answered Raymond. "Let's go into the circus, and that'll put +them off the track. You fellows pay, and I'll owe it you; I don't want +to change my sovereign here." +</P> + +<P> +Rosher paid for three shilling seats, and the trio entered the big +circular tent, thus for the time being effectually escaping from the +pursuing band of unfriendly natives. +</P> + +<P> +The performance had just commenced, and though the display was by no +means brilliant, yet the boys enjoyed it, and soon forgot the existence +of everything except clowns, acrobats, and trained horses. +</P> + +<P> +"<I>I say</I>!" exclaimed Rosher suddenly, "d'you know what the time is? +It's close on nine o'clock!" +</P> + +<P> +"By jingo!" answered Jack, "we must do a bolt." +</P> + +<P> +"No, don't go," interposed Raymond; "you can't get back in time now, so +you may as well stay and see the end. If you'll come round by my +lodgings, I'll get my guv'nor to write a letter of excuse." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't want any more of your letters," murmured Jack, "it's too +risky. We'd better hook it." +</P> + +<P> +"No, stay; you can't get back in time now, so what's the good of losing +part of the performance?" +</P> + +<P> +After some further discussion, Jack and Rosher decided to remain, and +so kept their seats until the end of the performance. It was quite +dark when they emerged from the tent, and every part of the fair was +lit up with flaring paraffin lamps. They had not gone very far when, +as ill-luck would have it, a shrill cry of "Hallo! Thatches!" showed +that they had been sighted by some small scout of the enemy. +</P> + +<P> +"I've got some coppers left," said Rosher; "let's have a shot at the +cocoa-nuts." +</P> + +<P> +They stopped opposite a pitch, and began bowling at the fruit. The +first two or three shies were unsuccessful; then Jack knocked down a +nut. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not going to let you beat me!" cried Rosher. "Here; mister, give +me some more balls." +</P> + +<P> +A fresh group of town boys were hovering about in the rear, their +number being now augmented by one or two of a larger size. +</P> + +<P> +"Yah! Thatch! you can't hit 'em! Come 'ere and let's see that stick +you was talking about." +</P> + +<P> +"I say," whispered Raymond to his cousin, "wouldn't it be a lark to +pretend to make a good shot, and knock that lamp over." He pointed as +he spoke to one of the flaring oil lamps which, fastened to a stake a +few feet above the ground, illuminated the line of nuts. +</P> + +<P> +"No, don't do it," answered Jack; but the warning came too late. +Raymond threw with all his might, and, as ill-luck would have it, the +aim was only too true; the heavy wooden ball hit the lamp a sounding +whack, dashed it from its stand, and the next moment the canvas screen +at the back of the pitch against which it fell was all in a blaze. +</P> + +<P> +In an instant all was confusion. Quick as thought Raymond turned, and +slipped away between the wheels of a caravan which stood close by. The +proprietor of the pitch sprang forward and seized Jack by the coat. +</P> + +<P> +"'Ere, you did that," he cried, "and you did it a purpose." +</P> + +<P> +The crowd of juvenile roughs closed in behind. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, 'e did it," they cried; "'e's the man." +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't do it," retorted the boy. "Leave go!" +</P> + +<P> +Rosher leaned forward, and giving his friend a nudge, uttered the one +word,— +</P> + +<P> +"<I>Bolt</I>!" +</P> + +<P> +Jack's blood was up. He wrenched himself free of the man's grasp, and +plunged into the little crowd of riff-raff, striking heavy blows to +right and left. Rosher did the same; and the enemy, who were nothing +but a pack of barking curs, went down like ninepins, falling over one +another in their efforts to escape. +</P> + +<P> +The two fugitives rushed on, stumbling over tent-ropes and dodging +round the booths and stalls, until they came to the outskirts of the +fair. Then they paused to take breath and consider what was to be done +next. The glare of the burning canvas and a noise of distant shouting, +which could be clearly distinguished above the other babel of sounds, +showed the quarter from which they had come. +</P> + +<P> +"Where's Raymond?" cried Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," answered Rosher; "we can't wait here, or we shall be +collared." +</P> + +<P> +"Didn't you see what became of him? I don't like the thought of +leaving the fellow—" +</P> + +<P> +The sentence was never finished; for at that moment two men suddenly +appeared from behind a neighbouring stall. One was arrayed in a blue +uniform with bright buttons, and his companion was at once recognized +by the boys as being the proprietor of the cocoa-nut pitch. +</P> + +<P> +"Here they are!" shouted the latter, catching hold of the policeman's +arm; "now we've got 'em!" +</P> + +<A NAME="img-151"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-151.jpg" ALT=""'Here they are! now we've got them!'"" BORDER="2" WIDTH="372" HEIGHT="530"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 372px"> +"'Here they are! now we've got them!'" +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +Quick as thought the two schoolfellows turned and dashed off at the top +of their speed. Beyond the outskirts of the fair all lay in darkness; +a high hedge loomed in front of them. Jack scrambled up the bank, +crashed through the thorn bushes, and fell heavily to the ground on the +other side. In an instant he had regained his feet, and was running +for his life with Rosher by his side. In this manner they crossed +three fields, stumbling over uneven places in the ground, scratching +their hands, and tearing their clothes in the hedges, and at length +landed nearly up to their knees in a ditch half-full of mud and water. +</P> + +<P> +"It's no good, Fenleigh, I can't go any further. I'm completely +pumped." +</P> + +<P> +Struggling on to a bit of rising ground, the fugitives halted and +turned round to listen. The glare of light and noise of the fair had +been left some distance behind them, and there were no sounds of +pursuit. The night was very dark, and everything in their immediate +neighbourhood was quiet and still. +</P> + +<P> +"We must get to the town some other way," said Jack. "Doesn't the road +to Hornalby pass somewhere here on the right?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," answered Rosher; "we ought to strike some road or other +if we keep going in that direction." +</P> + +<P> +The boys continued their flight, varying their walk by occasionally +breaking into a jog-trot. At length they found themselves in a narrow +lane; but after wandering down it for nearly half a mile, their further +progress was barred by the appearance of a private gate. +</P> + +<P> +"Botheration!" cried Jack, "we've come wrong; this leads to some farm. +We shall never get home at this rate." +</P> + +<P> +Retracing their steps the way they had come, the two unfortunate +adventurers at length found themselves on the Hornalby road; but when +they reached Melchester, and were hurrying down the side street past +"Duster's" shop, the cathedral clock struck half-past eleven. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, my!" said Rosher; "how shall we get in? Everybody will be in bed. +We shall have to knock up old Mullins at the lodge." +</P> + +<P> +"No fear," answered Jack. "We must get into Westford's garden, and +from there into the quad; then we'll try some of the windows." +</P> + +<P> +The plan was carried out, and a few moments later the two boys were +standing in the dark and deserted playground. Jack made a circuit of +the buildings on tiptoe, and then returned to his companion. +</P> + +<P> +"All the classroom windows are fast," he said, "but there's one on the +first landing belonging to the bathroom that's open. What we must do +is this. Under the bench in the workshop is that ladder thing that +Preston and I made last year. We must fetch it, and you must hold it +while I get up to the window. Then you must put the ladder back, and +I'll creep down and let you in at the side door. The workshop's +locked, but luckily I've got the key in my pocket!" +</P> + +<P> +The scheme was successful, and ten minutes later the two wanderers were +creeping up the main staircase. Rosher had a private bedroom; and +Jack, moving softly, and undressing in the dark, managed to get into +bed without awakening any of the other boys in his dormitory. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +"—INTO THE FIRE." +</H4> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +"One of the little boys took up the tin soldier and threw him into the +stove."—<I>The Brave Tin Soldier</I>. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Hallo, Fenleigh! You were back precious late last night," said +Walker, the Sixth Form boy in charge of the dormitory. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered the other carelessly. "I had leave to go out to tea." +</P> + +<P> +The reply seemed to satisfy Walker; but there was one person in the +room to whom Jack knew he would have to make a full confession. While +dressing he avoided Valentine's questioning glances, but after +breakfast he was forced to give his cousin a full account of all that +had happened. A dark frown settled on the latter's face as he listened +to the recital, which he several times interrupted with impatient +ejaculations. +</P> + +<P> +"I knew you'd be in a wax with me," concluded Jack, with an air of +defiance; "but it can't be helped now. You'll never make a saint of +me, Val, old chap, so don't let's quarrel." +</P> + +<P> +"It's not you that I'm angry with," answered Valentine wrathfully, +"it's that beast of a Raymond. It's just his way to get other people +into a mess, and leave them to get out of it as best they can. I +suppose he never paid up his share of the money you spent?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not he. Never mind, we got out of the bother a lot better than I +expected." +</P> + +<P> +Valentine shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope to goodness you won't be found out," he said anxiously. "If +you are, you'll stand a jolly good chance of being expelled." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we're safe enough. Don't you fret," answered Jack +lightly.—"Hallo, Tinkleby, what's up with you?" +</P> + +<P> +The president of the Fifth Form Literary Society was striding across +the gravel, fingering his nippers, as he always did when excited. +</P> + +<P> +"Haven't you heard?" he answered. "Some one's in for a thundering row, +I can tell you." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, what do you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Mullins says that some man from the fair came this morning, and +wanted to see the headmaster. He says one of our fellows was up there +last night, kicking up a fine shindy, and set his show on fire; and he +means to find out who it is, and summon him for damages. Mullins told +him he'd better call again later on, as Westford was at breakfast. My +eye! I pity the chap who did it, if it's true, and he's collared." +</P> + +<P> +The clang of the school bell ended the conversation, and Tinkleby +rushed off to impart his news to other classmates. +</P> + +<P> +The distressed look on Valentine's face deepened, but he said nothing. +</P> + +<P> +"Pooh!" exclaimed Jack, sticking his hands in his pockets, and making +the gravel fly with a vicious kick. "Let him come and say what he +likes. What do I care?" +</P> + +<P> +The school had reassembled after the usual interval, and the Sixth Form +were sitting in their classroom waiting for the arrival of the +headmaster. A quarter of an hour passed, and still he did not arrive. +At length the door opened, and Mullins poked his head inside. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Westford wants to see all those gentlemen who are in charge of the +different dormitories—now, at once, in his study." +</P> + +<P> +A murmur of surprise followed the announcement, as the boys indicated +rose to their feet and prepared to obey the summons. On entering the +study they found a shabby-looking man standing just inside the door, +who eyed them all narrowly as they came in. The headmaster sat at his +writing-table looking stern and troubled. The twelve prefects arranged +themselves in a semicircle, and stood silently waiting and wondering +what could have happened. +</P> + +<P> +"You say this took place about a quarter past ten?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," answered the man, twirling his hat with his fingers. "As +near as I can say, it must have been about a quarter a'ter ten." +</P> + +<P> +"I have sent for you," continued Mr. Westford, turning to the group of +senior scholars, "to know if any of the boys were absent from any of +the dormitories at the usual bed-time." +</P> + +<P> +"One was absent from Number Five, sir," said Walker. +</P> + +<P> +"Who?" +</P> + +<P> +"Fenleigh J., sir." +</P> + +<P> +"Why didn't you report him? What time did he return?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know, sir. I was asleep when he came back. He said he'd had +leave to go out to tea." +</P> + +<P> +"Was any one else absent from any of the rooms? Very well. You may +go. Redbrook, send Fenleigh J. to me at once." +</P> + +<P> +A minute or so later the culprit entered the room. +</P> + +<P> +"That's the young feller I want!" exclaimed the stranger. "I could +tell him anywheres in a moment." +</P> + +<P> +"Fenleigh, were you at the fair last night?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"What were you doing there? You know my orders?" +</P> + +<P> +The boy was silent. +</P> + +<P> +"I can tell you what he was doing," interrupted the man. "He knocked +over one of my lamps and set my screen afire; and a'ter that he started +fightin', and I was obliged to fetch a p'liceman. But there was two of +'em, this one and another." +</P> + +<P> +"Did this really happen, Fenleigh?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"Who else was with you?" +</P> + +<P> +"My cousin, Raymond Fosberton. It was he who knocked over the lamp." +</P> + +<P> +"That's a lie!" interrupted the man. "It was you done it. I seed you +with my own eyes." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't think I need detain you any longer," said Mr. Westford, +turning to the owner of the cocoa-nuts. "I need hardly say I regret +that one of my scholars should be capable of such conduct. I shall +make some further inquiries, and if you will call again this evening, +whatever damage has been done shall be made good." +</P> + +<P> +The man knuckled his forehead and withdrew. Jack was left alone with +his judge, and felt that the case was ended. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, sir," said the latter, in a cold, rasping tone, "you have +succeeded in bringing public disgrace on the school, and I hope you are +satisfied. Go to the little music-room, and remain there for the +present." +</P> + +<P> +There was something ominous in the brevity of this reprimand. No +punishment had been mentioned, but in the school traditions the little +music-room was looked upon as a sort of condemned cell. Every one knew +the subsequent fate of boys who had been sent there on previous +occasions; and in a short time the news was in everybody's mouth that +Fenleigh J. was going to be expelled. It was a grave offence to hold +any communication with a person undergoing solitary confinement, yet, +before Jack had been very long a prisoner, a pebble hit the window, and +looking out he saw Rosher. +</P> + +<P> +"I say," began the latter dolefully, "I'm awfully sorry you've been +found out. If you like, I'll go and tell Westford I was with you." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course you won't. What's the good?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I thought perhaps you'd think I was a sneak if I didn't. I'm +afraid you'll get the sack," continued Rosher sadly. "It was awfully +good of you, Fenleigh, not to split; you always were a brick. I say, +we were rather chummy when you first came, if you remember; and then we +had a bit of a row. I suppose it don't matter now. If you like, I'll +write you when you get home." +</P> + +<P> +It was something, at such an hour, to have the sympathy and friendship +even of a scapegrace like Rosher. The prisoner said "it didn't +matter," and so they parted. +</P> + +<P> +For some time Jack wandered round the little room, swinging the blind +cords, and trifling with the broken-down metronome on the mantelpiece. +It was this very instrument that had been upset when he sent Rosher +sprawling into the fireplace; and yet, here was the same fellow talking +about keeping up a correspondence. A litter of torn music lay on the +top of the piano; among it a tattered hymn-book. Jack turned over the +pages until he came to "Hark, hark, my soul!" and then, sitting down, +played the air through several times with one finger. It was a tune +that had been popular on Sunday evenings at Brenlands, and the children +had always called it Queen Mab's hymn. +</P> + +<P> +Jack shut the book with a bang. In less than a fortnight's time he +ought to have been with her again, and what would she think of him now? +</P> + +<HR ALIGN="center" WIDTH="60%"> + +<P> +Dinner was over in the big hall, and most of the boys had started for +the playing-field. Mr. Ward sat correcting exercises in the deserted +Fifth Form classroom, when there was a knock at the door, and Valentine +entered. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Fenleigh," said the master kindly, "what do you want?" +</P> + +<P> +"I came to speak to you, sir, about my cousin Jack. Don't you think +there's any chance of getting Mr. Westford to let him off?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid there isn't. I don't see what excuse can be offered for +your cousin's conduct." +</P> + +<P> +"But there is an excuse, sir," persisted Valentine, his love of honour +and justice causing the blood to mount to his cheeks at the +recollection of Raymond Fosberton's share in the adventure. "It was +not all Jack's fault, and it'll be an awful shame if he's expelled." +</P> + +<P> +Had it been another fellow, Mr. Ward might have pooh-poohed the +objection, and sent the speaker about his business; for, it being +nearly the end of the term, the master had plenty of work to occupy his +attention. He was not given to making favourites among his pupils, but +Valentine was a boy who had won his respect; and so he laid down his +pen to continue the conversation. +</P> + +<P> +"I still fail to see what can be said on your cousin's behalf. If it +was not his fault, who then is to blame?" +</P> + +<P> +Valentine hastily recounted all that had happened on the previous +afternoon. He did not hesitate to give a true account of the bogus +invitation, and repeated all that Jack had told him as to what had +taken place at the fair. Mr. Ward listened patiently till he had heard +the whole of the story. +</P> + +<P> +"There certainly is something in what you say," he remarked. "But the +fact remains that your cousin went to the fair in defiance of the +school rules. There was no reason at all why he should have gone. You +say you came back; then why couldn't he have done the same?" +</P> + +<P> +"If I'd thought that my staying away would have made it any the worse +for him, I'd have gone to the fair myself," said Valentine desperately. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Ward smiled. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what do you want me to do?" he asked. "I don't see that I can +be of much service to you in the matter. The only thing I can advise +you to do is to go to Mr. Westford, and tell him exactly what you have +told me." +</P> + +<P> +"I thought perhaps you might say a word for him too, sir," pleaded the +boy. "He's been behaving a lot better lately than he used to do." +</P> + +<P> +"There certainly was some room for improvement," returned the master, +laughing. "Well, if you like to come to me again just before school, +I'll go with you and speak to Mr. Westford." +</P> + +<P> +The long summer afternoon dragged slowly away. Mullins brought Jack +his dinner; and after that had been consumed, he sought to while away +the hours of captivity by reading a tattered text-book on harmony, and +strumming tunes with one finger on the piano. He wondered whether he +would be sent away that evening or the following morning. +</P> + +<P> +At length, just before the second tea-bell rang, the school porter once +more appeared, this time to inform the prisoner that the headmaster +wished to see him in his study. Mr. Westford sat at his table writing +a letter, and received his visitor in grim silence. +</P> + +<P> +"I've sent for you, sir," he said at length, "to tell you that I have +been given to understand that you were not altogether to blame for what +happened yesterday. There is, however, no excuse for your having set +me at defiance by breaking the strict rule I laid down that no boy was +to attend the fair. As I have already said, I believe you are not +solely responsible for the disgraceful behaviour of which I received a +complaint this morning. I shall not, therefore, expel you at once, as +I at first intended, but I am writing to your father to inform him that +your conduct is so far from satisfactory that I must ask him to remove +you at the end of the present term. Until then, remember you are not +to go beyond the gates without my permission." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I've got off better than I expected," said Jack, as he walked up +and down the quadrangle, talking matters over with his cousin. "It was +jolly good of you, Val, to go and speak up for me to the old man. Ward +told me all about it. If it hadn't been for that, I should have been +expelled at once. You've always been a good friend to me ever since I +came here." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sorry to think you're going at all," returned the other. "I can't +help feeling awfully mad with Raymond." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered Jack, "it wasn't all my fault; but there, it's just my +luck. The guv'nor'll be in a fine wax; but I don't care. Only one +thing I'm sorry for, and that is that this'll be my last holidays at +Brenlands." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +A ROBBERY AT BRENLANDS. +</H4> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +"So at last he ran away, frightening the little birds in the hedge as +he flew over the palings. 'They are afraid of me, because I am so +ugly,' he said. So he closed his eyes, and flew still further."—<I>The +Ugly Duckling</I>. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Whatever changes and alterations might take place in the outside world, +Brenlands seemed always to remain the same. Coming there again and +again for their August holidays, the children grew to think of it as a +place blessed with eternal summer, where the flowers and green leaves +never faded from one year's end to another, and such a thing as a cold, +foggy winter day, with the moisture dripping from the trees, and the +slush of slowly melting snow upon the ground, was a thing which could +never have been possible, even in the memory of the oldest inhabitant. +Better still, the welcome which greeted them on their arrival was +always as warm as on previous occasions, and never fell one single +degree during the whole of the visit. +</P> + +<P> +In spite of all this, on that glad day when Queen Mab's court gathered +once more round her cosy tea-table, Jack was not in his usual spirits, +but appeared silent and depressed. The result of Mr. Westford's letter +to his father had been a reply to the effect that, as he seemed +determined to waste his opportunities at school, it would be decidedly +the best thing for him to come home and find some more profitable +employment for his time. +</P> + +<P> +When tea was over he strolled out into the garden, and wandered moodily +up and down the trim, box-bordered paths. To realize that one has done +with school life for ever, that the book, as it were, is closed, and +the familiar pages only to be turned again in memory, is enough to make +any boy thoughtful; but it was not this exactly that weighed upon +Jack's mind. He had grown to love Queen Mab and his cousins; the +thought of being different from them became distasteful; and he had +entertained some vague notion of turning over a new leaf, and becoming +a respectable member of society. Now all his half-formed resolutions +had come to the ground like a house of cards, and he was ending up +worse than he had begun. +</P> + +<P> +He was standing staring gloomily at the particular pear-tree which +marked the scene of his and Valentine's first encounter with Joe +Crouch, when his aunt came out and joined him. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Jack, and so you've left school for good?" +</P> + +<P> +She made no mention of the Melchester fair incident, though Jack +himself had sent her all particulars. He wished she would lecture him, +for somehow her forbearance in not referring to the subject was worse +than a dozen reproofs. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, aunt, they've thrown me out at last!" +</P> + +<P> +"It will be dreadful when both of you have left Melchester. Valentine +tells me that next Easter he expects to be going on to an army coach, +to prepare for Sandhurst." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I know," answered Jack, petulantly. "I'm always telling him what +a lucky dog he is. I wish I had half his chances, and was going into +the army, instead of back to that miserable Padbury." +</P> + +<P> +"What does your father mean you to do?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, he's got some scheme of sending me into the office of some metal +works there. He says it's about all I'm good for, and he hasn't any +money to put me in the way of learning a profession. But," added the +boy impatiently, "he knows I hate the idea of grubbing away at a desk +all day. I want to be a soldier." +</P> + +<P> +"I know you do, and I believe you'd make a good one; but, after all, it +would be a sad thing if every one devoted themselves to learning to +fight. Besides, we can't afford to let all our gallants go to the +wars; we want some to stay behind and do brave things in their daily +life at home." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm not going to rust all my life in an office," answered Jack +doggedly. "Rather than do that, I'll go off somewhere and enlist." +</P> + +<P> +Queen Mab looked down and smiled. They were walking together arm in +arm, and he was fumbling with the little bunch of trinkets on her watch +chain. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you recollect who gave me that little silver locket?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," he answered, with a pouting smile. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then, please to remember that you are always going to be my own +boy, and so don't talk any more about such things as running away and +enlisting." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but what am I to do? Look at the difference between my chances +and Val's." +</P> + +<P> +"I think that a man's success often depends more on himself, and less +on circumstances, than you imagine," she answered. "'To be born in a +duck's nest, in a farmyard, is of no consequence to a bird if it is +hatched from a swan's egg.' That's what the story says that I used to +tell the children." +</P> + +<P> +Jack laughed, and shook his head. He was far from being convinced of +the truth of this statement. +</P> + +<P> +A few mornings later the usual harmony of the breakfast-table was +disturbed by the arrival of a letter from Raymond Fosberton. +</P> + +<P> +"He writes," said Miss Fenleigh, "to say that his father and mother are +going away on a visit, and so he wants to come here for a few days." +</P> + +<P> +The announcement was received with a chorus of groans. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder he has the cheek to come, after the way he treated us at +Melchester," said Valentine; "I never wish to see him again." +</P> + +<P> +Raymond did come, however, and instead of being at all abashed at the +recollection of the termination of his tea-party, he was, if anything, +more uppish than ever. It was only natural that he should make some +reference to their adventure at the fair, and this he did by blaming +Jack for not having made good his escape. +</P> + +<P> +"Why didn't you run for it sooner, you duffer? You stood still there +like a stuffed monkey, and wouldn't move till the man collared you." +</P> + +<P> +"And you ran so far and so fast," retorted Jack, "that you couldn't get +back to own up it was your doing, and save me from being expelled." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, go on! it isn't so bad as that," answered Raymond airily. "You +ought to be jolly glad you're going to get out of that place. It's no +good quarrelling over spilt milk.—Look here, will either of you do a +chap a friendly turn? Can you lend me some money? I want a pound or +two rather badly. Of course, I'd have got it from home, only the +guv'nor's away." +</P> + +<P> +Jack and Valentine shook their heads. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I wish you could," continued the other. "I'd give you a +shilling in the pound interest, and pay you back for certain at the end +of next month." +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder how it is," said Jack to Valentine that evening as they were +undressing, "that Raymond's always wanting money, and never seems to +have any. His people are rich enough, and I should think they make him +a good allowance." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course they do," answered Valentine, "but he throws it away +somehow; and he's the most selfish fellow in the world, and never +spends a halfpenny on any one but himself." +</P> + +<P> +Raymond was certainly no great addition to the party at Brenlands. His +manners, one could well imagine, resembled those of the ferocious +animal in the Fosberton crest, which capered on a sugar-stick with its +tongue stuck out of its mouth, as though it were making faces at the +world in general. He monopolized the conversation at table, voted +croquet a bore, and spent most of his time lying under a tree smoking +and reading a novel. He fell foul of Joe Crouch (who still came to do +odd jobs in the garden) over some trifling matter, calling him an +impudent blockhead, and telling Miss Fenleigh in a lofty manner that +"he would never allow such a cheeky beggar to be hanging about the +premises at Grenford." +</P> + +<P> +"I am sick of the fellow," said Valentine to Helen that same evening. +"I wish he wouldn't come here during the holidays; it spoils the whole +thing." +</P> + +<P> +On the following day Raymond was destined to give his cousins still +more reason for wishing that he had not favoured Brenlands with a +visit. At dinner he was full of a project for borrowing a gun, and +having some target practice in the garden. +</P> + +<P> +"I know a man living not far away who's got a nice, little, +single-barrelled muzzle-loader. We might borrow it, and make some +bullets, then stick up a piece of board against that hedge at the end +of the long path, and have a regular shooting match." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't want any guns here!" said Queen Mab. "I should be afraid +that one of you might get hurt. You'd far better stick to your +croquet." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," added Valentine. "It would be precious risky work firing +bullets about in this garden with a muzzle-loader." +</P> + +<P> +"Pooh! you're a nice chap to think of being a soldier, if you're afraid +of letting off a gun!" +</P> + +<P> +"Val knows a lot more about guns than you do," broke in Jack. "I +suppose you think a thorn hedge and a bit of board would stop a bullet, +you duffer!" +</P> + +<P> +Raymond lost his temper, and the discussion was carried on in a manner +which was more spirited than polite. +</P> + +<P> +"Come, come," interposed Queen Mab, "I think we might change the +subject. I'm sure Raymond won't want to borrow the gun if he knows it +would make me nervous." +</P> + +<P> +The meal was finished in silence. Anything so near a quarrel had never +been known before at Brenlands, and proved very disturbing in what was +usually such a peaceful atmosphere. +</P> + +<P> +Jack sauntered out into the garden in no very tranquil frame of mind. +Joe Crouch was there, weeding. They had always been good friends ever +since the pear incident, and something in Jack's mode of action on that +occasion seemed to have gained for him an abiding corner in Crouch's +respect and affections. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Joe, what's the news?" +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing particular that I knows of, sir, but there—there was +somethin' I had to tell you; somethin' about this 'ere young bloke who +comes orderin' every one around, as if the place was his own." +</P> + +<P> +"What's that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, I'll tell you," continued Crouch, lowering his voice in a +significant manner. "You remember, sir, you was askin' me this time +last year about a man called Hanks, who'd come up to you wantin' money, +and you didn't know 'ow he'd got to know you. Well, he's in jail now +for stealing fowls; but I seen him a month or so back, and got to know +all about the whole business." +</P> + +<P> +The speaker paused to increase the interest of his story. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what was it?" +</P> + +<P> +"D'you remember, sir, about two years agone you and Master Valentine +and the young ladies went up the river to a place called Starncliff? +Well, Hanks said he saw you there, and that you set some one's rick +afire. He wasn't sure which of you done it, but he had a word with +Master Fosberton as you was comin' 'ome, and he told him it was you two +had been smokin', but that you were his cousins, and he didn't want to +get you into a row; so he said he'd give Hanks five shillings to hold +his tongue, and promised he'd speak to you, and between you you'd make +it up to something more, and that's why Hanks was always botherin' of +you for money." +</P> + +<P> +Jack's wrath, which had been quickly rising to boiling point during the +recital of this narrative, now fairly bubbled over. +</P> + +<P> +"What a lie!" he exclaimed. "What a mean cad the fellow is! Why, he +set the rick on fire himself!" +</P> + +<P> +"I just thought as much," said Joe. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and that's not all. He knew we got into a row at school through +the man talking to us; and then last summer, when the man was drunk, +and met us in the road, he pretended he couldn't tell how it was the +fellow knew our names!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, 'ere he is," interrupted Joe Crouch; "and if I was you, I'd just +give him a bit of my mind!" +</P> + +<P> +Raymond came sauntering across the lawn. +</P> + +<P> +"I say," he exclaimed, "what a place this is! Fancy not being allowed +to let off a gun. It's just what you might have expected from an old +maid like Aunt Mabel, but I should have thought Valentine would have +had more pluck. A fine sort of soldier he'll make—the milksop!" +</P> + +<P> +Raymond Fosberton had for some time been running up an account in his +cousin's bad books. This speech was the final entry, and caused Jack +to demand an immediate settlement. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here," he began, trembling with indignation, "don't you speak +like that to me about Aunt Mab or Valentine, He's got a jolly sight +more pluck than you have, you coward! If you want to begin calling +names, I'll tell you yours—you're a liar and a sneak!" +</P> + +<P> +"What d'you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"I mean what I say. I know all your little game, and it's no good your +trying to keep it dark any longer. You told Hanks that Val and I had +set that rick on fire, and so got us into a row through the man's +speaking to us at Melchester. And last year, when we met him, you made +out you didn't know why he should be always pestering us for money." +</P> + +<P> +Raymond's face turned pale, but he made no attempt to deny the +accusation. +</P> + +<P> +"That was one of your cowardly tricks. Another was when you ran away +after knocking that lamp over at the fair, the other day, and left +Rosher and me to get out of the bother as best we could. That was what +practically got me thrown out of the school. For two pins I'd punch +your head, you miserable tailor's dummy!" +</P> + +<P> +It was hardly likely that a fashionable young man like Master Raymond +Fosberton would stand such language from a school-boy two years his +junior. +</P> + +<P> +"I should like to see you!" he remarked. "Two can play at that game." +</P> + +<P> +The speaker did not know the person he was addressing; in another +moment his request was granted. Jack came at him like a tiger, put all +the force of his outraged feelings into a heavy right and left, and +Raymond Fosberton disappeared with a great crash into a laurel bush. +</P> + +<P> +Joe Crouch rose from his knees with a joyful exclamation, wiping his +hands on his apron. "I should have liked to have had a cut in myself," +he afterwards remarked, "but Master Jack he managed it all splendid!" +</P> + +<P> +Whatever Joseph's wishes may have been, he had no opportunity of taking +part in the proceedings; for, before the contest could be renewed, +Helen rushed across the lawn and caught Jack by the arm. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't fight!" she cried breathlessly. "What is the matter?" +</P> + +<P> +"Ask him!" answered Jack shortly, nodding with his fists still +clenched, in the direction of Fosberton, who was in the act of emerging +from the depths of the laurel bush. "Ask him, he knows." +</P> + +<P> +"He called me a liar!" answered Fosberton; "and then rushed up and hit +me when I was unprepared, the cad!" +</P> + +<P> +This assertion very nearly brought on a renewal of the contest, but the +speaker knew that Helen's presence would prevent any more blows being +struck. Jack watched his adversary with a look of contempt, as the +latter wiped the blood from his cut lip. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I said you were a liar and a coward." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, hush!" said the girl, laying her hand on her cousin's mouth. +"Don't quarrel any longer; it's dreadful here, at Brenlands! What +would Aunt Mabel say if she knew you'd been fighting? Come away, Jack, +and don't say any more." +</P> + +<P> +The boy would have liked to stay behind for another private interview +with Raymond, but for Helen's sake he turned on his heel and followed +her into the house. +</P> + +<P> +"All right, my boy," muttered Raymond, looking after the retreating +figures with a savage scowl on his face, "I'll be even with you some +day, if ever I get the chance." +</P> + +<P> +There was a great lack of the usual mirth and gaiety at the tea-table +that evening. Every one knew what had happened, and in their anxiety +to avoid any reference to the painful subject conversation flagged, and +even Queen Mab's attempts to enliven the assembly for once proved a +failure. Neither of the boys would have been at all shocked at seeing +a row settled by an exchange of blows, had the dispute taken place at +school; but here, at Brenlands, it seemed a different matter—bad blood +and rough language were out of keeping with the place, and the punching +of heads seemed a positive crime. +</P> + +<P> +To make matters worse, the day ended with a thunderstorm, and the +evening had to be spent indoors. Raymond was in a sulk, and refused to +join in any of the parlour games which were usually resorted to in wet +weather. +</P> + +<P> +"Aunt Mab, I wish you'd show us some of your treasures," said Barbara. +She was kneeling upon a chair in front of a funny little semicircular +cupboard with a glass door, let into the panelling of the wall, and +filled with china, little Indian figures, and all kinds of other odds +and ends. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, dear, I will," answered Miss Fenleigh, glad to think of +some way of amusing her guests. "Run up and fetch the bunch of keys +out of the middle drawer in my dressing-table." +</P> + +<P> +The young people gathered round, and the contents of the cupboard were +handed from one to another for examination. The curiosities were many +and various. The girls were chiefly taken with the china; while what +most appealed to Jack and Valentine was a small Moorish dagger. They +carefully examined the blade for any traces of bloodstains, and trying +the point against their necks, speculated as to what it must feel like +to be "stuck." +</P> + +<P> +"And what's that?" asked Barbara, pointing to a little, square leather +case on the bottom shelf. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! that's the thing I value more than anything else," answered Queen +Mab. "There!" she continued, opening the box and displaying a large, +handsome gold watch. "That was given to your grandfather by the +passengers on his ship at the end of one of his voyages to Australia. +They met with dreadful weather, and I know I've heard him say that for +two days and nights, when the storm was at its height, he never left +the deck. You boys ought to be proud to remember it. There, +Valentine, read the inscription." +</P> + +<P> +The boy read the words engraved on the inside of the case:— +</P> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +Presented to<BR> +CAPTAIN JOHN FENLEIGH,<BR> +OF THE "EVELINA" STEAMSHIP,<BR> +</H4> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +As a small acknowledgment of the skill and ability displayed by him<BR> +under circumstances of exceptional difficulty and danger.<BR> +</H5> + +<BR> + +<P> +"My father has a gold watch that was given to him when he retired from +business," said Raymond; "it's bigger than that, and has got our crest +on the back. By-the-bye," he continued, "aren't you afraid of having +it stolen? I shouldn't keep it in that cupboard, it I were you. You +are certain to get it stolen some day." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we don't have any thieves at Brenlands," answered his aunt, +smiling. +</P> + +<P> +"I've a jolly good mind to steal it myself," said Jack; "or it you +like, aunt, I'll exchange." +</P> + +<P> +Jack's watch was always a standing joke against him, and, as he drew it +out, the bystanders laughed. It was something like the timepiece by +which, when the hands were at 9.30 and the bell struck three, one might +know it was twelve o'clock. The silver case was dented and scratched; +the long hand was twisted; the works, from having been taken to pieces +and hurriedly put together again in class, were decidedly out of order; +in fact, Jack was not quite certain if, when cleaning it on one +occasion, he had not lost one of the wheels. +</P> + +<P> +Queen Mab laughed and shook her head. "No, thank you," she said. "I +think I should prefer to keep mine for the present, though one of you +shall have it some day." +</P> + +<P> +Raymond always came down to breakfast long after the others had +finished. The next morning there was a letter waiting for him which +had been readdressed on from Melchester. He was still in a sulk, and +the contents of the epistle did not seem to improve his temper. He +devoured his food in silence, and then went off by himself to smoke at +the bottom of the garden. +</P> + +<P> +"He is a surly animal," said Valentine. "I wish he had never come." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, he's going to-morrow evening," answered Helen, "and I suppose we +must make the best of him till then." +</P> + +<P> +During the remainder of the day Raymond kept to himself, and though, +after tea, he condescended to take part in some of the usual indoor +games, he did it in so ungracious a manner as to spoil the pleasure of +the other players. +</P> + +<P> +Somehow the last day or so did not seem at all like the usual happy +times at Brenlands. There was a screw loose somewhere, and every one +was not quite so merry and good-tempered as usual. +</P> + +<P> +"Bother it! wet again!" said Barbara, pushing back her chair from the +breakfast-table with a frown and a pout. +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind," answered her aunt. "Rain before seven, fine before +eleven." +</P> + +<P> +Barbara did not believe in proverbs. She wandered restlessly round the +room, inquiring what was the good of rain in August, and expressing her +discontent with things in general. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I say," she exclaimed suddenly, halting in front of the little +glass door of the cupboard, "what do you think has happened? That dear +little china man with the guitar has tumbled over and broken his head +off!" +</P> + +<P> +Helen and the boys crowded round to look. It was certainly the +case—the little china figure lay over on its side, broken in the +manner already described. +</P> + +<P> +"Who can have done it?" +</P> + +<P> +"I expect I must have upset it the other evening when I was showing you +the things," answered Miss Fenleigh. "Never mind, I think I can mend +it. Go and fetch my keys, Bar, and we'll see just what's the matter +with the little gentleman." +</P> + +<P> +"This is funny," she continued, a few minutes later, "the key won't +turn. Dear me! what a silly I am! why, the door isn't locked after +all." +</P> + +<P> +The little image was taken out, and while it was being examined Barbara +picked up the little leather case on which it usually stood. In +another moment she gave vent to an ejaculation of surprise which +startled the remainder of the company, and made them immediately forget +all about the china troubadour. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, aunt, where's the watch?" +</P> + +<P> +Every one looked. It was true enough—the case was empty, and the +watch gone. For a moment there was a dead silence, the company being +too much astonished to speak. +</P> + +<P> +"Stolen!" exclaimed Raymond. "I said it would be some day." +</P> + +<P> +"But when was it taken?—Who could have done it?—Where did they get +in?—How did they know about it?" +</P> + +<P> +These and other questions followed each other in rapid succession. A +robbery at Brenlands! The thing seemed impossible; and yet here was +the empty case to prove it. The watch had disappeared, and no one had +the slightest notion what could have become of it. +</P> + +<P> +"There's something in this lock," said Valentine, who had been peering +into the keyhole. "Lend me your crochet needle, Helen, and I'll get it +out." +</P> + +<P> +With some little difficulty the obstacle was removed, and on +examination proved to be a fragment of a broken key. +</P> + +<P> +"Hallo!" said Raymond, "here's a clue at any rate. Don't lose it; put +it in that little jar on the mantelpiece." +</P> + +<P> +The remainder of the morning was passed in an excited discussion +regarding the mysterious disappearance of the gold timepiece. +</P> + +<P> +"I can't think any one can have stolen it," said Queen Mab. "How +should they have known about it? and, besides, if any one broke into +the house last night, how is it they didn't take anything else—that +little silver box, for instance?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's stolen, right enough," said Raymond. "It couldn't have been Joe +Crouch, could it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not a bit of it," answered Jack decisively. "He wouldn't do a thing +like that. He stole some fruit once, but he's honest enough now." +</P> + +<P> +"Could the servant have taken it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no!" answered Queen Mab. "I could trust Jane with anything." +</P> + +<P> +During the afternoon the weather cleared, but no one seemed inclined to +do anything; a feeling of gloom and uneasiness lay upon the whole +company. +</P> + +<P> +Jack was sitting in a quiet corner reading, when his aunt called him. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, there you are! I wanted to speak to you alone just for a minute. +Helen told me about your quarrel with Raymond, and I want you to make +it up. He's going away to-night, and I shouldn't like you to part, +except as friends." +</P> + +<P> +The boy frowned. "I don't want to be friends," he answered +impatiently. "He's played me some very shabby tricks, and I think the +less we see of him the better." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps so; but I'm so sorry that you should have actually come to +blows, and that while you were staying here with me at Brenlands." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not sorry! I wish I'd hit him harder!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you 'ugly duckling!'" answered the lady, smiling, and running her +fingers through his crumpled hair. "You'll find out some day that +'punching heads,' as you call it, isn't the most satisfactory kind of +revenge. However, I don't expect you to believe it now, but I think +you'll do what I ask you. Go to Raymond, and say you're sorry you +forgot yourself so far as to strike him, and ask his pardon. There, I +don't think there is anything in that which need go against your +conscience, or that it is a request that any gentleman need be ashamed +to make." +</P> + +<P> +Jack complied, but with a very bad grace. If the suggestion had come +from any one but Queen Mab, he would have scouted the idea from the +first. +</P> + +<P> +He found Raymond swinging in a hammock under the trees. +</P> + +<P> +"I say," he began awkwardly, "I'm sorry I hit you when we had that row. +Aunt Mabel wished me to tell you so." +</P> + +<P> +"Hum! You'll be sorrier still before long. I suppose now you want to +'kiss and be friends'?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I don't." +</P> + +<P> +"Then if you don't want to be forgiven," returned the other with a +sneer, "why d'you come and say you're sorry?" +</P> + +<P> +Jack turned away in a rage, feeling that he had at all events got the +worst of this encounter, and that it was entirely his own fault for +having laid himself open to the rebuff. +</P> + +<P> +He felt vexed with Helen for telling his aunt what had taken place, and +with the latter for influencing him to offer Raymond an apology. +Altogether the atmosphere around him seemed charged with discomfort and +annoyance, and even the merry tinkle of the tea-bell was not so welcome +as usual. +</P> + +<P> +"Where's Raymond?" asked Queen Mab. +</P> + +<P> +"I think he's putting his things in his bag," answered Valentine. +"Shall I go and call him?" +</P> + +<P> +At that moment the subject of their conversation entered the room. He +walked round to his place in silence, pausing for a moment to take +something down from the mantelpiece. +</P> + +<P> +"Who owns a key with a scrap of steel chain tied on to it?" +</P> + +<P> +"I do," answered Jack. "It belongs to my play-box." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, here it is," returned the other. "I picked it up among the +bushes. Do you notice anything peculiar about it?" +</P> + +<P> +"No." +</P> + +<P> +"You don't? Well, here's something belonging to it," and so saying, +the speaker flipped across the table the little metal fragment which +had been taken from the lock in the cupboard door. +</P> + +<P> +"Confound it!" said Jack. "The thief must have used my key!" +</P> + +<P> +"<I>Faugh</I>!" ejaculated Raymond, bitterly. +</P> + +<P> +Jack looked up quickly with an expression of anger and astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter?" he cried. "D'you mean to say I took the watch?" +</P> + +<P> +"I've said nothing of the kind," answered the other coldly; "though I +remember you did say you'd a good mind to steal it. I've simply given +you back your key." +</P> + +<P> +If a thunderbolt had fallen in the middle of the pretty tea-table, it +could not have caused more astonishment and dismay than this last +speech of Raymond's. Every one for the moment was too much taken aback +to speak. +</P> + +<P> +The smouldering fire of Jack's wrath had only needed this breeze to set +it into a flame. His undisciplined spirit immediately showed itself in +an outburst of ungovernable anger. +</P> + +<P> +"You are a cad and a liar!" he said. "Wait till I get you outside." +</P> + +<P> +"Hush! hush!" interrupted Miss Fenleigh, fearing a repetition of the +previous encounter. "I can't have such words used here. Perhaps +Raymond may be mistaken." +</P> + +<P> +The last words were spoken thoughtlessly, in the heat of the moment. +Jack in his anger resented that "may" and "perhaps," as implying doubt +as to his honesty, and regarded the silence of the others as a sign +that they also considered him guilty. In his wild, reckless manner he +dashed his knife down upon the table, and with a parting glare at his +accuser, marched straight out of the room. +</P> + +<P> +Valentine rose to follow him. +</P> + +<P> +"No, Val," said Miss Fenleigh, in an agitated voice. "Leave him to +himself for a little while. He'll be calmer directly." +</P> + +<P> +Ten minutes later the front door closed with a bang. +</P> + +<P> +"He's going out to get cool, I suppose," said Raymond scornfully. "He +didn't seem to relish my finding his play-box key. However, perhaps +he'll explain matters when he comes back." +</P> + +<P> +But Jack did not come back. The blind fury of the moment gave place to +a dogged, unreasoning sense of wrong and injustice. He had been +accused of robbing the person he loved best on earth, and she believed +him to be guilty. The old, wayward spirit once more took full +possession of his heart, and in a moment he was ready to throw +overboard all that he prized most dearly. +</P> + +<P> +He had some money in his pocket, enough to carry him home if he walked +to Melchester, and his luggage could come on another time. The plan +was formed, and he did not hesitate to put it into immediate execution. +</P> + +<P> +It was not until nearly an hour after his departure that Queen Mab +realized what had become of him, and then her distress was great. +</P> + +<P> +"Why didn't he wait to speak to us!" she cried. "We must all write him +a letter by to-night's post, to tell him that, of course, we don't +think he's the thief, and to beg him to come back." +</P> + +<P> +"If you like to do it at once," said Raymond, "I'll post them at +Grenford. They'll reach him then the first thing in the morning." +</P> + +<P> +The letters were written; even Barbara, who never could be got to +handle a pen except under strong compulsion, scribbled nearly four +pages, and filled up the blank space at the end with innumerable kisses. +</P> + +<P> +About two hours later the scapegoat tramped, footsore and weary, into +the Melchester railway station; and at nearly the same moment, Raymond +Fosberton, on his way home, took from his pocket the letters which had +been entrusted to his care, tore them to fragments, and dropped them +over the low wall of a bridge into the canal. +</P> + +<P> +"Now we're about quits!" he said. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE SOUND OF THE DRUM. +</H4> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +"'I believe I must go out into the world again,' said the +duckling."—<I>The Ugly Duckling</I>. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +The summers came and went, but Jack Fenleigh remained a rebel, refusing +to join the annual gathering at Brenlands, and to pay his homage at the +court of Queen Mab. +</P> + +<P> +One bright September morning, about four years after the holidays +described in the previous chapter, he was sitting at an untidy +breakfast-table, evidently eating against time, and endeavouring to +divide his attention between swallowing down the meal and reading a +letter which lay open in front of him. The teapot, bread, butter, and +other provisions had been gathered round him in a disorderly group, so +as to be near his hand; the loaf was lying on the tablecloth, the bacon +was cold, and the milk-jug was minus a handle. It was, on the whole, a +very different display from the breakfast-table at Brenlands; and +perhaps it was this very thought that crossed the young man's mind as +he turned and dug viciously at the salt, which had caked nearly into a +solid block. +</P> + +<P> +In outward appearance, to a casual observer, Jack had altered very +little since the day when he knocked Master Raymond Fosberton into the +laurel bush; yet there was a change. He had broadened, and grown to +look older, and more of a man, though the old impatient look seemed to +have deepened in his face like the lines between his eyebrows. +</P> + +<P> +The party at Brenlands had waited in vain for a reply to their letters. +Within a week, Miss Fenleigh had written again, assuring the runaway +that neither she nor his cousins for one moment suspected him of having +stolen the watch; but in the meantime the mischief had been done. +</P> + +<P> +"They think I did it," muttered Jack to himself, "or they'd have +written at once. Aunt Mabel wants to forgive me, and smooth it over; +but they know I'm a scamp, and now they believe I'm a thief!" +</P> + +<P> +Again he hardened his heart, and though his feelings towards Queen Mab +and his cousins never changed, yet his mind was made up to cut himself +adrift from the benefit of their society. He left Valentine's letter +unanswered, and refused all his aunt's pressing invitations to visit +her again. +</P> + +<P> +Every year these were renewed with the same warmth and regularity, and +it was one which now lay open beside his plate. +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose," ran the letter, "that you have heard how well Val passed +out of Sandhurst. He is coming down to see me before joining his +regiment, and will bring Helen and Barbara with him. I want you to +come too, and then we shall all be together once more, and have the +same dear old times over again. I shan't put up with any excuses, as I +know you take your holiday about this time, so just write and say when +you are coming." +</P> + +<P> +Jack lifted his eyes from the letter, and made a grab at the loaf. +</P> + +<P> +"I should like to go," he muttered; "how jolly the place must +look!—but no, I've left it too long. I ought to have gone back at +once, or never to have run away like that. Of course, now they must +think that I stole the watch. Yet, perhaps, if I gave them my word of +honour, they'd believe me; I know Aunt Mabel would." +</P> + +<P> +At this moment the door opened, and a gentleman entered the room. He +was wearing a shabby-looking dressing-gown, a couple of ragged quill +pens were stuck in his mouth, and he carried in his hand a bundle of +closely-written sheets of foolscap. Mr. Basil Fenleigh, to tell the +truth, was about to issue an invitation to a "few friends" to join him +in starting an advertisement and bill-posting agency business; to be +conducted, so said the rough copy of the circular, on entirely novel +lines, which could not fail to ensure success, and the drafting out of +which had occupied most of his leisure time during the past twelve +months. +</P> + +<P> +"Humph!" he exclaimed sourly. "Down at your usual time, eh? You'll be +late again at your office." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I shan't," answered the son, glancing up at the clock. "I can get +there in ten minutes." +</P> + +<P> +"You can't. You know very well Mr. Caston complained only the other +day of your coming behind your time. The next thing will be that +you'll lose your situation." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't care if I do; I'm heartily sick of the place." +</P> + +<P> +"You're heartily sick of any kind of work, and you always have been." +</P> + +<P> +Jack threw down his knife and fork and rose from the table, leaving +part of his breakfast unfinished on his plate. +</P> + +<P> +"All right," he said sulkily; "I'll go at once." +</P> + +<P> +He strode out of the room, crushing Queen Mab's letter into a crumpled +ball of paper in his clenched fist. After what had just passed, he +would certainly not broach the subject of a holiday. +</P> + +<P> +The morning's work seemed, if possible, more distasteful than ever. +Casting up sheets of analysis, he got wrong in his additions, and had +to go over them again. He watched the workmen moving about in the yard +outside, and wished he had been trained to some manual trade like +theirs. Then he thought of Valentine, and for the first time his +affection for his old friend gave place to a feeling of bitterness and +envy. +</P> + +<P> +"Confound the fellow! he's always done just as he liked. I wish he was +here in my shoes for a bit. It isn't fair one chap should have such +luck, and another none at all. Little he cares what becomes of me. I +may rot here all my life, and no one troubles the toss of a button +whether I'm happy or miserable." +</P> + +<P> +He was in the same ill-humour when he returned home to dinner. Mr. +Fenleigh was also out of temper, and seemed inclined to give vent to +his feelings by renewing the dispute which had commenced at the +breakfast-table. Father and son seldom met except at meals; and +unfortunately, on these occasions, the conversation frequently took the +form of bickering and complaint. Jack, as a rule, appeared sullenly +indifferent to what passed; this time, however, his smouldering +discontent burst out into a name of anger. +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose you <I>were</I> late this morning?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I wasn't." +</P> + +<P> +"Humph! You said before you started that you were sick of the place, +and didn't care whether you lost it. If you do, I hope you won't +expect me to find you another berth." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I'll find one myself." +</P> + +<P> +"What d'you think you're good for? You're more likely to idle about +here doing nothing than find any other employment." +</P> + +<P> +"I work harder than you do," said the son angrily. +</P> + +<P> +"Hold your tongue, sir! If you can't treat me with some amount of +respect, you'd better leave the house." +</P> + +<P> +"So I will. I'll go and enlist." +</P> + +<P> +"You may go where you please. I've done the best I could for you, and +all the return I get is ingratitude and abuse. Now you can act for +yourself." +</P> + +<P> +It was not the first time that remarks of this character had been fired +across the table. Jack made no reply, but at that moment his mind was +seized with a desperate resolve. Once for all he would settle this +question, and change the present weary existence for something more +congenial to his taste. All that afternoon he turned the plan over in +his thoughts, and his determination to follow it up grew stronger as +the time approached for putting it into execution. What if the move +were a false one? a person already in the frying-pan could but jump +into the fire; and any style of life seemed preferable to the one he +was now living. His father had told him to please himself, and, as he +had only himself to consider, he would do so, and follow the drum, as +had always been his inclination from childhood. +</P> + +<P> +The big bell clanged out the signal for giving over work; but Jack, +instead of returning home, picked up a small handbag he had brought +with him, and walked off in the direction of the railway station. On +his way thither, he counted the money in his pocket. He had some idea +of going to London, but the expense of the journey would be too heavy +for his resources. It mattered little where the plunge was taken; he +would go to the barracks at Melchester. +</P> + +<P> +He lingered for a moment at the window of the booking-office, hardly +knowing why he hesitated. +</P> + +<P> +Why not? He had only himself to please. +</P> + +<P> +The clerk grew impatient. "Well?" he said. +</P> + +<P> +Jack threw down his money. "Third, Melchester!" he said, and so +crossed the Rubicon. +</P> + +<P> +Very few changes had taken place in the little city during the four +years which had elapsed since he last visited it. Here and there a +house had been modernized, or a new shop-front erected, but in the +neighbourhood of the school no alterations seemed to have been made. +He strolled past it in the dusk, and paused to look in through the +gates: the boys had not yet returned, and the quadrangle was dark and +deserted. He thought of the night when he and Rosher had climbed in by +way of the headmaster's garden, and forced an entry into the house +through the bathroom window. It seemed a hardship then to be obliged +to be in by a certain time, yet it was preferable to having no +resting-place to claim as one's own. +</P> + +<P> +A few minutes later he halted again, this time outside the +well-remembered cookshop. "Duster's" was exactly the same as it always +had been, except for the fact that, it being holiday time, the display +of delicacies in the window was not quite so large as usual. Jack +smiled as there flashed across his mind the memory of the literary +society's supper; the faces of the sprightly Tinkleby, Preston the +bowler, "Guzzling Jimmy," and a host of others, rose before him in the +deepening twilight. They had been good comrades together once; most of +them had probably made a fair start by this time in various walks of +life. He wondered if they remembered him, and what they would say if +they knew what he was doing, and whether any of them would care what +became of him. No, he had only himself to please now, and if he +preferred soldiering to office-work, what was there to hinder him from +taking the shilling? +</P> + +<P> +There was no particular hurry. He passed the night at a small +temperance hotel, and next morning, after a plain breakfast, started +out for a stroll into the country. He had written a note to his father +before leaving Padbury merely stating his intention, and giving no +address. There was nothing more to be done but to enjoy himself as a +free man before making application to the nearest recruiting sergeant. +</P> + +<P> +He passed the barracks where the 1st Battalion of the Royal Blankshire +Regiment was quartered, and thought how often he and Valentine had +lingered there, listening to the bugle-calls, and watching the drill +instructors at work in the square with their awkward squads. Just +inside the gate the guard were falling in, preparatory to the arrival +of the relief, and something in their smart appearance, and in the very +clank of their rifle-butts upon the flagstones, stirred his heart; yes, +that was the calling he meant to follow. +</P> + +<P> +He strode off along the Hornalby road, whistling a lively tune, and +conjuring up bright mental pictures of the life before him. He might +not have Valentine's luck, but he would make up for it in other ways. +The path was steep and rough, no doubt, but in treading it scores of +brave men had won honour and renown; and with courage and +determination, there was no reason why he should not do the same. It +was a man's life, and here there was certainly more chance of +distinguishing oneself than in a manufacturer's office. +</P> + +<P> +With these and other thoughts of a similar nature occupying his mind, +Jack tramped on gaily enough in the bright sunshine. Suddenly, +however, he stopped dead in the middle of the road. He had come in +sight of a wayside inn, the Black Horse, and the thought struck him +that he was within two miles of Brenlands. +</P> + +<P> +All unbidden, a host of recollections came rushing upon him. The last +time he had walked from Melchester along this road was the afternoon on +which he brought back the silver locket for Queen Mab. What if the +pony-carriage should suddenly turn the corner? and yet, why should he +be afraid to meet her? He was doing nothing to be ashamed of, and the +recollection of the stolen watch never entered his head. He would have +given anything to have gone on and seen her again—to have had one more +kind smile and loving word. "My own boy Jack!" Would he ever hear her +say that again? +</P> + +<P> +He turned on his heel, and began the return journey with a gloomy look +of discontent upon his face. His castles in the air had vanished: what +was there that made a soldier's life attractive but the right to go +about in a red coat like a barrel-organ monkey? For two pins he would +abandon the project, and go back to Padbury. +</P> + +<P> +This impression, however, was not destined to last very long. As he +approached the barracks he noticed a small crowd of idlers collecting +near a gateway, and at the same instant the silence was broken by the +sound of a drum. He knew what it was—the regiment had been out +drilling on the neighbouring common, and was on its way home. +</P> + +<P> +He hurried forward to watch the soldiers as they passed. +</P> + +<P> +Boom! boom! boom!—boom! boom! boom! With a glorious crash the brass +instruments burst out with the tune. Jack knew it well, and his heart +danced to it as the band marched out into the road. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"'Twas in the merry month of May,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">When bees from flower to flower did hum,</SPAN><BR> +Soldiers through the town marched gay,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">The village flew to the sound of the drum!"</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Jack drew back into the hedge to watch as the regiment went by. +</P> + +<P> +"March at ease!" The sunlight flashed as the arms were sloped, and +glittered on bright blades as the officers returned their swords. Not +a detail escaped his eager observation; the swing of the rifle-barrels, +the crisp tramp of the marching feet, even the chink of the chain +bridles as the horses of the mounted officers shook their heads, all +seemed to touch answering chords in his inmost heart, and awaken there +the old love and longing for a soldier's life. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"The tailor he got off his knees,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">And to the ranks did boldly come:</SPAN><BR> +He said he ne'er would sit at ease,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">But go with the rest, and follow the drum!"</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Jack hesitated no longer, but hurried back to pick up the few +belongings he had left at the hotel, determined to put his project into +execution without further delay. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XV. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE QUEEN'S SHILLING. +</H4> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +"If he had called out, 'Here I am,' it would have been all right; but +he was too proud to cry out for help while he wore a uniform."—<I>The +Brave Tin Soldier</I>. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +There was no more hesitation or uncertainty about his movements now, +and before he knew it, Jack found himself once more back at the +barracks. The corporal on "gate duty," who, for want of something +better to do, had been chastising his own leg with a "swagger cane," +ceased in the performance of this self-imposed penance, and shot a +significant glance at the stranger. +</P> + +<P> +"Looking out for any one?" he inquired, by way of opening up a +conversation. +</P> + +<P> +"No," answered Jack; "the fact is, I've come to enlist. D'you think +you could make a soldier of me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, at any rate, I should say you were big enough," answered the +corporal briskly. "Why, we ought to make a general of a smart young +fellow like you, in less than no time!" +</P> + +<P> +This seemed a promising commencement; but the adjutant, in front of +whom Jack was conducted after undergoing a preliminary examination as +to his height, chest measurement, and strength of eyesight, did not +appear to be of quite so sanguine a temperament as the non-commissioned +officer. +</P> + +<P> +He eyed the would-be recruit with no very favourable expression on his +face, as he prepared to take down the answers to the questions on the +attestation paper. +</P> + +<P> +"Name?" +</P> + +<P> +"John Fenleigh." +</P> + +<P> +"Is that a <I>nom de guerre</I>?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir, it's my real name." +</P> + +<P> +"Humph! So you speak French?" +</P> + +<P> +Jack coloured slightly. +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir—that is, I learned some at school." +</P> + +<P> +The officer looked up, and laid his quill pen down on the table. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here, my good fellow," he said, "it's not my business to ask what +brings you here, but one thing I should like to know: how long do you +expect you are going to remain in the army—a week, or six months?" +</P> + +<P> +"The full time, I hope, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"Are your parents living? And do they know of the step you're taking?" +</P> + +<P> +"My father is living. I told him what I meant to do before I left +home." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," returned the officer, once more dipping his quill in the ink, +"if you change your mind before to-morrow, you'll have to pay a +sovereign; after that, it'll cost you ten pounds!" +</P> + +<P> +The paper was filled up, and our hero received the historical shilling, +which he slipped into his waistcoat pocket, having previously +determined never to part with that particular coin, unless he were +obliged. He was then conducted to the hospital, and there examined by +the medical officer; his eyesight being once more tested by his having +to count a number of white dots on a piece of black paper displayed on +the opposite side of the room, each eye being covered alternately. +</P> + +<P> +Having passed satisfactorily through this ordeal, he was informed that +he could not be sworn in before the following day, when he must present +himself at the orderly room at eleven o'clock. Until that time he was +free to do as he pleased; and being still in the possession of the +greater portion of his previous week's salary, he chose to sleep +another night at the hotel, and so spent the remainder of the day +wandering about the streets of Melchester. +</P> + +<P> +On the following morning, at the appointed hour, he returned to the +barracks, and after some little delay, was brought into the presence of +the commanding officer, where he was duly "sworn in," and signed his +name to the declaration of allegiance. +</P> + +<P> +"You'll join C Company," said the sergeant-major. "Just take him +across, orderly, and show him the room." +</P> + +<P> +With feelings very much akin to those of the "new boy" arriving for the +first time at a big boarding-school, our hero followed his guide across +the square, up a flight of stairs, and down a long corridor, amid a +good deal of noise and bustle. The bugle had not long since sounded +"Come to the cook-house door," and the dinner orderlies were hurrying +back with the supply of rations for their respective rooms. +</P> + +<P> +At length a door was reached, in front of which the orderly paused +with, "Here you are!" Jack entered, and made his first acquaintance +with his future home—the barrack-room. +</P> + +<P> +It was large and lofty, with whitewashed walls and a floor of bare +boards. A row of wooden tables and forms ran down the centre, above +which was a hanging shelf for the men's plates and basins. Around the +room were sixteen small iron bedsteads, each made in such a fashion +that one half closed up under the other, the mattress when not in use +being rolled up and secured by a strap, with the blankets and sheets +folded on the top; the remaining portion of the couch, on which the rug +was laid, serving for a seat. Above the bed were shelves and hooks for +accoutrements, and other possessions. Above some of the cots small +pictures or photographs were hung, which served to relieve the monotony +of the whitewash; but these, like the rest of Tommy Atkins's property, +were arranged with that scrupulous care and neatness which is so +characteristic of all that concerns the service from baton to +button-stick. +</P> + +<P> +At the moment Jack entered, his future room-mates were busy round one +end of the tables, assisting the orderly man in the task of pouring +soup from a large can into the small basins, and making a similar equal +division of the meat and potatoes. The new-comer's arrival, therefore, +was scarcely noticed, except by the sergeant, who told him to sit down, +and saw that he received a share of the rations. The fare was +certainly rough, and seemed in keeping with the table manners of the +rank and file of the Royal Blankshire; they forbore to "trouble" each +other for things out of reach, but secured them with a dive and a grab. +"Here, chuck us the rooty!" was the request when one needed bread; +while though substantial mustard and pepper pots adorned the board, the +salt was in the primitive form of a lump, which was pushed about from +man to man, and scraped down with the dinner knives. +</P> + +<P> +But Jack had not come to barracks expecting a <I>table d'hôte</I> dinner of +eight or nine courses, served by waiters in evening dress, and he set +to work with a good grace on what was set before him. The remarks +addressed to him, if a trifle blunt, were good-natured enough, and he +replied to them in the same spirit. His comrades evidently remarked +from the first that he was a cut above the ordinary recruit; but he was +wise enough to avoid showing any airs, and soon saw that this line of +conduct was appreciated. +</P> + +<P> +The meal was in progress when there was a sharp rap, and the door was +opened. +</P> + +<P> +"'Tenshun!" The men laid down their knives and forks, and rose to +their feet. +</P> + +<P> +"Dinners all right here?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"All present?" +</P> + +<P> +"All present, sir." The orderly officer glanced round the room, and +then turned and walked out. +</P> + +<P> +"'E's a gentleman, is Mr. Lawson," murmured one of the men; "'e always +shuts the door behind 'im." Jack's eye followed the figure of the +lieutenant as he rejoined the orderly sergeant in the passage. It was +not so much the sash and sword, and neat, blue patrol jacket, as the +cheery voice and pleasant sunburnt face, which had attracted our hero's +attention; somehow these reminded him of Valentine, and turned his +thoughts back to his old friend. He wondered how his cousin looked in +the same uniform. Well, well, however wide and deep the gulf might be +which the doings of the last two days had placed between them, they +were, in a way, reunited; for the service was the same, whatever +difference there might be in shoulder-straps. +</P> + +<P> +Dinner over, some of the men made down their beds for a nap, while +others announced their intention "to do some soldiering," a term which +implied the cleaning and polishing of accoutrements. +</P> + +<P> +Sergeant Sparks, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the room, +had a few friendly words with Jack, told him what he would have to do +on the following day, and advised him in the meantime to make himself +as comfortable as he could. "Here," he added, turning to a private, +"just show this man his cot, and explain to him how to keep his +bedding; you may want a good turn yourself some time." +</P> + +<P> +The soldier obeyed readily enough. Jack had already caught his eye +several times during dinner, and now followed him into a corner of the +room, resolved if possible to patch up a friendship. In the carrying +out of this intention he was destined to experience a startling +surprise. +</P> + +<P> +The man paused before one of the end beds, and began to unfasten the +strap of the mattress. +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't think of meeting you here, Mr. Fenleigh." +</P> + +<P> +Jack started and stared at the speaker in silent astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +"You remember me, sir?—Joe Crouch." +</P> + +<P> +"What! Joe Crouch, who used to work at Brenlands?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir; Joe Crouch as stole the pears," answered the soldier, +smiling. "I never expected to find you 'listin' in the army, sir. I +suppose Miss Fenleigh ain't aware of what you're doin'?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no!" exclaimed the other eagerly. "Promise me you'll never tell +any one at Brenlands where I am—swear you won't." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, sir," replied Joe Crouch, calmly proceeding to unroll the +mattress and make down the bed. +</P> + +<P> +"For goodness' sake, drop that <I>sir</I>. Look here, Joe: I'm a lame dog, +down on my luck, and no good to anybody; but we were friendly years +ago, and if you'll have me for a comrade now, I'll do my best to be a +good one." +</P> + +<P> +Joe flung down the bedding, and held out his big, brown hand. +</P> + +<P> +"That I will!" he answered. "You did the square thing by me once, and +now I'll see you through; don't you fret." +</P> + +<P> +Tea in barracks was evidently a very informal meal, of which no great +account was taken. As Jack sat down to his bowl and chunk of bread, +Joe Crouch pushed a screw of paper in front of him, which on +examination proved to contain a small pat of butter. +</P> + +<P> +"What's this?" asked Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Fat," answered Joe, shortly. "From the canteen," he added. +</P> + +<P> +"Then you've paid for it, and—look here—you've got none yourself." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't want any," answered Joe, breaking up a crust and dropping it +into his tea. "There you are. That's what's called a 'floatin' +battery.'" +</P> + +<P> +In the evening most of the men went out. Jack, however, preferred to +remain where he was, and passed the time reading a paper he had brought +with him, at one of the tables. Sergeant Sparks came up to him and +chatted pleasantly for half an hour. He wore a ribbon at his breast, +and had stirring stories to tell of the Afghan war, and Roberts' march +to Candahar. About half-past eight the men began to return from their +walks and various amusements, and the barrack-room grew more noisy. At +half-past nine the roll was called, and the orders read out for the +following day, and Jack was not sorry when the time came to turn in. +Crouch came over to see if he understood the preparation of his cot. +</P> + +<P> +"The feathers in these 'ere beds grew on rather a large bird," remarked +Joe, referring to the straw mattress, "but they're soft enough when you +come off a spell of guard duty or a day's manoeuvrin'." +</P> + +<P> +The bugle sounded the long, melancholy G, and the orderly man turned +off the gas. Our hero lay awake for some time listening to the heavy +breathing of his new comrades, and then turned over and fell asleep. +</P> + +<P> +The bright morning sunshine was streaming in through the big windows +when the clear, ringing notes of reveille and the cheery strains of +"Old Daddy Longlegs" roused him to consciousness of where he was. +</P> + +<P> +"Now then, my lads, show a leg there!" cried the sergeant. +</P> + +<P> +Jack stretched and yawned. Yes, it was certainly a rough path, but his +mind was made up to tread it with a good heart, and this being the +case, he was not likely to turn back. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVI. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +ON ACTIVE SERVICE. +</H4> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +"A voice cried out, 'I declare here is the tin soldier!'"—<I>The Brave +Tin Soldier</I>. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +A brilliant, clear sky overhead, and such a scorching sun that the air +danced with the heat, as though from the blast of a furnace; surely +this could not be the twenty-fifth of December! +</P> + +<P> +But Christmas Day it was—Christmas Day in the camp at Korti. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-207"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-207.jpg" ALT=""It was Christmas Day in the camp at Korti."" BORDER="2" WIDTH="393" HEIGHT="532"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 393px"> +"It was Christmas Day in the camp at Korti." +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +Among the pleasant groves of trees which bordered the steep banks of +the Nile glistened the white tents of the Camel Corps. Still farther +back from the river lay fields of grass and patches of green dhurra; +and behind these again an undulating waste of sand and gravel, dotted +here and there with scrub and rock, and stretching away to the +faintly-discerned hills of the desert. The shade of the trees tempered +the heat, making a pleasant change after the roasting, toilsome journey +up country. +</P> + +<P> +Here, though hardly to be recognized with their ragged clothing and +unshaven faces, was gathered a body of men who might be regarded as +representing the flower of England's army—Life Guards, Lancers, +Dragoons, Grenadiers, Highlanders, and linesmen from many a famous foot +regiment; all were there, ready to march and fight shoulder to shoulder +in order to rescue Gordon from his perilous position in Khartoum. +</P> + +<P> +Every day the numbers in camp had been gradually growing larger, fresh +batches of troops arriving either on camels or in boats. A whole fleet +of these "whalers" lay moored along the bank of the Nile; the usual +quiet of the river being continually broken by the dog-like panting of +steam launches hurrying up and down the stream. +</P> + +<P> +Friendly natives, clad in loose shirts and skull-caps, wandered through +the lines, gazing wonderingly at all they saw; while in strange +contrast to their unintelligible jabberings, rose the familiar <I>patois</I> +of the barrack-room, or snatches of some popular music-hall song hummed +or whistled by every urchin in the streets of London. +</P> + +<P> +The concentration of the expedition had now been almost completed, and +the chief topic of conversation was the immediate prospect of a desert +march to Shendy. +</P> + +<P> +But to return to our commencement, Christmas Day it was; and however +difficult it might have been to realize this as far as the weather was +concerned, the fact had, to a certain extent, been impressed upon the +minds of the men by the supplementing of their ordinary dinner rations +with a gallant attempt at plum-pudding, manufactured for the most part +out of boiled dates. +</P> + +<P> +Two men, who had just partaken of this delicacy, were lying stretched +out full length under a shady tree, their pith helmets brought well +forward over their eyes, their grey serge jumpers thrown open, and +pipes in their mouths. To see them now, with their tattered nether +garments, stubbly chins, and sunburnt faces, from which the skin was +peeling off in patches, one could hardly have recognized in them the +same smart soldiers who paraded a few months ago on the barrack square +at Melchester. Yet such they were, as the reader will soon discover by +the opening remarks of their conversation. +</P> + +<P> +"This weather don't seem very seasonable. I wonder whether it's frost +and snow away home at Brenlands." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; I wonder if the reservoir at Hornalby is frozen. We used to go +skating there when I was at school. It seems a jolly long time ago +now!" +</P> + +<P> +"It don't seem three years ago to me since you enlisted. I never +thought you'd have stayed so long." +</P> + +<P> +"Didn't you? When my mind's made up, it's apt to stick to it, Joe, my +boy. Besides, I had no prospect of anything better." +</P> + +<P> +There was a pause, during which the two comrades (who, from the +foregoing, will have been recognized as our hero and Joe Crouch) +continued to puff away at their pipes in silence, listening to the +remarks of three men who were playing a drowsy game with a tattered +pack of cards. +</P> + +<P> +"These cards are gettin' precious ragged; you'd better get 'em +clipped."—"Why don't you play the king?"—"'Cause there ain't one! +he's one of 'em as is lost." +</P> + +<P> +"You used to have fine times, I reckon, when you and Mr. Valentine and +the young ladies came to stay at Miss Fenleigh's," said Crouch. "I +wonder what she'd say if she knew you was out here in Egypt." +</P> + +<P> +"I took precious good care she shouldn't know. I suppose she heard +from the guv'nor that I went off and enlisted, but I didn't send word +what regiment I joined. I never mean to see her again—no fear!" +</P> + +<P> +"She was a kind lady," murmured Joe reflectively; "very good to me once +upon a time." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that she was—the best and kindest woman in the world; and that's +just the reason why I'm glad to think she doesn't know what's become of +me.— Hallo, Swabs, what are you after?" +</P> + +<P> +The person thus addressed was a gaunt, lanky-looking warrior, clad +simply in helmet, shirt, and trousers; the sleeves of his "greyback" +were rolled up above his elbows; and he was armed with a roughly-made +catapult, evidently intended for the destruction of some of the small, +brightly-coloured birds that were flitting about among the branches of +the palms. "Swabs," who answered at roll-call to the name of Smith H., +in addition to holding the badge as best shot in the regiment, was a +popular character in C Company. +</P> + +<P> +"Shist!" he answered; "when there ain't nothink better to shoot at, I'm +goin' to try me 'and on some of these dickies." +</P> + +<P> +"Swabs" was evidently more skilful with the rifle than with his present +weapon. He discharged his pebble, but with no result. +</P> + +<P> +"Miss; high right," said Jack. "Where did you get your elastic from?" +</P> + +<P> +"The tube of me filter. I'll take a finer sight next time," and +"Swabs" went stalking off in search of further sport. +</P> + +<P> +"It seems hard to imagine that we're on the real business at last," +said Jack, clasping his hands behind his head and stretching out his +legs. "After so many sham fights, it seems rum to think of one in real +earnest. The strange thing to me," he continued, "is to think how +often my cousin and I used to talk about war, and wonder what it was +like; and we thought he was the one more likely to see it. I used to +be always grumbling about his luck, and now I expect he'd envy me mine." +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose he hasn't come out?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I don't think so. I forget just where he's stationed. Look at +Tom Briggs over there, he using his towel to put a patch on the seat of +his breeches. Hey, Tommy! how are you going to dry yourself when you +wash?" +</P> + +<P> +"Wash!" answered the man, looking up from his work with a grin, "you'll +be glad enough afore long to lap up every spot of water you come +across; there won't be much talk of washin' in this 'ere desert, I'm +thinkin'." +</P> + +<P> +The answer was lost on Jack; something else had suddenly attracted his +attention. He sat up and made a movement as though he would rise to +his feet. An officer had just strolled past, wearing a fatigue cap and +the usual serge jumper. His face was tanned a deep brown, and showed +up in strong contrast to his fair hair and small, light-coloured +moustache. Our hero's first impulse was to run after and accost the +stranger, but he checked himself, and sank back into his former +position. +</P> + +<P> +"I say, Briggs," he called, "what men were those who came up in the +boats yesterday?" +</P> + +<P> +"Some of the ——sex Regiment," answered the other, stooping forward to +bite off his cotton with his teeth. +</P> + +<P> +Jack's heart thumped heavily, and he caught his breath; his eyes had +not deceived him, and the subaltern who had just walked by was +Valentine. +</P> + +<P> +He was roused from his reverie by the warning call to "stables," it +being the time for feeding and grooming the camels. They were queer +steeds, these "ships of the desert," and for those who had never ridden +them before even mounting and dismounting was no easy task. In the +case of the former, unless the animals' heads were brought round to +their shoulders, and held there by means of the rope which served as a +rein, they were apt to rise up suddenly before the rider had got +properly into the saddle, a proceeding usually followed by disastrous +results; while, on the other hand, the sudden plunge forward as they +dropped on their knees, followed by the lurch in the opposite direction +when their hind-quarters went down, made it an extremely easy matter to +come a cropper in either direction. Their necks seemed to be made of +indiarubber, and their hind legs, with which they could scratch the top +of their heads, or, if so inclined, kick out behind, even when lying +down, appeared to be furnished with double joints. Jack had christened +his mount "Lamentations," from the continual complaints which it +uttered; but in this the animal was no worse than the remainder of its +fellows, who bellowed and roared whatever was happening, whether they +were being unsaddled, groomed, mounted, or fed. +</P> + +<P> +With thoughts centred on his recent discovery, our hero made his way to +the spot where the camels of his detachment were picketed, and there +went mechanically through the work of cleaning up the lines, and the +still more unsavoury task of attending to "Lam's" toilet. Should he +speak to Valentine, or not? That was the question which occupied his +mind. Unless he did so, it was hardly likely that after seven years, +and with a moustache and sprouting beard, his cousin would recognize +him among the seventeen hundred men destined to form the expedition. +</P> + +<P> +The men marched back to their lines, and were then dismissed for tea. +Jack sat silently sipping at his pannikin and munching his allowance of +biscuit. +</P> + +<P> +Should he speak to Valentine, or not? The vague day-dream of their +school-boy days was realized—they were soldiers together, and on +active service; but everything was altered now. The great difference +of rank was, of itself, sufficient to place an impassable barrier +between them; and then the recollection of their last parting, his +refusals to meet his cousins again at Brenlands, and the fact of his +having left so many of his old chum's letters unanswered, all seemed to +lead up to one conclusion. Valentine would long ago have come to +regard it as a clear proof that the runaway had really stolen the +watch, and not have been surprised to hear that he had gone to the +dogs. Nor was he likely now to be very well pleased if the black sheep +suddenly walked up and claimed relationship. No. Jack felt he had +long ago severed all ties with what had once been dear to him; it was +the better plan to let things remain as they were, and make no attempt +to renew associations with a past which could not be recalled. +</P> + +<P> +Sunset was rapidly followed by darkness. In honour of its being +Christmas Day, an impromptu concert had been announced; and the men +began to gather round a rough stage which had been erected under the +trees, and which was lit up with lamps and the glare of two huge +bonfires. +</P> + +<P> +The programme was of the free-and-easy character: volunteers were +called for, and responded with songs, step-dances, and the like; while +the audience, lying and sitting round on the sand, greeted their +efforts with hearty applause, and joined in every chorus with unwonted +vigour. +</P> + +<P> +Jack had always possessed a good voice, a fact which had long ago been +discovered by his comrades, and now, for the honour of the Royal +Blankshire, those standing near him insisted that he should sing. +Before he knew it, he was pushed forward, and hoisted on to the +platform. There was no chance of retreat. He glanced round the sea of +faces glowing brightly in the firelight, and after a moment's thought +as to what would be likely to go down best, he struck up his old song, +"The Mermaid." +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Oh! 'twas in the broad Atlantic, 'mid the equinoctial gales,<BR> +That a gay young tar fell overboard, among the sharks and whales."<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +The great crowd of listeners burst out into the "Rule, Britannia!" +chorus with a mighty roar. But our hero heeded them not; his thoughts +had suddenly gone back to the little parlour at the back of "Duster's" +shop; his eyes wandered anxiously over the faces of the officers who +were grouped together in front of the stage, but Valentine did not +appear to be among them. +</P> + +<P> +An uproarious repetition of the last "Rule, Britannia!" was still in +progress as Jack rejoined the Blankshire contingent, and submitted his +back to a number of congratulatory slaps. +</P> + +<P> +These signs of approval were still being showered down upon him, when +Sergeant Sparks touched his elbow. +</P> + +<P> +"Here's an officer wants to speak to you, Fenleigh. There he is, +standing over by that tree." +</P> + +<P> +With his heart in his mouth, the singer stepped out of the crush, and +approached the figure standing by itself under the heavy shadow of the +palm. +</P> + +<P> +"Jack!" +</P> + +<P> +The private soldier made no reply, but raised his hand in the customary +salute. The action was simple enough, and yet full of meaning, showing +the altered relationship between the two old friends. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, man, didn't you tell us where you were? and what had become of +you?" +</P> + +<P> +"There was no need; and, besides, I didn't wish you to know, sir?" +</P> + +<P> +"Surely you are not still offended over what happened that summer at +Brenlands? You must have known that we, none of us, suspected you for +a moment of having stolen that watch. It was only a cad like Raymond +Fosberton would ever have thought of suggesting such a thing." +</P> + +<P> +"Appearances were very much against me, sir—and—well, it's all past +and done with now." +</P> + +<P> +Valentine was silent. That "sir," so familiar to his ear, and yet +seemingly so incongruous in the present instance, baffled him +completely. In the first moment of his discovery he had intended, +figuratively speaking, to fall upon the prodigal's neck, and converse +with him in the old, familiar style; but now, between Valentine +Fenleigh, Esq., of the ——sex, and Private Fenleigh, of the Royal +Blankshire, there was a great gulf fixed, and the latter, especially, +seemed determined to recognize that the former conditions of their +friendship could now no longer exist. After a moment's pause, Jack +spoke. +</P> + +<P> +"Could you tell me, sir, if they are all well?" +</P> + +<P> +"Who? my people? They're all right, thanks. Helen's just gone and got +married; and little Bar's just the same as ever, only a bit older. She +was twenty-one last month." +</P> + +<P> +Jack smiled. "And Aunt Mabel, have you seen her lately?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes! she's very well, and doesn't seem to alter at all. She often +talks of you, and is always sad because you never write. Why have you +never been to see her?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have seen her once. I passed her in the street in Melchester; but I +was in uniform, and she didn't notice me." +</P> + +<P> +"But why didn't you go over to Brenlands?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I couldn't do that! I struck out a path for myself. It may be a +bit rough, like the way of transgressors always is; but it suits me +well enough. I've been in it now for three years, and mean to stick to +it; but it'll never bring me to Brenlands again." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, it will," answered the other cheerily, "At the end of the +long lane comes the turning." +</P> + +<P> +There was another pause; the conversation had been running more freely, +but now Jack fell back again into his former manner. +</P> + +<P> +"I beg pardon, sir, but I should like to ask if you'll be good enough +not to mention my name in any of your letters home." +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" +</P> + +<P> +"I should be glad, sir, if you wouldn't. I've managed hitherto to keep +my secret." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if it's your wish, for the present I won't," answered Valentine; +"but if we both live through this business, then I shall have something +to say to you on the subject." +</P> + +<P> +"Good-night, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"Good-night, old chap, and good luck to us both!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +UNDER FIRE. +</H4> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +"The tin soldier trembled; yet he remained firm; his countenance did +not change; he looked straight before him, and shouldered his +musket."—<I>The Brave Tin Soldier</I>. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Five days afterwards the camp was all astir, and presented an unusual +scene of activity and animation. +</P> + +<P> +On the twenty-eighth of December, orders had been issued for a portion +of the force to march across the desert and occupy the wells at Gakdul; +and on this, the morning of the thirtieth, the Guards Camel Regiment +and the Mounted Infantry (to which latter force Jack and his comrades +of the Royal Blankshire were attached), together with detachments of +the Engineers and Medical Staff Corps, a squadron of the 19th Hussars, +and a large train of "baggagers," were preparing for the start, amid +much bugle-blowing, shouting of orders, and roaring of camels as the +loads were being placed on their backs. Gradually, as the hour +approached for the assembly of the force, the noise grew less; even +"Lamentations" ceased his protestations, and stalked off to the parade +ground without further murmuring. +</P> + +<P> +Lord Wolseley inspected the force, and shortly before three o'clock the +cavalry scouts started. As Jack stood by the side of his kneeling +steed, with Joe Crouch on his right, his heart beat fast. This was +something different from any of his previous military experiences; the +cartridges in his pouch and bandoleer were ball, not blank. It was to +be the real thing this time; the stern reality of what he and Valentine +had so often pictured and played at far away in the peaceful old house +at Brenlands. +</P> + +<P> +Though showing it in different ways, all his comrades were more or less +excited at the prospect of a move: some were silent, others unusually +noisy; Joe Crouch puffed incessantly at a little clay pipe; Sergeant +Sparks seemed to have grown ten years younger, and overflowed with +reminiscences of Afghanistan and the Ghazees; while Lieutenant Lawson +might, from his high spirits and cheery behaviour, have been just +starting on a hunting expedition or some pleasure excursion. +</P> + +<P> +At last it came: "Prepare to mount!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, here goes!" said Jack, drawing his steed's head round, and +putting his foot in the stirrup. "Here goes!" echoed Joe Crouch. +</P> + +<P> +"Mount!" The bugle sounded the advance, the word was given, and the +column moved off across the undulating plain—the Guards in front, +baggage camels in the centre, and the Mounted Infantry bringing up the +rear; the length of the column extending to nearly a mile. +</P> + +<P> +Scared gazelles sprang up from among the rocks and bushes, and bounded +away. +</P> + +<P> +"Hi, Swabs! where's yer catapult?" inquired Tommy Briggs. +</P> + +<P> +"Keepin' it for the niggers," answered the marksman significantly. +</P> + +<P> +After an hour's going, many of the riders sought to ease themselves, +and vary the peculiar swaying motion by a change of position: some +crossed their legs in front of them; while Jack and his chum sat +side-saddle, facing each other, and for the twentieth time that day +exchanged opinions as to when and where they would first come in touch +with the enemy. +</P> + +<P> +In addition to the heat, the clouds of dust raised by the force in +front rendered it choky work for those in rear; and no one was sorry +when, about five o'clock, the bugles sounded the halt. +</P> + +<P> +Jack dismounted, feeling uncommonly sore and stiff, but was soon busily +engaged helping to make fires of dry grass and mimosa scrub, on which +to boil the camp kettles for tea. +</P> + +<P> +Never, even when poured from Queen Mab's old silver teapot, had the +steaming beverage tasted so refreshing; and the men, sitting round in +groups, mess-tin in hand, seemed to regard the whole business in the +light of a gigantic picnic. The sun dropped below the horizon; and +after a rest of about an hour and a half, the march was continued, the +column closing up and proceeding with a broadened front. +</P> + +<P> +The clear, brilliant light of the moon flooded the scene with silvery +splendour, throwing up in strange contrast the black, dark hills in the +distance. Gradually, as the men grew sleepy, their laughter and +conversation died away, the padded feet of the camels made no sound as +they passed over the sand, and the silence remained unbroken save for +the occasional yelping bark of some hungry jackal. Jack felt cold and +drowsy, and, in spite of the movement of his camel, had hard work to +keep awake. +</P> + +<P> +Once or twice, when the loads of some of the baggagers slipped, a halt +was called while they were refixed; and men, dismounting from their +saddles, fell fast asleep on the sand, only to be roused again in what +seemed a moment later by the "advance" being sounded. +</P> + +<P> +Hours seemed drawn out into weeks, and Jack, glancing with heavy eyes +to his left front, wondered if the sky would ever brighten with the +signs of dawn. At length the east grew grey, then flushed with pink, +and the sun rose with the red glare of a conflagration, sending a glow +of warmth across the desert. For about two hours the march was +continued; then, at a spot where a number of trees were growing, a halt +was made, camels unloaded, and preparations made for a well-earned +breakfast. +</P> + +<P> +In spite of the excitement of this first bivouac, as soon as the meal +was over Jack stretched himself out upon the ground and fell fast +asleep, only returning to consciousness when wakened by the flies and +midday heat; and so ended his first experience of a desert march. +</P> + +<P> +For the purposes of this story it will not be necessary to follow +closely all our hero's doings during the next fortnight; and we shall +therefore rest content with describing, as briefly as possible, the +movements of the force during that period of time which preceded its +coming in actual contact with the enemy. +</P> + +<P> +Starting again on the afternoon of the thirty-first of December, the +column pushed forward with occasional halts, until, early on the +morning of the second of January, Gakdul was reached, and the wells +occupied without resistance. Leaving the Guards and Engineers to +garrison the place, the rest of the column marched the same evening on +the return journey to Korti, to collect and bring on the remaining +troops and stores necessary for continuing the advance to Metemmeh. +Ten days later, the remainder of the force arrived at Gakdul; and after +a day spent in watering and attending to arms and ammunition, a start +was made on the afternoon of the fourteenth in the direction of Abu +Klea. Soon after sunset the column halted, and resuming the march +early on the following morning, by five o'clock in the evening had +reached Jebel-es-Sergain, or the Hill of the Saddle, which was to be +the resting-place for the night. +</P> + +<P> +The men lay down as usual, with piled arms in front and camels in rear; +the order for perfect silence was hardly needed; the sandy +water-channels made a comfortable couch for wearied limbs; and the +tired warriors were glad enough to wrap themselves in their blankets, +and enjoy a few hours of well-earned repose. +</P> + +<P> +In spite of the long and fatiguing day through which he had just +passed, Jack did not fall asleep at once, like the majority of his +comrades. Ever since his meeting with Valentine, his mind had been +continually going back to the days when they were at school together; +and now, in the solemn stillness of the desert, as he lay gazing up at +the bright, starlit sky, his thoughts flew back to Brenlands, and he +pictured up the dear face that had always been the chief of the many +attractions that made the place so pleasant. He almost wished now that +he had written to her before leaving England. She knew where Valentine +was, and every morning would glance with beating heart at the war +headings in the newspaper. It would have been a great satisfaction to +feel confident of having a share in her loving thoughts. Since +Christmas Day, our hero had only caught an occasional glimpse of his +cousin, but that was sufficient to revive his old love for the bright, +frank-looking face. +</P> + +<P> +"He's just the same as ever," thought Jack. "Well, I hope he'll get +through this all right. There are the girls, and Aunt Mabel—it would +be dreadful if anything happened!" And with this reflection Fenleigh +J. turned over and fell asleep. +</P> + +<P> +Before daybreak next morning the column was once more on the move, +crossing a large waste of sand and gravel, relieved here and there by +stretches of black rock; while, bordering the plain on either side, +were ranges of hills, which gradually approached each other until, in +the distance, they formed the pass through which ran the track leading +to the wells of Abu Klea. +</P> + +<P> +The march was now beginning to tell upon the camels, which, weakened by +fatigue and short allowance of forage, fell down in large numbers +through sheer exhaustion, throwing the transport into great confusion. +</P> + +<P> +Shortly before mid-day the force halted at the foot of a steep slope +for the usual morning meal of tea and bully beef. +</P> + +<P> +"I shan't be sorry when we get to those wells," said Jack, sipping at +the lid of his mess-tin; "I've been parched with thirst ever since we +left Gakdul. I wonder it we shall reach them this evening!" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't reckon it's much further," answered Joe Crouch. "I heard the +Nineteenth are going on ahead to water their horses. Look! they're +just off." +</P> + +<P> +Jack watched the Hussars as they disappeared over the brow of the hill. +</P> + +<P> +"Lucky beggars!" he muttered, and lying down upon his bed he pulled his +helmet over his eyes, and prepared for a quiet snooze before the order +should be given to mount. +</P> + +<P> +He had been dozing, and was in the dreamy stage between waking and +sleeping, when his attention was attracted by a conversation which was +taking place in his immediate vicinity. A few yards away, Lieutenant +Lawson was sitting on the ground rearranging the folds of his putties, +and talking to another subaltern. +</P> + +<P> +"I shouldn't have brought a thing like that with me," the latter was +saying; "you might lose it. Any old silver one's good enough for this +job, especially if you get bowled over, and some villain picks your +pockets." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I hadn't another," answered Lawson; "and, after all, it didn't +cost me much. I knew a fellow at Melchester, called Fosberton, an +awful young ass. He got into debt, and was hard pushed to raise the +wind. He wanted me to buy this. I was rather sorry for the chap, so I +gave him five pounds for it, and told him he could have it back if he +chose to refund the money; but he left the town soon after that, and +I've never heard from him since. Hallo! What's up now?" +</P> + +<P> +A couple of horsemen were galloping down the slope, and a few minutes +later the command was passed back from the front,— +</P> + +<P> +"Fall in! Examine arms and ammunition!" +</P> + +<P> +The men sprang forward to the row of piled arms, and then, like an +electric current, the report passed from one to another—the enemy was +in sight! +</P> + +<P> +"Cast loose one packet of your ammunition," said the commander of the +company. +</P> + +<P> +Jack's fingers twitched with excitement as he pulled off the string of +the familiar little brown paper parcel, and dropped the ten cartridges +into his pouch. It was the real thing now, and no mistake! +</P> + +<P> +Moving forward in line of columns, the force ascended the slope, and +after one more brief halt, while further reconnaissances were being +made, began to advance across the level stretch beyond, from which a +good view was obtained of the distant valley of Abu Klea, with the +steep hills rising on either side, and opening out at the entrance of +the pass. +</P> + +<P> +"There they are!" +</P> + +<P> +Far away, on the dark, rocky eminences, crowds of tiny, white-robed +figures could be clearly distinguished moving and gesticulating in an +excited manner. +</P> + +<P> +Steadily the force advanced until, when within a comparatively short +distance of the mouth of the valley, the word for "close order" was +given. The camels were driven forward into a solid mass in rear of the +leading company as it halted; the men dismounted, and knee-lashed their +steeds. +</P> + +<P> +There was not much time for looking about, for the order was +immediately given to build a zareba; and while some men were set to +work to cut down brushwood, Jack and his comrades were told off to +gather stones for constructing a breastwork. +</P> + +<P> +"Look alive, my lads!" said Sergeant Sparks, "and get whatever you can. +Hallo!" he added; "they've begun, have they?" +</P> + +<P> +Jack had heard something like the sound of the swift flight of a +swallow far overhead, but he did not understand its significance until, +a moment later, the sound was repeated, and on the ground in front of +him there suddenly appeared a mark, as though some one had struck the +sand with the point of an invisible stick, leaving behind a short, deep +groove, and causing a handful of dust to spring into the air. Far away +on the distant hillside was a tiny puff of smoke, and as he looked the +faint pop of the rifle reached his ear. Then the truth dawned on him: +this was his baptism of fire—a long-range fire, to be sure, but none +the less deadly if the bullet found its billet! +</P> + +<P> +He caught up a fragment of rock, and carried it to where the wall was +to be constructed. Men were hurrying to and fro all around him, and +yet suddenly he seemed to feel himself alone, the sole mark for the +enemy's fire; again that z—st overhead, and a cold chill ran down his +back. He shut his teeth, and, with a careless air, strode off for a +fresh load. He had not gone twenty yards when another shot ricochetted +off a stone, and flew up into the air with a shrill chirrup. Jack +winced and shivered. It was no good, however well he might conceal the +fact from others—the fear of death was on him; it was impossible to +deceive his own heart. A fresh terror now seized him, coupled with a +sense of shame. He was the fellow who had always expressed a wish to +be a soldier, and go on active service; and now, before the first +feeble spitting of the enemy's fire, all his courage was ebbing away. +What if his comrades should notice that his limbs trembled and his +voice was shaky? What if, when the advance was made, his nerve should +fail him altogether, and he should turn to run? +</P> + +<P> +With dogged energy he pursued his task, hardly noticing what was going +on around him. For the fourth time he was approaching the zareba, when +a comrade, a dozen yards in front, stumbled forward and sank down upon +the ground. There was no cry, no frantic leap into the air, yet it was +sufficiently horrible. Jack felt sick, and his teeth chattered; he had +never before seen a man hit, and it was his first experience of the +sacrifice of human flesh and blood. At the same moment, like a clap of +thunder, one of the screw-guns was discharged; the droning whizz of the +shell grew fainter and fainter—a pause—and then the boom of its +explosion was returned in a muffled echo from the distant hillside. +</P> + +<P> +A couple of men hurried forward and raised their wounded comrade. Jack +turned away his eyes, and immediately they encountered a rather +different spectacle. +</P> + +<P> +A young subaltern, with a short brier pipe in his mouth, and without a +hair on his face, was making a playful pretence of dropping a huge +boulder on to the toes of the lieutenant of Jack's detachment. +</P> + +<P> +"Hold the ball—no side!" said Mr. Lawson facetiously. "Look here, +Mostyn, you beggar! I've just spotted a fine rock, only it's too big +for one to carry. Come and help to bring it in; it's a chance for you +to distinguish yourself. Look sharp! or some of the Tommies will have +bagged it." +</P> + +<P> +Something in this speech, and the careless, happy-go-lucky way in which +it was uttered, seemed to revive Jack's spirits. Mr. Lawson recognized +and spoke to him as he passed. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Fenleigh, they've begun to shake the pepper-box at us; but it'll +be our turn to-morrow." +</P> + +<P> +There was nothing in the remark itself, but there was something in the +cheery tone and manly face of the speaker; something that brought fresh +courage to the soldier's heart, and filled it with a sudden +determination to emulate the example of his leader. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," he answered briskly, and from that moment his fears were +banished. +</P> + +<P> +Slowly the construction of the zareba was completed—a low, stone wall +in front, and earthen parapets and abattis of mimosa bushes on the +other three sides. The enemy still continued a dropping fire, which +was replied to with occasional rounds of shrapnel from the guns; but +Jack saw no further casualties. +</P> + +<P> +Once, during the work of collecting stones, he encountered Valentine. +</P> + +<P> +"I say," remarked the latter, acknowledging his cousin's salute with a +nod and a smile, "this reminds me of the time when we went up the river +with the girls to Starncliff, and built up a fireplace to boil the +kettle." +</P> + +<P> +When darkness fell, the force was assembled within the zareba; the low +breastwork was manned in double rank, every soldier lying down in his +fighting place, with belts on, rifle by his side, and bayonet fixed; +all lights were extinguished, and talking and smoking forbidden. In +spite of the day's exertions, few men felt inclined for sleep; the +drumming of tom-toms, and the occasional whistle of a bullet overhead, +were not very effective as a lullaby, and served as a constant reminder +of the coming struggle. +</P> + +<P> +Jack settled himself into as comfortable a position as his belts and +accoutrements would allow, and lay gazing up at the silent, starlit +sky. What was death? and what came after? Before another night he +himself might know. Lying there in perfect health, it seemed +impossible to realize that before another night his life might have +ended. He turned his thoughts to Brenlands. Yes; he would like to +have said good-bye to Aunt Mabel, and to have had once more the +assurance from her own lips that he was still "my own boy Jack!" +</P> + +<P> +"I always make a mess of everything," he said to himself. "I thought I +should always have had Brenlands to go to; and first of all I got +chucked out of the school a year before I need have left, and then this +happens about the watch. In both cases I've Raymond Fosberton to +thank, in a great measure, for what happened. I'll pay him out if ever +I get the chance." +</P> + +<P> +The thought of his cousin brought back to his mind the recollection of +the conversation he had overheard that morning. Strange that Mr. +Lawson should have known Raymond! Jack wondered what the monetary +transaction could have been that had been alluded to by his officer. +</P> + +<P> +Gradually a sense of drowsiness crept over him, and his heavy head sank +back upon the sand. +</P> + +<P> +"Stand to your arms!" He clutched instinctively at the rifle by his +side, and rose to his feet; the noise of the tom-toms seemed close at +hand. +</P> + +<P> +"They're coming!" But no; it was a false alarm. Once more the men +settled down, and silence fell on the zareba. Suddenly there was a +wild yell from one of the sleepers. +</P> + +<P> +"What's up there?—man hit?" +</P> + +<P> +"No—silly chump!—only dreaming!" +</P> + +<P> +Again Jack dozed off, to be wakened, after what seemed only a moment of +forgetfulness, by Joe Crouch shaking him by the shoulder. The word was +once more being passed along, "Stand to your arms!" and the men lay +with their hands upon their rifles. Daybreak was near, and an attack +might be expected at any moment. +</P> + +<P> +The sky was ghostly with the coming dawn, the air raw and cold. Jack +shivered, and "wished for the day." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVIII. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE BATTLE. +</H4> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +"Then he heard a roaring sound, quite terrible enough to frighten the +bravest man."—<I>The Brave Tin Soldier</I>. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Numbed with the cold, and stiff from lying so long in a cramped +position, Jack and many of his comrades rose as the daylight +strengthened, to stretch their legs and stamp some feeling into their +feet. As they did so, however, the dropping shots of the enemy rapidly +increased to a sharp fusilade; bullets whizzed overhead, or knocked up +little spurts of sand and dust within the zareba; and the defenders +were glad enough to once more seek the shelter of the low wall and +parapet of earth. Several men were wounded, and the surgeons commenced +their arduous duties—services which so often demand the exercise of +the highest courage and devotion, and yet seldom meet with their due +share of recognition in the records of the battlefield. Ever and anon +the screw-guns thundered a reply to the popping of the distant rifle +fire, and men raised their heads to watch the effect of the shrapnel, +as each shot sped away on its deadly errand. +</P> + +<P> +Even amid such surroundings, hunger asserted itself; and breakfast was +served out, a good draught of hot tea being specially acceptable after +the long exposure to the cold night air. +</P> + +<P> +"When you're on active service, eat and sleep whenever you can," said +Sergeant Sparks, munching away at his bully beef and biscuit. "There's +never no telling when you'll get another chance." +</P> + +<P> +Bands of the enemy kept appearing and disappearing in the distance; +spear-heads and sword-blades flashed and glittered in the rosy morning +sunlight, and the tom-toms kept up a continual thunder; but still there +was no sign of an attack. +</P> + +<P> +Jack longed to be doing something. He lay on the ground nervously +digging pits with his fingers in the soft sand, listening to the +monotonous murmur of conversation going on around him, and the constant +z—st! z—st! of bullets flying over and into the zareba. Now and +again he exchanged a few remarks with "Swabs" or Joe Crouch; and when +at length he was told off to join a party of skirmishers, he sprang up +and seized his rifle with a sigh of relief. +</P> + +<P> +Moving out in extended order to the right front of the zareba, they +marched forward a short distance, then halted, and lay down to fire a +volley. +</P> + +<P> +"Ready, at eleven hundred yards. Now, men, be steady, and take your +time." +</P> + +<P> +"Swabs" was in his element. He sprawled his legs wide apart, rooted +his left elbow into the sand, and settled down as though he were firing +for the battalion badge on the range at Melchester. Our hero was not +quite so cool; his heart thumped and his fingers twitched as he +adjusted the sliding bar of his back-sight. +</P> + +<P> +"Aim low—present—fire!" +</P> + +<P> +The rifles were discharged with a simultaneous crash. +</P> + +<P> +"Good volley," said Mr. Lawson, who was kneeling, peering through his +field-glass; "a bit short, I'm afraid; put your sights up to +eleven-fifty." +</P> + +<P> +Jack opened the breach of his rifle with a sharp jerk, and drew a long +breath. For the life of him he could not have told whether his aim had +been good or bad, but this much he knew, that he had fired his first +shot in actual conflict. +</P> + +<P> +The skirmishers retired; but still the enemy hung back, too wary to +attempt a charge. At length the order was given for an advance, and +preparations were accordingly made for forming a moving square. The +various detachments marched out of the zareba and lay down as they took +up their positions. Camels for carrying the wounded, and conveying +water and reserve ammunition, were drawn up in the centre; the two guns +and the Gardiner with its crew of sailors taking positions respectively +within the front and rear faces of the formation. +</P> + +<P> +Jack raised himself and looked round, anxious, if possible, to make out +the whereabouts of his cousin. He could distinguish "Heavies," +Blue-jackets, and the Guards, but Valentine and the ——sex men were +stationed somewhere out of sight on the other side of the central mass +of baggagers and their drivers. A short wait, and then came the +order,— +</P> + +<P> +"Rise up! The square will advance!" +</P> + +<P> +Two deep, as in the days of the "thin red line," the men marched +forward, stumbling over rocky hillocks and deep water-ruts, vainly +attempting to keep unbroken their solid formation, and delayed by the +slow movement of the guns and camels. The Arabs, swarming on either +flank, opened a heavy fire. The flight of the bullets filled the air +with a continual buzz. Men dropped right and left, and a halt was made +while the wounded were placed on the cacolets. The sides of the square +turned outwards, the Mounted Infantry formed its left-front corner, and +Jack and his comrades were in the left face. +</P> + +<P> +"Why can't we give 'em a volley?" murmured "Swabs," gazing at the +feathery puffs of smoke on the distant hillside, which looked so +innocent, but each of which might mean death to the spectator. No +order, however, was given to fire, and the command, "Right +turn—forward!" put the marksman and his comrades once more in motion. +</P> + +<P> +To walk along and be shot at was not exactly the ideal warfare of his +boyhood: but Jack had been "blooded" by this time, and trudged along +with a set face, paying little attention to the leaden hail which swept +overhead, and only wishing that something would happen to bring matters +to a crisis. +</P> + +<P> +A few minutes later his attention was turned to the line of +skirmishers, who were moving, some little distance away, in a direction +parallel to the march of the square. Suddenly, close to two of these, +a couple of Arabs sprang up from behind some bushes. One rushed upon +the nearest Englishman; but the latter parried the spear-thrust, and +without a pause drove his bayonet through his adversary's chest. The +other native turned and ran. +</P> + +<P> +"Bang! bang!" went a couple of rifle shots; but the fugitive escaped +untouched, and disappeared behind the brow of an adjacent knoll. +</P> + +<P> +"See that, Lawson?" inquired a voice from the supernumerary rank. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered the subaltern, "like potting rabbits. I think I could +have wiped that fellow's eye if I'd been there. The bayonet <I>versus</I> +lance was done better." +</P> + +<P> +Jack glanced round, and saw the speaker smoking a pipe, while Sergeant +Sparks tramped along close behind with an approving smile upon his +face, as though, if questioned, he would have made exactly the same +observation himself. It was no time to be fastidious or sentimental; +the callous indifference to life and death, whether real or assumed, +was the thing wanted. Here, at least, were two superiors who did not +seem to consider the situation very serious. The young soldier shifted +his rifle to the other shoulder, and grasped the butt with a firmer +grip. +</P> + +<P> +For an hour, which might have been a lifetime, the square toiled on, +every now and again changing direction to gain more open ground; the +stretchers and cacolets constantly receiving fresh burdens. A man, two +files in front of our hero, went down with a bullet through the head, +and those in rear stumbled over him. +</P> + +<P> +"Close up! close up, and keep that corner blocked in!" +</P> + +<P> +With mouth parched with the stifling heat and dust, Jack sucked at the +lukewarm dregs of his water-bottle, and wondered if the river itself +would ever quench his thirst. "Swabs," his rear-rank man, kept +fingering the loose cartridges in his pouch. At length the marksman's +patience and <I>sang froid</I> seemed exhausted. +</P> + +<P> +"Is this going on for ever?" he blurted out, "Ain't we ever going to +give it 'em back?" +</P> + +<P> +Hardly had the question been asked, when the answer was made evident in +a most unmistakable manner. +</P> + +<P> +Away in the grass to the left front a number of white and green flags, +mounted on long poles, had been for some time visible; and at this +point, as though they sprang out of the ground, swarms of Arabs +suddenly made their appearance, and with headlong speed and reckless +devotion charged down upon the left-front corner of the square. The +scattered line of skirmishers turned and fled for their lives; while +behind them, like a devouring tidal wave, the vast black mass rushed +forward, their fierce shouts filling the air with a hollow roar like +that of a ground sea. +</P> + +<P> +Like many another young soldier, with nothing but a few hundred yards +of desert between himself and death, Jack's first impulse was to raise +his rifle and blaze away at random as fast as he could load; but the +clear, calm voices in the supernumerary rank, and the old habit of +discipline, held him in check. +</P> + +<P> +"Steady, men:—Aim low—Fire a volley!" +</P> + +<P> +Another moment, and the black mass with its waving banners and +glittering weapons disappeared in a burst of fire and smoke, as the +rifles spoke with a simultaneous crash. Again, and yet again, the +vivid sheet of flame flashed from the side of the square; then, through +the drifting fog, it was seen that the enemy were apparently changing +the direction of their attack. Falling in scores before the terrible, +scythe-like sweep of the volley firing, they swerved round the flank of +the square and burst furiously upon the rear. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-240"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-240.jpg" ALT=""The enemy swerved round the flank of the square, and burst furiously upon the rear."" BORDER="2" WIDTH="395" HEIGHT="539"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 395px"> +"The enemy swerved round the flank of the square, and burst furiously upon the rear." +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +Rapid independent firing had succeeded the regular volleys, and Jack +was in the act of using his rifle, when he became conscious of a shock +and swaying movement, like the commencement of a Rugby scrimmage. He +turned, and saw in a moment what had happened: by sheer weight of +numbers, the overpowering rush of Arabs had forced back the thin line +of "Heavies," and a fierce hand-to-hand fight was in progress. What +had been the interior of the square was now covered with a confused +mass of struggling combatants, dimly seen through clouds of dust and +smoke. Desperate fanatics hacked and stabbed with their heavy swords +and long spears, while burly giants of the Guards returned equally +deadly strokes with butt and sword-bayonet. Shouts, cries, and words +of command mingled in a general uproar, half-drowned in the incessant +din of the firing. +</P> + +<P> +How long this awful contest lasted, or exactly what happened, Jack +could never clearly remember. He was conscious that the rear rank had +turned about, and of a vision of "Swabs" standing like a man shooting +rabbits in a cover, with his rifle at his shoulder, waiting for a +chance of a clear shot. Turning again to his front, he noticed the +fellow on his right working frantically at his lever, and sobbing with +rage and excitement over a jammed cartridge-case. "Knock it out with +your cleaning-rod!" he yelled, and thrust another round into the breach +of his own weapon, determined, if this were the end, to make a hard +fight of the finish. +</P> + +<P> +At length the pressure seemed to grow less, and then ceased; the enemy +wavered, then turned and began to slowly retreat, hesitating every now +and again, even in face of the withering rifle fire, as though +half-minded to renew their attack. Some turned and shook their fists, +while others, with the fanatic's unconquerable spirit and reckless +valour, rushed back singly, only to fall long before they reached the +hated foe. +</P> + +<P> +Once the threatening attitude of the retiring masses raised the cry of +"Close up! they're coming again!" But a well-directed volley settled +the question, and the last stragglers soon disappeared behind the +distant sandhills. +</P> + +<P> +Cheer on cheer rose from the square, and Jack, grounding the butt of +his heated weapon, joined in with a right good will, for he had fought +his first battle, and his heart throbbed with the triumph of victory. +</P> + +<P> +But even now the conflict was not quite over. Arab marksmen were still +lurking in the broken ground, and one of them suddenly rose into view +from behind a rock. Levelling his piece he fired, and Mr. Lawson, who, +revolver in hand, had stepped into a gap in the ranks, fell forward on +his face, the blood gushing in a crimson torrent from his mouth. At +the same moment "Greek met Greek;" for "Swabs," throwing his rifle into +his shoulder fired, and the Arab sharpshooter tossed up his arms and +dropped out of sight behind a rock. +</P> + +<P> +Our hero fell upon his knees with something like a sob, and attempted +to raise the fallen man. There was no lack of assistance. Mr. Lawson +was one of those officers for whose sake men are always ready and glad +to risk their lives; but the boldest among them could do nothing for +him now, and a moment or so later he died in Jack's arms. +</P> + +<P> +"He's gone, right enough, poor fellow!" said Captain Hamling, the +commander of the company, who had hurried to the spot. "See what's in +his pockets, Fenleigh. It there's anything of value, it must be taken +care of, and sent to his people." +</P> + +<P> +Jack did as he was ordered. A pipe, tobacco-pouch, jack-knife, and +rolled bandage were the chief things he found; and he handed them to +the captain. There was still the breast-pocket of the tunic, and this +on examination was found to contain a small letter-case and a handsome +gold watch. Jack glanced at the timepiece, and very nearly let it drop +from his fingers to the ground; he knew it in a moment—the lost +treasure which years ago had been stolen from Queen Mab's cupboard. +This then was the thing which Raymond Fosberton had parted with for +five pounds. +</P> + +<HR ALIGN="center" WIDTH="60%"> + +<P> +The square moved on a short distance to ground less encumbered with the +slain, and then halted. The carnage was awful; dead and dying of the +enemy lay in heaps where they had fallen, mown down by the deadly fire +of the Martinis; while among them on the knoll where the square had +been broken, and in many cases hardly recognizable from the blood and +dust which covered their forms and faces, were the bodies of the +Englishmen who had perished in the fray. +</P> + +<P> +Orders were now given for burying the dead, collecting the arms and +ammunition, and destroying the useless weapons that lay scattered about +in all directions; and it was while engaged in this latter duty that +Jack encountered his cousin. +</P> + +<P> +"I've just been inquiring for you. Thank God, you're safe!" +</P> + +<P> +In spite of all that he had just passed through, Jack's thoughts were +not fixed upon the fighting or dearly-won victory. +</P> + +<P> +"O Val!" he blurted out, "I've found that watch—the one that was +stolen at Brenlands!" +</P> + +<P> +In a few hurried sentences he described the conversation he had +overheard, and the discovery of the timepiece in the dead lieutenant's +pocket. The dread scene around him was for the moment forgotten in his +anxiety to clear his character from the doubts which he imagined must +still be entertained to a certain extent by his former friend. +</P> + +<P> +"So you see, sir," he concluded, "I can now prove that I'm no thief. +Raymond Fosberton stole it. I wish you'd ask Captain Hamling to show +it to you, sir, and then you'd know I'm speaking the truth." +</P> + +<P> +Valentine listened to this extraordinary revelation in open-eyed +astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +"There's no need for that," he answered—"I'll ask to see it if it's +your particular wish—but, Jack, I wish you would believe that what I +say is true, and that neither I nor Queen Mab ever for a moment +imagined that you were the thief. You may doubt us, but we have never +lost faith in you." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIX. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +"FOOD FOR POWDER." +</H4> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +"And so he lay quite still, while the shot rattled through the rushes, +and gun after gun was fired over him."—<I>The Ugly Duckling</I>. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +At last the wells were reached, and after the wants of the wounded had +been supplied, Jack and his comrades got a chance of quenching their +parching thirst. +</P> + +<P> +Water! It was a moving sight—a crowd of men standing round a pit, at +the bottom of which appeared a little puddle, which when emptied out +would gradually drain in again, the spectators watching its progress +with greedy eyes. Never had "Duster's" celebrated home-made +ginger-beer tasted so refreshing as this muddy liquid. Jack sighed in +an ecstasy of enjoyment as he gulped it down, and Joe Crouch remarked +that he wished his throat was as long as a "hostridge's." +</P> + +<P> +A body of three hundred men from the Guards, Heavies, and Mounted +Infantry started on a return journey to the zareba to bring up the +baggage, and the remainder of the force bivouacked near the wells. The +night was fearfully cold; the men had nothing but the thin serge +jumpers which they had worn during the heat of the day to protect them +against the bitter night air. Shivering and gnawed with hunger, Jack, +Joe Crouch, "Swabs," and two more men huddled together in a heap; and +finding it impossible to sleep, endeavoured to stay the cravings of +their empty stomachs with an occasional whiff of tobacco, those who +were without pipes obtaining the loan of one from a more fortunate +comrade. Jack's thoughts wandered back to Brenlands, and he smiled +grimly to himself at the recollection of that first camping-out +experience, and of Queen Mab's words as she promised them a supply of +rugs and cushions, "Perhaps some day you won't be so well off." His +mind was still full of his recent discovery. The thought that his +friends must regard him as guilty of the theft, and the feeling that he +could never give them proof to the contrary, had rankled in his heart +more, perhaps, than he himself suspected; and now that he had at last +discovered a solution to the riddle, and could prove beyond the +possibility of a doubt who was the guilty party, he longed to ease his +soul by talking the matter over with some one who knew the +circumstances of the case. Joe Crouch was the very man. +</P> + +<P> +"Joe." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes." +</P> + +<P> +"You remember my cousin, Raymond Fosberton?" +</P> + +<P> +Joe was not in the best of humours; he was cold, and his pipe had gone +out. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I do," he grumbled. "I wish I had him here now in his white +weskit and them shiny boots!" The speaker drew hard at his empty clay, +which gave forth a fierce croak, as though it thoroughly approved of +its owner's sentiments. +</P> + +<P> +"D'you remember that time when the watch was stolen out of Miss +Fenleigh's cupboard?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; and that Fosberton said it might 'a been me as took it, and +Master Valentine told me afterwards that you said that though I'd +stolen some pears once, you knew I was honest. Ay, but I thought of +that the morning I seen you come into the barrack-room. And then he +told them as it was you 'ad done it. My eye! if I had him here now, +I'd knock his face out through the back of his head!" The clay pipe +literally crowed with rage. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you may be interested to hear that it was Raymond Fosberton +himself who took the watch." And Jack proceeded to tell the story of +his find. +</P> + +<P> +"So he stole it himself, did he?" exclaimed Crouch, as the narrative +concluded. "Law me! if I had him here, I'd—" +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind!" interrupted the other, laughing. "I may have a chance of +settling up with him myself some day." +</P> + +<P> +"What shall you do when you see him?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't know!" answered Jack. "I daresay I shall have my revenge." +</P> + +<P> +Joe relapsed into silence, but for some time sudden squeaks from his +pipe showed that he was still meditating on the terrible vengeance +which he would mete out to Raymond Fosberton, should that gentleman +leave his comfortable lodgings in England and appear unexpectedly in +the Bayuda Desert. +</P> + +<HR ALIGN="center" WIDTH="60%"> + +<P> +At length the morning came, and with it the report that the +baggage-train was in sight. The news was welcome, and the work of +knee-lashing and unloading the camels did not take long. The previous +morning's hasty breakfast under fire had not been, by any means, a +satisfying meal; and so, after a fast of nearly two days, the prospect +of food made the men active enough in unpacking the stores. +</P> + +<P> +Jack seized his ration of bully beef and biscuit with the fierce +eagerness of a famished wolf; cold, hunger, and weary, sleepless nights +had never been the lot of the lead troops campaigning on the +lumber-room floor at Brenlands, or of their commanders either; nor, for +the matter of that, is it usual for youthful, would-be warriors to +associate such things with the triumph of a victory. +</P> + +<P> +Our hero had finished his meal, and was cleaning his rifle, when he was +accosted by Joe Crouch. +</P> + +<P> +"I say, Mr. Fenleigh wants to see you. He's over there by the guns." +</P> + +<P> +Valentine was standing talking to some of his fellow-officers. He +turned away from the group as he saw his cousin approaching, and the +latter halted and accorded him the customary salute. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here," said the subaltern, "the general is sending dispatches +back to Korti, and the officers have the opportunity of telegraphing to +their friends in England. I'm going to send a message home to let them +know I'm all right. Shall I put in a word for you? I'm sure," added +the speaker, "that Aunt Mabel would be glad to know that you are here, +and quite sate and sound after the fighting." +</P> + +<P> +Jack hesitated, but there was no sign yet of the long lane turning. +</P> + +<P> +"It's very good of you, sir," he answered, "but I'd rather they didn't +know my whereabouts. If I live through this, and return to England, I +shall still be a private soldier. I'm much obliged to you, sir, all +the same." +</P> + +<P> +He saluted again, and walked away. Valentine looked after the +retreating figure with a queer, sad smile upon his face. +</P> + +<P> +"You're a difficult fish to deal with," he muttered; "but we shall land +you again some day, though I hardly know how." +</P> + +<P> +Late in the afternoon the column was once more in motion, and then +commenced an experience which Jack, and all those who shared in it, +have probably never forgotten. At first the march was orderly, but, as +the hours went by, progress became more and more difficult. Camels, +half-starved and exhausted, lagged and fell, causing continual delay +and confusion. The desert track having been abandoned in order to +avoid possible collision with the enemy, the road lay at one time +through a jungle of mimosa trees and bushes, when the disorder was +increased tenfold—baggagers slipped their loads, and ranks opening out +to avoid obstacles found it impossible in the dark to regain their +original formation. Utterly unable to keep awake, men fell asleep as +they rode, drifting out of their places, some, indeed, straying off +into the darkness, never to be seen again. +</P> + +<P> +Worn out, and chilled to the bone with the bitter night air, Jack clung +to his saddle, dozing and waking; dreaming for an instant that Queen +Mab was speaking to him, and rousing with a start as the word was +passed, "Halt in front!" to allow time for the rear-guard closing up +with the stragglers. At each of these pauses poor "Lamentations" knelt +of his own accord; and his rider, dropping down on the sand by his +side, fell into a deep sleep, to be awakened by the complaining grunts +of the camels as the word, "All right in rear!" gave the signal for a +fresh start. +</P> + +<P> +After each stoppage it was no easy matter to get the weary animals on +their legs again; and almost equally difficult in many instances to +rouse their riders from the heavy slumber into which they fell the +moment they stretched themselves upon the ground. +</P> + +<P> +"Pass the word on, 'All right in rear!'" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, dear! I'd give a month's pay for an hour's sleep," mumbled Joe +Crouch. +</P> + +<P> +"Get up, you fool!" answered Jack, kicking the recumbent figure of his +comrade. "D'you want to be left behind?" +</P> + +<P> +On, on, through the endless darkness, now for a moment unconscious, now +half awake, but always with the sense of being cold and weary, the long +night march seemed to last a lifetime. Then, as sometimes happens in +similar circumstances, a half-forgotten tune took possession of his +tired brain, the once familiar melody of Queen Mab's hymn; and in a +dreamy fashion he kept humming it over and over again, sometimes the +air alone, and sometimes with snatches of the words, as they came back +to his memory. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 3em">"Rest comes at length;......</SPAN><BR> +The day must dawn, and darksome night be past."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +His head sank forward on his breast. It was Sunday evening at +Brenlands, and Helen was playing the piano. Queen Mab was standing +close at his side; and yet, somehow, the whole world lay between them. +"You may doubt us, but we have never lost faith in you." He turned to +see who spoke, and the figures in his dream vanished, leaving only the +echo of their voices in his mind. +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 3em">"......Angels of light!</SPAN><BR> +Singing to welcome the pilgrims of the night!"<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +The tune was still droning in his head when the first grey streaks of +dawn gave warning of the approaching day, and, in the growing light, +the column gradually regained its proper formation. +</P> + +<P> +The line of march lay down a vast slope covered with grass and shrubs, +which stretched away towards the distant Nile, as yet out of sight; and +ere long word was received from the cavalry scouts that the enemy, in +large numbers, were close at hand. +</P> + +<P> +Once more the bullets of the sharpshooters whistled overhead; and the +Arabs appearing in considerable force on the left flank, the column was +halted on the summit of a low knoll, and orders were issued for the +construction of a zareba. +</P> + +<P> +All hands now set to work to unload the camels and build walls of +saddles, biscuit-boxes, and other stores—parapets formed of almost as +incongruous materials as the old domino and pocket-knife works behind +which the lead warriors took shelter at Brenlands. Skirmishers were +thrown out to keep down the enemy's fire; but the men were worn out, +and having nothing to aim at but the feathery puffs of smoke rising +amidst the distant grass and bushes, they failed to dislodge the Arab +marksmen. +</P> + +<P> +Jack and his comrades "lay low," glad to avail themselves of the +shelter afforded by the side of the zareba. The bullets whizzed +overhead, or struck the biscuit-boxes with a sharp smack, while some +dropped with a sickening thud into the mass of camels. They were +patient sufferers, and even when struck made no sound or attempt to +move. Stretchers being constantly carried to and fro showed that the +medical staff had plenty of work; but it was not until some hours later +that the news leaked out among the men that Sir Herbert Stewart himself +was mortally wounded. +</P> + +<P> +Feeling inclined for a smoke, and having no tobacco about him, our hero +asked permission to fetch a supply from the zuleetah-bag attached to +his saddle. "Lamentations" acknowledged his approach with the usual +grumble; but it was the last greeting he was ever destined to give his +master. A bullet flew past with a sharp zip, the poor beast started +and shivered, and a thin stream of blood trickled down his shoulder. +Poor "Lam!" he was unclean and unsavoury, an inveterate grumbler, and +possessed apparently of a chronic cold in his nose; his temper was none +of the best—he had kicked, and on one occasion had attempted to bite, +he had fought his comrades in the lines, and had got the picketing +ropes into dire confusion; but, for all that, he was a living thing, +and Jack, who was fond of all dumb creatures, watched him with tears in +his eyes. It did not last long: the unshapely head sank lower and +lower; then suddenly turning his long neck round to the side of his +body, the animal rolled over, and all that remained of poor +"Lamentations" was a meagre meal for the jackals and vultures. +</P> + +<P> +Hour after hour the men waited, huddled together behind the +hastily-formed breastwork of the zareba. "Swabs" occasionally peered +through a loophole in the boxes to get a snap-shot at any figure that +might be seen creeping about among the distant bushes. Jack, worn out +with the night march, stretched himself upon the sand, and, in spite of +the constant zip of bullets and discharge of rifles, sank into a deep +slumber. +</P> + +<P> +At length he was awakened by a general movement among his comrades: +orders had been issued for a portion of the column to fight its way to +the Nile, and a square was being formed for the purpose a little to the +left of the zareba. In silence, and with anxious expressions on their +faces, the men fell into their places, lying down to escape the leaden +hail. The force seemed a ridiculously small one to oppose to the +swarming masses of the enemy, yet on its success depended the safety of +the whole column. +</P> + +<P> +The bugle sounded, and the men sprang to their feet, to be exposed +immediately to a heavy fire. Slowly and doggedly they moved forward, +now halting to close up gaps, and now changing direction to gain more +open ground. The vicious bang of rifles, fired at comparatively close +range, told of innumerable sharpshooters lurking around in the grass +and shrubs. A bullet suddenly tore the metal ornament from the top of +Jack's helmet, and striking the sword-bayonet of a man behind, knocked +his rifle nearly out of his hands. +</P> + +<P> +"A miss is as good as a mile!" remarked Sergeant Sparks; but as he +spoke Joe Crouch was suddenly flung to the ground as though felled by +the stroke of a hammer. +</P> + +<P> +Jack involuntarily uttered a cry of dismay, and the sergeant dropped +down on one knee to assist the fallen man. To every one's +astonishment, however, the latter rose to his feet unaided, looking +rather dazed and gasping for breath, and picking up his rifle staggered +back into the ranks. A spent shot had struck him on the bandoleer, +demolishing one of the cartridges, but fortunately failing to penetrate +the leather belt. +</P> + +<P> +Now and again the square halted to send a volley wherever the enemy +seemed to be gathered in any numbers, then continuing the advance in +the same cool, deliberate manner. +</P> + +<P> +Jack was marching in the left side, close to one of the rear corners, +and, as fate would have it, the left half of the rear face was formed +of the ——sex, and from the first he had been close to Valentine. +They were within a dozen yards of each other, and every few moments +Jack turned his head to assure himself that his cousin was unhurt. +</P> + +<P> +For more than an hour the little square had been doggedly pursuing its +forward movement, and now the enemy were seen in black masses on the +low hills to the left front. +</P> + +<P> +"They're coming, that's my belief!" said Joe Crouch, turning to address +his chum. He got no reply; for, at that instant, as the other happened +to look round, he saw his cousin stagger and sink down upon the sand. +In an instant Jack had sprung to his assistance; but this time it was +no false alarm. The bullet had done too well its cruel work. For a +moment Valentine seemed to recognize him, and looking up, with his left +hand still clutching at his breast, made a ghastly attempt to smile. +Then, with a groan, he fell over on his side, and fainted. +</P> + +<P> +A stretcher was brought, and Jack was ordered sharply to get back to +the ranks. As he took his place the square halted, and an excited +murmur rose on all sides:— +</P> + +<P> +"Here they come!—Thank God! they're going to charge!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XX. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE RIVER'S BRINK. +</H4> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +"Then he could see that the bright colours were faded from his uniform; +but whether they had been washed off during his journey, or from the +effects of his sorrow, no one could say."—<I>The Brave Tin Soldier</I>. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Darkness had fallen, and a thick mist rising from the river made the +still, night air damp and penetrating; but the weary men, stretched out +upon the sand, slept soundly in spite of the cold, and of the scanty +protection from it afforded by their clothing. The dark figures of the +sentries surrounding the bivouac, moving slowly to and fro, or pausing +to rest on their arms, seemed the only signs of wakefulness, except +where the occasional gleam of a lantern shone out as the surgeons went +their rounds among the wounded. +</P> + +<P> +Jack, however, was not asleep. He seemed instead to be just waking up +from a troubled dream, in which all that had happened since he had seen +Valentine placed upon the stretcher had passed before his mind in a +confused jumble of sights and sounds, leaving only a vague recollection +of what had really taken place:—The oncoming mass of Arabs; the crash +of the volleys, changing into the continuous roar of independent +firing; the pungent reek of the powder as the rolling clouds of smoke +enveloped the square; and the sight of the enemy falling in scores, +wavering, slackening the pace of their advance, and finally retreating +over the distant hills, not one having reached the line of bayonets. +Then, in the growing dusk, as the square advanced, the sight of the +silver stream showing every now and again amidst the green, cultivated +strip of land upon its banks; the wild joy of men suffering the +tortures of a burning thirst, which swelled their tongues and blackened +their lips; and the pitiful sight of the wounded being held up that +they might catch a glimpse of the distant river; the wait on the brink +of the broad stretch of cool, priceless water, as each face of the +square moved up in turn to take its fill; and then, no sucking the +dregs of a warm water-bottle, but a long, cold, satisfying drink. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-259"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-259.jpg" ALT=""The oncoming mass of Arabs."" BORDER="2" WIDTH="385" HEIGHT="539"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 385px"> +"The oncoming mass of Arabs." +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +All this, though so recently enacted, seemed to have left but a faint +impression of its reality on Jack's mind; his one absorbing thought +being that Valentine was hit, badly wounded, perhaps dying, or even +dead. +</P> + +<P> +A man approached, and in the darkness stumbled over one of the +slumberers. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, then, where are you coming to?" +</P> + +<P> +"Dunno—wish I did. D'you men belong to the Blankshire? Where's your +officer?" +</P> + +<P> +"Can't say. Wait a minute; that's he lying by that bit of +bush—Captain Hamling." +</P> + +<P> +Our hero raised himself into a sitting posture. He had recognized the +new-comer as a hospital orderly, and in the surrounding stillness heard +him deliver his message:— +</P> + +<P> +"Surgeon Gaylard sends his compliments, and would you allow one of your +men named Fenleigh to come and see an officer who's badly wounded? +He's some relative I think, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"Very good," answered the captain drowsily; "you can find him yourself." +</P> + +<P> +The orderly had no difficulty in doing that, for in a moment Jack was +at his side. +</P> + +<P> +"Is he dying?" +</P> + +<P> +"Dunno; he's badly hurt—shot through the lungs, and he's asked for you +several times." +</P> + +<P> +It was a cruel night for the wounded, with nothing to shelter them from +the bitter cold. Valentine lay upon the ground, with his head propped +up against a saddle. The surgeon was stooping over him as the two men +approached, and the light of his lamp tell on the pale, pinched +features of the sufferer. Within the last three days Jack had seen +scores of men hurried into eternity, and his senses had become hardened +by constant association with bloodshed and violent death, yet the sight +of those unmistakable lines on that one familiar face turned his heart +to stone. +</P> + +<P> +"You're some relative, I believe. He seemed very anxious to see you, +so I sent the orderly. What?— Yes, you may stay with him if you +like; but keep quiet, and don't let him talk more than you can help." +</P> + +<P> +"Is—is he dying, sir?" +</P> + +<P> +"He may live till morning, but I doubt if he will." +</P> + +<P> +Jack went down on his knees. There was no "sir" this time—sword, and +sash, and shoulder-strap were all forgotten. +</P> + +<P> +"Val!" The great, grey eyes, already heavy with the sleep of death, +opened wide. +</P> + +<P> +"Jack! my dear Jack!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; I've come to look after you. Are you in much pain?" +</P> + +<P> +"No—only when I cough—and—it's dreadfully cold." +</P> + +<P> +The listener stifled down a groan. Ah, dear thoughts of long ago! +Such things had never happened on the mimic battlefields at Brenlands. +This, then, was the reality. +</P> + +<P> +"Jack, I want you to promise me something—your word of honour to a +dying man." +</P> + +<P> +A fit of coughing, ending in a groan of agony, interrupted the request. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't talk too much," answered the other in a broken voice. "What is +it you want? I'll do anything for you, God knows!" +</P> + +<P> +"I want you to promise that you'll take this ring to Queen Mab—and +give it to her with your own hands. Say that I remembered her +always—and carried my love for her with me down into the grave. +Promise me that you will give it her—<I>yourself</I>!" +</P> + +<P> +Valentine ceased speaking, exhausted with the effort. +</P> + +<P> +"I will, I will!" returned the other, taking the ring. "But don't talk +about dying, Val; you'll pull through right enough." +</P> + +<P> +The sufferer answered with a feeble shake of his head, and another +terrible fit of coughing left him faint and gasping for breath. +</P> + +<P> +"Stay with me," he whispered. +</P> + +<P> +Jack propped him up to ease his breathing, and wiped the blood from his +pallid lips. For a long, long time he sat silently holding the hand of +his dying friend; then, fight against it as he would, exhausted nature +began to assert herself in an overpowering desire to sleep. Numbed +with cold, and wellnigh heart-broken, wretched in body and mind, +jealous of the moments as they flew past and of the lessening +opportunity of proving his love by any trifling service it might be in +his power to render—in spite of all this, an irresistible drowsiness +crept over him, and his head fell forward on his knees. +</P> + +<P> +The feeble voice was speaking again. +</P> + +<P> +"What did you say, Val? God forgive me, I cannot keep awake." +</P> + +<P> +Bending close down to catch the words, he could distinguish, even in +the darkness, some faint traces of the old familiar smile. +</P> + +<P> +"You used to say—that I had all the luck—but, you remember—at +Brenlands—it was the lead captain that got killed." +</P> + +<P> +Jack murmured some reply, he was too worn out and miserable to weep. +Once more that terrible struggle to keep his heavy eyes from closing; a +dozen times he straightened his back, and groaned in bitterness of +spirit at the thought that he could wish to sleep at such a time as +this; then once again his head sank under the heavy weight of fatigue +and want of rest, and everything became a blank. +</P> + +<HR ALIGN="center" WIDTH="60%"> + +<P> +Awakening with a start, Jack scrambled to his feet. How long he had +slept he could not tell, nor did he realize where he was till the light +of a lantern flashing in his eyes brought him to his senses. +</P> + +<P> +"How is—" the question died on his lips. +</P> + +<P> +The surgeon took one keen glance, held the lamp closer, and then raised +it again. +</P> + +<P> +"Is he going, sir?" +</P> + +<P> +"Going? he's gone!" +</P> + +<P> +The words were followed by an awful silence; then, for an instant, the +yellow gleam of the lamp tell upon the soldier's face. +</P> + +<P> +"Come, come, my lad!" said the medical officer kindly, "we did what we +could for him, but it was hopeless from the first. Be thankful that +you've got a whole skin yourself. You'd better rejoin your company." +</P> + +<P> +The sky was paling with the first indications of the coming dawn. The +men were standing to their arms, and Jack hurried away to take his +place in the ranks, hiding his grief as best he could from the eyes of +his comrades. Then as he turned to look once more towards the spot +whence he had come, he saw, away across the river, the flush of rosy +light brighten in the east, and all unbidden there came back to his +memory the words of Queen Mab's hymn. The sun rose with a red glare, +scattering the mist and sending a glow of warmth across the desert; and +once more the old, sweet melody was sounding in his heart, while all +around seemed telling of hopes fulfilled and sorrows vanquished when +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Morning's joy shall end the night of weeping."<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXI. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +"WHEN JOHNNY COMES MARCHING HOME AGAIN!" +</H4> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +"It touched the tin soldier so much to see her that he almost wept tin +tears, but he kept them back. He looked at her, and they both remained +silent."—<I>The Brave Tin Soldier</I>. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +It was a hot, still afternoon in August. The birds were silent, hardly +a leaf stirred, and everything seemed to have dozed off to sleep in the +quiet sunshine. Old Ned Brown, the cobbler, and general "handy-man" of +the village, who, in days gone by, had often bound bats and done other +odd jobs for "Miss Fenleigh's young nevies," laid down his awl, and +gazed out of the window of his dingy little shop. +</P> + +<P> +A soldier was walking slowly down the road. His boots were covered +with dust, and on the breast of his red coat glittered the Egyptian +medal and the Khedive's Cross. +</P> + +<P> +"That must be Widow Crouch's son," said Ned to himself. "I heard he +was back from the war. Maybe he'll know summat about the young +gen'leman who used to come and stay up at the house yonder, and who, +they say, was killed. Ah, yes! I remember him well—a nice, +pleasant-spoken young chap! Dear me, dear me! sad work, sad work!" +With a shake of his head, the old man once more picked up the shoe he +was mending, still muttering to himself, "Yes, I remember him—sad +work, sad work!" +</P> + +<P> +The soldier strode on. His thoughts also were busy with memories of +the past. In one sense he was not alone; for before him, in fancy, +walked a boy—a rather surly, uncared-for looking young dog, with hands +in his pockets, coat thrown open, and Cricket cap perched on the back +of his head, as though in open defiance of the rain that was falling. +The road had been damp and dismal then; to-day it was dry and dusty; +but the heart of the man who trod it was no lighter than it had been +that evening ten years ago. +</P> + +<P> +The old cobbler had been mistaken. It was not Joe Crouch, but Jack +Fenleigh, who had just passed the window of the little shop. He was +thinking of the first time he had come to Brenlands at the commencement +of the summer holidays, after having been kept back on the breaking-up +day as a punishment for sending a pillow through the glass ventilator +of the Long Dormitory. +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't want to face her then," he said to himself, switching the +dust off his trousers with his cane. "And yet, how kind she was! +Never mind! she won't know me now. Valentine promised he wouldn't +write, and he never broke his word." +</P> + +<P> +Jack had walked from Melchester. More than once in the course of the +journey he had hesitated, and thought of turning back; but the +sacredness of the promise made to a dying man had compelled him to go +forward. +</P> + +<P> +He turned the corner, and slackened his pace as he saw before him the +old house nestling among the trees. There was no board with TO LET +printed on it, such as usually, in story-books, greets the eye of the +returning wanderer. The place was just the same as it always had been; +and the very fact of its being unchanged appealed to his feelings in a +manner which it would be impossible to describe. The white front gate, +whose hinges had been so often tried by its being transformed into a +sort of merry-go-round; the clumps of laurel bushes which had afforded +such good hiding-places in games of "I spy;" even the long-suffering +little brass weathercock above the stable roof, which had served as a +mark for catapult shooting,—these, and a hundred other objects on +which his eyes rested, recalled memories which softened his heart, and +brought back more vividly than ever the recollection of that faithful +friend, whose last request he was about to fulfil. +</P> + +<P> +"I must do it," he muttered, feeling in his pocket for the ring; "I +promised him I would." +</P> + +<P> +He pushed open the gate, and walked almost on tiptoe down the path, +casting anxious glances at the windows. To his great relief it was not +Jane who opened the door, but a new servant. +</P> + +<P> +"Is Miss Fenleigh in?" he stammered. "Will you tell her a—a private +soldier has brought her something from an officer who died in Egypt?" +</P> + +<P> +The girl showed him into the old, quiet parlour (as if he could not +have found the way thither himself), and there left him. It was very +still. Nothing broke the silence but the sleepy tick of the clock, and +the sound of some one (Jakes, perhaps) raking gravel on the garden +path. Everything was unaltered. There was the little bust of Minerva +that Barbara had once adorned with a paper bonnet; the fretsaw bookcase +that the two boys had made at school; and the quaint little +glass-fronted cupboard, let into the panelling, from which the watch +had been stolen. In the years that had passed, only one thing in the +room had changed, and that was the tall figure in uniform standing on +the hearthrug. +</P> + +<P> +He turned to look at himself in the glass. The dark moustache, bronzed +skin, red tunic with its white collar and badges of the "royal tiger;" +all these things had never been reflected there before, and for the +twentieth time during the last half-hour he sought to reassure himself +with the thought that his disguise was complete. "She'll never +recognize me!" he muttered. "It's all right." Then the door opened, +and for an instant his heart seemed to stop beating. +</P> + +<P> +The same easy dignity and graciousness of manner, the same sweet +womanly face, and the same depths of love and ready sympathy in her +clear, calm eyes. She was dressed in mourning, and at her throat was +the brooch containing the locks of the children's hair. Jack noticed +it at once, and saw, too, that the little silver locket still had its +place among the gold trinkets on her watch chain; and the sight of it +very nearly brought him down upon his knees at her feet. +</P> + +<P> +She seemed smaller than ever, and now, standing in front of him, her +upturned face was about on a level with the medals on his breast. +</P> + +<P> +What was it made his chest heave and his lips tremble as he encountered +her gaze? However foolish and headstrong he might have been in the +past, he knew he had only to declare himself and it would all be +forgotten and forgiven. "You may doubt us," Valentine had said, "but +we have never lost faith in you." Yes, that was it; she loved her ugly +duckling, believing even now that, in spite of outward appearances, it +would one day turn into a swan. But the years had slipped away, and +the change had never taken place. She might hope that it had, and it +was best that she should never know the truth. +</P> + +<P> +With a set face he began to speak. +</P> + +<P> +"I've lately returned from Egypt, and saw there your nephew, Lieutenant +Fenleigh, of the ——sex Regiment." +</P> + +<P> +He tried to say "ma'am," but even at that moment it seemed too great a +mockery, and the word choked him. +</P> + +<P> +"I was with him when he died on the banks of the Nile. He asked me to +bring you this, and to give it to you with my own hands." +</P> + +<P> +She took the ring, but without moving her eyes from the speaker's face. +</P> + +<P> +"He asked me to tell you that he remembered you always." +</P> + +<P> +The voice grew husky, and the lady drew a little closer, perhaps to +hear more plainly what was said. +</P> + +<P> +"And to say that he carried his—his love for you with him down into +the grave." +</P> + +<P> +With a great effort Jack finished the message. The words had brought +back a flood of vivid recollections of that dreadful night, and his +eyes were filled with blinding tears. He turned to brush them away, +and as he did so he felt Queen Mab's arms meet round his neck. +</P> + +<P> +"You dear old boy! don't you think I know you? Don't you think I knew +you as soon as you came inside the gate?" +</P> + +<P> +He made some attempt to reply, uttered a broken word or two, and then +turned away his head; but she, standing on tiptoe, drew it down lower +and lower, until at length it rested on her shoulder. +</P> + +<P> +And so the ugly duckling ended his wanderings. +</P> + +<HR ALIGN="center" WIDTH="60%"> + +<P> +No autumn frosts or winter snows could ever have fallen on that garden, +for here were the same flowers, and fruit, and ferns as had bloomed and +ripened that last August holiday seven years ago. So, at least, +thought Jack, as he and his aunt walked together along the paths. +</P> + +<P> +"Did he write from Egypt to tell you about me?" +</P> + +<P> +"No; but I've always been expecting you. I knew you'd come back some +time." +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't think you'd recognize me." +</P> + +<P> +"Valentine knew I should. Don't you see it was you he sent home to me, +and not the ring?" +</P> + +<P> +Jack was silent. Everything that his eye rested upon reminded him of +that faithful, boyish friendship, and his lip quivered. +</P> + +<P> +Queen Mab noticed it, and changed the subject. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder what Jakes will think to see me walking about arm-in-arm with +a soldier," she said gaily. "Never mind, I must make the most of it +while it lasts. I'm afraid I shan't have many more opportunities of +'keeping company' with a red-coat." +</P> + +<P> +"How d'you mean?" he asked, with an uneasy, downward glance at his +uniform. "My time isn't up for nearly three years; and I know I ought +not to come here in this rig-out." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't talk nonsense," she answered. "You're a pretty soldier to be +ashamed of your cloth. Isn't it possible for a man to do his duty +unless he has a pair of epaulettes on his shoulders? Can't he do it +under any kind of coat? Come now," she added, shaking his arm, and +looking up into his face with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, "don't +you think, for the matter of that, a man could be a hero in his shirt +sleeves?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered Jack, laughing. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you do! I'm glad you've come to that conclusion at last." +</P> + +<P> +"Why?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why? because I think you'll soon have to give us a practical +illustration of how a man can distinguish himself by being capable and +trustworthy, even in plain clothes. That opens up a subject that I +have a lot to tell you about. Have you heard that your father and your +Uncle John are friends again?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; Val said something about it." +</P> + +<P> +"You haven't heard," she continued quietly, "that before the second +battle Valentine made a will, and gave it to a friend to be sent home +in case he was killed. It was more in the form of a long letter, +roughly written on the leaves of a pocket-book. A great deal of it was +about you. He did not break his promise to you, and say actually that +he had seen you, and where you were; but he assured us that he knew you +had not gone to the bad, but were living an honest life, and that +before long we should see you again. Then he begged his father, as a +last request, to do something for you, and to treat you as his own son. +Your uncle was over the other day. He is very anxious to carry out +Valentine's wishes, and would like to take you into his own business, +with a view to an ultimate partnership." +</P> + +<P> +"It's awfully good of him," murmured Jack huskily. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that's what he intends to do. But come, it's time I put in the +tea." +</P> + +<P> +"It's time I went," he murmured. +</P> + +<P> +"Time you went? What nonsense! You say you've got a week's furlough, +and that you left your things at the Black Horse. Well, I'm just going +to send Jakes to fetch them. Why, I quite forgot to tell you that +little Bar was staying here." +</P> + +<P> +The person who had just stepped out from the open French window on to +the lawn was certainly no longer little, but a tall, graceful young +lady. There was, however, still some trace in her roguish mouth and +dancing eyes of the smaller Barbara who had wrought such havoc among +her enemies by firing six peas at a time instead of two. +</P> + +<P> +Jack had never before been frightened at Bar, of all people in the +world; but now, if Queen Mab had not still retained her hold of his +arm, he might very likely have bolted into the shrubbery. +</P> + +<P> +The girl advanced slowly across the lawn, casting inquiring glances, +first at the red coat and medals, and then at the bronzed face of the +stranger. Then suddenly her mouth opened, and she quickened her pace +to a run. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you rascal!" she cried. "It's Jack!" +</P> + +<P> +That was all the speech-making Barbara thought necessary in welcoming +the returning prodigal; and not caring a straw for bars and ribbons, +pipeclay, and "royal tigers," she embraced him in the same hearty +manner as she had always done when they met at the commencement of +bygone summer holidays. +</P> + +<P> +The dainty tea-table was a great change after the barrack-room. The +pretty china cups seemed wonderfully small and fragile compared with +the familiar basin; and once Jack found himself absent-mindedly +stuffing his serviette into his sleeve, under the impression that it +was his handkerchief. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, when was the last time you had tea here?" asked Barbara. "It +must have been that summer when Raymond—" She stopped short, but the +last word instantly brought to Jack's mind the recollection of that +evening when Fosberton had charged him with being a thief. +</P> + +<P> +"By-the-bye," he exclaimed, "I forgot to tell you—I've found the +watch." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I know," answered Queen Mab quietly. "Valentine gave a full +account of it in his letter." +</P> + +<P> +Jack was just going to launch out into a long and forcible tirade on +the subject of the theft, but his cousin signed to him across the table +to let the matter drop. +</P> + +<P> +"Aunt has been in such a dreadful way about it," she explained +afterwards. "Only she and ourselves know about it. She doesn't like +even to have Raymond's name mentioned. He has turned out a thorough +scamp, and has given Uncle Fosberton no end of trouble. Father +happened to know the friends of that officer who was killed, and when +his things were sent home the watch was returned; so it's back again +now in the same old place. Aunt has never told any one, not even +Raymond himself, as she doesn't want to bring fresh trouble on his +parents." +</P> + +<P> +Later on in the evening, as they sat together in the old, panelled +parlour in the soft light of the shaded lamp, the talk turned naturally +and sweetly on Valentine—on all that he used to say and do; and Jack +told as best he could the story of the desert march, and of that last +sad parting on the river's brink. After he had finished, there was a +silence; then Barbara picked up the piece of work she had laid down. +</P> + +<P> +"So you didn't find war quite such a jolly thing as you used to think +it would be?" she said, looking across at him with a tearful smile. +</P> + +<P> +"No," he answered thoughtfully. "I suppose things that you have long +set your mind on seldom turn out exactly what you want and expect them +to be. I'm glad I saw active service, and I'd go through it all again +a hundred times for the sake of having been with Valentine when he +died; though it was little I could do for him, more than to say +good-bye." +</P> + +<P> +Queen Mab rose from her chair, and stooped over the speaker to wish him +good-night. +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind," she said softly. "I'm glad to think of both my boys that +their warfare is accomplished!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +CONCLUSION. +</H4> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +"I never dreamed of such happiness as this while I was an ugly +duckling!"—<I>The Ugly Duckling</I>. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +The old house at Brenlands still remains unaltered, except that the +empty room upstairs, once the scene of so many terrible conflicts +between miniature metal armies, has been turned into a nursery. +Another generation of children is growing up now, and eagerly they +listen while Aunt Mabel tells the old story of the tin soldier who went +adventuring in a paper boat, and came back in the end to the place from +which he had started; or the history of the little lead captain, who +stands keeping guard over the precious things in the treasure cupboard; +and who once, after bearing the brunt of a long engagement, fell in +front of his men, just as the fighting ended. +</P> + +<P> +When the nursery is in use, a long-forgotten little gateway makes its +appearance at the top of the stairs, and "Uncle Jack" pays toll through +the bars to the chubby little Helen standing on the other side. +</P> + +<P> +Queen Mab tries to make out that she is growing older; but her +courtiers will not believe it, and go so far as to scoff at and hide +her spectacle case, declaring that her wearing glasses is only a +pretence. +</P> + +<P> +But though Brenlands and its queen may seem the same as ever, many of +those connected with it in our story have experienced changes, of which +some mention should be made. +</P> + +<P> +Old Jakes has been obliged to give up the gardening, and Joe Crouch has +been installed in his stead. Joe has finished his time, both with the +colours and in the reserve; but he is the soldier still—smart, clean, +and never needing to have an order repeated twice. He often +unconsciously falls back into former habits, and comes marching up the +path with his spade at the "slope" or his hoe at the "trail," whistling +softly the old quick-step, which once drew our hero to "go with the +rest, and follow the drum." +</P> + +<P> +For Jack he cherishes the fondest regard and deepest admiration, which +he never hesitates to express in such words as these:— +</P> + +<P> +"Aw, yes, sir! he's what I call the right sort, is Master Jack. He +don't turn his back on an old cumred, as some would. I 'member the day +he bought himself out. 'Well, good-bye,' says I—'we've been +soldierin' together a good time, and in some queer places; but now +you're goin' back to be a gen'leman again, and I suppose we shan't see +each other never no more.' 'I should be a precious poor gen'leman if I +ever forgot you, Joe,' says he; 'you stood by me when I first came to +barracks, and some day I hope I shall be able to do something for you +in return.' And so he did, for he kept writin' to me, and when my time +was up he got me this place. Look here, sir, the day he come to enlist +the corporal at the gate says to him, 'We ought to make a general of +such a fine chap as you;' and you take my word for it, that's just what +they would have made of him, if he'd only stopped long enough!" +</P> + +<P> +Of Barbara something might be said, but that something is for the +present supposed to be a secret. Jack, who, like the average boy, +always seemed to have a knack of finding out things that were intended +to be kept private, knows more than he ought about this matter; and +bringing out a handful of coppers at the table, and representing them +to be the whole of his savings, declares that he will be "dead broke" +should any unforeseen circumstance necessitate his purchasing a wedding +present. Whereupon his cousin blushes, and puts her fingers in her +ears, and says, "I can't hear," but listens all the time. +</P> + +<P> +Of Raymond Fosberton, perhaps the less said the better. His name has +come very near being mentioned in a court of law, for forging his +father's signature to a cheque, and is therefore seldom mentioned among +his friends. One thing, however, might be told concerning his last +visit to Brenlands. +</P> + +<P> +A year after that eventful Christmas in Egypt, Jack was sitting before +the fire in Queen Mab's parlour, when Raymond was announced, and shown +into the room. He was dressed, as usual, in good though rather flashy +clothes; but in spite of this, he looked cheap and common, and his +general appearance gave one the impression of dirt wrapped up in silver +paper. The moment he saw Jack a spiteful look came into his face, and +he took no pains to conceal the old dislike and hatred with which he +still regarded the latter. +</P> + +<P> +"Hallo! so you've turned up again. I thought you'd soon get sick of +soldiering; too much hard work to suit your book, I expect." +</P> + +<P> +"No; I left it because I had a chance of something better. Aunt +Mabel's out; will you wait till she comes back?" +</P> + +<P> +Jack had seen more of the world since the day when he had knocked the +visitor into the laurel bush; and could now realize that Queen Mab had +spoken the truth when she said that punching heads was not always the +most satisfactory kind of revenge. He had a score to settle with +Raymond; but he regarded the latter now as a pitiful fellow not worth +quarrelling with, and he hesitated, half-minded to let the matter drop +without mentioning what was on his mind. +</P> + +<P> +Fosberton mistook the meaning of the other's averted glance. He +thought himself master of the situation, and, like a fool, having, +figuratively speaking, been given enough rope, he promptly proceeded to +hang himself. +</P> + +<P> +"You've been lying low for a precious long time," he continued, +maliciously. "Why didn't you come here before? You've been asked +often enough!" +</P> + +<P> +"I had my own reasons for stopping away." +</P> + +<P> +"You didn't like to come back after the bother about that watch, I +suppose?" +</P> + +<P> +Jack let him run on. "That was partly it," he answered. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then," continued Raymond, with a sneer, "you made a great +mistake bolting like that; you gave yourself away completely." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't understand you," returned the other, with a sharper ring in +his voice. "D'you mean to charge me again with having stolen the +watch?" +</P> + +<P> +"Pooh! I daresay you know what's become of it." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered Jack calmly, at the same time fixing the other with a +steady stare, "I <I>do</I> know what's become of it: at the present moment +it's in its case in that cupboard there. Shall I show it you?" +</P> + +<P> +The answer was so strange and unexpected that Raymond started; the +meaning look in his cousin's eyes warned him that he was treading on +dangerous ground. He had, however, gone too far to let the matter drop +suddenly without any attempt to brazen out the situation. +</P> + +<P> +"Humph!" he said; "I suppose you put it back yourself." +</P> + +<P> +"I was the means of its being brought back. I found it in the pocket +of an officer named Lawson who was killed in Egypt." +</P> + +<P> +The withering tone and scornful curl of the lip was on the other side +now. The visitor was fully aware of it, and winced as though he had +been cut with a whip. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Lawson had been stationed with the regiment at Melchester, and I +happen to know how the watch came into his possession." +</P> + +<P> +Raymond saw that he had rushed into a pitfall of his own making—he was +entirely in his opponent's hands—and like the mean cur he was, +immediately began to sue for forgiveness and terms of peace. +</P> + +<P> +"Hush!" he cried, glancing at the door. "Don't say any more, the +servants might hear. I'm very sorry I did it, but you know how it was; +I was pushed for money, I say, you haven't told any one, have you?" +</P> + +<P> +"No. Uncle John and Aunt Mabel know; though I don't think you need +fear that they will let it go any further." +</P> + +<P> +"That's all right," continued Raymond, in a snivelling tone. "I was +badgered for money, and I really couldn't help it. I've been sorry +enough since. I don't think I'll wait any longer, I'm in rather a +hurry. Well, good-bye. And look here, old chap—I'm afraid I treated +you rather badly; but well let bygones be bygones. I don't want it to +get to the governor's ears, so you won't mention it, will you?" +</P> + +<P> +Jack cast a contemptuous glance at the proffered hand, and put his own +behind his back. +</P> + +<P> +"No; I won't tell any one," he answered shortly, then turned on his +heel, and that was his revenge. +</P> + +<P> +And now the only person remaining of whom a last word might be said at +parting, is our hero himself. +</P> + +<P> +It was a balmy evening in that eternal summer that seemed to reign at +Brenlands; and he and Queen Mab were walking slowly round the green +lawn, while the swallows went wheeling to and fro overhead. +</P> + +<P> +Fastened to her bunch of trinkets next the locket was a silver +coin—the enlisting shilling, which Jack had never parted with since he +first received it on that memorable morning at the Melchester barracks. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said Aunt Mabel, "it was Queen Victoria's once, but now it's +mine!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I think I earned it," he answered, laughing. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps you'd like to go and earn another?" +</P> + +<P> +"No; I'm too happy where I am. Uncle John is awfully good to me. He +couldn't be kinder if I were his own son." +</P> + +<P> +"So you're content at last to stay at home and take what's given you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; I think I've settled down at last. Dear old Val said that the +lane would turn some time, and so it has. My luck's changed." +</P> + +<P> +"I think I'd put it down to something better than that," said Queen +Mab, smiling. "Perhaps it is not all luck, but a little of yourself +that has changed." +</P> + +<P> +Jack laughed again, but made no attempt to deny the truth of the +suggestion. Possibly he felt that what she said was right, and that +not only in his surroundings, but also in his own heart, had come at +last the long lane's turning. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="finis"> +THE END. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<HR> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap23"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Nelson's Books for Boys. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +<I>The Books below are specially suitable for Boys, and a better +selection of well-written, attractively-bound, and +beautifully-illustrated Gift and Prize Books cannot be found. The list +may be selected from with the greatest confidence, the imprint of +Messrs. Nelson being a guarantee of wholesomeness as well as of +interest and general good quality. For further selections see under +Ballantyne, Kingston, Nelson's "Royal" Libraries, etc.</I> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent" ALIGN="center"> +<I>Many Illustrated in Colours.</I> +</P> + +<PRE> + "CAPTAIN SWING." Harold Avery. + HOSTAGE FOR A KINGDOM. F. B. Forester. + FIRELOCK AND STEEL. Harold Avery. + A CAPTIVE OF THE CORSAIRS. John Finnemore. + THE DUFFER. Warren Bell. + A KING'S COMRADE. C. W. Whistler. + IN THE TRENCHES. John Finnemore. + IN JACOBITE DAYS. Mrs. Clarke. + HEADS OR TAILS? (A School Story.) H. Avery. + HELD TO RANSOM. (A Story of Brigands.) F. B. Forester. + JACK HOOPER. V. Cameron, R.N., C.B., D.C.L. + JACK RALSTON. (Life in Canada.) H. Burnham. + WITH PACK AND RIFLE IN THE FAR SOUTH-WEST. Achilles Daunt. + A CAPTAIN OF IRREGULARS. (War in Chili.) Herbert Hayens. + RED, WHITE, AND GREEN. (Hungarian Revolution.) Herbert Hayens. + IN THE GRIP OF THE SPANIARD. Herbert Hayens. + THE TIGER OF THE PAMPAS. H. Hayens. + TRUE TO HIS NICKNAME. Harold Avery. + RED CAP. E. S. Tylee. + A SEA-QUEEN'S SAILING. C. W. Whistler. + PLAY THE GAME! Harold Avery. + HIGHWAY PIRATES. (A School Story.) Harold Avery. + SALE'S SHARPSHOOTERS. Harold Avery. + A rattling story of how three boys formed a very + irregular volunteer corps. + FOR KING OR EMPRESS? (Stephen and Matilda.) C. W. Whistler. + SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS. E. F. Pollard. + TOM GRAHAM, V.C. William Johnston. + ONE OF BULLER'S HORSE. William Johnston. + THE FELLOW WHO WON. Andrew Home. + BEGGARS OF THE SEA. Tom Bevan. + A TRUSTY REBEL. Mrs. Henry Clarke. + THE BRITISH LEGION. Herbert Hayens. + SCOUTING FOR BULLER. Herbert Hayens. + THE ISLAND OF GOLD. Dr. Gordon Stables. + HAROLD THE NORSEMAN. Fred Whishaw. +</PRE> + +<BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +NELSON'S BOOKS AT ONE AND SIXPENCE. +</H3> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +<I>STORIES FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.</I> +</P> + +<PRE> + FROM THE BACK OF BEYOND. Mrs. Roberton. + COUNTESS DORA'S COMPANION. Mrs. Bennitt. + TWO LITTLE CAVALIERS. W. Bettesworth. + THE LUCK OF CHERVIL. H. Elrington. + KNIGHTS OF THE RED CROSS. D. Moore. + JOHN KNOX'S "BAIRNS." Margaret H. Roberton. + MARK'S PRINCESS. Mrs. Edwin Hohler. + THE ROUND TOWER. A Story of the + Irish Rebellion of '98. Florence M. S. Scott. + THE RIVERTON BOYS. K. M. Eady. + DOROTHY'S DIFFICULTIES. M. C. Cordue. + EVELYN. Dorothea Moore. + JAKE. Adela F. Mount. + A HELPING HAND. M. B. Synge. + THE QUEEN'S NAMESAKE. M. B. Synge. + A HAPPY FAILURE. Ethel Dawson. + FIFINE AND HER FRIENDS. Sheila E. Braine. + A LITTLE COCKNEY. Miss Gaye. + MARK HAMILTON'S DAUGHTERS. A. F. Robertson. + A STORY OF SEVEN. Bridget Penn. + THREE SAILOR BOYS. Commander Cameron. + TERRY'S TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS. J. M. Oxley. + TRUE TO THE FLAG. Mrs. Glasgow. + BOBBY'S SURPRISES. + THREE SCOTTISH HEROINES. E. C. Traice. +</PRE> + +<BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +NELSON'S "ROYAL" LIBRARIES. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +THE SHILLING SERIES. +</H4> + +<P CLASS="noindent" ALIGN="center"> +<I>Eight Coloured Plates in nearly every Volume.</I> +</P> + +<PRE> + ARCHIE DIGBY. G. E. Wyatt. + AS WE SWEEP THROUGH THE DEEP. Gordon Stables, M.D. + AT THE BLACK ROCKS. Edward Rand. + AUNT SALLY. Constance Milman. + CYRIL'S PROMISE. A Temperance Tale. W. J. Lacey. + GEORGIE MERTON. Florence Harrington. + GREY HOUSE ON THE HILL. Hon. Mrs. Greene. + HUDSON BAY. R. M. Ballantyne. + JUBILEE HALL. Hon. Mrs. Greene. + LOST SQUIRE OF INGLEWOOD. Dr. Jackson. + MARK MARKSEN'S SECRET. Jessie Armstrong. + MARTIN RATTLER. R. M. Ballantyne. + RHODA'S REFORM. M. A. Paull. + SHENAC. The Story of a Highland Family in Canada. + SIR AYLMER'S HEIR. E. Everett-Green. + SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN. Harold Avery. + THE CORAL ISLAND. R. M. Ballantyne. + THE DOG CRUSOE. R. M. Ballantyne. + THE GOLDEN HOUSE. Mrs. Woods Baker. + THE GORILLA HUNTERS. R. M. Ballantyne. + THE ROBBER BARON. A. J. Foster. + THE WILLOUGHBY BOYS. Emily C. Hartley. + UNGAVA. R. M. Ballantyne. + WORLD OF ICE. R. M. Ballantyne. +</PRE> + +<BR><BR> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +T. NELSON AND SONS, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, and New York. +</H5> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Soldiers of the Queen, by Harold Avery + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN *** + +***** This file should be named 29415-h.htm or 29415-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/4/1/29415/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +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: Soldiers of the Queen + +Author: Harold Avery + +Release Date: July 15, 2009 [EBook #29415] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + + +[Frontispiece: "A fierce hand-to-hand fight was in progress."] + + + + + +SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN + +BY + +HAROLD AVERY + + + + +LONDON, EDINBURGH, AND NEW YORK + +THOMAS NELSON AND SONS + +1898 + + + + +CONTENTS + + I. Tin Soldiers + II. An Ugly Duckling + III. The Rebel Reclaimed + IV. The Court of Queen Mab + V. An Unlucky Picnic + VI. A Keepsake + VII. Strife in the Upper Fourth + VIII. A Banquet at "Duster's" + IX. "Guard Turn Out!" + X. "Storms in a Tea-cup" + XI. "Out of the Frying-pan--" + XII. "--Into the Fire" + XIII. A Robbery at Brenlands + XIV. The Sound of the Drum + XV. The Queen's Shilling + XVI. On Active Service + XVII. Under Fire + XVIII. The Battle + XIX. "Food for Powder" + XX. The River's Brink + XXI. "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again!" + XXII. Conclusion + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +"Lieutenant Lawson, revolver in hand, stepped into a gap in the ranks" +. . . . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_. + +"Another volley swept the intervening stretch of tablecloth" + +"'Make haste! I can't hang on much longer'" (missing from book) + +"The visitors were seized, and hustled unceremoniously out of the room" + +"'Here they are! now we've got them!'" + +"It was Christmas Day in the camp at Korti" + +"The enemy swerved round the flank of the square, and burst furiously +upon the rear" + +"The oncoming mass of Arabs" + + + + +SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN. + + +CHAPTER I. + +TIN SOLDIERS. + +"They shouldered arms, and looked straight before them, and wore a +splendid uniform, red and blue."--_The Brave Tin Soldier_. + + +The battle was nearly over. Gallant tin soldiers of the line lay where +they had fallen; nearly the whole of a shilling box of light cavalry +had paid the penalty of rashly exposing themselves in a compact body to +the enemy's fire; while a rickety little field-gun, with bright red +wheels, lay overturned on two infantry men, who, even in death, held +their muskets firmly to their shoulders, like the grim old "die-hards" +that they were. The brigade of guards, a dozen red-coated veterans of +solid lead, who had taken up a strong position in the cover of a +cardboard box, still held their ground with a desperate valour only +equalled by the dogged pluck of a similar body of the enemy, who had +occupied the inkstand with the evident intention of remaining there +until the last cartridge had been expended. + +Another volley swept the intervening stretch of tablecloth, and the +deadly missiles glanced against the glass bottles and rattled among the +pencils and penholders. Two men fell without a cry, and lay motionless +with their heads resting on the pen-wiper. + +[Illustration: "Another volley swept the intervening stretch of +tablecloth."] + +"Look here, Barbara, you're cheating! You put in more than two peas +that time, I know." + +It was the commander-in-chief of the invading forces who spoke, and the +words were addressed to a very harum-scarum looking young lady, who +stood facing him on the opposite side of the table. + +"How d'you know I did?" she cried. + +"Because I saw them hit. There were three at least, and the rule was +that we weren't to fire more than two at a time." + +"There weren't three, then," retorted the girl, laughing, and shaking +back her tangled locks with an impatient movement of her head. "There +were _six_! Ha! ha! I put them all in my mouth at once, and you never +noticed." + +"Oh, you little cheat!" cried the boy. "I'll lick you." + +The threat had evidently no terrors for her. She danced wildly round +the table, crying, "Six! six! six!" and when at length he caught her, +and held her by the waist, she turned round and rapped him smartly on +the head with a tin pea-shooter. + +At this stage of the proceedings a lady, who had been sitting in a low +chair by the fire, looked up from her book. + +"Come, come!" she said pleasantly. "I thought the day was past when +generals fought single combats in front of their men. Isn't that true, +Valentine?" + +The tussle ceased at once; the boy released his sister, who laughed, +and shook herself like a small kitten. + +"She's been cheating!" he exclaimed. + +"I fired six peas instead of two!" cried the culprit, evidently +delighted with her little piece of wickedness. "And I knocked over two +of his silly old soldiers." + +A girl, somewhat older than Valentine, though very like him in face, +laid down her needlework, saying, with a quiet smile,-- + +"All's fair in love and war, isn't it, Barbara?" + +"Yes, of course it is," answered her sister. + +"It's not--is it, aunt?" retorted the boy. + +The lady rose from her chair, and, with a merry twinkle in her eye, +came over to the table. + +"Well, we'll hope not," she said. "Why, Val, I should have thought you +were too old to play with tin soldiers; you were fourteen last +birthday." + +"I don't think I shall ever be tired of playing with them--that is," he +added, "until I'm with real ones." + +"Queen Mab," as the children sometimes called her, was below the medium +height, and as she stood by her nephew's side his head reached above +the level of her shoulder. She glanced over the mimic battlefield, and +then down at the bright, healthy-looking young face at her side, with +its honest grey eyes and resolute little mouth and chin. The old +words, "food for powder," came into her mind, and she laid her hand +lightly on his rumpled hair. + +"So you still mean to be a soldier?" + +"Yes, rather; and father says I may." + +Miss Fenleigh was silent for a moment. "Ah, well," she said at length, +"a happy time will come some day when there will be no more war; and I +think it's about time this one ceased, for Jane will be here in a +minute to clear the table for tea." + +If Valentine or either of his sisters had been asked to describe their +Aunt Mabel, they would probably have done so by saying she was the best +and dearest person in the world; and accepting this assertion as +correct, it would be difficult to say more. Her house also was one of +the most delightful places which could well be imagined; and there, +since their mother's death, the children spent each year the greater +part of their summer holidays. + +It was a dear, easy-going old house, with stairs a little out of the +straight, and great beams appearing in unexpected places in the bedroom +ceilings. There were brass locks with funny little handles to the +doors, and queer alcoves and cupboards let into the walls. There was +no fusty drawing-room, with blinds always drawn down, and covers to the +chairs, but two cosy parlours meant for everyday use, the larger of +which was panelled with dark wood which reflected the lamp and +firelight, and somehow seemed to be ready to whisper to one stories of +the days when wood was used for wall-paper, and when houses were built +with sliding panels in the walls and hiding-places in the chimneys. +The garden exactly matched the house, and so did the flowers that grew +in it--the pink daisies, "boy's love," sweet-williams, and hollyhocks, +all of which might be picked as well as looked at. Visitors never had +a chance of stealing the fruit, because they were always invited to eat +it as soon as it was ripe, or even before, if they preferred. + +There were a lawn, and a paddock, and a shrubbery, the last so much +overgrown that it resembled a little forest, and often did duty for a +miniature "merry Sherwood," when the present of some bows and arrows +caused playing at Robin Hood and his men to become a popular pastime. +Lastly, there was the stable, where Jessamine, the little fat pony, and +the low basket-carriage were lodged; and above was the loft, a charming +place, which had been in turn a ship, a fortress, a robbers' cave, and +a desert island. Up there were loads of hay and bundles of straw, +which could be built up or rolled about in; the place was always in a +romantic twilight; there were old, deserted spiders' webs hanging to +the roof, looking like shops to let, which never did any business; and +the ascent and descent of the perpendicular ladder from the ground +floor was quite an adventure in itself. To picture a ship on which one +had to go aloft to enter the cabin would seem rather a difficult task; +but a child's imagination is the richest in the world, and though +Valentine and his sisters had grown rather too old for this style of +amusement, every fresh visit to Brenlands was made brighter by +recollections of the many happy ones which had preceded it, and of all +the fun and frolic they had already enjoyed there. + +But best and foremost of all the charming things which made the place +so bright and attractive was Queen Mab herself. She never said that +little people ought to be seen and not heard; and there never was a +person so easy to tell one's troubles to, or so hard to keep a secret +from, as Aunt Mabel. No one in the world could ever have told stories +as well as she did. "The Brave Tin Soldier" and "The Ugly Duckling" +were the favourites, and came in time to be always associated with +Brenlands. They had been told so often that the listeners always knew +exactly what was coming next, and had the narrator put the number of +metal brethren at two dozen instead of twenty-five, or missed out a +single stage of the duckling's wanderings, she would have been +instantly tripped up by her audience. But Queen Mab was too skilful a +story-teller to leave out the minutest detail in describing the +perilous voyage of the paper boat, or to spare the duckling a single +snub from the narrow-minded hen or the bumptious tom-cat. The "Tin +Soldier" she generally gave in answer to the special request of her +small nephew, but she herself seemed to prefer the other story. There, +the duckling's sorrowful wanderings finished with his turning into a +swan, and Queen Mab always had a liking for happy endings. + +She and the old house were exactly suited to each other, and seemed to +share the same fragrant atmosphere, so that wherever her courtiers met +her, and flung their arms round her neck, they were instantly reminded +of sweet-brier and honeysuckle, jars of dried rose leaves, and all the +other delicious scents of Brenlands. The children never noticed that +there were streaks of silver in her hair, or that on her left hand she +wore a mourning ring; nor did they know the reason why, on a certain +day in the year, she seemed, if possible, more kind and loving than on +any other, and went away somewhere early in the morning with a big +bunch of flowers, and came back with the basket empty. + +"Aunt," said Barbara, "what's an old maid?" + +"Why, I'm one!" answered Queen Mab, laughing; whereupon it became every +one's ambition to live a life of single blessedness. When there was +cherry-tart for dinner, an alarming number of stones were secretly +swallowed, in order that the person guilty of this abominable piece of +sharp practice might count out, "This year--Next year--Some +time--Never!" and at old maid's cards the object of the game was now +reversed, and instead of trying to "go out," every one strove to remain +in, the fortunate being in whose hands the "old maid" remained at the +finish always brandishing the hitherto detested card with a shriek of +triumph. + +The last trace of the mimic battle had been cleared away, and now where +tin cavalry had ridden boldly to their fate, and lead guards had died +but not surrendered, nothing was to be seen but peaceful plum-cake, or +bread and butter cut in thin and appetizing slices. + +"I'm sorry you weren't able to make a longer stay," said Aunt Mabel, as +she poured out the tea. "But your father said he couldn't spare you +for more than a week at Easter. However, the summer will soon be here, +and then you will come again for a proper visit. By-the-bye, +Valentine, d'you know that your cousin Jack is coming to be a +school-fellow of yours at Melchester?" + +"No, aunt; is that Uncle Basil's son?" + +"Yes; I want you to make friends with him, and bring him over here on +your half-term holiday. I hope he will come for a few weeks at +midsummer, and then you will all be able to have a jolly time together." + +"How old is he?" asked Valentine. + +"Oh, I think he is about a year older than you are--fifteen or +thereabouts." + +Barbara had fished a stranger out of her cup, and was smiting the back +of one plump little hand against the other, to the accompaniment of +"Monday--Tuesday--Wednesday," and so on. + +"Aunt Mab," she said suddenly, "how is it we never hear anything of +Uncle Basil, or that he never comes to visit us? What's Jack like?" + +"Well, I can hardly tell you," replied Miss Fenleigh; "I've only seen +him once, poor boy, and that was several years ago." + +"But why don't we ever see Uncle Basil?" persisted Barbara. "You often +come and visit us, and why doesn't he?" + +"Well, I live within ten miles of your house, and Padbury is thirty or +forty miles on the other side of Melchester." + +"But that isn't very far by railway; and if he can't come, why doesn't +he write?" + +Aunt Mabel seemed perplexed what reply to make, but at this moment the +boy came to her rescue. + +"Don't ask so many questions, Bar," he said. + +Miss Barbara was always ready for a tussle, with words or any other +weapons. "Pooh!" she answered, "whom d'you think you're talking to? I +know what it is, you're angry because I knocked over more of your +soldiers than you did of mine!" + +"Yes, you cheated." + +"Fiddles! You thought I'd only got two peas in my mouth, you old +stupid, and instead of that I'd got six, _six_! ha! ha!" And so the +discussion continued. + +Helen was nearly two years older than Valentine. She was a quiet, +thoughtful girl, and later in the evening, when her brother and sister +had gone to bed, she remained talking with her aunt in front of the +fire. While so doing, she returned to the subject of their +conversation at the tea-table. + +"Aunt, why is it that father and Uncle Basil never meet?" + +"Well, my dear, I didn't like to talk about it before Val and Barbara; +it's a pity they should hear the story before they are older and can +understand it better; besides, I wish the boys to be good friends when +they meet at school. Basil and your father had a dispute many years +ago about some money matters connected with your grandfather's will, +and I am sorry to say they have never been friends since. Your uncle +has always been a very unpractical man; he has wasted his life +following up ideas which he thought would bring him success and riches, +but which always turned out failures. He always has some fresh fad, +and it always brings him fresh trouble. I don't think he would +wilfully wrong any one, but from being always in difficulties and under +the weather, his temper has been soured and his judgment warped, and he +cannot or will not see that your father acted in a perfectly just and +honourable manner, and the consequence is, as I said before, they never +made up their quarrel." + +"And Jack is going to the school at Melchester?" + +"Yes; and I want Valentine to make friends with him, and for us to have +him here in the summer. Poor boy, soon after your mother died, he lost +his, and I am afraid his life and home surroundings have not been very +happy since. Well, we must try to brighten him up a bit. I've no +doubt we shall be able to do that when we get him here at Brenlands." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +AN UGLY DUCKLING. + +"They had not been out of the egg long, and were very saucy. 'Listen, +friend,' said one of them to the duckling, 'you are so ugly that we +like you very well.'"--_The Ugly Duckling_. + + +It was the first day of term, and Melchester School presented a general +appearance of being unpacked and put together again, as though the +whole institution had been sent out of town for the holidays, and had +returned by goods train late on the previous evening. The passages +were strewn with the contents of boxes belonging to late comers; new +boys wandered about, apparently searching for something which they +never found; while the old stagers exchanged noisy greetings, devoured +each other's "grub," and discussed the prospects of the coming thirteen +weeks which they must pass together before the commencement of the +summer vacation. + +Most of the boys had arrived on the Monday evening, but Valentine +Fenleigh did not come back until the following morning. According to a +promise made to his aunt before leaving Brenlands, one of the first +things he did was to inquire after his cousin. + +"Yes," said one of his classmates, "there is a new chap by the name of +Fenleigh, but I don't know what he's like. He's not put with us in the +Lower Fourth." + +Among a hundred and fifty boys, and in the confusion of a first day, it +was a difficult matter to discover at once the whereabouts of the +fellow he wanted. He accosted one or two of the new-comers, but by the +time the bell rang for afternoon school he had only succeeded in +ascertaining the fact that his cousin must be somewhere about, from +having seen the name "J. Fenleigh" ticked off on the bedroom list. +Holms was full of a project for hiring a bicycle during the summer +months, and, what with listening to the unfolding of this plan, and +struggling with the work in hand, Valentine soon forgot the existence +of his undiscovered relative. + +Towards the end of the first hour Mr. Copland, the form-master, folded +up a piece of paper on which he had been writing, and handing it across +the desk, said,-- + +"Fenleigh, take this in to Mr. Rowlands, and bring back an answer." + +Valentine made his way to the head-quarters of the Upper Fourth. The +classroom was rather quieter than the one he had left, Mr. Rowlands +being somewhat of a martinet. + +"All right," said the latter, who was copying a list of questions on +the blackboard; "put your note on my table, and I'll attend to you in a +moment." + +The messenger did as he was told, and stood looking round the room, +exchanging nods and winks with one or two members of the upper division +with whom he was on friendly terms. + +On a form at the back of the room sat three boys who were hardly ever +seen apart, and who had apparently formed an alliance for the purpose +of idling their time, and mutually assisting one another in getting +into scrapes. Their names were Garston, Rosher, and Teal; and seated +at the same desk was a boy with whom they seemed to have already struck +up an acquaintance, though Valentine did not remember having seen his +face before. Even in the Upper Fourth there was a subdued shuffle, +showing that work was going rather hard on this first day; and the +young gentlemen whose names have just been mentioned were evidently not +throwing themselves heart and soul into the subject which was supposed +to be occupying their undivided attention. + +Mr. Rowlands finished a line, made a full stop with a sharp rap of his +chalk, and then turned round sniffing. + +"Dear me!" he said, "there's a strong smell of something burning." + +"Perhaps it's Jackson's cricket cap," murmured a small boy. Jackson's +hair, be it said, was of a fiery red, and hence the suggestion that his +head-gear might be smouldering in his pocket. + +"What's that?" demanded Mr. Rowlands, and the joker subsided. + +Jackson waited until a fresh sentence had been begun on the blackboard; +then he dropped a ruler, and in picking it up again smote the small boy +on a vulnerable spot beneath the peak of his shell-jacket. + +"There _is_ something burning," repeated the master. "Has any one of +you boys got matches in his pocket?" + +"Oh, _no_, sir!" shouted a dozen voices. + +"Answer more quietly, can't you? I'm not deaf! Jackson, see if +there's anything in the stove." + +The stove was found to contain nothing but a bit of ink-sodden +blotting-paper. Jackson drew it carefully forth, and held it up +between his finger and thumb. "That's all, sir," he said. + +"Then put it _back_, sir," cried the master, "and go on with your work." + +Valentine had some difficulty in keeping from laughing. The smell +which had greeted Mr. Rowlands' nostrils was caused by Garston, who was +deliberately burning holes with a magnifying glass in the coat of the +boy in front of him, who sat all unconscious of what was happening to +this portion of his wardrobe. + +The new fellow, who watched the proceedings with great interest, now +stretched out his hand, and taking the glass held it up level with the +victim's neck. + +A moment later there was a yell. + +"Who made that noise?" + +"Please, sir, somebody burnt my neck!" + +"Burnt your neck! What boy has been burning Pilson's neck?" + +The new-comer raised his hand and gave a flip with his thumb and +finger. "I did," he answered. + +"You did!" exclaimed Mr. Rowlands wrathfully. "What are you thinking +of, sir? I've spoken to you four times to-day already. I don't know +if you were accustomed to behave in this manner at the last school you +were at, but let me tell you--" + +"Please, sir," interrupted Pilson plaintively, "they've burnt a hole in +my back!" + +At this announcement the class exploded. + +"_Silence_!" cried the master. "What do you mean, Pilson? is your coat +burnt?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Very well, Fenleigh; I shall give you five hundred lines." + +Valentine, who had been an unoffending spectator of the affair, was +fairly staggered at suddenly hearing himself commissioned to write five +hundred lines. Then the situation dawned upon him--this reckless +gentleman with the burning-glass was his cousin Jack. + +Mr. Rowlands made a memorandum of the punishment, and at the same time +scribbled a few words in reply to Mr. Copland. As he did so, Valentine +had an opportunity of examining his relative's appearance. The latter +might have been pronounced good-looking, had it not been for a +perpetual expression of restlessness and discontent, which soured what +would otherwise have been a pleasant face. He seemed to care very +little for the lines, and as soon as the master's eye was off him he +turned to Garston and winked. + +Valentine was by no means what is commonly known as a "good boy;" he +was as fond of a lark as any right-minded youngster need be; but he had +been taught at home that any one who intended to become a soldier +should first learn to obey, and to respect the authority of those set +over him. He did not like plunging into rows for the sake of being +disorderly; and something in Jack Fenleigh's careless behaviour did not +tend to leave on his mind a very favourable impression of his +newly-found cousin. He had, however, promised Queen Mab to make +friends; and so, as soon as afternoon school was over, he waited for +Jack in the gravel playground, and there introduced himself. + +"Oh, so you're Valentine," said the other. "My guv'nor told me you +were here." + +"Yes. I hope we shall be friends." + +"Well, there's no reason why we shouldn't. My guv'nor's had a row with +yours, I know; but that's nothing, he's always quarrelling with +somebody, and I'm sure I don't mind, if you don't. By-the-bye, weren't +you the fellow who was in the classroom when I got into that row about +the burning-glass?" + +"Yes; and I say it's rather a pity you go on like that the first day +you're here. Masters don't expect new fellows to begin larking at +once, and you'll get into Rowlands' bad books." + +"Oh, I don't mind that," answered the other; "I didn't want to come +here, and I don't care if I'm sent going again." + +At this moment Garston joined them. + +"Hallo!" he said, "are you two related to each other? I never thought +of your names being the same before. Cousins, eh? Well, look here, +new Fenleigh, Pilson's on the war-path after you for burning his neck." + +"I don't care if he is," answered the other. + +Hardly had the words been spoken when the subject of them turned the +corner. + +"Yes," he cried, "you're the chap I'm after! What did you burn my coat +for?" + +"I didn't burn your coat." + +"Oh, you liar! Look here, I'm just going to--" + +What Pilson _was_ going to do will remain for ever unknown. He had no +sooner laid his hand on Jack's collar than the latter, without a +moment's hesitation, struck him a heavy blow on the chest which sent +him staggering back against the wall gasping for breath. + +"Just keep your dirty paws off me. I tell you I didn't burn your coat; +though to look at it, I should think burning's about all it's good for." + +This was not at all the usual line of conduct which new boys adopted +when brought to book by an oldster. Pilson felt aggrieved, but made no +attempt to follow up his attack. + +"All right," he said. "You're a liar, and I'll tell all the other +fellows." + +"You can tell 'em what you please," returned the other, and taking hold +of Garston's arm he walked away. + +Valentine turned on his heel with a doubtful look on his face; his +cousin evidently knew how to take care of himself, yet the latter's +conduct was not altogether satisfactory. It was Garston who had burnt +the coat, and it was like him to let another boy bear the blame; while +Jack evidently cared as little for being thought a liar as he did for +any other misfortune that might befall him. + +During the next few days the cousins met every now and again in the +playground, or about the school buildings, but it was only to exchange +a nod or a few words on some subject of general interest. There seemed +to be little in common between them; and Jack, though willing enough to +be friendly and forget the family feud, evidently found the society of +the three unruly members of the Upper Fourth more to his liking than +that of a steady-going boy like Valentine. + +For nearly a month the latter did his best to form the friendship which +his aunt had desired; then an event happened which caused him to almost +regard the task as hopeless. Jack had been steadily winning for +himself the reputation of a black sheep; but the climax was reached +when he further distinguished himself in connection with certain +extraordinary proceedings known and remembered long afterwards as the +"Long Dormitory Sports." + +It was Rosher's idea. The chamber in question was called "Long" from +the fact that it contained sixteen beds, eight on a side, all of which +were occupied by members of the Upper Fourth. Skeat, the Sixth Form +boy in charge, was ill, and had gone to the infirmary; and in the +absence of the proverbial cat, the mice determined to get in as much +play as possible, only stopping short at performances which might +attract the attention of the master on duty. + +It was one Tuesday night. Garston and Teal had had a quarter mile +walking race up and down the centre aisle, which had ended, to the +great delight of the spectators, in Garston nearly tearing his +nightshirt off his back by catching it on a broken bedstead, while the +other competitor had kicked his toe against an iron dumb-bell, and +finished the race by dancing a one-legged hornpipe in the middle of the +course, while his opponent won "hands down." + +"I say," remarked Rosher, "why shouldn't we have proper sports, with a +proper list of events and prizes?" + +"Who'll give the prizes?" asked Teal. + +"Oh, anybody! Look here. I vote we have sports to-morrow night before +old Skeat comes back. Hands up, those who are agreeable! To the +contrary!--none. Very well, it's carried!" + +"But how about prizes?" persisted Teal, who was of rather a mercenary +disposition. + +"There needn't be any proper prizes," answered Rosher; "we can give the +winners anything." + +"Give 'em lines," suggested Garston. + +"No; shut up, Garston. Everybody must give something. I'll offer a +brass match-box, shaped like a pig." + +"No, you won't," interrupted Teal. "It's mine; you borrowed it a week +ago, and never gave it me back." + +"Did I? Well, I'll tell you what, I'll offer a photograph of my +brother; the frame's worth something. Now, what'll you give, Garston?" + +Garston offered a small pocket-mirror. Jack Fenleigh a bone +collar-stud, while a boy named Hamond promised what was vaguely +described as "part of a musical box," and which afterwards turned out +to be the small revolving barrel, the only fragment of the instrument +which remained. + +Prizes having been secured, the next thing was to arrange competitions +in which to win them; and in doing this, the committee were obliged to +keep in view the peculiar nature and limitations of the ground at their +disposal. It was no good Hamond's clamouring for a pole jump, or Teal +suggesting putting the weight. Jack's proposal of a sack race in +bolster cases was, for a moment, entertained as a good idea; then it +was suddenly remembered that the bolsters had no cases, and so that +project fell through. + +One by one the events were decided on. Rosher promised to draw up a +programme, and insisted that after every boy's name some distinguishing +colours should appear, as on a proper sports list, and that competitors +were to arrange their costumes accordingly. + +"When shall it come off?" asked Garston. + +"Oh, to-morrow, after the masters have all gone in to supper. Now, +we've been planning long enough; good-night." + +The occupants of the Long Dormitory, be it said to their credit, were +not fellows to form a scheme and then think no more about it, and the +next day their minds were exercised with preparations for the sports, +the chief difficulty being in arranging costumes which should answer to +the descriptions given on Rosher's card. These vagaries in dress +caused an immense amount of amusement, and when the masters' +supper-bell gave the signal for the commencement of operations, every +one found it difficult to retrain from shouts of laughter at the sight +of the various styles of war-paint. Perhaps that of Jack Fenleigh, +though simple to a degree, was most comical: his colours were described +as "red and white," and his costume consisted of his night-shirt, and a +large scarlet chest-protector which he had borrowed from a small boy, +whose mother fondly believed him to be wearing it according to her +instructions, instead of utilizing it to line a box containing a +collection of birds' eggs. + +As every race had to be run in a number of heats the events were +necessarily few in number. There were a hopping race, a hurdle race +over the beds, and a race in which the competitors were blindfolded, +and each carried a mug full of water, which had not to be spilt by the +way. + +Teal, over whose bed, as the result of a collision, two boys happened +to empty the contents of their half-pint cups, professed not to see +much fun in the performance, though every one else voted it simply +screaming. + +But the contest looked forward to with the greatest amount of interest +was the obstacle race. It was placed at the end of the programme; +Garston's pocket-mirror, the only prize worth having, was to reward the +winner; and the conditions were as follows:-- + +The runners were to go once round the room, alternately crawling under +and hopping over the sixteen beds; the finish was to be down the middle +aisle, across the centre of which a row of chairs was placed, on which +boys stood or sat to keep them steady while the racers crawled under +the seats. In spite of the fact that the pocket-mirror was to be the +prize, only Jack and Hamond appeared at the starting-point when it came +to this last item on Rosher's programme, their companions voting it too +much fag, and preferring to sit on the obstacles and look on. + +The signal was given, and the two competitors started off in grand +style, plunging in and out among the beds like dolphins in a choppy +sea. Jack led from the first; he dashed up to the row of chairs a long +way in front of Hamond, and had wriggled the greater portion of his +body through the bars, when-- + +No one could have said exactly how the alarm was given, or who first +saw the gleam of light through the ground-glass ventilator. The +obstacle was snatched from the centre of the room; with a rush and a +bound everybody was in bed; a moment later Mr. Rowlands entered the +room, the first thing which met his gaze being the extraordinary +spectacle of Jack Fenleigh, who, like a new kind of snail, was crawling +along the floor on his hands and knees with a cane-bottomed chair fixed +firmly on the centre of his back. The weight of the boy sitting on it +being removed, the unfortunate Jack found it impossible to force his +way any further, and thus remained unable to extricate himself from +between the bars of the obstacle. + +"Fenleigh," said the master, "get up off the ground. What are you +doing, sir?" + +The boy struggled to his feet, and in doing so revealed the glories of +the chest-protector. There was a subdued titter from the adjacent beds. + +"Silence!" cried Mr. Rowlands. "So you're responsible for this noise +and disorder, Fenleigh? If you want to perform as a clown, you had +better leave school and join a circus. At nine o'clock to-morrow you +will come with me to the headmaster's study." + +By breakfast-time on the following morning the story of this tragic +finish to the obstacle race was all over the school. Valentine heard +it, and waited anxiously to learn his cousin's fate. The latter +escaped with a severe reprimand, and the loss of the next two +half-holiday afternoons; but he was reminded that his conduct, +especially for a new boy, had been all along most unsatisfactory, and +he was given clearly to understand that any repetition of this constant +misbehaviour would result in his being expelled without further warning. + +"I wish you'd take more care what you're up to, Jack," said Valentine. +"You're bound to get thrown out if you don't behave better." + +"What's the odds if I am? I've only been here a month, and I hate the +place already." + +"It seems to me," answered Valentine sadly, "that you don't care a +straw for anything or anybody." + +"Well, why should I?" returned the other. "You wouldn't, if you were +in my place." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE REBEL RECLAIMED. + +"'I think he will grow up pretty, and perhaps be smaller; he has +remained too long in the egg, and therefore his figure is not properly +formed;' and then she stroked his neck and smoothed the +feathers."--_The Ugly Duckling_. + + +Towards the end of June, Queen Mab wrote asking the two boys to come +over for their usual half-term holiday. + +"I'm not going," said Jack. + +"Why not?" asked Valentine, astonished that any one should decline an +invitation to Brenlands. "Why ever not? You'd have a jolly time; Aunt +Mabel's awfully kind." + +"I daresay she is, but I never go visiting. I hate all that sort of +thing." + +It was no good trying to make Jack Fenleigh alter his mind; he stuck to +his resolution, and Valentine went to Brenlands alone. + +"I'm sorry Jack wouldn't come with you," said Queen Mab on the Saturday +evening; "why was it? Aren't you and he on good terms with each other?" + +"Oh, yes, aunt, we're friendly enough in one way, but we don't seem +able to hit it off very well together." + +"How is that?" + +"Oh, I don't know. I'm not his sort; I suppose I'm too quiet for him." + +"I always thought you were noisy enough," answered Miss Fenleigh +laughing. + +"You wouldn't, if you knew some of our fellows," returned the boy. + +The weeks slipped by, the holidays were approaching, and the far-off +haven of home could almost, as it were, be seen with the naked eye. +Whether the disastrous termination to the dormitory sports had really +served as a warning to Jack to put some restraint upon his wayward +inclinations, it would be difficult to say; but certainly since the +affair of the obstacle race he had managed to keep clear of the +headmaster's study, and had only indulged in such minor acts of +disorder as were the natural consequences of his friendship with +Garston, Rosher, and Teal. It needed the firm hand of Mr. Rowlands to +hold in check the sporting element which at this period was, +unfortunately, rather strong in the Upper Fourth, and which, at certain +times--as for instance during the French lessons--attempted to turn the +very highroad to learning into a second playground. + +Monsieur Durand, whose duty it was to instil a knowledge of his +graceful mother tongue into the minds of a score of restless and +unappreciative young Britons, found the facetious gentlemen of the +Upper Fourth a decided "handful." They seemed to regard instruction in +the Gallic language as an unending source of merriment. Garston threw +such an amount of eloquence into the reading of the sentence, "My +cousin has lost the hat of the gardener," that every one sighed to +think that a relative of one of their classmates should have brought +such sorrow on the head of the honest son of toil; and when Teal +announced joyfully that "His uncle had found the hat of the gardener," +Rosher was obliged to slap the speaker on the back, and say, "Bravo!" + +This being M. Durand's first term in an English school, that gentleman +could hardly have been expected, as the saying goes, to be up to all +the moves on the board; and certain of his pupils, sad to relate, were +only too ready to take advantage of his lack of experience. It was +discovered that it was comparatively easy to obtain permission to leave +the class. "Please, sir, may I go and get a drink of water?" or +"Please, sir, may I go and fetch my dictionary?" was sufficient to +obtain temporary leave of absence; nor did the French master seem to +take much notice as to the length of time which such errands should by +right have occupied. The consequence was that not unfrequently towards +the end of the hour a quarter of his pupils were gathered in what was +known as the playshed, drinking sherbet, or playing cricket with a +fives ball and a walking-stick. + +One particular morning, when the Lower Fourth were struggling with the +parsing and analysis of a certain portion of Goldsmith's "Deserted +Village," a mysterious patch of light appeared dancing about on the +wall and ceiling, attracting the attention of the whole class, and +causing the boy just told to "go on" to describe "man" as a personal +pronoun, and to put a direct object after the verb "to be." + +"Fenleigh," said Mr. Copland, "just see who that is outside." + +Valentine, who was seated nearest the window, rose from his place, and +looking down into the yard beneath saw the incorrigible Jack amusing +himself by flashing sunbeams with the pocket-mirror which he had won in +the dormitory sports. The latter, who ought by rights to have been +transcribing a French exercise, grinned, and promptly bolted round the +corner. + +"Who was it, Fenleigh?" + +Valentine hesitated. + +"Who was it? Did you see the boy?" + +"Yes, sir; it was my cousin." + +"What! J. Fenleigh in the Upper Fourth?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Humph! very well," answered Mr. Copland, making a memorandum on a slip +of paper in front of him; "I'll seek an interview with that young +gentleman after school." + +Valentine's heart sank, for he had in his pocket a letter from Queen +Mab saying that she was driving over in the pony carriage that very +afternoon, and inviting the two boys to spend their half-holiday with +her in Melchester. This significant remark of Mr. Copland's meant that +Jack would be prevented from going. Valentine felt that he was +indirectly the cause of the misfortune, and his wayward relative seemed +inclined to view the matter in the same light. + +"I say," he exclaimed, "you were a sneak to tell Copland it was I who +was flashing that looking-glass." + +"I couldn't help it," answered Valentine. "He told me to look out and +see who was there." + +"Well, why didn't you say the fellow had run away, or something of that +sort?" + +"Because it would have been a lie." + +"Pooh! telling a cram like that to a master doesn't count. You are a +muff, Valentine," and the speaker turned on his heel with a +contemptuous shrug of his shoulders. + +The little fat pony, the low basket-carriage, Jakes the gardener +driving, and last and best of all Queen Mab herself, arrived at the +time appointed; but only one of her nephews was waiting at the +rendezvous. + +"Why, where's Jack?" + +"He got into a scrape this morning, and is kept in. What's more, he +says it's my fault, and we've had a row about it. I don't think we +ever shall be friends, aunt." + +"Oh, you mustn't say that. In a fortnight's time we shall all be at +Brenlands together, and then we must try to rub some of the sharp +corners off this perverse young gentleman. I must come back with you +to the school and try to see him before I drive home." + +In the quiet retirement of Mr. Copland's classroom, Jack was writing +lines when a messenger came to inform him that some one wished to see +him in the visitors' room. + +"Bother it! Aunt Mabel," he said to himself. "I suppose I must go," +he added, swishing the ink from his pen and throwing it down on the +desk. "What a bore relations are! I wish they'd let me alone." + +From their one brief meeting years before, neither aunt nor nephew +would have recognized each other now had they met in the streets, and +so this was like making a fresh acquaintance. Jack had heard only one +half of a very lopsided story, and though he took no interest in the +family disagreement, yet he was inclined to be suspicious of his +grown-up relations. He marched down the passage, jingling his keys +with an air of defiance; but when he entered the visitors' room, and +saw the bright smile with which his aunt greeted his appearance, he +dropped the swagger and became stolidly polite. She, for her part, had +come prepared for the conquest which she always made; his awkward, +boyish manner and uncared-for appearance, the dissatisfied look upon +his face, and the ink stains on his collar, all were noticed in one +loving glance, and touched her warm heart. + +"Well, Jack," she said, "you see Mahomet has come to the mountain. How +are you, dear?" + +Jack muttered that he was quite well. It was rather embarrassing to be +called "dear." He attempted to hide his confusion by wiping his nose; +but in producing his handkerchief, he pulled out with it a forked +catapult stick and a broken metal pen-holder, which clattered to the +ground and had to be picked up again. + +"How you've grown!" said Queen Mab, "and--my senses! what muscles +you've got," she added, feeling his arm. + +Jack grinned and bent his elbow, the next moment he straightened it +again. + +"Go on!" he said; "you're chaffing me." + +"I'm not. I wish you'd been at Brenlands at Easter, and I'd have set +you to beat carpets. Never mind, I shall have you with me in a +fortnight." + +"I don't think I shall come," he began. + +"Stuff and nonsense!" interrupted the aunt. "I say you _are_ coming. +Valentine never makes excuses when I send him an invitation. Don't you +think I know how to amuse young people?" + +"Oh, yes; it's not that." + +"Then what is it?" + +"I don't know," answered the boy, grinning, and kicking the leg of the +table. + +"Of course you don't; so you've got to come. Valentine's sisters will +be there; you'd like to meet the two girls?" + +"No, I shouldn't." + +"Oh, shocking! you rude boy." + +Jack stood on one leg and laughed; this was like talking to a fellow in +the Upper Fourth, and his tongue was loosed. + +"They'd hate me," he said; "I don't know anything about girls." + +"I should think you didn't. Wait till you see Helen and Barbara." + +"But there's another thing. I haven't got any clothes." + +"My dear boy, how dreadful! Whose are those you are wearing now?" + +"Oh, go on, aunt; what a chaff you are! I don't mean that--I--" + +"No, you evidently don't know what you mean. Well, one thing's +settled, you're coming to Brenlands for the summer holidays." + +The battle was won, and Queen Mab had gained her usual victory. + +"How is your father? Didn't he send me any message?" + +"Yes, I think he told me to give you his love." + +"Is that all?" + +"Well, that's a jolly sight more than what he sends to most people," +answered the boy. + +He would have been surprised to have seen that there were tears in her +eyes when she walked out of the school gates, and still more astonished +to know that it was love for his unworthy self which brought them +there; for little did Fenleigh J. of the Upper Fourth imagine that any +one would come so near to crying on his account. + +That evening, just before supper, Valentine felt some one touch him on +the shoulder, and turning round saw that it was his cousin. + +"I've seen Queen Mab, as you call her," remarked the latter, "and, I +say--I like her--rather." + +"I knew you would. She's an angel--only jollier." + +"She made me promise I'd go there for the holidays." + +"Oh, that's fine!" cried Valentine. "I thought she would; she's got +such a way of making people do what she wants. I am glad you are +going; you'll enjoy it awfully." + +Fenleigh J. regarded the speaker for a moment with rather a curious +glance. In view of the events of the morning he rather expected that +his cousin would not be overpleased to hear that he had been asked to +spend the holidays at Brenlands; and that Valentine should rejoice at +his having accepted the invitation, struck him as being rather odd. + +"Look here, Val," he blurted out, "I'm sorry I called you a sneak this +morning. It was my fault, and you're a good sort after all." + +"Oh, stop it!" answered the other. "I'll forgive you now that you've +promised to go to Brenlands." + +Queen Mab was at home, miles away by this time; yet, as a result of her +flying visit, some of the softening influence of her presence and +kindly usages of her court seemed to linger even amid the rougher and +more turbulent atmosphere of Melchester School. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE COURT OF QUEEN MAB. + +"They were swans ... the ugly little duckling felt quite a strange +sensation as he watched them."--_The Ugly Duckling_. + + +During the short period which elapsed between Queen Mab's visit and the +end of the term Jack managed to steer clear of misfortune; but on the +last evening he must needs break out and come to grief again. + +He incited the occupants of the Long Dormitory to celebrate the end of +work by a grand bolster fight, during the progress of which conflict a +pillow was thrown through the ventilator above the door. It so +happened that, at that moment, Mr. Copland was walking along the +passage; and a cloud of feathers from the torn case, together with +fragments of ground glass, being suddenly rained down on his +unoffending head, he was naturally led to make inquiries as to the +cause of the outrage. As might have been expected, Fenleigh J. was +found to be the owner of the pillow which had done the damage, and he +was accordingly kept back on the following day to pay the usual penalty +of an imposition. + +"I'll take your luggage on with me," said Valentine. "You get out at +Hornalby, the first station from here, and it's only about a quarter of +a mile from there to Brenlands. Any one will tell you the way." + +It turned out a wet evening. Queen Mab and her court had already been +waiting tea for nearly half an hour, when Valentine exclaimed, "Hallo! +here he is!" + +The expected guest took apparently no notice of the rain; his cloth +cricket cap was perched on the back of his head, and he had not even +taken the trouble to turn up the collar of his jacket. He walked up +the path in a cautious manner, as though he expected at every step to +trip over the wire of a spring-gun; but when he came within a dozen +yards of the house he quickened his pace, for Aunt Mabel had opened the +door, and was standing ready to give him a welcome. + +"Why, boy, how late you are! You must be nearly starving!" + +"I couldn't come before," he began; "I had some work to do, and--" + +"Yes, you rascal! I've heard all about it. Come in, and Jane shall +rub you down with a dry cloth." + +Jack left off jingling his keys; he did not like being "rubbed down," +but he submitted to the process with great good-humour. It was the +cosiest old kitchen; the table was the whitest, and the pots and pans +the brightest, that could be imagined; and Jane, the cook, groomed him +down as though brushing a damp jacket with a dry glass-cloth was the +most enjoyable pastime in life. In the parlour it was just the same: +the pretty china cups and saucers, and the little bunches of bright +flowers, only made all the nice things there were to eat seem more +attractive; and the company were as happy and gay as though it was +everybody's birthday, and they had all met to assist one another in +keeping up the occasion with a general merry-making. Jack alone was +quiet and subdued, for the simple reason that he had never seen +anything like it in his life before. + +Queen Mab, strongly entrenched at the head of the table, behind the +urn, sugar basin, and cream jug, held this line of outworks against any +number of flank attacks in the shape of empty cups, the old silver +teapot apparently containing an inexhaustible supply of ammunition, and +enabling her to send every storming party back to the place from whence +it came, and even invite them to attempt another assault. + +Once or twice Jack turned to find his aunt watching him with a look in +her eyes which caused his own face to reflect the smile which was on +hers. She was thinking, and had been ever since she had seen the +latest addition to her court coming slowly up the front path through +the dismal drizzle, of the old favourite story, and of that part in it +where the ugly duckling, overtaken by the storm, arrived in front of +the tumble-down little cottage, which "only remained standing because +it could not decide on which side to fall first." + +When the meal was over, and while the table was being cleared, Jack +wandered out into the porch, and stood watching the rain. He had +hardly been there a minute before he was joined by Barbara. + +"I say," she exclaimed, "why didn't you talk at tea time? I wanted to +ask you heaps of things. Your name's Jack, isn't it? Well, mine's +Barbara; they call me Bar, because it's the American for bear, and +father says I am a young bear. I want to hear all about that pillow +fight, and those races you had in the dormitory." + +"Oh, they weren't anything! How did you get to hear about them?" + +"Why, Val told us." + +"Well, what a fellow he is! He's always talking about the rows I get +into." + +"It doesn't matter; we thought it awful fun. Helen laughed like +anything, and she's very good. I say, can you crack your fingers?" + +"No; but I can crack my jaw." + +"Oh, do show me!" + +Jack really did possess this gruesome accomplishment; he could somehow +make a blood-curdling click with his jawbone. When he did it in +"prep." his neighbours smote him on the head with dictionaries, and +when he repeated the performance in the dormitory, fellows rose in +their beds and hurled pillows and execrations into the darkness. +Barbara, however, was charmed. + +"You are clever!" she cried; "I wish I could do it. Now, come back, +and sit by me; we're going to play games." + +Jack, who had cherished some vague notion that every girl was something +between a saint and a bride-cake ornament, was agreeably surprised at +this conversation with his small admirer, and readily complied with her +request. Several of the games he had never seen before, but he made +bold attempts to play them some way or another, and soon entered into +the spirit of his surroundings. + +In making words out of words his spelling was nearly as bad as +Barbara's, but he seemed to think his own mistakes a great joke, and +didn't care a straw how many marks he gave to the other players. In +"Bell and Hammer," however, he always managed to buy the "White Horse," +while other people would squander their all in bidding for a card which +perhaps turned out after all to be only the "Hammer." At "Snap" he was +simply terrible; he literally swept the board, but kept passing +portions of his winnings under the table to Barbara, whose pile seemed +to be as inexhaustible as the widow's cruse. By the end of the evening +he was the life of the party, and no one would have believed that he +was the same boy who, a few hours ago, had come up the front path +wishing in his secret heart that he was safely back at Melchester +writing lines in the Upper Fourth classroom. + +He and Valentine shared a delightful, old four-post bed, which in times +gone by had had the marvellous property of turning itself into a tent, +a gipsy van, or a raft, which, though launched from a sinking ship in +the very middle of a stormy ocean, always managed to bring its crew of +distressed mariners safely to shore in time to answer Queen Mab's +cheery call of "Tea's ready!" + +"It is nice to be here," said Valentine, dropping his head upon the +pillow with a sigh of contentment. "Aren't you glad you came?" + +"Yes," answered Jack. "Aunt Mabel seems so jolly kind and glad to see +you. I wish you hadn't told her about all those rows I got into; I +don't think she'll like me when she knows me better." + +"Oh, yes, she will! Don't you like Helen?" + +"Yes; I think she has the nicest face I ever saw. But she's too good +for me, Val, my boy. I think I shall get on better with Barbara; she's +more like a boy, and I don't think I shall ever be a ladies' man." + +Valentine laughed; the idea of Fenleigh J. of the Upper Fourth ever +becoming a ladies' man was certainly rather comical. + +"You'll like Helen when you get to know her. I wouldn't exchange her +as a sister for any other girl in the kingdom. Well--good-night!" + +That one evening at Brenlands had done more towards forming a +friendship between the two boys than all the ninety odd days which they +had already spent in each other's company. The next afternoon, +however, they were destined to become still more united; and the manner +in which this came about was as follows. + +During the morning the weather held up, but by dinner time it was +raining again. + +"Bother it! what shall we do?" cried Valentine. + +"I should think you'd better play with your tin soldiers," answered +Helen, laughing. "They always seem to keep you good." + +Valentine hardly liked this allusion to his miniature army being made +in the hearing of his older schoolfellow, for boys at Melchester School +were supposed to be above finding amusement in toys of any kind. The +latter, however, pricked up his ears, and threw down the book he had +been reading. + +"Who's got any tin soldiers?" he asked. "Let's see 'em." The boxes +were produced. "My eye!" continued Jack, turning out the contents, +"what a heap you've got! I should like to set them out and have a +battle. And here are two pea-shooters; just the thing!" + +"You don't mean to say you're fond of tin soldiers, Jack?" said Aunt +Mabel. "Why, you're much too old, I should have thought, for anything +of that kind." + +"I'm not," answered the boy; "I love tin soldiers, and anything to do +with war. Come on, Val, we'll divide the men and have a fight." + +The challenge was accepted. There was an empty room upstairs, and on +the floor of this the opposing forces were drawn up, and a desperate +conflict ensued. The troops were certainly a motley crew; some were +running, some marching, and some were standing still; some had their +rifles at the "present," and some at the "slope;" but what they lacked +in drill and discipline, they made up in their steadiness when under +fire, and Jack showed as much skill and resource in handling them as +did their rightful commander. He set out his men on some thin pieces +of board, which could be moved forward up the room, it having been +agreed that he should be allowed to stand and deliver his fire from the +spot reached by his advancing line of battle. Each group of these +tag-rag-and-bobtail metal warriors was dignified by the name of some +famous regiment. Here was the "Black Watch," and there the "Coldstream +Guards;" while this assembly of six French Zouaves, a couple of +red-coats, a bugler, and a headless mounted officer on a three-legged +horse, was the old 57th Foot--the "Die-Hards"--ready to exhibit once +more the same stubborn courage and unflinching fortitude as they had +displayed at Albuera. Valentine held a position strengthened by +redoubts constructed out of dominoes, match-boxes, pocket-knives, and +other odds and ends. They were certainly curious fortifications; yet +the nursery often mimics in miniature the sterner realities of the +great world; and since that day, handfuls of Englishmen have built +breastworks out of materials almost as strange, and as little intended +for the purpose, and have fought desperate and bloody fights, and won +undying fame, in their defence. + +"I'm going to be this chap, who takes on and off his horse," said Jack. +"Which is you?" + +"Here I am," answered Valentine. "Now then, you fire first--blaze +away!" + +As he spoke he picked up the veteran captain of the solid lead guards, +and set him down in the centre of the defending force, and so the +battle commenced. It was still raging when Jane came to say that tea +was ready; but the losses on both sides had been terribly severe. The +invading army still pressed forward, though the "57th" were once more +decimated by the withering fire; and nothing actually remained of the +"Coldstream Guards" but a kettle-drummer of uncertain nationality, and +a man carrying a red and green flag, which he might very possibly have +captured from some Sunday-school treat. The opposite side were in no +better plight: men were lying crushed under the ruins of the works +which they had so gallantly defended; and hardly enough artillerymen +were left to have pulled back, with their united efforts, the spring of +one of the pea cannons. The leaders on both sides remained unscathed, +and continued to brandish bent lead swords at each other in mutual +defiance. + +"Make haste! you've got one more shot," said Valentine. + +The pea-shooter was levelled and discharged, the veteran lead captain +tottered and tell, and thus the fight ended. + +"Val, my boy, you're killed!" cried Jack. "No matter, it's the bed of +honour, old chap!" + +"Oh, I don't mind!" answered the other, laughing. "_C'est la guerre_, +you know; come along. I'd no idea you were so fond of soldiers." + +So they passed down to Queen Mab's merry tea-table, unsaddened by any +recollections of the stricken field, or of the lead commander left +behind among the slain. + +The two boys talked "soldiering" all the evening; and the next morning, +when breakfast was nearly over, and Helen ran upstairs to inquire if +they meant to lie on till dinner-time, they were still harping away on +the same subject. The door was standing ajar, and she heard their +words. + +"Don't move your knee," Jack was saying; "that's the hill where I +should post my artillery." + +"Yes, that's all right," answered Valentine; "but you couldn't shell my +reserves if I got them down under cover of this curl in the +blanket.--All right, Helen! down directly!" + +The sun was shining brightly, the fine weather seemed to have come at +last, and the question was how to put it to the best possible use. + +"Why don't you children go and picnic somewhere?" said Queen Mab. "You +can have Prince and the carriage, and drive off where you like, and +have tea out of doors." + +A general meeting was held in the hayloft directly after dinner for the +purpose of discussing this important question. Jack won a still higher +place in Barbara's affections by hauling himself up the perpendicular +ladder without touching the rungs with his feet; and though knowing +little or nothing about such things as picnics, he was ready with any +number of absurd suggestions. + +"Let's go to Pitsbury Common," said Barbara; "there's such a lot of +jolly sandpits to roll about in, and we can burn gorse-bushes." + +"Oh, no, don't let's go there!" answered Helen; "there's no place to +shelter in if it comes on rain, and when you're having tea the sand +blows about and gets into everything, so that you seem to be eating it +by mouthfuls." + +"It's so nice having it out of doors," persisted Barbara. + +"Well, let's go out in the road and sit with our feet in the ditch, +like the tramps do," said Jack. "I'll bring the tea in my sponge bag. +Rosher used to carry it about in his pocket, full of water for a little +squirt he was always firing off in the French class. Pilson had the +sentence, 'Give me something to drink;' and as soon as he'd said it, he +got a squirtful all over the back of his head, and Durand--" + +"Oh, stop that!" said Valentine, laughing. "Look here! I vote we +drive over to Grenford, and call on the Fosbertons, and ask them to +lend us their boat; they'd give us lunch, and then we could take our +tea with us up the river. It's not more than six miles." + +"Don't let's go there," said Barbara. "I hate them." + +"Is Raymond away?" asked Helen. + +"Yes; didn't you hear Queen Mab say he was going to spend his holidays +in London? Uncle James is rather a pompous old fellow, but we shan't +have to go there except for lunch; and father said we ought to call on +them while we're here; besides, it'll be jolly on the river. You know +them, don't you, Jack?" + +"Well, I've _heard_ about them," answered the other. "I know that the +guv'nor's sister married old Fosberton, and that he got a lot of money +making tin tacks, or whatever it was; and now he fancies he's rather a +swell, and says he's descended from William the Conqueror's sea-cook, +or something of that sort. I don't want to go and see them; but I +don't mind having some grub there, if they'll lend us a boat." + +"My senses! you ought to feel very much honoured at the thought of +going to lunch at Grenford Manor," said Helen, laughing. + +"I'm sure I don't," answered her cousin. "I'd sooner have a feed in +old 'Duster's' shop at Melchester." + +"Well, that's what we'll do," said Valentine. "We'll take a kettle and +some cups with us, and tea, and all that sort of thing, and go up the +river as far as Starncliff, and there we'll camp out and have a jolly +time." + +With some reluctance the proposal was agreed upon. Had the company +foreseen the chain of events which would arise directly and indirectly +from this memorable picnic, they might have made up their minds to +spend the day at Brenlands. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +AN UNLUCKY PICNIC. + +"The tom-cat, whom his mistress called 'My little son,' was a great +favourite; he could raise his back, and purr, and could even throw out +sparks from his fur if it were stroked the wrong way."--_The Ugly +Duckling_. + + +"Now, Jack, do behave yourself!" cried Valentine, as the +basket-carriage turned through two imposing-looking granite gate-posts +into a winding drive which formed the approach to Grenford Manor. +Jack, as usual, seemed to grow particularly obstreperous just when +circumstances demanded a certain amount of decorum, and at that moment +he was kneeling on the narrow front seat belabouring Prince with the +cushion. + +"Well," he answered, turning round, "we must drive up to the door in +style; if we come crawling in like this, they'll think we're ashamed of +ourselves." + +As he spoke, a curve in the drive brought the house into view. It was +a big, square building, with not the slightest touch of green to +relieve the monotony of the rigid white walls, and level rows of +windows, which seemed to have been placed in position by some precise, +mathematical calculation. A boy was lounging about in front of the +porch, with his hands in his pockets, kicking gravel over the +flower-beds. + +"O Val! you said Raymond wasn't at home," murmured Helen. + +"Well, Aunt Mab said he was going to London; he must have put off his +visit." + +Raymond Fosberton turned at the sound of the carriage-wheels, and +sauntered forward to meet the visitors. He had black hair, and a very +pink and white complexion. To say that he looked like a girl would be +disparaging to the fair sex, but his face would at once have impressed +a careful observer as being that of a very poor specimen of British +boyhood. + +"Hallo!" he said, without removing his hands from his pockets, "so +you've turned up at last! You've been a beastly long time coming!" + +He shook hands languidly with Valentine and the two girls, but greeted +Jack with a cool stare, which the latter returned with interest. +Grenford Manor was very different from Brenlands. Aunt Isabel was +fussy and querulous, while Mr. Fosberton was a very ponderous gentlemen +in more senses than one. He had bushy grey whiskers and a very red +face, which showed up in strong contrast to a broad expanse of white +waistcoat, which was in turn adorned with a massive gold chain and +imposing bunch of seals. + +"Well, young ladies, and how are you?" he began in a deep, sonorous +voice, of which he was evidently rather proud. "How are you, +Valentine? So this is Basil's son?--hum! What's your father doing +now?" + +"I don't know," answered Jack, glancing at the clock. "I expect he's +having his dinner, though there's no telling, for we're always a bit +late at home." + +Mr. Fosberton stared at the boy, cleared his throat rather vigorously, +and then turned to speak to Helen. + +Lunch was a very dry and formal affair. Raymond spoke to nobody, his +father and mother addressed a few words to Valentine and the girls, but +Jack was completely ignored. The latter, instead of noticing this +neglect, pegged away merrily at salmon and cold fowl, and seemed +devoutly thankful that no one interrupted his labours by forcing him to +join in the conversation. + +"You may tell your father," said Mr. Fosberton to Valentine, "that I +find his family are related to one of the minor branches of my own; +I've no doubt he will be pleased to hear it. His father's sister +married a Pitsbury, a second cousin of the husband of one of the +Fosbertons of Cranklen. You'll remember, won't you?" + +Valentine said he would, and looked scared. + +The silver spoons and forks were all ornamented with the Fosberton +crest--a curious animal, apparently dancing on a sugar-stick. + +"What is it?" whispered Barbara to Jack. + +"The sea-cook's dog," answered her cousin. + +"But what's he doing?" + +"He's stolen the plum-duff, and the skipper's sent him up to ride on a +boom, and he's got to stay there till he's told to come down." + +At last the weary meal was over. + +"I suppose we may have the boat," said Valentine. + +"Oh, yes. I'm coming with you myself," answered Raymond; which +announcement was received by Miss Barbara with an exclamation of +"Bother!" which, fortunately, was only overheard by Jack, who smiled, +and pinched her under the table. + +It did not take long to transport the provisions and materials from the +pony-carriage to the boat, and the party were soon under way. It was a +splendid afternoon for a river excursion. Raymond, who had not offered +to carry a thing on their way to the bank, lolled comfortably in the +stern, leaving the other boys to do the work, and the girls to +accommodate themselves as best they could. He was evidently accustomed +to having his own way, and assumed the position of leader of the +expedition. + +"Have you finished school?" asked Jack. + +"I don't go to one," answered the other; "I have a private tutor. I +think schools are awful rot, where you're under masters, and have to do +as you're told, like a lot of kids. I'm seventeen now. I'm going +abroad this winter to learn French, then I'm coming home to read for +the law. I say, why don't you row properly?" + +"So I do." + +"No, you don't; you feather too high." + +"There you go again," continued the speaker petulantly a few moments +later; "that's just how the Cockneys row." + +"Sorry," said Jack meekly. "Look here, d'you mind showing me how it +ought to be done?" + +Raymond scrambled up and changed places with Jack. "There," he +said--"that's the way--d'you see? Now, try again." + +"No, thanks," answered Jack sweetly, "I'd rather sit here and watch +you; it's rather warm work. I think I'll stay where I am." + +Raymond did not seem to relish the joke, but it certainly had the +wholesome effect of taking him down a peg, and rendering him a little +less uppish and dictatorial for the remainder of the journey. + +At Starncliff the right bank of the river rose rocky and precipitous +almost from the water's edge. There was, however, a narrow strip of +shore, formed chiefly of earth and shingle; and here the party landed, +making the boat fast to the stump of an old willow. + +"We promised Queen Mab that we wouldn't be very late," said Valentine, +"so I should think we'd better have tea at once; it'll take some time +to make the water boil." + +There is always some special charm about having tea out of doors, even +when the spout of the kettle gets unsoldered, or black beetles invade +the tablecloth. To share one teaspoon between three, and spread jam +with the handle-end of it, is most enjoyable, and people who picnic +with a full allowance of knives and forks to each person ought never to +be allowed to take meals in the open. Jack and Valentine set about +collecting stones to build a fireplace, and there being plenty of dry +driftwood about, they soon had a good blaze for boiling the water. The +girls busied themselves unpacking the provisions; but Raymond Fosberton +was content to sit on the bank and throw pebbles into the river. + +The repast ended, the kettle and dishes were once more stowed away in +the boat, and Valentine proposed climbing the cliff. + +"It looks very steep," said Helen. + +"There's a path over there by those bushes," answered her brother. +"Come along; we'll haul you up somehow." + +The ascent was made in single file, and half-way up the party paused to +get their breath. + +"Hallo!" cried Jack, "there's a magpie." + +On a narrow ledge of rock and earth at the summit of the cliff two tall +fir-trees were growing, and out of the top of one of these the bird had +flown. The children stood and watched it, with its long tail and sharp +contrast of black and white feathers, as it sailed away across the +river. + +"One for sorrow," said Helen. + +"I shouldn't like to climb that tree," said Valentine. "It makes my +head swim to look at it, leaning out like that over the precipice." + +"Pooh!" answered Raymond; "that's nothing. I've climbed up trees in +much worse places before now." + +Helen frowned, and turned away with an impatient twitch of her lips. + +Jack saw the look. "All right, Master Fosberton," he said to himself; +"you wait a minute." + +They continued their climb, and reaching the level ground above +strolled along until they came opposite the tall tree out of which the +magpie had flown. + +"There's the nest!" cried Jack, pointing at something half hidden in +the dark foliage of the fir. "Now, then, who'll go up and get it?" + +"No one, I should think," said Helen. "If you fell, you'd go right +down over the cliff and be dashed to pieces." + +"I know I wouldn't try," added her brother. "I should turn giddy in a +moment." + +"Will you go?" asked Jack, addressing Raymond. + +"No," answered the other. + +"Why, I thought you said a moment ago that you've climbed trees in much +worse places. Come, if you'll go up, I will." + +"Not I," retorted Raymond sulkily; "it's too much fag." + +"Oh, well, if you're afraid, I'll go up alone." + +"Don't be such a fool, Jack," said Valentine; "there won't be any eggs +or young birds in the nest now." + +"Never mind; I should like to have a look at it." + +Fenleigh J. of the Upper Fourth was a young gentleman not easily turned +from his purpose, and, in spite of Valentine's warning and the +entreaties of his girl cousins, he lowered himself down on to the +ledge, and the next moment was buttoning his coat preparatory to making +the attempt. + +For the first twelve or fifteen feet the trunk of the fir afforded no +good hold, but Jack swarmed up it, clinging to the rough bark and the +stumps of a few broken branches. The spectators held their breath; but +the worst was soon passed, and in a few seconds more he had gained the +nest. + +"There's nothing in it," he cried; "but there's a jolly good view up +here, and, I say, if you want a good, high dive into the river, this is +the place. Come on, Raymond; it's worth the fag." + +"Oh, do come down!" exclaimed Helen. "It frightens me to watch you." +She turned away, and began picking moon daisies, when suddenly an +exclamation from Valentine caused her to turn round again. + +"Hallo! what's the matter?" + +Jack had just begun to slip down the bare trunk, but about a quarter +way down he seemed to have stuck. + +"My left foot's caught somehow," he said. "I can't get it free." + +He twitched his leg, and endeavoured to regain the lower branches, but +it was no good. + +"Oh, do come down!" cried Helen, clasping her hands and turning pale. +"Can't any one help him?" + +Jack struggled vainly to free his foot. + +"Look here," he said in a calm though strained tone, "my boot-lace is +loose, and has got entangled with one of these knots; one of you chaps +must come up and cut it free. Make haste, I can't hang on much longer." + +[Illustration: "'Make haste! I can't hang on much longer.'" (missing +from book)] + +Valentine turned to Raymond. + +"You can climb," he said; "I can't." + +"I'm not going up there," answered the other doggedly, and turned on +his heel. + +Valentine wheeled round with a fierce look upon his face, threw off his +coat, took out his knife, opened it, and put it between his teeth. + +"O Val!" cried Helen in a choking voice, and hid her face in her hands. +Only Barbara had the strength of nerve to watch him do it, and could +give a clear account afterwards of how her brother swarmed up the +trunk, and held on with one arm while he cut the tangled lace. +Valentine himself knew very little of what happened until he found +himself back on the grass with Helen's arms round his neck. + +"I thought you couldn't climb," said Jack, a minute later. + +"It's possible to do most things when it comes to a case like that," +answered the other quietly. "Besides, I remembered not to look down." + +That sort of answer didn't suit Fenleigh J.; he caught hold of the +speaker, and smacked him on the back. + +"Look here, Valentine, the truth is you're a jolly fine fellow, and I +never knew it until this moment." + +The party strolled on across the field. + +"It's precious hot still," said Raymond; "let's go and sit under that +hayrick and rest." + +"We mustn't stay very long," Helen remarked as they seated themselves +with their backs against the rick. "We want to be home in time for +supper." + +"We can stay long enough for a smoke, I suppose," said Fosberton, +producing a cigarette case. "Have one. What! don't you chaps smoke? +Well," continued the speaker patronizingly, "you're quite right; it's a +bad habit to get into. Leave it till you've left school." + +"And then, when you smoke before ladies," added Helen, "ask their +permission first." + +"Oh, we haven't come here to learn manners," said Raymond, with a snort. + +"So it appears," returned the lady icily. + +Fenleigh J., who had been smarting under that "Leave it till you've +left school," chuckled with delight, and began to think that he liked +Helen quite as much as Barbara. + +At length, when Raymond had finished his cigarette, the voyagers rose +to return to the boat. Jack enlivened the descent of the cliff by +every dozen yards or so pretending to fall, and starting avalanches of +stones and earth, which were very disconcerting to those who went +before. On arriving at the shingly beach, he proposed a trial of skill +at ducks and drakes, and made flat pebbles go hopping right across the +river, until Valentine put an end to the performance by saying it was +time to embark. The girls were just stepping into the boat when Helen +gave an exclamation of surprise. + +"Look!" she cried, pointing towards the top of the cliff, "where can +all that smoke be coming from?" + +"It's a heap of rubbish burning in one of the fields," said Raymond. + +"There's too much smoke for that," said Jack. "It may be a barn or a +house. Wait a moment; I'll run up and see. I shan't be more than five +or six minutes." He started off, jumping and scrambling up the path; +but almost immediately on reaching the summit he turned and came racing +down again. + +"What a reckless beggar he is;" said Valentine. "He'll break his neck +some day. Well, what is it?" + +Jack took a flying jump from the path on to the shingle. + +"The rick!" he cried--"the one we were sitting under--it's all in a +blaze!" + +The boys and girls stood staring at one another with a horrified look +on their faces. + +"You must have done it with your matches, Raymond," said Helen. + +"I didn't," returned the other. "It's the sun. Come on into the boat." + +"You must have dropped your cigarette end," said Valentine. "We ought +to find the owner of the hay and say who we are." + +"You fool! I tell you it wasn't me," returned the other passionately. +"Ricks often catch fire of their own accord. I'm not going to be made +pay for what isn't my fault." + +Valentine hesitated, and shook his head. Jack seemed ready to side +with him; but Raymond jumped into the boat and seized the oars. "Look +here!" he cried, "it's my boat, and I'm going. It you don't choose to +come, you can stay." + +The two boys had no alternative but to obey their cousin's demand. +Jack took the second oar, while Valentine steered. Raymond was ready +enough now for hard work, and pulled away with all his might, evidently +wishing to escape as fast as possible from the neighbourhood of the +burning rick. + +"What are you pulling so fast for?" asked Jack; but "stroke" made no +reply, and seemed, if anything, to increase the pace. + +"Look out!" cried Valentine, as the boat approached an awkward corner, +one side of which was blocked by the branches of a big tree which had +fallen into the water. "Steady on, Raymond!" "Stroke," who did not +see what was coming, and thought this was only another attempt to +induce him to lessen the speed at which they were going, pulled harder +than ever. Valentine tugged his right-hand line crying, "Steady on, I +tell you!" but it was too late. There was a tremendous lurch which +nearly sent every one into the river, the water poured over the +gunwale, and something went with a sounding crack. Raymond's oar had +caught in a sunken branch and snapped off short. His face turned white +with anger. + +"You cad!" he cried with an oath, "you made me do that on purpose." + +"I didn't!" answered Valentine hotly; "and I should think you might +know better than to begin swearing before the girls." + +Helen looked frightened, but Barbara was sinking with laughter at the +sight of Jack, who, on the seat behind, was silently going through the +motions of punching Master Fosberton's head. + +"Well, we can't go on any further," said the latter. "We must get the +boat into that backwater and tie her up. Though it'll be a beastly fag +having to walk to Grenford." + +Dividing between them the things which had to be carried, the cousins +made their way through a piece of waste ground studded with +gorse-bushes, and gained the road, which ran close to the river. +Barbara lingered behind to pick Quaker grass, but a few moments later +she came racing after them and caught hold of Jack's arm. + +"Hallo!" he said, "what's up? you look scared." + +"So I am," she answered. "I saw a man's face looking at me. He was +hiding behind the bushes." + +"Fiddles!" answered Jack. "It was only imagination. Come along with +me. I'll carry those plates." + +Raymond Fosberton seemed bent on making himself as disagreeable as +possible. He was still in a great rage about the broken oar, and +lagged behind, refusing to speak to the rest of the party. + +"We ought not to let him walk by himself," said Helen, after they had +gone about a mile; "it looks as if we wanted to quarrel." + +She stopped and turned round, but Raymond was nowhere in sight. They +waited, but still he did not appear. + +"He can't be far behind," said Valentine. "I heard him kicking stones +a moment or so ago." + +Jack walked back to the last bend in the road and shouted, but there +was no reply. + +"It's a rum thing," he said, as he rejoined his companions. "I wonder +what has become of the beggar. I thought just then I heard him +talking." + +The boys shouted again, and Barbara drew a little closer to Jack. +Whether the watching face was imagination or not, she had evidently +been frightened. + +"Surly brute! he has gone home by a short cut," said Jack. "Come +along! it's no use waiting." + +They had not gone very far when they heard somebody running, and +turning again saw their missing cousin racing round the corner. His +face was pale and agitated, and it was evident that something was the +matter. + +"Hallo! where have you been?" + +"Nowhere. I only stopped to tie my shoe-lace." + +"But you must have heard us calling?" + +"I never heard a sound," answered Raymond abruptly, and so the matter +ended. + +The four Fenleighs were not at all sorry to find themselves free of +their cousin's society, and bowling along behind Prince in the little +basket-carriage. It was still more delightful to be back once more at +Brenlands, and there, round the supper-table, to give Queen Mab an +account of their adventures. + +"I should like to know who that man was whom I saw hiding among the +bushes," said Barbara. + +"I should like to know what Raymond was up to when we missed him coming +home," said Valentine. + +"Yes," added Jack thoughtfully; "he was hiding away somewhere, for I +could have sworn I heard his voice when I walked back to the corner." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A KEEPSAKE. + +"He is my own child, and he is not so very ugly after all, if you look +at him properly."--_The Ugly Duckling_. + + +The holidays passed too quickly, as they always did at Brenlands. Jack +was no longer the ugly duckling. Whatever misunderstanding or lack of +sympathy might have existed hitherto between himself and Valentine had +melted away in the sunny atmosphere of Queen Mab's court; and since the +incident of the magpie's nest, the two boys had become fast friends. + +Soldiering was their great mutual hobby. They constructed miniature +earthworks in the garden, mounted brass cannon thereon, fired them off +with real powder, and never could discover where the shots went to. +They read and re-read "A Voice from Waterloo," the only military book +they could discover in their aunt's bookcase; and on wet days the bare +floor of the empty room upstairs was spread with the pomp and +circumstance of war. The soldiers had a wonderful way of concealing +their sufferings; they never groaned or murmured, and, shot down one +day, were perfectly ready to take the field again on the next, and so +when the solid lead captain or die mounted officer who took on and off +his horse was "put out of mess" by a well-directed pea, the knowledge +that they would reappear ready to fight again another day considerably +lessened one's grief at the sight of their fall. Perhaps, after all, +lead is a more natural "food for powder" than flesh and blood, and so +the only time tears were shed over one of these battles was one morning +when Barbara surreptitiously crammed two dozen peas into her mouth, +fired them with one prolonged discharge into the midst of Valentine's +cavalry, and then fled the room, whereupon Jack sat down and laughed +till he cried. + +It would be difficult to say what it was that made Queen Mab's nephews +and nieces like to wander out into the kitchen and stand by her side +when she was making pastry or shelling peas; but they seemed to find it +a very pleasant occupation, and in this, after the first week of his +stay, Jack was not a whit behind the others. + +He was sitting one morning on a corner of the table, watching with +great interest his aunt's dexterous use of the rolling-pin. + +"Well, Jack," she said, looking up for a moment to straighten her back, +"are you sorry I made you come to Brenlands?" + +"No, rather not; I never enjoyed myself so much before. I should like +to stay here always." + +"What! and never go home again?" + +The moment that word was mentioned he was once more Fenleigh J. of the +Upper Fourth. + +"Home!" he said; "I hate the place. I've got no friends I care for, +and the guv'nor's always complaining of something, and telling me he +can't afford to waste the money he does on my education, because I +don't learn anything. I do think I'm the most unlucky beggar under the +sun. I've got nothing to look forward to. But I don't care. When I'm +older I'll cut the whole show, and go away and enlist. Any road, I +won't stay longer than I can help at Padbury." + +Queen Mab smiled, and went on cutting out the covering for an +apple-tart. + +"I know you like soldiers," she said; "well, listen to this. Just +before the battle of Waterloo, the father of Sir Henry Lawrence was in +charge of the garrison at Ostend. He knew that some great action was +going to take place, and wished very much to take part in it; so he +wrote to Wellington, reminding him that they had fought together in the +Peninsular War, and asking leave to pick out the best of the troops +then under his command and come with them to the front. The duke sent +him back this reply,--'That he remembered him well, and believed he was +too good a soldier to wish for any other post than the one which was +given to him.'" + +"You're preaching at me," said Jack suspiciously; "it's altogether +different in my case." + +"No, I'm not preaching; I'm only telling you a story. Now go and find +my little Bar, and say I've got some bits of dough left, and if she +likes she can come and make a pasty." + +Barbara came, and Jack assisted her in the manufacture of two shapeless +little turn-overs, which contained an extraordinary mixture of apples, +currants, sugar, and a sprinkling of cocoa put in "to see what it would +taste like." But the boy's attention was not given wholly to the work, +his mind was partly occupied with something else. He wandered over and +stood at the opposite end of the table, watching Queen Mab as she put +the finishing touch to her pie-crust, twisting up the edge into her own +particular pattern. + +"I don't see why people shouldn't wish for something better when they +have nothing but bad luck," he said. + +"I don't think people ever do have nothing but bad luck." + +"Yes, they do, and I'm one of them. I hate people who're always +preaching about being contented with one's lot." + +"You intend that for me, I suppose," said his aunt, slyly. "All right; +if you weren't out of reach I'd shake the flour dredge over you!" + +"No, you know I don't mean you," said the boy, laughing. "And I have +had one stroke of good luck, and that was your asking me to Brenlands." + +He went away, and told Valentine the story of Colonel Lawrence. + +"I didn't think she knew anything about soldiers." + +"She's a wonderful woman!" said Valentine, solemnly. "She knows +everything!" + +The following morning, as the two cousins were constructing an advanced +trench in a supposed siege of the cucumber-frame, Helen came out and +handed her brother a letter. Valentine read it, and passed id on to +Jack. + +"What d'you think of that?" he asked. + +The epistle was a short one, and ran as follows:-- + + +"GRENFORD MANOR, + "_Tuesday_. + +"DEAR VALENTINE,--I want five shillings to square the man whose hayrick +we set fire to the other day. If you fellows will give one half-crown, +I'll give the other. Send it me by return certain, or there'll be a +row.--Yours truly, + +"RAYMOND FOSBERTON." + + +"Pooh! I like his cheek!" cried Jack. "At the time he said it was the +sun; and now he says, 'the hayrick _we_ set on fire,' when he knows +perfectly well it was entirely his own doing. I should think he's rich +enough to find the five shillings himself." + +"Oh, he's always short of money, and trying to borrow from somebody," +answered Valentine. "The thing I don't understand is, what good five +shillings can be; the man would want more than that for his hay." + +"I don't understand Master Raymond," said Jack. "What shall you do?" + +"Well, as we were all there together, I suppose we ought to try to help +him out. The damage ought to be made good; I thought he would have got +Uncle Fosberton to do that. I'll send him the money; though I should +like to know how he's going to square the man with five shillings." + +A description of half the pleasures and merry-making that went to make +up a holiday at Brenlands would need a book to itself, and it would +therefore be impossible for me to attempt to give an account of all +that happened. The jollification was somehow very different from much +of the fun which Fenleigh J. had been accustomed to indulge in, in +company with his associates in the Upper Fourth; and though it was not +a whit less enjoyable, yet after it was over no one was heard to remark +that they'd "had their cake, and now they must pay for it." + +On the last morning but one, when the boys came down to breakfast, they +found Queen Mab making a great fuss over something that had come by +post. + +"Isn't it kind of your father?" she said. "Look what he's sent me!" + +The present was handed round. It was a gold brooch, containing three +locks of hair arranged like a Prince of Wales's plume, two light curls, +and a dark one in the middle--Valentine's, Helen's, and Barbara's. + +"He says it's to remind me of my three chicks when they are not with me +at Brenlands." + +"Mine's in the middle!" cried Barbara. + +"You ought to have some of Jack's put in as well," said Helen. + +The boy glanced across at her with a pleased expression. + +"Oh, no," he answered, "not alongside of yours." + +During the remainder of the morning he seemed unusually silent, and +directly after dinner he disappeared. + +"D'you know where Jack is?" asked Valentine. + +"No," answered Helen; "he went out into the road just now, but I have +not seen him since." + +It was a broiling day, and the children spent the greater part of the +afternoon reading under the shade of some trees in the garden. They +were just sitting down to tea when their cousin reappeared, covered +with dust, and looking very hot and tired. He refused to say what he +had been doing, and in answer to a fire of questions as to where he had +been he replied evasively, "Oh, only along the road for a walk." + +"Look sharp!" said Valentine, bolting his last mouthful of cake, "we're +going to have one more game of croquet. Come on, you girls, and help +me to put up the hoops." + +Jack, who in the course of his travels had acquired a prodigious +thirst, lingered behind to drink a fourth cup of tea. + +"You silly boy," said his aunt, "where have you been?" + +"To Melchester." + +"To Melchester! You don't mean to say you've walked there and back in +this blazing sun?" + +"Yes, I have. I wanted to get something." + +"What?" + +The boy rose from his chair, and came round to the head of the table. + +"That's it," he said, producing a little screw of tissue paper from his +pocket. "It's for you. It's only a cheap, common thing, but I hadn't +any more money." + +The paper was unrolled, and out came a little silver locket. + +"I didn't want the others to see--you mustn't ever let any one know. +There's a bit of my hair inside." + +"Now, then, don't stay there guzzling tea all night!" came Valentine's +voice through the open window. + +"But, my dear boy, whatever made you spend your money in giving me such +a pretty present?" + +"I want," answered the boy, speaking as though half ashamed of the +request he was making--"I want you to wear it when you wear the brooch; +stick it somewhere on your chain. I should like, don't you know, to +feel I'm one of your family." + +"So you are," answered Queen Mab, kissing him. "So you are, and always +will be--my own boy Jack!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +STRIFE IN THE UPPER FOURTH. + +"'You are exceedingly ugly,' said the wild ducks."--_The Ugly Duckling_. + + +School was a great change after Brenlands. The rooms seemed barer, the +desks more inky, and the bread and butter a good eighth of an inch +thicker than they had been at the close of the previous term; but by +the end of the first week our two friends had settled to work, and +things were going on much the same as usual. + +Considerable alterations had been made in the composition of the Upper +Fourth. Most of the occupants of the front row of benches had got +their remove, while a number of boys from the lower division, of whom +Valentine was one, had come up to join Mr. Rowlands' class. The Long +Dormitory was also changed, and Jack now found himself in Number Eight, +sleeping in a bed next to that of his cousin. + +Being thus so much thrown together, both in and out of school, it was +only natural that the friendship which they had formed in the holidays +should be still more firmly established. Only one thing acted as a +drag upon it, and that was the fact of Jack's still finding a strong +counter-attraction in the society of Garston, Rosher, and Teal. + +The quartette began the term badly by being largely responsible for a +disturbance which occurred in the dining-hall, when a clockwork frog +was suddenly discovered disporting itself in Pilson's teacup; and it is +probable that Jack would have continued to distinguish himself as a +black sheep, in company with his three unruly classmates, had it not +been for an unforeseen occurrence which caused him to make a change in +his choice of friends. + +As not unfrequently happens, the few original members of the Upper +Fourth who had not been called upon to "come up higher" still clung to +their old position at the bottom of the class, while the front benches +were filled by their more industrious schoolfellows who had earned +promotion. This state of affairs was not altogether pleasing to some +of the old hands. In Garston's opinion, the ideal Form was one which +would have no top, and where everybody would be bottom; and when the +first week's "order" was read out, he remarked, concerning those +new-comers who had won the posts of honour, that it was "like their +blessed cheek," and that some of them wanted a licking. Teal was +entirely at one with his chum in this opinion, and showed his approval +of the latter's sentiments by laying violent hands upon the person of +Hollis, the head boy, making a playful pretence of wringing his neck, +and then kicking his bundle of books down a flight of stairs. Hollis, +a weakly, short-sighted youth, threatened to complain to Mr. Rowlands; +which course of action, as may be supposed, did not tend to increase +his popularity with his new classmates. + +The very next morning the dogs of war broke loose. The boys were +construing the portion of Virgil which had been set them overnight. +Garston, who came last, had floundered about for a few moments among +the closing lines, giving vent to a few incoherent sputterings, and +every one was impatiently awaiting the first tinkle of the bell. + +"Yes, Garston," said Mr. Rowlands, "that's certainly up to your usual +form--quite a brilliant display; I'll give you naught. Let me see: I +set the lesson to the end of the page, and told you to go further if +you could; has any one done any more?" + +"I have, sir," said Hollis; "shall I go on?" + +The master nodded, Hollis proceeded, and Valentine, who stood second, +also followed in turn with a continuation of the translation. He had +only got through a couple of lines when the bell rang, and the class +was dismissed. Hardly had the door closed behind them, when Rosher and +Teal charged along the passage and seized hold of Valentine and Hollis. +The other boys crowded round in a circle. + +"Look here, my good chap," said Teal, "in future you'll have to drop +that; d'you hear?" + +"Drop what?" + +"Why, doing more work than what's set." + +"But why shouldn't I?" said Hollis. "There's no harm in it; he didn't +give us any marks." + +"You young fool! don't you see that if you do more than what's set, +he'll think we can all do the same, and make the lessons longer." + +"Of course he will!" added several voices. + +"Just you mind what you're up to," continued Teal, "or you'll get what +you won't like." + +"Pass on there! What are you waiting for?" cried Mr. Rowlands, +appearing in the doorway of his classroom, and the gathering dispersed. + +The following morning, as fate would have it, nearly the same thing +happened again, only this time during the hour devoted to algebra. + +"Has any one had time to do any of the next set of examples?" asked Mr. +Rowlands. "If so, let him hold up his hand." + +Only two boys held up their hands--Hollis and Valentine. There were +murmurs of discontent at the back of the room, and several fists were +shaken ominously. + +Jack had not troubled to side with either party--it mattered very +little to him whether the lessons were long or short, as he only did as +much as he felt inclined--but, if anything, his sympathies lay with his +less industrious comrades, who, he considered, had very good ground for +feeling aggrieved with Hollis and his cousin. + +"Look here, Val," he said, when they met at the close of morning +school, "what d'you want to go and work so beastly hard for?" + +"I don't." + +"No, perhaps you don't, because you're clever; but you're always doing +more than you're obliged to, and the other chaps don't like it, because +they say it'll make Rowlands set longer pieces." + +"Oh, that's all rubbish! It's simply because they're waxy with us for +getting above them in class. I don't see why I should take my orders +from Rosher and Teal, and only do what they like; and I don't intend to +either." + +"All right, my boy," answered Jack, carelessly. "Do what you like, +only look out for squalls." + +The latter piece of advice was not at all unnecessary; for soon after +this, as the giver was strolling across the gravel playground, he heard +his name called, and looking round saw his cousin hurrying after him +with a scrap of paper in his hand. + +"Look," he said; "I found this in my desk just now, and there was one +just like it in Hollis's." + +Jack took the paper. It was an anonymous note, printed in capitals to +disguise the handwriting; and it ran as follows:-- + +"This is to give you fair warning, that if you will persist in doing +more work than what is set, you'll get a thrashing. The rest of the +class don't intend to get more work on your account, and so have +decided not to put up with your nonsense any longer." + +"It was Rosher or one of those chaps wrote it," said Jack. "You'd +better look out; any one of them could give you a licking." + +"They'd have to try first," answered Valentine, hotly. + +His cousin laughed; the reply rather tickled his fancy. + +Those concerned had not long to wait before matters came to a head. +That same afternoon Mr. Rowlands set a history lesson for the following +day. "Take the reign of Elizabeth," he said. "By-the-bye, there's a +genealogical tree at the end of the chapter; get that up if you can." + +The examination next morning was a written one, and the last question +on the board was, "Show, by means of a genealogical tree, the +connection between the Tudors and the Stuarts." + +"Please, sir," said Garston, "you told us we needn't do that." + +"I said you were to get it up if you had time," returned the master. +"Haven't any of you done it?" + +"Yes, sir," came from the front desk. + +"Very well; let those who have learned it write it down." + +"Val, my boy," said Jack, in his happy-go-lucky style, as they met in +the dormitory to change for football, "you just keep your eyes open; +you're going to get licked." + +Valentine replied with a snort of defiance, and the subject was +dropped. Tea was over, and in the short respite between the end of the +meal and the commencement of "prep.," Jack was strolling down one of +the passages, when his attention was attracted by a certain small boy +who stood beneath a gas-jet scanning the contents of a small book, and +occasionally scribbling something on a half-sheet of exercise-book +paper. Suddenly the youngster flung down the book in a rage, and +kicked it across the passage, whereupon Jack promptly cried, "No goal!" + +"Hallo, little Garston!" he continued, "what's up with you?" + +"Why, I've got to write out the translation of some of this Caesar for +old Thorpe, and I can't make head or tail of the blessed stuff. I say, +Fenleigh, you might do a bit for me!" + +Jack was a good-natured young vagabond. "Where is it?" he said, +picking up the book. "All right! here goes." + +Garston Minor slapped his piece of paper up against the wall, and wrote +at his friend's dictation. The translation was not very accurate, but +coming from the lips of a fellow in the Upper Fourth it was accepted +without question by the juvenile, and in ten minutes the rough copy of +the imposition was finished. + +"Thanks awfully!" said the youngster, as he stuffed the book and paper +back into his pocket. "Look here, Fenleigh; as you've done me a good +turn, I'll let you into a secret, only you must promise not to let my +brother know who told you. He and Teal and Rosher are going to give +your cousin a licking." + +"How d'you know?" + +"I heard them talking about it. They said, 'We'll lick Valentine +Fenleigh. If we touched Hollis, he'd sneak; but it'll frighten him if +we thrash the other chap.'" + +"When are they going to do it?" + +"Now--some time; they said soon after tea." + +"Where?" cried Jack. + +"I can't tell you; they didn't say. That's all I know." + +Jack exploded with wrath. He had talked calmly enough to Valentine +about his getting licked, and was inclined to think he deserved it; but +now that it had come to the point, he found that the idea of his cousin +being thrashed was not at all to his liking. Even at that very moment +the outrage might be taking place. The victim was not equal to any one +of his three assailants, and stood much less chance of escaping from +their combined attack. + +Fenleigh J. rushed off down the passage on a wild-goose chase after his +chum, but nowhere was the latter to be found. As a last resource, he +ran into the schoolroom. Valentine's seat was empty, but a boy sat +reading at the next desk but one. + +"Have you seen my cousin?" + +"Yes, he was here a minute ago." + +"Where's he gone?" + +"Bother you!--let's see--oh, I know; some one came in to say Darlton +wanted him in the little music-room." + +"Darlton never gives lessons after tea. Phew! I see what's up!" + +The boy looked up from his reading with a grunt of astonishment as his +questioner turned sharply on his heel and dashed out of the room. Jack +had his faults, but he was loyal-hearted enough to remember those who +had at any time proved themselves to be his friends, and not to leave +them in the lurch when an opportunity offered for rendering them some +assistance. He was a strong boy, but the back desk trio were also +good-sized fellows for their age. Had it, however, been the whole of +the Sixth Form who were licking Valentine, Jack in his present state of +mind would have charged in among them and attempted a rescue. + +"It's clear enough," he muttered to himself, as he turned off down a +short, narrow passage; "that message was a trap to catch him alone. +But wait a minute, and I'll surprise the beggars." + +He paused outside a door, and hearing voices within tried the handle. +It was locked. + +"Hallo! who's there? You can't come in." + +Jack was too wary to make any reply. He glanced round rapidly, +endeavouring to concoct some plan for gaining an entrance. Stooping +down, he discovered that the key was turned so that it remained exactly +in the centre of the keyhole, anything pushed against it would send it +out on the other side. "I believe that bathroom key fits this door," +he muttered, and tiptoed a little further along the passage. In +another moment he was back again, and thrusting the key suddenly into +the lock he turned it, and forced open the door. + +The room was a small chamber set apart for music practice, the only +furniture it contained being a piano, a chair, some fiddle-cases, and +music-stands, while on the mantelpiece, in the place of a clock, was a +metronome that had something wrong with the works. Jack, however, had +no eye for these details; his attention was centred in a group of boys +who were struggling under the single gas-jet, which was flaring away in +a manner which showed it had evidently been turned up in a hurry. + +"Here, leave that chap alone!" he exclaimed, plunging into the centre +of the scrimmage. "Let him alone, I say!" + +"Hallo! it's Fenleigh J.," cried Garston. "You've just come in time to +help us to teach this cousin of yours a lesson on the subject of not +overworking himself." + +"Leave him alone!" repeated Jack angrily, giving Rosher a push which +sent him staggering back into the fireplace, where he knocked over the +metronome, which fell with a crash on the fender. + +"Don't be a fool, Fenleigh," cried Teal. "We're going to teach this +chap a lesson. If you don't want to help, you can clear out." + +"I shall do nothing of the sort," returned the other. "You let him +alone." + +Both parties were too much in earnest to waste their breath in talking, +and the next moment Garston and Rosher sprang on the intruder and +endeavoured to force him out of the room. Valentine, being unable to +free himself from the muscular grasp of Teal, could render no +assistance; but his cousin, whose blood was fairly up, struggled +furiously with his two assailants. Round the room they went, like a +circular storm, wrecking everything they came in contact with; +music-stands went over with an appalling clatter, while the back of the +solitary chair gave way with a crash as the three combatants fell +against it. Suddenly a sharp voice sounded down the passage,-- + +"Now then, there! What's all that noise about?" + +Teal released his hold of Valentine, and springing to the gas-jet +turned out the light. + +"_Cave_!" he whispered: "it's old Thorpe!" + +It was impossible to continue the struggle in the darkness, and the +tumult ceased. + +"He's gone into Copland's classroom," continued Teal. "Quick! let's +hook it before he comes back!" + +A rush was made for the door. + +"All right, Fenleigh; don't you think you're going to be friends with +us any more." + +"I've no wish to be," answered Jack. "If you want to finish this out +any time, I shall be quite ready for you!" + +"It was jolly good of you to stick up for me like that," said +Valentine, as the two cousins hurried off towards the schoolroom. + +"I should have been a mean cad if I hadn't," returned the other, +laughing. "You don't think I've forgotten that affair of the magpie's +nest, do you? I don't care a straw for any of those fellows, and it +they want to fight, I'll take them on any day; but they'll have to lick +me first before they talk about thrashing you." + +In course of time the dispute between the two extremes of the Upper +Fourth died a natural death. Mr. Rowlands did not increase the length +of the "prep." lessons, and peace was restored. Garston and his two +companions, however, did not forgive Jack for his interference with +their plans. Regarding him, perhaps, as rather a hard nut to crack, +they made no attempt to renew the combat, but evidently decided to cut +him off from any future enjoyment of their society or friendship. + +Jack, on his part, did not seem to take this loss very much to heart; +it only induced him to become more chummy with Valentine, and, judging +from the comparatively few times that his name was down for punishment, +this change of associates seemed to be decidedly to his advantage. As +the autumn advanced, and wet days became more frequent, the two boys +took to doing fretwork in their spare time; and having purchased a +rather large and complicated design for a kind of bracket bookcase, +they conceived the happy notion of making it as a Christmas present for +Queen Mab, and so worked away together, taking an immense amount of +interest in their task. + +Before the term ended a rather curious incident happened, insignificant +in itself, but worthy of being recorded as bearing on more important +events to be dwelt on at a later period in our story. + +It wanted about three weeks to the holidays, and Jack and Valentine +were returning from the ironmonger's, where they had been purchasing +some sandpaper wherewith to put the finishing touches to their work. + +"I wish it was midsummer instead of Christmas," the former was saying. +"I don't want to go home. I'd much rather go to stay with Aunt Mab at +Brenlands." + +Valentine was about to reply, when both boys were surprised by a +shabby-looking man suddenly crossing from the other side of the street +and taking up his stand directly in their path. The stranger wore a +battered brown hat, no necktie, and a suit of clothes which he might +have stolen from some scarecrow. + +"'Afternoon, young gents!" he said. + +"Good afternoon," answered Jack shortly, stepping out into the road. + +The stranger turned and walked at their side. + +"You may not remember me, gents, but I'm Ned Hanks." + +"I don't care who you are," answered Valentine; "I don't know you." + +"Oh, but I know you, sir; it's Mr. Fenleigh I'm a-talking to. I +thought, perhaps, you might like to stand me a drink." + +"I say, just be off," cried Jack sharply, "here's old Westford coming." + +The man fell back, and a moment later the two boys raised their caps to +the headmaster. Mr. Westford acknowledged their salutation with a cold +stare, which clearly showed that he had seen their late companion, and +was wondering what business two of his pupils had to be talking with +such a vagabond. + +"I wonder who that fellow was!" said Jack. + +"Oh, some tramp. I never saw him before." + +"But he knew your name." + +"Well, these beggars are up to all kinds of dodges," answered +Valentine. "If we'd waited long enough, I daresay he'd have told me +the names of all the family!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A BANQUET AT "DUSTER'S." + +"It must have been the fault of the black goblin who lived in the +snuff-box."--_The Brave Tin Soldier_. + + +At Easter, Jack and Valentine got their remove into the Fifth, and +there became acquainted with a young gentleman who rejoiced in the name +of Tinkleby. + +Tinkleby was a comical-looking fellow of medium height; he wore +nippers, and had a perpetual smirk on his lips. + +"Hallo, you two Fenleighs!" he said, coming up to them on the second +morning of the term; "I suppose you'll join our society." + +"What society?" asked Jack. + +"The Fifth Form Literary Society." + +"What's it for?" asked Valentine. "We're neither of us very literary." + +"Well, to tell you the truth, the society isn't either. It's kept up +for the sake of having a feed at the end of every summer term." + +"What?" cried Jack, laughing. + +"If you'll listen a moment," said Tinkleby glibly, "I'll explain the +whole matter in two words. + +"The fellows in the Fifth used to run a manuscript magazine. Aston was +the first editor, and he called it the 'Portfolio,' because it was +bound up in the case of an old blotter that he bagged out of the +reading-room. The chaps who contributed papers called themselves the +Fifth Form Literary Society, and elected a secretary, treasurer, and +president. Aston was so pleased with one of the numbers that he sent +it to _The Melchester Herald_ to be reviewed; but after waiting about +six months for a notice to appear, he went down to the office, and the +editor said that the manuscript was lost, and that Aston ought to have +enclosed stamps if he wanted it returned. Godson, one of the prefects, +said he saw a bit at Snell's the fish-shop, where they were using it to +wrap up screws of shrimps; but that was all rot, and he only said it +because the fellows in the Sixth were jealous. Well, then, it was +suggested that the magazine should be printed, and the members +subscribed towards bringing out the first number; but after they'd +raked in all the money they could get, they found there wasn't enough +for the purpose, so they decided to spend what they'd got in having a +feed at 'Duster's,' and it was agreed it should be an annual affair. + +"When I was made president I brought out two numbers of the +'Portfolio,' but in the second I wrote rather a smart thing on old +Ward, and called it 'The Career of a Class Master.' It was really so +good I thought he'd enjoy reading it, and so I got another fellow to +show it him; but he didn't properly appreciate it, and cut up rough. +He said he would overlook the personal allusions, but he really +couldn't allow any fellow in his form to be so backward in spelling, +and therefore I must borrow a spelling-book from one of the kids, and +learn two pages a day until I improved. He used to hear me before we +began first lessons. It was rather rough on the president of a +literary society, making him stand up every morning and reel off two +pages of 'Butter's Spelling-Book.' And that squashed the 'Portfolio;' +fellows wouldn't send in any more papers, for fear they should be +hauled up in the same manner. + +"But they went on subscribing for the feed," continued Tinkleby, +brightening up. "We didn't let that fall through. It comes off on the +breaking-up day, after the old boys' match. The Sixth are always +invited in to have supper with the swells; but I know a lot or them +would much rather be with us having a blow-out at 'Duster's.' Well, +that's the meaning of our literary society; the subscription is only +two-pence a week, so you'd better join." + +The two cousins promised they would do so. Every Monday morning, in +the classroom, Tinkleby passed round an old missionary box, crying, +"Now then! pay up, you beggars. No broken glass or brace buttons!" It +was always a race to get the collection over by the time Mr. Ward +entered the room; but the sprightly Tinkleby, who seemed to have +undertaken the combined duties of president, secretary, and treasurer, +hurried through it somehow; and each week the box grew heavier, and the +hearts of the contributors lighter as they looked forward to the time +when they should sit down to the long-expected banquet. + +The term passed very pleasantly for Jack and Valentine; and what +between cricket, bathing, and the prospect of spending the coming +holiday at Brenlands, they had good reason for feeling contented and +happy. Only one thing happened to disturb their peace of mind, and +that an incident of rather a curious nature. + +They were strolling back to the school one afternoon, and had got +within twenty yards of the main entrance, when some one hurrying along +behind them touched Jack on the shoulder, and looking round they found +themselves once more confronted by the same shabby-looking man who had +accosted them on a previous occasion. + +"Beg pardon, Mr. Fenleigh," he began. "I'm Ned Hanks; you'll remember, +sir. Maybe you've got a copper or two you can spare a poor fellow +who's out of work." + +"I've got no money to give away to beggars," said Jack; "and I tell you +once more we don't know you." + +"That's rather ungrateful, I calls it," answered the man. "I did you +two gents a good turn last year, and got precious little for it. I +might have made more out of the other party." + +By this time they had reached the school-gates. + +"Look here," broke in Valentine, "don't you bother us any more, or +we'll put a policeman on your track. I don't understand a word of what +you've been saying, and--" + +"Stop, stop, Fenleigh!" interrupted a deep voice. "What's the meaning +of this, pray?" + +The two boys looked up and found they were standing in the presence of +the headmaster. + +"What's the meaning of this?" he repeated. "Who is this man you're +talking to?" + +There was a moment's silence, during which the seedy stranger slunk +away, and disappeared round the corner. + +"I ask who is this man you are speaking to?" + +"I don't know, sir," answered Valentine. + +"Nonsense!" retorted Mr. Westford sharply. "I saw you two boys holding +a conversation with him once before. You must know who he is; answer +my question immediately." + +"He told us his name was Hanks," said Jack; "but we don't know him. He +came up and spoke to us of his own accord." + +"And, pray, what did he want to speak to you about?" + +"I don't know, sir," answered Valentine--"that is--he wanted to beg +some money." + +"I don't understand your answer, Fenleigh," replied Mr. Westford. "I +fear you are not telling me the truth--or, at all events, you are +trying to keep something back which ought to come to my knowledge. +There must be some reason for my having twice found you in conversation +with that disreputable-looking fellow. Both of you will not go outside +the school premises for a fortnight without special permission." + +Jack stormed and raved, and threatened what he would do if they should +encounter the tramp again; but of the two, Valentine felt the +punishment far more acutely than his cousin. He was not accustomed to +rows; and for a boy with his naturally high sense of honour, the mere +thought that the headmaster suspected him of telling a falsehood was +ten times worse than the fact of being "gated." + +The term ran on, and at length the last day arrived; a day of perfect +happiness, with no more work, and a letter by the first post from Queen +Mab, saying that the pony-carriage would meet the train as usual at +Hornalby station. The prize-giving, with the Mayor of Melchester in +the chair, and Augustus Powler, Esq., M.P., and other grandees, upon +the platform, was a very serious and formal business; the Past and +Present match, in which Preston, the coming man in bowling, took seven +wickets, and dear old Clayton, a bygone captain, lifted a ball over the +roof of the pavilion, was certainly more interesting; but, at all +events, in the opinion of all those concerned, the chief event of the +day was the annual supper of the Fifth Form Literary Society. + +"Come along," cried Tinkleby, as the cheers which greeted a win for the +Present were gradually dying away--"come along. I told Duster to have +the grub ready at half-past five sharp, and it's a quarter to six." + +"Shan't we get into a row for cutting tea?" asked Jack. + +"No fear," answered the other. "Old Ward knows where we're going; and +it's all right as long as we get back before lock-up." + +The confectioner's shop patronized by the Melchester boys was situated +in a quiet street some five minutes' walk from the school-gates. Why +the proprietor's name should have been changed from Downing to "Duster" +it would be difficult to say; but as long as his customers came +furnished with ready money and good appetites, the probability is that +the former would have been quite content to serve them under any +nickname which they chose to invent. + +At the back of "Duster's" establishment was a little square parlour, +where boys repaired to eat ices and drink alarming quantities of +Duster's famous home-made ginger-beer--a high explosive, which always +sent the cork out with a bang, and to drink two bottles of which +straight off would have been a risky business for any boy to attempt +without first testing the staying power of his waistcoat-buttons, and +putting several bags of sand in his jacket-pockets. In this parlour it +was that the literary society assembled for their banquet; as many as +could find room squeezing themselves on to the two short forms on +either side of the table, and the remainder camping out wherever they +could find room on the chairs, window-ledge, and a small sofa. At the +close of a summer day the place was decidedly hot and stuffy, and the +first thing everybody did was to pull off their coats and blazers and +appear in their shirt-sleeves. + +Tinkleby, as president, took the post of honour at the head of the +table, and hammering the festive board with his fist, called on +"Duster" to "bring in the grub and something to drink." To describe +the banquet itself would need an abler pen than mine. The sausages +were browned to perfection, the ices were pinker than a maiden's cheek, +and the ginger-beer was stronger and more filling at the price than it +had ever been before, and made those who drank it gasp for breath and +feel as though they had swallowed a cyclone. James, surnamed "Guzzling +Jimmy," distinguished himself by finishing up with ices, and then +beginning all over again with cold ham and pickles; but at length, when +even he had finished, there was a general hammering of the table, and a +call for "speeches." + +"Well, fire away," said the president. "Who's going to start?" + +"I will," cried a boy named Dorris. "Gentlemen, I beg to propose a +toast--success to the Fifth Form Literary Society, and with it I couple +the name of our worthy president, Mr. Tinkleby; may he live long and be +happy!" + +This sentiment, though not very original, was received with great +enthusiasm, the company showing their approval of it by administering +to themselves fresh doses of "Duster's" liquid explosive. + +The president, rising slowly to his feet, sticking his thumbs in the +armholes of his waistcoat, and expanding that portion of his body which +contained his supper, in imitation of the movements of Augustus Powler, +Esq., M.P., cleared his throat, and began in pompous tones: "Mr. Mayor, +ladies and gentlemen, I cannot well express to you the delight with +which I stand here to fulfil the pleasing duties which you have so +kindly called upon me to perform. When I look round on the bright, +young faces before me--" + +The speaker paused to dodge a shower of crusts, corks, and other +missiles; the owners of the "bright, young faces" evidently resented +this personal allusion. + +"Shut up, Tinky!" cried several voices. "Talk sense, can't you?" + +The president smiled, and readjusted his nippers. + +"I was about to remark," he continued in his natural tone, and with his +accustomed fluency of speech, "I was about to remark that I thank you +very much for having drunk my health. You were good enough to couple +my name with that of our society. Gentlemen, I am convinced that the +Fifth Form Literary Society has a great future before it. (Laughter.) +I look forward to the time when we shall not grub here at 'Duster's,' +but dine together in premises of our own. Our friend Mr. James has a +nice little plot of ground in a soap-box, where he now grows +mustard-and-cress, but which I have no doubt he would let to us on +reasonable terms for building purposes. But, perhaps, I am looking a +little too far ahead. As regards our immediate future, I intend making +a determined effort to publish another number of the 'Portfolio.' +(Cheers.) Mr. Ward has intimated his willingness to contribute a large +number of Latin lines written by members of his class; while Mr. Sam +Jones, the boot-cleaner, has offered to place his talented brush at our +disposal, and produce a grand New-Year's Illustrated Supplement, +entitled, 'Christmas in the Coal-Hole.' Gentlemen, I fear I am +trespassing on your time and good nature. Mr. James, I see, is anxious +to drink another toast. Once more I thank you for having drunk my +health, and would now call upon you to drink that of Mr. Preston, who +distinguished himself this afternoon by taking no less than seven of +the old boys' wickets." + +Great applause greeted the finish of the president's speech, and +Preston's health was drunk amid a scene of the wildest enthusiasm. +Cries of "On your pins, Preston!"--"Well bowled, +sir!"--"Order!"--"Speak up!" etc., rent the air; while the pounding of +fists and drumming of feet were continued until a game leg of one of +the forms suddenly gave way, causing a temporary disappearance of half +the company beneath the table. + +Preston might have been able to howl, but he certainly could not talk, +and it was hard for him to follow such a glib speaker as the president. +However, the fact remained that he had distinguished himself, and +brought honour to the Fifth Form in general by taking seven wickets; +and for this reason his comrades would have been content had he merely +stood up and reeled off the list of prepositions which govern the +accusative, or quoted selections from the multiplication table. As it +was, they awarded him a cordial reception, and filled up the pauses in +his disjointed utterances with tumultuous applause. + +"I'm much obliged to you fellows for drinking my health," began the +bowler. "It's jolly good of you, and--all that sort of thing. +(Cheers.) I did manage to bag seven wickets." (Renewed applause, +interrupted by a warning shout of "Look out! this form's going again!") +"I was going to say," continued the speaker, attempting to hide his +embarrassment by pretending to drink out of an empty glass, "that it +was rather a fluke--" (Shouts of "No! no!" "More pop for the +gentleman!" and fresh outbursts of cheering.) "Well, I did the best I +could, and--well--glad you're pleased, and all that sort of thing. +(Alarums and excursions.) I suppose I ought to say something about +this society, but, as regards that matter, the former speaker has +rather taken the sails out of my wind. (Cheers and laughter.) No, I +should say the _whales_ out of my-- (Yells of laughter.) Any way," +concluded Preston, shouting to be heard above the general uproar, "I'm +much obliged to you, and--all that sort of thing--" + +It was not until several ginger-beer bottles had rolled off the table, +and the rickety form had once more gone down with every soul on board, +that a sufficient amount of order was restored to enable the president +to call on somebody for a song. + +"Sing yourself, Tinkleby," was the answer. "Give us 'Little Brown +Jug.'" + +The president complied with the request. Mead, a musical companion, +ground out an unearthly accompaniment on "Duster's" little, +broken-winded harmonium; and the company shrieked the chorus, +regardless of time, tune, or anything but the earnest desire of each +individual to make more noise than any one else. + +When this deafening uproar had at length subsided, everybody was forced +to remain quiet for a few moments to regain their breath. "Now, then," +said Tinkleby, "who's next? What's that? All right. Bos. Jones says +he will give us a recitation." + +The announcement was received with a groan. Mr. Boswell-Jones was +rather a pompous young gentleman, who expended most of his energies +trying to live up to his double surname, and in consequence was not +very popular with his schoolfellows. He rather fancied himself as an +elocutionist; and though he might have seen "rocks ahead" in the manner +in which the audience received the president's announcement, +Boswell-Jones had sufficient confidence in his own powers to be blind +to any lack of appreciation on the part of other people. He stood up +and adjusted his necktie, cleared his throat, and began,-- + + "I remembah, I remembah, + The house where I was bawn, + + +("Euh! re--ah--lly!" murmured the listeners.) + + + The leetle window where the sun + Came peeping in at mawn." + + +"Whose little son?" interrupted Dorris. + +"Shut up!" cried the president. + +"Well, I only wanted to know," said Dorris in an injured tone. "I +should call it jolly good cheek of anybody's son to come peeping in +through my bedroom window--" + +"Shut _up_!" exclaimed Tinkleby. "Go on, Bos." + + "He never came a wink too soon, + Nor brought too long a day; + But now"-- + +continued the reciter with a great amount of pathos, + + --"I often wish the night + Had bawn my breath away!" + + +"So do I," mumbled Paterson. "Let's have another song." + + + "I remembah, I remembah, + The roses, red and white--" + + +"Go on, Bossy," ejaculated the irrepressible Dorris; "you don't +remember it at all, you're simply making it up as you go along." + +A general disturbance followed this last interruption--the audience +laughed, the president vainly endeavoured to restore order, and +Boswell-Jones sat down in a rage, and refused to continue his oration. + +"A song, a song!" cried several voices. "Jack Fenleigh, you know +something; come on, let's have it." + +Jack had a good voice, and with Mead extracting fearful groans and +growls out of the harmonium, he started off on the first verse of "The +Mermaid," a song which he was destined in after years to sing under +strangely different circumstances:-- + + "Oh, 'twas in the broad Atlantic, 'mid the equinoctial gales, + That a gay young tar fell overboard, among the sharks and whales; + And down he went like a streak of light, so quickly down went he, + Until he came to a mermaid at the bottom of the deep blue sea." + + +Then the audience took up the chorus, and yelled,-- + + "Rule, Britannia! Bri--tann--ia rules the waves! + And Bri--tons never, never, ne--ver shall be + Mar--ri--ed to a mer--mai--ed + At the bottom of the deep blue sea!" + + +The song was received with great enthusiasm, and the performers might +have been kept repeating the last chorus until break of day on the +following morning, it Tinkleby had not suddenly jumped up, crying, "I +say, you chaps, it's five-and-twenty past seven. We shall be late for +lock-up." + +Every one sprang to his feet. Dorris was the first to reach the door, +and being of a playful disposition caught up a bundle of coats and +blazers and bolted with them under his arm. A moment later certain of +the peaceful citizens of Melchester were astonished at the sight of a +dozen or more young gentlemen tearing madly down the street in their +shirt-sleeves. And so ended the third annual supper of the Fifth Form +Literary Society. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +"GUARD TURN OUT!" + +"He felt for them as he had never felt for any other bird in the world. +He was not envious ... but wished to be as lovely as they."--_The Ugly +Duckling_. + + +"It is jolly to be here at Brenlands again," said Jack, as he sat +dangling his legs from the kitchen table, and munching one of the sweet +pods of the peas which his aunt was shelling. "I've been looking +forward to it ever since last summer." + +"Yes, and a pretty fuss I had to get you to accept my first +invitation," answered Queen Mab; "I thought you were never going to +condescend to favour us with your company. However, I've got you all +here again, and it _is_ jolly; and what's more, you managed to turn up +at the proper time yesterday instead of coming half a day late, as you +did last year, you rascal!" + +The boy laughed. "Oh, well! you may put that down to Val," he +answered. "He's quite taken me in hand lately, and has been in an +awful funk for fear I should get into another row just before the +holidays. You know those penny toys you get with a little thing like a +pair of bellows under them that squeaks--well, I got a bird the other +day and pulled off the stand, and stuck it in my shoe so that I could +make a noise with it when I walked. Whenever I moved about in class, +old Ward used to beseech me with tears in his eyes to wear another pair +of boots. I used to come squeaking into assemblies a bit late on +purpose, and send all the fellows into fits. It was a fearful joke; +but poor old Val got quite huffy about it, and kept saying I should be +found out, and that there was no sense in my 'monkey tricks,' as he +called them." + +"So they are," answered Queen Mab, smiling in spite of herself. "I +should have thought you were old enough to find some more sensible +amusement than putting pieces of penny toys in your boots. You may +laugh at Valentine if you like, but I can tell you this, he's very fond +of you, and that's the reason why he doesn't like to see you in +trouble." + +"I know he is," returned the boy briskly. "He's a brick; and I like +him better than any other chap in the school." + +Queen Mab went on shelling her peas, and Jack remained perched on the +end of the table, quite content to continue watching her nimble fingers +and sweet, restful face. It certainly was jolly to be back again at +Brenlands. He was no longer the ugly duckling; Helen and Barbara were +like sisters, and he got on with them swimmingly; all kinds of splendid +projects were on the carpet, and there were plenty of long summer days +to look forward to in which to carry them out. To be a careless dog of +a schoolboy, ready for anything in the way of larks and excitement, and +paying precious little attention to one's books or conduct record, +might be a fascinating sort of existence; yet somehow it was not +altogether unpleasant, once in a way, to become for a time a member of +a more civilized and refined society, where gentler treatment +encouraged gentler manners, where hearts were thought of as well as +heads, where there was no black list, and where no one would have made +a boast of being on it, had such a thing existed. + +This year the mimic war operations were of a more advanced kind than +had ever been attempted before. A fortress built of clay and pebbles +was mined and blown up; and there still being some powder left, Jack +successfully performed the feat of blowing himself up, and in doing so +sustained the loss of an eyebrow. In order that this catastrophe +should not alarm Queen Mab, the missing hair was replaced by burnt +cork; but Jack, forgetting what had happened, sponged his face and +rushed down to tea, where Barbara, after regarding him for a few +moments in silence, leaned across the table and remarked, with a wise +shake of her head, "Yes, I see--you've been shaving." + +But what proved a source of endless delight to the two boys was an old, +military bell-tent which Queen Mab had bought for their special use and +amusement. They pitched it on a corner of the lawn, and were always +repairing thither to read, and talk, and hold councils of war. It was +delightful to speculate as to what doughty warriors might have been +sheltered beneath it; and to imagine that sundry small rents and +patches must be the result of the enemy's fire, and not due to the wear +and tear of ordinary encampments. + +Not satisfied with living in it by day, they determined to pass a night +there also, and would not rest content until their aunt had given them +permission to try the experiment. + +"All we want," said Valentine, "is a mackintosh to spread on the +ground, and a few rugs and sofa cushions, and a candle and a box of +matches." + +"Very well, you can have plenty of those," answered Queen Mab; "perhaps +some day you won't be so well off, Valentine." + +She spoke lightly enough, and with no foreshadowing of a visionary +picture, often to haunt her mind in the days to come, of men lying +silently under a clear, starlit sky, with belts on, rifles by their +sides, and bayonets ready fixed. + +The two boys prepared to put their project into immediate execution; +and in connection with this their first but by no means last experience +of a night under canvas, they were destined to fall in with a little +adventure which must be recorded. + +Shortly before the commencement of the holidays a lot of strawberries +had been stolen from the garden, and Queen Mab feared lest a similar +fate should overtake a fine show of pears which were just getting ripe. + +"Well, good-night," she said, as she prepared to close the door on the +two adventurers; "if you're cold, and want to come in, throw some +pebbles up at my window." + +"Oh, we shan't want to come in," answered Jack stoutly. "If you hear +any one coming to steal the fruit, you shout, 'Guard turn out!' and +we'll nab 'em." + +The boys settled down like old campaigners. "Awful joke, isn't it?" +said Jack. + +"Yes, prime!" answered Valentine; "soldiering must be jolly." + +Half an hour passed. + +"I say," murmured Valentine, "this ground seems precious hard!" + +"Yes," answered his companion. "I've tried lying on it every way, and +I believe my bones are coming through my skin." + +A long pause, and then, "I say, don't you think it's nearly morning?" + +"Oh, no! the church clock has only just struck one." + +The darkness seemed to lengthen out into that of a polar winter instead +of a single night. At length the canvas walls began to grow grey with +dawn, and Jack awoke with a shiver, wondering whether he had really +been asleep or not. + +"It's beastly cold," he muttered. + +"Yes," answered Valentine. "I thought it was never going to get light. +Look here, I'm determined I _will_ sleep! What's the good of my being +a soldier if I can't sleep in a tent?" + +He turned over on his face, and had just dropped off into a doze, when +he was awakened by Jack, who had reached over and was shaking his arm. + +"I say--Val--who was that?" + +"Who's what?" was the drowsy answer. + +"Why! didn't you hear? Some one just walked down the path. It can't +be Jakes; it isn't five o'clock." + +Valentine rubbed his eyes, thought for a moment, and then suddenly sat +up broad awake. + +"The pears!" he whispered. + +Both boys sprang up, unlaced the door of the tent, and sallied forth in +the direction of the fruit garden. + +"Don't make a row; walk on the grass border. Hist! there he is!" + +There he was, sure enough; a boy about their own age, calmly picking +pears and dropping them into a basket. Jack and Valentine slowly crept +down by the side of the raspberry bushes, like Indians on a war-trail. + +"Now then!" murmured the former, "charge!" + +The thief jumped as if a gun had been fired off behind him, and started +to run, but before he could reach the path he was fairly collared. He +struggled violently, and then commenced to kick, whereupon his arm was +suddenly twisted behind his back, a style of putting on the curb-rein +with which fractious small boys will be well acquainted. + +"Woa! steady now, 'oss!" said Jack facetiously. "Keep your feet quiet, +or I shall put the screw on a bit tighter. Now then, what shall we do +with him?" + +"Put him into the tool shed," answered Valentine. + +The culprit, finding himself fairly mastered, became more docile. His +captors, however, turned a deaf ear to his pleadings to be let go; and +thrusting him into the little outhouse, turned the key in the lock, and +then began to wonder what they should do next. + +"Well," said Jack, "we've got a prisoner of war now, and no mistake. +What shall we do with the beggar? go for a policeman?" + +"No, we don't want to get the chap sent to prison." + +"If we tell Aunt Mab she'll let him go, and he ought to be punished." + +"Of course he does--young villain! It's like his cheek coming here and +bagging all the fruit." + +"I have it!" said Jack, suddenly struck with a bright idea. "We'll +lick him!" + +Valentine hesitated. "I don't like setting on a chap two against one," +he answered. "I don't mind a stand-up fight." + +"Well, that's what I mean," answered Jack joyously. "Look here!" he +continued, hammering on the door of the shed--"look here, you inside +there! I'm going to punch your head for stealing those pears. If you +like to come out I'll fight you, and then you can go; if not, you can +stay where you are. Will you come?" + +"Yes," answered the prisoner sullenly. + +Twenty years ago a fight was not quite such a rare occurrence at +Melchester School as it would be to-day. Jack threw off his coat with +alacrity. + +"Now, Val, you watch; and if the beggar tries to bolt, you leg him +down." + +With a dogged look the stranger took up his ground, and on the signal +being given for the commencement of hostilities, lowered his head, and +made a wild rush at his antagonist. The latter stepped aside, and +greeted him with a smart cuff on the side of the head. Once more the +visitor came on like a runaway windmill, but this time Jack walked +backward and refused the encounter. + +"Oh, look here," he cried, in an injured tone, "can't you do any better +than that? Can't you stand up and hit straight? Don't you know how to +box?" + +"No." + +"Well, what's the good of saying you'll come out and fight? What's +your name?" + +"Joe Crouch." + +"Well then, Joseph, you'd better take your hook. There's your old +basket, only just leave those pears behind; and don't come here again, +or we'll set the bobby on your track." + +Crouch marched off, evidently astonished at finding himself at liberty +to depart. When he reached the gate, he turned, and touched his cap. +"Morning, gen'lemen," he said, and so disappeared. Valentine laughed, +and regarded his cousin with a queer look in his face. + +"You are a rum fellow, Jack; you're always wanting to fight somebody. +When you get two fellows against you like Garston and Rosher, you go at +it like a tiger; and then another time, just because you get hold of a +chap who can't knock you down, you back out and make peace." + +"Well," answered the other, "there's no sport in licking a chap like +that. I'll tell you what, I'm frightfully hungry." + +The two adventurers had plenty to tell at breakfast that morning, and +the interest in their capture lasted throughout the day. In the +evening the young folks went out a favourite walk through the lanes and +fields. Valentine and Barbara were running races on the way home; but +Jack lingered behind with Helen, who was gathering ferns. + +"Let me carry your basket," he said. + +"Oh, don't you trouble; you'd rather run on with Val and Barbara." + +"I expect you don't want me. I know you think I've got no manners, and +in that you're about right." + +"No, I don't think anything of the kind," said Helen, laughing. "I +shall be very glad if you will carry the basket, because I want to talk +to you." + +"Now for a lecture," said Jack to himself.--"All right, fire away!" + +"Well," began the girl, looking round at him with a twinkle in her eye, +"I want to know why you didn't set Val on to fight that boy this +morning, instead of offering to do it yourself." + +"Oh, I don't know! It was my own idea; besides, I'm bigger and +stronger." + +"You mean you did it so that Val shouldn't get hurt, in the same way +that you grappled with those three fellows who were ill-treating him at +school." + +"Pooh! he didn't tell you that, did he? He always lets you know all +the bothers I get into. You'll think I do nothing but fight and kick +up rows; and," added the speaker, with a pathetic look of injured +innocence, "I've been behaving jolly well lately." + +"I think you're a dear, good fellow for defending Val," said Helen +warmly, "and I've been wanting to thank you ever since." + +"It was nothing. 'Twasn't half as much as he did for me when he +climbed that tree and freed my bootlace. I wish he wouldn't go telling +you everything that happens at school." + +"You were saying a day or so ago," said the girl, slyly, "that you +didn't care for anybody, or for what people thought of you." + +"Yes, I do," answered the ugly duckling; "I care a lot what you folks +think of me at Brenlands." + +"Why?" + +"Why, because you're all better than I am, and yet you never try to +make me feel it; but I do all the same. And I love you three and Queen +Mab; and I love the place; and I should like to live here always. But +outside of that," he added quickly, "I don't care a button for +anything." + +"I wish you wouldn't talk like that." + +"But it's a fact." + +"You mean," she answered gently, "that you've said it so often that at +last you're beginning to believe it's true." + +A few mornings later, when the boys came down to breakfast, they were +surprised, on looking out of the window, to see no less a personage +than Joe Crouch weeding the garden path. + +"I found he was out of work, and his parents wretchedly poor," said +Queen Mab; "so I said he might come and help Jakes by doing a few odd +jobs. You know the old maxim," she added, smiling--"the beet way to +subdue an enemy is to turn him into a friend." + +The two boys took considerable interest in Crouch, regarding him as +their own particular protege. Joe, for his part, seemed to remember +their early morning encounter with gratitude, as having been the means +of landing him in his present situation. He had apparently a great +amount of respect for Jack, and seeing the latter cutting sticks with a +blunt knife, asked leave to take it home with him, and brought it back +next day with the blades shining like silver, and as sharp as razors. + +One afternoon, when the boys were lying reading in the tent, Barbara +suddenly appeared in the open doorway, and stamping her foot, cried, +"_Bother_!" + +"What's up with you, Bar?" + +"Why, that wretched Raymond Fosberton is in the house talking to Aunt +Mab. He's walked over from Grenford; and he is going to stay the +night." + +Valentine groaned, and Jack administered a kick to an unoffending +camp-stool. + +"What does he want to come here for, I wonder?" continued Barbara. +"Silly monkey! you should just see him in his white waistcoat and shiny +boots--faugh!" And she choked with wrath. + +Raymond's presence certainly did not contribute very much to the +happiness of the party. He monopolized the conversation at tea-time, +was very high and mighty in his manner, and patronized everybody in +turn. He lost his temper playing croquet, and broke one of the +mallets; and later on in the evening he cheated at "word-making," and +because he failed to win, pronounced it a "stupid game, only fit for +kids." + +In Barbara, however, he found his match. She cared not two straws for +all the Fosbertons alive or dead; and when the visitor, who had been +teasing her for some time, went so far as to pull her hair, she +promptly dealt him a vigorous box on the ear, a proceeding which so +delighted the warlike Jack that he chuckled till bed-time. + +Every one felt relieved when it came to tea-time on the following day. +Raymond had announced his intention of walking home in the cool of the +evening, and Queen Mab proposed that his cousins should accompany him +part of the way. + +They had walked about a mile, Jack and Helen being a little in advance +of the others, when the girl caught hold of her cousin's arm. + +"Oh, look!" she said, "there's a man coming who's drunk." + +"Never mind," answered Jack stoutly; "he won't interfere with us." + +The man, who had reeled into the hedge, suddenly staggered back into +the middle of the road, and stood there barring the way. + +"'Ello! Misser Fenleigh," he began, "'ow're you to-night, sir?" + +Jack stared at the speaker in astonishment, and then recognized him as +the same man who had spoken to them in Melchester. + +"Look here!" he said hotly. "I've told you twice I don't know you. +You just stand clear and let us pass." + +By this time the remainder of the party had come up. + +"Why, 'ere's Misser Fosbe'ton," continued the man, with a tipsy leer. +"Now I jus' ask you, sir, if these two gen'lemen don't owe me some +money for a drink." + +Raymond's face flushed crimson, and then turned white. + +"You've had too much already, Hanks," he said sharply; "just shut up, +and stand out of the road." + +"Oh, no offence!" muttered the man, staggering aside to let the cousins +pass; "'nother time'll do jus' the same." + +"Look here, Raymond, who is that fellow?" asked Valentine, as soon as +they had got out of earshot of the stranger, "Twice he's come up to us +in the street at Melchester, saying he knows us, and wanting money; and +the last time, old Westford saw us talking to him, and we got into a +beastly row, and were gated for a fortnight. Who is he?" + +"Oh, he's a lazy blackguard called Ned Hanks; he's always poaching and +getting drunk. He never does any work, except now and then he collects +rags and bones, and sells them in Melchester." + +"How does he know you?" + +"He lives close to Grenford, and every one knows me there." + +"But how does he know _us_?" + +"I can't say. Haven't you ever seen him at Brenlands?" + +"No, never." + +"Well, I suppose he must have found out your name somehow; and he's +always cadging for money for a drink. Don't you trouble to come any +further. By-the-bye, next year I'm going to set up in diggings at +Melchester. I shall be articled to a solicitor there; and if you +fellows are still at the school, we might go out together." + +"Confound that man!" said Jack, on the following morning; "I should +like to find out who he is, and why he always speaks to us. I wonder +if Crouch knows anything about him." + +Joe Crouch was questioned, and admitted that he knew the man Hanks well +by sight, and had sometimes spoken to him. + +Jack explained the reason of his inquiry. "The fellow's got us into +one row already. Why should he always be bothering us for money?" + +Joe Crouch stood thoughtfully scratching his head for a moment with the +point of the grass clippers. + +"I dunno, sir," he answered; "but maybe I might find out." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +"STORMS IN A TEA-CUP." + +"'Are you not in a warm room, and in society from which you may learn +something? But you are a chatterer, and your company is not very +agreeable.'"--_The Ugly Duckling_. + + +At the commencement of the winter term, in addition to being in the +same class and dormitory, the two cousins were thrown still more +together by occupying adjoining desks in the big schoolroom. + +"Now I shall be able to keep an eye on you," said Valentine, "and see +that you do some work." + +"Shall you?" + +"Yes; Helen gave me special instructions that I was to make you behave +yourself. This is my last year; and the guv'nor says if I do well I +shall go on then to an army coach to work up for Sandhurst." + +"Well, I suppose I must behave myself, if it's Helen's orders," said +Jack, laughing. "I wish I knew what I was going to do when I leave +this place. I only wish I was going into the army like you. Some fine +day I think I shall enlist." + +"Oh, no, you wouldn't. What d'you think Queen Mab would say when she +heard about it?" + +"But she wouldn't hear about it," returned the other, with a touch of +his restless discontent. "No one would hear about it. I should call +myself Jones, or something of that sort. It would be a happier life +than that I live at home; and what the guv'nor thinks he's going to do +with me, I'm sure I don't know." + +Valentine certainly did his best to follow out his sister's +instructions, and keep Master Jack out of hot water. The latter seemed +to have become a trifle more tractable; perhaps, finding other people +were interested in him, he was led to take more interest in himself. +At all events, his conduct underwent a considerable change for the +better, and his name no longer appeared on every page of the +defaulters' book. + +Football was now on, a sport which he specially enjoyed. In addition +to this, Garston and Teal had left, and Rosher, who had now joined the +Fifth, seemed to be increasing in wisdom as well as in stature, and no +longer sought the bubble reputation in official visits to the +headmaster's study. In short, Jack had improved with his surroundings. +He and Valentine, in addition to their fretwork, had taken up +carpentry; and on wet afternoons, when idle hands were steeped in +mischief, they were always to be found in the shed which had been set +apart for the boys to use as a sort of workshop. As far as the Fifth +Form was concerned, only one incident happened to relieve the monotony +of a somewhat uneventful term; and as one of our heroes was largely +responsible for what took place, an account of the episode may as well +be included in our story. + +Jack, it should be said, was not to blame for what happened in the +first place, his and Preston's share in the business was, as it were, +only the effect arising from a primary cause; and for this, the real +root of the matter, Tinkleby was solely responsible. + +"Look here," said Tinkleby, "those fellows in the Sixth are running +that debating show of theirs, and they get let off 'prep.' every +Saturday night; wherefore I vote we join." + +"They wouldn't have us," answered Dorris; "they won't allow any one to +join if they are lower in the school than Sixth or Remove." + +"Ah!" answered Tinkleby, adjusting his nippers, "but, don't you see, I +should do it in this way--I should propose that our society be +amalgamated with theirs." + +"What society?" asked Preston the bowler. + +"Why, the Fifth Form Literary Society, you blockhead!" + +Preston and Dorris both exploded. + +"You seem to think," continued Tinkleby, with a cynical smile, "that +the only use for our society is to provide us with an excuse for having +a feed once a year at 'Duster's;' but let me remind you, sir, that its +main object, according to the original rules, was the cultivation of a +taste for literary pursuits among its members." + +"Yes," added Dorris, "and so you want to get off Saturday 'prep.' Fire +away, Tinky, I'm with you." + +That very afternoon Tinkleby addressed a large, square envelope to + +_S. R. HENINGSON, Esq.,_ + _Hon. Sec. Melchester School Debating Society._ + +and having sealed it with an old military button, dropped it into the +letter-box, a proceeding more in keeping with the importance of the +communication than if he had delivered it by hand. The honorary +secretary went one higher--he sent his reply by post. It was polite, +and to the point. The committee of the debating society did not see +their way to extend the limit of the rule relating to membership. They +would be pleased to admit any of the Fifth Form who could obtain +permission to attend the meetings, but they would not be entitled to +vote, or to take any active part in the proceedings. + +Tinkleby was incensed at this cool reception of his proposal, and +harangued his comrades during a temporary absence of Mr. Ward from the +classroom. + +"They think such a confounded lot of themselves, with their miserable +essays and dry debates. I'll bet we could stand up and spout as well +as they can, on any subject you like to mention, from cribbing to +astronomy." + +"Of course we could," answered Boswell-Jones, who had prepared a paper +entitled, "An Hour with the Poets," into which he had introduced all +his favourite recitations, and which he longed to fire off at something +in the shape of an audience--"of course we could; it's all that +conceited beast Heningson. He thinks he's an orator--great ass!" + +"Well, look here," said Tinkleby, fixing his nippers with an air of +resolution and defiance, "Heningson's going to open a debate next +Saturday. The subject is: 'That this house is of opinion that the +moral and physical condition of mankind is in a state of +retrogression.' We'll go and hear it. Ward'll let us do our 'prep.' +in the afternoon. I've got a little plan in my head, and we'll take a +rise out of these gentlemen." + +The Melchester School Debating Society, as we have already mentioned, +was established for the benefit of the senior boys, who held their +meetings every Saturday night during the winter and Easter terms in +what was known as the drawing classroom. It was conducted in a very +solemn and serious manner. Redbrook, the head of the school, took the +chair; while on the table before him, as a sign of his office and +authority, a small hand-bell was placed, which he was supposed to ring +when, in the heat and excitement of debate, members so far forgot +themselves as to need a gentle reminder of the rule relating to +silence. As a matter of fact, the chairman seldom, if ever, had any +need to use this instrument, though on one occasion some wag removed it +before the proceedings commenced, and substituted in its place the huge +railway-bell used by Mullins, the school-porter; a jest which greatly +incensed the grave and dignified assembly on whom it was practised. +There was a proper mahogany ballot-box. The subjects for discussion +always began, "That this house, etc.," and the secretary entered in a +book exhaustive minutes of every meeting, which the chairman signed +with a quill pen. These details are given in order that the reader may +understand the character of the society in question, and be therefore +in a better position to pass judgment on the outrageous behaviour of +certain gentlemen whose conduct will shortly be described. + +On the following Saturday evening, in answer to the formal invitation +which they had received, Tinkleby and his friends filed into the room, +looking very good and demure, and occupied the desk against the end +wall, which they entered as though it had been a pew in church. The +usual preliminaries were gone through, and the chairman called on "our +worthy friend the secretary" to open the debate by moving, "That this +house is of opinion that the moral and physical condition of mankind is +in a state of retrogression." + +For a time all went well. The visitors sat as mute as mummies, and the +opener sought to justify his proposition by launching out into an +impassioned discourse, which seemed rather inclined to resolve itself +into a brief history of the world, and which the critical Tinkleby +afterwards described as containing "more wind than argument." Touching +briefly on the statements of the Hebrew chroniclers, Heningson +proceeded with a wordy exposition of the manners and customs of ancient +Greece, and from this stumbled rather abruptly into the rise of the +Roman empire. Drawing a fancy and perhaps rather flattering portrait +of one of the world-conquering legionaries, the speaker thought fit to +compare it with that of a latter-day Italian organ-grinder who often +visited the school, and who had recently been had up for being drunk +and disorderly in the streets of Melchester. + +"Gentlemen," exclaimed the orator earnestly, pointing accidentally at +the chairman, but meaning to indicate the unfortunate musician, "is +_this_ the culmination of a race of gods? this inebriate, undersized--" + +At this point the discourse was suddenly interrupted by a loud and +prolonged snore. Heningson hesitated, and glanced up from his notes +with a look of annoyance. He was about to proceed when a chorus of +snores in every imaginable pitch and key effectively checked his +utterance. With an indignant "Sh--s-h!" the audience turned in their +seats to witness the following astonishing spectacle. At the back of +the room every one of the half-dozen visitors sat, or rather sprawled, +with his head upon the desk, in an attitude suggestive of the soundest +slumber; the only variation in position being on the part of Jack +Fenleigh, who lay back with a handkerchief thrown over his face like an +old gentleman taking his after-dinner nap. The nasal concert +continued, and the chairman smote his hand-bell. + +"Firs' bell," murmured Tinkleby drowsily, "stop working;" while Dorris +became suddenly afflicted with a catch in his breath which caused a +succession of terrific snorts, each of which nearly cracked the windows. + +"Here, stop that noise!" cried Redbrook, springing to his feet in great +wrath. "Wake 'em up, somebody!" + +An obliging member caught Tinkleby by the arm, and gave him a +prodigious shake. + +"Shur up," growled that gentleman. "Give me back my pillow, 'tisn't +time to ger up. Hallo! have I been asleep? I'm beastly sorry." + +One by one the other occupants of the visitors' gallery were made to +understand that they were not in their beds. Jack Fenleigh, however, +absolutely refused to return from the land of dreams. He was shaken, +pinched, and pommelled, but all to no purpose; his snores only became +louder, and the style more fantastic. + +Meanwhile a heated altercation was going on between the chairman and +the president of the Fifth Form Literary Society. + +"Look here, Tinkleby, we don't want any more of your silly foolery, so +just stop it." + +"My dear sir, I'm doing nothing." + +"Well, why did you begin?" + +"If you mean my having dropped off to sleep, I'm very sorry; but really +there's something in the air of the place--" + +"Haw-r-r-r-r-ratch," interposed Jack Fenleigh. Redbrook rose from his +chair, boiling with wrath. + +"Just clear out!" he cried. "Go on--all the lot of you!" The visitors +demurred, but being outnumbered three to one, they were seized and +hustled unceremoniously out of the room. In the midst of all this +commotion, however, Fenleigh J., still continued in an unbroken +slumber, and was distinctly heard snoring louder than ever as his +companions dragged him off down the passage. + +[Illustration: "The visitors were seized, and hustled unceremoniously +out of the room."] + +For the time being this little joke gave rise to a rather strained +relationship between the members of the Sixth and Fifth Forms. +Tinkleby and his comrades were designated a set of rowdy jackasses; and +they replied to the compliment by declaring that a fraternity of live +donkeys was better than a collection of stuffed owls, and advising +Heningson to patent his discourse as an infallible cure for insomnia. +Cutting allusions to the "Literary Society" and sarcastic retorts were +exchanged in the corridors and playing-field; and so the feud continued. + +All his classmates were charmed with Jack's share in the performance. + +"You wait," was his invariable answer to their congratulations; "I'll +take a better rise out of them before long." + +For a time this boast was not considered to imply any definite +intention on the speaker's part to play any further pranks on the +members of the debating society; but at length a rumour got abroad that +something _was_ going to happen. Fenleigh J. and Preston had been seen +more than once taking counsel together in out-of-the-way corners, and +exchanging mysterious nods and winks. They were known to have spent +the free time between "prep." and supper, on two consecutive evenings, +alone together in the workshop, with the door locked. A great deal of +hammering went on, but no one could find out what they were making. +When questioned on the subject, they professed a lamb-like state of +innocence; and even Tinkleby himself could give no explanation of their +conduct. A fortnight after the delivery of Heningson's essay, the +debating society held an important meeting, the announcement of which, +posted the previous evening on the notice-board, was worded as +follows:-- + + M. S. D. S. + _Saturday, November ...th._ + DEBATE. + +"That this house approves of the settlement of all international +disputes by arbitration instead of war," + + _Aff._, Mr. N. J. CARTER. + _Neg._, Mr. SHEPHERD. + + +The members turned up in force, for this time the openers of the +discussion were the two leading lights of the society, and the contest +between them was certain to prove an intellectual treat which ought not +to be missed. Carter's style of oratory was of the impassioned order; +he thumped on the desk, and went through the "extension motions," with +the exception of that awful movement where you bend double and try to +touch your toes. It was rumoured that he wrote deep, unintelligible +poetry that did not rhyme; and if the school rules had not forbidden +the practice, he would have worn long hair and a fly-away necktie. +Shepherd, on the other hand, went in for logic, unadorned by any +movements suggestive of setting-up drill. His style bore a suspicious +resemblance to that of Augustus Powler, Esq., M.P. He stuck his thumbs +in the armholes of his waistcoat, and pushed forward that portion of +his body which it would have been unfair to strike at in a fight. It +would be impossible to give here anything like a detailed report of the +proceedings. From the moment when the chairman rose to introduce the +first speaker, every one felt that the meeting would be one of unusual +interest; and in one sense they were certainly destined not to be +disappointed. Carter was in great form; he dealt the desk such +terrific blows that the ink spurted out of the ink-pots, and ran down +on to the secretary's breeches. War, he declared, was legalized +murder, and the soldier little better than a hired assassin. Napoleon +Bonaparte was far more roughly handled than at Leipsic or Waterloo; and +a long list of conquerors, ranging back to Alexander the Great, were, +figuratively speaking, torn from their graves and hung in chains. At +length, having dwelt on the enormous cost of standing armies, and other +more practical aspects of the subject, the speaker concluded with a +vivid picture of the horrors of a battlefield, and was in the act of +quoting a verse of poetry, when he was suddenly silenced by an +unlooked-for interruption. + + + "The bursting shell, the gateway wrenched asunder, + The rattling musketry, the clashing blade; + And ever and anon, in tones of thunder, + The--" + + +Bang! + +Every one started; something like a miniature representation of the +"bursting shell" had just exploded in the neighbourhood of the +blackboard. A boy sitting close by stooped down and picked up from the +floor a small fragment of burnt tissue-paper. + +"Who threw that?" he exclaimed. + +"What is it?" asked the chairman. + +"Why, one of those 'throw-downs.'" + +Redbrook glanced round the room in angry astonishment. + +"Look here," he said sharply, "I don't know who did it, but if any of +you have come to play the fool, you'd better leave the room at once, +for we aren't going to have any more nonsense like we had the other +night." + +The audience turned in their seats, and stared at one another in +amazement. Most of my readers will probably have some practical +knowledge of the small, round paper pellets known as "throw-downs," +which explode when flung against anything; and it was difficult to +imagine that any member of the select and decorous Melchester School +Debating Society would cause an interruption by flinging such things +about in the middle of an important discussion. + +"Go on, Carter," said the chairman. + +"Shan't!" returned the other, snappishly. "I've finished." + +Shepherd was now called upon to open on the side of the negative. + +"War," he began, assuming his accustomed attitude, and beaming round on +his listeners with a very good imitation of the Powler smile--"war is +like surgery. When drugs are of no avail, we are often forced to +resort to the use of the knife, and so--" + +Another mimic bomb exploded in the very centre of the speaker's +waistcoat, causing him to jump nearly out of his skin. Redbrook sprang +to his feet in a towering rage, and as he did so another projectile +burst on the open pages of the minute book. + +"Who threw those things? I will find out!" + +A babel of voices rose in reply. No one had done it. The door was +shut, the windows were fastened, a hasty search was made in the +cupboards and under the back desks, in the hope of discovering a +lurking enemy; but even while the search was in progress another +missile went off under the secretary's chair. + +"Who is it?" shouted Redbrook. "Where do they come from?" + +"That seemed to fall from the ceiling," answered Heningson; "yes--look +there!" + +Above the hanging gas-jet in the centre of the room was an ornamental +iron grating, between the apertures of which there now appeared about +an inch and a half of brass tube, like the end of a big peashooter. A +moment later there was a prodigious puff, and four "throw-downs" +exploded with a simultaneous crash in the centre of the chairman's +table. + +"There's some one up on the roof!" cried several voices.--"Stop it, you +villain!" + +"How could any one get there?" + +"There's a trap-door at the end of the passage," exclaimed Shepherd. +"Quick! we shall cut him off." + +A rush was made for the door, but it refused to open; some one had +evidently blocked the exit from the outside, by placing a short form +lengthways across the passage. The drawing classroom formed part of a +one-storied building which bounded one side of the school quadrangle. +Finding the door closed, Shepherd dashed to the nearest window, and +flinging it open dropped out on to the gravel, an example which was +speedily followed by the chairman and several members of the audience. +Breathing out all manner of threats, they ran round through the nearest +door and gained the entrance to the passage. The trap-door in the +ceiling was wide open, and communicating with it was a curious, +home-made ladder, consisting of an old post, with half a dozen rough +cross pieces fastened to it with stout nails. A candle end was lying +on the floor, and with its aid Shepherd climbed up and explored the +roof; but the bird had flown. + +After such an interruption it was no use attempting to continue the +debate, and Redbrook and his companions spent the remainder of the +evening trying to discover the authors of this outrage. + +The culprits, however, had made good their escape; no one remembered +having seen the ladder before, and it was impossible to say to whom it +belonged. The members of the debating society were clearly outwitted; +and not wishing to make the story of their discomfiture too public, +they determined for the present to let the matter drop, at the same +time announcing their intention of taking dire vengeance on any +irreverent jokers who should rashly attempt to disturb their meetings +in future. Two days later, Valentine was sitting at his desk reading, +when he was joined by his cousin. + +"I borrowed your brass ruler the other afternoon," said the latter, +producing something from under his coat. + +"Yes, I know all about it, you villain!" + +"I only used it as a sort of pea-shooter." + +"Oh, I've heard all about your little game; Preston told me." + +Jack tried to look innocent, and then laughed. + +"It's no use, Val, old chap, you'll never make a good boy of me. It's +the old story of the silk purse and the sow's ear." + +Valentine laughed too. + +"I'm afraid I never shall," he answered. "The joke is that you're +always ready to bring the whole place about your ears with some mad +prank, and then when a cartload of bricks does fall on your head, you +say, 'It's just your luck, and that--'" + +"A collection will be taken at the door in aid of the poor fund at the +close of the present service," interrupted the other. "Good-bye--I'm +off!" + +He moved away a step or two, then came softly back, and began to rumple +his cousin's hair; whereupon an exciting struggle ensued, which brought +them both down on to the floor, and ended with the edifying spectacle +of the preacher sitting flushed and triumphant on the congregation's +chest. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +"OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN--" + +"Above all, beware of the cat."--_The Ugly Duckling_. + + +"Here, Val, you're just the man I want! Tell me something to say." + +It was a broiling afternoon. The summer term had once more come round, +and Jack, with his coat off, was sitting in a shady corner of the +schoolroom wrestling with a letter to Queen Mab. + +"I write to her nearly every blessed week," he continued, "and the +consequence is I've never got anything to say. I've told her how jolly +it is to think that in four weeks' time we shall be at Brenlands again; +and now I'm stuck, and I can't get any further." + +"Have you told her how well you've been doing in cricket this season?" + +"No." + +"Well, I have; so it doesn't much matter. Look here! Raymond +Fosberton's outside, and wants to see you." + +"Oh, tell him to go to Bath!" answered Jack, making another stab at the +ink-pot with his pen. "I want to finish this letter." + +"No, come along," answered Valentine, laughing. "You must be civil to +the fellow; he's been waiting about for nearly a quarter of an hour." + +"Do him good," growled the scribe, reluctantly pitching his untidy +epistle into a very disorderly desk. "He only comes here to show off. +Just because he's in a lawyer's office, he thinks he's a big pot, and +all he does is to write copies like a kid in the Lower School." + +According to his own opinion, Raymond Fosberton had blossomed out into +the full-blown man. He wore a light check suit of the very latest +fashion, a rosebud adorned his button-hole, and he tapped the toe of +his highly-polished, patent-leather boots with the point of a +silver-mounted cane. + +"Hallo!" he exclaimed; "what the dickens d'you want to keep a chap +waiting so long for? I can tell you my time's more valuable than +yours. Look here! I'm sorry I haven't been able to ask you boys to +come and see me before, but nearly every night since I've been here +I've been engaged. However, I want you to get leave to come and have +tea at my rooms on Wednesday, and after that we'll go to the fair. You +know what I mean. It's held once a year in a big field on the other +side of the town; there are shows, and round-abouts, and all that sort +of thing." + +"Thanks," answered Valentine, "but I'm afraid we can't go." + +"Why not?" + +"Because the rule of the school is that no boys are allowed to go to +Melchester Fair. Old Westford is awfully strict about it. Two years +ago some fellows went, and had a row with one of the showmen, and it +got into the papers." + +"Oh, rubbish! you can say you're only going out to tea." Valentine +shook his head. + +"Oh, yes, you can," continued Raymond. "By-the-bye, there's a fellow +here called Rosher, isn't there? My guv'nor knows his people, and told +me to ask him out sometimes; tell him to come too, if he can." + +"We can't do it," answered Valentine decisively; "while the fair's on, +Westford won't even give fellows leave to go down into town." + +"Nonsense!" answered Raymond contemptuously. "You leave it to me, and +I'll manage it all right. Now I must cut back to the office. Ta! ta!" + +On Wednesday afternoon the two cousins were preparing to start for the +cricket field, when a small boy brought them word that the headmaster +wished to see them for a moment in his study. + +"What's the row now, I wonder?" said Jack. "'Pon my word, it's so long +since I went to the old man's study that I feel quite nervous." + +The interview was not of a distressing nature. "I have received a +letter from your uncle," began Mr. Westford, "asking for you to be +allowed to go and meet him at the station this afternoon at five +o'clock. He wishes also to see Rosher, so you can tell him that he may +go. Be back, of course, in time for supper." + +"I wonder what brings Uncle Fosberton to Melchester," said Valentine to +Jack as they walked away together. + +"Can't say," returned the other. "I don't want to see him; but I +suppose we must go. Let's hunt up Rosher." + +A few minutes before five, the three boys entered the booking-office at +the railway station. + +"I wonder which platform it is!" said Jack. "Hallo! there's Raymond." + +The gentleman in question came forward, flourishing his silver-mounted +cane. + +"Well, my dear nephews," he cried, laughing. "How are you to-day? Did +old Westford get my letter all right?" + +"What letter?" asked Valentine. + +"Why, the letter asking for you to come out." + +"But uncle wrote that!" + +"Not a bit of it!" answered Raymond triumphantly. "I did it. I had a +bit of the manor note-paper, and I sent it to our man to post it from +Grenford. Ha! ha! I told you I'd manage the business!" + +Rosher chuckled, Jack whistled, but Valentine remained silent. + +"Look here, Raymond," said Valentine, after a moment's pause, "I tell +you straight, I don't believe in this sort of thing. I'm going back." + +"Don't be a fool, man," retorted the other. "You can't go back now, or +they'll want to know the reason. Come along to my diggings and have +some tea, and I'll bear all the blame." + +With some reluctance Valentine agreed to go with the party to his +cousin's lodgings. Raymond did not seem on very good terms with his +landlady. The tea was a long time coming; and when at length it did +make its appearance, the fare consisted only of bread and butter, and a +half-empty pot of jam. + +"Sorry I can't offer you anything more," remarked the host, "but just +now I've run rather short of cash. Better luck next time." + +As soon as the meal was over, Raymond repeated his proposal that they +should visit the fair. + +"It's an awful joke," he said. "I'm going, and you chaps may as well +come along too." + +"It's all very well for you to go," answered Jack, "but with us it's +different. Any one can see by our hat-bands that we belong to the +school; and if it gets to Westford's ears that we've been, we shall +stand a jolly good chance of being expelled." + +"Oh, well! if you're afraid, don't go," answered Raymond, with a sneer. +"I thought you were a chap who didn't care for anything. Will you go, +Rosher?" + +"I don't mind." + +"Come on, then; don't let's stick here all the evening." + +The four boys put on their hats and sauntered out into the street. +Valentine said good-night, and turned off in the direction of the +school; but Jack lingered behind with the other two. + +"That's right," said Raymond, taking his arm; "I knew you'd come." + +The evening was always the gayest part of the day at Melchester Fair. +Crowds of people from the town and surrounding neighbourhood jostled +each other in the open spaces between the tents and booths, while the +noise of bands, steam-organs, and yelling showmen was something +terrific. + +"I say, have either of you fellows got change for a sovereign?" asked +Raymond. "You haven't? well, you pay, and I'll settle up with you some +other time." + +The boys wandered round the field, listening to the cheap Jacks, and +the proprietors of various exhibitions, which were all "just a-goin' to +begin." They patronized a shooting-gallery, where they fired down long +tubes with little rifles, which made the marksman's hands very black, +and seemed to carry round the corner. Jack, however, succeeded in +hitting the bull's-eye, and ringing the bell, and was rewarded with a +handful of nuts. + +"Come on," said Rosher; "let's have a turn on the wooden horses," and +the party accordingly moved off in the direction of the nearest +round-about. The steeds were three abreast, and Raymond mounted the +one on the outside. A little group of factory boys were standing close +by, and, just as the engine started, one of them thought fit to enliven +the proceedings with a joke. + +"Hallo, mister! how much starch d'you put on your weskit?" + +"That much!" answered Raymond, snappishly, and leaning outwards in +passing he dealt the speaker a sharp cut with his cane. + +"Yah! Thatches!" cried the boy, and every time the whirligig brought +his assailant into view the shout was repeated. + +In the year of grace 1877 some traces still remained of an ancient feud +between the school and the boys of the town. The name "Thatches" had +been invented by the latter on account of the peculiar pattern of straw +hat worn by their adversaries; while the answering taunt always used in +those warlike times was, "Hey, Johnny, where's your apron?" a remark +which greatly incensed the small sons of toil, who usually wore this +garment. + +"What have you been doing to those chaps?" asked Jack, as the horses +slowed down and the yell was repeated. + +"One of them cheeked me, and I hit him with my stick." + +"Well, we'd better slip away as soon as this thing stops; we don't want +to have a row with them here." + +Unfortunately for the three boys, their steeds stopped just opposite +the hostile group. Jack pushed through them with an expression of +lofty contempt, an example followed by Rosher; but Raymond was stupidly +led into a further exchange of incivilities. + +"Don't you give me any more of your confounded impudence, you miserable +little cads, or I'll give you another taste of this stick." + +The "cads" answered with a shout of derisive laughter, and a few more +straggling clansmen joining the band, they followed after the three +friends, keeping at a safe distance, and repeating their cries of "Yah! +Thatches! Hit one yer own size!" and other remarks of a similar nature. + +"We can't go on like this," said Jack. "They'll follow us all round +the fair. Shall we charge the beggars?" + +"No," answered Raymond. "Let's go into the circus, and that'll put +them off the track. You fellows pay, and I'll owe it you; I don't want +to change my sovereign here." + +Rosher paid for three shilling seats, and the trio entered the big +circular tent, thus for the time being effectually escaping from the +pursuing band of unfriendly natives. + +The performance had just commenced, and though the display was by no +means brilliant, yet the boys enjoyed it, and soon forgot the existence +of everything except clowns, acrobats, and trained horses. + +"_I say_!" exclaimed Rosher suddenly, "d'you know what the time is? +It's close on nine o'clock!" + +"By jingo!" answered Jack, "we must do a bolt." + +"No, don't go," interposed Raymond; "you can't get back in time now, so +you may as well stay and see the end. If you'll come round by my +lodgings, I'll get my guv'nor to write a letter of excuse." + +"I don't want any more of your letters," murmured Jack, "it's too +risky. We'd better hook it." + +"No, stay; you can't get back in time now, so what's the good of losing +part of the performance?" + +After some further discussion, Jack and Rosher decided to remain, and +so kept their seats until the end of the performance. It was quite +dark when they emerged from the tent, and every part of the fair was +lit up with flaring paraffin lamps. They had not gone very far when, +as ill-luck would have it, a shrill cry of "Hallo! Thatches!" showed +that they had been sighted by some small scout of the enemy. + +"I've got some coppers left," said Rosher; "let's have a shot at the +cocoa-nuts." + +They stopped opposite a pitch, and began bowling at the fruit. The +first two or three shies were unsuccessful; then Jack knocked down a +nut. + +"I'm not going to let you beat me!" cried Rosher. "Here; mister, give +me some more balls." + +A fresh group of town boys were hovering about in the rear, their +number being now augmented by one or two of a larger size. + +"Yah! Thatch! you can't hit 'em! Come 'ere and let's see that stick +you was talking about." + +"I say," whispered Raymond to his cousin, "wouldn't it be a lark to +pretend to make a good shot, and knock that lamp over." He pointed as +he spoke to one of the flaring oil lamps which, fastened to a stake a +few feet above the ground, illuminated the line of nuts. + +"No, don't do it," answered Jack; but the warning came too late. +Raymond threw with all his might, and, as ill-luck would have it, the +aim was only too true; the heavy wooden ball hit the lamp a sounding +whack, dashed it from its stand, and the next moment the canvas screen +at the back of the pitch against which it fell was all in a blaze. + +In an instant all was confusion. Quick as thought Raymond turned, and +slipped away between the wheels of a caravan which stood close by. The +proprietor of the pitch sprang forward and seized Jack by the coat. + +"'Ere, you did that," he cried, "and you did it a purpose." + +The crowd of juvenile roughs closed in behind. + +"Yes, 'e did it," they cried; "'e's the man." + +"I didn't do it," retorted the boy. "Leave go!" + +Rosher leaned forward, and giving his friend a nudge, uttered the one +word,-- + +"_Bolt_!" + +Jack's blood was up. He wrenched himself free of the man's grasp, and +plunged into the little crowd of riff-raff, striking heavy blows to +right and left. Rosher did the same; and the enemy, who were nothing +but a pack of barking curs, went down like ninepins, falling over one +another in their efforts to escape. + +The two fugitives rushed on, stumbling over tent-ropes and dodging +round the booths and stalls, until they came to the outskirts of the +fair. Then they paused to take breath and consider what was to be done +next. The glare of the burning canvas and a noise of distant shouting, +which could be clearly distinguished above the other babel of sounds, +showed the quarter from which they had come. + +"Where's Raymond?" cried Jack. + +"I don't know," answered Rosher; "we can't wait here, or we shall be +collared." + +"Didn't you see what became of him? I don't like the thought of +leaving the fellow--" + +The sentence was never finished; for at that moment two men suddenly +appeared from behind a neighbouring stall. One was arrayed in a blue +uniform with bright buttons, and his companion was at once recognized +by the boys as being the proprietor of the cocoa-nut pitch. + +"Here they are!" shouted the latter, catching hold of the policeman's +arm; "now we've got 'em!" + +[Illustration: "'Here they are! now we've got them!'"] + +Quick as thought the two schoolfellows turned and dashed off at the top +of their speed. Beyond the outskirts of the fair all lay in darkness; +a high hedge loomed in front of them. Jack scrambled up the bank, +crashed through the thorn bushes, and fell heavily to the ground on the +other side. In an instant he had regained his feet, and was running +for his life with Rosher by his side. In this manner they crossed +three fields, stumbling over uneven places in the ground, scratching +their hands, and tearing their clothes in the hedges, and at length +landed nearly up to their knees in a ditch half-full of mud and water. + +"It's no good, Fenleigh, I can't go any further. I'm completely +pumped." + +Struggling on to a bit of rising ground, the fugitives halted and +turned round to listen. The glare of light and noise of the fair had +been left some distance behind them, and there were no sounds of +pursuit. The night was very dark, and everything in their immediate +neighbourhood was quiet and still. + +"We must get to the town some other way," said Jack. "Doesn't the road +to Hornalby pass somewhere here on the right?" + +"I don't know," answered Rosher; "we ought to strike some road or other +if we keep going in that direction." + +The boys continued their flight, varying their walk by occasionally +breaking into a jog-trot. At length they found themselves in a narrow +lane; but after wandering down it for nearly half a mile, their further +progress was barred by the appearance of a private gate. + +"Botheration!" cried Jack, "we've come wrong; this leads to some farm. +We shall never get home at this rate." + +Retracing their steps the way they had come, the two unfortunate +adventurers at length found themselves on the Hornalby road; but when +they reached Melchester, and were hurrying down the side street past +"Duster's" shop, the cathedral clock struck half-past eleven. + +"Oh, my!" said Rosher; "how shall we get in? Everybody will be in bed. +We shall have to knock up old Mullins at the lodge." + +"No fear," answered Jack. "We must get into Westford's garden, and +from there into the quad; then we'll try some of the windows." + +The plan was carried out, and a few moments later the two boys were +standing in the dark and deserted playground. Jack made a circuit of +the buildings on tiptoe, and then returned to his companion. + +"All the classroom windows are fast," he said, "but there's one on the +first landing belonging to the bathroom that's open. What we must do +is this. Under the bench in the workshop is that ladder thing that +Preston and I made last year. We must fetch it, and you must hold it +while I get up to the window. Then you must put the ladder back, and +I'll creep down and let you in at the side door. The workshop's +locked, but luckily I've got the key in my pocket!" + +The scheme was successful, and ten minutes later the two wanderers were +creeping up the main staircase. Rosher had a private bedroom; and +Jack, moving softly, and undressing in the dark, managed to get into +bed without awakening any of the other boys in his dormitory. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +"--INTO THE FIRE." + +"One of the little boys took up the tin soldier and threw him into the +stove."--_The Brave Tin Soldier_. + + +"Hallo, Fenleigh! You were back precious late last night," said +Walker, the Sixth Form boy in charge of the dormitory. + +"Yes," answered the other carelessly. "I had leave to go out to tea." + +The reply seemed to satisfy Walker; but there was one person in the +room to whom Jack knew he would have to make a full confession. While +dressing he avoided Valentine's questioning glances, but after +breakfast he was forced to give his cousin a full account of all that +had happened. A dark frown settled on the latter's face as he listened +to the recital, which he several times interrupted with impatient +ejaculations. + +"I knew you'd be in a wax with me," concluded Jack, with an air of +defiance; "but it can't be helped now. You'll never make a saint of +me, Val, old chap, so don't let's quarrel." + +"It's not you that I'm angry with," answered Valentine wrathfully, +"it's that beast of a Raymond. It's just his way to get other people +into a mess, and leave them to get out of it as best they can. I +suppose he never paid up his share of the money you spent?" + +"Not he. Never mind, we got out of the bother a lot better than I +expected." + +Valentine shook his head. + +"I hope to goodness you won't be found out," he said anxiously. "If +you are, you'll stand a jolly good chance of being expelled." + +"Oh, we're safe enough. Don't you fret," answered Jack +lightly.--"Hallo, Tinkleby, what's up with you?" + +The president of the Fifth Form Literary Society was striding across +the gravel, fingering his nippers, as he always did when excited. + +"Haven't you heard?" he answered. "Some one's in for a thundering row, +I can tell you." + +"Why, what do you mean?" + +"Why, Mullins says that some man from the fair came this morning, and +wanted to see the headmaster. He says one of our fellows was up there +last night, kicking up a fine shindy, and set his show on fire; and he +means to find out who it is, and summon him for damages. Mullins told +him he'd better call again later on, as Westford was at breakfast. My +eye! I pity the chap who did it, if it's true, and he's collared." + +The clang of the school bell ended the conversation, and Tinkleby +rushed off to impart his news to other classmates. + +The distressed look on Valentine's face deepened, but he said nothing. + +"Pooh!" exclaimed Jack, sticking his hands in his pockets, and making +the gravel fly with a vicious kick. "Let him come and say what he +likes. What do I care?" + +The school had reassembled after the usual interval, and the Sixth Form +were sitting in their classroom waiting for the arrival of the +headmaster. A quarter of an hour passed, and still he did not arrive. +At length the door opened, and Mullins poked his head inside. + +"Mr. Westford wants to see all those gentlemen who are in charge of the +different dormitories--now, at once, in his study." + +A murmur of surprise followed the announcement, as the boys indicated +rose to their feet and prepared to obey the summons. On entering the +study they found a shabby-looking man standing just inside the door, +who eyed them all narrowly as they came in. The headmaster sat at his +writing-table looking stern and troubled. The twelve prefects arranged +themselves in a semicircle, and stood silently waiting and wondering +what could have happened. + +"You say this took place about a quarter past ten?" + +"Yes, sir," answered the man, twirling his hat with his fingers. "As +near as I can say, it must have been about a quarter a'ter ten." + +"I have sent for you," continued Mr. Westford, turning to the group of +senior scholars, "to know if any of the boys were absent from any of +the dormitories at the usual bed-time." + +"One was absent from Number Five, sir," said Walker. + +"Who?" + +"Fenleigh J., sir." + +"Why didn't you report him? What time did he return?" + +"I don't know, sir. I was asleep when he came back. He said he'd had +leave to go out to tea." + +"Was any one else absent from any of the rooms? Very well. You may +go. Redbrook, send Fenleigh J. to me at once." + +A minute or so later the culprit entered the room. + +"That's the young feller I want!" exclaimed the stranger. "I could +tell him anywheres in a moment." + +"Fenleigh, were you at the fair last night?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"What were you doing there? You know my orders?" + +The boy was silent. + +"I can tell you what he was doing," interrupted the man. "He knocked +over one of my lamps and set my screen afire; and a'ter that he started +fightin', and I was obliged to fetch a p'liceman. But there was two of +'em, this one and another." + +"Did this really happen, Fenleigh?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Who else was with you?" + +"My cousin, Raymond Fosberton. It was he who knocked over the lamp." + +"That's a lie!" interrupted the man. "It was you done it. I seed you +with my own eyes." + +"I don't think I need detain you any longer," said Mr. Westford, +turning to the owner of the cocoa-nuts. "I need hardly say I regret +that one of my scholars should be capable of such conduct. I shall +make some further inquiries, and if you will call again this evening, +whatever damage has been done shall be made good." + +The man knuckled his forehead and withdrew. Jack was left alone with +his judge, and felt that the case was ended. + +"Now, sir," said the latter, in a cold, rasping tone, "you have +succeeded in bringing public disgrace on the school, and I hope you are +satisfied. Go to the little music-room, and remain there for the +present." + +There was something ominous in the brevity of this reprimand. No +punishment had been mentioned, but in the school traditions the little +music-room was looked upon as a sort of condemned cell. Every one knew +the subsequent fate of boys who had been sent there on previous +occasions; and in a short time the news was in everybody's mouth that +Fenleigh J. was going to be expelled. It was a grave offence to hold +any communication with a person undergoing solitary confinement, yet, +before Jack had been very long a prisoner, a pebble hit the window, and +looking out he saw Rosher. + +"I say," began the latter dolefully, "I'm awfully sorry you've been +found out. If you like, I'll go and tell Westford I was with you." + +"Of course you won't. What's the good?" + +"Well, I thought perhaps you'd think I was a sneak if I didn't. I'm +afraid you'll get the sack," continued Rosher sadly. "It was awfully +good of you, Fenleigh, not to split; you always were a brick. I say, +we were rather chummy when you first came, if you remember; and then we +had a bit of a row. I suppose it don't matter now. If you like, I'll +write you when you get home." + +It was something, at such an hour, to have the sympathy and friendship +even of a scapegrace like Rosher. The prisoner said "it didn't +matter," and so they parted. + +For some time Jack wandered round the little room, swinging the blind +cords, and trifling with the broken-down metronome on the mantelpiece. +It was this very instrument that had been upset when he sent Rosher +sprawling into the fireplace; and yet, here was the same fellow talking +about keeping up a correspondence. A litter of torn music lay on the +top of the piano; among it a tattered hymn-book. Jack turned over the +pages until he came to "Hark, hark, my soul!" and then, sitting down, +played the air through several times with one finger. It was a tune +that had been popular on Sunday evenings at Brenlands, and the children +had always called it Queen Mab's hymn. + +Jack shut the book with a bang. In less than a fortnight's time he +ought to have been with her again, and what would she think of him now? + + * * * * * + +Dinner was over in the big hall, and most of the boys had started for +the playing-field. Mr. Ward sat correcting exercises in the deserted +Fifth Form classroom, when there was a knock at the door, and Valentine +entered. + +"Well, Fenleigh," said the master kindly, "what do you want?" + +"I came to speak to you, sir, about my cousin Jack. Don't you think +there's any chance of getting Mr. Westford to let him off?" + +"I'm afraid there isn't. I don't see what excuse can be offered for +your cousin's conduct." + +"But there is an excuse, sir," persisted Valentine, his love of honour +and justice causing the blood to mount to his cheeks at the +recollection of Raymond Fosberton's share in the adventure. "It was +not all Jack's fault, and it'll be an awful shame if he's expelled." + +Had it been another fellow, Mr. Ward might have pooh-poohed the +objection, and sent the speaker about his business; for, it being +nearly the end of the term, the master had plenty of work to occupy his +attention. He was not given to making favourites among his pupils, but +Valentine was a boy who had won his respect; and so he laid down his +pen to continue the conversation. + +"I still fail to see what can be said on your cousin's behalf. If it +was not his fault, who then is to blame?" + +Valentine hastily recounted all that had happened on the previous +afternoon. He did not hesitate to give a true account of the bogus +invitation, and repeated all that Jack had told him as to what had +taken place at the fair. Mr. Ward listened patiently till he had heard +the whole of the story. + +"There certainly is something in what you say," he remarked. "But the +fact remains that your cousin went to the fair in defiance of the +school rules. There was no reason at all why he should have gone. You +say you came back; then why couldn't he have done the same?" + +"If I'd thought that my staying away would have made it any the worse +for him, I'd have gone to the fair myself," said Valentine desperately. + +Mr. Ward smiled. + +"Well, what do you want me to do?" he asked. "I don't see that I can +be of much service to you in the matter. The only thing I can advise +you to do is to go to Mr. Westford, and tell him exactly what you have +told me." + +"I thought perhaps you might say a word for him too, sir," pleaded the +boy. "He's been behaving a lot better lately than he used to do." + +"There certainly was some room for improvement," returned the master, +laughing. "Well, if you like to come to me again just before school, +I'll go with you and speak to Mr. Westford." + +The long summer afternoon dragged slowly away. Mullins brought Jack +his dinner; and after that had been consumed, he sought to while away +the hours of captivity by reading a tattered text-book on harmony, and +strumming tunes with one finger on the piano. He wondered whether he +would be sent away that evening or the following morning. + +At length, just before the second tea-bell rang, the school porter once +more appeared, this time to inform the prisoner that the headmaster +wished to see him in his study. Mr. Westford sat at his table writing +a letter, and received his visitor in grim silence. + +"I've sent for you, sir," he said at length, "to tell you that I have +been given to understand that you were not altogether to blame for what +happened yesterday. There is, however, no excuse for your having set +me at defiance by breaking the strict rule I laid down that no boy was +to attend the fair. As I have already said, I believe you are not +solely responsible for the disgraceful behaviour of which I received a +complaint this morning. I shall not, therefore, expel you at once, as +I at first intended, but I am writing to your father to inform him that +your conduct is so far from satisfactory that I must ask him to remove +you at the end of the present term. Until then, remember you are not +to go beyond the gates without my permission." + +"Well, I've got off better than I expected," said Jack, as he walked up +and down the quadrangle, talking matters over with his cousin. "It was +jolly good of you, Val, to go and speak up for me to the old man. Ward +told me all about it. If it hadn't been for that, I should have been +expelled at once. You've always been a good friend to me ever since I +came here." + +"I'm sorry to think you're going at all," returned the other. "I can't +help feeling awfully mad with Raymond." + +"Yes," answered Jack, "it wasn't all my fault; but there, it's just my +luck. The guv'nor'll be in a fine wax; but I don't care. Only one +thing I'm sorry for, and that is that this'll be my last holidays at +Brenlands." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A ROBBERY AT BRENLANDS. + +"So at last he ran away, frightening the little birds in the hedge as +he flew over the palings. 'They are afraid of me, because I am so +ugly,' he said. So he closed his eyes, and flew still further."--_The +Ugly Duckling_. + + +Whatever changes and alterations might take place in the outside world, +Brenlands seemed always to remain the same. Coming there again and +again for their August holidays, the children grew to think of it as a +place blessed with eternal summer, where the flowers and green leaves +never faded from one year's end to another, and such a thing as a cold, +foggy winter day, with the moisture dripping from the trees, and the +slush of slowly melting snow upon the ground, was a thing which could +never have been possible, even in the memory of the oldest inhabitant. +Better still, the welcome which greeted them on their arrival was +always as warm as on previous occasions, and never fell one single +degree during the whole of the visit. + +In spite of all this, on that glad day when Queen Mab's court gathered +once more round her cosy tea-table, Jack was not in his usual spirits, +but appeared silent and depressed. The result of Mr. Westford's letter +to his father had been a reply to the effect that, as he seemed +determined to waste his opportunities at school, it would be decidedly +the best thing for him to come home and find some more profitable +employment for his time. + +When tea was over he strolled out into the garden, and wandered moodily +up and down the trim, box-bordered paths. To realize that one has done +with school life for ever, that the book, as it were, is closed, and +the familiar pages only to be turned again in memory, is enough to make +any boy thoughtful; but it was not this exactly that weighed upon +Jack's mind. He had grown to love Queen Mab and his cousins; the +thought of being different from them became distasteful; and he had +entertained some vague notion of turning over a new leaf, and becoming +a respectable member of society. Now all his half-formed resolutions +had come to the ground like a house of cards, and he was ending up +worse than he had begun. + +He was standing staring gloomily at the particular pear-tree which +marked the scene of his and Valentine's first encounter with Joe +Crouch, when his aunt came out and joined him. + +"Well, Jack, and so you've left school for good?" + +She made no mention of the Melchester fair incident, though Jack +himself had sent her all particulars. He wished she would lecture him, +for somehow her forbearance in not referring to the subject was worse +than a dozen reproofs. + +"Yes, aunt, they've thrown me out at last!" + +"It will be dreadful when both of you have left Melchester. Valentine +tells me that next Easter he expects to be going on to an army coach, +to prepare for Sandhurst." + +"Yes, I know," answered Jack, petulantly. "I'm always telling him what +a lucky dog he is. I wish I had half his chances, and was going into +the army, instead of back to that miserable Padbury." + +"What does your father mean you to do?" + +"Oh, he's got some scheme of sending me into the office of some metal +works there. He says it's about all I'm good for, and he hasn't any +money to put me in the way of learning a profession. But," added the +boy impatiently, "he knows I hate the idea of grubbing away at a desk +all day. I want to be a soldier." + +"I know you do, and I believe you'd make a good one; but, after all, it +would be a sad thing if every one devoted themselves to learning to +fight. Besides, we can't afford to let all our gallants go to the +wars; we want some to stay behind and do brave things in their daily +life at home." + +"Well, I'm not going to rust all my life in an office," answered Jack +doggedly. "Rather than do that, I'll go off somewhere and enlist." + +Queen Mab looked down and smiled. They were walking together arm in +arm, and he was fumbling with the little bunch of trinkets on her watch +chain. + +"Do you recollect who gave me that little silver locket?" + +"Yes," he answered, with a pouting smile. + +"Well, then, please to remember that you are always going to be my own +boy, and so don't talk any more about such things as running away and +enlisting." + +"Yes, but what am I to do? Look at the difference between my chances +and Val's." + +"I think that a man's success often depends more on himself, and less +on circumstances, than you imagine," she answered. "'To be born in a +duck's nest, in a farmyard, is of no consequence to a bird if it is +hatched from a swan's egg.' That's what the story says that I used to +tell the children." + +Jack laughed, and shook his head. He was far from being convinced of +the truth of this statement. + +A few mornings later the usual harmony of the breakfast-table was +disturbed by the arrival of a letter from Raymond Fosberton. + +"He writes," said Miss Fenleigh, "to say that his father and mother are +going away on a visit, and so he wants to come here for a few days." + +The announcement was received with a chorus of groans. + +"I wonder he has the cheek to come, after the way he treated us at +Melchester," said Valentine; "I never wish to see him again." + +Raymond did come, however, and instead of being at all abashed at the +recollection of the termination of his tea-party, he was, if anything, +more uppish than ever. It was only natural that he should make some +reference to their adventure at the fair, and this he did by blaming +Jack for not having made good his escape. + +"Why didn't you run for it sooner, you duffer? You stood still there +like a stuffed monkey, and wouldn't move till the man collared you." + +"And you ran so far and so fast," retorted Jack, "that you couldn't get +back to own up it was your doing, and save me from being expelled." + +"Oh, go on! it isn't so bad as that," answered Raymond airily. "You +ought to be jolly glad you're going to get out of that place. It's no +good quarrelling over spilt milk.--Look here, will either of you do a +chap a friendly turn? Can you lend me some money? I want a pound or +two rather badly. Of course, I'd have got it from home, only the +guv'nor's away." + +Jack and Valentine shook their heads. + +"Well, I wish you could," continued the other. "I'd give you a +shilling in the pound interest, and pay you back for certain at the end +of next month." + +"I wonder how it is," said Jack to Valentine that evening as they were +undressing, "that Raymond's always wanting money, and never seems to +have any. His people are rich enough, and I should think they make him +a good allowance." + +"Of course they do," answered Valentine, "but he throws it away +somehow; and he's the most selfish fellow in the world, and never +spends a halfpenny on any one but himself." + +Raymond was certainly no great addition to the party at Brenlands. His +manners, one could well imagine, resembled those of the ferocious +animal in the Fosberton crest, which capered on a sugar-stick with its +tongue stuck out of its mouth, as though it were making faces at the +world in general. He monopolized the conversation at table, voted +croquet a bore, and spent most of his time lying under a tree smoking +and reading a novel. He fell foul of Joe Crouch (who still came to do +odd jobs in the garden) over some trifling matter, calling him an +impudent blockhead, and telling Miss Fenleigh in a lofty manner that +"he would never allow such a cheeky beggar to be hanging about the +premises at Grenford." + +"I am sick of the fellow," said Valentine to Helen that same evening. +"I wish he wouldn't come here during the holidays; it spoils the whole +thing." + +On the following day Raymond was destined to give his cousins still +more reason for wishing that he had not favoured Brenlands with a +visit. At dinner he was full of a project for borrowing a gun, and +having some target practice in the garden. + +"I know a man living not far away who's got a nice, little, +single-barrelled muzzle-loader. We might borrow it, and make some +bullets, then stick up a piece of board against that hedge at the end +of the long path, and have a regular shooting match." + +"Oh, I don't want any guns here!" said Queen Mab. "I should be afraid +that one of you might get hurt. You'd far better stick to your +croquet." + +"Yes," added Valentine. "It would be precious risky work firing +bullets about in this garden with a muzzle-loader." + +"Pooh! you're a nice chap to think of being a soldier, if you're afraid +of letting off a gun!" + +"Val knows a lot more about guns than you do," broke in Jack. "I +suppose you think a thorn hedge and a bit of board would stop a bullet, +you duffer!" + +Raymond lost his temper, and the discussion was carried on in a manner +which was more spirited than polite. + +"Come, come," interposed Queen Mab, "I think we might change the +subject. I'm sure Raymond won't want to borrow the gun if he knows it +would make me nervous." + +The meal was finished in silence. Anything so near a quarrel had never +been known before at Brenlands, and proved very disturbing in what was +usually such a peaceful atmosphere. + +Jack sauntered out into the garden in no very tranquil frame of mind. +Joe Crouch was there, weeding. They had always been good friends ever +since the pear incident, and something in Jack's mode of action on that +occasion seemed to have gained for him an abiding corner in Crouch's +respect and affections. + +"Well, Joe, what's the news?" + +"Nothing particular that I knows of, sir, but there--there was +somethin' I had to tell you; somethin' about this 'ere young bloke who +comes orderin' every one around, as if the place was his own." + +"What's that?" + +"Why, I'll tell you," continued Crouch, lowering his voice in a +significant manner. "You remember, sir, you was askin' me this time +last year about a man called Hanks, who'd come up to you wantin' money, +and you didn't know 'ow he'd got to know you. Well, he's in jail now +for stealing fowls; but I seen him a month or so back, and got to know +all about the whole business." + +The speaker paused to increase the interest of his story. + +"Well, what was it?" + +"D'you remember, sir, about two years agone you and Master Valentine +and the young ladies went up the river to a place called Starncliff? +Well, Hanks said he saw you there, and that you set some one's rick +afire. He wasn't sure which of you done it, but he had a word with +Master Fosberton as you was comin' 'ome, and he told him it was you two +had been smokin', but that you were his cousins, and he didn't want to +get you into a row; so he said he'd give Hanks five shillings to hold +his tongue, and promised he'd speak to you, and between you you'd make +it up to something more, and that's why Hanks was always botherin' of +you for money." + +Jack's wrath, which had been quickly rising to boiling point during the +recital of this narrative, now fairly bubbled over. + +"What a lie!" he exclaimed. "What a mean cad the fellow is! Why, he +set the rick on fire himself!" + +"I just thought as much," said Joe. + +"Yes, and that's not all. He knew we got into a row at school through +the man talking to us; and then last summer, when the man was drunk, +and met us in the road, he pretended he couldn't tell how it was the +fellow knew our names!" + +"Well, 'ere he is," interrupted Joe Crouch; "and if I was you, I'd just +give him a bit of my mind!" + +Raymond came sauntering across the lawn. + +"I say," he exclaimed, "what a place this is! Fancy not being allowed +to let off a gun. It's just what you might have expected from an old +maid like Aunt Mabel, but I should have thought Valentine would have +had more pluck. A fine sort of soldier he'll make--the milksop!" + +Raymond Fosberton had for some time been running up an account in his +cousin's bad books. This speech was the final entry, and caused Jack +to demand an immediate settlement. + +"Look here," he began, trembling with indignation, "don't you speak +like that to me about Aunt Mab or Valentine, He's got a jolly sight +more pluck than you have, you coward! If you want to begin calling +names, I'll tell you yours--you're a liar and a sneak!" + +"What d'you mean?" + +"I mean what I say. I know all your little game, and it's no good your +trying to keep it dark any longer. You told Hanks that Val and I had +set that rick on fire, and so got us into a row through the man's +speaking to us at Melchester. And last year, when we met him, you made +out you didn't know why he should be always pestering us for money." + +Raymond's face turned pale, but he made no attempt to deny the +accusation. + +"That was one of your cowardly tricks. Another was when you ran away +after knocking that lamp over at the fair, the other day, and left +Rosher and me to get out of the bother as best we could. That was what +practically got me thrown out of the school. For two pins I'd punch +your head, you miserable tailor's dummy!" + +It was hardly likely that a fashionable young man like Master Raymond +Fosberton would stand such language from a school-boy two years his +junior. + +"I should like to see you!" he remarked. "Two can play at that game." + +The speaker did not know the person he was addressing; in another +moment his request was granted. Jack came at him like a tiger, put all +the force of his outraged feelings into a heavy right and left, and +Raymond Fosberton disappeared with a great crash into a laurel bush. + +Joe Crouch rose from his knees with a joyful exclamation, wiping his +hands on his apron. "I should have liked to have had a cut in myself," +he afterwards remarked, "but Master Jack he managed it all splendid!" + +Whatever Joseph's wishes may have been, he had no opportunity of taking +part in the proceedings; for, before the contest could be renewed, +Helen rushed across the lawn and caught Jack by the arm. + +"Oh, don't fight!" she cried breathlessly. "What is the matter?" + +"Ask him!" answered Jack shortly, nodding with his fists still +clenched, in the direction of Fosberton, who was in the act of emerging +from the depths of the laurel bush. "Ask him, he knows." + +"He called me a liar!" answered Fosberton; "and then rushed up and hit +me when I was unprepared, the cad!" + +This assertion very nearly brought on a renewal of the contest, but the +speaker knew that Helen's presence would prevent any more blows being +struck. Jack watched his adversary with a look of contempt, as the +latter wiped the blood from his cut lip. + +"Yes, I said you were a liar and a coward." + +"Oh, hush!" said the girl, laying her hand on her cousin's mouth. +"Don't quarrel any longer; it's dreadful here, at Brenlands! What +would Aunt Mabel say if she knew you'd been fighting? Come away, Jack, +and don't say any more." + +The boy would have liked to stay behind for another private interview +with Raymond, but for Helen's sake he turned on his heel and followed +her into the house. + +"All right, my boy," muttered Raymond, looking after the retreating +figures with a savage scowl on his face, "I'll be even with you some +day, if ever I get the chance." + +There was a great lack of the usual mirth and gaiety at the tea-table +that evening. Every one knew what had happened, and in their anxiety +to avoid any reference to the painful subject conversation flagged, and +even Queen Mab's attempts to enliven the assembly for once proved a +failure. Neither of the boys would have been at all shocked at seeing +a row settled by an exchange of blows, had the dispute taken place at +school; but here, at Brenlands, it seemed a different matter--bad blood +and rough language were out of keeping with the place, and the punching +of heads seemed a positive crime. + +To make matters worse, the day ended with a thunderstorm, and the +evening had to be spent indoors. Raymond was in a sulk, and refused to +join in any of the parlour games which were usually resorted to in wet +weather. + +"Aunt Mab, I wish you'd show us some of your treasures," said Barbara. +She was kneeling upon a chair in front of a funny little semicircular +cupboard with a glass door, let into the panelling of the wall, and +filled with china, little Indian figures, and all kinds of other odds +and ends. + +"Very well, dear, I will," answered Miss Fenleigh, glad to think of +some way of amusing her guests. "Run up and fetch the bunch of keys +out of the middle drawer in my dressing-table." + +The young people gathered round, and the contents of the cupboard were +handed from one to another for examination. The curiosities were many +and various. The girls were chiefly taken with the china; while what +most appealed to Jack and Valentine was a small Moorish dagger. They +carefully examined the blade for any traces of bloodstains, and trying +the point against their necks, speculated as to what it must feel like +to be "stuck." + +"And what's that?" asked Barbara, pointing to a little, square leather +case on the bottom shelf. + +"Ah! that's the thing I value more than anything else," answered Queen +Mab. "There!" she continued, opening the box and displaying a large, +handsome gold watch. "That was given to your grandfather by the +passengers on his ship at the end of one of his voyages to Australia. +They met with dreadful weather, and I know I've heard him say that for +two days and nights, when the storm was at its height, he never left +the deck. You boys ought to be proud to remember it. There, +Valentine, read the inscription." + +The boy read the words engraved on the inside of the case:-- + + Presented to + CAPTAIN JOHN FENLEIGH, + OF THE "EVELINA" STEAMSHIP, + + As a small acknowledgment of the skill and ability displayed by him + under circumstances of exceptional difficulty and danger. + + +"My father has a gold watch that was given to him when he retired from +business," said Raymond; "it's bigger than that, and has got our crest +on the back. By-the-bye," he continued, "aren't you afraid of having +it stolen? I shouldn't keep it in that cupboard, it I were you. You +are certain to get it stolen some day." + +"Oh, we don't have any thieves at Brenlands," answered his aunt, +smiling. + +"I've a jolly good mind to steal it myself," said Jack; "or it you +like, aunt, I'll exchange." + +Jack's watch was always a standing joke against him, and, as he drew it +out, the bystanders laughed. It was something like the timepiece by +which, when the hands were at 9.30 and the bell struck three, one might +know it was twelve o'clock. The silver case was dented and scratched; +the long hand was twisted; the works, from having been taken to pieces +and hurriedly put together again in class, were decidedly out of order; +in fact, Jack was not quite certain if, when cleaning it on one +occasion, he had not lost one of the wheels. + +Queen Mab laughed and shook her head. "No, thank you," she said. "I +think I should prefer to keep mine for the present, though one of you +shall have it some day." + +Raymond always came down to breakfast long after the others had +finished. The next morning there was a letter waiting for him which +had been readdressed on from Melchester. He was still in a sulk, and +the contents of the epistle did not seem to improve his temper. He +devoured his food in silence, and then went off by himself to smoke at +the bottom of the garden. + +"He is a surly animal," said Valentine. "I wish he had never come." + +"Well, he's going to-morrow evening," answered Helen, "and I suppose we +must make the best of him till then." + +During the remainder of the day Raymond kept to himself, and though, +after tea, he condescended to take part in some of the usual indoor +games, he did it in so ungracious a manner as to spoil the pleasure of +the other players. + +Somehow the last day or so did not seem at all like the usual happy +times at Brenlands. There was a screw loose somewhere, and every one +was not quite so merry and good-tempered as usual. + +"Bother it! wet again!" said Barbara, pushing back her chair from the +breakfast-table with a frown and a pout. + +"Never mind," answered her aunt. "Rain before seven, fine before +eleven." + +Barbara did not believe in proverbs. She wandered restlessly round the +room, inquiring what was the good of rain in August, and expressing her +discontent with things in general. + +"Oh, I say," she exclaimed suddenly, halting in front of the little +glass door of the cupboard, "what do you think has happened? That dear +little china man with the guitar has tumbled over and broken his head +off!" + +Helen and the boys crowded round to look. It was certainly the +case--the little china figure lay over on its side, broken in the +manner already described. + +"Who can have done it?" + +"I expect I must have upset it the other evening when I was showing you +the things," answered Miss Fenleigh. "Never mind, I think I can mend +it. Go and fetch my keys, Bar, and we'll see just what's the matter +with the little gentleman." + +"This is funny," she continued, a few minutes later, "the key won't +turn. Dear me! what a silly I am! why, the door isn't locked after +all." + +The little image was taken out, and while it was being examined Barbara +picked up the little leather case on which it usually stood. In +another moment she gave vent to an ejaculation of surprise which +startled the remainder of the company, and made them immediately forget +all about the china troubadour. + +"Why, aunt, where's the watch?" + +Every one looked. It was true enough--the case was empty, and the +watch gone. For a moment there was a dead silence, the company being +too much astonished to speak. + +"Stolen!" exclaimed Raymond. "I said it would be some day." + +"But when was it taken?--Who could have done it?--Where did they get +in?--How did they know about it?" + +These and other questions followed each other in rapid succession. A +robbery at Brenlands! The thing seemed impossible; and yet here was +the empty case to prove it. The watch had disappeared, and no one had +the slightest notion what could have become of it. + +"There's something in this lock," said Valentine, who had been peering +into the keyhole. "Lend me your crochet needle, Helen, and I'll get it +out." + +With some little difficulty the obstacle was removed, and on +examination proved to be a fragment of a broken key. + +"Hallo!" said Raymond, "here's a clue at any rate. Don't lose it; put +it in that little jar on the mantelpiece." + +The remainder of the morning was passed in an excited discussion +regarding the mysterious disappearance of the gold timepiece. + +"I can't think any one can have stolen it," said Queen Mab. "How +should they have known about it? and, besides, if any one broke into +the house last night, how is it they didn't take anything else--that +little silver box, for instance?" + +"It's stolen, right enough," said Raymond. "It couldn't have been Joe +Crouch, could it?" + +"Not a bit of it," answered Jack decisively. "He wouldn't do a thing +like that. He stole some fruit once, but he's honest enough now." + +"Could the servant have taken it?" + +"Oh, no!" answered Queen Mab. "I could trust Jane with anything." + +During the afternoon the weather cleared, but no one seemed inclined to +do anything; a feeling of gloom and uneasiness lay upon the whole +company. + +Jack was sitting in a quiet corner reading, when his aunt called him. + +"Oh, there you are! I wanted to speak to you alone just for a minute. +Helen told me about your quarrel with Raymond, and I want you to make +it up. He's going away to-night, and I shouldn't like you to part, +except as friends." + +The boy frowned. "I don't want to be friends," he answered +impatiently. "He's played me some very shabby tricks, and I think the +less we see of him the better." + +"Perhaps so; but I'm so sorry that you should have actually come to +blows, and that while you were staying here with me at Brenlands." + +"I'm not sorry! I wish I'd hit him harder!" + +"Oh, you 'ugly duckling!'" answered the lady, smiling, and running her +fingers through his crumpled hair. "You'll find out some day that +'punching heads,' as you call it, isn't the most satisfactory kind of +revenge. However, I don't expect you to believe it now, but I think +you'll do what I ask you. Go to Raymond, and say you're sorry you +forgot yourself so far as to strike him, and ask his pardon. There, I +don't think there is anything in that which need go against your +conscience, or that it is a request that any gentleman need be ashamed +to make." + +Jack complied, but with a very bad grace. If the suggestion had come +from any one but Queen Mab, he would have scouted the idea from the +first. + +He found Raymond swinging in a hammock under the trees. + +"I say," he began awkwardly, "I'm sorry I hit you when we had that row. +Aunt Mabel wished me to tell you so." + +"Hum! You'll be sorrier still before long. I suppose now you want to +'kiss and be friends'?" + +"No, I don't." + +"Then if you don't want to be forgiven," returned the other with a +sneer, "why d'you come and say you're sorry?" + +Jack turned away in a rage, feeling that he had at all events got the +worst of this encounter, and that it was entirely his own fault for +having laid himself open to the rebuff. + +He felt vexed with Helen for telling his aunt what had taken place, and +with the latter for influencing him to offer Raymond an apology. +Altogether the atmosphere around him seemed charged with discomfort and +annoyance, and even the merry tinkle of the tea-bell was not so welcome +as usual. + +"Where's Raymond?" asked Queen Mab. + +"I think he's putting his things in his bag," answered Valentine. +"Shall I go and call him?" + +At that moment the subject of their conversation entered the room. He +walked round to his place in silence, pausing for a moment to take +something down from the mantelpiece. + +"Who owns a key with a scrap of steel chain tied on to it?" + +"I do," answered Jack. "It belongs to my play-box." + +"Well, here it is," returned the other. "I picked it up among the +bushes. Do you notice anything peculiar about it?" + +"No." + +"You don't? Well, here's something belonging to it," and so saying, +the speaker flipped across the table the little metal fragment which +had been taken from the lock in the cupboard door. + +"Confound it!" said Jack. "The thief must have used my key!" + +"_Faugh_!" ejaculated Raymond, bitterly. + +Jack looked up quickly with an expression of anger and astonishment. + +"What's the matter?" he cried. "D'you mean to say I took the watch?" + +"I've said nothing of the kind," answered the other coldly; "though I +remember you did say you'd a good mind to steal it. I've simply given +you back your key." + +If a thunderbolt had fallen in the middle of the pretty tea-table, it +could not have caused more astonishment and dismay than this last +speech of Raymond's. Every one for the moment was too much taken aback +to speak. + +The smouldering fire of Jack's wrath had only needed this breeze to set +it into a flame. His undisciplined spirit immediately showed itself in +an outburst of ungovernable anger. + +"You are a cad and a liar!" he said. "Wait till I get you outside." + +"Hush! hush!" interrupted Miss Fenleigh, fearing a repetition of the +previous encounter. "I can't have such words used here. Perhaps +Raymond may be mistaken." + +The last words were spoken thoughtlessly, in the heat of the moment. +Jack in his anger resented that "may" and "perhaps," as implying doubt +as to his honesty, and regarded the silence of the others as a sign +that they also considered him guilty. In his wild, reckless manner he +dashed his knife down upon the table, and with a parting glare at his +accuser, marched straight out of the room. + +Valentine rose to follow him. + +"No, Val," said Miss Fenleigh, in an agitated voice. "Leave him to +himself for a little while. He'll be calmer directly." + +Ten minutes later the front door closed with a bang. + +"He's going out to get cool, I suppose," said Raymond scornfully. "He +didn't seem to relish my finding his play-box key. However, perhaps +he'll explain matters when he comes back." + +But Jack did not come back. The blind fury of the moment gave place to +a dogged, unreasoning sense of wrong and injustice. He had been +accused of robbing the person he loved best on earth, and she believed +him to be guilty. The old, wayward spirit once more took full +possession of his heart, and in a moment he was ready to throw +overboard all that he prized most dearly. + +He had some money in his pocket, enough to carry him home if he walked +to Melchester, and his luggage could come on another time. The plan +was formed, and he did not hesitate to put it into immediate execution. + +It was not until nearly an hour after his departure that Queen Mab +realized what had become of him, and then her distress was great. + +"Why didn't he wait to speak to us!" she cried. "We must all write him +a letter by to-night's post, to tell him that, of course, we don't +think he's the thief, and to beg him to come back." + +"If you like to do it at once," said Raymond, "I'll post them at +Grenford. They'll reach him then the first thing in the morning." + +The letters were written; even Barbara, who never could be got to +handle a pen except under strong compulsion, scribbled nearly four +pages, and filled up the blank space at the end with innumerable kisses. + +About two hours later the scapegoat tramped, footsore and weary, into +the Melchester railway station; and at nearly the same moment, Raymond +Fosberton, on his way home, took from his pocket the letters which had +been entrusted to his care, tore them to fragments, and dropped them +over the low wall of a bridge into the canal. + +"Now we're about quits!" he said. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE SOUND OF THE DRUM. + +"'I believe I must go out into the world again,' said the +duckling."--_The Ugly Duckling_. + + +The summers came and went, but Jack Fenleigh remained a rebel, refusing +to join the annual gathering at Brenlands, and to pay his homage at the +court of Queen Mab. + +One bright September morning, about four years after the holidays +described in the previous chapter, he was sitting at an untidy +breakfast-table, evidently eating against time, and endeavouring to +divide his attention between swallowing down the meal and reading a +letter which lay open in front of him. The teapot, bread, butter, and +other provisions had been gathered round him in a disorderly group, so +as to be near his hand; the loaf was lying on the tablecloth, the bacon +was cold, and the milk-jug was minus a handle. It was, on the whole, a +very different display from the breakfast-table at Brenlands; and +perhaps it was this very thought that crossed the young man's mind as +he turned and dug viciously at the salt, which had caked nearly into a +solid block. + +In outward appearance, to a casual observer, Jack had altered very +little since the day when he knocked Master Raymond Fosberton into the +laurel bush; yet there was a change. He had broadened, and grown to +look older, and more of a man, though the old impatient look seemed to +have deepened in his face like the lines between his eyebrows. + +The party at Brenlands had waited in vain for a reply to their letters. +Within a week, Miss Fenleigh had written again, assuring the runaway +that neither she nor his cousins for one moment suspected him of having +stolen the watch; but in the meantime the mischief had been done. + +"They think I did it," muttered Jack to himself, "or they'd have +written at once. Aunt Mabel wants to forgive me, and smooth it over; +but they know I'm a scamp, and now they believe I'm a thief!" + +Again he hardened his heart, and though his feelings towards Queen Mab +and his cousins never changed, yet his mind was made up to cut himself +adrift from the benefit of their society. He left Valentine's letter +unanswered, and refused all his aunt's pressing invitations to visit +her again. + +Every year these were renewed with the same warmth and regularity, and +it was one which now lay open beside his plate. + +"I suppose," ran the letter, "that you have heard how well Val passed +out of Sandhurst. He is coming down to see me before joining his +regiment, and will bring Helen and Barbara with him. I want you to +come too, and then we shall all be together once more, and have the +same dear old times over again. I shan't put up with any excuses, as I +know you take your holiday about this time, so just write and say when +you are coming." + +Jack lifted his eyes from the letter, and made a grab at the loaf. + +"I should like to go," he muttered; "how jolly the place must +look!--but no, I've left it too long. I ought to have gone back at +once, or never to have run away like that. Of course, now they must +think that I stole the watch. Yet, perhaps, if I gave them my word of +honour, they'd believe me; I know Aunt Mabel would." + +At this moment the door opened, and a gentleman entered the room. He +was wearing a shabby-looking dressing-gown, a couple of ragged quill +pens were stuck in his mouth, and he carried in his hand a bundle of +closely-written sheets of foolscap. Mr. Basil Fenleigh, to tell the +truth, was about to issue an invitation to a "few friends" to join him +in starting an advertisement and bill-posting agency business; to be +conducted, so said the rough copy of the circular, on entirely novel +lines, which could not fail to ensure success, and the drafting out of +which had occupied most of his leisure time during the past twelve +months. + +"Humph!" he exclaimed sourly. "Down at your usual time, eh? You'll be +late again at your office." + +"No, I shan't," answered the son, glancing up at the clock. "I can get +there in ten minutes." + +"You can't. You know very well Mr. Caston complained only the other +day of your coming behind your time. The next thing will be that +you'll lose your situation." + +"I don't care if I do; I'm heartily sick of the place." + +"You're heartily sick of any kind of work, and you always have been." + +Jack threw down his knife and fork and rose from the table, leaving +part of his breakfast unfinished on his plate. + +"All right," he said sulkily; "I'll go at once." + +He strode out of the room, crushing Queen Mab's letter into a crumpled +ball of paper in his clenched fist. After what had just passed, he +would certainly not broach the subject of a holiday. + +The morning's work seemed, if possible, more distasteful than ever. +Casting up sheets of analysis, he got wrong in his additions, and had +to go over them again. He watched the workmen moving about in the yard +outside, and wished he had been trained to some manual trade like +theirs. Then he thought of Valentine, and for the first time his +affection for his old friend gave place to a feeling of bitterness and +envy. + +"Confound the fellow! he's always done just as he liked. I wish he was +here in my shoes for a bit. It isn't fair one chap should have such +luck, and another none at all. Little he cares what becomes of me. I +may rot here all my life, and no one troubles the toss of a button +whether I'm happy or miserable." + +He was in the same ill-humour when he returned home to dinner. Mr. +Fenleigh was also out of temper, and seemed inclined to give vent to +his feelings by renewing the dispute which had commenced at the +breakfast-table. Father and son seldom met except at meals; and +unfortunately, on these occasions, the conversation frequently took the +form of bickering and complaint. Jack, as a rule, appeared sullenly +indifferent to what passed; this time, however, his smouldering +discontent burst out into a name of anger. + +"I suppose you _were_ late this morning?" + +"No, I wasn't." + +"Humph! You said before you started that you were sick of the place, +and didn't care whether you lost it. If you do, I hope you won't +expect me to find you another berth." + +"No, I'll find one myself." + +"What d'you think you're good for? You're more likely to idle about +here doing nothing than find any other employment." + +"I work harder than you do," said the son angrily. + +"Hold your tongue, sir! If you can't treat me with some amount of +respect, you'd better leave the house." + +"So I will. I'll go and enlist." + +"You may go where you please. I've done the best I could for you, and +all the return I get is ingratitude and abuse. Now you can act for +yourself." + +It was not the first time that remarks of this character had been fired +across the table. Jack made no reply, but at that moment his mind was +seized with a desperate resolve. Once for all he would settle this +question, and change the present weary existence for something more +congenial to his taste. All that afternoon he turned the plan over in +his thoughts, and his determination to follow it up grew stronger as +the time approached for putting it into execution. What if the move +were a false one? a person already in the frying-pan could but jump +into the fire; and any style of life seemed preferable to the one he +was now living. His father had told him to please himself, and, as he +had only himself to consider, he would do so, and follow the drum, as +had always been his inclination from childhood. + +The big bell clanged out the signal for giving over work; but Jack, +instead of returning home, picked up a small handbag he had brought +with him, and walked off in the direction of the railway station. On +his way thither, he counted the money in his pocket. He had some idea +of going to London, but the expense of the journey would be too heavy +for his resources. It mattered little where the plunge was taken; he +would go to the barracks at Melchester. + +He lingered for a moment at the window of the booking-office, hardly +knowing why he hesitated. + +Why not? He had only himself to please. + +The clerk grew impatient. "Well?" he said. + +Jack threw down his money. "Third, Melchester!" he said, and so +crossed the Rubicon. + +Very few changes had taken place in the little city during the four +years which had elapsed since he last visited it. Here and there a +house had been modernized, or a new shop-front erected, but in the +neighbourhood of the school no alterations seemed to have been made. +He strolled past it in the dusk, and paused to look in through the +gates: the boys had not yet returned, and the quadrangle was dark and +deserted. He thought of the night when he and Rosher had climbed in by +way of the headmaster's garden, and forced an entry into the house +through the bathroom window. It seemed a hardship then to be obliged +to be in by a certain time, yet it was preferable to having no +resting-place to claim as one's own. + +A few minutes later he halted again, this time outside the +well-remembered cookshop. "Duster's" was exactly the same as it always +had been, except for the fact that, it being holiday time, the display +of delicacies in the window was not quite so large as usual. Jack +smiled as there flashed across his mind the memory of the literary +society's supper; the faces of the sprightly Tinkleby, Preston the +bowler, "Guzzling Jimmy," and a host of others, rose before him in the +deepening twilight. They had been good comrades together once; most of +them had probably made a fair start by this time in various walks of +life. He wondered if they remembered him, and what they would say if +they knew what he was doing, and whether any of them would care what +became of him. No, he had only himself to please now, and if he +preferred soldiering to office-work, what was there to hinder him from +taking the shilling? + +There was no particular hurry. He passed the night at a small +temperance hotel, and next morning, after a plain breakfast, started +out for a stroll into the country. He had written a note to his father +before leaving Padbury merely stating his intention, and giving no +address. There was nothing more to be done but to enjoy himself as a +free man before making application to the nearest recruiting sergeant. + +He passed the barracks where the 1st Battalion of the Royal Blankshire +Regiment was quartered, and thought how often he and Valentine had +lingered there, listening to the bugle-calls, and watching the drill +instructors at work in the square with their awkward squads. Just +inside the gate the guard were falling in, preparatory to the arrival +of the relief, and something in their smart appearance, and in the very +clank of their rifle-butts upon the flagstones, stirred his heart; yes, +that was the calling he meant to follow. + +He strode off along the Hornalby road, whistling a lively tune, and +conjuring up bright mental pictures of the life before him. He might +not have Valentine's luck, but he would make up for it in other ways. +The path was steep and rough, no doubt, but in treading it scores of +brave men had won honour and renown; and with courage and +determination, there was no reason why he should not do the same. It +was a man's life, and here there was certainly more chance of +distinguishing oneself than in a manufacturer's office. + +With these and other thoughts of a similar nature occupying his mind, +Jack tramped on gaily enough in the bright sunshine. Suddenly, +however, he stopped dead in the middle of the road. He had come in +sight of a wayside inn, the Black Horse, and the thought struck him +that he was within two miles of Brenlands. + +All unbidden, a host of recollections came rushing upon him. The last +time he had walked from Melchester along this road was the afternoon on +which he brought back the silver locket for Queen Mab. What if the +pony-carriage should suddenly turn the corner? and yet, why should he +be afraid to meet her? He was doing nothing to be ashamed of, and the +recollection of the stolen watch never entered his head. He would have +given anything to have gone on and seen her again--to have had one more +kind smile and loving word. "My own boy Jack!" Would he ever hear her +say that again? + +He turned on his heel, and began the return journey with a gloomy look +of discontent upon his face. His castles in the air had vanished: what +was there that made a soldier's life attractive but the right to go +about in a red coat like a barrel-organ monkey? For two pins he would +abandon the project, and go back to Padbury. + +This impression, however, was not destined to last very long. As he +approached the barracks he noticed a small crowd of idlers collecting +near a gateway, and at the same instant the silence was broken by the +sound of a drum. He knew what it was--the regiment had been out +drilling on the neighbouring common, and was on its way home. + +He hurried forward to watch the soldiers as they passed. + +Boom! boom! boom!--boom! boom! boom! With a glorious crash the brass +instruments burst out with the tune. Jack knew it well, and his heart +danced to it as the band marched out into the road. + + + "'Twas in the merry month of May, + When bees from flower to flower did hum, + Soldiers through the town marched gay, + The village flew to the sound of the drum!" + + +Jack drew back into the hedge to watch as the regiment went by. + +"March at ease!" The sunlight flashed as the arms were sloped, and +glittered on bright blades as the officers returned their swords. Not +a detail escaped his eager observation; the swing of the rifle-barrels, +the crisp tramp of the marching feet, even the chink of the chain +bridles as the horses of the mounted officers shook their heads, all +seemed to touch answering chords in his inmost heart, and awaken there +the old love and longing for a soldier's life. + + + "The tailor he got off his knees, + And to the ranks did boldly come: + He said he ne'er would sit at ease, + But go with the rest, and follow the drum!" + + +Jack hesitated no longer, but hurried back to pick up the few +belongings he had left at the hotel, determined to put his project into +execution without further delay. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE QUEEN'S SHILLING. + +"If he had called out, 'Here I am,' it would have been all right; but +he was too proud to cry out for help while he wore a uniform."--_The +Brave Tin Soldier_. + + +There was no more hesitation or uncertainty about his movements now, +and before he knew it, Jack found himself once more back at the +barracks. The corporal on "gate duty," who, for want of something +better to do, had been chastising his own leg with a "swagger cane," +ceased in the performance of this self-imposed penance, and shot a +significant glance at the stranger. + +"Looking out for any one?" he inquired, by way of opening up a +conversation. + +"No," answered Jack; "the fact is, I've come to enlist. D'you think +you could make a soldier of me?" + +"Well, at any rate, I should say you were big enough," answered the +corporal briskly. "Why, we ought to make a general of a smart young +fellow like you, in less than no time!" + +This seemed a promising commencement; but the adjutant, in front of +whom Jack was conducted after undergoing a preliminary examination as +to his height, chest measurement, and strength of eyesight, did not +appear to be of quite so sanguine a temperament as the non-commissioned +officer. + +He eyed the would-be recruit with no very favourable expression on his +face, as he prepared to take down the answers to the questions on the +attestation paper. + +"Name?" + +"John Fenleigh." + +"Is that a _nom de guerre_?" + +"No, sir, it's my real name." + +"Humph! So you speak French?" + +Jack coloured slightly. + +"No, sir--that is, I learned some at school." + +The officer looked up, and laid his quill pen down on the table. + +"Look here, my good fellow," he said, "it's not my business to ask what +brings you here, but one thing I should like to know: how long do you +expect you are going to remain in the army--a week, or six months?" + +"The full time, I hope, sir." + +"Are your parents living? And do they know of the step you're taking?" + +"My father is living. I told him what I meant to do before I left +home." + +"Well," returned the officer, once more dipping his quill in the ink, +"if you change your mind before to-morrow, you'll have to pay a +sovereign; after that, it'll cost you ten pounds!" + +The paper was filled up, and our hero received the historical shilling, +which he slipped into his waistcoat pocket, having previously +determined never to part with that particular coin, unless he were +obliged. He was then conducted to the hospital, and there examined by +the medical officer; his eyesight being once more tested by his having +to count a number of white dots on a piece of black paper displayed on +the opposite side of the room, each eye being covered alternately. + +Having passed satisfactorily through this ordeal, he was informed that +he could not be sworn in before the following day, when he must present +himself at the orderly room at eleven o'clock. Until that time he was +free to do as he pleased; and being still in the possession of the +greater portion of his previous week's salary, he chose to sleep +another night at the hotel, and so spent the remainder of the day +wandering about the streets of Melchester. + +On the following morning, at the appointed hour, he returned to the +barracks, and after some little delay, was brought into the presence of +the commanding officer, where he was duly "sworn in," and signed his +name to the declaration of allegiance. + +"You'll join C Company," said the sergeant-major. "Just take him +across, orderly, and show him the room." + +With feelings very much akin to those of the "new boy" arriving for the +first time at a big boarding-school, our hero followed his guide across +the square, up a flight of stairs, and down a long corridor, amid a +good deal of noise and bustle. The bugle had not long since sounded +"Come to the cook-house door," and the dinner orderlies were hurrying +back with the supply of rations for their respective rooms. + +At length a door was reached, in front of which the orderly paused +with, "Here you are!" Jack entered, and made his first acquaintance +with his future home--the barrack-room. + +It was large and lofty, with whitewashed walls and a floor of bare +boards. A row of wooden tables and forms ran down the centre, above +which was a hanging shelf for the men's plates and basins. Around the +room were sixteen small iron bedsteads, each made in such a fashion +that one half closed up under the other, the mattress when not in use +being rolled up and secured by a strap, with the blankets and sheets +folded on the top; the remaining portion of the couch, on which the rug +was laid, serving for a seat. Above the bed were shelves and hooks for +accoutrements, and other possessions. Above some of the cots small +pictures or photographs were hung, which served to relieve the monotony +of the whitewash; but these, like the rest of Tommy Atkins's property, +were arranged with that scrupulous care and neatness which is so +characteristic of all that concerns the service from baton to +button-stick. + +At the moment Jack entered, his future room-mates were busy round one +end of the tables, assisting the orderly man in the task of pouring +soup from a large can into the small basins, and making a similar equal +division of the meat and potatoes. The new-comer's arrival, therefore, +was scarcely noticed, except by the sergeant, who told him to sit down, +and saw that he received a share of the rations. The fare was +certainly rough, and seemed in keeping with the table manners of the +rank and file of the Royal Blankshire; they forbore to "trouble" each +other for things out of reach, but secured them with a dive and a grab. +"Here, chuck us the rooty!" was the request when one needed bread; +while though substantial mustard and pepper pots adorned the board, the +salt was in the primitive form of a lump, which was pushed about from +man to man, and scraped down with the dinner knives. + +But Jack had not come to barracks expecting a _table d'hote_ dinner of +eight or nine courses, served by waiters in evening dress, and he set +to work with a good grace on what was set before him. The remarks +addressed to him, if a trifle blunt, were good-natured enough, and he +replied to them in the same spirit. His comrades evidently remarked +from the first that he was a cut above the ordinary recruit; but he was +wise enough to avoid showing any airs, and soon saw that this line of +conduct was appreciated. + +The meal was in progress when there was a sharp rap, and the door was +opened. + +"'Tenshun!" The men laid down their knives and forks, and rose to +their feet. + +"Dinners all right here?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"All present?" + +"All present, sir." The orderly officer glanced round the room, and +then turned and walked out. + +"'E's a gentleman, is Mr. Lawson," murmured one of the men; "'e always +shuts the door behind 'im." Jack's eye followed the figure of the +lieutenant as he rejoined the orderly sergeant in the passage. It was +not so much the sash and sword, and neat, blue patrol jacket, as the +cheery voice and pleasant sunburnt face, which had attracted our hero's +attention; somehow these reminded him of Valentine, and turned his +thoughts back to his old friend. He wondered how his cousin looked in +the same uniform. Well, well, however wide and deep the gulf might be +which the doings of the last two days had placed between them, they +were, in a way, reunited; for the service was the same, whatever +difference there might be in shoulder-straps. + +Dinner over, some of the men made down their beds for a nap, while +others announced their intention "to do some soldiering," a term which +implied the cleaning and polishing of accoutrements. + +Sergeant Sparks, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the room, +had a few friendly words with Jack, told him what he would have to do +on the following day, and advised him in the meantime to make himself +as comfortable as he could. "Here," he added, turning to a private, +"just show this man his cot, and explain to him how to keep his +bedding; you may want a good turn yourself some time." + +The soldier obeyed readily enough. Jack had already caught his eye +several times during dinner, and now followed him into a corner of the +room, resolved if possible to patch up a friendship. In the carrying +out of this intention he was destined to experience a startling +surprise. + +The man paused before one of the end beds, and began to unfasten the +strap of the mattress. + +"I didn't think of meeting you here, Mr. Fenleigh." + +Jack started and stared at the speaker in silent astonishment. + +"You remember me, sir?--Joe Crouch." + +"What! Joe Crouch, who used to work at Brenlands?" + +"Yes, sir; Joe Crouch as stole the pears," answered the soldier, +smiling. "I never expected to find you 'listin' in the army, sir. I +suppose Miss Fenleigh ain't aware of what you're doin'?" + +"Oh, no!" exclaimed the other eagerly. "Promise me you'll never tell +any one at Brenlands where I am--swear you won't." + +"Very well, sir," replied Joe Crouch, calmly proceeding to unroll the +mattress and make down the bed. + +"For goodness' sake, drop that _sir_. Look here, Joe: I'm a lame dog, +down on my luck, and no good to anybody; but we were friendly years +ago, and if you'll have me for a comrade now, I'll do my best to be a +good one." + +Joe flung down the bedding, and held out his big, brown hand. + +"That I will!" he answered. "You did the square thing by me once, and +now I'll see you through; don't you fret." + +Tea in barracks was evidently a very informal meal, of which no great +account was taken. As Jack sat down to his bowl and chunk of bread, +Joe Crouch pushed a screw of paper in front of him, which on +examination proved to contain a small pat of butter. + +"What's this?" asked Jack. + +"Fat," answered Joe, shortly. "From the canteen," he added. + +"Then you've paid for it, and--look here--you've got none yourself." + +"Don't want any," answered Joe, breaking up a crust and dropping it +into his tea. "There you are. That's what's called a 'floatin' +battery.'" + +In the evening most of the men went out. Jack, however, preferred to +remain where he was, and passed the time reading a paper he had brought +with him, at one of the tables. Sergeant Sparks came up to him and +chatted pleasantly for half an hour. He wore a ribbon at his breast, +and had stirring stories to tell of the Afghan war, and Roberts' march +to Candahar. About half-past eight the men began to return from their +walks and various amusements, and the barrack-room grew more noisy. At +half-past nine the roll was called, and the orders read out for the +following day, and Jack was not sorry when the time came to turn in. +Crouch came over to see if he understood the preparation of his cot. + +"The feathers in these 'ere beds grew on rather a large bird," remarked +Joe, referring to the straw mattress, "but they're soft enough when you +come off a spell of guard duty or a day's manoeuvrin'." + +The bugle sounded the long, melancholy G, and the orderly man turned +off the gas. Our hero lay awake for some time listening to the heavy +breathing of his new comrades, and then turned over and fell asleep. + +The bright morning sunshine was streaming in through the big windows +when the clear, ringing notes of reveille and the cheery strains of +"Old Daddy Longlegs" roused him to consciousness of where he was. + +"Now then, my lads, show a leg there!" cried the sergeant. + +Jack stretched and yawned. Yes, it was certainly a rough path, but his +mind was made up to tread it with a good heart, and this being the +case, he was not likely to turn back. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +ON ACTIVE SERVICE. + +"A voice cried out, 'I declare here is the tin soldier!'"--_The Brave +Tin Soldier_. + + +A brilliant, clear sky overhead, and such a scorching sun that the air +danced with the heat, as though from the blast of a furnace; surely +this could not be the twenty-fifth of December! + +But Christmas Day it was--Christmas Day in the camp at Korti. + +[Illustration: "It was Christmas Day in the camp at Korti."] + +Among the pleasant groves of trees which bordered the steep banks of +the Nile glistened the white tents of the Camel Corps. Still farther +back from the river lay fields of grass and patches of green dhurra; +and behind these again an undulating waste of sand and gravel, dotted +here and there with scrub and rock, and stretching away to the +faintly-discerned hills of the desert. The shade of the trees tempered +the heat, making a pleasant change after the roasting, toilsome journey +up country. + +Here, though hardly to be recognized with their ragged clothing and +unshaven faces, was gathered a body of men who might be regarded as +representing the flower of England's army--Life Guards, Lancers, +Dragoons, Grenadiers, Highlanders, and linesmen from many a famous foot +regiment; all were there, ready to march and fight shoulder to shoulder +in order to rescue Gordon from his perilous position in Khartoum. + +Every day the numbers in camp had been gradually growing larger, fresh +batches of troops arriving either on camels or in boats. A whole fleet +of these "whalers" lay moored along the bank of the Nile; the usual +quiet of the river being continually broken by the dog-like panting of +steam launches hurrying up and down the stream. + +Friendly natives, clad in loose shirts and skull-caps, wandered through +the lines, gazing wonderingly at all they saw; while in strange +contrast to their unintelligible jabberings, rose the familiar _patois_ +of the barrack-room, or snatches of some popular music-hall song hummed +or whistled by every urchin in the streets of London. + +The concentration of the expedition had now been almost completed, and +the chief topic of conversation was the immediate prospect of a desert +march to Shendy. + +But to return to our commencement, Christmas Day it was; and however +difficult it might have been to realize this as far as the weather was +concerned, the fact had, to a certain extent, been impressed upon the +minds of the men by the supplementing of their ordinary dinner rations +with a gallant attempt at plum-pudding, manufactured for the most part +out of boiled dates. + +Two men, who had just partaken of this delicacy, were lying stretched +out full length under a shady tree, their pith helmets brought well +forward over their eyes, their grey serge jumpers thrown open, and +pipes in their mouths. To see them now, with their tattered nether +garments, stubbly chins, and sunburnt faces, from which the skin was +peeling off in patches, one could hardly have recognized in them the +same smart soldiers who paraded a few months ago on the barrack square +at Melchester. Yet such they were, as the reader will soon discover by +the opening remarks of their conversation. + +"This weather don't seem very seasonable. I wonder whether it's frost +and snow away home at Brenlands." + +"Yes; I wonder if the reservoir at Hornalby is frozen. We used to go +skating there when I was at school. It seems a jolly long time ago +now!" + +"It don't seem three years ago to me since you enlisted. I never +thought you'd have stayed so long." + +"Didn't you? When my mind's made up, it's apt to stick to it, Joe, my +boy. Besides, I had no prospect of anything better." + +There was a pause, during which the two comrades (who, from the +foregoing, will have been recognized as our hero and Joe Crouch) +continued to puff away at their pipes in silence, listening to the +remarks of three men who were playing a drowsy game with a tattered +pack of cards. + +"These cards are gettin' precious ragged; you'd better get 'em +clipped."--"Why don't you play the king?"--"'Cause there ain't one! +he's one of 'em as is lost." + +"You used to have fine times, I reckon, when you and Mr. Valentine and +the young ladies came to stay at Miss Fenleigh's," said Crouch. "I +wonder what she'd say if she knew you was out here in Egypt." + +"I took precious good care she shouldn't know. I suppose she heard +from the guv'nor that I went off and enlisted, but I didn't send word +what regiment I joined. I never mean to see her again--no fear!" + +"She was a kind lady," murmured Joe reflectively; "very good to me once +upon a time." + +"Yes, that she was--the best and kindest woman in the world; and that's +just the reason why I'm glad to think she doesn't know what's become of +me.-- Hallo, Swabs, what are you after?" + +The person thus addressed was a gaunt, lanky-looking warrior, clad +simply in helmet, shirt, and trousers; the sleeves of his "greyback" +were rolled up above his elbows; and he was armed with a roughly-made +catapult, evidently intended for the destruction of some of the small, +brightly-coloured birds that were flitting about among the branches of +the palms. "Swabs," who answered at roll-call to the name of Smith H., +in addition to holding the badge as best shot in the regiment, was a +popular character in C Company. + +"Shist!" he answered; "when there ain't nothink better to shoot at, I'm +goin' to try me 'and on some of these dickies." + +"Swabs" was evidently more skilful with the rifle than with his present +weapon. He discharged his pebble, but with no result. + +"Miss; high right," said Jack. "Where did you get your elastic from?" + +"The tube of me filter. I'll take a finer sight next time," and +"Swabs" went stalking off in search of further sport. + +"It seems hard to imagine that we're on the real business at last," +said Jack, clasping his hands behind his head and stretching out his +legs. "After so many sham fights, it seems rum to think of one in real +earnest. The strange thing to me," he continued, "is to think how +often my cousin and I used to talk about war, and wonder what it was +like; and we thought he was the one more likely to see it. I used to +be always grumbling about his luck, and now I expect he'd envy me mine." + +"I suppose he hasn't come out?" + +"No, I don't think so. I forget just where he's stationed. Look at +Tom Briggs over there, he using his towel to put a patch on the seat of +his breeches. Hey, Tommy! how are you going to dry yourself when you +wash?" + +"Wash!" answered the man, looking up from his work with a grin, "you'll +be glad enough afore long to lap up every spot of water you come +across; there won't be much talk of washin' in this 'ere desert, I'm +thinkin'." + +The answer was lost on Jack; something else had suddenly attracted his +attention. He sat up and made a movement as though he would rise to +his feet. An officer had just strolled past, wearing a fatigue cap and +the usual serge jumper. His face was tanned a deep brown, and showed +up in strong contrast to his fair hair and small, light-coloured +moustache. Our hero's first impulse was to run after and accost the +stranger, but he checked himself, and sank back into his former +position. + +"I say, Briggs," he called, "what men were those who came up in the +boats yesterday?" + +"Some of the ----sex Regiment," answered the other, stooping forward to +bite off his cotton with his teeth. + +Jack's heart thumped heavily, and he caught his breath; his eyes had +not deceived him, and the subaltern who had just walked by was +Valentine. + +He was roused from his reverie by the warning call to "stables," it +being the time for feeding and grooming the camels. They were queer +steeds, these "ships of the desert," and for those who had never ridden +them before even mounting and dismounting was no easy task. In the +case of the former, unless the animals' heads were brought round to +their shoulders, and held there by means of the rope which served as a +rein, they were apt to rise up suddenly before the rider had got +properly into the saddle, a proceeding usually followed by disastrous +results; while, on the other hand, the sudden plunge forward as they +dropped on their knees, followed by the lurch in the opposite direction +when their hind-quarters went down, made it an extremely easy matter to +come a cropper in either direction. Their necks seemed to be made of +indiarubber, and their hind legs, with which they could scratch the top +of their heads, or, if so inclined, kick out behind, even when lying +down, appeared to be furnished with double joints. Jack had christened +his mount "Lamentations," from the continual complaints which it +uttered; but in this the animal was no worse than the remainder of its +fellows, who bellowed and roared whatever was happening, whether they +were being unsaddled, groomed, mounted, or fed. + +With thoughts centred on his recent discovery, our hero made his way to +the spot where the camels of his detachment were picketed, and there +went mechanically through the work of cleaning up the lines, and the +still more unsavoury task of attending to "Lam's" toilet. Should he +speak to Valentine, or not? That was the question which occupied his +mind. Unless he did so, it was hardly likely that after seven years, +and with a moustache and sprouting beard, his cousin would recognize +him among the seventeen hundred men destined to form the expedition. + +The men marched back to their lines, and were then dismissed for tea. +Jack sat silently sipping at his pannikin and munching his allowance of +biscuit. + +Should he speak to Valentine, or not? The vague day-dream of their +school-boy days was realized--they were soldiers together, and on +active service; but everything was altered now. The great difference +of rank was, of itself, sufficient to place an impassable barrier +between them; and then the recollection of their last parting, his +refusals to meet his cousins again at Brenlands, and the fact of his +having left so many of his old chum's letters unanswered, all seemed to +lead up to one conclusion. Valentine would long ago have come to +regard it as a clear proof that the runaway had really stolen the +watch, and not have been surprised to hear that he had gone to the +dogs. Nor was he likely now to be very well pleased if the black sheep +suddenly walked up and claimed relationship. No. Jack felt he had +long ago severed all ties with what had once been dear to him; it was +the better plan to let things remain as they were, and make no attempt +to renew associations with a past which could not be recalled. + +Sunset was rapidly followed by darkness. In honour of its being +Christmas Day, an impromptu concert had been announced; and the men +began to gather round a rough stage which had been erected under the +trees, and which was lit up with lamps and the glare of two huge +bonfires. + +The programme was of the free-and-easy character: volunteers were +called for, and responded with songs, step-dances, and the like; while +the audience, lying and sitting round on the sand, greeted their +efforts with hearty applause, and joined in every chorus with unwonted +vigour. + +Jack had always possessed a good voice, a fact which had long ago been +discovered by his comrades, and now, for the honour of the Royal +Blankshire, those standing near him insisted that he should sing. +Before he knew it, he was pushed forward, and hoisted on to the +platform. There was no chance of retreat. He glanced round the sea of +faces glowing brightly in the firelight, and after a moment's thought +as to what would be likely to go down best, he struck up his old song, +"The Mermaid." + + "Oh! 'twas in the broad Atlantic, 'mid the equinoctial gales, + That a gay young tar fell overboard, among the sharks and whales." + +The great crowd of listeners burst out into the "Rule, Britannia!" +chorus with a mighty roar. But our hero heeded them not; his thoughts +had suddenly gone back to the little parlour at the back of "Duster's" +shop; his eyes wandered anxiously over the faces of the officers who +were grouped together in front of the stage, but Valentine did not +appear to be among them. + +An uproarious repetition of the last "Rule, Britannia!" was still in +progress as Jack rejoined the Blankshire contingent, and submitted his +back to a number of congratulatory slaps. + +These signs of approval were still being showered down upon him, when +Sergeant Sparks touched his elbow. + +"Here's an officer wants to speak to you, Fenleigh. There he is, +standing over by that tree." + +With his heart in his mouth, the singer stepped out of the crush, and +approached the figure standing by itself under the heavy shadow of the +palm. + +"Jack!" + +The private soldier made no reply, but raised his hand in the customary +salute. The action was simple enough, and yet full of meaning, showing +the altered relationship between the two old friends. + +"Why, man, didn't you tell us where you were? and what had become of +you?" + +"There was no need; and, besides, I didn't wish you to know, sir?" + +"Surely you are not still offended over what happened that summer at +Brenlands? You must have known that we, none of us, suspected you for +a moment of having stolen that watch. It was only a cad like Raymond +Fosberton would ever have thought of suggesting such a thing." + +"Appearances were very much against me, sir--and--well, it's all past +and done with now." + +Valentine was silent. That "sir," so familiar to his ear, and yet +seemingly so incongruous in the present instance, baffled him +completely. In the first moment of his discovery he had intended, +figuratively speaking, to fall upon the prodigal's neck, and converse +with him in the old, familiar style; but now, between Valentine +Fenleigh, Esq., of the ----sex, and Private Fenleigh, of the Royal +Blankshire, there was a great gulf fixed, and the latter, especially, +seemed determined to recognize that the former conditions of their +friendship could now no longer exist. After a moment's pause, Jack +spoke. + +"Could you tell me, sir, if they are all well?" + +"Who? my people? They're all right, thanks. Helen's just gone and got +married; and little Bar's just the same as ever, only a bit older. She +was twenty-one last month." + +Jack smiled. "And Aunt Mabel, have you seen her lately?" + +"Oh, yes! she's very well, and doesn't seem to alter at all. She often +talks of you, and is always sad because you never write. Why have you +never been to see her?" + +"I have seen her once. I passed her in the street in Melchester; but I +was in uniform, and she didn't notice me." + +"But why didn't you go over to Brenlands?" + +"Oh, I couldn't do that! I struck out a path for myself. It may be a +bit rough, like the way of transgressors always is; but it suits me +well enough. I've been in it now for three years, and mean to stick to +it; but it'll never bring me to Brenlands again." + +"Oh, yes, it will," answered the other cheerily, "At the end of the +long lane comes the turning." + +There was another pause; the conversation had been running more freely, +but now Jack fell back again into his former manner. + +"I beg pardon, sir, but I should like to ask if you'll be good enough +not to mention my name in any of your letters home." + +"Why not?" + +"I should be glad, sir, if you wouldn't. I've managed hitherto to keep +my secret." + +"Well, if it's your wish, for the present I won't," answered Valentine; +"but if we both live through this business, then I shall have something +to say to you on the subject." + +"Good-night, sir." + +"Good-night, old chap, and good luck to us both!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +UNDER FIRE. + +"The tin soldier trembled; yet he remained firm; his countenance did +not change; he looked straight before him, and shouldered his +musket."--_The Brave Tin Soldier_. + + +Five days afterwards the camp was all astir, and presented an unusual +scene of activity and animation. + +On the twenty-eighth of December, orders had been issued for a portion +of the force to march across the desert and occupy the wells at Gakdul; +and on this, the morning of the thirtieth, the Guards Camel Regiment +and the Mounted Infantry (to which latter force Jack and his comrades +of the Royal Blankshire were attached), together with detachments of +the Engineers and Medical Staff Corps, a squadron of the 19th Hussars, +and a large train of "baggagers," were preparing for the start, amid +much bugle-blowing, shouting of orders, and roaring of camels as the +loads were being placed on their backs. Gradually, as the hour +approached for the assembly of the force, the noise grew less; even +"Lamentations" ceased his protestations, and stalked off to the parade +ground without further murmuring. + +Lord Wolseley inspected the force, and shortly before three o'clock the +cavalry scouts started. As Jack stood by the side of his kneeling +steed, with Joe Crouch on his right, his heart beat fast. This was +something different from any of his previous military experiences; the +cartridges in his pouch and bandoleer were ball, not blank. It was to +be the real thing this time; the stern reality of what he and Valentine +had so often pictured and played at far away in the peaceful old house +at Brenlands. + +Though showing it in different ways, all his comrades were more or less +excited at the prospect of a move: some were silent, others unusually +noisy; Joe Crouch puffed incessantly at a little clay pipe; Sergeant +Sparks seemed to have grown ten years younger, and overflowed with +reminiscences of Afghanistan and the Ghazees; while Lieutenant Lawson +might, from his high spirits and cheery behaviour, have been just +starting on a hunting expedition or some pleasure excursion. + +At last it came: "Prepare to mount!" + +"Well, here goes!" said Jack, drawing his steed's head round, and +putting his foot in the stirrup. "Here goes!" echoed Joe Crouch. + +"Mount!" The bugle sounded the advance, the word was given, and the +column moved off across the undulating plain--the Guards in front, +baggage camels in the centre, and the Mounted Infantry bringing up the +rear; the length of the column extending to nearly a mile. + +Scared gazelles sprang up from among the rocks and bushes, and bounded +away. + +"Hi, Swabs! where's yer catapult?" inquired Tommy Briggs. + +"Keepin' it for the niggers," answered the marksman significantly. + +After an hour's going, many of the riders sought to ease themselves, +and vary the peculiar swaying motion by a change of position: some +crossed their legs in front of them; while Jack and his chum sat +side-saddle, facing each other, and for the twentieth time that day +exchanged opinions as to when and where they would first come in touch +with the enemy. + +In addition to the heat, the clouds of dust raised by the force in +front rendered it choky work for those in rear; and no one was sorry +when, about five o'clock, the bugles sounded the halt. + +Jack dismounted, feeling uncommonly sore and stiff, but was soon busily +engaged helping to make fires of dry grass and mimosa scrub, on which +to boil the camp kettles for tea. + +Never, even when poured from Queen Mab's old silver teapot, had the +steaming beverage tasted so refreshing; and the men, sitting round in +groups, mess-tin in hand, seemed to regard the whole business in the +light of a gigantic picnic. The sun dropped below the horizon; and +after a rest of about an hour and a half, the march was continued, the +column closing up and proceeding with a broadened front. + +The clear, brilliant light of the moon flooded the scene with silvery +splendour, throwing up in strange contrast the black, dark hills in the +distance. Gradually, as the men grew sleepy, their laughter and +conversation died away, the padded feet of the camels made no sound as +they passed over the sand, and the silence remained unbroken save for +the occasional yelping bark of some hungry jackal. Jack felt cold and +drowsy, and, in spite of the movement of his camel, had hard work to +keep awake. + +Once or twice, when the loads of some of the baggagers slipped, a halt +was called while they were refixed; and men, dismounting from their +saddles, fell fast asleep on the sand, only to be roused again in what +seemed a moment later by the "advance" being sounded. + +Hours seemed drawn out into weeks, and Jack, glancing with heavy eyes +to his left front, wondered if the sky would ever brighten with the +signs of dawn. At length the east grew grey, then flushed with pink, +and the sun rose with the red glare of a conflagration, sending a glow +of warmth across the desert. For about two hours the march was +continued; then, at a spot where a number of trees were growing, a halt +was made, camels unloaded, and preparations made for a well-earned +breakfast. + +In spite of the excitement of this first bivouac, as soon as the meal +was over Jack stretched himself out upon the ground and fell fast +asleep, only returning to consciousness when wakened by the flies and +midday heat; and so ended his first experience of a desert march. + +For the purposes of this story it will not be necessary to follow +closely all our hero's doings during the next fortnight; and we shall +therefore rest content with describing, as briefly as possible, the +movements of the force during that period of time which preceded its +coming in actual contact with the enemy. + +Starting again on the afternoon of the thirty-first of December, the +column pushed forward with occasional halts, until, early on the +morning of the second of January, Gakdul was reached, and the wells +occupied without resistance. Leaving the Guards and Engineers to +garrison the place, the rest of the column marched the same evening on +the return journey to Korti, to collect and bring on the remaining +troops and stores necessary for continuing the advance to Metemmeh. +Ten days later, the remainder of the force arrived at Gakdul; and after +a day spent in watering and attending to arms and ammunition, a start +was made on the afternoon of the fourteenth in the direction of Abu +Klea. Soon after sunset the column halted, and resuming the march +early on the following morning, by five o'clock in the evening had +reached Jebel-es-Sergain, or the Hill of the Saddle, which was to be +the resting-place for the night. + +The men lay down as usual, with piled arms in front and camels in rear; +the order for perfect silence was hardly needed; the sandy +water-channels made a comfortable couch for wearied limbs; and the +tired warriors were glad enough to wrap themselves in their blankets, +and enjoy a few hours of well-earned repose. + +In spite of the long and fatiguing day through which he had just +passed, Jack did not fall asleep at once, like the majority of his +comrades. Ever since his meeting with Valentine, his mind had been +continually going back to the days when they were at school together; +and now, in the solemn stillness of the desert, as he lay gazing up at +the bright, starlit sky, his thoughts flew back to Brenlands, and he +pictured up the dear face that had always been the chief of the many +attractions that made the place so pleasant. He almost wished now that +he had written to her before leaving England. She knew where Valentine +was, and every morning would glance with beating heart at the war +headings in the newspaper. It would have been a great satisfaction to +feel confident of having a share in her loving thoughts. Since +Christmas Day, our hero had only caught an occasional glimpse of his +cousin, but that was sufficient to revive his old love for the bright, +frank-looking face. + +"He's just the same as ever," thought Jack. "Well, I hope he'll get +through this all right. There are the girls, and Aunt Mabel--it would +be dreadful if anything happened!" And with this reflection Fenleigh +J. turned over and fell asleep. + +Before daybreak next morning the column was once more on the move, +crossing a large waste of sand and gravel, relieved here and there by +stretches of black rock; while, bordering the plain on either side, +were ranges of hills, which gradually approached each other until, in +the distance, they formed the pass through which ran the track leading +to the wells of Abu Klea. + +The march was now beginning to tell upon the camels, which, weakened by +fatigue and short allowance of forage, fell down in large numbers +through sheer exhaustion, throwing the transport into great confusion. + +Shortly before mid-day the force halted at the foot of a steep slope +for the usual morning meal of tea and bully beef. + +"I shan't be sorry when we get to those wells," said Jack, sipping at +the lid of his mess-tin; "I've been parched with thirst ever since we +left Gakdul. I wonder it we shall reach them this evening!" + +"I don't reckon it's much further," answered Joe Crouch. "I heard the +Nineteenth are going on ahead to water their horses. Look! they're +just off." + +Jack watched the Hussars as they disappeared over the brow of the hill. + +"Lucky beggars!" he muttered, and lying down upon his bed he pulled his +helmet over his eyes, and prepared for a quiet snooze before the order +should be given to mount. + +He had been dozing, and was in the dreamy stage between waking and +sleeping, when his attention was attracted by a conversation which was +taking place in his immediate vicinity. A few yards away, Lieutenant +Lawson was sitting on the ground rearranging the folds of his putties, +and talking to another subaltern. + +"I shouldn't have brought a thing like that with me," the latter was +saying; "you might lose it. Any old silver one's good enough for this +job, especially if you get bowled over, and some villain picks your +pockets." + +"Well, I hadn't another," answered Lawson; "and, after all, it didn't +cost me much. I knew a fellow at Melchester, called Fosberton, an +awful young ass. He got into debt, and was hard pushed to raise the +wind. He wanted me to buy this. I was rather sorry for the chap, so I +gave him five pounds for it, and told him he could have it back if he +chose to refund the money; but he left the town soon after that, and +I've never heard from him since. Hallo! What's up now?" + +A couple of horsemen were galloping down the slope, and a few minutes +later the command was passed back from the front,-- + +"Fall in! Examine arms and ammunition!" + +The men sprang forward to the row of piled arms, and then, like an +electric current, the report passed from one to another--the enemy was +in sight! + +"Cast loose one packet of your ammunition," said the commander of the +company. + +Jack's fingers twitched with excitement as he pulled off the string of +the familiar little brown paper parcel, and dropped the ten cartridges +into his pouch. It was the real thing now, and no mistake! + +Moving forward in line of columns, the force ascended the slope, and +after one more brief halt, while further reconnaissances were being +made, began to advance across the level stretch beyond, from which a +good view was obtained of the distant valley of Abu Klea, with the +steep hills rising on either side, and opening out at the entrance of +the pass. + +"There they are!" + +Far away, on the dark, rocky eminences, crowds of tiny, white-robed +figures could be clearly distinguished moving and gesticulating in an +excited manner. + +Steadily the force advanced until, when within a comparatively short +distance of the mouth of the valley, the word for "close order" was +given. The camels were driven forward into a solid mass in rear of the +leading company as it halted; the men dismounted, and knee-lashed their +steeds. + +There was not much time for looking about, for the order was +immediately given to build a zareba; and while some men were set to +work to cut down brushwood, Jack and his comrades were told off to +gather stones for constructing a breastwork. + +"Look alive, my lads!" said Sergeant Sparks, "and get whatever you can. +Hallo!" he added; "they've begun, have they?" + +Jack had heard something like the sound of the swift flight of a +swallow far overhead, but he did not understand its significance until, +a moment later, the sound was repeated, and on the ground in front of +him there suddenly appeared a mark, as though some one had struck the +sand with the point of an invisible stick, leaving behind a short, deep +groove, and causing a handful of dust to spring into the air. Far away +on the distant hillside was a tiny puff of smoke, and as he looked the +faint pop of the rifle reached his ear. Then the truth dawned on him: +this was his baptism of fire--a long-range fire, to be sure, but none +the less deadly if the bullet found its billet! + +He caught up a fragment of rock, and carried it to where the wall was +to be constructed. Men were hurrying to and fro all around him, and +yet suddenly he seemed to feel himself alone, the sole mark for the +enemy's fire; again that z--st overhead, and a cold chill ran down his +back. He shut his teeth, and, with a careless air, strode off for a +fresh load. He had not gone twenty yards when another shot ricochetted +off a stone, and flew up into the air with a shrill chirrup. Jack +winced and shivered. It was no good, however well he might conceal the +fact from others--the fear of death was on him; it was impossible to +deceive his own heart. A fresh terror now seized him, coupled with a +sense of shame. He was the fellow who had always expressed a wish to +be a soldier, and go on active service; and now, before the first +feeble spitting of the enemy's fire, all his courage was ebbing away. +What if his comrades should notice that his limbs trembled and his +voice was shaky? What if, when the advance was made, his nerve should +fail him altogether, and he should turn to run? + +With dogged energy he pursued his task, hardly noticing what was going +on around him. For the fourth time he was approaching the zareba, when +a comrade, a dozen yards in front, stumbled forward and sank down upon +the ground. There was no cry, no frantic leap into the air, yet it was +sufficiently horrible. Jack felt sick, and his teeth chattered; he had +never before seen a man hit, and it was his first experience of the +sacrifice of human flesh and blood. At the same moment, like a clap of +thunder, one of the screw-guns was discharged; the droning whizz of the +shell grew fainter and fainter--a pause--and then the boom of its +explosion was returned in a muffled echo from the distant hillside. + +A couple of men hurried forward and raised their wounded comrade. Jack +turned away his eyes, and immediately they encountered a rather +different spectacle. + +A young subaltern, with a short brier pipe in his mouth, and without a +hair on his face, was making a playful pretence of dropping a huge +boulder on to the toes of the lieutenant of Jack's detachment. + +"Hold the ball--no side!" said Mr. Lawson facetiously. "Look here, +Mostyn, you beggar! I've just spotted a fine rock, only it's too big +for one to carry. Come and help to bring it in; it's a chance for you +to distinguish yourself. Look sharp! or some of the Tommies will have +bagged it." + +Something in this speech, and the careless, happy-go-lucky way in which +it was uttered, seemed to revive Jack's spirits. Mr. Lawson recognized +and spoke to him as he passed. + +"Well, Fenleigh, they've begun to shake the pepper-box at us; but it'll +be our turn to-morrow." + +There was nothing in the remark itself, but there was something in the +cheery tone and manly face of the speaker; something that brought fresh +courage to the soldier's heart, and filled it with a sudden +determination to emulate the example of his leader. + +"Yes, sir," he answered briskly, and from that moment his fears were +banished. + +Slowly the construction of the zareba was completed--a low, stone wall +in front, and earthen parapets and abattis of mimosa bushes on the +other three sides. The enemy still continued a dropping fire, which +was replied to with occasional rounds of shrapnel from the guns; but +Jack saw no further casualties. + +Once, during the work of collecting stones, he encountered Valentine. + +"I say," remarked the latter, acknowledging his cousin's salute with a +nod and a smile, "this reminds me of the time when we went up the river +with the girls to Starncliff, and built up a fireplace to boil the +kettle." + +When darkness fell, the force was assembled within the zareba; the low +breastwork was manned in double rank, every soldier lying down in his +fighting place, with belts on, rifle by his side, and bayonet fixed; +all lights were extinguished, and talking and smoking forbidden. In +spite of the day's exertions, few men felt inclined for sleep; the +drumming of tom-toms, and the occasional whistle of a bullet overhead, +were not very effective as a lullaby, and served as a constant reminder +of the coming struggle. + +Jack settled himself into as comfortable a position as his belts and +accoutrements would allow, and lay gazing up at the silent, starlit +sky. What was death? and what came after? Before another night he +himself might know. Lying there in perfect health, it seemed +impossible to realize that before another night his life might have +ended. He turned his thoughts to Brenlands. Yes; he would like to +have said good-bye to Aunt Mabel, and to have had once more the +assurance from her own lips that he was still "my own boy Jack!" + +"I always make a mess of everything," he said to himself. "I thought I +should always have had Brenlands to go to; and first of all I got +chucked out of the school a year before I need have left, and then this +happens about the watch. In both cases I've Raymond Fosberton to +thank, in a great measure, for what happened. I'll pay him out if ever +I get the chance." + +The thought of his cousin brought back to his mind the recollection of +the conversation he had overheard that morning. Strange that Mr. +Lawson should have known Raymond! Jack wondered what the monetary +transaction could have been that had been alluded to by his officer. + +Gradually a sense of drowsiness crept over him, and his heavy head sank +back upon the sand. + +"Stand to your arms!" He clutched instinctively at the rifle by his +side, and rose to his feet; the noise of the tom-toms seemed close at +hand. + +"They're coming!" But no; it was a false alarm. Once more the men +settled down, and silence fell on the zareba. Suddenly there was a +wild yell from one of the sleepers. + +"What's up there?--man hit?" + +"No--silly chump!--only dreaming!" + +Again Jack dozed off, to be wakened, after what seemed only a moment of +forgetfulness, by Joe Crouch shaking him by the shoulder. The word was +once more being passed along, "Stand to your arms!" and the men lay +with their hands upon their rifles. Daybreak was near, and an attack +might be expected at any moment. + +The sky was ghostly with the coming dawn, the air raw and cold. Jack +shivered, and "wished for the day." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE BATTLE. + +"Then he heard a roaring sound, quite terrible enough to frighten the +bravest man."--_The Brave Tin Soldier_. + + +Numbed with the cold, and stiff from lying so long in a cramped +position, Jack and many of his comrades rose as the daylight +strengthened, to stretch their legs and stamp some feeling into their +feet. As they did so, however, the dropping shots of the enemy rapidly +increased to a sharp fusilade; bullets whizzed overhead, or knocked up +little spurts of sand and dust within the zareba; and the defenders +were glad enough to once more seek the shelter of the low wall and +parapet of earth. Several men were wounded, and the surgeons commenced +their arduous duties--services which so often demand the exercise of +the highest courage and devotion, and yet seldom meet with their due +share of recognition in the records of the battlefield. Ever and anon +the screw-guns thundered a reply to the popping of the distant rifle +fire, and men raised their heads to watch the effect of the shrapnel, +as each shot sped away on its deadly errand. + +Even amid such surroundings, hunger asserted itself; and breakfast was +served out, a good draught of hot tea being specially acceptable after +the long exposure to the cold night air. + +"When you're on active service, eat and sleep whenever you can," said +Sergeant Sparks, munching away at his bully beef and biscuit. "There's +never no telling when you'll get another chance." + +Bands of the enemy kept appearing and disappearing in the distance; +spear-heads and sword-blades flashed and glittered in the rosy morning +sunlight, and the tom-toms kept up a continual thunder; but still there +was no sign of an attack. + +Jack longed to be doing something. He lay on the ground nervously +digging pits with his fingers in the soft sand, listening to the +monotonous murmur of conversation going on around him, and the constant +z--st! z--st! of bullets flying over and into the zareba. Now and +again he exchanged a few remarks with "Swabs" or Joe Crouch; and when +at length he was told off to join a party of skirmishers, he sprang up +and seized his rifle with a sigh of relief. + +Moving out in extended order to the right front of the zareba, they +marched forward a short distance, then halted, and lay down to fire a +volley. + +"Ready, at eleven hundred yards. Now, men, be steady, and take your +time." + +"Swabs" was in his element. He sprawled his legs wide apart, rooted +his left elbow into the sand, and settled down as though he were firing +for the battalion badge on the range at Melchester. Our hero was not +quite so cool; his heart thumped and his fingers twitched as he +adjusted the sliding bar of his back-sight. + +"Aim low--present--fire!" + +The rifles were discharged with a simultaneous crash. + +"Good volley," said Mr. Lawson, who was kneeling, peering through his +field-glass; "a bit short, I'm afraid; put your sights up to +eleven-fifty." + +Jack opened the breach of his rifle with a sharp jerk, and drew a long +breath. For the life of him he could not have told whether his aim had +been good or bad, but this much he knew, that he had fired his first +shot in actual conflict. + +The skirmishers retired; but still the enemy hung back, too wary to +attempt a charge. At length the order was given for an advance, and +preparations were accordingly made for forming a moving square. The +various detachments marched out of the zareba and lay down as they took +up their positions. Camels for carrying the wounded, and conveying +water and reserve ammunition, were drawn up in the centre; the two guns +and the Gardiner with its crew of sailors taking positions respectively +within the front and rear faces of the formation. + +Jack raised himself and looked round, anxious, if possible, to make out +the whereabouts of his cousin. He could distinguish "Heavies," +Blue-jackets, and the Guards, but Valentine and the ----sex men were +stationed somewhere out of sight on the other side of the central mass +of baggagers and their drivers. A short wait, and then came the +order,-- + +"Rise up! The square will advance!" + +Two deep, as in the days of the "thin red line," the men marched +forward, stumbling over rocky hillocks and deep water-ruts, vainly +attempting to keep unbroken their solid formation, and delayed by the +slow movement of the guns and camels. The Arabs, swarming on either +flank, opened a heavy fire. The flight of the bullets filled the air +with a continual buzz. Men dropped right and left, and a halt was made +while the wounded were placed on the cacolets. The sides of the square +turned outwards, the Mounted Infantry formed its left-front corner, and +Jack and his comrades were in the left face. + +"Why can't we give 'em a volley?" murmured "Swabs," gazing at the +feathery puffs of smoke on the distant hillside, which looked so +innocent, but each of which might mean death to the spectator. No +order, however, was given to fire, and the command, "Right +turn--forward!" put the marksman and his comrades once more in motion. + +To walk along and be shot at was not exactly the ideal warfare of his +boyhood: but Jack had been "blooded" by this time, and trudged along +with a set face, paying little attention to the leaden hail which swept +overhead, and only wishing that something would happen to bring matters +to a crisis. + +A few minutes later his attention was turned to the line of +skirmishers, who were moving, some little distance away, in a direction +parallel to the march of the square. Suddenly, close to two of these, +a couple of Arabs sprang up from behind some bushes. One rushed upon +the nearest Englishman; but the latter parried the spear-thrust, and +without a pause drove his bayonet through his adversary's chest. The +other native turned and ran. + +"Bang! bang!" went a couple of rifle shots; but the fugitive escaped +untouched, and disappeared behind the brow of an adjacent knoll. + +"See that, Lawson?" inquired a voice from the supernumerary rank. + +"Yes," answered the subaltern, "like potting rabbits. I think I could +have wiped that fellow's eye if I'd been there. The bayonet _versus_ +lance was done better." + +Jack glanced round, and saw the speaker smoking a pipe, while Sergeant +Sparks tramped along close behind with an approving smile upon his +face, as though, if questioned, he would have made exactly the same +observation himself. It was no time to be fastidious or sentimental; +the callous indifference to life and death, whether real or assumed, +was the thing wanted. Here, at least, were two superiors who did not +seem to consider the situation very serious. The young soldier shifted +his rifle to the other shoulder, and grasped the butt with a firmer +grip. + +For an hour, which might have been a lifetime, the square toiled on, +every now and again changing direction to gain more open ground; the +stretchers and cacolets constantly receiving fresh burdens. A man, two +files in front of our hero, went down with a bullet through the head, +and those in rear stumbled over him. + +"Close up! close up, and keep that corner blocked in!" + +With mouth parched with the stifling heat and dust, Jack sucked at the +lukewarm dregs of his water-bottle, and wondered if the river itself +would ever quench his thirst. "Swabs," his rear-rank man, kept +fingering the loose cartridges in his pouch. At length the marksman's +patience and _sang froid_ seemed exhausted. + +"Is this going on for ever?" he blurted out, "Ain't we ever going to +give it 'em back?" + +Hardly had the question been asked, when the answer was made evident in +a most unmistakable manner. + +Away in the grass to the left front a number of white and green flags, +mounted on long poles, had been for some time visible; and at this +point, as though they sprang out of the ground, swarms of Arabs +suddenly made their appearance, and with headlong speed and reckless +devotion charged down upon the left-front corner of the square. The +scattered line of skirmishers turned and fled for their lives; while +behind them, like a devouring tidal wave, the vast black mass rushed +forward, their fierce shouts filling the air with a hollow roar like +that of a ground sea. + +Like many another young soldier, with nothing but a few hundred yards +of desert between himself and death, Jack's first impulse was to raise +his rifle and blaze away at random as fast as he could load; but the +clear, calm voices in the supernumerary rank, and the old habit of +discipline, held him in check. + +"Steady, men:--Aim low--Fire a volley!" + +Another moment, and the black mass with its waving banners and +glittering weapons disappeared in a burst of fire and smoke, as the +rifles spoke with a simultaneous crash. Again, and yet again, the +vivid sheet of flame flashed from the side of the square; then, through +the drifting fog, it was seen that the enemy were apparently changing +the direction of their attack. Falling in scores before the terrible, +scythe-like sweep of the volley firing, they swerved round the flank of +the square and burst furiously upon the rear. + +[Illustration: "The enemy swerved round the flank of the square, and +burst furiously upon the rear."] + +Rapid independent firing had succeeded the regular volleys, and Jack +was in the act of using his rifle, when he became conscious of a shock +and swaying movement, like the commencement of a Rugby scrimmage. He +turned, and saw in a moment what had happened: by sheer weight of +numbers, the overpowering rush of Arabs had forced back the thin line +of "Heavies," and a fierce hand-to-hand fight was in progress. What +had been the interior of the square was now covered with a confused +mass of struggling combatants, dimly seen through clouds of dust and +smoke. Desperate fanatics hacked and stabbed with their heavy swords +and long spears, while burly giants of the Guards returned equally +deadly strokes with butt and sword-bayonet. Shouts, cries, and words +of command mingled in a general uproar, half-drowned in the incessant +din of the firing. + +How long this awful contest lasted, or exactly what happened, Jack +could never clearly remember. He was conscious that the rear rank had +turned about, and of a vision of "Swabs" standing like a man shooting +rabbits in a cover, with his rifle at his shoulder, waiting for a +chance of a clear shot. Turning again to his front, he noticed the +fellow on his right working frantically at his lever, and sobbing with +rage and excitement over a jammed cartridge-case. "Knock it out with +your cleaning-rod!" he yelled, and thrust another round into the breach +of his own weapon, determined, if this were the end, to make a hard +fight of the finish. + +At length the pressure seemed to grow less, and then ceased; the enemy +wavered, then turned and began to slowly retreat, hesitating every now +and again, even in face of the withering rifle fire, as though +half-minded to renew their attack. Some turned and shook their fists, +while others, with the fanatic's unconquerable spirit and reckless +valour, rushed back singly, only to fall long before they reached the +hated foe. + +Once the threatening attitude of the retiring masses raised the cry of +"Close up! they're coming again!" But a well-directed volley settled +the question, and the last stragglers soon disappeared behind the +distant sandhills. + +Cheer on cheer rose from the square, and Jack, grounding the butt of +his heated weapon, joined in with a right good will, for he had fought +his first battle, and his heart throbbed with the triumph of victory. + +But even now the conflict was not quite over. Arab marksmen were still +lurking in the broken ground, and one of them suddenly rose into view +from behind a rock. Levelling his piece he fired, and Mr. Lawson, who, +revolver in hand, had stepped into a gap in the ranks, fell forward on +his face, the blood gushing in a crimson torrent from his mouth. At +the same moment "Greek met Greek;" for "Swabs," throwing his rifle into +his shoulder fired, and the Arab sharpshooter tossed up his arms and +dropped out of sight behind a rock. + +Our hero fell upon his knees with something like a sob, and attempted +to raise the fallen man. There was no lack of assistance. Mr. Lawson +was one of those officers for whose sake men are always ready and glad +to risk their lives; but the boldest among them could do nothing for +him now, and a moment or so later he died in Jack's arms. + +"He's gone, right enough, poor fellow!" said Captain Hamling, the +commander of the company, who had hurried to the spot. "See what's in +his pockets, Fenleigh. It there's anything of value, it must be taken +care of, and sent to his people." + +Jack did as he was ordered. A pipe, tobacco-pouch, jack-knife, and +rolled bandage were the chief things he found; and he handed them to +the captain. There was still the breast-pocket of the tunic, and this +on examination was found to contain a small letter-case and a handsome +gold watch. Jack glanced at the timepiece, and very nearly let it drop +from his fingers to the ground; he knew it in a moment--the lost +treasure which years ago had been stolen from Queen Mab's cupboard. +This then was the thing which Raymond Fosberton had parted with for +five pounds. + + * * * * * + +The square moved on a short distance to ground less encumbered with the +slain, and then halted. The carnage was awful; dead and dying of the +enemy lay in heaps where they had fallen, mown down by the deadly fire +of the Martinis; while among them on the knoll where the square had +been broken, and in many cases hardly recognizable from the blood and +dust which covered their forms and faces, were the bodies of the +Englishmen who had perished in the fray. + +Orders were now given for burying the dead, collecting the arms and +ammunition, and destroying the useless weapons that lay scattered about +in all directions; and it was while engaged in this latter duty that +Jack encountered his cousin. + +"I've just been inquiring for you. Thank God, you're safe!" + +In spite of all that he had just passed through, Jack's thoughts were +not fixed upon the fighting or dearly-won victory. + +"O Val!" he blurted out, "I've found that watch--the one that was +stolen at Brenlands!" + +In a few hurried sentences he described the conversation he had +overheard, and the discovery of the timepiece in the dead lieutenant's +pocket. The dread scene around him was for the moment forgotten in his +anxiety to clear his character from the doubts which he imagined must +still be entertained to a certain extent by his former friend. + +"So you see, sir," he concluded, "I can now prove that I'm no thief. +Raymond Fosberton stole it. I wish you'd ask Captain Hamling to show +it to you, sir, and then you'd know I'm speaking the truth." + +Valentine listened to this extraordinary revelation in open-eyed +astonishment. + +"There's no need for that," he answered--"I'll ask to see it if it's +your particular wish--but, Jack, I wish you would believe that what I +say is true, and that neither I nor Queen Mab ever for a moment +imagined that you were the thief. You may doubt us, but we have never +lost faith in you." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +"FOOD FOR POWDER." + +"And so he lay quite still, while the shot rattled through the rushes, +and gun after gun was fired over him."--_The Ugly Duckling_. + + +At last the wells were reached, and after the wants of the wounded had +been supplied, Jack and his comrades got a chance of quenching their +parching thirst. + +Water! It was a moving sight--a crowd of men standing round a pit, at +the bottom of which appeared a little puddle, which when emptied out +would gradually drain in again, the spectators watching its progress +with greedy eyes. Never had "Duster's" celebrated home-made +ginger-beer tasted so refreshing as this muddy liquid. Jack sighed in +an ecstasy of enjoyment as he gulped it down, and Joe Crouch remarked +that he wished his throat was as long as a "hostridge's." + +A body of three hundred men from the Guards, Heavies, and Mounted +Infantry started on a return journey to the zareba to bring up the +baggage, and the remainder of the force bivouacked near the wells. The +night was fearfully cold; the men had nothing but the thin serge +jumpers which they had worn during the heat of the day to protect them +against the bitter night air. Shivering and gnawed with hunger, Jack, +Joe Crouch, "Swabs," and two more men huddled together in a heap; and +finding it impossible to sleep, endeavoured to stay the cravings of +their empty stomachs with an occasional whiff of tobacco, those who +were without pipes obtaining the loan of one from a more fortunate +comrade. Jack's thoughts wandered back to Brenlands, and he smiled +grimly to himself at the recollection of that first camping-out +experience, and of Queen Mab's words as she promised them a supply of +rugs and cushions, "Perhaps some day you won't be so well off." His +mind was still full of his recent discovery. The thought that his +friends must regard him as guilty of the theft, and the feeling that he +could never give them proof to the contrary, had rankled in his heart +more, perhaps, than he himself suspected; and now that he had at last +discovered a solution to the riddle, and could prove beyond the +possibility of a doubt who was the guilty party, he longed to ease his +soul by talking the matter over with some one who knew the +circumstances of the case. Joe Crouch was the very man. + +"Joe." + +"Yes." + +"You remember my cousin, Raymond Fosberton?" + +Joe was not in the best of humours; he was cold, and his pipe had gone +out. + +"Yes, I do," he grumbled. "I wish I had him here now in his white +weskit and them shiny boots!" The speaker drew hard at his empty clay, +which gave forth a fierce croak, as though it thoroughly approved of +its owner's sentiments. + +"D'you remember that time when the watch was stolen out of Miss +Fenleigh's cupboard?" + +"Yes; and that Fosberton said it might 'a been me as took it, and +Master Valentine told me afterwards that you said that though I'd +stolen some pears once, you knew I was honest. Ay, but I thought of +that the morning I seen you come into the barrack-room. And then he +told them as it was you 'ad done it. My eye! if I had him here now, +I'd knock his face out through the back of his head!" The clay pipe +literally crowed with rage. + +"Well, you may be interested to hear that it was Raymond Fosberton +himself who took the watch." And Jack proceeded to tell the story of +his find. + +"So he stole it himself, did he?" exclaimed Crouch, as the narrative +concluded. "Law me! if I had him here, I'd--" + +"Never mind!" interrupted the other, laughing. "I may have a chance of +settling up with him myself some day." + +"What shall you do when you see him?" + +"Oh, I don't know!" answered Jack. "I daresay I shall have my revenge." + +Joe relapsed into silence, but for some time sudden squeaks from his +pipe showed that he was still meditating on the terrible vengeance +which he would mete out to Raymond Fosberton, should that gentleman +leave his comfortable lodgings in England and appear unexpectedly in +the Bayuda Desert. + + * * * * * + +At length the morning came, and with it the report that the +baggage-train was in sight. The news was welcome, and the work of +knee-lashing and unloading the camels did not take long. The previous +morning's hasty breakfast under fire had not been, by any means, a +satisfying meal; and so, after a fast of nearly two days, the prospect +of food made the men active enough in unpacking the stores. + +Jack seized his ration of bully beef and biscuit with the fierce +eagerness of a famished wolf; cold, hunger, and weary, sleepless nights +had never been the lot of the lead troops campaigning on the +lumber-room floor at Brenlands, or of their commanders either; nor, for +the matter of that, is it usual for youthful, would-be warriors to +associate such things with the triumph of a victory. + +Our hero had finished his meal, and was cleaning his rifle, when he was +accosted by Joe Crouch. + +"I say, Mr. Fenleigh wants to see you. He's over there by the guns." + +Valentine was standing talking to some of his fellow-officers. He +turned away from the group as he saw his cousin approaching, and the +latter halted and accorded him the customary salute. + +"Look here," said the subaltern, "the general is sending dispatches +back to Korti, and the officers have the opportunity of telegraphing to +their friends in England. I'm going to send a message home to let them +know I'm all right. Shall I put in a word for you? I'm sure," added +the speaker, "that Aunt Mabel would be glad to know that you are here, +and quite sate and sound after the fighting." + +Jack hesitated, but there was no sign yet of the long lane turning. + +"It's very good of you, sir," he answered, "but I'd rather they didn't +know my whereabouts. If I live through this, and return to England, I +shall still be a private soldier. I'm much obliged to you, sir, all +the same." + +He saluted again, and walked away. Valentine looked after the +retreating figure with a queer, sad smile upon his face. + +"You're a difficult fish to deal with," he muttered; "but we shall land +you again some day, though I hardly know how." + +Late in the afternoon the column was once more in motion, and then +commenced an experience which Jack, and all those who shared in it, +have probably never forgotten. At first the march was orderly, but, as +the hours went by, progress became more and more difficult. Camels, +half-starved and exhausted, lagged and fell, causing continual delay +and confusion. The desert track having been abandoned in order to +avoid possible collision with the enemy, the road lay at one time +through a jungle of mimosa trees and bushes, when the disorder was +increased tenfold--baggagers slipped their loads, and ranks opening out +to avoid obstacles found it impossible in the dark to regain their +original formation. Utterly unable to keep awake, men fell asleep as +they rode, drifting out of their places, some, indeed, straying off +into the darkness, never to be seen again. + +Worn out, and chilled to the bone with the bitter night air, Jack clung +to his saddle, dozing and waking; dreaming for an instant that Queen +Mab was speaking to him, and rousing with a start as the word was +passed, "Halt in front!" to allow time for the rear-guard closing up +with the stragglers. At each of these pauses poor "Lamentations" knelt +of his own accord; and his rider, dropping down on the sand by his +side, fell into a deep sleep, to be awakened by the complaining grunts +of the camels as the word, "All right in rear!" gave the signal for a +fresh start. + +After each stoppage it was no easy matter to get the weary animals on +their legs again; and almost equally difficult in many instances to +rouse their riders from the heavy slumber into which they fell the +moment they stretched themselves upon the ground. + +"Pass the word on, 'All right in rear!'" + +"Oh, dear! I'd give a month's pay for an hour's sleep," mumbled Joe +Crouch. + +"Get up, you fool!" answered Jack, kicking the recumbent figure of his +comrade. "D'you want to be left behind?" + +On, on, through the endless darkness, now for a moment unconscious, now +half awake, but always with the sense of being cold and weary, the long +night march seemed to last a lifetime. Then, as sometimes happens in +similar circumstances, a half-forgotten tune took possession of his +tired brain, the once familiar melody of Queen Mab's hymn; and in a +dreamy fashion he kept humming it over and over again, sometimes the +air alone, and sometimes with snatches of the words, as they came back +to his memory. + + "Rest comes at length;...... + The day must dawn, and darksome night be past." + + +His head sank forward on his breast. It was Sunday evening at +Brenlands, and Helen was playing the piano. Queen Mab was standing +close at his side; and yet, somehow, the whole world lay between them. +"You may doubt us, but we have never lost faith in you." He turned to +see who spoke, and the figures in his dream vanished, leaving only the +echo of their voices in his mind. + + "......Angels of light! + Singing to welcome the pilgrims of the night!" + + +The tune was still droning in his head when the first grey streaks of +dawn gave warning of the approaching day, and, in the growing light, +the column gradually regained its proper formation. + +The line of march lay down a vast slope covered with grass and shrubs, +which stretched away towards the distant Nile, as yet out of sight; and +ere long word was received from the cavalry scouts that the enemy, in +large numbers, were close at hand. + +Once more the bullets of the sharpshooters whistled overhead; and the +Arabs appearing in considerable force on the left flank, the column was +halted on the summit of a low knoll, and orders were issued for the +construction of a zareba. + +All hands now set to work to unload the camels and build walls of +saddles, biscuit-boxes, and other stores--parapets formed of almost as +incongruous materials as the old domino and pocket-knife works behind +which the lead warriors took shelter at Brenlands. Skirmishers were +thrown out to keep down the enemy's fire; but the men were worn out, +and having nothing to aim at but the feathery puffs of smoke rising +amidst the distant grass and bushes, they failed to dislodge the Arab +marksmen. + +Jack and his comrades "lay low," glad to avail themselves of the +shelter afforded by the side of the zareba. The bullets whizzed +overhead, or struck the biscuit-boxes with a sharp smack, while some +dropped with a sickening thud into the mass of camels. They were +patient sufferers, and even when struck made no sound or attempt to +move. Stretchers being constantly carried to and fro showed that the +medical staff had plenty of work; but it was not until some hours later +that the news leaked out among the men that Sir Herbert Stewart himself +was mortally wounded. + +Feeling inclined for a smoke, and having no tobacco about him, our hero +asked permission to fetch a supply from the zuleetah-bag attached to +his saddle. "Lamentations" acknowledged his approach with the usual +grumble; but it was the last greeting he was ever destined to give his +master. A bullet flew past with a sharp zip, the poor beast started +and shivered, and a thin stream of blood trickled down his shoulder. +Poor "Lam!" he was unclean and unsavoury, an inveterate grumbler, and +possessed apparently of a chronic cold in his nose; his temper was none +of the best--he had kicked, and on one occasion had attempted to bite, +he had fought his comrades in the lines, and had got the picketing +ropes into dire confusion; but, for all that, he was a living thing, +and Jack, who was fond of all dumb creatures, watched him with tears in +his eyes. It did not last long: the unshapely head sank lower and +lower; then suddenly turning his long neck round to the side of his +body, the animal rolled over, and all that remained of poor +"Lamentations" was a meagre meal for the jackals and vultures. + +Hour after hour the men waited, huddled together behind the +hastily-formed breastwork of the zareba. "Swabs" occasionally peered +through a loophole in the boxes to get a snap-shot at any figure that +might be seen creeping about among the distant bushes. Jack, worn out +with the night march, stretched himself upon the sand, and, in spite of +the constant zip of bullets and discharge of rifles, sank into a deep +slumber. + +At length he was awakened by a general movement among his comrades: +orders had been issued for a portion of the column to fight its way to +the Nile, and a square was being formed for the purpose a little to the +left of the zareba. In silence, and with anxious expressions on their +faces, the men fell into their places, lying down to escape the leaden +hail. The force seemed a ridiculously small one to oppose to the +swarming masses of the enemy, yet on its success depended the safety of +the whole column. + +The bugle sounded, and the men sprang to their feet, to be exposed +immediately to a heavy fire. Slowly and doggedly they moved forward, +now halting to close up gaps, and now changing direction to gain more +open ground. The vicious bang of rifles, fired at comparatively close +range, told of innumerable sharpshooters lurking around in the grass +and shrubs. A bullet suddenly tore the metal ornament from the top of +Jack's helmet, and striking the sword-bayonet of a man behind, knocked +his rifle nearly out of his hands. + +"A miss is as good as a mile!" remarked Sergeant Sparks; but as he +spoke Joe Crouch was suddenly flung to the ground as though felled by +the stroke of a hammer. + +Jack involuntarily uttered a cry of dismay, and the sergeant dropped +down on one knee to assist the fallen man. To every one's +astonishment, however, the latter rose to his feet unaided, looking +rather dazed and gasping for breath, and picking up his rifle staggered +back into the ranks. A spent shot had struck him on the bandoleer, +demolishing one of the cartridges, but fortunately failing to penetrate +the leather belt. + +Now and again the square halted to send a volley wherever the enemy +seemed to be gathered in any numbers, then continuing the advance in +the same cool, deliberate manner. + +Jack was marching in the left side, close to one of the rear corners, +and, as fate would have it, the left half of the rear face was formed +of the ----sex, and from the first he had been close to Valentine. +They were within a dozen yards of each other, and every few moments +Jack turned his head to assure himself that his cousin was unhurt. + +For more than an hour the little square had been doggedly pursuing its +forward movement, and now the enemy were seen in black masses on the +low hills to the left front. + +"They're coming, that's my belief!" said Joe Crouch, turning to address +his chum. He got no reply; for, at that instant, as the other happened +to look round, he saw his cousin stagger and sink down upon the sand. +In an instant Jack had sprung to his assistance; but this time it was +no false alarm. The bullet had done too well its cruel work. For a +moment Valentine seemed to recognize him, and looking up, with his left +hand still clutching at his breast, made a ghastly attempt to smile. +Then, with a groan, he fell over on his side, and fainted. + +A stretcher was brought, and Jack was ordered sharply to get back to +the ranks. As he took his place the square halted, and an excited +murmur rose on all sides:-- + +"Here they come!--Thank God! they're going to charge!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +THE RIVER'S BRINK. + +"Then he could see that the bright colours were faded from his uniform; +but whether they had been washed off during his journey, or from the +effects of his sorrow, no one could say."--_The Brave Tin Soldier_. + + +Darkness had fallen, and a thick mist rising from the river made the +still, night air damp and penetrating; but the weary men, stretched out +upon the sand, slept soundly in spite of the cold, and of the scanty +protection from it afforded by their clothing. The dark figures of the +sentries surrounding the bivouac, moving slowly to and fro, or pausing +to rest on their arms, seemed the only signs of wakefulness, except +where the occasional gleam of a lantern shone out as the surgeons went +their rounds among the wounded. + +Jack, however, was not asleep. He seemed instead to be just waking up +from a troubled dream, in which all that had happened since he had seen +Valentine placed upon the stretcher had passed before his mind in a +confused jumble of sights and sounds, leaving only a vague recollection +of what had really taken place:--The oncoming mass of Arabs; the crash +of the volleys, changing into the continuous roar of independent +firing; the pungent reek of the powder as the rolling clouds of smoke +enveloped the square; and the sight of the enemy falling in scores, +wavering, slackening the pace of their advance, and finally retreating +over the distant hills, not one having reached the line of bayonets. +Then, in the growing dusk, as the square advanced, the sight of the +silver stream showing every now and again amidst the green, cultivated +strip of land upon its banks; the wild joy of men suffering the +tortures of a burning thirst, which swelled their tongues and blackened +their lips; and the pitiful sight of the wounded being held up that +they might catch a glimpse of the distant river; the wait on the brink +of the broad stretch of cool, priceless water, as each face of the +square moved up in turn to take its fill; and then, no sucking the +dregs of a warm water-bottle, but a long, cold, satisfying drink. + +[Illustration: "The oncoming mass of Arabs."] + +All this, though so recently enacted, seemed to have left but a faint +impression of its reality on Jack's mind; his one absorbing thought +being that Valentine was hit, badly wounded, perhaps dying, or even +dead. + +A man approached, and in the darkness stumbled over one of the +slumberers. + +"Now, then, where are you coming to?" + +"Dunno--wish I did. D'you men belong to the Blankshire? Where's your +officer?" + +"Can't say. Wait a minute; that's he lying by that bit of +bush--Captain Hamling." + +Our hero raised himself into a sitting posture. He had recognized the +new-comer as a hospital orderly, and in the surrounding stillness heard +him deliver his message:-- + +"Surgeon Gaylard sends his compliments, and would you allow one of your +men named Fenleigh to come and see an officer who's badly wounded? +He's some relative I think, sir." + +"Very good," answered the captain drowsily; "you can find him yourself." + +The orderly had no difficulty in doing that, for in a moment Jack was +at his side. + +"Is he dying?" + +"Dunno; he's badly hurt--shot through the lungs, and he's asked for you +several times." + +It was a cruel night for the wounded, with nothing to shelter them from +the bitter cold. Valentine lay upon the ground, with his head propped +up against a saddle. The surgeon was stooping over him as the two men +approached, and the light of his lamp tell on the pale, pinched +features of the sufferer. Within the last three days Jack had seen +scores of men hurried into eternity, and his senses had become hardened +by constant association with bloodshed and violent death, yet the sight +of those unmistakable lines on that one familiar face turned his heart +to stone. + +"You're some relative, I believe. He seemed very anxious to see you, +so I sent the orderly. What?-- Yes, you may stay with him if you +like; but keep quiet, and don't let him talk more than you can help." + +"Is--is he dying, sir?" + +"He may live till morning, but I doubt if he will." + +Jack went down on his knees. There was no "sir" this time--sword, and +sash, and shoulder-strap were all forgotten. + +"Val!" The great, grey eyes, already heavy with the sleep of death, +opened wide. + +"Jack! my dear Jack!" + +"Yes; I've come to look after you. Are you in much pain?" + +"No--only when I cough--and--it's dreadfully cold." + +The listener stifled down a groan. Ah, dear thoughts of long ago! +Such things had never happened on the mimic battlefields at Brenlands. +This, then, was the reality. + +"Jack, I want you to promise me something--your word of honour to a +dying man." + +A fit of coughing, ending in a groan of agony, interrupted the request. + +"Don't talk too much," answered the other in a broken voice. "What is +it you want? I'll do anything for you, God knows!" + +"I want you to promise that you'll take this ring to Queen Mab--and +give it to her with your own hands. Say that I remembered her +always--and carried my love for her with me down into the grave. +Promise me that you will give it her--_yourself_!" + +Valentine ceased speaking, exhausted with the effort. + +"I will, I will!" returned the other, taking the ring. "But don't talk +about dying, Val; you'll pull through right enough." + +The sufferer answered with a feeble shake of his head, and another +terrible fit of coughing left him faint and gasping for breath. + +"Stay with me," he whispered. + +Jack propped him up to ease his breathing, and wiped the blood from his +pallid lips. For a long, long time he sat silently holding the hand of +his dying friend; then, fight against it as he would, exhausted nature +began to assert herself in an overpowering desire to sleep. Numbed +with cold, and wellnigh heart-broken, wretched in body and mind, +jealous of the moments as they flew past and of the lessening +opportunity of proving his love by any trifling service it might be in +his power to render--in spite of all this, an irresistible drowsiness +crept over him, and his head fell forward on his knees. + +The feeble voice was speaking again. + +"What did you say, Val? God forgive me, I cannot keep awake." + +Bending close down to catch the words, he could distinguish, even in +the darkness, some faint traces of the old familiar smile. + +"You used to say--that I had all the luck--but, you remember--at +Brenlands--it was the lead captain that got killed." + +Jack murmured some reply, he was too worn out and miserable to weep. +Once more that terrible struggle to keep his heavy eyes from closing; a +dozen times he straightened his back, and groaned in bitterness of +spirit at the thought that he could wish to sleep at such a time as +this; then once again his head sank under the heavy weight of fatigue +and want of rest, and everything became a blank. + + * * * * * + +Awakening with a start, Jack scrambled to his feet. How long he had +slept he could not tell, nor did he realize where he was till the light +of a lantern flashing in his eyes brought him to his senses. + +"How is--" the question died on his lips. + +The surgeon took one keen glance, held the lamp closer, and then raised +it again. + +"Is he going, sir?" + +"Going? he's gone!" + +The words were followed by an awful silence; then, for an instant, the +yellow gleam of the lamp tell upon the soldier's face. + +"Come, come, my lad!" said the medical officer kindly, "we did what we +could for him, but it was hopeless from the first. Be thankful that +you've got a whole skin yourself. You'd better rejoin your company." + +The sky was paling with the first indications of the coming dawn. The +men were standing to their arms, and Jack hurried away to take his +place in the ranks, hiding his grief as best he could from the eyes of +his comrades. Then as he turned to look once more towards the spot +whence he had come, he saw, away across the river, the flush of rosy +light brighten in the east, and all unbidden there came back to his +memory the words of Queen Mab's hymn. The sun rose with a red glare, +scattering the mist and sending a glow of warmth across the desert; and +once more the old, sweet melody was sounding in his heart, while all +around seemed telling of hopes fulfilled and sorrows vanquished when + + "Morning's joy shall end the night of weeping." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +"WHEN JOHNNY COMES MARCHING HOME AGAIN!" + +"It touched the tin soldier so much to see her that he almost wept tin +tears, but he kept them back. He looked at her, and they both remained +silent."--_The Brave Tin Soldier_. + + +It was a hot, still afternoon in August. The birds were silent, hardly +a leaf stirred, and everything seemed to have dozed off to sleep in the +quiet sunshine. Old Ned Brown, the cobbler, and general "handy-man" of +the village, who, in days gone by, had often bound bats and done other +odd jobs for "Miss Fenleigh's young nevies," laid down his awl, and +gazed out of the window of his dingy little shop. + +A soldier was walking slowly down the road. His boots were covered +with dust, and on the breast of his red coat glittered the Egyptian +medal and the Khedive's Cross. + +"That must be Widow Crouch's son," said Ned to himself. "I heard he +was back from the war. Maybe he'll know summat about the young +gen'leman who used to come and stay up at the house yonder, and who, +they say, was killed. Ah, yes! I remember him well--a nice, +pleasant-spoken young chap! Dear me, dear me! sad work, sad work!" +With a shake of his head, the old man once more picked up the shoe he +was mending, still muttering to himself, "Yes, I remember him--sad +work, sad work!" + +The soldier strode on. His thoughts also were busy with memories of +the past. In one sense he was not alone; for before him, in fancy, +walked a boy--a rather surly, uncared-for looking young dog, with hands +in his pockets, coat thrown open, and Cricket cap perched on the back +of his head, as though in open defiance of the rain that was falling. +The road had been damp and dismal then; to-day it was dry and dusty; +but the heart of the man who trod it was no lighter than it had been +that evening ten years ago. + +The old cobbler had been mistaken. It was not Joe Crouch, but Jack +Fenleigh, who had just passed the window of the little shop. He was +thinking of the first time he had come to Brenlands at the commencement +of the summer holidays, after having been kept back on the breaking-up +day as a punishment for sending a pillow through the glass ventilator +of the Long Dormitory. + +"I didn't want to face her then," he said to himself, switching the +dust off his trousers with his cane. "And yet, how kind she was! +Never mind! she won't know me now. Valentine promised he wouldn't +write, and he never broke his word." + +Jack had walked from Melchester. More than once in the course of the +journey he had hesitated, and thought of turning back; but the +sacredness of the promise made to a dying man had compelled him to go +forward. + +He turned the corner, and slackened his pace as he saw before him the +old house nestling among the trees. There was no board with TO LET +printed on it, such as usually, in story-books, greets the eye of the +returning wanderer. The place was just the same as it always had been; +and the very fact of its being unchanged appealed to his feelings in a +manner which it would be impossible to describe. The white front gate, +whose hinges had been so often tried by its being transformed into a +sort of merry-go-round; the clumps of laurel bushes which had afforded +such good hiding-places in games of "I spy;" even the long-suffering +little brass weathercock above the stable roof, which had served as a +mark for catapult shooting,--these, and a hundred other objects on +which his eyes rested, recalled memories which softened his heart, and +brought back more vividly than ever the recollection of that faithful +friend, whose last request he was about to fulfil. + +"I must do it," he muttered, feeling in his pocket for the ring; "I +promised him I would." + +He pushed open the gate, and walked almost on tiptoe down the path, +casting anxious glances at the windows. To his great relief it was not +Jane who opened the door, but a new servant. + +"Is Miss Fenleigh in?" he stammered. "Will you tell her a--a private +soldier has brought her something from an officer who died in Egypt?" + +The girl showed him into the old, quiet parlour (as if he could not +have found the way thither himself), and there left him. It was very +still. Nothing broke the silence but the sleepy tick of the clock, and +the sound of some one (Jakes, perhaps) raking gravel on the garden +path. Everything was unaltered. There was the little bust of Minerva +that Barbara had once adorned with a paper bonnet; the fretsaw bookcase +that the two boys had made at school; and the quaint little +glass-fronted cupboard, let into the panelling, from which the watch +had been stolen. In the years that had passed, only one thing in the +room had changed, and that was the tall figure in uniform standing on +the hearthrug. + +He turned to look at himself in the glass. The dark moustache, bronzed +skin, red tunic with its white collar and badges of the "royal tiger;" +all these things had never been reflected there before, and for the +twentieth time during the last half-hour he sought to reassure himself +with the thought that his disguise was complete. "She'll never +recognize me!" he muttered. "It's all right." Then the door opened, +and for an instant his heart seemed to stop beating. + +The same easy dignity and graciousness of manner, the same sweet +womanly face, and the same depths of love and ready sympathy in her +clear, calm eyes. She was dressed in mourning, and at her throat was +the brooch containing the locks of the children's hair. Jack noticed +it at once, and saw, too, that the little silver locket still had its +place among the gold trinkets on her watch chain; and the sight of it +very nearly brought him down upon his knees at her feet. + +She seemed smaller than ever, and now, standing in front of him, her +upturned face was about on a level with the medals on his breast. + +What was it made his chest heave and his lips tremble as he encountered +her gaze? However foolish and headstrong he might have been in the +past, he knew he had only to declare himself and it would all be +forgotten and forgiven. "You may doubt us," Valentine had said, "but +we have never lost faith in you." Yes, that was it; she loved her ugly +duckling, believing even now that, in spite of outward appearances, it +would one day turn into a swan. But the years had slipped away, and +the change had never taken place. She might hope that it had, and it +was best that she should never know the truth. + +With a set face he began to speak. + +"I've lately returned from Egypt, and saw there your nephew, Lieutenant +Fenleigh, of the ----sex Regiment." + +He tried to say "ma'am," but even at that moment it seemed too great a +mockery, and the word choked him. + +"I was with him when he died on the banks of the Nile. He asked me to +bring you this, and to give it to you with my own hands." + +She took the ring, but without moving her eyes from the speaker's face. + +"He asked me to tell you that he remembered you always." + +The voice grew husky, and the lady drew a little closer, perhaps to +hear more plainly what was said. + +"And to say that he carried his--his love for you with him down into +the grave." + +With a great effort Jack finished the message. The words had brought +back a flood of vivid recollections of that dreadful night, and his +eyes were filled with blinding tears. He turned to brush them away, +and as he did so he felt Queen Mab's arms meet round his neck. + +"You dear old boy! don't you think I know you? Don't you think I knew +you as soon as you came inside the gate?" + +He made some attempt to reply, uttered a broken word or two, and then +turned away his head; but she, standing on tiptoe, drew it down lower +and lower, until at length it rested on her shoulder. + +And so the ugly duckling ended his wanderings. + + * * * * * + +No autumn frosts or winter snows could ever have fallen on that garden, +for here were the same flowers, and fruit, and ferns as had bloomed and +ripened that last August holiday seven years ago. So, at least, +thought Jack, as he and his aunt walked together along the paths. + +"Did he write from Egypt to tell you about me?" + +"No; but I've always been expecting you. I knew you'd come back some +time." + +"I didn't think you'd recognize me." + +"Valentine knew I should. Don't you see it was you he sent home to me, +and not the ring?" + +Jack was silent. Everything that his eye rested upon reminded him of +that faithful, boyish friendship, and his lip quivered. + +Queen Mab noticed it, and changed the subject. + +"I wonder what Jakes will think to see me walking about arm-in-arm with +a soldier," she said gaily. "Never mind, I must make the most of it +while it lasts. I'm afraid I shan't have many more opportunities of +'keeping company' with a red-coat." + +"How d'you mean?" he asked, with an uneasy, downward glance at his +uniform. "My time isn't up for nearly three years; and I know I ought +not to come here in this rig-out." + +"Don't talk nonsense," she answered. "You're a pretty soldier to be +ashamed of your cloth. Isn't it possible for a man to do his duty +unless he has a pair of epaulettes on his shoulders? Can't he do it +under any kind of coat? Come now," she added, shaking his arm, and +looking up into his face with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, "don't +you think, for the matter of that, a man could be a hero in his shirt +sleeves?" + +"Yes," answered Jack, laughing. + +"Oh, you do! I'm glad you've come to that conclusion at last." + +"Why?" + +"Why? because I think you'll soon have to give us a practical +illustration of how a man can distinguish himself by being capable and +trustworthy, even in plain clothes. That opens up a subject that I +have a lot to tell you about. Have you heard that your father and your +Uncle John are friends again?" + +"Yes; Val said something about it." + +"You haven't heard," she continued quietly, "that before the second +battle Valentine made a will, and gave it to a friend to be sent home +in case he was killed. It was more in the form of a long letter, +roughly written on the leaves of a pocket-book. A great deal of it was +about you. He did not break his promise to you, and say actually that +he had seen you, and where you were; but he assured us that he knew you +had not gone to the bad, but were living an honest life, and that +before long we should see you again. Then he begged his father, as a +last request, to do something for you, and to treat you as his own son. +Your uncle was over the other day. He is very anxious to carry out +Valentine's wishes, and would like to take you into his own business, +with a view to an ultimate partnership." + +"It's awfully good of him," murmured Jack huskily. + +"Well, that's what he intends to do. But come, it's time I put in the +tea." + +"It's time I went," he murmured. + +"Time you went? What nonsense! You say you've got a week's furlough, +and that you left your things at the Black Horse. Well, I'm just going +to send Jakes to fetch them. Why, I quite forgot to tell you that +little Bar was staying here." + +The person who had just stepped out from the open French window on to +the lawn was certainly no longer little, but a tall, graceful young +lady. There was, however, still some trace in her roguish mouth and +dancing eyes of the smaller Barbara who had wrought such havoc among +her enemies by firing six peas at a time instead of two. + +Jack had never before been frightened at Bar, of all people in the +world; but now, if Queen Mab had not still retained her hold of his +arm, he might very likely have bolted into the shrubbery. + +The girl advanced slowly across the lawn, casting inquiring glances, +first at the red coat and medals, and then at the bronzed face of the +stranger. Then suddenly her mouth opened, and she quickened her pace +to a run. + +"Oh, you rascal!" she cried. "It's Jack!" + +That was all the speech-making Barbara thought necessary in welcoming +the returning prodigal; and not caring a straw for bars and ribbons, +pipeclay, and "royal tigers," she embraced him in the same hearty +manner as she had always done when they met at the commencement of +bygone summer holidays. + +The dainty tea-table was a great change after the barrack-room. The +pretty china cups seemed wonderfully small and fragile compared with +the familiar basin; and once Jack found himself absent-mindedly +stuffing his serviette into his sleeve, under the impression that it +was his handkerchief. + +"Why, when was the last time you had tea here?" asked Barbara. "It +must have been that summer when Raymond--" She stopped short, but the +last word instantly brought to Jack's mind the recollection of that +evening when Fosberton had charged him with being a thief. + +"By-the-bye," he exclaimed, "I forgot to tell you--I've found the +watch." + +"Yes, I know," answered Queen Mab quietly. "Valentine gave a full +account of it in his letter." + +Jack was just going to launch out into a long and forcible tirade on +the subject of the theft, but his cousin signed to him across the table +to let the matter drop. + +"Aunt has been in such a dreadful way about it," she explained +afterwards. "Only she and ourselves know about it. She doesn't like +even to have Raymond's name mentioned. He has turned out a thorough +scamp, and has given Uncle Fosberton no end of trouble. Father +happened to know the friends of that officer who was killed, and when +his things were sent home the watch was returned; so it's back again +now in the same old place. Aunt has never told any one, not even +Raymond himself, as she doesn't want to bring fresh trouble on his +parents." + +Later on in the evening, as they sat together in the old, panelled +parlour in the soft light of the shaded lamp, the talk turned naturally +and sweetly on Valentine--on all that he used to say and do; and Jack +told as best he could the story of the desert march, and of that last +sad parting on the river's brink. After he had finished, there was a +silence; then Barbara picked up the piece of work she had laid down. + +"So you didn't find war quite such a jolly thing as you used to think +it would be?" she said, looking across at him with a tearful smile. + +"No," he answered thoughtfully. "I suppose things that you have long +set your mind on seldom turn out exactly what you want and expect them +to be. I'm glad I saw active service, and I'd go through it all again +a hundred times for the sake of having been with Valentine when he +died; though it was little I could do for him, more than to say +good-bye." + +Queen Mab rose from her chair, and stooped over the speaker to wish him +good-night. + +"Never mind," she said softly. "I'm glad to think of both my boys that +their warfare is accomplished!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +CONCLUSION. + +"I never dreamed of such happiness as this while I was an ugly +duckling!"--_The Ugly Duckling_. + + +The old house at Brenlands still remains unaltered, except that the +empty room upstairs, once the scene of so many terrible conflicts +between miniature metal armies, has been turned into a nursery. +Another generation of children is growing up now, and eagerly they +listen while Aunt Mabel tells the old story of the tin soldier who went +adventuring in a paper boat, and came back in the end to the place from +which he had started; or the history of the little lead captain, who +stands keeping guard over the precious things in the treasure cupboard; +and who once, after bearing the brunt of a long engagement, fell in +front of his men, just as the fighting ended. + +When the nursery is in use, a long-forgotten little gateway makes its +appearance at the top of the stairs, and "Uncle Jack" pays toll through +the bars to the chubby little Helen standing on the other side. + +Queen Mab tries to make out that she is growing older; but her +courtiers will not believe it, and go so far as to scoff at and hide +her spectacle case, declaring that her wearing glasses is only a +pretence. + +But though Brenlands and its queen may seem the same as ever, many of +those connected with it in our story have experienced changes, of which +some mention should be made. + +Old Jakes has been obliged to give up the gardening, and Joe Crouch has +been installed in his stead. Joe has finished his time, both with the +colours and in the reserve; but he is the soldier still--smart, clean, +and never needing to have an order repeated twice. He often +unconsciously falls back into former habits, and comes marching up the +path with his spade at the "slope" or his hoe at the "trail," whistling +softly the old quick-step, which once drew our hero to "go with the +rest, and follow the drum." + +For Jack he cherishes the fondest regard and deepest admiration, which +he never hesitates to express in such words as these:-- + +"Aw, yes, sir! he's what I call the right sort, is Master Jack. He +don't turn his back on an old cumred, as some would. I 'member the day +he bought himself out. 'Well, good-bye,' says I--'we've been +soldierin' together a good time, and in some queer places; but now +you're goin' back to be a gen'leman again, and I suppose we shan't see +each other never no more.' 'I should be a precious poor gen'leman if I +ever forgot you, Joe,' says he; 'you stood by me when I first came to +barracks, and some day I hope I shall be able to do something for you +in return.' And so he did, for he kept writin' to me, and when my time +was up he got me this place. Look here, sir, the day he come to enlist +the corporal at the gate says to him, 'We ought to make a general of +such a fine chap as you;' and you take my word for it, that's just what +they would have made of him, if he'd only stopped long enough!" + +Of Barbara something might be said, but that something is for the +present supposed to be a secret. Jack, who, like the average boy, +always seemed to have a knack of finding out things that were intended +to be kept private, knows more than he ought about this matter; and +bringing out a handful of coppers at the table, and representing them +to be the whole of his savings, declares that he will be "dead broke" +should any unforeseen circumstance necessitate his purchasing a wedding +present. Whereupon his cousin blushes, and puts her fingers in her +ears, and says, "I can't hear," but listens all the time. + +Of Raymond Fosberton, perhaps the less said the better. His name has +come very near being mentioned in a court of law, for forging his +father's signature to a cheque, and is therefore seldom mentioned among +his friends. One thing, however, might be told concerning his last +visit to Brenlands. + +A year after that eventful Christmas in Egypt, Jack was sitting before +the fire in Queen Mab's parlour, when Raymond was announced, and shown +into the room. He was dressed, as usual, in good though rather flashy +clothes; but in spite of this, he looked cheap and common, and his +general appearance gave one the impression of dirt wrapped up in silver +paper. The moment he saw Jack a spiteful look came into his face, and +he took no pains to conceal the old dislike and hatred with which he +still regarded the latter. + +"Hallo! so you've turned up again. I thought you'd soon get sick of +soldiering; too much hard work to suit your book, I expect." + +"No; I left it because I had a chance of something better. Aunt +Mabel's out; will you wait till she comes back?" + +Jack had seen more of the world since the day when he had knocked the +visitor into the laurel bush; and could now realize that Queen Mab had +spoken the truth when she said that punching heads was not always the +most satisfactory kind of revenge. He had a score to settle with +Raymond; but he regarded the latter now as a pitiful fellow not worth +quarrelling with, and he hesitated, half-minded to let the matter drop +without mentioning what was on his mind. + +Fosberton mistook the meaning of the other's averted glance. He +thought himself master of the situation, and, like a fool, having, +figuratively speaking, been given enough rope, he promptly proceeded to +hang himself. + +"You've been lying low for a precious long time," he continued, +maliciously. "Why didn't you come here before? You've been asked +often enough!" + +"I had my own reasons for stopping away." + +"You didn't like to come back after the bother about that watch, I +suppose?" + +Jack let him run on. "That was partly it," he answered. + +"Well, then," continued Raymond, with a sneer, "you made a great +mistake bolting like that; you gave yourself away completely." + +"I don't understand you," returned the other, with a sharper ring in +his voice. "D'you mean to charge me again with having stolen the +watch?" + +"Pooh! I daresay you know what's become of it." + +"Yes," answered Jack calmly, at the same time fixing the other with a +steady stare, "I _do_ know what's become of it: at the present moment +it's in its case in that cupboard there. Shall I show it you?" + +The answer was so strange and unexpected that Raymond started; the +meaning look in his cousin's eyes warned him that he was treading on +dangerous ground. He had, however, gone too far to let the matter drop +suddenly without any attempt to brazen out the situation. + +"Humph!" he said; "I suppose you put it back yourself." + +"I was the means of its being brought back. I found it in the pocket +of an officer named Lawson who was killed in Egypt." + +The withering tone and scornful curl of the lip was on the other side +now. The visitor was fully aware of it, and winced as though he had +been cut with a whip. + +"Mr. Lawson had been stationed with the regiment at Melchester, and I +happen to know how the watch came into his possession." + +Raymond saw that he had rushed into a pitfall of his own making--he was +entirely in his opponent's hands--and like the mean cur he was, +immediately began to sue for forgiveness and terms of peace. + +"Hush!" he cried, glancing at the door. "Don't say any more, the +servants might hear. I'm very sorry I did it, but you know how it was; +I was pushed for money, I say, you haven't told any one, have you?" + +"No. Uncle John and Aunt Mabel know; though I don't think you need +fear that they will let it go any further." + +"That's all right," continued Raymond, in a snivelling tone. "I was +badgered for money, and I really couldn't help it. I've been sorry +enough since. I don't think I'll wait any longer, I'm in rather a +hurry. Well, good-bye. And look here, old chap--I'm afraid I treated +you rather badly; but well let bygones be bygones. I don't want it to +get to the governor's ears, so you won't mention it, will you?" + +Jack cast a contemptuous glance at the proffered hand, and put his own +behind his back. + +"No; I won't tell any one," he answered shortly, then turned on his +heel, and that was his revenge. + +And now the only person remaining of whom a last word might be said at +parting, is our hero himself. + +It was a balmy evening in that eternal summer that seemed to reign at +Brenlands; and he and Queen Mab were walking slowly round the green +lawn, while the swallows went wheeling to and fro overhead. + +Fastened to her bunch of trinkets next the locket was a silver +coin--the enlisting shilling, which Jack had never parted with since he +first received it on that memorable morning at the Melchester barracks. + +"Yes," said Aunt Mabel, "it was Queen Victoria's once, but now it's +mine!" + +"Well, I think I earned it," he answered, laughing. + +"Perhaps you'd like to go and earn another?" + +"No; I'm too happy where I am. Uncle John is awfully good to me. He +couldn't be kinder if I were his own son." + +"So you're content at last to stay at home and take what's given you?" + +"Yes; I think I've settled down at last. Dear old Val said that the +lane would turn some time, and so it has. My luck's changed." + +"I think I'd put it down to something better than that," said Queen +Mab, smiling. "Perhaps it is not all luck, but a little of yourself +that has changed." + +Jack laughed again, but made no attempt to deny the truth of the +suggestion. Possibly he felt that what she said was right, and that +not only in his surroundings, but also in his own heart, had come at +last the long lane's turning. + + + + +THE END. + + + + +Nelson's Books for Boys. + +_The Books below are specially suitable for Boys, and a better +selection of well-written, attractively-bound, and +beautifully-illustrated Gift and Prize Books cannot be found. The list +may be selected from with the greatest confidence, the imprint of +Messrs. Nelson being a guarantee of wholesomeness as well as of +interest and general good quality. For further selections see under +Ballantyne, Kingston, Nelson's "Royal" Libraries, etc._ + + +_Many Illustrated in Colours._ + + "CAPTAIN SWING." Harold Avery. + HOSTAGE FOR A KINGDOM. F. B. Forester. + FIRELOCK AND STEEL. Harold Avery. + A CAPTIVE OF THE CORSAIRS. John Finnemore. + THE DUFFER. Warren Bell. + A KING'S COMRADE. C. W. Whistler. + IN THE TRENCHES. John Finnemore. + IN JACOBITE DAYS. Mrs. Clarke. + HEADS OR TAILS? (A School Story.) H. Avery. + HELD TO RANSOM. (A Story of Brigands.) F. B. Forester. + JACK HOOPER. V. Cameron, R.N., C.B., D.C.L. + JACK RALSTON. (Life in Canada.) H. Burnham. + WITH PACK AND RIFLE IN THE FAR SOUTH-WEST. Achilles Daunt. + A CAPTAIN OF IRREGULARS. (War in Chili.) Herbert Hayens. + RED, WHITE, AND GREEN. (Hungarian Revolution.) Herbert Hayens. + IN THE GRIP OF THE SPANIARD. Herbert Hayens. + THE TIGER OF THE PAMPAS. H. Hayens. + TRUE TO HIS NICKNAME. Harold Avery. + RED CAP. E. S. Tylee. + A SEA-QUEEN'S SAILING. C. W. Whistler. + PLAY THE GAME! Harold Avery. + HIGHWAY PIRATES. (A School Story.) Harold Avery. + SALE'S SHARPSHOOTERS. Harold Avery. + A rattling story of how three boys formed a very + irregular volunteer corps. + FOR KING OR EMPRESS? (Stephen and Matilda.) C. W. Whistler. + SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS. E. F. Pollard. + TOM GRAHAM, V.C. William Johnston. + ONE OF BULLER'S HORSE. William Johnston. + THE FELLOW WHO WON. Andrew Home. + BEGGARS OF THE SEA. Tom Bevan. + A TRUSTY REBEL. Mrs. Henry Clarke. + THE BRITISH LEGION. Herbert Hayens. + SCOUTING FOR BULLER. Herbert Hayens. + THE ISLAND OF GOLD. Dr. Gordon Stables. + HAROLD THE NORSEMAN. Fred Whishaw. + + + +NELSON'S BOOKS AT ONE AND SIXPENCE. + + +_STORIES FOR BOYS AND GIRLS._ + + FROM THE BACK OF BEYOND. Mrs. Roberton. + COUNTESS DORA'S COMPANION. Mrs. Bennitt. + TWO LITTLE CAVALIERS. W. Bettesworth. + THE LUCK OF CHERVIL. H. Elrington. + KNIGHTS OF THE RED CROSS. D. Moore. + JOHN KNOX'S "BAIRNS." Margaret H. Roberton. + MARK'S PRINCESS. Mrs. Edwin Hohler. + THE ROUND TOWER. A Story of the + Irish Rebellion of '98. Florence M. S. Scott. + THE RIVERTON BOYS. K. M. Eady. + DOROTHY'S DIFFICULTIES. M. C. Cordue. + EVELYN. Dorothea Moore. + JAKE. Adela F. Mount. + A HELPING HAND. M. B. Synge. + THE QUEEN'S NAMESAKE. M. B. Synge. + A HAPPY FAILURE. Ethel Dawson. + FIFINE AND HER FRIENDS. Sheila E. Braine. + A LITTLE COCKNEY. Miss Gaye. + MARK HAMILTON'S DAUGHTERS. A. F. Robertson. + A STORY OF SEVEN. Bridget Penn. + THREE SAILOR BOYS. Commander Cameron. + TERRY'S TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS. J. M. Oxley. + TRUE TO THE FLAG. Mrs. Glasgow. + BOBBY'S SURPRISES. + THREE SCOTTISH HEROINES. E. C. Traice. + + + +NELSON'S "ROYAL" LIBRARIES. + +THE SHILLING SERIES. + +_Eight Coloured Plates in nearly every Volume._ + + ARCHIE DIGBY. G. E. Wyatt. + AS WE SWEEP THROUGH THE DEEP. Gordon Stables, M.D. + AT THE BLACK ROCKS. Edward Rand. + AUNT SALLY. Constance Milman. + CYRIL'S PROMISE. A Temperance Tale. W. J. Lacey. + GEORGIE MERTON. Florence Harrington. + GREY HOUSE ON THE HILL. Hon. Mrs. Greene. + HUDSON BAY. R. M. Ballantyne. + JUBILEE HALL. Hon. Mrs. Greene. + LOST SQUIRE OF INGLEWOOD. Dr. Jackson. + MARK MARKSEN'S SECRET. Jessie Armstrong. + MARTIN RATTLER. R. M. Ballantyne. + RHODA'S REFORM. M. A. Paull. + SHENAC. The Story of a Highland Family in Canada. + SIR AYLMER'S HEIR. E. Everett-Green. + SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN. Harold Avery. + THE CORAL ISLAND. R. M. Ballantyne. + THE DOG CRUSOE. R. M. Ballantyne. + THE GOLDEN HOUSE. Mrs. Woods Baker. + THE GORILLA HUNTERS. R. M. Ballantyne. + THE ROBBER BARON. A. J. Foster. + THE WILLOUGHBY BOYS. Emily C. Hartley. + UNGAVA. R. M. Ballantyne. + WORLD OF ICE. R. M. Ballantyne. + + + +T. 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